Leadership Thought: Be Careful to Wrap the Truth in Love When Witnessing

Dear Friends,

"Choose being kind over being right and you will be right every time."  I memorized this quote by Richard Carlson because I believe it is an important principle to keep in mind when witnessing.

When I first read this quote, I thought of Paul's words to the Corinthians: "Knowledge puffs up but love builds up. (1 Corinthians 8:1). How important it is  to keep a balance between knowledge (truth) and love. 

It is so true that "Knowledge can become a weapon to hurt people or a tool to build them up."  Chapter by Chapter Bible Commentary, Warren Wiersbe, p. 749.

How often I have watched people try to argue others into the Kingdom with biblical truth rather than loving them into the Kingdom through a biblical life. It is certainly far easier and more convenient to speak the truth than to live the truth, but we must do both if we are to be successful witnesses for Christ. Truth is important when sharing your faith, but we must always be careful to wrap the truth in love.

Howard Newton reminds us that "Truth is the art of making a point without making an enemy," and all Christians need to learn this principle. We can be right, but we can never be unloving for as Paul writes we must always "speak the truth in love" (Ephesians 4:15).

When the newly formed church in Antioch needed some doctrinal grounding, the church in Jerusalem sent Barnabas to visit Antioch. Why Barnabas? I think it was because he was a loving truth teller, and because, while grounded in doctrine, the church knew he wouldn't use his knowledge as a club. They knew that he would be as interested in loving them as changing them. Barnabas was loving, accepting and flexible, and no doubt he developed a real ministry among that church where believers were first called Christians. It was the church at Antioch that sent the first missionaries into Europe.

Fortunately, Barnabas knew that truth always needs to be balanced with love, a love that tolerated those who may think differently, act differently, worship differently, and even believe differently.

Christians must learn to disagree without becoming disagreeable. We can witness to others by the way we 'disagree' with them.

This reminds me of the story involving Bishop Pike who for many years was a strong defender of biblical truth. However, in later years, he renounced biblical orthodoxy in favor of sciences and other non-biblical revelations. Before his death he was involved in a debate with a well-known Christian scholar who absolutely devastated him intellectually. The man ground him up and spit him out. He made Bishop Pike look like a fool, and the sad thing was that he didn't stop when Pike was down, but instead he kept whipping him and beating on him. Some of those who came to the debate as defenders of orthodox truth began losing their respect for the man who was acting so ungraciously, and before long some of them were even siding with Bishop Pike. As a result of the debate, the embarrassed Pike became even more adamant and convinced of his beliefs. The Christian won the argument, but he lost a soul in the process

Later in the same year Bishop Pike was involved in another debate, but this time it was with Francis Schaeffer from La'bri, the Swiss theologian and churchmen who was not only known for his grace and wisdom, but for his orthodox religious beliefs. Orthodox but loving, Schaeffer debated Bishop Pike's belief system graciously and lovingly. He pointed out the errors and Pikes belief system, but he did it in a charitable and non-dogmatic fashion. He would make his point and then he would back off, always giving Bishop Pike the opportunity to respond.

Do you know where Bishop Pike was headed before he mysteriously died in the desert? He was going to La'bri to sit at the feet and learn from Francis Schaeffer. 

Let us be reminded once again of the words of the 16th century theologian who wrote, "In essentials unity; In non- essentials liberty; In all things, charity.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Have You Heard about the School That Was Named After the Janitor? 

Dear Friends,

What’s in the name?  Well, let’s ask Steve Hartman. When folks in Swedeborg, Mo. decided to name their elementary school building, everyone knew it had to be named after someone truly special.

When you have your name on a building that’s huge. The name  would have to be named after someone who was significant, right? .

Throughout history there’ve been many national figures who fit that bill. Also, there are lots of famous Missourians who would have been great choices to have their names inscribed over the front door of the school. But in the end, they went with Claudine Wilson.

Who is that, you might ask?  Meet school custodian, Claudine Wilson.

One of the school students said of her, “You can get her a vacuum cleaner, and she’ll appreciate it because she really likes cleaning.”

Another student commented, “Yeah, she’s like in the zone. She focuses, and she just really dedicates herself to the school.”

Her principal said, “She has given so much to the school, and over the past 30 years, she has taken on a busload of additional responsibilities from transportation coordination, often driving a bus when needed, to filling in for absent secretarial staff.”

From lunch duty to landscaping, from facility operations to fill in operator, she is always doing something to make the school better.

Claudine, Swedeborg’s school janitor does it all. Her “How  can I help you,” is a constant reminder that she is always seeking to help make things better for others.

She says, "I just keeps finding ways to serve others and the next thing I know, I was leaving at 6 in the morning and getting home about 7:30 at night.”

And what’s your motivation for doing all that?” she was asked.

“The kids, the kids; they are always in your heart.”

That’s what makes Claudine who she is, a servant of others.

