Leadership Thought: Thoughts on the Results of the Election

Dear Friends,

It’s 3:00 AM, and all last night and this morning I stayed up taking a  break from my self-motivated political news moratorium to watch the results of the election.

Although I had chosen not to watch political news for the last month and a half, it didn’t mean that I was not interested or concerned about the results of the election. I simply understood that all the political rhetoric and candidate bashing was raising my levels of anxiety and taking control of my life.

Yesterday in my Leadership Thought I exhorted Christians to tear down the political walls and help build bridges with those who may disagree with our political positions. I hope we will all strive to do that.

Whether you are a Democrat and disappointed with the election results, or a Republican who is now reveling in the outcome, we need to put aside our differences and come together to work to unify our nation.

We need to pray that President Trump will recognize the need to be gracious and charitable in addressing those who opposed him, and that he will take the lead in demonstrating a reconciling spirit toward those who were who hurt by the election results. As Christians, I encourage you to make that same prayer for yourself. May Christ lead you to be a solution to the division in our country rather than be an obstacle to that unity.

Unity is not uniformity. It does not mean that we will all agree on every issue, but it does mean that we will consciously use our different gifts and abilities to complement one another, rather than conflicting with one another

We may not always agree on every issue, but it’s important to recognize that there is a big difference between unity and uniformity. We can share a unity of spirit without necessarily always enjoying a uniformity of thought, expression, or opinion. We may not always agree with one another over an issue, but we must never allow our differences to divide and destroy our relationships or fracture our fellowship.

I love the words of the 17^th  century German theologian, Rupertus Mendentius, who wrote, “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; and in all things, charity.”

That would be a good motto to hang on our bathroom mirror to encourage us to bathe every difference or disagreement in the light of this principle.  

Unity is the hallmark of Christian love. It was a great concern of Christ before He went back to Heaven. Thus He prayed for all his disciples, and for all of us, that we might be one,  just as He (Christ) was one with the Father: “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them, and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity” (John. 17: 22-23).

This was Jesus’s prayer, and it ought to be ours as well. Let us glorify God through our unity, and let the world be amazed as they look into the windows of our schools, churches, businesses, homes, and marvel, saying, “See, how they love one another.”

Yours in faith,

Tom

Leadership Thought: It’s Election Day and How Will You Act Tomorrow?

Dear Friends

By now, saying that America is divided has become a cliche. But it's true. And it's something that seems to touch almost everybody in some way. According to the Pew Research Center, for example, these divisions even affect who people say they're willing to date or befriend. And the research says such divisions have only widened in recent years. (taken from the internet)

These words are not surprising to any of us except those who may have been sleeping under a rock.

Regardless of who wins the election, there will be a need to move forward, and I hope that believers will be in the forefront of championing peace and reconciliation.

Paul reminds us that “love is patient and kind" (1 Corinthians, 13: 4). He exhorts the Lord’s servant… “to be kind to everyone.” (Timothy. 2: 24.)  And in writing to the Ephesians, he encourages God’s servants to be, “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you” (Ephesians, 4: 32).

Yes, “if it is to be. It’s up to me,” and you, and you, and you…….

We know who is in control of our nation and it is not the Republicans or Democrats, but it is our sovereign Lord who rules and reigns this universe.

Whoever wins the elections, as Christians, let’s work to tear down walls and build bridges. Let’s reach out to one another in love regardless of our political views.

If we fight for our beliefs, let us use the weapon of love for that is the only weapon that will bring about reconciliation, and oh how we need that in today’s hate filled world.

In closing I remind you of a simple yet practical interpretation of the kind of love the world is looking for. It’s called kindness and as described by author and teacher Chuck Swindoll’s sister, it simply means “Be nice to one another, just be nice. Say nice things to one another.”

Simple words, so trite, but oh so true.

Yours faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: A Lesson on Redemptive Suffering from Last Night’s Life Group

Dear Friends,

It was a heavy Bible Study last night as 10 of us gathered around a kitchen table for our weekly Life Group Bible Study. We had been grappling with the death of a well-loved former member of our church who suddenly passed away from a heart attack, a family going through the divorce of a child, the death of an estranged daughter from her family, and this was only a part of some of the stories that were shared.

Midway through our study and overcome by some of these painful  experiences shared by those in our group, we suddenly ceased our  bible study and commenced a time of prayer for all of those difficult situations that so many of us  were going through.

