Skip to main content

Anchor House Week 2: Have a nice forever

The second week at Anchor House concluded with my return to State College of Florida for a very special event. I had the great honor of overseeing the celebration of life services for Robert C Wynn.  Coach Wynn was the first baseball coach and athletic director at then Manatee Junior College. Under his leadership, they won championships, expanded the athletic department by adding other new sports, and were pioneers and champions for women in sport. He was a husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, coach, teacher, mentor, and friend. The fact is, he built a legacy. However, that legacy wasn’t just what occurred on the baseball field, athletic department, or within his family. It was about people's forever. 

Coach Wynn was one of the most passionate soldiers for Jesus I have ever known.  He was more concerned about people's salvation in Jesus than anything else. It was the focal point of all of his relationships and decisions. His unashamed passion for sharing the gospel was contagious. Coach Wynn experienced significant achievements in his life. He'd be the first to tell you, they were all because of his Jesus.  

As I wrapped up the second week at Anchor House, Coach Wynn's service was the perfect reminder of what it's all about.  In this Jesus was clear.  Our job is to Love Him and Love our Neighbors (Matt 22: 37-40).  What does that mean? How do we do that? 

We do that by being like Robert C. Wynn. We share this amazing gift of Jesus with whomever we can. We realize that the goal is to change people's forever and the process to get the privilege to share that good news may take time. In the meantime we simply love them.  We show hospitality (Heb. 13:2). We care for them and the troubles they are walking through (Gal 6:2). We push each other to become better versions of ourselves (Prov 27:17).

Matthew 28:19-20 says, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Coach Wynn was a disciple maker. His life is an inspiration to follow.  We are here on this earth to be developed as followers of Christ and to build followers of Jesus.  It's a process. One that we all play a role in.  God has placed each of us in a position to do his work.  We only need to recognize and embrace it. Go forth for you may be the place you work, it may be in your community, it may be across the world, and it might be right in your backyard at Anchor House. 

At Anchor House we have some people whom we get to serve every day.  Others we serve every few weeks. Others we may never see again.  Whatever the length of time we are given with God's children, our job is LOVE.  

Whatever we do at Anchor House, it must come from a position of love. Fact is we love because we were first loved (1 John 4:19). We love because by it they can tell we are disciples of Christ (John 13:35). Whatever we do at Anchor House we must do it because we want all to have the same glorious forever Jesus has secured for each of us.  

Be blessed and be a blessing,

Matt

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Bold Like Stephen

I've always admired people who aren't afraid to be bold in their convictions.  It is the kind of boldness that allows them to stand out in the crowd. There is just something different about how these people view and engage the world around them.  The movie “Hacksaw Ridge” portrays a man that exemplifies what I mean by bold.  He was drafted to serve in World War II but refused to bear arms because of religious reasons. Yet, he still managed to receive the Congressional Medal of honor. Without a weapon in his hand, he saved 75 men in the Battle of Okinawa. Despite his objection to violence, he still served his country. Despite his objection to war he found a way to love his neighbor. He was bold.  When I think of bold in the Bible, I think of Stephen. Acts 6:8 says, "Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people." Stephen faced opposition to his teachings. Those that opposed his teachings couldn't ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Do the Work

Sometimes I sit down to write and it just seems like I am trying to write with a pen without ink. There is simply nothing productive coming from the activity. Other times, God just pours it out on me. The ideas flow and the message comes together with ease. More often than not it's the former rather than the latter. It seems God likes to make us work for it. The ones I have to work a bit harder on become the ones I like the most. I think we appreciate the things we have to work for more than the things that come easy. Our LifeGroup recently read about the Miraculous Catch of Fish. You know the story where Peter and his buddies have been out fishing all night and came back to shore completely empty handed. That next morning, Jesus asks them to take him out in the boat. Once out on the water, He has them put the nets back down and they bring in loads and loads of fish. So many fish that two boats almost sank.  I guess Jesus could have just made the fish jump into th...
Post a Comment
Read more

Grits

This past Saturday I got the chance to catch up with my friend at breakfast. We connected months ago over grits, of all things. I learned he really didn't care for grits. Turns out his parents used to make him eat them quite often and in many forms. As he has grown older he's made the conscious decision, he's had enough grits for a lifetime. On the other hand, I really enjoy grits. They are a wonderful breakfast food with butter, salt, and pepper. For dinner, you can't beat some good shrimp and grits. I have a recipe for jambalaya grits that will put a smile on anyone's face. It is like jambalaya meets cheese grits. Yum! My friend and I joke about grits everytime we see each other. I offer him some and he politely refuses. Of course, I respect his wishes and don't give him any grits. How do you offer someone grits? Do you insist they eat and like them because you eat them? Do you put them on their plate anyway? Do you treat them differently bec...
Post a Comment
Read more