Counting Apple Seeds

During a recent chat with a small group of colleagues/friends, we were discussing the impact an area legendary coach has had on so many individuals over the years. John Dyer is a coaches coach, a stand up man, driven by his faith to coach young men not only for the sport of basketball, but more so for the game of life. Coach Dyer's passion and fire are easily noticed, and his quiet, calm demeanor when you have a conversation with him, assures you that he is driven by a higher force in his coaching and the life he lives. Two nuggets of wisdom came out of the small group's conversation and I'd like to share those with you today. First, Dr. Jeff Moorehouse shared a statement that resonated so well with my own coaching philosophy, "You can coach players for a season, or you can coach them for life". How true that statement is. The second quote was also provided by Jeff, as it one hundred percent supports and validates the previous thought. I paraphrase, "You can count the number of apple seeds in an apple, but you can never even estimate the number of apples that exist in each of those seeds". Wow, coaches, parents, managers, teachers, and everyone else that "coaches" someone or a group of someones, that one really placed the exclamation point on the idea of coaching for life rather than just a season. Let's slice that apple a bit and delve into the act of sowing seeds and then reaping the fruit of our labor. 

If you've followed my Flat Tire Ministries journey for any time at all, you have most likely read that I believe we are all coaches/teachers in life. The dividing factor is some are coaching up, while unfortunately, others tend to pull people down through their intentional or sometimes unintentional methodologies. The basic fact today is that in most cases we all coach/teach for life, not just for a season. Even if it is a sports season the impact that coach will make on the athletes he coaches will impact their lives for generations to come. I wish there was some way to categorize different types of coaches, but honestly, life is about people teaching other people, which in turn teaches the other people how to, or how not to, coach others. 

Parents coach their toddlers as they free their grip on the coffee table to take that first monumental step. Supervisors or administrators train up and reinforce their teachers as they shape their instructional and relational repertoire. In turn, teachers then relay academic concepts to their students, helping them obtain an education that will propel them forward to postsecondary success. Employees are trained by managers, and apprentices are mentored by skilled professionals. I suppose you could sum this concept up by saying life is not about what you do, but more about how many others you teach to do what you do. The scripture is true and applicable to this coaching/teaching lesson, "...it is better to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. 

And how exactly does the concept of giving being better than receiving fit into the strategy of sowing apple seeds to harvest apples? Well, when Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he made it clear that what you sow is exactly what you will reap. II Corinthians 9:6 tells us, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." In whatever way we are coaching/teaching, the more seeds we plant the higher the potential for a bountiful harvest of apples will exist. 

As we started out our time together today, I shared an inspirational quote that equates the number of seeds we plant to the maximum potential each of those seeds has to produce apple trees that will provide a bountiful harvest of apples. We are directly and indirectly responsible for planting those seeds in the lives of those we influence through teaching, coaching, mentoring, and the example we set before the world in which we live. The catch 22 here is that we will plant seeds regardless of our intentions, either good seeds that produce a bountiful harvest of the next generation of leaders that will expand the impact you planted in their lives, or the seeds you plant will produce discord, hatred, malice, and self-absorption.  Here again, the Apostle Paul doesn't mince words about the impact of the seeds we sow, "Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap." Coach them up, it will make all the difference in the world in which you live. The harvest will be immeasurable as the seeds you plant grow and mature into a grove of trees too many to count! 

Coach Carter

Persecution Prevails

Dr. Jeff Perry was the last Superintendent I worked for before leaving Hamblen County Schools in 2022. Dr. Perry is a genuine advocate for all students and his passion is to be admired. One time, during a terse student disciplinary situation, I happened to be in a room with Dr. Perry as he was working through his thoughts on what the outcome of this situation was going to be. During that conversation, Jeff Perry made a statement I won't soon forget. The choice he was about to make wasn't going to be necessarily popular, yet his mindset was obviously in the right place. "I wouldn't mind getting fired for doing the right thing for a kid", that phrase resonated with me then and it keeps my decision making process in line for the job that I do each day. Hence today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought for the Day title, "Persecution Prevails". If you are doing the right thing, it may very well land you in the seat of persecution, but as we will see today, the persecuted may very well prevail. 

Standing up for the right thing isn't always going to be the most popular thing to do. Men and women down through history have experienced a variety of consequences for their defense of right ranging from shunning, beatings or imprisonments to hangings, beheadings, or even crucifixion such as the case of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Two things need to be in place if you are planning on taking a stance for right, otherwise we could be guilty of supporting our own emotions or views rather than having the confidence of God's support via the truth of His Word, the guidance of His Holy Spirit, and the example Jesus gave us to follow. 

