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This principle is a twin to the previous one on training your people to become leaders. The fact is that no one is a leader all the time in every situation. When the biggest corporate head in America goes to church, the pastor is the leader and he is a member of the flock. When he attends his club, someone else is the executive and he is a dues-paying member.
Sometimes we lead; sometimes we follow.
In their book, "Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?" Gareth Jones and Rob Goffee wondered what goes into making a good follower.
One aspect of that issue was to find out what leaders expect from members of their teams. They came up with four answers.
1) "I expect my people to speak up and tell me what they really think."
We get the impression from the inside tales of companies that failed scandalously such as Enron and WorldCom that this quality was missing in the executive offices. No one was telling Kenneth Lay or Bernie Evers that the company was in trouble, that his decisions were faulty, and that disaster was looming. They told the boss what he wanted to hear, and everyone paid dearly for this failure.
It takes courage. I've been there. The others in the room are either agreeing with the boss or keeping their mouths shut. And yet, you know that they all know the boss' plans are wrong. They're just not willing to lay their jobs on the line. Better to be quiet and still have a paycheck coming in. Enron's and WorldCom's executives kept their mouths shut and everyone lost their paychecks.
Bible students will recall that in Genesis 35, God changes Jacob's name to Israel. Not a lot is made of that at the time, but anyone knowing the origins of those names sees a powerful point. The name "Jacob"--which comes out to something like Ya-a-cov in Hebrew--literally means "a heel-holder," one who takes advantage of others, who gets a ride at their expense. "Israel," something like Yitz-rael in Hebrew, means "one who wrestles with God."
God was saying, "I would rather have you wrestling with me than taking advantage of your brother." And don't we appreciate that about our wonderful Lord!
It's a trait of a good leader that he welcomes dissent. Not dissension, but dissent. If you think I'm about to make a mistake, tell me. If I hear you and then overrule you, you've done your part. If I am wise, I will value you highly for what you did---unless you are the dissenter on everything I suggest. In that case, I might suggest you find another place to work.
2) "I expect you to do your job well."
I once asked Pastor Mark Corts about his family. "I've never known such a group of overachievers. Your brother Tom is the president of Samford University; Paul is president of Wingate University. John Corts is the executive who runs the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. And you pastor one of the greatest Southern Baptist Churches in the country." (That would be Calvary Baptist in Winston-Salem. If you know these institutions, you will recognize that this conversation happened a few years back. Mark is in Heaven now, and his brothers have retired.)
Mark said, "And our sister is a missionary; don't leave her out."
I said, "You had to have incredible parents. Tell me about them. What did they do to bring this about?"
As I recall, Mark Corts said, "They were simple, salt-of-the-earth people. They gave us responsibilities and expected us to meet them. In our teens, we all held part-time jobs. They simply expected us to do well."
That probably was not the dramatic answer I was expecting. Surely, I had thought, the parents had a plan for raising bright high-achieving children. I could just see a sermon series or at least some great illustrations resulting from the insights from this son of such illustrious parents. But that's all I got.
Reflecting on that conversation, I realize now that Mr. and Mrs. Corts were doing something that was indeed every bit as dramatic as I had hoped: they were bringing up their children to be effective leaders. They did that by assigning them responsibilities that increased in size and scope as they grew, and by holding them accountable.
"Why Should Anyone Be Led By You?" is the title of a book by Rob Goffee and Gareth Jones. They wanted to know why leaders were in such short supply, particularly since every strata of this society claims to place a high premium on leadership.
The writers came up with two answers. First, organizations say they want leaders but structure themselves so as to destroy budding leadership and to discourage initiative. They reward blind obedience and promote those who know how to play the corporate game.
The second reason there are so few leaders is that we simply do not know much about leadership and how to produce it.
We will grant the second point, but I'd like to comment on the first, that organizations and businesses often stifle leadership.
Mardi Gras comes early this year, Tuesday February 5. That's the earliest I remember it and locals are complaining about the shortness of the season and the poor weather for the parades. Today, Monday, turned off beautifully though and several parades that were cancelled Friday are being made up tonight.
No, I'll not be going. This is not my thing. If it's yours, fine. Have fun and stay safe.
Driving down Metairie's Veteran's Highway today, all the signs of Mardi Gras surrounded me. The viewing stands have been in place for weeks. Temporary hurricane fences have been erected by some businesses that do not want parade-goers trampling down their grass or littering their parking lot. If you would like some beads without having to attend a parade, walk down the median--what locals call "neutral ground"--and pick them up; they're lying everywhere.
A recent article in the Times-Picayune told of the Chinese factories that turn out boxcarsful of beads for us to throw and catch. An executive from that country urged our people not to tell his factory workers that we throw them at each other and that a large percentage will end up on the ground. They take a lot of pride in their work, he said, and this would be insulting to them.
In case you're wondering, riders on the various floats purchase their own "throws," as the beads and paraphernalia are called. Each one will spend from $700 to $1,000 on the large bags filled with items to be tossed into the crowds. Parade-watchers will compete to catch them and deposit them in their own bags. They'll take them home, then try to figure out what to do with them now.
