"MORE"

 "More please". Those two words are indicative of where we are in society today. Sadly, the second word isn't always included and it is almost more of a demand, "More!". Wanting more out of life isn't necessarily a bad thing and working hard to achieve "more" is not a negative approach to life at all, yet if the desire for "more" is your driving force, then that very likely tips the scales in the wrong direction of guiding forces in your life. In a society that celebrates gaining more and more, I pray for a different narrative to become the standard by which we live. Instead of asking "more please" what would our world be like if we focused our attention on the act of "pleasing more"?

Two words one focused on taking care of self, the other set on service to others. In action these two words demonstrate what gets our attention each day. If you shape your daily plans around the "more please" attitude, the things you say, the schedule you create, and the intent of the things you do will be centered around one person, you. This can happen unconsciously or even unknowingly because this is a cultural lifestyle that pervades our society. Social media tells us that the more "likes" the more popular we are. Hollywood and the entertainment industry invoke the mindset of wanting more shimmer and more glitter, more body perfection, and more bling bling that supposedly will make everything better. I remember reading that John D. Rockefeller, who during his era was one of the wealthiest people on earth, was asked about how much money was enough. His reply, "just a little bit more". Rockefeller lived in the early 1900's, if that mindset was a driving force for the wealthy then, how do we even define the "MORE" culture we live in today? 

Conversely, opposite of the "more please" mindset, is the more life fulfilling mind shift of "pleasing more". With pleasing more, the focus is automatically off of self. When we seek to take care of other's needs there is no way to spend as much time worrying about what we want. We have a guarantee that our needs will be met in Luke 12:22-31 ", so anything else should fall in the category of a wishlist want. Later on in the same chapter of the Gospel of Luke, Jesus reminds us that, "... where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Luke 12:34. In other words if you place your focus on wanting more for yourself then your heart will only focus on taking care of yourself, but if you place your attention on taking care of the needs of those that are in true need of help, then your attention will be less on self and more on the needs of others.

So what do we do to shift our focus from "MORE" for me to one where we are pleasing God "MORE" through our service and selflessness to others? In the Gospel of Mark chapter 9 the disciples had been arguing about which one of them was the best disciple, albeit more of me, when Jesus questioned them about their argument. After hearing their self-centered stances, Jesus' response is timeless, "Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and servant of all." This in turn brings to mind the parable of the rich man who wanted to gain eternal life and asked Jesus what it would take. Jesus basically told the man that he would have to follow the Ten Commandments to which the rich man replied that he was doing so, but that is when the rubber hit the road. Then Jesus shared that if the man truly wanted to follow Him, the man should sell all he had and give his wealth to the needy. The rich man's response, "But when the young man heard Jesus tell him to give away his money, he was sad. He didn't want to do this, because he was very rich. So he left." Matthew 19:22, textbook "more for me please".

The true essence of our service to God lies in the mentality of thinking about ourselves less. That in itself is a paradoxical shift as many times we equate our life's significance based on what we have, in the "more please" world, the more you get the more you have enhances your self-worth. The more I get, the more people will respect and want to be around me way of thinking. As we have learned from our text today, that way of thinking is way off base. So far off base that Jesus provided a comparison for those out there that are stuck in the "more please" way of thinking. After the young, rich man walked off, Jesus provided this analogy, "I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God" Matthew 19:23-24. As we enter this new week, give some reflective time to where you are in the "more for me" or "more of me for others" mindset. Take the focus off of your own wants and needs and start placing your time and attention on how you can better serve those you live with, those you work with, and those you encounter along this journey called life!

Coach Carter

 

Change Your Perspective and Change Your World

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing," Norwegian saying. What an outstanding perspective. Let's break that down a bit. Basically what this standard setting statement says is that the weather is going to be whatever it is going to be. If you live in Norway, it is a given that you should expect some frigid temperatures and at other times there are periods of damp wet conditions. During the summer months one can expect a mild to warm climate. In other words, there are some variances in the climate of Norway much like they exist around the world. The key to this Norwegian nugget is that regardless of what the weather of the day brings, it is be expected so prepare yourself accordingly and then go about your day as usual. Again, that is quite the method for grounding yourself in a positive mindset. Whatever you find yourself dealing with, it is comparable to the weather. Things are going to happen in your life, some not as good as others, but life happens. Our responsibility is to respond in a similar style to that of the Norwegian saying above. "There is no such thing as a bad lesson to learn, just bad perspectives in learning those lessons."

You can play the blame game all day long and it will probably work for you. I've never been one to blame someone else for my situations. Believe me, it would be much easier to allow my pointer finger to direct the focus on someone else or something else, but that just isn't the way I look at life. How do you react to a bad decision that doesn't go in your favor? The person who believes in the notion that there is such a thing as "bad weather" would say, things always go against me, someone has it out for me, or they lay the blame at the feet of the person who made the decision. For someone that falls more on the "no such thing as bad weather" perspective,  they would respond by looking introspectively at themselves and begin the work of improving those areas to better ensure success going forward. No bad weather, just bad preparation for the weather of the day. 

How about when a team you are part of doesn't win the tournament? Do you accept the defeat graciously and move forward, or do you seek a scapegoat to lessen the blow? The other team cheated, the referee must be about blind, or the home field advantage just stole the win. These are all examples of not accepting the weather for what it is and instead complaining about the rain even though there is a 50/50 chance of showers. When you play a game one team is going to come out with the lesser score and I'm guessing that equates to a 50% chance that your team could lose. No guarantees of victory, just a guarantee that the game is going to be played and then preparation comes into the equation. 

I've mentioned preparation in both of the instances above and that is not by coincidence. For the people of Norway, the better you prepare for the weather of the day, the better your experience will be for the day regardless of the weather. In life, preparation for whatever comes your way on a day to day basis or even more so, for the situations and circumstances that you find yourself dealing with whether it be health, relational, business, or personal life matters, makes all the difference. And what better preparation is there than preparing your heart, mind, body, and soul through a growing relation with our Lord and Savior. Time spent in reading, studying, and meditating on God's Holy Word is time well spent in preparing us for what comes our way. Prayer is a huge component in being prepared for what life brings your way. Prayer is our direct line of communication with God and a definite shaper of our perspective on life. There is no bad weather, just bad clothes, and likewise there is no such thing as a bad rap, just bad preparation for what may be coming your way. 

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24. Regardless of what the weather is, we get to choose how we will receive it. We can complain that the rain ruined our plans for the day, or we can be grateful for the nourishment to the soil and plants that provide us with the delicious vegetables it produces. If we are thankful for the day that God has given us then our perspective will change to one that more closely resembles the mindset of the Norwegian people in terms of the weather outside. God gave you the day, whatever it brings be glad you have a day to enjoy and embrace it for what it will provide. Regardless of what the day brings, keep in mind there is no guarantee you would have this day. 

"I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live." Ecclesiastes 3:12

See It, Be It

 A few years back an educator I had the privilege to work alongside, Mrs. Amy Whaley, was in the running for Tennessee Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Whaley is an amazing educator and in my opinion should have been selected for the TOY award that year. Nevertheless, during her campaign that year, she crafted a tagline, (See It, Be It), to draw attention to the fact that young people can only imagine what they "want to be" when they grow up unless they have first hand knowledge of what career options are out there. This is the foundation of Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs as they allow students to explore, engage, and immerse themselves in related work experiences that represent career fields that are in high demand, high skill, and high wage in our region. Ms. Whaley's campaign centered on the notion that we have to be committed to supporting students in all aspects of their educational journey and assisting them to "see" what might be possible. Otherwise, if they don't see the career options, how can they ever intentionally "be" someone in those career fields. 

