When Henry Ford II was refused by Enzo Ferrari to buy his car company, Hank
the Deuce made it clear he wanted to beat him, at the one thing Ferrari did
well, racing. So he picked a man called Leo Beebe to head a team to do just
that, with three key races in mind. Le Mans, Daytona, and Indianapolis were his
targets, the mission given to him, and he put together the team that did it in
1966. His key first win was at Le Mans, and after 24 hours of racing, swept the
first three places. Hank the Deuce had won, his team had been given the mission
to not only beat Ferrari, but win the race. A tough mission for any trace team,
but for one two years old it would seem insurmountable. He had put the right
man in charge and given him the mission, on a note Leo carried with him in his
wallet, “you better win.” Just put one of our cars in the winner’s circle. And
following the advice of Hank’s late grandfather, Henry Ford, did just that.
Hank and Leo were old friends, but the mission was obvious.
His advice was as simple as the man who had put America on wheels with the
Model T, “Coming together is a beginning, Keeping together is progress, working
together is success.” The key word there is together, for even a great car with
a poor driver had no hope, just as a great driver in a poor car had little
hope. They needed strong engineering, a devoted pit crew, and committed racers
to win, all motivated by one man, Leo Beebe. And “you better win” was Henry
Ford II’s demand, he would beat Ferrari! And no one expected a one-two-three
sweep, that was teamwork. And Ford would win Le Mans for 4 straight years,
1966-69. It worked 50 years ago in racing, and it still works today. And even
2000 years ago.
The bigger the mission the bigger the egos may show up. The old saying
“too many chiefs and not enough Indians” is not new, and when the apostles,
under the guide of the Holy Spirit started the first century church, God had
given them a specific mission. They were told to “not wait tables,” a mission
for others, but to be apostles. No New Testament was written yet, their words
and teachings, the Apostle’s Creed was it, carried verbally by them. A
tremendous job of prayer and preaching...a responsibility to God and for
others. So when told to not wait tables, they weren’t being given favor over
others, as the cry would be today, but given specific instructions from the
spirit. And when they followed it, the church grew, and all involved got to see
the gift given them in place. They had come together to form the first church,
they kept together as the spirit guided them in progress, and working together
were successful. But it was the spirit guiding them that brought the success,
for without the spirit their would be no team, and no one to guide them. The
apostles had spent time with Jesus, seen him at his highest and lowest times,
and his example would guide them via his spirit. For only a true apostle has
seen Jesus....now it was time to distribute the gifts of the spirit to others as
needed. It is on the basis of scripture that the church rests, on God’s Holy
Word, the Bible, and we need to remember that Jesus was and is the word
incarnate. A living and breathing and resurrected word, no other holy book can
compare to. Little did Henry Ford know 2000 years later his philosophy of
building Ford Motor Company would be built upon what the holy spirit said to the
first church. And it still works today....
Some years ago I was a chaplain in a national motorcycle ministry. When
taking a national position with them, I had to step down to step up. No more
teaching, but now onto newer responsibilities. I missed the teaching, so when
asked to speak at a rally, jumped on it. But after accepting, was given some
good advice. “Pray about it, another Mike may be waiting for the chance.” And
I did, and turned it down, and another man was waiting for his chance. And he
stepped in and accepted the challenge. My ego had said yes, but the spirit knew
best. A decision I am glad I made. For the minute the church, us strays from
the spirit’s guiding, the moment the scriptures become all about us, we are in
error, and guided by self rather than God. We lose our light, our strength, and
our ability to function, for for the church to function it must be built upon
the rock. If only religion knew this, imagine how strong the church and its
presence would be felt in the world today. We need that sense of mission from
the holy spirit again to be strong, coming together to from a bond, staying
together to grow and progress, and working together to see success. Not our
success, but the success based on the Lord. If it all about us, we already
fail. Sometimes a church is failing and it is just too big to notice it. But
the individuals do...and Hank the Deuce’s note should be carried in our hearts,
“you better win.”
For losing means hell and damnation, the basis for evangelism. Not filling
a building, or sending out others on missions. If the mission the spirit has
given you has failed, the church fails, and no matter how many good works are
done, no matter how many Bibles distributed, or ministries created, if the
spirit is not in it you lose. We need strong leaders who trust God over
personal success, and men and women to follow their example in the field of
life. “You better win” is not a threat, but a fact, for losing is hell. No
second place wins for heaven, and like Le Mans, life is an endurance race.
Where you finish is the goal, how you get there during the race can have an
impact, but where you are at the finish is the only goal. Losing by seconds
after leading the race is still losing, just as he who dies with the most toys
still dies. Fortunately we have a written New Testament today, but it only
works when the advice is taken, and we need teachers and preachers, as well as
those who serve and wait tables. Jesus gave the ultimate service on the cross,
but he also washed feet, a humbling experience. Would we bow to wash feet?
Would your pastor? Your priest? Bishop? But if you do, you are emulating
Christ. Remember all the apostles died martyr’s deaths. Still interested in the
position?
The primary function of management is to motivate. If it doesn’t it
fails. What motivates you? If not a who, the spirit, take some time to listen
to what the spirit is saying. Come together in the spirit, grow together as one
in Christ, and work together to be successful. For where God guides, he
provides. Each one of us has a place on God’s team, use the gift he has given
you and enjoy the blessings that come from it. A successful waiter is better
than a poor manager, a live dog better than a dead lion. But both need the
spirit to guide them. Leo was told “you better win,” only in Christ will you
ever win. And a podium finish awaits all who believe. See you in the winner’s
circle, at the cross. Like an old mechanic one day told a woman after fixing
her AC by replacing a fuse, and she balked at the price. “Why so much,” she
asked. “Because I knew the right fuse.” And the winner is....
“Great leaders inspire a sense of mission. Good people
with a proper sense of mission will find a way to get the job
done.”
Leo Beebe
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com