Weekly Thought – December 2, 2014

Fred wrote a section of You and Your Network titled Joy in the Journey. He believed fully in experiences. The only exception was family trips when the children were young. He and Mary Alice would pile them into the car after marking the quickest distance between A and B… then off they would go! Fred’s desire to “make good time” seemed measured by a stop watch. While traveling from Cincinnati to Los Angeles, he waved his hand and announced to the family, “There is the Grand Canyon…” and kept on driving. He later understood the value of stopping and encouraged his children to travel with stops.

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute is an experience sharing wisdom, hope, and encouragement between two generations. There is ample time for conversation and connection. Thank you for supporting us.

Does Success Trump Saintliness? (Part 3)

Thoughtful planning and the marshalling of ego and responsibility energies on a day to day basis is critical. Throughout life we call upon them. It is important to learn the lesson of joy in the journey.
In my judgment, we spend far too much time concentrating on some distant and future destination than in considering the possible ways to get there. We become so convinced that happiness comes in achieving the distant goal that we fail to find the joys and enrichment that come along the way. (more…)

Weekly Thought – November 11, 2014

Fred often spoke about the need for intellectual integrity in Christian leadership. He pointed out the perplexing problems which lie as potential traps. Too often we develop a head for God, but not a heart. Pride in knowing the “God of the Universe” impairs our humility. “Thinking we’re not accountable to the rest of humanity because God, by His grace, has chosen to bless us is the surest way to spoil all He’s done.” This week the focus will be on more of Fred’s thoughts about intellectual integrity.

As we pray about our plans for the Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute in the coming years, we ask for your prayer support, your encouragement, and your financial gifts. Thanks to so many who send emails, call, and even write with pen and paper! Please join us in praying for our future BWFLI locations and team members.

What’s Your IQ?

In a conversation with a former pastor, he asked a very telling question, “Smith, I respect your intelligence. How in the world can you still believe in the authority of Scripture?” I knew he would argue with a rational defense, so I simply said, “There was a time when I thought about taking your position because there was so much in the Bible I found distasteful. I realized it was this distaste, not disbelief, that prompted me. I didn’t want to believe the parts of Scripture that commanded me to act. I didn’t want to lose control of my life and make obedience more important than knowledge.”

I think a lot about the level of integrity in the Christian leadership community. Sadly, the integrity quotient is not commensurate with their intelligence quotient. (more…)

Weekly Thought – September 23, 2014

Fred firmly believed in the process of sanctification. “He has a purpose for us – to be transformed into the image of His own dear Son, Jesus. He uses the ups and downs of life to conform us.” Throughout Fred’s life he witnessed the working of God – often through most difficult situations. He loved Andrae Crouch’s song, “Through It All.” His last words on this earth were “I’ve learned to trust in Jesus; I’ve learned to trust in God.”

How has Fred stretched you? How have the Weekly Thoughts strengthened you? During this next 12 months we are encouraging you to share these ideas with us. September 1st was the anniversary of Fred’s 99th birthday. We are taking the next 12 months to celebrate all God has done through Fred and BWF.

Growing in the Spirit

Learning to appreciate God’s silence is part of our spiritual growth. The quiet comes in some of the hardest places – the places we want him to shout out to us. We wait and wait, as David the Psalmist said. Then He answers.

God’s delays are not God’s denials.

We are to be patient. True faith does not require sight or sound. In these quiet times, we know it is our faith that pleases Him. Oswald Chambers, my most revered theologian, says “God honors us with silence.” (more…)

Weekly Thought – September 16, 2014

Fred watered. He loved talent and loved nurturing (but not hovering). Harold Myra, the retired CEO of Christianity Today International, enjoyed the benefit of mutual mentoring. He and Fred were truly “iron sharpening iron.”

Rising Above a Toxic Workplace: Taking Care of Yourself in an Unhealthy Environment (Northfield Publishing) is a new collaboration among three experienced and wise men: Gary Chapman, Paul White, and Harold Myra. It boldly presents the problems in business and ministry arenas. It creatively and clearly advances solutions, as well. It is helpful, as Fred would say!

Spiritual Growth

Several years ago, a friend of mine was in deep financial trouble. Bankruptcy was a distinct possibility. He asked his pastor to pray for him. Before the pastor began, he said, “I will pray if you will promise me you won’t be mad at God even if you declare bankruptcy.” My friend agreed, and has repeatedly said he believes this was the first step in his spiritual growth.

Not only should we avoid getting mad at God in adverse times, but we should avoid the “spoiled brat” syndrome, expecting God to break the rules and make exceptions just for us. “Why me? I’ve been a good Christian. I don’t drink, smoke, or chase women.” This high profile executive showed up at all the Christian events, but had a most immature view of himself and God. The definition is in who we are in Christ, not in what we don’t do. Too many Christians want God to put them in a holy bubble, protecting them from life’s problems. A more mature attitude is, “Why not me?”

The Marines expect and want the toughest jobs in the service. The old Catholic mystics viewed spiritual growth as the opportunity for tough assignments.

In troubling times, it is important to develop the right image of God. We tend to draw our own imagery based on what we need Him to look like. A clear understanding of God in the Bible keeps our head straight. While lecturing at a conservative seminary, a student approached me and said, “God has me just where He wants me to be.” “Where is that?” I asked. “Broke,” was his quick reply. Believing his image of God was faulty, and wanting to be helpful, I answered him. “We have a son. If I felt he was saying I had him right where I wanted him, and that was broke, then I’d be very disappointed.”

Don’t blame God for the consequences of your own irresponsibility.

God loves us. We persevere because we know His presence and rest in the relationship. Ray Stedman, the venerable teacher and pastor of Peninsula Bible Church, told me his life turned around when he found out that “God is for me.”

