Pastor Chuck's Encouraging Words

The Importance of Packaging

2011-05-18T10:07:00.003-05:00

I recently read this article by Phil Cooke (www.philcooke.com) and it's just too good to not re-post. Give it a read, and then give me your thoughts...........

The Importance of Packaging

by Phil Cooke

Who you are is important—but you can never underestimate the impact of how you are perceived.

When I was a kid, television meant three channels. Whoopee! But on our satellite TV system today, my children have a choice of five hundred channels, and online, that number is nearly unlimited. The difference is extraordinary and very important. My production experience in a five-hundred-channel universe indicates that people take less than five seconds to decide to watch your program. That’s it. Think about how quickly you handle a typical TV remote and what little chance you give each program to grab your attention.

Audiences today are sophisticated and aren’t willing to put up with programs that don’t interest them. Therefore, I always advise my media clients that how a program is packaged is just as important as its content. For instance, no matter how brilliant the program content might be, it has to be packaged in a high quality, contemporary, and compelling way. Otherwise, the viewer won’t watch long enough to hear the content, and you’ve lost the audience. In the same way, you need a compelling “package” in order to be perceived as powerfully as possible. What elements combine to make your package great? Here are a few to consider:

How You Look

Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society. —Mark Twain

My father used to say, “If you dress like a pauper, you’ll never get an audience with the king.” Although styles today are much more relaxed than in the past, there are still strong feelings among people about clothes and the impact they have on perception. Even in Hollywood, where jeans are considered “business attire,” if you look closely, you’ll find those jeans are often accompanied by an exotic leather belt, an expensive linen sport coat, a designer T-shirt, a pair of alligator loafers, and a twenty-thousand-dollar watch.

But understand that it’s not about money; it’s about a style that’s appropriate for the situation. Don’t become a clothing snob and use them as weapons to elevate yourself above others. No one respects a person in the office who uses clothes as a label to separate them from everyone else. But do know and learn the power of how to dress appropriately and how clothes can be used to give you access to people, places, and events.

How You Speak

Make sure you have finished speaking before your audience has finished listening. —Dorothy Sarnoff, opera singer

At the highest levels of corporate America, you rarely hear the sound of regional accents. A Southern accent sprinkled with local mannerisms may sound cute in your hometown, but the more you travel beyond the city limits, the more you’ll sound simply out of place. Talking like a cast member of The Sopranos may be desirable in parts of New Jersey, but in parts of Texas, you could be shot on sight.

Proper grammar is another basic issue that frightfully few take the time to fix. If you want to increase your value and perception in the eyes of other people, never open your mouth unless you’re speaking proper English and using grammatically correct sentences. Remember that in most business situations, your speaking voice and writing abilities are your most important communication tools, therefore, poor grammar muddles up your meaning.

No matter how old you are, it’s never too late to improve your communication abilities. A quarterback wouldn’t neglect his passing skills because that’s often the key to his success. In the same way, your brilliance and business expertise will never be known or understood if you can’t express those ideas clearly and accurately.

Appropriate Behavior

Those that are good manners at the court are as ridiculous in the country as the behavior of the country is most mockable at the court. —William Shakespeare

Knowing instinctively how to act in a variety of situations is a critical element to increasing perception. Some football coaches are brilliant on the field, but at a dinner party, they become bumbling fools. In the same way, I’ve met doctors who are internationally known for their medical skills in the operating room, but act ignorant and uncouth in other situations. Learn to become comfortable in a wide variety of circumstances and your chances of success are greatly improved.

At a board meeting, a formal dinner party, a local football game, or church, in a casual social situation, or on a business trip, does your behavior reflect the level of success you’re working toward? And please don’t think the value of perception is the ability to hide the fact that, in reality, you are unethical or dishonest. Ethical and moral behavior matters. It creates trust, loyalty, and integrity, and when damaged, reputations are tough and often impossible to rebuild.

Everything communicates. – —Brad Abare, branding and organizational consultant

Start today recognizing opportunities to jolt your perception in the eyes of your superiors, your customers, and your associates. A business genius who neglects the value of perception risks appearing to others as simply average, or worse, a fool. On the other hand, even a relative novice in business and leadership skills can dramatically improve his standing among his associates through an investment in the art of perception.

Who you are is important—but you can never underestimate the impact of how you are perceived.

A Father's Sacrificial Love

2010-10-11T09:26:00.002-05:00

There was a Pastor, who after the usual Sunday Evening Hymns, stood up, walked over to the pulpit and, before he gave his sermon for the evening, briefly introduced a guest minister who was in service that evening. In the introduction, the Pastor told the congregation that the guest minister was one of his dearest childhood friends and that he wanted him to have a few moments to greet the church and share whatever he felt would be appropriate for the service. With that, an elderly man stepped up to the pulpit and began to speak.

"A father, His son, and his son’s friend were sailing off of the Pacific Coast," He began, "When a fast approaching storm blocked any attempt to get back to shore. The waves were so high, that even though the father was an experienced sailor, he could not keep the boat upright and the three were swept into the ocean as the boat capsized.

The old man hesitated for a moment, making eye contact with two teenagers who were, for the first time since the service began, looking somewhat interested in his story. The aged minister continued with his story, "Grabbing a rescue line, the father had to make the most excruciating decision of his life: to which boy he would throw the other end of the lifeline. He only had seconds to make the decision. The father knew that his son was a Christian and he also knew that his son’s friend was not. No pain imaginable could match the decision he made at that moment. As the father yelled out, ‘I love you son!’ He threw out the lifeline to his son’s friend.

By the time the father had pulled the friend back to the capsized boat, his son had disappeared beneath the raging swells into the black of the night. His body was never recovered." By this time, the two teenagers were sitting up straight in the pew, anxiously waiting for the next words to come out of the old minister’s mouth. "The father," he continued, “knew his son would step into eternity with Jesus, but he could not bear the thought of his son’s friend stepping into eternity without Jesus.

Therefore, he sacrificed his son to save his son’s friend.”

With that the old man turned and sat back down in his chair as silence filled the room. The Pastor again walked slowly to the pulpit and delivered a brief sermon… Within minutes after the service ended, the two teenagers were at the old man’s side.

"That was a nice story," Politely stated the boys, "But I don’t think it was realistic for a father to give up his son’s life in hopes that the other boy would become a Christian." "Well, you’ve got a point there," the old man replied glancing down at the worn Bible. A big smile broadened his narrow face, he once again looked up at the boys and said, "It’s not very realistic, is it? But I’m standing today to tell you that the story gives me a glimpse of what it must have been like for God to give up His only son for me.

You see… I was the father and your Pastor was my son’s friend."

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16, NIV)

He's Hanging On

2010-04-18T16:02:00.001-05:00

Some years ago, on a hot summer day in south Florida, a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His father, working in the yard, saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, he ran toward the water, yelling to his son as loudly as he could.

Hearing his voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his father. It was too late. Just as he reached his father, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the father grabbed his little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the father, but the father was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard his screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his father's fingernails dug into his flesh in an effort to hang onto the son he loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs, and with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my Dad wouldn't let go.”

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, but the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret. But some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let you go.

In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. You are a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way. But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations, not knowing what lies ahead. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack.

That's when the tug-of-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms, be very, very grateful. He did not and will not ever let you go.

Here’s what God says:

Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

Right now you may feel as though an alligator has you by the legs and is about to devour you. But never forget that God has your arms......and He’s not letting go!!!

Choosing Your Path

2010-01-17T06:35:00.001-06:00

Years ago, as Alfred Nobel was reading the newspaper, he was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. It was a mistake, but nonetheless, there it was. What stunned him even more was what the obituary said. As he read through it he discovered that the only thing the obituary noted about him was the fact that he was the man who had invented dynamite.

At that time in history, dynamite was used in great effect for warfare. It distressed Nobel to think that all he would be known for was inventing dynamite, something that was used to take the lives of others. As a result of reading this mistaken obituary, Nobel decided to change the course of his life, he set a course to change his legacy.

From that day on, Alfred Nobel committed himself to world peace and established what we know today as the Nobel Peace Prize. When the name Alfred Nobel is mentioned today, dynamite is rarely the first thing that comes to mind. Rather, we think of the prize that bears his name. It's all because Alfred Nobel decided to change the course his life was taking.

Another man, living centuries earlier, also changed the negative course his life was on. His name was Paul, formerly known as Saul of Tarsus. Known as a relentless persecutor of the early church, he was determined to stop the spread of Christianity. But after a dramatic encounter with God one day, Saul, who’s name was changed to Paul, turned his life around 180 degrees. Like Nobel, he changed the course of his life and rather than being in individual bent on the destruction of Christianity, he became a man bent of the proclamation of God’s love, grace and forgiveness. Today Paul is known as a missionary, church planter, and author of 13 books in the New Testament.

With that in mind, let me ask you this: If you were to read your own obituary today, what do you think people would remember you for?

Your answer to the question and someone else’s answer to that question might be two quite different answers. Nobel wouldn’t have guessed he would be remember for dynamite, but that was everyone else’s answer. So what did he do? He changed the course of his life.

And friend, it isn't too late to change your direction....if you need to. Maybe you don’t, but maybe you do. Proverbs 16:17 says this:

The path of the upright leads away from evil; whoever follows that path is safe.

What path are you on? Is it a path that will lead you to the destination you want it to, or is it a path that will lead you where you don’t want to end up? Tiger Woods chose a path. Bernie Madoff chose a path. Mark McGwire chose a path.

Alfred Nobel chose a path........but then chose a different path.

Let me encourage you to press the pause button on life as we begin a new year. Take a close look at the path you’re on. Make whatever adjustments might be necessary. Then press play again, and pursue life with all you have within you!!!

God bless.........and Happy New Year to you!!!

Joy To The World!

2009-12-24T15:05:00.002-06:00

[This post is from Pat K from New Reformation Press.]

He rules the world with grace and truth,
And makes the Nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love…

My Pastor always tells us to pay close attention to old hymns because you can find some great theology in them. Such is the case with “Joy to the World.” This particular verse of this hymn is the reason I don’t participate in the ‘Christmas Wars’ and why you will never hear me decrying the commercialization of the Christmas holiday. Christmas as we celebrate it is the ultimate example of what this verse teaches.

Think about it for a minute. Christ’s dominion is such that pagan holidays have been gutted of their original meaning and filled with the things of Christ. So much so that the original pagan meanings have all but disappeared from our culture, and would be entirely forgotten, except for a handful of atheists who desperately try to use their origins in a pathetic attempt to delegitimize the holiday. (Note that there is evidence, and good evidence, that the traditional date for Christmas is not pagan in origin, but that is an entirely other subject.)

You may be saying to yourself, “Well, our culture has forgotten the Christian meanings, too.” I say not entirely. Even then, Christ makes the Nations prove the glories of His righteousness and the wonders of His love.

The cathedrals of commerce, our shopping malls and grocery stores, play Christmas music for almost a month before Christmas. Shoppers are literally drenched with the praises of Christ while they engage in what amounts to preparation for extravagantly sacrificial giving to friends and family. Believers and unbelievers alike, once a year, spend what many people consider far too much, just to give it away. This in turn creates a huge wave of cash that washes around the globe creating jobs that allow people in other countries to buy food and clothing. I heard recently that most retail outlets don’t turn a profit until Black Friday, the first day of the Christmas shopping season. God teaches us about giving and provides daily bread for millions. All this because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

Workaholics and greedy businesses on this one day are forced to take a Sabbath rest. (I believe that this is a foretaste of that ‘every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess’ thing mentioned in Scripture.) For some large businesses, this is the only day that they are closed all year.

Families and friends are given a day to be together and enjoy each other.

The Scripture says “And from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” By the power of the Word all this is accomplished at Christmas.

I’m not bothered when people or businesses talk about “Happy Holidays.” We all know which holiday they are referring to. Christmas is the 800 pound gorilla on the holiday block. A Jewish friend told me that Hannukah was on par with St. Patrick’s Day. Kwanzaa is in its holiday infancy and it will take a few hundred years (if the Lord should tarry) to see if it has any legs.

