ZIG, 1926 – 2012

As a young business owner there was not any man I admired and desired more to emulate than Zig Ziglar. His book, "See You at the Top" sat on both my bed-stand AND desk - and I referred to it often. I even sent him a gift once - sent from my agency to his North Dallas Headquarters - trying to get his attention with some salesmanship of my own. The gift came to him in a finely wrapped box complete with ribbon and note, and inside was a cassette and player (something quite familiar to his own market and trade) but with my voice greeting him to extol the virtues of D. Samuel Dennis Co., Advertising, and why he should consider giving us a shot as his companies agency representative of choice.

Yes, I was a decided ZIG fan! But... beyond all the times I'd heard him speak and above all the ways I was prone to admire him - as businessman, salesman, motivational speaker, and committed Christian - his greatest message to me was something I was to hear in quite a different way. Something I was to witness over these last 20 years as I was blessed to live near him in the same community. A message quieter than all others but oh so powerful - and one to which I was finally most drawn. THAT was Zig's faithful love and devotion to his wife, the woman he called, his "REDHEAD."

Below is an excerpt from Zig's website, taken from an article he wrote, The New Decision Close, in which he describes his proposal to Jean, something he would call 'his best decision ever'.

"I asked that Redhead of mine (she is a "decided" redhead, meaning that one day she just decided to be a redhead!) to marry me and she said no. I asked her the second time; she said no. Third time, no. Fourth time, no. Fifth time, no. Sixth time, yes. No, she did not change her mind. What she did was very simple. She made a new decision based on the new information which produced a new feeling."

From: Secrets of Closing the Sale
© 1984 Zig Ziglar
Published by Fleming H. Revell
PHS-018-005022
Visit Zig Ziglar's Website: http://www.ziglar.com

Occasionally Belinda and I would run into Zig and Jean at Luby's, and he - always so courteous and kind - would eventually assign our conversation to the joys of being in love with one woman, forever, and for always. Zig absolutely loved Jean! And she knew it! And if ever there was any better example of a man following Ephesians 5:25 and a woman positively responding to such, neither Belinda or I could recall it. 

Now the folks who worked at Luby's probably didn't know the Ziglar's as 'famous'. They likely didn't realize that Zig was honored and recognized the world over. They just knew them as 'that cute couple,' who were always smiling, laughing, and holding hands.  And that seemed to make our seeing them there even more special.  No performance.  The real thing! 

Yes, I suspect that if we could talk to Zig right now and ask him about his life, he'd point to two decisions that changed things for him forever. The first, would be his decision to make Christ His Savior and to serve Him with all his might. But the second, I believe, would be his grace to meet and decision to marry his wife, Jean - and then follow this in the joyful occupation, everyday, of 'staying in love' with his 'decided redhead.'  So that his final message to this man - born just one generation behind - was this...it's not just how you start or how you do along the way, but it's how you finish that counts!  And, well.... Zig finished swell. Holding tight onto the two very wonderful things he began with so long ago - one met in Yazoo City and the other in Jackson - his LORD and his Bride.  And THAT'S a message worth listening to, still.   

Well done, Zig!  

Pastor Sam  

12 November 2012, Veterans Day

Veterans Day is celebrated so that we might honor veterans of our American Armed Services who have defended freedom's cause at home and around the world. Often taken for granted, our freedom - though given us by God - must be defended in a fallen world. For, certainly, we have seen America flourish in freedom. This freedom has spawned our economic system of free-enterprise and factored in us maintaining our overarching psyche of national optimism and hope - bringing to history a nation never before equaled in accomplishment and purpose.  Indeed, the record of American success speaks, serving testimony that freedom benefits any people, in this and every time.

Yet protection of our national freedom is essential. For this reason we say, 'thank you', to the brave Americans who have made this possible for us by their sacrifice. On Veterans Day we honor those who have served and on Memorial Day we honor those who have fallen. Both days teaching the same lesson - that freedom, though granted by God and brought, ultimately, by freedom from sin because of Christ, is maintained 'nationally' and secured 'societally' at great price.

So we say, 'God Bless our Veterans.'  We honor you today, and say, 'thank you!' committing to not forget - neither you nor the price you've paid - enabling us to live free in a free land.

And... may God Bless America, too! - as she aids and defends the selfsame for others around the world!

Let freedom ring!


Pastor Sam
 

November 7, 2012

This morning I awoke to a gorgeous, sunshine-filled day that bespoke an opposite sentiment of many I am privileged to pastor. For these, the sun was not shinning when they awakened, and, in sentiment's place was gloom - a gloom over their sense that our culture appears bent on a path moving away from values held basic to Christian faith.

Considering this, as I prayed this morning, I sought God for a word I might share and was reminded of three simple, yet profound, principles we are all called to. For as God's people we are to:

1. Remember our responsibility - God forever calls His people, in the Old Testament, the New Testament and now, to repentance and revival.
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:14

2. Rest in God's way - God is Judge, not us. This has forever been His responsibility, and remains. When the church attempts to take this from God, we lose our way - and we are admonished in God's Word to not do so.
For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. 1 Corinthians 4: 3-4 

3. Reestablish our call and purpose -  The proclamation of the gospel is the supreme purpose of the church. God's compassion for sinners is what brought us Christ, and this same position, only, is what ultimately will ignite His church and bring change to our world, if it is to be. The church flourishes in righteousness and mercy, not in righteousness and bitterness, or fear, or anger, or... etc., etc., etc.
“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Matthew 7: 1-4 
When God called Israel to repentance and to remembrance of its purpose of being a light to the Gentiles (Nations), He spoke this word through His prophet Micah:
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 
The 'justice', if there is any, that God has call us to is a justice of offering mercy to one another.
"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Zechariah 7:9 
And the New Testament epistle from Jude reminds us that though we are to remain wary and wise to sin, we are to do so mercifully.
Keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh. Jude 1: 21-23 

So my prayer for each of us today is that we will be nothing less than what God has called us to be. For God still sits on His throne and His requirement of us is unchanged. Jonah did not want to go to Nineveh, but God put him in the belly of a whale and sent him there anyway. Jeremiah was considered by his peers to be a 'nut', yet his words are remembered today. And, Jesus? Well, He was nailed to a cross, and through this God brought redemption from sin.

So whether the sun is shinning for you today, or not - God's Son, our Savior Jesus Christ, is. Let us rejoice in this and be glad.  For we really do have...

Much yet to do,

Pastor Sam