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A Hero For All TimeJune 15, 2008 Have you been to the movies lately? A lot of them I cannot recommend. This summer is full of blockbusters … or at least that is what they say. I have noticed that many of the movies are silver screen adaptations of the Marvel comics. Whether it is Batman, The Incredible Hulk, or Iron Man, there seems to be a hunger for heroes. Even Will Smith plays an unlikely hero in the movie, Hancock. The world needs true heroes. My father is my hero. On this Father’s Day Weekend, I want to honor him. He is an honorable man. Not only has he provided well for his wife and his two boys, but he has worked to make a positive difference in this world. I have seen him stand for justice and for what is right even when he stood alone. Integrity and a strong sense of right and wrong are easy to talk about with friends but a man’s character reveals these traits in times when money is tight, friends are few and the battle for what is right wages on. He has stood strong, prayerfully trusted in God and has been fearless. I have been thankful to have been able to watch his life impact others for good. He is an honest man. He holds to the truth that a man is as good as his word, so he has been a man of truth. Other family members lean on him as a resource for help in difficult time and He gladly responds; they know that he will shoot straight with them. They also know that they will get wisdom in the process. He has chosen to be a life-long learner and has developed over the years an empathy to others that encourages them. He is a handy man. He likes to solve problems and make things better. We like it when he visits because he will help us repair things. He has even continued work into retirement as one of the helpers at a local hardware store. He is a happy man. Consider what others have said about him. His high school annual: “He enters the room mouth first.” (He engages others in significant conversations and is pretty vocal, but he also is an effective listener who enjoys people!) His doctor told him one time, “You are the only person I have ever known who does not worry.” (He knows that God has given him his life and he is living it with gusto.) One of his personal friends told me years ago that he was “one of the biggest people I have ever known.” And he was not talking about height. He is a giant in my eyes and I enjoy hanging around him. He is a holy man. He prays and reads the Scripture daily. He is faithful to attend, serve and give to his church. Each week he directs a Sunday School class, cooks for the Men’s Breakfast and helps care for those in crisis through the Stephen’s Ministry. You do not need a cape or magic powers to be a hero. Invest in the lives of others. The best thing my dad has done over the years is to invest in me his time, resources and himself. I hope to pass the legacy on. The world needs more heroes. Will you be one?
Anticipating Graduation DayJune 8, 2008 Graduations are such fun. They represent celebrations of a lot of work. There are caps with tassels and gowns. There are family and friends gathered around with proud hearts and hopeful anticipation. There is the designated school official who pronounces the names (which he has spent hours in practice reciting it correctly) as the graduates come to accept their diploma—a reward for completing the courses of study. We are celebrating two graduations in our home. Kyle, one of the most creative young people I know, graduated from Neville a few weeks ago. We watched from the stands with joy and excitement as he mounted the platform and received his diploma. This weekend we are planning to go to Texas to see Jonathan graduate from Martin High School in Arlington. We look forward to this completion of his academic journey. I remember back to his first week of school in Arizona and his excitement about going to school on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. When I went to get him up to get ready on Thursday, he said, “Dad, I am a little tired this morning; I think I will take a break from school today.” I told him he could take a break … in 12 years. Now he can. I am proud of his accomplishments. Not every parent gets to have a straight A student who also loves God, is respectful of authority, works diligently and is kind to people. By God’s grace, Jonathan is one. His mother worked hard for many years in home schooling him; I tried to help where I could. Jonathan put in a lot of effort himself. As a result he also has done well in the public school and in private school he has attended. So what is next for him? He is already planning to attend Dallas Baptist University in the fall. This summer he is learning how to be successful as a waiter and how to handle the rigors of the work place. In the future he will learn lessons about family, work and life. These future courses of study do not detract from his graduation this weekend. He has achieved a significant milestone … but his learning does not stop. He is actually preparing for a greater graduation ceremony ahead. The Bible tells of a heavenly graduation. There will be a crowd to watch; many will be friends and family. There will be crowns (I do not think they will have tassels!) and white robes. Someone will call the name of the graduate. He or she will get their reward. It will be a time of great celebration. There are significant questions to answer in preparation for that day. What are you doing to prepare for that day? What reward will be awaiting you there? How will we get to celebrate your life? How will you be remembered? Hope you get straight A’s in your studies. Hope you will stand proud as your name is read from the Lamb’s book of Life. It will be a great celebration. It may even rival our celebration this weekend which will be heavenly in its own way!