At the shipyards where my son Neil works, a colleague was sporting a bruise across her nose. She explained that a float rider had thrown not a strand of beads but an entire pack of beads in her direction. She was not watching and as she turned, the pack caught her in the face, causing the bruise. Unfortunately, that happens a lot. The riders are supposed to open a pack and toss the string of beads one at a time, but sometimes they grab a handful.
The Zulu Krewe always has interesting throws. This year again they are tossing some 7,000 painted and decorated coconuts into the stands. Neil says they don't actually toss them however, that they are required to "hand" them. I hope so; these could be deadly weapons.
Somewhere I read where a cancer researcher predicted that when the cure for that dreaded disease is found, it will not be in one "Eureka!" moment, but in small increments.
The rebuilding of New Orleans and its re-creation into whatever plan the Father has for it is coming about in the same way: in small victories.
A mission in the Ninth Ward--New Christian Life Baptist--is rebuilt by Florida Baptists and reopens its doors on Saturday. It's one of the few houses of worship to be rebuilt and reopened in that devastated neighborhood, thanks to the leadership of Pastor Will Mack and the dedicated labors of Florida Baptists.
Sunday, the First Baptist Church of Luling burned the note on a loan for the construction of their educational building. Pastor Todd Hallman challenged his people to build on the faith of the past generations to meet today's changing culture.
Down in Lower St. Bernard, the Delacroix-Hope Baptist Church worshiped for the first time Sunday in their "new" building, previously the Creedmore Presbyterian Church. The plant was given to them by the Presbytery of South Louisiana. Pastor Boogie Melerine and his little congregation have done extensive renovations and will be having a grand opening soon.
A church welcomes a new pastor. Someone prays with his neighbor as he gives his heart to Christ. A displaced resident decides to move back to the city. Someone completes the renovation of his flooded house and moves back into the neighborhood. The city paves a street. Someone gets serious about prayer. An offering is dropped into the offering plate at church. A business owner decides to take a chance and reopen his store.
Little by little, one step at the time.
No one knows at what point the tipping will occur.
Today, Saturday, "New Christian Life Baptist Mission" reopened its doors for the first time since Katrina. Under the leadership of Pastor Will Mack, Jr., this mission of Franklin Avenue Baptist Church sits smack dab in the middle of the Ninth Ward, surrounded by houses in every shape and of every description.
Many houses still bear the huge X of the National Guardsmen who combed the neighborhoods in the days following our hurricane, searching for the stranded in need of rescue. Fully fifty-percent of the houses are still not occupied and most probably untouched since the August 29, 2005, storm. The streets are broken and potholed and warped. You wouldn't want to be caught in that neighborhood after dark. And yet, this is where New Christian Life located itself and where they rebuilt after the storm.
Representatives of the Florida Baptist Convention were present, several members of the First Baptist Church of Marianna, and at least two directors of missions. Pastor Will Mack welcomed everyone, then introduced his choir of perhaps five ladies. "This will be their first time to wear these robes since Katrina," he said to cheers and applause. "The water ruined the zippers, so they're leaving them open."
The choir, accompanied by a keyboard and set of drums, rocked that little building as the praise lofted heavenward. People kept coming in throughout the service until an equal number of black and white were present. "How many are here for the first time?" Several lifted their hands, including a man in front of me who looked like he might be homeless.
Coba Beasley is the Director of Missions for the Chipola Baptist Association in Marianna, Florida. He brought greetings and told of the work of their teams over the last year or more, as they worked to redo this building. The keyboard was a gift of a gentleman in Marianna, he said. We all surmised that it had never sounded in Marianna the way it sounded in New Orleans!
Michael Petty is the Director of Missions for the Gulfstream Baptist Association in Fort Lauderdale. His text was Psalm 67, that "we are blessed to be a blessing." He said, "We had thought we could restore this building in a few months, but it has taken us a year and a half." At the time he and Pastor Mack began to make plans for the rebuilding, Michael was pastor of the FBC of Marianna. Some of his members were present today, and at least one staffer. In October, he moved to lead the association in Fort Lauderdale.
In the previous blog, I mentioned that rebellious children sap the energies of parents, leaving them with no will, no time, and no strength for outside interests or ministries. Some of our readers have experienced this personally.
The question before the class today, students, is: "What depletes your energies for God?"
As usual, I'll get us started. At the end, leave your own contributions to the list. Our hope is that someone will see himself in this and learn that a certain practice has been robbing them of their service to the Lord and will return to the Father. Luke 15:18 comes to mind. "I will arise and go to my Father."
Here are my top ten energy-depleters:
10. Compromise.
You're doing something displeasing to the Lord and you know it. The guilt lingers and weighs you down. When you try to read your Bible, pray, or worship, the fog is so thick you could cut it. God seems far away, and you know without being told it's because you moved. You're being torn down the middle and it's a miserable feeling.
Isaiah 59:1-2 comes to mind. "Your sins have separated you." Confess them and move back closer.
9. Nay-sayers.
The discouragers around you are constantly pointing out that you cannot do this, you are not the Christian you ought to be, the Bible cannot be understood, your prayers never go beyond the ceiling, and your pitiful offering amounts to nothing. To make matters worse, sometimes that negative voice hounding us is our own. You lose heart and want to give up.
Psalm 103:1-5 comes to mind. "Bless the Lord, O my soul." Speak to yourself words of faith. Believe your faith and doubt your doubts.
