Building a House

 My father was a contractor. Evidence of his years of labor can be found all across Hamblen County, and also around the southeast as he transitioned from being a residential contractor to that of a commercial builder across the mid-south landscape. I believe it would be safe to say that there wasn't one home or building that Joe E. Carter constructed where the cornerstone to the foundation didn't receive precise attention. If that pivotal starting point was not set with attention to detail, then the whole foundation would be out of square and thus increase the possibility of the building collapsing. So, without really saying it, ensuring the foundation is set correctly was an early indicator that the structure would be able to withstand the storms of nature that would inevitably place stress and pressure from every side. Whether you are a builder or not is uncoincidental, yet setting your foundation by the cornerstone of faith, is critically important as you live, learn, and grow. 

 

There is a classic children's book titled "The House That Jack Built" where whimsical event after event  occurs is traced back to the house that Jack built. In much the same way, our goal in life should be that each decision we make, every plan we devise, and our life choices that follow all relate back to the cornerstone of our faith. When our life's decisions are out of square with the Chief Cornerstone, we risk seeing our plans crumble and eventually fall. 

 

Jesus shared a parable in Matthew 7:24-27 in which he stresses the importance of building on the "rock" or cornerstone in life. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Basically, we have two choices build our faith on the sand of this world which has no consistency or strength and eventually watch your faith crumble and fall, or we can choose to build on the firm foundation of the Rock, which is Jesus the Cornerstone of life eternal. 

 

As you make your own personal decision of where you will build your faith, I believe it is advisable to look to the Carpenter on choosing your building site. Choose the Rock and from there ensure your life is squared and aligned with the Cornerstone of our faith. The winds may blow, the earth may quake and the storms will come, but through it all, we can rely on God who set the original Cornerstone in place to create our firm foundation! 

Coach Carter 

Solitaire = Solitude

 

Once during a return flight home, I noticed a gentleman seated cattycornered to me playing a game of Solitaire on his laptop. Now, during an extended flight you have numerous options for what you can do, read a book or magazine, watch a movie or show if available, play a game such as my flying neighbor was doing, or sleep. One additional option is to strike up a conversation with the complete stranger seated beside you. The majority of the options presented are for you and you alone, hence the game of Solitaire is aptly titled, because it is a game for one person pitted against a deck of cards. Given, the limited opportunities to move about freely and engage on a plane aren't overflowing, the concept of living life alone is easily highlighted in the journeys of a plane traveler. In comparison to the world we live today, it is much easier to live in a mindset of solitaire, but Solitaire in this case is synonymous with the word solitude. 

 

Although I started today's FTM Thought with a trifle anecdote that took place during one of my flights, the idea of living life in solitude isn't a lifestyle to embrace for us as servants of God. We weren't designed to live life alone, from the beginning of time, God's plan was for man to not live life alone. (Genesis 2:18). With all of the modern technology literally right there in your hands, it is easy to pull away from society and set all of our attention on the index card sized computer screen to which we are attached. A keynote speaker at a conference I was attending this past week was making a point about how attached we are to our phones, Crystal Washington motivational speaker, asked the audience how many people sleep with their phone? Many replied that they didn't sleep with their phone but that it lays on a bedside table or area within arm’s reach during the night. The majority of that same group did not think that sleeping with their phone in such close proximity was a problem. Washington quipped, "If you slept with a beer beside your bed within arm's reach every night that would be a problem!" Too often when Missy and I are out to eat at a restaurant as you scan the dining area, couples and even families are all solitarily entranced with their personal screens. They are there together in complete solitude. 

 

This life of living in solitary solitude isn't relegated to our cell phones, in our larger metropolitan cities there are people literally living on the streets. It is too easy for us to walk by or possibly step over a homeless person and just keep on walking, as if we just stepped over a log that has fell across our path. My nephew/son Bo, served our country in the Air Force and while he was stationed in the horn of Africa at Djibouti, he shared with me the desolately impoverished state of that area of the world. Children walking around naked, skin and bones, laying in the doorframes of buildings much like our favorite canine pet. The big difference there, we invite our dogs into our homes, bathe and groom them, and feed them without them even whimpering. We live in this world together in complete solitude. 

 

And probably most problematic for our society is the choice to live life in solitary solitude. We choose to live outside of God's plan for us to live in a community of believers. His church, His people, His family shares, gives, and serves each other, especially those who are in need. The term "neighbor" does not only reference those who live next door, Jesus commented on watching out for your neighbor several times during His life on this earth. In Luke 10:27 Jesus answers the crowd "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus is quoted saying, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." And notably, one of the best examples of Jesus's advice to not live life alone is His parable of the Samaritan and the man lying in the ditch after he was beaten and robbed. In these instances, Jesus directed us to live life together in complete union, personally connected to Christ and personally connected to our fellow man. 

 

I think back to my airline companion who completed his full journey without saying a word to anyone, but then I also reflect on how often I too go through opportunities to connect and in my busyness, I fall short of God's plan for this life He gave me to live. My challenge today is to myself as much as it is to each of you. Don't spend your days playing Solitaire in solitude, find someone to share God's good news with and live life as God intended for us to live it, together, unified not isolated. Where Solitaire is a game for one, the game of life is not one to be played alone. Engage!

