The Power of Possibility

      Looking back to when our children were much younger, I can recall a particular instance when our nephews who were probably around 10 and 5 at the time were up for a visit from Knoxville. Jordan the five year old was sitting on my lap and out of the blue, shared with me that their dad told them that they were going to Disney Land that summer. Bo, the elder brother, said "Jordan, Lawrence didn't say anything like that" to which Jordan replied, "Well, we might!" I chuckled at that moment and I still get a grin on my face twenty years later when I think about Jordan's reply. You know, that anything is possible type mindset sets people apart from the naysayers and "Negative Nancies" in the world.  When it looks impossible some people just believe it might just be possible. Today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought looks at the Power of Possibility!
     As a coach I would not accept one of my athletes saying "I can't". To me if you say you can't you've already convinced yourself that you can't, and guess what you are more than likely correct. You will have a hard enough time beating yourself out of believing it's impossible, let alone actually overcoming the obstacle that is set in front of you. Several athletes that wrestled or played volleyball for me (wrestlers don't play they WRESTLE!!) will remember having to write the words "I can't" on a piece of paper and then they were instructed to wad it up, tear it up, whatever they wanted to do, and then as we entered the practice area they would throw that word in the trash can and from that point forward they were not allowed to use it in their practice or match vocabulary. Did that mean that all of a sudden they would never lose a match or even more that they would overcome every obstacle that was placed in front of them? Probably not, but I'm not willing to concede the possibility that it might be possible. What that wadded up paper meant to me was that anything in life is possible as long as you believe, you work towards surmounting that mountain in your life, and that anything at anytime is possible! You just have to believe. Was there times when an athlete or team I coached went out to compete believing they would win only to end up losing the match or game? Absolutely, the difference in the kids with the possibility mindset though was when they walked off the mat or court they didn't say "see I told you I was going to get beat" no, when they came off the field disappointed and disheartened they would say, "You know if I had done this or  that" or "I believe I would have got him if I had worked a little harder, I 'll be ready next time", or "We almost had them will we get to play them again?". That is the power of possibility.
     Isn't that building false hope? Isn't that not dealing with reality? I mean is it okay to teach kids that they are going to succeed in everything they do? My dear friends, HOPE is one of the best traits we can embed in our children, and also one that we need a healthy dose of in our lives each and every day. In Ecclesiastes 9:11-12,  Solomon sums it up best, "Again I saw that under the sun the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to the intelligent, nor favor to those with knowledge, but time and chance happen to them all.  For man does not know his time." I believe what Solomon is promoting here is that nobody knows who is going to win the race, but one thing is for sure, if you aren't in the race then you for sure aren't going to have a chance to win the race! Get in the race!!
     One more thing before we close today's thought. Think about David, a little shepherd boy armed only with a slingshot and a hand full of stones going up against the giant Goliath, armed with the best weapons the Philistines had and dressed in full armor. Who's your money on? What would you have done in David's sandals? Think about this for a minute it really has real life implications for you and where you are on the "possibility" spectrum. Well David was the sure bet, regardless of what Las Vegas would have said on that day. David went out with faith which is grounded in hope and he placed that stone right in the center of Goliath's forehead and BOOM! Goliath hit the ground "deader than a doornail" as the old saying goes! 
     I'm convinced that David would have been squashed if he had any other type of mindset going on in his head. If David would have walked out onto the battlefield and in his mind he had been thinking, "well I think I can do this" or "Gosh I hope this works out the way I want it to" I don't think he would have had the same kind of snap in his wrist when he loosed the stone from it's leather pouch. There is so much energy and power that comes with the thought that it might just be possible. If you have the "all things are possible" mentality going on then great, you are working your hardest and more than likely good things are happening. But if that isn't you then I want to challenge you today. The "all things are possible" concept is birthed in Matthew 19:26 which says "With man this is impossible, but with God ALL things are possible". I mentioned faith and hope earlier, you have to get up each morning and have a heaping bowl of hope for breakfast, and you've got to drench that hope with an overflowing cup of faith till the bowl is filled to the tip of the rim. It isn't easy and no I don't know your circumstances, but when you think you've got it bad think about it this way. More than likely out of the 7 billion people inhabiting this earth, there are probably at least ten million people that have life conditions or situations that are worse than your own. Stop. Think about that number as a group of people that have worse circumstances than you do. 10,000,000 people. Out of that number a large percentage are kicking it to the curb and believing in the possibility of ALL things are possible. Be one of those people. It is your choice. The last time that I used the word "can't" in my practices each year was when I would remind my athletes that "can't never could and won't never will" then I would throw those defeated words out of my vocabulary and we would march forward to face the giants that stood in front of us individually and collectively as a team. You are not in this alone. You are not facing your giants by yourself. When you feel like you are on the battlefield and all you have is a stone and a slingshot, think how lucky you are to have that slingshot and that one stone. One is all it took for David to slay Goliath and one possibility is all it takes for you to overcome that giant that is staring you in the face! "Never quit, Never give up, and always do your best!"
Go get'em this week! You are the possibility in someone's life! 
Coach Carter

