I have a great friend, he is actually “adopted family.  He is advanced in years and slowing down. He is eighty-one and he sometimes forgets things, gets frustrated and shows his age.  I call him “Bad Andy” after the puppet character Dominos Pizza used in commercials one time.  I was going through a tough day today and I thought about him.  The time when he gave me a unique gift.

Being advanced in years, even long ago, Andy loved hearing about my parents and grand parents.  He took quite a delight in the fact that I would call my grandfather once a week to see how he was doing and ask him “wisdom” questions.  He would ask if I had called him and did I learn anything. Ironically, Andy had his own ritual.   He  would make his way through the church offices once a week, sharing a kind word and hug for most of us when he dropped off his small group attendance.  On the day I found out that my Pop had passed away, Andy gave me a big hug and told me it was going to be alright.  The next week, he came in and sat down.  I asked him what he needed and he said, “Oh, not much.  I thought I would just sit down for a while.”  We would chat for a few minutes – never too long.  Then, he would say, “I got to get going…it was nice talking with you.”  I didn’t think much about it (I can become very focused when I am in office mode.)  He did the same thing the next week and I thought, “It is always nice to have a kind word from Andy and someone to see how my week is going.”  After a few more weeks, it hit me.  He was helping me fill the gap of my grandfather and our weekly conversations.  (I know you saw it, but again, I can get focused.)  When Bad Andy came in the next week, I asked him about it.  He got a sheepish grin and said, “Yes.  I know he meant a lot to you and I thought you’d like some time together.”

I run really hard in my schedule.  I bet you do too.  Can we all learn a lesson from Bad Andy and give a little time to someone else?  It wasn’t ever convenient at the time but it still means a lot.  Even years later, I smile at Andy’s gift.

One of the greatest lessons I have learned at GFC over twenty years is the power of someone’s name. I have Debbie Altman to thank for that. When I first came to the church, she had a black book she kept with her. When she met someone for the first time, she would write their name down in the book and try to remember it next time she saw them.

I can be kind of competitive so I tried to remember all the names of the people at GFC as well. This works out pretty good when the church is small but as we grew, it became quite a challenge. Here are some random thoughts about the power of someone’s name:

• It makes someone feel “known” when you use their name.
• You give someone value and worth when you use their name.
• Try saying their name and smiling at the same time – big win.
• If you can’t remember, be honest.  People give grace when you are honest about forgetting.
• Most names have a special meaning or family significance…great thing to ask about.
• Few people change their names – so it is something that lasts  a lifetime. (I did change my name to Todd in the second grade…such a great experience.  Changed it back after a year.)
• You don’t have to remember a lot about a person but if you remember their name…they will remember you.

One of the greatest tools you can use as a leader, a friend or a mentor is the ability to remember and use someone’s name.

“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
Hebrews 11:1 NKJV

God is doing something.

Have you ever gone through a time where it just makes you scratch your head to what God is doing?  I understand because there are things happening (and not happening) that just make me think, “What is God doing?”

I wonder what God does think when He watches us try to solve and figure out all that encompasses our lives.  Does He chuckle at us, with all of our limitations, while we pray our solutions?  Does He wonder if we forget that He continues to lay out a path that is for our good?  Does He recognize that every challenge and struggle that we turn to Him is a great stride of victory in our relationship?

God is doing something.

The real question that we need to ask is “Can I live with that something?”  Do I have enough in my relationship with God to say,”I trust in you and believe that you have my best in mind when this happens.”  It is easy to say the scripture above – but do I believe it?

Two words jump out to me – “Substance” and “evidence.”

Substance is defined by Merriam-Webster as “ essential nature, a fundamental or characteristic part or quality.”  The very essence of hope is a faith that believes.   If you go to the foundational core of believing in something, you will find a seed of faith.  That is where I find God is challenging me.  In each of these questions, do I have at least a seed of faith to believe that He is leading, directing and ultimately, responsible, to bring the results to pass? Easy to say “yes,” hard to live out sometimes.

Evidence is more to my liking.   Again, it is defined as “the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.”  This is where I live.  Give me the facts, the proof, the indication that what I am hoping for is coming to pass.  Yet, the verse above says that the same seed of faith is the present proof when you can’t see the results.  In other words, the fact that you have faith in God for something reiterates your belief that He is working on your behalf.  (Way to go – you are farther along than you thought!)

If you are believing in faith for something, keep going!  Your faith is moving you closer to God.  And that is always in the right direction.