School board president Chuck Boren says, “When these kids get sick, you think they go to the nurse to start with? No, they go to her. If they’ve had a bad night they go to her. I mean, she’s there for each and every one of them.

And after all, that’s why the school board voted unanimously for the new name of the school to be the Claudine Wilson School.

There’s really only one person in this whole community who remains unconvinced that Claudine deserves this honor: it’s Claudine!

She says, “It touches your heart, but I don’t think my name needs to be up on a building somewhere.”

 So, we’ll add humility to one of the reasons why her name needs to be up there.

In America, names on buildings often inspire greatness. The Swedeborg educational leaders define greatness a little differently than most people do.

“Would you want to be like her,” a student was asked?

“Yeah, that’s what everybody should want to be, you know, that’s what I would want to be, also.”

When I heard this news story yesterday morning on one of the news' channels, I thought it was just too good not to be shared.

Claudine is an example of a servant leader, who like Jesus, came to serve and help others,

Claudine, is more than just a successful person with a building named after her, she is significant, notable, and unforgettable,

It has been said “a leader serves by leading and leads by serving,” and a leader she is. She is the kind of servant leader who places others’ agendas above her own. Servant leaders always give more than they take, and they are always looking to serve and add value to others. They make others better.

An English, nobleman Sir Bartell Fere, served as governor of Bombay, India, in the 1860’s. He was known by both family and acquaintances as the ‘helpful man.’ On one occasion when he was returning from a long trip, his wife sent a newly hired servant to meet him and help him with his baggage. "How shall I know Sir Bartell?” asked the servant. The governor’s wife responded, “Look for a tall gentleman helping somebody.”

Let us never forget that like Claudine, “serving (and helping) others prepares us to lead others.” James Autry, from Practicing Servant Leadership.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom 

Leadership Thought: A Lesson in Blind Spot Recognition

Dear Friends,

The story of David Ross, a mostly a backup catcher for 8 different baseball teams over 15 seasons, is an interesting one.

Halfway through his career, he was cut by the Cincinnati Reds because it was said he was a bad teammate who never made others better. He eventually became the catcher for the Chicago Cubs helping them to win a World Series in 2016, and later managing them from 2000-2023.

After the experience of being cut by the Reds, one of the things he learned was how he could make other people better.

He knew if he could learn how to be a better teammate, he might have a greater future in the game of baseball.

Following being let go by the Reds, Ross committed to improving himself.  He went to the Atlanta Braves, opened a whiteboard, and started asking everybody who came through the locker room doors about the greatest teammate they ever had. He asked them to give him three words to describe that teammate, and he then proceeded to build a list of what it meant to be  a great teammate. And every day he took the field, whether he played or not, he checked the boxes while determining to be the kind of teammate that would make others better. And what he learned was that one can become invaluable without ever being most valuable.

You can become special in any organization if you commit to making others on your team better. Using that check list every day over the next few years, Ross not only became a better teammate, he became a great teammate and one of the team’s most valuable players.

Other teams now  wanted him, not so much because of his playing ability for he wasn’t the greatest of  players, but because he made the locker room better. He made the environment better.

After the Cubs won game 7 in the 2016 World Series against Cleveland, the players carried him off the field on their shoulders and named him the team's most valuable player. Why? Because he made other people better.

What was the leadership quality that David possessed? It was his ability to acknowledge his character blind spot and then do something about it. He was willing to admit he was a bad teammate and address it. Instead of saying, It’s the coaches fault or the managers fault or it’s someone else’s fault, he  actually owned his character issue. He said, “I know what I need to improve; and it’s myself, and I am going to do something about it.” He took ownership of his blind spot and addressed it, and in doing so he made a better future for himself.  

When was the last time you learned something for the first time and what was it?

It's hard for a leader at the top of his or her game to take time to learn those things about themselves they don’t see, but which are so obvious to others.

The reason that most leaders don’t see their blind spot(s) is because most leaders don’t like to admit they possess them. We all have blind spots, and it takes a strong leader to acknowledge them, and make the necessary changes to address them.

Good leaders are willing to ask others to help reveal to them their blind spot(s) and then do something to address them before they lead to one’s downfall. Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a traumatic moment, like losing your job as David did, to realize what needs to be repaired within.

There are many potential blind spots a leader may be unable to recognize-ignoring feedback, communication style, favoritism, micromanaging, neglecting work/life balance, avoiding conflict, anger issues…and only a secure leader is willing to ask others for ‘blind spot feedback’ like David did, but sometimes doing so can make the difference between success and failure.

I close with the wise words of Beth Moore, who said, “If you and I can’t think of the last time we we’re wrong than we’re losing our grip on reality.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Have You Said, "I'm Thankful Yet?"

Dear Friend,

Our lives are different because  of 11 men who were committed to share a message that would change the world. 

Down through the years, the wonderful, good news of the gospel has been  passed on to those who would then pass it on to others and one day it was passed on to  you  and you became a beneficiary of that good news. 

Maybe it happened in church, in school, in an office, or like me, at a conference.

