The Miracle of Forgiving Others

“Obsessing on grudges keeps them alive; forgiveness forces them to die. Moving on gets you back to business.” –Jon Huntsman, Sr., Billionaire and Philanthropist

One of my mentors shared the following story about a group of teenagers who went for a picnic in the desert outside of Phoenix. While they were playing, a rattlesnake bit one of the girls on the ankle. The girl and her friends pursued the snake and after about 20 minutes were able to find the snake and kill it. Once the snake was destroyed, they headed to the emergency room. A couple days later her foot and leg had swollen almost beyond recognition. The tissues in her limb had been destroyed by the poison, and a few days later it was found her leg would have to be amputated below the knee. It was a senseless sacrifice, the price of revenge. How much better it would have been if after the young women had been bitten, there had been an extraction of the venom. (H. Burke Peterson, “Removing the Poison of an Unforgiving Spirit,” Ensign, Nov. 1983, p. 59)

It is difficult for us to forgive those who have injured us. Dwelling on the evil done to us becomes an erosive and destructive poison. Nelson Mandela wrote, “Resentment is like drinking poison and then hoping it will kill your enemies.” Holding a grudge has the power to pull us to the depths of hell while forgiveness exalts us to the heights of heaven. The Lord directs us to forgive those who injure us but that does not mean that feelings of resentment, anger, and injustice are ignored or eliminated. We must learn to respond to the feelings of resentment, anger, and injustice with forgiveness, and guard against the natural tendency to respond with the sins of bitterness, hate, and revenge.

In reference to the sermon “Upon Resentment” given in 1726 by the English Bishop Joseph Butler, Jeffrie Murphy writes, “In that sermon, Butler started to make a case for the legitimacy of resentment and other vindictive passions—arguing that a just and loving God would not have universally implanted these passions within his creatures unless the passions served some valuable purpose. The danger of resentment, Butler argued, lies not in having it, but rather in being dominated and consumed by it to such a degree that one can never overcome it and acts irresponsibly on the basis of it. As the initial response to being wrong, however, the passion stands in defense of important values—values that might be compromised by immediate and uncritical forgiveness of wrongs.” (Jeffrie G. Murphy, Getting Even: Forgiveness and Its Limits, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2003) p. 18–19)

Although we forgive our neighbors of their wrongs against us we still work to prevent the injury from being repeated. People who are abused should forgive their abuser, but also work to hold the abuser accountable for their actions and prevent further abuse. A person who was the victim of a dishonest businessperson should not seek revenge or hate the offender but could take action to remedy the wrong. We must fight against sin but not allow bitterness, hatred, and revenge to control our thoughts and actions. As the apostle Paul taught, “Be ye angry, and sin not.” (Ephesians 4:26, King James Version)

From Bitterness to Love
The abuse of children, whether sexual, physical, or emotional, is one of the most serious problems society faces. The emotional, spiritual, mental, and physical damage of abuse is very real. I know this first-hand because when I was a little boy, I was sexually abused over many years by a close relative. I pray that no child will ever have to experience the hell I have gone through as a boy and as an adult as I have overcome and conquered the harmful effects of abuse. Initially, my reaction to the abuse were feelings of anger, hatred, bitterness, and vindictiveness. I prayed for help in dealing with these emotions and felt directed to forgive and let go. As I forgave my offender, the Spirit filled my heart and soul. The feelings I had of hate and revenge were replaced by feelings of love and concern. It is hard to describe the emotions that resulted from forgiving. Initially, I felt there was no way I could love someone who was guilty of such horrendous crimes against me, but through the power of Christ and forgiveness it was made possible. That is one of the miracles of forgiveness—it not only removes hate, bitterness, and vindictiveness, but it also replaces it with love, peace, and concern.

In January 2001, I was talking to my mom on the phone, and we began talking about the abuse of my childhood. My mom asked, “Have you forgiven him?” I said, “Yes, I have. I forgave him years ago.” Tears came to my eyes and pain filled my heart as my mom described the pain and struggles she experienced as a result of her son being abused by someone she trusted—someone she loved. My mom then said, “I can’t forgive him.” Although she is one of the kindest, most caring Christians in the world, she could not forgive him for hurting her son.

In the fall 2005, I got a call from my mom to tell me she had forgiven the relative responsible for the abuse. She related the experience to me over the phone, and I asked that she write it down and send it to me. Below is my wonderful mother’s experience with forgiveness:

I had known for a long time that I needed to forgive Henry [name has been changed] for sexually abusing my son. I kept postponing it because I felt that if I forgave him, then I would be condoning it somehow. One morning I felt prompted that I needed to go through the process of forgiving him and letting go of all the hurt and anger.

