‘WHAT DO I NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MARRIAGE?’
Posted on | May 8, 2012 | 2 Comments
Recently I was asked by a young single person, “What do I need to know about marriage?” At first I felt honored to be asked such a question—not as an expert, but as one hoping to learn enough as I continue in my own marriage be qualified to respond to such a query. That feeling quickly morphed into mild intimidation—like the kind one might feel venturing out upon a steel cable strung across Niagara Falls. You really want to succeed in the effort, but realize that you’re working without a net.
In the minutes available to me in the family setting within which the dialog occurred, I longed to share the most important thing—to hand the questioner a balance pole which would give them a chance to cross the falls, as it were. Funny thing is . . . I cannot remember the answer I gave that day! But, I never forgot the question—one that’s been asked by countless people across all time. Given our current culture and values, I might have said this:
There are essentially two viewpoints regarding marriage:
Viewpoint-1—This position says that mankind created marriage and those contemplating the relationship can make of it what they wish. This view says that the institution of marriage changes along with the values and principles of a culture, and is open to any and all comers—in any gender combination—and entered into in any manner suitable to the participants. As well, this position sees marriage as a non-binding resolution which can be abrogated by either party at will. Resources may or may not be pooled—and legal constraints may be initiated prior to the marriage to protect the interests of either party (but, most likely the one who has “the most to lose” if things go south). This mindset sees marriage as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition: If it works out, that’s great; if it doesn’t, you simply trade-up and move on with your life, and then you die.
Viewpoint-2—This position holds that God—the sovereign Creator of all—created marriage and defined it perfectly from the get-go, and imbued it with specific purpose, intrinsic value and holy intent before the first couple (a man and woman, by the way) ever locked wed. The Author of this position says that marriage is the same yesterday, today and forever—and even uses it as a metaphor to describe the relationship of humankind to their God and Savior (as well as Israel’s to her Husband and Creator).
In a V-2 marriage relationship, the man and woman enter a permanent covenant intended to end only upon the death of one or both participants. In this amalgam, the two are viewed as “one” and have all things in common (although equal before God, their specific functions and roles within the union are non-identical and not interchangeable). This mindset sees marriage as a public, a legal, a binding promise to love the other with selfless intent and to be mutually subject one to another. Children resulting from this union are said to be “holy offspring” and are to be raised to know and understand the basis of the marriage relationship so that they may successfully repeat it in the manner of their parents.
Having painted the two viewpoints in broad strokes, I would have underscored the questioner’s sovereign God-given freedom to choose either one—or neither (an option for a chosen few, with the blessing of God). It is this very freedom to choose that forms the basis of the kind of love necessary to make a marriage work—which is why, I suppose, marriage is such a vivid picture of the love God has for those whom would become His “bride”. God proposes and we choose whether or not to be “wed”. But, however we choose, God’s love for us is unfailing—it is always focused on what’s best for us and it never ends. And when your physical body dies, God provides a new one—and you live forever with God in His Heaven of unspeakable joys (winning!).
Try wringing that kind of committed, other-focused, never-ending love out of Viewpoint-1.
Tags: 1 Corinthians 13 > covenant > Ephesians 5 > eternity > God > Jesus > love > marriage > marriage covenant > salvation > the Bride of Christ > the groom
VENDOR REVIEW: AMERICAN VISION WINDOWS
Posted on | May 4, 2012 | No Comments
Our house is sixty years old and, until recently, sported vintage double-hung windows of the type classified “air conditioning” in the 1950s. Over the years I refurbished several of these windows “from the sill up”, as it were. Even so, they were a sight to behold and that’s putting it kindly. So, as part of the ongoing house makeover, we recently dumped 14 wood and putty nightmares and installed Anlin dual-pane vinyl replacement windows. We opted to retain the double-hung style because—believe it or not—with a circular floor plan, they actually do facilitate cooling (relatively speaking) on warm days.
Going against Cardinal Rule #1, we did not triple-bid this job relying instead upon vetting performed by KKLA/Frank Pastore in choosing American Vision Windows as sole-source bidder. Of course, we already were familiar with AVW’s name and reputation, and we did chat with some of their folks heading into this project. Mostly, it’s the AVW vision statement that intrigued us:
“Changing the home improvement industry one customer at a time.”
