Leadership Thought: Who's Your Daddy?

Dear Friends,

I had just returned from the awards ceremony at Calvary Christian Academy in Fort Lauderdale where I was the athletic director, and even to this day I still remember my amazement over the award that was given to a student in our school.  He had won the “most improved” award. What surprised me about the award was that this young man had been one of the greatest teaching challenges in the school. Often unruly, and possessing an uncompliant attitude, he was almost impossible to teach. 

I was particularly interested in how this student who had earned such a bad reputation could have earned this award, and as coincidence would have it, one of his teachers was standing right next to me, so I asked him, “What brought about this remarkable transformation?"

The teacher began by telling me, “I just determined to love on him.” He told me that every opportunity he had, he found something to praise and affirm him for. He said, “It wasn’t always easy, and there were times when I wasn’t sure my efforts were paying off, but I kept at it and kept at it.”

I’ve long forgotten the student’s name and the teacher who told me the story, but what I do remember is how one man’s words had changed a young person’s life.

Not long after this incident I came across a story that has always been one of my favorites. It powerfully expresses the power of words to impact one’s life. It was told by a well-known pastor named Fred Craddock, and the story has made its rounds on the internet, so you may have read it or heard it preached. According to Snopes, and I checked it this morning, it is true.  

One morning Dr. Craddock was vacationing with his wife in Gatlinburg, TN. They were eating breakfast at a little restaurant hoping to enjoy a quiet family meal. While they were waiting for their food, they noticed a distinguished looking white-haired man moving from table to table, visiting with the guests. The professor leaned over and whispered to his wife, “I hope he doesn’t come over here.” But sure enough, the man did come over to their table. “Where are you folks from?” he asked in a friendly voice.

 Oklahoma,” they answered. “Great to have you here in Tennessee,” the stranger said.

“What do you do for a living?”

 “I teach at a seminary,“ he replied.

 “Oh, so you teach preachers how to preach, do you? Well, I’ve got a great story for you.” And with that, the gentleman pulled up a chair and sat down at the table with the couple.

The professor groaned and thought to himself, “Great……Just what I need- another preacher story.” The man started, “See that mountain over there pointing out the restaurant window. Not far from the base of that mountain, there was a boy born to an unwed mother. He had a hard time growing up, because every place he went, he was always asked the same question, ‘Hey boy, Who’s your daddy?” “Whether he was at school, in the grocery store or drug store, people would ask the same question, ‘Who’s your daddy?’

He would hide at recess and lunchtime from other students. He would avoid going into stores because that question hurt him so badly. When he was about 12 years old, a new preacher came to his church. He would always come in late and slip out early to avoid hearing the question, ‘Who’s your daddy?’ But one day, the new preacher said the benediction so fast he got caught and had to walk out with the crowd.

Just about the time he got to the back door, the new preacher, not knowing anything about him, put his hand on his shoulder and asked him, ‘Son, who’s your daddy?’ The whole church got deathly quiet. He could feel every eye in the church looking at him. Now everyone would finally know the answer to the question, ‘Who’s your daddy.’ This new preacher, though, sensed the situation around him and using discernment that only the Holy Spirit could give, said the following to that scared little boy.

“’Wait a minute!’ he said. ‘I know who you are. I see the family resemblance now. You are a child of God. With that he patted the boy on his shoulder and said, ‘Boy, you’ve got a great inheritance. Go and claim it.’” With that, the boy smiled for the first time in a long time and walked out the door a changed person. He was never the same again.

Whenever anybody asked him, ‘Who’s your Daddy?’ he’d just tell them, ‘I’m a Child of God’” The distinguished gentleman got up from the table and said, “Isn’t that a great story?”

The professor responded that it really was a great story.

As the man turned to leave, he said, “You know, if that new preacher hadn’t told me that I was one of God’s children, I probably never would have amounted to anything!” And he walked away.

The seminary professor and his wife were stunned. He called the waitress over and asked her, “Do you know who that man was who just left that was sitting at our table?”

The waitress grinned and said, l “Of course. Everybody here knows him. That’s Ben Hooper. He’s the former governor of Tennessee!”

Maybe someone in your life today needs a reminder that they’re one of God’s children!

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Whether a Hug, or a Handshake, or Just the Touch of a Hand on the Shoulder-Give It!

Dear Friends,

Thanks for those of you who responded to yesterday's Leadership Thought addressing how to welcome church visitors. One of those responses came from a former New Monmouth Church member Karen Bottari who wrote "If it wasn't for Bill Roberts who knows where I might have ended up?"

Karen was referring to a beloved leader in our church who would stand in the doorway to the sanctuary and hug everyone who would enter. It was not just a casual hug, mind you, but a giant bear hug that almost left you breathless. 

