Praying Leaders

Weekly Thought – August 25, 2026

Fred was born on September 1, 1915. This year would be the 111th anniversary of his birth. He was the third of five boys. His Mother and Dad taught him the value of integrity. Matthew Bunyan Smith and Amye Anderson Smith were praying parents. Fred followed their example and until physically unable, he knelt by his bed nightly asking for wisdom and “talking things over” with God.

Praying Leaders

Prayer alone will not produce a leader. The Apostle Paul was a leader before meeting Christ, but he was leading in the wrong direction. But no one can become a competent Christian leader without prayer. As healthy plants require rain, so powerful leadership requires prayer.

There is disuse, misuse, and abuse of prayer. I want to talk about four steps of useful prayer:
1) Positioning – Prayer positions me. It reminds me I am not the ultimate leader; He is. I am ever a steward and never an owner. Sometimes kneeling helps me to physically experience this step.
2) Shifting into neutral – Prayer is most effective when I shift into neutral gear. This means I come willing to accept divine leadership. This is the toughest part of my prayer life. Leaders are usually strong-willed and feel extremely uncomfortable, even awkward, if they aren’t in a forward gear. “Your will be done” is so much harder than “this is what I think we should do.”
3) Dynamic peace – Tournament golfers standing over a crucial putt, block out the crowd, the money, and focus on nothing other than the pure stroke. Often, as leaders we must block out our fear of failure. We must avoid second guessing our decisions. Prayer helps us to find a dynamic peace – not a sleepy slumber, but an exhilaration. Confidence comes and concentration follows. Prayer does not improve our basic skills, but it gives us concentration that permits us to do our best.
4) Acceptance – When I’ve done my best, only then in prayer can I peacefully accept failure and success, “treating those two impostors just the same,” as Kipling said. A leader prays himself into the conscious presence and will of God so that he accomplishes “my utmost for His highest” and hears the welcoming benediction, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

This week think about: 1) What causes me to pray? 2) Who is my model as a praying leader? 3) How can I deepen my walk with Jesus?

Words of Wisdom: “Prayer alone will not make a leader.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Now Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he stopped, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord teach us to pray.” (Luke 11:1 NET Bible)

Destruction to Reconstruction

Brenda’s Blog – August 25, 2026

“The artist has determined the presence of the Tower has destroyed his work, so it is closed.”

One of the most interesting exhibits at the Nasher Sculpture Garden in Dallas is a building which features a large hole in the ceiling. Visitors, seated on concrete benches, stare through this hole at the sky. “Trending Blue” is the title.

A Dubai-like office tower now looms over the garden and obscures the purity of the artist’s vision. Rather than compromise, the artist closed access to his work. “It is destroyed.”

Gratitude flowed over me as I read those words. Not because the room was closed, but because we have a God who doesn’t post a sign on me saying, “She is destroyed.” There have been towers, strongholds, and fortresses which loom over my life, blocking the view of His face. There have been times when “Trending Black” seemed the appropriate title, BUT, our God reached down past the obstructions and reconstructed.

The second part of the notice says, “The artist is working to design something that will not be affected by the tower.”

Jesus is the way of escape from the terrible tower. Our God created a way for a clear view of His face.

What if my bad decisions had no means of remediation? What if my choices were written indelibly with no possibility of correction? Praise God He doesn’t mark us “damaged goods” and put us on the trash pile.

How do we apply this to leadership? We are called to lead imperfect, flawed, and sometimes aggravating humans. When plans aren’t executed perfectly, is it tempting to take out the “work destroyed” sticker? What strategies are built in for alternative operations? When do you go into reconstruction phase?

Leading with hope is the sign of greatness. Leading with realism is the sign of effectiveness. Towers may loom over us personally or professionally, but there is always a way to adjust and see the sky.

Our Father

Weekly Thought – August 18, 2026

Fred understood the human condition. When talking about commitment he wrote, “Another escape is perfectionism. Waiting for perfection in relationships, causes, or jobs may sound sensible but it’s utter foolishness.” He also understood the importance of prayer in the life of imperfect human beings.

