The Taste of Salt

Working Title:  “The Taste of Salt”

Author:  Joe F. Walenciak; Chairman, Division of Business, John Brown University

Date:  January 6, 2007

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people together to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.”  --Antoine De Saint-Exupery

For many years, education has consisted largely of students sitting at the feet of a master teacher, grasping the gems of wisdom that fall from carefully-scripted lectures and guided learning activities.  Those days are gone…or at least they should be.

As a business educator, I have stood behind the podium for more than 25 years.  Originally, I was a disseminator of information.  I spoke, and students wrote frantically to capture every thought so that they could pass my exams.  And so they learned

That model of education is inadequate today.  Young people today are active, visual learners who need educational opportunities that integrate meaningful application into the learning process.  “Learning by doing” should be a more prominent component of the tools we use to train future generations.

In business, we know that our students have to be multidimensional people.  First, they need a clear global perspective, and they typically don’t get that from lectures.  They get it from experience and interaction.  Second, they need skill sets that help them function effectively as they serve their organization, its people, and its community.  That includes the skill of working with others, which is also learned through experience and not through lecture.

Third, business students need to be prepared broadly for life.  Our students will have to deal with the major global problems, and they will develop new approaches and answers by seeing the world from different perspectives and at a variety of levels.  That kind of analytical and creative thinking does not come solely from business preparation, but also from the arts, history, math, and sciences.  We need whole people who “live large” and who can bring new ideas into existence in meaningful ways.

Finally, we need people who are passionate about life and work.  Passion is not taught.  It is ignited.  If Antoine De Saint-Exupery is right about building the ship, then the question for us is this.  How do we teach our students to “long for the endless immensity of the sea”?  How do we give them that “taste of salt” that will ignite passion in their lives?

At John Brown University, we involve our students in community development programs in Central America.  Since 2003, we have called this program “ADVANCE Guatemala.”  “A” – Address the pressing needs of the people.  “D” – Develop the fragile economy.  “V” – Validate marginalized people and groups.  “A” – Activate minds through education.  “N” – Nourish discouraged hearts and depressed spirits.  “C” – Cultivate local ownership and initiative.  “E” – Exit the process but not the friendship.

Every year, groups of students go to rural areas in Guatemala to change people’s lives, but they come back changed in the process.  One of our projects involves stoves.  Poor, rural Guatemalans often cook over open fires on the floors of their small dwellings.  Children fall into those fires.  The smoke causes many health problems.  Carrying wood is a daily chore that damages backs and necks and contributes to deforestation.  The stove project is part of a larger development effort that includes education, business, health, community involvement, and more.  It is an opportunity for business students to apply their business skills, but they quickly learn that business alone is inadequate.  Passion is ignited as they apply what they know to help real people in meaningful ways, but they also learn that they need to keep learning.

This year, ADVANCE Guatemala has expanded into similar programs in Mexico, Honduras, Panama, and Nicaragua.  JBU students of various majors will be involved in a variety of educational programs, medical relief, and development work in these areas.  They gain practical experience planning and implementing projects, resolving conflicts, dealing with setbacks, working with a diverse group of people, assessing outcomes, communicating, and making things happen.  This is education that would never happen while seated at a desk.

Reading, writing, and math will always be important skills.  For many, our education is a right that we often take for granted and perhaps even waste.  In Guatemala, where public education is not free, education is oftentimes only a dream, especially for many young girls in poor, rural villages.  Hope and education become synonymous, and without education, there is no hope for a different future.  When I meet rural Guatemalans who fight and sacrifice so that their children can receive a basic education, and therefore a better future, I am humbled.  I am also reminded to do all I can so that the opportunity of education is not wasted for my students.

Education really starts when students leave their desks and work with real people and situations.  The world is a powerful classroom.

A Love of Generosity - The Root of All Kinds of Good

Generosity – JBU Chapel Presentation

By Joe Walenciak

March 14, 2023

INTRO

            Thank you.  Good morning.  It is good to be with you today.  My name is Joe Walenciak, and I teach in the College of Business here at JBU, currently completing my 41^st year.  Here is a picture of the guy who started here over four decades ago.  That naïve young teacher could not conceive of the concept of a lifetime of work, of so many amazing people he would meet, or of the hundreds of trips he would make into Central America for service projects and education programs…something that would indelibly mark his life, heart, and character.