This morning as I reflected on our emotional time together last night, I recalled an article I had recently read and saved from just a week ago. It was written by Pastor Rick Warren on the value of redemptive suffering, and I share it with you. Rick writes,

“When you’re going through pain, you can choose to focus on yourself or on other people. When you choose to focus on serving other hurting people, that’s called redemptive suffering. It is the highest and best use of your pain.” “No matter what pain you’ve gone through, Jesus wants to redeem your suffering. He doesn’t want it to be wasted! He wants to use it to help other people when they are in pain.”  “[God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. For the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with his comfort through Christ” (2 Corinthians 1:4-5 NLT).”  “Who’s better qualified to help a struggling veteran than somebody who’s been a struggling veteran? Who’s better qualified to help someone recovering from a prescription drug addiction than somebody who has recovered from a prescription drug addiction? Who could better help someone who is suffering from a chronic illness than someone who has also suffered in the same way?” “Your greatest ministry will come out of your deepest pain. If you’ll be honest with God, others, and yourself about whatever struggle you’ve faced, then that struggle will become your ministry.” “Sharing your strengths doesn’t make you feel any closer to someone. But when you share the experiences that have led you to surrender to God and rely on his strength, then you’ll be connected to others more deeply than you can imagine. Why? Because when you—as a broken person—share with other broken people how God has restored you, you’re not just sharing something you have in common. You’re sharing hope that other people can also experience redemption through Jesus Christ.” “Sharing your pain helps you and the people around you to grow in Christ. Using your pain to serve others is a form of ministry.” “Don’t waste your pain. Let God use it for your greatest ministry. I hope as you and I walk through our difficult times, we will remember Rick’s words knowing that, (“our greatest ministry will come out of our deepest pain)” not because it makes our suffering any easier, but because we recognize that God can use our painful experiences to bless and comfort others. Yours in faith and friendship, Tom

Leadership Thought: A Song That Changed My Heart and My Understanding of Gratitude

Dear Friends,

I first heard the song for the first time at a little country church in Smithville, N.Y., a few short miles from where our summer home  is located in Henderson Harbor, N.Y.

It was the first summer following my wife Jean’s passing, and I was pretty fragile emotionally.

I still recall how the words and how the music spoke to my heart as I sang it as loud as I could as if to convince me that even in the midst of the pain of my loss, I would still choose to be grateful.

And now whenever I hear that song as I did this past Sunday, I am filled with the same emotion I felt that summer of 2023.

One of my good friends plays on the worship team at a local church, and he invited me to worship there as he often does when he is playing. He knew my history, and he recognized I would be touched by the music, and he was right.

As we stood for the first song, and I saw those words flashed on the screen, I suddenly melted as I realized we were singing “Gratitude.”

No matter how many times I play this song at home, and I play it often, I find myself  overcome with emotion and this time was no different.

As the tears fell, and with hands lifted high in praise and worship,  I sang as loud as I could until, overcome with emotion, I had to stop for a moment to wipe away my tears and regain my composure.

I am no singer, but after the service two women in front of me turned and thanked me, expressing how much they appreciated hearing a man sing with such enthusiasm. That was a first for me, for those who know me well recognize I would be one of the last people asked to sing in a choir.

“All my words fall short. I got nothing new. How could I express all my gratitude?”

“I could sing these songs, as I often do, but every song must end, and You never do.”

“So, I throw up my hands and praise you again and again. Cause all that I have is a hallelujah, hallelujah.”

 “And I know it’s not much, but I have nothing else fit for a King except for a heart singing hallelujah, hallelujah.”

“I’ve got one response. I’ve got just one move. With my arm outstretched, I will worship you.”

And then when the chorus comes, I shout out at the top of my voice

“So come on, my soul. Oh, don’t you get shy on me, lift up your song ‘cause’ you’ve got a lion inside of those lungs. Get up and praise the Lord.”

And as I sing those words, I am reminded that within me exists the powerful roaring strength of a lion which enables me to express my deepest praise and thanks to God even when my words might fall short.

In a world Filled with such division, it’s good to be reminded that we still have so many things for which to be grateful.

 The gift of gratitude extends beyond ourselves.

Colossians  3:14-15, the apostle Paul writes to the church: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you are called in one body. And be thankful… and whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.”

Many of us have been the recipients  of different  expressions of kindness and often times those acts may go unnoticed or unacknowledged.

I would encourage you to take time today to thank those who share those gifts of kindness, no matter how small those acts may be.

But don’t only be content with being thankful when you are on the receiving end.

Be sure and take the initiative to write or tell one person each day why you are thankful for them. Maybe it’s a parent, a child, a coworker, a pastor, a stranger or your spouse remembering that sometimes it’s the people who are closest to us who need to hear it the most.

And by the way, did you know that research has shown that gratitude improves your mood and physical health? But beyond this gratitude is a wonderful way to express our love and worship to our Heavenly Father.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

www.youtube.com › watchGratitude - Brandon Lake - Lyric Video - YouTube