Weekly Thought – February 6,2018

Fred believed strongly in the power of prayer. He was, however, careful not to misuse it either in public or private. The family remembers seeing him on his knees by his bed before going to sleep. He and Mom kept a list of prayer needs. This visual of a strong man bowed down on the floor marked them permanently. This week’s thought is excerpted from an article published in the Mennonite Brethren Herald in February, 2000.

The Council for Christian Colleges and Universities held their International Conference in Dallas this week. A recurring message was the importance of mentoring, and character building. The purpose of BWFLI is to strengthen and bless the next generation of leaders…to the glory of God. We so appreciate your financial and prayerful support as we enter into a heavy schedule of campus events.

Praying Responsibly

Prayer can undergo disuse, misuse, and abuse at the hands and voices of Christian leaders. We all have experienced the manipulation through conversations with God which seemed more like a Public Relations pitch or a financial ask.

But there are responsible uses. And I have found that proper leadership prayer involves four steps, often overlapping:

1) Positioning – Prayer positions me. It reminds me I am not the ultimate leader…the Lord Jesus is. I am the steward, not the owner. Sometimes kneeling physically helps me with this step.

2) Shifting into neutral – Prayer is more effective when I can emotionally, and mentally shift into a true neutral gear, ready to fully accept divine leadership. Leaders are usually strong-willed, opinionated persons who feel awkward and uncomfortable in neutral. It is so much easier to ask God’s stamp of approval on what we want to do. But what we must say is, “You will be done” and really mean it. I have found I must still my thoughts, separating my interests as far as possible. When an issue is at stake, a neutral position allows me to consider various options. If I have time I let the options simmer overnight or longer. Then I repeat the options and if one seems to serve the cause better than the others, I know I am ready to shift out of neutral, putting the machine in motion with a clear conscience and peaceful spirit.

3) Dynamic peace – Tournament golfers standing over a crucial putt, put everything out of their mind except for a pure stroke. They aren’t thinking about prestige, financial benefits, or even the crowd. As leaders, we often must block out the distractions. For example, we must not think about the fear of failure, or second guess decisions we have made. Prayer helps us find a dynamic peace… not a sleepy peace, but one that is exhilarating. There is confidence in dynamic peace. And I find confidence lets me concentrate fully on the task. When I am operating with dynamic peace, it doesn’t make me smarter, or more skilled, but gives me the freedom to work with the highest concentration.

4) Acceptance – When I have done my best, only then in prayer can I peacefully accept failure as well as success. Kipling puts it this way: “treat those two impostors just the same.” A leader prays himself into the conscious presence and will of God so that he accomplishes what Chambers calls, “My utmost of His highest.”

This week think about: 1) How can I develop my prayer muscles? 2) What do I do to “get into neutral gear”? 3) When does prayer seem like true conversation with God?

Words of Wisdom: “Prayer helps us find a dynamic peace… not a sleepy peace, but one that is exhilarating.”

Wisdom from the Word: “When Solomon finished presenting all these prayers and requests to the Lord, he got up from before the altar of the Lord where he had kneeled and spread out his hands toward the sky.” (1 Kings 8:54 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – November 29, 2016

Fred believed in the power of prayer. He was often asked to offer public prayer because of his speaking skills and his resonant voice. He accepted but often deferred because he shrank away from any hint of performance. Until he was bed-bound, he knelt by their bed nightly. This picture highly influenced his children who saw this strong leader in a posture of total submission.

Into the Father’s Presence

Prayer is both marvelous and mysterious. How marvelous that a sinner saved by grace can at any time commune with the Lord Almighty, creator of heaven and earth. In the night when I awaken and am tempted by frustration, it is so comforting to talk to the Lord about it.

I am not alone in my experience. One of the psychiatrists who helped select the first team of astronauts told me about testing them in absolute isolation to see how much they could endure. He said some could go indefinitely and when they interviewed them they found the “withstanders” were the ones who could pray. If we would only realize our opportunity for direct communication with the Lord, how much more we would do it.

