My Personal Creed

Weekly Thought – December 25, 2018

Fred knew the power of organizing his thoughts through writing. He regularly quoted Francis Bacon: “Reading makes a full man, conversation a ready man, and writing an exact man.” This week you will share in a very private reading – “Fred’s Credo.”

May this day on which we celebrate the Incarnation bring blessing, clarity, and peace. And may you grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

My Personal Creed

My purpose: To determine what I will become knowing I will become the sum of my choices, and my decisions. To that end I will:

1) Respect truth by searching for it and accepting it from any source.
2) Look for the essence of matters as the elegance of life.
3) Endeavor to pray honestly about any subject, assuming God already knows.
4) Expect nothing but what I earn, but accept gifts gratefully.
5) Own myself. Thereby I can contribute my uniqueness to life. I will concentrate on my uniqueness rather than what I like to do, or what pays the most. If my uniqueness is lost, then there has been no compelling reason for my having lived. I will have failed to contribute my place to life’s jigsaw puzzle.
6) Limit extensive self-knowledge to my most productive strengths and destructive weaknesses.
7) Construct concepts for my thinking and actions so as to minimize large mistakes and give consistency to my living.
8) Relax in the sovereignty of God.
9) Decide issues of life by faith based on Biblical authority.
10) Respect money as a tool, never an idol.
11) Endeavor to accept my rightful responsibility because it is right not necessarily because I like it.
12) Realize my acts affect others and have ripple effects.
13) Accept human imperfection as a reality, but never an excuse.
14) See profitable and interesting experiences in areas of life that will continually broaden me.
15) Turn all experiences into knowledge and knowledge into wisdom.
16) Live so that the best is yet to be by attending to maturity, health, relationships, and capital.

I Will Not:

1) Build an unreal image which enslaves me or alienates me from others.
2) Make a junkyard of my old age through bad decisions.
3) Sacrifice self-respect, health, family, relationship with God for business success.

This week think about: 1) What is my personal creed? 2) Which of Fred’s points penetrated my heart? 3) Which one needs my attention?

Words of Wisdom: “I will become the sum of my choices, and my decisions.”

Wisdom from the Word: “That you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so that you may walk in a manner of the Lord.” (Colossians 1:9, 10 NET Bible)

Fact or Fantasy

Weekly Thought – December 18, 2018

Fred held a firm grasp on reality. His theological foundation created a basis for his thinking in all areas. Although he was not one to quote “chapter and verse,” his understanding of scripture strongly influenced his thinking and speaking. The nature of man was fundamental to his view of life. These thoughts from the late 1990s are current for today.

BWFLI is founded on the premise of God’s principles which never change. As Fred said, “the principles never change, just the illustrations.” BWF is nearly 15 years old and the campus events just completed 10 years. Over that time the truth of God’s word is the banner under which we operate. Thanks for supporting us year by year.

Fact or Fantasy

No matter how beautifully or reasonably a situation is defined, it is no more than fantasy if not based on truth. I am particularly impressed at this time with all the politicians vying for the presidency. They are telling us of the panacea they will bring to the office and the country. They list all the major problems and say with a bold gesture and big smile, “Elect me and I will make them all go away.” They tell us of all the solutions which will appear once they are in office.

They have made one big miscalculation: they have the wrong concept of human nature.

Humanity is flawed and cannot be perfected by governmental programs. Welfare, however well intentioned will create perpetual dependence unless it requires individual responsibility.

Once I fortuitously had breakfast with the well-known commentator David Susskind the morning after he debated Bill Buckley, who cut him to ribbons. But throughout Susskind maintained a gracious spirit, I opened up the breakfast by telling him I admired his attitude even through I held conservative political views. Being totally aware of his intellectual capabilities, and respectful of him, I asked, “How does a man with such intellect and learned as you take your political position?”

He replied, “In order to be a liberal you must first believe in the basic goodness of man.”