8. Nit-pickers.
Reading the paper this Saturday morning and checking the television schedule for tonight, I began laughing. My favorite channel--that would be TCM, Turner Classic Movies--is showing a string of Greer Garson movies tonight. No, it's not her birthday. That would be September 29 (and the year 1904). I think I know what happened.
TCM found out that I just last night finished reading a biography of Greer Garson. "A Rose for Mrs. Miniver: The Life of Greer Garson" by Michael Troyan was pure fun. It's a $22 paperback, so don't tell my wife. In fact, I picked it up twice over several months at the local World War II Museum bookshop before deciding to spring for it. Glad I did.
What started this for me was seeing the 1941 movie, "Mrs. Miniver," some years ago. Thereafter, like a few million others, I was smitten. First, it's about the most fascinating moment of the 20th century, that period when England stood virtually alone against Hitler. (There might be something else going on in my choice of that period; it's basically 1940, the year I arrived on the planet.)
Secondly, there's a historical angle: the movie aroused the American public as nothing else had to understand the British situation and get off the fence of neutrality. Queen Elizabeth was to tell Greer Garson later that her film had rallied worldwide support for Britain more than any other one thing.
The movie won a handful of Academy Awards the next year, and that has always perplexed the professional critics who do not understand the emotional impact a movie can make when it connects with a critical moment in history.
Mostly, however, when I saw "Mrs. Miniver," I fell in love. And who would not? What a woman.
No one wants to hear you gripe about how unfairly the church members are treating you. You're the pastor, the leader, the one out front. Take the heat. Be a man.
The morning paper tells how the basketball coach at our largest state university is receiving jeers from the fans. His team has just lost its seventh consecutive game in the young season and they've been blown out in contests against weak opponents. The fact that he has taken his teams to the NCAA Final Four in previous years looks good in the history books, but does nothing--nil, nada--to placate the fans. They want a winner now.
That's how fans are. Ask any coach on the planet.
Is it unfair? Sure. Are they being unreasonable? Absolutely. Does that protect the coach's job? Not in the least.
The coach knew it would be like this when he signed on. When his teams were doing well, he was a hero and could do no wrong. Fans held up signs suggesting he run for governor. The trustees voted him a contract extension with a sizeable raise. Season-ticket holders called in to talk shows praising his decisions.
These days, that coach is experiencing the dark side of his profession: the fans can turn on you in a heartbeat.
At a community prayer breakfast, I spotted the head coach (at the time) of the New Orleans Saints, Jim Mora. I hastily sketched out a cartoon for him, I forget what it was, and presented it to him. While he was chuckling at it, I said, "Pastors understand what coaches go through. You give your all on Sunday and some people pick it apart during the week."
Mora said, "Yeah, but do they call in to the radio shows and criticize your sermons in the newspaper?" I had to admit they didn't.
Later I thought of an answer: "This is why they pay you the big bucks, coach."
Lately, I've been reading through Exodus and seeing again the trials of Moses as he tried to lead a vast multitude of impatient, unspiritual people from Egypt's slavery into Canaan's glories. Like the chorus of a bad tune, we keep finding this refrain: "And the congregation of Israel murmured against Moses in the wilderness."
Now, the first time that happened--that would be Exodus 14:10-12--Moses responded well. "Don't be afraid. Stand here and you will see the salvation of the Lord."
A few days later, the murmurs rose from the crowd again. "Oh, what's going to happen to us? It would have been better to have died in Egypt where at least we had food to eat! You've brought us out here to perish of starvation!" (Exodus 16:3)
They needed food; was that so hard for Moses to understand? The babies were crying, everyone was growing weak, people were falling out. And--as every leader learns sooner or later and usually the hard way--if you do not give them a legitimate means of registering their complaints, the people will meet in clusters and feed off one another's misery.
By this time, a tired Moses was losing his patience. "Who are we that you murmur against us? Your griping is not against us, but against the Lord!" Then he said, "Come near before the Lord, for he has heard your murmurings." That was the day God gave them the manna from Heaven.
Who are you, Moses, that they complain against you? You are the leader, sir. It's true you were drafted for this position and did not volunteer for it, but every leader of God's people since has been able to say the same thing. God calls His leaders; we don't run for the office. And having become the leader, we share in the glories and successes but we also bear the pain of the failures and needs.
It's the price of leadership.
Sometimes friends email to ask, "Where will you be preaching? Maybe it will be in my area so I can come."
Being a director of missions means I work for and with all the Baptist churches in our association, which in this case includes the 5 parishes that make up Greater New Orleans. Many Sundays I'm not preaching at all, and at those times I enjoy dropping in on a church and worshiping with them.
This Sunday, January 20, I'll be teaching "Paul's Epistle to the Romans" at Rocky Creek Baptist Church near Lucedale, Mississippi, where Greg Harper is pastor. The schedule calls for four sessions on Sunday--10 am, 11 am, 5 pm, and 6 pm. Then we'll continue Monday night at 6:30 and Wednesday night at 6:30.
In between, on Tuesday night, I'll be speaking at the annual men's banquet for the Baptist churches of George and Greene Counties, which will also be held at Rocky Creek Church.
