We have been asked today consider the applications of the principle, “Leadership changes everything,” in our personal lives. That is, we are to discuss who has impacted our own lives by their leadership, giving three examples.
The first instance under consideration in which leadership made all the difference was in Boy Scouts. Our Scoutmaster since 2000 has been Keith Bidne. Mr. Bidne is an amazing scoutmaster and has received many awards for it, but we don’t care so much about the awards as what he has actually done for us. He is a paperwork whiz and very gifted at administration. He organizes things and considers every detail necessary for completing requirements and making campouts successful. He knows how to have fun and how to get work done. The greatest tribute to his leadership ability is that our troop has had more Eagle Scouts under his Scoutmastership than it did in the preceding sixty years of its existence. This is not just a statistic because each boy that becomes an Eagle Scout is a very special thing. It isn’t a light or nonchalant affair. It takes a lot of hard work on the part of the boy and the scoutmaster to get the job done. It really is a tribute to lead so many boys to manhood in this capacity, and we are grateful for him. Since it is under his administration that we have had so many Eagles, it is evident, then, that leadership changed everything. Were it not for his leadership, our troop, and the boys made men from it, would not be the same.
The second instance is that of Stavanger Free Lutheran Church of Garden City, Iowa. Anyone who knows me for very long has heard me brag about my home church, how awesome it is, how much I like it, and how faithful it is to God’s word. I will then add that this is rare among Lutheran churches. One of the biggest reasons it is this way is our pastor, Earl Korhonen. He came to our congregation before I did, right after it had experienced a church split which was caused by bad leadership. Then came Pastor Korhonen. He has preached the Word to us faithfully, and is very careful with what he says because he knows he is accountable to God. He is also an excellent shepherd. When I have needed godly counsel I have gone to him on several occasions and am always amazed by the wisdom of his answers. He leads his family and his congregation as he himself follows after Jesus. Once when I was talking to my dad about him my dad was asking me what I liked about Pastor Korhonen’s leadership. “I don’t really know,” I said, “but he’s following Jesus.” So my dad said something like, “So that’s what you do when you’re a pastor. Lead others as you follow Jesus.” All of us at Stavanger are grateful to God for sending us Pastor Korhonen, and appreciate his leadership.
Finally is my dad. I recall in fourth grade when I came home from school with some bad ideas and philosophy. So he sat me down and talked to me, hour after hour, year after year. I would ask him questions at bedtime or in the evening when I was home from school and he was home from work, and I don’t recall him ever refusing to answer one of my questions (unless it was way past my bedtime). He poured all of his knowledge into me, and I’m sure I learned more valuable stuff from him than I did at school. Beginning in sixth grade I wanted to be homeschooled because then I wouldn’t have to bother with public school and my dad could just teach me all the time. Although that never happened, I was unofficially homeschooled because my dad just taught me stuff without any need for curriculum or paperwork. Now I proudly emulate most of his principles because he has taught them to me. The fact that he led me in my childhood made me the person that I am today, and that he continues to lead me and has a great impact on who I am.
Each of these three men are just that, men. They have flaws just like they have strengths. And while I cannot commend their flaws, it would be dishonorable before God to say that they have had no positive impact. One led me to Eagle Scout, one led me to Christ, one led me to wisdom and manhood. And for that I thank you, each. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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