Leadership Thought: A Valuable Lesson in Humility Learned While Calling Balls and Strikes.

Dear Friends,

D. L. Moody once remarked, “Be humble or you’ll stumble.” At an age when I should by now have learned that lesson, I confess I am still learning it. Too many times in my life I have stumbled because of my failure to be humble.

Although it happened almost 20 years ago, the experience has forever burned its way into my memory.  It took place on the Florida Atlantic University baseball field.  For many years I umpired high school baseball, and one year I had the opportunity to work some college games. I felt I had done reasonably well in the seven or eight games I had been assigned, and there was a growing sense of pride developing within my heart. “This isn't that difficult,” I thought to myself. "Play is a little faster than high school, but I can handle it." Overconfidence had set in, and my prideful bubble was about to dramatically burst.

I had been assigned to do the Rutgers Kansas State game. Both teams were on their pre-season southern spring trip to Florida. I knew some of the players on Rutgers, and I had coached some of those players on a high school travel team on which my son had played. I also knew several of the players’ parents who had come south to watch their sons play. That prideful sinful nature within me was anxious to show those parents how that New Jersey pastor had progressed in the ranks as an umpire. This is where the problem began, for I was more focused on impressing these parents than calling the game. 

Suddenly in the sixth inning I lost my focus, not a good thing to do in any game, but especially in a tight one run game where tensions were high and emotions were on edge. I blew a pitch, really blew it. It was way high and I called it a strike, and I knew the moment I made the call that I had missed the pitch badly. It was obvious to everyone, including those friends in the stands. The next inning the same thing happened, and I missed badly on a pitch that was in the dirt and I called it a strike. This time it  was on the other team, and now I had both coaches yapping at me. I was so embarrassed that  I would have ditched my umpiring gear and run off the field if I could. The only positive thing I could think of was that at least I had been fair in my failure as both teams were the victims of my poor umpiring. I remember walking off the field that day thinking that this is one of the worst games I have ever called as an umpire. I apologized to my partner, got in my car, and quickly sped away, leaving my short-lived college umpiring career in my rear-view mirror. 

Pride and over confidence had caught up with me. I stumbled, and yes, I was humbled, and it happens again and again whenever I take my eyes off God and began trusting in my own strength, ability, and experience.

I contrast my experience with that of William Carey, who is known as the father of the modern-day mission movement . For much of his life he was a humble cobbler until God called him to the mission field in India. His mission work became well known throughout the world. He became one of the finest linguists the church has ever known, translating the Bible into 24 Indian languages. But not everyone appreciated him. Some disdained his lack of education, and were quick to ridicule his rudimentary educational background. One evening at a dinner, a rather distinguished man, in an effort to embarrass Carey, said in a loud enough voice for all to hear: “Mr. Carey, I hear you were a Shoemaker before you became a missionary.” Carey looked up and humbly responded, “No Sir, that is not true. I was a cobbler who only mended shoes, not a shoemaker who made shoes.”

William Carey recognized his value to the Kingdom was not based upon anything but his moment-by-moment dependence upon the Lord. It is true that when we humble ourselves before the Lord, a vacuum is formed, and when it does, God always steps in to fill that vacuum.

Jesus in referring to himself, said “I am meek and humble of heart.” What accounted for that humility, the kind of humility that would humble himself and become a man, and take on the role of a servant and would humble himself and became obedient unto death upon a cross? ( Philippians 2:8).

Jesus’ humility came from His dependence on the Father. He could have used His own power, and His own position to secure whatever He desired, but instead He depended completely on the Father to provide whatever He might need.

And when our focus is only on pleasing God, we will forget about trying to impress others with our personality, performance, power, or position, and we will avoid the pitfalls of pride that will ultimately embarrass us and bring us to our knees. It is so true: Pride always goes before a fall.

D. L Moody was right: “Be humble or you’ll stumble.

Have a great weekend.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. And always remember, as someone once said, "that humility is that characteristic that when you think you have achieved it, is the very moment you lose it.”

Leadership Thought: I Am for Equality but not This Kind of Equality.

Dear Friends,

As a believer I am for equality. I support those efforts to fight hate crimes and discriminatory practices that favor one group over the other, so you would think I would be in favor of the Equality Act which passed in the House in a previous administration and will once again be brought before the House and Senate for another vote.

Most people I know are for equality. Isn’t equality something for which we should all be striving to attain? Yes, but not as it is presented in the Equality Act. If you are for equality, be careful what you wish for.

The Equality Act has some significant implications for people of faith. It has serious ramifications for the church and other Christian organizations that fear government control over their hiring practices.

It has particular consequences for organizations like Solutions Pregnancy Center and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes whom our church supports. It could force churches that hold biblical values on moral issues such as homosexuality to hire people who oppose those views.

I am a conservative evangelical who puts my trust in God’s Word, so like some of you who hold similar views, we have been swimming upstream against a current of radically changing lifestyles and moral behavior.

The potential consequences as outlined below of the Equality Act may not concern you. If you simply opine that these are the views of some right leaning  conservative Christian who is fighting the world’s secular infringement on his or her rights as a Christian, you would be right, but so be it.

Those who hold to the values found in the Word of God are in a spiritual battle against a culture that would seek to destroy many of those things we value and hold dear

Let me quote some of the potential implications of the passage of this Equality Act.