I can hear the protests—“These people aren’t Christians, are materialistic, are doing it for selfish reasons, don’t understand the true meaning”, etc, etc. These things are true. Let me paraphrase the patriarch Joseph. He told his brothers that they had meant it for evil (when they sold him into bondage) but God had meant it for good. Concerning Christmas, we mean these things for whatever reason we mean them, but God means them for good. For us and for our neighbors.

Every year I marvel that the whole world can’t help but participate in the celebration of the Incarnation. I am also humbled by the mighty power of the Word that brings this to pass.

Truly it is “Joy to the World.”

In Pursuit of Excellence

2009-10-23T13:42:00.001-05:00

I LOVE this story:

Harvey Mackay was waiting in line for a ride at the airport. When a cab pulled up, the first thing Harvey noticed was that the taxi was polished to a bright shine. Smartly dressed in a white shirt, black tie, and freshly pressed black slacks, the cab driver jumped out and rounded the car to open the back passenger door for Harvey .

He handed my friend a business card and said: 'I'm Wally, your driver. While I'm loading your bags in the trunk I'd like you to read my mission statement.' Harvey read the card. It said: Wally's Mission Statement: To get my customers to their destination in the quickest, safest and cheapest way possible in a friendly environment.

This blew Harvey away. Especially when he noticed that the inside of the cab matched the outside. Spotlessly clean!

As he slid behind the wheel, Wally said, 'Would you like a cup of coffee? I have a thermos of regular and one of decaf.'

My friend said jokingly, 'No, I'd prefer a soft drink.' Wally smiled and said, 'No problem. I have a cooler up front with regular and Diet Coke, water and orange juice.' Almost stuttering, Harvey said, 'I'll take a Diet Coke.'

Handing him his drink, Wally said, 'If you'd like something to read, I have The Wall Street Journal, Time, Sports Illustrated and USA Today.' As they were pulling away, Wally handed my friend another laminated card. 'These are the stations I get and the music they play, if you'd like to listen to the radio.' And as if that weren't enough, Wally told Harvey that he had the air conditioning on and asked if the temperature was comfortable for him. Then he advised Harvey of the best route to his destination for that time of day. He also let him know that he'd be happy to chat and tell him about some of the sights or, if Harvey preferred, to leave him with his own thoughts.

'Tell me, Wally,' my amazed friend asked the driver, 'have you always served customers like this?'

Wally smiled into the rear view mirror. 'No, not always, in fact, it's only been in the last two years. My first five years driving, I spent most of my time complaining like all the rest of the cabbies do. Then I heard the personal growth guru, Wayne Dyer, on the radio one day. He had just written a book called You'll See It When You Believe It. Dyer said that if you get up in the morning expecting to have a bad day, you'll rarely disappoint yourself. He said, 'Stop complaining! Differentiate yourself from your competition. Don't be a duck. Be an eagle. Ducks quack and complain. Eagles soar above the crowd.''

That hit me right between the eyes,' said Wally. 'Dyer was really talking about me. I was always quacking and complaining, so I decided to change my attitude and become an eagle. I looked around at the other cabs and their drivers. The cabs were dirty, the drivers were unfriendly, and the customers were unhappy. So I decided to make some changes. I put in a few at time. When my customers responded well, I did more.'

'I take it that has paid off for you,' Harvey said.

'It sure has,' Wally replied. 'My first year as an eagle, I doubled my income from the previous year. This year I'll probably quadruple it. You were lucky to get me today. I don't sit at cabstands anymore. My customers call me for appointments on my cell phone or leave a message on my answering machine. Wally was phenomenal. He was running a limo service out of a Yellow Cab.

About 10 years ago I had the privilege of going to China. As we prepared to return we had to spend an extra day in Shanghai in order to make the flights work. We had been eating wonderful Chinese food (the real deal) for 11 days and really wanted something “American”, so our hotel concierge sent us to the Hard Rock Café.

The Hard Rock was great, but the real eye opener was the cab driver. He was just like Wally in the story. His cab was immaculate, his driving superb. He even wore white gloves! Granted, we couldn’t communicate well due to the language barrier, but he did what he did with excellence.

Do I do what I do with excellence? I try to, but fail from time to time. My guess is that you would say the same thing.

So here’s my encouragement this week: Pursue excellence. At work, at home, at play....pursue excellence. The Bible says it this way in Colossians 3:23:

Work hard and cheerfully at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.

I guarantee that you will open a few eyes and make an impact in the process!!!

Guard Your Heart

2009-10-13T08:59:00.001-05:00

I'm a bit of a computer geek. I have several security programs that run on every computer at the office and at my home. I'm a backup junkie! Every important file is backed up nightly in at least 3 locations. I want the information to be secure in the event of any kind of data loss.

So when I got home last night and my wife informed me that the firewall on our home computer had indicated that a virus was attempting to "attack" our system, I had to check it out. Indeed, a virus was attempting to make it's way in.....so I fought back and was ultimately able to win! Whew!

A man whose company provides data security for military space operations explained how vulnerable computers are to outside attack. During a training exercise, hackers were able to shut down a highly protected system without ever stealing a password or cracking a code. They simply accessed the unsecured maintenance program for the building that housed the computers and turned off the air conditioning. When the computer room became too hot, the system automatically shut down.

In computers, whether or personal or military, it's important to keep up your guard in order to protect against unwanted scenarios with your data information. The same applies to life.

Sometimes we get comfortable where we are in life, with how things are going. But overconfidence and a false sense of security can cause us to let down our guard, and when that happens things start to "creep in" to our lives that we really don't want to be there.

Things like criticism, being judgmental, rudeness and being short tempered - to name a few - can begin to define our character in short order. That's why it's so important to guard our hearts.

Proverbs 4:23 tells us: Above all else, guard your heart, for it affects everything you do.

Notice, our heart affects EVERYTHING we do. That's why it is so critical that we guard our hearts. When the "viruses" of criticism, cutting speech, anger, bitterness.....the list could go on.....begin to make their way into our hearts, they begin to come out in our lives. The end result
is always damage.....to ourselves and to others. Always.

"Can't happen to me." No? 1 Corinthians 10:12 cautions us: people who think they are standing firmly should be careful that they don't fall.

Another translation of the Bible says it this way: Don't be so naive and self-confident. You're not exempt. You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it's useless. Cultivate God-confidence.

Let me encourage you to do a little heart examination. Are you finding yourself being overly critical? Angry without apparent cause? Sharp tongued? Those are indicators of something deeper going on. It's time for a heart examination.

Remember, the heart affects everything we do. If you find something there that shouldn't be.....it's time for a little "surgery" to remove it. Ask God to use the scalpel of His love and grace to remove the things that shouldn't be there. Surgery isn't much fun, but the end result is a much better heart....and life.

The Right Kind of Friends

2009-10-04T15:22:00.000-05:00

On Thursday, December 14, 2005 a story appeared on the front page story of the San Francisco Chronicle about a female humpback whale who had become entangled in a spider web of crab traps and lines.

She was 45 to 50 feet in length and weighed in at an estimated 50 tons, yet she was weighted down by hundreds of pounds of traps that caused her to struggle to stay afloat. Apparently she had become ensnared while traveling the humpback’s usual migratory route between the northern California route and Baja, California.

She also had hundreds of yards of line rope wrapped around her body, her tail, her torso, and a line tugging in her mouth. A fisherman spotted her just east of the Farralone Islands (outside the Golden Gate Bridge) and radioed for help.

Within a few hours, the rescue team arrived to assess the situation. The whale had about 20 crab-pot ropes, which are 240 feet long with weights every 60 feet, wrapped around her. Rope was wrapped at least four times around the tail, the back and the left front flipper, and there was a line in the whale's mouth.

The crab-pot lines were cinched so tight, Moskito said, that the rope was digging into the animal's blubber and leaving visible cuts.

At least 12 crab traps, weighing 90 pounds each, hung off the whale, the divers said. The combined weight was pulling the whale downward, forcing it to struggle mightily to keep its blow_ hole out of the water.

4 divers spent about an hour cutting the ropes with a special curved knife.....a very dangerous proposition. One slap of the tail could kill a rescuer.

When she was free, the divers say she swam in what seemed like joyous circles. She then came back to each diver, one at a time, and nudged them, pushing them gently around ___ as if she were thanking them. Some said it was the most incredibly beautiful experience of their lives.

Like the whale, sometimes in our normal routine of life we find ourselves tangled up in things that weigh us down. Whether it’s the pressures of work or family, illness or even poor choices we make, we sometimes find ourselves being pulled down by the weight of "life".

See, crab traps aren’t bad....unless they’re wrapped around a whale. Family and work and the "normal" events of life aren’t bad, but they can wrap themselves around us and begin to pull us down.

It’s at those times that your friends come along to help "cut some of the weight" away from you. Do you have friends like that? I hope so! Better yet, are you a friend like that?

Ecclesiastes 4:9 & 10 tells us: Two people can accomplish more than twice as much as one; they get a better return for their labor. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But people who are alone when they fall are in real trouble.

Galatians 6:2 also tells us: By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ.

Let me encourage to build the kind of friendships that you can count on in the difficult times. I truly hope that you never find yourself "all tangled up", but if you do, you’ll be blessed to have friends to come and help you out. And if your friend is ever "tangled up", you can be right there for them as well.

Be Patient.....With One Another

2009-09-27T15:03:00.001-05:00

I have a problem. Actually, you have it too. Well, at least, I’m guessing you have this problem. Most people do.

What problem? Well, it’s kind of embarrassing to tell you, but here it is: I have this tendency to see other people’s faults while ignoring my own.

You too? That’s what I thought.

We all have faults. I do. You do. We all do. But our tendency is to quickly see the faults in others while we conveniently ignore our own faults. Some people are quite gifted at this.

A boss commented to his secretary about one of his men: "Harry has such a bad memory, it's a wonder he remembers to breathe. I asked him to pick up a newspaper on his way back from lunch, but I'm not ever sure he'll remember his way back to the office." Just then Harry burst in the door, brimming with enthusiasm.

He exclaimed, "Guess what, boss! At lunch I ran into old man Jones who hasn't given us an order in seven years. Before he left I talked him into a million-dollar contract!"

The boss sighed and looked at his secretary, "What did I tell you? He forgot the newspaper."

Let’s see this from another perspective.

A speaker held up a blank sheet of paper and asked, "What do you see?"

The reply was, "A piece of paper."

He then placed the paper on the podium, made a tiny dot in the center and held it up again. "What do you see now?"

"A dot," was the unanimous reply from the audience.

"Imagine this blank paper is a person," the speaker said. "The small dot you saw is his/her biggest fault. The white surrounding the dot represents all of this person's worthwhile qualities which we so easily fail to see. Often a fault seems bigger than it really is and we allow it to overshadow the many positive aspects of that person's personality."

We all have different backgrounds and we’re all wired in a unique way. No two people are alike - not even identical twins. That’s why we need patience with one another. God created each of us with different shapes, assigning each of us a different mission in life.

Here’s what the Bible says: Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love. (Ephesians 4:2b NLT)

Let me encourage you to look beyond people’s faults. Sure, they have ‘em, and so do you. Try and overlook theirs as easily as you overlook yours. No, it won’t be easy. After all, we’ve become pretty good at finding faults in others while overlooking our own. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try. Right?

Go Ahead, Take a Risk!

2009-09-27T15:02:00.000-05:00

Today I want to encourage you to take a risk. In this culture? Yep. In this economy? Sure. Why would I want to do such a crazy thing? Because you’ll never know if you don’t try.

Let me tell you about a young lady I recently met. She was getting ready to begin her final year of college in preparation for the classroom. She had studied and prepared and was headed toward her goal of being a teacher. But something just didn’t feel right.

Oh, she had done well in her college course work. She had worked hard in preparation for her student teaching assignment. She had listened to and received the encouragement of family and friends who told her that she was on the right track and that she would make a great teacher. But something didn’t settle in her heart.

She had spent thousands of dollars and hundreds of hours in preparation. All that was left was 2 semesters; one in student teaching, the other in the classroom. She would then graduate and be on her way to seeking a teaching position in the fall of 2010. But she just couldn’t shake that uneasiness inside her heart.

She had to do something.