First, ask yourself this question, "Is what I am standing up for in line morally and ethically. To answer that question check it against scripture. Jesus faced opposition at every turn He made, and even though he was healing the sick and saving the lost, there were always neighsayers that wanted nothing more than to disprove Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 22 religious leaders of the time were trying to catch Jesus in a trap by getting Him to denounce Caesar's authority. They asked Jesus whether people should pay their taxes to Caesar if he was not truly the imperial authority over them, to which Jesus directed them to look at a coin and tell Him whose picture is displayed. After answering the obvious, Jesus gave the Pharisees this response, "... Then He said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21. Jesus didn't direct those who were following Him to be insurrectionists, their responsibility was to follow the laws of the land, but to live out a life of sacrifice and service to the Word of God. If you choose to stand up for right, test what you believe to be "right" by the litmus test of God's Holy Word. 

Second, knowing the right thing to do doesn't mean it will be the popular thing to do. Peter was a paradoxical example for this point in our discussion today. Peter was one of Jesus' early adopters. A member of the original twelve disciples, Peter must have witnessed hundreds of miraculous healings and myriad instances of Jesus casting out demons from possessed individuals. Yet when Jesus was arrested and taken away by Roman soldiers, Peter was quick to denounce that he even knew who Jesus was. Three times Peter denied he was a disciple of Jesus before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted. (Luke 22:54-62). The paradox of Peter is what happened after he turned his back on Jesus during the arrest of Jesus. Scripture tells us that Peter went away and wept because he knew he had failed Jesus. This signaled Peter's repentance for failing Jesus, and as it is commonly said, well the rest is history. Peter went on to be an obstinate leader in the early church to the point that after His resurrection, Jesus named Simon Peter the rock or cornerstone of the Christian faith. Where Peter once denied Jesus, he moved forward standing for the righteousness of Christ as the risen savior and Son of the One True Living God. Peter was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually put to death himself, but his unwavering faith led him to share this message of encouragement for anyone who desires to stand up for the right of Christ in the face of persecution. Peter wrote to the early Christians in Asia Minor that were being persecuted for their belief telling them that, "... if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." I Peter 4:16. Peter was telling them that if they were persecuted for something wrong like murder or robbery that was the outcome you deserve, but if you are persecuted for standing up for God's Kingdom then that is honorable and honestly an admirable thing to do. 

For us today, doing the "right" thing is clearly following the example of Jesus. Jesus loved the unloveable, Jesus spent His days with the sick, the homeless, and the hopeless. Sinners and unbelievers were His company at the dinner table. Jesus healed men, women, and children regardless of where they were in their faith journey, because He knew that doing the right thing would pay off in the end even though it would cost Him His life as a human. What Jesus knew is that it wasn't about Him, it was all about building up future leaders for the early church so that today over 2 million people would proclaim the Christian faith. Through His persecution we have the opportunity to be saved and stand up for what is right. Truly "Persecution Prevails".

"For it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live now in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Coach Carter

Doing Nothing Is Doing Something

 Inaction is a choice. Fear of failure is a mindset. Doing nothing is doing something. In each of the aforementioned statements the choice to not take action is in fact a decision that fastens a person's life to inadequacy and most certainly increases the likelihood of being a stagnant person. Inaction may appear to be the "safe" choice at times, but man's progress throughout the history of time was not fueled by fear and complacency, instead progress is directly attached to creativity, resilience, and courage. 

It's fourth down and one yard to go for the first down, a decision has to be made. Inaction is not a choice. Who makes that choice? The coach. The crowd is chanting "Go for it", insights are shared from his assistants in the press box, or from the assistant on the sidelines, but when the decision is made the head coach has to decide what the next call on the field will be. After the call is made it doesn't matter what anyone else was screaming for the coach to do, it all lands on the coach after the next play is run. The one choice that the coach does not have at his disposal is the choice to not make a choice. Actually, if the coach doesn't make a decision and call a play the team is penalized and then the coach is still on the hook to make the call. Inaction is not an option. Right or wrong, good or bad, a decision has to be made by the coach. You are the coach of your life, your family, and on your job. The failure to make a choice just so you don't make a mistake is a terrible choice in itself, but as stated, it is a choice. Whether you are the head coach of the team, or if you supervise a set of men and women on the job, you have been given the responsibility to make choices and firm decisions. Sitting or standing still is not an option. That is why you have been placed in the position you hold. When you are sitting in traffic at a traffic light and suddenly it turns green, inaction is not an option. Sitting still is a choice of inaction, but that is not what automobiles were created to do, right turn, left turn, or straight ahead are the options. If you know where you are headed your choice is informed, but knowing where you need to go doesn't always ensure you will make the choice to go there. 