“The Equality Act designates schools, churches, and healthcare organizations as “public accommodations.” With this, schools, churches, and hospitals could be forced to accept the government’s beliefs and mandates about sexual orientation and gender identity. That would be highly intrusive and incredibly far-reaching. It will threaten everyday speech where people can be fined or lose their jobs for using the wrong name or pronouns.

The Equality Act will legislate that we allow boys in girls’ sports, boys in girls’ locker rooms, men in women’s shelters, and men in women’s prisons. It will force teachers and students to publicly pretend that a biological male is a female. Schools will be encouraged or mandated to instruct first, second, and third graders that they can choose to be a boy or a girl, or neither, or both, making biological sex (and science) a relic of the past.
The Equality Act will use the force of law across all 50 states to strip Christian and other religious ministries of their right to hire people of shared faith to pursue a shared mission. Can you imagine a Christian organization being forced to hire people hostile to its deeply held beliefs who have no passion for its beliefs, teachings, and mission? That doesn’t work.
The Equality Act will strip health professionals of their rights of conscience. It will force doctors and medical professionals who long to do no harm to engage in gender transition treatments such as hormone-blocking, cross-sex hormones, or surgery. It is obvious that a Catholic or faith-based hospital should not have to perform gender transition surgeries that go entirely against all they believe.

The Equality Act will be a tool used by the government to deny or threaten accreditation to religious colleges and universities if they do not satisfy the demands of the secular Left to apply sexual orientation and gender identity to dorms, sports, places of privacy, and even teachings. The Act could be used as a weapon to threaten the availability of federal student loans and grants to students at certain disfavored religious schools.” Franklin Graham, President of the Billy Graham Evangelical Association

People of faith need to be concerned about the ramifications of the Equality Act. If you are concerned, like I am, about the implications of this Equality Act upon our churches, schools, and Christian organizations, I would urge you to make your feelings known to your senators and representatives. And above all, pray, pray, pray for our political leaders as they debate this issue which has such immense implications for those institutions founded and sustained by biblical values.

Yours in faith,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Do You Want to Have More Friends? Check Your Ears and Mouth.

Dear Friends

It has been said that the average person suffers from three delusions. He is a good driver, has a good sense of humor, and is a good listener. It is true that most of us think we are better listeners than we are.

Yesterday I talked about the importance of not just being friendly but making friends, and one of the best ways you can make good friends is by being a good listener. Not only will listening make you a lot of good friends but after a while you may even get to know something!  When we fail to be a good listener, we turn off much of our learning potential.

Edgar Watson Howe once joked, “No man would listen to you talk, if he didn't know it was going to be his turn next.” Relationships 101, John Maxwell, p. 41. This made me think of a sign that former President Lyndon B. Johnson was said to have kept on his office wall while a junior senator from Texas. It read, “You ain't ‘learnin’ ‘nothin’ when you're ‘doin’ all of the talkin.’”

Our brother James had something to say about our mouth ministry in James 1:19 when he exhorts, us to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry . That is certainly great advice for all of us.

I confess that I might be classified as a much better talker than listener, but this is an area of my life where I am always trying to improve because I know how important listening is in ministering to others. A prominent theologian once said, “The first duty of love is to listen.” David Augsburger writes, “Being heard is so close to being loved that for the average person they are almost indistinguishable.” In listening to another, you are saying, I respect what you have to say, and I really care enough about you that I'm going to give you all my attention.

Let me ask you this morning, how are your listening skills? Are you slow to speak and quick to listen? Would people view you as a caring listener? Or are you the kind of person who can't wait for the other speaker to pause, so that you can express your opinions?

As I close, let me reiterate that we can learn a lot if we take time to listen to others. There was an elderly gentleman who had serious hearing problems for a number of years. He went to the doctor, and the doctor was able to have him fitted for a set of hearing aids that allow him to hear 100%. The elderly man went back in a month to the doctor and the doctor said, “Your hearing is perfect. Your family must be really pleased that you can hear again.” The man replied, “Oh, I haven't told my family yet. I just sit around and listen to the conversations. I've changed my will three times!

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. “If your mouth is open, you aren’t learning.” Buddha

Leadership Thought: Are You Friendly, or Do You Want to Be My Friend? (A Lesson in Church Greeting)

Dear Friend,

“Thank you for being the face of our church and the warmth people feel as they walk through the door...” These were the words that our church secretary shares in sending out her weekly greeter reminder. And they were the same words I used in addressing potential greeters this past Sunday. I had invited them to meet with me to learn more about what was involved in being a church greeter.

They were special people, invited to meet with me because they were genuinely warm and friendly, the qualities we look for in church greeters. They were the kind of people who would make anyone walking through the church doors feel welcome and special.

We are not looking for just another warm, breathing body to stand and greet those who pass through the doors. Because we know that “first impressions are often lasting impressions,” we want the kind of people who are not just friendly, but who really want to be your friend.

I asked those in the class to remember what it was like the first time they visited a church. The words, nervous, anxious, apprehensive were  expressed. Then we talked about how a greeter can help dispel those feelings.

And then one of our present greeters who I had invited to attend, surprised me by addressing the group. Speaking directly to one of those prospective greeters, he said, “I am here because you made me feel so welcome when I first attended services here.” He went on to relate how this past summer he and his wife had decided to attend church for the first time in many years. Not knowing what to expect, they were anxious about coming. 