Now not everyone might be up for that kind of welcome to the church, however, like Karen, few people would ever forget its impact. When you were hugged by Bill, you knew you were loved.

Bill passed away a number of years ago, and to this day people still talk about how his hug made them feel loved and special.

The other day I was visiting a church member on hospice, and before I left both I and her husband took her hands and prayed, and the expression on her face communicated it all: "I feel loved and comforted and cared for."

Now one doesn't have to welcome visitors with a giant bear hug to make them feel welcome in church. I know some who are just not the hugger 'type,' and for them maybe a handshake is the best form of greeting they can offer, and that's OK. It’s the touch that counts! A hug, a handshake, or as I shared yesterday, just a soft hand on a shoulder will do.

"Human touch is a basic, a primal need. It calms our nervous system, slows down our heartbeat, lowers blood pressure, and reduces stress. Touch deprivation is correlated with negative health outcomes, such as anxiety, depression and immune system disorders." Quoted from "Psychology Today," The Vital Importance of Touch, Aug 3, 2021.

As Isaac was offering a blessing to his son whom he thought was Esau and not Jacob, we hear him saying, "Come near now, and kiss me, my son." Genesis 27:26

Every formal blessing offered in the Jewish home involves some form of tender, meaningful touch as an expression of love.

Author and teacher Jon Courson writes, "In a study of girls who had numerous unwanted pregnancies, a common denominator was found: they all had fathers who did not show them affection. Consequently, they sought this missing ingredient in the arms of strangers." A pure and tender touch upon our kids is so important. That's why Jesus didn't call out a blanket blessing upon the children who were brought to Him. He tenderly and lovingly touched them. Mark 10:13  Jon Courson's Application Commentary of the Old Testament  

Let us never underestimate the power of the touch for whether it's an old-fashioned Bill Roberts bear hug, or a handshake, or even just a hand on a shoulder for it might just be the beginning of a journey you and your recipient will never forget.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Some Reflections on My Recent Trip to Florida and a Church and School That Makes Me Proud 

Dear Friends,

In case you were wondering about what happened to Leadership Thoughts, I took some time off writing to visit friends and family in Georgia and Florida.

After two weeks of traveling a little over 2700 miles and visiting ten cities and spending time with almost 40 people, my days of living out of a suitcase are over.

Late last Wednesday my little dog Maggie and I arrived home  after a lengthy 12-hour drive from Savannah to Shrewsbury.

Maggie and I took our third trip to Florida, the first one shortly after Jean passed away. These annual trips have provided an opportunity for me to visit friends in Fort Lauderdale where I served for eight years as pastor, athletic director and chaplain of Calvary Christian Academy.

Begun as a ministry of Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, the school is now the largest Christian school in the country with over 2,500 students.

I especially wanted to be present this year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the school’s beginning.

It was an incredible experience to be back once again and to meet with so many of those friends Jean and I made while being a part of the rapid growth and development of the school.

The school started with 200 students in 2000 and  quickly doubled to 400 the following year as enrollment and facilities continued to grow and be developed.

I coached my first basketball team in 2002, and we played our home games on an outdoor court while the gym was being constructed.

Today the school has three gyms and a basketball team that has won two Florida state championships. Two years ago, the team was the number two ranked team in the country among all public and private schools, and this year they are ranked 3rd nationally with a 26-1 record. 

While there, I watched the team win their semifinal state game by 20 points, and I was amazed by the athletic talent the team possesses. With one Mc Donald's All American, and another four-star recruit along with several other players who will be heading to division 1 or 2 schools, the basketball program has  continued to develop a reputation for excellence.

Blessed with outstanding financial resources, the school recently completed the building of a 7-million-dollar field house equipped with a state-of-the-art training room with three full-time trainers. The locker rooms are as fine as you would find in any major college. Upstairs there are 16 offices for coaches and athletic administrators. The athletic director who followed me told me he has 90 coaches,  and he schedules 900 athletic events each year. 

The Field House overlooks a beautiful football facility with a gigantic college size scoreboard and a large press box and stands that will accommodate over 4,000 fans. Having won two state baseball titles, and  another in track and field, the school continues to excel athletically.

But what I am proudest of is the school’s continued commitment to the academic and spiritual development of their students. Having developed a reputation for excellence, the school has taken over and revitalized five area private schools that were ready to close, and each one of those schools is now excelling with growing enrollments and they are all on sound financial footing.

Yes, I am bragging about the church and the school, but I genuinely feel honored to have played a small part of the school and church’s success, something I attribute to leadership's unwavering commitment to put Christ first in everything they do.

The Lord always blesses when we put Him first and allow Him to lead and guide our decisions.

