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

Growing Through What You're Going Through

 Change, that word conjures up varied emotions for men and women, young and old alike. Some talk about changing jobs, others talk about changing habits, while other conversations circle around changing hairstyles or colors, changing the flooring in your house, or any other in a myriad list of trivial "things" we may want to change in our lives. We tend to get a little fidgety though when we start talking about changing our minds. Our mindset is what shapes our day in and day out walk. I'm not talking conservative or liberal viewpoints, and I'm not referencing changing from a sedentary lifestyle to a more active lifestyle. What I am suggesting today is that we must be willing to change our mindset in terms of how we perceive the hardships, struggles, or challenges that we encounter in our walk of life. The more we view ourselves as the victim the less we will be able to see the opportunity to grow through whatever it is that we are going through. 

I had started a completely different topic for today's message, and honestly it just wasn't flowing the way most of my writing sessions go. Now I know why, it wasn't the message to be shared today. This morning as I started my devotional time the verse of the day was Philippians 3:10-11 which reads "I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead!" It is important to remember that a majority of Paul's letters to the different churches he wrote while being imprisoned. Wrongfully imprisoned, beaten often, and persecuted as he traveled about sharing the good news of Christ, it is safe to say Paul's life wasn't a bed of roses. Based on what Paul wrote to the Church in Philippi, it doesn't sound like he is crying out for freedom from his wrongful imprisonment, but instead Paul wants to benefit himself by knowing more about the suffering of Christ and then living his life in a manner that allows him to grow through sufferings similar to what Jesus endured here on earth. 

How many of us thank Christ when we are enduring or suffering? Not a lot of virtual hands going up I would presume. Suffering and hardship are not comfortable, as a matter of fact they are both equally uncomfortable. When we pray, do we ask God to remove the sickness and provide answers to our dilemmas, or do we ask God to show us how to grow through the difficult, and challenging instances we are traversing through in our daily lives? That my friend requires a major change in how we think about hardship. Paul's perspective isn't common, that is why it isn't the predominant manner in which the average person perceives the difficulties in their life. At times some people, a large percentage of people, start asking, "What have I done to deserve this to happen in my life?" Instead of being the victim to our circumstances what if we became the beneficiary of those moments or chapters in our life where we actually grow closer to Christ through what we are enduring. Mainly because it isn't easy. In the very next verse of Philippians 3 Paul lets us know that he struggled with this shift in mindset just like anyone else might, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me." Philippians 3:12.

Other than being the exact message that I myself needed to hear today, I'm not sure why I felt so inclined to change directions in the thought to share today, but I do not feel this message will have to travel far before it lands in the lap of someone that needs to embrace their current circumstances and dig deep to see how they can grow through what they are going through. Doing a little self inspection this morning was all I needed to see that I am guilty of playing the poor me card more often than I would like to admit. I want to be more like Christ, I want to grow in Christ, and if that means I must go through some not so comfortable situations along the way, then so be it. We have no further to look than the example that Paul provided. His choice to focus on the growth through his circumstances was based on the pain and suffering Jesus endured for us to be saved. Over and over again, Paul encouraged the early Christian churches to endure, persevere, and to hold tight to the hope that can only be found in Christ. Through the persecution and pain that Jesus Christ endured on the cross, Paul found strength to share with us that what we will endure here on earth will never compare to the reward we will receive if we do not give up or lose our faith in God, "I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." Romans 8:18. 

The world will tell you to blame someone for anything and everything you go through that isn't comfortable and pleasing. The world will tell you to do whatever it takes to remove the pain and suffering you are experiencing, the "there's a pill for that" mentality. Trusting that things that are not comfortable to us can be good for us isn't an easy mindset to adopt, but if we begin to look for ways to grow through adversity, we may just find that the outcome on the other side will make us a bigger, stronger person. And if we are growing through our adversities, what we are going through suddenly begins to look completely different as we move confidently forward with Christ! Bring it on!

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." II Corinthians 4:16-18. 

Coach Carter

 

How Green Is the Grass?