I felt prompted to go the cemetery where he was buried and prayed for the help of the Lord to take away this burden that I had carried with me for so many years. I began to share my feelings and told the Lord that I was really ready to let it all go. I knew that holding onto it was keeping me from progressing spiritually.

I went to the cemetery where Henry was buried. After spending some time at Henry’s grave site, I felt prompted to go and run around the track at the high school. I thought that was strange because I am definitely not a runner. I usually walk for exercise but cannot run very far. As I was thinking about this, the story of the leper Naaman who went to Elisha to be healed came to my mind. Elisha told Naaman, “Go and wash in the Jordan seven times, and your flesh shall be restored to you, and you shall be clean.” (II Kings 5:10, New King James Version) But Naaman rejected the counsel for he expected a mighty miracle. “Naaman became furious . . . and went away in a rage.” (II Kings 5:11-12, New King James Version) Naaman’s servant then spoke to him saying, “If the prophet had told you to do something great, would you not have done it? How much more then, when he says to you, ‘Wash, and be clean’?” (II Kings 5:13, New King James Version) Naaman then went and washed seven times in the Jordon and was healed.

I figured I better follow the prompting, so I went to the track and thought maybe I could run around one time. As I began to run and my heart began to beat faster, I felt a burden being lifted off of me. My heart felt good, and I knew that the Lord was blessing me with the ability to forgive. I then felt a great remorse for being unforgiving for so long. I asked the Lord for forgiveness for not acting upon this sooner. I felt a peace come over me that was so wonderful and I actually felt changed physically and spiritually. I walked around the track another lap and said a prayer of gratitude to Heavenly Father for His great love for me and expressed appreciation for the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ, which heals what we cannot heal on our own. Just as Naaman’s leprosy was healed by washing in the Jordon, my hurt and anger were healed by forgiving.

Conclusion

Blame and grudges keep wounds open and allow the wrongs of others to control our lives. Forgiveness is not easy, but it is the balm that heals our wounds and frees us to choose our destiny.

Lessons from the Life of Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart

Joke of the Week - “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.” -Proverbs 17:22
As the Rabbi finished the day’s lesson at the Hebrew School, a boy raised his hand and then asked, “Rabbi, there is something I need to know.” “What’s that my child?” answered the Rabbi. “Well according to the Scriptures, the Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea, and the Children of Israel fought the Philistines, and the Children of Israel built the Temple, and the Children of Israel were always doing something important, right?” “All that is correct,” agreed the Rabbi. “So what's your question?” “What I need to know is this,” demanded the boy, “What were all the adults doing?”

Quote of the Week - "He that walketh with wise men shall be wise." -Proverbs 13:20
“I [Jesus Christ] am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” –John 10:10, King James Version

Lessons from the Life of Sam Walton, Founder of Wal-Mart

The following are quotes from Sam Walton taken from his autobiography, Sam Walton: Made in American

Abundance
“The more you share profits with your associates—whether it’s in salaries or incentives or bonuses or stock discounts—the more profit will accrue to the company.”

“We have always paid our executives less than industry standards, sometimes too much less. But we’ve always rewarded them with stock bonuses and other incentives related directly to the performance of the company. It’s no coincidence that the company has done really well, and so have they.”

Becoming Debt Free
“From the time I took out my first bank loan—the $1,800 to buy that ice cream machine for the Ben Franklin [store] . . . I was never really comfortable with debt. . . By 1970, we had . . . thirty-two different stores . . . Helen and I were also in debt up to our eyeballs—several million dollars’ worth . . . but I wanted out of that debt in the worst way.” Sam Walton decided to take the company public to pay off debts. He wrote of the day of selling his first public offering of stock saying, “I experienced one of the greatest feelings of my life, knowing that all our debts were paid off. The Walton family only owned 61 percent of Wal-Mart after that day, but we were able to pay off all those bankers, and from that day on we haven’t borrowed one dime personally to support Wal-Mart. The company had rolled along on its own and financed itself.”

Continually Improving
I have always [been] somebody who wants to make things work well, then better, then the best they possibly can. . . I was never in anything for the short haul; I always wanted to build as fine a retailing organization as I could.”

Entrepreneurship
“Like most other overnight successes, it was about twenty years in the making.”

“After we got the first three stores up and running, I knew it would work.”