I told him his explanation allowed me to totally understand his political position. “Your statement makes your liberalism patently clear.” I went on to tell him I believed in the doctrine of man’s original sin. He said, “That is a horrible thought.” Then I asked, “Is that a thought or a fact?” Sometimes in order to control a subject we will misname it.

I further told him if I believed in the fundamental goodness of mankind I would give free education, total freedom, and financial aid. But if humanity is basically sinful and we provide privileges without responsibilities we could create monsters. I feel a great many of our programs fail because we do not understand the sin nature of humanity.

The imperfectability of humanity is a fact. Programs built on the basic goodness of mankind is built on fantasy.

This week think about: 1) How clear am I on my view of the nature of mankind? 2) What difference does my belief system make in the way I live? 3) Where do I see this tension affecting public policy?

Words of Wisdom: “I feel a great many of our programs fail because we do not understand the sin nature of humanity.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Just as it is written: ‘There is no one righteous, not even one.’” (Romans 3:10 NET Bible)

Topsy-Turvy Theology

Brenda’s Blog – December 18, 2018

“What we think about when we think about God is the most important thing about us” A. W. Tozer

Each year the Christian community feels the tension between “Keep-Christ-In-Christmas” and the cacophony of holiday sounds. We try to walk the fine line between religious devotion and social emotion. This is not a harangue about Christians who celebrate a winter celebration. I give gifts to my family, but I also try to clarify my thinking, not allowing the person and work of God get pulled along in the stream of red and green.

As I look at our culture I see commercial syncretism. Seasonal greetings mesh into selling sprees. What should be our mindset and message? Who is the God of Christmas?

My younger grandsons spend hours playing with their LEGOs, the building blocks which entertain and now even create engineering solutions for physical therapy. TV ads promote these colorful bricks day after day as the perfect solution for grandchild satisfaction. “These will make happy faces on Christmas morning!”

I started thinking about what we think about when we think of God during this season. Shouldn’t our focus be on LOGOS? He became the building blocks for our salvation. Are we exchanging the true message of God’s becoming flesh – the Word incarnate LOGOS for the all-time favorite LEGOs?

Several years ago the desire to express the supremacy of Christ resulted in manger scenes with a jolly old Saint Nicholas bowing to the Christ child. The preeminence of the bearded, red and white attired character made me wonder. Is this the way we send the message of who Jesus is? Is this oversized storybook image towering over a tiny baby the rightful way to think about Bethlehem?
As we sing our songs are we replacing Hosanna! For Ho-Santa?

What we think about when we think about God truly is the most important thing about us. When we allow LEGOs to supersede the LOGOS and when our happy voices spend more time greeting each other with Ho-Ho-Ho, we are dimming our thinking. Recognizing the secular season is alright, but let’s not allow the time we allocate to the tinkle over the Trinity define how we spend these weeks.

Character Building

Weekly Thought – December 11, 2018

Fred’s mentor, Maxey Jarman, influenced him profoundly. He established a relationship with “Mr. Jarman” while in his twenties by seeking him out. The lessons learned and the friendship developed continued until Maxey Jarman’s death in 1979. One of the strongest elements each pursued was character.

BWFLI focuses on “stretching and blessing the next generation of leaders… to the glory of God.” Emphasizing the importance of character as foundational for maturity is critical to each campus visit. Keep on praying for students, faculty, staff, and administrators at this high pressure time of year.

Character Building

I have often wondered about the real motivation for character building. There are surely multiple answers and I am not ready to settle on just one. But I do know character building is like any other aspect of personal development. It starts with the genuine desire to have the real thing, not just the image of it. Too often we have the appearance, but not the reality. We see in others, and in ourselves, a hyped up version of character, but not the authenticity. Anxiety and secrecy are the price we pay for this hypocrisy.

One motivation I saw in my own mentor, Maxey Jarman, was scriptural obedience. A critical point is that this discipline is not just to the scripture, but to the Lord of the scripture. There is a subtle, but important, difference. Because Maxey saw the Bible as the inerrant, inspired word of God and not just ancient wisdom works, he knew he had no right to consider it a static document open to human interpretation. He treated it as the living Word understood through the dynamic work of the Spirit. It was not literature it was Logos.