Saturday morning, January 26, I'll do another two-hour preview of Romans for our local pastors. We'll meet in the conference room of FBC-Kenner from 8 am to 10 am. Anyone is invited of course, particularly pastors from anywhere.
New Governor Bobby Jindal may be the youngest governor in the land, but at 36, he has lots of experience in state government and had a clear understanding of what he wanted to do in his first day on the job. Tuesday--like the cross-eyed javelin thrower--when he stood up, he had everyone's undivided attention, and he made the most of it.
Jindal had appointed a committee of 17 to advise him on ethics reform in Louisiana. They took him seriously, and he is taking their recommendations for all they're worth. Here are some of the contents of Jindal's program as announced yesterday.
1) State legislators will be prohibited from receiving free tickets to concerts and sporting events. They will be allowed to purchase them at face value, though.
2) Everyone from the governor's office to the legislature, from judges to local officials, should be required to file annual financial disclosures. The governor is requiring that his cabinet members comply with the same financial disclosure which candidates for governor must meet.
Officials in towns or parishes of more than 5,000 residents will be covered in this requirement.
Bobby Jindal is the first governor of any state in the union of Indian descent. His parents came to America, settled in Baton Rouge, and Bobby was born there. He converted from Hinduism as a teenager and became a Catholic. He lives in Kenner and is the brainiest person on the planet. Monday, he was sworn in as Louisiana's new governor, replacing Kathleen Babineaux Blanco who carries her Katrina-related scars with her into retirement. Jindal is 36 years old, making him the youngest sitting governor in the land.
What does "sitting governor" mean? And why do they express it like that? Is there any other kind of governor.
Tuesday, Jindal confirmed our faith in him. In his first full day in office, he spoke to the legislature and announced that everyone in his administration will file annual financial reports and that he will be asking the legislature to do that too. He said, "We are going to be transparent!"
Uh, Bobby, some of them aren't going to like that. But good for you. Now, make it stick.
One of the ways our state is unique is that the governor has substantial power over the legislature. I've lived in states where the chief executive had zero authority over the state senate and house of representatives and the citizens paid dearly for the weakness of the office. In Louisiana, if you get the right governor, things can happen quickly.
One thing our governor does is to select the speaker of the house and the leader of the senate. It still has to be confirmed by the actual vote of the members, but the governor has such power in other ways they don't dare cross him. That's how Jim Tucker of Algiers became our new speaker.
I would have said "Don't sweat the small stuff," but someone has already said it--and made a truckload of money from a best-selling book by that title. But, the point is the same.
Someone offended you. I'm not talking about an attack on your person on the one hand or an imaginary slight on the other, but a real one nevertheless. They overstepped their bounds and shot down a project you had been working on. When they did, it not only frustrated your efforts but saddled you with the work of cleaning up everything you had done.
Sound familiar?
I took a phone call from the assistant to a distinguished church leader, asking if I could set up a breakfast meeting the following Monday. This would be his first visit to our city and an opportunity for our pastors and other key leaders to meet him. I made some phone calls and e-mails, asked my helpers to assist in getting certain ones to the meeting, and worked with the marketing manager of a local hotel to set up the breakfast. She and I swapped e-mails, sending credit card information and contracts back and forth. Finally, everything was set.
Late the night before the event, a phone call informed me that the event had been moved to another location across town. One of my colleagues had inquired at the hotel about the breakfast with a desk clerk who had no information about it, but who told him there must have been a mistake, that they did not do such things. My friend panicked, lined up another site for the breakfast, and informed our distinguished guest and his party about the new location.
Apparently, it never occurred to him to check with anyone.
After recovering from this late-night phone call, I had some work to do. Since my files were at the office across town, I made a list from memory of everyone who had been invited to the breakfast. Early the next morning, I began calling each one to inform them of the change in plans. Then, I drove to the hotel just in case I had missed anyone. There in the lobby sat one of our pastors, waiting for the others. I sent him on his way, then stayed longer to make sure no one else came.
Since I had to be at a church across the river in mid-morning, I missed the breakfast and meeting the out-of-town guest.
Later, I learned heard that we had a good turnout, the breakfast was excellent, the meeting went well, and the guest made a positive impression.
The only one who was inconvenienced was me.
At this point, I had a choice to make. I could sulk and stroke my wounded pride, or get on with the day since nothing was lost. Everyone had had a great meeting, the guest had accomplished his purpose, and all was well.
I sloughed it off. No harm, no foul. No offense.
An hour later, I was teaching Paul's "Epistle to the Romans" at Oak Park Baptist Church and thoroughly enjoying myself.
A student as well as staffer at our New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Don Pike serves the Ames Boulevard Baptist Church in Marrero as a part of the Unlimited Partnership program. He leads the congregation in education, discipleship, and evangelism. Recently, when our U.P. students reported on their ministries at their monthly gathering, Don announced, "I have the privilege of serving on the staff of a healthy church."
Today, I dropped in on the morning worship service at the Ames Boulevard Baptist Church. Tommy Plaisance, another seminary student and--easily betrayed by his accent--a native of Cajunland, serves as the pastor. Don did the welcome in the service, then played the guitar while his wife Donna led the worship from the keyboard. It was a warm-hearted service with upbeat praise choruses and strong biblical preaching.