The same is true for us in life. For us to live a life of service and commitment to the God of All Creation we need to "see" God. We associate seeing God with being in a church, but it is estimated that well under 40% of Americans attend church at least once a week, making the likelihood of seeing God in a place of worship limited at best. Just as in the career exploration matter above, if as a society we are not "seeing" God in His house of worship, then how is it possible that America will "be" a population of faith filled servants to the one, true, living God? 

Well, to answer my own question, in the vast majority of situations it doesn't just happen by accident. Making the decision to accept God as your personal savior and then following Him and leading others to Christ happens when we live out the life of purpose that God called us to live. As we are living out the life God purposed us to live then others will see God living in us and His work can be accomplished through us. In the case of Christianity and becoming a follower of Christ, it isn't a struggle that is only relevant to our current situation. Even when Jesus was here in human form teaching, modeling, and living out a life of sacrifice and love, some of His closest followers were at times doubters and deniers. In the Gospel of John 20:24-29 Thomas, one of Jesus' own disciples expresses his doubt that Jesus had risen from the grave and states that he would have to see the nail scared hands of Jesus before he would believe. And prior to that Peter actually denied he even knew Jesus in fear of retribution during the arrest of Jesus before the crucifixion (Luke 22:54-62). If men who were traveling and teaching alongside Jesus had trouble believing in God and His omnipotent ability to raise His Son Jesus from the grave, how much more of a challenge is there for men and women to "be" like Jesus if they cannot "see" Jesus? The answer, they can "see" Jesus if we will "be" like Jesus. 

Our responsibility to everyone we meet is to "be" the hands, feet, and heart of Jesus. We help others when they are in need. Our hands lift others up and place them on solid ground. With our feet we move to those in need rather than waiting for them to come to us. And probably as important as anything else, we need to have the heart of Jesus and model His love for our fellow man when they may not even deserve the love we are giving. Our words speak with great volume, but our day to day interactions, choices, and the decisions we make are the true demonstration of allowing people to "see" God living in and through us, thus allowing them to "see" how to "be" like Jesus. 

So, how do we live a life that demonstrates to others how they can "be" like Christ? Good question, easy answer. In John 13:12-15 Jesus told His disciples, "So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, "Do you know what I have done to you? You call me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I  have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you." We model the teachings of Jesus and the life that He lived while He was here among us. The life of Jesus was the very life and lifestyle Paul adopted after He regained His sight from His encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road. As Paul continued to live and serve Christ, his life became more and more like Christ, "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20. Once we submit our lives to Christ it doesn't mean we will never fall short, trust me, I fall short daily. Yet the life I live is no longer mine, when I fall short of God's design for the life He purposed for me, I seek His forgiveness, right my wrong, and learn from it for the next time I encounter any similar situation. We are not perfect like Jesus was, in our imperfections we serve and live out a life in an ever growing relationship with the One that saved us and calls us to be His light to this darkened world. I want to live a life that others can "see" Christ living in me, and thus make the decision to "be" a follower of Christ as well. See It, Be It. 

Coach Carter

The Secret of How to Live (on) Forever

 Spoiler alert, I have not located the "fountain of youth". Second spoiler alert, you don't have to physically live forever to live "on" forever. Today's inspiration focuses on what we need to do to accomplish the latter as opposed to the elusive search for Ponce de Leon's fount. If you want to live (on) forever, I believe I have some sound advice on how to get there, let's go!

Plant seeds. "Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life." Galatians 6:8. My sister and brother-in-law recently visited one of the Redwood forests out west, an area to visit on my bucket list. Not only are these trees enormous, their longevity is note-worthy as well. Trees can live hundreds of years giving them the appearance of living forever, yet unfortunately even the Redwood tree has a life-span. The key to the Redwood not becoming extinct is found in the seeds it bears and the eventual sapling it produces. The same is true for farmers who plant seeds, nurture the plants, harvest the crops, and then start the process over again. Farmers do not plant seeds one time and believe their job is done. It is definitely a cycle that must be continued over and over again. That same principle holds true for us in our endeavor to live forever. As Christ followers, we plant seeds each day and that process is endless much like the farmer's role in the cycle of planting, nurturing, and harvesting. As parents, coaches, teachers, workers, supervisors, or any other leadership role you might possess, we are tasked with planting seeds of hope, resilience, commitment, empathy, and love. Of course love is going to top off the list (I Corinthians 13:13). Love covers a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8) and love is the core factor in nurturing others to become marathon life timers. We do not literally live forever, but those seeds you plant will be eternal if we teach those we live and work with the concept of planting seeds of love and hope. 

Impact the world you live in. In what community do you live? Hint, don't think small. You may live in an apartment complex, a subdivision, a neighborhood, or you may live in a rural community where everyone there knows each other's name. You may focus on your job and the people you work with each day. For some their community consists of the members of their immediate family. For others, the term community brings visions of cities, the state they live in, or even their country or the global community in which we reside. Whatever you deem as your community what is the impact you are making? If you've been following Flat Tire Ministries for any length of time, you most likely understand my take on impact. We are all leaders, how effective and eternal that impact is going to be rests on whether your engagement in their lives is positive and life-building, or negative and sucks the life out of everyone you come in contact with. To live on forever, make your impact a positive one. Your impact will in turn impact others perpetually. 

Make the legacy you are living a positive one. Similar to impact, but a legacy is eternal in itself. What I taught and continue to teach my children are traits and qualities I learned from my father, and those same qualities will be the traits and qualities my children pass down to my grandchildren. Our grandkids will have children someday, and the influence they have on their children will come directly from the life I lived and the importance I placed on certain aspects of living a life well lived. That is how our legacy allows us to live on forever. Your legacy may primarily influence your family, but I believe we can create a legacy in the workplace, in our communities, and around the world. When I think of a legacy model the world renowned evangelist Billy Graham crosses my peripheral vision. Billy Graham's career spanned over 60 years touching the lives of millions of people around the world. Today, Billy Graham's five children are all directly involved in ministry and serving God in their communities. The legacy Pastor Graham cemented in Christ continues to endure, allowing him to in essence, "live on" forever!

What an awesome and amazing responsibility we carry. We have the opportunity to live on forever through the seeds we plant in the lives of others, by the impact we have on those we interact with each day, and by our legacy which we are creating through our words, actions, and the life we live. Don't take this responsibility lightly. "But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His immense patience as an example for those who would believe in Him and receive eternal life." I Timothy 1:16. Your life matters today, tomorrow, and forever. Amen.

Coach Carter

The Price Is Right

 We all love a good deal. Finding a bargain for me is like uncovering a hidden treasure. Little deals or major purchases, finding a deal is what it is all about. Buying a new car or truck today is a major investment. Honestly, the average new vehicle price tag is in line with what a new house would have cost back when I was a young man. (Notice: I didn't say anything about me being old now, I'm just not as young as I used to be) So finding the best deal possible is on most folks minds when it becomes obvious that a "new" vehicle is on the horizon. Rebates, end of the year promos, and salesmen meeting end of month quotas may have a favorable impact on the sticker price listed, but at the end of the day, it's the haggling and back and forth with the auto dealership team that helps seal the deal. It all boils down to one thing, if the price is right, the answer to the offer is "yes". 

