Saturday’s Notes: Special Edition
A Tribute to Wayne Schmidt
The Hebrew use of the word “design” is translated as: shape, mold, form, or pattern. These words all describe the man, Wayne Schmidt, whom God knew from before conception. King David was a man of God and lived his life in service to the Almighty. In Psalm 139, David comments that God “formed (his) inward parts.” (KJV) One of my many Bibles is the Maxwell Leadership Bible. Dr. Maxwell comments on David’s psalm in this way: “A Leader’s Relationship with God Shapes His (or Her) Perspective.” In his commentary (p. 736) he adds this description:
- God knows our every thought…
- God directs us…
- God knows no hopeless or helpless situations
- God formed every complex detail of our bodies…
- God constantly thinks of us…
- God searches our hearts and will purify our motives.
Wayne’s life was designed by God and yes, Wayne was a designer – not only from an architectural perspective, but in people’s lives. Wayne’s legacy will live on in the buildings he created, but also in the lives he helped shape in the knowledge of God and His Son’s sacrificial death for the sins of the world. Wayne served his LORD and Savior in a variety of ways, but perhaps the most meaningful to me was his prison ministry to incarcerated men for various crimes. Regardless of their past, Wayne was committed to tell them the Good News of Jesus and his saving grace.
Wayne was indeed a true leader. He touched on the lives of his colleagues, employees, community leaders, and yes, his family. God indeed showered His favor on Wayne’s life for his unselfish actions. Why? Because Wayne served his LORD by “serving others.” I was fortunate to have known this servant leader over several decades. I knew him as a Sunday School superintendent, as members of a task force, and yes, in Bible study.
My most recent blog on my website is entitled Life Anew! The concluding sentence reads, “the final chapter in our ‘life anew’ is in His eternal presence.” May God grant peace and solace to Susan, his children, and grandchildren as they mourn the loss of this great man of God and knowing he is at rest with his Savior.
Peace
Connected in Him, I stand
GHR