When I think about my mentor and character I find it difficult to accurately express all the lessons he taught. Words are so wooden sometimes.

The idea of character is frequently equated with obedience. But I make a distinction between behavior and motivation. The maturely obedient and the self-righteous exhibit the same outward actions, but the inward motivations can be polar opposites. Ultimately, the attitudes differ and even the outcomes can take different directions.

Legalists become the master of the law in its application and the servant in its fulfillment. The law becomes the god while appearing to serve God. Consequently, they miss.

Character development includes a spirit of belief which is part of the act of belief. Therefore, it follows if one is to use scriptural obedience for character building one must be a student of the Word. If our nation is losing its character as many fear, I sincerely believe it must be partly due to a lessening of scriptural knowledge, study, and respect.

This week consider: 1) How disciplined am I in my scriptural obedience? 2) What can I contribute to maturity in my own environment? 3) Who is influencing my thinking and my own character?

Words of Wisdom: “The maturely obedient and the self-righteous exhibit the same outward actions, but the inward motivations can be polar opposites.”

Wisdom from the Word: “An honorable man makes honorable plans; his honorable character gives him security.” (Isaiah 32:8 NET Bible)

Persevering

Brenda’s Blog – December 4, 2018

“I’ve never met a strong person with an easy past.”

Facebook is replete with requests for love and support in the holiday season. The more celebrations gear up, the more anxiety rises. The brighter the celebration glows, the gloomier the sense of loss becomes. “I don’t know how I will get through the first year.” “I will be all alone this year.” Similar sentiments pop up as we scroll post after post.

Then we look beneath the surface of life stories and realize one principle: struggle strengthens; perseverance promotes growth. Yes, there were (and probably always will be) holidays with emotional stings. There will be a sense of loss, whether human or canine, as empty places remind us of holidays past. There will be a sadness as life in the new normal emerges.

But then we start using the pain to encourage another who enters into grief. We use the lessons learned during suffering to comfort another as they step into the process. We come along side one who is experiencing the crush of loss thinking they won’t survive to show them they will make it.

We see the sweet pictures of tiny trees shooting up through solid rock; we see flowers budding through city sidewalks – and know we are reminded to persevere… to break through the suffering and blossom. It isn’t always this poetic, is it? Sometimes the rock seems too hard and the concrete too solid. But God makes a way to trust Him in the darkness. He takes the jack hammer of grace and turns the rock of pain into the Rock of our salvation.

Those who never exercise their faith muscles end up with flabby abs. Those who seek a life with no trials are often an inch deep, with no ability to relate or connect.

So, in this season of dazzling lights, unrealistic expectations, and severe disappointments, let’s use the lumps and bumps to grow fabulous musculature… strong, tested, and true. Pain exists, but maturing into someone useful to others is worth the hurt.

Spiritual Light and Cultural Issues

Weekly Thought – December 4, 2018

Fred consistently applied Biblical principles to current situations. His ability to update his facts, keep current, and understand fundamental rules of life allowed him to constantly contribute to social conversations.

The year of 2018 is taking its final breaths, but oh, what an outstanding period for BWFLI. We created What’s Next Roundtable events for five Christian colleges and universities in Kentucky, Illinois, and Texas. We engaged students in deeper thinking about mentoring, networking, and persevering. Thank you for your support. We would certainly appreciate being included in your year-end giving.

Spiritual Light and Cultural Issues

I have been listening to an increasing number of secular panels discussing the major issues of our time and society. Everything from growing cynicism, disputes about authority, losing respect in the global community, child pornography supported by internet use, alcoholism, and drug abuse. After a few hours of these conversations my physical immobility pales in comparison to the values paralysis in our secular environment.

I have not heard any sure answers to any of the problems. Most of the participants have PhD degrees, but demonstrate a marked deficiency in the understanding of man’s nature. There is rarely, if any, mentions of spiritual solutions. And those that are given are not Biblical. These highly educated men and women seem determined to have strictly human answers for human problems.