As you look back at that special moment, most of you can remember a person(s) who was instrumental in the decision you made.

For me it was a college football player, Chuck Beale. He was a teammate of mine, who had heard the message, and was on fire to share it. It was his enthusiasm and determination to be used by God that resulted in his passing on the message that was passed on to him. And today I am so grateful  he did.

You probably have a Chuck in your life-someone who influenced you to follow Jesus. Maybe they were the ones who shared Jesus with you and you accepted Him. Or maybe like me, the person influenced you to explore the faith and you did, and as a result you came to know Jesus.

What happened forever changed your life and mine, and it all began with someone God used to impact and influence you decision to follow Christ.

Jesus called His disciples to go into the world and make disciples, and we are the products of that call. The message those disciples shared with the world is the same message you and I heard and our response to it has changed our lives for all eternity.

So, my question to you this Thanksgiving morning is have you thanked the one who passed along the message to you? Does that person know your life is different because of his or her words, prayers, or actions?

I hope so. But if you have never taken the time to thank that faithful witness maybe today is the day you should do so.

As you read the words of  “Thank You” by Ray Boltz, I encourage you to think of that person(s) who played a part in your coming to Christ and take a moment to prayerfully thank them and then pick up a pen, or the phone and share a personal thank you with that special person(s) who helped make such a difference in your life.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was changed.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am so glad you gave.

                   “One by one, they came as far as the eyes could see,

                   “Each life somehow touched by your generosity.

                   “Little things that you had done, sacrifices made,

                   “Unnoticed on the Earth, in heaven now proclaimed.

                   “Thank you for giving to the Lord, I am a life that was

                     changed.”  

And just as the message was shared with you, may you  commit to sharing and passing it along to others who like you, will say “Thank you, I’m so glad you did.”

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Tony Campolo's Passing and a Message That Will Make You Laugh and Cry

Dear Friends,

Some of you might know of Tony Campolo, who recently passed away on November 19^th at age 89. His writing and speaking had a significant impact on me personally and professionally. Although his theology changed over time, as he moved from a more conservative evangelical persuasion to a more liberal and social activist position, I was always grateful for the impact he had on my life. I always admired and respected his heart for the poor and oppressed and the often-forgotten people of our world.

Ryan Burge, a former American Baptist pastor and an associate professor of political science at Eastern Illinois University said “Tony forwarded the legacy of the social gospel, and that he was one of the most talented and sought-after preachers in the United States for several decades…… He was able to speak to audiences from all corners of American Christianity reminding them of the radical grace and forgiveness that is found in the Gospel.”

Tony spent six decades as a pastor, author and professor at Eastern University  while pastoring the Mount Carmel Baptist Church, a predominately black church in the inner city of Philadelphia.

During the later years of his life, his conservative theology became more liberal, and consequently this change alienated some of his former followers.

He acknowledged later in life the feeling of being an evangelical  was not an umbrella he  fit under, and so he coined the term "red-letter Christian" to describe his ministry. The idea, he said, was to re-focus his teaching on Jesus's biblical teachings regarding  the poor and oppressed segments of our society.  The "red-letter" refers to the New Testament verses sometimes printed in red in the bible to indicate words attributed to Jesus Christ.

In many of the more than three dozen books he wrote, he focused on Christ's teachings about uplifting the poor, while also challenging the church to become more engaged in ministering to the needs of the suffering and oppressed people of our world. 

While Tony was at odds with some mainstream conservative theology, few could doubt his passion and the sincerity of his faith that motivated his efforts to serve the oppressed and forgotten segments of our world.

Several times Tony visited a church I pastored in New Jersey, and I and our people were always blessed and challenged by his messages.

Tony was the most powerful and persuasive speaker I have ever known, and while I disagreed with some of his more liberal theological views, I embraced and respected him for his faithful proclamation of the gospel, and for the positive differences he was making in people’s lives.

The first time I heard Tony speak was at a Creation Summer Festival in a large open field somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania. I don’t remember much of what he said, but I do remember how he made me feel. His message was on radical discipleship and when he finished, I was ready to give away everything I had and move to Haiti where he was helping to build a Christian school and hospital.

Tony’s enthusiasm was contagious, and in my mind, he was unmatched when it came to challenging his hearers to get up and get going and get doing something to serve Jesus.

Was his theology conservative like mine? No. Was he without controversy, certainly not, but whenever and wherever he preached, he moved his hearers to respond to Jesus’ call for commitment and kingdom service.

I know I can learn from those who don’t always think or believe exactly as I do, and I have learned much from my friend, and I am grateful for him and his ministry and for the indelible mark he has left upon my life.

I encourage you to take a listen to the message below that will leave you both laughing and crying as Tony shares the seven-minute story about the night he planned a three-a.m. birthday party for a prostitute in a Honolulu bar.

I hope you’ll take a few moments to listen to an old friend. I think you will be glad you did.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Tony Campolo - Party with Prostitutes