Back in the day when attendance in college classrooms was mandatory, I was required to check roll every day. The roll call of names was the first opportunity for a professor to clearly demonstrate weakness.
Especially in lower LA.
I taught my first class at Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, Louisiana. My initial assignment was to teach “History of American Economics.” The class was made up of freshmen. I was 23 years old. They were 17-18. There was someone in class over 50 years old but that’s another story.
I had football players in my class. Big ‘uns. I weighed 130 pounds.
Let’s just say, I was an easy target for the “point and laugh” exercise.
I shuddered when I picked up the roster to call roll. Remember, calling roll meant I had to pronounce names.
Remember also, I was in lower LA.
Aucoin
Barrilleaux
Bouche
Boudreaux
Chauvin
D’entremont
Fournier
Giroud
Jenmard
Lafouche
Mercier
Oubre
Oulllette
Poirier
Theriault
You may try to pronounce the names for fun, but trust me, when it’s time to read the name aloud in a college classroom … there will be pointing and laughing.
I’ve noticed the same reaction to the word, “Christian.”
As Christians, people expect a lot from us. And if we are Christian leaders, even more is expected of us. It seems that when things go wrong, as things do, the expectation for leaders remains very high.
- I thought you were a Christian. Why did you do it that way?
- That’s why I don’t go to church. You are a hypocrite.
- You only act like a Christian when it helps you.
Leaders are held accountable, minute by minute. We are compared to a perfect leader. And, we fall short.
We have grace to start over. Ask forgiveness. Begin a new day.
“We have all received from His fullness grace upon grace” (John 1:16, MEV).
A leader is quick to say, “I’m sorry.” “That is not who I am and not who I want to be.”
When the roll is called up yonder, even though I fail as a leader, I’ll be there. And my name is easy to pronounce.
“But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will boast in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me” (2 Cor. 12:9).
Dr. Steve Greene is Charisma Media Group’s publisher and executive vice president. He has served as dean of the College of Business at Oral Roberts University and as founding pastor of Bixby Community Church.
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