Teamwork: People with Purpose Making a DifferenceJune 1, 2008 He gave me a choice: You can quit with two months severance or I can fire you and you will get one. In 31 years of ministry this was the only time I faced getting canned. I had lost a golden opportunity to start a new church in a booming area in Scottsdale, Arizona because I did not apply teamwork principles. I knew that two things are critical to winning a job: resume and reputation. Two things are critical to winning in a job: results and relationships. I failed to maximize results and maintain good relationships. I forgot the basic things to be a champion in serving the Lord. I saw champions over the years. In Lafayette, Indiana I swam for a team that celebrated multiple state championships and undefeated seasons. In McComb, Mississippi, our football team won the dual-state bowl game. In Monroe, ULM is the most successful in the history of collegiate water skiing, having won 18 national championships. What does it take to win as a champion? Some think it is good luck. We accused my son, Jonathan, of being good luck. The first few years of his life wherever we lived the local team won the national championship: GA Tech football (1990); Duke basketball (1991, 1992); Florida State football (1993, 1994), Florida football (1996); and Arizona basketball (1997). That’s pretty impressive, isn’t it?! Yep, we moved a lot! Being a champion takes more than luck; it takes effective teamwork. Around here, football is king. What is true in football can also apply to Singles Adult Ministry. 1. Listen to your coach’s perspective This says something about prayer; we need to hear God. But it also says a lot about working with those in leadership. Good coaching helps make champions. When a team wins, the coach gets the credit (and the raise). When they lose, he gets a new job. Why is that? The coach creates the game plan, prepares the team, calls the plays and manages the time. Without his coordination and leadership the team loses focus and fails. The key is there cannot be good leadership without good “follow-ship.” I failed in Arizona because I thought I knew more about how to do my job than my boss did. He used this football analogy with me, “How can I play you as my quarterback when I do not have confidence that you will call the plays I send in?” He was right; I was wrong. Many Singles can fall into the “woe is me” trap of thinking that we are a second class ministry. We do not get as much funding as youth ministry, as much publicity as children’s ministry or as much emphasis as married ministry. As a result, many Singles resent and resist church leadership and unwittingly sabotage their own ministry. They need to listen! Listen to those God has put over you. Hear their perspective. Work to follow well. 2. Strategize with your colleagues’ participation Wise coaches know to listen to their players as well. Some of the best ideas come from those on the field. A year ago Kathy, one of our Singles teachers, had an idea to start a new ministry to our Singles Moms. With a monthly support group and one-to-one mentoring, she and her team have developed a model of ministry that is in high demand. [Even Single Dads want a monthly support group. Theirs starts THIS Sunday at 5:00 PM!] Do not suppress or ignore those God has placed in your ministry. God speaks and moves through many members of His Body. It is not your Single Adult Ministry to have and do alone. It is His and He wants to use all of His members in it. 3. Unite with collective purpose A winning team harnesses potential and focuses energies for a greater win. There is no I in team. Each must work together to be champions. Our church has discovered the joy of working with others in Singles Ministry. Three years ago we joined a dozen other churches to do events together quarterly. The Christian Singles United effort gives us a chance to meet other Singles and to impact our community with larger numbers and resources. Applying these principles maximizes results and maintains good relationships. This teamwork can enable us all, by God’s grace, to be champions. Go to May 2008 Word from Woods Archives >> |
