Dear Friends,
I love the story John Maxwell shares about his father, Melvin,
who at one time was once the president of a Christian college. He describes his
dad as an enthusiastic “ball of fire.” He says his father didn’t know much
about music. He was tone deaf and couldn’t
sing very well, but whenever he did sing, he sang with great enthusiasm and
emotion.
One day at chapel the students had just finished singing
the doxology: “Praise God from whom all blessings flow,…Praise Father, Son and
Holy Ghost.” Upon its completion, his 85-year-old dad stood up and said, “Let’s
sing the second verse.” Much to his surprise, he discovered there is no second
verse to the doxology. “OK" he said,
“Well then let’s sing the first verse over again. John says he thought they sang that one verse over and
over again-at least five times- until his dad, was satisfied.
His dad died at 95, and on the 4th of July, a
fitting date for a man whom John says was a “fireworks kind of guy.”
I love people like that, don’t you? The kind of person who goes hunting for Moby Dick and takes the tartar sauce
with him.
In a church I once served a friend of mine was sitting beside
a staid and solemn church elder who never showed much enthusiasm or emotion of any
kind, let alone in worship. They were singing a high
tempo, hand clapping worship song, and my friend, who was used to expressing
his love for Jesus with much emotion and enthusiasm, respectfully turned to this man seated next to him,
and asked, “Do you mind if I raise my hands as I worship,” and surprisingly,
the man responded, “Yes I do.”
Now I hope this man never sits next to me in worship, for
like Melvin Maxwell, I can’t sing very well, but the one thing I can do is get
excited and enthusiastic, and yes, I have been known to dance a
time or two. So, my warning to you is if you are easily
embarrassed, don’t sit by me.
When George Whitfield, the famous Scottish preacher of
yesteryear, was getting the people of Edinburgh out of their beds at 5:00
o'clock in the morning to hear his preaching, there was a man on his way to the
Tabernacle who met the famous atheistic philosopher, David Hume. The man was
surprised to discover that Hume was also on his way to the Tabernacle to hear
Whitfield. He turned to Hume and said, “I thought you didn't believe in the
gospel.” Hume replied, “I don't, but he does.” That’s what passion
and enthusiasm will do
When we are passionate and excited about something, people
take notice. They want to know the source of our enthusiasm. There is nothing
quite as boring as a pastor in the pulpit who lacks enthusiasm in communicating
what he believes. It is just plain hard for me to listen to such a person.
Paul writes to the Roman church warning them, and us as
well: “Never be lazy in your work but serve the Lord enthusiastically” (Romans
12: 11, Living Bible translation).
He writes to the Colossians: Whatever you do, (even in
worship) work at it with all your heart (Colossians 3:23).
Whether in church, at school, in the office, or on the
athletic field, we need to be enthusiastic about what we are doing. As followers
of Jesus, we ought to be infected with a contagious kind of enthusiasm that
spreads and infects others. And if we are not ‘spreaders’ of such enthusiasm, then maybe it's time to check our spiritual
heartbeat and ask why.
Enthusiasm is a choice. Today I challenge you to be
enthusiastic, even if you don't feel enthusiastic, for it's easier to act
yourself into a new way of feeling, than to feel your way into a new set of
actions.
And when you do, don't forget to put a smile on your face,
and walk with a lilt, for I remind you that the living Lord Jesus resides in
the throne room of your heart.
Yahoo!
Yours enthusiastically,
Tom
P.S. The great UCLA basketball coach John Wooden said, “Your energy and enjoyment, drive and dedication, will stimulate and greatly inspire others.” It will not only inspire others, but it will inspire you to reach to new heights.
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