• politically correct – never liked!
• acceptance - usually means leave me alone, I don’t have to get better, change, do differently
• truth – love the word, especially when put with “absolute,” but most of us add the word “convenient” at the front
• love – we sadly have greatly cheapened it (at core, it’s selfless and others’-focused)
• I plan on being there – easily translated, if nothing better comes along – or – to appease you, but if I don’t show, don’t hold it against me
• Christian – has become very broad and can mean whatever the speaker or hearer wants it to be, that’s why I prefer “Christ follower”

Hear is a word I love more and more, with every passing day. Defer.

According to Merriam Webster to defer is to submit to another’s wishes, opinion, or governance usually through “deference” or respect. Deference means affected or ingratiating (ie pleasing) regard for another’s wishes.

When is the last time you saw someone defer. One of my regular times of deferring is when I see red lights in my rear view mirror. I definitely was “ingratiating” to one of Washington Court House’s finest last September heading out on vacation.

Where else? Keep reflecting, you’ll think of someone. Sadly, some reading have never seen it.

A mother to her month-old baby. How about anytime we meet a hero or someone famous? We’ll wait in a long line for a few brief pleasantries.

I’ll see it this Sunday with our “Called To Love” tour concert. People will be eager to mix/mingle with Jason Gray, Aaron Shust and any of the Downhere guys (www.tinyurl.com/TC2LTsgate).

They’ll wait, they’ll laugh at less than funny jokes. They’ll think nothing but the best. They’ll want a picture.

Simply put, others ahead of self.

Our children did this well this weekend. We had friends’ 1 1/2 year old over for a day (see photo of Ollie), so they could get away. My children deferred often and wore that DNA for 24 hours. It was natural.

But in typical, every day relationships, it’s me first, and you are doing well to be second.

We ate lunch Sunday at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. As I was placing my order, a little girl (about 10), dressed very nice, like back from church, came up to the girl waiting on me, and asked, “Can I place my order?’

The teenage girl continued to wait on me. The young preteen repeated her question four times, clearly expecting a response.

After we ordered, sat our children at their table and we went to some high-rise tables/chairs, the young girl and her friend raced to the table we had just about reached and looked at us unabashedly and said, “that’s our table.”

Clearly, she needs taught about deference potentially among other lessons.

Whether husband to wife, student to teacher, employee to employer, player to coach, and so on, to use movie venacular, it’s been in select theaters, at best.

But you know who the author, liver and breather of deference was and is – certainly – Jesus. He did this for you … and for me!

Who do you defer to? Who do you need to defer to? Relationships at their best have a high-level of deferring one to another over and over again. What will it really cost you? What will you potentially gain? The choice and lifestyle is yours to make … or break!!

Our next Lunch Series (REDEEMING VALUE) will be June 8, 15 & 22 at Security Bank downtown, from 11:45-1, $10 per lunch w/ speakers Drew Flamm, Craig Grammar and Wally Martinson.

Chuck Colson led many folks out behind the bars of their lives, including his own!

I referenced people’s testimonies (life story, impacted by a holy God) and song lyrics that have really spoken to my heart the last couple of weeks.

I referenced some big lessons I’ve been learning (sorry for any confusion, I don’t need a literal heart transplant, but a definite “spiritual” one ;o)  ) and witnessing in others.

My friend who recently submitted to the lordship of Christ and is growing at a rapid pace and is a sponge, and three songs that have really convicted and breathed life into my soul as of late.

Chuck Colson, who recently died on April 21, is such an amazing paradox. He was involved in one of our country’s biggest scandals, Watergate, and yet his redemptive story, recently led to him being labeled “one of the great American public lives of the 20th century.”

How can that be, he was so infamous for his fall from public and political grace, as he was one of the “Watergate Seven,” as a hatchet man of sorts for President Nixon and was guilty of obstruction of justice.

But like Paul on the Road to Damascus, an experience in a literal and figurative prison, turned Colson’s life around forever.

He was never the same. Nor was the American system of discipline, known as prison.

Colson’s post-Watergate life was filled with growing the nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families. A high-profile national leader, greatly humbled and couldn’t not leave the bars behind.  Instead he left a legacy of greatness, by investing every ounce of his being to see many liberated from their own mis-doings and failures.