Fear immobilizes action. "If I just sit still then I won't mess up", is not the mindset of progress. Instead of being afraid of what will happen if we make the wrong decision, maybe we need to be thinking about what will happen if we don't make a decision at all. Instead of fear of failure, we should be more focused on what will happen if we don't make a decision. The "wrong" decision is a misnomer, what might appear to be the wrong choice may very well be the stepping stone to the ultimate place God purposed you to be. "A person plans their way, but the Lord directs their steps." Proverbs 16:9. Trusting in God comes through faith and building our faith comes through time spent in a relationship with God. Reading and studying God's Holy Bible, meditating and praying about what we have learned through our studies are building blocks of empowering us in our decision making process. The very truth that God "directs our steps" gives me the courage to boldly make a decision and move forward. 

Today's Flat Tire Thought, "Doing Nothing Is Doing Something" was inspired by a news story I heard on the radio recently. In Tokyo, Japan an annual contest is held entitled "Space Out". In this contest competitors are tasked with seeing who can do nothing the best. As I listened to the story, my mind trailed off to the idea that sitting there doing nothing is, in essence, doing something. When the decision to not do anything was made, the mold was set for deciding to sit idle and do nothing. But, I guess what I am suggesting is that idleness in itself is a choice. Where there is injustice, we must take a stance. When we witness what we believe is a wrong, it is our job to make it right, and when we are faced with the  choice to help we really have no choice, we either choose to help or we choose to join the "space out" world of doing nothing. Not a good place to be!

Mistakes are made by humans and the last time I checked that is all this world is made up of. Perfection is not our goal, although in today's society many are driven to be "perfect". Let me assure you, there has only been one perfect person that has ever walked the face of this earth and today He sits at the right hand of His father in Heaven. Progress is experienced through choices to proceed, even when it looks like the safe thing to do would be to sit still and do nothing. Trust me, doing nothing is not our option. Get your hands dirty, sweat a little bit, make some mistakes along the way, and do something. As noted above, if God is directing our steps, then it is our job to go out and fulfill our life's purpose. Keep in mind, doing nothing is not an option in the Kingdom of God! 

Coach Carter

The Power Behind You

 In life there are times when it is going to feel like the world is stacked against you. Not being pessimistic, just being realistic. Challenges are inevitable, trials are common, and adversity may feel like a constant companion during seasons of life. In my opinion, the key to enduring the complexity of these chapters in our life's journey is found in faith. Recently, a friend and colleague of mine shared a bit of inspiration with me that I felt compelled to share with you today. 

Coach Anthony Richardson pulled me aside before a recent coaches devotional began and provided me with a quote that boosted my spirit and energized my soul. "The task ahead of you, is never as tough as the Power behind you." How true that is. Notice I said how true that is, not how easy it is to remember and apply, this is where our faith steps up and steps in. Notice I capitalized the word "Power" which for me was intentional and representative of the power inside me that strengthens me and gives me the strength and will to carry on. The power behind me is much like the power of the wind that pushes the sails of a boat forward. The power behind the sails may have been created by a storm, but God is the master of the storm and just like the wind that supports the sails in moving the ship, God gives me the strength I need to move confidently forward with God directing my journey. 

Trouble will come, inevitable as it may seem, but that does not mean it will gain victory over us. In what is probably one of the most well known Psalms, David proclaims in Psalm 23:4 that, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me." Even when David felt like he was in a dark, hopeless valley, God would not let him go it alone. Just as the wind moves the ship forward, God's strength encourages us to move forward. All we have to have is faith. That sounds simple, but unless you have a faith filled mindset, this too will prove hard to accomplish. 

Thank God, I have His promise inked on my heart, mind, and spirit. The Power behind me is my strength, God has my back and He walks alongside me through whatever lies in front of me. Just as the wind moves a ship forward, the strength of God's word and believing in His promise to never leave us nor forsake us gives me what I need to do each day I live! God's strength goes before us and when the storm rage, I will remember that the Power in me and behind me is stronger than the task in front of me! Praise God!