Their anxiety level turned up a notch when they recognized their formal attire was drastically inconsistent with the casual dress of those in attendance at our outdoor services.  Embarrassed, they turned and started to walk away. Unbeknownst to me, it was of our members whom I had invited to the meeting because I thought she had greeter potential, who had spotted this couple, engaged them in conversation, and made them feel so welcome they decided to stay. I am happy to say that a few months later this couple was baptized in one of our outdoor services, and now they are among our most active members, and one of their ministries, you guessed it, is the ministry of greeting.

In a recent zoom call, a friend of mine who was a disguised church consultant told of a visit to a church he was evaluating. He was met by a man named Bob who not knowing him and his ’secret’ mission, reached out and overwhelmed him with his greeting. He was what I would call an “over welcomer,” one who was on his campaign trail to enlist a new member. Later that day at a restaurant, the consultant was recognized by the same man who had earlier greeted him, and he came over to his table, pressed a small cross into his hands and told him how glad he was to see him once again.

The consultant was impressed until he visited the church a second time and the man went through the same eager, obsessively enthusiastic  greeting, but he had no idea it was the same church consultant who had visited the church a month before. My consultant friend said, he was friendly, but was he a friend, probably not.

What would people say about your church if you were the first person they met as they walked through the doors. Would they see you as just friendly or would they classify you as their friend?

A real friend is the one who cares enough to really get to know you. He/she is the kind of person who takes time to recognize you are more than just another name. A true friend is the one who cares so much about you that when they recognize you are uncomfortable, is sensitive enough to do what it takes to ease your discomfort.  A real friend is the one says, I will pray for you, and does.  A real friend will not just say he cares about you but will show you that he cares about you. They will be there for you, believe in you, and stand with you no matter what.

The  difference between the person who is just friendly but not a friend is that the friend will show up on your doorstep when you are in a crisis. These are the kind of people who you never have to wonder if they will ever forget  your name.

At New Monmouth we are not looking for “friendly” when we look for greeters. Anyone can be friendly, but the real question is will they become our friends?

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: A System for Recording and Remembering Reading Information You Wish to Retain.

Dear Friends,

Do you ever read a book and then a few months later you discover you have forgotten most of what you have read? That was my problem, If I could remember 1/100th of the things I have read, I probably would have been one of those champion contestants on Jeopardy.

A number of years ago, frustrated with my memory failure, I decided to do something about it. I devised a personal strategy to help me remember oft forgotten information. It started with a quote by a reading mentor of mine, John Maxwell, who said, “I mark my books, and my books mark me.”

As I read through a book, I will underline or circle key information-quotes, stories, statistics that impress me. I love marking with colored markers, a personal quirk of mine.

When I have finished the book, I then skim through it a second time, noting and recording highlighted information that I want to remember and quickly access in the future. I generally will do that a chapter at a time, taking time to reflect as I am recording the information.

Once I have competed the chapter, I used to type out the relevant information I wanted to save, a time consuming device before I learned how to use the dictation device on my computer to automatically record  key thoughts and information I wished to remember. Having done this, I then store my notes in the book itself or in a file cabinet under the title of the book.

I am sure there are a multitude of other excellent ways to record such information that you don’t want to forget, but this way seems to work for me.

Let me know if you have found any helpful ways of storing and retrieving information you wish to access.

Below is an example of information I recorded from the chapter of a leadership book on how to identify leaders.

Chapter 1

Every person  on your team makes you better or worse

People decisions cannot be hidden

                                 Questions to ask in recruiting leaders

1 ASSESSMENT OF NEEDS  know your vision and your mission. Who do you need to accomplish your vision?

2 ASSETS ON HAND what is the leadership potential?

                             are there known commodities who gets things done

                                               levels of leadership

1 position people follow because of title.

2 permission people follow because of relationship.

3 production people follow because of results

4 people development people follow because of life change

5 pinnacle leaders  people follow because of respect

Andrew Carnegie “men are developed in the same way gold is mined several tons of dirt must be moved to get an ounce of gold , but you don't go into the mine looking for dirt . You go into the mine looking for gold

Chris Hodges 55,000 people in attendance gets leadership from best campus churches 22 campuses.

Mark Sanborn  said great leaders help people have a larger vision of themselves

Abraham Lincoln said I'm a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn't have the heart to let him down

most people have high points that have impacted their lives  (Personal note Sam Tatum is a good example of how my life was changed)

 3 ASSETS NOT ON HAND who has leadership position potential outside of the organization

                              Four questions to ask  a candidate

culture in your last company, empower or disempower you

best boss you ever had

how did you handle conflict, share an example with one of your coworkers?

feedback you expect to receive and how often

when you bring someone on be sure to be clear regarding expectations it's about the big picture not me you are expected to keep growing, value other people , take responsibility, and never avoid tough conversations.

( A portion of notes taken from the first chapter of The Leader’s Greatest Return, John Maxwell)

This may be a more elaborate way of recording information than you desire, and if so, develop your own system with which you are comfortable.

This Pandemic period provides a wonderful time to do some extra reading, and if you don’t want to waste time reading information, only to quickly forget it, find a way to “mark your book so those books mark you.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. It has been said that what you will be in the next five years will be determined by the books your read and the people with whom you associate.

Leadership Thought: He May Not Have Been the Best President, but That’s Not What I Remember about Him.