Our Father

Prayer is a critical element in the devotional life. Sadly, too many see it as an exercise in getting God to go along with whatever is desired. I once heard it described as the “divine bellhop” approach. I would like to mention three points which seem important to me in considering prayer:

1) Prayer is relational. When I asked my friend Ray Stedman what it meant to have a personal relationship with Christ, he wrote, “Christ has a personality, is knowable, and has the qualities of love, care, and understanding.” When we talk with God, we are approaching Him through the person of Christ. We are able to talk with Him because we are accepted through Christ. Gratitude is a crucial part of this relationship. When I come to the person of Christ with a thankful heart I am much more prepared for the time. I come with open hands, not a shopping list.

2) Prayer is positional. I always think of prayer as a way of getting into proper tune with God like the orchestra tunes up. The musicians line up with A440; the Christian is in tune when he gets in the position of saying, “Not my will, but yours.” I find that I struggle until I can get to that point of relaxed comfort with God. I once spoke with a plumber who goes into tiny spaces. “Don’t you get claustrophobic? Before I crawl under the house, I get my body into a relaxed position and stay that way. If I don’t I get inflexible and seem to swell up.” When I find myself swelling up and becoming spiritual inflexible, I remember the position of letting go of my will.

3) Prayer is directional. Father Cavanaugh, President of Notre Dame, used to say to other leaders: “Be right.” Prayer is a great way to get our direction pointed right. When we are going the wrong way, prayer recalibrates our compass. My friend Steve Brown told me a man came to him asking for prayer. The topic? Whether he should give up his mistress or not. Steve told him to get lost. “Man, you and I both know you’re wrong and there is no need praying about it.” The witness of the Spirit lets us know when we are out in the weeds.

This week think about: 1) How has prayer changed me? 2) What is my definition of a personal relationship with Christ? 3) When is prayer most meaningful?

Words of Wisdom: “The witness of the Spirit lets us know when we are out in the weeds.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.” (Matthew 6:9 NET Bible)

Working Worship

Weekly Thought – August 11, 2026

Fred appreciated mothers. His Mom, Mrs. M.B. Smith, was the wife of a Baptist pastor who raised 5 boys in the mill district of North Nashville. Her consistency formed Fred’s view of parenting. One of his favorite conversations was overheard in Blowing Rock, NC. “It’s time to leave, come on.” The little girl responded, “I don’t like you anymore!” The Mom quietly said, “I will always like you and we are going home.”

Working Worship

Work is worship (or it should be). This was very much part of our early American beliefs, but as churches became more organized and staffed by vocationals, we moved away from this idea. We secularized our work and left worship to the professionals. Is this the best approach?

The Shakers, for example, were known for the perfection of their woodworking because they believed the work of their hands was praise from their heart. I think it is time to get back to that.

When we take this view it does not mean our only option is “full-time Christian service.” Our skills, training, and talents should be used for the common good. If I am a Christian architect, I don’t have to limit my work to churches. It is the motivation that counts.

The word “excellence” has become part of the modern lingo. Long before, it was a craze it was the modus operandi for God. He is the author of perfection. I guess we could say, “He wrote the book on it!” He wants our work to represent Him through our integrity. I believe “a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work” is part of my worship. If I accept money and not fulfilling my responsibilities, I am being dishonest. That is not worship.

Honesty, loyalty, and credibility are critical to me. We once built a house and hired a tradesman who was a pillar in the community church. I visited the job site, found him resting, and inquired about his condition. “Well, Mr. Smith, I am fasting and praying this week, so I am too tired to really do much work.” When I mentioned he should be exercising these disciplines on his own time and not receiving my money, he was quite incensed. He thought I would be pleased with his spirituality. That was a workman not worthy of his hire.

Paul wrote to his converts that whatever they did, it should be to the glory of God. I don’t think he just meant this for church service. When Christians segment their lives they lose the joy of wholeness. I see people who live like grapefruit – with little sections for each area. Until it becomes unified, the value of work as worship is lost on them.

Think carefully about: 1) How often do I stop and think of my work as worship? 2) What tempts me to do “grapefruit living?” 3) Who can I encourage with this idea today?

Words of Wisdom: “He wants our work to represent Him through our integrity.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Whatever you are doing, work at it with enthusiasm, as to the Lord and not for people.” (Colossians 3:23 NET Bible)

Drawing the Line

Brenda’s Blog – August 11, 2026

“Basta, basta, spare me a complete Hakluyt!”

