"That's Not Fair"

 Ask yourself what does it really mean when someone quips "That's not fair?" Literally, that's someone saying, "Hey, I didn't get my way". On a much deeper level though, what that little phrase figuratively says is that we are a "me first" society where the only thing that matters is whether we get what we think is right regardless of the much bigger implications. To me, if everything in life was "fair" then wouldn't every person be getting their way? But how can that be possible? If one person gets their way doesn't that mean someone else doesn't?? Where the world says "That's Not Fair", the teachings of Jesus provide a perspective that is not so "me" centered. Let's take a look.

Regardless of your Biblical knowledge most people have heard the proverb of the "Prodigal Son" Luke 15:11-32, yet an  overview is pertinent to our time together today. A wealthy man's younger son asks his father for his share of what would one day be his inheritance and from there the young man goes out in the world and squanders it all away. Living in the streets and eating with the pigs, the young man decides to go home and ask his father to let him at least be a servant where he could have a roof over his head and food to eat. From the moment the father sees his younger son off in the distance the man is rejoicing that his son had returned home. A celebration ensued and the son was welcomed back into his position as a beloved son. And they all lived happily ever after, right? Au contraire mon frere. If this story is about a "younger" brother then where is the older brother in this story? Well the older brother stayed home with his dad, working the fields, overseeing day to day business, and pretty much filling the void from his brother's choice to go out in the world. Can you see where this is headed? Yep, when the older son comes in from the day's labor in the fields and sees the father roasting a fattened calf and placing one of his father's robes and rings on the younger son's hand, his response is ...., you guessed it, "That's not fair". The father explained to the older son that it isn't about being fair, the younger son messed up, but he realized he messed up and came home repentant and humbled wanting to be a servant in his father's house. What would a loving father do? Exactly what the father in the parable did. "But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Was it fair that the son got to go out and waste his father's fortunes and then come home and be treated like a prince while the older brother worked and remained loyal to the father and he couldn't even get a goat roasted? In the Kingdom of God, it isn't about what it is fair, it is all about what is right. Don't we want to be forgiven when we make mistakes? Don't we want to be given a break when we get pulled over for speeding? Don't we want to ask for forgiveness of our sins and then be forgiven? 

Our next parable, possibly not quite as familiar as the "Prodigal Son", yet just as appropriate for today's topic of fairness. Found in the Gospel of Matthew 20:1-16, this parable shares a story of the owner of a vineyard who agreed to pay some daily workers a set amount for a day's wages. As the day progressed additional workers joined the laborers in the vineyard and worked alongside the folks who started early that morning. At the end of the day everyone lined up to receive their wages unprepared for what happened next. As each person approached the paymaster everyone received the same amount of wages. In other words, the men and women who started out early that morning received exactly the same as those who started mid-afternoon. You know what's coming, and you are correct, "That's not fair" was the cry of the folks who labored all day as they watched others that had worked less receive the same amount as they did for a full day's work. When the disgruntled portion of the labor team approached the owner of the field, once again the grace of Jesus's teachings shines through. When confronted about the "fairness" of his decision to pay everyone the same, the owner's response was, "I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?" (Matt. 20:13-15.) If there is a moral to the story here, it would have to be that we should be grateful for what we have been given and not worry ourselves with what others have been given. That is not ours to worry about and we should be thankful for what we have been given!

Both of the examples above were part of Jesus's teachings during His time here on earth. The idea of "That's Not Fair" isn't new, but the lessons that Jesus taught weren't the norm then and they still are not the typical stance today. We are more accustomed to the mindset of it's me first and then everyone else can have theirs after me. In the mindset of those who love and follow the precepts of God's love, the words of Jesus at the end of the workers in the vineyard parable should ring true in our hearts and minds. "So, the last will be first, and the first will be last" (Matt. 20:16). 

It wasn't fair that Jesus had to die on the cross for our sins, yet He was willing to do just that so that we might be saved. Beyond being fair, Jesus went even further and asked His Father to forgive the very ones that crucified Him. With His final breath Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do." Luke 23:34. As you traverse along your day today and throughout the week, take the opportunity to look for things that may not seem fair in this world today, but through the lens of a servant of the Living God, things may be exactly the way they should! Grateful and thankful for all God has given me and for all He has done for each of you! 

Coach Carter

My Portion

"I say to myself, "the Lord is my portion; Therefore I will wait for him." Lamentations 3:24 As I read this verse in scripture my thoughts conjured up an image of the four compartment trays that our family has used for large family gatherings such as Thanksgiving. It's hard to imagine, but our national holiday that is set aside for us to reflect on all we have and all we have been given is just around the corner. My how 2024 has sped by! Yet I digress, the compartment trays are generally chosen because they allow us to place varying food items in their own individual compartment. This in turn keeps the gravy and vegetable juices from merging together and creating a murky mess. Three of the compartments are similar in size, typically small and squarish in shape, but the fourth or main compartment is visually  larger. In my mind this particular aspect of the design of the compartment tray is such that we can fill the largest part of our tray with the food item that we want the largest portion of. In the case of Thanksgiving, for me that section of my tray would be reserved for the turkey and dressing. For others it might be for ham and rolls, or others may choose to fill that larger section with a healthy portion of mashed potatoes and gravy. In much the same way, in life our heart and mind serve as a compartment tray for what we value and desire more of. Our question today is what are we filling that largest portion of your heart and mind's compartment tray with each ?

Just as with our compartment tray analogy above, we all have compartments in our hearts and minds that we fill with what we want the most. Looking back at our scripture from the Book of Lamentations the author states that he wants the biggest portion or compartment on his tray to be filled with the Lord. Have you ever stopped and reflected on what resides in the biggest portion of your heart, mind, and soul? 

One way to evaluate your life's compartment tray is to take a survey of what takes up most of your day and time. Is it work? Do you spend more of your day and the majority of your waking hours focused on your job and what you have to do next, or what deadline is looming? Or could the largest portion of your day be focused on what you spend your time doing outside of work? For many people, they work for a living and they live for the weekend. Sports, hobbies, or other personal interests may fill that portion of your life's compartment tray.  Maybe your heart's portion is focused on social media and likes? We live in a world where the electronic device in our hand could definitely be or become the portion of our lives that controls what we do and who we are. Keep in mind the words of Jesus from the Gospel of Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Our job is to ensure we don't allow the things of this world to fill the largest portion of our heart, mind, soul and body. Thinking in terms of our "Turkey Day" tray we don't fill the largest portion of our plate with cranberry sauce, do we?  No, because without the turkey, the cranberry just doesn't fill us. Today take stock of what you give the biggest portion of your day to and where you focus your efforts and energy. Life is more than what we "want", it should be all about what God wants us to do and what He has planned for us to be. If your life's compartment tray is pouring over with self-gratification or the world's values have your soul's tray weighed down, it may just be time to reevaluate what resides in the largest portion of your heart, mind, and soul. If you don't like what you see, then ask God to help you reconfigure your priorities and place the first things first. "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

Coach Carter

Open-Heart Surgery

 Over the years I have had several friends and acquaintances who found themselves in need of an open- heart surgery. Blockages in the arteries or ventricles restrict the flow of blood, creating a situation where blood is not effectively reaching all areas of our human bodies. This lack of blood flow creates life-threatening situations which must be addressed before a person has a heart attack or stroke. Open-heart surgery isn't going to be the first option unless it is deemed that the risk of surgery is outweighed by the risk of not having the surgery. Surgically opening the chest cavity and exposing the body's lifeline does not go without risk, yet failing to have open-heart surgery can lead to dire outcomes. The benefit of having an open-heart surgery is obvious, what was once blocked is now clear, which translates to a "healthy heart". 

It goes without saying, but we can't live without a heart. The heart is a vital organ that keeps our blood flowing and our bodies functioning. But the heart also has a different role in the lives we live that is more in line with what we might label our soul or spirit. Many ancient cultures saw the heart as the center of the soul and life's decisions flowed from the heart rather than from the brain as science tells us today. Although we know that our brains are the central command post for thinking and planning, we agree that our emotions and the decisions we make originate somewhere else than in our minds. "Follow your heart", "I love you with all of my heart", having a "change of heart" or having a "heart to heart conversation" all demonstrate that whether we can scientifically explain it or not, the heart is also home to our moral compass of right and wrong. 

So, since we are moving way deeper than science on this one, we need to look at what God says about our hearts in relation to the life we live each day. In Matthew 6:21 Jesus shared that "... where your treasure is, there your heart will be too", and in Proverbs 3:5-6 Solomon instructed us to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding". Those two examples alone let us know that God wants our hearts to be free of blockage, otherwise His love and His plans for our lives cannot flow freely from our thoughts to our ultimate life choices and decisions. 

The question we must each ask ourselves each day is what is blocking our heart from living our lives for God? Jesus made it clear in Matthew 5:8 when He said, "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God". Blessed are the "pure" in heart, in other words, blessed are those that don't have blockage limiting God's influence on the decisions they make from the heart each day. Are you in need of an open-heart surgery to remove the world's blockage? Remember what you treasure is exactly where your heart will be focused as you make decisions each day.

Whatever we place in front of our relationship with God should be considered a blockage. That blockage in turn taints our thought process and turns our decision-making flow to the channels of this world instead of allowing God's commands and instructions to guide us throughout each day. To live out the life God purposed you to live, it is necessary to allow the Great Surgeon to perform a spiritual open-heart surgery on your heart and soul. That is where we find peace and where we begin to live each day based on what God wants instead of allowing our decisions to be bade based on the world's view. In Philippians 4:7, the Apostle Paul tells us to bring everything to God and in so doing God's peace will freely flow through our lives. Removing the blockages of this world allows God's peace to flow. Paul finishes this thought by sharing that when we remove the world's blockage then, "the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Which translates to a successful open-heart surgery of our soul! 

Coach Carter

Triple T's Build Triple C's

 "Eat your vegetables." I can distinctly remember that directive coming from my mother's lips what seems like a thousand times when I was a young lad. I wasn't all that much interested in broccoli or carrots back then as the advent of cheeseburgers and pepperoni pizza were fast becoming my palette's best friend. As I grew older and a tad bit wiser, I realized that my mom's constant reminders about eating those items on my plate that I really didn't want to eat was another example of her love and care for my health as my body and mind developed. She knew that I didn't like the look, texture, and possibly even the taste, but she also knew that my body would develop healthier and stronger if I would follow her advice and guidance. (Side note: I love broccoli and carrots and pretty much any other vegetable you place in front of me today, Yum!) But, isn't that way life is? Those things that are good for us that we don't like at the time we receive them, shots, discipline, a speeding ticket, or even a swift kick in the derriere, are the very things that we need to turn us into the man or woman that God designed us and purposed our lives to be. 

So, today's Flat Tire Thought isn't about eating your vegetables for their health implications, but in just the same way that things we don't necessarily like to eat have tremendous positive health attributes for us, many things we go through in life aren't pleasant and pain-free either, but at the end of the day they are what allow us to grow and mature into the person God wants us to be. Tests, Trials, and Troubles are, for the most part, painful to the point that we strive to avoid them if at all possible. I've yet to see any lining up for a health complication, nor have I witnessed folks signing up for their business to fail or for their livelihood to dry up and fade away. Divorce, disease, drug addictions, or a death in a family are also part of the Triple T's we are looking at today. That is not an all-inclusive list, but I believe you get the idea. Our faith, or lack there of, gets tested regularly. At times the test is a one time deal, other times it is an ongoing struggle that lasts longer and at times never goes away. Those are tests of our will and can help us build our hope in Jesus. The daily grind builds our stamina, but those hardships and trials that linger on and on and don't seem to ever go away, well those are the tests, trials, or troubles we are talking about today. 

The Apostle Paul endured much in his life. Blinded during his conversion, stranded at sea, beaten numerous times, and imprisoned for his faith, Paul kept right on serving God. As I have studied Paul's life, there are not many instances where Paul asked God to remove the hardships he was enduring instead he embraced them, but there is one instance where Paul provides an example of how we should respond in the face of adversity. In Paul's second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul shares that he had been tormented by an intense pain in his side and that the pain was so severe that he asked God to take the source of the pain away on three different occasions. Removal of the source was not God's reply, instead the answer to Paul's prayer request went more like this, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9. At that point Paul came to a realization that is so critically important to our message today. Paul realized that the pain he was enduring was meant to take the focus off of himself and to place his faith and trust in the God who doesn't do things by coincidence. God has a plan and that plan may very well traverse through the pain you are enduring. At that point Paul changed his mindset, he went from Poor Pitiful Paul to an overcomer through the strength that can only come from our Maker. Note Paul's change of mindset in the following scripture, "So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10. Growing through adversity is our key to success. 

If the key to growing is enduring tests, trials, and troubles then Paul gave us the recipe on how to turn those Triple T's into Triple C's. So, what are the C's? Capabilities, Closeness, and Character are all key attributes to enduring trials and tribulations in our life. Capabilities, as we begin to turn adversity into opportunity  we learn to look within our skills and abilities and turn those into tools to support us in our growth. I have referred to it as the "What's in your pocket?" mindset. God gave each of us a set of skills and talents, but too often we overlook those as the very tools which can help us endure and overcome our tribulations. The second "C" Closeness is referring to our personal relationship with God our Father. I'm not saying that we should be waiting on trials and tests to happen before we get closer to our Lord and Savior, but during those times it is often the comfort of being close to God that sees us through. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13. Lastly, our Character is refined through our adversity. "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4. It is through the fire that glass is made. It is through adversity that the seed sprouts from the ground, and it is through hard times that our character is shaped and defined. The good news is God is right there with us, drawing us closer and opening our minds to the capabilities of what talents and skills God placed in us at our creation that will assist us in shaping our character for what God has planned for us to do to glorify Him and expand His Kingdom. 

Are you facing a trial today? What challenge are you facing that seems too insurmountable to overcome? Would you say you are in trouble and you don't know where to turn or what to do? My prayer today is for anyone who in their mind answered "yes" to any of the three preceding questions. Personally, I don't have the words or ability to get you over or through your "T", but I do know the One that can and will turn your tribulation or trial into an opportunity to learn more about yourself, grow you closer to the One that made you for just such a time as this, and through it all He will turn you into the man or woman of God that you were created to be! 

Coach Carter