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  PRAISE FOR SACRED PACE

  “Success is one thing, but wisdom is another. Or so it can seem. Most of us hope for both, even when they seem like rivals. In the case of Terry Looper, success and wisdom have come blessedly together. It wasn’t always so. Why and how did things change for him? I enthusiastically urge you to read Sacred Pace to hear his story and to grasp his answers. Then I urge you to pursue for yourself the fruitfulness that can come from a transformative process of seeking and hearing from God in relation to all of life’s decisions. As Looper so clearly sees, the greatest and surest gift will always be the Giver.”

  —MARK LABBERTON, PRESIDENT, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY

  “Terry Looper’s story is compelling because he pulls no punches on how hard life can be when we get seriously out of balance. The resulting wisdom that he acquired through those hard times is from God himself—learning to want God’s will more than our own! This truth, which is both ancient and contemporary, and the advice he gives as to how to incorporate it in our lives, will be life-giving for those who begin to move at a Sacred Pace in the same way Terry has.”

  —NEWTON CRENSHAW, PRESIDENT, YOUNG LIFE

  “Far too many leaders are struggling with the frenetic pace of their lives. The tragic consequences of a life out of control are predictable: deteriorating health, fractured relationships, and unsustainable results. In Sacred Pace, Terry Looper offers a better way—born of his own failures and ultimate success. This book can help you live and lead at a higher level!”

  —MARK MILLER, INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLING AUTHOR, V.P. HIGH PERFORMANCE LEADERSHIP, CHICK-FIL-A, INC.

  “Terry Looper is both a known and unknown spiritual mentor to hundreds of people and organizations, both nationally and internationally. The nonprofit where I have been called to serve is thriving today because of Terry’s willingness to teach our leadership team the principles for finding God’s will that are so brilliantly described in Sacred Pace. Reading will take courage, but the results are worth it!”

  —VIVIAN SHUDDE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BROOKWOOD COMMUNITY

  “I’ve done more underlining per page in Sacred Pace than in any other book I have ever read. I sincerely believe that Sacred Pace is, after the Bible, the most important book I have ever read. My good friend and mentor Terry Looper has written a great book on business, decision-making, and, in no small way, theology. His transparency makes his words all the more meaningful, and his warmth and conversation-like writing style make the whole experience so personal and enjoyable!”

  —CHRISTOPHER CRANE, EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN AND COFOUNDER OF EDIFY

  “As a committed Christian, I thought I had progressed a long way on my spiritual journey—until I read Sacred Pace. I saw myself on almost every page, and I expect the insights and concepts in this book will literally change my life. Slowing down and letting the Holy Spirit guide my decision-making seems hard, yet it is immensely freeing. I am putting these insights into action today!”

  —DAVID WEEKLEY, CHAIRMAN OF DAVID WEEKLEY HOMES

  “My very wise dad’s favorite poem was, ‘I’d Rather See a Sermon Than Hear One Any Day.’ That poem fits Terry Looper well. The world is experiencing a shortage of leaders who walk their talk, but Terry and this magnificent book fill the void to the brim. Sacred Pace is the real deal, and you’ll find Terry’s heartbeat on every page.”

  —DR. JOE WHITE, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF KANAKUK KAMPS

  “From finances to family, the decisions we make in everyday life radically shape who we become. In Sacred Pace, Terry Looper lays out a thoughtful, scriptural guide to wise decision-making. This book is for business leaders eager to make sound choices for their organizations, for husbands and wives who want to work together to live Christ-centered marriages, and for fathers and mothers committed to raising up compassionate kids. Sacred Pace is north-star wisdom for those who want to make extraordinary decisions in everyday living.”

  —PETER GREER, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HOPE INTERNATIONAL, COAUTHOR OF MISSION DRIFT

  “I have been absolutely floored by Sacred Pace! This book will be a powerful tool for a lot of people, but in my opinion it is essential reading for anyone who considers themselves an entrepreneur. If that’s you, this book will change your life in profound ways.”

  —DAVE BLANCHARD, COFOUNDER OF PRAXIS

  “How many times have you and I wished God would send us an email or write in the sky His answer for our questions about His will? For the dedicated follower of Christ, it’s easy to feel His will is, at times, too mysterious to decipher. That’s why this book is so needed. Terry’s experience uncomplicates this ‘mystery’ of finding answers from God for our everyday lives. The simplicity of his four-step process will stick with you and draw you more closely to God’s heart!”

