Leadership Thought: Living with a Purpose on the Road to Making a Difference 

Dear Friends,

John Maxwell begins one of his messages with an unforgettable story. He shares a pivotal time in his life when he received a book as a Christmas present that he says changed his life. It sparked within him a desire to make a difference in people's lives. I share the message in his own words.

"My journey on how to make a difference in people's lives began when I was in my 20s and a friend gave me a Christmas present. I opened it up and it was a book, and the title of the book was The Greatest Story Ever Told "

"Now I love to read, and I thought, oh my gosh, what a title, the greatest story ever told. 

With great anticipation I opened up the book and much to my surprise all the pages were blank. I called my friend and told her the title says the greatest story ever told, and all the pages are blank."  

"She said, 'Turn to the first page.' I turned the first page, and she had written a note for me that said, 'Dear John, your life is before you. You fill these pages with your dreams, with your hopes, with matters of your heart. You write your story and make it the greatest story ever told.'"

"I took that book home with me, and the next morning (I was not a writer at that time) I began writing my first book, and the first words I wrote on that blank page were,  'I want to make a difference.'"

And John has done just that in my life. I just counted 19 books (all read) on my library shelves by John, and each one of them has provided me with some very valuable insights on the subject of leadership.

An evangelical Christian, John has made a difference in millions of lives as a coach, speaker and writer of almost 100 books.

He is the number 1 New York Times bestselling author, and he has sold more than 24 million books in 50 languages. Often called the country's number one leadership authority, Maxwell was identified as the most popular leadership expert in the world by Inc. magazine.

I know we all want to make a difference in our world, and because of this I wanted to share a powerful message on how we can do just that.

I hope you will take a few minutes to listen to the first part of John's message below. I believe you will be encouraged and inspired to live with a purpose as you make a difference with your life. The whole message is called "Living with Purpose, The Road to Making a Difference"

Enjoy!

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom 

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrEo.9V3tBnGQIAqJBXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzEEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1742951254/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.youtube.com%2fwatch%3fv%3dFze2epCu5OE/RK=2/RS=MRINmsAoZNMGFWt9Ha_c17.5JgU-

Leadership Thought: Affirmation. The Gift That Even Cows Can Give

Dear Friends

Mr. Charles Schwab was one of the first men ever to earn $1,000,000 a year. Why did Andrew Carnegie pay Schwab more than $3000 a day? Because he knew more about the manufacturing of steel than other people? No, Schwab said that he had many men working for him whose technical knowledge surpassed his. Schwab got paid such a handsome amount of money because of his ability to deal with people. Here is a secret expressed in his own words.

“I consider my ability to arouse enthusiasm among the men, the greatest asset I possess, and the way to develop the best that is in a man is by appreciation and encouragement. There is nothing else that so kills the ambitions of man as the criticisms from his superiors. I never criticize anyone. I believe in giving a man the incentive to work, so I am anxious to praise but loath to find fault. If I like anything, I am hearty in my appreciation and lavish in my praise."

Affirmation is a gift that can be even more valuable if you don’t always give it right away, but instead, you wait to recall the details of an incident and you share it later.

19^th century writer, Sir Henry Taylor, wrote this: “Applaud a man’s speech at the moment when he sits down, and he will take your compliment as exacted by the demands of common civility; but let some space intervene, and then show him that the merits of his speech have remained with you when you might have been expected to have forgotten it, and he will remember your compliment for a much longer time than he would have if you had given it right away.

In his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie writes the rare individual who satisfies one's hunger for praise, will hold his audience in the palm of his hand, and even the undertaker will be sorry when he dies.”

Gandhi inspired millions of people to go beyond their native limits and accomplish unheard of feats. Louis Fisher, one of Gandhi’s most important biographers, provides a clue to the Indian leader’s genius for inspiring people. He refused to see the bad in people. He often changed human beings by regarding them not as what they were, but as what they could be and what they wanted to be.

Affirmation and appreciation are similar in nature. Affirmation generally deals with the acknowledgement of character, while appreciation often relates to the recognition of accomplishment. We appreciate what people do, and we affirm what people are.

Affirmation is a characteristic of Paul's communication. Regardless of the nature of his concern, he often introduces his letters by stating something positive about the character of his recipients. Whether it was their faith, or their joy, or their evangelistic zeal, he always seemed to find a way to affirm them.

To the Thessalonians He begins, “Dear brothers and sisters, we always thank God for you, as is right, for we are thankful that your faith is flourishing, and you are all growing in love for each other. We proudly tell God's other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecution and hardships you are suffering.” (1 Thessalonians 1:3. The Living Bible)

The famous psychologist William James wrote that the deepest principle of human nature is the craving to be affirmed (appreciated).

Yes, most of us crave affirmation; it’s oxygen to our souls.

And you know what? It’s so easy to give that even cows can offer it: Cow to a Maine farmer- “Thank you for a warm hand on a cold morning.”

Have a great day and be sure to place affirmation on your agenda for today. Think of at least one person to affirm by telling them how much you appreciate them and how much they mean to you. You'll be glad and so will the person who receives it.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

Leadership Thought: Love Them Now before They’re Just a Memory

Dear Friend

If you have some kindness to do, some letter of appreciation to write, some expression of love to communicate, do it now, for tomorrow may be too late.

There have been too many times in my life when I thought about doing something, only to procrastinate and sadly discover that the expression of my love was lost.

I still remember my intention to write a letter to a member of a former church who was dying of brain cancer. I had been in touch with her husband who was sadly struggling while watching the one he loved slip away. For many days I had planned to write to her and communicate how much I loved her and how much she meant to me and to the church.

Unfortunately, I received a phone call from one of her friends bringing me the sad news of her passing, ending any opportunity for me to express my love and appreciation for her friendship.

You too may have your own story of regret over missing a chance to say or do something you wanted to, only to sadly discover that time had erased that opportunity.

So, my encouragement to you is to read and think about the message below that was printed in the Los Angeles Times and written by Anne Wells. She writes:

“My brother-in-law opened the bottom drawer of my sister’s bureau and lifted out a tissue wrapped package. He discarded the tissue and handed me the slip. Inside the package was a beautiful silk slip trimmed with a cobweb of lace. The price tag with an astronomical figure was still attached.”

“He said, ‘Jan bought the expensive slip the first time we went to New York, at least eight or nine years ago. She never wore it, for she was saving it for a special occasion. Well, I guess this is the occasion.’”

“He took the slip from the package and put it on the bed with the other clothes we were taking to the mortician. His hands lingered on the soft material for a moment. And then he slammed the drawer shut and turned to me and said, ‘Don’t ever save anything for a special occasion. Every day you’re alive is a special occasion.’”

As I thought about this article, I was reminded of a refrain from a song we sang in my first church. It was sung by our youth group while performing a skit in which they were communicating the importance of not putting off the things that need to be said or done.

“Tell them now, before they’re just a memory. Tell them now before it’s too late. Hold them, love them, laugh and cry with them, tell them now.”

Is there someone God has placed on your heart who needs to hear some little expression of love, hope, or encouragement? Tell them, show them, write them, phone them…but do it now. Do it today. Let “someday,” and “one of these days,” and “tomorrow” lose their grip on your vocabulary. Seize the opportunity to share your love or risk facing the day when you sadly discover that you waited too long.

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

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