Legacy Youth Ministry Resources

Illustration texts

Synergy Between Gates and Allen

Early Microsoft had two leaders at the helm who each provided different elements, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, who had been programming together since Gates was in middle school and Allen in high school. Gates said, "I guess you could call me the doer and Paul the idea man. I'm more aggressive and crazily competitive, the front man in running the business day to day, while Paul keeps us out front in research and development." Their relationship was "at the core of the company." They would argue long and intensely and loudly over issues, but come out with great decisions as a result. (Written by Steve Miller, copyright Feb., 2003. Source: Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews, Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented An Industry - And Made Himself The Richest Man in America, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1994, p. 178, 179)

Gates Surrounded by Learners

Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft, once said, "I'm not an educator, but I'm a learner. And one of the things I like best about my job is that I'm surrounded by other people who love to learn." (Bill Gates, with Nathan Myhrvold and Bill Rinearson, The Road Ahead (New York: Penguin Books, 1995), p. 208). As Proverbs challenges us: "He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm." (Prov. 13:20)

Bill Gates in School

Wisdom Bill Gates in School In elementary school, Bill Gates got into trouble with his teachers and administrators. Yet, although his study habits were erratic, he exhibited "flashes of insight, talent, and competitiveness." He got "A's" in math and reading, but "C's" and "D's" in subjects he considered trivial. In school, he was an "erratic cutup," who deliberately avoided great grades in order to be accepted (it was a girl thing to get "A's"). By the 7th grade his parents knew that he needed some discipline in his life, so that he could get good enough grades to be accepted into a good college. So, they put him in a private school, where he had a "B" average. He ended up with the Math/Science clique that others considered "hopelessly square." Yet, it was this new school environment and the new friendship cluster that allowed him to find his niche in software development. (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright Feb., 2003. Source: Stephen Manes and Paul Andrews, Gates: How Microsoft's Mogul Reinvented An Industry - And Made Himself The Richest Man in America, Simon & Schuster, New York, 1994, pp. 16,18,19, 24)

Franklin and Junto

Relationships, Wisdom Benjamin Franklin was considered one of the greatest men of his time. Yet, he felt he couldn't attain wisdom by himself. So he formed a club, named Junto, which continued for 40 years of his life. While others were hitting the taverns on Friday nights, Junto would meet to present and critique each other?s essays, debate issues, and discuss important matters. (p. 65 of Franklin's Autobiography) At age 18 his chief acquaintances were three people who he describes as "lovers of reading." They took pleasant weekend walks together where they would read to one another and talk about what they read. (p. 41, Autobiog.) So, by walking with wise people, he became wise? (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright Feb. 2003)

Schwartzenegger Hangs Out With Bodybuilders

Relationships, Wisdom When 15-year-old Arnold Schwartzenegger caught fire for bodybuilding, he began to hang around the local serious bodybuilders, although they were twice his age. He learned from them, looked up to them, and by hanging around those who were wise in bodybuilding, he became wise in bodybuilding. (Written by Steve Miller, copyright February, 2003)

Spielberg's Middle School Film-Making

Relationships, Wisdom Steven Spielberg didn't fit into the social life of his school. But in middle school he wasn't the only kid making movies. Incredibly, four other students within 10 houses from him spent their time making films while other kids chased girls and played sports. One of these friends said that he doubted Spielberg could have kept his motivation for filmmaking without the camaraderie of his fellow-enthusiasts. By hanging around those who were growing wise in filmmaking, Spielberg became wise. Listen, if the loftiest goals of your close friends are to get their hair fixed, go to a party, or to try a new drug, you?re going nowhere in life and will never make a dent in this world for Jesus. Because ?a companion of fools suffers harm.? So, as you define where you are going in life, surround yourself with people who are going the same direction. Then you will find yourself growing wise. (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright February 2003.)

