This One Thing

 What is "true love"? I know in my own family, we tell each other "I love you" before we hang up on a call, head out the door to work, and before we go to bed each night. When we sign a birthday card, we write, "Love, Chuck & Missy", and over the past thirty-seven years I have pledged my love to my best friend and partner for life. Across the world the methods for expressing the emotion of "love" are countless and in your own unique world, I'm certain that you and your family share your emotional compassion for one another through a plethora of traditions, rituals, and verbalizations. But, back to my original question, what is "true love"? We say it in numerous ways, we show it in a variety of actions and deeds, but what would be a definition that could serve as a model for us all in understanding what it means to say "I love you"? 

I know in my own childhood, our family was not one to express our emotions very well. I know my mom and dad loved me, but I don't recall them sharing those three words on a regular, daily basis. Their demonstration of love was made through the hard work they did and the opportunities they created for Bob, Donna, and I. They always made sure we had what we needed to the point that they would do without so we could have what we needed.  As I grew and matured and started dating, I fell "in love" too many times to count. Valentine cards proclaimed "I love you" and the words began to flow across my lips as relationships ebbed and flowed through my high school and college years. But when I met my future wife Missy, the words "I love you" suddenly took on a completely different meaning. Not to get too mushy, but pretty quickly, I knew in my heart that I would do anything necessary to take care of and protect Missy and I wanted to do that for the rest of my life! Hence our 37 years of marriage. I knew I would do whatever it took to take care of and protect her, even to the point of sacrificing myself for her well-being. As our family grew with the birth of our daughter and son and eventually the addition of our nephew/son, that emotional feeling of love continued to grow as well. To say "I love you" to my kids and now as adults to their kids, basically means I would do anything, go anywhere, and give up whatever it takes to help them in their time of need. I believe the most concise definition of "true love" can be expressed by "this one thing", sacrifice. 

International Pastor and evangelist Chip Ingram often says that love is best characterized as "giving someone what they need most, when they deserve it least, at great personal cost". For me the key phrase in that definition is "at great personal cost". It's easy to say you love someone, and it is easy to show someone you love them when things are going smoothly, but when things get bumpy and the feelings of "love" appear to be distant or dissipating, that is when there is a place where making a personal sacrifice becomes paramount. As Pastor Ingram states, when we make that personal sacrifice that infringes on our day to day person, then we can say we are demonstrating "true love". The sacrifice I'm envisioning here isn't a tangible sacrifice, but more of an internal sacrifice. We may be angry at the actions or choices of the person, but we sacrifice our desire to see the person pay for their actions, and show empathy and compassion instead. When we are hurt it becomes easy to want retribution, but if we truly love someone we sacrifice our emotional hurts because we have a connection to the other person that surpasses our "me centered" societal understanding. And where do you think Chip Ingram created his philosophy on "true love"? That answer is the core of our time together today.

If true love is demonstrated in giving someone what they don't deserve, but doing so when they need it most, and when that love is given with a great deal of personal sacrifice then we have the prime example shared with us in the sacrificial life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Jesus came to this world to teach us how to love. His life was a demonstration of giving us something we didn't deserve, when we needed it the most, and at the ultimate cost of giving His life on the cross so we could gain forgiveness of our own sin-stained lives. In I John 4:9-10, the Apostle John shares, "This is how God showed His love among us: He sent His one and only Son into the world that we might live through Him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. The Apostle Paul penned the following context, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8. The "this" being referenced in both passages is the one thing that ultimately demonstrates "true love", sacrifice.

As we go about our day to day lives, I hope that you have people in your life that you have the opportunity to tell them you love them. Sacrificial love for my wife, children, and grandchildren is easy. I would gladly give my life for any of them without a second thought. But loving those outside of our immediate family is a totally different concept. This world is full of hurting people, people that need to experience this same type of sacrificial love. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus was quick to reply, "... "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39. Love God, the most basic commandment there could be, but loving the unloveable, those we don't see eye to eye with, those that are hurting and our brothers and sisters around the world. Whether they are family or complete strangers doesn't matter, we are called to demonstrate true sacrificial love to them just as Jesus displayed true love for you and for me at a time when I knew I didn't deserve it, but needed it most, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. I John 3:16. This one thing, the one thing that truly makes all the difference in the world, changes saying we love someone to showing them what true love is. Choose this one thing, sacrifice for the sake of others, love the way that you are loved, and live each day as the opportunity it is.

