Influencers

Gene Wilkes

Sometimes God puts people in your life who you know will have a lasting impact on you. Many times you can count your own family members; mom,dad, brothers, sisters, aunts and uncles and I am thankful that God has blessed me with those kind of family members. So many of them have helped shaped me.

Sometimes He places people in your life that you run in to every once in awhile but regardless how often you see them, they just impact and influence and continue to do so. I have many men in my life who have invested in me and for them I am truly grateful. There is one guy who I met about 25 years ago who just keeps influencing me whether directly or through his writings. C. Gene Wilkes is a guy who gets it. He has written some of the most meaningful stuff on leadership including Jesus on Leadership and Paul on Leadership (the Apostle, not me) and another great book called My Identity in Christ. If you have not read any or all of these, then in my opinion, you are missing out. Gene has pastored Legacy Church in Plano, Tx for over 20 years and has led them to be missional in their scope and focus in ministry.

We have run a few miles together, climbed Baldy at Glorieta that really was more walk/jog up and run down. He blogs here and you will be encouraged by reading his posts. Thanks Gene for influencing me and so many others.

Today, he and his wife Kim celebrate 35 years of marriage. Congratulations Gene and Kim and Gene thanks for investing in me up close and from afar.

I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace given to you in Christ Jesus 1 Cor 1:4 (HCSB)

Hmmm. And So It Goes

This was an interesting weekend at the Turner's. Shelbi had been in China for two weeks with Show Hope and was to return on Friday night but with bad weather across the northern part of the US, she made it to Newark and then flew to Washington Dulles and that was as far as she was able to get. We got her a hotel not far from the airport and she spent the night and got home on Saturday morning. She had a great trip and you can read some of her exploits here. Her boyfriend Mark was surprising her by having some time off from his summer job at Winshape, so he drove over on Friday and was with us Friday and Saturday. He might have thought it a little awkward being at our house without Shelbi but hey, he got to do his laundry and eat some non-camp food so I think overall he was pretty good with it.

Friday night was also rehearsal and rehearsal dinner for Kyle and Rachel's wedding that I was officiating on Saturday at 530p outdoors. The trick was that we needed no rain which we got, but we also got about 96 degree weather both for the rehearsal and the actual wedding. It was on the Bicentennial Mall in Nashville and actually was very nice, but incredibly hot.

We also caught a late night showing of Toy Story 3 and it was great. Thoroughly enjoyed it and it has been fun to be on the journey with Andy as he has grown up and heads off to college. Morgan's life parallels the chronology of the whole Toy Story journey which made the ending very poignant for especially Sondra but I got a little misty myself. Also, Morgan registers for college in the morning at Union University so we will have two at Union which being translated means we no longer have any money. Just saying. I know, I know . . . it is an investment.

And, today is Father's Day. I have an amazing dad and have blogged about him many times so I will not embarrass him again, other to say that I love you dad, and you are the best dad. I am convinced of that fact. Here is an earlier blog of how I feel about my dad. The girls presented me with a very appropriate card and a new green Polo shirt. It fits nicely. Going to be a busy week at FUGE camps at Union this week.

Good Leaders

The last couple of posts I have done have dealt with leadership and leaders surrounding themselves with people who have diverse ideas than them. Surrounding yourself with people just like you is a very precarious position to be in as a leader.

This week I attended the SBC as an observer. I went to work the LifeWay booth as part of my work assignment. I enjoyed seeing old friends and making new ones and especially encouraging pastors and youth leaders.Many of those who attend the SBC use this event as their family vacation and it is always fun to play with the kids and talk with the teenagers who come with their families.

One of the things that stood out to me this year was the evidence of good leadership displayed by good leaders. Kevin Ezell of High View in Louisville, KY was the President of the SBC Pastor's Conference this year and did a great job of getting a diverse group of speakers to challenge and encourage attendees. Kevin is one of those younger leaders (we are about the same age so I consider him a younger leader), who understands that our convention has got to get at it differently if we are to move forward in this Kingdom Work. He put together a platform that displayed freshness and honor of those who have paved the way for a new day for Southern Baptists.

Another leader who I watched in action was Johnny Hunt. The way he honored all opinions during the discussion of the GCR proposal and vote showed graciousness and wisdom. Wherever one stood on the GCR, I witnessed a leader handle the issues and not get caught in emotion.