Getting a deal at the right price is a learned skill, some folks are way better at haggling a price and they seem to always get the sweetest deals. For others, the art of getting the right price comes down to just pure luck. Being in the right place at the right time seems to happen to certain people all the time. And then there are the folks that do all the research, homework, and preparation for making a case as to what the right price is. Or, you could be like me and fit somewhere in the middle of all of the above. Regardless, we all want a deal. Well today I've got a deal to share with you and guess what? The price is as right as it could ever be, free!

Salvation is defined as the state of being saved or protected from harm or a dire situation. In terms of Christianity salvation refers to the soul being delivered from sin and its consequences. So, as is the case with the vast majority of things in this life, nothing comes free, and salvation fits in that category. Saving our soul from sin and condemnation was accomplished through Jesus. Jesus paid the price for all mankind's sins through His death on the cross. "God's Son, Jesus, paid the price for our sins and made us free. Yes, God has forgiven us." Colossians 1:14. 

When Jesus made the sacrifice to pay the sin debt for us, He in essence paid the price for our sins and thus He made the cost of salvation "free"! Free in the sense that you or I  do not have to pay anything for our salvation, it is free. Pretty good deal I would say. If you were looking for a great deal on a new vehicle and when you asked for the sticker price, you were told it is free, you would either be floored with disbelief or you would be ecstatic filled with joy because you had just been offered a deal you couldn't refuse. Free would definitely fit under the "price is right" category. 

Today, you can't buy salvation, freedom from sin has already been paid for over 2,000 years ago. Our salvation had a price tag and it cost Jesus everything, and the price was paid on the cross of calvary. Since the price is paid, what do we have to do to receive this gift that Jesus provided to all mankind? Romans 3:19 tells us to, "Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing come from the Lord", once again we are assured salvation comes at a price we can all well afford, free! If you have asked God to forgive you of your sins and you have received His forgiveness then you already know that you did not have to pay a penny for His free gift of salvation. If you are carrying around your sins and you have never asked God to forgive you of your sins, then today is the day for you to receive His free gift of salvation. Trust me, the price is right, accept the gift Jesus made available to each of us throughout mankind. Accept forgiveness and enter His free gift of salvation. The price is right!

Coach Carter

  

"Let it Reign"

The Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Crowder sings the song, "Let It Rain", which sends out a dual message in my opinion. On the top layer "Let It Rain" asks God to "rain down" His love on us. The chorus echos that request throughout the song,

"Lord, I need you more and more (I need You more and more)

Let it rain, rain down on me

Every day, whatever You want

Not my will but Yours, Lord (not my will)

Let it rain, rain down on me"

I can feel the yearning for God's outpouring of love and constant companionship throughout his song. What I picked up on as I really listened to the words and cries for God's intervention in life's struggles in this song was a welcoming invitation. Today, I'd like to suggest we change the title of this song from "Let It Rain" to "Let It Reign". Subtle title change, dramatic change in request. 

When we figuratively ask God to "rain" down on us, that is more of a request for God's love, compassion, comfort, or peace to shower us with love. Blue skies turned gray? Let God's love rain down on us. Good times turned bad? Let God's comfort rain down on us. Has your happy day turned into a sad day? Let God's comfort assure you all is well through the rain of His loving embrace. If you have ever cried out to God in your sadness or disappointment and felt His embrace, then you know what it feels like to have God rain down His love. If you haven't ever asked God to rain down on your situation ask and you can experience the calming, peace of His love. 

For me, the deeper meaning, intentional or unintentional, of the title "Let It Rain" is the idea that I want God to "reign" in my heart, soul, body, and mind. "Every day, whatever You want, not my will but Yours, let it (reign) down on me!" This is a reference to Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and eventual death on the cross. Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. Jesus was made of flesh and bones just like us, He didn't want to suffer like He was about to, but He also wanted His Father's will to "reign" over His own fleshly desires. Oh how I want to be more like Jesus! Lord not my will but Yours, let it reign down over me!

So what does that look like? We can all picture God's love "raining" down on us, giving us comfort in our grief and mercy when we sin, but what does it look like if we ask God to "reign" down on us? To me, just like the prayer Jesus prayed, we want to get to the place where we seek God's will each and every minute of each and every day. It no longer matters what we want to do, it is all about completely submitting to God's will for this life He gave us to live in the first place. "Not my will, but yours" basically means we are willing and ready to sacrifice what we want, and replace it with whatever God wants us to do or experience. We may receive showers of blessings or we may encounter storms of life, but regardless, we lean in and say "Lord, Thy will  be done, not my own". If we got everything the way we want things to turn out, there wouldn't be any storms, but storms are necessary when we submit our own desires and relinquish control over our lives to the Lord. Let it reign! Let it pour! Lord, I need You more and more! We can rest assured that God is in control of the "rain" and His "reign" reaches us wherever we may be.

"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice." Psalm 97:1

Coach Carter

The MESSage in the Mess

 Stating the obvious, life is messy. Relationships can be fragile, where a word or especially a written word in today's texting society can send shockwaves through a longtime friendship. Finances are one paycheck blip away from a tumultuous hardship. Messes in the workplace, messes with our health situations, and messes on our daily journeys! Life is messy. Yet, as is the case with pretty much everything, I believe that there is a message in every mess of life.   

I'll be the first to admit that I'd prefer to not have any messy situations come across my lap. I mean who goes and gets in line for a disagreement, hardship, or calamity? Nevertheless, as we know all to well, the "bad" stuff happens and it often feels like it happens way too often! It is easy to get down or to feel downtrodden in the face of adversity. The potholes of life can lead to flat tires, which result in your life's journey being interrupted. What I'm suggesting today is that when the messy and inevitable stuff of life settles in on our lives, we don't have to appreciate the hardship, but we most certainly can and should look through the mess to see the message that God is wanting us to hear. I'd like to share three messages that I rely on when things have gotten messy for me and/or my family. 

First, it is important to remember that God has a purpose for each person's life. Before the creation of the world, God had a plan for Chuck Carter's life, and He created your life with a distinct purpose in mind. The Apostle Paul confirms this in Romans 8:28-30 with this encouraging promise, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." Knowing God has a plan for my life gives me an indescribable peace and that peace gives me the strength to move forward in the face of the harshest of trials or tribulations. 

My second encouraging scripture is taken from the Book of Genesis and the story of Joseph's life. Joseph endured many hardships in life ranging from being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, to being thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit. If you know Joseph's story then you know that through those hardships, God had a plan to make Joseph second in command in Egypt and eventually have the opportunity to save his father and family from starvation and death. It would have been easy for Joseph to have blamed his brothers for all he endured, but instead Joseph realized that God works through what we see as messy to get us to His message. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." (Genesis 50:20). Too often folks want to give up when things get messy, God wants us to be like Joseph and endure the messy so we can live out His ultimate plan for this life God gave us to live. I can list way too many instances that if I had given up or walked away from the messy things in my life, I would have never received the message to "Never give up, Never quit, and always do your best". That mantra has driven me throughout my career and my personal life. 