Faith
“I have always gone to church and Sunday school every Sunday; it [is] an important part of my life. . . I was a Sunday school teacher for a while too.”

Frugal/Invest
“We accumulated funds in Enterprises rather than throwing it all over the place to live high.”

Hard Work
“[As a boy], I’d get up early in the morning and milk the cows . . . and I’d deliver it after football practice in the afternoons. . . I also started selling magazine subscriptions, probably as young as seven or eight years old, and I had paper routes from the seventh grade all the way through college. I raised and sold rabbits and pigeons too . . . I learned from a very early age that it was important for us kids to help provide for the home, to be contributors rather than just takers. In the process, of course, we learned how much hard work it took to get your hands on a dollar, and that when you did it was worth something.”

Hiring
Sam Walton was able to hire people who had the characteristics needed to build and manage the growing company. He would ask potential new hires if they and their families went to church. He also evaluated their personal finances saying, “If a fellow could manage his own finances, he would be more successful managing one of our stores.” He sought to hire those who had developed work ethic in their youth saying, “I’ve always preferred to hire people who had to . . . work their way through school.”

“My role has been to pick good people and give them the maximum authority and responsibility.”

Humility
“Exercising your ego in public is definitely not the way to build an effective organization. On person seeking glory doesn’t accomplish much.”

Lower Margin, Higher Volume
“I bought an item for 80 cents. I found that by pricing it at $1.00 I could sell three times more of it than by pricing it at $1.20. I might make only half the profit per item, but because I was selling three times as many, the overall profit was much greater. Simple enough. But this is really the essence of discounting.”

Mission
“I have concentrated all along on building the finest retailing company that we possibly could. Period. Creating a huge personal fortune was never particularly a goal of mine. . . We are committed to using our personal resources for as much benefit as possible—in the areas we feel need the most help, employing the methods we think hold the most promise. . . Those companies out there who aren’t thinking about the customer and focusing on the customers’ interest are just going to get lost . . . Those who get greedy are going to be left in the dust. [We] must adopt a philosophy of servant leadership.

Perspective on Money
“Money never has meant that much to me, not even in the sense of keeping score. If we had groceries, and a nice place to live, plenty of room to keep and feed my bird dogs, a place to hunt, a place to play tennis, and the means to get the kids a good education—that’s rich. . . We don’t need to buy a yacht. And thank goodness we never thought we had to go out and buy anything like an island. . . We just don’t have those kinds of needs or ambitions, which wreck a lot of companies when they get along in years. . . I just don’t believe a big showy lifestyle is appropriate. . . I have done everything I can to discourage our folks from getting too extravagant with their homes and their automobiles and their lifestyles. . . folks who just can’t hold back will go ahead and leave the company. . . It goes back to what I said about learning to value a dollar as a kid. I don’t think that big mansions and flashy cars are what the Wal-Mart culture is suppose to be about.”

Persistence
Before Sam Walton founded Wal-Mart, he lost his first store, a Ben Franklin variety store, after 5 years of hard work his landlord took his business as a result of clauses in the rental agreement. Sam Walton wrote of the experience, “It was the low point of my business life. I felt sick to my stomach. I couldn’t believe it was happening to me. It really was a nightmare. I had built the best variety store in the whole region and worked hard in the community—done everything right—and now I was being kicked out of town. It didn’t seem fair. . . I’ve always thought of problems as challenges, and this one wasn’t any different. . . The challenge at hand was simple enough to figure out: I had to pick myself up and get on with it, do it all over again, only even better this time. . . I had a chance for a brand-new start, and this time I knew what I was doing.”

Risk
“Nobody wanted to gamble on the first Wal-Mart. I had to put up 95 percent of the dollars. . . We pledged houses and property, everything we had.”

Sharing Information
“Sharing information and responsibility is a key to any partnership. In our individual stores, we show them their store profits, their store’s purchases, their store’s sales, and their store’s markdowns. . . and I’m not talking about just the managers . . . We share that information with every associate, every hourly, every part-time employee in the store. . . Communicate everything you possibly can to your partners. The more they know, the more they’ll understand. The more they understand, the more they’ll care. Once they care, there’s no stopping them. If you don’t trust your associates to know what’s going on, they’ll know you don’t really consider them partners.”