I have found expressing gratitude to God gives me great satisfaction. Surprisingly, I found it increased my self-respect. It is so much better to live with and as a grateful person, rather than as a complainer.

Mysterious is the nature of intercessory prayer. How can my appeal affect God’s action toward another? Yet in scripture we are instructed to pray for one another. Realistically, I would be so frustrated if prayer weren’t an alternative when there is absolutely nothing else I could do for someone. “At least I can pray for you” is often heard. I want to remind them prayer is the MOST they can do for me.

Further, I have never believed that the number praying is the vital point. I just do not think God is swayed by mass numbers. And even more, I do not think God is any more impressed by celebrity prayer than others. I think of those I knew growing up in the mill district of North Nashville who were fervent prayer warriors. Their names were never going to be in lights, but their lives shone with the light of Jesus.

When we say “I am praying for you” we are joining the community of the committed. We are saying “I will meet you in the throne room.” We are together in the marvel and the mystery of the communing with God we call prayer. Keep on praying for one another – it is the source of obedience and joy.

This week think about: 1) How active is my prayer life? 2) What am I specifically talking to God about this week? 3) Who am I joining with at the throne?

Words of Wisdom: “If we would only realize our opportunity for direct communication with the Lord, how much more we would do it.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Now, my God, may you be attentive and responsive to the prayers offered in this place.” (2 Chronicles 6:40 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – October 18, 2016

Fred and Mary Alice met in seventh grade English class. She loved his family and grew spiritually as a teenager through the ministry of Mathew Bunyan Smith, Fred’s Dad. She was born 101 years ago today. Her influence on her family and friends continues. Her love and encouragement flow through all she touched.

October 26 and 27, 2016 are the dates for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute. The team will begin gathering on the 25th in West Palm Beach, FL. Please stand with us in prayer. Thank you for your consistent, faithful support.

Following Faithfully

In our lives “faith” is both a noun and a verb. As a noun we express what is the faith. Dr. Ramesh Richard, my theologian friend who has two earned PhDs is an international proclaimer of the gospel. He gave me the “Faith Alones” (or solas) as outlined by Martin Luther: 1) by grace alone; 2) through faith alone; 3) based on Scripture alone; 4) in Christ alone; and 5) for God’s glory alone. These outline faith as a noun.

Faith, as a verb, is how we live faith out in our lives. By faith, we follow the Scriptures both in principles and disciplines for life. We look to the Scriptures for both commands and promises.

One time when I was in negotiations with the steelworkers’ union, our lawyer was convinced they were going to declare a strike. Therefore, he recommended we not make an offer because it would be used as the basis for the next negotiation. As I left home to go to the meeting, I did something I had never done before. I opened the Bible and read the first verse that I saw. “Do not withhold from workers money that is due them.” I knew right then what my decision would be. Against the lawyer’s recommendation, I opted to make a reasonable offer. To our amazement, the union members readily accepted it. So we avoided a strike. I felt I had been given divine guidance.

Any time we make a decision to do right, rather than wrong, we are living by faith. Like the old hymn tells us to walk in faith living a life that pleases God we must “trust and obey.” Dr. Richard pointed out to me Hope and faith will not be needed in heaven for we will see and know. But the love of God in Christ will exist eternally. That is the faith which energizes me.

This week think about: 1) How can I translate my faith noun into a faith verb? 2) What areas of my life need faithful attention? 3) Who encourages me to walk by faith?

Words of Wisdom: “Faith is both a noun and a verb.

Wisdom from the Word: “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.” (Deuteronomy 32:4 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – July 12, 2016

Fred appreciated William Barclay. He taught a very fine Sunday School lesson Barclay wrote. Fred’s love of principles allowed him to take the phrases and then apply current applications. His ability to see truth and create ways to pass it on energized him.

Continue praying for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute as the Fall events come quickly. Lift up Asbury University and Palm Beach Atlantic University – our teams, their faculty, staff, and students. We go in the name of Jesus and eagerly anticipate the work He gives us to do.