“I won’t be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes, understanding is my song and I sing
My hope is in You alone”

(MY HOPE IS IN YOU, Aaron Shust, longest-running #1 single of 2011. Shust will be joining Downhere and Jason Gray for a concert with the Gathering and Southgate Baptist, on Mother’s Day, 5/13/12)

Those lyrics speak to Colson’s life of faithfulness and obedience to a God, who is more than faithful.

I love when we get to hear these stories. Look online and read more about Colson, and his dramatic Apostle-Paul-like 180 life change that impacted a nation.

It’s one more reason I look forward to our concert in just under two weeks, as we get to hear Jason Gray and Aaron Shust (also Downhere) sing and share stories about real lives. Their own. Their realities. Jason has dealt with a lifelong struggle with stuttering. No, interestingly enough, he doesn’t stutter when he sings.

And Aaron has a few month-old son, Michael (read more www.tinyurl.com/ASwhyleave), who was born with Down’s syndrome.   

No limelight keeps us from life’s major challenges and struggles. Although it can be seen more visibly when it is used for good and victory, based on the size of the platform.

While I was on vacation for nine days, God was anything but away.    I was previously unaccustomed to this when relaxing on the beach at the Sunset Inn in Panama City Beach. But His agenda wins out regardless. He had laser precision on some of my blind spots and areas of weakness. Heart surgery was needed.  I saw much in me that has to change, and much growth areas that need some victory.  I reflected on changed lives I get to witness often and the power of song lyrics that so often speak to me.   Three lives were on my radar.   One, was a new friend who recently came to Christ and has surrendered to Jesus as Lord as driver with the keys to His life. The second was Chuck Colson (I’ll speak on him next week), who is known to a good many as the man deeply entrenched in the Watergate scandal, to others as a man of God who has impacted American Christianity like few others. The last person I reflected and focused much thought on was me.   In thinking of these lives, I thought about some song lyrics (this will be a two-part MMM, concluding next Monday) that stir my heart.   I mentioned the incredible story of this young man locally that came to our Jeff Struecker breakfast on March 28, and in his words, “I can’t tell you how much my eyes have been opened.”   He wants to be the best He can, with much good in his life, yet knows there is something missing. We can only be our best, when we desire His best. His agenda is better than ours.   He said to me, “I feel like a young boy who just fell in love.”   Jason Gray (coming to Springfield on 5/13), whose songs MORE LIKE FALLING IN LOVE and REMIND ME WHO I AM, have been huge radio hits, sings it another way.   “Love, Love Deeper and deeper It was love that made me a believer In more than a name, a faith, a creed Falling in love with Jesus brought the change in me.”   While in Florida, I saw how jaded my heart can get, and how I lack much compassion and love all too often. Casting Crowns’s song, JESUS FRIEND OF SINNERS, spoke to where I was and often am.   “Always looking around but never looking up I’m so double minded A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided … You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast… Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast But you died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet…”   I still need a God-delivered heart transplant. I need to see Him more clearly, and daily die to self (my #1 life goal), so He can truly reign, live and be seen as He is, for all to be witnesses.   Newsboys, who performed so well at Kuss Saturday night, say it so well…   “Split the sky with your glory Bring to life an awakening Burn away everything that’s not for You.”      Now, think on that last stanza for a moment….   (I’ll pick up on this next Monday)     Jason Gray & others will be @ www.southgatechurch.org for your Mother's Day pleasure!

