Leader Servant: Air Filters and Desert Sand

"The engines run faster when we remove the air filters."

 

My dad consulted Saudi Arabia royalty in raising wheat with center pivots in the desert in December 1984 thru July 1985. They complained that the engines powering the pumps quickly failed, blaming the manufacturer and everyone else. Upon driving to the site, Dad quickly identified the cause of engine failure.

 

They removed the cover over the air filter so that incoming air to the engine by-passed the filter.

 

Stating the obvious, sand's abrasive properties quickly ruin even the best-designed and highly tuned engines. Eventually, Dad convinced and demonstrated the increase of efficiency, yield and profit through the necessity of the air filter removing pollutants, including sand, before the air entered the engine.

 

This scenario parallels my life when I try to remove the filter of the Bible, Prayer, and the wisdom of Godly associates in my thoughts and actions. I too sometimes try blaming the Creator for the problems, despite my ignoring the Owner's Manual.

 

The abrasive secular wisdom, secular logic, secular pleasure entering my heart, mind and soul with the filters, destroys my productivity, relationships and impact.

 

Only the filter provides restoration. Once I force thoughts and actions through the filter of the Bible, Prayer and wisdom of Spiritually Mature associates, efficiency, yield and profit increase.

 

For clarity, profit includes relationships and impact on the lives of others, including my relationship with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

 

Dad received word of this position from our neighbor at the time in Manhattan, Kansas, Gordon Hibbard. Gordon now serves as the President/CEO of the Kansas 4-H Foundation, Inc. He epitomizes the Leader Servant who filters all through God's Word, prayer, and associations with the spiritually mature.

 

Today, I seek to assure all input to my heart, mind and soul—thoughts and actions—pass through the filter of God's Word, Prayer—communication with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, Godly associates. Removing the filter may allow me to initially run faster, make money and impress more people, yet eventually leads to unavoidable destruction.

 

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

 

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.

www.rickEMeyer.com

 

 

Image and Person Summation

An excerpt from a class summation paper Fall 2012 @ Dallas Theological Seminary.

Introduction

I have written and rewritten this paper several times in an attempt to adequately convey how this course has and will affect my life and my ministry. Each edition yields another sense of inadequacy. The lectures and material amplify the necessity of showing you, DTS, and all those with whom I associate the impact through my ministry of eye to eye, ear to ear, heart to heart dialogue. This includes focusing first on those with whom I communicate. The world needs to hear the message of creation, image, identity and person (Gen. 1:26-27; Ps. 8, 139; Rom. 1), along with the other discussed topics. Prudently conveying the message of their significance mandates commencing with deeply caring about them, their family, career, prizes, awards, hurts, and concerns (Mt. 22:37-39). Effectiveness hinges upon knowing, living and communicating the Word of God, along with familiarity of writings by, about and interests of those with whom I minister. I recently began using flash cards to aid scripture retention and recall.

 

The passionate, errant beliefs of non-believers illustrate their inner-desire for meaning, fulfillment and happiness. Sin, depravity and demons—directly and indirectly—cause and influence filling these needs with false doctrine. False doctrine includes science without God, lust, uncontrolled hormones, greed, envy, and jealousy (Rom. 1:20-32; Gal. 5:19-21). My ministry through relationships, keynotes and seminars, focuses on leading people to the only one whom fulfills these voids—the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. The keynotes and seminars guide attendees towards the Bible, strong relationships, relying on Christ, and finding and engaging with a biblical mentor.

 

Succinctly stated, this course illustrates the need for deeply studying for the sake of relationships and deep teaching in the appropriate method for each situation. Know the Word, and personalize the ministry approach.

Creation—Image—Person

    Genetics—creation—determines value. Caldwell-Wagner Angus of Harlan, Kansas owned a bull in the 1970s and early 1980s that placed first or second in major cattle shows at Reno, Denver, and Louisville, along with many others in between. Sam and Gyra Wagner's son, John, and I were good friends from kindergarten through high school. Cattlemen across North America revered Colossal's genetics, some paid thousands of dollars for only Colossal's semen, giving them the ability to have calves effectively created by Colossal. While visiting a Nebraska crop-consulting client in the early 1990s—ten years after Colossal's death—he showed me the genetics of a bull he considered purchasing. This bull's listed sires—creators—included Colossal. A bull's creating sire greatly affects real and perceived value.