That was my one line in the eighth grade play about new world adventures. I was Queen Elizabeth 1, costumed in velvet, pearls, and heavy wig. Try giving great meaning and depth to those seven words, especially when you have NO idea what Hakluyt meant. I stood in front of the mirror practicing each syllable carefully, striving to look regal and authoritative.

Years later I learned what the Queen was saying. Basta= enough. But Hakluyt? Richard Hakluyt was a geographer, chronicler, and explorer. His efforts to open up the new world, especially the colony of Virginia, were well-known. He was a talker, writer, talker, journaler, and talker!

His reports were particularly verbose and developed a reputation for their length. Thus, long-winded speeches were known as “Hakluyts. Queen Elizabeth was saying to the eager explorer standing before her, “Enough, enough, spare me this tiresomely long report – just get to the bottom line.” Or, as my Dad would say to me, “Brenda, show me the baby, don’t tell me about the labor pains.”

I don’t know all that information would have helped my prize winning performance, but over the years I appreciate more and more her leadership in saying “Enough, enough!”

“What causes you to say enough?” “Where do you draw the line?” “What are your deal breakers?”

These define moral boundaries. Strong leaders answer these questions early in their lives. They lay a foundation upon which they build their careers, family life, and ministry. Effective leaders form answers before they ever confront volatile or compromising situations.

Good leaders don’t like surprises and especially don’t like surprising themselves. Our value structure must operate as a knee jerk reaction. “Basta, basta” is part of a leader’s toolbox. “Basta, basta” is a well-honed and well-used line.

Selective “Selectric” Thinking

Weekly Thought – August 4, 2026

Fred “changed his address from earth to heaven” on August 17, 2007. It is one of the few times in the year of weekly thoughts, his daughter and BWF President Brenda steps out and makes personal remarks. Dad’s desire to be helpful, productive, and useful marked his entire life. The thousands of pieces of paper in my BWF files attest to Dad’s belief in writing everything down he believed worth remembering. I am most grateful for this habit, for it makes breakfastwithfred.com and the Weekly Thought possible.

Some of my most prized possessions are letters from him. A few were pages long; many others were ripped off scraps of paper with simply a scripture reference or a phrase, but all were sent to encourage me on the way .Thank you for sharing in the legacy of his God-given wisdom. Continue to stretch others and as he would say, “write it down.”

Selective “Selectric” Thinking

Writing gives one many advantages: clarity in our thoughts, precision in our words, additional tools for thinking, and organization in our presentation. A writer doesn’t have to be a literary stylist. You must decide what you need to say, how you can best do it, and of course, always determine your purpose for saying anything at all. Speaking has always come more naturally for me, although I work very hard at honing my skills. Having a message is critical to both writers and speakers. My good friend, Zig Ziglar, tells of the young man who rushed up to him almost breathless, “I want to do just what you do!” “Well, young man, what is your message?” “Oh,” he answered, “I don’t have one, but I can get one – I want to be on stage.” Writing is like that because you have to have a message.

Brevity is a beneficial byproduct of writing. In ordinary business writing we must be our own editors. Most want more space than they deserve. Rewriting is a courtesy to the reader and to us when making decisions. Concise writing indicates clear thinking. Writing it down burns the fuzz off.

I strongly recommend making notes of what you hear. Retention is better and they spur our own creative thinking. Notes are a storehouse for future reference. Over the 46 years of association with Maxey Jarman I took voluminous notes. What better source of reading than the ideas you have been impressed with enough to capture? No one has a good enough memory to recall one-tenth of all the good and helpful things we hear. Write them down.

May I say a warm word for letters? I may have written a few thousand personal letters in my life. It is my joy and curse. I probably think more letters than I actually get down for I thoroughly dislike courtesy only, fluffy ones. “Smith’s Night Letters” are typed with two fingers on my old IBM Selectric with a continuous roll of paper fed through the back. Sometimes a friend gets two inches of letter. Other times, they get one three feet long! I don’t have copies of those letters, but I have the memories of great nocturnal journeys spent in conversation pecking away.

This week think about: 1) How much clearer is my thinking when I write it down first? 2) Where do I do my best thinking? 3) What letter is in my mind that should be put to paper?

Words of Wisdom: “Writing burns the fuzz off our thinking.”

