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Charlie
Tremendous Jones (Author, Speaker & Mentor)
and John Wooden (UCLA Head Basketball Coach
1948-1975) were honored at the 7th Annual Lambs
Hall of Fame Banquet on October 29, 2005 in
Dallas, Texas.


LETTER
FROM THE ROARING LAMBS FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR:
Every
year Roaring Lambs meet to honor believers who
have confidently carried their faith with them
into the marketplace so that our very culture
feels the difference. The honorees for 2005
were Charlie "Tremendous" Jones and
Coach John Wooden.
Charlie
"Tremendous" Jones is one of our nations
most respected and admired public speakers,
authors and businessmen. Charlie Jones strives
to improve people's lives by sharing his love
of scripture, books and mankind. Throughout
history compassionate people have shared the
noble aspiration of helping others: Some as
leaders, some as teachers and some as mentors.
Charlie is a shining example of all three. Charlie
"Tremendous" Jones is a Roaring Lamb
who lives by the motto, "LIFE IS TREMENDOUS!"
John
Wooden is the legendary basketball coach who
led UCLA to 88 consecutive wins, 10 NCAA championships,
38 consecutive NCAA tournament victories, 8
undefeated PAC - 8 championships and 4 undefeated
full seasons. Coach John Wooden is also co-author
of eight books including his most recent book,
Wooden on Leadership. Coach Wooden is a man
of wisdom beyond his 94 years with deep rooted
values and principles. Coach John Wooden is
a Roaring Lamb.
Dale
Brown accepted the Roaring Lambs Hall of Fame
Award on behalf of Coach John Wooden who was
unable to attend the banquet. During his 25
year career as Head Basketball Coach at Louisiana
State University, Dale Brown coached Shaquille
O'Neal, twice led the Tigers to the Final Four
and was named the 1981 National Coach of the
Year. Known as a "master motivator,"
Dale Brown is an author, speaker and serves
as a television basketball analyst. Coach Wooden
said, "I will always remember Dale Brown
for his enthusiasm...he is much more than a
basketball coach."
October
29th was a special evening of celebration. Many
were encouraged and inspired to live a truly
extraordinary life that glorifies God.
Best
Regards,
Gary
Kinder, Founder of Roaring Lambs
John Gillespie, Executuve Director
A
SHINING LIGHT: PROFILE OF A ROARING LAMB--CHARLIE
"TREMENDOUS" JONES
By Evelyn Hinds
FAITH
THAT WORKS AT WORK
"I,
too, am of the Way," Charlie "Tremendous"
Jones whispered to Fred Smith years ago at the
first time they met. Fred had just spoken at
Charlie's meeting of insurance professionals
and remembers. "I had no earthly idea of
what I'd said that made him think that I was
a believer." Those two Roaring Lambs identified
each other and have remained friends throughout
the years.
A
Roaring Lambs is one who exemplifies Christ
in the marketplace. Charlie is this year's nominee
to be honored October 29, 2005. He has had a
career as an executive in the insurance industry,
a humorous motivational speaker, author, and
as an entrepreneur in the bookselling business.
My
first introduction to Charlie was through Garry
and Janet Kinder. Charlie addressed the Bent
Tree Bible Study group as he gave his testimony
and told about his book business. His humor
and fast-paced delivery made the time fly as
we enjoyed the fun. His trademark statement
rang true with me. "You'll be the same
in 5 years as you are today except for the books
you read and the people you meet." He held
up several books and kissed them and said, "Some
of my best friends, I've never even met...Oswald
Chambers, Spurgeon, Lincoln." Charlie has
a way of expressing reverence and sincerity
that caused that moment to be unforgettable
to me.
That
evening I followed up with Charlie at an Am
way gathering where Charlie spoke again. I bought
a $59 bag of books at the back of the room that
was a starter pack of motivational books. Those
books were based on biblical principles. My
reading of them and the people I met in the
books have proven Charlie's statement on the
power of books.
Janet
Kinder and I decided to go to Mechanicsburg,
Pennsylvania to see Charlie on his turf. In
June we had the opportunity to meet the family
and see the acreage, the library, the Christmas
house, and the book business. He has an extensive
library of Lincoln books as well as rare and
antique volumes of every description. Charlie
may be best known as a humorous motivational
speaker but he says. "It's only a small
part of what I do." At home he is a husband,
father, grand father, Bible teacher, and seemingly
tireless worker.
In
the library Charlie sang and played on a rare
portable piano used by the Salvation Army and
on an antique player piano. Janet and I were
assigned to sing along. I was at a loss but
Janet sang and recited lyrics right on cue throughout
our 3 day stay. His skill with music and the
scope of his work make me a little more aware
of his uncommon intellect. I ask his gracious
wile Gloria. "Can Charlie just do anything?"
She laughed as she said. "He tries to do
everything." She added that he would have
probably have had a career in music if circumstances
would have been different.
Charlie
and Gloria escorted us on a day trip to Lancaster
where they grew up and married and on to Amish
country and Hershey. Every place we went Charlie
was busy encouraging the clerks and waitresses
he met. We spent a considerable time in a bookshop
where Charlie combed the slacks of used and
antique books and found a shopping cart full
to buy. Were they to add to his collection?
No. they were bought to give away. That's Charlie.
He's out to give away as many of the books and
as much of the gospel as he can while he's here
on earth.
Janet
and I had a memorable Christmas in June experience
at the Jones' Christmas house. It is a small
house devoted to all kinds of antiquities that
included toys, musical instruments, and a train
set. Charlie uses the home to minister to inner
city children at Christmas time. He went through
his children's routine with us. Gloria and Charlie
seemed to enjoy themselves as they sat with
us on the small children's chairs and we all
sang along.
If
I didn't know a thing about Charlie I would
still have to appreciate him because he sells
great books at such reasonable, if not give-away,
prices. His company Executive Books is on the
cutting edge in internet business and wholesale
sales. Charlie's expertise is the marketing
end of the business and he is a very busy and
hard working executive. However, once a week
he opens his house at 7 am to businessmen who
come for a truly unique Bible study.
Janet
and I had the opportunity to join Charlie, Gloria,
and the businessmen around the family room table.
Every place had a Bible and devotions from Chambers
and Spurgeon. Each person took their turn reading
passages that Charlie had planned out. In reading
the scripture. Charlie would often say to the
next reader. "Would you explain that passage
a little better for us?" Eplanation other
than the actual scripture is forbidden so we
would simply repeat the verses with more expression.
Janet and I were amazed with how effective the
technique was and both of us were motivated
to try it with a group sometime.
"How
tremendous is the power available to us who
believe in God." (Ephesians 1:19 Phillips)
Charlie
is "Tremendous" as a light in a dark
world. As a speaker he communicates truth faster
than most of us can think. His ability to communicate
a reverence for God and God's handiwork in people
is something to experience. Don't miss the fun
at this year's Roaring Lambs banquet
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