“An Ordinary Man,” “Balloons,” host Jim Wining Jim Wining, Bishop and President of Acts Ministry, Inc. explains how a simple Birthday party defined for him accountability and its affect on respect, trust and love. Jim Wining shares a story about a time when he organized a birthday party for his son shortly after moving to a new neighborhood: The Idea: To entertain 12-14 neighborhood kids, he decided to catapult water balloons high into the sky using a huge rubber band and a wheelbarrow filled with 50+ balloons [00:46]. The Launch: He rigged a huge slingshot on his driveway and the kids took turns launching the balloons, enjoying the sight of them fading away [02:10]. The Consequence: After about 30 minutes, a neighbor spun into the driveway and angrily asked what they were doing [02:48]. The neighbor informed him that every one of the balloons had landed on his glass patio garden room and broken the back windows of his house [03:28]. The Fallout: The host offered to pay for the damage, but the neighbor instructed him to stay away, saying his wife would “kill” him [03:48]. The children, who had witnessed the event, “evaporated” out of fear, and the host felt he had lost their respect and trust [04:00]. Key Takeaway The host uses this story to emphasize the importance of accountability and responsibility in life [05:33]. He concludes by encouraging viewers to be certain that they can “stand with pride” in their actions, knowing they have maintained the respect and trust of those around them, as this is necessary to reach the level of love [06:30].
