Provide

 Man on man, did I get fired up as I was preparing to share this FTM thought with each of you this morning. I had heard a song on the radio a week or so ago, and thought it might work into a future message, but "Wow!" I pulled up the video of the song The Lord Will Provide by Landon Wolfe and Passion and the blessings just started flowing! (I encourage you to click on the link and not only listen to the song, but listen to the words and the message they share) The song's lyrics are centered around Jesus' message to His disciples about where they should be placing their focus and attention each day. In Matthew 6, Jesus encourages His followers to "... seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33. Seek God and God will provide, are you ready? Let's go!

In the song, Wolfe points out three needs from the message of Jesus that still exist today. "What are we going to wear?", "What are we going to eat?", and "What are we going to drink?" are still pretty common questions we deal with regularly. Those may seem to be trivial questions in the scope of things, but what Jesus was referring to are the birds in the sky and the flowers in the field. Watching a flock of birds synchronously floating about in the sky is a pleasure for the eye, but what we don't ever see are birds crying or fretting about what they will eat or drink? Could it be that they know what we struggle to comprehend, God will provide! The lilies of the field are beautiful as the breeze beacons them back and forth, but the lilies, in all their beauty, are clothed by God and there is no worry about how they are adorned. Jesus then asks the question, if I'm taking care of the birds and the flowers what do you have to worry about, don't I provide for you more than I do the lilies of the field? (Matthew 6:25-32) 

So, does that mean that God is going to provide you with everything you ask for regardless of what you are asking for? If that were the case, wouldn't we all go out and purchase the big lottery ticket tonight and in unison all pray, "Lord, I need that lottery tonight, will you make sure I win it?" Well, first do you really "need" a pot of gold or is it more of a matter of we "want" that instant millionaire status? As the song points out, God will provide "everything" you "need". When I look at my own life, I have to ask, "What is it that I really need?" I mean really need? There are times when we have to rearrange things in our refrigerator to make room for a few new items from the store, and when it comes down to a roof over our head and a soft pillow to lay our heads down on each night, what could I sincerely ask for that I truly need? Praise God, He has provided and I firmly believe He will continue to provide what I need to survive and thrive!

That leads us to the question of what happens when it feels like God didn't or isn't providing what we truly believe we "need"? A sickness that isn't being healed, a financial free fall that does not appear to have a net prepared to catch us, or possibly a relationship that has shattered and resolution is not on the horizon, are all more comparable to a list of things that we truly "need". This is where we have to learn to trusst God and have faith that what we feel is an unanswered prayer may be something that will be fulfilled in God's timing not ours. He is going to fulfill His plan for your life and it may feel like your prayers are not being heard or that God doesn't care about you, but I am telling you to trash your fears and cast off your doubts, because the God we serve is a great big God and He knows exactly what we need for His will to be fulfilled! Everything you need, and everything I need, God knows what we need!

I have friends, colleagues, and family members that are going through what I am certain feels like their world is crashing all around them, or life conditions that have brought them to the point of asking "Where are you God? Are you here? Don't you hear my prayers?" My heart breaks for each of you and I am praying for you. But the message that I need to share with you today is that God will provide. Will it be exactly what we pray for or how we pray for the outcome to be? My faith tells me that my plans and ideas are not Gods always. God's plans are unimaginable for our human minds to conceive, yet by placing our trusting faith in the One True Eternal God of All Creation, we can find peace, strength, and the stamina we need to courageously move forward. Trust in the Lord, do not rely on your own understanding, in everything submit to God, and He will illuminate your path forward." (Proverbs 3:5-6) Join me in prayer today for God to open our eyes and strengthen our hearts to trust that God will provide! Amen

Coach Carter

"Doing Is Believing"

A thought to get us started in our time together today. Hearing someone tell you to do something doesn't change anything unless we do what we were told to do. It takes action on the part of the person receiving the message. Think through the following scenarios. As a student, the teacher covers the lesson, but it isn't until the student executes the learning on paper that there is evidence that the learning took place. If the lifeguard blows their whistle and yells for everyone to get out of the water, it doesn't matter if the swimmers stay in the water while the shark rapidly approaches. We can attend a dance and the music sounds so inviting, but unless we move out onto the dance floor and bust a move, it is all just noise. And, if someone yells out for us to move and we stand still, there may be a piano getting ready to land on our head. In each of the scenarios above, we are moved by action by someone or something telling us to do something. We make a choice from there, we can choose to "do" what we have heard, or we can hear and then choose to do nothing. 

Just as in the scenarios above, hearing alone does not constitute action. In the book of James we are told, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 1:22 We can sit and listen all day long, but until we respond to what we have heard we can be considered passive listeners. It all sounds good and we want to be associated with the deliverer of the message, but actually moving to action and doing what we have heard takes a little bit more of a commitment. The New Living Translation of James 1:22 is more straightforward, "But don't just listen to God's word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves." What is it that moves us to "doing"? I believe it is a trust in the Deliverer of the message that is being delivered. We call that faith. 

A little further in the Book of James we read, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." For our purpose today, what the author is basically saying is you can listen, and you can hear, but until you put wheels on it, it isn't doing you much good. If we hear the teacher and we don't apply what we heard then we can't really demonstrate that we learned anything. If we hear the lifeguard telling us to get out of the water and we don't, we may be encountering JAWS in the near future. We have to get up and move or the music is just for listening, and if we don't move when we are told to move, the piano movers may just drop the piano right on top of our head. 

