The subject, for those of you who might not recognize it, is the last line of Rev. S.M. Lockridge's famous six minute description of Jesus, commonly known as "That's My King!" for Lockridge's use of the phrase throughout.
It's available on YouTube. It's available in its original entirety, spliced together with other songs and beats, preceded and/or followed by other messages. It's been heard by thousands, if not millions, of people.
Lockridge inspires me. But far more, Jesus inspires me. I can't think of anything better than a message I truly believe in wrapped up in a flawless delivery.
Who inspires you?
More specifically, once you have the answer to that question, do you make a point to listen to them as regularly as you need to live in a state of inspiration?
Printed speeches are good also, but don't have the same emotion and power as the spoken word. Some of the most moving words of our time put a face on civil rights, a man on the moon and tore down the Berlin Wall. Our leaders have boldly declared us victorious in the war on terrorism, then kept us safe for 8 years after the first attack on our soil since Pearl Harbor. They've rallied us to raise money for charitable causes and inspired us to new heights of success inside corporations.
So... who then is the face behind the face?
Even the most famous speechwriters are largely unknown to the general public. (Although if you take Jay Leno's JayWalk as a sample of the common man, our highest leaders are also largely unknown.)
The essential part of a good speech is 2-fold, first a concisely constructed idea and second a delivery with strength, conviction and power. Lockridge, although a seasoned minister and public speaker, delivered his most famous address off the cuff. Some say he was simply seized by the Holy Spirit, others say he was infused with a lifetime of preparation beforehand.
Candy Lightner, the founder of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), was so angry at the lax treatment of the driver who killed her 13 year old Cari that she started a grassroots campaign that eventually became a national movement. She passed out leaflets. She held meetings. And eventually, she testified before Congress.
What are you convicted about? And, given the opportunity, could you deliver it with strength and power?
If the answer is no, join a Toastmasters Club and start practicing! Buy a camcorder and start critiquing yourself on film. Learn to convince people both in writing and in person. Follow strong leaders with strong values. Make inspiration as necessary a part of your life as food and water.
Conviction + Action = Purpose
Who and what are you living for?
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