WISDOM + JUSTICE = SOUND LEADERSHIP

WISDOM + JUSTICE = SOUND LEADERSHIP

Consider the strange tale of a wild pig living in the jungles of Tripura. She lived happily with her children. One day, while foraging through the jungle for her children’s food, she noticed a weeping tiger cub behind a bush.  Finding no trace of the cub’s mother, she thought that the tigress might have been killed by hunters.  The mother pig immediately took pity on the cub and thought, ‘How can I leave this orphan cub in such a condition?  After all, I am a mother.  I shall take the cub with me and rear him up.’

The mother pig began to look after the cub, along with her own children, as best as possible.  Thus that tiger cub became a member of the pig family.  He and the piglets played together, ate together, roamed together and slept together.  

The days passed on and eventually the mother pig died.  The cub was, by then, a full-grown tiger and the piglets were no longer little; they were big fat pigs.  By nature, a tiger lives on flesh, so a deep desire for eating flesh gradually developed in the tiger.  He was tempted to devour the pigs, but a direct attack could earn him a bad name as they had grown up together.  Therefore, he mapped out a subtle plan.

One day, he said to one of the pigs, “Brother, last night I had a dream.  In my dream, I saw I was eating you up.  As you might imagine, it is a sin to dishonor a dream.  Therefore, I have decided to kill you and eat your flesh.  I am ready to fulfill your last desire, if there be any, before killing you.”

The terrified pig tried his best to make the tiger see that his dream had nothing to do with reality.  But the tiger was adamant.  By then, the pig realized that it would be difficult to escape from the clutches of the huge tiger.  At last, the pig said, “If you kill me, other pigs will defame you.  I think it would be better if three animals accept your argument before you kill me.”

The tiger agreed to the proposal.  So first of all, they went to a monkey and explained the entire story.  The monkey supported the tiger.  Then, both of them met a hen who also supported the tiger.  The tiger was very delighted but the pig was understandably upset.

Finally, they took their case t0 a bat.  After hearing the claim of the tiger, the bat realized his intentions right away.  However, he disclosed nothing and only said, “It is a complicated matter.  I would ask you to go to the king for proper judgment.”  He informed them that he would appear in the king’s court at the time of the hearing of their case.

Both the tiger and the pig appeared before the king in his court and narrated the whole episode.  The pig informed the king that a witness would appear very soon.  The king asked them to wait while he handled other royal business.  Suddenly, the bat fell from the ceiling of the royal court on the ground and began to dance with joy.  The king warned the bat not to misbehave in the royal court.  The bat begged forgiveness for his behavior, saying “My lord, I fell asleep while waiting on the ceiling of the court.  At that time, I had a dream but I am afraid to reveal it,” the bat said, trembling with fear.  The king told him, “Don’t worry, you can disclose your dream without fear.”

The bat said, “In my dream, I saw myself marrying the princess.” He pleaded that the king would fulfill his dream by arranging a marriage to the princess.  The king became angry and warned the bat not to press for such an absurd demand: “It is not proper to put forward a proposal on the basis of a dream,” insisted the king.  “A dream is a dream and has no connection with reality.”

The bat seized the opportunity and asked, “Since that is true, how could the tiger kill the pig and eat his flesh on the strength of his dream?”  The king accepted the bat’s arguments and rejected outright the foolish proposal of the tiger.  He also ordered the tiger and the pig to live separately, thereafter, in the jungle.

– Author Unknown

It is of paramount importance that leaders develop a sharp sense of discernment.  Additionally, they must be open to hear and consider the viewpoints of others, recognizing that leaders do not possess a monopoly on insight and understanding.  Finally, in every deliberation and decision, leaders must be consciously fair and conscientiously just.  The final words of King David summarize these truths so well:

II Samuel 23:1-3 (KJV)

¹ Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said,

² The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

³ The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

INTEGRITY

INTEGRITY

One of my elementary school teachers, Mrs. Reese, loved the age-old axiom, “Honesty is the best policy.”  Over the years, I have learned that my second grade teacher was right on the mark.  Integrity definitely pays, with unexpected dividends in both the short- and long-term.  Long ago, a young woman in a distant kingdom learned that integrity is not only a sure-fire investment; it is the only possession that truly matters.

Her story goes like this.  The king had a well known talent for growing flowers.  He was also looking for a suitable candidate to become his wife and successor to the throne.  The king identified floral ability as the deciding factor in his choice of a bride, so he issued a flower seed to every adult female in the kingdom.  In the coming year, the young lady who would produce the most beautiful flower from her seed would be the next queen.

A girl called Serena was overwhelmed by this prospect and determined to grow the most beautiful flower possible.  She planted her seed in an ornate pot and cultivated it with great care, but nothing would grow.