In the sermon at church today, the pastor referenced the story of Moses being told by God to return to Egypt and to lead his people out of their bondage. Moses was scared and hesitant. That hesitance can quickly turn to disobedience. Moses had to trust that his burning bush experience was God telling him to move, and from there it was up to Moses to lace up his sandals and begin the trek back to Egypt. Did Moses have a reason to be worried? Yes, he had murdered an Egyptian there and could face imprisonment or even death. But even worse than the potential punishments at the hands of Pharaoh, was the risk of not doing what he had been told by God to do. Moses had to have faith that God would do what He said He would and He did!

What are you hearing God telling you to do today? Are you even listening to God's directives that He is sharing with you today?  I've always heard that God moves in mysterious ways, so it could be that He is moving you to take that step of faith and start that business, you have felt moved to begin. Or could God be telling you to restore that broken relationship with someone in your family? Would it be possible that God is telling you to "move" before the piano of life falls on your head? Or might it be possible that God is calling for you to turn your life over to Him and you have heard Him calling, but you are just standing there in your own hesitation? It takes action for something we have heard to become real. Don't just hear God's call on your life, move your life to God's calling! I pray that you will be moved to action and that action will lead to God's purpose for the life He gave you to live! 

Coach Carter

Tested Positive

How familiar are you with the concept of positivity or the power of positive thinking? Actually, positive psychology is a branch of psychological theory that was coined by Dr. Martin Seligman in the late 1990's. His studies and resulting theories center around three stages of positive thinking in our lives, the Good Life, the Pleasant Life, and the Meaningful Life. Without going deeper into his psychological research I believe it is fair to say Seligman's theory is that if we develop a positive mindset in all undertakings this will lead to a more content mindset and an overall happy life. That is a way too simplistic overview of Dr. Seligman's work, but enough to get us started. Conversely, the term "toxic positivity" surfaced about a decade later in or around 2011. Chuck Carter's take on the creation of this term is that those that fall a little more towards the pessimist side of the mindset spectrum got fed up with all that positive half full glass mentality! But really, the idea of toxic positivity is that individuals who align with a positive mindset fear something uncomfortable or negative so they use positivity as a defense mechanism allowing them to avoid the negative things going on in their lives. Needless to say, I am not a psychologist, nor do I desire to turn today's Flat Tire thought into a psychological debate on positivity. Today, my goal is to differentiate the following two terms, positive thinking and thinking positively. 

Positive thinking can be traced back to the philosophical research of Dr. Martin Seligman and his contemporaries. Mixed in and around the work of Seligman we can throw the studies of those in contradiction to positive thinking and a toxic positivity mindset into the mix. Just like any other topic there are two sides to every coin and this one is easy to debate if you are focusing on anyone who just avoids the challenges of adversity and afflictions by thinking positively about the situation. Positive thinking and its counterpart toxic positivity are manmade concepts that have been created to try to explain why some people are so content and happy in their lives. I'm guessing those that held tight to the concept of toxic positivity are just unhappy folks that can't stand to hear one more person talking about the glass being half full. I can understand how someone that has not been liberated from the chains of doubt, fear, or an overarching sense of guilt and shame may not have a positive mindset about life, but the Great Liberator gives us a totally different perspective on life and thus creates the submissive lifestyle of a servant to the one true living God of all things eternal. 

Conversely, thinking positively in my mind could be summed up in by the words of the Apostle Paul in his letter to the early Christians in Rome. In Romans 8:28 Paul encourages the church in Rome in saying, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. So, if Paul were a modern day psychologist, I believe he would say your way of thinking is a choice. You can choose to look for the bad in every situation, or you can look at every situation and look for the good. Thinking positively. 

Keeping in line with the whole psychological perspective on things in our time together today, I have a case study to share that will support my God based theory on thinking positively as opposed to being a positive thinker. Traveling way back in the Old Testament to the Book of Numbers, we read about 12 spies that were sent into Canaan to report back about the bountifulness of the land and their prognostication of the likelihood of overcoming the giants who were currently residing in the "land flowing of milk and honey" (Numbers 14:6-10). Ten of the twelve spies gave rave reviews of the land, yet the review was followed by the word "but". "But" the giants there are too formidable of an opponent and feared they would be defeated. On the other hand, Joshua and Caleb's report echoed the sentiments of the first ten spies regarding the overflowing resources that existed, yet the difference in their estimation was the use of the word "and" which followed their analysis of the land's quality. The two spies' report was that the land was everything they wanted, "and" God will accompany them in the battle with the giants there to assure victory, "... The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with mild and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them." Numbers 14:7-9. Joshua and Caleb were not being positive thinkers, they realized there was a formidable opponent in Canaan, but he acknowledged that the difference maker in the equation was that they had God on their side and they believed that if God was for them success would be theirs. 