Columbus’ Mighty Prayer

Christopher Columbus had an inspired dream of crossing the ocean. He petitioned many people to find somebody to invest in this inspired dream. Finally, after 20 years, Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand agreed to support his venture. Columbus wrote of his struggle, “Our Lord unlocked my mind, sent me upon the sea, and gave me fire for the deed. Those who heard of my [adventurous enterprise] called it foolish, mocked me, and laughed. But who can doubt but that the Holy Ghost inspired me?” (Jacob Wassermann, Columbus, Don Quixote of the Seas, (Boston: Little, Brown and Co., 1930) p. 19–20)

On the evening of August 3, 1492, Columbus left from Spain with three ships, the Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria. On October 10, 1492, 68 days after leaving Spain, Columbus’ crew began to lose hope of ever reaching their destination. The crew expressed fear that the nearly continuous winds blowing from east to west might make it impossible to return home. Frightened that they would die at sea, his officers and crew demanded that they turn back and return to Spain. Columbus could only answer that God had given them the weather to take them this far, and He would give them proper weather to get back home. Unconvinced that the matter should be left entirely in God’s hands, Columbus’ crew threatened to kill him if he did not consent to their request. Columbus urged them to reconsider and proposed a compromise. Columbus suggested that if land was not found after two more days, they would turn back. The officers and crew accepted the compromise. That night in his cabin, Columbus, “prayed mightily to the Lord.” (Words written by Columbus in his ship log, October 11, 1492; Bill Halamandaris, The Heart of America: Ten Core Values That Make Our Country Great, Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 2004) p. 30)

On October 11, they spotted land birds and other signs of nearing land and at 2 a.m. “. . . on October 12th, with the Pinta sailing ahead, the weather cleared. In the moonlight one of the sailors on the Pinta, Juan Rodriquez Bermejo, saw a white sand beach and land beyond it. After his shout of ‘Land! Land!’ the Pinta’s crew raised a flag on its highest mast and fired a cannon.”(William D. Phillips, Jr. and Carla Rahn Phillips, The Worlds of Christopher Columbus, (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1992) p. 152–153) They had arrived at an island which Columbus called San Salvador (holy Savior), which today is an island in the Bahamas. Columbus wrote of naming the island, “I named the first of these islands San Salvador, thus bestowing upon it the name of our holy Saviour under whose protection I made the discovery.” Columbus had achieved his inspired dream of sailing the Atlantic and the world was changed forever because one man refused to quit. Columbus wrote of his journey, “God gave me the faith, and afterwards the courage so that I was quite willing to undertake the journey.” Columbus achieved a grand victory because he had the courage to press forward when all others had lost faith.

4 Lessons Learned from a Talking Donkey

In the Old Testament we find the story of Balaam, his donkey and the angel of the Lord. “Balaam was riding his donkey to Moab, and two of his servants were with him. But God was angry that Balaam had gone, so one of the LORD’s angels stood in the road to stop him. When Balaam's donkey saw the angel standing there with a sword, it walked off the road and into an open field. Balaam had to beat the donkey to get it back on the road. Then the angel stood between two vineyards, in a narrow path with a stone wall on each side. When the donkey saw the angel, it walked so close to one of the walls that Balaam's foot scraped against the wall. Balaam beat the donkey again. The angel moved once more and stood in a spot so narrow that there was no room for the donkey to go around. So it just lay down. Balaam lost his temper, then picked up a stick and smacked the donkey.
When that happened, the LORD told the donkey to speak, and it asked Balaam, “What have I done to you that made you beat me three times?”
“You made me look stupid!" Balaam answered. “If I had a sword, I'd kill you here and now!”
“But you’re my owner,” replied the donkey, “and you've ridden me many times. Have I ever done anything like this before?”
“No,” Balaam admitted.
Just then, the LORD let Balaam see the angel standing in the road, holding a sword, and Balaam bowed down.
The angel said, “You had no right to treat your donkey like that! I was the one who blocked your way, because I don’t think you should go to Moab. If your donkey had not seen me and stopped those three times, I would have killed you and let the donkey live.”
Balaam replied, “I was wrong. I didn't know you were trying to stop me. If you don't think I should go, I'll return home right now.” (Numbers 22:22-34, Contemporary English Version)

There are four extremely valuable lessons we can learn from this story

Lesson 1: You must learn to effectively receive criticism and correction.

The Bible states, “You can trust a friend who corrects you, but kisses from an enemy are nothing but lies. (Proverbs 27:6, Contemporary English Version) A true friend will tell us when we are off course or need correction even though it is not what we want to hear. Their love and concern for our well-being will supercede the natural desire to avoid the conflict or ignore the issue. As states the Sicilian Proverb, “Only your real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.”