Tommy preached the famous passage from Philippians 3 where Paul lists his credentials, then tosses them in the trash. "I count all things but loss for Christ." Tommy's sermon dealt with decisions we make "with the end in view." Paul's purpose was to know Christ better, experience His fellowship in sufferings, and know the power of His resurrection. In light of that end, he made some tough decisions.
I sat there in the service reflecting on Don's statement that it was a healthy congregation. Rick Warren says in one of his books that the next issue facing the church is not church growth but church health. Working with nearly a hundred of our Baptist churches throughout metro New Orleans, all in various stages of health, some strong and vigorous and some on life support, I completely agree.
What exactly is a healthy church?
Someone has observed that all unhappy families are unhappy in their own ways, but happy families all seem to have certain things in common. That surely must hold true for church health. Sick churches are a dime a dozen and each has its own kind of malady, but healthy churches seem to be alike in a lot of ways.
Here is my brief take on this.
According to a news program this week, most people are still neutral about the field of Democratic and Republican candidates sparring in places like Iowa and New Hampshire, and soon Michigan and South Carolina. We're sitting back watching, waiting to see who's standing at the end of the marathon, and then we'll decide.
I'm one of the many who thought it was presumptuous of this fellow Baptist preacher--from Hope, Arkansas yet--to declare for the presidency. I mean, a preacher? Lo and behold, the more I hear from Mike Huckabee, the more I like him.
I'm leading up to sharing something from a Newsweek article, but first, in the interests of full disclosure, here is my take on the main candidates....
Hillary? I'd like to have a woman for president. This nation is long overdue. And I think she would make a good one in a hundred areas. But for me, these are the negatives: she's too liberal, she has all this baggage (think: Bill and his cohorts) left over from the 1990s, and she is being supported by all the far left (scary) groups.
Mitt? He sounds so good. But, I'm afraid of his religion. I told you this is full disclosure. I am not objective toward his religion. It's a truly bizarre twist on Christianity and a faulty interpretation of God's revelation in the Scriptures. It's based on a con pulled by Joe Smith and furthermore, many of its leaders know that and cover it up. I have trouble trusting anyone gullible enough to believe in that religion.
McCain? Pretty good. Solid citizen. I like a lot about him, but he's 72 now, which is 5 years older than me and man, I can feel my "powers" diminishing. Not sure we ought to be electing someone at that age.
Obama? Untested. He's just not been around long enough at the center of power, if you want to call the U.S. Senate that, for my taste. We have a way in America of electing novices (present occupant of the White House included) and letting them get on-the-job training. I do think this country is overdue for an African-American president, and if it happens, it would be good for us. I'm puzzled at John Kerry and others jumping on his bandwagon just because he can make a good speech.
Rudy? Nah. Fred? Nah. Edwards? Hah.
Mike Huckabee? Yep.
Now, here's what made me decide to post something on this blog about it.
Everyone has his hand out for money.
When I turn off the interstate onto Elysian Fields Avenue headed to the office, there's a guy with a "Hungry" sign standing there in the weeds giving drivers that stare guaranteed to ruin the rest of their day if they don't hand him their loose change.
When I joined the National World War II museum in our city, I quickly discovered the most immediate benefit was monthly letters asking for more money than the measly annual fees. Same with the public radio station here in town. And now the LSU athletic program needs our help.
Arguably, the most successful collegiate athletic program in the country--not only in football, with the LSU Tigers winning the national championship last Monday night, but in baseball and other sports where they are regular contenders for top honors--LSU has announced they need a little more money from season ticket holders.
Interestingly, the university is not raising ticket prices; they're increasing the "surcharge" which season ticket holders pay in order to qualify them to purchase season tickets. Got that? A fascinating bit of reasoning here. According to the news release Thursday, surcharges will range from $50 to $400 per person. And why would they be doing this after a year when the stadium is regularly sold out and where you have to know someone to get on the list for a season ticket? Athletic Director Skip Bertman says they need to raise $14 million more each year to pay for the higher costs of the program and to build a new dorm for the band.
The band needs a dorm?
Here's a paragraph from the Times-Picayune story in Friday's paper: "Membership (dues) in the Tiger Athletic Foundation, the school's athletic fund-raising arm (are) expected to increase. It all goes to feed an increasingly insatiable need to keep up with the Joneses, or, in this case, the Floridas and the Alabamas."
That brings back a small memory from 20 years ago.
We have a candidate for the densest criminal of the year. He was caught yesterday going 125 mph in a school zone two blocks from my house. But wait, it gets worse.
When the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's deputy ran a check on his car, it came back as stolen--but belonging to this man, the driver who had just been pulled over. "Nope, not stolen," he said. "That was all a mistake."
Just to be safe, the deputy called for a policeman from nearby Harahan to come over, since it was that town's complaint about the car's being stolen.
The car was stolen all right--from the police compound. The Harahan Police Department had confiscated the car recently when the owner--our speeder--was caught with drugs. So what he did was break into the police compound and steal his car back. The cops weren't real happy with our boy.
What I can't figure out is, if you are in possession of a stolen car, why would you drive 125 miles an hour anywhere, let alone through a school zone?