For many years the church was led by a dynamic pastor who was well known for his communication gifts.

Every weekend all three services were generally filled in a sanctuary that seated 3200. With the addition of 8 satellite churches, there were well over 20,000 worshiping each week. 

The dynamic pastor was one of the most gifted teachers in the country, and the church was experiencing phenomenal growth, but then it happened.

In 2014 this gifted pastor was brought down by  moral failure, and when it was discovered, he was immediately asked to resign.

There was no compromising of spiritual values in spite of the fact that the church had been largely built on this man's amazing pulpit gifts. Some in the church were concerned about what would happen if he were no longer in the pulpit, and they urged discipline and restoration as an option. Some asked how could the church afford to maintain a 75 acre campus without this man in the pulpit, but the church stood firm and refused to compromise, and while they initially lost 15% of their congregation over the next year, they discovered that God would honor their spiritual integrity and their commitment to being faithful to His ways, and today the church and school are stronger than ever.

There is a Chinese proverb that states. " If the roots are deep, there should be no fear that the wind will uproot the tree."

Proverbs 10:9 should be a good reminder to every believer. "People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall."

Yes, integrity provides stability. Each step away from a life of integrity is a step closer to a slippery slope that leads into a sinful lifestyle.

How proud I am today to have been a part of a church and a school that views every action and every decision through the lens of integrity. Thanks Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale and Calvary Christian Academy for teaching me those values of integrity; they are values that will never be forgotten.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: How A-I Could Change the Way We Communicate

Today’s Leadership Thought took only a few seconds to write. (Please don't write me and say, "it shows”). Read until the end and you’ll see how I did it. I’m amazed, and I think you will be too.

Dear Friends,

Today, I want to share a thought on evangelizing unbelievers. It's a topic that can often make us uneasy, yet it’s one of the most important responsibilities we have as followers of Christ. The truth is, if we truly believe in the hope of the Gospel, then we must be compelled to share it with those who haven’t heard or accepted it yet. We must be willing to step outside of our comfort zones and love others enough to speak the truth in love.

In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gave us the Great Commission, saying, "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you." Notice, He didn’t say to wait for people to come to us, but rather to go to them. Evangelism is an active command, not a passive one. We are to go out into the world and make disciples—introducing others to the life-changing message of Jesus Christ.

But how do we do this? In 1 Peter 3:15, we are reminded, "But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you." This passage reminds us that we are to be prepared. Evangelism isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about being ready to speak about the hope we have in Christ. It’s about living lives that reflect His love so clearly that people ask us about the difference He makes in our lives.

So, as you go about your day, think about who in your life needs to hear the good news. It might be a neighbor, a coworker, or even a family member. Don’t shy away from sharing the hope you have—sometimes the smallest word of encouragement can plant a seed that grows into something much bigger.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

                                      See below how this message was produced 

To produce this message, I simply clicked on Chat.gpt and typed the following: "Provide me a leadership thought in Tom Crenshaw's style of writing that deals with evangelism to the unchurched and includes two scripture verses." Almost instantaneously I was amazed to discover the answer to my request appeared on my computer screen in the form of today's Leadership Thought.

The background for this message was derived from recent conversations with professor Bob Whitesel, my church consultant mentor and friend in North Carolina, and my son, Tommy, who is a history teacher and who is involved in a risk assessment study of the positive and negative consequences of using A-I in the classroom. The question for today’s educators is how can you grade a student's writing if you are not certain whether it was self-produced and not just the result of A-I plagiarism?

A-I, which is like google search on steroids,  is going to produce seismic changes in the way our world will function. This is just one such example when it comes to communication.

And no, in case you are wondering, I will continue to write and express myself “the old-fashioned way,” thinking, reflecting, researching and sometimes laboring to write something of biblical leadership value for those who might be on the reading end. However, I must confess that there may be some early morning times, when like today, I find myself tempted to click on ChatGPT, send out a Leadership Thought  and secure a few hours of added sleep!

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Comments welcome

Leadership Thought: Why I Don’t Believe in Tithing.

Dear Friends.

Recently one of our pastors taught a message on stewardship, and I applauded him for his sermon as many pastors are reluctant to talk about money and giving. I confess that I have never been one of them.

I well remember the stewardship sermon I preached one Sunday in a church I served. It was on tithing, and much to the surprise of the congregation, it was on Mother’s Day. To this day they are still talking about that message. Although I never felt pastors should shy away from talking about giving, the response I received was a good reminder that Mother’s Day might not be the best time to do it.

Jesus was never uncomfortable talking about “money matters” because he knew that money matters! He spoke more about giving than he did about heaven, hell and faith combined, so he must have felt that it was important. 

