Vending Machine Faith

     
     The whole premise of a vending machine is for a person to be able to find a snack that will satisfy their hunger needs right at the moment the person wants that urge to be filled. You want salty, we've got crackers, you want sweet, we've got candy bars, you want sweet and salty, you can have both! Convenience and a varied selection have made vending machines an expected part of work place break rooms, hotels, rest areas, and waiting rooms across the spectrum. "When you want it, our vending machines have it!" should be the slogan pasted across the top of each machine.
     You know, so many times we are guilty of having a vending machine type faith. We run into some adversity and we want to run up to God's vending machine and choose the solution we want and have it dropped down to us, (and we don't even want to deposit the .75 cents to get our result). We visit the doctor and get that report we sure weren't expecting, so what do we do? We run to the vending machine and ask for a complete healing, immediately right now. Financial woes, there's a row in the vending machine for those too. Full protection from the coronavirus, why not there's surely a selection for that one in God's vending machine. Don't get me wrong, if you have a relationship with God, you should be able to talk to him and make supplication to Him about and for anything, but I guess what I'm getting at today is that when we truly have a meaningful two-way relationship with the God of Creation, our vending machine mentality should shift to more of a sitting down to dinner at Momma's house.
     I remember distinctly sitting down for dinner and out would come a big bowl full of broccoli or even worse spinach and just as I was getting ready to let out a big yuck, mom would remind us about how important it is to get all our vitamins and nutrients from those leafy greens. Brussel sprouts, turnips, liver, and a short list of other foods would not be on my favorites list of items to include in my fantasy vending machine, but sitting down at moms for an evening meal, you were sure to get what you needed, and not necessarily what you wanted. At the dinner table Momma knows best, and in life God's omnipotent knowledge ranks supreme.
      There is a plan for your life. You have a purpose in life. The plans and the purpose you believe are yours may or may not be exactly what God has planned for the life He has given you to live. What you believe is your purpose and plan may very well be the ultimate outcome for your life, but the pathway to get there may look completely different under your microscope than it does in our Father's playbook. That's where the vending machine mentality comes in to play. When we face adversity or affliction we want it fixed right there on the spot, so what do we do? We pray to God to fix it. Healing, new job offer, peace at home, protection from pandemic, you name it, just say a prayer and push the button and your answer will fall right down into your waiting lap. I guess that sounds like the way we would all have it work out, but if you stop and think about how the adversity in your life has really made you into the person you are today, that mentality should start to dissipate.
      Romans 8:28 tells us that "All things work together for good" and Romans 5:3-4 reminds us that “We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.” So, what we want to happen immediately when hardships befall us is normal, who doesn't want to be healed of cancer, or suddenly be offered a dream job in the midst of a financial tsunami? But, is that what is going to prepare us to be who God wants us to become? If the road to our destination was paved with smooth highways and no obstacles in our way would we ever learn how to overcome adversity or how to manage during a COVID-19 crisis? Of even more importance, how can God build us up to the place He wants us to serve from if we are unable to handle the training ground that we must endure first? Paul speaking to the believers at the church in Philippi proclaimed, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have.  I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. Philippians 4:11-12. If there is a role model of living out God's plan for his life and not questioning the thorn in his side, it would have to be Paul. No vending machine options for this man of God. 
     So, I guess the takeaway from today's FTM is we have to come to terms with the situations and circumstances we are currently experiencing. If we had our way, there wouldn't be obstacles in our path, but oh the disappointment and missed opportunities we would lose without the trials and tribulations we endure, overcome, and eventually grow and mature as a result. Vending machines are okay for a quick pick me up, but for the long haul, Momma's spinach casserole provides us with what we truly need. Stop looking at adversity as the enemy and start using that adversity to take the next step to who God has planned for you to become! Tough to do without a faith in God, so if you want to grow get a relationship today. One last reminder from Paul, "I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me" Philippians 4:13. You are not alone, never! 
Coach Carter 

 

