Winter, the Reformed Warlock

“Dreams don’t work unless you do.” – John Maxwell

Earlier this week, I used Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as an illustration. Now, please allow me to use Santa Claus Is Coming to Town as a second example… specifically, a song sung by Kris Kringle himself.

A creepy and very evil character, the Winter Warlock has a change of heart when he encounters Kris Kringle. Soon, he is providing Kris with some magic corn – the last remaining trick he knows – to make his reindeer fly.

The Winter Warlock – “Please, call me Winter” – whose cold and icy heart is depicted melting, then takes a few tentative steps as Kris breaks into the following song…

Just put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking 'cross the floor.
Just put one foot in front of the other
And soon you'll be walking out the door.

And now you know how I got started in prison ministry in 1987. After praying for five years about the vision God gave me in 1982 to form a Christian softball team for evangelistic purposes, I saw a cartoon in a Christian newspaper that depicted three runners at a track meet. One runner gave up early in the race and the second one threw in the towel halfway through. But the third runner adopted a “With God’s help, I can do this” mentality, and he was shown breaking the tape at the finish line.

God used that simple cartoon to urge me not only onto the track, but also to refuse to give up once the race had started. But it all began with taking that first baby step of faith, just like it did for “Winter”, the reformed warlock.

My friend, if God has given you a burden or granted you a vision, I cannot urge you strongly enough to take a step of faith in that direction and see what He will do. Don’t go through life wondering “What if?” Put your dream(s) to work TODAY!

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President