Lastly, knowing that God is with us gives me the strength I need to persevere. In Romans 8:31 Paul asks two extremely bold questions for us to answer during our daily walk through the messiness of life. "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" If God is walking with you through the trials of life, then who could ever provide enough opposition to outdo God? Let me answer that question, it isn't possible. If we are willing to endure the messy whatever it may be, then the comfort and courage we have in knowing God is for us and He is with us, gives us the strength to carry on. That is why the author of James 1:2-4 was able to make this bold statement, "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." Let me paraphrase that tidbit of advice, "When things get messy, hold on tight, don't give up, help is on the way!" That is the message,  you are not alone, you will never be too far away from God that He isn't right there with you. It may feel like you are alone, but that is on us, God is faithful and His love endures forever. 

Today, I encourage you to look inside the messy and find the MESSage God has for you!

Coach Carter

Come on in, the Door Is Open

I can remember times throughout my life when I have visited friends or family and as I knocked on the door or rang the doorbell, a voice from inside would call out, "Come on in, the door is open!" What a sense of comfort and trust I felt. Here was someone that couldn't see me, but they knew me and they felt comfortable enough to say come on in, with no regard of my appearance or life condition. I mean honestly, I could have just come out of a mud pit and covered from head to toe with caked on dirt. I could have been sprayed by a skunk and my odor would definitely precede me. Any number of conditions may have befallen me before I knocked on that person's door, but hearing those words, "Come on in" put a smile on my face. I hope you have had that same experience in your life. The sad reality is that some haven't, and others may feel like they don't have anyone that would ever say those words to them. Trust me. There is someone who is eager to call out to you, "Come on in, the door is open" you just need to knock on His door!

Christian singer/songwriter Zach Williams has a song out on the soundwaves titled  Jesus Loves , in which the invitation to "Come on in" could have easily been the title. Actually, the inspiration for today's Flat Tire thought came directly from the words of this powerful song. Williams provides a litany of open invitations to those that we may not have been so quick to offer the open door policy from above. The renegades, the rebels, runaways, prodigals, those that are lost, the backsliders, the up all nighters, and those in a rut all receive the invitation to come on in. As I read the lyrics I wondered if that list was being offered to me so that I would not have the opportunity to think I was not invited! Well, if that list doesn't cover your life, then maybe something from the second stanza resonates with your life. Those with shattered dreams, bruised, battered, or even barely hanging on. Those who are heartbroken, lonely, or all alone. Those that believe they are an outcast or stuck in their past, and those that are scared of letting go of the past. Guess what, the invitation is open to you as well. "Come on in, the door is open!"

The truth of this open invitation lies in the very words of Jesus as He shared the original invitation to His disciples and a crowd of people He had never personally met in Matthew 7:7-8 "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." The door is open, come on in! This was the message Jesus was sent to this earth to share. No one was to be excluded, nothing from their past was so bad that they were not invited. Instead Jesus made it clear that if you ask, you will receive. If you seek Him, you will find Him, and whoever knocks on His door to salvation, the door is open, so come on in. That message was true more than 2,000 years ago, and it is still true today. Jesus is the founder of the "open door" policy, and His offer is available to you and I regardless of our dirt or our baggage, to each of us He is shouting out, "Come on in, the door is open". 

To expand on the truth that Jesus invites anyone and everyone to enter into His righteousness, let's turn to another directive from Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your weary souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I find comfort in this scripture, knowing that Jesus wants my dirty past, he feels the pain of my sufferings, and He wants us to place all of our burdens on Him. I can almost hear Jesus calling out, "Come on in, the door is open, take your dirty shoes off at the door, you won't need them anymore!" 

Throughout the song,  Jesus Loves , Williams extends the invitation that Jesus provided to us while He walked and taught in this world. I want to close today by sharing the last stanza of the song: 

"So come on in, the door is open, and the savior's arms are too. The table's set, a seat is waiting and He saved it just for you. So no more running, no more hiding, come on in and you will find that you don't have to be enough, no, no, no, it's been decided by the blood. Yes, you're someone Jesus loves, someone Jesus loves, you're already someone Jesus loves." Zach Williams

Imagine yourself knocking on the door to Jesus's house, you knock and all He says is "Come on in, the door is open" Ask, seek, and by all means knock, His door to peace, love, and salvation is open and waiting on you.

Coach Carter 

Are Mistakes Really a Mistake?

John Maxwell's "The Daily Reader" is a constant source of guidance and growth for me as I am ever  developing others and myself as lifetime learning leaders. Maxwell's inspirational guide is packed with daily practices that should become part of who you are if your aspirations are to be a leader. (Don't forget, everyone is a leader. The only differentiating factor is some people are leading up, others are leading down, and some are leaders of complacency and therefore not leading anywhere, they are stuck in the mud of mediocrity.) In today's Flat Tire Thought, I'd like for us to dissect the true essence of making mistakes and how we should view mistakes in our life's journey. 

To some of us out there, if I were to ask an audience if any one of them had never made a mistake and one person raised their hand you would be so impressed. For the majority of us, we would be skeptical, and for a few of us we would call it what it is "not possible". There has only been one person who has walked this earth who was faultless to the level of perfection, and beyond that we are all a bunch of mistake prone individuals. But, guess what? That's okay, my question today is "Are mistakes really a mistake?"

Here's what the Apostle Paul shared with the followers in the Church at Philippi, "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." (Philippians 3:12-16). The "this" that Paul is referencing in verse 12 is nothing less than the perfection of Christ. Yet, it is noteworthy to point out that Paul says he knows he hasn't reached perfection, and most certainly never will, but he continues to "press on". In other words, Paul is ensuring us that it is okay to mess up, mistakes are a normal part of life. Not that we want to go out and live a destructive lifestyle, but more that we understand that we are not perfect, and when we fail or make a mistake the positive or the negative outcome associated with our mistake is to be determined by what happens next. 

Some folks choose to wallow in their mistakes and vow to never mess up again, but the methodology they choose to utilize is to stay right where they are and never go out on a limb again. Others make mistakes and choose to never take ownership of their mistakes. My daughter, who is a little more like me than she may want to own up to, shared this one with me the other day from decorated military veteran and author Steve Maraboli, "Those with a perpetual victim mindset tend to create the situations from which they suffer." Own up and be accountable, mistakes and even failures are going to happen, it is okay to admit you messed up. Then there are others that have the ability to do great things, but they are so easily frozen by the fear of failure that they do not take any chances so they won't ever be in danger of making a mistake. I personally cannot relate to this mentality. I often use the analogy of a baby learning to walk. If the baby, in fear, does not stand up and take that first step and eventually fall on their derriere, then that child will be crawling around on the floor throughout life. I don't want to crawl, I want to walk, run, and eventually fly! (Isaiah 40:31). 

I guess you can figure out the last group of individuals and how they face mistakes. I belong in this group, not because of anything I've done outside of never quitting or never giving up, but because of the perseverance I have developed through adversity throughout my life. It is my belief that the grit and resilience to overcome mistakes and even monumental failures in life is in each of us. How we address, deal with, and eventually move forward or backward will shape us as either an overcomer or an underachiever. The day that I read this devotional in the Maxwell daily encourager, I made a note in my phone of what I believe would serve as my philosophy in life as it pertains to mistakes and failures. "I would prefer to have a life full of the mistakes I've made rather than make the mistake of not living life to the fullest and learning from the mistakes made in those experiences." I do not promote recklessness and I would by far rather have things go just as planned, but at the end of the day, the flat tires in my life and the shattered panes of glass I have looked through have been the driving force to the man I am today. Through God's unending mercy and grace, I have not only survived, I have thrived due to His guiding hand and His loving embrace. So I ask you today, "Are mistakes really a mistake?"