            Chaplain Keith asked me if I would be willing to speak about I Timothy 6.  This is the passage that talks about the love of money being the root of evil.  I have to confess that I am not a theologian or a gifted preacher, but as a business professor, I guess I know something about money and evil.  As I prayed about this talk and read the passage, I believe that God helped me to see a message to share.  Let’s read the passage.

 

SCRIPTURE AND GENEROSITY

I Timothy 6 tells us…

These are the things you are to teach and insist on. ³ If anyone teaches otherwise and does not agree to the sound instruction of our Lord Jesus Christ and to godly teaching, ⁴ they are conceited and understand nothing. They have an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions ⁵ and constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.

⁶ But godliness with contentment is great gain. ⁷ For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. ⁸ But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. ⁹ Those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. ¹⁰ For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

¹⁷ Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. ¹⁸ Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. ¹⁹ In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.

There is a lot to unpack here, but each time I looked at this, one thing kept standing out.  This whole passage…all of those do not’s…come together with Paul’s word to Timothy to “command them to…be generous.”    Generosity is the quality of being kind and giving, often characterized by giving money, resources, or time to others in need, but without expecting anything in return. It is an act of kindness, selflessness, and concern for others.  My focus today is generosity.

Generosity is important for several reasons.  It can bring joy and happiness to the giver and the receiver.  It can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.  Generosity can foster a sense of community and help build strong relationships.  It can promote sense of purpose and meaning.  It can address problems of justice and equity in society.  But perhaps most important, God tells us to be generous.  And if the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil, then I would like to suggest this morning that a love for generosity is the root of all kinds of good.

In the years that I have worked in Guatemala, God has allowed me to know many amazing people.  Today, I would like to share two stories about generosity from experiences I have had with some very special people in Guatemala. 

 

THE MIRACLE OF THE CHRISTMAS TURKEYS

I call this first story “the miracle of the Christmas turkeys.”  Meet Enrique and Cecy Quiñónez.  Enrique and Cecy are the parents of a JBU Walton student about 25 years ago.  In spite of many health issues, they have continued to be part of JBU teams in Guatemala.  They are not wealthy, and in fact, materially, they have very little, but they are people of extraordinary generosity.  Cecy knows what it means to grow up as a hungry child in a poor community, so when given the opportunity to give, she gives in abundance.  Cecy is an example of generosity.

Every Friday night, the good folks of Iglesia Bautista Cristo es el Camino take a hot meal to the families who live in the settlements on the edge of the Guatemala City garbage dump.  A typical Friday meal may consist of beans, rice, bread, and something hot to drink.  Between 100 and 150 people show up to enjoy one of the best meals they will have all week.  There is singing and a party-like atmosphere set against the backdrop of the filth, trash, and mountains of recyclables that have been recovered throughout the day.

A few years ago, JBU planned a special food distribution at the dump for Christmas.  We bought 20 turkeys and made the world's largest pot of Russian salad.  Along with the turkey and salad, each person would receive bread, a fresh apple, and a fruit juice box.  The folks at the church said we should be prepared for 200 people, so we planned for a little bit more than that.

We bought 400 plates at PriceSmart which we thought would be enough for Friday night and some other upcoming events.  On Friday about noon we picked up the 20 turkeys, and we spent the afternoon slicing and deboning.  I have never seen turkey carcasses picked so clean!  Cecy reminded me that the people would probably want the bones to make soup, so we bagged up the bones with some skin and fat.  We had enough of everything for about 220 portions, plus 20 bags of bones.

When we arrived, it was clear that we would have a large crowd.  After a time of prayer and singing, the food distribution began.  Enrique told everyone not to push...that there was plenty of food for everyone.  My faith was not as strong at that point.  We could not see the end of the line.  I told Cecy we had a LOT of people, but she refused to turn around and look.  I encouraged her to cut back on the serving sizes, but if anything, Cecy kept making the servings bigger and bigger.  The environment was happy.  There was music.  Children were playing, and everyone was so happy to receive a special meal in such generous proportions.  I seemed to be the only person who understood that we were going to run out of food.