Want More? Do More!

      Wow, a simple encounter with a former student this week offered up our Flat Tire Ministry topic for this week. Junior Stubblefield, who now serves our state as a Tennessee State Highway Patrol Officer, stopped by my office to drop off some fundraising items I had ordered from one of his children, also a former student of mine during my time as principal at Union Heights Elementary School. During our short time together our conversation turned to work ethic. Junior recanted a line that his father often shared with him that has become a very common challenge to his own children. Junior told me that his dad always said "Son if you want more in life than you have, then you have to do more than you are doing". Sounds like simple advice, yet how many of us are wanting more of something in life and actually doing something about it? So thank you Junior Stubblefield, or maybe more so Junior's father for sharing this sound advice with his son so that he could share it with his children and also with me so that I can share it with you.
     Let me first say, when I asked the question about how many people want more of something in life I wasn't just referring to money. Wanting more out of life is more than just financial status. When I apply Mr. Stubblefield's reminder to life I think more in terms of a better quality of life. I would almost paraphrase his quote by saying if you want to see positive change in your world then you have to be prepared to go out and do something positive to kick start that positive change. And that can be applied to any area of your life that you want to see improvement. In your family, around your community, in your workplace, in our schools, or in your own personal life. It all comes down to this "If you want more in life then you have, then you have to do more in your life than you're doing". I love it.
     Too many people say they want a better life, a better job, a better marriage, or better conditions to live in, but what are you willing to do to reach that better quality of life. First, let me say if the only reason you want something better is to "keep up with the Joneses" then you'll never be satisfied so you can put that one on the shelf. But, if you want a better quality of life because you aren't happy with where you are right now and you want to do better for yourself, then you my friend have got to be willing to do more than you are right now. It may require you to go back to night school to advance your education. It possibly might mean that you will have to take a part time job after your full time job is done for the day to accomplish what you want to accomplish. In regards to your health or well being you will probably have to get up earlier, sacrifice a little more, and commit a great deal more. And most importantly if you desire to have a deeper understanding of your purpose in life and you want to fulfill that purpose in life, you are destined to develop a deeper relationship with your Maker. You will have to read more, study more, spend more time in devotion, worship, and prayer. You will have to listen more, talk less, get up earlier, and focus your attention on things that matter over things that have no relevance to your life improving, i.e. television, social media, or sitting on the couch. God wants more for your life, the question is do you? And if the answer to that one is yes then what are you willing to do to fulfill your purpose in life?
      Like Junior's dad told him, and like Junior is telling his kids, "If you want more in life than you have, then you have to do more than you are doing". If doing that were easy then everyone would be right where they want to be. The truth of the matter is too many people want more out of life, but they are unwilling to go out and do what it takes to have more or do more. Get up, get a plan, and go out and execute your plan. It may take only a few minutes to improve your life, or it may take years, but the sooner you get started the sooner you will see results. If you get knocked down, get back up, that's part of the equation. Nobody said it would be easy and nobody said you would automatically succeed. It is certain that if you give up when it gets a little uncomfortable or you fail on the first attempt or the 100th attempt for that matter you will never receive more out of your life. Life is a journey and you have to be willing and ready to face the ups and the downs along the way until you reach your destination. I want more out of life. I want to give more, share more, work more, and live more so I do what it takes, whatever it takes, to make that happen! If you want more then you will have to do more! Sound wisdom, take it and use it!
"Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper" Proverbs 13:4 NLT Have a great week and DO MORE!
Coach Carter

