I was sitting in a large black SUV yesterday listening to a preacher of more than 30 years when I asked him a personal question ::: How do you have so many relationships with so many different kind of preachers, pastors and leaders?

My first instinct this morning was to do investigate the death of Mr. Michael Jackson, but after further review ::: I thought best to leave the BIG STORIES to the big reporters. Best wishes to all bloggers/reporters who are jumping on the hottest story of the year. I am always saddened when I see talent swept away and dismissed forever. Lord… please help his family in this time of tragedy.

So myself and Mr. John Avanzini are talking about simple things in life… fishing, his favorite place he had a custom suit made (which was Singapore), some of the interesting places on earth where he has gone to preach and so on. John is a very simple man, born in French Guiana and the ultimate – Texas – man. Lives on a ranch and is so funny, I catch myself asking how THIS guy can be a preacher.

What really grabbed my attention was not his funny looking hair, his Texas twang or gigantic black Bible … which looks as if it could be Saint Paul’s personal scrolls. His ability to maneuver globally and foster relationships was uncanny. A man who has circled the world this many times with this many people MUST – MUST – MUST have insight on how to win friends and influence people. He has to be able to explain Jesus, relationships and church communication tactics.

John says to me, with his hair freshly slicked back “Anthony…Son… I never take on another man’s enemies”…. He went on to explain many relationships/friends in the past…”celebrity-christians” and how many enemies they had. “When someone has that many enemies they insist you take sides. “I don’t take sides in any relationship Son”, Said John in his calm Texas voice. “What has happened when I took sides…… is I would lose one of those good ol boys I was friends with… most cases… I lost both”.

We finished our discussion as John went on to reveal his eye for finding good in every person which has been the catalyst to healthy global relationshps. He is one of the greatest influencers and relationship managers in church … AND AT 73 year young man has STILL got the touch.

Have you encountered episodes like John has experienced? Have you been able to navigate effectively in relationships? How have you accomplished this informidable task? What has happened when you undertook a friends enemies?