We can live with that sort of corporate philosophy which—if true—bodes well for all customers. In the post-project analysis, we found that AVW partially accomplished their goal in the course of our particular project (and, they should be judged project-by-project—your experience may have been/may be different than ours).
Here’s a project overview:
Anlin Replacement Windows
There are a ton of manufacturers in this space, so—for us—it came down to the golden triangle: cost, quality, guarantee. These are upper mid-range-quality windows, strongly constructed and guaranteed free from defects in materials or workmanship for as long as we own the home. This product was a match for our criteria:
- We love the Anlin dual-pane double-hung replacement windows
They are well constructed—out of 14 replacement windows we had rework issues with just two items: A bowed bottom rail on one frame, and a minor Argon gas blemish in one sash. Anlin inspected these items and we received prompt replacement in each case (actual work performed by both Anlin and AVW installation personnel). - Heating/cooling costs have been noticeably reduced
In a house as old as ours, insulation is usually an issue. But, in conjunction with the newly installed roof, the dual-pane windows had an immediate impact on ambient air temperature retention. We noticed fans and compressors ran far less frequently after the window installation. - Noise and dust have been dramatically reduced
Dual-panes, tighter fitting components and weather stripping—none of which were features of our vintage frames and sashes—equal less noise and dust inside of the house.
American Vision Windows
From start to finish, our project ran about 3 months measured from our first call to AVW. Our initial contact was a Project Manager (i.e., the sales rep) who introduced the company and product line to us in the comfort of our home. We took about two weeks to assess the information provided before initiating the order through the PM.
After placing the order, AVW sent a technician to our home to measure the window openings. The tech advised us that the molding would need to be removed for most of the windows in question—a real pain to do, but absolutely necessary in order to finish the interior properly (we ordered window coverings from a separate vendor to be installed at a later date). I put in 20-30 hours of labor removing molding, patching plaster, sanding, priming and repainting window openings (and an additional 20 hours repainting the second bedroom, guest bathroom and one wall each in the master bedroom and den—all prudent to do while these rooms were torn-up for the new windows).
The windows were completed by the manufacturer ahead of schedule so installation was accomplished well within our anticipated project timeline. Installation-day is a little bit like organized madness when so many windows are involved. A six-person crew from AVW arrived early in the morning and took all day to complete the job (this was expected).
Window installation went smoothly by-and-large. However, there were two issues of note: 1] One of the Anlin frames was bowed had to be rejected (by signing the “order incomplete” at the conclusion of the installation); 2] One window was installed over a piece of wood that had dry rot—uncertain why the crew even did this (more on this in a minute). During the post-installation walk-through, the issues were noted and anticipated corrective action explained by the AVW lead installer.
Our original order was to replace 12 windows, but we added two more windows via an addendum. The price for the additional windows was negotiated to include “discovery” as some additional demolition was required in order to extract a legacy set of aluminum-frame sliding windows. To our understanding, the negotiated addendum price included AVW replacing any sub-standard or damaged wood “discovered” during demolition prior to installing the new Anlin windows. This did not happen.
My email to AVW on the addendum window issue was acknowledged by the sales manager, but the problem was never addressed by AVW. This left me additional work to rebuild a small section of the frame around the window they installed over the dry-rotted wood. It would have been far more effective to replace the wood-in-question before installing the window. Why the American Vision installation crew did not do this is a question for which we have never received a satisfactory answer.
TIP: Don’t be afraid to hover over and direct the installation crew at each and every stage of the process.
All Things Considered
We are satisfied with the Anlin replacement windows and—for the most part—with the service and work performed by American Vision Windows. The house is greatly improved by the addition of these windows, aesthetically, functionally and through reduced energy costs. So, our project objectives were largely met. We do believe, however, that AVW could have done a better job communicating with us in a timely manner, particularly when issues arose. In this regard AVW did not “change the home improvement industry” experience for us—we did most of the heavy lifting in terms of staying in contact and following-up on pricing details, addendum management and so forth.
