Sue Herweck Smith has always been a winner. God blessed her by sending her to Hal and LaVerne Herweck so she could have outstanding Christians as parents. Always a good student, Sue was highly successful in high school, Oklahoma Baptist College, finally graduating from Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis.
A long-time friend of mine called me and said he had word of an alleged "88." and she was expecting me to call. An "88" was code for Tom and me indicating a girl was a fox. I was not too hot on blind dates, but decided to call and ask her out. I planned to take her to a fine restaurant for dinner, if she was indeed an "88." We went to a restaurant in St. Charles that at that time was a special place. This was the beginning of a special relationship, not only for Sue and me, but also for her daughters, Jamie and Holly, and my son, Rick. We blended our families into one and agreed that no one would ever be called "step-anything." Sue was immediately mom for Rick and I was dad for Jamie and Holly. Rick, Jamie and Holly remain brother and sisters today, enjoying a close relationship with each other.
Prior to our marriage, Sue and the girls had joined One Accord and had become an integral part of the group. Sue not only sang with the group, she also sang some solos and played the bass guitar. Jamie and Holly joined Rick, singing as the "One Accord Kids." Sue had already begun writing and we were singing some of her songs. We still have people call us for the song that was her testimony, "I Came to Love You Early." Recognizing Sue's talent for writing was not difficult and as we began to get exposure as a singing group, individuals in Nashville saw what the members of One Accord knew.
Tonight, she won her second and third Dove Award for writing a Christian musical and a children's musical. With the success she has experienced, one might think she would believe she had arrived as a writer. NOT SO!!! Sue continues to study, pray, read her Bible, and grow as a writer. Not only is she a great writer, she is also a great wife and mother. What can we say about her accomplishments as a writer? CONGRATULATIONS Sue, you deserve a lot of credit. Jamie, Rick, Holly, and I love you and we thank Jesus for all He has done for us.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
MORE THOUGHTS ON EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP
There is a new leader at a place where I used to work. It is so sad to see the direction he is taking the organization. Morale among the employees is extremely low, and if he looked around to his back, he couldn't find anyone following. It is not because he is a bad person, he is simply using poor skills in leadership.
I am enjoying the book Sue gave me entitled "The Leadership Skills of Billy Graham." It is so interesting to see him at work in a way one would never see him in a crusade. Dr. Graham has been included in "Good Housekeeping's" most-admired list for decades. It appears that every person on that list is a positive person. When we think of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and my friend Dr. Arthur L. Mallory, we think of positive persons. It is interesting to discover that Dr. Graham's family nicknamed him "Puddleglum." Puddleglum is a character in C.S. Lewis's book series, the Chronicles of Narnia. Puddleglum is a brave but glum creature, always expecting the worst. Graham's family used this name for him with humor and affection.
Dr. Mallory told a group of Christians that he learned long ago that if he went into his job as president of a university or commissioner of education in a bad mood that some employee would have to go home with a bad headache or and upset stomach. Mallory, IKE, and JFK used engaging smiles to make people feel better and let them know that they were worthwhile employees and that went a long way in their success as leaders.
One of my teachers in high school wrote in my yearbook: "Keep that big smile, it's an invaluable asset." In leadership, it is an asset.
I am enjoying the book Sue gave me entitled "The Leadership Skills of Billy Graham." It is so interesting to see him at work in a way one would never see him in a crusade. Dr. Graham has been included in "Good Housekeeping's" most-admired list for decades. It appears that every person on that list is a positive person. When we think of Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and my friend Dr. Arthur L. Mallory, we think of positive persons. It is interesting to discover that Dr. Graham's family nicknamed him "Puddleglum." Puddleglum is a character in C.S. Lewis's book series, the Chronicles of Narnia. Puddleglum is a brave but glum creature, always expecting the worst. Graham's family used this name for him with humor and affection.
Dr. Mallory told a group of Christians that he learned long ago that if he went into his job as president of a university or commissioner of education in a bad mood that some employee would have to go home with a bad headache or and upset stomach. Mallory, IKE, and JFK used engaging smiles to make people feel better and let them know that they were worthwhile employees and that went a long way in their success as leaders.
One of my teachers in high school wrote in my yearbook: "Keep that big smile, it's an invaluable asset." In leadership, it is an asset.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Real Leadership is Hard to Find
A number of years ago, a young man who took over the presidency of Missouri's second largest university at age 31, was confronted by his dad with this proposal: 'Why don't you take a cut in pay, mow your own lawn, and prepare your own meals and provide some leadership in education?" Dr. Arthur L. Mallory left Missouri State University and became the best commissioner of education Missouri has ever had. Following his tenure as commissioner, Arthur became president of the Missouri Baptist Convention where he again provided great leadership.
Dr. Mallory is a servant leader and a dedicated Christian. His entire family serves our Lord in various capacities and it was a privilege for me as Chairman of the Missouri Higher Education Authority (MOHELA) to give him a plaque indicating our appreciation for his leadership to Missouri students and families.
Sue recently gave me a book entitled "The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham." I have not completed reading this accounting of Dr. Graham's leadership, but what I have read suggests that he was not much of a speaker or leader until he gave himself totally to Christ. Could this be the key to great leadership? When you study leadership, very little credit is given to Jesus as a leader; however, even if you take the fact that He was the Son of God out of the equation, the fact remains that more that 2000 years after he lived, more that 75% of American adults claim belief in His deity and more that 2 billion folks worldwide claim that same belief.
Rick Warren is pastor of a church that has 70,000 believers. When you look at the ministries of Dr. Warren and Dr. Graham, you must conclude that these folks have some special abilities in the way of leadership. President Woodrow Wilson said: "Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of leadership." Jim Collins, who authored "Good to Great," said this: "We were surprised, shocked really to discover that real leadership requires a paradoxical blend of humility and 'ferocious resolve.'"
The world tries to keep the leadership of ministers, preachers, and popes in the church. Sadly, we as believers often do the same. But when you think about it, the greatest leaders in our world are believers. You and I might be one of those hard to find leaders if we would do what Billy Graham did a long time ago - give ourselves totally to God.
Dr. Mallory is a servant leader and a dedicated Christian. His entire family serves our Lord in various capacities and it was a privilege for me as Chairman of the Missouri Higher Education Authority (MOHELA) to give him a plaque indicating our appreciation for his leadership to Missouri students and families.
Sue recently gave me a book entitled "The Leadership Secrets of Billy Graham." I have not completed reading this accounting of Dr. Graham's leadership, but what I have read suggests that he was not much of a speaker or leader until he gave himself totally to Christ. Could this be the key to great leadership? When you study leadership, very little credit is given to Jesus as a leader; however, even if you take the fact that He was the Son of God out of the equation, the fact remains that more that 2000 years after he lived, more that 75% of American adults claim belief in His deity and more that 2 billion folks worldwide claim that same belief.
Rick Warren is pastor of a church that has 70,000 believers. When you look at the ministries of Dr. Warren and Dr. Graham, you must conclude that these folks have some special abilities in the way of leadership. President Woodrow Wilson said: "Absolute identity with one's cause is the first and great condition of leadership." Jim Collins, who authored "Good to Great," said this: "We were surprised, shocked really to discover that real leadership requires a paradoxical blend of humility and 'ferocious resolve.'"
The world tries to keep the leadership of ministers, preachers, and popes in the church. Sadly, we as believers often do the same. But when you think about it, the greatest leaders in our world are believers. You and I might be one of those hard to find leaders if we would do what Billy Graham did a long time ago - give ourselves totally to God.
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