Jordan and His Brother

Relationships, Wisdom Basketball superstar Michael Jordan reigns as America?s most popular athlete, perhaps the most popular in the world. He?s mastered the game to such an extent that pro player Magic Johnson could say, ?There?s Michael ? and then there?s the rest of us.? (Rare Air, on front sleeve) But he didn?t just wake up one morning, pick up a basketball, and begin his lightning fast moves and stratospheric jumps, dunking baskets against giant defenders. Believe it or not, he was cut from the Varsity team his sophomore year in high school. So what did he do to improve? One could argue that without the fierce, daily, one-on-one, back yard competitions with his older brother Larry, who was a better athlete at the time, Michael would have never developed his ability and confidence enough to compete at the game. Larry was his mentor as well as best friend. So learn as much as you can from your family - cook, garden, build. Learn from their wealth of experiences, both good and bad. (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright Feb., 2003)

Guitar and Seeking Wisdom

Wisdom, Relationships Surround yourself with wise people. After you get them around you, be more concerned with learning from them than showing off how much you know. While walking to school each day, future comedian Rodney Dangerfield perfected his humor by telling a joke in several different ways to his friends, and then ask which delivery was funnier. Many people learn the guitar this way. They ask someone who?s a step ahead of them how to read a cord chart or how to position their fingers for a certain chord. Then, they practice till they can do it. Whenever they want to do something new, they ask a person who can do it how they do it, or learn to read the music magazines that show how the professionals do it. (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright Feb., 2003)

Jordan, Franklin, etc. Learn From Criticism

Wisdom, Relationships Michael Jordan, after his humiliating cut from the high school team as a sophomore, began waking up at 6:00 each morning to practice with his Junior Varsity coach. Then there were the basketball clinics he began attending during the summers, where he got input from top coaches. During his college years, Steven Spielberg spent his time after classes and during the summer helping out at Universal Studios, where he asked millions of questions and watched the masters in action. It takes more than practice. It takes the right kind of practice. Usually, we need experts to show us how. (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright Feb., 2003) "A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool." (Prov. 17:10; cr. 9:7-9; 10:8; 19:25) We all understand colorblind people. If their parents or wives don't match their clothes for them, they are in trouble. But I?m convinced that all of us have some kind of blindness. Some people are relationship blind. They can?t keep friends, but have no idea why. They may have bad breath, a sense of humor that only their mom appreciates, and body odor. But they are clueless. Their only hope of not going through life with the problem is if they can get someone to be honest with them, and take the truth to heart. But fools blow off correction, thinking, ?Who is he to try to set me straight?? That?s why they never improve themselves. They are too defensive to ever face their weaknesses. It?s like the American Civil war general whose last words were, as he raised his head above a parapet - "Nonsense, they couldn't hit an elephant at this dis...." Wise people, on the other hand, take criticism to heart, regarding their critics as some of their most valuable friends. Super-successes go beyond taking criticism well; they ask for it. One day Benjamin Franklin's friend sharply rebuked him. "Ben," he said, "you are impossible. Your opinions have a slap in them for everyone who differs with you. They have become so expensive nobody cares for them. Your friends find they enjoy themselves better when you are not around." Franklin took the rebuke seriously and began to work on his relational abilities. The effort paid off in later years as he became one of the most sought out, respected men of his time. At another time, in order to improve his writing, he and some friends each wrote a paper based on a Psalm, and then critiqued each other?s writing. As a young grade-school movie maker, Steven Spielberg, would show his films on a sheet, thrown over a clothes line in his backyard, with his sister selling tickets and candy. Between showings, he would get their input on what they liked, and how he could improve. Basketball Superstar Michael Jordan played an extraordinary game as a college freshman. But that didn?t keep him from intently listening to his coach?s evaluation of his weaknesses. By working hours a day on these weaknesses, he came a step closer to being the best player of all time. Bodybuilder Arnold Schwartzenegger asked a fellow-bodybuilder to evaluate his physique. Schwarzenegger took his advice, changed part of his routine, and took another step toward becoming the world?s top bodybuilder. Bill Hybels started a church in a movie theatre that grew, in 15 years, to over 14,000 attendees, making it the largest church in America. How did he perfect his speaking ability? He asked a diverse group of people to critique his sermons each Sunday and write their input, both positive and negative, to help him improve himself. Besides this input, his staff also meet with him the following week to critique the entire service. If Michael Jordan had refused to listen to his coaches? critiques of his game? If Franklin had never taken his friend?s advice? If Spielberg had never gotten input on his films? If Dangerfield had never gotten input on his jokes? ?we might have never heard of these guys. ?Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.? (Written by Steve Miller, Copyright February, 2003)

Apology as the Superglue of Life

An apology is the superglue of life. It can repair just about anything. (Lynn Johnston)

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