Powerful Triad

“Lord, grant us in our work, satisfaction; in our leisure, pleasure; in our study, wisdom; and in our love, loyalty.” Years ago while reading, I discovered William Barclay’s prayer. I was so impressed with the balance of life he described that I easily memorized it. Through the years I have repeated it to myself many times and twice I have taught it as a Sunday School lesson. The first time I only taught the four requests. Later, I realized I had missed the significance of the three opening words.

“Lord” – One of the major theological questions today is whether Christ can be Savior without being Lord. George Gallup did a survey among the “born again” and found that only 10 percent considered their faith in daily decision making. He wrote a book titled The Saints Among Us, indicating that 90 percent of us are nominal Christians.

“Grant” – This reminds us all good and perfect gifts come from above. We have no demands on God, only requests. Again, the Bible tells us we have nothing but what we have received of God.

“Us” – This reminds us Christianity is a community, a Body, a family. It is not just an individual experience. It is not like the pine tree that can grow by itself. It is like the redwood that grows in a cluster with all of the roots supporting the others.

Gert Behanna was born and raised in the old Waldorf Astoria amid amazing wealth. After spending much of her life wedded to a lifestyle of drugs and alcohol, she became a Christian. When she prayed “Our Father” she realized she was a member of a family and gave much of her wealth to needy Christians whom she considered brothers and sisters.

“Lord, grant us…” A triad of infinite significance.

This week consider: 1) How can I apply that triad in my life this week? 2) What is God doing in me that shows me who He is? 3) Where am I plugged into the community of faith?

Words of Wisdom: “Again, the Bible tells us we have nothing but what we have received of God.”

Wisdom from the Word: “For who concedes you any superiority? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you received it, why do you boast as though you did not?” (1 Corinthians 4:7 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – June 28, 2016

Fred appreciated his Father’s devotion to the Word and God’s people. During the depression out of work men would come to the back door of the parsonage asking for scraps of food or other handouts. Despite the fact my grandmother was struggling to feed the seven Smiths, Fred’s dad always found something to share – a grace gift. At this time when we celebrate our country’s freedom, let’s give thanks for our freedom in Christ.

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute is halfway through its 2016 schedule with two more schools in the fall. Please continue to lift up team members, Asbury University, and Palm Beach Atlantic University. God is on the move and BWFLI wants to be right there!

The Real Thing

Grace was genuine, real, personal and palpable to the great saints. Brother Lawrence, Frank Laubach, Francois Fenelon – these Christian mystics never doubted they were the constant recipients of God’s amazing grace. Grace was a practical part of their everyday lives.

For example, Brother Lawrence said that when he made a mistake, he didn’t spend any time thinking about it – he just confessed it, and moved on. Before I read that, I had been trapped by guilt – immediate grace was too good to be true, I thought. Brother Lawrence’s experience released me and set me free.

Nevertheless, legalism appeals to our common sense, and reasoning. I find it necessary to remind myself that the very Scripture that makes me know my guilt lets me know God’s grace. By refusing grace, we play God and discipline ourselves. We view events as punishments. We see correction coming when in reality, it isn’t correction at all – it is just a consequence. We too often try to read into our circumstances a sense of God’s judgment.

Why? Because we feel we deserve judgment rather than grace. Grace brings freedom. If only we could accept grace fully, then we, like Brother Lawrence, could have the freedom to admit failure and move on. Since grace cannot be deserved, why should I feel others are more worthy of it than I am? Or why should I feel they are less worthy?

Thinking we can be mature in Christ apart from grace is nothing more than fooling ourselves.

The Bible tells me we should not think too highly of ourselves, but it doesn’t advocate “worm thinking” either. We are objects of grace, and grace is a faith gift coming from and through the Father of light.

This week think about: 1) How full of grace am I? 2) What does it mean to me to be free in Christ? 3) What keeps me in bondage?