Coach Carter

From, Through, and For Him

 Everybody loves to receive a gift. Birthdays, Christmas, showers, and other celebrations make for prime opportunities to share a gift with family or friends. Other unexpected gifts given for no other reason than to give one, make for an even more rewarding experience for both giver and recipient. In today’s Flat Tire thought we are going to look at the gifts God has given us either directly or indirectly. The scripture we will base our conversation around will be  Romans 11:36 "For from Him and through Him and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." What Paul is essentially saying is everything comes from Him, the one true living God. 

Stop, pause, and look around. I mean seriously look around. Everything your eyes can see and even the things you can't see  came from God. Trees, grass, flowers, rivers, and streams, sun and moon, and every living creature that exists. These were all created for you. Impossible you say, How could all of this have been created for you or I at the beginning of time? But it is true, the gifts of this world all come from God. Our families, our home, our jobs, and our skills are just as much a gift from above, not by anything we do, but everything we are and have are from God our Heavenly Father. "All we are and have we owe to God, Holy God of Israel, our King!" Psalms 89:18.

Have you ever experienced what could be labelled a miracle? I would suggest that whether you answered that question with a "yes" or a "no", you most certainly have experienced a miracle through God's faithfulness. We hope and we pray for healing in a health issue for a loved one or we ask God to intervene in our hardships and challenges. Whatever it is, we pray for answers through God's Holy Spirit. Think of it like a conduit through which electricity flows from the source directly to us. Love, joy, peace, hope are all gifts that we receive through God's love to us. I am reminded of the verse in Psalms 121:1-2 "... where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth."

When we really give thought to our lives and all that we have been given from our Creator, then, when we think about how we have received abundantly more than we could ever earn or deserve through God's love, it is hard to come to terms with the fact that God did all that He has done for you and for me. To the extent of God allowing His Son Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave his one and only son, so that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him." John 3:16.  

The free gifts of forgiveness and redemption came from God to each of us. Through  the life of His Son Jesus, we have been taught how to give rather than expect to receive, and it is our responsibility to do all we can for God to ensure we live out the life God purposed us to live! If that doesn't place a smile on your face, I'm not sure what will! 

Coach Carter

Trust & Obey

 Trust. That word alone sounds so simple. As believers we share the word "trust" in very simple terms. When someone is in need we encourage them to "Trust in the Lord", or in other words "trust" that everything is going to be okay. By saying to others "Trust in God's plan for your life" or even saying it to ourselves, we are assuming there exists faith. We can't trust what we don't have faith in. We trust that the vehicle we are riding in is going to get us safely to our destination because we have faith in the manufacturer who designed and assembled the vehicle. We didn't see the car being assembled nor did we watch the engineers and designers lay out the blueprint for the vehicle, but we "trust" that they knew what they were doing when they designed the car, truck, van, or SUV. That trust which in most cases is unrelated to first hand knowledge that we possess, puts us into a two ton vehicle just about every day and we do so without hesitation. Our "trust" has merged into the lane of faith, and that faith is demonstrated daily through our own individual actions. So by saying "Trust in the Lord" what we are actually saying is have faith that whatever happens in your life, God has a plan and you are part of it, and whatever happens in your life is in some way part of God's plan. If we believe that is true, then we develop faith, and if we truly have faith, then we get into the vehicle of life each morning and trust that God has a plan and we are traveling each day to our destination. What we do along the trust ride is up to us, if we say we "trust", then we must have faith in God's plan, and if we trust and believe, then we must and will obey God's Holy Bible and follow His commands for the life He gave us to live. 

Why is trusting in God so hard for someone to do? Well, it isn't as long as life is going just the way we want it to go. Going back to our vehicle analogy above, as long as our vehicle is working properly, the tank is full of gas, and there are no visible or audible issues with the vehicle, then we easily "trust" that we can hop in and go for the day's journey. Yet, if smoke is coming out from under the hood, or a clinkity- clank noise is heard when we turn on the ignition, then our trust in the vehicle quickly diminishes and we aren't as confident in our mode of transportation. This holds true for us as humans as well. When life is good, health checks out, bills are paid, and family is fine, it is easy to say, "Yes, I trust in the Lord", and why wouldn't we? God is meeting all our needs and just like the shirt says, "Life is Good". The true challenge in trusting God comes when things are not so good, when life gives us a "flat tire" of sorts. This is where trust turns our faith into action. 

In James 2:14-26 the author challenges us to show our faith in God without showing our faith in action. "What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." Our "works" as James points out are the demonstration of our trust in God, and then regardless of the circumstances our trust becomes our faith which moves us to action. Or at least that is the way it is supposed to go. Again, trusting in good times is way easier than having faith that God is working through every situation we have going on in our lives and He wants us to build our faith in Him, and that faith is actionable and visible in all we say and all we do regardless of our circumstances or current status in life. 

Where we potentially struggle is when we aren't representing our trust/faith through our works/daily choices. We must strive to be a reflection of God's love in all we do. God's love is witnessed through the actions and steps we take each day to serve others as we live out Jesus' example of servant leadership. In the book of Matthew 25, Jesus shares the parable of the goats and the sheep through which He explains how trusting in Him is demonstrated by our works for Him or our lack of faith in Him is played out through the absence of our acts of service to our fellow man. This paradox is presented in terms of service to God through our service to others. "I was hungry and you either fed me or ignored me, I was thirsty and you either gave me a drink or you denied my thirst, I was a stranger and you either invited me in or you denied me access, I was without a warm coat and you either gave me yours or you buttoned yours up and walked on, I was sick and you either took care of me or you ignored my illness, I was imprisoned and you either came to visit me or you forgot all about my very existence." (Matthew 25:35-43) The follow through on that set of scriptures is summed up by Jesus in saying "What you did or didn't do for the least of these you did or didn't do for me." (Matthew 25: 40-45). Thus trusting is demonstrated through faith, and faith is demonstrated through our works, which is carried out through service to others regardless of our own situations in life.

As our time together comes to a close today, I want to encourage you in growing your trust factor by allowing your faith to move you to service to others in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Things may be tough, things may be rough, and the end may be nowhere in sight, yet our faith can only be witnessed by others through our very service to them. When I stand before God, my hope is that He will look at me and say, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:23). My prayer is that God will meet with you and offer you the same invitation to enter into His Kingdom. Amen.

Coach Carter

What Do You Want to BE?

 It is graduation time around this grand country and as I had the opportunity once again to address one of our high school graduating classes, I would like to share an expanded version of my message to this year's graduates. 

As a child, I feel certain that the majority of you were asked countless times, "What do you want to be when you grow up?" To which many of you replied a doctor, a lawyer, a veterinarian, or possibly even a teacher. Today, you will go forward in that pursuit of the goals and dreams you have set for yourself. Yet, for me that question isn't really about finding a job or career that will allow you to make more money, or enable you to buy more things than your neighbor, instead it is all about you finding your calling, your purpose in life. To that, I want to inspire you to BE the best you, that you can BE.