Take It to the Limit

     
     The Eagles recorded their hit song "Take It to the Limit" in 1975, a song that tells the story of a downhearted soul, with no one to lean on out on the road. As the song is spinning its story of missed opportunities and lost relationships, a glimmer of hope appears with the song's title echoing "take it to the limit, one more time" Now if you aren't reminiscing that one in your mind about right now you probably didn't grow up in the 70's, 80's, or 90's, and you probably do not ever tune in to classic rock on your music app. But, that's beside the point, if you don't know this song I recommend you get it on a playlist, it's a classic. Our FTM thought today isn't really about Don Henley, Glenn Frey, or even Joe Walsh, instead it's about that message of taking it to the limit one more time.
      Take it to the limit one more time, I guess you could paraphrase that as "Don't Ever Give Up and Never Quit!" one of my frequent coaching mantras I have leaned on heavily throughout my coaching tenure. I guess shouting that phrase out over and over, tens of thousands of times on the wrestling mat and on the volleyball court, kinda implanted that mindset into my head. In other words, I guess the coach got coached! Call it osmosis or believing that's part of my DNA, I sincerely feel like that is a big part of who I am and how I approach life's ups, downs, and all the way arounds. I do feel like being involved in sports had a great deal to do with that which is why I make that such a big part of how and why I coach.
     Nature or nurture? Are you just born with that never say quit mental mindset or is it something you develop over time by overcoming and enduring setbacks and failures? I can't really answer that, but I do know that the more you overcome, the more you get back up when you get knocked down, the more resilient you get and the more likely you are to give it just one more try. I believe everyone is on that spectrum somewhere, either you are someone that gives up when the wind startles your sail just a bit, or your experiences tend to push you towards the other end of the line where when the F5 tornado has been spotted you proclaim buckle up your straps, it's going to be a doozy! But why is that true? Why is it that some people get stuck in reverse when adversity rears its head and others seem to relish a challenge even when it is rocking the very stability that makes their house a home? I'm not sure if this is scientific, but this is my hypothesis and I'm sticking to it.
     Faith breeds perseverance, and perseverance produces character and character creates a sense of hope that will not ever fail you. Romans 5:3-5. But how does someone build that type of hope you ask? It is done through a relationship that is tried, tested, and found to be true and sincere. You won't have a true hope in life if you don't have something in which to place your hope, and that is where faith lives.
     I believe there are different stages in the development of grit and resiliency. Unfortunately, for some, you are stuck in the "I can't" stage of life, whether you are 15 or 55 something has happened in your life that has you convinced you are not meant to finish anything and that you are going to be at the end of the line if only you make it to the line! Sad, but so many people feel this way, consciously or even in your sub-conscious you believe you are just supposed to lose. I can assure you of one thing, that is not true. God didn't build you to be beaten and defeated. Your life has a purpose and you matter. You have a victory to claim, get up and go get it!
     At the next hash on the resiliency chart there lies the person that has won some victories, but either believes that their victories are a product of self-reliance, you know the master of your own journey, or you could be that person that believes you have won more than you lost because God is on your side, coaching you from the sidelines. Well you got a little of it right at least. God is there with you, He is always and has always been there with you, and God does deserve recognition for your victories. He is there with you, and even if you fall God is still there with you. His love is not dependent on us being victorious, but regardless of the outcome, we must be connected to God to grow into that gritty person I am describing.
     The last type of person I want to describe is the one that has been through the mill, they have won some of the battles, they have lost some of the battles, and it is safe to say that through all of the battles it has been an uphill surge in which giving up has just never been an option. The people on this end of the spectrum know that God is in control, God has a plan, His plans are bigger than anything I could ever conceive, and whether I feel like a winner of I feel like a loser, I will never give in or give up because my God is with me and He will see me through any and all battles. Praise God! For this person, overcoming roadblocks in life and moving forward is not about feeling like the winner, but instead it is all about knowing that God will be victorious in me, thru, me, or in spite of me!
     We have a promise, that promise is not that we will not be challenged to the point that we think we can't go on, that is exactly where we need to find ourselves. For when we get to the point that we don't think we can go on alone, we realize that we are not alone and that we can go forward, because the One that goes with us is bigger than us, and that we can do all things through Him whether it is what we want to do or believe is what we should be doing. The key is when we rely on God, we will be at a place where all that matters is that we don't give up because we know God has a plan for us and that plan does not include anything about giving in or giving up! I Peter 1:6-7 tells us "So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold -". So, tune in to the classics and crank it up as the Eagles challenge you to "take it to the limit one more time!"