This is the difference between a positive thinker and someone who thinks positively. Knowing God is on our side is the difference. Knowing that all things work together for good for those that are called according to God's plans and purpose are destined to be successful. Regardless of what, when, or how that success is afforded, success will prevail. Searing the truth that "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13) in my heart and in my soul leads me to a place where it is not possible for me to do anything else but to think positively. For us to believe that way in a human way of thinking  might lead one to a feeling of toxicity, I get that. But, I do not look at my life through the lens of this world, I look to the words of the Apostle Paul found in Philippians 3:13-14, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider that I have made it my own yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the heavenly prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." If my belief and my faith in that belief tells me to believe that all things are possible with Christ, then you can label me toxic if you like, but I will disagree. My positive outlook on life is not about me. Alone, my outlook would probably be as dismal as the report of the first ten spies reporting back to Moses, but I am not looking through my earthly lens. The stance I take, the positive thinking I display are not because of anything I have done, but completely all about what He has done in me. "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible" Matthew 19:26. Positive thinking is a challenge because the person is at the mercy of their environment such as the ten spies who could not see a path forward in defeating the giants in Canaan. Thinking positively places our reliance on an all knowing, all powerful God. I am blessed to be able to think positively each day, you can choose to rely on God in the same exact manner. I have been tested, and I test positive for God! Will you join me today?

 

Coach Carter

Filled with Faith

"God has not called me to be successful, He called me to be faithful." Mother Teresa. What a profound thought for us to apply to our lives today. The drive for success is splattered across our day to day comings and goings. It used to be that "Keeping up with the Jones'" was the challenge, but today with the ultra immediate lure of social media and other modes of communication, the bar of success floats higher at what appears to be a daily pace. For others it is a promotion on the job, that corner office with a view. Success may even be measured through winning a title, an election, or a sporting championship. It is safe to say that in today's culture success is found in a wide variety of man-made, earthly means. So how does Mother Teresa's statement of faith fit into this equation? Well, short answer, it doesn't. 

In a faith based worldview success is not the elusive goal that so many are chasing, it is an understanding that even though it may appear that we have failed or that we are not successful in a materialistic view, that has no true bearing on what God's plan for each of our lives was planned to be. If falling flat on my face is part of God's plan, then it is my job to get back up on my feet and then keep striving to fulfill God's plan for the life He gave me to live. If you never receive that promotion at work, does that mean you were not successful in life or does it mean that God has a different plan in mind and we must decide to be faithful and continue climbing the mountain in front of us regardless of how many times we tumble to the base. Being faithful requires one thing: faith. That may sound redundant, but at times our faith is based more on what we can see, instead of what we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 explains "... faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen."  So it is, when the world wants to label you a failure, falling short of success, God is telling you to remain strong in faith and keep moving forward. He has a plan. 

The message of being faithful that Mother Teresa conveyed, brings to mind a parable that Jesus shared about the talents and a master's servants found in Matthew 25:14-30. Briefly, a man who was planning on traveling, gave three of his servants differing amounts of "talents" or a type of monetary unit. While the man was away, one servant took five talents and doubled the amount entrusted to him. Another took two talents and increased that amount as well. The third servant feared being unsuccessful, so instead of taking a risk of losing his master's talent, he hid it so he would be able to safely give back what he had been given. The master was so impressed with the first two servants that he gave them what they had earned, but when the third servant reported that he safely secured the master's talent and had it to give back, the master was infuriated and took the one talent and gave it to the first servant. Was the last servant successful, obviously no? An even better question, was he faithful? Again the answer would be a resounding "No".

Looking at the decision of the third servant gives us an opportunity to apply Mother Teresa's mindset to our own lives. If the third servant had been faithful he would have invested the talent trusting that God would use that talent in the manner that it was meant to be used. Would there be a chance that he could have lost his investment and would have to report to his master that he had lost what he had been given? Most certainly, but at least he would have been giving it a try. Could the master have taken a "nothing ventured, nothing gained" attitude? Possibly. Could the master have gotten mad if the talent had been lost? Possibly. Could the servant have invested the talent and made more than the other two servants because of an optimal choice of his investment? Possibly. The idea to take away here is, regardless of the outcome, we are called to be faithful, trust and obey. 

Seek God daily, throughout each day. Meet with Him in the valleys of life, and sit with Him on the mountaintops of our joy! Your success will not be measured by the number of zeroes that follow a "1" in your bank account, nor will your success be measured by any other worldly accomplishment. The true measure of a person's life will be witnessed in the faithfulness carried out in the life we choose to live for our Lord and Savior. Today is the first day of the rest of your life. How will you measure the success ratio of what this day produces in your life? Will you evaluate your day on the outcomes that this world tells you matter, or will you trust in God's provision and seek to fulfill His will through faith and perseverance to God's plan for your life? Choose to be faithful, for just as the master in our parable said to the first two servants, "Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master." Matthew 25:21. That is what I want to hear Jesus say to me! That is what true success will be!

Coach Carter

Fencepost

There is an iconic image of a turtle sitting atop a fencepost that has served as a motivational and inspirational reminder for generations. The connected message is typically along the lines of "When you see a turtle on a fencepost, it is a reminder that he didn't get there alone." In life there is no truer statement, as self-driven as we may be, there are people along our life's journey that have supported us, advised us, and helped us reach the pinnacles we have surmounted. 

Who in your life has supported you in your challenges, struggles, and daily pursuits? Who is that person that you would call at 2:00AM when your car broke down on the side of the road? Who is it that went along with your ideas and plans even when they sounded outlandish or unachievable? Who helped you get back on your feet when you got knocked down? And finally who is that person who has shown grace to you even when there was no way you deserved it? Did any specific faces pop up in your thoughts as you mentally asked yourself these questions? Those are some of your biggest fencepost folks. Give them credit and let them know how much you appreciate them and give thanks for them being a part of your life's journey. "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." I Thessalonians 5:18.

