"Too Busy?"

First Lady Laura Bush

It’s been said: “If you want to get something done ask a “busy” person.” Most make excuses and the rest EXECUTE to get things done. God gave me a phrase that I coined years ago: “THE GREATS ARE GRACIOUS.” It is a trend, thread and theme that I’ve witnessed in politics, ministry, professional sports, education, entertainment and ministry.

This is not a rant or rave but a review of what I have noticed first hand. Perhaps, this would be a great time for a REPORT CARD to privately ask ourselves how we are doing? When I think of Dr Johnny Hunt, I think of Christ, character and constituent service. It never ceases to amaze me how a man leading a mega-church in Woodstock, GA (much less 40 million Southern Baptist’s) and speaking all over the map during the week, countless interviews, press conferences, task force meetings and the list is endless, still has time to respond personally! If I send an email or text to him; he has always responded immediately if not instantly. Yet, others running a small business or church less than 200 wouldn’t respond to an email or phone call in six months. This is not related to the size of membership but a “small” mentality while the same folks are “MIA” and hiding behind the “busy” card. Praise God, we have come far in “race” but in relations and correspondence we have dropped the baton.

This could be a two post blog but I will wrap this up like a faith-filled fajita without the fries 🙂 One of my favorite movies from recent years is “THE BODYGUARD” starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Ironically, Kevin played a retired United States Secret Service agent (named Frank Farmer). The name “Frank” means “leader” and “integrity.” Still trying to live up to that name while carrying the name CHRISTian. In the movie, Frank’s mother died the week President Ronald Reagan was shot and he was not on post the day the president was hit because he (Frank) was attending his mother’s funeral. He said: “My greatest fear is not being there.” Meaning, not present when things go wrong or as the teens on the street say: “Go down.”

When I worked on Capitol Hill, we had a unwritten rule in the Congressman’s Office that should someone call the office: “We never asked their party affiliation, nor who did you vote for in the past election but how may we SERVE you.” In my best Bishop T.D. Jakes impression: “WATCH THIS – WATCH THIS.” The second part to that “un-written” rule to us as staff was that we had 48 hours (two business days) to return their phone call. My friends, that is “CONSTITUENT SERVICE.” Regardless, if they were the town drunk, didn’t have cash, didn’t donate previously, it didn’t matter. The congressman (to his credit) replied: “If they took the time to call my office than we must respond sooner rather than later.

What is a sad commentary is when some in ministry mock elected leaders in government (secular) and yet whom represent God don’t have the courtesy or courage to return a phone call. Again, this is not to make folks mad but it is true: “If the shoe fits wear it.” Keep in mind, that the average congressman or congresswoman represents over 500,000 consituents. What I have learned about leadership is not how many are “following you” but are you serving them and keeping in touch in the process. Pastor Cho overseas may be getting close (no joke) but I don’t know anyone running half a million in church these days but if elected officials of government respond perhaps as kids of the King and servants of the Most High God it is time we try as well.

When a person visits or calls a church we shouldn’t answer: “What denomination are you?” But rather, how may we serve you in the Name of Jesus? Dr Johnny Pope is another class act and he is also one of my heroes of the faith. My precious pastor Rev. Marvin Harris and untold folks “get it” and the problem with naming names is that others may feel left out but I wanted to just highlight a few who are amazing at follow-up. In basketball, when a player takes a shot; his arm is extended, the ball rotates off the tips of his/her fingers and their wrist snaps toward the rim. As the ball is released their fingers face the rim and every baller knows it is called the “FOLLOW THROUGH.” It is like an infrared beam and depending on where the beam is aimed that is where the bullet is heading.

The FOLLOW THROUGH or follow-up (constituent service) is arguably, one of the most important parts of leadership. Keep in mind, that leadership is “serving.” It is one thing to be on stage, speak and shine but its as Ed Young, Jr says: “A WHOLE NUTHA LEVEL” to serve. Ed also has a way with words and he said: If you are not serving than you are SWERVING.” That will preach! It is true, “People don’t care about how much you know but they want to know how much you care.”

Without question, I am convinced that the Redeemer would return phone calls, Emmanuel would answer emails and the Triune God would text people back. In closing, I want to share with you a time where I “dropped the ball.” Again, this post is written in love and my longing is to politely remind all that we can all work on this for homework to be not only stronger leaders but more importantly better disciples of Christ. Last December, I was in a whirlwind (schedule). Anyone that knows me realizes that I “roll” and by God’s grace stay pretty busy. In December alone, I preached 16 sermons in a couple states while co-pastoring a country church. Despite, being a husband, father, part-time senior pastor and travelling the nation as an evangelist, throw in “last minute” Christmas shopping; I was “smack in the middle” of planning for a Christmas concert that our church was hosting.

