I look up and see this beautiful fountain as we drive up to the Ritz Carlton in Orlando.  We are there to attend a Business Summit hosted by Charis Bible College.  The thought raced across my mind, “I’m not in Kansas anymore Toto.”  Scheduled for the next three days are many successful men sharing their insights and processes used to propel their success.  The headliner, and personal favorite, is Lance Wallnau.  He is an incredibly gifted, thought-provoking, speaker.  The entertainment value he brings is only overshadowed by the substance.  Lance is speaking about doing business supernaturally and does an incredible job tying the tasks of being in business with the higher calling of God to have “His Kingdom come, and His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.”  Powerful, blessed time.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to hear Lance you should check out his website or look him up on YouTube.  You won’t be disappointed.

My wife and I were blessed to have an invitation to dinner with the speakers.  We were looking forward to it.  My dream would be to sit down with Lance, but I knew I may sit down but I’d be sitting down with fifty other people too.  We were strolling through the beautiful grounds of the Ritz Carlton property with a couple we had met earlier that year and were able to rekindle our friendship.  It was a beautiful evening and we made our way over the foot bridge to the Ritz Club House where the dinner was scheduled.  We sat down on a bench near the water and just marveled at how beautiful it was, at how good God is, and how grateful we were for His loving kindness.  We noticed others from the conference making their way towards the front door of the club house so we headed that way too.

We approached from the other side of the club house and walked in.  The hostess checked us in and said we could sit anywhere we’d like.  I looked down at the small table (for six) in front of me.  There was card folded like a tent on one of the plates.  It read,  “Reserved for Lance Wallnau.”   I felt like a man who dreamed!  I looked at our friends and said let’s sit here.  I was almost in shock.  I was expecting to be in the same room, not at a cozy intimate table with any of the speakers.  Wow, my mind was racing.

I remember Lance saying that most people have 1500 words per minute running through their minds as “self talk,” I think I was pushing 3000.  A myriad of thoughts raced through my mind, “What was I going to say?  What was he going to say?  I hope I don’t make a fool out of myself.  Wow, that’s a lot of silverware.  Just wait for someone else to start eating.”  And on and on it went.  One thought started to dominate, “The art of asking questions,” seemed to be louder than all the other self talk.  What should I ask?  Everyone is always allowed one question regardless of who you meet.  The quality of that question will dictate if you are graced with the opportunity to ask another.  As I prayerfully considered what, how, and when I would ask Lance Wallnau, SUDDENLY he and his beautiful wife Annabelle walked in and sat down.  I was like a little boy the first time he saw a lion at the zoo – in awe.  This was not good.  Little boys don’t have to converse with lions.  Think Rob, think!  What are you going to ask him.  In my astonishment he gets up, walks right over to me and extends his hand and says, “Hello, I’m Lance Wallnau.”  I shake his hand and say, “Arrr arrrrrrr  Rrrob, my name is Rob Statham.”  After the “Arrears” he sort of did a short double take, quite possibly thinking I was retarded.  I have to admit I wondered for just a moment.  He smiled and said, “Pleased to meet you Rob”  I sat there as he made his way back to his seat feeling like one of those old cartoon characters trying to hit a baseball and swinging the bat about 9 times at one pitch.  Thinking, “Good God please help me!  Settle down Rob.”

He effortlessly started a pleasant conversation asking how everyone liked the conference.  I listened and settled down.  I even added to the conversation in the ebb and flow.  I thought back to learning about the art of asking questions.  I like to learn about people and their interests and also probe a little into the wisdom that has been gleaned over time.  I had a great question come to mind.  It was the perfect lull in the conversation and set up for me to ask.  So I said, “Lance, if you could travel back in time to the beginning of your ministry and you only had fifteen minutes to talk to your younger self.  What would you tell him?”

Lance responded with raised eyebrows and a reflective “Hmmmm….”  Then proceeded to think and talk through his response.  I wish I could share the transcript here, but I can’t.  I listened intently and in his witty, likable way, he shared in his younger days he didn’t really think he had anything for the nations.  I heard him express the need to believe who he is in Christ.  He would work much more on strategic issues.  Systems for a legacy and systems to work together (unity) with diverse groups.

I reflected on his answer and I immediately identified with thinking of myself less than what God has said.  It is so easy to say you believe.  The fruit of our beliefs is our actions.  I don’t want to look back at my life and say “I wish I would have believed what God had put in me and called me to earlier.”  I felt spiritually charged sensing the Spirit encouraging me to believe Him.  God wants to do greater things than Lance, myself, or you can do on our own.  I know in our little minds we like to think we’re smarter than everyone else but the truth is God can do about five hundred million times more with us than we are capable of doing ourselves.  Then people will look at you, me, or Lance and know that it had to be God.

Believe.