 We've all heard the expression, "The grass isn't always greener on the other side". I'm pretty sure that when this old adage was first coined there was no such thing as artificial turf in existence. In its early days, some of us remember artificial grass being referred to as "astro turf". That term became popular because there was one leading supplier/installer of this year round, lush green, artificial grass and their company's name just happened to be "Astro Turf". In the 70's and 80's artificial turf became the popular way to go for major league athletic fields especially in football due to the potential for mud laden messes as teams battled for yards, feet, and many times inches during rain and snow covered conditions in our college and professional stadiums. Today, artificial grass has been infused with computerized technology, allowing digitized advertising, pinpoint accuracy in measurement, and the potential for an increased artificial intelligence presence in our sports arenas. It would appear that the grass is most certainly greener where  natural grass has been replaced with a maintenance free, greener than green artificial option. I would like to offer a conversely different opinion, I'd like to suggest that even if it is greener on the other side, that doesn't necessarily guarantee that it is better.

What might appear to be the ideal setting for outdoor athletic competitions, may in reality be blanketed with the potential for injury and limited usability. Ankle injuries, increased cuts and abrasions, and a higher risk for damage to an athlete's ACL, have caused us to raise an eyebrow to whether turf is actually greener on the other side. Beyond that the lifespan of a turf field is limited to between 5-10 years, guaranteeing a recurring expense to keep that lush, green playing surface. Lastly, of course planting flowers, shrubs, or even trees is not an option on an athletic field. But,  for that maintenance-free seeking homeowner, the allure of year round, greener than green grass that doesn't have to be mowed or even trimmed might be a temptation. That is until the decision is made to plant a flower garden or tree in their yard. See how that works with a corner to corner artificial rug. To my opening point, just because the grass on the other side may be greener, that doesn't necessarily mean it is better. 

This same principle holds true in our walk of faith today. Modern advances in technology provide us with options and alternatives galore. Morals and ethics have been placed in the backseat over the years and replaced with allowing each person to decide their right or wrong and their definition of good and evil, creating an artificial playing field of life. Just as the illustration above provides evidence that just because something is greener, doesn't always mean it is better or even good for us, I believe the same principle applies here. The old adage was that the grass isn't always greener on the other side. To me that message was that things aren't always better on the other side. On the surface, the visual appearance may be alluring, but once you are on the other side, things don't always translate to a greener, better situation. The message I want to share today is that even if our society shows us an easier way, a quicker path, or a less bumpy road to travel, that does not guarantee that any of those are beneficial to you and your journey with God. Paul shared this message with the Christians residing in Rome and it still is so applicable for us today; "... but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:3-5. The problem is, I just don't see folks rushing to the maintenance and restoration line. The easier, "greener" path appeals because it doesn't require sweat, cuts and scrapes, or use of "me" time. It sounds like the curb appeal would make this the choice of even the Godly saints of old. 

The prophet Isaiah wrote a whole chapter with that very thought in mind. In case people started thinking that a simple, work-free day meant you were living right and under God's provision for such chapter 5 can be summed up with this statement. "Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet" Isaiah 5:20. In other words don't go around thinking that just because it is greener that all of a sudden it is better. There still exists today, right and wrong, good and bad, and it is our God given responsibility to hold tightly to the green grass of God's word and His guidance for this life He has given us to live. 

I'll conclude today with a thought, when you look into your neighbor's yard the grass may appear to be greener. Who knows, they could have artificial grass from corner to corner of their property and their turf may appear to be greener year round. But, keep in mind the truth we have discussed today. Greener on the other side, does not always mean better on the other side! In one of the most popular and often quoted selections from the Bible, David's twenty-third psalm shares this exact thought. The psalm starts out stating that God offers him green pastures to lie down in. But then David reminds us that at times he is walking through the valley of the shadow of death. David affirms that even though it is dark and desolate, he knows he isn't walking through the troubles of life alone. God's rod and staff comfort him and are right there with him (vs. 4). At the end of the psalm, David reaffirms that he is promised that he will "dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (vs. 6). So today, mow your own lawn, be thankful you have a lawn to mow, and give thanks that your life isn't made up of man-made artificial joy! 