      

Finishing Strong

     
      Another running epiphany! As usual most of my posts are connected to some type of lesson I have learned recently and today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought is no different in its creation. I firmly believe God speaks to us frequently, we just have to be listening instead of letting all of the noise of the day disrupt our ability to receive the message. I guess that's why running provides such a good opportunity to hear the message He is wanting me to hear. I run early in the morning before the sun comes up and the day's schedule starts to take top priority. I encourage you to find an activity that allows you to have quiet time where you can meditate, reflect, and receive your "message". Hiking, running, walking, paddling, exercising, and just plain old sitting down and listening are all activities that I have found that allow me to "listen" more purposefully. If you don't have one I would surely encourage you to get one! Okay enough for the finding time to listen pitch, on with our thought for the week.
      As already mentioned, today's FTM is connected to my running routine. In running it's all about the finish. The start is ultimately critical because without it the finish would never occur, yet what I have noticed in my own personal style of running is that I tend to get stronger as the run progresses. Kind of like a "catching my second wind" type thing where as my run takes me past my first mile or so I start feeling a new source of energy and strength. I know back several years ago, I mean several, when I wrestled in high school, the third period or even overtime was when I normally hit a new gear and won the majority of my matches. What I found is that although getting started is critical in any endeavor, the strength, energy, and endurance needed to finish the competition is ultimately what we all should strive for and desire to improve.
     The question then is what is it that allows us to increase our endurance and to firm up the momentum necessary to finish stronger than we started? What keeps us from quitting when the "going gets tough" or the odds seem to be stacked up against us? In running the starter's gun tells us to start running in a race, but along the way there isn't normally anything that tells us to keep running and to not quit. More than that, when I'm up early in the morning running by myself there isn't even one person out there that would even see me if I did stop running, and there isn't really any incentive to keep me running when I start feeling the twinges of exhaustion. So why do we keep going? If there isn't someone shouting at us to keep going and to finish strong why do we keep going and actually dig in harder and finish stronger than we started?
     For me it's all about making a commitment to do something and then taking that commitment and turning it into energy and endurance to see it through to the end goal. The more you commit to anything the more likely the chances for success are increased. What defines commitment you may ask? For me it is dedicating oneself to practice and time. That's why I run early in the morning. As the day progresses it ain't going to happen! I want to commit my day to my job 100%, and after work I want to commit my time to family, friends, or other activities that I am involved in so for me a commitment to working out or practicing has to happen early in the morning, 4:30 Carter style! Would it be easy to stay in bed after a busy evening or a hard week? Absolutely! Would it be easy to say "Well I'll just do it tomorrow" when I don't exactly feel like running or doing any of my other exercise routines? Most certainly. Do any of those excuses equal the definition of commitment? In no way form or fashion. To commit is to have that postal carrier attitude of, "Rain, snow sleet, or hail, nothing will keep me from my appointed rounds!" In today's world, just being someone that will commit gives you a huge head start to being successful in life over most of our population. By committing to see things through to the end you are definitely going to be in the minority instead of the majority, but that isn't such a bad place for you to be, it's just a bad place for our society to be.
      After you have committed then the hard work begins, practice and building endurance are the two tools that runners and athletes in general use to increase their ability to go further, go harder, and to ultimately finish stronger. Those same principles transfer to your life and whatever it is that you want to be better at than others in the same situation as you. In our marriages, it takes practice and building endurance to overcome conflict, adversity, and challenges. We all made a commitment when we got married and said our vows, but there isn't anyone standing there cheering you on and telling you not to quit. That comes from taking that commitment and working on it constantly, "practicing" each day and building stamina along the way by problem solving and persevering through life's challenges. For the person facing challenges in their job, sometimes it may seem easier to just say I quit, but in reality, that only reinforces a quitter's mentality and "practices" making quitting easier in life. If you don't like your job or you don't feel fulfilled in your current position, by all means find something more rewarding, but if the reason you are wanting to quit is because it is tough, or you think it is too hard and you can't do it, then that is when it is time to keep pushing and fight through with continuous practice and commitment to persevere! Whatever it is that you want to be better at in life, whether it is your health, a financial situation, relationships, work, or family it has to be a priority to you and when it becomes a priority it has to become a commitment and that is when you must be willing to see it through and overcome the appeal of quitting.
      Remember, quitting is easy, if finishing was easy then everyone would be doing it more often and more successfully. Finishing is tough because it requires you to "have some skin in the game" as my dear friend and colleague KC Alvarado often says. The more you commit to something through hard work, dedication, and sweat the harder it is to give up and quit.
      This same kind of commitment is critical in my walk of faith. To believe is one thing, to be committed to believing and serving God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength takes the type of commitment I am talking about in today's message. Paul, one of the major triathletes of the Bible puts it this way in Philippians 3:14-16 "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." Paul is saying that although he hasn't made it to where his ultimate goal is, he is going to keep on practicing, building his endurance, and persevering through until he ultimately does receive his reward. Are you committing to the things in your life that are worthy of your commitment? Are you willing to endure the urge to quit when it hurts a little or hurts a great deal for that matter, and see it through to the end? My faith and the commitment I have made to trust, believe, and serve are my driving force in life. Those are my "practice" tools and they have not failed me yet. If you have a faith then great, you realize the difference that makes in your life when you are faced with the challenge to stick it out when things get tough. If you don't have a personal faith then I will be praying for you. The single decision to trust and believe that I have made has contributed more than anything else in my life to building my endurance and allowing me to never quit and never give up! Finish STRONG! Someone is counting on you! 
Coach Carter