Dear Friends,

The news caught my attention. “Jimmy Carter not attending Biden’s inauguration.”  My first thought was that is no surprise; after all he is 96 and has had had bouts with liver cancer, brain cancer that both had metastasized, and he only recently learned had learned how to walk again after suffering a pelvic fracture one of a number of falls. Missing the inauguration, however, should have been a surprise, for it marked the first one he would miss since he and his wife left the White House in 1981

Former President Carter has always impressed me, not so much for his presidential politics and leadership -most historians feel he was only an average president, -but for his tenacity and determination to make his life count for others  through his involvement with Habitat for Humanity as well as a long list of other charitable causes. President Carter was always serving and up until a few years ago he was still teaching his weekly Bible study lesson on Sundays in his home church in Plains, Ga.

Carter tells the following story that illustrates a point he would often make about the importance of always giving your absolute best at whatever you did.

In his autobiography he tells of being interviewed by the late naval Admiral Hyman Rickover whose interviews were legendary. Rickover always wanted to cut through glib, rehearsed answers to get a look at the person underneath. He especially wanted to know how candidates would act under stress. On occasion he would have those he was interviewing sit in a chair with the front legs sawed off an inch or two shorter than the back, to keep the interviewees off balance. Nice guy, hey? In his autobiography, Why Not the Best, President Carter tells about his own Rickover interview.

The Admiral asked how he had stood in his class at the Naval Academy. “I swelled my chest with pride and answered, “Sir, I stood 59th in a class of 820.” I sat back to wait for his congratulations. Instead came the question: “Did you do your best?” I started to say, “Yes, sir,” but I remembered who this was. I gulped and admitted, “No, Sir, I didn't always do my best.” He looked at me for a long time, and then asked one final question, which I have never been able to forget-or to answer. He asked, “Why not?”

That question is a good one for us to ask ourselves. Are we doing our best? What, if anything, could we do today to improve our ability as employers/employees, teachers,  fathers,  mothers, students, and yes pastors, who are seeking to live as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ?

I occasionally sign my letters with an added scripture verse from Colossians 3:23-24. It is a challenging reminder to myself and to the reader of my letter. The Apostle Paul exhorts us that   “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward; It is the Lord Christ you are serving?”

Some years ago, typesetters for the “Times of London” failed to produce a copy free from typographical errors. The editors thought long and hard about how to correct the situation. They announced that the first copy of every edition would be sent free to their majesties, the King and Queen. Immediately the errors dropped to virtually zero.

Every child of the Kingdom should so strive to produce excellence in the sight of His Majesty, the King of Kings, so that we will never have reason to be ashamed of that which we offer to Him.

Today, may each of us determined to give nothing but the best of ourselves in whatever we are called to do.

Yours in ministry,

Pastor Tom 

Leadership Thought: Stop Hoping You Are Saved; You Can Know That You Are Saved.

Dear Friends,

Last week I received a letter in response to a note I had sent to a friend who had just lost his sister. My friend was extolling the life his sister had led, and how she had been such a help to so many, especially those going through cancer, the very disease that ultimately took her own life. In closing his e-mail, he had typed these words, “No doubt she is with the Lord. If she isn’t, not much hope for me.”

The inference of my friend seemed clear. If my works were limited in comparison to hers, there wasn’t much hope for me.

But what my friend didn't know was that earth is not a workshop where we hope the works we produce will be sufficient to unlock the doorway to heaven. Our final heavenly grade is not based on the quantity and quality of our good works.

So many people I meet worry about whether they have done enough to secure them eternal life. They live with uncertain hope about their final destination.

But the Bible doesn’t speak about hoping we get to heaven; it talks about knowing how we get to heaven.

Nothing could be clearer than the words of  1 John 5:11-12 which tells us, “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” And here is the clincher, John says.  “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Yes, you can be absolutely certain of eternal life. But keep in mind that your assurance of heaven  has nothing to do with how you ‘behaved’ on earth but what I have ‘believed’ on earth.

The question some are asking is "have I done enough good works to ‘save me a spot,’ in heaven. The answer to that question is no for you can never do enough good works to earn your way into heaven, for the only good work you can do has already been done for you on the cross of Calvary. 

Religion is spelled do. Christianity is spelled done. When Jesus uttered those final words on the cross, “It is finished,” your salvation was purchased and accomplished and all that was left for you to do was to accept it.  

The secret to heaven in not found in trying, but in trusting, not in doing, but in  being- being in right relationship with the only One who can save you.

Paul writes in Titus 3:5, it is “not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit.”

And in Ephesians he reminds us, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast.”

Our good works will never save us, for the only good work that can save us is the good work Jesus did for you and me upon the cross.

Our salvation and eternal life can never be purchased by the things we do, but only through believing in the thing He has done.

You can be sure you are going to heaven.  It is as simple as ABC. Accept what Jesus did for you on the cross, Believe that Jesus saved you from your sin, and Confess that Jesus is your Lord and Savior.

And if you have any questions about how valuable all your good works are, take a peek at Isaiah 64:6.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: The Secret of Living Taught Me by a Friend Who Was Dying.

Dear Friend,

I still remember that meeting that took place almost 15 years ago. Joel sat across from me in my athletic department office. As the former captain of his track team at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, he had won many races. He had faced many challenges on his way to athletic success, but the challenge he was now facing was greater than any he had ever faced while running on the cinders and asphalt. You see, Joel had cancer. Diagnosed a couple of years before with stomach cancer, he was now sitting across from my desk with his wife Jennifer, the day after he had ended an 18-month ordeal with chemo. His chemo treatment had taken more of a toll on his body than on the cancer cells, and not having had the desired impact he had hoped, he had made the decision to end his treatment. Tired, unable to stand for any length of time, and with the cancer having spread from the stomach to the liver, he recognized he was running the race of his life in a valiant effort to beat the ravages of cancer that threatened to steal his life.

