Weekly Thought – January 6, 2015

Fred valued friendship. As he aged many of them preceded him in death. Upon hearing of a passing, he often recounted decades of stories, smiling and laughing. “Cultivate younger friends because your contemporaries will be gone if you live long enough.” One of Fred’s long-time younger ones was Steve Brown of Key Life Network. They met while speaking in Kentucky and made a decision immediately clicked. When Being Good Isn’t Good Enough is Steve’s newest book. According to the author it is “how to stop striving to please a God who is already pleased.” www.KeyLife.org

Step by Step?

(Editor’s note: Fred was asked about his thinking on the specific will of God. He wrote much in a personal letter to a dear friend. This excerpt reflects his position and his straightforward approach).

Some young people questioned our son as to how they could know God’s plan. Rather than answer, he asked them why they wanted to know. Their answers were revealing. One wanted to follow the plan because he didn’t want to have God mad at him. Another assumed the plan must be wonderful, and he didn’t want to miss what God had for him. Another felt God needed his work, and therefore, if he didn’t do it, it wouldn’t be done leaving God’s plan incomplete.

It was easy to see these young people were really talking about works and not grace. They had a clear self-interest in God’s plan. When they spoke of wanting a plan, it meant happiness, prosperity lack of trouble, love, and acceptance.

Egotism seems to creep into their perceptions. They assume God has something big in mind. They cannot imagine ordinary lives of ordinary people. (more…)

Weekly Thought – December 30, 2014

Fred appreciated year’s end. He used the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to analyze the past year. He encouraged others to do audits which included financial and spiritual. He acknowledged the power of God to lead in his life.

As this year closes, please know how very grateful we are for the work God has given us to do. And for your support. We commit ourselves to stretching and blessing through the weekly thoughts, the leadership institutes, and our blogs. May you experience the love and light of Jesus as 2014 ends.

Does Success Trump Saintliness (Conclusion)

Woven through everything I’ve said in this letter is the firm belief that each of us is a unique creation of God. In His love and providence He has engineered into us the capacity to live full, rich, and successful lives. I believe that God’s principles are like interwoven cables which provide structure and support yet give flexibility.

In Dallas there is a business which features an unusually tall flagpole holding an exceptionally large American flag. Because of its height, it is exposed to the winds of downtown Dallas. Upon inspection, you see a set of springs which give the banner some flexibility. If it were tightly harnessed to the pole, the winds would tear it apart.

I see God’s principles for living the same way. They are supporting, undergirding, and holding all things “by the power of His might.” But they are designed to work without being hammered down into a box. (more…)

Weekly Thought – December 23, 2014

Fred had a business principle: Be colorful, but not showy. On Christmas he crossed his own line. He waited until the entire family assembled then appeared in a red velour shirt, red sweatpants, and red socks. The group groaned appropriately, but looked forward to the next “faux Santa” occasion.

This is the last excerpt from the letter to the young man who wondered if he could be a Christian and still be successful.

May you experience the joy of our Lord Jesus Christ during this season celebrating His incarnation. May you continue to strive for maturity and connect with others as you journey.

Does Success Trump Saintliness? (Part 6)

As I outlined my thinking on business success I gave you twelve recommendations of things to implement in your planning. I am confident you need to have an attitude of forward motion. You will not do well if you stay in a defensive posture. You have heard me talk about constructive strengths and destructive weaknesses. It is important to look at both the principles of “do,” and those of “don’t.”

Here are four don’ts to consider as you build your strategy for career development.

1) Don’t ever give up. A person should never spend time thinking about reasons for giving up, slowing down, or stopping. This is why the follow through in business, just like in sports, is so critical. In golf we talk about the high follow through. Good golfers don’t begin to slow down before hitting the ball. When a person develops the habit of winning, you won’t quit at a crucial time, either consciously or unconsciously. (more…)

Weekly Thought – December 16, 2014

Fred loved talent… recognizing it, developing it, and encouraging it. He thought analytically and created strategic outlines for “making progress.” In this letter he thinks about ways to enable a young man to grow professionally and personally.

Thank you for your ongoing encouragement as we bring Fred’s archived wisdom to you. He sought to stretch others and our desire is for his thinking to spur you to maturity.

Does Success Trump Saintliness? (Part 5)

I want to share out of my own experience twelve do’s and five don’ts that I think are particularly applicable to the young person who wants to move well in a corporate environment. These are generalities, of course, and there will always be exceptions and variations.

1) Do accept the job as an individual and complete challenge in itself – not just as a stepping stone toward the next level. Master the job so completely you will be able to devise new and better methods for achieving the best results.

2) Do locate and cultivate someone above you (as high as possible) who can be your sponsor. It is critically important to recognize sponsorship must be built on merit and mutual respect, not just friendship or social connections.

3) Do focus on making a good first impression. For example, this can be done by: asking intelligent questions, being a good listener, being colorful but not showy, understanding your area of genius and developing it. (more…)

Weekly Thought – December 9, 2014

Fred readily acknowledged those who influenced his thinking. For example, he often referred to Oswald Chambers as his daily theologian. As a lifelong learner, Fred’s antennae were always alerted to those who clarified or introduced ideas. In turn, he did this for many.

The Breakfast With Fred Leadership Institute and the Breakfast With Fred Project are based on 2 Timothy 2:2 in which Paul encourages his young protege to find men and women who will continue the passing on of truth.

Does Success Trump Saintliness? (Part 4)

E. Stanley Jones greatly affected me when he said that the difference between Christianity and other religions was based on the fact that in Christianity “the Word became flesh but in other religions the word remained word.” Frankly, I believe the greatest witness a Christian can ever have is to allow the Word to become flesh.

Personally, I’ve never been a very vocal witnessing Christian in the business community. There was a time when I became concerned about this. Then I began learning about the functioning of the Holy Spirit. Up until that time I hadn’t realized that my only job was to sow seed under the direction of the Spirit.

I had been intimidated by the compulsive witnesses. In a mood of honest experimentation one morning I told God, “Today I won’t duck.” By that I meant that if the subject came up I wouldn’t duck it, but at the same time I would not feel any responsibility for bringing up the subject with anyone. And each morning since then before leaving for work I’ve prayed to not duck. I have had some of the most interesting opportunities to witness – along with some fascinating temptations to duck. (more…)

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…)