I also watched LifeWay President Thom Rainer defuse a potentially volatile situation in the Q&A portion of the LifeWay report. I have much to learn and am thankful for his example of leading with compassion, truth and grace. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to work where I do.

In using these examples of good leaders, I am not necessarily saying that I agree with all of their ideas and actions, but they displayed great leadership.  I think one of the things that I am learning (slowly some of my friends might add) is that it is important to listen, watch and learn all that you can from whoever you can. And some of the best lessons in leadership can be learned by not just looking at leaders in a position but those people who are influencers regardless of their position.

I have much to learn.

Leadership Two

Okay so my last post on the whole leadership thing has brought quite a few comments and one of the statements I made in particular has resonated and concerned some posters.

Here it is -

Surrounding ourselves with people just like us is dangerous. We fail to recognize that we could be wrong.

Here is a little background on why I made that statement. In looking through the group of Twelve that Jesus hand picked to be his disciples, there is great diversity of occupation and thinking. He called a couple of sets of brothers, fishermen, a zealot (anti-gov't) and a tax collector (gov't guy). Not to mention a guy who He knew would betray him and another deny Him. In no way am I thinking that Jesus went into His Dad's mission thinking He might make a mistake, but he chose 12 not only for immediate Kingdom work, but Kingdom work that would continue even through today and beyond.

If Jesus thought it important to grab 12 from many walks of life, ideals, occupations, and diversity of thought, why would we do any less?

I am sure this post might stir a little conversation too. I just think that Jesus' lessons on leadership are worth emulating. It is easier for me if I only surround myself with people who think like me, but I think it is wrong for me to do so. It is not about it being easier on me, but emulating Christ. I have a lot to learn.

Saw this quote on leadership today via twitter -
The most effective leadership is by example, not edict. Anonymous

May I walk in a way that brings Him glory.

Leadership

You ever wonder why so many good things go bad? I guess because of have many failures that I have caused and lived through, it gets me to wondering at times why something can be going along so well and then the wheels come off in a heartbeat.

I do not know the answer but I have surmised that most failures come about through a series of smaller things that go unnoticed or neglected. I have discovered in my own life that when I refuse to allow people with differing opinions or ideas to hang around me and speak into my life, that I quickly climb on the road to failure.

Surrounding ourselves with people just like us is dangerous. We fail to recognize that we could be wrong. Arrogance and pride come crashing in and invade our hearts and minds and failure is just around the corner.

I am far from perfect, just ask my wife and daughters and anyone who spends any time with me. But I am learning that the counsel of many is wise. James 1:5 reminds us that if any of us lack wisdom, all we need to do is ask. I hope I am listening.

How about this quote on leadership? Ross Perot has funny looking ears and high pitched voice but love this quote -

Lead and inspire people. Don't try to manage and manipulate people. Inventories can be managed but people must be led. - Ross Perot

Amazing Grace

I ran across this commercial from the Salvation Army. Love what they do to help others and this commercial is well done in my opinion.

So Long Coach Wooden

I had always hoped that I would at least get to see the great Coach Wooden in person if not personally meet him. He was one of my heroes though I never was any closer to him than being in the same city at the same time a few times. Coach Wooden was a great man. He was a wonderful husband. His coaching accomplishments unmatched. He was a man's man, hands down. He loved Christ, his family, and he loved basketball. All three things that I would include in my list of "loves".

Coach Wooden, you will be missed. Thanks for allowing the light of Christ to shine through you. You influenced many directly who had the opportunity to be around you personally, but you helped shape and influence many of us from a distance.

Here is a tribute to Coach Wooden written by Bill Walton almost 10 years ago. I like what it says and how it captures some of the greatness of Coach Wooden.

THE COACH

On the 21st of the month, the best man I know will do what he always does on the 21st of the month. He'll sit down, and pen a love letter to his best girl. He'll say how much he misses her, and loves her, and can't wait to see her again. Then, he'll fold it once, slide it in a little envelope, and walk into his bedroom. He'll go to the stack of love letters sitting there on her pillow, untie the yellow ribbon, place the new one on top, and tie the ribbon again.

