“Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of yours, which is so great?” (2 Chronicles 1:10)
Solomon must have felt so helpless by the calling God had set for him. It is normal for each of us to feel helpless about our leadership at times. As we contemplate the calling to nurture and advance our faith within our own spheres of leadership, most of our prayers should be asking to develop our leadership skills. We shall need much wisdom and knowledge from the Lord if we are to be successful in our leadership efforts.
But we should also note that Solomon’s desire for knowledge and wisdom was entirely selfless. He sought neither fame nor wealth by becoming knowledgeable and wise; rather, he sought the ability to judge the people of Israel well and according to the Law and promises of God. Solomon understood that knowledge is not an end in itself, nor is wisdom. Rather, these gifts of God, these essential components for being a leader, are to be received from God for the purpose of serving others.
I hope you will pray for me, that I gain wisdom and knowledge from God so that I can be the Servant Leader to each of you that God wants me to be. And I will pray for you that same prayer, and also pray that our work together makes God smile!
July 18, 2008
July 12, 2008
General Ramblings
· I know some people thought that the media made too much out of the death of Tim Russert, but I didn’t. I read his books a few years ago and loved them. I always enjoyed what he had to say. I also find it very impressive how his peers spoke of him. I bet we all wish we could be so revered.
· This election is headed in a direction where neither party specifically likes their candidate. I wonder who is 4 years away from being the President? Whoever gets elected might just be very vulnerable in 4 years. I bet Hillary hopes so!
· I am becoming increasingly bothered by bad things happening to really good people. How many more times will I ask why before I get an answer?
· I have an herb garden and I don’t care what you do, it is almost impossible to kill rosemary!
· I saw a double rainbow the other day while driving. I wish my Blackberry was a camera. It probably has the ability to take pictures but I need my 14 year old daughter to show me how.
· I have been almost to the point of sheer disgust over the pregnancy pact from the teenagers in Massachusetts. It is making me debate my own philosophy on birth control, sex education, and how we should or shouldn’t punish parents for the acts of their children. Parents….please TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN!!!!
· I love where I work. I have heard staff use the word servant leader more in the last 3 months than I have ever heard in 25 years in the Y.
· On my beach trip, I usually fill up to go to the beach and then fill up again to return. A full tank is 20 gallons. So an extra dollar a gallon from last year will not slow down my summer beach travel. $40 is a small price to pay for a week with my family.
· Did you know that Charles Darwin and Abe Lincoln were born on the same day?
· My son Brooks thinks it’s hilarious that the drug Aciphex may cause constipation. I am just thankful he is not asking me about why I should call a doctor after a 4 hour erection!
· I think I am the only person that doesn’t like the TV show The Office. I am not a big Steve Carrell fan and I know I wouldn’t like Get Smart. Now Anne Hathaway is way cool!
· I did watch the 5th set of the Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon match. What a display!
· I love the summer at the Y!
· Did I hear right? At the Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest they dipped the hot dogs in a mixture of oil and water to help them slide down? They call that the slider. I bet it slides out the other end too!
· This election is headed in a direction where neither party specifically likes their candidate. I wonder who is 4 years away from being the President? Whoever gets elected might just be very vulnerable in 4 years. I bet Hillary hopes so!
· I am becoming increasingly bothered by bad things happening to really good people. How many more times will I ask why before I get an answer?
· I have an herb garden and I don’t care what you do, it is almost impossible to kill rosemary!
· I saw a double rainbow the other day while driving. I wish my Blackberry was a camera. It probably has the ability to take pictures but I need my 14 year old daughter to show me how.
· I have been almost to the point of sheer disgust over the pregnancy pact from the teenagers in Massachusetts. It is making me debate my own philosophy on birth control, sex education, and how we should or shouldn’t punish parents for the acts of their children. Parents….please TALK TO YOUR CHILDREN!!!!
· I love where I work. I have heard staff use the word servant leader more in the last 3 months than I have ever heard in 25 years in the Y.
· On my beach trip, I usually fill up to go to the beach and then fill up again to return. A full tank is 20 gallons. So an extra dollar a gallon from last year will not slow down my summer beach travel. $40 is a small price to pay for a week with my family.
· Did you know that Charles Darwin and Abe Lincoln were born on the same day?
· My son Brooks thinks it’s hilarious that the drug Aciphex may cause constipation. I am just thankful he is not asking me about why I should call a doctor after a 4 hour erection!
· I think I am the only person that doesn’t like the TV show The Office. I am not a big Steve Carrell fan and I know I wouldn’t like Get Smart. Now Anne Hathaway is way cool!
· I did watch the 5th set of the Federer vs Nadal Wimbledon match. What a display!