Unless he was whacked out on drugs. That would account for the bizarre behavior and would surely make him the dumbest crook of any year, for my money.
Monday night, prior to the BCS championship game at the Superdome, plainclothed cops circulated among the fans on the streets in search of crooks selling fake tickets for big money. The newspaper did not say if they arrested anyone or how many, but Wednesday's paper tells the story of some disappointed fans who traveled half a continent to get to our city, then blew $500 each for several tickets that turned out to be fakes. They ended up watching the ball game from a bar near the dome.
In this case, it wasn't only the scammers who were dumb. The reason this kind of con works at all is that people are too trusting and unwilling to double check before handing over their money.
It would have been so simple to say to the seller, "Come with me over here to the turn stile. If they take this ticket, you get the money."
Monday morning in Baton Rouge, they're inaugurating Bobby Jindal as Louisiana's newest governor. The boy wonder, this brainy young man who has impressed people all his life with his smarts has gone from success to success in his career. From all reports, he is assembling an all-star team of advisors and colleagues. We'll be watching eagerly to see what he proposes and is able to pull off in the way of rebuilding New Orleans.
Bobby Jindal is from Kenner, our New Orleans suburb just to the west (the airport sits inside the city limits of Kenner), and has been our congressman for a couple of terms. He's an active Catholic with a born-again testimony, and has the outspoken support of most of the politically active evangelicals I know.
1) All day Tuesday in New Orleans, the talk was of Monday night's championship football game. I had calls and emails from all across the country, mostly expatriate LSU-ers who watched the contest on television and wish they could be here to share the excitement.
Alas, most of the excitement I saw was limited to two kinds: party-ers in the French Quarter (which I saw only on television) and people calling in to talk shows. The rest of us read the paper (4 inch headline: CHAMPS and underneath: Tigers First to Win Second BCS Title) and caught people talking about it on the TV or radio. We just felt good and went on about our business, the same way Greg did in Alexandria, Virginia, Justin did in Acworth, Georgia, and Jerry did in Paris, Tennessee.
Interestingly, Ohio State people were calling in to register their appreciation for the city. Caller after caller said things like, "Great city. Wonderful people. We had a lovely time." One fellow said people downtown would see his Ohio State shirt and call out, "Tiger bait!" and that would be followed by a smile and "Welcome to New Orleans! Thanks for coming!"
I was thinking this, then the radio host voiced it: "Not like when our Saints fans go to Chicago and are treated like the scum of the earth."
Someone then said, "Well, we have some bad apples down here, too. Let's not forget that and get too self-righteous."
The people who study such things are saying the financial impact of last night's game--with all the tourists in town, hotel and restaurant expenditures, etc.--was a greater boon to the local economy than the last Super Bowl that met here. "The greatest thing for New Orleans since Katrina," one economist said.
2) The Corps of Engineers is looking for clay to line the levees. They only need a hundred million cubic yards of the stuff, a kind of clay also known as "borrow."
It's surprising how God's people awaken one day and suddenly realize they have fallen away from the closeness they used to enjoy with the Lord. The signs have been there all along, but they were not paying attention.
Here are some tests I have discovered for spotting signs of slippage in my own walk with the Lord, evidence that I'm losing the intimacy with Him that always meant so much in my personal life.
10. You know you're slipping when the big thing you look forward to on a Sunday is a football game.
9. You know you're slipping when reading the Bible no longer excites you, angers you, or challenges you.
8. You know you're slipping when you finally get up off the couch and get involved in some ministry the Lord has been laying on your heart and the first thing you do is start criticizing all the other couch potatoes who are only doing the same thing you have been doing all this time.
7. You know you're slipping when, after slacking off in your tithing over the past year, instead of feeling guilty, you find yourself criticizing the regular tithers for their self-righteous and legalistic attitudes.
Faith Baptist Church gets their own building!
This wonderful small congregation was formed five or six years ago by a group of members of First Baptist-New Orleans when the mother congregation voted to move from St. Charles Avenue out to the Lakeview section. The "Faith" group felt someone should maintain a ministry in the uptown section of New Orleans.
The church has not had a permanent location or a permanent pastor all this time. For a long time, they shared space with the First Presbyterian of New Orleans, and since Katrina, they've met at Rayne United Methodist Church on St. Charles. They've had excellent interim pastors, including Roger Sullivan, Argile Smith, and for the past 3 years or so, Tim Searcy.
Friday, Faith's leaders met at the lawyer's office in downtown New Orleans to sign the papers and make official the purchase of the property at South Claiborne Street and Fern which was formerly the Second Church of Christ, Scientist. That congregation, which had dwindled to 25 prior to Katrina, never reassembled afterwards due to the damage on their buildings and the resettlement of their members.
I was present for the signing, just to share their joy.
Faith will be renovating the sanctuary and educational building before moving in, but they are elated and we are for them. That neighborhood would be jumping for joy, too, if they knew how the Lord has just blessed them with these new neighbors.
The Baptist Crossroads Foundation Board held its annual meeting Saturday morning.
No matter what part of the U.S. you live in, you've probably seen on television or in print the homes that are being built by the Baptist Crossroads. The houses all have the same architecture and are multi-colored in some vividly bright hues. Pastor David Crosby heard a volunteer say he was working "down at Skittles-Land!"