So Cecy kept filling the plates and refusing to turn around and look at the line.  I still couldn’t see the end of the line.  We kept opening more packages of plates, too, including those we intended to use for the next two events.  Cecy kept serving what seemed to be bigger and bigger portions.  I noticed that we were down to the last couple of trays of turkey and the bottom of the big pot of salad.  And then it happened.  I saw the end of the line.  Cecy still would not turn around and adjust portion sizes.  She just kept serving.  Finally, she picked up the VERY LAST serving of turkey and scraped out the VERY LAST remnants of the Russian salad and put it on a plate which we then handed to the VERY LAST person in the line.  With only a handful of plates left, we realized that our 200 servings of turkey had somehow fed nearly 400 people!  The same God who multiplied the loaves and fishes can apparently do the same thing with turkey and Russian salad!  We stood there amazed, processing what we had just seen.  I had seen how the actions of a faithful, generous woman were blessed by our generous God.

Then we remembered the bags of stripped bones, skin, and fat.  Ladies gathered around, and once again we gave the last bag to the last woman.  Just enough.

We say that all of these things come from God's hands.  We say that, but then we act as though we are the ones providing.  We plan and take responsibility for outcomes, but the reality is that "God gives the increase."  Why should we be surprised when God acts?  And when God demonstrates that he loves his children, why do we not expect that?  And just about the time we finally think we have wrapped our minds around the extent of God's amazing generosity, we realize we have not.

The following Friday night, we returned to the settlement with a more typical food distribution and a more typical crowd.  Suddenly we were approached by one of the ladies who had taken a bag of bones, and she informed us that we had made a mistake.  "What mistake?" we asked.  She proceeded to insist that we had given her a bag full of turkey meat instead of bones, fat, and skin.  She claimed that there was probably about a half of a turkey in the bag!  I kind of dismissed that until a second woman approached us a little bit later and thanked us!  She said she arrived to her small shelter and opened up her bag of turkey bones, only to find about a half turkey inside. 

You explain this as you wish.  I choose to believe that generosity is the root of many good things.  Sometimes we see how God takes our small gifts and makes them big.  Sometimes we don’t.  What I learned is that acts of generosity in God’s Kingdom have much greater impact than we will ever know.

 

THE MIRACLE OF CLEAN WATER

            I call this second story “the miracle of clean water.”  Meet Fredy Caap.  Fredy was the pastor of a church in a town called Dolores, Petén, Guatemala.  For a number of years, JBU installed water purification systems in areas of Guatemala where families had serious economic challenges and were suffering from water- and disease-related health issues.  Our goal was to create a water store…a sustainable way to make purified water available in a community.  We worked alongside local churches and Compassion International student centers to create water stores that could sell garrafones of water for 5-7 Quetzales, instead of the 15-20 Quetzales charged by the water companies.  When people learned that drinking clean water kept them from missing days of work and having to buy medicine, they began to realize that clean water paid for itself.  Essentially, clean water was free.

            We visited a lot of communities.  In some cases, our potential local partner saw water as more of a revenue generation tool, and while we certainly had no problem with them making money, our priority was to make a significant impact on the health of the people.  In some communities, our potential partners were not willing to share water with others but wanted to keep it within a specific circle of people.  Our priority was to have the broadest impact.  We were looking for communities where people were sick and dying because of the water and where there was a vision to get clean water to the people who need it, regardless of church affiliation, location, or skin color.  We believe that there would be economic impact, but we had to start by making a health impact as widely as possible.

            Then we met Fredy Caap, pastor of Iglesia de Dios Evangélico Completo in Dolores, and partner with a Compassion student center.  Some pastors liked to have their meetings in secret.  When we went to the church to talk about a water partnership, Fredy opened the doors and windows of the room so that everyone could hear and speak.  He had a vision for helping as many people as possible, especially the people in the poorest villages back in the hills and woods near Dolores.  You see, Dolores was in the heart of a red zone for typhoid fever, a bacterial infection that can lead to death, especially in areas where malnutrition is common and access to health care is limited.  Fredy had seen many deaths from typhoid fever.  Children were especially vulnerable, including some who died during the week that we were there.  The situation was very difficult.  We had to walk through open sewers to get to homes and meet families. 

            Fredy is a generous man.  He was generous with information, with his time, with the Gospel, and with his efforts to help his community.  He had a vision to get clean water to the families who needed it the most, and his church was willing to cover the cost to get the clean water out there, whatever it took.  They just needed the clean water.