We are aware that the owners of American Vision Windows are genuine in their desire to create a better experience for people involved in remodeling projects of this type. We are aware that they give charitably to worthy causes as their consciences dictate. These are good things and—along with Pastore’s endorsement—they played a large part in our willingness to sole-source this project through American Vision Windows. But, as with so many things in life, “the devil is in the details.”
This leads to a word of caution: No matter whom you choose to perform a project in your home, remember: YOU are the “general contractor” and they are paid to work for you. Only you can make sure that they do.
Tags: American Vision Windows > Anlin Windows > double-hung windows > Franke Pastore > home improvement > KKLA > replacement windows
VENDOR REVIEW: ROUNDPOINT MORTGAGE
Posted on | March 13, 2012 | No Comments
With interest rates at an all-time low, and some long anticipated construction projects at hand, my wife and I decided to refinance our home to pay for the needed improvements. A quick trip to BankRate.com yielded a short list of lending contenders to whom we emailed our parameters and requirements. This was tantamount to chumming the water on a shark-fishing expedition—in short order all manner of mortgage experts were circling our boat.
From the initial scrum, we selected a firm out of New Hampshire base on rates and terms, and vetting done by a local Christian radio station. I liked the loan officer’s no-nonsense approach to customer service and the firm’s fast-track to funding philosophy. But upon receiving the GFE, it was clear that there was a cost associated with “quick”. So from our original short list we contacted RoundPoint Mortgage for a second opinion. Smart move.
The days of no-doc loans are long gone. That means, as a consumer vying for funding, you’re going to have to cough-up a lung or part with an arm and a leg. Given the excesses of the past decade, the extra paperwork is a must—for all parties involved in the loan transaction. Fortunately, RoundPoint takes the sting out of the documentation process.
The RoundPoint team creates a secure web portal so you can access and manage your loan details through each step of the process. And eSign technology provides digital immediacy for signing/initialing the myriad loan forms. On the soft-skills side, RoundPoint’s personnel are top-notch in terms of keeping you in-the-loop during what can be a lengthy and stressful experience. When we had questions, RoundPoint had the right answers.
When the GFE came in, RoundPoint blew the competition out of the water. Frankly, I was waiting for the other shoe to drop at HUD-1 time—when the “real costs and fees” for their loan would be revealed. We were amazed when actual closing costs varied from the GFE by just $15—in our favor! This was BIG since every dollar that goes in to fees is a dollar that cannot go back into your home improvement project.
If that were the end of the story, we’d all live happily ever after. But the proof of the pudding is always in the eating. Likewise, the test of a competent person or business is how they respond when something goes wrong—and what they decide to do about it for the consumer. RoundPoint gets bonus points here.
One of the prerequisites for our lender-of-choice was their ability to provide bi-weekly mortgage payments—so that we could shave years and interest off the loan by making a 13th mortgage payment each year. From the outset, RoundPoint assured us that their funding partners were able to accommodate us. Unfortunately, when I contacted RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation (the loan servicing arm of RoundPoint Mortgage) to request the bi-weekly payment arrangement, their rep stated that they “don’t offer that.”
Based on RoundPoint’s promise to the contrary during the vetting process, I respectfully repudiated that statement and began working my way up the RoundPoint chain-of-command beginning with Sales Manager, Ronald Stevenson. Mr. Stevensen put me in touch with Erica Price, VP Mortgage Operations who, in turn, connected me to RoundPoint COO, Joseph Pepe.
Along the way, my wife and I learned that although RoundPoint did not currently offer bi-weekly mortgage payments through the funding source for our loan, they were actively investigating making this desirable payment option available to consumers in the near term. We were told that, as soon as system upgrades at RPMSC were affected, this option would be available to us. Further, Pepe stated that we would be the first RPM customer to benefit from this newly deployed option.
As a professional with more than 22 years experience in an IT-rich development environment, I know how long “system upgrades” can take within a large organization. Suffice it to say that we were pleasantly surprised to receive our bi-weekly application documents directly from Mr. Pepe within the timeframe he promised when he became personally involved with the details of our loan. And that, consumers, is the meat of the matter.