Coffee Is Served Hot

      You know it wasn't that long ago that the words personal responsibility actually meant something and holding yourself accountable to a high level of integrity and character was a goal we all diligently pursued. But then something happened, we entered an era where people were no longer responsible for their own actions or in-actions and it seems like today there is just about always something or someone else that is responsible for what another person does or says. I mean whatever happened to standing up and saying "Yes sir I did it and I am sorry" instead of everyone looking for a way to blame societal influences on what is actually our lack of positive decision making skills or lack of fear of retribution for our poor decision making choices.  I call it the "Coffee Is Served Hot" syndrome, the topic of today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought for the Week".

      I don't know why it has stuck so hard in my memory, but I remember the day that I heard a news report about a lady that had been awarded an outrageous settlement because she bought a cup of coffee through a drive-thru window and it split on her, resulting in her legs receiving a certain degree of burn. Another time I distinctly recall an incident where a person was awarded mega bucks due to a pickle on a hamburger burning their chin when they bit into their burger and the pickle didn't cooperate with their incisors! I mean really? Wasn't coffee meant to be served hot? (This was before iced coffee, who puts ice in coffee anyway??) And honestly when we order our burgers and fries out at a restaurant who among us plans on their food being nice and cold when it arrives? Whatever happened to blowing on your food before you eat it if it's hot! Both of these are funny to hear and silly to think that people actually won lawsuits over issues like these, yet I believe this era signaled the beginning of the end to personal responsibility and accountability.  

