JUST ANOTHER MIRACLE

By looking in the Bible, we can find all kinds of miracles ranging from healing, walking on the water to feeding more than 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Not bad. This man Jesus was pretty impressive until the Jews and the Romans teamed up to crucify him. They naturally didn't count on him coming out of the tomb alive.

Those Biblical miracles still form a great part of Christianity; however, there is nothing like a modern day miracle. There are several miracles to which I can point. If you knew Lindenwood University in the 1970's and 1980's and then saw it today, you would be forced to say, "That is a miracle!" Growing from a few hundred students to more than 15,000 is a modern day miracle.

I want to share a miracle with you from someone who walked into my life while I was in the United States Army. He was Chaplain (Lt Col) William Kirkpatrick. His son David, taught at William Jewell College in Liberty. MO. Chaplain Kirkpatrick was an enlisted man during WWII. He was captured by the Germans and sentenced to be executed. On the day he was scheduled to be shot, he was praying something like this: "Lord, get me out of this and I'll preach." A few moments later, an order came down canceling  the execution.

True to his word, Chaplain Kirkpatrick became a minister for the Lord, and sharing his personal testimony regarding miracles.

I am on the verge of a miracle. When the process comes to a conclusion, perhaps I will have the opportunity to share it with you. Meanwhile, I pray God's blessings come to you.

A Thought on Violence in America

I know I am old. I was born in a previous century, went to elementary and high school in a previous century and went to college in a previous century and received my degrees in a previous century. Most of my work life was in a previous century, so you might perceive that I am still in that century. In these, my later years, I have endeavored not to be caught up in the "way it used to be." I have seen that approach too many times to count. One, however, can't help to have questions about why the violence in America in the 21st century. We have always had various kinds of mental illness. Although we haven't treated it the same way, we have had it. We have always had good and not so good schools. We have always had good and poor parenting. We have always had single parenting. We have always had good and poor churches. What then is the problem? Could it be that people with mental illness is not the problem? Could it be that our schools are not teaching the "right stuff?" Could it be that some parenting is not doing the right thing and parents are not role models? Could it be that many of our churches are leaving out the most important part? I kinda think that if we go back to where violence really began in America, it started when we decided to make Jesus just another guy who has appeared on the world' stage. Our schools, in the name of political correctness, and following orders from the government feel His teaching are old fashioned and out of date. Many of our homes have said that Jesus is not relevant in today's society. We should be able to do most anything we want to do. There are far too many churches that talk about the "Mythology" of Christianity. I do believe in the freedom of religion. I just happen to believe that Jesus IS the Son of God. That means I now live under grace that is more than flavored by what Jesus said. If Jesus is truly the Son of God, why is that not important in the 21st century. If Jesus is the most important person to grace our planet, why is it politically incorrect to have a class about him in school. Could it be that violence in America is really caused by neglect of the perfection of Jesus? Could it be that violence is caused by the products of today's schools, parents and churches? Maybe we should rethink our problems, trace their origin, and find out that what we are doing in many places is absolutely the wrong thing.

Some Things to Help America

It really isn't very hard to find just a few things that if implemented, would make the United States and even greater country. As I look at the greed, the failing political system, a government that cannot be trusted, a public school system that is in danger of collapse, the thought arises that asks the question, can these things be fixed?

By addressing these issues one by one, we can better visualize our problems. First, the greed that has shaken America is found in financial institutions, insurance companies, banks,etc is so widespread, the cause cannot be laid at the feet of just one person. I believe it is learned in our institutions of "higher learning." Are not most of those employed by these institutions graduates of some college?

Second, the failing political system in America is observed on our television sets every day. Republican and Democrats blaming each other for problems when both are equally responsible. Each party would have you believe that they are always right and the other always wrong. Where did they get their ideas? Many politicians are lawyers. The question then arises, where did they get their training? The answer: Institutions of "higher learning."