 

The 1984 World Champion Quarter Horse standing with the trophy and ribbon in Kansas City's American Royal Arena, hung on the office wall of another Nebraska crop-consulting client in the 1990s. A descendant of that horse sold for $100,000, because of its bloodline—creator—from a world champion. Horsemen highly value genetics created by World Champion horses.

 

Seed corn prices and genetics in the seed, vary greatly based on the parent company. Sometimes a parent company and one of its subsidiaries each sell seed with the same genetics. The seed from the parent company sells for a two-three fold price increase because of the perceived creator of that seed. The creating genetics of bulls, horses, and seed corn reflects their real and perceived value.

 

Breaker box with generic paint @ $900, conversely the same breaker box from Caterpillar with their paint and brand @ $2,500. Both boxes contained the same quality of electronic component, yet the brand—the image—increased the value nearly 300 percent. The difference resided in the manufacture's paint color and sticker.

 

Does knowing our Creator and having His mark—the indwelling Holy Spirit—affect man's real and perceived value? Absolutely! Knowing God—the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit—as our Creator and God of the universe affects every aspect of our lives (Gen. 1:26-28; Ps. 8:3-6; Hebr. 2:5-9). This significantly impacts our relationships, work ethic, tangible and intangible morality, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and even our sense of humor. God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them (Gen.1:27). Wow!!! This passage alone sufficiently causes eternal awe when reality partially permeates one's conscience, psyche and soul.

 

Combining this with the order of creation revealed in Psalm 8:3-6, the proverbial top blows out of the universe. He made us; He made us in His image, His likeness! He created us to rule over His entire earthly business! I ponder these messages while typing this paper in utter awe and humility towards God. Who am I to serve Him? Who am I to rule over anything, much less assist in running His business called Planet Earth (Hebrews 11:3; Job 38; Is. 40:28)? If a bull, horse or seed corn exponentially increases in value based on their creator, how valuable are we, am I, created with the genetics of the God of the universe?

 

This causes reflection to when as a child on the farm my dad let me drive the tractor by myself and feed the cattle and hogs by myself, he trusted me with a portion of his business. I, like most farm boys, became utterly excited at the responsibility entrusted by my father. Dad checked on me from time to time and provided loving discipline when I erred despite knowing better. Consequences existed for my success and failure, often based upon whether my failures resided in ignorance or laziness. He also assured the proper completion of every necessary task regardless of my efforts. Dad's sovereignty of his farm business provides a microcosm of God's sovereignty of His business of all creation.

 

Unfortunately, Hawkings, Gould, Solomon, most academics and others like them fail to capture, or acknowledge their Godly genetics. They ignore these powerful truths of whose image they represent, choosing to believe they exist from randomness, in the image of randomness. In denying their creation by and in the image of God, they effectively equate themselves to someone who burns the pedigree papers of a bull calf descending from Colossal, or a colt from the World Champion Quarter horse. Except the pedigree papers distinguishing humanity as God's infinitely exceed those of man ruled creation.

 

Dear readers, do you recognize your value because of who created you? Amazement astounds those pondering the power and untapped power of neuroscience and genetics. Every discussion of neuroscience must begin the designer and creator of neuroscience genetics. Only in focusing on the originator do we begin to scratch the surface of appreciation of our mind-body relationship. God designed and created us for relationship with Him.

 

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.

www.rickEmeyer.com

^{1 & 2} (Burns 2012)

Speak Truth--Trust God

Spring 2012 Christian Journalism assignment 
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas, Texas

Rick E. Meyer

Running On Faith Ministry Inc.

See, Believe, Achieve Inc.

rick@rickEmeyer.com ~ www.rickEmeyer.com

Speak Truth: Trust God
 

Parents and friends influence our views and beliefs. This includes our belief in truth. My dad epitomized truth. Some growing up with him considered truthfulness his biggest weakness. I witnessed an example of Dad’s honesty at our April 1983 farm sale. He unsuccessfully attempted to camouflage the devastation of losing the family farm.

