Mark 3:6 “Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.” Last night Elaine and I opened a Clubhouse room on women in entrepreneurship, and one of the participants asked an interesting question about how to earn the respect (and open the checkbooks) of VCs who are mostly men. “When men are assertive, they’re seen as confident. When women are assertive, they’re seen as aggressive or bossy. How should I act in my pitch?” My response was that you’re always going to have some people who don’t like you, regardless of what style you choose. So just be yourself, and if some subset of investors doesn’t like that, then they’re probably not the right partners for you anyway. Even most non-believers would agree that Jesus had more impact on this world than any other single human being. Yet even He had his detractors. The Pharisees were so jealous of Jesus and his miracles, that in Mark 3 they began to plot his murder. I guess playa hatin’ goes back way before the days of gangsta rap. The more we humble ourselves and align ourselves with the heart of the Father, the more God lifts us up and uses us for the Kingdom. And the more God lifts us up the more we have a target on our back from the enemy and jealous people in our midst. Today I feel God reminding me that I only need to be liked by one person, and He already loves me more than I can begin to imagine. Lord, you are my audience of one. I know that if I’m close to you and submit myself to your will, everything else in this world will sort itself out. I want to be a light, but I know that the source of that light is the oil of the spirit, not the praises of man. All I need is you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.