This week think carefully about: 1) How clear am I on my relationship with God? 2) When did I realize God is for me? 3) What tough assignments have I undertaken?

Words of Wisdom: “Don’t blame God for the consequences of your own irresponsibility.”

Wisdom from the Word: “You are my source of strength! I will sing praises to you! For God is my refuge, the God who loves me.” (Psalms 59:17 NET Bible)

Weekly Thought – August 5, 2014

Fred took a dim view of superstition, religious or secular.  “There is magic in believing if you don’t believe in magic” was his pithy summary.  He held to a God of process who didn’t arbitrarily operate within a manmade system of blessings and curses.

Thank you for praying for the BWF Project.  Each week’s email is an excerpt from Fred’s writing and thinking designed to strengthen and encourage you in your daily living.  Thank you for supporting us and sharing these thoughts with others.

Flawed Thinking

Have you ever met anyone who thought the good and bad in their lives was a direct result of their present relationship with God?  This is superstition, not spirituality.  They have a misunderstanding of grace and works.  It is God who saves and sustains.  We cannot jump high enough to impress God.

Many times immature believers think they control the outcomes of their lives by being “God’s pet.”  They are surprised to find He doesn’t raised spoiled brats!  They claim during good times God is blessing them, but during bad times they are being disciplined.  This is more superstition than faith.

Often they take the next illogical, unbiblical step and believe an abundance of good works will break the chain of bad.  This is not what Scripture teaches.

The laws of nature and life apply to us all.  The last time I looked, the rain still falls on the just and the unjust.  When we attribute our situations to God’s favor or disfavor, we view the solutions unrealistically.

We toss off, “God is blessing me” too flippantly.  Rarely do I hear someone say this when undergoing financial, health, or relational difficulties.  This shows an immature understanding of God’s working in our lives and in our world.  We highly value comfort and convenience and praise God when we experience ease.  God has a bigger, better plan that serves to bring Him glory.    (more…)

Weekly Thought -April 22, 2014

Fred saw humor everywhere.  He loved word plays, puns, “corn” as well as sophisticated wit.  In his later years of incapacitation and immobility, he entertained himself by running a mental catalogue of punch lines.  He had hundreds which he held in his stunning memory.  He thought of humor as life’s lubricant.  He believed too many people were running without enough oil to keep the friction down and the RPMs up.

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute at Taylor University is April 24, 25.  Your prayer support for the men and women who bring wisdom, joy, and love for Jesus is greatly appreciated.

Lilt For Life

Life needs continual aeration.  When it gets heavy, it settles down on us and needs to be lightened up.  People should find inspiration and joy in their faith, not just new layers of guilt and condemnation.  Jesus said, “I have come that you might have life.”  True, Christ came to convict of sin, but the Christian paradox is that in this chaotic, tragic world, we can enjoy a life of adventure and excitement.

Many people live with deep troubles.  Someone estimated that about six out of ten of those who sit in church pews have major hurt in their lives.  Therefore, I appreciate those speakers, teachers, and pastors who lift people’s spirits with genuine, inspiration and hope.  Of course, spiritual aeration must be the “blessed hope.”

The message of God’s grace lets us know we are forgiven, we are free, we have the fellowship of the body of Christ, and an inheritance immortal soul.   (more…)

Weekly Thought – January 28, 2014

Fred never preached.  His Christian witness was one of bringing scriptural principles to bear in every situation.  The evidence of Biblical truth was strong in his conversations, but he never sought to artificially impose “chapter and verse” on anyone.  Buttons showing a duck crossed out by a black stripe were handed out to all the men at a retreat in California after one attendee heard Fred’s comment on living the Christian life — “Don’t duck!”

We are encouraging each Weekly Thought recipient to tell 10 others about this wisdom and leadership email.  We need your help in our expanding, deepening, and preserving efforts.  Will you help us?

Redemption Lived Out

Redemptive living requires discipline:

1) Prayer – Personally, I don’t pray for miracles.  I pray for a willingness to join God in His process of working out matters.  Prayer isn’t to change God, nor inform Him, nor to convince Him to make me an exception to His process — it isn’t a negotiation process.  It is to make me conscious that He is, that He is present, that He Cares, and that His Spirit is available to dedicate us to the rightness of what we are doing.

2) Biblical principles – We bring redemption when we bring the principles of the Bible to whatever situation we are involved in, whether it is business, church, family, or social life.  Too often the Bible is used for its stories and its promises, while avoiding and neglecting the principles and commands. We need to be clear in the fundamental principle, not just the story.  For example, if we decide the controlling principle as seen in Daniel is “obey God and you won’t get hurt” the story of Stephen invalidates that.  The principle is: “Decide to do the right thing and let the consequences follow, whatever they are.”  The principle is obedience, not escape.      (more…)

Weekly Thought – January 21, 2014

Fred respected life. He also felt a great responsibility to make his life count. Raised in the home of a Southern Baptist pastor, he learned early on the theological definition of redemption. He expanded it to cover an attitude which he highly regarded. He often quoted the verse which admonished us to “redeem the time.”

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute at Palm Beach Atlantic University is soon approaching. Would you please pray for the team members, the steering committee, the faculty, students, and administration at PBA, and the favor of God? Thank you for standing with us.

Redemptive By Choice

I have a responsibility to be redemptive when and where I have the opportunity. To be transformed is not just a personal thing; it is a starting point for the transformation of those around us. We can create redemptive atmospheres and environments for those around us.

The ultimate in redemptive action is to bring God’s power to the people and situations in which we find ourselves.

There is a sense in which redemptive simply means replacing good with evil. That can be done philosophically by men of good will. Bringing God’s power into play is the true definition of redemption.     (more…)