            The installation in Dolores was the most comprehensive and difficult that JBU did.  We had to drill a well about 3 times as deep as we anticipated, and then we hit Sulphur water and had to change the purification system.  Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months.  Throughout the process, people from the community came by and told us we were wasting our time and that we would never find water.  Pastor Fredy was generous with his encouragement, his defense of our work, and his faith that the project would succeed.  And it did.  This is a picture of Pastor Fredy with the first garrafón of water from the system.  A generous pastor inspired generosity in the church, and a vision of giving and helping was put into action.  One year later, we were told that the number of cases of typhoid fever in the area had dropped to zero.  Again, faith and generosity were the root of all kinds of good for these people.

 

CONCLUSIONS ABOUT GENEROSITY

            So why did I tell you these stories.  I can tell you what I learned from these people and experiences, and perhaps there is something of value for you here, too.

            First, God tells us to be generous.  As Paul told Timothy to tell the church, we should do good, be rich in good deeds, and be generous and willing to share.  God wants His church to be a generous church and willing to help where help is needed.

            Second, even though we may see an “act of generosity,” generosity is a lifestyle, not an event.  People like Enrique, Cecy, Fredy, and so many others live a lifestyle of generosity.  They have grown through struggles, and they have learned how to reach back to others to help them.  It is their pattern.  More than a belief or value, it is the essence of who they are.  Their generosity guides their behavior and helps them make sense of their world.  They give because they have fallen in love with a generous God.

            Third, generosity is not about money.  We often think about money, and Paul instructs Timothy in this passage to tell others to be generous with their wealth.  A person with a generous heart will be generous with their money, but also with so much more.  We can be generous with our time, our skills, our compassion, our forgiveness, our hospitality, our acts of kindness, and so on.  We can respect and honor people generously.  We can love people generously.  If we limit generosity to money, I think we limit the scope and power of generosity.

            Finally, generosity can be cultivated.  Generosity is a quality of God, and we are made in God’s image, so we all have the capacity to be generous.  If you want to grow in your generosity, start by asking God to help you grow.  Then ask yourself some hard questions about what you love most…and be honest with yourself.  Practice being grateful.  Give things away.  Volunteer your time.  Practice empathy.  Get out of your comfort zone.  Those are some steps.

            Thank you for your time and for your patience with stories from Guatemala.  Let’s pray. 

Ten Important Skill Sets for Business Professionals

Ten Important Skill Sets for Business Professionals

By Joe Walenciak

December 11, 2024

First, I think that a business professional should be a person who possesses integrity and values.  We have always taught that the character of the leader matters, and for so many reasons, I believe that now more than ever.  We live in a society that tells us that only results matter, regardless of what you do to get results.  I disagree.  I believe that “right is right,” period.  Also, in the long term, integrity helps to build the strongest relationships and businesses.

Second, there is certainly a broad skill set that good business people must possess to some extent.  Business people don’t have to be experts in everything, but they need foundations in areas related to skills like accounting, HR, finance, law, people, statistics, technology, and so forth.  These are all part of daily business, and a business person must understand (to some extent) how all of these things work in their business.  Then, each business person must have a deeper skill set in some area of specialization, such as marketing, accounting, operations, finance, IT, analytics, etc.  Business people must have a set of deeper skills that bring value to the organization.  Finally, with regard to skills, business professionals must be continuous learners and must be able to change, grow, and adapt.  The world of business is changing daily, and business leaders must keep learning.  Three years ago, nobody knew what AI was, and now it is considered essential for business strategy.

Third, business people must create an honest and healthy balance between people and the business.  As human beings, we need to show honor and respect for others.  We should listen.  We should disagree with civility.  We should act in a way that will not hurt others.  As leaders, one of our jobs is to develop our people.  At the same time, we are part of a business for a purpose.  The business has a mission, goals, objectives, and so forth.  The job of a business leader is to find a healthy and honest way for the business to pursue and achieve its goals while honoring and growing people in the process.  If we only care about people and the expense of the business, then the business will fail.  If we only care about the business at the expense of people, then we fail the test of humanity.  We have to understand all aspects of our role and work to achieve them.

Fourth, regardless of the job, a business person really needs to be a good communicator.  Accurate flow of information is important for any job.  Period.  But also, to the extent our role allows us to do this, we should create an environment around us where people feel free to express thoughts, ideas, and opinions…always with civility.  We should not be afraid to express what we think, and we should learn from each other and build relationships.