Coach Carter

Right Foot, Left Foot

 Over the years, inspirations for topics to share in the weekly Flat Tire Ministries Thoughts have come through numerous paths. A song on the radio, a part of the preacher's sermon on Sunday, a devotional thought, and many times topics to cover come out of a conversation with a friend, family member, or acquaintance. With over 450 weekly posts recorded, I can honestly say, I've never had a week that there wasn't a message to share. At times the ideas come three or four in rapid succession. At other times, a scripture or story from the Bible seems to weave itself perfectly into a situation I have recently encountered and thus spurred a message to share. For me, the most important part to understand is the topics and ensuing messages aren't mine, the pen and paper, (or in this case the keyboard and computer screen) are mine, but I depend on God to provide the words He wants to share. I am grateful that God allows me to be a scribe, and I pray that He will continue to use me as He pleases for as long as I can be of use to His purpose for the life He gave me to live! 

That being said, today's message is no exception. When the topic came to mind I wasn't really sure where it was going to head. My thoughts centered around things like: "You can go for a walk on your own",  or "You can walk in the same direction or the opposite direction, but whatever direction you are walking you should be walking with God." Soon after that, I had thoughts about Jesus walking in the Garden of Gethsemane, or back in Genesis how Adam and Eve disobeyed God and then heard God walking around the garden. I wasn't exactly sure what direction the message was headed, but then as He always does, God made it clear what He wanted me to share today. 

In one of my daily devotionals, the author shared that for us to grow in our relationship with God we must deepen our ability to trust and obey Him. The devotional went on to compare trusting and obeying to walking. Right foot step / trust, left foot step / obey. Trust and obey, right foot-left foot. To "walk" with God requires us to take that first step, then we can't just stop with one step, to walk with God we must continue that right foot-left foot succession. We take our first step in faith, we place our trust in God. As sinners, we must turn from our sins and take that first step towards God. We make the decision to trust God and seek forgiveness for our sins. Trust allows us to forgo self and submit all we are to God. But, it doesn't stop there. To walk with God requires progression. A step in the right direction is critical, but if we are going to be walking with God more than a step is required. 

That is where taking a step becomes a walk of faith. We must learn to obey God which requires us to take additional steps beyond trusting in Him. First step trust, second step obey. Right foot, left foot, right foot left foot, on and on we go, moving forward and not looking back. Trust and obey. So, how do we obey God? We have to listen, we have to learn, we have to seek, and we have to follow God in all we do if we are truly walking with God. Think about it this way, if you don't know the laws of the city, state, or country you live in, how will you ever know if what you are doing is legal or illegal? Or if you don't follow the directions on the recipe, how in the world do you expect the outcome of your cooking efforts to be successful? It is the same way with God's commands. We can't obey what we don't have knowledge of, so it just stands to reason that if we are going to trust God and obey God, then we have to seek what God wants us to do for His Kingdom. That is all part of the process, we can't trust and obey what we do not know or understand. We must commit to reading His word daily, praying without ceasing (I Thess. 5:17), and seeking His will in all we say and do. 

Is walking with God daily as easy as taking a stroll in the park? Nobody ever said it was easy, there are several paths that we must choose between throughout each day. Jesus shared this pedestrian warning in Matthew 7:13-14, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." The world offers a plethora of wide open paths we can choose to journey each day, but just as Jesus pointed out above, the vast majority of those roads lead to destruction. Addiction, dishonesty, unfaithfulness, or placing things in front of our relationship with God will all ultimately lead to destructive choices and quickly make walking with God a real challenge. Yet, when we place our faith in Christ who died for our sins and enlightens the path of His righteousness, we are assured that each step we take, right foot, left foot towards God's calling for the life He gave us to live, we will not walk alone. We can truly trust that God is in control and if we obey His commands and follow His instruction we will walk with God as we live out the life we have to live. Right foot/trust, left foot/obey!

Coach Carter

 

The Path

"Train up a child in the way that he should go: and when he is old he will not depart from it." Proverbs 22:6. It would be hard to argue that "training" or educating our children isn't one of the top priorities in any society. Primarily the responsibility of parents; teachers, coaches, and other influencers provide a mentoring role in the lives of our young people, and are tasked with preparing the next generation of leaders. Of course, as an educator that "raising" includes learning to read and then teaching students how to read to learn. Math, science, and history also rank up there as significantly important, along with all the other academic and non-academic courses our children take throughout their educational experience. Those are critical no doubt, yet there are skills and lessons that will prepare our children for life that we must ingrain in their hearts, minds, and souls. The inherent problem here is that the skills I'm talking about are tough lessons to learn and in most instances they hurt physically, psychologically, or even in both ways many times. Today's message titled "The Path" is related to a question a preacher once asked, "Are you preparing the path for the child, or are you preparing the child for the path?" That is a tough question to ask today, but even more so, it is a tougher question to answer if you are one of the aforementioned path builders listed above. 