• There will be a FREE lunch (http://tinyurl.com/GMOsnb427) this FRI at Security National Bank for men to come & hear about a new iniative locally, based on a global outreach, led by local pastor/businessman John Essig.  Come here how you can serve & do something very simple daily to impact the world.  RSVP today & no later than TUES at 4 p.m.
• Join us @ fellowship, on FRI, 5/4, for the Chick-Fil-A Leadercast. This year’s speakers include Tim Tebow, Urban Meyer, Patrick Lencioni, Andy Stanley, John Maxwell & much more. Cost (http://tinyurl.com/CFA54fcc) is $49 & includes lunch.
• Jason Gray will be making his return to Springfield after a successful concert last summer (500 attended). He will be joined by up-and-coming band, DownHere, and Aaron Shust, who had the longest running #1 single of 2011 (“My Hope Is In You”) on Mother’s Day, 5/13/12 at Southgate Baptist Church at 6:30. For ticket information, go to Beacon of Hope Stores (Bechtle Avenue) or www.tinyurl.com/TC2LTsgate.  See Aaron’s personalized promo (attached), Jason’s @ www.tinyurl.com/JGpromoSGATE & Glenn from DownHere @ www.tinyurl.com/TC2LTpromoDH
• One of the area’s best golf outings is May 29 @ Country Club of the North (register today individually or w/ a foursome) – http://www.cedarville.edu/Event/Cedarville-Open.aspx
• Our next Lunch Series (REDEEMING VALUE) will be June 8, 15 & 22 at Security Bank downtown, from 11:45-1, $10 per lunch w/ speakers Drew Flamm, Craig Grammar and Wally Martinson.

I love the moments we are gifted and get to create in life.

Jeff Struecker & Bill Brown enjoying some RnR after a full morning of speaking (@ Cedarville University)

• A-Ha Moment
• Big Mac Moment – new ad campaign by McDonald’s
• Moment of Silence
• Wrestlemania moment – busted, yes, I watched this with a group of guys last night
• Defining Moment
• One Shining Moment – the NCAA men’s basketball tourney has perfected marketing with this great song, phrase that will draw many to TV sets tonight around 11:30

• “It was awesome Jeff, can’t tell u how much it opened my eyes.” - 29 year old business man
• “I would like to somehow become more involved.  I’m not sure what that means but I thought I would let you know.  When they were talking about being warriors this morning I knew it was time for me to take another step in my journey.  Thank you again it was an amazing day.” - 47 year old business man
• “After last Wednesday, seeing and hearing Jeff talk, I know that I am missing a friend to walk the path of life with, I have a truly loving wife but she can not fill this gap of a man friend.” - 63 year old manufacturer
  

• Jason Gray will be making his return to Springfield after a successful concert last summer (500 attended). He will be joined by up-and-coming band, DownHere, and Aaron Shust, who had the longest running #1 single of 2011 (“My Hope Is In You”) on Mother’s Day, 5/13/12 at Southgate Baptist Church at 6:30. For ticket information, go to www.tinyurl.com/TC2LTsgate and see Jason’s personalized promo for the show @ www.tinyurl.com/JGpromoSGATE
• Our next Lunch Series (REDEEMING VALUE) will be June 8, 15 & 22 at Security Bank downtown, from 11:45-1, $10 per lunch w/ speakers Drew Flamm, Craig Grammar and Wally Martinson. 

   

The lobby of the bookstore at The Abbey of Gethsemani

My last official blog post was just over a year ago. A good friend was quick to point that out last week. He also challenged me about a question I answered in a survey, and through my response, and said “there’s your book, you’ve been wanting to write.”

I didn’t think my idea/thought was that impactful, he must have thought otherwise. I’ve been squirming around the last week, processing why I haven’t written in quite some time.

Here are some quick thoughts:

• It’s hard to come up with a compelling thought on a regular basis.
• It takes time, time I often feel like I don’t have.
• Being critiqued is not fun, or something I quickly embrace at times.
• Some people won’t agree with what I have to say.
• Who really cares about what I have to write about?

Sounds  pretty straightforward on why not to pursue writing again. But then there is flip side.