Fifth, there is something that goes along with character and integrity.  That is a willingness to follow process and rules.  It is sometimes very tempting to show favoritism or to take short cuts around rules.  A good business person should be willing to follow the rules and processes of the business.  If a rule, process, or policy needs to be changed, then we can deal with that directly, not by breaking or ignoring rules.  When favoritism and rule-breaking become part of culture, the workplace becomes toxic.  The good people leave, and the people who stay are the once only seeking to advance their own interests.  Trust vanishes.

Sixth, business people need to be able to understand strategic perspectives and think strategically.  We often have a specific job in front of us, but we need to understand how that specific job contributes to the larger work of the organization and how organizational mission and perspectives shape the work that we do.  Ultimately, each job exists to promote a larger mission; the organization does not exist to support a specific job.

Seventh, successful business people must be able to solve problems…“to think their way out of a box.”  When confronted with challenges and obstacles, people often become paralyzed.  In those moments, a good business person must be able to maintain their composure and begin working toward solutions.  If we don’t know what to do, we should try to do something.  Good business people find answers to problems.

Eighth, business professional should have financial literacy.  Every business has certain numbers, measures, indexes, ratios, etc., that relate to the finances and operations of that business.  It is like a person who needs to track their blood pressure and heart rate.  They know what to measure, and they know what those measurements mean.  This is part of the language of that business.  Just like a diabetic needs to track and understand their blood sugar, businesses need to track and understand the things that matter for that business.  If we are to contribute to a healthy business, we have to be able to do this.  If we don’t know or care about contributing to a healthy business, then we won’t be there very long.

Ninth, whether personal or professional, every life is faced with challenges.  Business people need to care for their physical and emotional health, but we also need to learn to develop resilience and perseverance.  We cannot simply collapse every time we are faced with a difficult challenge.  We have to learn how to address challenges, and we need to grow the strength to do so more and more, because the challenges will always be there, and they get bigger.  There is certainly a time to rest and recover, but there is also a time to take a deep breath and stand strong in the face of challenge.

Tenth, love your people.  Period.

 

Two Surprises of Christmas, A Communion Meditation

Two Surprises of Christmas, A Communion Meditation (Shared December 22, 2024)

As we prepare our hearts for communion, let’s reflect on the season of Christmas and the surprising ways God’s grace was revealed to us through the birth of Christ.  How would you expect the God of the universe to reveal himself to people?  How does the creator reach out to the created?

The first surprise of Christmas is the humility of God’s incarnation.  Think about this:  the infinite, all-powerful Creator of the universe chose to enter His creation as a vulnerable baby.  Not born in a palace, but in a manger.  Not to wealthy, powerful parents, but to a young couple of modest means.  God didn’t come to us in grandeur but in humility.  Philippians 2:6–8 tells us that Jesus, “though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”  As we partake of the bread and the cup, let us be thankful for the humility of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve and to give His life for us.

The second surprise of Christmas is the inclusion of the marginalized.  When Christ was born, the first to hear the good news weren’t rulers or religious leaders—they were shepherds, people on the fringes of society.  And not long after, wise men from the East—Gentiles, outsiders to God’s chosen people—came to worship Him.  From the very beginning, the message of Jesus was one of radical inclusion:  that God’s salvation is for all people, regardless of status, nationality, or background.  As we come to the table, we’re reminded of the words of Jesus:  “This is my body, broken for you” and “This is my blood, poured out for many.”  Communion invites everyone who believes to remember and rejoice in this truth:  through Christ, we are all brought near to God.

Today, as we take the bread and the cup, let us be grateful for these surprises:  the humility of our Savior, who came to serve, and the inclusiveness of His love, which welcomes us all.  May this time of communion remind us that Christ’s birth, life, and sacrifice were part of God’s perfect plan to redeem and unite us as one family in Him.

Journeys and Destinations

Communion Devotional: “Journeys and Destinations”

By Joe Walenciak, March 2025

I spent Christmas and the new year in Guatemala. On the day that I flew out, my United Airlines flight from Guatemala to Houston was fine, but my flight home to XNA was delayed by several hours. I don’t enjoy waiting in airports.  Like most people, I just wanted to get home. When things go bad in airports, people become frustrated and vocal, and that day was no exception. The United agents were doing their best, but they couldn’t fix weather or broken airplanes.