Words of Wisdom: “Thinking we can be mature in Christ apart from grace is nothing more than fooling ourselves.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is present, there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3: 17 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 29, 2016

Fred’s book, Learning to Lead was published by Christianity Today, Inc. in 1986. Although out of print, the wisdom continues to challenge generations of leaders. We will be drawing from the well of these writings to inspire and motivate.

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute allows us to meet, mentor, and befriend men and women on Christian college and university campuses. It is with great joy we undertake this work. Thank you for your continual support.

Consistent Living

I often speak at Christian retreats. Sometimes I feel like there are those who attend with the sole purpose of fulfilling their spiritual obligations. I get the mental picture of children who are not allowed to leave the table until they have eaten their spinach. Finally, with a grimace they gulp it all down at one time, then beat a hasty exit from the table.

For two or three days, the participants talk about their faith. But if you say, “Hey, fellas, this is great, why don’t we get together every weekend and do this?” “Uh, NO,” would be the embarrassed but automatic response.

A mature faith is homogenized, not sectionalized. I am very impressed with one church which created a program called “Growth.” They meet one Saturday each month and lay people get to consider their whole lives, not just the “religious” part. Some of their topics have been: investments, ambition and office politics, family discipline, decision making. At other times they talk frankly about money, not just whether tithing is gross or net! In developing these programs the church is acknowledging that our faith is fully integrated into all of life.

Another key area of integration is our relationship with non-believers. As Christians we shouldn’t be antagonistic. We should seek to find commonalities rather than continually pointing out the differences. We just seek to draw close, not move away into our little holy huddles. In being transformed by the renewing of our minds, we are called to freedom in Christ. Our lives are to be redemptive, not vindictive.

A major part of that is the way we live with Christ at the center, not as an add-on. When we set redemption as a goal we strive to demonstrate victory over death. The fully integrated Christian lives a resurrection life. This is maturity.

This week think about: 1) How integrated is my life? 2) How strong a thread is my faith in my life? 3) What can I do to experience freedom in Christ?

Words of Wisdom: “A mature faith is homogenized, not sectionalized.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Therefore we must progress beyond the elementary instructions about Christ and move on to maturity, not laying this foundation again: repentance from dead works and faith in God.” (Hebrews 6:1 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 22. 2016

Fred never entered into active politics, but he understood those who did. He gave the entire process much thought and analysis. The one time he engaged was for the unsuccessful gubernatorial run of Maxey Jarman in Tennessee. Even then he had great vision and profound grasp of the principles involved. “You ran against the other party’s opponent before you secured your own party’s endorsement. You ran the wrong race.”

Thank you for your consistent and continual support. We are less than one month away from our BWFLI events at Lindsey Wilson College and Alice Lloyd College – both in Kentucky. Lift up the teams as they prepare, travel, and engage on these campuses. If you would like to join us in praying for Christian higher education, please come together with us in the BWFLI Prayer Network.

Spiritual Scattershooting (thoughts on various subjects from January 2, 1964)

C.S. Lewis observed that the most fertile soil for infiltration of Marxism will be within the field of religion, because religious people are the most gullible and will accept almost anything if it is couched in religious terminology. This may be a bit broad-brushed, but sadly when it is only religion and not spiritual relationship this blindness occurs. It is also true that many orthodox, fundamental Christians block out truth which is not clothed with religious terminology. I like the think of this as the difference between ritual and reality. Sometimes the vestments hide what is behind them. And sometimes truth resides there – sometimes not.

That is why we are warned to guard against believing someone is “the Christ” just because they have the demeanor, the language, and the outward expressions. The Spirit must witness to the truth – not the terminology, language, place, ritual, or even organization.
Christianity sacrifices its power when it is no longer personal. Change religion and God into a vague, indefinable, universal force and the wilderness ensues. God must be personal.

Too many clergymen have apparently come to regard their jobs as being formulators of public opinion on social problems. They ask the government to be a modern day Robin Hood, taking money legally away from one group and redistributing it to another.