• I’m being vulnerable typically with what I’m writing about. I know God has called me to be vulnerable and that is the DNA of the Gathering, as well. OUCH!
• While it takes time, I don’t think I can afford not to take this time, as a way for me to invest in a larger group of people on a one-shot deal each week. Distance, time, scheduling doesn’t interfere with a blog post.
• I need to be critiqued, it makes me better, and I realize how much I need growth and more of God’s heart surgery.
• Some people won’t agree with what I have to say. Isn’t that a good thing. That will get me thinking. That will stretch me. Too many of us today want only “yes” people around us. “No” people draw out of us.
• Plenty of folks won’t care what I have to say. But the track record before was much good feedback, much encouragement and this led to meetings and ideas being shared and transferred.
• Some of the folks reading opened up to me in ways they didn’t open to others, or maybe even it led to more of the same. Vulnerability begets vulnerability.
• This allows people to get to know me both on a deeper level and stay current. A friend of mine who has blogged a good bit, met someone at an airport and when introduced to a new friend, the new friend replied I already know you. My friend looked surprised because they had never met. She said she had read his writings.
• Based on my friend’s introduction, I can relate to that. I’ve had a meeting with Mitch Albom, Mark Batterson and Stephen Mansfield, who I’m big fans of their writing. I’ve never met Dan Cathy or Michael Hyatt. Regardless I feel like I know all of them well, from reading them for years.
• It leads to reflection before I write and when feedback comes my way.  Anything that leads to reflection is usually a good thing.
• Lastly and most important, I think God has called me to do this, to trust Him, and on some level, I feel like I”ve been disobedient for going this long without writing.

The last list looks bigger than the first. Hmmm.  I’m going to write more regularly, every week or two.

I want the feedback.  I want the challenges. I want ideas for topics. Sure, I’ll take some encouragement. Let me leave you with a favorite picture of mine. A picture of one of my favorite spots in the world – www.monks.org – a place that draws me to reflection on my twice/yearly journey there. That word “obedience” sums writing up for me.

Until next time…

• Jason Gray will be making his return to Springfield after a successful concert last summer (500 attended). He will be joined by up-and-coming band, DownHere, and Aaron Shust, who had the longest running #1 single of 2011 (“My Hope Is In You”) on Mother’s Day, 5/13/12 at Southgate Baptist Church at 6:30. For ticket information, go to www.tinyurl.com/TC2LTsgate and see Jason’s personalized promo for the show @ www.tinyurl.com/JGpromoSGATE

That John Maxwell quote has resonated with me significantly lately.

Example A.

Five other Springfield men, my dad and I went to the Dominican Republic last week to plan, strategize with Team Gathering from around the states and see the work of www.missionemanuel.org (an outreach under our umbrella).

We met Anna on Friday and she serves as the point person of the health clinic at Mission Emanuel. She graduated from OSU and has a master’s in administration.

Her heart, compassion and leadership was easily visible. Any businessman I know in our region would hire her in a heartbeat for multiple positions I would guess.

She is an excellent communicator, highly educated, and has a heart of gold. As one team member said, “She’d make $80k back home.”

Her total budget in the DR, counting travel, expenses and salary is a whopping $20k.

A major takeaway from the trip for me was the clear delineation of leadership there compared to here.  The leaders were obvious. Positions and titles weren’t as important as simply following with great respect.

We look for reasons to not follow, obey and to rebel against leadership on all levels typically. In a city of 3.5 million, I’m sure Santo Domingo has its leadership issues, I just know in my five days with our sister ministry, I didn’t see it.

Whether it was John, Javier, Immanuel, Anna, Jack, leadership served, people followed, and lives were changed and are changing.

I can speak on this, my life was changed.

A quick experiment.  This week’s MMM will be sent to roughly 2500. If each person sent a check of $10 to (address below), we could fulfill her annual budget. That’s right, pretty simple.

The Gathering/USA / c/o Anna Bianco / 1220 E. Concord Street / Orlando, FL 32803

We’ll start the charge with $250.

There’s a price for superior leadership. I saw great sacrifice in the DR. And Anna is a excellent, count-the-cost leader, one any Ohioan could be proud of, and then some.

As the old line goes, God is never late, but He’s always right on time.

“GREAT NEWS! Thanks to the loving effort of chaplain Miriam from Cardone Industries in PA, who I had the pleasure of sharing the gospel with 2 weeks ago, my dad, Sonny Franzese, has accepted Jesus into his heart. Thousands of you have been praying for him. THANK YOU! At 94, he still needs prayer to complete God’s work in his life. Team Sonny, GO FOR IT!”

• We microwave … He simmers!
• We rush through the crowd … He gazes and sees and meets needs that others miss.
• We cram … He simplifies.
• We move … He can not be moved.
• We (often) labor in vain … His work always produces fruit.