So she took a risk. She made a decision that she would no longer pursue the goal that she had originally set out on. Instead, she made some changes in her focus, in her goals and in her classes. Today, she’s on a different course and is more excited and fulfilled than she’s been for a long, long time. She reached for the brass ring of her dream and she’s pursuing it 110%. She has peace in her heart and a whole new direction and outlook on life. She’s excited! And I’m proud of her!

But not everyone else is excited with her. No, that would be too easy, wouldn’t it? She faced criticism from all sides. Arguments were presented to her as to why her decision was foolish. She was repeatedly challenged to reconsider her decision. Even my first inclination was, "Wow! That takes guts!" She stood her ground.

She took a risk.

What is it that you would like to do that would require you to take a risk? Look into another career? Ask out that girl you’ve had your eye on for quite some time, but have been hesitant to ask? Go back to school and finish that degree you’ve always wanted? What risk do you need to take?

See, friends, life is too short to play everything safe. If you do what you’ve always done you’ll get what you always got. Poor English, but true.

I love this quote: "Until you spread your wings, you’ll have no idea how far you can fly."

What risk do you need to take? If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you attempt? Here’s what God said to Joshua in the Old Testament:

Remember that I commanded you to be strong and brave. Don't be afraid, because the LORD your God will be with you everywhere you go. (Joshua 1:9)

I challenge you to take a risk. You could fail, but you might succeed. Listen to what God is whispering in your heart......and then go for it!

I leave you with The Lion Chaser’s Manifesto, written by Mark Batterson.

Lion Chaser’s Manifesto

Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God_sized goals. Pursue God_ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future.

Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life.

Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks.

Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away. Chase the lion!

(From Mark Batterson’s book: "In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day")

A Safety Net of People

2009-09-13T17:19:00.000-05:00

We’ve had a beautiful weekend here in southern Iowa, but it’s been a tough few days. A dear friend passed away on Friday, and a child who had battled health issues since birth entered eternity as well.

As a pastor I often see situations that nobody should ever have to go through alone. No one should ever have to wait in the hospital while a loved one is in life-or-death surgery. No woman should ever have to wait alone for the lab report on a problem pregnancy or an abnormal breast exam. No one should ever have to wait for news from a battlefield alone. Nobody should ever have to stand at the edge of an open grave alone. Nobody should ever have to spend the first night alone when their spouse has just walked out. And no one should ever be alone having just lost a loved one.

Life’s tough times and tragedies are inevitable – each of us will face them. But we don’t need to go through them alone. Let me remind you of God’s promise.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you cross rivers, you will not drown. When you walk through fire, you will not be burned, nor will the flames hurt you. This is because I, the LORD, am your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. (Isaiah 43:2 & 3)

That’s a great promise. But let’s get down to the nitty-gritty for a moment. The promise of God’s presence is truly wonderful......but we still want someone "with skin on", too, don’t we? And truly, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

See, God knew we’d want that too, which He designed us for relationships. Have you ever wondered why people who live a reclusive lifestyle tend to be a bit "strange"? It’s because their lives are lacking relationships. We were wired for relationships.

Those relationships become even more important when we find ourselves going through difficult times. Face it, we need each other! That’s why the Bible gives us some instructions:

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. (Romans 12:15)

The first part of that verse is easy. When something good happens to someone, it’s often easy to join in on the party. But when someone is having a tough time, it can seem more difficult. But really, it’s simple. When you’re going through a crisis, you don’t want advice; you just want somebody to be there – to sit with you, hold your hand, put an arm around your shoulder, or cry with you.

Here’s another verse:

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

As a pastor I've spend many hours in waiting rooms, hospital rooms and funeral homes. Years ago I would worry about having "the right thing" to say. But here's what I've learned: encouraging someone else doesn’t always mean giving a pep talk or words of wisdom. Sometimes the best kind of encouragement is just sitting in silence – waiting and weeping with a friend.

I hope you have a safety net of people and relationships that you know you can count on in life’s toughest times. If not, let me encourage you to go out today and begin building those friendships. The hard times in life are inevitable and you don’t want to find yourself going through difficulty alone.

Slow Fade

2009-05-31T06:47:00.003-05:00

Casting Crowns (castingcrowns.com) has long been a favorite music group of mine. I love their music and the genuineness with which they play.

Yesterday I was cutting the grass and listening to some of their music. As I kept going back and forth across the lawn I had to fight the urge to sing along......it's a bit embarrassing to be singing at the top of your lungs with no music playing. Nonetheless, as I listened one line jumped out at me. The song is called "Slow Fade" and it speaks about how the journey into sin isn't an overnight thing, but takes place over time. People don't commit adultery in a moment, the idea gets planted, grows, eventually happens. That applies to virtually every sin. The line that stuck out to me said this:

"The journey from your mind to your hands is shorter than you're thinking."

Wow! Great truth there! How many times have thoughts crept into your mind that ultimately made it to your hands? Probably more times than you or I care to remember. That's why the Bible tells us: Keep your mind on things above, not on worldly things. (Colossians 3:2)

It's easy to get distracted and in the process have your life torn to shreds. Don't let it happen. Keep your heart and mind fixed on God. Someone once said, "You can't keep the bird from flying over, but you can keep it from building a nest." While that's true, my suggestion would be this: the next time the bird (temptation) flies over, shoot it! There will, no doubt, be more birds to follow, so keep a good supply of ammunition on hand!

Blessings, friends!!!

Here's a link to a great video of Casting Crowns song, Slow Fade:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-8SYA6rfbs

Two Pieces of Advice

2009-05-31T06:46:00.002-05:00

Although it’s been over seven decades since Babe Ruth played baseball and most of his records have been eclipsed by others, he’s still recognized as the greatest slugger who ever lived. The Bambino is truly an American icon.

Time after time, Ruth stepped up to the plate and hammered one out of the park. He was the first major leaguer to hit 60 homers in one season. His career record of 714 homeruns stood for nearly four decades (without steroids!). Every survey and ranking lists Babe among the "greatest of the greats" – usually at the top of the heap. It’s no wonder the old Yankee Stadium is still known as "The House that Ruth Built."

There’s another major league record holder worth noting. His name was Eddie "Cocky" Collins, who played as an infielder for the Athletics and White Sox. Collins played in the early 1900’s, and several seasons overlapped with Ruth.

Like Babe, Collins was at the top of his game. He led the Athletics to four pennants and three World Series titles. He was selected as the League’s Most Valuable Player in 1914 (Babe Ruth’s rookie season.) One sportswriter recently called him the greatest second baseman in history.

Cocky Collins set a record that still stands today – almost a century after he retired from baseball. He is the all time major league BUNT leader. 512 bunts! That’s over 100 more than the guy in second place, and twice as many as the active bunt leader, Omar Vizqual.

So we have two baseball greats before us – one is famous for home runs and other (not so famous) for bunting.

At first glance, holding the bunting record seems less than inspiring. Who would want that distinction? Home runs are much more exiting! The crowd, for instance, doesn’t go bananas when a player decides to lay down a sacrifice bunt.

With a deeper look, however, a bunt is a many splendored thing! Sacrificial acts for others are, indeed, noble and praiseworthy. We should all assume this posture as we relate to the people around us. The most valuable players in any team, business, or organization are those who ask "How can I serve you?" (Rather than "How can YOU serve ME?")

Those who selflessly invest their lives behind the scenes to help others advance are the greatest heroes – I think of teachers, medical workers, mothers, cooks, technicians, nurses, custodians, mentors, secretaries and other support staff. The world couldn’t exist without these unsung heroes.

This is the Lesson from Cocky Collins: Give yourself away. It doesn’t matter who gets the credit, as long as the team is moving forward in the right direction. There is great virtue in standing aside for the advancement of others. Here’s how Jesus said it in John 15:13: And here is how to measure it - the greatest love is shown when people lay down their lives for their friends.

However, we can learn a lesson from Babe Ruth too. Swing for the fence!! The Bambino didn’t hold back. He didn’t hesitate. He went for it and took the necessary risk. He committed himself FULLY and didn’t just play it safe. Sometimes the Babe hit leather and other times he hit air (1330 strikeouts) but all the time, he was swinging the bat!

God put it this way in Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever presents itself for you to do, do it with all your might...

Bottom Line?

Have a heart like Cocky Collins with a faith like Babe Ruth..

When it comes to serving others - make the sacrificial bunt.

When it comes to taking bold steps of faith – swing for the fence!

Out of the mess..........

2009-05-31T06:46:00.001-05:00

I heard the story of an elderly minister who liked to visit people in hospitals. He often would take along a little, embroidered bookmark that he carried in his Bible. On the back of the bookmark were a group of tangled threads with no apparent pattern. He would hand this bookmark, with the back facing up, to those who were hurting or upset and say, "Look at that and tell me what it says."

As they looked at all the tangled threads, they would say, "I have no idea what it says. It doesn't seem to say anything."

Then he said, "Now, turn it over." As they would flip that bookmark over, they saw the words, "God is love." The minister would say, "Many times as we look at what God is doing, we just see tangled threads with no rhyme or reason. But from God's perspective, He is dealing with us in love, and He knows what He is doing."

The next time you think it is all over for you, open a Bible and read about Joseph who was sold into slavery by his brothers, falsely accused of rape and imprisoned, yet became the second most powerful man in all of Egypt. Read about Daniel, a young man who feared God and because of it was thrown into a pit filled with hungry lions. Yet, God closed the mouths of the lions and they didn’t lay a paw on him. Things looked hopeless as well for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed_Nego when they refused to deny God and were thrown into the fiery furnace, yet God Himself was right there with them and they walked out unscathed. Things looked pretty grim for Peter when he was in prison, and for Martha and Mary when their brother died.

There’s no guarantee that your difficult situation is going to end up like these, but there is something you can count on. When you’ve placed your life in God’s hands, He’s promised: I will never leave you. I will never forsake you. (Hebrews 13:5) And when things look impossible, which sometimes happens, remember what Jesus said: Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible. (Matthew 19:26)

You see, things can look bad at one moment, but then God will step in and turn events around. Then suddenly you'll look back and say, "Now I understand what God was doing."

Let me encourage you to move forward, even in the difficulties. Even when they look impossible......God can make the impossible possible.

Be Patient....God Hasn't Forgotten...

2009-05-31T06:45:00.000-05:00

Andy Stanley makes a great statement about God's timing. He says, "We look at our watches; God looks at the calendar."

Waiting on God is a difficult habit to develop. By nature we're not patient, and our culture offers little encouragement to develop the habit. We want, we need, we think we deserve everything now.

In the Old Testament, Abraham’s wife, Sara, waited until she was very old for the son she had always dreamed about; Moses waited 40 years on the backside of the desert for God's call; Joseph languished in prison 13 years before God vindicated him. Even Paul spent 17 years in preparation before he began the ministry that God called him to on the road to Damascus. But you can be sure that each of these saints would say it was worth the wait. It always is.

But we don’t like to wait. We want things to happen now.......in fact, if things could happen yesterday it would be even better!

No doubt you're waiting for a number of things, too: direction in your life, healing of a broken body or a broken heart, peace, growth, vindication, success, go ahead....add to the list.

Today I encourage you to remember one thing: God is on his way.

Sometimes the night seems to last forever. Sometimes His silence seems permanent. That's because we look at the clock while He looks at the calendar.

Solomon wrote, "God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end." (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

We can’t see the whole scope of God's work, but the scope exists. And we may not see the big picture, but there is one. Today might be just another day of waiting for you, but here's how you can make it better: Take your eyes off the clock and turn them toward Jesus. Spend this time waiting in expectation rather than desperation. God is at work in your work in life, making all things beautiful in their time.

A Parable.....

2009-05-31T06:44:00.002-05:00

A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and 4 yr old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered.

The family ate together every night at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.

The son and daughter-in-law became irritated with the mess. "We must do something about father," said the son. "I've had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor."

So the husband and wife set a small table in the corner. There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since Grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl!

When the family glanced in Grandfather's direction, sometime he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.

The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, "What are you making?"

Just as sweetly, the boy responded, "Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up." The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.

The words so struck the parents so that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.

That evening the husband took Grandfather's hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled.