      Today we live in a society where people sue over holes in the ground that were not marked for the potential danger they create, (look where you are going is what I was always taught). Many times people that have obviously broken the law in some way, form, or fashion either want to blame someone else for their crime, i.e. Flip Wilson's "The devil made me do it!" syndrome, or it seems acceptable today to act like you just didn't do it, "The Who Me??" syndrome.  Where does it stop? I believe the better question is "Where does it begin?"

      Obviously we as civil adults are the ones that have to be responsible citizens and  teach accountability to our children, our co-workers, and those that we meet and pass along the way each day as we travel to work, school, or wherever our journeys take us. The "Well it isn't my problem attitude" sure won't get us going in the right direction and to me it is that exact attitude that has allowed things to get out of whack so bad in the first place. Today I want to challenge each of you to step up your level of "It is my responsibility" attitude. In what ways can you start showing that we each are accountable and in what ways can you demonstrate personal responsibility in public and also when nobody is around watching? 

      This summer I went out early one morning to paddle around the lake in one of our kayaks. A nice early morning jaunt around the point and then over to the bridge and back home again was the plan. Well the lake, which is dam controlled, had been raised overnight and much to my surprise the abundance of trash floating around me was disgusting at best. Cups, bottles, food cartons, milk cartons, styrofoam  cooler pieces, and a wide array of other pieces of human trash littered what otherwise should have been a beautiful example of God's creation. Did I throw any of that trash out onto the lake? No. Am I employed to pick up trash around the lakes, roads, and other areas around my community? No. Is it my responsibility to pick it up? Yes. "Why, that's not fair I didn't make that mess", I can hear it echoing around the globe as people read the words on this page. It is my responsibility because I know it is wrong to leave it laying there, floating around polluting the waterways, and destroying an ecosystem. It didn't matter that no one would have ever known if I picked up that trash or not, I would have and I knew it needed to be picked up. So what did I do, I spent the next hour or so paddling around from one piece of debris to the next strand of trash and placed as much as I could in the hull of my kayak. Was that what I had planned? Was that an attractive sight or smell in my lap? I didn't receive an award for that hour or so that morning and I wouldn't even be sharing this story with each of you right now if it wasn't relevant to our message today, that isn't why I did it in the first place. The bottom line is if we start taking responsibility for the things that we didn't do, but we know need our attention, then it becomes a great deal easier to take personal responsibility for the things we actually are responsible for and the actions we take can much more easily become ours to be held accountable. 

       James 4:17 tells me, “Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” So, if I want to apply that mindset to my everyday walk then it would sound something like this, "Rights right and wrongs wrong". Plan and simple. If you aren't sure what is right and what is wrong there is a guidebook that lays it out clearly, and I'm pretty sure it is written in multiple languages and in a wide assortment of translations. Beyond that isn't it time we started letting our moral compass guide us, and thus teaching those around us what it means to stand up and do the right thing even when it hurts. 

      In conclusion I want to apologize. Flat Tire Ministries is written to be motivational and inspirational and today's message may not sound too positive in it's delivery. Yet, let me assure you though, I am "positive" that you can make a difference. When each of us starts being accountable to ourselves, our families, and our communities then things will change. It starts with something like throwing your trash in the can and not on the ground. It circulates around each of us looking at our fellow man and realizing that we are our brother's keeper even if we aren't related by blood or marriage to the homeless person standing on the street corner. It changes when we are involved in an accident and we state the obvious, "it was an accident" instead of seeking to drain as much off of the other person as possible. And yes it changes when we step up, admit our sins, admit our shortcomings, and ask a loving God to forgive us for our debts and transgressions. Teach responsibility to your children, if you are a teacher or a coach ingrain in your student athletes the fact that what happens in the game is a direct result of the effort they put into the practice. At work do what needs to be done not just what you are assigned to do. In life realize that it won't get done if you don't do it, it is your fault if you get burnt by a hot pickle, and yes, coffee is served hot. 

Have a great week, do something amazing! Change a life forever! 

Coach Carter