No quitting, however, for this man. He was in my office because he wanted to help coach track. It didn't matter that he was late for his appointment because he had just spent the afternoon vomiting from his chemo, or that he was so weak he could hardly stand for any length of time. No, he was in my office because he wanted to help coach our school's cross-country team. Later in the week, he called to tell me that he was encouraged by his progress and that he was putting on weight, and gaining some strength back, and that he was looking forward to being out on the track in a couple of weeks.

When you meet someone like Joel, he makes all your problems seem so insignificant. As he and his lovely wife Jennifer sat across from me, I thought to myself, here is a man who will never allow any condition or circumstance to rob him of his victory. Here is a man who has so much to teach me about life.

Someone wrote.  “God chooses what we go through; We choose how we go through it.” Joel had determined to go through life as a victor, as a winner, and he wasn’t about to  let his situation rob him of the victory promised him in Jesus Christ.

As I thought about Joel this morning, I remembered those words which opened Rick Warren’s best seller, The Purpose Driven Life; “It is not about you.”  

No, life is not about you or me, it's about Him, and no one demonstrated that lesson any better than my friend Joel.

Let me share with you few quotes from Warren's book from the chapter "Created to Become Like Christ." “God's ultimate goal for your life on earth is not comfort, but character development …Every time you forget that character is one of the  purposes for your life you will become frustrated by your circumstances. You will wonder why is this happening?  Why am I having such a difficult time? One answer is that life is supposed to be difficult. It’s what enables us to grow. Remember, earth is not heaven.”

“Many Christians misinterpret Jesus's promise of the abundant life to mean perfect health, a comfortable lifestyle, constant happiness, full realization of your dreams, and instant relief from problems through faith and prayer. In a word, they expect the Christian life to be easy. They expect heaven on earth.”

“Never forget that life is not about you. You exist for God's purposes and not vice versa. Why would God provide heaven on earth when he has planned the real thing for you in eternity? God gives us our time on earth to build and strengthen our character for heaven” (p. 173).

I don't know how those words strike you, but they hit me right between the eyes. Yes, life is not about Joel , or you, or me; it is about God, and whatever we go through on earth, no matter how difficult the situation or circumstances may be, He is preparing us for a glory that can never be revealed here. Because of this we can say with the Apostle Paul. “We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given us” (Romans 5:2-5).

I am sad to write that Joel died only a few weeks after that meeting, but I will never forget him, and the lesson he taught me through the life he lived. It is not about you or me, it is all about Him, and when we learn that lesson, we have learned the secret of living life victoriously.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: What I Am Learning About Life from a Viet Nam Vet.

Dear Friends,

My most recent e-mail from a friend of mine included these rambling thoughts:

Thanks Tom….feelings are worth getting out and let everyone have a good shot at them …and from it all,  it is a learning experience and wisdom…and often a few laughs about how absurd it all sounds…..Like shirts and skins…all part of the game…...as long as all know we are  recognized and loved by each other …where would I be without your positive influence on my life?................. I thought a spicier discussion about Jesus and God and the Buddha would help get it all out to make some sense of what we are experiencing as humans…and maybe even spice up your sermons.”

I e-mailed him back a big ? for like some of his previous e-mails, his responses didn’t make a lot of sense to me.

These words came yesterday from a friend I have gotten to know the last couple of years.  He is a Viet Nam vet who overcame PTSS, and now is working with other veterans, helping them deal with their physical and  moral wounds and trying to  assist them in assimilating back into society. He has a strong aversion to the politics of the last four years, and he makes no bones about his dislike of our former president. His criticism of religion has often been scathing, and there is probably not much we have in common politically, socially, or spiritually, except that we grew up in the same town and lived down the street from one another.

Hank (not his real name) and I have been corresponding regularly for several months now, and while sometimes his comments are frequently irreverent to say the least, I appreciate his openness and honesty, and yes, even his  absurdity at times which often makes me laugh.

Hank is right. His comments are probably far too spicy for my congregation, and if shared would probably get me fired. But despite our differences on most matters, there is a quality about him that I appreciate, and it is his honesty. He is open and honest about his views and in spite of our differences, I feel his longing to relate with people like me who don’t share his same points of view.

And what caught my attention from his previous e-mail were his words, “Like shirts and skins…all part of the game…as long as all know we are recognized and loved by each other.”

Yes, I thought to myself. It doesn’t matter whether we are shirts or skins, black or white or yellow, or brown, Republicans or Democrats, young or old, rich or poor, spiritual or secular, from this side or the other side of the tracks so long as we are recognized and loved by one another.

Hank is my neighbor, not in proximity or political persuasion. We are very different; he a  Viet Nam vet and I am anti Viet Nam activist, and yet we like each other, laugh together, and we have learned to be honest and open with one another.

No, he is not my neighbor from the world’s perspective, but from a spiritual perspective he lives just around the corner. Jesus says “He is my neighbor and He calls me to love him, regardless of his politics, faith or lack of it, or a hundred and one other differences that might divide us.

Jesus taught us well when He gave us two commandments to live out. He told us that we are “to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” The second is to love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Mark 12:30-31).

Would that we, and all our political and spiritual adversaries learned and lived out that lesson. If we did, it wouldn’t matter whether we were shirts or skins, for in the end we would still be friends who loved and respected one another in spite of our differences.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Who Was That Man Picking Up Sticks?