It has been said, “We are most like God when we give and most unlike Him when we withhold.”

Each of us is called to be a steward of what God has given us. We are simply God’s money managers, and we are responsible for how we handle what He has given us.

As stewards of God’s riches, He expects us to be faithful, for that is the first requirement of a steward. The resources we enjoy our not our own, they are God’s for God own’s everything. We only manage what he gives us.

How faithful are we in handling what God has given us?

Are we being good and faithful servants in the way we handle His resources?

With these thoughts in mind, you might ask is there any benchmark we should consider when it comes to our giving? 

Is the tithe or the giving of 10 percent of our income the goal of our giving? After all, this was what the Old Testament Jew gave. But I would ask you can we who live on this side of the cross be expected to give anything less than then the Old Testament Jew who lived in the shadow of the cross?

My answer to that question is no. I believe the tithe is a good place to begin our giving.

It is true that tithing in the New Testament is neither directly commanded nor rescinded. But I would point out that every New Testament example of giving goes beyond the tithe and none falls short of it.

I would ask does God expect his New Covenant children to give less or more that the Jew living under the Old Covenant?  Should  we as believers lower the standard? Jesus raises the spiritual bar. He never lowers it.  Can we who possess the Holy Spirit and who live in the wealthiest country in the world, give anything less than the tithe?

Let me quote from Randy Alcorn’s wonderful book The Treasure Principle. “The tithe  is God’s historical method to get on the path of giving. It’s unhealthy to view tithing as a place to stop, but it can be a good place to begin. Even under the first Covenant it wasn’t a stopping place for the Jews who also gave additional offerings beyond the tithe.  Tithing is not the ceiling for giving; it’s the floor. It is not the finish line of giving; it is just the starting blocks. Tithing can be the training wheels to launch us into the mind set skills and habit of grace giving.”

"Grace giving" should be sacrificial giving. Paul says of the Macedonian Christians in  2 Cor 8:2-5  "Although they were going through hard times, and were very poor, they were glad to give generously. They gave as much as they could afford, and even more.  Simply because they wanted to. They even asked and begged us to let them have the joy of giving their money for God’s people.  And they did more than we had hoped.  They gave themselves first to the Lord, and then to us , just as God wanted them to do."  

I believe the Macedonian example should be the model for our giving. Our giving should be generous, sacrificial, and motivated by our love for others. It may be more than the tithe, or it might be less than the tithe, but whatever it is, it will represent a worthy sacrifice in light of the sacrifice Jesus has made for each of us.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

P.S. Save your e-mails. I'm getting out of town and heading to Florida!!!!!!!!

Leadership Thought: A Touching Story, Disappointment, and the Good News of Salvation 

Dear Friends,

John Courson in his Life Application New Testament Commentary shares a touching story about his son Benjamin.

When my son Benjamin was four years old, he was completely and wonderfully obsessed with Bible stories and Bible characters. If you came to our house, chances are you would have seen Benjamin wearing what looked suspiciously like a burlap sack. That was his David outfit. He was David for a good part of each day. Then he would become Joshua, marching around and knocking down the building block walls. He loved Bible stories in a way that blew me away. Once on his "Special Day," I said, "Benjamin, where do you want to go? Do you want to go to the park? Do you want to go to McDonald's playland?"

"No, he wanted to go to the Christian bookstore. So that's where we went. We  spent two hours there, with Benjamin sitting on the floor looking at books and playing with puzzles. After watching Benny's enthusiasm, Fred, the owner, offered to hire him!

 Thus, it was not surprising that  after every service, Benjamin would head for the bookstore at Applegate Christian Fellowship. One week, he saw something that had escaped his notice in all of his previous visits.

Way up in the top shelf sat a Bible Nintendo game. Intrigued as he studied the picture of Noah and the ark, Joshua and Jericho, Jonah and the whale on the cover, Benjamin brought it home

Now, at four years of age, Benny was not very adept at video games, but he patiently and laboriously pushed the buttons and tried to advance to the different levels where he could see Noah's Ark sail, and Jericho's walls tumble down. After a couple of hours, however, frustration began to cloud his face. Finally, he said to my wife, Tammy, "Mommy, get a piece of paper and write down what I tell you. I want to send a letter to the bookstore?" This is what he said

“Dear Bookstore

 I am talking about Nintendo. Please help me to get to Goliath. Please help me to get to the flood of Noah and help the animals to go two by two. I am Benjamin. I am only four. Don't you know that? Bye, Bye, bookstore. I love you, bookstore.”

What a sweet and heartfelt letter. Frustrated that he didn’t receive the results he expected, Bemjamin wanted to know how to achieve his heart's desire.