For example, the discussion on drug abuse included a minister, a counselor, a psychologist, and an educator. For over 30 minutes they reviewed and rehearsed their wish list for solutions. None of them was convincing to me. As soon as they opened the microphone in the audience a young man said, “I have been in every jail in this area for drug abuse. The last time I said, “there must be a better way.” I went to a church looking for answers and found the love of Christ which changed my life. My addiction was cured.”

If the panel really wanted an apt answer, a workable answer, they would have questioned the young man, but the almost embarrassed facilitator simply said, “Next question or comment.” Their dismissal of his testimony indicated to me their complete misunderstanding of true solutions. They wanted a social construct, not a spiritual conversion.

I am convinced many of our experts are humanists, not willing to accept spiritual (Biblical) answers. Likewise, I believe there are two sources of knowledge: 1) humanism and 2) Biblical revelation. The humanist can be well-informed but only the person who has been infused with spiritual revelation can have more than knowledge – they can have true wisdom. That, to me, is the Christian advantage for providing answers to the problems of today’s society.

Our problems can not be solved by human intelligence alone. True solutions will come through spiritual revelation.

This week think about: 1) What problems in my community needs a spiritual solution? 2) How can spiritual revelation become real in my life, my work, my family? 3) Who can help me become wise as I seek to provide solutions?

Words of Wisdom: “They wanted a social construct, not a spiritual conversion.”

Wisdom from the Word: “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7 ESV)

Evidences of God

Weekly Thought – November 27, 2018

Fred believed in God the Father, Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He stood firmly on the reality of the deity….three in one. He did not spend time arguing with people about God, but he spent much time thinking and speaking about the practical application of the nature of God.

BWFLI boldly stands on the gospel of Jesus Christ. We go to bring glory to God and honor to Fred’s work. We are unashamedly Christian in our approach, but like Fred take our faith into the culture with reason and authenticity.

Evidences of God

I was invited to attend a luncheon of 17 leading pastors including Stephen Olford who influenced teachers and preachers worldwide. His impact was recognized by seminarians, pulpit ministers, and evangelists. During the table conversation he said, “My brothers. I am weary of celebrity religion. You know I have received my share of honors. But if when I die my family does not say, ‘There is something of God in the man,’ I will have failed.”

A holy hush came over this distinguished group. Each attendee considered his own personal situation.

Even though I was invited as a guest and not pastoral participant, I thought then and continually about the evidences of God in a man.

Here are four ideas that come to mind:

1) A quiet center that cannot be panicked is an evidence of God. The Quaker theologian Thomas Kelly called it making a “mental habit of internal orientation.” That is a mouthful! I like to just say those who evidence God have a quiet space that is rooted in Him and immune to permanent disturbance. I think of Christ asleep in the boat when the storm was raging. A physical representation is the eye of the hurricane which is perfectly still while everything around it is reeling and rolling. The very center is quiet.

2) God is evidenced in the way we speak. I think of my friend Bob, raised on the streets of a big metropolitan area. He once said, “When I came to Christ, He cleaned up my dirty mouth and tongue.” Vulgarity gave him a bad taste in his mouth. Profanity turned into prayer. The choice of subjects we talk about reflects our internal base. The things we think about naturally come out in our conversation.

3) Another evidence is the quality and breadth of love in our lives. Unconditional love comes from Christ and is a demonstration of God’s presence. John, the apostle, tells us we can’t be rightly related to God and hate our brothers. Jesus told us our love one for another would let others know we belonged to Him.

4) Another evidence is our attitude toward death. The way we think about dying is crucial to maturity. The assurance of heaven gives us a peaceful acceptance of life with its ups and downs. The fact that this life isn’t the sole experience creates an equilibrium which allows us to reflect an eternal perspective. God in our life reminds us this life is the practice – the real game comes later. I am certainly glad.

This week think about: 1) How do people know I have a relationship with God? 2) What do I want my family to say about me when I die? 3) When do I experience the quiet center?