If you look at one of the myriad images of that turtle on a fencepost, you might, like me, start to question, "How's that turtle ever going to get down off that fencepost?". Well that is a good next point in our giving credit where credit is due. No one reaches their perch on a fencepost by themselves and you won't move on to your next goal in life without some of those same people and potentially with the addition of new supporters to move us forward. We can get stuck on the fencepost if we aren't careful and that is a lonely place to be sitting. Give credit to those who got you there, and bring them along on your journey to what is next. "Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." Romans 13:7

Above all, today and everyday we need to give thanks to the One that made it possible for us to reach our fencepost perch in life. God our Father, through Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior walked, walks, and will always be there walking alongside us. God deserves all the credit. God places the people in our paths that help pick us up when we are down, and God the Father rejoices with us when we surmount summits as well. God's Holy Spirit breathes encouragement and perseverance into our hearts, minds, and souls and celebrates our goals accomplished in our daily lives. Don't ever fail to give thanks to the One who got you there! "I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done." Psalm 9:1.

As we close today, there is one additional thought that needs to be shared to a group that may not be sitting atop a fencepost position in life. For those who feel you are in a deep, lowly position in life and a fencepost is the last thing that comes to mind in your current situation, don't allow the present to dictate your day. In the midst of our trials we must stay faithful to believe that God is working in the trenches just as much as He is sitting on the perch with us. Developing a trust that God has a plan and His plans do not always make sense to us, but that is where trust and obedience move us to what God has in store for us. Our job is to journey forward, lean in on those that God has placed in our path to support us, celebrate with us, and to share in giving God the glory and honor that are His for anything we accomplish here on this earth! God is faithful and His love endures with us and for us. "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." Lamentations 3:22-24.

Whether you are sitting on top of your life's fencepost or if you are diligently circumventing life's struggles and challenges as you continue to climb, remember you are not alone. God has placed others in your life, lean in and acknowledge them each and every day! 

Turtle on a Fencepost

Coach Carter

Tick-Tock Goes the Clock

 I love my peaceful early morning time. I rise around 4:00 to get my day going and the first item on my agenda is my quiet time with our Creator. I love the stillness of the morning, and the quiet, calming tik-tok of the clock in the room where I am sitting. On the surface that clock portrays a pretty simple mechanism. The face, two hands, and the soft tick-tock clicks coming from an unseen source. The unseen source is where this mechanical marvel gets somewhat more complex. The inner workings of a clock make for a tinker's playground. Gears, springs, the oscillator, and the escapement are all behind the scenes working in complete symphony to create the tick-tock of each second of every minute, for each hour of the twenty-four hour day each day. There's an old joke that goes something like this, "What time is it when a clock stops working?" Answer,"Time to get a new clock". The inner workings of a clock keep the hands moving in a minute by minute fashion with no delay or drop which on the surface allows us to keep up with our daily schedule. Take away one small spring or interlocking gear and suddenly the clock completely stops or at best doesn't keep time accurately any longer. It is a safe statement to make that each part of a clock has a unique purpose and it was made to fulfill that purpose in its operation. You were designed and created in the exact same manner. You have a purpose and if you don't fulfill that purpose something in this big old world is not going to happen or at best it will have to be completed with an alternate plan in place. Tick-Tock goes the clock, and beat, beat, beat goes our hearts. 

Just like the tiniest, intricate part of a clock you were uniquely made to fulfill a purpose. Without the smallest spring in the workings of a clock the clock becomes a relatively decorative paperweight. Actually, without every single part of the mechanics of a clock there is no ticking or tokking and there is no time to tell. Each and every part plays a pivotal part in making that clock work. In the same manner, when you were designed and created by God, there was a unique purpose that can only be filled by you put into the workings of this world. You may feel insignificant in the scope of the workings of the whole world, but in reality, just as that tiny spring has to be in the proper place connected to the proper next piece, life just won't happen in God's intended manner without you fulfilling God's plan for your life. 

A favorite saying of mine is "you were made on purpose for a purpose", and how true that tiny cliche is. Without you, how can your divine purpose ever be fulfilled? In simple terms it isn't possible. In Ephesians 2:10 Paul supports this concept with this nugget of truth, "For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." "In advance to do", or in other words for a definitive purpose. Take the spring out of the clock, no tick tock, take you out of your divine purpose, no purpose fulfilled. What that means is, "you" matter. 

In life there are times when we may feel insignificant or purposeless. A life without meaning is the basis of the more than 700,000 suicides across the world each year. Having no hope to the point of taking one's own life speaks directly to the notion of feeling that someone has no purpose in life. Based on what Paul shared with us in Ephesians 2:10 each of us was created in advance by God with a purpose that only you can fill in mind. I envision God working at a craftsman table, tiny sculpting tools lie at finger's reach, paint with paintbrush dripping, and an eye for perfection glistening as you were being crafted by God. He made no mistakes, perfection was accomplished in our imperfect, fleshly bodies. God created you on purpose. For a purpose that only you were created to fulfill. 

Have you come to the understanding that God is omnipotent? He knows all, designed everything and everyone throughout the existence of this world, and God created your DNA to accomplish His divine will for the life you are supposed to live. That truth gives me confidence on the job, in my family, and throughout the trials, afflictions, and successes of life. I will forever search to fulfill God's master plan for this life He has given me to live! "For in Him all things were created: things in Heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through and for Him." Colossians 1:16. You matter, you are unique, and you have a purpose. Find what makes you "tick" and then go out and make this world "tock". 