Dear Friends,

During the American Revolution, a man in civilian clothes rode past a group of soldiers repairing a small defensive barrier. Their leader was shouting instructions but making no attempt to help them. Asked why he wasn’t helping by another soldier who was riding by, he retorted with great dignity, “Sir, I am a Corporal.” The stranger apologized, dismounted, and preceded to help the exhausted soldiers. The job done, he turned to the Corporal and said, “Corporal, next time you have a job like this and not enough men to do it, go to your commander- in- chief, and I will come and help you again.” With that George Washington got back on his horse and rode off. (Taken from the Internet)

Jesus reminds us that," the Son of Man came  not to be served, but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).  When we give Jesus his rightful place as Lord of our lives, His Lordship will be expressed in the way we serve others. Therefore, one of the best ways we can demonstrate our love for God is by showing love for our fellow man. We demonstrate love for others by helping them, by sharing their problems, and by doing what we can for them.

Paul was under arrest, a prisoner sailing under guard on a Roman ship that ran aground off the island of Malta. After swimming to shore, the first thing Paul does is gather some sticks. Paul could have said I told you a storm would happen. I told you the boat was going to go down. I told you that all would be saved, and so “that makes me the big kahuna.” But that is not what he did. He saw someone had kindled a small fire and realizing he could help keep others warm, “he gathered a bundle of sticks” (Acts  28:3). Taken from John Courson, Application Commentary, p. 855.

Servanthood in never a 9-5 job, for a servant is always on duty. Servanthood is an attitude. It is the mark of a leader, and I am sure it was one of the significant marks that made George Washington the leader he was.

Service is the emblem of  great leaders. Service, and not status, a towel and not a title are the authentic marks of the one who would follow Jesus.

Let us pray that the Lord makes us conscious of how we might fulfill our role as His servants, even it means doing something as small and menial as ‘picking up sticks.’ And when we do, maybe someone will say about us, “There was something about him/her that reminds me of Jesus.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Words from a 90-Year-Old Man That Made My Heart Sing, and More!

Dear Friends,

Thanks for those of you who responded to yesterday’s Leadership Thought regarding the importance of reading and feeding daily on God’s Word. I was surprised to find out how many of you indicated that reading the bible regularly was a challenge.  

One of the most interesting responses was by a Fort Lauderdale friend with whom I coached basketball. He writes in response to my “No Bible, no Breakfast” challenge: “?????, No bible, no breakfast, I think that’s why I am so skinny” He went on to say, “I need to spend some more time in his Word….a challenge for the New Year,  and then I can enjoy a hearty breakfast.”

Another writes, “important motivation. I needed that! Thanks."

Someone else wrote, “Thanks for sharing! Reading and being in the Word helps. It comforts me strengthens me and gives me direction. It guides my thoughts and actions!"

Praise God for His Amazing Grace!”

But the best word of all came from a 90-year-old friend who wrote “I must admit, sorry to say, I am not one of those 9 % (who reads the Bible daily).  I try and get to look at the Bible at least two- or three-times of my week, but there always seems to be so much to do every day.  I am going to make a concentrated effort to try and improve that part life.”

To coin the words from the Troggs ( I know that dates me) who sang “Wild Thing”- his response “made my heart sing.”

I wrote back and thanked him for his encouragement. Why? Because my goal each morning is not to send out something that informs but something that transforms. Oh, I am happy to read someone’s comment thanking me for something I said, but my purpose goes far beyond that. I want to make a difference. I want to hear about change. I want to learn how something I said has made a difference in how someone is living his/her life.

So, thanks for taking time to respond and please let me know about any change a message has made in your life. Motivation and  Inspiration are fine, but transformation is what all of us should be about. Each of us is called to help others grow in their faith and make a difference in the lives of others.

On another subject, last week at our Spiritual Leadership class, we discussed the topic of delegation, something that we all agreed was an important quality for a leader to possess.  One of the delegation commitments I made when we started the class  was that leadership would be 

delegated, and everyone would take responsibility for leading our group. For some that may have been a little threatening, but each member has stepped up to the plate and hit home runs. My hope is that one or two of those members will be leading new groups in the months to come. "No success without a successor."

There was a lot of good discussion regarding the importance of delegation. Each meeting is initiated by the sharing of  a favorite quote on the subject of leadership, and I thought I would share a few that were specifically shared on the subject of delegation.

“I would rather put a thousand men to work than do the work of a thousand men.” D. L. Moody

“Only do what only you can do.” Paul Sloan

“Don’t tell people how to do things. Tell them what to do and let them surprise you with the results.” George Patton.

“Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.” Source unknown

“No person will make a great business who wants to do it all himself or get all of the credit.” Andrew Carnegie

“If someone can do what you do 80% as well as you can do it, then delegate it.” John Maxwell.

As I close, I would love to hear how some of you have changed your bible reading habits or delegation stories that have impacted your life. But be careful what you share, for someday you might see your words in print.

Have a great weekend, and remember it will only be a great weekend if you make the weekend great for someone else.

Yours in faith because of Jesus,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Concern for Those Believers in the 90% Percentile!

Dear Friend,

Did you know that the American Bible Society recently released a report showing that only 9% of Americans read their Bible every day? This is the lowest figure they have ever reported while running the report for over a decade.