Words of Wisdom: “The things we think about naturally come out in our conversation.”

Wisdom from the Word: “But as for me, God’s presence is all I need. I have made the sovereign LORD my shelter, as I declare all the things you have done.” (Psalm 73:28 NET Bible)

Voices in the Crowd

Brenda’s Blog – November 20, 2018

“And their voices prevailed.” (Luke 22:23)

The trial of Jesus climaxes in these four pitiable words. Pilate wanted a reason to free Jesus and maintain his political position with the Jews, so he gave them a choice. He kept looking for the “right answer,” but the crowd kept calling out Barabbas. “And their voices prevailed.”

Such sad words, aren’t they? So easily passed over. But wait – shouldn’t we stop and think about the implications for us today?

During the holidays the sounds of Christmas carols blend in with strains of stinkin’ thinkin’ as Zig Ziglar liked to say. Truth about the incarnation and mishmash about materialism on steroids create a cacophony of voices which confuse and distract us.

Hallmark movies with 40 different ways of using the same script (and revolving actors) try valiantly to woo us into the happy ever after. In actuality, loss of relationships, jobs, hopes, and dreams create loneliness and aching.

How can we tune out the voices of “you need more,” “life is only good if you have ________________” (fill in the blank)? How can we shut out the noise of a culture which talks over, screams at, and seeks to subdue? How can the “still, quiet voice of God” break through to our spirit? How can the prevailing voices be captured and only the sounds of the sacred audible?

It is in discerning what needs to be heard and what needs to be stifled and muffled. It is in listening for the precious voice of the One who loved us so much He sent Jesus (God in the flesh) to teach us what life really means.

Thanksgiving Day gives us an opportunity to focus on voices of gratitude. Then we can shout for joy!

Personal Day of Thanksgiving

Weekly Thought – November 20, 2018

Fred and Mary Alice hosted Thanksgiving in their home for the family. Cultivating gratitude was a primary goal for them. They encouraged the sharing of thankfulness around the table. And then Fred would pray, bringing everyone before the throne of God. Fred’s writings are particularly poignant because they reflect emotional and spiritual discipline after being bed-bound and on dialysis 3 days a week.

BWF carries on the tradition of appreciation. Your support is deeply recognized. How much you mean to the ongoing work of the ministry. We pray your Thanksgiving Day brings great peace.

Personal Day of Thanksgiving

For quite a long time I believed gratitude was one of the strong antidotes for depression. Consequently, when I woke up at 3:00 one Tuesday morning feeling frustrated and going into depression from my immobilized and restricted condition, I knew I would be awake for hours longer. And I knew I had to get control of and change my mood.

Casting about for a workable idea, I thought about a day dedicated to thanksgiving. Because Tuesdays were spent recovering from dialysis with little or no mobility, I decided this would be the day. It was to be all day, so I had to plan out the time to make the most effective use. I set up five major categories:

1) Spiritual – I recounted my assurance of God’s love and His salvation. Then I thought of the many exhilarating experience I have had through the Spirit, including the people and places connected with these experiences. Next I thought of heaven and named all those who went on before, expressing gratitude for my time with each and remembering their effect on me.

2) Intellectual stimulation – I reviewed all the interesting thoughts I have been given through people, books, and other periodicals.

3) Responsibilities – I listed the website (breakfastwithfred.com), Saturday morning Fred in the Bed sessions, teleconference calls, and personal visits. I am particularly thankful for these opportunities because even bed-bound I can be useful and there is nothing better.

4) Environment – I expressed appreciation for a healthy atmosphere which supports this sick body, including the physical elements of pictures, music, and supportive care.

5) Relationships – I recognized the freshness of the Spirit coursing through my family and friends as they keep me in the flow and “in the loop.”

Some of my friends have been intensely interested in this idea. I reminded them it is a FULL DAY. Several of them thought they could cover it in 30 minutes. If they diligently attempted the exercise they soon realized the breadth of the endeavor.