Can you really argue? 

I love my wife, Kara, of almost 10 years and couldn’t ask for more.  But this and every Valentine’s we get to celebrate much “more” with our own precious Valentine, Leah, as she turns two.

I have heard many a men at concerts, shows and in other public speaking venues, talk about men being wrapped around their little girl’s finger.

I was very content with three boys, after our last boy, Alex, was born. As Edwin McCain would sing, “How could I ask for more.”

Three was it, I thought, as expectations were exceeded.  But God knew better, He knew there was more joy to be had for Team Pinkleton.

Leah has brought just that.  From greeting me each night before dinner with “HI Daaaadddeeeeee!” to her tangled hair to raising her right hand in worship to dancing and singing around the house to bossing her brothers around to sounding as if she’s in mid-sentence when we open her bedroom door each morning to … this list just goes on.

I didn’t think it could get better than our three boys. But that is my ways and my thinking.  God certainly has higher and loftier ways and thoughts.

Leah proves that over and over. I love writing a letter to each of my family members on their birthday and for those that have a spiritual birthday I do the same.

I hope you enjoy your holiday today every bit as much as I enjoy mine … just a wee-”Leah” bit!! 

Please pray – Myself & 7 others are joining our national staff & a few key leaders on a trip to the DR (2/24-28) – http://missionemanuel.org/

OK, I overstated that a bit, but if you read last week, I do love stories, and this one is fantastic.

He waited his turn.  He overcame much adversity (see Brett Favre). He followed a legend (very few examples of that ever go well). His team gets the major injury bug during the season and in the biggest game of the year.

And in this day and age, do you know what he didn’t do?  Cry about it. Moan and groan. Draw attention to himself. He was a team player. He led by example. He let his play do the talking (and yes, I love the championship belt gimmick!).

I loved his composure every time he was shown on the sidelines in Dallas and every time I saw the Packers. Do you know what I loved most? He grabbed his opportunity. He made the most of it. He has exactly the number of championships as #4. Brett one, Aaron one.

An opportunity presented itself, and a champion was crowned.

Most everyone thought the Packers and Ted Thompson were crazy for saying “See you, Brett, it’s Aaron’s turn.” I did. You probably did.

The Packers represent everything good about sports. The fans own the team in a heartbeat of America, blue-collar, small town (especially by NFL standards). They pride themselves on cheese. The NFL championship trophy is called, what else, the Lombardi trophy. He knew a little something about Green Bay.

If you had no dog in the fight, how can you cheer against the Pack? I’d say the same about Rodgers.

I love when people overcome. Overcoming is step one, becoming a champ is a bigger step. Sure, many of us face bigger things in life than media scrutiny, following a legend, while making millions to play a child’s game as a career.

That’s just it. You and I struggle. Maybe you think you are watching life pass by, as you are on the sidelines. You have maybe been dealt some blows, that hit hard, more impacting in life than a regular-season football game or a Super Bowl.

But do you know what? You have opportunities all the time, that come in challenging, tragic, maybe even ideal forms. What you do with it, will determine if you are a champion! Once achieved, I bet you’ll be able to count the ways!

• SEE THE ATTACHED DOCUMENT: Dine @ TGI Friday’s (kids eat free!) tomorrow, TUES 2/8/11, & the Gathering gets 20% kickback. You win, and the Gathering wins! Print and take in to eat!
• Comedian Jeff Allen will be performing @ www.ecaoh.com on 3/12/11 (contact Jessica Dewey, jdewey@ecaoh.com or 390-3777,  for more information)
• The last week left in our DESIRES Lunch Series - http://tinyurl.com/2fa77ap - is FRI guys.  We are averaging 40/week. Please RSVP by WED afternoon! Another series will be coming this summer!
• Chamber annual meeting is 2/16/11 (a must-attend event & then some) – http://tinyurl.com/4lsvp6l!!
• SAVE THE DATE: US Senate Chaplain Barry Black will be here for our 4th Annual Outreach Event (a dinner, not a breakfast) @ www.ecaoh.com on SAT, 5/7/11!