Weekly Thought – June 16, 2015

Fred’s reputation as a communicator remains strong. Regularly we hear from those who say, “I heard Fred speak and what he said really stayed with me. He took a complex idea and made it comprehensible.” Fred likened his speaking style to passing a pot. “An idea needs a handle just like a pot does to successfully move it from one to another.” He used one-liners and illustrations to create this transfer tool. The website breakfastwithfred.com has hundreds of these one-liners in its leadership library.

Sincerity of Communication

When we really want to communicate we must accept our responsibility of using language the other understands.

Non-believers, for example, and particularly those with no Christian background hear much of our revered standard phrases as “pious babble.” Even our tone of voice can turn them off. Without thinking we affect the “seminary brogue” so widely that even when surfing the TV we can tell a sermon with just a word or two. In my day the Billy Graham style dominated most American pulpits. Of course, that has changed, but there is still a rhythm and tempo which identifies many preachers. Opening up clear communication requires we take an inventory of our vocabulary.

Using terms like “blessed hope” or “saved” mean so very much to those in the community of faith, especially the evangelical branch. Outside those circles they tend toward “deer in the head lights” expressions on faces. Using lingo is actually a form of laziness. Committing ourselves to effective communication requires discipline, integrity, and hard work.

We must have enough passion to communicate to motivate us to learn the language of the audience and use it meaningfully. Too often we get frustrated when another’s inability to understand us, rather than accepting the responsibility of being understandable. Have you ever seen an American in another culture try to get someone to understand English? Invariably they speak louder and louder, repeating over and over as if repetition and volume will create understanding.

Sincerity of communication must be a hallmark in any communication, but especially with those of Christian faith. And we must be careful not to use our assumed personal connection with God as a persuasion tool. When someone claims God as their personal source of knowledge and action, I am somewhat skeptical. When someone cannot give me sound thinking other than an emotional, “God told me,” I wait for more substance. Too often, the statements that follow prove hollow and even wrong.

One of my cardinal principles for communication is: Speak to express, not impress.

This week think about: 1) How can I achieve better communication at home, work, church? 2) Where am I lazy and fall back on lingo rather than enlarging my vocabulary? 3) What motivates me to express, not impress?

Words of Wisdom: “We speak to express, not impress.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The one who is wise in heart is called discerning, and kind speech increases persuasiveness.” (Proverbs 16:21 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – June 9, 2015

Fred evaluated constantly. Maturity was his consistent goal. He believed growth came through “association, travel, and reading.” Whenever he was with someone, he tried to learn from them.

His good friend Charlie “Tremendous” Jones was well-known for his assessment: “Except for the people you meet, the places you go, and the books you read, you will be the same person in five years that you are today.” He and Fred certainly tracked well on that idea, didn’t they?

Service on HIS Schedule

Years ago, Dick Halverson, former Chaplain of the Senate, and I conducted a retreat for lay people. He gave me great freedom when he said, “Do you realize Christ did not have a daily planner? He simply when about doing good. When the woman with the lingering sickness stopped Him as He was on the way to raise Lazarus, He stopped and took care of her needs. He didn’t say, ‘Wait a minute, I am on my way to raise the dead and that is more important than your ongoing issue of blood.’ He stopped to touch her.”

Jesus used each opportunity to do good. When we believe God engineers our circumstances, He sets our priorities.

That phrase “Jesus went about doing good” has been a game changer for me. Our Christian service isn’t about setting lofty goals and striving for “maximum Kingdom impact.” Years ago there was a management theory called “Management While Walking Around.” I found the style helpful when I was assessing operations. You can pick up more in the midst rather than ensconced in the corner office. Our spiritual life is the same. We can see God’s hand in our day to day as we “go about.”

As I get older, my perspective on God’s involvement in my circumstances becomes clearer and clearer. I see His engineering in my daily life. When I was young, I was a great planner. I still believe in planning organizational activities. However, I’ve learned to leave great flexibility in my spirituality service. I see instances that seemed insignificant at the time were actually not so unimportant. Conversations that appeared to be casual might have great impact.

I had breakfast with a young professional man and gave him one thought which he wrote down. He later told me “That re-vectored my life.” I certainly wasn’t talking with him with the intent of making that long term impact. But, I was sitting down with him to listen and to respond appropriately.

God wants dedicates, not volunteers. The dedicated person gives us control, saying “I’m available to you. You do what you want with me.” The volunteer signs up for special service. The volunteer makes himself available on his own terms.

Joy in the Christian life comes when we open our hands and start seeing our daily walk as the means of active Christian service. Measuring impact is not our job – faithfulness is.

This week think about: 1) When has God used me in the ordinary? 2) How much do I believe in God’s sovereignty? 3) What will it take for me to give up control of my “spiritual impact?”

Words of Wisdom: “When we believe God engineers our circumstances, He sets our priorities.”

Wisdom from the Word: “I will walk among you, and I will be your God and you will be my people.” (Leviticus 26:12 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – May 26, 2015

Fred regularly prayed to be “useful, helpful, and productive.” He strongly believed in the recognition of gifts and the purposeful employment of them. Two of the friends Fred mentions (Torrey Johnson and Ron Glosser) are in heaven with him. They each taught him much about the Lord’s service.

Our 2016 schedule for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute is nearly complete. Three of the four schools have definite dates. We sincerely covet your prayer support. Thank you.

Used or Using?

I met Torrey Johnson when he first started Youth for Christ. At that time, I was asking certain people I highly admired for their autographed picture. I kept them in front of me, not as a sign of my relationship with them, but as a reminder of their character qualities. Torrey sent one back with the inscription, “To Fred, God’s man in God’s place.” I never felt I could hang it on the wall. I kept it in my desk drawer.

I was always condemned by how seldom I actually felt I was God’s man in God’s place. During the times I sensed He was using me, I felt very small yet very secure. When I was playing for my own team, I felt insecure and uncertain because I was depending on my own strength.

Recently I was talking with my dear friend Ron Glosser, former CEO of the Hershey Trust. He is a truly delightful person. I asked him the usual question, “How’s it going, Ron?” He answered in the best possible way that simple question could be answered when he said, “Fred, I feel God is using me.”

What a wonderful feeling to realize God is using us rather than our using God. So long as we keep that spiritual dimension in our leadership, people will see God in us.

Two great epitaphs come to mind. Steve Brown, great friend and President of Key Life Network, told me he found the small gravestone of Fanny Crosby, the hymn writer. She reportedly wrote 6,000 hymn lyrics. Her music continues to bless the Christian church after all these years. Blind from an early age, she often used words alluding to sight in her writings. Someone once said, “Aren’t you sad you can’t see?” Her answer: “If I had the choice I would choose blindness because that way the very first face I would ever see is that of Jesus!”

Fanny Crosby’s epitaph reads: “Aunt Fanny – she did what she could.” The other epitaph of note is that of great theologian A.W. Tozer which simply says, “He was a man of God.”

Editor’s note: Fred’s epitaph is only three words, but powerfully express his desire for usefulness: “He stretched others.”

This week think about: 1) When do I feel God using me? 2) What do I want on my gravestone? 3) Who represents Godly character in my life?

Words of Wisdom: “What a wonderful feeling to realize God is using us rather than our using God.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding. Acknowledge him in all your ways, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3: 5,6 NET Bible)