After creating my five major categories, I broke them down and ended up with 40 sub categories. If I spent 20 minutes on each, I filled the entire day. Each time I went through them I tried to be more and more specific about the items in each. For example, when I considered spiritual experiences I thought about spiritual songs that have instructed and encouraged me. I named each one and tried to remember as many of the verses as possible.

Another example of a sub-category is hobbies. At 50 I began playing golf, not to shoot a low score, but to make a perfect shot. I only did this once when I made a hole in one without touching the green. It was a combination hobby and obsession. I ended up with 22 sets of sticks, 64 putters, and 25 wedges. I was thankful for the constant challenge. During my personal day I recounted many times of gratitude for experiences on the golf course.

Thanksgiving and gratitude should be down to the microlevel of our lives. There is no experience too small for which we can’t stop and say “thank you.”

This week of Thanksgiving carefully consider: 1) What would my personal day of thanksgiving look like? 2) How could I use this concept with my family? 3) What is my own experience with the positive effect of thanksgiving?

Words of Wisdom: “For quite a long time I believed gratitude was one of the strong antidotes for depression.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give him thanks! Praise his name!” (Psalm 100:4 NET Bible)

Iron and Clay

Weekly Thought – November 13, 2018

Fred could squeeze more ideas out of random situations than a dozen others. He saw principles and illustrations everywhere. This characteristic made him a most interesting conversationalist – and also a bit off center! He loved analyzing life – and we all benefit from his observations.

As the year comes to a end we thank everyone for their enthusiastic support and care. We so appreciate the ongoing support which allows us to keep the website, campus events, weekly thought, and Facebook presence active. The financial gifts are used with diligence and gratitude. Would you please consider BWF Project, Inc. in your year-end giving? Thank you.

Iron and Clay

I was always interested in the reasons people connected – or didn’t. It intrigued me to see which ones had “chemistry,” while others lacked an affinity. For example, I have friends who bond through common interests, even common enemies. There are linkages which look to many as hypocritical and political. I have Christian friends who assure me they can identify other Christians in just casual encounters. This ability to be in sync is often felt in the reverse.

For example, have you ever met someone and felt an immediate irritability? Maybe even wanted to call them by a name other than their own? I realized long ago we can associate others with acquaintances (or family members) who bring negative or positive reactions. I knew a female executive who told me her immediate superior seemed to have an instant dislike for her. When she dug a bit, she reminded him of his ex-wife. “Wearing another’s face” can create warm or cold feelings.

The one that interests me quite a bit is the concept of iron and clay. We all have both elements. Some of us are allergic to clay while others are magnetized by the iron. Some of us are put off by the iron and handle the clay with poise.

I know I am drawn to iron. Some of my friends say, “Smith, you have some of the strangest friends!” Until I started looking at it I was surprised. Then as I took a good look I saw what they meant. For example, one man who a leading contractor in Canada would come into our home and immediately reset the thermostat (without asking permission). I finally asked him why he did this. “You want it right, don’t you?” What was I to say? I didn’t want it wrong, did I? I just put up with his idiosyncrasies and reset it when he left. I saw the iron in the man, not the clay.
One of my relatives never appreciated the collection of friends I accumulated. Finally, one day I simply said, “You have a negative magnetism to iron in personalities. You are able to deal with their clay. I overlook the clay because the iron is where I see their giftedness and their contribution.”
Occasionally, you will run into somebody who seems to be 100% one or the other. When you do, it is imperative you make a studied decision and not just react emotionally to them. Spiritual maturity is also at play in these interactions. We learn to rub the rough edges off as we grow and also learn to appreciate the strengths (and forgive the weaknesses) of each other.

This week think about: 1) What characteristics attract me to others? 2) What personality traits trigger my allergic reactions? 3) How can I better understand my friendships?

Words of Wisdom: “We learn to rub the rough edges off as we grow and also learn to appreciate the strengths (and forgive the weaknesses) of each other.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Indeed, if you call out for discernment – raise your voice for understanding.” (Proverbs 2:3 NET Bible)

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