Benjamin was disappointed because the game didn't end the way he thought it would.

Unfortunately, like Benjamin, there will also be many others who will be disappointed when they discover they didn’t receive what they expected. They stand face to face with the Lord thinking they are going to enter heaven, only to hear those disappointing words: “I never knew you.”

They have built their hopes for heaven on a false sense of security. They go to church, pray, help others, try to keep the 10  commandments, and genuinely live a morally good life. If you asked them about their life, they would say they certainly deserve and expect to go to heaven because of the way they had  lived their life.

Unfortunately, these people, like Benjamin, will suddenly be  surprised and disappointed to hear the Lord say, “Depart from Me.  I never knew you.” (Matthew 7:23)

They have assumed that all those wonderfully good works they  had conscientiously done throughout their lifetime will be enough to earn their way into heaven, never realizing that their works, while they may be good, will never be good enough to open the doorway to heaven.

Jesus says, “You must be perfect even as your heavenly Father is perfect,” and measured against that standard everyone falls short.

So, there must be another way, and there is. But it will never be through trying, but only through trusting-trusting in Christ and Him alone for your salvation.

Paul writes, “You were saved by faith in God , who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” (Ephesians 2:8-9, Promise Translation).

Eternal life is a “free” gift, not because of anything we have done, but because of everything He has done.

Paul writes, “He saved us not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit. (Titus 3:5)

Jesus says your works, no matter how good or how many they may be, will never be good enough to save you. Everything you need to be saved has already been done for you on a cross where Jesus bled and died for you and your sins. He loves you, and all you have to do is to accept that love.

The ABC’s of salvation are simple. Accept that Jesus died for your sins, Believe God raised Him from the dead, and Confess that you want Him to be your Lord and Savior.

And if you do that, you will walk through the doorway to heaven, and you will be welcomed with those assuring words we all long to hear: “Well done good and faithful servant….enter into the joy of your master.” (Matthew25:23).

You may be one of the greatest of  sinners but never forget that God is the greatest of Saviors, and He wants to save and change you and He will if you ask him.       

If you haven’t already trusted in Christ alone for your salvation, I hope you’ll do it today. And if you have any questions about salvation, please don’t hesitate to email me.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Who Are You Rooting for at Tomorrow Night’s Super Bowl Game?

Dear Friends,

As a former athlete and high school coach and athletic director, I am always happy to see athletes who are unashamed to share their faith, both on and off the field.

It was the witness of football Hall of Famer, Bart Starr that was instrumental in my decision to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior while attending a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Conference in 1962 in Lake Geneva, Wis., so I personally know that sport's figures can have a powerful Christian impact.

While coaching high school basketball and football, I always invited our opponents to meet at the end of the game- on the field or court-win or lose- to join our team as we gathered to pray and thank God for the ability, He had given us to play a game we love.

I applaud those athletes today who are willing to speak freely about their faith and share how their faith has impacted their lives. 

Yesterday I watched a television interview with a reporter who had been interviewing many of the players on both the Eagles who were believers. Each player was unapologetic about his faith, and  each expressed a desire to use sports as a platform to proclaim his faith in Jesus.

Both team quarterbacks, Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are followers of Jesus, as are a large contingent of other teammates on both sides of the of the field. Players like Saquon Barclay,  A.J. Brown, Harrison Butker and Chris Jones were just a few of the  many players mentioned who are serious about living out their faith in Jesus.

Tavia Hunt, the co-owner with her husband of the Chiefs, commented on how she was praying that God would use the Super Bowl to impact the lives of sports fans everywhere. She quoted the famous prayer of Jabez from 1 Chronicles 4:10 in which  Jabez prays for God's blessing and guidance and for his people's ability to move beyond the limitations of their current circumstances and experience God's abundant provision. That was the prayer she was praying-that God would use the Super Bowl for good and for His glory.

Sports Spectrum recently  surveyed 1,540 U.S. adults about their views on a whole wide range of issues, including faith in sports, and the survey found that 56% of sports fans are supportive of athletes sharing their faith with another 33% neutral and only 12% being unsupportive. 

Fans today are more interested than ever in hearing about the lives of those involved in the sports’ world.

There was a survey conducted by a communication firm  between January 24-30^th of this year, among religious and non-religious U.S. adults who watch sports at least a few times a month. 

"These findings underscore a real opportunity for athletes to connect with fans on a deeper level by sharing their beliefs and values," said Sports Spectrum president Steve Stenstrom. "Whether it's their faith, charitable initiatives, or personal convictions, fans are eager for meaningful engagement beyond the game."