The Lord will correct us when we get off course. The apostle Paul wrote, “. . . God disciplines us for our good . . .” (Hebrews 12:10, New International Version) “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves. . .” (Hebrews 12:6, English Standard Version) Discipline and correction help us get back on track when we have strayed. The quicker we can recognize we are wrong the more quickly we can get on the right path. A Wal-Mart executive said of Sam Walton, “He is less afraid of being wrong than anyone I’ve ever known. And once he sees he’s wrong, he just shakes it off and heads in another direction.”

These proverbs can help us remember Lesson 1:
“Despise not the chastening of the Lord; neither be weary of his correction.”
-Proverbs 3:11, King James Version

“Stern discipline awaits him who leaves the path; he who hates correction will die.”
-Proverbs 15:10, New International Version

“Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”
- Proverbs 19:20, New International Version

Lesson 2: Some things that you believe are bad and harmful to you are actually for your good.

When bad things occur in our life, there is a natural tenancy to get upset and metaphorically hit a donkey. However, our challenges and struggles enable us to learn and grow. If our afflictions could speak to us as did Balaam’s donkey they may have a similar message saying, “Why are you getting mad at me, I am just trying to help you.” We must learn that all of our afflictions will work together for our good.

Since the fall of Adam and Eve in the garden, the earth has been filled with thorns and weeds. The Lord spoke to Adam saying, “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food.” (Genesis 3:19, New International Version) Is the fact that the earth is filled with weeds and requires hard work to sustain our lives a bad thing? Would life be better if there were no adversity, pain, or opposition? The Lord created a world of opposition for our benefit. He told Adam, “Cursed is the ground for thy sake.” (Genesis 3:17, King James Version) Life was not designed to be an existence of endless bliss. Life was designed to create greatness in each of us. Trials and afflictions are for our good. 2 Corinthians 8: 2 reads, “A great trial of affliction . . . [will] abound unto . . . riches.” 1 Peter 1:7 reads, “Trial of your faith [is] much more precious than gold.” Peter teaches us to rejoice in our trials saying, “Think it not strange concerning the fiery trail . . . but rejoice.” (1 Peter 4:12-13, King James Version)

The prophet Isaiah teaches that adversity and affliction are good for the growth of our spirit like bread and water are good for the growth of the body saying, “The Lord give[s] you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction.” (Isaiah 30:20, King James Version)

We are all familiar with growing pains. Growth is a source of pain, but it is good pain. Sometimes the best people experience great pain because they are ready to learn and grow. The Savior teaches in the parable of the vine, “. . . every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2, New King James Version) Pruning is the process of cutting off branches. Someone unfamiliar with the pruning process may think that the person pruning the vine is trying to punish, destroy, or kill the tree. While pruning does cause pain, its purpose is not to injure, harm, or punish. On the contrary, the pruning process will eventually lead to a higher level of production. For after much tribulation, cometh the blessing.

Parable of the Renovated House
“Image yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace.” (C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, (New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996) p. 176) Jesus is the master carpenter and he wants to build us into something great. As taught the apostle Paul, “God began doing a good work in you, and I am sure he will continue it until it is finished . . .” (Philippians 1:6, New Century Version)

“In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I [the Lord] have overcome the world.” (John 16:33, King James Version)

Lesson 3: You can learn something from every person you meet—even a jackass.

There is something we can learn from each person we meet. Each person has unique insights and experiences we can draw upon. We should approach others with an open mind and a willingness to be taught. We should look for the good in others and everyone is doing something good we can learn from.

During the French and Indian War, the British General Edward Braddock, age 60 at the time, employed the help of a Virginia militia. One of the young 23-year old Virginia soldiers who was well acquainted with the Indian mode of warfare, modestly offered his advice, the haughty Braddock said, "What! An American buskin teach a British general how to fight!" (B.J Losing, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (New York: George F. Colledge & Brother, 1848) p. 167) Braddock did not heed the advice and the British suffered a disastrous defeat and General Braddock was wounded by a shot through the right arm and into his lung. Following the injury to General Braddock, George Washington, with no official position in the chain of command, was able to lead and maintain some order and formed a rear guard, which allowed them to evacuate and eventually disengage. This earned him the title of “Hero of the Monongahela.” General Braddock was carried off the field by George Washington, the soldier whose advice he had rejected. Braddock died on July 13, 1755, four days after the battle. Before he died, Braddock left Washington the blood stained sash of his uniform. Washington carried the sash with him for the remainder of his life. Perhaps he carried the sash as a reminder of the cost of pride and of the necessary of being humble and teachable if he was to be successful in his efforts. Had Braddock listened to the advice of young George Washington his life may have been saved.

