LOOKING FOR A NEW JOB?
The world’s best organization is looking for good people who are difference makers.
Not long ago, in a Words of Hope, I spoke to the idea of kindness being described as useful goodness.
In 1967, my wife Susie and I took on a new job. Coach of Athletes in Action, a division of Campus Crusade for Christ. We both left great jobs in Alaska with a combined salary of $22,000 to make $3,600, that is if people were kind enough to donate.
Gail Wright, a talented pianist, was given the tough job of being my secretary. Gail and I have already celebrated 5O years of working together. Gail has kept NBC Camps at the highest possible level of financial integrity; in addition, she is a Bible dictionary and prayer warrior.
After reading WOH on kindness, Gail encouraged me do take a look at the book of Philemon. It is a tiny one chapter book tucked between Titus and Hebrews.
When I study the Word, it is important to me to know about the author. What better way than to visit a place the author has written about? So for me, the most important site to visit when traveling to Rome was Paul’s prison cell. It was a nasty place.
I took a basketball team there to do a gut check on our lives. How was it possible for Paul to write, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice,” was the question I exhorted my boys to ponder.
Onesimus, a runaway slave from Philemon, met Paul in prison. Paul and Philemon became brothers in Christ.
This letter is a remarkable example of one person standing in the gap for another. It is far too rich to share in this brief time with you. Inspire yourself as I did, and at Gail’s suggestion, read and study the book of Philemon.
To whet your appetite, realize Paul’s inspirational letter pleaded with Philemon, the slave owner, to give his slave, Onesimus, a new job. The job was freedom.
Two life lessons for me:
First, I want the feeling of a new job, every day, for the rest of my life. This means acting the same way I did 50 years ago during my first day as head basketball coach at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. I was on fire then. I am on fire now.
Second, I want to imitate Paul and help people find a new job called freedom. Jesus said it best, “You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.”
I wonder who I will meet today that is looking for a new job called freedom.
Retire? You’ve got to be kidding me!
