I struggle to remember the various team names of my nephews and nieces, but I’m convinced I will never forget the Wild Boars youth soccer team from Thailand’s Chiang Rai province — a group of kids we first heard of a few weeks ago.
The extraordinary survival story captured the heart of a global audience. Twelve boys and their coach — the Thai cave boys — became our nephews, sons, grandsons and neighbor’s kids.
Rescuers showcased crisis management at its best. Everyone involved was committed, invested and going to see the operation through until the end. They knew their individual assignments and worked to deliver their best. Deep concern for the boys, compassion for the families, sheer determination and pure hope unified the people. The Thai Navy Seal team was beyond impressive, and the members’ “#Hooyah” response to the mission said it all.
Hooyah is a word used in the U.S. Navy to build camaraderie and morale. It became a rallying cry for the Thai rescuers and all those around the world praying for the safe return of the boys and their coach.
Media reports indicate individuals in the community found ways they could be productive and helpful. Some made sure food was available. Some used their own vehicles to transport those leading the effort. Some even voluntarily cleaned the portable toilets — imagine the selfless nature of the sweet people who determined that is where they could best serve.
This story offers several important reminders.
- Despite our political, religious, economic and other differences, the world can come together in times of crisis. Media reports allowed all of us to remain front and center, be informed, understand the situation and know how to pray.
- Forgiveness and grace are powerful. During the crisis with their children, in the midst of what had to be many moments of fighting off their greatest fears, the parents reached out to Coach Ake through the message they sent him in the cave. “Don’t blame yourself. … The mums and dads, none of them are angry at you,” the letter to the coach said.
The parents made sure he knew they were concerned about his safety.
Recently we heard that the Thai cave boys, with the exception of 14-year-old Adul Sam-on, the lone Christian on the team, were ordained in the Buddhist tradition.
This news reminds us of one more important truth — the desperate need for the gospel in Thailand, Southeast Asia and every corner of the world. May we be ever mindful that rescue from earthly dangers is good news, but rescue from our sins for eternity is the greatest news of all.
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Rashional Extras – Lessons learned on slopes of high places
By Hannah Hurnard
Excerpt from “Hinds’ Feet on High Places
Lifting my eyes, I look across the valley at the Brumbach falls and see the water pouring itself down in an extraordinary ecstasy of self-abandoned giving — and I know now that is my Lord’s message to me.
I have asked [H]im to help me to understand the language of this book of nature. And the first message and lesson [H]is creation utters is this one. It is so clear that I do understand it. It speaks of love’s eternal, ecstatic joy in ceaseless, blissful giving.
- The first characteristic of true love is humility: the pouring of oneself down lower and lower in self-effacement and self-denial. The message of running water always is, “Go lower. Find the lowest place. That is the only way to true fulfillment.”
- The next characteristic of love is giving. The poured-out life gives life and power to others. The more love gives, the more it fulfills itself. “For it is Love’s prerogative to GIVE and GIVE and GIVE.”
- The third characteristic of love is service. The Brumbach falls, in the act of giving themselves, serve the whole valley and far beyond it. The water means a supply of irrigation, electricity and light for many, many abandoned to the goal of giving oneself to others, and going down lower, is the joy and ecstasy of love. …
One cannot get a mighty and powerful fall of water if there is only a low place and a short way for it to fall. It is the “high places” of faith and obedience which make the falls of love possible!
Editor’s Note — Excerpt from Hannah Hurnard’s “Hinds’ Feet on High Places,” which was published by Living Books, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (Carol Stream, Illinois), 1975.
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Doing a little camping out on this Warren Wiersbe quote this morning and thought I’d share: “God is reigning today. He has not abdicated His throne and turned the universe over to the enemy. It is true that much that goes on in this world is contrary to His will; but where He does not rule, He overrules, and His purposes are going to be fulfilled. After all, He is the Lord — the God omnipotent, all powerful.”
June Mathews
Facebook post
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@LoganCannon95
Sad that we can’t have civil conversations about things without it turning to shouting and insults.
Keeping great talent really can mean the difference between a business succeeding or failing. In this volatile global marketplace, happy loyal employees are your biggest competitive advantage. If you want performance at scale: Select the right people, provide them with the proper training, tools and support and then give them room to get the job done.
Brigette Hyacinth
Author, “The Future of Leadership”
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@johnmarkclifton
The characteristics identified in dying churches. Number 8. Focus more on caring for the church facility than caring for the community. Simply put — it’s easier to change a furnace filter at the church then tackle the maze of human needs in the apt complex across the street
@amareno4him
The world is a whole lot of drama. We are almost depressed until we find something else that we love beyond ourselves, because we were created for selfless living.
@BethMooreLPM
@LifeWayWomen #LPROOF18
@DailyKeller
A broken person is a much more attractive leader to God, than a proud person.
@GaryFenton07
Leadership is not pushing or pulling, it is empowering.
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