A Leadership Lesson From Days Gone By

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I enjoy history. My areas of interest are the Civil War, military conflicts, and presidential history; including presidential speeches. Every speech that a president gives speaks to their individual style of leadership. Although presidents rarely write their own speeches, their passions and desires come through loud and clear. For example, President Reagan’s speech where he called for Russian president Gorbachev to “tear down this wall”, relates to us a passion for freedom and liberty for everyone. President Franklin Roosevelt’s speech after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in which he called December 7th, “a day that will live in infamy”, reveals a want to lead the nation through a tragic and costly attack on its shores. In another speech, President Roosevelt addressed the nation after the invasion of the Allied Forces at Normandy in June 1944. What is unique about this speech is that it is actually a prayer. Here it is:

My Fellow Americans:

Last night, when I spoke with you about the fall of Rome, I knew at that moment that troops of the United States and our Allies were crossing the Channel in another and greater operation. It has come to pass with success thus far.

And so, in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer:

Almighty God: Our sons, pride of our nation, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our Republic, our religion, and our civilization, and to set free a suffering humanity.

Lead them straight and true; give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their faith.

They will need Thy blessings. Their road will be long and hard. For the enemy is strong. He may hurl back our forces. Success may not come with rushing speed, but we shall return again and again; and we know that by Thy grace, and by the righteousness of our cause, our sons will triumph.

They will be sore tried, by night and by day, without rest — until the victory is won. The darkness will be rent by noise and flame. Men’s souls will be shaken with the violences of war.

For these men are lately drawn from the ways of peace. They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate. They fight to let justice arise, and tolerance and goodwill among all Thy people. They yearn but for the end of battle, for their return to the haven of home.

Some will never return. Embrace these, Father, and receive them, Thy heroic servants, into Thy kingdom.

And for us at home — fathers, mothers, children, wives, sisters, and brothers of brave men overseas, whose thoughts and prayers are ever with them — help us, Almighty God, to rededicate ourselves in renewed faith in Thee in this hour of great sacrifice.

Many people have urged that I call the nation into a single day of special prayer. But because the road is long and the desire is great, I ask that our people devote themselves in a continuance of prayer. As we rise to each new day, and again when each day is spent, let words of prayer be on our lips, invoking Thy help to our efforts.

Give us strength, too — strength in our daily tasks, to redouble the contributions we make in the physical and the material support of our armed forces.

And let our hearts be stout, to wait out the long travail, to bear sorrows that may come, to impart our courage unto our sons wheresoever they may be.

And, O Lord, give us faith. Give us faith in Thee; faith in our sons; faith in each other; faith in our united crusade. Let not the keeness of our spirit ever be dulled. Let not the impacts of temporary events, of temporal matters of but fleeting moment — let not these deter us in our unconquerable purpose.

With Thy blessing, we shall prevail over the unholy forces of our enemy. Help us to conquer the apostles of greed and racial arrogances. Lead us to the saving of our country, and with our sister nations into a world unity that will spell a sure peace — a peace invulnerable to the schemings of unworthy men. And a peace that will let all of men live in freedom, reaping the just rewards of their honest toil.

Thy will be done, Almighty God.

Amen.”

Franklin D. Roosevelt – June 6, 1944

 

Things sure have changed. I believe the time has passed where we will see a presidential speech like this one. I hope that I am wrong. We have heard past presidents, in times of struggle, disaster, mourning, and in times of war, say that we should as a nation pray. What we haven’t seen is a president leading the nation in prayer. This prayer was delivered by President Roosevelt in what he like to call “fireside chats”. Imagine sitting around the fireplace or in the living room as a family gathered around the radio. Imagine one of these families having a son in the military fighting overseas. Then, over the radio, the president takes time to offer a prayer on behalf of those serving and for the families at home waiting. How comforting would that be? Rather than just saying he had faith in God, he demonstrated it before the nation.

It is my prayer that we would see days like this again. I desire to see the leaders of our cities, states, and our nation exercise the faith they profess to have. President Roosevelt’s speech serves as notice to leaders today. The lesson: Never allow your position or status, or the fear of losing it, prevent you from exercising your moral convictions.

FIFS : Psalms 119:89-92

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89.  Forever, O LORD, Your word is settled in heaven. 90. Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides. 91. They continue this day according to Your ordinances, For all are Your servants. 92.  Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction.

I have heard it said many times that the only constant thing in the world today is change. Nothing is exempt from it. Long-time accepted and foundational truths such as marriage, the beginning of life, and moral truth are up for debate and subject to change upon the whims of society. Our society needs stability. Our world needs security. Our society needs to know there is a  God in heaven who has spoken, and as a result, the court of public opinion is silenced.