  —JOE PAULO, PRESIDENT AND CEO OF KSBJ

  “This is a book by a thoughtful and successful Christian businessman. He tells the moving story of his own burnout and conversion, but that’s only the beginning. Now, after many years of following Christ, Terry Looper shares what he has learned about decision-making as a Christian and connects that with the process of making deals as a businessman. Slowing down and listening (he calls it ‘getting neutral’) and learning how to sense the leading of the Spirit are insights he has gained from years of business experience and are inextricably linked to his love for Jesus.”

  —ROBERT SLOAN, PRESIDENT, HOUSTON BAPTIST UNIVERSITY

  “I have had the privilege of knowing Terry Looper for the last twenty-five years. I often go to him for wise counsel and advice on a myriad of subjects. He always encourages me to listen the Lord and to get neutral. Reading Sacred Pace is just like a visit with Terry, including practical spiritual wisdom that is certainly countercultural. I highly recommend Sacred Pace to anyone who runs too fast in this crazy-paced world so they can learn to operate at God’s speed.”

  —TIGER DAWSON, CEO AND PRESIDENT OF EDIFY

  “What a fantastic experience it was to read Sacred Pace! As I read the first few chapters, I thought the book was good mainly because I have great respect for Terry. At some point in the middle, I realized this book is really good regardless of my thoughts about Terry. And by the end, I have been stimulated to make some life adjustments and think of a few things differently.”

  —JEFF REETER, NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL, MANAGING PARTNER

  “As part of a seminary leadership team, I know how important it is to make decisions in God’s timing, rather than our own. The principle of ‘getting neutral’ that Terry has described in this book is so valuable in that process, which is just one of the reasons I have enjoyed reading Sacred Pace.”

  —TOD BOLSINGER, VICE PRESIDENT, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, AUTHOR OF IT TAKES A CHURCH TO RAISE A CHRISTIAN

  “Sacred Pace is packed full of godly wisdom. I especially like the way my friend Terry Looper breaks out the application portions of the book based on the major segments of a leader’s life—and the way he includes key examples along the way. This is a powerful tool that I know will impact many people’s lives.”

  —LLOYD REEB, AUTHOR OF FROM SUCCESS TO SIGNIFICANCE AND HALFTIME FOR COUPLES

  “This book has been helpful for my soul. My wife and I read it together at the perfect time, and we’ve been using Terry’s four steps to ‘get neutral’ in our lives, in our ministry, and in our parenting decisions. This book needs to be in the hands of any young person looking to get a start on life—especially anyone ready to get started in the business world.”

  —REV. DR. DANA ALLEN, SYNOD EXECUTIVE, ECO

  “In Sacred Pace, Terry Looper speaks to the longings of our hearts. We long to flourish in every part of life—in business, family, discipleship, and service to others. This book offers a clear path to such flourishing. We yearn fo
r integrated lives, rather than being so scattered. Sacred Pace shows us how to live seamlessly, centered in the God who loves us and guides us. We look for a mentor, someone who can help us grow in work and faith. Terry Looper walks with us as a wise, faithful, and surprisingly vulnerable counselor and friend. We long to know God’s will for decisions big and small. Terry teaches us how to slow down so that we can truly ‘get neutral’ enough to discern the voice of God’s Spirit in the hubbub of our busy lives. I recommend Sacred Pace not only to entrepreneurs and other business leaders, but to all who seek to know God and His will more deeply, so as to live more fully and j oyfully.”

  —MARK ROBERTS, FULLER THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MAX DE PREE CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP

  “Sacred Pace is a compelling journey with a powerful spiritual message for everyone—from business leaders to homemakers to young people just starting to find their way in life. It’s an engaging read, and I enjoyed every minute of it!”

  —SQUIRE RUSHNELL, BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF THE GODWINK SERIES

  “I am completely blown away by this book! To write on knowing the will of God is one thing, but to do so in a fresh, unexpected way is truly a Herculean task. Sacred Pace is eminently practical, yet at the same time clearly rooted in the Word of God—a balance that is increasingly difficult to find. Another element of this book I find so refreshing is Terry’s willingness to talk not only about his successes, but also his failures. This is a wonderful tool for anyone seeking to hear from God and obey His voice.”

  —DWIGHT EDWARD, PASTOR, WATERGATE COMMUNITY CHURCH

  “Sacred Pace will not only lead readers toward better results in their decision-making, but also toward a deeper experience in their spiritual lives. I can’t think of a combination better than that!”

