Finishing the Job - Major’s Message for July 2007

Gentlemen,

Working on a task and working to complete a task are two separate items. Let me explain.

Work is something that we are commanded to do by God. It is not a result of the curse, but rather the first task that God gave to Adam in the garden. God commanded Adam to “dress and to keep it (the garden).” (Genesis 2:15) And so, as fathers we must teach our young men to work, just as God taught Adam. This is working on a task.

God’s statement to Adam shows an expectation of the final end product of the work. The plants and trees were to be dressed, or trimmed, and kept, or cared for, such that they produced the desired fruit. In teaching our young men to work, we must be clear to tell our sons what we expect the outcome or the fruit of their labors to be. Or said another way, we have to answer the question of, “Why am I working, and what do you expect of me?” This is working to the completion of a task.

When a task is completed and the expectation of the one giving the work is fulfilled, there is great joy and a sense of satisfaction. I can only imagine what Adam must have felt when God came by to inspect his work. Adam was probably the first one to hear from God the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” These are the words that I want to hear upon completing my work, my life, on this earth!

On a larger scale, there is great joy when tasks are completed resulting in the achievement of a goal. Here at the ALERT Cadet Headquarters, one of our goals this year is to complete the Craftsman Handbook, the third year of the ALERT Cadet curriculum. I am pleased to announce to you that this handbook, with all six of its phase booklets is now available to all ALERT Cadet members! If you’d like to order a copy please call us at 903-636-9228; they are $35 plus shipping.

In January I wrote encouraging you to develop goals and plans for your family in 2007. Summer is a great time to take out your list and see how you are doing. We recently completed such an exercise at ALERT Cadet Headquarters and found that we had completed 46 of our original 64 tasks for 2007; that is a 72% completion rate with five months still to go in the year! When we looked at all that had been accomplished, we praised God and took great joy from having “built the wall to more than half its height because the people had a mind to work.” (Nehemiah 4:6)

If you find that you are not making good progress on your goals for 2007, now is the time to make a mid-course correction. You can still accomplish the tasks set before you, if you have a mind to work. Let me exhort you to finish the tasks, because the energy and joy to go forward actually comes at the end of the project…when the task is complete. I’ve seen many fathers and young men quit when they are 80-90% of the way finished. This is regrettable because they have worked hard to get to that point, yet received no joy for their labor.

Jesus said, “it is finished” as His last words upon the cross. How grateful I am that Jesus completed the task His father gave Him while He was on this earth. Then came the joy as He sat down at the right hand of the Father! Will you follow our Master’s model and complete the tasks set before you?

In Christ,

Major Roger D. Farr

ALERT Cadet Program Director and Commanding Officer