It is one thing to promise and deliver a product to consumers—loans, roofs, cars, etc. But when something goes wrong in the process, does the business entity do the right thing? Anyone can be “dependable” when nothing goes wrong. But the integrity of an organization—or individual—is revealed by how they respond to problems (with their process/product/personnel), and what they do to make things right.
The Bottom Line
Whenever we work with a business, we write a review on their performance relative to price quoted, product delivered and attitude displayed. We pass this information along to you without making any guarantees (implied or otherwise) concerning the specific vendor. You need to perform due diligence before entering a financial transaction with anyone. But if you’re in the market for a home loan, we suggest you include RoundPoint Mortgage in your bid process. We believe you’ll get a good rate and terms. And we know from experience that, in the unlikely event of a problem, RoundPoint does “the right thing”.
Tags: BankRate.com > bi-weekly payments > Erica Price > eSign > HUD-1 > IMARC > Joseph Pepe > Michael Lewis > mortgage refinancing > refi > Robert Simpson > Ronald Stevenson > RoundPoint Mortgage > RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation > The Big Short
CONTRACTOR REVIEW: REASONABLE ROOFING
Posted on | March 1, 2012 | No Comments
So, you’ve been diligent in planning and funding that long anticipated new roof job. You’ve triple-bid the project and vetted the bidders. You’ve detailed job scope, reviewed the numbers and selected your contractor. Now what?
You hope and pray for a company like Reasonable Roofing to show up. Mike Echaves and his crew arrived when they said they would, did what they said they would do and finished when we agreed they would—on time and on budget. They even shingled the crawlspace cover—a nice finishing touch for the happy homeowners.
Along the way, Mike, his son, Joe, and their team treated us with respect and kept us informed of progress throughout the project. And—as God would have it—a substantial rain came a few days after Reasonable Roofing finished the job. No leaks!
We selected Mike’s company after seeing another far more complicated job they’d completed in our neighborhood. We spoke to Steve (also a contractor), the owner of that historic Orange property, and his high recommendation of Echaves and team was instrumental in our final decision regarding selection of a roofing contractor.
The intangible in the process, for us, was Mike’s people skills. He was low-key, genuine and “owner friendly” from our first meeting through project wrap-up. Needless to say, for most of us, buying a new roof is fairly stressful—financially and otherwise. It’s not unlike buying a car: You visit the lot once every few years. The dealer, on the other hand, “deals” everyday (which is not unlike Vegas where the dealer always wins!).
The Bottom Line
Whenever we work with a contractor, we write a review on their performance relative to price quoted, product delivered and attitude displayed. We pass this information along to you without making any guarantees (implied or otherwise) concerning the specific vendor. You need to perform due diligence before letting anyone touch your house. But, we appreciated having a neighbor’s input prior to selecting Reasonable Roofing as our contractor. We suggest you include Mike Echaves in the bid process if you’re considering a new roof or repair. We think they’ll do a good job for you, too.
Tags: Joe Echaves > Mike Echaves > Mike's Reasonable Roofing > new roof > roof repair > roofing contractors
RICK SANTORUM: IN VERY GOOD COMPANY
Posted on | February 24, 2012 | No Comments
Now that the race for the Republican presidential nomination is getting interesting, it seems appropriate to comment on the Rick Santorum bashing that has come into vogue after the media dusted off the transcripts from his 2008 speech at Ave Maria University.
On the one hand, the vigorous media scrutiny should be viewed by Mr. Santorum as a high compliment from the dissenters who fear him as the possible GOP nominee. I suspect they’d all rather see the out-of-touch, unconnected-to-the-masses Mit Romney, or the acerbic—but effective-in-a-debate—Newt Gingrich hop in the Ring with Obama come November.
At the core of “Mariagate” is Santorum’s in-context and highly relevant comments to a group of Catholic university students regarding the nature of spiritual warfare and its cultural impact. I’m sure there were no raised eyebrows in the audience that night precisely because Santorum’s language and message resonated with the listeners. But four years later, yanked from context by the media, the phrases and implications seem jarring. Kind of like when you got “saved” and tried to explain it to your unsaved family and friends.