Coach Carter

Knowing "Who" Instead of Asking "Why"

 Simon Sinek's book, "Start with Why" purports the idea that knowing your "why" in life will give your life purpose and that purpose will drive the decisions you make each day. That brief synopsis of Sinek's book does not even come close to doing justice for the breadth of insight and knowledge that the book deserves. I highly recommend adding "Start with Why" to your reading list. The premise of Mr. Sinek's book is to encourage us to find our "why" in life. Not to be confusing, but too often our "Why?" question isn't the journey to realizing our calling in this life we have been given to live, instead it is the question that we ask when we can't seem to find purpose in our lives ups and downs, ins and outs, or victories and defeats. That "Why?" question may be better suited as the question of "Who?" 

When an adverse situation occurs in our lives, one of the first questions asked is "WHY?" "Why did that tragic car accident happen?" Receiving an unexpected medical report lends itself to asking "Why me?" Relationships end and we just can't seem to justify the "Why did that happen to me or us?" Where Simon Sinek encourages us to know our "why" in life, I am here to share with you that knowing your "why" in life is important, but when the question is "why" did this happen to me, we better know "Who" is in charge and has set His purpose for your life in motion even before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5) 

When tragedy strikes attempting to find the why is almost pointless, there is no valid explanation for the unexpected death of a child, and there is no logical way to answer the "why" of how one person receives cancer treatment and is healed and another person with the same diagnosis receives the message that their treatment was unsuccessful. There just isn't a reasonable answer to those types of situations. It is hard to not ask that question, yet my faith tells me to not ask "why", but instead I believe the better question needs to be "Who?" Who is in control of this world and "Who" walks with me through the valleys of life and provides me peace in the face of adversity. 

Throughout the Bible God reminds us that His plans are bigger than anything we can conceive. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9. Paul shared that "... we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. And one other of the myriad references to God's pre-planning for your life that the Apostle Paul provides, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. The promises of God and His Word are true and can be trusted. We have to change our mindset from "why" did this happen, to I'm not sure why this happened, but I know "who" is in control and his plans are not my plans. I will trust and believe!

What I am suggesting today is not an easy task. Tragedy often invokes the question "Why?" That is going to be our initial reaction. That is human, we hurt when adversity or affliction hit home and regardless of our faith walk, we can't fathom how something horrific could happen in our lives if God truly loves us. This is where faith starts walking. For anyone that does not know God, truly knows God, this is a tremendous task. Having a relationship that is constantly growing and maturing makes this possible. We aren't asked to explain the "why", we are asked to lead others to the "who". Knowing God, trusting God, and allowing God to direct your path, makes the struggles and pain of this world beyond bearable. We are more than over-comers, we are conquerors through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39. 
Place your trust in the One "who" walks alongside you and makes clear your path today. Amen. 

Coach Carter

Provide

 Man on man, did I get fired up as I was preparing to share this FTM thought with each of you this morning. I had heard a song on the radio a week or so ago, and thought it might work into a future message, but "Wow!" I pulled up the video of the song The Lord Will Provide by Landon Wolfe and Passion and the blessings just started flowing! (I encourage you to click on the link and not only listen to the song, but listen to the words and the message they share) The song's lyrics are centered around Jesus' message to His disciples about where they should be placing their focus and attention each day. In Matthew 6, Jesus encourages His followers to "... seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33. Seek God and God will provide, are you ready? Let's go!

In the song, Wolfe points out three needs from the message of Jesus that still exist today. "What are we going to wear?", "What are we going to eat?", and "What are we going to drink?" are still pretty common questions we deal with regularly. Those may seem to be trivial questions in the scope of things, but what Jesus was referring to are the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field. Watching a flock of birds synchronously floating about in the sky is a pleasure for the eye, but what we don't ever see are birds crying or fretting about what they will eat or drink? Could it be that they know what we struggle to comprehend, God will provide! The lilies of the field are beautiful as the breeze beacons them back and forth, but the lilies, in all their beauty, are clothed by God and there is no worry about how they are adorned. Jesus then asks the question, if I'm taking care of the birds and the flowers what do you have to worry about, don't I provide for you more than I do the lilies of the field? (Matthew 6:25-32) 

So, does that mean that God is going to provide you with everything you ask for regardless of what you are asking for? If that were the case, wouldn't we all go out and purchase the big lottery ticket tonight and in unison all pray, "Lord, I need that lottery tonight, will you make sure I win it?" Well, first do you really "need" a pot of gold or is it more of a matter of we "want" that instant millionaire status? As the song points out, God will provide "everything" you "need". When I look at my own life, I have to ask, "What is it that I really need?" I mean really need? There are times when we have to rearrange things in our refrigerator to make room for a few new items from the store, and when it comes down to a roof over our head and a soft pillow to lay our heads down on each night, what could I sincerely ask for that I truly need? Praise God, He has provided and I firmly believe He will continue to provide what I need to survive and thrive!