Dad stayed near the auctioneer, answering questions concerning any of the equipment as it sold. At least once his answer probably hindered the selling price. Sadly, my sixteen year-old adolescent mind momentarily questioned his truthfulness. Yet, truth always prevails. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness (truth), and all these things shall be added to you (Matthew 6:33, NKJV).

 

Unfortunately, some seek first the kingdom of self, believing secular success supersedes truth. A Past Toastmasters World champion offered stunning advice, “Exaggerations enhance the probability of winning the ‘World Championship of Public Speaking.’ Tonight’s winner excelled using exaggerations and ‘stretching the truth’ for humor, two necessary components of competing for the World Championship of Public Speaking.”

 
My laughter switched to disappointment upon realizing he, a veterinarian, lacked any desire for humor in evaluating the Region Toastmasters contest. As a Christian, I seek truth in everything, including humor. I ponder; does wisdom value “championships” more than integrity? How can one serve the God of truth, while honoring the “father of lies” (John 8:44)?
 

As expected, those seeking first the kingdom of self, change their approval of exaggerations when lies affect their wallet. For example, during speaking engagements I ask, “Who approves of exaggerating?” Upon request, an exaggerating approving volunteer hands his twenty-dollar bill to me in exchange for fifteen. I inquire if my exaggerating the fifteen to twenty dollars maintains equality in our transaction. His disapproving facial expression description exceeds 1,000 words.

How does a speaker’s message and a cash illustration correlate? The truthfulness of a communicator’s message affects and reflects truthfulness in the marketplace. Would you laugh if the aforementioned veterinarian exaggerated serum dosage in treating your family dog? Would you approve of him ‘stretching the truth’ on your invoice? A speaker’s approval affects his or her income. A deceitful communicator deceives for personal gain.

 

Imagine an organization’s hypocrisy when giving lip service to honesty, yet hiring speakers who exaggerate for their meetings.  

 

Thirteen months and three weeks after the Region Toastmasters contest, I returned to my agronomy sales office on a beautiful August afternoon. My boss, Frank, invited me to step into his office for a visit. We enjoyed a cordial relationship.

This time Frank avoided small talk: “Rick, you are too honest for this position! We are seeking your resignation. If you submit your resignation letter within two hours, Ron will provide two weeks of severance pay.”

As a child, my parents and teachers disciplined me for dishonesty. I cleaned my office and desk while pondering past professional encounters in this position.

Two months earlier, a co-worker and church councilman declared, “Rick, we throw honesty and integrity out the window this time of year.”

I inquired, “Considering Jesus is the Truth, explain the benefits of throwing Jesus out the window.”

 

Two sales managers, Mark, a church councilman, and Al, separately challenged, “Rick, either ignore biblical principles such as honesty and treating the small clients with the same respect as the big clients, or fail in this position. Success in this position requires mixing truth with exaggerations, or ‘stretching the truth’.”

 

Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” How do we exaggerate or stretch Jesus? Have we killed Jesus’ presence in the marketplace?

 

Does our communication synchronize with God’s Spirit of Truth? Does God approve of falsities? The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in men who are truthful (Proverbs 12:22). A Christian receives the Holy Spirit sent by the Lord Jesus Christ, from the Father. God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit exist in singular persons, yet as one triune God.

 

Consequently, those who submit their lives to Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit delight in pure truth (John 4:23).

 

When we delight in exaggerating, ‘stretching the truth’ or any description of lying, we reject God and serve Satan—the father of lies. Speaking truth allows God’s communication through us; He collaborates in our true communication, lest God join our deceit which opposes His character.

 

The most common justification for lying stems from viewing truth as inadequate. Considering Jesus says, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life…,” does professional communication assume an inadequate or lying Jesus? Denying pure truth declares our message contains greater richness with exaggerations, falsities and ‘stretching the truth’, than with Jesus—the Truth.

 

As an undergraduate in Biology Lab, I dissected frogs. Everything from the frog’s body consisted of frog. Every examined cell, if tested, contained frog DNA. A true frog indicates all frog. A true message indicates “all true.” Satan, the father of lies, thrives on mixing truth and lies encouraging justification based on partial truth.