I suspect what bugs most of the “offended” about Santorum is the implication in his words that we are all answerable to a Higher Authority—to God. It is explicit in this accountability that you can’t just “do whatever you want”, “whenever you want” and “with whomever you want.” And people don’t like to be told those types of things. They’re troubling.
But I am reminded of another time and place, where another Man spoke similar truths within the culture of His day. The politicians were amused by Him; the “religious types” hated Him; the elites and power-brokers despised Him. But, the sinners loved Him. The broken, cast-offs, sick, powerless, non-influential, foreigners—they loved Him. And they still do.
True, Rick Santorum is not that Man. But Rick knows Him. That Man also said, “If they hate Me, they’ll hate you, too.”
Our culture’s treatment of Rick Santorum proves Jesus spoke the truth:
“If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. But all these things they will do to you for My name’s sake, because they do not know the One who sent Me. If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin, but now they have no excuse for their sin.” —John 15:18-22
Tags: Ave Maria University > John 15:18 > Mit Romney > Newt Gingrich > President Barak Obama > Replican Presidential Nomination > Rick Santorum > Satan > Spiritual Warfare
FAITH IN IRAN
Posted on | February 19, 2012 | No Comments
What’s really happening in Persia with the revival of Christianity in the region? I believe we can draw the comparison between Jonah’s mission to Nineveh seven centuries before Christ and what God appears to be doing in Persia at this time.
Consider what happened to Nineveh just a generation after Jonah preached. The prophesied destruction came from Babylon. But, how many of the “destroyed” actually were ushered into Paradise when the Assyrians were finally conquered? Recall that the entire city repented in sackcloth and ashes upon receiving the word of God from Jonah.
There’s a lesson for the United States of America in that the Ninevites backslid a generation or so later and were utterly destroyed by the Babylonians. Nineveh was mighty in the day. But . . . how many Ninevites have you met recently? And, yet, many were “saved” for all eternity because they believed God (through Jonah’s preaching).
What about Iran? One possible scenario in the current “Iranian problem” is regional nuclear conflict. If that happens—even if Iran sends outbound missiles first—the response from within the Theater could be massive, with inbound missiles devastating Teheran and surrounding areas. Is it possible that God might be saving many in advance of a cataclysmic event—that when their own doom comes many will be ushered directly into the presence of their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ?
If this worst-case scenario comes to pass, might not God in His omniscient goodness make provision for many by His extravagant grace and mercy? He’s done it before on a small scale (Noah and his family; Lot and his family) and larger scope (Nineveh in Johah’s day; the Church in our own era).
Maybe Persians are coming to Christ in advance of an event wholly and completely known to the LORD who saves His people. I find the scenario both frightening and intriguing—and not a bit improbable.
Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision! For the day of the Lord is near in the valley of decision. —Joel 3:14
Tags: Abraham > Christ revealed to Iranians > Christianity in Iran > Iran > Joel 3:14 > Jonah > Nineveh > Persia > Revival in Iran
GARY CARTER: SAFE AT HOME!
Posted on | February 17, 2012 | No Comments
Back in the day, the freshman and varsity baseball teams traveled on the same bus to away-games. And it was such a day in the Spring of 1972 that saw us head south on Euclid, over the “Sunny Hills”, to take on the Lancers. Typically our games ended a half-an-inning or so before the big boys finished playing, so we would invariably head over to the A-diamond to catch the end of their action.
On this day, as we approached the big chain-link backstop, I saw—and heard—a strong-looking and handsome man jack one of the biggest home runs I’d ever seen to that point in my life. As he rounded the bases someone said, “That’s Gary Carter”. I was impressed, but back then the name didn’t mean anything. However, that would soon change. And the rest, as they say, is history.
Gary Carter broke in to the Major Leagues the next spring in Montreal where he played 10 seasons for the mostly so-so Expos. On the diamond, Carter is most remembered for his stint with the New York Mets—in particular, the ’86 crew which battered, brawled and boozed their way to a World Series title. From the outset, Carter was not popular in New York with some of his wayward teammates. His faith and self-confidence rubbed some of them the wrong way. Nonetheless, Carter was salt and light in a highly irreverent clubhouse.