Coach Carter

Hunger and Thirst

 If I am going to hunger, may I hunger for the Word of God. If I am going to thirst, may I thirst for His righteousness in my life. When we visualize the two title words in today's message, it isn't necessarily a positive image that comes to mind. When I think about hunger, it isn't just a picture of someone that has had to push back lunch an hour or so and now they are "hungry" or "starved". What I'm envisioning is someone who is lacking the proper nutrition to function properly on a day to day basis. As I consider the image of someone who is experiencing thirst, I visualize a person with dry, parched lips desperately searching for even a drop of water. Here in America hunger and thirst should not be an issue. We, as a country, throw away more food and waste more clean water on a daily basis than some parts of the world have to consume in weeks or months. Just as I strive to not be wasteful with our natural resources, remembering how blessed we are to live in a bountiful land, it is more important to me that I do not take for granted the unending blessings made available to me through God's Word and the example of God's righteousness He gave us through the life of His Son Jesus Christ. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Matthew 5:6. Today, we are going to view hunger and thirst from a different perspective. We need to hunger more, and thirst more for the One who created us and designed us with a purpose in mind. 

May I hunger. Research studies tell us that the worst time to go grocery shopping is when we are hungry. Walking down the aisles those high impulse items just seem to transport themselves into our buggy whether that is what we went to store for or not. When we are out to eat and the menu is shared, there are times when it is hard to pick between meals. We want it all! As a former high school wrestler who cut weight for matches there were days at a time that I would only eat a sparse amount of food, if any. I can still pull one specific memory to the forefront of my mind that exemplifies this concept of being hungry. A commercial came on the television advertising frozen broccoli with a rich, creamy cheese sauce being poured over it. I didn't even like broccoli back then, but man I would have given anything to have had that bowl of broccoli with cheese sauce dripping off each stem sitting in front of me at the dining room table. That's the hunger I want to experience daily when I think about God's Word found in His Holy Bible. I want to taste the deeper meaning of Book and chapter, and I want to have hunger pangs for the truths His word provides. In John 6:35 Jesus shared, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger ....". Coming to Christ means seeking, searching, or possibly hunting for the truths of the Bible and how we can apply the Word to our daily lives. Why does a hunter hunt? Because he or she is hungry! I want my hunger to drive my daily devotional time, my prayers, and my desire to hear from and follow God's Holy Spirit each day.

The second part of the verse above goes on to say, "... and whoever believes in me shall not thirst". I am confident that if I go to a water fountain  and compress the button, water is going to come out and I am going to refresh my body. I know that if there isn't a water fountain available all I have to do is find a store and there will be myriad options for brands and quantities of water to select from. We live in a land where thirst is a momentary thing at best. That doesn't mean we can't experience a true thirst though. I want to thirst for God's righteousness. While water is readily available to quench our momentary thirst, I want to search for God's righteousness like I am stranded in a desert with no spigot in sight. I want to have my thirst quenched by the example of righteousness that Jesus displayed as He lived a sinless life as a man here among us. Sinless, blameless, and willing to suffer the brutal torture He endured so we would have the opportunity to seek His righteousness. Just as man can only live a short period without water, I want my life to be such that I need the nourishment of His righteousness to live out each day that I have been given to live. I desire a long, cool drink of God's righteousness each morning as I rise and throughout each day that I have been given to live!

I pray that you will hunger and that you will thirst. If you happened to jump into our conversation at this point you might be asking what in the world is this about? There's not too many positive images that surface when we speak about hunger and those that are thirsty, yet the hunger and thirst we have discussed today is one that we all should experience. The scene of Jesus talking to the woman at the well in John 4 gives us a good overall view of the hunger and thirst I am describing. When the Samaritan woman inquired about the "living water" He was offering, Jesus replied, "... but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life." May your hunger be met and your thirst be quenched through your relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior! Amen. 

Coach Carter

What I'm Not Doing

 

I sin daily. That is scriptural, (Romans 3:23). We all live in an imperfect world full of imperfect people, from the man or woman that has chosen to live in the world, to the most pious of Popes we are all sinners. The Good News is God anticipated our sinful nature and sent His Son Jesus to be the Savior for you and for me! Praise God for His mercy and grace! But what sins are we praying for forgiveness fo? The sins we "do" or have you ever thought about the asking for forgiveness for what we do "not" do. 

In the Book of Romans, Paul appears to be working through an internal conflict. It is almost like he is battling with the two iconic images of a devil on one shoulder whispering in his ear, while on the other shoulder an angel is perched sharing positive and encouraging guidance. "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing. Now if  I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it."  Romans 7:15-20. For me, a key concept to point out is Paul admits that he knows what he is supposed to "not" do, but he doesn't do it. We aren't inert beings so it is only reasonable to assume that if we aren't doing the good things we know to do, it may be that we are doing the bad things that we also know we shouldn't be doing. 

When the Bible tells us that we must confess our sins to obtain righteousness, (I John 1:9) that isn't just the sins we are doing each day, it also includes the sins of what we are not doing each day. The Ten Commandments plus Jesus' command to love others in the same manner as we love ourselves is pretty inclusive, but it is reasonable to believe that many folks are convinced that as long as they aren't murdering, stealing, cheating, or denying God is our Savior then they are in pretty good salvation shape. I would counter that thought process with the question of what are we not doing for the Kingdom of Christ that we know in our hearts and souls we should be doing each day?

