9-52 Voices March 11, 2014

The C3 Leaders devotion is a peer weekly reflection from business leaders related to their journey with Christ. Each weekly devotion will be written by a different author from among the C3 Leaders community, 52 unique authors to be exact.

As we go through this next year together, we pray that these words and reflections will encourage you in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

Ward Tanneberg is the President of the Casa Network

Everyone wants to have a cool brother or sister. I have one of each. One is seven years older than I, the other nineteen years younger. Spaced so far apart, we grew up like ‘only children.’ Our mother used to say she couldn’t remember ever not having been in PTA. But ‘only child’ or no, my brother and sister are each unique, treasured and loved. I think they are cool.

Having said that, I wonder sometimes what kind of brother I am to them. Or, for that matter, to anyone in the family of Christ-followers of which I am also a very real part. In the faith tradition in which I grew up, everyone called the pastor “Brother” Jones or Smith or whatever, and other adult Christians were “brother” or “sister” as well. It was a term of respect, for the most part not practiced today. Still, I wonder what kind of  ”brother” others see in me.

I’d like to be the kind of brother that when my feet hit the floor each morning the devil says “Oh—-, he’s up!” I want to be the brother who knows life is too short to harbor unrighteous angers, resentments or regrets. So when they surface, as they do from time  to time between family members, I want them cleaned out before the sun goes down.  I want always to love my brother or sister in Christ when they treat me right, and forgive  them when they don’t. (I know I’m supposed to love them no matter what, but first things first.) Oh, and did I mention I want to be a brother who forgives quickly? No holdouts. Withholding forgiveness is bad form for Christ-followers. After all, it’s not like we’ve not been forgiven before, so how can we not?

In me, you have a brother who believes everything happens for a reason and that God’s hand is in it now or soon will be, even when it doesn’t feel like it. And when I get a second chance, I want to be all over it, grabbing it with both hands and giving second chances away to others with the same passion. If circumstances beyond my control change my life, I want to embrace the change as a gift from God. God never promised your life or mine would be easy, just because we’re related. He just said it would be worth it.

So to my very own brother and sister who, over many years, have touched me deeply with their lives, and to all my cool brothers and sisters in Christ who are enriching my life daily, wherever and whoever you may be, here’s to you! May you enjoy being the best brother or sister you can be, the kind who walks with you on days when the rest of the world walks on you.

Whether in culture, commerce or community, we are brothers and sisters who, because of Christ in us, make our world a better place, just by being in it.

Ward

If you would like to contact Ward you can email him at: ward@gocasa.org

Editor’s Note: Please pray with Ward and Dixie Tanneberg right now as they face one of the toughest challenges of their lives. https://www.facebook.com/raincityward