I'm pretty certain that most of us have heard the old adage, "the path to destruction is paved with good intentions", well that aptly fits our message today. As parents we obviously want what is best for our children. Teachers want their students to all make straight A's, and what coach doesn't want their athletes to feel successful and accomplished in the sport they are coaching. The danger therein lies in determining what is "best" for our proteges, best for their future and the progress of society. My parents grew up during the aftermath of the Great Depression, they did without, but so did everyone else. As parents they wanted to ensure that Bob, Donna, and I had a "better" life than what they experienced as children. I'd go out on a limb a little and say they actually gave us a little more than what we needed and with much less toil and sweat than what they experienced as children and young adults. Fortunately for us, we learned a great deal about hard work from both of our parents and that has made the difference in our lives. Fast forward to a more current day, and you will find a generation that wants a better life for their children, but I'm not so sure this generation wants their children to face the struggle and even disappoint that accompanies that "better" life. 

By preparing the path for the child, we remove any obstacles that lie ahead, we straighten the path so children don't have to risk wrecking in the curves, and we fill in all the potholes along the way so that the path is smooth and easy to navigate. But, how does this look in the real world of raising children you ask? I thought you would never ask! Fixing arguments between classmates, expecting our child to never make below an "A", or wanting your child to be the star of the team regardless of the effort they invest or the dedication they commit are just a few examples of paving the path for our children. Each of these would be considered commendable efforts today in the realm of parenting, but the actual price tag to obtain these should be earned and paid for by the child, and that is where our quandary lies today. If we pave the path for the child then we remove the actual things that will build up two critical attributes, perseverance and resilience. By not allowing the younger generation to stumble and even fall at times, they won't learn to get back up and to carry on even if the possibility of falling again may still exist. Think about it this way, a baby actually learns to walk by falling down numerous times. Each plop on their behind creates a neuro memory of what happened that didn't work, the child may not even recognize the learning through the experience, but the resilience and perseverance of wanting to walk around like everyone else serves as the foundation of learning through our struggles. Conflict resolution is a key life skill for us all, but often today, the term "bullying" is used to label what may actually be a lesson in learning to not get along with someone, an important skill that is expected in the world of work and in life. (Note: I am in no way disregarding the presence of bullying, I am a certified Anti-Bullying trainer and a huge advocate for those that are truly experiencing bullying and support any effort to stop bullying in our schools. There is no place for that type of behavior in this world, and definitely not in the lives of our children.)  In sports, in most cases, the victories go to the ones that put in the hard work and when they don't win those athletes don't look for someone to blame. The bottom line here is this: we can't pave out the path for our children, in doing so we do more long term harm than short term gain. I never had to worry about getting straight "A's" in school, but over my 33 years in education I have witnessed my share of exemplary students with outstanding GPAs. I would suggest that the struggle to get those straight "A's" will have more of a lasting impact on setting goals and then obtaining them than the grades recorded on their transcript. And when the "A" isn't there, that is where the resilience and grit of overcoming adversity rises to the top. I say all of this to express the thought that having high expectations for our children should be the norm, but when their best doesn't represent perfection, or when the challenge they are facing begs for us to interfere, it may be best for us to allow the struggle and thus build the path in the child. 

The psalmist's advice from the lead into our message today would probably tell us that "the struggle" is worth its weight in gold. In other words, preparing the child for the path that lies ahead will pay off down the road. The Apostle Paul commented that he learned how to be content through the hardships of life (Phil. 4:11-13) and the author of the Book of James stated that we should consider it pure joy when we face trials because those trials ultimately produce perseverance and if we persevere we will be complete and mature. (James 1:2-4) By preparing the child for the path rather than the former, we place the child in a position to be successful in life and to handle the bumps in the road along the way. By smoothing out the rough spots in their journey we unintentionally put them at a disadvantage when the stakes are much higher and we as the caring adult are no longer able to intervene and swoop in for the save. It is our job to prepare our children for the ups and downs of life, and part of that is to allow them to grow through adversity. The seed does not turn into the flower until it struggles to reach the surface and then breaks through to ultimately see its full potential. 