Giving of my time, resources, and self tops my own list of requests for forgiveness. Too often, we get caught up in our own busyness, which leads us to get things out of order when it comes to setting priorities. Forgiving others and loving our neighbor is a called out command, but how many of us want to cast the first stone or point out the splinter in our brother's eye before we self-reflect about our own sins and the proverbial plank in our own eye. The list of "things" we are not doing that we should is extensive, but the core principle remains constant, if we are not doing what we know we should be doing that in itself is sin. 

So, what do we do? Well, we need to ensure ourselves that we know what we should be doing first. How do we do that? Spending time in His Word, meditating and praying for God's will to be fulfilled in and through us, and then investing our living out our divine purpose. We know what to do, too often we find ourselves in the same predicament as Paul shared above, yet at the end of the day, our charge is clear. "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Matthew 7:7. Make the decision to "do" what needs to be done and then do it!

Coach Carter

Holding a Grudge

 Over the years I've encountered family situations where two relatives haven't spoken in years. One person betrayed the other person or one family member believes a certain way and the other family member diverges from that mindset, so suddenly "I've cut ties with that family member" is the route of least resistance. Obviously, this is not something that is unique to family squabbles, life-long friends are just as suspect to fragmented relationships that many times extend over years and years of "I'm right and they are wrong" justifications. In America, we call this phenomenon "holding a grudge". In the minds of the beholder, the wrong warrants revenge or retribution, "You did me wrong so until you get paid back for doing me wrong I'm done with you." Not only is this way of thinking detrimental to building and maintaining positive relationships, it is my opinion that this method of dealing with negative experiences can only deter our own personal growth as a leader in our homes, families, and places of work or school. Additionally, if we are going to live out a life of a true servant of our Lord and Savior, forgiveness has to be a cornerstone of our faith. 

If you have been holding a grudge for any length of time, I'm pretty sure you have justified why you are holding that grudge over and over in your mind and through conversations with others that have confirmed your stance on the issue at hand. That justification may very well be warranted, yet that merit is most certainly of the secular, worldly mindset. A mindshift towards not only forgiveness, but also towards purpose and growth create a totally different approach to addressing a wrong you have encountered. If we want to talk about someone who had a reason to hold a grudge against his family members it would have to be the Biblical figure Joseph. If you think you have a right to be holding a grudge, just look at what Joseph endured and overcame in his own life. 

You may be aptly familiar with Joseph's life, but just a quick recap to put things in their proper perspective. Joseph was, at the time of our story, the youngest of the eleven sons of Jacob. Joseph was a favorite of his father which led to some jealousy from the rest of his brothers. Joseph didn't help matters when he shared some dreams with his family which inherently suggested that one day, the brothers and even his father would bow down to him. From there things went downhill for Joseph. His brothers plotted to kill Jacob and make it look like he was attacked by a wild animal. Only through the intervention of one of his brothers, was the decision made to sell Joseph into slavery to a group traveling to Egypt. The brothers did just that, but still convinced Jacob that his youngest son had been attacked and slain by a wild beast. From there, Joseph was placed in Potipher's house only to be falsely accused of rape, imprisoned, lied to by some of his fellow inmates, but eventually vindicated earning him a high ranking position in the Egyptian hierarchy. During the many years of trials and tribulations that Joseph endured, he never gave up on his faith in God. Finally, the dreams Joseph shared with his family from his youth came to fruition. In the midst of a famine, Joseph's brothers came to Egypt to ask for food and provisions. And who do you think this group of co-conspirators had to make their request to? Of course, Joseph himself. 

After all the years of reflecting and thinking through the looks on his brother's faces as they sold Joseph into slavery, you would think this is where Joseph's grudge would be avenged. If that was your thought then sorry, wrong answer. Genesis 50:20 shares that not only did Joseph show mercy and forgiveness on the very same brothers that sold him into slavery and stole his life with his family, Joseph stated the following sentiment to his brothers, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today." That took a lot of humility. His grudge would have been justified by just about anyone in the world, but Joseph opted to forgive and actually embrace the journey by which he landed in one of the highest positions in the Egyptian empire. The key takeaway here is that Joseph recognized and stated that the events from his past were all part of God's eventual plan for good. Talk about grudge busters, the life of Joseph should serve as a model for each of us as we should be forgiving rather than condemning. 

Joseph's willingness to forgive his brothers reminds me of another example of forgiveness surpassing a potential grudge. After Jesus was falsely arrested, beaten and tortured, and eventually hung on the cross to die, Jesus looked down on the crowd of onlookers and Roman soldiers and whispered one last prayer to His Father. "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing ..." Luke 22:34. 

In your mind you may have a grudge that in your mind is completely justified. Someone you cared about or someone you trusted broke your heart and destroyed your relationship. Today, I ask you to look at the life of Joseph and what he endured, and then take a moment to place yourself on the cross where Jesus died. If forgiveness over retribution is what their example was, what wrong could be seen as unforgivable in your life? God is merciful to forgive us of our sins, should we not do the same for those that we believe have wronged us? Will you continue to hold a grudge, or will you reach out today and share the same grace that you have been given? Choose forgiveness. 

Coach Carter

Finish with the prayer Jesus prayed Father forgive them for they now not what they do. If Joseph followed the example of Jesus and he didn't even know Jesus, what is our excuse for hlding a grudge when we do know about the loving forgiveness of Jesus? Challenge do away with a grudge you have been holding. 