Lesson 4: If the path you are on is blocked, the Lord may want you to go in a different direction.

My first business venture failed, leaving me with thousands of dollars in business debt. I was newly married and I had no income. My wife was working earning $10 per hour but her income was not even enough to cover our $1,800 a month in debt payments. I now joke with her that she married me for my money, but the truth is she was my sugar mama. I was forced to put my entrepreneurial efforts on hold for a season and look for a job. I graduated with honors from business school and applied for dozens of jobs that were a good match for my skills, experience and degree, but I received rejection letter after rejection letter. I even apply at a call center that seemed to hire nearly everyone for a $6 per hour job and was rejected.

I now joke with people saying, “I had to start a business because I was the only person who would hire me.” I prayed to the Lord for help finding a job but got the answer that the Lord did not want me to get a job. I was supposed to start a business. This did seem to make any sense at this point in my life and did not seem like a possible option. I followed a prompting to start a lecture series at the university, which my wife supported even though it didn’t seem to make any sense since it would take a significant amount of my time and would provide no income. Acting in faith, we built the lecture series, which I and guests I invited in taught. Following one of the lectures by an invited guest, I was leaving the building about 1 ½ after the lecture had ended (I stayed to talk with the students and answer questions), when the guest lecturer pulled up outside the building. He rolled down his window and said, “The Spirit told me I needed to come back to talk to you.” We set up a time to meet. We began the meeting with prayer but were not sure exactly why we were meeting. He laid out the projects he was working on and ideas he wanted to pursue. I laid out my talents and experience and the project I was working on and wanted to pursue. We eventually came to a business idea that felt like the right way. We partnered on the new venture, with him putting up all the money and me putting up the time to build and manage the company. The company did over $1 million dollars in revenue the second year in business and over $10 million in the fifth year of business. What had seemed impossible became a reality through Christ. The Lord had blocked the job path because there was another path I was to take.

Conclusion
Long before Shrek had his run in with a talking donkey, Balaam had his life saved by one. If you apply the four lessons discussed above, you too will have a story to share about the time your life was saved by a jackass.

Becoming a Good Receiver

In Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan, the Samaritan helped a man who was robbed of his money and clothes and left half dead. The Samaritan bound his wounds, cared for him, and took him to an inn. The Samaritan also paid the host two pence to take care of the injured man and agreed to repay the host if the cost was higher. (Luke 10:30–35) The Samaritan had to first receive financial means before he could give of his means to care for the robbed and injured man. It can be understood, then, that to be good givers, we must also be good receivers.

What makes someone a poor receiver? One of the factors is a belief in the myth “I am not worthy or deserving of prosperity.” A belief in this myth prevents us from achieving our full financial potential. God is the ultimate giver. He wants to give us the gifts of prosperity and abundance. Our role is to learn to be a good receiver and accept God’s gifts. Many who do not feel worthy or deserving of financial abundance reject God’s gifts. What good is a gift if it is not received? A rejected gift hurts both the giver and the receiver because the receiver gives up the joy of the gift and the giver is denied the joy and blessings of giving the gift.

Don’t Rob Me of My Blessings
While serving in a missionary ministry in Hawaii, I associated with many wonderful Christians. The Polynesians regarded representatives of Christ with the same respect and honor as they did their chiefs. As I preached the gospel, people of all denominations would impart to us of their time, food, possessions, and money in support of the Lord’s work. They knew the Lord would bless them for their sacrifices.

On one particular occasion, when I was walking along the Kamehameha Highway, a car pulled up right along side me. As we were both in motion, a man rolled down his window and handed me a $20 bill. At first I didn’t realize what he was handing me but when I found that it was money I kindly refused and tried to return it. As I ran after the car the man said, “Don’t rob me of my blessings.” He sped away leaving me with a $20 bill I felt I shouldn’t have. Receiving gifts and money became a regular occurrence. Being new to Hawaii and not fully understanding the culture, I tried to refuse gifts and money that were constantly offered me. I quickly learned not to do this. Each time I tried to refuse the gifts, the giver would get upset and say, “Don't rob me of my blessings!” I learned that by humbly accepting gifts I could, in turn, faithfully promise the giver that they would be blessed for their sacrifice.