As our time together comes to a close today, I want to be the first to admit that I was not the stellar parent in this area of life and I made my fair share of mistakes. I'm working harder in the lives of our grandchildren. We want to encourage them to attempt hard things. Not impossible things, but things that stretch their abilities and their perseverant mind sets. I don't applaud when they fall short, but I cheer when they get back up and give it another try. At the core of all of the struggle and defeat, I want to assure them that they are not alone. Just as Jesus promised His disciples that He would always be with them in their struggles, I want my children, my grandchildren, and all those that I coach or support to know that I am there for them. (John 16:33). 

Training up our kids in the way they should go since 1986 and learning something new every day!

Coach Carter

The Value of Things

Over the past couple of years I've been hearing the term Cryptocurrency more and more frequently. To be quite honest, I didn't really have a clue about what crypto cash really is, so I did a little Google search and this is what I found: 

"Mining is the term used to describe the process of creating cryptocurrency. Crypto transactions need to be validated, and mining performs the validation and creates new cryptocurrency. Mining uses specialized hardware and software to add transactions to the blockchain. But, not all cryptocurrency comes from mining. For example, crypto that you can't spend isn't mined. Instead, developers create the new currency through a hard fork. A hard fork creates a new chain in the blockchain. One fork follows the new path, and the other follows the old. Crypto you can't mine is typically used for investments rather than purchases." (Source Coursera).

Again, I can honestly say that after my Google search was completed, I still don't have a clue about what cryptocurrency is?? I guess I'm getting old! Or, is it possible that this new fangled form of currency is beyond my grasp because I really don't understand how things have gotten so out of whack with what is valued in this world we live in. I've titled today's FTM "The Value of Things" let's dig a little into the value of the things we value. 

If we followed the trail of American history to a much earlier day and time, we would most likely find people trading goods for other goods. You have a beaver pelt I want, and I have a basket of potatoes that you want so we traded. But when and maybe more importantly who made certain shiny stones of value? Why is it that diamonds are so valuable and gold became worth dying for? I get it that the limited quantity of "precious" items such as emeralds, rubies, diamonds, and gold make them more desirable, but at the end of the day, they are still only shiny rocks. 

Dollar bills, credit cards, and even coins such as nickels, dimes, and quarters are all made out of items such as paper, plastic, and copper. Yet, we do all we can to acquire and safeguard our wallets and purses to ensure our money in our pockets and vaults. I fully understand the role of currency in today's economy, but what I don't get is how we got to the place where we value rocks, plastic, paper, and metals more than the true treasure of God's purpose for our lives. 

Throughout the Bible God reminds us and instructs us to not allow the treasures of this world to dominate our lives. Matthew 6:19 lays it out there pretty simply in this directive straight from the mouth of Jesus, "Don't store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal." Later in the same chapter Jesus shared that the flowers of the field are beautifully adorned and the birds in the sky are taken care of in the winter, so why should we be so worried about what we shall eat, or what we shall wear? (Matt. 6:26-34). The Apostle Paul strengthens us with this  reassuring message, "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19.

We all know we need money to survive, and I am not really talking about the necessity or importance of a sound financial portfolio in your life. What I am really wanting us to think about is how to keep things in perspective. "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33) Our marching orders are simple in what is of value to us. Seek God, follow God, and serve God. When we do that, we will have what we need. That is His promise and I have found value in doing just that. Amen. 

Coach Carter

Price Tag

How much does happiness cost? What is the actual, non-negotiable price tag for being content? I'm not too certain that many people go around placing a sticker price on happiness, but I would say that I see a society today that is driven to have more. Buy more, attain a higher position in your work life, while the old adage "Keeping up with the Jones'" has been replaced with "Pass up the Jones' and anybody else that is in front of me!" Our society is chasing after something elusive and I'm here to share today that I just don't think money, riches, or fame can provide what a large portion of our world believes is attached to a number with several zeroes following behind. 

On my way to work each day I pass a billboard that projects the current lottery jackpot totals. It amazes me that the prize totals at times reach upward of one billion dollars. What I really find peculiar is that when the prize is 30, 40, or even 100 million dollars there doesn't seem to be that much excitement. Wouldn't even a prize of one million dollars be grand? But as I said, the news media doesn't even give a mention of the lottery until it bounces well beyond the 800-900 million dollar range. Why? Would suddenly "winning" a billion dollars make someone happier than someone else that just won 500 million dollars? Based on several news stories about mega lottery winners who end up broke, divorced, or dead at an early age due to drugs or other vices, my guess is the answer is a solid "No". The thought must be I don't want a million dollars, I want ten million dollars, but then the next person says well I don't want ten million I want 100 million, and the next demands 500 million, and it goes on and on and on. What are all those mega winners  going to buy that someone with one million dollars can't buy? My thought is that someone driven in this manner believes they will be happy if they can just win a little more than the guy that won the lottery just before him. Point in place, John D. Rockefeller, arguably one of the richest men in history was once asked how much money was enough, Rockefeller quickly retorted, "Just a little bit more". The question begs to be asked, if riches make someone feel fulfilled, then how much wealth is required to reach that nirvana? 

Unfortunately, happiness is not found at the end of the rainbow in a pot of gold. Unfortunately, the rise to power and fame only leads most people to want more power and more fame, never feeling fulfilled with their status as it stands. The elusive search for happiness in bank account totals or the number of Oscar winning performances isn't the only evidence available. In our daily lives the average home has 3-4 bathrooms, 4-5 bedrooms, and a typical new home is running upwards of $500,000. +. I mean the United States is labelled as one of the wealthiest countries in the world, but if that is true, why is it that the divorce rate in the U.S. hovers around 40%, and drug or alcohol addictions rank high among the rich and famous? My guess is these folks are looking for something to make them happy and they just don't seem to have enough money to get them to that happy place. Sadly, I don't believe the vast majority of our society will ever find happiness in their wealth. In the book of Matthew 16:29 Jesus asked his disciples this question, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but forfeits his soul?" In other words, I don't believe there is a price tag for happiness. So, if we can't find happiness in riches or wealth, status or position, where does happiness reside?

 A current Contemporary Christian song by the band Cochren & Company harnessed my attention recently. In the song,  "Money Can't Buy" the vocalist lays it out there pretty quick and pretty straightforward "Oh Lord give me eyes to see that what I need don't cost a thing, You fill my life with somethin' money can't buy!" What is that "somethin'", and why can't it be bought? This song speaks to my soul, you can't buy happiness, there isn't a dollar amount attached to being content that you can set as a goal, and as Rockefeller so aptly replied, "just a little bit more" unfortunately, will never be enough. Happiness is found in the life you have been given and the people that fill that life each day. I believe Cochren & Company nailed it with the line from the song that goes like this, "It's the peace that comes from perfect love. The wonder in the stars, the beating in my heart. Sometimes you gotta stop, and look at what you got, and that's when you realize, ooh, the gift it is to be alive." For those that reach the place where they understand what true happiness is, that is the "somethin" being described in the song. 

If you aren't happy with your life, money, riches, position or status won't get you there. It is a sad state of affairs for those who are caught up in the rat race of life striving for "just a little bit more".  That little bit more just becomes a part of the never ending chase for happiness in the things of this world. Again in the book of Matthew 6:19-21, Jesus spoke about wealth and the futile efforts that storing up earthly treasures creates. Instead Jesus directed us to store up our treasures in Heaven where the impact is eternal. Don't allow the chase after shiny things that will only rust and dull to fill your days, seek the happiness that is found in knowing and serving Christ. Paul said it best in Philippians 4:11-13 when he stated that his contentment is found in Christ and the life-giving flow of love that is only found in Him. That my friend is the "somethin money can't buy". If you have it, you know what I'm talking about, if you don't have it, get it today, it is available and it doesn't cost a thing! 

"For the wages of sin is death; but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord"         Romans 6:23

Coach Carter