According to the survey, “a whopping 74% of people are supportive of players who use their platforms to promote non-profit causes that matter to them. Fans want to see people of good character, not just excellent players both on and off the field." (taken from the internet).

While I pastored seven years in Philadelphia and have always been an Eagles fan (Yes, I know about those notoriously evil Philly ‘Boo Birds), I have to admit that I will not be rooting for  the Eagles or the Chiefs, for Hurts or Mahomes. Instead, I am choosing to root for Jesus, and for anyone on the field who has an opportunity to glorify Him through their words  and actions. I want the only winner tomorrow night to be my Savior.

As Patrick Mahomes comments, “While I do not deny my desire to win every game, I seek to use my platform for glorifying God every time I’m out there . This is an important aspect of my professional career….Without Him, none of this is possible.”

To God be the glory.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: It Matters Not How Small Your Gift-God Will Use It

Dear Friends,

I often remind church members that every member is a minister. Every member has a gift or gifts that can be offered in the service of others. Ministry is just a simple word that mean serving others, and as members of the body of Christ we should always be on the lookout for ways to serve others.

When there is a need, some people will talk about it, others will do something about it.

When Jesus saw hungry people, He said let’s feed them, and he did something about it. He fed them (Matthew 14:16).

 As ministers and members of Christ body, we all have gifts and abilities that can be used to minister and encourage others.  

Jon Courson in his New Testament Application Commentary on Acts 9  comments on a death in the early church. He writes, Everyone said, “Quick, call for Peter! We’ve got to pray for a miracle, a resurrection.”

Who died? Was it John, the apostle? No. Was it James? No, he was already dead. Was it some important heavy hitter? No, not in the way you might suspect. The person the entire church was so upset about losing was not an anointed apostle or a dedicated deacon, but a woman named Dorcas.

Why was the whole church so upset about losing her? Was she a prophet? No. Was she a teacher? No. She simply sewed clothes and in so doing, she demonstrated the practicality of love.

People who say, I can sow your shirt. I can tune up your car. I can bake you a cake, more than likely have the gift of ministry.

Many in the church fail to realize they have something to contribute to the ministry of the body. They don’t realize how important they are to the church.

Yesterday I shared a Leadership Thought that struck a chord in the heart of several people. I mentioned how blessed people were who possessed dogs for they provided such comfort and wonderful companionship.

A reader responded to the message and took the time to call and ask me if he could take my dog Maggie to be groomed. He told me the groomer was a single mom who was struggling financially and my friend thought he would help her out by providing her with some much-needed business.

His thoughtful act of generosity not only ministered to the groomer, but to me as well. I was so touched by my friend’s generous action that I plan to send the groomer a small gift that hopefully will be an encouragement to her while helping ease her financial burden.

 Ministry is like that. Small but thoughtful acts of kindness can be multiplied, and in the process, people are blessed.

Yesterday I closed my message by apologizing that it wasn’t a typical spiritual message, and I felt a little apprehensive about how it would be received. My heart, however, was ministered to by an encouraging e-mail from a reader.

My friend wrote, “I believe that the message today was all about the spiritual lesson of sharing love- and life does not get more important or more spiritual than that in my humble opinion. Sharing love with anyone, including a dog, is all about our spiritual connection with God and with others in our world.

Thanks, Leslie, for ministering to me through your kind words of encouragement, and thanks Brad for our thoughtful and generous gift.

As you go through your day today, let me encourage you to think of some small act of kindness you might do for someone.  In doing so, I promise you will bless two people, you, and the person who receives your kindness.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: I Am Happy I Am a Cynophile

Dear Friends.

I confess. I am a cynophile and you might be one too. I developed this disorder as a youngster, and I never outgrew it. It has stuck with me for 83 years, and I am not about to address it now.

I find the positive thing about having this disorder is that it helps me connect with people. Whenever I am out for a walk, and I meet another cynophile, I experience an instant connect with the person. It’s like we have been friends for life.

I also learned something very interesting about cynophiles. They tend to be more open to forming strong, lasting relationships with others, at least that’s what some psychologists say.

I wish everyone could be a cynophile. I think the world would be a much better place if more people developed this disorder.

What is a cynophile you might ask? Simply put a cynophile is a dog lover and cynophile is simply a Greek technical term for “lover of dogs”

My dog Maggie, a miniature golden doodle-wish I could say she was a rescue dog that I saved off the streets- but no, I first found her in a local pet store after we lost Sophie, my little Maltese friend of 12 years whom I had to put down.