We had a child in our church who was struggling with cancer and needed another surgery but it was scheduled the day of our annual Christmas banquet. I just got in town the day before preaching (out of state) and I was not only the promoter but preacher for the service that evening and was in charge of pulling it together. Ironically, friends from other churches have been known to contact me to visit the sick in the hospital because for some reason their own leadership team doesn’t do hospital visits, etc.

With God’s help and a burning desire to love on folks and like Kevin Costner’s character “be there” we (God, Ruth & I), have moved Heaven and Earth at times to be a blessing when folks are broken. However, this was one time that I was truly “busy” but just humanly couldn’t be there (I thought). Her family asked me to drive into Washington, DC to pray “in person” at 5 AM with her before going into surgery. In my heart, I was trying to tell them that God is already there and I will gladly “call in” and pray by phone but with my own children at home and Andrew less than a year old and trying to minister to my wife and family; my life had changed (since being single) and despite still being extremely accessible on this one occassion I couldn’t “be there” like I wanted. I have learned that when folks are hurting, they don’t care if you are dining with a governor or just got off the phone with a celebrity, could care less that your own bills are piling up or that you just spoke in seven states in four weeks (LITERALLY). Its not that they are clingy, rude or immature but desperate people do desperate things. They don’t care they just want to hear that you care for them! They long for you to “be there” and hear from you.

Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to the hospital but we prayed and I corresponded with them a couple times and kept in touch during the entire recovery process. Sometimes, even while calling in from a hotel half way across the country back on the road preaching. “Murphy’s Law” is if anything can go wrong it does well the one time I was “too busy” would you believe a visitor did come by the hospital that day. It was none other than First Lady Laura Bush! Man, I felt about two inches tall 🙁 Yes, I was swamped and running non-stop but it showed me two things that day: “It’s ironic, that despite my slammed schedule the First Lady of the United States of America had time to walk the halls (unannounced) to visit children in the cancer ward of a DC hospital. Wow, if she despite her position, platform and piles to do had time – just how “busy” am I? Secondly, God uses willing hands with caring hearts to help lend a hand to those down, discouraged and/or dying but praise the Lord for her visit!

Honestly, I still felt “horrible” that I wasn’t there but Jesus is always present (even in our absence). My prayer daily is to resemble the Redeemer wherever I go and to whomever is in need. An image of God that is ingrained in my mind is fourfold: Jesus laughing, Jesus weeping, Jesus dying with outstretch arms and Jesus walking ALIVE out of that garden tomb! Jesus died with “out-stretched arms” and I want to live with out-stretched arms to follow up with a phone call, email a friend or be a blessing whenever possible. Some suggest that those who return calls (follow-up) have too much time on their hands. Nine times out of ten its the opposite. They just make most of their time and their time count.

On stage, artists and speakers to me as a child looked “larger than life.” Perhaps it was because they were center of attention in a crowd. As an adult, they appear very small when on stage in an arena when you are sitting near the back of a packed venue. However, in my opinion they are never bigger when they visit a sick person in a hospital, return a call or take the time to write a personal note. That is HUGE! Dr Hunt is a few inches shorter than me but without question this giant of the Gospel and humble servant of the cross will always be ten feet tall in my eyes. We are never “bigger” when we serve Jesus and bless others.

Leadership seminars encourage one to build in buffers or “blockers” to keep you away from folks. Lordship reminds us to serve those in our care. It’s not that one’s plate isn’t full but that true leaders live a life of purpose and since they place a huge value on people realize the priority is to follow-up. Dr Johnny Hunt once said: “I don’t want to be so succesful that folks cannot smell sheep on my clothing. I wouldn’t be much of a shepherd if folks cannot smell sheep on me.” WOW! Jesus and Johnny Hunt and a few others inspire me by their example to not only communicate on Sunday but correspond and CONNECT with others on Monday. Yes, the “greats are gracious” and they didn’t get to the top by accident. Despite a slammed schedule they still serve and return calls. In life, we can be busy or be a blessing. Read that again, you can be “busy” or be a blessing. Sometimes when I am most busy is the greatest opportunity to be a blessing. Yes, we stay pretty “busy” and certainly a work in progress. Be honest, just how “busy” are you?