 

Preach On

 Singer-songwriter Ryan Stevenson has a new song out on the airwaves entitled "Preach". Stevenson's latest Contemporary Christian hit poignantly delivers the message that our lives should be the message about our faith. As we live out each day do we spend our time telling people that we are followers of Christ, or does the life we live each day share the message without us even saying a word? "Preach On" is today's FTM Thought, what exactly does that look like? Read on and Preach!

For those that do not necessarily have a firm relationship with our Lord and Savior hearing the word "preach" creates an image of someone condemning their lifestyle. For others "preaching" is equated to teaching or sharing the Good News of salvation and the offer of eternal life in Heaven with our Creator. For me, I fall in the camp of Stevenson's song. I want my life to live out my faith in God as our omnipotent and omniscient creator. I want my life not just my words to deliver the message that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, and that Jesus came to this earth to teach us how to live out a life of service to God and fulfill our commitment to be fishers of men and expand the Kingdom of Heaven. So what does that look like? I thought you'd never ask. 

Have you ever watched a movie with the sound muted? My guess is probably not, but I had a similar type experience several years ago. I watched a movie that was in a completely different language from my native English. There were no subtitles, so honestly the only means by which I could figure out what was going on and the storyline of the movie was by the actions of the people in the movie. To be quite honest, it was a highly enjoyable movie experience, with not a single word throughout the movie in a language I could interpret. The director of the movie and the actors were able to draw me in and convey the theme, plot, and sentiments of the movie via their actions. Would your life convey the love of Christ if you suddenly were unable to convey the message verbally? Would your life preach without words? 

In James 2:18, the author James makes a clear point about our faith. "But someone will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith without works and I will show you faith by my works." For me James is challenging us to live out our faith by our actions and not by telling others about our actions to convince them that we are followers and servants of the Living God. Preach on. 

When we are down in a valley, our words won't carry us through, but our faith in God during those valley chapters of life will be our source of strength and fortitude. When we make a choice to serve rather than being served, our faith is on display and we don't have to say a word. When things get tough, and we all understand things do get tough, we rely on our faith and we stay the course while God works things out just the way that they need to work out. Our faith should be lived out not spoken out. I want people to ask me why I'm always smiling and why I seem to be happy all the time. That smile and the happiness in my heart are directly correlated to my faith that God is in control and one day I will enter His Kingdom! Yet, while I am here on this earth, I want my life to demonstrate my trusting faith in the One True Living God! Preach on! 

Coach Carter

It Takes One

It takes two people to communicate. Without a two-way channel, one lone person is just talking to himself. Any effective communication requires two people, transversely the same is true for non-productive communication. I suppose you can label an argument as a form of communication, ineffective and non-beneficial most certainly, yet arguing is in essence a form of communication. For all the things in life that it takes two people to successfully accomplish, unfortunately, arguing also fits in that category. 

You most likely have heard the old saying, "It takes two to Tango", referencing the ballroom dance form of the late 1800's and early 1900's. I'm not very well versed in ballroom dancing, but based on my experiences most styles of ballroom dancing do require two people working in a synchronized manner. I suppose you could say the same thing for two people who are cast into an argument, two people are engaged in a back and forth synchronized manner, often shifting from a conversation to often a case of heightened screaming and ultimately the potential for more intense interaction between the two folks. What I want you to do right now is imagine a scene in your mind where two folks are caught up in a verbal argument. Hopefully that wasn't too easy for you to visualize. Now in your mind I want you to remove one person from the scene you have created in your mind. When I went through this mental practice in my mind, what was left was a person babbling to himself, looking pretty silly to be completely honest. It takes two to have an argument, squabble, or even a yelling match. The Apostle Paul offers us some Biblical guidance on arguing, or better yet, not arguing. 

"Again I say, don't get involved in foolish, ignorant arguments that only start fights. A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people's hearts, and they will learn the truth." II Timothy 2:23-25.

In other words, it only takes one to not argue. Paul admonishes his young protege Timothy to not engage in pointless arguments where people are fussing for the sake of fussing. Instead, Paul points out that by being a servant of God we "must not" quarrel and instead be patient and model empathy for the other person's point of view. The goal is to be an example of God's love and through that demonstration others  see God living in you and through you. 

A thought to consider, if we, as the hands and feet of our Lord and Savior are to serve as His ambassador to a lost world, how will we ever appear different from this world if we are partaking in fussing and fighting just like the world? It takes two to argue, it only takes one to be God's example of love in the midst of the trials and adversity that we encounter. The choice is yours, choose love and peace. 

Coach Carter

Light vs Night

 

I recently inserted a new nightlight in one of our bathrooms which now provides a little extra illumination in our otherwise dark interior bathroom. Unbeknownst to me this particular nightlight is equipped with a sensor that increases the brightness of the light the darker the room is. How I uncovered this bit of new knowledge is the impetus for today's Flat Tire motivation. 