Everyone, including my wife Jean,  told me living in a small apartment was not conducive to owning another dog,  (I had never been without one my whole life) but one day my not so secret addictive behavior led me to wander into a local  pet store-and perhaps seeking to tempt fate- I saw her on the other side of the glass, lovingly staring into my eyes. Instantly, I could feel the attraction, and internalizing my little friend’s feelings, I knew she was saying, “Tom, please take me home with you, I want to become your bestie.” No, not really, but it sounded like it might be a winning strategy in convincing Jean and my family to rescind their ‘no dog’ policy.

I remember the owner of the store taking her out of that glass cage, ushering me to a little enclosed area, and leaving her there  to play with her. As he watched our interaction, I remember him saying, “it’s amazing how she has so quickly bonded with you,” which was his manipulative salesman way of saying, “You can’t here without her.”

Well, six years later my little Maggie has become my best friend and traveling companion, and I don’t know what I would have done without her following Jean’s passing.

Now if you are looking for some deep spiritual lesson this morning, you probably won’t find it.

Suffice to say the rationale for today’s Leadership Thought comes  from one of my favorite country songs called “Maggie’s Song” by well-known country singer Chris Stapleton.

And what precipitated the thought at 4 am this morning? It was a commitment I recently made to a  friend to whom I committed each day to suggest one new country song to listen to in hopes of “converting” them to the country music genre.

I apologize for the unspiritual message, but maybe if there is a message to take home from this Leadership Thought it is this: Psychologists have determined that  if you want to be more compassionate, loyal and dependable and have a greater capacity for empathy and understanding, and be more open and accepting of people who are different from you, and you want to form strong, lasting relationships with others than get a dog!

But before you make your purchase, please take a listen to “Maggie’s Story.”

Apologetically,

Tom

music.youtube.com › watchMaggie's Song - YouTube Music

Leadership Thought: Shrimp Carbonara,  a Dinner with My Children and Sweet Memories of a Life Well Lived

Dear Friends

It was a nice evening dinner with two of my daughters and two of my grandchildren. It was the Olive Garden where we chose to dine, and my daughter ordered Shrimp Carbonara. It was a wonderful night, and I so appreciated being with family, even though it was a bit sad as the guest of honor was not present.

Olive Garden was one of Jean’s favorite places to eat and our family frequently celebrated special occasions there, and when it came time to order my daughter, Rachel, ordered Jean’s favorite dish: Shrimp Carbonara.

Last night was a special night. It was the eve of Jean’s passing two years ago on February 4th after a seven-year battle with Parkinson’s, and while it was good to be with family, I confess it was hard at times.

Grief is like that. There are those momentary moments when some special event unleashes the  grief that’s hidden in your heart and the tears pour out. I did my best to hide my emotions, but grief is hard to hide.

Earlier in the day I spoke with a friend who lost her husband recently, and she told me of how that very day she was putting new name tags on her dogs’ collars, and she suddenly realized one name was missing  from those tags, the name of her husband who had recently passed away, and whose name and address had always been engraved on the  tags. She said at that moment, “I lost it.”

Grief is like that. It has a way of surprising you, sneaking up at unexpectant times to open wide the flood gates of your heart.

Early on I remember someone quoting to me that “you never completely get over your grief; you only learn how to manage it.” And my experience with grief substantiates it’s truth. Managing grief is not an easy task, but it must be learned if we are to survive emotionally.

While it’s been two years since Jean has left us, the pain still lingers, but I do think during this time I have learned how to better manage it.

One valuable resource for me has been my involvement with GriefShare, an international ministry that meets at our church

Over 25 years, GriefShare has helped over 1 million people heal from the pain of grief.

In the weekly videos and workbooks, those involved meet people who’ve walked through their own grief and who share what was helpful  for them. Those attending get practical advice and guidance from experts on grief recovery (counselors, pastors) who have experienced deep loss themselves.

Elizabeth Gilbert understands the value of being a part of the grief community and leaning on and learning from others. She writes, “Deep grief sometimes is almost like a specific location, a coordinate on a map of time. When you are standing in that forest of sorrow, you cannot imagine that you could ever find your way to a better place. But if someone can assure you that they themselves have stood in that same place, and now have moved on, sometimes this will bring hope.” 

Christians call hope, the blessed hope.

As Christians our greatest hope comes from knowing that there is One who has gone before us, who died, but yes, who is alive for ever more. He is the one who promised, “Because I live, you also shall live” and “I have prepared a place for you that where I am there you may be also.”

I cling to these words for they provide hope for my heart knowing that there will come a time when I will be reunited with my Jean and others who have gone home before me.

Yesterday I received a card from a good friend who was on our athletic staff when I was pastoring in Florida. She lost her husband years ago in a tragic motorcycle accident, and she concludes her note to me with these words. “I praise God for using your Jean so powerfully in my life. You are not alone in your grief. I, too, wait to rejoice again in the new heaven and earth at the final resurrection. For now….we shall comfort each other with these words-we will be with the Lord forever! "(1 Thess. 4:17-18).