While waiting, I spoke with an agent who had just dealt with a very angry customer. I tried to be a pleasant contrast. Our conversation was pleasant, and I remember telling her, “I just want to get home sometime today, if possible.” She smiled and reassured me that I would. I was telling myself that the journey doesn’t really matter—only the destination. Right?

It is amazing what gets you thinking.  Since that day, I’ve been reflecting on journeys and destinations—especially my own life’s journey. For every believer, our destination is clear. We hold on to promises like Revelation 21:3-4: "I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.’”

Sometimes, we see this life as something to endure—just surviving this mess until all things are made new. But God has given us both a journey and a destination, and we need to understand, value, and be thankful for both. The extremes are the problems. One extreme is to become so absorbed in our present life that we lose sight of eternity. The other extreme is to dismiss this life as meaningless, simply holding on until we reach heaven.

Heaven is our goal, but the journey is our preparation. It is in the journey that we grow spiritually, practice obedience, and walk in faithfulness. The trials and challenges we face refine us and shape us to glorify God daily. The destination is our eternal home, but the journey is where God prepares us for that.  As James 1:2-4 reminds us: "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

While waiting in the airport, I watched people, ate a meal, and had in a few friendly conversations. I tried to be kind to people and keep moving in the right direction—toward Arkansas and home. When I finally arrived, I was tired but content. Complaining and lashing out at others would not have gotten me home any sooner, and I would have left damaged people in my wake.

I don’t like winter—the cold and gray wear on me. But I love spring. And I’ve realized that passing through winter prepares me to love spring even more. I don’t like airports, but I love to be in Guatemala. Navigating the airport is necessary for me to get to my destination. Life may take us through the “valley of the shadow of death,” but the struggles help us learn to love and trust God more. The journey and the destination are a bundle. Our life’s journey, although painful at times, is our training for heaven.

And that brings us to this moment—the Lord’s Supper. This table reminds us that we are on a journey, but we do not travel alone. Jesus walked this path before us, enduring suffering and hardship so that we might reach our eternal home. As we take the bread and the cup, we remember His sacrifice, His presence with us now, and the promise of the destination He has secured. May this meal strengthen us for the journey and remind us of the joy that awaits when we are finally home with Him.

God's Purpose in My Generation

God’s Purpose in My Generation

By Joe Walenciak, March 2023

Sermon delivered at Iglesia Bautista Cristo es el Camino, Guatemala City

Good morning!  It is good to be with you today.  After several years of pandemic and separation, I bring you greetings from John Brown University and from many brothers and sisters in Arkansas!  I am blessed to have a wonderful group of people who will spend this next week with you.  We are looking forward to ministering and serving together with you.

Today, I want to share something that God has been placing on my heart for some time.  I want to talk a little bit about our purpose.  Even though this may sound a little bit dark at the beginning, I want this to be a message of encouragement for the church.

The world has problems.  Christians know this.  2 Timothy 3:1 tells us this:  “There will be terrible times in the last days.  People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, and lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God.”

God’s word teaches us that we are living in difficult times.  In his sermon on the Mount of Olives, Jesus told the crowd that there would be wars and rumors of wars, that nations and kingdoms would rise up against each other, and that there would be famines and earthquakes.  Jesus went on to say that because of him, we (his followers) will be hated by all nations and that we will be persecuted and put to death.

The headlines are difficult to read.  Russia continues to attack Ukraine.  There were mass shootings in cities around the world.  Politicians fight for power, and the people suffer.  There is poverty and hunger.  Women and children are abused and trafficked.  The climate is changing, and unusual weather patterns are causing damage from wind and floods.  And every day, we see news that sin is not only accepted in our world; it is also celebrated.

Paul’s words to Timothy are true.  “There will be terrible times in the last days.”  But life has always been difficult for Christians.  In the early years of Christianity, believers were imprisoned, tortured, and executed by the Roman Empire.  During the middle ages, Christians were burned at the stake for their beliefs.  In more recent times, we see countries where churches are destroyed and believers were imprisoned, tortured, and executed.  To this day, the Church is persecuted, and Christians around the world risk their lives when they share the good news of Jesus Christ.  We see injustice in our own communities and neighborhoods.