Jesus often used parables to illustrate the lesson He was wanting to teach. Sometimes He would explain the parable, other times He did not. With that in mind, I’ll let you derive your own lessons from the above parable. I’m learning a few things.......yes, learning. I don’t have it all figured out...... Here are a few things I’m learning:

I’m learning that, no matter what happens, how bad it seems today, life does go on, and tomorrow will be a new day.

I’m learning that, regardless of your relationship with your parents, you'll miss them when they're gone from your life.

I’m learning that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a 'life..'

I’m learning that you shouldn't go through life with a catcher's mitt on both hands. You need to be able to throw something back.

I’m learning that if you pursue happiness, it will elude you. But if you focus on your family, your friends, the needs of others, your work and doing the very best you can, happiness will find you.

I’m learning that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.

I’m learning that even when I have pains, I don't have to be one. (I’m not learning this one fast enough.......but I’m learning.)

I’m learning that I still have a lot to learn!

And you?

What Are You Thankful For?

2009-05-31T06:44:00.001-05:00

If you’re like me there are areas in your life you are constantly working on. One area for me is the area of being thankful. I’m a generally thankful person, at least in those areas where it’s easy to be thankful. I’m thankful for an amazing wife and two outstanding kids; I’m thankful for the opportunity to lead a phenomenal church, I’m thankful for great friends and a great community to live in. But it’s easy to be thankful for those things.....but sometimes there are things that are hard to be thankful for.

In her wonderful book, The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsy were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbruk, where they lived in barracks that were plagued with lice. Lice were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies.

One day, Betsy said to her, "Corrie, we need to give thanks to God for the lice."

Corrie said, "Betsy, you have gone too far this time. I am not going to thank God for lice."

Betsy said, "Oh, but Corrie, the Bible tells us, 'In everything give thanks.' "

Still, Corrie did not want to thank God for the lice. As it turns out, Corrie and Betsy were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the Gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. Corrie found out later that because of the lice, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, they were able to have their Bible studies. So it turns out that God can even use lice.

The verse Betsy referred to is in 1 Thessalonians 5:18. It says: In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

If the Bible said, "In some things give thanks," I would say, "No problem there!" But it says, "In everything give thanks." That is not an easy thing to do.

This verse doesn't say we should give thanks FOR everything. I cannot give thanks for rapists, murderers, abusers and the like. It does, however, say to give thanks IN everything.

Bible commentator Matthew Henry, after being robbed, wrote this in his diary:

Let me be thankful...

* first because I was never robbed before.

* second, because although they took my wallet they did not take my life.

* third, because although they took my all, it was not much.

* fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed.

He wasn’t thankful FOR being robbed, but even IN the robbery he found reasons to be thankful.

There are some things that happen, and I'm not glad they happened. But I’m working on being thankful in spite of the tragedies and asking God for His help.

And you?

One thing I AM thankful for, and that’s all of you!!!

Be The Best

2009-05-31T06:42:00.001-05:00

Jeremiah was a prophet in the Old Testament. In the book that bears his name, chapter 19 & verse 11 it says: I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster, plans to give you a future filled with hope.

Have you ever wondered "when your ship is going to come in?" Maybe you haven’t put it that way, but I’m sure the thought has crossed your mind a time or two. Well, hang in there friend, because God definitely knows what He’s doing.

Satchel Paige threw his first major league pitch at the age of 42. Actually, he was good enough to play in the majors at the age of 18, but he couldn't: Satchel Paige was black. Seven years after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in baseball, Paige, an undisputed superstar everywhere but in the major leagues, finally got his chance.

Cleveland owner Bill Veek was criticized for adding such an old man to his roster; some sportswriters and critics called it a publicity stunt. Others said Paige was finally getting the break he had deserved for years, though most doubted his ability to compete effectively at his age.

Paige silenced the critics when he won his first three games as a pro, shutting out Chicago twice in the process.

All along he knew he was good enough to pitch in the major leagues, and when he finally got his chance, he proved it. He went on to win 28 games during his pro career, and even made a brief comeback at the age of 59, pitching three innings for the Kansas City A's.

He approached his major league pitching debut no differently than he approached any of the 2,500 games he pitched during his career. "It was just another game," he said. "And home plate was where it always was."

Though Paige had the ability to make throwing a baseball look effortless, he spent his life perfecting the art. And, eventually, he got his chance to show the world he was capable of competing with the best.

King Solomon wrote this in Proverbs 22:29: Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings; he will not serve before obscure men.

Solomon is emphasizing that commitment to quality is more important than self-promotion. Do your job well, he says, and you'll get your chance to serve before the best.

In the work that you do, you may have to wait years before you get your chance to play in the big leagues. And the fact is, the chance may never come in the way you would like. But you can be sure your time will come.

Your job? Work hard at what you do. Be the best. I spent some time with a great friend last week and we talked about some of the stresses of work. My advice to him is the same I’m giving to you: every day go to work for a new boss. Do your work as though you are working for God Himself. Always do your very best and put forth a first rate effort. Pursue excellence in everything because I can assure you, friends, your efforts do not go unnoticed!

Your time will come; never give up on the dream of being the best.

Never, Never Give Up!

2009-04-05T15:33:00.002-05:00

There is a drawing of a pelican swallowing a frog. However, the frog, head first in the pelican’s mouth, has used it’s front legs to grab the pelican by the throat to keep it from swallowing him.
The caption reads, "Never, Never Give Up!" That’s pretty good advice.

During a dark period of Abraham Lincoln's life, at the young age of 32, he wrote:
"I am now the most miserable man living. If what I feel were equally distributed to the whole human family, there would not be one cheerful face on earth. Whether I shall ever be better I cannot tell; I awfully forebode I shall not. To remain as I am is impossible; I must die or be better, it appears to me."

It's hard to believe these words were written by one of our nation's most significant leaders. And it's hard to believe that years later this same despairing man was able to write: "The year that is drawing toward the close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. These bounties are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come."

Abraham Lincoln's early years were filled with failure. Yet, the final years of life, though certainly not free from struggle, were years of happiness, fulfillment, achievement, and success.
Because of his capacity to outlast the blues, Lincoln experienced - in this life - the enormity of God's blessing. He didn't give up hope, even when it seemed he had no reason to hope.

The same could be said for King David who reigned as the king of Israel for many years (you can read about his reign in the Old Testament). As you read through the Psalms (most of which he wrote), you get a glimpse of his struggles and heartaches. And though his life was not without tragedy, David ended his days enjoying the benefits of God's blessing in his life. In a phrase, David outlasted the blues.

His final words, recorded in 2 Samuel 23:5, were: God made a lasting agreement with me, right and sure in every way. He will accomplish my salvation and satisfy all my desires.

It's almost as if the reward for tenacity is that our problems eventually give up and leave us alone. We certainly see in scripture that clinging steadfastly to hope in God's mercy ultimately pays off far beyond our greatest hopes.

Today, you may be facing some difficult, some challenge, some uphill battle. But there's more to your story than just what you are experiencing today. Put your hope and your faith in God and He will bring to fruition your salvation, full and complete, and He will grant your heart's desires. This gives us a reason to keep on...to outlast the blues.

Let me encourage you, like the frog in the mouth of the pelican, Never, Never Give Up!

Making a Fresh Start, Part 5

2009-03-24T07:03:00.001-05:00

So far we've looked at:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

A - Act in faith

R - Refocus

Today we wrap it up with the final letter: T - Trust God

I must Trust God to help me succeed. Depend on Him, not on yourself. You've already proven you can't do it on your own. That's why you failed. Some people just don't get it. They stumble and fall and then they get up and say, "I'll just try harder!" It's like you go up to a wall and bang your head against it and the wall doesn't fall down. You try it again and Bang! Again. You keep doing it thinking, "Maybe it will fall over this time." That's the definition of insanity _ doing the same over and over and over and expecting different results. You can't change on your own. You don't get a fresh start by trying. You get a fresh start by trusting.

Zechariah 4:6 (NCV) says, "You will not succeed by your own strength or power but by My Spirit, says the Lord." The secret of success isn’t trying, it’s trusting. Trusting God. Would you like to wipe the slate clean? Have you ever thought "I'd like to redesign my life from the ground up"? Who hasn’t thought, "I wish I could just go back and start over"?

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT) addresses that. It says, "What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!" God specializes in new beginnings. Jesus Christ has the power to do that. It’s the chance to start over. A fresh start. God says, "I don't want you to turn over a new leaf. I'm going to give you a whole new life."

God takes the negatives in your life and turns them into a positive by making a cross. Jesus Christ was hung up for your hang-ups. He died on the cross for everything you feel bad about. He was crucified between two thieves so you could stop crucifying yourself over those past failures. That's called grace.

You say, "But I’m not sure I deserve that." Let me clear that up for you. You don’t deserve it. None of us does. You say, "Sounds too easy." It is easy. Why does everything have to be hard? God didn’t want it to be hard, He wants you to be forgiven, not frustrated. Forgiveness, grace and a brand new beginning are all God’s gifts to us. The question is, what will you do with those gifts? My suggestion is to receive them into your life and begin over again!

"But I’ve made so many bad choices and so many mistakes." Listen, God is far more concerned with your future than He is with your past! The past can’t be changed, but the future hasn’t been written yet. When you make a fresh start it’s like God giving you a clean slate to begin again.

Need a fresh start (and who doesn’t from time to time)? Take the final step here. Trust God. He won’t let you down!!

Making a Fresh Start, Part 4

2009-03-24T07:02:00.001-05:00

This morning we're moving on in the series on how to make a new start, utilizing the acronym, START. So far we've looked at:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

A - Act in faith

So today we move to: R - Refocus

If I want to get going again, if I want a fresh start, I need to change the way I think. Proverbs 4:23 (GNT), "Be careful how you think. Your life is shaped by your thoughts." The way you think, determines the way you feel. And the way you feel determines the way you act. If you want to change your actions change the way you think and it will inevitably change the way you act. If you are acting in a depressed, discouraged way as we start this new year, it's because you're thinking depressed, discouraged thoughts. That's your choice. You don't have to think those thoughts. If you're acting in fearful, worried ways it's because you're thinking fearful, worried thoughts. Change the way you think because it effects everything else in your life.

Romans 12:2 (NIV) says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind."

If I have to refocus my thoughts to start over to get a fresh start, that means I have to stop thinking some old patterns. Let go of those things you regret that have happened in your life. There are mistakes, failures, bad, dumb decisions. But every time you think them over and over again, you're just reinforcing them in your mind. Your past is past! It's over, done. It's never going to be with you again. The book is closed, the door is shut. You have to change your mind and let go and get rid of those painful, hurtful memories of shame and guilt and other things.

How do you do that?

First, confession. Confess it to God and leave it with Him. You were never designed to carry it around, so leave it with Him.

You say, "I've confessed to God but I still feel guilty. How do I get rid of a painful memory?" That’s the second step:

Replace it.

If you say, "I'm not going to think about it! I'm not going to think about it!" What are you doing the whole time? Thinking about it. Stop focusing on what you don't want and start focusing on what you do want. Replace those memories by thinking about something else.

What's the best thing to focus on? God's word. The truth. Psalm 1:1-3 (GNT) says, "Happy are those who are always meditating on God's word. They're like trees along a river that do not dry up. They succeed in everything they do." Those are the two things that everybody wants in the new year. We all want to be happy and we all want to succeed. The antidote, the answer, the way we get those is the phrase right in the middle - "... meditating on God's word." That's the answer. The more you meditate on God's word, the more happy and successful you'll be. It's a promise from God.

What does it mean to meditate? Meditation is not just put your mind in neutral, sit in a lotus position and go, "Ahhmmmm!" If you look up the word meditate in a dictionary, it simply means "to focus, to concentrate, to think about something over and over in your mind." As you fill your mind with God's word, it begins to change your mind, your thinking. You stop seeing yourself as other people see you or as you have seen yourself and begin to see yourself as God does.

Philipians 4:8 (NLT) reminds us of what to think about, "Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Replace the old way of thinking with the priorities God says are important.

If there's anything I want to say to you, it's this: Regardless of the failures you've had in your life, there is hope. It is never too late to start over. You are never a failure until you give up. Jesus Christ says you matter to Him and He can make the rest of your life turn out in a whole different way if you give Him the pieces of your life.

