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October 8, 2007
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=========================== TODAY'S ARTICLE ==========================
Live with Passion, by Phil Ware
Special Note:
This is part two of a continuing series of messages Phil has
written to share the values his father held dear and that he wants
to pass on to his adult children who never got to know their Daddy
Al because he died so young. The links to the whole series can be
found at the end of the article.
Dear Zachary and Megan,
Well, this is my second letter to you about your grandfather's values.
Even though neither of you ever got to know him, you've seen some of
Daddy Al's traits in me -- good ones and bad ones, I'm afraid. But, it
still saddens me to know that you didn't get to experience some of his
wild and crazy antics firsthand. Even your mom never knew my dad when
he was well. This makes me sad to think about, so I think I'll just get
to the second principle he taught me that I hope will live in you.
Principle Two: Live with Passion!
Your grandmother, MiMi, always said of Daddy Al, that right or wrong,
he was always enthusiastic, certain, and passionate. She was absolutely
correct.
Your grandfather lived with passion. His years on earth may have been
few, but his life was certainly full. He lived the motto, "Pedal to the
metal!" He taught me the phrase, "Muy sicem!" which is not in any
dictionary, but was just his way of saying, "Go get 'em tiger and don't
let anything stop you!"
Daddy Al didn't just talk about living with passion, he was a great
example of living with passion. Sometimes, however, that passion got
the best of him -- his anger could flare, especially in the later years
when his medicine made it worse. For these times, he later apologized
and cried, asking for my forgiveness. This was several years before his
death. He realized that he had been impatient and quick to anger for
much of life, and so prayed that God would take that away or teach him
to be more patient. He felt his illness was part of God's discipline
and correction to help him mature past this weakness in his character.
Even in illness, he was passionate about being the man God wanted him
to be.
But, your Daddy Al was also passionate in fun and exciting ways. He is
the one who taught me the loud hyena laugh. He would use it to spice
things up at just the right time. Anywhere we went could be fun,
because if things got boring, you knew Daddy Al was going to spice
things up.
The doctors he called on as a pharmaceutical rep loved him, too. He
knew all the latest jokes as well as how to handle product information
and the science behind it. The receptionists and nurses liked him, too,
because he remembered their names, brought them cokes and treats, and
would listen attentively to the stories about their families.
Some of my greatest memories of Daddy Al's passion involved his leading
singing. He was a worship leader before they were called worship
leaders. He would fill the worship time with what he called "toe
tappers and heart tinglers" as he tried to stir the church's passion.
He told the people to put down their song books and just sing along
from their heart as he led the first and last verse of five or six
songs in a row. Because he often led youth and college devotionals, he
would also teach the older folks new songs the kids sang.
As I sing the new songs that are so popular today, I miss your
grandfather very much. He would be so pumped by these new songs we've
learned to sing the last decade, especially the new powerful hymns over
the last few years. He wanted our worship singing to stir our souls and
our souls to stir our passion to do something great for God.
Holy passion makes you fearless under pressure!
Daddy Al also loved to tell stories. Most of them were either funny or
dramatic. He got this story telling gift from his mother, Granny. He
would tell stories filled with emotion and passion to try to convince
teenagers and young adults to live for Jesus. Many of the stories were
from his own experience. Others were stories he had heard. Some people
just seem to have a gift for remembering and telling a story, and he
sure had that gift. He sure knew how to use it to motivate, inspire,
and touch our hearts with emotion.
Daddy Al also believed that true passion came from the Holy Spirit. He
believed and taught about the Holy Spirit when most folks were afraid
to do it. He loved Romans 8, and this was his favorite chapter in the
Bible even when in his last days 2 Corinthians 4 and 5 became so
comforting.
Passion meant that life could be fun. This idea of passionate fun made
Daddy Al a great motivator of young people. If "perfect loves casts out
all fear" (1 John 4:18), then holy passion makes you fearless under
pressure! This understanding of life helped him motivate people as a
dad, a coach, and also as a mentor. In dad's mind, if you live
passionately -- fail or succeed -- you have been successful, at least
that's how he viewed it. So what is there to fear? "No, in all these
things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us" (Romans
8:37 TNIV), because "I can do all this through him who gives me
strength" (Philippians 4:13).
For Daddy Al, when the Holy Spirit lives in you, there is no room for
mediocrity, half-hearted efforts, or life filled with boredom. God's
Spirit stirs holy passion in us and leads us to do great things, things
we could not dream of doing on our own! "Don't put out the Spirit's
fire!" was one of those verses (1 Thessalonians 5:18) I associated
early on with your grandfather. And the conclusion to Paul's powerful
prayer is one that meant so much to him:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or
imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him
be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all
generations, for ever and ever! Amen (Ephesians 3:20-21).
My prayer is that whatever you do in life, you find something you can
do with passion. If it isn't your job, then find a ministry or hobby or
service interest that lets you get worn out living your passion. And
when you are tired and weary, thank God for the opportunity to do
something great for the Kingdom.
I love you both, always, and pray that you will live and love with
passion!
Dad
---------
(c) 2007 Phil Ware <phil@heartlight.org>. All rights reserved.
RELATED LINKS:
* Other Articles in This Series
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200709/20070924_remembering.html#series
* Down the Road
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200706/20070617_downtheroad.html
* Thanks Dad!
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200706/20070611_thanksdad.html
* Southern Hills Church of Christ
http://www.southernhillschurch.org
This article can be found on the web at:
http://www.heartlight.org/articles/200710/20071008_livewithpassion.html
=========================== FEATURED PRODUCT =========================
LOOK GREAT, FEEL GREAT: 12 KEYS TO ENJOYING A HEALTHY LIFE NOW, by Joyce Meyer
Joyce guides us to a healthier way of living, reminding us that turning
every issue over to God gives us the strength to make lasting changes.
http://shopping.heartlight.org/cgi-shl/link?250
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