BE a lifetime learner. You are graduating high school, turning the page, not closing the book. Pursue knowledge and never lose the desire to grow and learn. Regardless of your chosen career, be the best and always strive to be better. Seek the lesson and learn from your mistakes and those instances some would label as failures. If you do that you will succeed in life. 

BE a change agent. Mahatma Gandhi challenged each of us with these words, "Be the change you wish to see in the world." In your pursuit of a career that will sustain and provide for you and your future family, search for your calling that will allow you to use your strengths and talents to make this world a better place to live for your children's children. Never accept the status quo as fact. Change occurs when you see a problem and you believe you have an answer and then you take the necessary steps to change the status quo. This world has problems, choose one. 

BE strong and resilient. In your lives you have already endured and overcome a global pandemic that rocked the world and a more regional catastrophic weather event unlike anything the majority of us in this stadium have ever witnessed. Whether you realize it yet or not, you have developed the grit and perseverance to overcome any adversity you will encounter in life. Use that character trait in all of your endeavors. Never quit, and never give up, and always do your best!

Most importantly, above all else, BE-lieve. Develop a faith that surpasses explanation and hold tight to hope because hope will not and does not disappoint. (Romans 5:3-5). Live out your faith each day, when things get tough as they most certainly will at some point, remember that you are not walking this road alone. "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

Congratulations to each of you on reaching this milestone in your life, I can't wait to see what you do next!

Coach Carter 

Window Cleaner or Starch?

 Odd title for this week's FTM. Putting those two items together would appear to be a far stretch at best, but I've got a little story to share behind today's message of purpose. A little embarrassing, but as in all things, I believe God has a purpose, a lesson, or a plan in all we encounter each day. 

It was a Saturday morning, much like the majority of Saturday mornings when I catch up on the week's laundry and then iron and press the wrinkled dress items for the upcoming work week. (Thanking God and the clothing industry for those wrinkle free shirts and pants, but there's still enough wrinkles out there to hold on to the ironing board!). On this particular Saturday, as I set up the ironing board and plugged in the iron for preheating, I also grabbed the can of starch and set it alongside the board while I gathered the hangers. From there it was pretty much a routine hour or so, as I finished up my dress shirts and slacks. I turned off the iron, closed up the ironing board, and was looking around for the aerosol starch can lid, when my attention was drawn to the label on the can. Unbeknownst to me, I had somehow grabbed my aerosol window cleaner can, which to my defense does look very similar to the starch spray I use. (At least that is my story and I'm sticking to it!). Instantly, I went to my shirts and started looking closely to see if the window cleaner had stained my shirts or possibly something worse. Much to my dismay, the shirts appeared to be just as pressed and sleek as in any of my other ironing experiences. When I realized I had not ruined my wardrobe, I half jokingly said to my self, "Well my shirts are ironed and also squeaky clean!" Fortunate that all was well, and thankful for the story starter for a future Flat Tire Ministries Thought. Everything has a purpose and everyone has a purpose, you may be able to substitute and find someone that can fill the void in most situations, but at the end of the day, we have all been called and we each have a divine and unique purpose in this life God created for you to live. 

When I think about being born with a purpose, a verse from Proverbs 17:17 comes to mind, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity." Now I could spend the rest of our time together sharing how my actual brother Bob has always been there for me and that would not do justice to the brother he is and has always been to me, but for the purpose of today's message, I'm looking at the term "brother" in a much broader sense than just flesh and bones. In I Thessalonians 4:9 Paul explained that loving others in "brotherly love" is our command, "Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another." And if there is any doubt in your mind what God's purpose for your life is, the words of Jesus in Mark 12:30-31 should clear out any room for question. "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." If that doesn't give you a direct understanding of your purpose on this earth, then I'm not sure what you are looking for? 

The label on the window cleaner bottle explains the product's purpose which is pretty "clear" to clean your windows. The label on the spray bottle of starch defines one specific purpose for the product within. Use to take out wrinkles from my clothes as I iron. Even though I inadvertently misused the window cleaner during my Saturday morning laundry routine, I didn't convert over to using window cleaner as starch. Each of those products have their own purpose. So do you! Above and beyond our jobs, our roles in our communities, and our interests or goals we are called to love God and then love our neighbors as ourselves. As our scriptures for the day pointed out above, if we are to love others out of brotherly love, and Jesus commanded us to love our neighbors as ourselves, then your purpose and my purpose should be undoubtedly to love others like we love God. And if we love our neighbors as if they are our brother then the verse I referenced from Proverbs gives us our marching orders. "A brother is born for a time of adversity". 

If you are searching for your purpose in life you need not look any further. God's plan for your life is to love God first and then to love others just like we love Him. Loving others should be done out of brotherly love, and as King Solomon pointed out in Proverbs 17:17 a brother is born to support others in their adversity. I assure you there is enough adversity in this world to go around for everyone to love someone enough to scoop down and offer a helping hand. You were born on purpose with a divine purpose in mind. Don't get caught attempting to fulfill a purpose outside of God's plan. Our plans are not His plans and our plans will most likely place our individual needs before those of our "brothers" and sisters in Christ. Clean your windows with window cleaner, press your shirts with starch, and love one another as God loves you because that is what you were purposed to do!

Coach Carter

 

Getting Down to the Foundation

 During my morning and afternoon commute to work I pass by a construction site where a new automotive dealership is being built. The property is a commercial lot that previously housed a hotel complex, so the land was fully constructed for use by the public for decades. By that I mean electrical service, water and other power lines were in place, and the lot was completely paved for public access. When this new construction process started it was obvious that the hotel would have to be demolished to which the construction company completed in a very timely and proper manner, yet what I did not anticipate was what happened after the existing structures were cleared. 

More recently, I was surprised when I drove by the area and the heavy equipment on site was busy removing the asphalt and digging down what appears to be an additional 3-4 feet below surface. I suppose I was taken aback by the depth of work being done to create a new foundation for the car lot, especially since there was already what appeared to be a solid base in place. What I didn't take into consideration was the damage that the former structure created for the foundation as it was. The breakdown of the original asphalt and concrete created an unacceptable base for the new business and its purpose. For this property to effectively support the needs of its new tenants, the old had to be removed before the new can be installed. 

Does that sequence of events sound familiar in your own life? Have you ever wanted to "turn a new leaf" and get a fresh start on life? That idiom originated from the 16th century where pages of books were referred to as leaves. When you wanted to start afresh, you would turn a new leaf, signifying that you had turned the page from your former ways and wanted a blank slate on which to start a new chapter of life. We are invited to do the same in our walk of faith. Just like the business site example above, there is a time when we will realize the life we are living isn't the life we want to live. We will see that our plans are not His plans, and we will come to understand that we must be willing to do away with things in our life that may be holding us back from becoming what God purposed us to be, "... to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness." Ephesians 4:22-24. 

As any athlete will attest, there are habits that inhibit us from becoming the stellar athlete we want to become. In the verse above shared with us by the Apostle Paul, athlete or not when we make the choice to follow and serve God, there are things that will hinder us as well if we don't clear them out of the way. Our own self-centeredness must be removed, taking down things that we idolize have to go, and doubts or fear have to be submitted to our Lord and Savior as Jesus instructed us, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I  will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. Just as the future car dealership lot had to be taken down and a new foundation had to be created, we too must be willing to dig deeper and remove the parts of our lives that distract or hinder us from becoming who God created us to be. 

The former Westside Inn hotel site started out in the 1950's as a Howard Johnson Inn, a staple travel choice as travelers began to vacation across the country. Years later it was purchased and given the name Westside Inn, the name it carried until the Kia automotive dealership purchased the site. The land could not serve the dealership in the state the land was, even after removing the hotel complex and office structure. Removing the old structure provided a base, but not a firm foundation. Hence, the current state of the property where the bulldozers and excavators are creating a new foundation that will serve the new owners well. God wants that same new foundation for us as well. He invites us to turn away from the former, "turn a new leaf", and from that blank page fill our lives with God's plan for the life He has purposed us to live. Romans 12:2 urges us "Do 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." Are you ready to be transformed, do you want to become what God truly created you to be? Each day I want to be more, I want to have my life be less about me and all about God and His plan for the life He gave me to live. Are you ready to dig deeper and find that new foundation on which God can create a vessel He can fill and then pour out for His Kingdom's sake? Dig deeper and build back stronger! 

Coach Carter

Blind Faith

 Have you ever participated in a trust fall activity? You know, the game-like situation where you stand with your back to a friend and when given the command to fall, you are to blindly fall back into the arms of the person behind you. It is appropriately called a trust fall because as you fall backwards the natural instinct is to try to catch yourself or bend your knees to lessen your fall. If done correctly, you stay as straight as an arrow and you fall backwards way beyond the point where you believe someone is going to catch you. To do the trust fall properly, you have to have a certain degree of courage and trust. As I have participated in this activity over the years, mainly with youth groups, it feels like one of the hardest challenges is to have the courage to trust that someone is going to catch you when you fall. To have that trust, you have to have faith in the person behind you. In this particular activity, you may know the person well, or you might be partnered with someone that you may know a little or possibly someone you just met. It would be safe to say that the more familiar you are with someone, the more that trust factor goes up. Regardless of how familiar you are with the person behind you it takes a certain amount of "blind faith" to fall back into the arms of a person, trusting he or she will catch you. Today, we will be looking at the life of a blind man who placed his trust in Jesus. I think it would be safe to say that the blind man "fell into the arms of Jesus".

In the Gospel of John chapter 9, we are relayed a story of a man who had been blind since birth whom Jesus performed a miracle on, and gave the man sight. After healing the man's blindness, Jesus left the man to share his good news. Jesus came under immediate scrutiny from a group of nearby Pharisees for healing a man on the Sabbath. The men questioned the formerly blind man about who healed him and under what authority did the man perform this miracle. The blind man answered once that he really didn't know who the man was. Then the doubters had the man's parents brought to them and they questioned them about their son's blindness and this miraculous healing. They couldn't tell the Pharisees anything either, they were just shocked and amazed that their son who had been blind since birth now had sight. So finally, the group of Pharisees asked the man one more time about who it was that healed him. The formerly blind man's response here is golden. In John 9:25 the man replied to those questioning him, "Whether he is a sinner or not, I don't know. One thing I do know. I was blind, but now I see!" Blind faith. 

"I don't know who restored my sight, I don't know anything about him, but I know one thing. I was blind and now I see!" What a statement of faith. I couldn't see him, but he saw me and he healed me, which is pretty much how I interpret the man's stance. In a way, it mirrors the whole idea of a trust fall. I don't know who was behind me, but I fell into their arms and they caught me. I trusted and believed and the person behind me kept me from hitting the ground and being hurt. That "blind faith" mentality is where trust turns into faith and faith creates hope. That hope in turn creates a deeper trust and that is where we fall into the arms of Jesus. Our own blind faith experience of falling into the arms of the One that is there to catch us regardless of what life throws our way. 

Is there an area of your life that needs some "blind faith"? Are you facing challenges in your life that are creating doubt and fear and that fear is holding you back or holding you down? It may be time to do a check on who or what you are placing your faith in or where you are placing your trust. In the "trust fall" exercise we place our trust in a person, but that trust is grounded in our faith that God is in control and God will always be there to catch us when we fall. Just as the formerly blind man stated, "One thing I do know, I was blind and now I see. Drop the mic. I want that same blind faith, that same trust that firmly believes God is in control and He will always be there to catch me when I fall. 

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see" Hebrews 11:1

Coach Carter

The Rocking Chair

I suppose I am more of a visual learner. Creating an image in my mind serves me well in my understanding of a concept. Recently, I heard this jewel that I'd like to share regarding worry. It went something like this, "Worrying is like a rocking chair, it keeps you busy, but it doesn't get you anywhere." How true that statement is. Envision a traveler that plans a trip to a distant location and then sits down in his rocking chair and spends each day rocking back and forth waiting to arrive at his planned arrival. I can almost hear the cadence, one step forward, one step back, one step forward, one step back, .... Sitting in a rocking chair and hoping it will get you to any destination would simply be ludicrous. In much the same vein, sitting around worrying about something that hasn't happened yet or worrying about possible outcomes that have not even been diagnosed is comparably ludicrous. Armed with that visual, I titled today's Flat Tire Ministries thought, "The Rocking Chair"

Worry, anxiety, and fear, I can't imagine that anyone wants their day filled with any of these aforementioned woes. Yet, I found a recent survey that shows over 60% of Gen Z and Millennials report that they have created designated "worry" times in their daily schedule. It is estimated that on average people spend over two hours a day worrying about things that are completely out of their control and in many cases are not even on the radar of "real" crises. Why would anyone want to sit around worrying, it is the same outcome in my estimation. If you want to travel, don't sit in a rocking chair, if you want to live a productive life, don't spend your time in unproductive worry. 

When I say worry is unproductive, I am in no way suggesting that we shouldn't have concerns. Life is full of things that concern us, but that concern can quickly creep into the realm of worry. When we allow that to happen, worry tends to cause us to become reluctant, we start analyzing and calculating the potential dangers and risks allowing those factors to hinder our forward progress. Picture the rocking chair of potential danger. Health scares, fear of financial failure, possible rejection, or even a basic fear of the unknown can all freeze progress. And at the end of the day, what benefit is there to worrying? What outcome of worry can be measured to support progress? In my mind the visual becomes one that depicts more of a one step back, one step back, one step back picture when we allow worry to dominate our thought processes. Mark Twain famously once said, "Worrying is like paying a debt you don't owe". Nothing ventured, nothing gained aptly depicts the outcome of spending our days worrying and fretting over things that have not even occurred and have no guarantee of ever happening. 

In Matthew 6:27 Jesus posed this question, "And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?" Think about it, what is the gain of worrying? "I might not make the team if I try out", "I might fall if I climb up there", or "What will I do if I start a business and it fails?" These are all examples of the rocking chair mentality of worrying disrupting progress. One step back, one step back, one step back. The danger of allowing worry to consume your thoughts is the debilitating impact on your progress in fulfilling God's plan for your life that was carved out before you were even born. You have a purpose, you have been created with a plan in place, you can not allow worry or fear of something that hasn't happened and may never happen to keep you from fulfilling God's plan for your life. Your choices impact the lives of others, and when you allow fear to dictate your decision-making processes, progress is either delayed or denied. 

In closing, I'd like to share a link to a video entitled, "Goodbye Yesterday" by Elevation Rhythm. The upbeat, high energy tempo of this song exemplifies the idea that I won't let fear control my life. I won't allow the past or the uncertainty of the future hold me back in a rocking chair. "I have decided to follow Jesus, the world behind me, the cross before me!" Think of the famous words of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt in his 1933 inaugural speech as he inspired a nation reeling from the devastating impact of the Great Depression, "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself". Fear immobilizes progress, fear places us in the rocking chair of indecision and crushes our potential progress. Think about it, what have you ever gained through your worries? I want to move forward and I certainly don't want to stand still! I want to invite you to join me as we get out of that rocking chair of fear and anxiety and step into the potential of what today may hold. As the singer of the featured song echoes throughout the lyrics, "I'm dancing on the grave that I once lived in!" No more looking back, I'm taking the one step forward, one step forward approach to life, will you join me? Let's go!

Coach Carter

The Hand of God

 It is a memory that is etched in the frontal lobe of my mind and will forever haunt my thoughts and dreams. A minute incident, that lasted for what seemed like an hour, causes me to shiver at just the mere reoccurrence of that day in my mind. I've been kayaking more than two decades now with most of my paddling being done on the bountiful river options of East Tennessee. The Nolichucky, French Broad, Clinch, Holston, and Pigeon Rivers have all provided a respite from the hustle and bustle of life. For the most part there hasn't been what I would label as a dangerous situation since most of the paddling has been in either flat water or at the most some small class I or II rapids and current. That all changed when my son, Ethan, and I decided to hit some faster moving water with more technical rapids on the Hiwassee River in Southeast Tennessee near Chattanooga. 

The Hiwassee at that time, was a definite step up from what Ethan and I had been used to paddling. As a matter of fact, this was the first time that we had been required to wear a skirt around the mouth of our kayak to keep the rapids from flooding our boat, and helmets on our heads in case we capsized and while under water engaged rocks or other hazardous obstacles. In particular, the skirt being new to us ended up being a critical component of the issue we encountered. If you aren't familiar with the skirt it is in most cases a black elastic water barrier that the kayaker pulls up around their waist and then after entering the kayak you stretch the deck around the mouth of the boat making for a tight water sealant as you encounter rapids and waves on the river. As we were fitted for our skirt we realized there was really only one thing that stood out making the front different from the rear. There is a small grab loop on the front of the skirt which offers a release from the kayak when you need to exit. Without the grab loop the kayaker is snugly encased in the boat with no other method to exit. 

For the most part we had never needed a guide on a river float, but in this case, with the water moving a great deal faster and the rapids being much more technical it was a must for us to travel with a group and a river guide. After a brief safety and instructional tutorial from our guide we plunged our kayaks into the chilly river depths. It didn't take long for us to begin encountering white water and it was definitely exhilarating. We had been white water rafting numerous times on some of the best rivers around, but being on the same level as the white water made it so much more real. Things were going well and we were definitely enjoying the trip, that is until we came upon our first 2 to 3 foot wall drop resulting in a fairly deep hole. It is important to add that most of our group, including Ethan and I had not mastered the technique of Eskimo Rolling in case you end up capsized which in our case was all but inevitable. I ventured through the rapid soon after the guide and a couple of others passed through before Ethan made his way to the shoot. Ethan made it through the drop and out of the hole adequately, but as he maneuvered the last portion of the run he lost balance and his boat soon capsized. At the moment it created a small chuckle since he was out of the rapid and sat in a bit more tranquil water, but the brevity of the moment soon dissipated when Ethan didn't surface. Time froze, along with my mind. I could not figure out why Ethan had not pulled his grab loop and popped up out of the river's murky water. All I could see was the hull of his kayak and I really didn't know what to do next. I was more than twenty yards down current and any attempt to enter the water would have resulted in me being pulled downstream further away instead of closer. That visual is what makes me shudder, seeing the bottom of a kayak, knowing that your child was on the other side and that he wasn't surfacing made for a horrifying memory that you wouldn't want to relive, ever. At that moment, the guide's kayak darted alongside Ethan's hull and he thrusted his arm down into the water and suddenly the kayak flipped back carrying Ethan up to the surface. Honestly, it felt like a long time to me, but I know he could not have held his breath much longer even though it was probably less than a minute. With Ethan now topwater again and our crew drifting down the main channel, the guide blared out, "Hand of God!" to which Ethan most definitely could relate. Ethan escaped what could have been a tragic whitewater accident and as later revealed he could not have escaped the tragedy without a hand from above reaching down to rescue him from drowning. What we soon found out was that Ethan had inadvertently tucked his grab loop under the skirt deck as he stretched the rand of the skirt around the kayak. He literally had no way to make a wet exit when he capsized his boat. It took the Hand of God technique to save Ethan's life. How many others are even cognate to the fact that they too have experienced the hand of God reaching down to save their lives figuratively or literally? 

The "Hand of God" technique that rescued my son from potentially drowning from underneath his kayak, may be one of the most appropriately named white water rescue techniques ever named, but it is also quite transferable in life as a high school student I shared this story with reminded me. I can't remember why I was actually sharing this particular story, but as I did Nathan commented, "There's a lot of that happening every day." All I could think about for some time after that was how true his comment was. I'm not sure how much at the time Ethan thought about the concept of God's hand reaching down to save him that day, and I'm not so sure any of us, give a great deal of thought to those instances when God has in one way or another reached down to save us from some form of tragic adversity or affliction, but rest assured it happens around the world, and right next door to you every single day. Many times rescue appears to be pure ole "good luck" or possibly a coincidence that the right person was in the right place at the right time. Well, I'm here today not by coincidence and luck has had nothing to do with it at the end of the day. I was saved from my own "life at risk" situations over my sixty plus years of life. Too many to list in my own estimation, but enough to reflect on and to give God the credit for saving me from the situation in which I was drowning. There is no such thing as a coincidence, and luck is just another name for hard work in my opinion. God has a purpose for your life and sometimes He has to reach down and pull you out of the water before you drown. The problem as I see it is you have to be willing to take His hand and allow Him to pull you up. God is in the business of saving, that is why we are about to observe Easter next week. God saw mankind drowning in sin and He thrust down His hand and gave us His only Son Jesus to pull us up out of the depths of our sins. It is our job to take God's offer and hold on to Him and receive the rescue from our sins. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only son so that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but instead gain everlasting life" John 3:16. God is reaching down for you today!

As we end our time together, I'd like to ask you to read the following scripture from Psalms 18:16-19 and wherever you read pronouns replace them with your own name. The powerful message I received was that God is reaching down for me, personally reaching down to save me from this world and the attacks of evil that exist each day we live and breathe. That day on the Hiwassee River, Ethan grabbed the Hand of God that saved his life. I'm certain God has reached out His hand numerous times beyond that instance in Ethan's life. He has done and continues to do the same for you and I today. Have you grasped the hand of God as He reaches out to save you? If not you can reach out today, His hands are open and He invites you to enter into His peace and presence each and every day. 

Coach Carter

"He reached down from Heaven and rescued me; He drew ________ out of deep waters. He rescued ________ from _____'s powerful enemies, from those who hated _________ and were too strong for __________. They attacked _________ at a moment when ______________ was in distress, but the Lord supported ____________. He led ____________ to a place of safety; he rescued _____________ because He delights in ____________." Psalms 18:16-19