  —ROGER WERNETTE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE GATHERING OF MEN

  “Reading Terry’s story will cause you to reflect on your own story in deep and meaningful ways. The principles in this book are God ordained, and this story must be told!”

  —BILL BLOCKER, PRESIDENT, COLLEGE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES

  © 2019 Terry Looper

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  ISBN 978-0-7852-2338-2 (eBook)

  Epub Edition January 2019 9780785223382

  Library of Congress Control Number: 2018954918

  ISBN 978-0-7852-2337-5

  Printed in the United States of America

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  To Dr. Norman Lawson, who was God’s first earthly

  instrument in liberating my soul and introducing me

  to the concept of seeking answers from my gut.

  CONTENTS

  Foreword

  Introduction

  Part 1: My Journey to That Sacred Pace Chapter 1: Collision Course

  Chapter 2: The Crash

  Chapter 3: A Way to His Will

  Chapter 4: My First Test Run

  Chapter 5: In Step with God

  Chapter 6: Trust and Believe

  Part 2: Four Steps to a Sacred Pace Chapter 7: Step 1: Consult Your Friend Jesus

  Chapter 8: Step 2: Gather the Facts

  Chapter 9: Step 3: Watch for Circumstances

  Chapter 10: Step 4: Get Neutral

  Part 3: Lessons Learned Along the Way Chapter 11: Is It the Holy Spirit or Intuition?

  Chapter 12: When to Slow Down

  Chapter 13: How Can I Help Myself Stop the Hurrying?

  Chapter 14: Pain Is Not the Enemy

  Chapter 15: Are They God’s Desires or Mine?

  Part 4: Reaching a Sacred Pace in Real Life Chapter 16: With Your Spouse

  Chapter 17: When Parenting

  Chapter 18: While at Work

  Chapter 19: During Negotiations

  Chapter 20: In Ministry and Giving

  Epilogue

  Notes

  Acknowledgments

  FOREWORD

  By James Watt, former US Secretary of the Interior

  TERRY LOOPER MAY BE the most successful businessperson you’ve never heard of. Among his achievements:

  •By his midthirties, he had already surpassed his financial dreams.

  •At the leading of the Lord, and at great risk after a terrifying personal crisis, he started a niche energy-commodities marketing company with a determination to do two things differently: he would hold to a forty-hour workweek, and he would emphasize customer service over numbers by setting no sales goals. Both approaches are still in place today, thirty years later.

  •That company, Texon, has been one of Houston’s top five private revenue producers, an industry leader in customer retention, and was selected as a “best place to work” by the Houston Chronicle.

  •Terry was named an Ernst & Young Gulf Coast Region Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012.

  •He gives away 50 percent of everything he makes and has been doing so since 1998.

  •He is a devoted Christian, mentor, and family man.

  •He is as humble and unselfish as anyone I’ve ever known.

  When I first heard of Terry, I was told in terms both clear an
d concise: “Do not suggest any fee for your services. Terry Looper is the most generous man you will ever meet.” The words came from my friend of many years, Don Hodel, who had served President Reagan as secretary of energy and then succeeded me as secretary of the interior. Since that introduction to Terry about twenty-five years ago, I have watched in amazement as this entrepreneurial capitalist built his company from scratch, being more generous with employees and customers than I or any typical businessman could understand.

  In one memorable event, I worked with one of Terry’s vice presidents, who had made a fabulous deal with a major oil and gas company. This was a win for the oil company, and it would also yield a significant profit for Texon. Terry decided, though, that Texon was making too much on the deal and insisted the VP rewrite the agreement for the benefit of the oil company.

  On a separate occasion, Terry was selling an entire division of Texon to a public company. However, Texon’s largest and longest-term customer did not want Terry to sell their portion of the business because the sale would make their primary competitor a key vendor of theirs. Terry heard their management team’s concerns, prayerfully weighed all the factors—and exempted their portion from the deal. Texon’s entire management team and board thought it was a particularly unwise decision. But because Terry had slowed down and taken the time to work through his four-step decision-making process (the same process you’ll learn throughout this book), he was determined not to force people to do what they did not want to do. With God’s blessing, that exempted slice of the business ultimately grew to be as big and as profitable a division as the entire business Texon sold to the public company.

  These seemingly improbable successes happen all the time in Terry’s world because he has learned how to listen not only to people’s needs and concerns, but also to the Lord’s leading. Using a method God guided him toward many years ago, Terry carefully sifts through the varying options and opinions in a situation to discern what God wants him to do.