The stack will be 180 letters high then, because the 21st will be 15 years to the day since Nellie, his beloved wife of 53 years, died. In her memory, he sleeps only on his half of the bed, only on his pillow, only on top of the sheets, never between them, with just the old bedspread they shared to keep him warm.

There's never been a finer man in American sports than John Wooden, or a finer coach. He won 10 NCAA basketball championships at UCLA, the last in 1975.
Nobody has ever come within six of him.

He won 88 straight games between January 30, 1971, and January 17, 1974. Nobody has come within 42 since.

So, sometimes, when the Basketball Madness gets to be too much, too many players trying to make Sports Center, too few players trying to make assists, too few coaches willing to be mentors, too many college athletes with out-of-wedlock kids, too few freshmen who will stay in school long enough to become men -- I like to go see Coach Wooden.

I visit him in his little condo in Encino, 20 minutes northwest of Los Angeles, and hear him say things like, "Gracious sakes alive!" and stories about teaching "Lewis" the hook shot - Lewis Alcindor, that is, who became Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

There has never been another coach like Wooden, quiet as an April snow, and square as a game of checkers; loyal to one woman, one school and one way. Walking around campus in his sensible shoes and Jimmy Stewart morals, he'd spend a half hour the first day of practice teaching his men how to put on a sock. "Wrinkles can lead to blisters," he'd warn. These huge players would sneak looks at one another, and roll their eyes. Eventually, they'd do it right. "Good," he'd say, “and now for the other foot."

Of the 180 players who played for him, Wooden knows the whereabouts of 172. Of course, it's not hard when most of them call, checking on his health, secretly hoping to hear some of his simple life lessons so that they can write them on the lunch bags of their kids, who will roll their eyes.

"Discipline yourself, and others won't need to," Coach would say. “Never lie, never cheat, never steal," and "Earn the right to be proud and confident."

If you played for him, you played by his rules: Never score without acknowledging a teammate. One word of profanity and you're done for the day. Treat your opponent with respect.

He believed in hopelessly out-of-date stuff that never did anything but win championships. No dribbling behind the back or through the legs. "There's no need," he'd say. No UCLA basketball number was retired under his watch. “What about the fellows who wore that number before? Didn't they contribute to the team?" He'd say: No long hair, no facial hair. "They take too long to dry, and you could catch cold leaving the gym," he'd say.

That one drove his players bonkers. One day, All-America center Bill Walton showed up with a full beard. "It's my right," he insisted. Wooden asked if he believed that strongly. Walton said he did. "That's good, Bill," Coach said. "I admire people who have strong beliefs, and stick by them, I really do. We're going to miss you." Walton shaved it right then and there.

Now Walton calls once a week to tell Coach he loves him.

It's always too soon when you have to leave the condo, and go back out into the real world, where the rules are so much grayer, and the teams so much worse.

As Wooden shows you to the door, you take one last look around and see the framed report cards of his great-grandkids, the boxes of jelly beans peeking out from under the favorite wooden chair and the dozens of pictures of Nellie.

He's almost 90 now and a little more hunched over than last time. His steps are a little smaller. You hope it's not the last time you see him.

He smiles. "I'm not afraid to die," he says. "Death is my only chance to be with her again."

The problem is we still need him here.

Thank you Coach Wooden for a life well lived and for influencing so many.

God Bless America

I am an American and so very thankful and proud to be American. I am reminded of a SNL skit that parodied George W. Bush saying, "You know why I like America? Because it is full of Americans." I have to agree.

Many times I think that I have placed being American above being a Christ-follower. Please do not get me wrong. I am incredibly thankful for the hundreds of thousands who have died gaining and preserving our freedom in this great nation. I am grateful for the men and women who have served, are serving and will serve this great nation.

But I am also convicted that I have placed living the American dream and chasing after that dream as priority rather than chasing hard after Christ. I have been lazy and lax at times in resting on my laurels instead of fighting for and preserving true freedom that comes only through Christ.

I am grateful for our freedom in this land. Because of that great freedom, I have great responsibility to share of the wealth that we are afforded in this land of the free and to share Christ with those are truly imprisoned and destined for an eternity w/o Christ.

God bless America and God kick me in the seat of the pants when I become comfortable being American and neglect those in need and those w/o a relationship with You.