A SERIES OF GIFTS — No. 21: "THE LEGACY BUSINESS" by Mike Fransen

The LORD works in mysterious ways...

 

18 months ago, by happenstance (in God’s economy), I met a fella named Mike Fransen who was completing a book entitled “THE LEGACY BUSINESS: PRACTICAL INSIGHTS TO ASSEMBLING A LIFE WORTH PASSING ON TO OTHERS.” 

Then, just last month and in another city, I was visiting with a group of leaders on the topic of LEADERSHIP IDENTITY. That’s all. Nothing else.

After everyone had left and the room was cleared, one gentleman lingered and approached. We had a very nice visit (maybe 10 minutes or so) during which he remarked out of the blue, “I’m really feeling called to create a LEGACY BUSINESS.”

Had I been sitting down, I probably woulda fallen out of my chair, but since I was standing, you coulda knocked me over with a feather.

“I brought three books today,” I replied, “and look at what this one is called.” I then reached for the stack, and the book in the middle was my personal copy of — you guessed it — Mike Fransen’s “THE LEGACY BUSINESS.” 

Believe you me, when I slid that gorgeous black book out and handed it to the gentleman, our eyes were the size of saucers!

The man continued: “I’ve started and sold two successful companies, but this last one’s gonna be different.”

“How so?” I asked.

“The last two made tons of money, but they also robbed my soul. Having one left in me, I’m making and giving this one entirely to the LORD.”

“And how’s that going?” I asked.

He smiled a knowing smile. “My wife chastised me the other night because she saw me reverting right back into my old behaviors: the 24/7 hamster wheel, ego, arrogance, money. ‘I thought this one was gonna be different,’ she said, so yeah, this is the book I need. I guess today was the divine appointment that nails it to the door for me. I cannot ignore God's calling anymore, and I can't believe that’s the book you brought with you."

I can.

So here it is, GIFT #21, my book review and lite summary of THE LEGACY BUSINESS. 

 

For everyone out there callousing his or her knees in prayer, toiling 24/7 to get something worthwhile off the ground or up and out of the ditch, or wandering in the wilderness (fearing, perhaps, that you’ve altogether lost your way), or worrying or wondering whether God's abandoned you, just remember: His promises endure.

As evidenced 18 months ago and just last month: Come hell or high water, God will encourage those who write in the dark and even use those who unwittingly carry His testimonies of hope into faraway lands. 

 

In moments of doubt, I'm personally reminded of one of my late father-in-law's favorite passages in all of scripture. He was imperfect, as we all are, and as COMPETITIVE a human being as I've ever encountered — so you may have difficulty squaring that FIERCE mental image with the verse he'd highlighted and underlined so many times in his Bible that it nearly tore the paper — but here goes: 

"The LORD your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”  (Zephaniah 3:17)

Now, you may not believe that Mike's little black book could move mountains, but...

I can.

And with that, a butterfly flaps her wings.