Let me give you an incredible verse from the book of Jonah. You know the story of Jonah. God told Jonah to go one direction and do something. He decided he'd do the exact opposite of what God wanted for his life. So God had to take him on a little Mediterranean cruise. After that cruise was over in Jonah 3:1(NIV) it says "And the word of the Lord came unto Jonah a second time." I'm so glad for that verse. Aren't you glad we serve the God of the second chance? And of the third, the fourth, the fifth and the tenth, and the 25th and the 100th. He is the God of grace who says, "Come to Me with your brokenness, come to Me with your failures, come to Me with your shame, come to Me with your guilt, come to Me with the messed up things you're done in your life and I can turn them around because I love you and I made you for a purpose."

I encourage you to re-focus, friends.......and let God help you with the process.

Making a Fresh Start, Part 3

2009-03-24T07:01:00.001-05:00

Let's continue our series on how to make a new start, utilizing the acronym, START. We started with:

S - Stop making excuses

T - Take stock

Today we move to A - Act in faith

This is the third step in getting a fresh start. Act in faith. If you’re going to make a fresh start you have to launch out into new territory. The Bible says that the key to changing anything is faith. If you want to change your circumstance, it takes faith. If you want to change your personality, it takes faith. If you want to change anything in your life, you have to have some faith.

Jesus says this in Matthew 9:29 (NIV), "According to your faith it will be done to you." That is a very simple, yet powerful statement. That means we tend to get out of life what we expect. What are you expecting? "I think it's going to be another tough year, depressing, rigorous. It's going to be a real bummer." Guess what your year is going to be? A real bummer!

What do you expect for your life? "The same old, same old. Nothing's going to change in my life." Guess what? Nothing's going to change in your life.

The person who says, "I can!" and the person who says, "I can't!" are both right. We get out of life what we expect because "According to your faith it will be done to you."

So you need to start expecting more. Start expecting more of yourself, start expecting more from God, start expecting more out of life. That's the principle of faith. Learn from the failures of the past and move ahead in faith. . Let me give you the real secret of success. Every successful entrepreneur knows this. Real success is built on failure. Failure is the way you become a success. You figure out what doesn't work. When Edison figured out on the 200th or so time, what would make a light bulb stay lit, he did that because he knew 199 ways that didn't work. You never call it a failure in your life. Call it an education. You learn from it.

You may have heard about a guy by the name of Bill Gates. He runs this little company called Microsoft and he’s supposed to be some kind of genius because he's the richest man in the world so he must be the smartest man in the world. Anybody who knows anything about Microsoft knows they never get it right the first time. They get it right on the third time or the fourth time. Windows 1.0 was a fiasco. Windows 2.0 was a disaster. Windows 3.0 was a little bit better. It was Windows 3.1 that became the instant hit. Explorer 1 and 2 programs were terrible. Explorer 3 was a little better. Explorer 4 is pretty solid. Never buy anything from Microsoft the first time they put it out. The genius of Microsoft and Bill Gates is that they don't give up. They put a product out then look around and see what everybody else is doing and add it in. Pretty soon it's better than anything else and the leader. They rarely invent anything on their own. That's why the competition fears them so much. They know they may have started but Microsoft is going to catch up and about the third or fourth time they're going to get it right.

God wants you to get on with your future. Proverbs 16:9 (LB) says, "We should make our plans, counting on God to direct us." Have you made any plans for 2009 yet? When are you going to get around to it? March? Some of you are still planning 2008. It's over! The door's closed on that one.

You're going to go move forward either by design or by default. That means you're either going to have a plan or you’re going to drift through life. God says we should make plans, counting on Him to direct us. He wants you to do your life by design, not by default. The point is you’ll have something to head toward so your life has direction.

There's one thing that will keep you from acting in faith. It's worrying about what other people think. When you worry about what other people think, you're not going to do what God wants you to do. Instead, you’ll do what’s convenient. Don't make that mistake in. Instead, listen to God and act in faith.

Making a Fresh Start, Part 2

2009-03-24T06:59:00.001-05:00

We began with the letter S in the word START. S....Stop making excuses. That can be easier said than done sometimes, but it’s necessary. Here the second step:

T - Take stock

If a new start is going to take place you have to know where you’ve been and where you are at the moment. That means I need to evaluate all my experiences. I need to look at what I have left after the failure. If I've had a financial failure, I need to take stock of what finances I have left. If I've had a relational failure, I need to take stock of what relationships I have left. Whatever the failure that necessitates a new start, I need to look and say, "What is God still doing in my life? What are the options? What are my talents? What are my assets? What are my connections?"

Regardless of what's happened in the past, one of the things you have more of today is experience. God wants you to use those experiences, to learn from them and capitalize on them.

Galatians 3:4 (NCV) says, "Were all your experiences wasted? I hope not!" God never wastes an experience. He uses them to shape our lives. He uses personal experiences, vocational experiences, educational experiences, spiritual experiences and most important of all, He uses painful experiences to shape you. So as you take stock of your life in starting over, you need to ask yourself three questions.

1. What have I learned?

I know people 40, 50 years old but they don't have 40 or 50 years of experience. They've had the same year of experience 10 times or 20 times over. They've never learned anything. What did you learn from last year? What are you learning right now? If you don't sit down and think it through, you'll probably end up making the same mistakes over and over again because you didn't learn from them.

2. What are my assets?

What have I got going for me? Do I have my health? Do I have my freedom? Am I mentally sound (those of you who know me know that’s a loaded question)? Do I have friends? Is my family in my corner? Do have a relationship with God and a church family? What do I have that I can count on?

3. Who can help me?

When you need a fresh start, you need somebody by your side _ a friend, an accountability partner, a support person, a support group. Get in a small group. You need other people because you don't start over by yourself after a major failure. You need somebody else to walk along with you.

At my highest weight, I weighed 340 pounds. About 10 years ago I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and the doctor told me to lose weight. I’ve been big all of my life and have fought the battle of the bulge all of my life. But I buckled down and got busy......and lost 120 pounds.

But then I began slipping backwards. My weight went back up, very slowly, until I’d gained back about 60 pounds. I needed a fresh start. So I set out on the weight loss journey again.....and had a modicum of success. I used what I had learned in the past and what I had going for me and made some progress. But then it stopped. I needed some more help.

Enter an incredible friend. I prayed and thought about who to ask to help me, and his name came to mind, so I asked him. He agreed......and has been an encourager in the process. He’s offered great help along the way, challenged me to get more exercise and kept me accountable......and it’s working. Since I asked him to help me I’ve lost more than 25 pounds. There’s still quite a ways to go, and it’s going to take time, but with God’s help and the help of my friend, I’m going to make this happen!

Let me encourage you to Stop making excuses and to Take stock of your experiences. These are the first two steps on the road to a fresh start. And friend.....I know you can do it!

Making a Fresh Start - Part 1

2009-02-02T09:47:00.002-06:00

Today I want to begin a bit of a series on how to make a fresh start. I’ve talked with many people who want to give up, to throw in the towel. They’ve failed at something (or several somethings) and they feel like there’s no hope. So for the next few weeks I want to walk you through the acronym: START

Let me begin by telling you this: God is far more interested in your future than He is in your past. Some of you think God is fixated on your past. All He wants to do is remind you of the things you've done wrong. That’s not the case. God isn't interested in your past. He's interested in your future. That's where you're going to spend the rest of your life. So today we’re going to begin with the letter S:

Stop making excuses.

We could talk today (for several weeks) about what causes failure in people's life. Let me give you three of the most common reasons.

1. The number one reason we fail in life is we don't plan ahead.

We make decisions and don't look at the consequences of them. Proverbs 20:7 says, "The wise see danger ahead and avoid it, but fools keep going and get into trouble."

Was it raining when Noah started building the ark? No. He had to plan ahead. In fact the rain didn't come for 120 years. But that's how long it took him to get the thing built.

Jesus spoke often about the importance of planning. He said there was a guy who goes out and starts to build a tower but he can't finish it because he doesn't have enough money. He failed to plan. He tells the story about the king who went out to battle but he lost because he didn't count his soldiers; he didn't plan ahead.

It's the old cliche "If you fail to plan, you're planning to fail."

2. The second reason we fail is because we don't listen to others.

We don't listen to good advise when it's offered. Proverbs 15:22 (NCV) tells us, "Plans fail without good advice." You need to get all the advice you can.

Why don't we listen to the advice of other people? Because we think we don't need it. It's called pride. Ego. Ego stands for "Edging God Out." When you think you know more than God and you push Him out of your life, you're on an ego trip and that's a trip that leads to a dead end. When I think I know it all and I can figure it all out myself, I'm setting myself up for failure. You're never going to get anywhere if you think you've already arrived. The guy who gets too big for his britches, will eventually be exposed in the end. That's the problem with pride.

3. The third reason we fail is we give up too soon.

Proverbs 24:10 (NCV) says, "If you give up when troubles come, it just shows that you are weak." Failure is the path of least persistence. The problem is that often during trying times we stop trying. We give up.

If at first you don't succeed, welcome to the human race, you're normal. Very few people make it on the first try. Oftentimes, we give up just when success is around the corner. It's always too soon to quit. You're never a failure until you give up.

There was a guy, a general, who lost two_thirds of all the battles he fought in the American Revolution. George Washington. He won the war.

There was another guy who graduated 42nd out of a class of 43. Then he went out and conquered Europe. Napoleon.

Edison tried over 200 different elements before he figured out what was the right element to use in the light bulb. Over 200 failures before he had a success. It's always too soon to quit.

The Bible says we need to stop making excuses, admit when it's our fault and get on with life. I've discovered that people who are very good at making excuses are rarely good at anything else. They spend all their energy thinking up reasons why they can't do what they're supposed to do.

Proverbs 28:13 (LB) says, "A man who refuses to admit his mistakes can never be successful. But if he confess and forsakes them he gets another chance."

If I want to start over, start fresh, I have to stop making excuses for my failures. I've got to stop blaming other people; I've got to stop using rationalizations. I've got to stop seeing myself as the victim of my circumstances. So "S" in START stands for Stop making excuses.

My encouragement to you today is simple: Get Started....by stopping the excuses. Make some changes and watch God do some great things in your life.

Brand new.....ending

2008-12-30T12:59:00.002-06:00

As we come to the beginning of a new year and the ending of an old one, you may be wishing you could just turn over a new leaf or gain a fresh start.

I once read about a man who was reading his morning newspaper and was shocked to find his name listed in the obituary column. He called up the newspaper and was outraged that they had made such a mistake. "This is terrible," he screamed, "How could you do this to me?" The newspaper's explanation did not satisfy the man, so he stormed down to their office and demanded to see the editor.

After some time of screaming and yelling, the editor grew frustrated and said, "Look buddy! Cheer up. I'll put your name in the birth column tomorrow and you can have a fresh start."

Starting all over again isn't possible. We can't go back to the beginning for a brand new start. However, with Jesus, you can start where you are and create a brand new ending. 2009 is still a blank slate. There are opportunities ahead of you. You decide which course you are going to take.

In Jeremiah 6:16, God says, " 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls.' " You decide which path you are going to walk in this coming year. You decide what your priorities will be and what direction you will take. Those are decisions that each of us will make each and every day. In 2009, choose the good way and walk in it. Only there will you find peace.

Happy New Year!

Rose

2008-12-15T11:52:00.002-06:00

The first day of school our professor introduced himself and challenged us to get to know someone we didn't already know. I stood up to look around when a gentle hand touched my shoulder. I turned around to find a wrinkled, little old lady beaming up at me with a smile that lit up her entire being.

She said, "Hi handsome. My name is Rose. I'm eighty-seven years old. Can I give you a hug?"
I laughed and enthusiastically responded, "Of course you may!" and she gave me a giant squeeze.

"Why are you in college at such a young, innocent age?" I asked.

She jokingly replied, "I'm here to meet a rich husband, get married, and have a couple of kids..."

"No seriously," I asked. I was curious what may have motivated her to be taking on this challenge at her age.

"I always dreamed of having a college education and now I'm getting one!" she told me. After class we walked to the student union building and shared a chocolate milkshake.

We became instant friends.

Every day for the next three months we would leave class together and talk nonstop. I was always mesmerized listening to this "time machine" as she shared her wisdom and experience with me. Over the course of the year, Rose became a campus icon and she easily made friends wherever she went. She loved to dress up and she reveled in the attention bestowed upon her from the other students. She was living it up. At the end of the semester we invited Rose to speak at our football banquet. I'll never forget what she taught us.

She was introduced and stepped up to the podium. As she began to deliver her prepared speech, she dropped her three by five cards on the floor. Frustrated and a little embarrassed she leaned into the microphone and simply said, "I'm sorry I'm so jittery. I gave up beer for Lent and this whiskey is killing me! I'll never get my speech back in order so let me just tell you what I know."

As we laughed she cleared her throat and began, "We do not stop playing because we are old; we grow old because we stop playing. There are only four secrets to staying young, being happy, and achieving success. You have to laugh and find humor every day. You've got to have a dream. When you lose your dreams, you die. We have so many people walking around whom are dead and don't even know it! There is a huge difference between growing older and growing up. If you are nineteen years old and lie in bed for one full year and don't do one productive thing, you will turn twenty years old. If I am eighty-seven years old and stay in bed for a year and never do anything I will turn eighty-eight. Anybody can grow older.

That doesn't take any talent or ability. The idea is to grow up by always finding opportunity in change. Have no regrets. The elderly usually don't have regrets for what we did, but rather for things we did not do. The only people who fear death are those with regrets."

She concluded her speech by courageously singing "The Rose." She challenged each of us to study the lyrics and live them out in our daily lives. At the year's end Rose finished the college degree she had begun all those years ago. One week after graduation Rose died peacefully in her sleep. Over two thousand college students attended her funeral in tribute to the wonderful woman who taught by example that it's never too late to be all you can possibly be.

Thoughts.......

Remember, growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give.

God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.

Good friends are like stars.........You don't always see them, but you know they are always there.

Proverbs 18:24 says: There are "friends" who destroy each other, but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

My prayer for you is that you have many friends like Rose who come into your life....and that you will be a friend like Rose to everyone you come into contact with!

Happiness or Joy?

2008-12-15T11:48:00.002-06:00

In 1776, our country's founding fathers signed a document at Independence Hall called the Declaration of Independence. I think it's an amazing document for a number of reasons, but chiefly because it says something that is different from any other foundational document for any other country on the planet.

You probably know at least a few of its famous words:
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."

The last phrase in this sentence particularly catches my attention: "the pursuit of Happiness." It was the intent of our founding fathers that we, as Americans, be happy people.

A lot of time has passed since that document was signed. Could we be described as a happy people today? I would have to say "no." Americans, as a whole, enjoy a higher standard of living than anyone else in the world. Yet more Americans go to psychologists and psychiatrists than any other people on the planet.

So what is the problem? Simply put, we are pursuing happiness, but we are going about it in the wrong way. For most people, their happiness depends entirely on good things happening in their lives. When things are going well, they are happy. When things are not going well, they are unhappy.

This can cause us to become caught in an endless cycle, because no matter how much we accumulate or how much we accomplish, we always will feel as though there is something more. Our clothes aren't fashionable enough. Our cars aren't fast enough. Our houses aren't elaborate enough. Our jobs aren't rewarding enough. Our relationships aren't romantic enough or fulfilling enough. Life can become a never-ending pursuit of something just beyond our grasp.

In the New Testament, the Book of Philippians talks about something better than happiness. It's called joy. In Philippians' four chapters, the words joy, rejoicing, or gladness appear at least 19 times. This joy to which Philippians refers was not something available to the first-century. It is available to us in the 21st-century as well.

We find an important word throughout Philippians that shows us the way to experience joy. That word is: mind. It appears 10 times in Philippians, while the word think occurs five times. Add to this the number of times the word remember turns up, and you have a total of 16 references to the mind. Are you picking up on a theme here? The secret to joy is found in the way we think; in our outlook or attitude.

The Apostle Paul, the writer of the book of Philippians, said this: In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus. That is the mind of a person who puts the needs of others above his own. It stands in sharp contrast to our self-centered attitudes of today, yet, if you want to experience joy that’s what is required.

See, joy doesn’t come from what you have, it comes from Who you know. So let me encourage you today, turn your heart to Jesus to find the joy you’re looking for. When we begin to think and act like Him (which is no small feat, mind you....) we will begin to understand that happiness doesn’t come from acquiring more, but from knowing Him better.

Laugh!!!

2008-12-15T11:47:00.001-06:00

Someone asked me recently, “Why do you put the funny stuff at the end of the Monday e-mail?” There’s a two part answer to that. First, I love humor. I always have. I like to laugh and I like to make other people laugh. But there’s a bigger reason.

Did you know that people who laugh live longer? It’s true. Proverbs 14:30 says, “A relaxed attitude lengthens a man’s life.

Humor is an amazing thing. It’s a tension dissolver. It’s an antidote to anxiety. It’s just like a tranquilizer, but without any troublesome side-effects. And it’s free! You don’t even need a prescription!

Laughter is life’s shock absorber. If you want to have less stress in your life, learn to laugh at your circumstances.

Someone once asked U.S. President Abraham Lincoln how he handled all the stresses of the Civil War. He said, “If it hadn’t been for laughter, I could not have made it.”

Many famous comedians grew up in poor neighborhoods with lots of problems. They coped with their troubles by learning to laugh and making others laugh.

So learn to laugh. If you can laugh at it, you can live with it. And besides, if you learn to laugh at your troubles, you’ll never run out of anything to laugh at! Life is full of funny situations. The cowboy comedian Will Rogers once said, “I don’t know any jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.”

And if you’re wondering what God thinks about laughter, check out this verse in Psalm 2:4, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs.” Isn’t that a great verse? God has a sense of humor. God laughs! Proverbs also says that a merry heart is good, like a medicine.

I loved a story a friend told me recently. She and her husband had gone on a trip and were miles from home. All of a sudden, with absolutely no warning, their car quit. The transmission just quit working. They were on their way to a wedding, they were running a little late and they were in the middle of nowhere. That’s where their car quit.

What would your reaction be? Do you know what my friend did? She started laughing......and not a little snicker, mind you. She busted out laughing! Her husband had already started turning red with anger when he looked at her in wide-eyed disbelief. She simple said, “What other option do we have?” and within a brief moment both of them were laughing. If you ask me, that’s what this laughter thing is all about. It changes things.....it’s contagious......it’s good for you......and God loves it!

Have you ever seen the face of an orangutan? God thought that one up! The duck-billed platypus? Hey, that was His idea too! That proves he has a sense of humor. Do you want to be more like God? Let me encourage you......learn to laugh. It will bless your soul.....and probably those around you, too!

Keep Fighting the Fight

2008-12-15T11:45:00.000-06:00

Of course, it’s football season. I don’t know how your team might be doing this season (if you even have a team....), but let’s look back to last season for a moment. It was at about this point that everyone began talking about the New England Patriots. They were hot, undefeated and on the move. Rumors began to float around about how the possibilities of this team going undefeated and winning the Super Bowl. Well, that partially happened. For the regular season and playoffs they, indeed, went undefeated, but they didn’t win the big one. Had they won, they would have been hailed as the greatest team of all time. Instead, the '72 Dolphins remain the only undefeated world championship team.

The Patriots didn’t do it. Instead, it was Eli Manning’s year. By the way, do you remember how last season began for him? Probably not. Let’s just say it wasn’t exactly a smooth start. Several weeks into the season he was still the media's goat. He wasn't a favorite among the fans, either.

That all changed with his four consecutive playoff wins; Manning will long be remembered for last year's outstanding postseason performance. The Patriots, on the other hand, will be remembered as the team who couldn't quite go the distance - the team who went "18 and no".

Which brings me to my point. There's a sense in which life itself is much the same as a single game or a single season or even an entire athletic career. The principle is that a strong finish is more important than a strong beginning. The Giants got off to a shaky start last year, but they finished well - and that's what matters most in the game of football.

A guy named Paul wrote about ½ of the New Testament and in some of the last words he wrote he said, "The time of my death is near. I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful." (2 Timothy 4:7) What a privilege to be able to say this. He had been knocked down plenty of times during the 35 years that he served Christ. He even fell down on his own sometimes. Most important, however, is the fact that he always got back up. He kept moving forward, always with the aim of finishing well.

This is what really matters in the Christian life. The occasional defeats are inevitable, especially early on. But your focus must remain on finishing well. A strong finish can overcome a shaky start; a strong finish is more important than an impressive start.

Let me encourage you to forget about how things were, and start moving toward how you want things to be. It's too late to undo your rookie mistakes, but it's not too late finish well. The season isn't over yet.

Oops.......

2008-12-15T11:44:00.001-06:00

I've been away from the blog for a bit......but will try to get some recent posts up today.

Election Day Bonus

2008-11-04T14:17:00.002-06:00

A young lady whom I know and respect wrote something that I think is outstanding regarding today's election. It's just a little reminder I thought I'd pass on to you.

God bless.........and go vote!

(Thanks, Laura!)

This election reminds me of a card trick I used to do. I would lay out a grid of cards face up and ask you to choose one but keep it to yourself--just tell me what row it's in. After another such move I'd already know which card you've chosen but, it's a card trick-- gotta make it showy. So I lay the cards face down in four piles, carefully remembering where I've laid your card and the show begins.

First I ask you to point to two piles--then do what I have to do. From the remaining two piles I ask you to point to one and again do what I need to do. There are now only four cards remaining and I ask you to point to two. Finally there are only two cards left on the table and I ask you to choose. The final card sits there and I ask you to flip it over and see if it's your card. Amazingly, it is. Well, not so amazing to me. I can make that happen every time because I am in control.

The whole time you've been making choices. I have not forced any choice upon you. I let you choose the card. I did not force you to choose one pile over another or one card over another. But I'm using your choices towards my outcome. You chose the piles but I chose whether they stay or go. You chose the cards but I determine what happens to them. Until, finally, what I wanted to have happen from the beginning is revealed. You took the steps but I determined how it was going to end. Usually to smiles and "how did you do that!"

Proverbs 16:9 says "In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." (NIV) and in Proverbs 16:33 "We may throw the dice, but the LORD determines how they fall." (NLT)

Election day you will get to go to the poles and make your choices. They are yours (and everyone else's) to make and not even God is making you choose one or another but never make the mistake of thinking that your choices (or anyone else's) are outside of God's plans. He will determine which card turns up in the end and He's had it planned that way from the beginning. And when it's all said and done we'll be smiling and saying "God, how did you do that!"

In God We Trust....Don't We?

2008-11-04T14:14:00.002-06:00

We all know what today is......it’s the last day of those nauseous political advertisements!!!

Seriously, the process of electing officials in our country seems to get longer and more tedious every 4 years, but it is both necessary and a profitable experience for all of us.

Election 2008 is upon us. Today is the day all American citizens 18 & over have the privilege of casting a ballot for the candidates of their choice to provide leadership in our country for the next 4 to 6 years (depending on what office you’re voting for). I do hope you will take advantage of this PRIVILEGE and cast your ballot!

I’ve listened to both candidates. I’ve watched the debates. I’m tired of the rhetoric and the 3rd grade antics! "Senator __________, what is your plan for __________."

"Let me tell you what my opponent is going to do to ruin our country......"

I’m so sick of all of that! It is my opinion that we don’t really have a good candidate this year. However, if one or the other would just suck it up, stand there and tell the American people, "Here’s my vision for America......." I would at least have some respect for that person! What we’ve had - from both sides - has been pretty much void of helpful information in the decision making process.

I read a study several years ago that showed that the majority of people who walk into the voting booth don’t go in to vote FOR someone, but to vote AGAINST someone. Does that make sense?

The Democrats tell us we don’t want 4 more years of Republican leadership and the Republicans tell us we don’t want Democrat leadership. I don’t know how things are going to turn out on Tuesday, but regardless of which party is put in the White House we need to remember a couple of things:

First, we are voting for mortals. However moral and upstanding the politician is that we vote into office… he or she is still a sinner. He or she is still prone to the same weaknesses and sinful tendencies and the same temptations as the rest of us. These politicians are not God… they ARE mortal. They do not walk on water. They do not perform miracles… and they will disappoint us.

Second, these candidates do not have te power to do everything they promise to do. Oh, it all sounds good, but they don’t write the laws. None of them has the power within themselves to change the course of our city, state, or national destiny.

That being said, does God have anything to say about this? Could God actually care about any of this? Actually, He does.

First, He tells us that we should pray for our leaders......and at this point, for the candidates vying to become our next leaders. Here’s what He tells us: First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions, and prayers of thanks for all people, for rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for these people so that we can have a quiet and peaceful life always lived in a godly and reverent way. This is good and pleases God our Savior. (1 Timothy 2:1-3)

Regardless of whether your political candidate wins on Tuesday, you have a responsibility to support and pray for the leadership of our country.

Second, He tells us that we should live together in harmony. Face it, come Wednesday morning, many will be elated and many will be deflated. That’s life. But we still have a responsibility to live in peace and work together.

Romans 14:19 says: So let’s pursue those things which bring peace and which are good for each other. And Ephesians 4:3 tells us: Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

Every piece of legal tender printed or minted in the United States says, "In God We Trust" on it, but do we? Friends, it is a dangerous mistake to put more faith in politics, politicians and political parties than we do in God.

Regardless of what happens in this election, a few things are certain: 1) History will be made; 2) We MUST be the UNITED States of America and not the divided states of America; 3) We must pray for our leaders!

I trust you will be voting tomorrow. Regardless of the outcome, let’s work together to heal the divide in our country and move it back to the foundation upon which it was built.

I’m Pastor Chuck, and I approved this message!

Mankind Is My Business

2008-10-26T07:22:00.000-05:00

I dropped the ball last week. Let me explain.

I’ve had a couple of incredibly busy weeks, the details of which are irrelevant. One day last week I was moving like a mad man, so for lunch I just grabbed a sandwich while I was out. As I headed back to the office to inhale my sandwich I saw what appeared to be a homeless man at an intersection. Something inside me said, "Give him your sandwich."

I ignored it.

I have prayed for that man more times than I can count since that day......and I've prayed for myself, too!

We’ve all heard that we need to stop and smell the roses. Forget the roses, we need to slow down and love mankind. I’m reminded of Charles Dickens’ character, Jacob Marley, in "A Christmas Carol." He said, "Mankind is my business!" And isn’t mankind our business?
There’s a story in Luke’s Gospel about this:

One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: "Teacher, what must I do to receive eternal life?" Jesus replied, "What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?"

The man answered, "‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" "Right!" Jesus told him. "Do this and you will live!" Luke 10:25_28

If you had to boil all of the commandments of God down to no more than a sentence, Jesus confirmed it would read something like this: Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and also love your neighbor as yourself.

There is a connection between our love for God and our love for others. There is a connection between the compassion we receive from God and the compassion we extend to our neighbors.
But the lawyer in this exchange with Jesus pressed in like a prosecutor, drilling for a specific definition of neighbor. Luke writes, "The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus,
‘And who is my neighbor?’" (10:29)

Being a gentle teacher, Jesus didn’t answer directly (or even crack any lawyer jokes). He told a story many of us are familiar with, about a man beaten and left for dead on the road to Jericho. First, a priest walked by, and seeing the man, crossed to the other side of the road. Then, an assistant at the Temple who was in charge of purity and tithing walked by, and seeing the injured man, he crossed to the other side of the road.

Finally, a man from a despised race, a Samaritan, walked by and stopped. He treated the man’s injuries and then took him to a nearby inn, paying for his care and lodging until he could get back on his feet.

"Who," Jesus asked, "was the injured man’s neighbor?"

The lawyer responded, "The one who showed him mercy." "That’s right," Jesus said, "Now go and do the same." (Luke 10:37)

Here’s the deal. I know this story. I’ve read it many times. I’ve taught it.

But I didn’t live it last week. (No one ever said transparency was fun!)

When the lawyer faced Jesus, he tried to justify his current behavior, instead of allowing Jesus to teach him the compassionate behavior. In other words, the lawyer was trying to bend the scriptures to match his behavior when he should have been changing his behavior to match the scriptures.

This story clearly shows us that relationship triumphs over religion. It was the religious people who walked by, and it was the despised Samaritan who helped the injured man. Friends, Jesus is less interested in religion – rituals and rules – than He is in compassionate relationships; it is compassion in relationships that reveals the heart of God, not the following of religious rules.

Can I encourage you this week to slow down and see people this week? I’m not talking about seeing them with your eyes, but seeing them with your heart. Remember the end of the story? The lawyer learned that it was the Samaritan who had done the right thing - shown the man mercy.

So I encourage you with the words of Jesus to the lawyer: "Now go and do the same." (Luke 10:37)

I’m praying for you, friends......thanks for doing the same for me.

Always Do The Right Thing

2008-10-21T13:33:00.000-05:00

A man entered my father's diesel-repair shop, said he was a driver from a trucking fleet and suggested, "How about adding a few extra parts to the bill for this truck repair? We'll let the company pay for it, and you and I can split the difference."

Dad refused, but the customer was insistent.

"I come through here a lot," the man continued. "We could make quite a bit of money."
Dad said that wasn't how he operated.

"Everyone does it!" the man yelled. "Are you some kind of fool?"

Burning mad, Dad asked him to leave and take his business elsewhere.

Suddenly the man smiled and extended his hand for a handshake. "I own a trucking company," he said. "I've been looking for a mechanic I can trust, and I'm not taking my business anywhere else!"

Several years ago, a preacher from out of state accepted a call to a church in Houston, Texas. Some weeks after he arrived, he had an occasion to ride the bus from his home to the downtown area. When he sat down, he discovered that the driver had accidentally given him a quarter too much change.

As he considered what to do, he thought to himself, 'You'd better give the quarter back. It would be wrong to keep it.'

Then he thought, 'Oh, forget it, it's only a quarter. Who would worry about this little amount? Anyway, the bus company gets too much fare; they will never miss it. Accept it as 'a gift from God' and keep quiet.'

When his stop came, he paused momentarily at the door, then he handed the quarter to the driver and said, "Here, you gave me too much change."

The driver, with a smile, replied, "Aren't you the new preacher in town? I have been thinking about going somewhere to worship. I just wanted to see what you would do if I gave you too much change. I'll see you at church on Sunday."

When the minister stepped off of the bus, he literally grabbed the nearest light pole, held on, and said, 'Oh God, I almost sold Jesus for a quarter.’

Sometimes doing the right thing is hard......even for a preacher! Norman Cousins wrote "Anatomy of an Illness" and in the book he tells the story of a sleepless night he spent at the Los Angeles Airport. He needed to make a phone call to his office, so he put a quarter in a pay phone and didn’t get a dial tone. All he got was a recording that said, "Please deposit a quarter to make a call."

Frustrated, he deposited another quarter and dialed the operator. He explained to the operator what had happened and asked her to give him his money back or at least give him a dial tone to call his office. )This was back in the day when the operator had the ability to send a command to the phone to return a quarter.) Instead, the operator replied, "Certainly sir. We will return your money if you send us your name and address."

Cousins thought to himself, "How ridiculous! I’m supposed to take my time and money to send you my name and address to get my 25 cents back? And why add the expense to them to process, pay, and mail my money back to me?"

Cousins continues, "I got frustrated and hit the ’return money’ lever and quarters started pouring out of the telephone and filled the floor of the phone booth!" He said, "I told the operator what was happening and she said, "Please put the money back in the box."

Cousins replied, "I would be happy to send the money back to you in the mail. Just send me an envelope with your name and address!"

Like I said, sometimes it’s hard to do the right thing! Do it anyway. Why? First, because it’s right. Second, because it matters. Third, because it builds character, and finally, because in the end, we’re all going to have to stand before God.

Once when umpire Babe Pinelli called Babe Ruth out on strikes, Ruth argued with him and said, "There's 40,000 people here who know that last one was a ball, tomato head." Pinelli replied with the measured stateliness of John Marshall: "Maybe so, but mine is the only opinion that counts."

Those of you who know me well know that I refuse to use "guilt" to try and get someone to consider God. God doesn’t use it, so why should I? But the truth of the matter is this: One day, whether we like it or not, we’re going to have to answer to God as to why we did.....or didn’t......do the right thing. And at that moment, His opinion is the only one that counts.

A few weeks ago I wrote about heroes. Another hero of mine is a fellow named Paul. Actually, he wrote about ½ of the New Testament, but his name wasn’t always Paul. He was born and named Saul. He studied religion and religious thought, but never had a relationship with God. Then this Jesus fellow came along and changed everything......which Saul didn’t like. So he set out to kill all of the Christians.......until he had his own encounter with God. Not only did that encounter change his name, it changed his life.

At one point Paul found himself sitting in a cold, damp dungeon. Like an athlete who had spent his strength to win the prize, Paul had persevered. During his 30 years of ministry, a thousand voices had urged him to cheat in the race, throw in the towel, compromise the faith. But Paul had decided that he would not listen to the voices of the crowd. He had only one Judge to please. He was ready to meet the Umpire of the universe.

Psalm 97:11 says: Light shines on those who do right; joy belongs to those who are honest.
So let me encourage you today, friends......always do the right thing. Sometimes it will be more difficult than others. Do the right thing anyway. It will set an excellent example and build character now. And if you have trusted in God and received His free gift of forgiveness, it will also serve you well when you stand before Him for His opinion.

Pursue The Dream

2008-10-21T13:32:00.000-05:00

I spent most of last week in Atlanta, Georgia. The place is ginormous!!! And it’s tough to find Pepsi products! I got to see some amazing things! I saw the world champion of "pop and lock". "Popping", as it’s called, is a style of dance that is best described by watching a youtube video. It’s movements that are almost "jerky" but in a funky, freestyle, kind of way. Anyway, this guy was amazing! He was not only world champion of pop and lock, but he was double-jointed as well. I kind of wondered if he even had joints a few times!

I also saw the Southern Belles, the national champions of clogging. (You may have seen them on America’s Got Talent.) These ladies’ feet moved in a blur! They were so together that they moved almost as one.

I heard Jim Collins and Seth Godin, two of the worlds foremost authorities on leadership and interpreting trends in business. I heard Andy Stanley and Craig Groeschel, two of the finest communicators in the church.

Within the past few days I got to rub shoulders with Brad, an exceptional high school band director, Kenny, an excellent truck mechanic, Bob, a top rated insurance and investment advisor, Jeff, an IT specialist, Larry & Bill & Melissa, security specialists and Amira, a pre-med student in college.

Why would I tell you all of this? What’s the big deal about the people & performances I saw? Simply this: these people have discovered something that sets them apart. They have discovered purpose.

Here’s the deal: God wired you to be good at some things. Our problem is that too often we try to be good at many things. Many people are half committed to a dozen different things. If you really want to make an impact with your life, if you want your life to count, you've got to learn to be totally committed to a few things rather than half committed to a dozen things.

One of the things that Jim Collins said this week really resonated with me. He said, "If you have a ‘To Do’ list, do you also have a, ‘Stop Doing’ list? If you don’t, you’ll never achieve your ‘To Do’ list." In other words, in order to find your purpose you have to walk away from some of the things that are draining energy, but producing nothing in the way of results.

Let me encourage you today, find a purpose. Figure out the way God wired you and then go for it. For some of you (and I don’t want to make your boss angry) it may mean leaving the job you’re in and going back to school to pursue a passion. For others, it may simply mean starting a "Stop Doing" list so you can achieve even greater things in your areas of strength.

Too many people waste time trying to get better at something they’re not good at. Instead, focus your time, effort and energy on getting better at what you are good at. Doesn’t that make more sense, anyway?

The Bible says it this way in Ecclesiastes 9:10: Whatever work you do, do your best, because you are going to the grave, where there is no working, no planning, no knowledge, and no wisdom. In other words, find that passion and pursue it because there’s coming a day when you won’t be able to.

Don’t put it off. Pursue your dream with God’s help. The next thing you know, I’ll be writing about you!!!

Hang Up Your Troubles

2008-10-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

So let me begin with a question.......have you ever had a bad day at work?

Okay, stupid question......sorry! Of course you have. We all have! But what do you do with that bad day? Do you take it home to your family and nail them to the wall with it? Do you ignore your spouse and kids because you’re self absorbed in the difficult day? Or are you able to handle it like the carpenter in this story?

The carpenter I hired to help me restore an old farm house had just finished a rough first day on the job. A flat tire had caused him to miss an hour of work, his electric saw quit, and now his ancient pick_up truck refused to start.

As I drove him home, he sat in stony silence. When we arrived he invited me in to meet his family. As we walked to the front door, he paused briefly at a small tree, touching the tips of the branches with both hands. When opening the door he underwent an amazing transformation. His tanned face was wreathed in smiles; he hugged his two small children and gave his wife a kiss.
Afterward he walked me to the car. We passed by the tree and my curiosity got the better of me. I asked him about what I had seen him do earlier.

"Oh, that's my trouble tree," he replied. "I know I can't help having troubles on the job, but one thing's for sure, they don't belong in the house with my wife and children. So, I just hang them on the tree when I come home in the evening and then I just pick them up again in the morning."

"Funny thing, though," he smiled, "when I come out in the morning to pick 'em up, there ain't nearly as many as I remembered hanging there the night before."

What a great point! I read that story years ago, but haven’t quite mastered it yet. The fact remains, the troubles of your day should never be taken out on those you love the most. Here’s what the Bible says: Whoever brings trouble to his family will be left with nothing but the wind. (Proverbs 11:29)

Don’t find yourself there! Let me encourage you to leave your troubles outside when you come home, and when you get ready to head back the next day, like the carpenter, you’ll find there aren’t nearly as many as you remember putting there the night before.

Do You Know Where You're Going?

2008-10-21T13:29:00.000-05:00

Everyone has people they look up to. Perhaps it was a parent or a teacher....maybe a coach or some leader who made a difference in your life.

I have several heroes. One is my dad. Another is my wife.....and even though they’re younger than I, my kids are my heroes as well. There are others, too, but let me tell you a story about another of my heroes:

Billy Graham is now 86 years old with Parkinson's disease.

In January 2000, leaders in Charlotte ,North Carolina, invited their favorite son, Billy Graham, to a luncheon in his honor. Billy initially hesitated to accept the invitation because he struggles with Parkinson's disease. But theCharlotte leaders said, "We don't expect a major address. Just come and let us honor you." So he agreed.

After wonderful things were said about him, Dr. Graham stepped to the rostrum, looked at the crowd, and said, "I'm reminded today of Albert Einstein, the great physicist who this month has been honored by Time magazine as the Man of the Century. Einstein was once traveling from Princeton on a train when the conductor came down the aisle, punching the tickets of every passenger. When he came to Einstein, Einstein reached in his vest pocket. He couldn't find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn't there, so he looked in his briefcase but couldn't find it. Then he looked in the seat beside him. He still couldn't find it.

The conductor said, ‘Dr. Einstein, I know who you are. We all know who you are. I'm sure you bought a ticket. Don't worry about it.’

Einstein nodded appreciatively. The conductor continued down the aisle punching tickets. As he was ready to move to the next car, he turned around and saw the great physicist down on his hands and knees looking under his seat for his ticket.

The conductor rushed back and said, ‘Dr. Einstein, Dr. Einstein, don't worry, I know who you are. No problem. You don't need a ticket. I'm sure you bought one.’

Einstein looked at him and said, ‘Young man, I too, know who I am. What I don't know is where I'm going.’"

Having said that Billy Graham continued, "See the suit I'm wearing? It's a brand new suit. My wife, my children, and my grandchildren are telling me I've gotten a little slovenly in my old age. I used to be a bit more fastidious. So I went out and bought a new suit for this luncheon and one more occasion.

You know what that occasion is? This is the suit in which I'll be buried. But when you hear I'm dead, I don't want you to immediately remember the suit I'm wearing.

I want you to remember this: I not only know who I am .. I also know where I'm going."

Jesus hung on a cross between two thieves who were crucified for their crimes. One ridiculed and rejected Christ. The other asked for mercy. Jesus said to him, "Today you will be with me in paradise."

This may sound more like a sermon than words of encouragement, but if I may, allow me to simply remind you to make sure you know where you’re going.

Looking Up

2008-10-21T13:23:00.001-05:00

Last week was a bit tumultuous, to say the least! I was driving on Wednesday and had the radio on and heard the following: ! 1) The stock market fell another 450 points after having dropped over 500 points on Tuesday. 2) Oil prices rose $5 per barrel. 3) The government is shelling out $85 billion to rescue the AIG insurance group and they’re talking about establishing a government agency to buy bankrupt companies and banks, and 4) Gold shot up $70 per ounce.

Wow! All in one day! Can you believe that?!

The economy is a roller coaster, we’re moving toward the final stretch of a presidential election, there’s unrest around the world and things are looking a bit bleak in several areas.

So let’s all synchronize our watches and Tuesday at 8 pm let’s worry together. Sound good? No, not really. But honestly, have you spent some time worrying lately? Maybe you’re not worrying about these things, but about other things.

Is my job secure?

My marriage is feeling a bit shaky, will it last?

The gas tank is almost empty, and so is my bank account.....

So many things consume our thoughts, our time and our energy. But worry isn’t the answer. Worry sucks the life and the joy out of so many people......and people can worry, literally, about anything and everything. But it does nothing productive. In fact, here’s what God said about worry in Proverbs 12:25: Worry is a heavy load. In Ecclesiastes 5:3 the Bible says: The saying is true: Bad dreams come from too much worrying.

So if worry isn’t the answer, what is? Glad you asked! Psalms 121 says: I look up to the hills, but where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

I know I’ve written this before, but it’s true (hey, you can only write so many of these E-Mails before you’re bound to repeat yourself): When trouble comes, don’t waste your time looking around, instead, look up. That’s where your help comes from.

If I didn’t know God was in control, I’d be a bit worried right now because of the events taking place all around us. But I do know God is in control and He’s going to take care of things. He may not take care of them like I would take care of them, but that’s why He’s God and I’m not (which is a VERY good thing!).

So I encourage you today, look up! There are always going to be situations that cause us to pause and wonder what’s going on, but keep in mind that God is always going to be there for all who trust in Him. So hang in there, friend......and look up. You’ll find what you’re looking for.

Carefully Consider Your Steps

2008-10-21T13:22:00.001-05:00

Brett Favre. Just the mention of his name polarizes people. "He should never have retired." "He should never have come out of retirement." "The Packers were idiots to trade him." "The Jets were idiots to want him." The list of issues could go an on and on.....and I’m sure as the season progresses there will be pundits on both sides of the issue making their points - some of them quite loudly!

I’m not a huge Favre fan, nor a huge Green Bay fan. I’m not a big New York fan either. Hmmmm.......I just don’t follow pro football that much. Regardless, it seems to me that there’s plenty of blame to go around here.

Ultimately, though, I think it comes down to Favre not having a clear direction. He decides to retire. Everyone breathed a sigh of regret, but they plan a party. I don’t know when he began having second thoughts, but he couldn’t change his mind after the party was planned, right? So he retired. There was a party. Packer fans wept. Life went on.

Then he changed his mind. The rest was a public fiasco, and still is to a degree. But it bears out what the Bible says in Proverbs 14:15: The prudent carefully consider their steps.

I have a couple of thoughts here and then I’ll leave Brett to play all the football he wants:

1) While it’s impossible to know every detail of every situation, before you make a huge decision, be sure to consider it from every angle you possibly can.

2) If you make a mistake, suck it up and admit that you made a mistake. Then proceed to correcting that mistake.

3) You’re never going to please everyone. Even Jesus didn’t do that. So talk to God, consider every angle and then make the best decision you can with the information you have.

4) When people criticize you (and they will), know that your decision is the best one possible.

I’m neither "for" nor "against" Brett Favre or Green Bay or New York. His story simply illustrates an important truth: The prudent carefully consider their steps.

Let me wrap this up with a story adapted from Aesop’s Fables:

A miller and his son were traveling to market with their donkey. They had not gone very far when they overheard three women at a well. "Have you ever seen anything so strange? Two men are walking when they could ride. Why do people have donkeys?"

Responding to the women, the miller quickly put his son on the back of the animal and continued on the journey. Soon they met two men in the midst of a fierce debate. "I say the present generation shows no respect for its elders," cried the older man. Spying the miller and his son, he continued, "There, that prove what I am saying. The young, healthy lad rides while his old father is forced to walk."

Immediately the father told his son to dismount, and he climbed on the animal's back. They hadn't gone very far when they met a man and his wife walking down the road. "Look at that mean father," the woman exclaimed. "He rides while his little son has to walk."

Embarrassed, the miller took his son by the arm. "Come up here with me. We will both ride the donkey." Together they rode toward the market. Soon they met a group of men loading hay beside the road. "Shame on you," a fat man cried, "overloading the poor donkey. "Why, the two of you are strong enough to carry that poor animal."

Both the miller and his son quickly got off the animal and walked along until they found a large log. They tied the legs of the donkey together and slipped the log between the animal's legs. Then they attempted to carry it over the bridge that led to the market.

People on the other side of the bridge roared with laughed when they saw two men trying to carry a donkey. The noise frightened the animal that he kicked loose and fell into the river and drowned.

The prudent carefully consider their steps.

One Foot In Front Of The Other

2008-09-21T16:24:00.001-05:00

The 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China concluded about a month ago. There were some pretty amazing moments, to be sure. Is Michael Phelps a swimming machine, or what?!?! And of course, I can’t mention the Olympics without mentioning Iowa’s sweethearts: Shawn Johnson and Lolo Jones - both of whom represented the United States, and Iowa, quite well. So with the image of the Olympics in mind......

Imagine, for a moment, that we are competing in a race. When the starter's pistol is fired, we take off, and I leave you in my dust. I'm running really well. Let's say we are going for 10 laps, and we are coming to the last one. I say to myself, "I am creaming the competition. I am going to go get a Krispy Kreme doughnut now." So I wander off the track. Let's say that you cross the finish line 10 minutes later. It is clear that I beat you, but if I didn't do the final lap and cross the finish line, then I have lost the race. It doesn't matter if I led for nine out of 10 laps. I had to finish the race I began.

It’s important to start with the end in mind. Was the end a Krispy Kreme doughnut? I don’t think so. The end is the finish line, the winner’s circle, to stand on the medalist’s stand. Call it what you want, but the goal is to finish and finish well.

As many of you "get back into the swing of things" at school or in your job, let me encourage you to start with the end in mind. Plan to run hard so you can finish well. Will you tire along the way? I’m sure you will. Will you be tempted to go off the track from time to time? I imagine so. But don’t give in to those temptations.

Some of you may have seen the Olympic Marathon broadcast on August 16. Paula Radcliff was a competitor in that race, and she finished 23^rd. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that Radcliff is the world record holder in the event. For 3 months prior to the Olympics she had been battling a stress fracture injury in her leg.

I didn’t see the beginning of the race, but I did see the final few miles. Every step was work for her, but she didn’t quit. Each time her leg came down there was a grimace of pain on her face, but she kept running.

"I was going to the finish line no matter what. I tried to the right things in the race, tried to go after Constantina but my legs weren't there. I didn't feel sick or in distress, but there was nothing else I could do."

Four years ago, in Athens, Radcliffe stopped three miles from the finish with illness. But this time, she was committed to making it to the finish line. How about you? Do you have the drive? Do you have the determination? Do you have the end in mind?

And let’s translate this spiritually for a moment: There are many people who started off with a great burst of energy as they followed God, but somehow got off the track. They got sidelined by something and just haven’t returned to finish the race.

In the Bible, Hebrews 12:1 says (in part), "let us run the race that is before us and never give up."

No one ever said your work would be easy, the project would be a piece of cake, your marriage would always go smoothly or your walk with God would be effortless. However, if we commit to running the race and never giving up, we’ll reach the goal!

You can do it.......just keep running........one foot in front of the other.........yeah, just like that!

No Need To Worry!

2008-09-21T16:22:00.001-05:00