In today’s pulpit we hear ministers with two solutions to the problem of sin: spiritual rebirth or social, governmental activity. When they focus on the second and ignore the first they are doomed to failure.

Only the impossible is adequate in the spiritual life. God is bigger than man’s understanding of Him. It is tragic to think of God being reduced down to man’s best thinking about Him. When Jesus chose His disciples He didn’t tap the intellectual elites, but men whose finite minds were open to infinite ideas.

This week think about: 1) When I am just scattershooting about God, what comes to mind? 2) How can I think more consistently about scripture? 3) Who models “thinking Christianly” in my life?

Words of Wisdom: “Change religion and God into a vague, indefinable, universal force and the wilderness ensues.”

Wisdom from the Word: “The law of their God controls their thinking; their feet do not slip.” (Psalm 37:31 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – March 1, 2016

Fred clearly believed in “original sin.” He never doubted the need for grace and forgiveness. When asked about it he explained it was the only reasonable explanation for life. He held strongly to the goodness of God.

Sin is Real

We are so afraid of minimizing sin, we find it difficult to accept forgiveness for fear we will begin to enjoy sinning. We start to set up artificial measures of whether a person is a believer or not by how much they do or do not enjoy sin. Then we start to look at how long we last between sinning and feeling remorse.

The weakness in this thinking is that we fail to see the change of attitude toward past and future sin. Our gratitude for grace is evidenced in our attitude toward future sin. We accept that expecting to stop sinning leans on our own human efforts. We have to soberly think about our attitude toward all sin.

If we fall into the immaturity of thinking sin is covered so we can sin in order that “grace may abound,” we are simply accepting grace as a bromide for the morning after sickness. If we accept grace as the only answer for our sin (original nature of man) then we realize it isn’t ours to handle. Only the power of the Holy Spirit can deliver us. Moving on in grace is as much a work of the Spirit as is our salvation.

When we allow guilt (created by ourselves) over sins of the past, we cloud over the future. There is certainly divine discipline and God works in us to point us to Him, but He doesn’t create a situation in which we repeatedly beat ourselves up over past sins.

Those who try to deny others the reconciliation through repentance are holding them accountable through human efforts, not Godly relationship. Too often we try to hold others by the throat bringing up past sins. When forgiveness comes, it is not our job to dredge up the details. We are to be people who live in grace with others. We are to live in an “attitude of forgiveness” which allows us to experience restoration.

This week think about: 1) How do I define sin? 2) What areas in my life are most susceptible to sin? 3) When do I celebrate grace with myself and with others?

Words of Wisdom: “We are so afraid of minimizing sin, we find it difficult to accept forgiveness.”

Wisdom from the Word: “to give his people knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins.” (Luke 1:77 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – December 8, 2015

Fred, during one of his hospital stays, called a number of friends to say goodbye. As expected these were emotional conversations. Fred ended each one with an expression of affection, adding “remember I am just a sinner, saved by grace.”

The teams are forming for the 2016 BWFLI schedule. The campus venues are coming together. And, throughout the process, we are trusting God for providential work. If you want to help us financially, we will be most grateful.

Sin Talk

We are so afraid of minimizing sin we find it difficult to accept forgiveness for fear we will begin to enjoy sinning. We set up the test of a Christian as one who sins, but does not enjoy it. “He cannot continue in sin” is how we perceive mature Christians. But for how long? Does the remorse hit immediately or is it delayed? Is the penalty of sin sudden death like lightning strikes?

We fail to see the change of attitude toward past sin and future sin. Our gratitude for grace is evidenced in our attitude toward future sin. If we adhere to the “sin that grace might increase” school of thought, we accept grace as a bromide for the morning after sickness of sin. If we accept grace as the only answer for our sin, then we realize how limited we are in our ability to truly handle sin. Only grace gives us hope for a different outcome as we mature in Christ. But it is a gift, not an achievement. If we couldn’t save ourselves initially, then we certainly can’t resave ourselves. And sin doesn’t mean loss of salvation – that is what grace is about.