The Polynesians believed that the more a representative of Christ ate the more blessings they would receive. Joe, a 300-pound Tongan, took me out to eat and I ate until I couldn’t eat another bite. After we finished, Joe went to the cashier to pay for the meals. As Joe began to pay, the cashier said, “Sir, someone has already paid for the meals.” Joe looked around the restaurant and called out loudly, “Who robbed me of my blessings?” The restaurant went quiet. Joe was disappointed that he had not been able to pay for the meals and thus was robbed of his blessings. In an attempt to still receive blessing for feeding a representative of Christ, he told the cashier that we were going to eat again and this time not to let anyone else pay for the meals. This experience taught me not only to be a good receiver, but also to be a big eater.

Let Freedom Ring!

On March 23, 1775, there were some in the House that thought it better to have peace then fight for freedom. The House was leaning toward not committing troops against the encroaching British military forces. Patrick Henry rose to speak and said in part: “If we wish to be free . . . we must fight! . . . Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!” (Orations of American Orators, (New York: Colonial Press, 1900) p. 59) The crowd jumped up and shouted “To Arms! To Arms!” Patrick Henry was one of the influential advocates of the American Revolution.

On the 4th of July in 1776 the Congress assembled in Independence Hall in Philadelphia to decide whether or not to officially accept the Declaration of Independence which reads in part:

"We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by the Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the Protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."

As the congress was assembled, an elderly bell-man ascended to the steeple, and a little boy was placed at the door of the Hall to give him notice when the vote should be concluded. The old man waited long at his post and had his doubts saying, “They will never do it. They will never do it.”

The signing of The Declaration of Independence was a solemn act, and required great firmness and patriotism. It was treason against the government of Great Britain—an offense that was publishable by death.

At the signing, Benjamin Franklin is quoted as having replied to a comment by John Hancock that they must all hang together saying, “Yes, we must, indeed, all hang together, or most assuredly we shall all hang separately,” (Jared Sparks, The Life of Benjamin Franklin, (Boston: Whittemore, Niles and Hall) p. 408) This play on words suggested that if they failed to stay united and win the revolution, they would surely each be tried and executed, individually, for treason.

By unanimous vote the declaration was adopted and the blue-eyed boy outside the door began clapping his hands and shouted to the bell man above, “Ring! Ring!” The elderly bell man hurled the iron tongue of the bell back and forth one hundred times, proclaiming, “Liberty to the land and to the inhabitants thereof.” (B.J Losing, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (New York: George F. Colledge & Brother, 1848)

The Declaration of Independence was official but the fight for freedom was just beginning. The Revolutionary War continued on for seven years. On August 8, 1776, General George Washington wrote the soldiers saying, “Allow me, therefore, to address you as fellow citizens and fellow soldiers engaged in the same glorious cause . . . there can be no doubt, that success will crown our efforts, if we firmly and resolutely determine to conquer or to die. . . We must now determine to be enslaved or free. If we make freedom our choice, we must obtain it by the blessing of Heaven on our united and vigorous efforts. I salute you, Gentlemen, most affectionately, and beg leave to remind you, that liberty, honor and safety are all at stake; and I trust Providence will smile upon our efforts, and establish us once more, the inhabitants of a free and happy country. I am, Gentlemen, your humble servant.” (Jared Sparks, The Writings of George Washington, Volume IV, (Boston: Ferdinand Andrews, 1838) p. 37-38)

The last major battle of the Revolutionary War was the Battle of Yorktown when the American and French forces achieved a large and decisive victory over the British, capturing over 7,000 of the British troops and forcing an unconditional surrender by General Lord Cornwallis on October 17, 1781. During the surrender, the British drummers played the march, “The Day the World Turned Upside Down.” The surrender of Cornwallis’s army prompted the British government to eventually negotiate an end to the conflict. In 1783, the Treaty of Paris officially ended the Revolutionary War.

There were 217,000 American service members that fought during the eight year Revolutionary War. They suffered much sickness, privations, hardships and death, but their courage, desire for freedom, and reliance on the Almighty led them to an eventual victory. There were 4,435 that gave their life in battle and an additional 6,188 were wounding during the battles of the war. (United States Department of Veteran Affairs, Retrieved June 30, 2008 from http://www1.va.gov/opa/fact/amwars.asp)

With the 4th of July coming this Friday, I felt it an appropriate message this week to reflect on the lives of those who gave their all to secure the freedoms we now enjoy. Before you light off your fireworks on the evening of the 4th of July, may I suggest you have a moment of silence to honor the lives of those who fought to secure America’s independence and say a prayer of thanks to God for sending such men to secure the freedoms we enjoy.