Here’s how one writer describes Gary Carter upon his arrival in the Big Apple:
He was too religious, too good, too square—Tim Tebow with more talent and without social media.
I was too busy with my own life to know much about Carter—except that he was a “great baseball player.” Later, though, I found out that he was an all-star on more than one team as this excerpt from garycarter.org shows:
“The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God’s Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement of all. God offers each of us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, our name is written in The Book of Life, guaranteeing us a place in heaven forever.”
“I made that decision during spring training in 1973, and prayed asking Jesus to come into my heart as Lord and Savior. It was then that I first realized that when Jesus died on the cross, he died for me and paid for my sins. Accepting his payment was all I needed to do. I couldn’t earn my way into heaven. You can become a member of God’s Hall of Fame too, by making the same decision today.” —Gary Carter
That’s Gary Carter, for you. Always concerned with driving-in others. It’s good to know that Gary is also now safe at home. He died this past Thursday of a brain tumor at age 57. But the true Gary—that which animated his body during his time on Earth—that Gary Carter has never been more alive.
A World Series ring, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame and eternal life, too! God is truly good.
Tags: Darryl Strawberry > Dwight Gooden > eternal life > Gary Carter > Gary Carter dies > Gary Carter Hall of Fame > Gary Carter safe at home > La Habra Baseball > Lenny Dykstra > Major League Baseball > Major League Baseball Hall of Fame > Montreal Expos > New York Mets > salvation > Sunny Hills High School
HOUSTON, WE’VE GOT A PROBLEM. OR, DO WE?
Posted on | February 12, 2012 | No Comments
“I don’t even look at [Whitney Houston's troubled adulthood], I look at Whitney and the way she was brought up and raised in this church, and that this is where she got all her faith in God. Everybody has mistakes in life.”
—Bernice Hall, church member, New Hope Baptist Church.
Back in the day, my musical taste ran more to the leather and face-paintin’, 100 watt Marshall amp stackin’, Les Paul smashin’ arena rock crowd. Hip-hop, gospel and “cross-over” artists didn’t catch my fancy. However, I do have a favorite Whitney Houston moment from the movie Body Guard. Her hair-raising rendition of I will always love you is the stuff of legend—and not only that. The very lyrics emanating from Houton’s vocal chords deliver the message God would have us remember long after the singer is forgotten.
“I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” —Jer 31:3
Was Whitney a “diva”, a “drug and alcohol abuser”, a “divorcee”? Was she a “Grammy award-winning vocalist”, a “good friend”, a “loving daughter”? In instances and seasons she “was” all of these things (and much more), if behaviors actually mean anything. But be careful in your assessment of Whitney Houston—or anyone else—based on behaviors, actions or attitudes. Behaviors do not define us. God’s Truth defines us.
Hear what God says about Whitney Houston:
“I created you; you are fearfully and wonderfully made; I saw you in your mother’s womb and numbered all of your days—before one of them ever came to pass. I can’t take My eyes off of you; you reflect My glory; I have gone to prepare a place for you in Heaven that there you may be with Me always. It is so very pleasing to Us that you are here now. You can trust Me to comfort your family and friends until you are reunited with them here. I love you, Whitney. I have always loved you . . . for all of eternity. —YHWH
Your behaviors do not define you, Whitney. His Truth defines you.
One more time, please, Miss Houston . . .
Tags: behavior vs truth > God's truth vs. our behavior > Whitney Houston > Whitney Houston a Christian > Whitney Houston dies > Whitney Houston's faith > who defines us? Bobby Brown
THE POWER OF VOLUNTEERS
Posted on | January 14, 2012 | No Comments
The mercenaries will always beat the draftees, but the volunteers will crush them both. —Chuck Noll
Another nugget from Tony Dungy’s book, The Mentor Leader. Coach Dungy correctly identifies one of the greatest hindrances to team unity and productivity—a management style which lords its position over those “managed.” Jesus put it to His disciples this way:
In context, the disciples had reached a point where their self-importance was overblown to dangerous proportions. Immediately prior to this teachable moment, they had been jockeying amongst themselves for seating position closest to King Jesus in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus took this moment to recalibrate the minds of his “volunteers” to understand the true bedrock of leadership, which is servant hood. And, as you know, Jesus walked-it-out for us all—not only during His time on earth, but also as our continuing Advocate before our Father in Heaven.