We try to minimize the power of sinning by creating guilt over the past so it will cloud our future. We deny that those who have sinned have accomplished any happiness following their repentance from sin. We are so afraid someone will get by with sinning we take away the full affect of repentance. There are some who foolishly feel they are denied some sins, but feel they can make up for it with other varieties. That just doesn’t sense.

I once spoke for a friend at her one year mark in Alcoholics Anonymous. I used a phrase she shared with me… “the joy of sobriety.” She said she couldn’t stay sober by trying to avoid drinking. When she came to understand the joy of sobriety, she turned a corner. Sin is like that. When we try to grit our teeth and live the Christian life, we are prone for failure. Only when we realize the joy of grace do we start understanding why sin has lost some of its magnetic pull.

When our children were little we took them to evangelistic meetings where men and women like Johnny Spence and my friend Gert Behanna shared their testimonies. Frequently I doubted the value of displaying the gory details before our young children. Too many got caught up in the “I had everything the world had to offer” talk and failed to properly demonstrate the changed life.

I thankfully acknowledge I am a sinner saved by grace. And I focus on the grace, not the sin.

This week think about: 1) How do I think about sin? 2) What does grace really mean to me? 3) Who demonstrates the quality of graciousness living?

Words of Wisdom: “Only when we realize the joy of grace do we start understanding why sin has lost some of its magnetic pull.”

Wisdom from the Word: “What shall we say then? Are we to remain in sin so that grace may increase? Absolutely not! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6: 1,2 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – June 23, 2015

Fred was acquainted with many Christian leaders, from the outside and inside. He never exposed their weaknesses so was trusted as a friend and confidante. But he recognized their “iron and clay.” He always said he was magnetized by their iron, but neutralized by their clay. He focused on the iron rather than trying to correct the clay. He once commented to a person who disagreed with the friendship between himself and a leader: “I am drawn by their iron and you are put off by the clay… therefore, you cannot see the strength.”

Soul Food

I’m fond of reading the Catholic mystics and saints of old. (The original saints were, of course, Southern Baptists!) In their writings and meditations I see nothing of planning for the purpose of personal significance. They were not motivated by human ambition. The glory of God was their joy.

They were concerned not with God’s plan for their life but His presence in their life. They knew having a guide was always better than having a map. Both Brother Lawrence and Frank Laubach have written inspiringly on the constant presence of God.
Occasionally, I speak to a Christian leader who seems hard and metallic. The more ambitious they are, the more metallic their manner. Some with whom I have shared intimate moments seem dry on the inside. It reminds me of the verse “He sent them their desire but with it, leanness of soul.” The soul can’t be fed with ambition, accomplishment, and acquisition. Peggy Lee recorded a song years ago titled, “Is that all there is?” Some of the leaders I have known reach the pinnacle of success – yes, even Christian success as they define it – and find an emptiness. They proved themselves but too often did it in human power. They did not experience the joy of seeing God do what only He could. Their nourishment was man-made.

The soul fed by the Spirit and the words proceeding from God grows for this is the food that truly satisfies.

Values or Virtues

Unless our values are rooted in scriptural virtues, they are not Christian.

Our need is not to return to family values, nor historical values, but to scriptural virtues.

We talk about values because subconsciously we like to be in control and we set our values. Cultural values are fluid.

Virtues hold their authority because they are not under human control, but come from God’s revealed truth. This distinction brings up the key question: “What is your authority?”

Our society could return to the values of our forefathers but we would still have human values. When we return to the virtues of scripture, we are returning to God.

This week think about: 1) What is feeding my soul right now? 2) How do I establish the ultimate authority for my life? 3) When do I sense a dryness in my soul?

Words of Wisdom: “Our society could return to the values of our forefathers but we would still have human values. When we return to the virtues of scripture, we are returning to God.”

Wisdom from the Word: “Look, the one whose desires are not upright will faint from exhaustion, but the person of integrity will live because of his faithfulness.” (Habakkuk 2:4 NET Bible)