On the fiftieth anniversary of The Declaration of Independence, two of the Founding Fathers who assisted in the drafting of the Declaration and served as Presidents of the United States passed away. In the spring of 1826, Thomas Jefferson’s health rapidly declined confining him to his bed. On the 3rd of July, he inquired the day of the month. On being told he expressed a fervent desire to live until the next day, to breathe the air of the fiftieth anniversary of his country’s independence. On the morning of the 4th after having expressed gratitude to his friends and servants for their care, he said in a distinct voice, “I resign myself to my God, and my child to my country.” At nearly the same hour John Adams passed away and the last words he uttered were, “Independence for ever!” (B.J Losing, Signers of the Declaration of Independence, (New York: George F. Colledge & Brother, 1848)

May we each this 4th of July, 2008, the 232nd anniversary of The Declaration of Independence, pledge our lives, fortunes and sacred honor to the work of freedom and declare the final words of John Adams, “Independence for ever!” If our freedom is to be preserved, the great men and women of this nation must again unite and work and fight for freedom as did our inspired founders.

May God’s blessings be upon you and the United States of America.

Leading By Example

Every moment of life we are each changing to a degree the world around us through our personal influence. We are either making the world more or less of a heavenly place.

We have all heard the phrase, “do what I say, not what I do.” This message has no power to influence others. If we do not do what we say, what we say has no power to motivate or impact others positively. In fact, we will have a negative effect. If we tell people to do things that we do not do ourselves, we become hypocrites and lose the confidence and trust of those whom we seek to lead. What we say is a method of influence, but it is only effective when it is aligned with what we do and who we are.

Sermons We See, by Edgar Albert Guest:
I’d rather see a sermon than hear one any day;
I’d rather one should walk with men than merely tell the way.
The eye’s a better pupil and more willing than the ear,
Fine counsel is confusing, but example is always clear;
And the best of all the preachers are the men who live their creeds,
For to see good put in action is what everybody needs.
I soon can learn to do it if you’ll let me see it done;
I can watch your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
And the lecture you deliver may be very wise and true,
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
For I might misunderstand you and the high advice you give,
But there’s no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.

Emerson wrote, “What you are shouts so loudly in my ears I cannot hear what you say.” To be a Divine-Centered Leader, it is not enough to do what you say and practice what you preach. You must be what you teach. For example, let’s consider the principle of service. To operate on the highest level of influence, you can’t just teach about service or tell others they need to do it. You can’t merely go out and do service. You must be a service-oriented person. It must be a part of you. With this paradigm, you view service not as an action you do but as an attribute you possess. Thus, Divine-Centered Leaders do not merely teach about and do service, they are service.

A mistake some people make is that living a good life is sufficient to influence others for good. While it is true that people can learn just by observing what we do, the influence is the greatest when all three methods of influence: teaching, doing, and being, are utilized together.

John C. Maxwell is his book Developing the Leader Within You shares the following story of leading by example. “Benjamin Franklin learned that plaster scattered in the fields would make things grow. He told his neighbors, but they did not believe him. They argued with him, trying to prove that plaster could be of no use at all to grass or grain. After a little while he allowed the matter to drop and said no more about it. Early the next spring Franklin went into the field and sowed some grain. Close to the path, where men would walk, he traced some letters with is finger, put plaster into them, and then sowed seed in the plaster. After a week or two the seed sprang up. As they passed that way, the neighbors were very surprised to see, in brighter green than all the rest of the field, large letters saying, ‘This has been plastered.’ Benjamin Franklin did not need to argue with his friends anymore about the benefits of plaster for the fields.”

Jesus Christ Leads by Example
Jesus perfectly modeled the ability to influence others at the highest level – teaching, doing and being. Jesus taught the way to eternal life, showed it through his life, and actually is the way to eternal life. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life: no man cometh unto the Father but by me.’ It is not just that the Son of God brought light into a darkened and fallen world; He is the Light. It is not just that our Savior showed us the way; He is the Way. It is not just that Jesus of Nazareth restored the truth and taught the truth; He is the Truth. We have inherited a Greek notion of truth, one which emphasizes truth as something to be learned, a matter of the head. In fact, the Hebrew notion of truth was something we do and, more precisely, something we are, a matter of the heart.” (From address March 16, 1992 entitled “The Challenge of Christ-Centered Leadership” by Robert Millet)