Pastor Fred Luter and I were the only two non-First Baptist Church boardmembers present. Looking around the church's youth room where we were meeting, I noticed two lawyers, a banker, an educator, and several businessmen. One businesswoman. I told them I wanted to make an observation.
"I've been in a lot of churches and have pastored seven congregations. But I have never seen a group of church members get behind the vision of the pastor--and that's what you have done--and bring it to reality the way you folks have done. It is most impressive and I'd just like to say to you, 'Well done.' The Lord is honored by what you are doing. Each one of you brings certain gifts and expertise to this ministry."
A couple of people said, "You should have been in church the day David presented the vision to the congregation. You knew immediately that this was of God. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. It has been a privilege."
The church group (we can call it the Baptist Crossroads "Board", but let's face it--it's a ministry of the First Baptist Church of New Orleans) has taken into their hearts not only the charge to build new homes in this 70 block area, but to do all in its power to help in the rebuilding of other homes and the rebirth of the people who live there. We're glad to know that Pastor Fred Luter's Franklin Avenue Baptist Church is also helping minister to the residents.
Board members were presented with maps--aerial photos actually--of the assigned area, with symbols to indicate which homes are gutted, which have had no activity of rebuilding of any kind since Katrina, and which are in good shape. With slightly more than 2,000 homes on the map, nearly one-fourth have had no rebuilding/renovation activity at all since Katrina.
Without the work of the Baptist Crossroads in the Ninth Ward, it would still be a most depressed section of New Orleans. As it is, there is hope and excitement.
One of the most impressive things I heard today had to do with the financial aspect of the Baptist Crossroads. Not that I understood it all. Just listening to our financial people outlining the details brought back why I made a 'C' on Economics 201 as a sophomore at Birmingham-Southern College over 45 years ago! This subject is most definitely not for us right-brained people!
Studying Paul's Epistle to the Romans over the last few weeks and spending the holidays posting insights from the book on this website, I've become extra aware of the Scripture's teachings on salvation-by-grace-through-faith and not of works. Today, I saw a great picture of what a "works salvation" would look like.
On this Friday prior to the Monday night, January 7, BCS championship game at the Superdome between the Ohio State Buckeyes and the LSU Tigers, our Times-Picayune ran a front page article to feature the two marching bands. LSU's elite group is called "The Golden Band from Tigerland," while Ohio State's is called "The Best Damn Band in the Land." (Excuse me, mom.) They're said to be the two best marching bands in the country.
The LSU band will be 325 players strong, if you can believe it. Ohio State has 224 who will be suited up and strutting Monday night. Those numbers are a little inflated for the championship game, but still, those are huge musical groups.
Now, here's where it gets interesting. During the football season, the LSU band practices 90 minutes each afternoon Tuesday through Friday. On Saturday nights prior to home games, they practice for up to 2 hours during a dress rehearsal open to the public.
The Ohio State band members practice from 4 to 6 pm each weekday, one hour inside and one hour outside, regardless of the weather.
With both bands, there are no "returning starters" among the musicians. That is, each band member must earn his own spot anew each fall and maintain it through weekly competitions.
More than 450 people tried out for the 192 regular spots on the Ohio State squad, and--get this--anyone can challenge a band member each Monday. If one is challenged for his position, the two musicians have a "play off" and the winner is chosen by band squad leaders and directors.
All music is played from memory, and musicians must pass a test each Friday. Those who fail 3 times during the year will be cut permanently.
Ohio State director Jon Woods said, "It's possible a veteran may not make the band. It happens several times a year."
"You're putting me on, right?"
"I'm telling you the truth. I want you to send out a letter to all the pastors telling them that from now on, I am their lord and I will give them instructions on how to do their job."
"And how long have you had these delusions?"
"Ever since I got that letter from Pastor Sam Hickson over at Calvary-Industrial Church fussing at me because I was not at the community prayer walk he scheduled that Saturday a couple of weeks ago. He was really blistering."
"Yeah. I thought it was a little over the top."
"Over the top! He was banishing me to the nether regions because I didn't buy into his agenda."
"I don't think it was that bad. And it wasn't just you."
"Well, I don't mean I'm taking it personally, like he was attacking just me. I assume he sent the letter out to all the pastors."
"You're the third one this week who says he's gotten the letter. The others feel about like you do."
"So, what are you going to do about it? You're the director of missions!"
"Let me make a note of that."
"You know what I'm saying. You need to do something about Sam. He's ruining the fellowship of the pastors and besides, think of the presumption of what he did--schedule an event and then make it a matter of loyalty whether we show up or not."
"I don't plan to do anything. I'm not his Lord. And, frankly, you're not either. Let's let the Lord take care of him."
"Well. I guess so. It just ticked me off is all."
"Bobby, do you have a few minutes?"
"Sure. What do you have in mind?"
"There's another pastor in our association I'd like to get your input on."
"Another loose cannon, huh? Shoot. What's up with this one?"
Gary Pearce was "the" personality on the campus of Mississippi College at Clinton, MS, in the early 1970s. He knew everyone's name and never met a stranger. When he walked into a room, he filled it up--in every way conceivable. I was one of the ministers at his church, the First Baptist Church of Jackson, and that's more or less how he became one of our sons.