Wisdom from the Word: “David said, ‘All of this I put in writing as the Lord directed me and gave me insight regarding the details of the blueprints.’” (1 Chronicles 28:19 NET Bible)

Getting There

Brenda’s Blog – July 28, 2026

“You are here” were the words under the big orange dot.

I stood at the directory board examining all the stores while waiting for my friend to meet for lunch. Then I started laughing to myself… isn’t that the way I want God to communicate with me? I want a great big map with everything lined out and then a big orange dot telling me just where I am on the chart.

Where would faith be if we followed the bouncing orange ball? How could we grow in the knowledge of a sovereign God if the next steps were as predictable as those from Corner Bakery to Neiman’s?

However, we can check out our progress. “Are you satisfied with the direction of your life? Are you pleased with who you are becoming?” My Dad would occasionally ask me these questions. There was one more, but I can’t remember… these two are brain-twisting enough.

NorthPark Center in Dallas has a map which marks a walking path. I can know exactly where I am and how far I’ve gone at all times. I can tell myself when I have taken shortcuts and cheated myself out of the complete path. I can also do an extra lap or two and know how loudly to congratulate myself.

On those days when I want orange dot living, I stop and think about the wonders of wondering and wandering, even. I think about the excitement of knowing the person I want to be, but not knowing where that person is going to go in 1 year or 3 years, much less five years. I love trusting in a God who loves me and has a plan for my life – a plan which is more than I could ever imagine.

So when I stand at that directory the next time I will laugh again because He is SO MUCH BETTER than a big orange dot.

Connecting the Dots

Brenda’s Blog – July 14, 2026

“Follow the formula,” recommended my scriptwriter friend.

We were discussing the classic series, “Murder, She Wrote” starring Angela Lansbury. As a professional, he analyzed programs to find the structure. “The old ones are predictable. Intro, murder, confusion, arrest of wrong person (usually related to or befriended by Jessica), intriguing setup, and conclusion. On her shows they always ended with a charming exchange, laughter and freeze frame of Lansbury’s appealing smile.”

He pointed out the exact time marks. I applied his formula and sure enough – he was right. She risked life and limb at exactly the same point in the script episode after episode.

A dear artist friend walked me through an art gallery and showed me the classical technique of painting. She pointed out the intersecting diagonal lines with the focus at the center point, the horizontal lines which carried the viewer’s eye up, over, and down. She told me about light and balance as I stood transfixed watching each painting come under her trained eye.

Real life isn’t as easily unpacked as Jessica Fletcher mysteries, or Andrew Wyeth paintings.

I read recently the old philosophical musing of good and evil has changed in the last 30 years. We used to ask, “Why do good things happen to bad people?” Now the question is: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” The underlying question is “Where is God when life seems unfair?” Another way of putting the question, “Why doesn’t God follow our formula and move accordingly to smiling freeze frame?”

There is comfort in knowing “His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways.” His formula isn’t subject to TV time slots, artistic protocol, or our definitions of fair.

Formulae provide predictability; providence requires faith. But oh, the joy of stepping outside the lines and connecting the dots of His glorious plan.

Meaningful Success

Weekly Thought – August 28, 2026

Fred distinguished between intrinsic and accumulated value. “When someone says so and so is worth a million dollars, I always think, ‘He may have accumulated a million, but he may not be worth a plug nickel.’ I am valuable because Christ died for me and so are you – not because of the balance in your checkbook.” He thought of success as part of a process and not just the gathering of material goods.

Meaningful Success

I believe in working for success much more than just praying for it. Pray for maturity and work for success. If both come together, then you will know best how to use it, how to enjoy it, and how to perpetuate it. As you work, do so enthusiastically, intelligently, intensely, and ethically.

A friend wrote this reminder on his wall: “A thing that needs doing can be done honestly.” Good ends never launder dirty means.

I find the way to go includes three elements:
1) Get yourself a clear definition of success. The dictionary always uses a financial measure, but to me that isn’t it. Success is using your talent and gifts to their highest advantage and contribution. Wealth may come with it, or it may not. My associate, Joe Dominy gave me this one: Something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to. The reward is usually paid in the “coin of the realm.” In business this means money; in politics, power; in ministry, blessing and respect; in teaching, the satisfaction of passing knowledge from one generation to another. Ironically, the only coin that gets criticized is money. No one is lambasted for too many degrees, or too much respect, or even too much power. The multiplication of money should be seen as necessary for the multiplication of ministry.