Yes, the hope of heaven is the best antidote to comfort the broken and grief stricken heart, for He has conquered death and His promise is that by faith in Him we can too. Thanks be to Him who opens hope’s door.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Dick Winters, a Man I Will Never Forget

Dear Friends,

This past week one of my closest friends passed away. At 95 Dick Winters led a long and productive life, and he is now wonderfully reunited with Ellie, his wife, who passed away a number of years ago. Dick would always sign his cards “Dick, and Ellie from heaven.”

Dick was the most unusual friend I have ever known, and I was blessed to have spent the last 15 years of my life with him.

Dick came to faith late in life in his 70’s, and since that decision he did his best to make up for lost time by learning, growing and finding different ways to serve Jesus.

There were 15 different organizations in which he was involved, and many of them he served as president.

Only a few days before he died, while he was still in the hospital, he hosted a zoom meeting for the church trustees to discuss some important building decisions.

He was in a Bible Study with me, and we spent a lot of time together during the last few years of his life talking about faith and church related issues.

Each year for the past three years, he and I would make a pilgrimage by car-he always drove-to Pittsburgh and Cleveland where we would see his beloved Pittsburgh Pirates play and then to Cleveland to watch my team, the Indians (Guardians).

Dick and I were polar opposites- in fact we were called the odd couple because we were so different- but in spite of our great differences we were the closest of friends.

His technological skills were seriously lacking , and he would probably be the only person who would ever travel with me who would know less about technology than I did. He always had a giant map with him whenever he drove, and He often confused GPS, which he knew nothing about, with UPS which gives you some understanding of his technology limitations.

Dick never went to college, but through hard work and dedication, he worked his way up to became vice president of Hess Brothers, one of the largest road construction companies in NJ, employing over 300 employees.

He was a hard man to keep up with. Rising at 2:30 am, he would be in the office to start work by 4:30 am, and after working a long day, he would always find some organizational responsibility that needed to be done once he arrived home.

His 21 file cabinets were filled with information that was important to him, and which he frequently visited.

On top of his work, he found time to become a World War  2 historian, serve as president for over 20 years of his annual high school reunion committee,  while also finding time to learn how to play the organ. You get the picture. Dick didn’t let any grass grow under his feet.

Once retired, I watched Dick grow in his faith as he eagerly learned more and more about Jesus.

In those years since he came to know Him, he began building his spiritual legacy. He started reading and studying the Bible. He joined a small group Bible study. He headed up the committee responsible for the building of our beautiful gymnasium and family Ministry Center. He was a faithful member of our Trustee Board, and he seldom ever missed church or a church meeting.

Why do I write this about Dick. It is to point out that one is never too old to start building his/her legacy.

How did he do this? He did it by living intentionally, by living with a purpose. Most people don’t lead their life, they accept it, and because of it, they never reach their full potential. They get stuck in a rut, and unfortunately, they eventually give up trying to dig out of it.

Dick knew if he was going to leave a legacy, he had to transform his good intentions into good actions. He realized that one of the greatest gaps in life is the gap between good intentions and good actions, between sounding good and doing good.

Dick knew that one could never be too old to become what he wanted to be, and he set about learning and doing those things that would help him become what he wanted to be before Jesus called him home.

To build a legacy, we must be intentional. The best way to improve our life is to live it intentionally, turning dreaming into doing, and desire into action, doing things today and not someday. There is no time for procrastination in the life of for the one who wants to make a difference, and who wants to leave behind a legacy.

Dick was a front-end thinker. Often the difference between successful and unsuccessful people is front- end thinking. Front- end thinking involves planning and anticipating. and thinking about tomorrow. Front-end thinkers are out in front of the problems, anticipating them and not just reacting to them.

Dick’s goal in life was to make every day a masterpiece, and masterpieces don’t just happen; they are the result of intentional and prayerful planning and preparation

Dick knew that growth was not automatic, that you don’t automatically become better. We automatically become older, but we never automatically become better unless we are intentional about doing those things that will make us better.

Dick knew that the only way his future was going to be better was for him to grow and be better today, so he spent much of his time learning new things that would make him more valuable and more productive, and which would help make each day better for others.

Dick was all about trying to find ways to improve his life own life, so he could help improve the lives of others.

He knew that the only guarantee that tomorrow would be better than today was to make each day better than his yesterday.

I will never forget Dick’s relentless optimism. Even when he was in severe pain and one would ask him how he was doing, his response was always “better than I deserve.”

May you rest in peace my dear friend as you enjoy your new life with Ellie and Jesus. You will never be forgotten.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom