Mission: Possible

 The 1960's - 70's TV series "Mission Impossible" was all about a top notch team of secret agents committed to saving the world while facing "impossible" circumstances and predicaments. Peter Graves was the star of the show and each episode Grave's character, Jim Phelps, would receive a tape recorded message describing their next assignment, "if they chose to accept it" right before the recording self-destructed seconds later. The premise of the show was that this elite team of specialists would do anything, whatever it took, even at the risk of losing their own lives, to save the world. Your current mission in life  may appear to be impossible, or it may be that you haven't figured out your mission in life completely yet,  but be assured, your mission is not impossible and you are not facing it alone. 

Each year we transition from celebrating the birth of Christ with the Christmas holiday to ringing in a new year the following week. A new year offers new challenges that can be counted as opportunities depending on your mindset, but overall as 2025 rolls onto the scene, we each will face "missions" many of which will feel impossible. The question is, "Are you willing to accept the challenge?" Read on if so!

During the time Jesus spent on earth, He spent much of His time prepping His apostles for what would ultimately be the greatest mission possible. I feel certain that the disciples felt somewhat overwhelmed and most assuredly under qualified mainly due in part to their background prior to becoming followers of Christ. In Matthew 4:18-22 Jesus approaches Simon (Peter) and his brother Andrew while they were preparing their fishing nets and asked them to become fishers of men. Additionally, Jesus met James and John who dropped their fishing nets choosing to follow Jesus. The other early disciples were carpenters, tax collectors, and other working class men of the time. None of the group were especially qualified to become "fishers of men" as Jesus proclaimed in His request for the men to follow Him. I'm not exactly sure how to term it, but I have to believe that their choice was one made out of pure trust and faith. Jesus said follow me and become fishers of men and they did. (Matthew 4:19)

From there Jesus spent His time here on earth living out the life of a "fisher of men" teaching His disciples how to carry out their mission. He didn't spend His days with those who were considered religious, instead Jesus spent His time with the broken, the beat down, sick, and lost. His "mission" was to save the lost and heal the sick of which there was no lack of wanting for those to help. As Jesus traveled from city to city, He shared with the disciples that there was no lack of work for them to do. During His time here on earth, Jesus challenged His disciples to pray for more help to assist in the work to be done. "The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the Harvest to send out laborers into His harvest." Matthew 9:35-38. Sounds like that old Mission: Impossible challenge, barring one bit of vital information, if God is in it with us then there is nothing that can stand between us, or stop us from completing God's mission for the life He gave us to live. "For with God nothing shall be impossible" Luke 1:37

How am I so confident that you can and will fulfill God's mission (i.e. calling for your life)? Because you are not alone! God knew this was challenging work and He also knew you would need support along the way. In Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus shares His Great Co"mission" with His disciples. "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." We may not physically see Jesus, but His promise is that He will be with us along our mission's journey. In John 15 Jesus details the types of struggles the disciples will have as they work to complete the mission He gave them to complete, but in that same chapter he reassures them that they won't be alone. In John 15:26 Jesus said "I will send you the Spirit who comes from the Father and shows what is true. The Spirit will help you and will tell you about me." All of a sudden what might have seemed like a mission:impossible, became a mission:possible, and that same mission is yours today.

Whatever you are facing in your life, challenges at your workplace, life circumstances with health or well being, relational, financial, whatever stands as a challenge to you serving God to fulfill His mission for your life, you are not alone and you will not fight the battle without support. When things look their bleakest keep this reminder from the Son of the Omnipotent and Omniscient God near. "I have told you these things, so that you may have peace in me. In this world you are going to have trouble. But be courageous! I have overcome the world." John 16:33

Whatever you are facing, whatever the challenges are that make you feel like your mission in life is impossible, remember that you are not alone, you have a constant helper, and never forget that Jesus has already overcome the world!  With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26. "Mission: Possible"

Coach Carter

It's A Choice

 If you really sit back and think about it, life is pretty simple. Your life's trajectory all comes down to the decisions we make and the perspective we attach to those decisions. We are all uniquely born into the bodies we were destined to have, and each individual will have their own set of rivers to cross and mountains to climb, rain clouds and rainbows, ups and downs, victories and defeats. To some it may feel like your rainclouds are a lifelong companion following you around like a balloon tethered over your head. On the other hand, some folks have more than their share of the hardships and heartaches, but you probably wouldn't ever know it because they never complain about their life situations and they seem to just truck along on down the road. What's the difference? What causes one person to flip off the car in front of them when they feel they are cut off in traffic, while another person in the same situation drives up alongside the driver in question and throws up her hand signaling sorry about that even though they had no part in what just happened. One person is born with abnormal appendages, but thrives and pushes through, while another person with no physical conditions sits down and quits because life just isn't fair from their perspective. What is the difference? I believe the answer is a simple one, there are many aspects of the life we live that are set beyond any degree of control on our part. There are circumstances that take place throughout our lives, some good to great, others not so good, and still others terrible. You have your list and I have mine. What we all have to understand is you are in control of one thing, your mind. How you handle your life is up to you. Nobody else has that control over you, what I have learned, as simple as it is, is that it is all about what we choose to do with what life hands us. "It's a Choice".

Someone out there is already reflecting on the premise of today's message and they are thinking, "well you don't know what I've been through or what I have to deal with each day" to which I completely agree. Yet, I would counter that thought with "nor do you know mine". I have been blessed in the life I have been given to live, I am truly grateful for all I have experienced, all I have been given, and for all that I have accomplished thus far in my life. Has it all been a bed of roses with the red carpet rolled out leading me to my silver spoon and bowl full of cherries? The answer hear is a simple no. I have fallen down both literally and figuratively throughout my life, I have viewed life from the mountaintop and I have wallowed in dark, muddy valleys and through it all, how I approached my life's perspective boils down to a simple thought, "It's a Choice". 

Take this as simple as you want, or go deep and apply the concept to the most complex aspect of your life. It really doesn't matter, you are completely in charge of this one thing, you choose how you respond to anything that happens to you in this life that you are living. Eating a healthy diet, "It's a Choice". Exercising regularly, "It's a Choice". Overcoming a bad attitude about your life's circumstances. "It's a Choice". Do I choose to live life abundantly or do I choose to steal, kill, and destroy? "It's a Choice". Deciding to argue a point that does not impact your convictions or ethics. "It's a Choice". We could go on and on, but in every situation and every circumstance it comes back to "It's a Choice" and the good thing about it is, it is your choice. 

I was in a conversation with a friend and colleague the other day and during our chat we both agreed that God knew us before we were born, God has a plan and purpose for the life we have been given to live, yet at the end of the day, it is our free will to choose to seek out God's purpose for this life we are living. Joshua, who started out as second in command to Moses as they led the Israelites through the wilderness on a journey to the promised land, was thrust into the leadership role with the death of Moses. Joshua faced the same  opposition that Moses had endured, and at one point felt compelled to lay down his line in the sand. Idol worship had become an accepted way of life for many of the Israelites throughout the exodus from Egypt and as they meandered through the desert. After Moses' death, Joshua gathered his followers and presented them with this ultimatum, "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15. Basically, it was Joshua's choice and he made his choice. You have that same free will, "It's Your Choice". 

 Life can be tough, it may feel tougher for some folks, and it is tougher for some individuals. You may feel like you have a bowl full of cherries or you may have a bowl full of cherry pits. It doesn't really matter. What does matter is how you respond to any and all of life's circumstances and complications. Optimist or Pessimist, Half full or half empty, heads or tails, gazing forward or staring at what is behind, it is all a choice and the nice thing about it is the choice is yours. Regardless of life's situations and circumstances there is one choice that you will make that will determine your life's outcomes and ultimate destiny. Will you give your life to God? Will you choose to serve God or will you serve false idols? Will you look up to the mountains for your strength or will you seek pity and despair in the dark valleys of life? (Psalm 121:1-2). It's a Choice and it is yours! Choose life and choose to live it more abundantly! "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10. There is no better time than the present to make a change in how you think. It may be as simple as whether to argue or not, or it may be that you need to make a decision about how you approach each new day, whatever it is, you are in control of the most important aspect of the situation, it's a choice!

Coach Carter

 

Come and Get Your Love!

 I'm an old Marvel Comics fan. I basically fell in love with reading as a seven year old immersing myself in the likes of Spiderman, Captain America, the Hulk, and the Avengers. Over the last 10-20 years, Marvel starting turning those comics into movies and that has afforded me the opportunity to revert back to those childhood memories that Stan Lee and all of his colleagues created for followers of Spidey and so many other Marvel comic characters. One of those movies "Guardians of the Galaxy" features a ragtag collection of misfit heroes destined to save the world from evil forces. In the original feature film named the same, the main character struts around on a distant planet, dancing to a tune on his Sony Walkman cassette tape player. The song on his Walkman was a oldie but goldie from the 70's ""Come and Get Your Love" by a Native American group called Redbone. I always liked that song, but ever since I saw it in that movie, it seems like I have heard it more frequently on the radio over the past few years. Regardless of the reference to this old R&B song in the Marvel movie production and not due to the overall intent of the song's origin, I recently found a message tucked deep into the song's lyrics that makes this song even more finger snapping and toe tapping when it comes across the airwaves and livestreams! For me today's message is clear; don't limit God's availability, He is everywhere and in everything and if God wants to share a thought with you it can come from anywhere. Even an old rock and roll song from the past!

As alluded to above, we shouldn't limit the ways and places that God can share a word of encouragement, inspiration, or guidance and instruction. Moses received a message from God through a burning bush (Exodus 3:1-6), and God whispered to Elijah in the midst of a storm while he was hiding in a cave (I Kings 19:11-13). To magnify the understanding that God is with us even in our struggles, it is noteworthy to point out that Saul encountered God on the road to Damascus where he was blinded and eventually converted his life to that of a devoted follower of Christ and the Apostle we now as Paul. God can and does meet us anywhere He wants to, the problem is many times we aren't looking for or listening for God's message to us. 

 I had heard the classic tune "Come and Get Your Love" dozens or even tens of dozens of times over the years, but I certainly didn't ever equate that song with an inspirational song or hymn. Why, I doubt seriously that anyone has ever listened to that song and felt compelled to raise your hands in the air in worship to our Lord and Savior. That isn't what I'm saying at all. For me, that particular song has a good head bobbing rhythm and a melodic lyrical composition that just makes me feel good when I hear it. God's reminder to me comes through the title of the song and the line that is repeated over and over again throughout the song. Come and get your love! Come and get your love! God's love is always available and it is always present, all we have to do is reach out and accept it! 

In my walk of faith, I strive to have a deeper, closer relationship with God. I want to hear His guidance as he reveals my daily purpose and calling, so I have made a commitment to meet with God early in the morning before the distractions of the day gobble up much of my attention. It is during that quiet time that I receive God's instructions and that is where He speaks to the concerns I share with Him. Over the years, I have deepened my relationship and now I wouldn't want to go into a day without first sharing my morning with God. If you don't have a morning meeting time set with God, there is no better time than right now to do just that. But... don't think that in the still of the morning is the only place that God will speak to you. "Come and Get Your Love" did just that for me. 

"Come, taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8, "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden" Matthew 11:28, and in Romans 12:2 we are directed to "... not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, pleasing and perfect will." Even in the midst of the busyness of the day, God wants us to seek Him and His will for this life He has given us to live. The last time I heard the song "Come and Get Your Love" on the radio I didn't hear any other words in the song, except God's invitation to come unto Him and accept His love. "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near." Isaiah 55:6. The good news is God is always near and He can always be found whatever is going on in your life or wherever we are at that particular moment. Come and get your love, God is ready to share His love abundantly and without limit today! His message was clear that day as I listened to this song in a completely different way, and it is the same message that is available to you and me today, "Come and get you love!"

Coach Carter

 

Growing Up or Growing In?

 I was listening to a sermon the other day and the evangelist asked a profound question, "Are you growing up or are you growing in Christ?" The question was just a small part of his sermon, but I found myself reflecting on the question as he continued towards his main topic. We all grow up, (I'm probably done growing upward, but know I have to be careful not to grow too much outward in my mid-section!) What really grabbed my thoughts was more of the juxtaposition of the two terms "up" and "in" for my life's trajectory. Our question today is whether we are still growing up or not, are we sincerely growing inward to God and His purpose?

There are a number of milestone stages that we each pass as we grow up. Newborn, infant, toddler, youth, teen, young adult, adult, and aging adult, all of which include markers signifying we are growing appropriately along our journey. Well, the stages of life haven't really changed that much over the thousands of years of man's existence. Babies nurse, and then progress to bottles, to which they move on to soft baby food before they eventually move into the meat and potatoes stage. To prove my point read what the author of Hebrews had to say about the progression of nourishment in regards to our spiritual growth. "Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil" Hebrews 5:13-14. You can take this scripture and apply it in a number of ways, but my thoughts are we may have progressed through the stages of life as referenced above, but have we progressed in our heart, mind, body, and soul? 

You may have established a relationship with God, but are you growing IN that relationship? I grew UP in church, I gave my heart to God as a child, was baptized and over the years believed I had checked all the boxes to be forgiven from my sins and ticketed for a one-way trip to the pearly gates of Heaven. But over the past ten to fifteen years I have been on a journey, I have come to the realization that there is a great divide between being saved and having a relationship with the God of all creation. If we aren't growing IN Christ then we may only be growing up and growing old. 

In I Corinthians 13:11 Paul states that "When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things." Paul's analogy is clear, but it is important to share that preceding and following Paul's bold statement, he writes about knowing "in" part and then the fact that following after Christ will allow him to know completely "in" the same way he is known by God. Growing "in" Christ involves developing our relationship in a way that we strive to know God's will for our lives and in turn understanding God's plan for humanity. 

As you grow IN Christ, life becomes less about you, and more about how you can better serve God through your service to others for God's glory. Knowing God's plan for your life is a journey, reading His word, meeting with God each day intentionally and purposefully, and then spending time in worship and study. As you grow closer, life becomes less about who you are, and more about who you are "in" Christ. We will all grow up and we will grow older each day that we live. The question of the day is more literal than it might sound. How are you growing IN your relationship with the God who created you with a divine purpose in mind? 

Coach Carter

 

GPS

 A few years ago, I wrote about how amazed I was with Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology and how just by inputting a destination you would receive instant directions including every turn and street name you would encounter on your journey. As I reflect on my former amazement, the level by which this technology has progressed goes beyond what my mind can figure out. I use the app Waze for my travels and although there are numerous features that are mind boggling, I suppose the one that makes me scratch my head the most is the ability of Waze to share with me my time of arrival down to the minute as long as I follow the directions provided by this GPS system. Basically, that means Waze knows the route I'm going to take, and this app somehow knows how long each red light is or even if I'm going to get caught by a red light. Waze somehow calculates the slow driver in front of me and the public transportation vehicle that makes three stops before the road opens up and allows me to continue my drive. I receive alerts almost immediately regarding potential hazards ahead and warnings that a certain radar gun may be up ahead. How all of this works is beyond my comprehension. Technology continues to evolve with the advent of artificial intelligence and other "smart" technologies. With all that being said and with all the advances in technology, there is still no comparison to the wonder of our God. If Global Positioning Systems (GPS) amaze me when it comes to directions, then finding the words to best describe God's Plan to Salvation (GPS) is beyond what our minds can conceive. 

When I think of God and His omnipotence it doesn't take me long to reach that point of asking "How does God do it?" How can God know every thought I have, every step I am going to take, and every plan I will  concoct in my brain? In the Gospel of Luke 12:7, Jesus tells us that even the hairs on our heads are numbered. If that is true for every person on this earth, for those who came before me and for all those that will come after me then the world's GPS systems begin to fail to compare. God is all knowing, all seeing, and all powerful. With that in mind, what do we have to fear? What worries do we have that God doesn't already know about even before they become a concern? God's Plan to Salvation (GPS) tells us that He has a plan for each of us to live out and His plans are always going to work out for good. Our good? Possibly not in the same way we might measure "good", but nonetheless good for God's honor and glory. "I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

Without hope and faith trusting in God's GPS can be a challenge. When things are going good and the road ahead is straight and smooth we find it easy to say we trust in God's plan for our lives. But, when the road is filled with potholes, when we are sitting on the side of the road with a flat tire, or even when we find ourselves lost with no clear path ahead, God's Plan for Salvation stands firm and His love for us will carry us forward as we endure life's struggles and heartaches. Is it easy to trust in God's plan when it feels like the world is crashing all around you? The more you place your faith in God and His plan the answer to that question is a resounding "Yes". 

Going back to our Global Positioning System technology, we input our destination and then we take off on our journey following each directional instruction along the way. For all we know, Waze could be taking us down the path of a cornfield in the middle of nowhere, but we trust that this modern technology, that we can't exactly explain how it works, is leading us to our desired destiny. At times in the past has Waze let me down? Yes of course, and there have been times when this world has let me down. The one constant I have in my life is the comfort and confidence I experience, because I know who is in charge and who ultimately sets our hearts GPS towards eternal life.

God's Plan to Salvation is fail proof. We may not be able to see every turn, every hazard ahead, or every trap that we may fall victim to, but God is in control. His plans are not our plans, "My plans aren't your plans, nor are your ways my ways, says the Lord. Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my plans than your plans." Isaiah 55:8-9, and without trust and faith we will fall into a mindset of asking God "Why?" or doubting God's omnipotent power. As for me, if it is so easy for me to trust an app on my phone with directing my journeys, each and every turn and road along the way, then I am sure of this one thing. I will walk with God and I will trust His ways and His will, and I will stand firm in my faith that God's plans for my salvation will never fail! 

Coach Carter