It was essential that Jesus transmit this idea of servant/leadership to His volunteer army who would, in turn, transmit the idea to the world. History proves that Jesus succeeded in His mission. His church continues to prevail no matter what world systems and prevailing philosophies emerge. Coercive efforts to compel submission ultimately fail. At the end of the day, people would rather die free than continue under tyranny.
Whosoever calls on the Name of the Lord will not be put to shame.
That call is for the volunteers.
God is big on volunteers, and volunteers cannot be forced to follow. At a practical level, the power of a leader who mingles with the volunteers—really gets to know them and what makes them tick; is concerned about the seemingly mundane issues of their lives; who leads by immersion into the ranks—that leader’s army will give more than asked for or expected.
And they will prevail.
Tags: coersion > Gentiles > Mark 10:42 > servanthood > servants > The Mentor Leader > Tony Dungy > unity > volunteers
TEBOW MIGHT
Posted on | January 11, 2012 | No Comments
Yes, Tim Tebow is officially a phenomenon. Even the English language is expanding under the weight of his popularity. Tebowing—a verb—describes his oft filmed kneel-down-and-pray posture seen on and off the field. And the cross-talk on this guy is incredible. Little sound-bytes (Tebytes?) are heard on the street, in the workplace, at the supermarket and—yes—even in church. Love him or hate Tim, everybody’s talking about Tebow.
Hey, I was just as shocked as you were when Tebow’s Petulant Ponies trampled Big Ben and the Terrible Towlers last Sunday afternoon. I mean, really. Hadn’t he already proved his point—that he belonged on the field (at least as much as Kyle Orton)? That he could will his teammates to play at a higher level? That he could even win some football games?
By way of comparison, Tebow’s numbers from last Sunday deserve more than Dangerfield-esque respect:
ATT:21 | COMP:10 | YDS:316 | COMP% 47.6 | AVG:15.05 | TD:2 | LONG:80 | INT:0 | FUM:0 | RATING: 125.6
Here’s Joe Montana’s first NFL playoff game stats (NY Giants, 1/3/82):
ATT:31 | COMP:20 | YDS:304 | COMP% 64.5 | AVG:9.8 | TD:2 | LONG:n/a | INT:1 | FUM:0 | RATING:104.8
Of course, Montana and the ‘Niners won the Superbowl that year while Tebow and his nags haven’t got a prayer this year (no pun intended). Or . . . do they? Isn’t that why—after all—they play the silly game?
It will be cold in Foxborough, Massachusetts on Saturday night. The ball will be slick and oblong. Tom Brady’s no spring chicken. And, let’s face it: The Tebow Herd have already way over-achieved. Way. They’re playin’ with house money now. They have nothing to lose and there’s no pressure whatsoever on the South-of-Boulder-Boys. Combine that loosey-goosey with a large dose of adrenalin and the dangerous ideology of youth—the mindset that denies the inevitability of old age, death and taxes—and you’ve got a real dilemma if your the New England Patriots (who, by the way, have absolutely everything to lose this weekend).
Sure, just like you, I expect the New England Patriots to make glue and paint-brushes out of the Prairie Ponies on Saturday night. But, like a lot of you, there’s a part of me that wants the Broncs to stomp the stew out of the Pats—just for the sheer joy of hearing all the whiners whine, whine, whine about “no-good”, “lucky”, “throws-like-a-girl” Tim Tebow for one more week.
Two words, football fans: Tebow might.
Tags: Ben Rothelsberger > Denver Broncos > Denver Broncos vs New England Patriots > faith > Jesus Christ > Joe Montana > New England Patriots > New York GIants > NFL Division Playoffs > Pittsburgh Steelers > San Francisco 49ers > Super Bowl > Tebow > Tebowing > Tim Tebow > Tom Brady