Coach Carter

Something to Think About

     
Today's Flat Tire Ministry isn't solely about the COVID-19 virus outbreak. Nor is today's thought about how the pandemic is impacting the world we live in and also the world that we see mainly on television or through websites on a screen. No, during today's time I just wanted to share with you some data and then ask you to put things into perspective while asking the question of why we may be more complacent than what is apparent on the surface level.
     Death is real. Families across our state, nation, and around the world are being impacted and changed each day as we move through the novel Coronavirus' impact on society. I don't know how much of our response is based on solid prevention and to what extent our plans are centered on fear and anxiety?  I mean we should be taking the recommendations from world health leaders and applying those to our daily lives. Washing our hands for at least 20 seconds, staying home to comply with social distancing recommendations, and following guidelines by groups such as the Center for Disease Control CDC, World Health Organization WHO, and other infectious disease experts who spend their days and nights creating best practice recommendations for staying safe and healthy during this world health issue. Yet are we really taking the recommendations of health experts to heart or are we just living in fear and panic right now due to the barrage of daily news updates and death totals ticker-taping across the television screen or on your wall on Facebook?
     I don't think I've seen the recommendation to buy up as much tissue paper as possible. When did the CDC put out the memo to purchase as much ammo as possible from your local Walmart or gun dealer? How about the recommendation of spreading fear and panic on social media just to get a reaction of more fear and panic? I don't recall that one either. Hang with me, I'm about to get to the thought provoking point of today's FTM Thought just needed to set the stage for what's coming.
     The pandemic is real, the potential outcomes are reason to take care, and the reality that lives are being lost and that more lives will be lost each day is a not to settling fact that is true, but at what point in history did we become immune to other causes of death that are potentially within our hands to decrease totals, yet when you stop and think about the following data it's hard to figure out the root of our fear and can I say over the top reaction at this time in history.
     Okay, to set the stage I did a little math based on projections. As of April 11, 2020, there have been 16,570 deaths attributed to the COVID-19 virus in the United States. Prayers for the families that have lost loved ones during this outbreak. Next I chose a date of February 1, 2020 as a starting point for purposes of averaging the number of deaths related to the virus here in the U.S. So, roughly 70 days. Check my math if you like, it wasn't and still isn't my strongest suit. Taking the total number of deaths to date April 11^th, and dividing that by the number of days we have been really fighting the virus in the U.S. gives us the number of 236 deaths per day. This is terrible, trust me when I say I am not making light of death, the impact it has on a family, nor the impact this is having on our society mentally, emotionally, and economically. Instead I wanted to provide you with something to cause you to pause, take a deep breath (at a safe 6ft. distance from anyone else), and then sift through your reactions and responses to the COVID-19 outbreak.
      Here's some totals I researched from 2018 which apparently is the most complete year available. Not sure why I had such a hard time gathering 2019 numbers, but it is what it is. The number of deaths in the United States due to cancer in 2018 was 609,640. Over 700,000 families lost a loved one to a heart disease related death in 2018. Those two leading causes of death accounted for roughly 1.3 million deaths in 2018 right here in the United States of America. Doing the same math, but dividing by 365 days to account for a full year gives us a total of 3,561 deaths per day in the United States. Now what was our projected COVID total number of deaths per day based on current trends? I believe we are looking at 236 lives lost per day. Differential, over 3,300 more lives are lost each year due to two health related issues. Have we just become numb to the number of people that