The following year, everyone gathered at the palace carrying pots laden with beautiful flowers.  She was very disappointed, but went to this festive event anyway, along with her empty pot.  The king inspected all the flower pots and then stopped beside hers.  “Why is your pot empty?” he asked.  “Your highness, I did everything I could think of to make the seed grow, but I have failed miserably,” she answered sadly.

“No…you did not fail,” the king replied.  “You see, all the seeds I distributed were purposefully roasted, so nothing would ever grow from them.  I have no idea where all these flowers we see have come from.  But you have been completely honest and clearly deserve to become my wife and heir.  You will our queen!”

Sometimes, it looks like we are losing, when we are actually winning.  So we must always be honest, even when it is apparently working against us.  Why?  Because character is who we are in the dark, when we are certain that no one else is observing.  Mrs. Reese was absolutely right: “Honesty is the best policy.”  In a word, integrity pays!  Sisters and brothers, be continually blessed!

OUR RESPONSE TO THE WONDER

OUR RESPONSE TO THE WONDER

This morning I read a sermon by Charles Haddon Spurgeon, one of England’s greatest 19th century preachers.  I thought it appropriate to share a brief excerpt with you.

Isaiah 9:6b reads as follows: “…And His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The Mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”

Beloved, there are a thousand things in this world that are called by names that do not belong to them; but in entering upon my text, I must announce at the very opening, that Christ is called Wonderful, because He is so.  How do we respond to that wonder?

First, we respond to His wonder with adoration.  Jesus ought to be the object of our grateful adoration and worship.  Leafing through the pages of an average hymnbook will suggest dozens of suitable expressions of our adoration for Christ.

Secondly, Jesus ought to be the object of our wholehearted devotion.  He alone ought to be the object of our deepest and warmest affections.  The great commandment of the Law was to love the Lord supremely with one’s total being.  That also is a valid responsibility of the Christian today.

Finally, we should respond to His wonder by entering into a deeper communion with the One who is called “Wonderful.”  The shallow experience of many Christians today is a sad commentary on their interest in the One who loves them and gave Himself for them.  If Jesus is Wonderful, and He is, we should long to spend time with Him in Bible study and prayer and to enjoy sweet fellowship with Christ in all that we do.”

Spurgeon’s words constitute profound truth, both for the 1800s and for today.  How do we respond to our “Wonderful” Savior, JESUS CHRIST?  Do we regularly invest sufficient time and effort COMMUN-icating with Him…or is He reduced to an afterthought or random part of our day?  Since we love Him…let’s talk to Him, listen to Him, trust in Him, and be available always with an affirmative answer to whatever He says.

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

THE ULTIMATE SACRIFICE

There are times in life when we feel that we have given our all.  More often than not, this is only a feeling, not a reality.  Consider the following inspirational story about two youthful-but-sick siblings from California, which, quite literally, has motivated me to reassess my own giving.

Many years ago, when I worked as a transfusion volunteer at Stanford Hospital, I got to know a little girl named Liza who was suffering from a dreaded disease and needed blood from her five-year-old brother, who had miraculously survived the same disease and had developed antibodies needed to combat the illness.  The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked the boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his sister.  I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep breath and saying, “Yes, I’ll do it, if it will save Liza.”

As the transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks.  Then his face grew pale and his smile faded.  He looked up at the doctor and asked with a trembling voice, “Will I start to die right away?”

Being very young, the boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going to have to give his sister all his blood.

What a love!  This true story causes us to reflect on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  On Calvary (and even before the foundation of this world), Jesus became willing and ready to give His ALL to redeem humankind from the twin scourges of sin and death.  In His own words, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

The question is begged, “How much of ourselves are we willing to give?”  The world in which we live places such heavy demands on our time and energy that sometimes we find it difficult to attend to the most mundane of matters that might bring a smile to the faces of our loved ones.  Think about it.  Husbands, are you too busy, too tired, or just too important to rise up from your chair and carry a glass of water to your thirsty wife?  Or is that just “women’s work?”  Wives, are you too preoccupied with the demands of your day to speak a word or encouragement or correction to your children? 

The truth, plain and simple, is that life goes by so quickly.  One of my Ohio friends, Elder Willie Templeton, often says: “Make it count!”  This attitude is imperative since, according to James, the brother of Jesus, our lives may be likened to a vapor that appears for one fleeting moment, then swiftly fades away. (James 4:14)  Therefore, we must resolve today to perform purposeful and/or random acts of kindness for our families, our friends, and yes, even to the strangers that we meet.  The Word admonishes us that “thereby some have entertained angels unaware.” (Hebrew 13:2)  Sisters and brothers, as you sow compassionate and bountiful seeds, be continually blessed!

