December 6, 2023
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Years ago, I had the honor and challenge of serving along with David Skinner and Adam Thornton as Jack’s pastor at the Methodist Church in Dripping Springs, Texas, a little town just west of Austin.
The first time I met Jack was at the church’s Annual Conference in Corpus Christi. I had just been appointed to the church and David and Adam couldn’t attend the Conference. So I was on my own as the new pastor. I was having dinner with Jack and Beverly and Ann and Rob, all leaders in the church. While we waited for our table, Ann and Beverly went shopping and Jack, Rob and I sat down to begin to get to know one another. Jack had a heart of gold, but he was tough. He was not a subtle person. He didn’t really care too much about being politically correct. Jack spoke his mind even when it was about hard issues. He had beliefs and he had opinions. He wanted you to know that when he said something, he meant it. You always knew where Jack stood.
So as we talked that night, Jack wanted to share some thoughts with me and to know where I stood on some fairly heated theological issues. I was the new pastor and I didn’t know this guy. I just said a silent prayer and went with my heart and apparently my answers to his questions were okay with Jack. And we became good friends.
Jack and I shared the fact that we were both lawyers. Now there are all types of lawyers just like there are all types of people in every profession and calling - some good ones and some not-so-good ones. Some you want to be around and others you’d just as soon not. I liked being around Jack. Lawyers have a role to play and I’m sure Jack played his well. As a former lawyer, I never had the chance to go up against him and I’m not sure I would have wanted to. But I did have the chance to be one of his pastors, to know him underneath what some might perceive to be a hard shell, the chance to know his heart.
I was blessed to have been present several times when Jack performed what I believe was one of his most important ministries. Jack had a habit of handing out pocket crosses made from horseshoe nails. He would be out just walking around and meet a total stranger, maybe a waitress at lunch or a clerk in a convenience store, and he would hand them a cross, look them in the eye and say, “Here, this is for you. Hold on to it, carry it, cherish it, and let it remind you of Who you really work for – Jesus Christ.”
After Susan and I left Drippin’, almost every time I spoke with Jack I’d ask him, “How many?” How many crosses had he handed out? Jack kept count. How many sojourners wandering this world had he reminded (or maybe he was the first one to tell them) Who they really worked for and, therefore, who they really were – beloved children of God? What a ministry!
A few years after we left Drippin’ Jack died. I had the privilege of being one of the pastors who officiated at his memorial service. After the service I asked Beverly, “How many?” How many crosses had Jack given away?
“Thousands!” she said. Thousands of crosses mostly to total strangers who needed to hear the name of Jesus Christ! Think about all the people Jack touched, all the seeds he planted.
Jack loved being a lawyer, but he was also a loving husband and a father and a grandfather and a son-in-law and a friend. You see, Jack knew Who he really worked for and therefore Jack knew who he really was and is – a child of God, a royal priest, an ambassador for Jesus Christ. Jack was a disciple maker disguised as a lawyer. And that’s who we are all called to be. We’re called to be disciple makers disguised as business folks, housewives, teachers, preachers, doctors, lawyers, whatever. Whatever it is we do to provide for ourselves and those we love, we’re disciples making disciples of Jesus Christ. Jack wanted everyone - even total strangers - to know that. And that’s Jack’s message to all of us: “Here, this cross is for you. Hold on to it, carry it, cherish it, and let it remind you of Who you really work for – Jesus Christ.”
The Bible says: “Then Jesus came to them (his disciples) and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 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.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
This is the Great Commission. This is our purpose. This is why we’re here. As believers in Jesus Christ, we’re His disciples and we’re called to be disciple makers.
My life has been blessed because Jack was, is, and forever will be my friend. I miss him, and I am joyful that he’s healthy and whole with our Lord. I believe that Jesus is smiling at Jack and saying, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
REMEMBER & BELIEVE
Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.
In the meantime, remember Who you work for and why you’re here:
Go and make disciples of Jesus Christ!
QUESTION
How do you go about your mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ? Ask the Lord to lead you. He will.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, help us to remember that we really work for You so that we know our true identity and purpose in You.
Our Father Who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil and the evil one. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever.
Amen
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24 (NRSV)
God bless you!
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