Dr. Martin Luther illustrates the dangers of questioning the validity of God’s word by equating the dialogue between the serpent and Eve in the Garden of Eden. “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden?” (Genesis 3:1). Martin Luther suggests Eve should have turned and departed from the serpent upon his questioning God’s word. Questioning truth’s necessity, questions God’s word.

 

Twenty-three years and six months after the farm sale, November 2006, Dad received a lung cancer diagnosis. A day and a half later, Dad sat in the hospital chair waiting for the nurse to bring breakfast. Hydrocephalus complicated communication with him. He requested, “We need to pray for God’s blessing on everyone we know.” Later in the morning he looked into my eyes, “Always trust God. Remember that son. Trust God always.”

“I will Dad, I will.” Dad died three weeks later.

 
Our eternal life depends on pure truth. Why should we exaggerate for earthly gain? Dad chose truth over financial gain, because he trusted God’s goodness.
 

Trusting God and loving people enables speaking truth.

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Holy Spirit and Albino Soybean Plants

Another excerpt from the same paper referenced below.

Jim also became the world’s first scientist to develop an albino soybean plant, I only heard of this from Dad as he relayed the story Jim shared with him. This achievement required an estimated 13,000 to 15,000 trials before attaining success. When I spoke with Jim last summer, he no longer recalled.

Unfortunately, fellow scientist(s) broke into his lab stealing some of his research data. This led to his departure from science within a few years later. Attaining a pure white soybean plant was nearly impossible for world’s best scientists, at least in the early 1980s. Albinos are rare in nearly all of nature.

This reminds us of the impossibility of our heart and soul attaining purity, represented by pure white, on our own merits. We must be born, injected with the genetics of Spirit and worship Him in truth.

As other scientist(s) applied every known distraction and deception to prevent Jim from creating the albino soybean plant, the enemy Satan attempts to distract and deceive man from attaining an albino soul through knowing Jesus Christ—His death and resurrection for our sins.

Satan also attempts to distract and deceive us from developing a full relationship with the Holy Spirit. This relationship includes speaking with and hearing Him through our heart, mind and soul. His voice’s correlation with scripture equals 1.0. God-the Trinity-must agree with His Word.

Any voice correlation less than 1.0, originates from someone other than God. John 14:16 refers to the Spirit with the Greek word, paraclētos or paraclete (Ferguson 1996, 36-56), these contain definitions similar with a defense attorney defending us against the accuser, diabolos (devil).

Additionally, Jesus explains the defense attorney, the Holy Spirit, converses with the God the Father, the Judge, and the Son (Letham, 58). In other words, we are caught driving the stolen car from the crime scene with the smoking gun whose ballistics match the killing bullet, additionally the entire crime-a digital video recorder captures our every action.

If we confess of our crime, admitting we have no hope of innocence on our own merit; we are defended by defense attorney who is the Judge’s triplet brother (not intended to represent a perfect analogy of the trinity, yet close), and who plays golf with Him daily.

God reveals this plant science, genetics, connection to me for the first time in thirty years while writing this paper. I spoke with Jim and Jerry on the phone last summer for the first time since the mid-1980s while completing my book Running on Faith, I called verifying information I wrote about them. They remain as friendly as ever all these years later.

The Holy Spirit, along with God the Father, and the Son Lord Jesus Christ, is eternally God. He provides birth and genetics of eternal life through Jesus Christ’s death and resurrection. He lives in our hearts, convicting us of our sin, helping, defending and comforting us as we seek to grow in our originally designed image of God.

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve purity from Christ!

Rick

Rick E. Meyer
See, Believe, Achieve Inc.
www.rickemeyer.com

Soul Agronomist

My passion and desire are conveying God’s message to the Market Place.

I am a “Soul Agronomist.” An agronomist works with producers in determining the proper cultivation, seed, pesticides, irrigation and recommending BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES for optimized profit. God makes the crops grow (1Cor.3:7).

A “Soul Agronomist” assists in cultivating, planting, protecting, watering and recommending BEST BIBLICAL PRACTICES for optimizing one’s walk with Christ. The Holy Spirits causes soul germination and growth (1Cor. 2:14).

See Christ, Believe Christ, Achieve with Christ!

Rick E. Meyer
http://www.rickemeyer.com/