Today I spent some time with friends in Scottsdale, Arizona. The weather in Arizona allows for spectacular landscaping. Their home was surrounded by flowers, flowering trees and shrubs, and large ornate pots full of flowers.

But once inside, what intrigued me most were the walls throughout the home where pictures of the past and present were on display.  Some were photographs in frames and others looked as if they had been carefully painted by an artist. Certain hallways consisted of a particular era of time or a special moment such as the birth of a child or remembering a loved one who is now in heaven.

This coming Sunday at Crossings, I will have a courageous and frank Q & A with Dr. Ron Fowler of Akron, Ohio. I have asked my friend to help us--to help me--not only understand the issues related to the racial tensions of our day, but also to help us as Crossings Community Church lead the way to Jesus-inspired reconciliation in our city.

Some might ask: "Why now?" 

Other may ask: "What took you so long?”

Last week, I introduced you to one of my heroes, Dr. Ron Fowler. I’ve decided to take a few weeks to share my heroes with my blog friends. Some of my heroes are quite famous, and I’ll admit: I’m hesitant to talk about these friends because it might seem arrogant, braggadocious, or like I’m name-dropping. I can assure you that’s not my intention.

I’m getting tremendous response from my readers and so many tell me they appreciate getting to know me beyond my role at Crossings. So, I’m spending the next several weeks talking about the people who have shaped me and have had a significant and personal impact over a long period of time.

Meet my friend, Dr. Ronald J. Fowler. He will be on the Crossings stage on October 29 as he guides our discussion on racial reconciliation. To say I am excited is a gross understatement. For 42 years, he served as the Senior Pastor of the Arlington Church of God in Akron, Ohio. In 2009, he led an extremely successful pastoral transition as he passed the baton to the Reverend Dr. Diana Swoope, the first and only female pastor to serve the church since its founding in 1917. The church not only thrived under Dr. Fowler’s leadership, but has continued to thrive under the leadership of Dr. Swoope.

My dad was a pastor.  Anyone who knew him realized he was born to lead, and born to lead in the context of the local church.  He loved the local church.  The two congregations he served--one for 13 years and the other for nearly 17 years--both grew numerically and had significant impact in the cities where they were located.  Probably his most profound gift to the church was inspiring and encouraging young leaders who would later become pastors of congregations all over the country.  

There is a time for everything, a season for every activity under heaven. -Ecclesiastes 3:1

For the first thirty years of my life, I really didn’t pay much attention to this verse. Without really defining what the writer of Ecclesiastes meant by seasons, I assumed those “seasons,” whatever they were, would show up later in life. And I didn’t define the word “later” either.