In his letter to the Church at Rome, Paul spoke of trouble, hardship, persecution, famine, nakedness, and danger, and then he reminded us that “we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”  In John’s letter to believers he said, “greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world.”  “Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you or forsake you.”  More than conquerors.  Our God is greater.  We are never left or forsaken.  These are the promises that we hold on to that encourage us.  And yet, evil seems to win.  How many of us have lost someone we loved through violence or disease?  How many in our communities have been victims of assault or abuse?  How many of us have experienced injustice?  Sometimes, when I am honest with myself, I find it hard to understand how I can be more of a conqueror when I cannot stop the evil around me, much less the War in Ukraine, political corruption, and the battle against cancer.  The battle can be overwhelming, and sometimes when we begin to think that we cannot do very much, we stop trying to do anything.  Why try?  The battle is too big.  I’m just one person.  What can I do?

For centuries, the children of Israel waited for the Messiah, believing that he would be the leader of a political state and change the world.  He would fix what was broken, punish the evil, and bless those who were good.  They saw some kind of earthly kingdom…with Jesus as the center of power…that would create and enforce a good world order.  But Jesus never said that he was here to create a government or establish an earthly system of justice.  He never said that he came to stop wars or famines or earthquakes.  And instead of promising to end persecution, he actually told us to expect persecution and all kinds of trouble.  Things were going to get even more difficult!  In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus specifically tells us his purpose.  In his conversation with Zacchaeus, Jesus said, “The Son of Man came to seek and save the lost.”  Jesus was not sent to establish a new earthly government.  He was sent to reclaim broken hearts.

There is a big lesson here for us and also a wonderful example.  The Bible is full of stories of people who were sent.  Moses was sent by God to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the promised land.  Jonah was sent to preach to the people of Nineveh.  Jesus’ disciples were sent by him to spread the gospel and make disciples all around the world.  Paul was sent by God to be an apostle and preach the Gospel. 

But the best example is Jesus.  Jesus was sent by his father to seek and save the lost, and much of that time was spent in one-on-one encounters with all kinds of sinners…broken people, including prostitutes and adulterers, tax collectors, lepers, the sick and disabled, and more.  Jesus was known for his ministry to individual people in the streets.  In fact, one of his most notable teachings recorded in the Gospel of Mark, was that he had come not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.  Jesus was known for his love and compassion towards all people, regardless of their social status or how sinful they were believed to be. He saw beyond people's outward appearances and recognized their inherent value as children of God, created his God’s image.  He spent time with individuals and ministered to their minds and bodies.

In this way, Jesus gave us a very important example to follow.  Matthew tells us the story of the Pharisee who approached Jesus and tried to trick him with a question.  “What is the greatest commandment?”  Jesus responded by saying to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  Then Jesus went on to say, “and the second is like it: “love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

"Love God and neighbor" is a central teaching in Christianity.  For Christians, the command to love God and neighbor is essential to our faith and practice.  Loving God involves putting God first in our life, following His commandments, and worshiping Him with sincerity and devotion.  Loving one's neighbor means treating others with kindness, compassion, and respect.  This includes not only those who are similar to oneself but also those who are different in terms of culture, race, or religion.  The Bible teaches that all people are created in God's image and are therefore deserving of love and respect.

Matthew 28 tells us that we are to go and make disciples, to baptize them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and to teach them to obey Jesus’ teachings.  Just as Jesus was sent to seek and save the lost, you and I are sent. 

For most of us, God is not calling us to change the world through our own power or wealth or personality.  I cannot stop wars, pandemics, street violence, and a lot of other things.  But as James tells us, “religion that God the Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”  I can follow the example of Jesus and wash the feet of the person that God puts in front of me today.  God is calling us to love Him and to love each other, and we can be more than conquerors in the way that we love God and neighbor.  He is calling us to wash the feet of the people that He puts in front of us today. 

To seek and save the lost.  To love God and neighbor.  To look after the orphans and widows.  That doesn’t leave a lot of time to stop the wars and the earthquakes.  Jesus didn’t change the world through revolution.  He changed the world through a revolutionary idea…loving our neighbor.  Jesus went out to the streets to seek and save broken people, and in the next 300 years, the world Christianized.  By the third century, Christianity had become a significant force in the Roman Empire, and the conversion of Emperor Constantine signaled that Christianity had become the favored religion of the known world.  The growth of the Christian church was a testament to the faith, dedication, and perseverance of the early Christians, as well as to the power of the message of the gospel…to love God and love our neighbor.