die each day just because heart attacks and cancer deaths have had a toll on so many families over the years and so those numbers don't matter anymore? Don't tell me that cancer and heart disease are different from the Coronavirus because we can't help prevent those. Think about the aforementioned recommendations given to us as methods to reduce the risk of contracting the virus. Now think about the Surgeon General's warning on that pack of Marlboros, I think it goes something like this, smoking cigarettes causes cancer. Really, a warning about contracting cancer is written on the side of a package that has to be voluntarily purchased and we can't do anything about the spread of cancer? Heart disease isn't the same you say? Each year health officials tell us to cut back on certain foods, embed daily exercise into our regimen, and to reduce the stress in our lives, all proven methods to reduce heart attacks or strokes yet the numbers tick progressively upwards each year. Where's the panic over cancer and heart disease? Shouldn't there be a widespread shortage of apples, oranges, and spinach? Shouldn't the back order on bicycles and tennis shoes be like 6 weeks on Amazon? Just something to think about.
     Well some of our readers aren't as convinced yet about my data and the eclipsing total deaths of two diseases, over 3,000 more each year, so let's add in three additional causes of death that we as a society appear to be numb to as their totals also climb skyward each year. In the United States of America, land of the free and home of the brave, the land where the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness is our mantra, 16,214 lives were lost to the hands of a murderer, 67,367 Americans lost their lives in a drug related death, and a total that should not be even on the data chart 48,344 individuals took their own life in what is probably recognized as the most advanced and prolific society in the world. Those three alone give us a total of 131,925 deaths mapping out across our grand country. Take that number and divide by the same 365 days and the total of deaths attributed to three not so novel causes of death outranks the COVID-19 numbers by over 100 each day.
     Can't take any steps towards reducing those numbers? Maybe we do, but those totals are going up my friends not down. Our interventions must not be effective would be my summation. So, what is the answer? What is the solution? Is being in a panic over the COVID-19 outbreak just because it is labelled a "novel" or new cause of death? When the health world creates an immunization, and they most certainly will, will the yearly totals of those that still die from Coronavirus just be another data point on the number of lives lost in 2020, 2021, 2022...?
      Should we be concerned? Yes. Should we be making all reasonable efforts to flatten the curb of COVID-19? Absolutely. Should we be putting more efforts into helping our teenagers find something to put their energy and efforts into that will give them meaning and a purpose in life which could possibly decrease the number of deaths related to drugs, crime, and suicide? Without doubt that answer is yes. Should we as a nation be placing our faith in something bigger than face masks and Facebook? There again the answer is a resounding yes.
     Faith, trust, and a promise should provide us with peace during this storm, and the example of how we should be living our lives each day, COVID-19 or not, is easily accessible. If you have a faith then you know what I am referring to, if you don't believe in something bigger than yourself, then you probably are stockpiling the Charmin as I am writing this post. Today is Easter Sunday for those of the Christian faith. There is no better day to turn to God than the day at hand, and today being the day it is gives us even more reason to place our trust in Him. Death is real, Jesus came to this earth to give us hope through His death. Hope that is grounded in faith, and faith that does not fail. I am praying for our communities, our states, and our countries, but that is not simply because of the recent outbreak of a virus. No, my prayers are for this world to not be complacent, to not ignore the obvious, and to embrace the cure for what truly ails this world. I will continue to believe and I will continue to pray for our world. What will you do?
Just something to think about wouldn't you say?
"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”. Joshua 1:9

