Living Through Peace

“Peace is not the absence of turmoil; it is confidence during turmoil.” – Roosevelt Hunter

I remember the last time I saw Roosevelt Hunter. He was preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His message focused on Mark 4:35-41, where Jesus calmed the storm while he and his disciples were traveling on a boat. This story is only a few verses in the fourth chapter, but it is one of my favorites because it is such an important lesson for me to learn.

Mark 4:35-41 (New International Version)

Jesus Calms the Storm

³⁵That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”

³⁹He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.

⁴⁰He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?“

As Roosevelt walked us through the Word, he shared his own story of going through a storm in his life that nearly swamped him. Roosevelt had been diagnosed with cancer after doctors had discovered a tumor the size of a grapefruit in his abdomen. He explained that during his preaching he might pause from time to time to let a wave of pain pass. Sure enough, he paused a couple of times during his message.

About one week ago, Roosevelt passed from this life in peace. He experienced great calm because of the confidence that Jesus was going to calm the storm in his life. I admire Roosevelt and look to the example of his life, lived in faithful peace that brought confidence in turmoil.

Jesus’ question, “Do you still have no faith?” compels me to integrate my life and my faith. I can’t simply live life on my own only to be battered by a storm and cry out in fear to God. My faith should lead my life in such a way that I surrender all of it to God. That way, when storms do arise unexpectedly, I will be able to live my life through peace in confidence, not fear. “Peace is not the absence of turmoil; it is confidence during turmoil.”

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Learning, Relating, Unlearning

Every organization is somehow different from the next. Even in the same market space, the differences are sometimes subtle, sometimes overt but always different. From my work with churches on my own for the past six years to a new role as the Director of Communications at Fellowship Technologies, I’m still learning and experiencing these differences.

First, I’m learning. Sure, I am learning about the company, the product and the people but more than anything I’m learning about the culture. Culture; it’s a big deal that doesn’t get a lot of attention. Well, at least it didn’t until I began two weeks ago. Yet this subtle but all-important aspect has been one of the things I’m learning most about.

A company’s values define how they operate. Their business model defines how they succeed. But their culture is a reflection of something much deeper. It’s that intrinsic, you-gotta-feel-it-to-know-it quality that separates the great companies from the good ones. At FT, there’s a culture that is familial, healthy and spiritual. The values are critical to creating a sense of boundaries and trajectories for the culture. A few of the stated values are:

We believe that quality work is a form of worship.

We strive to exhibit servant leadership and integrity in everything we do.

We habitually make prayer an integral part of our culture.

It’s not lip-service, either; this is the real deal. This is part of the culture.

I’m also relating to people differently than I have in years. As a team member of a family, not just a member of a corporate entity, I’m building relationships that will last a lifetime. As a highly relational guy, this is one of the best aspects of my new job. Unlike my consulting days, these relationships will be day-to-day partnerships that span years of work. It’s different and I’m learning it all over again.

Finally, as a consultant, I was the hired gun brought in to create change, challenge the status quo and help train people and equip them for service. In the context of my new role at FT, I’m unlearning some of those habits as I step into the role of team player and leave behind the consultant methodology. Being surrounded by very sharp, highly creative people allows me to grow in ways that I simply could not as a consultant. I’ll be unlearning many things for months to come!

Learning, relating and unlearning. This is where I am today and where I will be for some time to come. And you know what? It’s exactly where God needs me to be as he stretches me!

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