It seems my life is filled with empty hotel rooms. I am in Oklahoma getting ready to do another missions service. The hotels are gruesome no matter how nice they are are decorated. They just become rooms with a television after a while. As I told one young man who wanted to know how to get a job doing what I do, “the weather channel looks the same in every city!”It is not the travel that pushes me out the door of my home each week. It is the opportunity to challenge another congregation how they can change their world through missions giving. It is the chance that a young person will snatch the dream of a commitment to commit to carry the Gospel somewhere around the world. It is the opportunity that what we do will give a drink of water to a thirsty soul or a slice of bread to a hungry child. I don’t know how long I will be able to do what I do but as long as I can go and people will ask me to come I will pack my bag. My heart burns with a message to challenge others to see what Christ saw and He felt when He saw the multitude. He said to those around Him, “Who will feed these?” This week a mission group I met with who provides discipleship literature around the world had a question asked of them. It was by a new convert in a far away country who asked after accepting Christ, “What I do now?” My responsibility is to help others answer the same question, “What will I do now?” about those who ask, “What I do now?”
The Essential Wooden
Quotes from the book
Live as though you will die tomorrow. Learn as though you will
Live forever. Page 5
There is nothing stronger than gentleness. It takes strength on the inside to be gentle on the outside. Page 9 and 11
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail! Page 70
A great player who is not a team player is not a great player! Page 78
It is hard for second-class citizens to do a first rate job-to take pride in their work or the organization that treats them poorly. It is not their fault. It’s your (the leaders) fault! Page 82
Somebody makes decisions, yes, but that doesn’t make that
person superior. Everybody is working together. Eddie Powell Page 83
If you don’t have time to do it right when will you have time to do it over. Page 97
Here is the question to be asked, “we are many, but are we much?” the role of the leader is to make those “many” become “much.” Page 111
One important aspect of character is the ceaseless desire to Improve. Page 113
Those under your supervision must be taught that they will succeed only to the degree to which the help their team succeed. For this to occur, they must be eager to assist others, to share the ball, information, contacts, experience, credit and ideas.
Do not mistake activity for achievement. Page 120
If I do not feel there is a place that you can contribute, I would not want you to waste your time, and if you do not feel you are a part of the team as a whole, then you should drop out. Although I prefer to go too far with a player rather than not far enough. I will drop you when I am certain that you are wasting your time. Page 119
There is a choice you have to make, in everything you do. So keep in mind that in the end, the choice you make, makes you. Page 125
The strength of the pack is the wolf. The strength of the wolf is the pack! Killings law of the jungle. Page 127
I don’t care how tall you are. I care how tall you play! Page 129
A friend looking at the Pacific Ocean for the first time “it is not as big as I expected!” I may be wrong but I think the Pacific Ocean was unfazed by its failure to meet my friend’s expectations. Page 173
Sometimes there’s no solution -only consequence. Page 180
I believe a leader should provide for the future of the team. How it does when you’re gone is a reflection of how you did when you were there. How can you be a leader of integrity and walk away and leave the cupboard bare? Page 182
A day lived without doing something good for others is a day not worth living. Mother Teresa Page 183
Success comes before victory! It is the great priority, the Great Goal. Page 186
Epilogue
Eight laws of learning
Explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition, repetition,
Repetition, repetition and repetition.
The heights of great men reached and kept, were not attained by sudden
flight. But they, while their companion slept, where toiling upward in
The night. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Talent is God-given-be humble.
Fame is man-given-be thankful!
Conceit is self-given-be careful! Unknown
The one who once most wisely said, “be sure you’re right, then go
ahead.” might have well have added this to it, “Be sure you’re wrong
before you quit.” unknown
“Most anyone can stand adversity, but to test a man’s character give
Him power.” Abe Lincoln
The force of character is calmative. Ralph Waldo Emerson