The government of the United States, whether run by Democrats of Republicans, is failing its citizens. Entitlements tacked on to a major bill just to buy a vote. Lobbyists providing individual members of our government with thousands of dollars if they will vote a certain way. Are not the majority of our presidents, senators, and house members graduates of institutions of "higher learning?"

What can we say about our public schools? Are they failing our country or what. Millions of dollars are spent each year on our schools and yet they are getting worse, rather than better. There are many reasons for this that I do not have space to address, but let me just ask a simple question. Are not all administrators and teachers graduates of institutions of "higher learning?"

Get the drift? Fixing our institutions of higher learning will go a long way in fixing the problems of America. Next time, we will offer a solution to fix colleges and universities.

What America Really Needs

It has been a long time since I have written a blog; however, the time has come for me to begin blogging, especially in view of what is happening in the United States today. I grew up a Democrat, mainly because my father was a Democrat. He made that decision because everyone in his family was a Republican and he enjoyed arguing with his mother and his siblings. After the presidency of Jimmy Carter, I have leaned toward the Republicans because basically I am a conservative, especially in my religious beliefs.

Today, I am sick of both Democrats and Republicans. I see no signs of leadership, only endeavors to increase the power and wealth
of political leaders. I am tired of phone calls soliciting money for groups allegedly trying to gain power or stay in power. There is rarely a thought and creating real leadership, because of what apparently is believed about leadership.

Many years ago, Robert Greenleaf wrote a book of Servant-Leadership. This idea, of course, had its beginning during the time of the greatest leader of all, Jesus. In Greenleaf's book he refers to Hermann Hesse's "Journey to the East," where we see a band of men on a mythical journey. The central figure of the story is Leo, who accompanies the party as the servant who does their menial chores, but who also sustains them with his spirit and his song. He is a person of extraordinary presence. All goes well until Leo disappears. The journey is then abandoned. They cannot make it without the servant, Leo. One of the party, after much wandering, is taken into the Order that had sponsored the journey and there discovers that Leo, who had been the servant, was in reality the titular head of the Order. Leo was the Order's guiding spirit, a great and noble leader.

What America really needs is Servant-Leadership. Notice that serving come before leading. I don't want political leaders, I want serving leaders who really care for our country. How about organizing, not a political party, but an organization that directs the United States of America by serving and leading! In time, would we not find our way out of the current mess? I believe we would.

The Great Leader

Jesus is, of course, the greatest leader ever! I have endeavored to lead in the Christian way all of my adult life. God has been gracious in placing me in places where I could lead and I am grateful for that.

Today, I must confess that since the death of my son Frederick (Rick as I knew him), life has taken a dramatic downturn for me. There is a huge hole in my life that seems impossible to overcome. I believe I will have this hole for the rest of my life. Rick has been incredibly important to me all during his life and continues to be important to this day.

My daughters, Jamie and Holly have been very special during this time. They both think of Rick and the thoughts bring tears to their eyes with each thought. Both daughters have taken special time to be near to me and see that I am doing o.k. They are so good at doing that. Our entire extended family has gathered around us, including all those who have come to Write About Jesus. I cannot begin to thank all these folks for their expressions of love. Thank you, anyway.

John Ortberg, pastor of the Menlo Park Presbyterian Church in Menlo Park, CA has written a book entitled "Get Out of the Boat." I am presently reading this book that, so far, is speaking to me. From this point on (November 11,2010), I am going to get out of the boat that has been overwhelming me and binding me to earth. I want to be what God wants me to be and if He has something in these last years of my life, I want to accomplish His task.

This is not going to be easy for me, so I am asking for prayer support from all my family and friends.

Jesus is the GREAT LEADER and I am privileged to follow Him.

AFTER THOUGHTS AND CONTINUED EMOTIONS

Through the years, I have conducted many funerals, provided sympathy to folks who needed it, given encouragement to keeping on when life screamed to "Give Up." Up to now, I thought I was pretty good at it.

Many years ago, a young couple regularly attended the church of which I was a pastor. Along with her folks, they owned a resort on the Lake of the Ozarks. In the realm of important things in their life, number 1 was their marriage and their children. Number 2 was probably their extended family. Number 3 was their business. My guess was the the Lord ranked somewhere in the top 10. I really did like them. They were good folks.