Coach Carter

Life Savers

 

 When you hear the word lifesaver what comes to mind? Most likely one of two images cruise across your frontal lobe, either a fruit flavored candy or a pool accessory used to assist struggling individuals in over their head. Well, today I'd like to bring a different image to mind as you ponder on this life changing term. 

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24. Well now, isn't that quite the paradox? I can't think of too many things in this world that by losing them you in essence secure the thing that you lost. Common knowledge tells us that when we lose something there is a probable chance that we may never find it. Yet, in this case, Jesus says that to "save" or find eternal life you must first give up or "lose" your life. I suppose the question then is what do we have to do to "lose" our life? 

 

Losing your life in this context isn't referring to a literal death, but instead, symbolic ways that we give our life to gain more back in return. Sacrifice, self-denial, and service or we could call them the "Selfless S's" are all about losing self by doing for others. The dictionary defines sacrifice as "an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy." When we talk about self-denial the focus is more on what I can do for others, instead of what can others do for me. And the third term, service, references the idea of helping others especially those who may be less fortunate than ourselves. The Bible is full of examples of men and women of God who lived out the Selfless S's in their walk with God. Ruth, made the choice to go wherever Naomi, her mother-in-law went and to live out her life with her even though her husband, Naomi's son, had died and she really had no commitment to Naomi (Ruth1:16-17). 

 

If you haven't figured it out over the years, Paul is a Bible hero to me. His service to God in spreading the Word of God and establishing Christianity across the Mediterranean coast and into Asia Minor. After Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road, he spent the rest of his life serving Christ. Not only did Paul expand the church, but he also served Christ by recording thirteen books of the New Testament. But, ultimately we have the primal example of being a life saver thru the life and teachings of Jesus. 

 

Jesus lived a sinless life, humble, sacrificing selflessly, and denying His own life so that we can today receive eternal life with Him in Heaven. If there is need of a model of self-sacrifice through both service and denial of self, Jesus lives it out in His prayer to His Father just before His arrest and impending crucifixion. "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39. 

 

 Basically, Jesus said I am willing to save humanity even if it is going to cost me my own life. 

That is the life I want to live out. Am I successful doing that every day, no I am human, but do I have a model to follow and a desire to live out this life I have been given as a servant leader, most certainly. Today, I ask you to make that same commitment to serve God without a thought of how it will impact yourself positively or not so positively, and to do so in a sacrificial manner that basically says "Thy will be done, not my own". (Matt. 26:39).

 

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Coach Carter

 

 

It Takes Two

 

You may have heard the old saying "It takes two to Tango", which delivers the point that just as it is impossible to tango without a partner, it is just as impossible to get into an argument without a willing partner. We won't always agree with everyone's point of view, but in our time together today, I'd like to suggest that even when our perspectives disagree, there is a path available that seems uncommon in the world we live today. 

 

Biblical truths are not ours to pick and choose, but how we approach situations is completely up to us. We have some advice to follow provided by the Apostle Paul. The church in Corinth struggled against the worldly culture of the day and Paul had to basically "coach'em up" on a wide range of topics on how to live life as a new Christian, ranging from what was okay to eat, who it was okay to marry, all the way down to not arguing and bickering with others. "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels, and the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." II Timothy 2:23-24. Basically, if we desire to be God's light in a dark world, then what good will be produced by us arguing and quarreling? Getting into an argument means that two people both believe they are correct in their stance. Arguing establishes that you believe you are right and you may even have the proof to support your stance, but it is safe to assume that the person on the other side also believes they are correct and most likely they have some supporting evidence for their conviction. Who's right? Who cares? We are not the judge and we are not the jury. If it feels wrong to you then stay away from it. Other than being able to say, I was right, what gain is there in winning an argument? 

 

Whatever happened to the idea of "we will just have to agree to disagree" as an acceptable way of nullifying an argument? Paul spent a whole chapter in the Book of Romans explaining that there isn't anything to gain by arguing with someone. "Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister" Romans 14:13. We may disagree, and we may have our facts to back us up, but at the end of the day, it is God who will be doing the judging, don't attempt to take His job. (Romans 14:10-11). Am I suggesting that we be acceptable to an "anything goes" mentality? Absolutely not. 

 

Arguing about who is right and who is wrong, may win a battle here and there, but the war will wage on. The real battle is not "who" is right or wrong, but instead it is the battle between right and wrong, good and evil, Godly or worldly. To win the war we must be willing to live out right and allow the world to see God living in us and through us. If we enter a discussion with a mindset of I'm right and you're wrong the outcome will most likely be one that creates a barrier between you and the other person. How can we ever expect to share God's message of forgiveness and acceptance in a world of judgement and dissent? If our hope is to make a difference in this world who is it that we hope to make a difference with? The people that think and act just like you? Not a hard assignment if that is your goal. Instead, our goal is to reach those that need to hear about the God we serve and the unconditional love He offers each of us. 

 

Tough choices require more effort than the simple. Arguing is simple, one opinion plus one opinion equals two differing opinions, thus you can easily have an argument. The challenging thing to do is take two different opinions and try to look at the other person's opinion from their point of view. Empathy, sacrifice, and perspective will serve you well if you allow them. The next time you feel that a disagreement is headed your way, remember it takes two to tango and it takes two to argue, be the bigger one and choose the path less traveled. 

Coach Carter