Man’s creations and inventions are temporary and require constant revision, update, and maintenance. I am thankful that we have been given a constant that requires neither update or revision. God’s Word is a constant and consistent reminder of not only man’s true condition, but the extent and depth of His love. God has given to us what is right and what is wrong. Therefore, it is settled. God has given to us the means of redemption. Therefore, it is settled. God has revealed His expectations of His children. Therefore, it is settled. In this passage, the psalmist writes of the comfort he has drawn from the constant presence of God. The psalmist knew what we each one of us should take to heart today. As the winds of change blow around us, there is One who keeps us still, focused, and safe.

Worth Repeating

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” There is power in the very voice of God, and through God’s creative voice, we can see the magnitude of His power. The voice that spoke at Creation was the same one that said, ‘Snake, you are cursed’. This voice later called to Moses from a burning bush, then chiseled in stone the commandments for all humans to obey. Later, the same voice announced, ‘This is My beloved Son’ (Matt 3:17) forever identifying Jesus as the one whom worship is due. And it is the voice of God that will one day declare, ‘Time is no more.'”

Vernon Whaley, Called to Worship

The SBC Will Not See One United Missions Board, For Now

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The Florida Baptist Witness is reporting the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force will not recommend to the SBC a merger of its two missions boards. During the pastors conference at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville on Tuesday, the GCRTF held a Q&A session with pastors, staff, and others in attendance. Task force members were asked if a merger was likely, to which task force chairman Dr. Ronnie Floyd answered, ““But I can tell you, our sights are set on having the North American Mission Board and our sights are set on having an International Mission Board,” he said. “There was great, great, great discussion studying, planning and even to the point of having strategic formation of the possibility of the other. But we just really sensed in our heart that wasn’t right at this time.”

The GCRTF had been given the mission and responsibility to discover ways in which the SBC could more effectively carry out the Great Commission. Among many ideas being considered by the task force, the possible merger of the IMB and NAMB seemed to be the most talked about. Personally, I am relieved to hear they will not be making a merger recommendation. I believe that a merger of our two mission boards would have a negative effect upon our overall missions efforts, both stateside and worldwide. My belief is based upon the following.

1. It is no secret  the constant turnover in leadership at the North American Mission Board over the last ten years has greatly decreased its overall effectiveness. There is something within this agency that needs to be addressed, whether in its organization or its strategies. I feel it would be counterproductive to take a somewhat anemic NAMB and merge it with a healthy IMB. The result would be a less than effective missions agency. The SBC should invest in NAMB, to the point it is as healthy as the IMB.

2. Language and culture demand separate mission boards. Within our current two board structure, new language and people groups are being discovered on a regular basis. It required people who are trained in bridging language barriers, navigating hostile cultural environments, and pushing into regions where the gospel witness has not yet been. A missions board exclusively devoted to training missionaries in international languages, cultures, customs, and strategies is vital to the effective advancement of the gospel. 

What do you think?

A Reminder of Christ’s Love

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We will be observing the Lord’s Supper this morning at Port Royal Baptist Church. I enjoy this special time with our people. It is here that we are reminded of the price that Jesus paid for the redemption of man’s sin. We are reminded that He willingly gave up His body and spilled His blood for us. As we observe the Lord’s Supper, we come face-to-face with the reality that if there had just been one, Jesus would have still given His life. In  Sea of Faces, contemporary Christian recording artist Kultess speak, in song, to the importance of a single soul among the many.

If only my one heart
Was all you’d gain from all it cost
Well I know you would have still been a man
With a reason
To willingly offer your life

I am not just a man, vastly lost in this world
Lost in a Sea of Faces
Your body’s the bread, Your blood is the wine
Because you traded Your life for mine

FIFS : John 4:39-42

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Today is a Saturday edition of Friday Is For Scripture.

39. Now many Samaritans from that town believed in Him because of what the woman said when she testified, “He told me everything I ever did.” 40. Therefore, when the Samaritans came to Him, they asked Him to stay with them, and He stayed there two days. 41. Many more believed because of what He said. 42.  And they told the woman, “We no longer believe because of what you said, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this really is the Savior of the world.”

It is here in this passage that we are able to see the weight and power of a personal testimony. After an intensely personal encounter with Jesus, the Samaritan woman was to never be the same. She wanted to talk about water and where to worship. Instead, Jesus revealed the issues of her heart and gave her “living” water. She went back to her town and told everyone about what had happened to her, and who she had met. Her testimony led many to Christ. Many more believed, not because of her words, instead,  her words caused them to want to seek Christ for themselves.

What about our personal testimonies? Do we share them when we have the opportunity? Do we the take time to tell other of the life-changing difference that Jesus has made in us? Our testimonies bring others to a face-to-face encounter with Christ. Some may respond quickly. Others may take what we have said and seek further the claims of Christ. Never underestimate the importance and power of your personal story.