What is my job today?  What is your job today?  It is the same.  Go to the streets, seek and save the lost, and minister to the needs of the person that God puts in front of me today.

David was a great king, a humble man who loved, trusted, and served God faithfully.  He made some big mistakes, but he was still called “a man after God’s own heart.”  He did what God placed before him, and then he died.  Acts 13:36 says, “Now when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep.”  My challenge today is to ask that question, “what is God’s purpose in my generation?”  Our purpose happens with the next person we see.  And the person after that.  When we walk out of that door, we are fulfilling our purpose with every person that God places in our path.  Let’s not allow ourselves to get so overwhelmed by the bigness of the world’s problems that we cannot see God’s purpose right in front of us.  And, like David, may we serve God’s purpose in our generation.

God bless you!

 

The Time In Between - A Devotional for the Board of Elders, Community Christian Fellowship

Devotional: "The Time In Between" 

By Joe Walenciak, February 2025, Board of Elders, Community Christian Fellowship

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

Our lives have many stories.  Most of you know this.  We reach a stage in life where we see these stories start to come to an end.  This may be a job or career, areas of ministry or activity, or even the people in our lives.  For example, for many years, I have taken big spring break groups to Guatemala.  This year I am not, and for various reasons, I think that the story of the big spring break Guatemala trip has probably ended.  People ask me how I will keep this ministry going or who I am grooming to replace me.  I don’t think they will, at least not with me.  For me, what is important about this story is that it happened, not that I have to find a way to keep it going. 

Stories have a sunrise and a sunset.  We are born into this world by God’s design, and one day, we will step into eternity.  But what truly matters is what happens in between—the way we live, the choices we make, the faith we cultivate, and the lives we impact or who impact us.

It is difficult to let go, and when it comes to the things we do for many years, it is natural to wonder about our impact.  We ask, Will I leave a legacy?  Did I make a difference?  Will I be remembered?  But the truth is, legacy is not ours to control or even understand.  It is God who multiplies the seeds we plant.  He is the one who determines the harvest.  We are not called to be successful…just faithful.

Jesus spoke often of seeds—of the mustard seed that grows into a great tree (Matthew 13:31-32), of the sower scattering seed on different soils (Matthew 13:3-9).  His message was clear:  our role is to be faithful in the planting.  The growth, the harvest, the legacy—those belong to God.

Sometimes, however, we worry not just about impact, but about keeping a story going—whether it be a ministry, a tradition, or even a season of leadership.  It is hard to let go.  We hold on, trying to sustain something that God may be calling us to release.  Stories end, and that’s okay.  Letting go does not mean failure; it means trusting God for the next chapter, even if we don’t yet see what it will be…or if it even involves us directly.

Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow.”  Sometimes, we are called to plant.  Other times, we are called to water.  And sometimes, we are called to step back and let something end so that God can bring something new.

This month, CCF experienced the painful loss of Pastor Jessie, and we were reminded that stories come to an end.  But Pat has been quick to remind us of what is more important:  how Jessie lived his life, not how he lost it.  Honestly, I did not know Jessie very well, but he was part of our CCF family.  We grieve the loss of a friend, and we trust in God.  But I doubt if we will ever know in this life the harvest that came from the seeds that Jessie planted throughout his life.

As elders, we are not just caretakers of what has been—we are stewards of what God is doing now and what God will do in the future.  I pray that we have the wisdom to know when to press forward, when to persevere, and when to let go, trusting that God is still writing His greater story.

Reflection Questions:

1.       What stories in your life or ministry might be coming to a natural end, and how can you embrace this transition with faith and trust in God's timing?

2.       In what areas of your leadership are you holding on too tightly, perhaps out of a desire to control the legacy or sustain a tradition, rather than releasing it to God’s will?

3.       How can you differentiate between a season that requires perseverance and a season that calls for letting go? What discernment practices can help with this?

4.       As a steward of God’s work in the church, how are you balancing honoring the past with being open to new directions God may lead the church?

5.       Reflecting on the legacy of Pastor Jessie, how can we focus more on living faithfully today without being distracted by how we will be remembered tomorrow?