That leads us to the question of what happens when it feels like God didn't or isn't providing what we truly believe we "need"? A sickness that isn't being healed, a financial free fall that does not appear to have a net prepared to catch us, or possibly a relationship that has shattered and resolution is not on the horizon, are all more comparable to a list of things that we truly "need". This is where we have to learn to trusst God and have faith that what we feel is an unanswered prayer may be something that will be fulfilled in God's timing not ours. He is going to fulfill His plan for your life and it may feel like your prayers are not being heard or that God doesn't care about you, but I am telling you to trash your fears and cast off your doubts, because the God we serve is a great big God and He knows exactly what we need for His will to be fulfilled! Everything you need, and everything I need, God knows what we need!

I have friends, colleagues, and family members that are going through what I am certain feels like their world is crashing all around them, or life conditions that have brought them to the point of asking "Where are you God? Are you here? Don't you hear my prayers?" My heart breaks for each of you and I am praying for you. But the message that I need to share with you today is that God will provide. Will it be exactly what we pray for or how we pray for the outcome to be? My faith tells me that my plans and ideas are not Gods always. God's plans are unimaginable for our human minds to conceive, yet by placing our trusting faith in the One True Eternal God of All Creation, we can find peace, strength, and the stamina we need to courageously move forward. Trust in the Lord, do not rely on your own understanding, in everything submit to God, and He will illuminate your path forward." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Join me in prayer today for God to open our eyes and strengthen our hearts to trust that God will provide! Amen

Coach Carter

"Doing Is Believing"

A thought to get us started in our time together today. Hearing someone tell you to do something doesn't change anything unless we do what we were told to do. It takes action on the part of the person receiving the message. Think through the following scenarios. As a student, the teacher covers the lesson, but it isn't until the student executes the learning on paper that there is evidence that the learning took place. If the lifeguard blows their whistle and yells for everyone to get out of the water, it doesn't matter if the swimmers stay in the water while the shark rapidly approaches. We can attend a dance and the music sounds so inviting, but unless we move out onto the dance floor and bust a move, it is all just noise. And, if someone yells out for us to move and we stand still, there may be a piano getting ready to land on our head. In each of the scenarios above, we are moved by action by someone or something telling us to do something. We make a choice from there, we can choose to "do" what we have heard, or we can hear and then choose to do nothing. 

Just as in the scenarios above, hearing alone does not constitute action. In the book of James we are told, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 We can sit and listen all day long, but until we respond to what we have heard we can be considered passive listeners. It all sounds good and we want to be associated with the deliverer of the message, but actually moving to action and doing what we have heard takes a little bit more of a commitment. The New Living Translation of James 1:22 is more straightforward, "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." What is it that moves us to "doing"? I believe it is a trust in the Deliverer of the message that is being delivered. We call that faith. 

A little further in the Book of James we read, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." For our purpose today, what the author is basically saying is you can listen, and you can hear, but until you put wheels on it, it isn't doing you much good. If we hear the teacher and we don't apply what we heard then we can't really demonstrate that we learned anything. If we hear the lifeguard telling us to get out of the water and we don't, we may be encountering JAWS in the near future. We have to get up and move or the music is just for listening, and if we don't move when we are told to move, the piano movers may just drop the piano right on top of our head. 

In the sermon at church today, the pastor referenced the story of Moses being told by God to return to Egypt and to lead his people out of their bondage. Moses was scared and hesitant. That hesitance can quickly turn to disobedience. Moses had to trust that his burning bush experience was God telling him to move, and from there it was up to Moses to lace up his sandals and begin the trek back to Egypt. Did Moses have a reason to be worried? Yes, he had murdered an Egyptian there and could face imprisonment or even death. But even worse than the potential punishments at the hands of Pharaoh, was the risk of not doing what he had been told by God to do. Moses had to have faith that God would do what He said He would and He did!

What are you hearing God telling you to do today? Are you even listening to God's directives that He is sharing with you today?  I've always heard that God moves in mysterious ways, so it could be that He is moving you to take that step of faith and start that business, you have felt moved to begin. Or could God be telling you to restore that broken relationship with someone in your family? Would it be possible that God is telling you to "move" before the piano of life falls on your head? Or might it be possible that God is calling for you to turn your life over to Him and you have heard Him calling, but you are just standing there in your own hesitation? It takes action for something we have heard to become real. Don't just hear God's call on your life, move your life to God's calling! I pray that you will be moved to action and that action will lead to God's purpose for the life He gave you to live! 

Coach Carter