But here is the good news: 67.8% of American adults (about 172,000,0000) are considered 'Bible curious' which means they are hungry to learn more about scripture. Here is some even better news. The data also shows that more Americans were exploring the Bible for the first time after the pandemic hit than ever before. This means there are literally millions of Americans who are hungry for the Word. (Information derived from Rick Warren's Pastor's Perspective, internet.)

I don’t know where you fall during these Pandemic times, but I hope, if you are not accustomed to spending time reading the Bible each day, you will begin today.

The great man of God, George Mueller, after having read the Bible through over a 100 times with increasing delight, made this statement: “I look upon it as a day lost when I have not had a good time over the Word of God. Friends often say, I’ve so much to do, so many people to see, that I cannot find time for scripture study. Perhaps there are not many who have more to do than I. For more than a half a century I have never known one day when I had not more business than I could get through. For four years I have (received) annually about 30,000 letters , and most of them have passed through my own hands. Then, as pastor of a church with 1,200 believers, great has been my care. Besides, I have had charge of five immense orphanages. Also,  at my publishing depot ,(I oversee) the printing and circulating of millions of tracts, books, and bibles, but I have always made it a rule never to begin work until I have had a good season with God and his Word. The blessing I have received has been wonderful.”

Paul writes Timothy, exhorting him to “Work hard so God can say to you,  Well done! Be a good workman, one who does not need to be ashamed when God examines your work. Know what His Word says and means” (2 Timothy 2:15 LBT).

Because God will examine what kind of workers we have been, we must be careful to build our lives on the foundation of His Word , so that we can build his word into our lives. It is in the Word that we find revealed the lessons of life that God desires us to learn if we are to faithfully serve him. If we ignore the regular reading of His Word, and we avoid any diligent study of that Word, we are told that we will be ashamed at the judgment. What believer would want that to happen? Consistent and conscientious study of God's word is vital, lest we be lulled into neglecting God and our true purpose.

And not only will the reading of his word save you from being ashamed on that day when you stand before him , but it will provide you the resources to live life victoriously in this world of here and now, for as one godly man once wrote , “A  Bible that is falling apart probably belongs to someone who isn't.”

How about making a commitment to follow through on this bible challenge: “No bible, no breakfast.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. I would be eager to hear how your commitment to reading the bible has impacted and influenced your life.

Leadership Thought: Protestants and Roman Catholics Agree There Is Only One Way to Heaven.

Dear Friends,

One of our members recently handed me a reprinted article dated Nov. 3, 1999. It was from the Wall Street Journal, and it was titled “By Grace Alone.”  In reading it. I discovered that Roman Catholics and Protestants are much closer  theologically than I had ever imagined. Maybe it was my fault for not knowing what Pope Paul 11 had said in 1999 when he declared that Roman Catholics and Protestants share the same beliefs regarding justification by faith alone.

It was 504 years ago that that Roman Catholics and Protestants went their separate ways over the issue of how one enters heaven. It was Martin Luther who boldly proclaimed that it is faith alone that saves an individual and opens the door to eternal life. Prior to that time the Roman Catholic church had emphasized that it was not just one’s faith but a combination of one’s faith and good works that led to salvation. It is faith alone, or faith plus works that justifies a person and opens the doorway to eternal life?

When Luther nailed his 95 theses to the church door in Wittenberg, he sent spiritual shockwaves around the world. The Protestant church was birthed. It separated from the Roman Catholic Church over a number of issues, but foremost among them was the difference regarding the pathway to salvation. Now after 504 years of separation, the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church are much closer theologically than I had imagined.

In 1999 at a conference between Protestant  Lutherans and Roman Catholics the churches resolved their long-standing debate over how one is saved. The Roman Catholic Church acknowledged that they were wrong in what they were teaching.

I quote from the Wall Street Journal, “The doctrine of works, Luther charged, had the effect of convincing bad people, abetted by the Catholic church's then practice of selling indulgences, that they could buy their way into heaven. The Catholic Church put an end to indulgences in 1562 at the council of Trent. But the dispute over justification, and the Catholic Church’s official condemnation of Lutheran teaching, persisted until Sunday.”  On a Sunday 22 years ago, the Roman Catholic church under Pope Paul 11 “conceded the theological debate to Luther: agreeing that it is by grace alone, in faith in Christ’s  saving work and not because of any merit on our part , we are accepted by God and receive the Holy Spirit.”

This was a significant step in mending an important theological difference separating the two churches. At this conference in Augsburg, Germany it was announced that there was agreement between Protestants and Roman Catholics regarding how one enters heaven. It was declared that salvation is the result of faith, and faith alone, and not a combination of faith plus one’s works. This was a startling concession by the Roman Catholic Church.

I share this because I recently was communicating with a Roman Catholic friend of mine who was upset by a comment I had made in quoting Isaiah 64:6 which states, “all our good works are as filthy rags.” I was making the point that no matter how good our good works may be, they will never be good enough to open the doorway to heaven.  

Our good works have nothing to do with our salvation. They are simply a product of our salvation. Our good works spring from our understanding  and acceptance of God’s  amazing grace that saves sinners such as you and I. When we realize what Christ did for us on the cross, we desire to show our love for Him by serving Him by serving others. 

It has been said that the only good work that saves is the good work that was done for us upon the cross.

