Character Moment #28 – April 23, 2008

Yesterday I had the great opportunity to attend Coach Poncy’s memorial service. It was an amazing celebration of a man who touched so many people with Christ’s love. He was a model of what excellence in Christian character is about.

As I listened to the various speakers, some friends, some family, even our own Coach Preus, I started to write down the words they used to describe him. What a tribute it was. They used words and phrases like…

He was a person that represented trust, honor, integrity, and respect. He understood the responsibility he had as a call to duty, as a call to serve others.

His family said he left a legacy over four generations. He modeled accountability, care for others, and remembered the little things that made others feel important. He shared the good news.

He was a mentor, a life coach, and a prayer warrior. He valued friendships, relationships, and loved kids. He was a leader that would be followed anywhere. He was trustworthy, an encourager, a teacher, and a coach. He made everyone feel good. He wanted everyone to be a part of the team. People said they were better because they had him in their lives.

He was a peacemaker. He always had time for others. He used every moment of every day to accomplish something. He was inclusive – not exclusive. He was compelled by Christ. He was consistent in his life and ministry. They were one and the same.

Coach Poncy affected so many people with the good news of Jesus Christ. He would want us all to do the same.

The words of Hebrews 13:7 (NIV) remind us of how we should remember Coach Poncy, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith. “

Coach Poncy was a person to imitate. For those of you that are still hurting from his loss or from other things in your life, may you feel the presence of Christ, and be surrounded by His peace.

Character Moment #27 – April 16, 2008

Today is a tough day for many in our Lancer community. One of our long time track and cross country coaches, Mr. Guy Poncy, died yesterday afternoon after working out at Peters Canyon. Coach Poncy and his wife had two daughters that graduated from Orange Lutheran and had been a part of the Orange Lutheran family as a coach, substitute teacher, and parent for many years.

He was a man who had a passion for the Lord. His love for Jesus was evident to all he encountered. Coach Poncy rode his bike many days at practice and at meets. His love for the students here at Orange Lutheran was very evident. His email address was run4him2@socal.rr.com . The him was Jesus.

It is hard when someone we know and care for leaves this earth. Knowing Coach Poncy, he would say that the tears today should not be for him, for he is enjoying the promises that he believed in his life. He knows today that God is faithful and His words are true.

Coach Poncy was a man of great character, and one that will be missed by many including his wife and daughters. Let’s take a moment and ask God for His peace and comfort to all who mourn the end of his earthly life today.

Please join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father,

We thank you for your servant, Guy Poncy, for his faith and witness to those who were placed in his life. We thank you for his faith and model to us while he was with us and know that he is now with you claiming Your free gift of eternal life.

Bless his wife Rennetta and daughters Tiffany and Kristie as they miss their husband and father. Give them that peace that surpasses all understanding, and surround them with people who will comfort them with your love and care.

For our students and staff I also ask for that peace and comfort as well Lord. I thank you for faithfulness and for the eternal life we received when Your Son died and rose again for our sins.

All these things we lay before His throne. To You alone be the glory.

Amen.

Character Moment #26 – April 9, 2008

Have you ever seen a person that is trying to deceive others, having the look of being legit, but in reality not having any integrity? It’s like the person that dresses up a mannequin and places them in the car so they can drive in the carpool lane and avoid congestion. I have a friend that pulled up along a driver that did this and saw the fake passenger. Then as the car pulled away he noticed that he had a fish decal on the back of his car. I am sure there were people that saw him that day that thought, “typical Christian.” It can be frustrating to send a message out like that when the real message of the saving love of Christ is the one that people need to see and hear.

I wonder sometimes if Orange Lutheran is a “safe place to be in sin?” What I mean is I know some in our community are just struggling with certain behaviors that really have them in their grasp. Because we have enough Christian activity, enough good stuff happening, a person could pretty much hide out and not have to face those things that are bringing them down. They can pretend they are doing the right thing, like the guy with the mannequin.

I would hope that we are a school that is “a safe place to be broken.” We all have times in our lives when we need to be broken, so that we can become the people God desires for us to become. Become people who are abiding, walking, living in Him. Allowing Him to fill us with His glory.

Living life as a Christian poser is a dangerous life to live. Humbling ourselves and allowing God to change our lives is powerful. Believing in the power He has to forgive us of all of our wrong doings is freeing. It is my prayer for us all that God will expose those things in our lives that keep us from having a true relationship with Him. It is within that relationship that our true character lies.[i]

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[i] thoughts from Todd Proctor, Rock Harbor, 2.24.08, “the last week of Jesus – Monday”

Character Moment #25 – April 2, 2008

I have shared with you that one of the things I do on a daily basis is read the Bible. I started this 11 years ago and it has been a blessing ever since. The version I picked this year was “The Message” by Eugene Peterson. This past week I was reading from Luke 6 and came across these words. The sub heading was…Work the Words into Your Life…

43-45"You don't get wormy apples off a healthy tree, nor good apples off a diseased tree. The health of the apple tells the health of the tree. You must begin with your own life-giving lives. It's who you are, not what you say and do, that counts. Your true being brims over into true words and deeds.

46-47"Why are you so polite with me, always saying 'Yes, sir,' and 'That's right, sir,' but never doing a thing I tell you? These words I speak to you are not mere additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundation words, words to build a life on.[1]

Powerful words. You know people like that though that always say the right thing or come off as the people who are the most respectful, but they are not. It is a show, it’s a game. It is not truthful, it is not sincere.

Maybe you are that person. Respectful on the outside, but on the inside, your true personality, you could care less. Well I tell you that people see through the façade – the phoniness.

Luke went on in that passage with words of Christ that really challenge us to be a person of character.

48-49"If you work the words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who dug deep and laid the foundation of his house on bedrock. When the river burst its banks and crashed against the house, nothing could shake it; it was built to last. But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don't work them into your life, you are like a dumb carpenter who built a house but skipped the foundation. When the swollen river came crashing in, it collapsed like a house of cards. It was a total loss." [2]

Being a person of character is smart – Christ says so. Being phony, not sincere, is dumb. And if you chose to live your life that way, at some time your life will crumble around you.

These are hard words today, but important to hear. It is my prayer that God’s Spirit will stir up our school to be a community that values character. That our words and our actions will honor Him every day!

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[1] The Message (MSG) Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson, NAVPRESS

[2] Ibid.