A FATHER'S UNFORGETTABLE WISDOM

A FATHER’S UNFORGETTABLE WISDOM

A daughter complained to her father about life and how things were so hard for her.  She did not know how she would make it and wanted to give up.  She was tired of struggling; it seemed that as soon as one problem was solved, a new one arose.  So her wise father took her into the kitchen where he filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire.  Soon the pots came to a boil.  In the first pot he placed carrots, in the second he placed eggs, and in the last he placed ground coffee beans.  He let them sit and boil, without saying a word.  The daughter sucked her teeth and waited impatiently, wondering what Dad was doing.

In about twenty minutes, the father turned off the burners.  He fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.  He pulled the eggs out and placed them a bowl.  Then he ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl.  Turning to his daughter, he asked. “What do you see?”

“Carrots, eggs, and coffee,” she replied.  He invited her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did so and noted that they were soft.  He then asked her to take an egg and break it.  After pulling off the shell, she observed the exposed hard-boiled egg.  Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee.  She smiled as she tasted its rich aroma.  Then she said, “What’s the point?”

He explained that each of the items had faced the exact same condition of adversity – boiling water – but each had reacted differently.  The carrot went in strong and hard.  But after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became very weak.  The egg had been fragile.  Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior.  But after soaking in the boiling water, its inside became rather hardened.  The ground coffee beans were unique, however. During their boiling water experience, they managed to change the water itself.

“Which are you?” the wise father asked his daughter. “When adversity knocks on your door, how will you respond?  Will you become weak like a carrot, hard on the inside like an egg, or will you somehow change the circumstances around you like the coffee beans?”  His daughter smiled and adjusted her attitude.

- Author Unknown

This story reminds me of the practical wisdom of my natural and spiritual father, the late Bishop Joseph Edison Bass, Sr.  Daddy had a way of reducing complex truths to bite-sized nuggets so that all his children (both at home and church) could digest and develop.  He was definitely larger-than-life…a staunch defender of the Word and the faith…a paragon of virtue…but all with a father’s love and with a shepherd’s heart.

I remember his firm discipline and insistence that we adhere closely to family rules.  One example of this is the rule that we had to be home by the time the street lights came on.  Of course, this represented different realities in winter and summer.  I remember racing home from the playground or park (literally at breakneck speeds) to assure my compliance with the rule and my avoidance of the belt.  Daddy had a gargantuan-sized belt that he hung at the top of the basement stairs, and he was not shy about using it as needed.

As a child, I have powerful memories of Daddy’s big strong arms.  He developed them as a hard worker and a consistent bread winner, laboring in the steel mill (and in the church) to provide for his family.  And he did so without complaining.  My youngest siblings, Edwin and Doris, used to race (along with me) to meet Daddy after work.  We lived close to the mill and we would wait to see him coming; then we would run to meet him and retrieve his lunch box.  Although he worked hard and easily could have consumed any lunch Mama had prepared, he often saved half of a sandwich or another food item for us.  We did not know what a sacrifice that must have been.  What a wonderful father we were blessed to have!  Another random memory: When my baby teeth had to be extracted, Momma sent me into the bedroom and those strong Daddy-hands pulled them for me.

I was in awe of Daddy’s spirituality and the powerful anointing God had placed on his life.  Mama prayed for us in the morning before school, but times of evening prayer were Daddy’s bailiwick.  I vividly recall his Pentecostal preaching and, even now, I can hear his unique voice, replete with echoes of uncompromising gospel that was equally measured to all.  There were no favorites in Daddy’s pastorate, and in his words, “I don’t care whether your name is Bass, Brown, or Blue,” whatever God says applies to you!

We are so grateful that Daddy (and Mama) were totally invested in our education.  Having been born in 1904, our father had a modest education in rural Georgia, but he insisted that we strive for the best and brightest.  As a result, his children and grandchildren attended the likes of Pennsylvania State University, University of Pittsburgh, California State University, Colgate University, Case-Western Reserve University, The College of William and Mary, and Yale University.  Despite little formal training, Daddy (a.k.a. “Pop-Pop”) was a brilliant Bible scholar and teacher.  During my lifetime, I have yet to encounter a minister with greater memory or insight into the scriptures.  He trained us rigorously and reproduced himself via dedicated believers, evangelists, ministers, pastors, district superintendents and bishops.

But more than anything else, I have fond memories of Daddy’s infectious smile and laughter.  He was an entirely human, humane, down-to-earth, Christian gentleman, who personified love for his wife, children and grandchildren.  Since he transitioned home to be with the Lord (July 24, 1997), we all miss him dearly.  But we reflect and remember…and soon our parental reception committee will meet us at Heaven’s gates.

Happy Father’s Day…to all those who proactively strive to make a difference in the lives of your children…like Daddy did.  May you be highly favored and continually blessed by Almighty God!