One day, the Dry Cleaning and Laundry folks came by to deliver some clean clothes and the driver of the vehicle asked me if I had heard about Jerry_________'s death. Jerry was a young man in his late 20's. There was a gas leak on the pump at the boat dock at his resort. Jerry got in the water, put a pipe wrench on the pipe that was leaking and was immediately electrocuted by a short in the pipe. I will always remember his wife saying, "I don't ask for him back, I just want the Lord to take me too!" A big hole was felt by Liz as Jerry was taken from her. He just wasn't going to be seen again in this life. I tried to minister to this very nice lady, and perhaps I did, but there was no way for me to feel her pain that day. Today, I know what she was feeling.

We read about tragedies that take place on the streets, in homes, during recreation, traveling and murders and we say, "That's too bad, and it really is; however, when the tragedy walks in our front door and the victim is someone in our family, those words are hallow and almost meaningless. Today, I know what a particular family that has experience one of those tragedies feels.

I see the looks of unbelief in the faces of Cindy, Sue, Jamie and Holly and it makes me want to cry. I feel the hurt that Kendall and Guy feel by the loss of their special brother-in-law. Today, I know that feeling.

To all of you who have expressed sorrow, caring, prayer support, I cannot begin to express my thanks to each of you. Whether you have experienced such a loss or not, your caring is helping all of us move on with our lives. We have a wonderful Savior in Jesus Christ. He is real and cares for each of us. Today, I know that feeling more than ever.

RICK, A MODEL SERVANT LEADER

Of course, all of us who are of the Christian faith understand, Jesus was the real model servant. He did it flawlessly. Here on this earth, it is sometimes very difficult to cross paths with leaders who serve first. I am now going to brag! My son, John Frederick Smith II, was such a person. As a little boy, he was always called Ricky, the Rick part taken from his middle name. Throughout his elementary years at school and on the basketball court or baseball field, he was Ricky. Singing with his family's singing group, One Accord, he was also Ricky during those formative years. In high school, he dropped the "y" off of Ricky and was Rick Smith. By this time, he was becoming what he would ultimately be as a man, and that is being very concerned about people who didn't have much or were not popular in school. There was one girl at St. Charles High who was not pretty and definitely not in the mainstream of being one to whom others would gravitate. Not Rick, he always had time to make her feel like she was the most important person in the world.

Not long ago, Rick backed into a parked car in the parking lot near his office. Going inside to find the owner of the car, he discovered it belonged to a lady who had been domestically abused. As a matter of fact, she did not have a left eye. Rick took care of her car and made it possible for an eye to be implanted in her face. Wherever we would go, Rick would always find people of "less stature" and say "Hi" to them and engage them in conversation. One evening at a grocery store, we were there to buy a few items and he bought a coke. I wondered what that was for, but as we were leaving the store, he handed it to the security guard and said "I thought you might be thirsty." That kind of thing happened all the time.

Rick passed away earlier this summer. He was 42. Oh how much our family misses him. How his wife and little daughter miss him. Rick was a board member of the Kessler Park United Methodist Church School Board. His friends liked to sit by him at the meetings because he was a fun person who was the master of the one liner. Often, he would sing at gatherings and captivate his audience with his voice and his sense of humor.

Rick was not in this world to be served, but to serve. He had a dynamic personality and would always light up a room. At his funeral, the church was packed with standing room only. The testimonies from people whose life he helped to be better was overwhelming. I had no idea of his influence in Dallas.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch and the Dallas Morning News had 142 comments in his guest book that accompanied his obituary.
I have had over $7800 given to the A.S.K. Kindergarten College Scholarship fund in his name. What a testimony of great serving leadership. I love you Rick, wish you were still with us. Christmas at the Smith household will be a little dimmer this year, but heaven will be a great deal brighter. Sue, Jamie, Holly and I are sad in one way, but happy for you that you are with Jesus. That is always a good thing.