SBC Annual Meeting Predictions

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Currently, I am planning to attend the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in Orlando on June 15-16th. Call me strange, but I enjoy this kind of stuff. I have attended two of these meetings in the past: Greensboro, NC and Nashville, TN. This year’s annual meeting is one of the most widely anticipated in recent memory. Not only is it an election year, messengers will also hear the recommendations from the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force elected last year in Louisville. You can read about the purpose of the task force here. I feel their recommendations will shape the direction of the SBC for years to come.

As a Southern Baptist pastor, I do my best to keep up with the current state affairs across the convention. I feel this is my responsibility toward the church that I pastor. So, based on past annual meetings, baptist news over the past year, and personal experience, I would like to make the following predictions for this year’s annual meeting.

1. I predict that a pastor from the state of Florida will be elected as president of the Southern Baptist Convention.

2. I predict that a motion will be made to amend the SBC operating budget in order to allow a greater percentage of Cooperative Program dollars to be forwarded to the International Mission Board.

3.  I predict that a motion will be made to allow alternate forms of missions giving to be counted as Cooperative Program giving.

4. I predict that a resolution will be offered in recognition of the Disaster Relief efforts in Haiti.

5. I predict that a motion will be made to ask Lifeway Christian Resources to not carry the TNIV version of the bible in their stores.

6. I predict that a motion will be made to remove “Southern” from the official denominational title of the Southern Baptist Convention.

7. I predict that a motion will be made to establish an agency within the SBC whose primary responsibility will be resourcing and supporting the small church (those under 200 in primary worship).

8. I predict that, in terms of enrolled messengers, this year’s annual meeting will have the highest attendance in the past 15 years.

9. I predict that a motion will be made for a study to be conducted on the effects of Calvinism across the SBC.

10. I predict that a motion will be made asking the SBC to consider FBC Decatur, GA out of fellowship as a result of them calling a female pastor.

11. I predict that a motion will be made asking the SBC to explore ways in which technology can be used to increase the participation of all churches during the annual meetings.

12. I predict the report from the International Mission Board will be the most passionate and emotional report in many years.

13. I predict someone will ask the convention to boycott something.

Book Review : Free Book

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“Free Book” by Brian Tome is a book about the freedom that an individual can find through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Tome, in a very animated and excitable fashion, encourages his readers to live this free life to its fullest. I had an immediate interest in this book due to the subject. I wish I could say that I liked it, but I can’t. “Free Book” did not deliver. Tome’s book started slowly, and I was tempted to put it down. The book does get a little better as it goes along. Tome’s style of writing is different. It is in-your-face and some may even find it offensive in parts. I had hoped this book would have been deeper. It just seemed “light” to me in the areas where depth was needed. If you have been a Christian for any period of time, there is not a whole here that you will find new. Freedom is about surrender and surrender is a life-long process. That process is discipleship. However, one part shone through. I found the chapter dealing with overcoming personal strongholds and evicting “squatters” from your life to be especially helpful. These chapters were well written and gave sound and practical principles that can help make a difference. I was challenged to evaluate my life and determine if anything negative had moved-in that did not belong that may prove harmful. Overall, I give this book two stars.  

Thank You Port Royal

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There is a tremendous need for assistance in the nation of  Haiti. Many relief organizations are on the ground giving assistance through counselling, clean water and food, construction, and medical supplies. One of the primary organizations that been on the ground in Haiti since the earthquake is Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief. Almost immediately, DR was there assessing the situation and giving guidance to other organizations. A major asset to the relief efforts are the established relationships between the people of Haiti and the Florida Baptist Convention, who has had a presence in Haiti for the past fifteen years.

Yesterday at Port Royal Baptist Church, we took our Haiti Relief Offering. We received $1,870. I just want to say “thank you” to our congregation  for giving so sacrificially. I love the heart of our people. I am proud to be the pastor of a body of people who, when given the opportunity to give to a cause greater than themselves, seek to be like Christ in their actions. Again, thank you for your generous offering on behalf of Disaster Relief.

Book Review Bloggers : Free Book

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 I have just received my next book from the Book Review Blogger program. I will be reading and reviewing Free Book, by Brian Tome.  The main idea and thrust of this book is about freedom in Christ. Here is a sample from the cover:

“The Bible says that ‘where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.’ Not fear. Not guilt. Not morality. Not even religion. Freedom. The fact that this may sound new, odd, or even heretical to you is why you need this message. Imagine living free from the burdens of your past mistakes and others’  expectations. Imagine waking up excited and full of hope. You can have the sort of joy you thought only kids could have. The day of freedom is here.”