Early in the morning, I tend to keep the rooms calm and quiet as I begin my devotional time. I don't turn on music, the TV, and only one lamp. That being said, as I walked into the bathroom the first morning after plugging in the nightlight, the hall and adjoining rooms were still dark from the night, but as I entered the room the light popped up a notch and suddenly the room got a little lighter. Hmmm, what about me entering the room initiated the nightlight getting brighter? I concluded, non-scientifically, that as I entered the room my body created additional shadows which were perceived as additional darkness in the room, thus increasing the need for additional light. Made sense to me, so that is my theory and I'm sticking to it. That in turn caused me to put that chain reaction into my thoughts of what happens when I walk into any room. Do I walk into a room full of people and add darkness to that room, or when I enter a room does the Light of God shine in me and through me to the point that it brightens the room and decreases the darkness much like the little nightlight in my home? 

Jesus proclaimed that we are His Light to this world in Matthew 5:14-16, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." Based on His call to action, it is our responsibility to be a light and shine brightly, diminishing darkness in any room or setting that we enter. In my nightlight analogy, my presence in the room created darkness through the shadows my body projected on the walls increasing the need for additional light. I pray that the same is not figuratively true when I enter any room or gathering I attend. 

My goal is that I shed light anywhere I am. If the Light of Jesus lives in me then it should shine regardless of where I am or who I am with. In John 8:12 Jesus shared that if we follow Him we won't be able to hide our light, "When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." Just as the children's song proclaims, "This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!" We make the choice to allow His light shine in and through our lives each day. I want to shine His light ever so brightly, ever diminishing the darkness that persists. 

The prophet Isaiah envisioned the coming of Jesus over 700 years before His actual birth here on earth. Isaiah prophetsized, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned." Isaiah 9:2. If we have received His light then we should do all we can to share it each day that He gives us to live for the rest of our lives. Trust, that there is a battle being waged between those who share His light and those who are dwelling in the dark shadows of the night. I choose to shine His light and live each day casting the light of His mercy and grace. The light of our Lord allows you to shine, I challenge you today to not cast a shadow of darkness, but to illuminate the world you live in each day. 

Coach Carter

Great Faith

I recently read a short biopic on an English minister from the mid-1800's named Smith Wigglesworth. His life was filled with adversity and conflict, but his outlook on life reflected a true example of a man of God who placed his faith in front of his life's circumstances. I was especially drawn to a particular quote that was shared regarding his faith in God. The quote goes as follows, "Great faith is a product of great fights. Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests. Great triumphs can only come out of great trials." An old adage came to my mind as I read this message, "nothing ventured, nothing gained". Meaning our faith is based in trust, and trust is developed in adversity or uncomfortable situations. As I read Smith's quote the truth of his statement became a message I had to share. Here we go. 

So, I may be the only one that needed clarity on this topic. I suppose it is possible that most people get it, that for us to experience triumph you have to be in a competition. Trials in life are a competition of sorts. In life's trials we are all fighting against an enemy. It may be a person, it could be a thing such as cancer, or it may be an internal matter such as depression or doubt, but we all experience battles in life. Just as a warrior going to battle against his enemy, we battle the demons that are attempting to knock us down and destroy our relationship with God. Going to battle requires us to equip ourselves with armor and weapons to overcome our adversary and Paul provides us with a checklist of items we should secure as we go to war with our adversities in Ephesians 6:10-23. The battle is the means by which we gain the ends of increased faith. Without the former we can not gain the latter. My point here is you won't experience triumph if you don't first have the conflict to overcome. Embrace your conflicts, they lead to victory. 

"Great testimonies are the outcome of great tests." This past week I experienced what I believe to be my fortieth flat tire since around 2010. Although that was not a "great test" it was a testament to grit and resilience. I was extremely thankful for my friend and colleague Matt Price who, just like a pit crew chief, grabbed the tire wrench and went straight to the business of loosening the nuts while I jacked up the car. The true test is that I have had an extremely high number of flat tires over the past fifteen years. Without those flat tires I would not have the testament of persevering through adversity if not for the tests of fixing my flats. Additionally, "Flat Tire Ministries" which is a direct outcome of all of those flat tires and the ability to problem solve and troubleshoot in times of a test. The Apostle Peter shared "Your faith will be like gold that has been tested in a fire." I Peter 1:7. Gold is only purified through the heat of the fire, our testimony is created through the fire of tests of adversity. 

Finally, Wigglesworth shared that great faith is the direct product of great fights. In all of his wisdom King Solomon provided us with the Book of Proverbs. The vast collection of wise sayings to live by is a treasure in itself and Proverbs 17:3 speaks to the idea of growing our faith through life's struggles. "Fire tests the purity of silver and gold, but the Lord tests the heart." I have talked with a number of family and friends since my latest flat tire incident and it has served as a symbol of faith over circumstances in many of those conversations. As you encounter life's struggles and trust me you will, having a strong, unbreakable faith will see you through. One of my Bible heroes is Paul, and Paul made it clear that regardless of the thorn in his flesh, he was going to continue serving and believing in Christ as his personal savior. In II Corinthians 12:9-10 Paul establishes his faith in this statement "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." Great faith. 

A flat tire is a mere inconvenience, forty flat tires is a fight. I thank God for the opportunities to share messages each week through the lessons I have learned persevering through 40 flat tires and all the other struggles, challenges, and fights in my life. Without the struggles, fights, and challenges I would not have built the resilience I have acquired, nor would I have learned how to get back up when I got knocked down. I challenge you to flip the script on your own challenges and struggles today. I am certain your battles are much more serious or severe than my flat tires, but a challenge is a challenge and a fight is a fight. Whatever you are facing, know that you are not facing it alone. Rely on your faith and trust that God is in it with you, and He will see you through it! 

Coach Carter

"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