During those three years, from 1971 through 1973, Margaret and I "adopted" four college students as our own. Three were boys--Bill Garrett of Harrisville (he used to say he was from "Hot Coffee"), Tom Hearon of Memphis, and Gary Pearce of Baton Rouge--but the fourth outshone them all: Mary Baronowski of Sardis. Looking back from this vantage point 35 years later, I wonder how we chose so well.
Bill Garrett went to Hollywood and did lots of things before dying of a heart attack in his 50s. Tom Hearon married Bonnie and they became Southern Baptist missionaries to Brazil and then Italy. These days, they work for the International Mission Board in the personnel department, based out of Nashville. More about Gary Pearce in a moment.
Mary Baronowski married Steve Smith and they became the kind of church members every pastor would give his right arm for. They belong to Istrouma Baptist Church in Baton Rouge, where she teaches college students, gives piano lessons, and serves as prayer leader for the association. I've told Tom and Gary--but don't plan to tell Mary--that she is probably the finest Christian woman any of us will ever know. (We will now see if she reads this blog.)
Gary Pearce is married to Caty and they live in the Hammond-Independence area. Gary is the senior chaplain at the Dixon Correctional Institute in Jackson, Louisiana. He still has that infectious joy-in-the-Lord and the incredible attitude. Even when he went through a partial foot amputation from diabetes a couple of years ago, nothing slowed him down. He is so unbelievable.
And would you believe, Gary is a cartoonist. The newspaper in that part of the world--I've forgotten exactly which one--runs his drawings on a regular basis and soon they will be included in their on-line edition. He says he inherited it from his "dad." I will happily take all the credit.
I had a letter from Gary this week, which prompted me to tell you about him. The letter was sent to the people on his mailing list because, frankly, he needs our help in his prison ministry.
1) If you enjoy Bible study or will be teaching Romans anytime this year, we'd like to encourage you to stop by www.joemckeever.com and look at the three offerings inside the "Features" box: the cartoons on Romans, "10 Things to Know about Romans," and a chapter-by-chapter analysis called "Getting a Handle on Romans." You might find some help there.
Today, Wednesday, we put a few more cartoons in the mail to Marty who will be posting these with the Romans group. We plan to add some more in the next week or ten days, so stop by later to see if there's anything you can use.
Also, as I learn more about Romans from continuing to study it and from teaching it, I'll be coming back into these articles and tweaking them, adding insights, changing anything I've learned more about, and refining the English. (Not too much on that last point. Hey, I'm from off the farm in Alabama and you should expect only so much.)
So, where will I be teaching Romans? Here's the schedule. You're welcome to drop in for any that are near you.
Thursday, January 10 - We'll do a two-hour preview of Romans twice at our Baptist Center, 2222 Lakeshore Drive, New Orleans. In the morning from 9 to 11 am and that evening at 6:30 pm. This is primarily for pastors, but anyone is welcome. (My cell phone is 504/615-0149. Call if you need directions.)
January 14-16, Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday mornings from 10 to noon at Oak Park Baptist Church, 1110 Kabel Drive, in the Algiers section of New Orleans. Pastor Bobby Stults says this is primarily for the senior adults who don't like to get out at night, but you'll surely be welcome.
January 18-19, Friday night (6:30 to 9 pm) and Saturday (8 am to noon), also at Oak Park Baptist Church. This is for everyone else.
January 20, Sunday, through Wednesday night, January 23, at Rocky Creek Baptist Church, Lucedale, Mississippi. Contact that church for the exact schedule. Note: We'll not have a Tuesday night session; I'll be speaking at the annual associational men's banquet at the same church. Jimmy Holcomb is the Associational Director of Missions. He can give you directions or information: jimmy@ggbaptist.com.
2) We had gridlock in New Orleans today.
Two or three years ago, having heard that my Dad needed a new large-print Bible, I drove across town to the Lifeway Christian Store and purchased him one. Of course, it was the King James Version, the only kind he had ever known.
I wrote his name in the front and added this: "In appreciation for the Bible you bought me for Christmas, 1948."
In presenting it to him, I said, "Dad, I want you to do me a favor. Mark it up. When you read something you particularly like, underline it or write in the margin." That was a new thought to him.
Dad grew up in the generation that was taught not to mark in Bibles. That's why the Bible which belonged to his mother, my Grandma Bessie, who died in 1982, and which Bible I own, has very few notes in the margin. She was such a godly woman with excellent insights; I would have loved for her to have marked that Bible up.
On November 3, 2007, at the age of 95 years and 7 months, my dad went to Heaven. The next day, when I arrived, one of my sisters handed me the Bible. "Pop wanted you to have this back," she said.
There on the presentation page where I had lettered his name and written my appreciation, he had added, "At death, give back to Joe."
A word about his handwriting. For a man with only a 7th grade education, and a lifelong coal miner at that, Pop's writing style was impressive. He used to tell us how the schools in his childhood taught classical penmanship to the students. He would hold the pen in a certain way and move his hand around in circles. "We practiced these exercises until we learned to write well," he would say.
The other morning, two months after Dad's death, when I remarked to Mom about his notes in this Bible, she said, "Even at the last, he still had this beautiful handwriting."