· I love the summer at the Y!
· Did I hear right? At the Nathan’s Hot Dog Contest they dipped the hot dogs in a mixture of oil and water to help them slide down? They call that the slider. I bet it slides out the other end too!
July 6, 2008
Obviously Stolen From Letterman
Top Ten Signs Your Kid Is Having A Bad Time At Summer Camp
10. Daily art brought home signed "Prisoner #325"
9. Sounds disappointed when he mentions not being able to use his “epi pen.”
8. He's asking you to sprinkle extra Prozac on his yogurt
7. When you visit, proudly shows off his black eye
6. Camp director phones and says, "We're concerned about Psycho, I mean your son"
5. "Craft time" is 14 hours of cleaning the grout in the locker rooms
4. His name: "Jimmy"; his nickname: "What’s his name?"
3. Practices his new second language at dinner which is a string of four letter expletives
2. You ask to see picture of his friends -- he shows you a photo of a stick
1. His favorite counselor is the crazy homeless man on the soccer fields
10. Daily art brought home signed "Prisoner #325"
9. Sounds disappointed when he mentions not being able to use his “epi pen.”
8. He's asking you to sprinkle extra Prozac on his yogurt
7. When you visit, proudly shows off his black eye
6. Camp director phones and says, "We're concerned about Psycho, I mean your son"
5. "Craft time" is 14 hours of cleaning the grout in the locker rooms
4. His name: "Jimmy"; his nickname: "What’s his name?"
3. Practices his new second language at dinner which is a string of four letter expletives
2. You ask to see picture of his friends -- he shows you a photo of a stick
1. His favorite counselor is the crazy homeless man on the soccer fields
June 16, 2008
Brooks Piercy a Servant Leader
Our community lost a great leader last week with the passing of Brooks Piercy. At 93 years old, Brooks was revered by his friends, neighbors and his former students. Yes, former students. In the last few years of his life he was looked after by people who he had taught 30, 40 or 50 years ago. Isn’t that remarkable? Just a few minutes with the man, and it became obvious of his greatness. He was a servant leader.
A name would come up in our conversation and he would tell me what kind of cow this individual had in the agricultural class in 1958. At 93 he could recall with pride the facts and life changes of uncountable people who he had taught. I would sit and listen amazed. He was a teacher that served his students.
For a few years Brooks would visit his beloved wife Vernie at Cleveland Pines. Every day he would visit and help her with her hair and make-up. He was a husband that served his wife.
Even his friends spoke of him with great pride. One friend shared a story about his first day as a teacher, and being mentored by Brooks. Brooks was taking him around to meet the faculty and two teachers came up and just gushed over the new young teacher. “Be careful boy, sometimes when a Lion shows his teeth, he ain’t smiling,” Piercy joked.
One afternoon he and I rode across his property in his Clemson orange jeep and I told him that I wanted to buy it. In his deep voice he laughed that I should get in line. He told me that very few weeks would go buy that he didn’t get an offer to buy that car!
The greatness of Cleveland County is definitely the by-product of legendary people like Brooks Piercy. I worry that as his generation passes, we are not passing on the character and values for which he lived his life. I hope the memory and message of Brooks Piercy, to live a life of Servant Hood, can take a strangle hold of our lives. Brooks would ask us to “Love God with all you heart, soul and mind. And to love your neighbor as yourself.” Go Tigers!
A name would come up in our conversation and he would tell me what kind of cow this individual had in the agricultural class in 1958. At 93 he could recall with pride the facts and life changes of uncountable people who he had taught. I would sit and listen amazed. He was a teacher that served his students.
For a few years Brooks would visit his beloved wife Vernie at Cleveland Pines. Every day he would visit and help her with her hair and make-up. He was a husband that served his wife.
Even his friends spoke of him with great pride. One friend shared a story about his first day as a teacher, and being mentored by Brooks. Brooks was taking him around to meet the faculty and two teachers came up and just gushed over the new young teacher. “Be careful boy, sometimes when a Lion shows his teeth, he ain’t smiling,” Piercy joked.
One afternoon he and I rode across his property in his Clemson orange jeep and I told him that I wanted to buy it. In his deep voice he laughed that I should get in line. He told me that very few weeks would go buy that he didn’t get an offer to buy that car!
The greatness of Cleveland County is definitely the by-product of legendary people like Brooks Piercy. I worry that as his generation passes, we are not passing on the character and values for which he lived his life. I hope the memory and message of Brooks Piercy, to live a life of Servant Hood, can take a strangle hold of our lives. Brooks would ask us to “Love God with all you heart, soul and mind. And to love your neighbor as yourself.” Go Tigers!
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