Coach Carter

Life's Little Instruction Book Revisited

      Back in the early 1990's, H. Jackson Brown published "Life's Little Instruction Book", which started out as advice for his son as he grew into manhood, but soon became a feel good instructional guide for young and old alike. I actually purchased a copy and saved it for my son Ethan and gave it to him a few years ago. Filled with wonderful suggestions like, "Have a firm handshake", "Sing in the shower", or "Watch a sunrise at least once a year", Brown's little book gives surface level advice, yet pales in comparison to a similar literary work compiled by King David in Psalm 37.
     David's Little Instruction manual provides only seven precepts for a fulfilled life, yet those seven could easily be purveyed over the 511 advisory tips that H. Brown shared with his son. Real quick, nothing wrong with Brown's little book at all, just using that as a springboard into the guidelines for a committed choice to the life God would have us live. Not a thing wrong with "Floss your teeth" or "Teach a class", yet if we choose to abide in the advice that David provides in Psalm 37 we will probably end up doing pretty much everything Brown suggested to his son anyway! So, here we go a look into "David's Little Instruction Book for a Life Well Lived - Psalm 37"
     I teetered on whether to go ahead and copy the full psalm in today's message, but figured if I don't then maybe you'll take a few minutes to turn to the Book of Psalms and take in the full context of the Word. With that being said the first tip David provides is found in verse 1 - Don't get caught up worrying about what those who don't follow God are doing or how good their life looks on the surface. It is easy to start comparing your life to those around you, and when those who seem to be getting away with wrong choices are living a "better" life than you. Your life is for you to live and their life is for them to live, when you are going through what appears to be unfair circumstances or life events that seem to be working against you, keep in mind that God has a plan for your life and what is going on in your life is part of God's overall plan. It may not be for you to understand right now, but you can understand this, God has a plan you just have to live it and do so abundantly in the state that you are right now.
      Verse 3 provides the second precept to "Trust in God and do good". This is a challenge for many, life isn't always fair, but we choose how we approach and respond to every event in our life. Easy to say, more complicated when a major life event occurs. I get it, but do you get it? Trusting in God tells me that it may seem like the world is falling apart, yet if we are trusting God it more accurately is that the world is actually falling into place for God's plan to be fulfilled. Coupled with that thought is the advice to "Delight in God's ways" verse 4. Not saying to be bouncing around like Tigger when a loved one is facing a traumatic medical issue, or when your financial world is collapsing, but I believe what David is saying is to find a certain level of peace in knowing that God is in control. Our desires become not ours, but instead God's desires, his will not ours just as Jesus proclaimed in his prayer to God in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26). I didn't say it was easy, yet when you get there you will obtain peace in knowing that God's ways are always going to be for good.
   The fourth life tip from David is to "Commit to the Lord" found in verse 5. Being committed to anything means you are going to be making some sacrifices and when you are willing to sacrifice self for the sake of Christ, life's decisions start to change. I think about the apostle Paul, he was imprisoned in Philippi facing the possibility of being put to death, and his mind is set on serving God by saving others (Philippians 1:21-23). Just like so many servants of God throughout the Bible they forfeited their own life to be committed to and trust in God's plan for their life. Look at the lives of Joseph, Job, Paul, and yes Jesus, it is safe to say that none of them were jumping up and down about what they went through, yet they were committed to see it through and because of their commitment countless lives were and are still being changed today!
     In verse 7 David advises us to "Rest in the Lord". Find peace through patience. I have to admit I struggle with this one as much as any of David's tips. I'm sure most of us want resolution now. I mean let's identify the problem and then let's fix it. Not tomorrow, not next week, let's fix it today right now! That's not how it works in God's plan. We must come to a place where we are at peace, resting in our faith that God is in control. This peace is a challenge for me, because I want to be part of the solution, yet many times that creates a situation where I am part of the problem. Prayer, mediation, and a trusting faith tell me that God's way, God's timing, and God's plan are not going to always align with what I envision. That means I have to be willing to submit and trust in God's plan, peacefully and willingly.
     "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath" is David's advice found in verse 8. We aren't the judge, we aren't the jury, and this is not the People's Court. When things don't appear fair, remember that life is not about fair, it is about the ultimate outcome. God's timing is long term and we may not find it in the short term. Isaiah 40:31 tells us that those who wait on the Lord will mount up with wings like eagles! That is the promise that David is talking about here. It isn't our place to make the decisions about God's mercy and grace, he showed both on me and I most definitely did not deserve either. I am thankful I did not receive the anger or wrath of God when I probably most deserved it, show that same grace to those we want to show anger.
     The last piece of advice is one that directs us to do two things, "Turn from evil, and do good". What is evil? Do we have to be murderers to be classified as doing evil? Well our old buddy Paul gave us a short list that encompasses what we can probably label as "evil" in Galatians 5. Everything from idolatry down to hatred and discord are mentioned there and probably if we are honest we could place a check by at least one or two items on the list. But not being fatalistic, Paul then gives us the alternative option that David refers to as doing good. In the same chapter 5 of Galatians verses 22-23 Paul exhorts us to carry out the following actions; "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." How are you doing on this list? Plenty of opportunities to live life more abundantly here wouldn't you say? 
     Currently we are all living in pretty much uncharted waters. The COVID-19 virus has wrecked what we know as normal, while fear and panic have quickly blanketed society. It would be hard to pin down exactly when David wrote this particular psalm, yet I would feel comfortable that if David were living today this is the exact advice he would give us today. Don't spend all day fretting over evil, trust in God and do good, be content in God's ways, commit to the Lord, rest in the Lord, refrain from anger and wrath, and turn from evil and do good! Now that's some advice we can all work on today and tomorrow! 
Praying for our country, other countries around the world, and for all that place their own safety at risk each day as they fight to save the lives of others. 
Coach Carter