2) Clarify your philosophical base. Behind every plan of action, every commitment of time and energy, should be a solid philosophical base. From it comes the answer to the question, “why.” For example, why not stay where it is comfortable? Why push ahead, risking failure? Those answers are found in the fundamental belief system we each have. This will then be translated into that unscratchable itch. Some call it stewardship; some call it ego drive; others see it as responsibility. If it is only for materialistic accumulation, often it ends up like the scripture verse, “He gave them their desire, but sent leanness of soul.” Life is a two-stage rocket. The first is physical energy – it ignites and we are off. As physical energy diminishes, the spiritual stage must ignite to boost us into orbit or we fall back.

3) Select a pleasant route. Too often we think only of our destination and not the possible ways of getting there. Recently, on the west Coast, I decided to turn off the interstate and follow a small scenic road. It is so easy to use the “A to B in the fastest possible time” way of living, we miss so much. I must admit I took this approach when our children were small. We pulled into the Grand Canyon, I pointed out the big hole, and then off we were! Too often, we have our goal so much in mind we fail to take another, more leisurely way. Goals and destination should both be interesting. We spend a lot more time getting there, so it should be pleasant. As I like to say, look for the joy in the journey.

Think about: 1) How fast am I traveling? 2) What is my personal definition of success? 3) Who models success for me?

Words of Wisdom: “Good ends never launder dirty means.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Then you will understand righteousness and justice and equity – every good way. For wisdom will enter your heart and moral knowledge will be attractive to you.” (Proverbs 2:9,10 NET Bible)

Older, But Never Old

Weekly Thought – July 21, 2026

Fred finished well. His mental, emotional, and spiritual disciplines overcame physical immobility. One of his favorite illustrations was the young man with severe limitations who sat on the front row as Fred spoke. Afterwards, he said, “I have disabilities, but they don’t have me.”

One of Fred’s best-loved Leadership Journal articles was titled, “Older, But Never Old” These timely and timely principles bear repeating in this excerpted section on the benefits of aging from this classic piece.

Older, But Never Old

When I heard a friend call himself old for the first time he was seventy-six. I was offended. It’s a serious problem when people start thinking of themselves as old because they’ve accepted that categorization. It begins feeling like a holding pattern. They are starting to coast to the finish line.

Older is a fact, but old is an unhealthy attitude.

I think it is important to look at some of the benefits of getting older:
1) Selective tension – Older people are usually tense over important things, not over everything. As we age we shouldn’t lose tension, but should apply it selectively. Getting older means we should be able to allocate tension to the important instead of the trivial.

2) Clarified values – Who we are influences our happiness much more than what we have. One concern is our eagerness to pass on values, but need to do it in a way that is received. We can’t expect younger ones to accept our values with the same certainty we have gained over a lifetime.

3) Experience – Experience turns knowledge into wisdom. Experience, like faith, is a teacher, but faith keeps us from bearing the scars of willful experiences. Wise experiences should direct us to the wisdom of “this is the way, walk ye in it.

4) Increased excitement – As the years get shorter, the excitement of fully utilizing them can be a great motivator. Just like reaching the 400 mile marker while driving the Indianapolis 500, the last 100 are exciting because they are the reason you drove the first 400. Aging is like that.

5) Tested relationships – As we grow older, relationships mature. We begin laughing about the things that caused us tears. I used to tell Mary Alice, “the things we cry about today we’ll laugh about tomorrow.” We discover what is important and what is not; we know which friendships will hold and which ones will always be tentative.

6) Death is part of life – Whatever I have known to now has been fragmentary and transient. The great hope of heaven is that I will know the full truth. I think it’s important as we go through life to create thirsts only death can satisfy. For example, the thirst for truth, for God, for immortality, and renewing relationships who have gone ahead.

This week carefully consider: 1) Who do I know who is getting older but not old? 2) What lessons can I learn about aging? 3) Where does fear immobilize me?

Words of Wisdom: “The wise man fears the loosed lion; the fool fears the lion in a cage.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The glory of young men is their strength; and the splendor of old men is gray hair.” (Proverbs 20:29 NET Bible)

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