What good work could the penitent thief do on the cross that might save him. The answer is none. His hands and feet were nailed to a cross, and there was nothing he could accomplish that could earn his way into heaven. So helplessly,  he tuned to Jesus saying, “Remember me when you come into your kingdom” (Luke 23:42). And Jesus turned to him and said, “Today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Luther and Pope Paul 11 were right. There is only one way to heaven and that is through “faith alone, by grace alone, through Christ alone. If you haven’t made that decision, and if you are trusting in your own efforts and your good works to help get you into heaven, stop trying and start trusting, and simply put you faith in Christ alone for your salvation.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

It is true that “faith without works is fruitless, but it is also true that works without faith is rootless.”

Leadership Thought: Do You Drop Your Money in a Box or in an Offering Plate, and What Difference Does It Make?

Dear Friends,

I have often wondered whether how you give in church makes a difference in what you give. Is giving impacted by whether you drop your gift in an offering box as you enter or leave the church, or place it in the offering plate as it is passed during the service?

As a Presbyterian pastor for over 30 years, I was always accustomed to introducing the offering from the pulpit, usually with a quote or a brief story on some aspect of stewardship. The ushers would then come forward, receive the plates, and pass them among the people as the choir sang what was called the Offertory. When the offering was completed, the ushers would march to the front of the church as the congregation sang the doxology, “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.”  Then a prayer was offered for the collected gifts, and the service would resume. 

This is the more formal style of the offering celebrated in most denominational churches today. But then I discovered a new way of receiving the offering, a lot more informal than I was used to, and I confess while I liked it better, I wasn’t sure why. Maybe being less formal and less traditional, (one who in the early 90’s riled up  some of his members by going robe less when leading worship), I liked the informality of dropping my gift in a receptacle.

But I confess there was always a part of me that missed the opportunity to participate in the more formal offering presentation where I would  offer a brief lesson on stewardship before distributing the plates.

When I left the Presbyterian denomination and headed to Calvary Chapel churches, both in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. and Old Bridge, N.J. the offering was simply dropped in wooden receptacles that were scattered throughout the church.

As a bottom-line thinker my thoughts turned to the question: Does how worshippers give have any bearing on how much is given?

I wondered if there was any statistical information on how the manner of our giving impacts the total amount given, results, and so I e-mailed Bob Whitesel who is my church consultation mentor with the question.

He indicated that because there are so many variables to the offering, not a lot of statistical information exists. Such variables as how much does the pastor emphasizes giving, if others are giving to the plate, and the church’s theology of giving, make it hard to analyze the impact.  Dr. Whitesel concluded with these words. “My hunch is that there is a reduction of maybe 15-20% through giving in a receptacle versus giving in a plate. This is because there’s some research that shows there is a guilt factor when the plate is passed before a person.”

So, if you are a bottom-line person you might prefer the formal offering. However, if you are the visitor who comes to church, and having the tired old refrain of “all the church cares about is my money,” you might be attracted to the low-key method of receiving the offering.

When all is said and done, the bottom line in collecting the offering is not how you give, but that you give. If your heart is right it matters not whether you drop your money into a box or a plate.

When Paul was preparing the Corinthian church to receive an offering, he reminded the church that, “Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

So, whether you sow into a plate or into a box, be sure and first check your heart. Why, because only your heart knows whether your giving makes God smile or frown, and that is the most important factor in counting up the money.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: A Valuable Lesson We All Can Learn from Last Night’s Super Bowl Game.

Dear Friends,

Mistakes, there were sure a lot of them in last night’s Super Bowl game. What was anticipated as being one of the greatest Super Bowl matchups ever, turned into a mistake laden game with the Chiefs looking every bit like they wanted to shoot themselves in the foot at every opportunity.

The Chiefs efforts to give the game away, began in the first half. They committed eight penalties for 95 yards, six of which gave the Bucs a first down. One penalty was an inexcusable a 34-yard pass interference penalty in the final seconds that set the Bucs up for a touchdown. The Chiefs also lined up in the neutral zone on a field goal attempt, giving the Bucs a free first down, which resulted in a Brady touchdown pass on the very next play to make it 14-3. Everyone who hoped for a game that would go down to the last second was disappointed, as Chief mistakes  proved too costly to overcome.

Unlike a number of his players who continually complained about the  penalties called on them, coach Reid had little in the way of excuses for his team’s poor performance. In as near and apology as a coach might make, Reid said, “It was a bad day to have a bad day.

Mistakes, we all make them, but those who make them and who are successful, are those who learn from them and don’t repeat them again. Hopefully this will be true for the Chief’s as well.

So often it is true that when we make a mistake, we try to hide it, much like the young Navy pilot on maneuvers who prior to take off, had been ordered by his commanding Admiral to maintain absolute radio silence with anyone engaged in the exercise. But one pilot mistakenly turned on his radio and was heard to utter, “Boy am I fouled up.”

The admiral grabbed the mic from the radio operator and said will the pilot who broke the radio silence identify himself immediately?”

There was a long silence, and then a voice was heard over the radio, “I may be fouled up, but I’m not that fouled up.”

I would often tell the students I taught and coached, when you make a mistake, admit it and learn from it. “Fess up when you mess up,” was hopefully a good reminder to them that it is better to admit our mistakes than to try and hide them. Covering them up is a waste of energy and generally only makes matters worse.

One of the greatest opportunities we have as believers is to be vulnerable enough to admit  and acknowledge our mistakes when me make them. It may be uncomfortable to be so transparent, but in doing so we provide a teachable moment from which others can learn.

Hopefully, Andy Reid’s players will learn from his honesty and be the better for it. Yes, “it was a bad day to have a bad day,” but tomorrow will be a better day if the Chiefs  learn not to make those same mistakes again.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom