Dream Big, then Hold On!

There’s a story in the first book of the Bible, Genesis, that I want to focus on for a few moments. Allow me to paraphrase the story - the story of Joseph. You may have seen a play or production about him and his multi-colored robe. Joseph was the firstborn child of his mother, Rachel. He had 10 step-brothers who were quite jealous of him because he was his father’s favorite son.

One day, God gave Joseph a dream. In that dream he saw himself being placed in a position of leadership and his brothers and family becoming subservient to his leadership. Needless to say, his family wasn’t terribly favorable by that idea.

One day his brothers were watching their father’s flocks and Joseph was sent to check on them. When they saw him coming they plotted to squash his dreams, so they sold him into slavery and told their father that he was dead. (No one every said there weren’t dysfunctional families in the Bible!)

He was purchased by a man named Potipher and he quickly rose to the top of the servant’s ladder. However, Potipher’s wife thought Joseph was quite a handsome young man and wanted to sleep with him. Joseph refused, so she framed him, claiming rape, and he was imprisoned. While in prison he gained favor with the warden and rose to the top of the "privileged" list. He also interpreted a dream that another prisoner had, that ultimately came to be.

Some time later, that prisoner was restored to his position in the king’s palace. Then the king had a dream that troubled him and no one could tell him what it meant. The former prisoner remembered that Joseph had interpreted his dream and told the king who summoned Joseph to him. Joseph, with God’s help, was able to interpret the dream, so the king made him second in command in the entire kingdom. (Not too shabby for a boy turned slave turned prisoner, eh?)

Several years after that a famine hit the land, but Joseph’s wisdom had led them to store grain over the years so there was plenty. Famine also hit the land of his family, causing them to come to Joseph to ask for his assistance - which he readily gave. Ultimately, his original dream came to pass and he was in leadership over his family.

Whew! So, great story, right? But what does it all mean? Allow me to offer some words of encouragement to you from this story:

1) Hold on to the dreams God gives you. It might seem outrageous or even impossible, but never let go of it.

2) There are always going to be those who will tell you it can’t happen, those who will want to rain on your parade. Hold on to your dreams anyway!

3) There will be adversity to the dreams taking place. You have a choice: You can let the adversity discourage and ultimately destroy you, or you can press on with determination. Your decision will have a lot to do with the outcome of your dreams.

4) Ultimately, with God’s help, your dreams can happen. Just don’t ever give up!!!

Most people, when faced with the circumstances Joseph faced, would have given up. That’s due, in large part, to the fact that so few people believe in themselves anymore. Can I tell you something? God believes in you. And He can help you see those dreams come to pass, if you will let him.

One final word from the Bible. Ephesians 3:20 says, "With God’s power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine."

Let me give you my interpretation of that verse: With God’s power at work in me I can achieve the dreams He’s given me......and even more.

Let me encourage you to chase your dreams. Don’t let the naysayers slow you down. Go for it!!! I’ll be cheering you on. And when you get there, drop me a line and let me know. Until then, I’ll be in your corner!

Crushing Criticism

Tomorrow night is the big game: Memphis vs. Kansas for the NCAA National Championship in basketball. I didn’t get to see Memphis beat UCLA, but I watched Kansas play North Carolina. Wow! What a game!

UCLA made the Final Four, but doesn’t get to advance to the final game. But they have been there many times. Former coach John Wooden, who turned 97 last year, was once asked his opinion of retired Texas Tech and Indiana coach Bobby Knight. Wooden would only respond, "I think Bob Knight is an outstanding teacher of the game of basketball, but I don't approve of his methods. But I'm not a judge, and I'm not judging Bob Knight. There is so much bad in the best of us and so much good in the worst of us, it hardly behooves me to talk about the rest of us."

I think he understands what Henry Kaiser once said, "When your work speaks for itself, don’t interrupt."

Wooden has shown us what a legend looks like. He not only was a gentlemen on the court, he holds records that may never be broken. His 10 national championships, his 88 game winning streak, his phenomenal winning percentage, the players he groomed for stardom in the NBA - this is his legacy; he has no reason to add the title of "outspoken critic" to the list.

Yet it seems that so many are constantly critical, always criticizing others. In all our lives there are those who might be deemed "worthy" of outspoken criticism. But we have to choose: We can criticize, or we can care; we can lament or we can love.

The Bible says: You have no right to criticize your brother or look down on him. Remember, each of us will stand personally before the Judgment Seat of God. (Romans 14:10)

It’s not my job to criticize (although like many, I’ve become good at it. God, please forgive me.) I’d like to encourage you to strive toward leaving a legacy built, not upon our estimation (or criticism) of others, but upon our own measurable accomplishments. In other words, criticize less, do more. That’s what a legend looks like.

A Personal Encouter With an Encourager

I had the privilege of working with at the annual vocal/instrumental solo & ensemble contest this past Saturday. A number of schools participated with hundreds of performances throughout the day.

I was a center manager for instrumental solos and ensembles. We started at 8 AM and finished at about 5 PM. In the process we heard dozens of trumpet and french horn solos, along with several brass ensembles. The students weren’t competing against each other, but for a rating. As with all contests, there were some OUTSTANDING performances, many GREAT performances, a number of GOOD performances and a couple of NOT SO GREAT performances. All in all the students did a great job and I was proud of all of them.

Each center has a judge that evaluates every performance, writes comments and instructions for improvement and then gives different aspects of the performance a numeric value. Add those numbers up and you have the final score and rating for the performance.

The reason I’m writing about this is because of the judge I worked with. His name is Jeffrey Agrell and he is a professor at the School of Music at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, Iowa. I had never worked with him nor even met him prior to Saturday, but from the very first performance in the morning I was deeply impressed by this guy.

There were two things that struck me about Mr. Agrell. First, he spoke personally with every soloist following their performance, and spoke to every ensemble following theirs. He would offer words of instruction, suggestions for improvement and some technical expertise. Second, and this is the one that really impressed me, he had nothing but encouragement to offer to every single performer. I watched him closely. He wasn’t just offering "empty words". He meant every single word he spoke and he was just as sincere with the final performance as he was with the first.

All of this made me wonder.....why aren’t most of us like that? I try to be positive and upbeat and encouraging, but I don’t always achieve it. So I’ve decided I’m going to work harder to obey 1 Thessalonians 5:11 which says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Can I encourage you to do the same? Be an encourager. Mr. Agrell set an excellent example for me and everyone else who stepped into our center. I hope I can do the same for someone else.
God bless, friends! Have a great week!

Created for "Choice Work"

I often tell people, "God has a specific plan and purpose for your life. Your job is to discover His plan and then fulfill it. Then, and only then will you have a fulfilling life."

The response I get is so often the same: "What good am I to God? How could He possibly want to use me?"

The problem is, so many people have such low self-esteem that they believe they’re worthless........even to God. But that’s not the case at all! Psalm 139:16 says, "Your eyes saw me when I was only a fetus. Every day of my life was recorded in your book before one of them had taken place." God created you just the way you are, and He did it ON purpose FOR A purpose!

Years ago a traveler visited a logging area in the Pacific Northwest. He watched with great curiosity as a logger, working alongside a mountain stream, would periodically jab his sharp hook into a log as it went past and separate it from the others. This visitor could not see any reason as to why the logger would grab certain logs and let others go by.

When the visitor asked the logger about it, he replied, "These logs may all look alike to you, but I can recognize that a few of them are quite different. The ones that I let pass by grew in a valley where they were always protected from the storms. Their grain is rather coarse. But the logs that I have pulled aside come from high up on the mountains. They were beaten by strong winds from the time they were quite small. This toughens the trees and gives them a fine grain. We save these logs for choice work. They are too good to be used for ordinary lumber."

Here’s what is so cool about God: EVERY person is created for "choice work". No one is "ordinary" with God. Not you, not your co-workers, not your spouse or you kids.......no one. God made everyone specifically how He wanted them to be made, and He has a purpose for every individual to fulfill.

And friend, when you discover that purpose and begin to fulfill it, you’re going to find joy and peace and satisfaction like you’ve never known it before. Let me encourage you to talk to God in prayer and seek to discover His plan for your life. I promise you, it will be the most fulfilling thing you’ll ever do!!

Receiving Advice

We have an exceptional leadership team at the church I pastor. I often go to them, seeking their input and advice with regard to various matters. But let’s be honest...how often do we like to "receive" advice? Wouldn’t we rather "give" it? But "receiving" advice is actually quite a wise thing to do!

The ability to accept and act on good advice is fundamental to success in any venture. That's why Solomon said, "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisors they succeed." (Proverbs 15:22)

The question is: Who do you go to for advice? Here are some suggestions about who to turn to.
Seek advice from those who know. Leonardo da Vinci said, "Ask counsel of him who governs himself well." There are people I know from whom I will gladly receive financial advice, but whose parenting advice I avoid. Not everyone is wise in every area, but in the areas where they excel and succeed, that’s the area where seeking their advice is wise.

Do you want to learn how to endure adversity? Don't ask someone for whom life has been a "piece of cake". Talk with the person who has been through the valley, through the dark times. Ask the one who has weathered a few storms. They’re the ones who can give you advice that is worthwhile.

Seek advice from those who care. There are people in life who have only their best interest in mind, and there are people in life who truly care about you. Talk to the ones who care. The advice they give is going to be a benefit, whereas the ones who only focus on themselves may not guide you in a direction that will help you.

John Ray said, "It is a foolish sheep that makes the wolf his counselor." Isn’t it funny how every time you ask for advice from a salesman their advice always involves purchasing his product? Make sure you listen to those who have your best interests in heart, not theirs.

Be willing to hear what you don't want to hear, and be willing to do what you don't want to do. The temptation is to seek advice from those who will say what you want them to say. Good advice will challenge you to rethink your approach and fine tune your strategy. Solomon said, "The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15)

Getting advice is not about allowing others to make decisions for you. Ultimately, the decision is up to you. You're the one who must live the consequences - all the more reason to make sure going in that you've heard from the best and are committed to following their example.
I encourage you to use wisdom when seeking advice. And of course, begin with God. If there’s anyone who knows you, cares for you and will guide you in a direction that will always benefit you......it’s Him.

A Great Sermon

I got a call the other day from a dear friend, commenting on a recent lesson I taught at the church. Hey, I’m just like everyone else.......it feels good to receive a compliment. Well, his call got the wheels turning in my brain and I began thinking about the question, "What’s a great sermon?"

To answer that, let me share a brief story sent to me by my friend, Nancy:

While watching a little TV on Sunday instead of going to church, I watched a Church in Atlanta honoring one of its senior pastors who had been retired many years. He was 92 at that time and I wondered why the Church even bothered to ask the old gentleman to preach at that age.

After a warm welcome, introduction of this speaker, and as the applause quieted down he rose from his high back chair and walked slowly, with great effort and a sliding gate to the podium. Without a note or written paper of any kind he placed both hands on the pulpit to steady himself and then quietly and slowly he began to speak....

"When I was asked to come here today and talk to you, your pastor asked me to tell you what was the greatest lesson ever learned in my 50 odd years of preaching. I thought about it for a few days and boiled it down to just one thing that made the most difference in my life and sustained me through all my trials. The one thing that I could always rely on when tears and heartbreak and pain and fear and sorrow paralyzed me... the only thing that would comfort was this verse:

"Jesus loves me this I know.
For the Bible tells me so.
Little ones to Him belong,
we are weak but He is strong.....
Yes, Jesus loves me...
The Bible tells me so."

When he finished, the church was quiet. You actually could hear his foot steps as he shuffled back to his chair. I don't believe I will ever forget it.

"Jesus loves me, this I know." Now THAT’S a great sermon! The Bible says it this way: Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13)

I’ve taught a lot of sermons in my life, and Lord willing, I’ll teach many more. No one is going to remember all of them (not even me!). But I encourage you to remember the sermon from the 92 year old pastor. It’s words are worth more than all the gold in the world!

Being a Giver

I was on the receiving end this week. I received a phone call on Thursday telling me that I had been given an extremely generous gift. In fact, it wasn’t one gift, it was two. This gift came from a group of people who truly went WAY above and beyond in their giving. I was truly blessed and look forward with great anticipation to enjoying their gift to me.

But it got me to thinking.......am I a giver? A good friend of mine once said, "Never give to a non-giver because at that moment your giving stops." Good point! If I give to a non-giver, the giving stops. But if I give to another giver, the giving just keeps on going and going and going.

Let’s face it, there are two kinds of people in this world: givers and takers. I’m guessing we all know our share of both. But the big question is this: Which one are you?

A couple of verses of Scripture come to mind. 2 Corinthians 9:7 says, "God loves the person who gives cheerfully." And Romans 12:8 says, "If you have money, share it generously."

The following story explains it well:

As the Cadillac owner walked to his car, he saw a boy about 10-years old staring intently through the windows. Wondering what he was up to, the man put his hands on the youngster's shoulders, pulled gently, and asked him what he was doing. The boy said he was interested in cars and had read a lot about different models. He then told him many details about this particular year and body style.

After a bit, the boy asked, "Mister, how much did you pay for this car?" The man replied,

"Nothing. My brother gave it to me."

The boy responded, "I wish . . ." but stopped in mid_sentence.

The man chuckled, "You were going to say, 'I wish I had a brother like that.'"

"No, I was going to say, 'I wish I could be a brother like that'. You see, sir, I have a brother who is crippled and I'd like to do a lot of things for him."

Let me encourage you to follow the example of the individuals who blessed me last week....and the heart of the young man in the story....be a generous giver. Giving isn’t exclusively monetary. There are so many ways to give into the lives of others. Choose to be a giver. Trust me, it’s the much better way to go!

The Best Source

I can remember when I was younger and I had messed up. I know that most of you have never messed up, but I was actually kind of good at it. This particular time my dad was talking with me (TO me) and I shot some smart reply to him like, "Yeah, well you’re not the best dad in the world you know!" I’ll never forget what he said. He looked at me and said, "I may not be the best dad in the world, but I’m trying. I’ve never done this before and there is no manual for raising kids."

That was a rather heated moment and I regret what I said because my dad is an absolutely incredible dad! His statement, however, stuck with me. I’ve often wished, as a parent, that there was a book that explained everything there is to know about parenting.....or world hunger.....or financial decision making.....or how to build relationships.....or how to relax. Then it struck me: there is a book with all of those things in it - and more!

It’s the Bible.

I know, I know. It’s a boring book that was written hundreds of years ago. Right? How could it possibly be interesting? Let’s see......It is a book about seduction, hot sex with multiple partners, schemes to have a rival eliminated, incest, murder, mayhem, thievery, family violence, sexism, surrogate mothers, polygamy, religious intolerance, and bloody wars. In it’s pages you’ll find infertility, surrogacy gone wrong, jealousy, "cat" fights, exhibitionism, adultery, an unexpected pregnancy, a non-compliant husband, and premeditated murder. Nope, they just don’t write ‘em like this anymore!

But more than "excitement", there’s also some incredible insight into humanity, relationships, child-rearing, finances, sex and integrity. The Bible is a book of hope. And you know what? You don’t even have to believe in God to reap benefit from reading it!

2 Timothy 3:16 says: All Scripture is given by God and is useful for teaching, for showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.
A Bible that is falling apart is usually the sign of a life that isn't. So let me encourage you to pick yours up, dust it off if necessary, and begin reading it this year. I’d be happy to offer some guidance on reading it, if you’d like. And if you don’t have a Bible, let me know and I’ll give you one.

Packing Parachutes

I’m guessing that many of you have read this story before.

Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot in Vietnam. After 75 combat missions, his plane was destroyed by a surface-to-air missile. Plumb ejected and parachuted into enemy hands. He was captured and spent 6 years in a communist Vietnamese prison. He survived the ordeal and now lectures on lessons learned from that experience!

One day, when Plumb and his wife were sitting in a restaurant, a man at another table came up and said, "You're Plumb! You flew jet fighters in Vietnam from the aircraft carrier Kitty Hawk. You were shot down!"

"How in the world did you know that?" asked Plumb.

"I packed your parachute," the man replied. Plumb gasped in surprise and gratitude. The man pumped his hand and said, "I guess it worked!" Plumb assured him, "It sure did. If your chute hadn't worked, I wouldn't be here today."

Plumb couldn't sleep that night, thinking about that man. Plumb says, "I kept wondering what he had looked like in a Navy uniform: a white hat; a bib in the back; and bell_bottom trousers. I wonder how many times I might have seen him and not even said 'Good morning, how are you?' or anything because, you see, I was a fighter pilot and he was just a sailor." Plumb thought of the many hours the sailor had spent at a long wooden table in the bowels of the ship, carefully weaving the shrouds and folding the silks of each chute, holding in his hands each time the fate of someone he didn't know.

Now, Plumb asks his audience, "Who's packing your parachute?" Everyone has someone who provides what they need to make it through the day. He also points out that he needed many kinds of parachutes when his plane was shot down over enemy territory _ he needed his physical parachute, his mental parachute, his emotional parachute, and his spiritual parachute.
He called on all these supports before reaching safety.

I have two questions for you today: 1) Who’s packing your parachute? I promise you, friend, someone is packing your parachute. Whether it’s a word of encouragement, a smile or a well-timed prayer on your behalf - someone is packing your parachute.

2) Whose parachute are you packing? Where can you lend a hand today? Whom can you pray for? Who needs a smile or a word of encouragement? It all matters!!

The Bible teaches us to, "encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing."

I encourage you to pack someone’s parachute today. They may not be jumping out of a plane into enemy territory, but they still need you in their corner!

Have a terrific, parachute-packed week!!

Changing What Needs To Be Changed

Cosmetic surgery has become very popular lately. People go to cosmetic surgeons wanting to look younger, older, wiser.......or like their favorite movie stars. Sadly, they sometimes come out looking like an altogether different person!

We all like the idea of changing, of becoming something different than what we presently are.

Starting over again . . . .

Reinventing ourselves . . . .

Experiencing a new beginning . . .

Certainly, our culture is obsessed with change and self-improvement.

I heard about a woman named Shirley who was from Beverly Hills. One day, she had a heart attack and was taken to Cedars_Sinai Hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near-death experience. She saw God and asked, "Is this it? Is my life over?"

God said, "No, don't worry. You have another 40 years to live."

Shirley figured that since she had another 40 years, she might as well make the most of it. Upon her recovery, she decided to stay in the hospital and have collagen shots, cheek implants, a facelift and liposuction—the works! She then had someone dye her hair.

When she walked out of the lobby at Cedars_Sinai, however, an ambulance speeding up to the hospital killed her. She arrived in front of God and said, "I thought you said I had another 40 years?"

God replied, "Shirley! I'm so sorry, but I didn't RECOGNIZE YOU!"

Here’s the problem: We recognize the need for change, but we work on the wrong part. We want to change the outside when the problem that needs changed exists on the inside.

Plastic surgery and new hair styles and clothing might make us feel good for awhile, but it doesn’t last. So what we really need to do is figure out what needs fixed and fix that.

It’s not our hair that needs fixed, it’s our hearts. He Bible tells us, "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?" (Jeremiah 17:9) Sounds bleak, doesn’t it?

New clothes, hair, makeup, jewelry, toys or surgery isn’t going to fix the heart. Only God can do that. And guess what? That’s exactly what He wants to do! Check out what the Bible says in Ezekiel 36:26, "I will give you a new heart with new and right desires, and I will put a new spirit in you."

Here’s the best part.......God wants to do this for you and it won’t cost you a thing! All you need to do is ask.

Let me encourage you to do just that; ask God for a new heart. We’re drawing closer to Christmas - a time of giving gifts. God wants to give you a great gift as well. It’s the kind of change that every man, woman, boy and girl needs.......and it’s available to all!

Your Sphere of Influence

Have you ever stopped to consider your sphere of influence? Perhaps you think you don’t really influence anyone, but that is simply not true. Everyone influences someone. If you are married, you influence your spouse. If you are a parent, you influence your kids. If you go to church, you influence the people there. If you live in a neighborhood, your influence extends to your neighbors. If you go to a workplace each day, then you influence the people at work. Never underestimate the truth that others are watching you. When you think about it that way, you are an individual of great influence!

It is difficult to realize that our influence can be increased through adversity, yet many times that is part of God’s plan to bring about good through all circumstances. We see how three men from the Bible demonstrate this consistently.

In the Bible, Joseph faced numerous adversities, yet rose to be the second in command of all of Egypt. His story reminds us that we are never out of God’s reach and we are never without hope. If God is with us, no one and nothing can stand against us.

In the Bible, Daniel was constantly "taking the high road" and choosing to do what was right rather than what was convenient. Every time he did he gained more of the king’s favor.
I could list many more - both Biblical characters and non-Biblical characters - individuals who faced adversity and overcame with God’s help. I wish I could tell you that you’ll never face adversity. I’d be lying to you if I did. Jesus Himself said, "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

You say, "Nope! That’s not me. No adversity here." Great, but somewhere, sometime you’ll face some. And if you are facing difficulties right now, well, don’t lose hope! Not only can God help you through the adversity if you ask Him, but He can use the adversity in your life to influence others.

My high school shop teacher had a sign over the door. It read "Getting up after you’ve fallen down strengthens your muscles." I want to encourage you today: If you’ve been knocked down, get back up. If you’re facing adversity, don’t face it alone. Ask God to help you......and He will!
Once you’ve come through it, help others who may be facing similar situations. In doing so, you’ll have more influence on others than you know!

Friends

Friends.

How does one define a friend? We all have friends, some closer than others. Me? I am blessed with an abundance of friends.....including you! I won’t pretend that I personally know everyone who gets this e-mail, but I know many of you and I consider you to be my friends.

Oscar Wilde wrote of George Bernard Shaw, "Shaw hasn't an enemy in the world. And none of his friends like him." Author Jeremy Thorpe, tongue in cheek, misquoted a Biblical concept when he wrote, "Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his friends for his life." Unfortunately, there are some folks who actually abide by that fractured command. Someone else said, "A friend in need....is a pest!" Ah, but a real friend! Now we're talking!

We all have many acquaintances whom we appreciate and enjoy. A friend is another dimension. A friend is someone who has been at your side through the proverbial "thick and thin" for years. That friend knows you on your good days and the bad ones, yet never varies in his or her appreciation of you. You can probably count the number of those friends on your fingers, especially if the duration of that friendship has been for decades. I have several such friends, and I’m sure you do as well.

The best friend you have, of course, is Jesus Who has promised never to leave you, never to forsake you. Unlike Thorpe's misquote, Jesus laid down His life for His friend!

Let me encourage you today to be a great friend. It’s impossible to be a close friend to every person you know, but we can certainly be friendly to everyone we know and to everyone we meet.

Sometimes all it takes is a smile and a "hello" to brighten someone’s day. Life is so crazy busy that we sometimes fail in that. But today, I encourage you to slow down just a bit.....and be a friend.

The Bible says this: Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly........(Romans 12:16)

What's a Person Worth?

A few years ago there was a true story about a man in New York City who was kidnaped. His kidnappers called his wife and asked for $100,000 ransom. She talked them down to $30,000.

The story had a happy ending: the man returned home unharmed, the money was recovered, and the kidnappers were caught and sent to jail. But, don't you wonder what happened when the man got home and found that his wife got him back for a discount? Calvin Trillin was the writer of this story. He imagined out loud what the negotiations must have been like: "$100,000 for that old guy? You have got to be crazy. Just look at him! Look at that gut! You want $100,000 for that? You've got to be kidding. He’s balding and I don’t know how many good years he has left. Cut me a break here. $30,000 is my top offer."

I’m guessing that there are many of you who can identify with the wife in that story, but for some reason I find myself identifying with the husband. Yeah, I fit the “old, gut, balding scenario, but it goes beyond that. I'd like to think if I were in a similar situation, there would be people who would spare no expense to get me back. I’d like to think that they wouldn't haggle over the price....they wouldn't say, 'Well, let me think about it.' I like to think that they would say, 'We'll do anything for you.'"

Now, many of you who receive this e-mail are dear friends who would say just that. Others of you, I’ve never met. My point, however, is bigger than you and I being acquaintances. My point has to do with the value of a human being. I know we’re all worth about $5 in mineral value, but what are people worth in “people value”? Why do we sometimes treat others rudely or even with mean attitudes?

I recently sat at a football game, surrounded by families with small children. Up the aisle comes a man screaming profanities at the top of his lungs. I asked him to please watch his mouth. He replied, “You watch YOUR mouth, Maynard!” I didn’t reply. 30 seconds later he said, “You got a problem with my language?” I replied, “The children do.” He immediately apologized and left our area.

I don’t have to agree with someone’s opinion or action to be nice to them. I could have shot back a few choice verbal shots at this guy, but I chose not to. Why? Because somewhere along life’s way this guy has been hurt by someone and now he’s taking it out on everyone. What he needs isn’t another smart mouth shooting verbal bullets at him, he needs someone to show him that he has value.

After all, isn’t that what God does for us? Scripture says that while we were still sinners Christ died for us. He could just condemn us, but instead He offers hope against all of the hurt in our lives.

I encourage you to look at people through different lenses this week. You know the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” What a crock! Broken bones heal, broken spirits need hope. You have the power to offer it to others........I encourage you to do so!

Motivations

People tend to base decisions on one of four motivations in life:

1. Circumstances

That’s where whatever the circumstances are dictates our behavior, our decisions, our actions.

2. Conveniences

We all like convenient things, don’t we? We love microwave ovens, television remote controls and dry cleaners. Why? Because they make life easier for us. But is convenience the best basis for decision making?

3. Criticisms

As much as we all like convenience, we all hate criticism. Many decisions are made either in response to criticism, or simply to avoid it.

4. Convictions.

This is the only one that really works. Only decisions that are based on your convictions will last and leave a lasting legacy.

The people who have made the greatest impact on this world, for good or bad, are those who had the deepest convictions. They weren’t necessarily the smartest people, the brightest people, the most educated, the wealthiest, or even the most famous. But they were people of conviction.

If you’re going to build convictions, you need to build them on something that’s going to last. But how do you do that when it seems that everything changes? Fads change, fashions change. Psychology changes. Even science textbooks change. We keep learning more and more. So if you’re going to build convictions you have to build them on something solid; something absolute.

There’s only one thing that never changes. That is the truth of God.

If it was true a thousand years ago, it will be true today and it will be true a thousand years from tomorrow because truth does not change.

The Bible says this in Isaiah 40:8 (NLT), “The grass withers, and the flowers fade, but the Word of our God stands forever.” What was that last word? How long? And just how long is forever?

The Word of God doesn’t change. It is absolute.

My encouragement to you today is simple: Build your life on absolutes. The Bible says that God is the same yesterday, today and forever. Sounds pretty absolute to me!

A "Perspective" Challenge

Today I want to issue a bit of a challenge to you. It's been said that "perception is reality." There's a lot of truth there. But a good deal of "perception" comes from our "perspective". So my challenge to you is a challenge to change your perspective.

There’s a verse in the Bible, found in Psalm 118:24 which says, “This is the day that the LORD has made. Let us rejoice and be glad today!”

Did you spring out of bed with a cheery smile, ready to greet the day? Did you roll over when the alarm went off and mash the snooze button for another 7 minutes? Have you actually gotten out of bed yet?

No matter how your day starts, the fact remains that the day was made by God....and it was made for you!

But let’s be honest a moment......not every day is a “good” day. There’s are sunny days and rainy days. There are days when everything goes well, and days when nothing goes well; days when the car starts and days when the repair bill exceeds your paycheck. The list could go on and on, but the fact remains: The day was made by God and it was made for you!

Here’s where the whole perspective thing comes in: When the day “goes south”, rejoice in it. When the day is “spectacular”, rejoice in it. Either way, it’s the day the Lord made......and He made it for you!

Now, I’m a lot like you.....I’d love for every day to fall into the “spectacular” category, but as we all know, not every day does. You might think, “It’s a whole lot easier to rejoice when the day goes well than when it doesn’t.” You’re right. It is! But that doesn’t change the fact that God made the day.....and He made it for you!

Here’s the deal: We have to trust God no matter what. No, we may not always like everything that happens. Hey, God doesn’t always like everything that happens either. But we have to remember two things: First, God always knows exactly what we need. Second, when we can’t understand His ways, we have to trust His heart.

So, I encourage you today (and every day), to rejoice in the day the Lord has made no matter what it holds. After all, God made it for you!!!

Blessings, my dear friends! I pray your day will be spectacular!!

Humility

I got to thinking about something last week......

Humility. Great word. Not always so easy to accomplish.

Right after World War II, a U.S. Army officer and his wife were stationed in Japan. That country had been devastated by the war. The post-war economy was in shambles. Unemployment approached 60%.

People came to the Army wife's door daily looking for work. One man said that he could do wonders for her garden if she would only give him a chance.

So, for the first time in her life, this young Army wife hired a gardener. He spoke no English, but the wife, through sign language and pencil and paper gave him instructions about where to plant, prune, and pamper her garden. He listened politely and followed her instructions exactly. The garden emerged as the finest in the neighborhood.

When she finally realized that her new gardener knew far more about the matter than she, the wife stopped giving him directions and let him freely care for the garden. It was magnificent.

Then one day the gardener came with an interpreter who expressed the appreciation but the regrets of the gardener. "He will no longer be able to care for your garden. He must leave."
The wife expressed her regrets and thanked him through the interpreter for making hers such a fine garden. Out of politeness, she asked the interpreter, "Where is he going?"

The interpreter replied that the gardener was returning to his old job as the Professor of Horticulture at the University of Tokyo.

Humility.

My observations have told me that many people avoid humility because they believe it will lead to humiliation. Did you know that the exact opposite is true?

In the Old Testament, Job 5:11 says, “He [God] makes the humble person important...” And in the New Testament, James 4:10 says, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

See, it isn’t humility that causes people problems, it’s pride. Pride keeps us from so many things.....things that would be such a blessing to others and ourselves if we would just take that step of humility.

I encourage you to do a little self-examination today. You can only use one of two words to describe yourself: proud or humble. Which one is you? And if you look honestly and discover it’s “proud”, begin to work toward humility. You, and many others, will be glad (and blessed) that you did!

Anything and Everything

At the church where I’m pastor, we’re in a series of messages on the miracles of Jesus. I don’t normally reiterate Sunday’s message here, but this one thought is just too great to not share it with all of you.

In the Gospel of Mark, chapter 9, there’s a story about a dad who had a son. This son had an evil spirit that would wreak havoc in the boy’s life in an effort to destroy him. The dad tried everything he could think of to help his son - just as you and I would do. Nothing helped.

Then he brought his son to Jesus.

I won’t go into all of the detail, but in the process of explaining the problem to Jesus, the dad said, “The evil spirit often makes him fall into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us. Do something if you can.”

Most of us, at some point in our lives, have felt just like this dad. Something is going very wrong and we cry out to God and say, “Do something if you can.” Maybe you’re in one of those situations right now.

I love Jesus’ response. “What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked. “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Another translation says, “Everything is possible.....”

What’s possible with God? Anything and Everything! Everything is possible for him who believes.

Simply put, what most of us need is more faith in God. But how do we get that? By spending more time with Him and in the Bible. Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

What did Jesus do? He healed the man’s son. What will He do for you? That depends on what you need. I do know this: He’s still in the miracle working business.

So if you find yourself at a place where you need a miracle today.....I encourage you to take your problem, your need, to God. Go ahead and ask Him........because anything and everything is possible for him (or her) who believes!

"Spam" Filters

On your e-mail you either have some kind of spam filter or you get tons of junk mail. That spam filter serves a very important purpose. I doubt if it's perfect, but it does a pretty good job of filtering out the messages you don't want to read.

In the real world, we're bombarded with "messages" all day long. Some of them are useful: encouragement from friends, words of inspiration, uplifting music, ideas for self-improvement, and so on. But in addition to these good messages comes a lot of clatter, junk, "spam" from the outside, tempting us to think this or do that. We may try to ignore those types of messages, but sometimes it isn't as easy as it looks.

Personally, I'm thankful for the Bible. It helps us filter the messages we receive day in, day out. It helps separate right from wrong, good from bad, truth from error. Philippians 4:8 says, "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." Pretty good advice!

These 8 things serve as filters. If you'll think on these things, you'll discover the right messages get through, the wrong ones end up where they belong -- in the junk file.

As you go about your day today, you'll hear a significant amount of auditory spam: Messages telling you that you'll be happy if you live only for yourself...that you should seek revenge for some small offense...that a little bit of gossip never hurt anyone...that you deserve special treatment, and so on.

I encourage you to run those things through your "spam" filter......and let them end up where they belong.......in the junk folder to be deleted!

And What About Forgiveness?

Last week I wrote about anger. But let's take it a step further. What about forgiveness?

Some of the things that cause us anger are over in a brief period of time, we're able to work through the anger and move on. But others are things that we've carried around for awhile. Not only do we need to get past the anger......we have to learn to forgive.

Sounds easy, but let's be honest......forgiveness is a choice and for some unknown reason we humans would sometimes rather be angry and unforgiving than take that step fo forgiveness. I haven't quite figured that out. Rather than forgive someone we'd often rather carry a chip on our shoulder. But what good does it do? It just makes our shoulder tired!

And think about this: Whom does your anger and lack of forgiveness hurt? The other person? Nope.......they just go on their merry way. It hurts YOU and affects everything you do.

Maybe as many as ten years ago—or even twenty—someone hurt you. You forgave them and, for all practical purposes, forgot about it...until something happened to re-open the wound. It could be a conversation, a circumstance, a chance event, or any number of other things that causes you to find yourself struggling again with unforgiveness. It's not that you weren't sincere in your first (or second, or third) attempt to forgive them, it's just that the hurt will not go completely away.

A couple of years ago two individuals were immoral, unethical and completely deceptive toward me. I forgave them. It wasn't easy....and to be honest.....I didn't even want to do it! I wanted to just be mad at them - but that was only hurting me. So I chose to forgive them. Do I have lunch with them now? Nope.....and probably won't. Forgiveness doesn't mean they have to become your best buddy and you start hanging out with them. It simply means you forgive.

Honestly, there are times when I see them that the anger and resentment rares it's ugly head again. At that moment I have to make a choice: let the anger and unforgiveness return, or choose to forgive them......again. The argument could be made that I hadn't really forgiven them in the first place, or else I wouldn't have felt so bitter. In the most literal sense, I guess that may be true. If I had forgiven them the same way Christ has forgiven me, I suppose I would have simply waved hello and moved on my way—without giving a second thought to what happened long ago.

I have no doubt I was sincere in my desire to forgive completely. But sometimes the bonds of bitterness aren't easily broken. Sometimes we have to forgive someone again and again before it is settled completely in our own mind.

Jesus told Peter that we are to forgive our brother "seventy-times-seven." I always assumed he was referring to "seventy-times-seven" separate offenses. The fact is, he could have been referring to a single event.

If you want to succeed in life, you must be able to forgive. In fact, let's face it: if you want to SURVIVE life, you must be able to forgive. We strive to forgive as we have been forgiven—immediately and absolutely—but sometimes it takes us awhile to reach that point. When old wounds are re-opened, we have to treat them as if they were brand new: take them to God, lay them at His feet, and ask Him for the grace to forgive as He has forgiven you.

Don't let past hurts hold you back. Reliving the pain from last month, or last year, or your previous job or relationship isn't worth the price you have to pay. It keeps you from focusing on what God has called you to do today: serve Him with joy, and love Him with all your heart.

God's act of forgiveness toward us is a one-time event. We ask once, he forgives, he forgets, and that's the end of it. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

Our forgiveness of others should be the same, but it's not always easy. Sometimes forgiveness is a process that has to be repeated again and again.

My encouragement to you today is simple: I encourage you to forgive. No, we're not God and we don't have the ability to "forgive and forget" as He does. So until you can master the "forget" part, keep working on the "forgive" part. It will serve you well.

Christ in Me

I love these words from Casting Crowns' song In Me from their Lifesong album:

'Cause when I'm weak, You make me strong
When I'm blind you shine Your light on me
'Cause I'll never get by living on my own ability
How refreshing to know You don't need me
How amazing to find that you want me
So I'll stand on Your Truth, and I'll fight with Your Strength
Until You bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me

Walk in His strength, friend.....let the Christ in you be seen by others!!!

I'm So Mad I Could Just........

Anger.

Kind of an ugly word, isn't it? I was speaking with a good friend the other day who told me about an event that had happened to him just a few days prior. A young man had become very angry and attempted to take it out on him!

Some people believe that anger is a bad thing........and it can be. But the Bible says, "Be angry without sinning." (Ephesians 4:26) Therefore, anger isn't necessarily bad, until it becomes uncontrollable. Anger can even be a positive thing at times. The key is this: I must control my anger and not let my anger control me.

In his autobiography, Number 1, Billy Martin told about hunting in Texas with Mickey Mantle. Mickey had a friend who would let them hunt on his ranch. When they reached the ranch, Mickey told Billy to wait in the car while he checked in with his friend. Mantle's friend quickly gave them permission to hunt, but he asked Mickey a favor. He had a pet mule in the barn who was going blind, and he didn't have the heart to put him out of his misery. He asked Mickey to shoot the mule for him.

When Mickey came back to the car, he pretended to be angry. He scowled and slammed the door. Billy asked him what was wrong, and Mickey said his friend wouldn't let them hunt. "I'm so mad at that guy," Mantle said, "I'm going out to his barn and shoot one of his mules!" Mantle drove like a maniac to the barn. Martin protested, "We can't do that!" But Mickey was adamant. "Just watch me," he shouted.

When they got to the barn, Mantle jumped out of the car with his rifle, ran inside, and shot the mule. As he was leaving, though, he heard two shots, and he ran back to the car. He saw that Martin had taken out his rifle, too. "What are you doing, Martin?" he yelled. Martin yelled back, face red with anger, "We'll show that son of a gun! I just killed two of his cows!"

Anger can be dangerously contagious. Proverbs 22:24 & 25 tells us, "Do not be a friend of one who has a bad temper, and never keep company with a hothead, or you will learn his ways and set a trap for yourself." Pretty good advice, don't you think?

I encourage you to avoid anger when it's possible. However, in those times when anger does come your way, if you're able to control that anger, work through the situation, cool down and move on. If you find that the anger is controlling you, I suggest you find someone to talk with and figure out how to turn things around.

Guidance

Good morning and welcome to September! I trust you enjoyed your 3-day weekend (those of you who had one.......sorry Charlie!)

Allow me to expand on something you may have read before.

I'm not a dancer - much to my wife's disappointment. Actually, I may have a slow dance with her once in awhile, but as far as what everyone else calls "dancing", I don't do that. If I even tried it wouldn't look like dancing anyway. It would look more like some guy jerking around like he's holding on to 220 volts! Let's just say it's not pretty. Now, if you want to see someone dance, check out Robert Barone (Brad Garrett) on Everybody Loves Raymond......the guy can dance! But that's another story.

While I'm not much of a dancer, I do know that when you dance (at least the more "formal" style of dancing) someone has to lead. When twopeople try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. The dance takes surrender, willingness, trust and attentiveness from one person and gentle guidance and skill from the other.

Gentle guidance. Let me see if I can help you see something in the word GUIDANCE.

The first letter is "G". Let that represent God.

The second letter is "U". Let that represent You.

The third is "I". Let that represent......you guessed it......I.

Those three letters are followed by the word "DANCE".

Put it all together.......God, You and I Dance.

God made a promise in Psalms 32:8 for all who trust in Him. It says, 'The LORD says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.'" Pretty great promise, eh?

I encourage you today to "dance" with God..........and let Him lead. Need guidance? He's promised to give it! All you have to do is ask.......

So today......and every day......dance like nobody's watching (and in my case, that's the ONLY time I dance - when nobody's watching!)!!!

No "I" in Team

We've all heard the statement: "There's no I in Team". Yep, it's true. Not a single "I" in the word "Team". But let's be honest, there's still quite a bit of "I" in all of us. But hey, the statement isn't about spelling, it's about teamwork. It's about working together. Here's just a couple of thoughts about that very subject:

Leonard Bernstein was once asked which instrument was the most difficult to play. His answer was, "Second fiddle. I can get plenty of first violinists, but to find someone who can play the second fiddle with enthusiasm—that's a problem. And if we have no second fiddle, we have no harmony."

It is better to have one person working with you than having three people working for you. —Dwight. D. Eisenhower

A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of the others. —Norman G. Shiddle

No one can whistle a symphony, it takes an orchestra to play it. —Halford E. Luccock

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3-4)

Wow! Even God has something to say about teamwork. Must be important, huh?

The Main Thing.......

I'm sure you've heard this before, but I heard it for the first time many years ago. It came from my good friend Ed Nelson, a great pastor, mentor and leader who invested heavily in my life. Here's what he said: The main thing is keep the main thing the main thing.

Simple? Yep. Difficult? Oh yeah!

That's why we're in the process of re-examining virtually everything we're doing at Osceola Assembly. We want to be the most effective church we can be and that can only happen with God's help and clear direction.

We're pulling together our leadership team for a time of prayer, brainstorming and planning. Thanks for your prayers!!!

21 Years....How Did That Happen?

21 years ago today CharlieD was born. Well, actually Charles D. DeVos Jr. was born. CharlieD came along later, but that's another story.

It's really cool to watch your kids grow up. It happens so quickly that if you blink you'll miss it (literally!). They learn to crawl, then walk, then run, then fall (oops.....). They go off to school, make new friends, learn new things, make more new friends, go to PE (that's always fun), play in the band and make a few more new friends.

Somewhere they go from being "your little boy" to being a full grown man. I don't exactly know it all happened, but here we are.

Somewhere along the way Charlie got hooked on RAP and HIP HOP music. So much so that he has written and recorded several songs (see his virb page as listed in my previous post) and is pursuing a degree in Digital Media. And this is where CharlieD came along. That's his stage name. He's pictured here at the Sonshine Music Festival after performing on the Impromptu Stage. Pretty cool.

The best part is that he has grown up and is a man of God. He may play in front of large or small crowds, but he truly only plays for an Audience of One.

Am I proud? Oh yeah! Can't you tell?!?!

Happy Birthday, Charlie!!!!

A T-Shirt Challenge

Do you ever find yourself reading people's T-Shirts? Some of them make me smile, some of them make me sad and a few of them make me sick. Yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Oh, and guys, it's best to not read T-Shirts that the ladies are wearing at all. You know why......

Then there are "Christian" T-Shirts. One would think that, since I'm a pastor, I'd really like "Christian" T-Shirts. There are a few that are alright, but most of them, I really dislike! So many of them either scream condemnation or say "I'm a Christian so I'm better than you". No, they don't say it directly, but it's there.......

I did mention, however, that there are a few I like. A few weeks ago, my son, Charlie, and I went to the Sonshine Christian music festival in Willmar, Minnesota. We had a great time listening to dozens of bands and Charlie even got to perform on the impromptu stage. If you'd like to hear some of Charlie's music, check out http://www.virb.com/charlied.

While we were at Sonshine I saw a T-Shirt that really made me think. It was a simple, yellow shirt with black lettering and a tiny graphic. It said: God, help me be the kind of man my dog thinks I am.

Okay, so maybe I'm pretty simple, but that's a message that I can relate to. And it's a message that challenges me (and I don't even have a dog!).

How about you? Are you the kind of person your dog thinks you are? If not, today is a great day to start becoming that person!

25 Years and Counting.......

Last night Helen and I celebrated 25 years of marriage with an open house at the church. Our actual anniversary date is May 29, but it just made sense to celebrate on Friday rather than Tuesday.

You know, I wouldn't trade the past 25 years for anything. I've worked harder and loved more and had more fun than I could ever imagine. Would I marry Helen again? In a heartbeat!

Marriage doesn't "just happen". It requires an investment on both parts........not 50-50, it requires 100-100!

My encouragement to you is this:

If you're married, work at it and NEVER give up! Ecclesiasties 7:8 says: Finishing is better than starting! (Ecclesiastes 7:8a)

If you're considering marriage, take your time and wait for God to bring the right one to you. Proverbs 18:22 tells us: He who finds a wife finds what is good.

25 year.........WOW! Now, on to the next 25!!!

It's Not The Goal That Matters Most

We've talked about setting goals on a couple of occasions....but let me give you another perspective on the issue.

There have been countless books and articles written about the need to set specific goals. It's been said that without goals there can be no achievement - so we're encouraged to make a detailed list of everything we want, from professional achievements to material acquisitions.

The problem with this line of thinking is that it forces us to focus on the wrong thing. Success isn't found in keeping an eye on the destination, but by taking care of the details of the journey. Sure, it's important to know where you're going and goal-setting has its place. But more important than the final goal is the route we take in getting there.

See, you can have goals, or "targets", but you can't control the "target". Targets tend to move and have a way of being missed. But I can control the process; I can control the steps I take.

It's this way in all aspects of life. A salesman can't control his income, but he can control how many calls he makes, and how well he knows his presentation. An athlete can't control the final score, but he can control how he gets ready for the game and how hard he plays. Parents can't control the decisions their children make, but they can control the amount of time, love, patience and forgiveness they pour into their children's lives.

Theologian Henri Nouwen once said, "We cannot make it rain, but we can see to it that the rain falls on prepared soil." And realistically......this is as far as our contribution to success goes.

Friends, if your goal is heaven......and I pray that it is.......then it's important that we tend to things down here on our journey. I love what the apostle Paul wrote to a young man named Timothy about this very issue. He said, "If you keep yourself pure, you will be a utensil God can use for hispurpose. Your life will be clean, and you will be ready for the Master touse you for every good work." (2 Timothy 2:21)

I encourage you to keep your eye on the goal, but keep your focus on the journey. Take it one step at a time......following God.......trust Him forHis help all along the way. Then, when you achieve the ultimate goal......celebrate!!!

I look forward to celebrating with you!!!

Choose Well

Every day of our lives, we are faced with choices. Inside the supermarket and you'll find 24 different bagged salads, 107 different of cheeses, 30 kinds of muffins, 40 flavors of coffee, and 80 brands of cereal in the first 10 feet of the aisle! Books? Amazon.com has millions. Music? iTunes has thousands. The menu at the restaurant is like a small book. Choices!

Many choices we make won't have many long_lasting implications. But some choices carry long-term significance; choices like whom we’ll marry, or what career path we'll follow. Then there's the most important choice of all . . . the choice to follow Christ.

The Bible is filled with stories of men and women who made choices that impacted their entire lives. Moses chose to help his fellow Jews over the fame and fortune of Egypt. Joseph chose to obey God rather than give in to the seduction of an attractive woman. The list could go on and on.

But what about those who made bad choices.....and the consequences? Adam's choice cost him Paradise. King Saul's choice cost him his kingdom. Judas's choice cost him his life and his eternal soul. The choices we make in time are binding in eternity. We make our decisions . . . and then our decisions make us.

God cares deeply about the choices we make in the course of our lives. He wants us to make decisions that will bring success and joy in our lives on earth, and then into His presence for eternity after we pass from this life.

God’s desire can be summarized in Moses’ words to the children of Israel. "Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Choose to love the LORD your God and to obey him and commit yourself to him, for he is your life." (Deuteronomy 30:19–20 NLT)

Maybe you are at a crossroads in your life. You know the right way to go, but there is that shortcut that looks awful tempting. Be careful! We make our decisions . . . and then our decisions make us. I encourage you, friend, choose well.

Keep Swinging!!!

A few years back the Detroit Tigers were having a horrible season. At the end of April they were on track to becoming the losingest team in the history of baseball. They didn't quite make it, but they did manage to set an American League record for most losses (119) in a single season.

If you are a Detroit Tigers fan, it was a long winter! But just two seasons later, the Tigers were on track to becoming the winningest team in baseball, breaking a record set by Chicago in 1906. They didn't quite make that record, but they still had a great season.

Quick turn around, wasn't it? This reversal didn't happen by accident, and how it happened is best described by the experts, but here's the point I want you to pick up on today: It happened. The worst team in baseball in one season became one of the best teams in baseball just a few seasons later.

Personally and professionally we all endure losing seasons from time to time. A losing season may tell us that it's time to start over, but it doesn't tell us it's time to quit. If you've suffered some setbacks in life, whether in your family or job or school, first remember that you're not alone. And second, it doesn't mean that your best days are forever behind you. There's a big season right around the corner.

I've always found the words of the prophet Isaiah comforting. He wrote: "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Isaiah 43:2 & 5)

For those who trust in God, we have no reason to fear because He is with us. Trials and troubles are cyclical, but the promises of God are permanent.

If you're where the Tigers were in 2003, look at where they are now. This can be you. I encourage you today, keep swinging the bat. Keep running the bases. Don't give up. You may be struggling in certain areas now, but those struggles are temporary. You'll experience a turn around, because God's promises are forever.

Home, Sweet Home!

I read a story about a little dog named Mugsy, who was walking across the street one day and, tragically, was hit by a truck. His sad owners took Mugsy down to the pet cemetery and buried him. They were so sorry they would never see their precious little dog again.

But a few days later, much to their surprise, they found Mugsy scratching at the back door. They could hardly believe their eyes. They opened the door and let little Mugsy in. He was covered with dirt but alive. It turns out their little dog wasn't dead after all. They had buried him alive, but the industrious little pooch clawed his way out and found his way home.

I read a definition for the word home that I liked. It said, "Home is not where you live, but where you are loved." And when you utilize that definition, then the words of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz are so true: "There's no place like home!"

Regardless of what you might call "home" here on earth, did you know that God has an eternal home waiting for all who will trust in Him? It's called heaven. In John 14:2 Jesus said, "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you." I hope it's your plan to go there!

If the definition of home is that it is a place where you are loved, you'll never be more at home then when you get to heaven. But you have to get ready. Here on earth, you might buy a house or rent an apartment or live with parents and call that home. To prepare for your home in heaven, all you have to do is trust in God and ask for His forgiveness for your sins. Then, someday, it will be "Home, Sweet Home" for you in heaven!

Why mention this at all? Because God has put a homing instinct inside every person, a sense that there is something more to life. In fact, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has put eternity in their hearts." Because of this, we will never be fully satisfied in this life. There is always going to be something missing.

So I encourage you.......enjoy your home here on earth, but make heaven your eternal destination. You'll never regret it.

Tax Day!!

I probably shouldn't go here, but I'm going to anyway. Yes, it's tax day. Normally it would be April 15 but because it fell on a Sunday we get a one day reprieve.

So have you completed the tax forms and sent them in? I hope you got a refund. If not, I hope you saved a few bucks so you can pay what you owe.

Did you know that God addressed taxes in the Bible? Yep. I won't go into all of the references, but here's one that stands out to me. It's found in Romans 13:7 and it says: Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Everyone owes some kind of tax. Whether it's income tax, sales tax, property tax or some other tax, we owe them. God says we should pay. There may be other "fees" or "revenues" that we owe. God says pay them. But He also says to pay respect and honor to whom it's due.

Then, in verse 8 it says: Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law.

Taxes and fees, hey, it's only money. It's the respect, honor and love for others that really matter! Those are the things that truly impact people's lives.

Sure, pay your taxes, but let me encourage you: don't forget to "pay" the other things as well. Give your respect, honor and love to those around you and watch them bloom like a spring flower!

Spring Cleaning

Let me approach a subject that we may not like very much: Spring Cleaning.

Spring means many things to us. But one of the most notable things that comes with spring is spring cleaning, when we go through our houses and take care of all the messes that have built up over the months.

I heard about an interesting custom in Italy for New Year's Eve. At midnight, the windows of every house open and everyone pitches out whatever they absolutely hate-furniture, clothes, dishes-they all come crashing to the ground. Now I would call that serious housecleaning.

I don't know about you, but I am not the tidiest person on the face of the earth. Right now my garage needs spring cleaning so badly! My office tends to get cluttered with various projects I'm working on. Some of you know how that works. Stuff just kind of adds up. You work on something and instead of cleaning up the mess you just move on to the next project.

Then there are people like my wife who is always doing a little here and a little there and keeping the place in great shape.

Unfortunately, the same thing tends to happen in our spiritual lives. There are some of us who allow problems to develop. We allow things to get really out of control. And when we reap the inevitable results of sin or when some crisis hits, we turn to God and say, "Lord, I need Your help to get me out of this mess."

And then there are others who live their spiritual lives the same way that my wife cleans house. They are always maintaining their relationship with the Lord, little by little, day by day, always cultivating it, and constantly keeping their hearts in a right relationship with God. That is the way to live.

You might think, "Yeah, well, I may not be the tidiest person in the world, but I get the job done." Perhaps, but think of all the time you would save if you maintained things regularly and didn't have to do a major cleaning overhaul every so often!

Again, let me apply this spiritually. If we will maintain our daily walk with God we can avoid most of the pitfalls that crop up when we don't. 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just toforgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Need a little spiritual spring cleaning? Go to God. He'll listen, and if you ask Him He'll forgive. Then, focus on that day to day walk with God......that day to day cleaning. It's much more satisfactory, friend, I promise!

I encourage you this week, work on whatever spiritual spring cleaning might be necessary. And then, maintain on a day by day basis and enjoy the blessings of God!

Holy Week

This week is often referred to as "Holy Week", which began yesterday with Palm Sunday. This final week of Christ's ministry and life before He was crucified was clearly important. Three of the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) devote a full third of their contents to reporting this week, and the entire last half of the Gospel of John is dedicated to this week. Jerusalem, which had a normal population of about 50,000 at this time, had at least tripled in size because of the influx of pilgrims celebrating the Jewish holiday Passover. Early (Palm) Sunday morning Jesus made his entry into the city. This was the end of all privacy and safety, and the beginning of what would be an inevitable collision course with the religious and political authorities. Crowds began to shout and sing as they threw down their garments on the pathway to cushion his ride - an Oriental custom still observed on occasions - as well as palm fronds, the symbol of triumph.

I have often wondered how many of those people who enthusiastically cried, "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday shouted, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" a few days later. Some may have been keenly disappointed, even angry, that Christ didn't use His miraculous power to establish an earthly kingdom. Hadn't He created a golden opportunity to rally popular support by parading into Jerusalem and offering Himself as King?

But Jesus didn't come to establish a kingdom on earth. He came to establish His kingdom in the hearts of humanity. It wasn't about a palace and a throne and a mighty scepter for Jesus, it was about forgiveness for sin and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. And who is this for? For everyone, my friend. Everyone. John 1:13 says, "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." I love that word, "all". What does it mean? It means ALL. Like the children's song, "Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight......"

There are people today who have the wrong view of Christ just as those on that day had a wrong vies. Christ does not offer immunity from life's hardships, a cure for every disease, or the promise of financial success. What the King offered then is what He offers today-Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and an invitation to trust and serve Him. If we accept His offer, we will not be disappointed.

Palm Sunday is past, Easter Sunday is just days ahead. I encourage you to attend church this Easter Sunday. Even if you're not "a church goer", attend anyway. Why? Who knows......you might learn something new about God and find hope that was lost somewhere along the way.

If you are in the Osceola area and don't have a church you regularly attend, I invite you to worship with us. You can find details of our services at http://www.oagministries.com.

Blessings to you, my friend! And may the love of God bless you and fill you to overflowing!

Whatever You Do......Do Your Best

I spent the day Saturday doing something I love: encouraging kids. Clarke Schools hosted a Solo and Ensemble contest for instrumental and vocal music yesterday and I had the privilege of interacting with many students from several different schools. After each performance I would say, "Good job", or "sounded great", or something similar. Why? Because it was true! And besides, everyone needs encouragement from time to time.....even you.

Some kids walked out with a smile on their face knowing they'd nailed their performance. Others walked out in tears, or near tears, feeling as if they had just struck out completely. Did some play better than others? Sure. But I am absolutely convinced that every young person that performed yesterday (at least in the center I managed) played their best.

Others students whom I hadn't heard play would say, "I did horrible!" or "I bombed" or "I know I did terrible", only to find out that they received a 2 or a 1 rating. They were surprised. I wasn't. Not because I'm some musical expert.....I'm far from that.....but because I believe in these kids. I knew they would do well if they just put their minds to it.

lesiastes 9:10 says this, "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." I know that may sound a bit morbid, but think about it: Do your best while you're alive because someday you won't be.

I want to encourage you today: Do your best in everything you do. At work? Do your best. At home? Do your best. In your studies? Do your best. In your hobbies? Do your best. In your family? Do your best. Oh yeah......at solo & ensemble contest? Do your best.

You'll never regret giving and doing your best. Why? Because of God's promise in Proverbs 13:4, "The lazy will not get what they want, but those who work hard will."

Work hard, dear friends. Give and do your best. And then enjoy the rewards!

God Has His Eye On You.....

Let's take a quick observation from Psalm 121:5-8. It says, "The LORD himself watches over you! The LORD stands beside you as your protective shade. The sun will not hurt you by day, nor the moon at night. The LORD keeps you from all evil and preserves your life. The LORD keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever."

A little boy was always getting into trouble in his Sunday School class, so in exasperation, his teacher said to him, "I want you to know that God is watching you all the time. Even when I can't keep my eyes on you, God has His eyes on you. He is watching you, so you'd better straighten up."

The boy was terrified by the thought of God watching him all the time. After Sunday School, he told his parents, "The teacher said that God is watching me all the time." They could see that the thought terrified their son rather than bringing comfort to his heart. So his parents put it into proper context for him. They said, "Yes, it's true that God is always watching you. But the reason is because He loves you so much that He can't take His eyes off you."

Proverbs 15:3 says, "The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good."

Now, you may need to correct me on this one, but I'm gonna guess that many of you reading this had the little boy's perspective on God watching you instead of the parent's perspective on God watching you. Many times when we think of God watching us, what comes to mind are the surveillance cameras we have in public places today. They are usually hidden in places where we tend to never look. In some stores they're obvious by all of the dark "domes" in the ceiling. They can watch everyone. People don't even realize a camera is turning around and following them wherever they go.

So when we consider the fact that God is watching us, we might think, "That is terrifying!" But it all depends. If we are rebelling against God, then the thought of it can be more than a little frightening. If that's you, how about taking a moment to lift your eyes to God and get things squared away with Him? Then you can have the knowledge that God is watching us, but He loves us so much that He can't take His eyes off us. We may lose sight ofGod, but He never loses sight of us.

I encourage you to keep your eyes fixed on Him, because He's got His eyes fixed on you!

Thank You!!

In some parts of Mexico hot springs and cold springs are found side by side--and because of the convenience of this natural phenomenon the women often bring their laundry and boil their clothes in the hot springs and then rinse them in the cold ones. A tourist, who was watching this procedure commented to his Mexican friend and guide: "I imagine that they think old Mother Nature is pretty generous to supply such ample, clean hot and cold water here side by side for their free use." The guide replied, "No señor, there is much grumbling because she supplies no soap.

Ouch! How many times am I guilty of grumbling rather than being thankful? Far too many, I'm afraid.

Yesterday (Sunday) the church family of Osceola Assembly where I am pastor honored me and my family for 15 years of service. There were many compliments, accolades, gifts, honors and commendations. At the end of the day's events one young lady sang Ray Boltz's song, "Thank You". It was an incredible day.

To be honest with you, I was quite humbled.......yet honored at the same time. I was even a bit uncomfortable with everyone offering their commendations and thanks. But through the process I began to think, "How many times have I FAILED to say Thank You?" Same answer as above.....far too many. So I'm going to do something to rectify that.

When the Apostle Paul was writing to the church at Corinth he wrote, "I always thank God for you..." (1 Corinthians 1:4a) I want you to know that I'm thankful for all of you. No, I may not have personal relationships with everyone who receives the weekly note of encouragement, but I'm still thankful for you. God made you. He loves you. He has a purpose for you. Yep, I'm thankful for that......and for you.

Now....may I encourage you to thank someone today. No, don't just say, "Thanks" in passing. Stop and tell someone thank you. It might be for some action they've taken, for their help, for their service....for whatever. Offer thanks to someone who deserves it today. Don't hold it back......go for it!

Colossians 3:15 says, "Always be thankful."

I'm working on that........and I encourage you to do the same! Have a wonderful.......and thankful......week!!!

Mat Carrying and Other Great Ways to Bless a Friend

There is this incredible story in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus was in the city of Capernaum, in a house, preaching to a packed house. The place was so full there wasn't room for any more people. Then we read this:

Four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat. They couldn't get to Jesus through the crowd, so they dug through the clay roof above his head. Then they lowered the sick man on his mat, right down in front of Jesus. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralyzed man, "My son, your sins are forgiven." (Mark 2:3-5)

I want you to take note of a couple of things in this story. First, there was a man who was paralyzed. Not so unusual, right? But the first thing it says is "four men arrived carrying a paralyzed man on a mat". That's a little less than usual, don't you think? This man, paralyzed for whatever reason, had 4 friends who cared enough about him to take him to see Jesus because they knew Jesus could heal the man.

Well, they couldn't get in. Standing room only. Ticket holders only, sorry. So, let's go home. End of story, right? Wrong! These 4 guys apparently REALLY cared about their friend so they came up with "the housetop plan". They got up on top of the house, dug through the roof ofthe house (which had to make the owner VERY happy...) and lowered their friend down through the roof to get him to Jesus. Now THOSE are friends!!!

But wait, it gets better. I'm gonna guess that if you've read this story you might have missed this part. Verse 5 says, "Seeing their faith...." Did you catch that? "Seeing THEIR faith......." Whose faith? The faith of the paralyzed man? No. The faith of the crowd Jesus was speaking to? Nope. THEIR refers to the 4 friends. THE 4 FRIENDS!!! How incredible is that?!?! Jesus saw the faith of the paralyzed man's four friends and healed the paralyzed man.

Great story......what does it mean for you and me? We don't have to look very far to find those who believe they are alone. You and I see them everyday. You attended church with some of them yesterday. Some of them live next door, or work in your building. The world is full of people who have lost all meaningful connection with others, and who now, convinced they are alone, live empty and isolated lives.

The man in Mark's Gospel was healed that day, and his sins were forgiven, because first his friends cared enough to show him that he was not alone. It was their faith, and their faithfulness, that brought a miracle into this man's life. Look around you. Someone nearby believes that he or she is alone, and YOU can make a huge difference in their life.

So I encourage you today......and every day.......look around you. There are people everywhere who are paralyzed by hopelessness, fear and feelings of being alone. Will you make the effort to "carry their mat"? You could be the one to make all the difference in their world today.

Blessings to you, dear friends! Thank you for your willingness to touch the lives of others.....and in doing so, we all receive God's blessings in our lives as well!

Turn Left. No, Right. Which is it?

Have you seen all of the Global Positioning Systems on the market? My first exposure to one was a couple of years ago when my son was a freshman in college. We had made arrangements with a good friend to fly down and pick Charlie up to come home for a long weekend, and then fly him back. He had a portable GPS that he programmed with his destination and then used it as he flew. Pretty cool!

You can buy portable systems that can be taken with you wherever you go. Many of them will "guide" you once you've programmed a destination point. They'll tell you to "turn left" or "turn right" and even to "turn around" when you miss your exit or go too far. I don't have one of these systems, but it seems to me that it has to be better than looking for road signs and street signs everywhere you go!

You know friends that's what God wants to do in our lives. Jesus said the Holy Spirit, would lead us. In John 16:13 Jesus said, "When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth."

God's plan for our lives is so far better than our own concepts. When we try to do it all on our own we end up going down wrong streets, taking wrong turns and making huge mistakes. If only we would trust God to lead us! Psalm 23 is familiar to most people and in there David wrote, "The LORD is my shepherd; I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; heleads me beside peaceful streams."

A shepherd leads the sheep.....he doesn't "drive" them. God leads us as well, all we have to do is follow. But we want to trust our own instincts, don't we? Not a great idea! If we choose to follow God and listen to His voice, He will guide us safely Home to Glory, and the trip will be nothing short of spectacular!

My encouragement to you today is this: Listen to God's voice. Even when you think you know better, listen to Him instead. In the process you'll find that He'll always lead you the right way!

Which Are You?

It's been said that there are three kinds of people: those who make things happen, those who watch things happen, and those who wonder what happened. So let me ask you this question: Which kind of person are you?

Let's start with the last one first - those who wonder what happened. These folks aren't really with the program. They're just along for the ride, and then when something does happen they miss it because they were on the sideline. Don't sit on the sideline, get in the game!

Then there's those who watch what happens. These folks are paying attention, but don't want to get involved. After all, they might have to make a decision or actually do something that will matter. No, they're happy being "in the know", but still not "in the game". That's not where you want to be either.

Finally, there are those who make things happen. Ah yes, this is where you want to be!!! This is the place where you can make a difference - in your life, in others lives and in this world we live in. None of us was put here to just "exist". God had given everyone gifts talents and abilities to be used in honoring Him and in making a difference in this world.

Some say, "I've got nothing! I can't do anything." Wrong!!! The Bible says this, "For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." God WANTS to help you if you'll just let Him. He wants to give you the strength and wisdom and insight and help for whatever task it is that lies before you.

So go out there and make a difference! Get off the sidelines and into the game........make things happen!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day. A time for "love". I hope you get a Valentine from someone you love today!

Did you know that God gave us a Valentine? Yep. It's found in the Bible - a book all about love.

John 3:16 says, "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."

You say, "that has nothing to do with Valentine's Day." But you're wrong! Let me show you.

First, it tells you that God loves you. God loves us so much. God has always loved you and will love you forever. The truth is that God’s love for us never changes. It's not based on our "performance" or "worthiness". It's based on God's nature. God is love and His love for us is endless and matchless.

Second, it tells us that God gave you a gift. God gave you His Son. No, God didn’t send you a card or candy. He sent something better.......something that won't wear out, decay, go out of style or be gone in a few days. He sent us His one and only Son as an expression of His love for us

Third, God wants you to believe. When you send a Valentine you want the person receiving it to believe you love them. God wants you to believe He loves you as well - thus the extravagant gift of His Son. His deepest desire for you is that you would believe in His Son and live with Him forever.

And finally, God's love is eternal. It doesn't change or fade away and it is never neglected. Unfortunately, human love isn't that way all the time. But God's love is eternal. He wants to give you eternal, everlasting life. God wants to give you a future with him in heaven.

So, Happy Valentine's Day! As I said, I hope you receive a Valentine from someone you love, and I pray you receive the Valentine God has already given to you!

Sleeping In The Storms

Years ago a farmer owned land along the Atlantic seacoast. He constantly advertised for hired hands. Most people were reluctant to work on farms along the Atlantic. They dreaded the awful storms that raged across the Atlantic, wreaking havoc on the buildings and crops. As the farmer interviewed applicants for the job, he received a steady stream of refusals.

Finally, a short, thin man, well past middle age, approached the farmer. "Are you a good farmhand?" the farmer asked him.

"Well, I can sleep when the wind blows," answered the little man.

Although puzzled by this answer, the farmer, desperate for help, hired him. The little man worked well around the farm, busy from dawn to dusk, and the farmer felt satisfied with the man's work. Then one night the wind howled loudly in from offshore. Jumping out of bed, the farmer grabbed a lantern and rushed next door to the hired hand's sleeping quarters. He shook the little man and yelled, "Get up! A storm is coming! Tie things down before they blow away!" The little man rolled over in bed and said firmly, "No sir. I told you, I can sleep when the wind blows." Enraged by the response, the farmer was tempted to fire him on the spot. Instead, he hurried outside to prepare for the storm. To his amazement he discovered that all of the haystacks had been covered with tarpaulins. The cows were in the barn, the chickens were in the coops, and the doors were barred. The shutters were tightly secured. Everything was tied down. Nothing could blow away. The farmer then understood what his hired hand meant, so he returned to his bed to also sleep while the wind blew.

I know this is supposed to be "Encouraging Words", but if you'll indulge me for a moment here's a fact: There will be storms that blow through your life from time to time. Perhaps it's the doctor's announcement of an illness, or the boss's invitation to visit his office late on a Friday. It could be the police officer who knocks on your door late at night and then can't look you in the eye as he explains the car wreck that took the life of your loved one.

Or......it might not be any of those things. It could be that you're having a difficult time at work or at home or with a friend, a relationship that appears to be falling apart in a hurry. Regardless of what it might be, are you ready? Well, "ready" is a strong term, so let me ask it this way: When the storms rage, can you sleep?

Let me give you a promise from God. It's found in Isaiah 43 and it says this: But now, O Israel, the LORD who created you says: "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. Do not be afraid, for I am with you."

A couple of things to note here: 1) This is written to "Israel", or in other words, God's people. If you've trusted in Christ for the forgiveness of sins, then you're one of God's people and this applies to you. (If you haven't, you can....Read Romans 10:9 & 10.) 2) It tells us, "Do not be afraid because we belong to God." A great promise to have!! 3) It says, "WHEN" you go through...... It doesn't say, "IF", but "WHEN". In other words, storms are inevitable. And the best for last: 4) It says that we don't have to be afraid because God is with us. Wow! What a promise!!!

You may be in a storm right now. God is there. A storm may come up later this week. God will be there. When you're prepared, spiritually, mentally, and physically, you have nothing to fear. The hired hand in the story was able to sleep because he had secured the farm against the storm.

We secure ourselves against the storms of life by grounding ourselves in the Word of God. We don't need to understand, we just need to hold His hand to have peace in the midst of the storms.

Being a Blessing

Yesterday was my wife's birthday. I'm not allowed to tell you how old she is. Sorry. I tried to get her a great gift, but it was delayed. I tried to get some beautiful flowers but the local florist was completely out of pink flowers. She really loves pink flowers and I had planned to get her a dozen roses, but none were available. How about something else pink? Nope. Nothing. So I went to get her a card. Wow! I hit a home run there! (At least according to her.) We went to dinner and joined our daughter for InterVarsity at college. We stopped by a bakery and got some wonderful goodies (she didn't want a cake) and got home late.

And why is this important? Chances are the specifics aren't important to you at all. But the specifics aren't the point. The point is, I tried to bless her on a special day. And then I had a revelation: do I try to bless her EVERY day, or only on "special" days? WOW! That hit me!

So now, I'm going to try to be a blessing to her daily, not just on special occasions. You might try it too!

1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." At home, at work, wherever......encourage one another!

Tony Dungy :: Beyond the Ultimate

A great conclusion Tony Dungy's speech at the 2006 Super Bowl breakfast.

Go for the win!!!

Well, it's over. Did your team win? Did you watch the game? Do you even care?

Honestly, I'm not much of a football watcher. I love going to the local high school games, and I enjoy watching Drake University play (and my daughter play trumpet in the marching band), but when it comes to the NFL, I'm pretty clueless. I know that it was the Bears and Colts. (As for who won, as I write this, the game hasn't been played yet.)

While the media focuses on the runs, passes, and scoring of the game, the men in charge of leading their teams to Super Bowl XLI plan to share the most important things in their life, while in the spotlight. Both Head Coach Tony Dungy of the Indianapolis Colts and Lovie Smith of the Chicago Bears give credit to God for their teams' victories in the conference championships January 21st. Both men are strong believers in Jesus Christ.

Lovie Smith is relatively new at being a head coach and has not had as many public opportunities to share his faith as Coach Dungy has. Smith told Chicago media he believes in Jesus Christ, listens to Christian music when driving his car, and does not smoke, drink or curse. Dungy said, "I'm so happy for Lovie who does things the right way, without cursing and shows things can be done differently." He added, "The Lord set this up in a way that no one would believe it. The Lord tested us a lot this year, but He set this up to get all the glory."

Did you know you were created to glorify God? And you can do it in so many ways! You can do it by working hard for your employer; by giving your very best to your family; by being honest and maintaining integrity even when it might be easier to go the other way. And of course, you can glorify God simply by expressing your praise to Him in worship or by telling someone else about your faith in God as these two coaches have done.

Does God care about football? Yep, He sure does! How do I know? Because He cares about everything that involves people. See, God is all about people. Jesus died for people. He didn't die for football, but He died for people who play, watch, enjoy and care about football......so I know He cares about football. Did God pull for one team over the other? I doubt it. But I'm sure He gave every player the strength to play their best in the game.

And the winning team......does God love them more than the losing team? Did He give them something "extra" over and above the other team? Nope. They just scored more points than the other team, that's all. It happens. No one wins at everything. But the one thing that happened was this: both teams played their best to win the game.

My encouragement to you this week? Give your very best to win the prize. The Apostle Paul said it this way in Philippians 3:13 & 14, "No, dear friends, I am still not all I should be, but I am focusing all my energies on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

Press toward the goal, friends! Chances are you'll never play in a Superbowl and win, but you can win this prize! So go for it!!!