Coach Carter

Counting Apple Seeds

During a recent chat with a small group of colleagues/friends, we were discussing the impact an area legendary coach has had on so many individuals over the years. John Dyer is a coaches coach, a stand up man, driven by his faith to coach young men not only for the sport of basketball, but more so for the game of life. Coach Dyer's passion and fire are easily noticed, and his quiet, calm demeanor when you have a conversation with him, assures you that he is driven by a higher force in his coaching and the life he lives. Two nuggets of wisdom came out of the small group's conversation and I'd like to share those with you today. First, Dr. Jeff Moorehouse shared a statement that resonated so well with my own coaching philosophy, "You can coach players for a season, or you can coach them for life". How true that statement is. The second quote was also provided by Jeff, as it one hundred percent supports and validates the previous thought. I paraphrase, "You can count the number of apple seeds in an apple, but you can never even estimate the number of apples that exist in each of those seeds". Wow, coaches, parents, managers, teachers, and everyone else that "coaches" someone or a group of someones, that one really placed the exclamation point on the idea of coaching for life rather than just a season. Let's slice that apple a bit and delve into the act of sowing seeds and then reaping the fruit of our labor. 

If you've followed my Flat Tire Ministries journey for any time at all, you have most likely read that I believe we are all coaches/teachers in life. The dividing factor is some are coaching up, while unfortunately, others tend to pull people down through their intentional or sometimes unintentional methodologies. The basic fact today is that in most cases we all coach/teach for life, not just for a season. Even if it is a sports season the impact that coach will make on the athletes he coaches will impact their lives for generations to come. I wish there was some way to categorize different types of coaches, but honestly, life is about people teaching other people, which in turn teaches the other people how to, or how not to, coach others. 

Parents coach their toddlers as they free their grip on the coffee table to take that first monumental step. Supervisors or administrators train up and reinforce their teachers as they shape their instructional and relational repertoire. In turn, teachers then relay academic concepts to their students, helping them obtain an education that will propel them forward to postsecondary success. Employees are trained by managers, and apprentices are mentored by skilled professionals. I suppose you could sum this concept up by saying life is not about what you do, but more about how many others you teach to do what you do. The scripture is true and applicable to this coaching/teaching lesson, "...it is better to give than to receive" Acts 20:35. 

And how exactly does the concept of giving being better than receiving fit into the strategy of sowing apple seeds to harvest apples? Well, when Paul was writing to the church in Corinth, he made it clear that what you sow is exactly what you will reap. II Corinthians 9:6 tells us, "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously." In whatever way we are coaching/teaching, the more seeds we plant the higher the potential for a bountiful harvest of apples will exist. 

As we started out our time together today, I shared an inspirational quote that equates the number of seeds we plant to the maximum potential each of those seeds has to produce apple trees that will provide a bountiful harvest of apples. We are directly and indirectly responsible for planting those seeds in the lives of those we influence through teaching, coaching, mentoring, and the example we set before the world in which we live. The catch 22 here is that we will plant seeds regardless of our intentions, either good seeds that produce a bountiful harvest of the next generation of leaders that will expand the impact you planted in their lives, or the seeds you plant will produce discord, hatred, malice, and self-absorption.  Here again, the Apostle Paul doesn't mince words about the impact of the seeds we sow, "Don't be deceived: God is not mocked. For whatever a man sows he will also reap." Coach them up, it will make all the difference in the world in which you live. The harvest will be immeasurable as the seeds you plant grow and mature into a grove of trees too many to count! 

Coach Carter

Persecution Prevails

Dr. Jeff Perry was the last Superintendent I worked for before leaving Hamblen County Schools in 2022. Dr. Perry is a genuine advocate for all students and his passion is to be admired. One time, during a terse student disciplinary situation, I happened to be in a room with Dr. Perry as he was working through his thoughts on what the outcome of this situation was going to be. During that conversation, Jeff Perry made a statement I won't soon forget. The choice he was about to make wasn't going to be necessarily popular, yet his mindset was obviously in the right place. "I wouldn't mind getting fired for doing the right thing for a kid", that phrase resonated with me then and it keeps my decision making process in line for the job that I do each day. Hence today's Flat Tire Ministries Thought for the Day title, "Persecution Prevails". If you are doing the right thing, it may very well land you in the seat of persecution, but as we will see today, the persecuted may very well prevail. 

Standing up for the right thing isn't always going to be the most popular thing to do. Men and women down through history have experienced a variety of consequences for their defense of right ranging from shunning, beatings or imprisonments to hangings, beheadings, or even crucifixion such as the case of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Two things need to be in place if you are planning on taking a stance for right, otherwise we could be guilty of supporting our own emotions or views rather than having the confidence of God's support via the truth of His Word, the guidance of His Holy Spirit, and the example Jesus gave us to follow. 

First, ask yourself this question, "Is what I am standing up for in line morally and ethically. To answer that question check it against scripture. Jesus faced opposition at every turn He made, and even though he was healing the sick and saving the lost, there were always neighsayers that wanted nothing more than to disprove Jesus. In the Gospel of Matthew 22 religious leaders of the time were trying to catch Jesus in a trap by getting Him to denounce Caesar's authority. They asked Jesus whether people should pay their taxes to Caesar if he was not truly the imperial authority over them, to which Jesus directed them to look at a coin and tell Him whose picture is displayed. After answering the obvious, Jesus gave the Pharisees this response, "... Then He said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's." Matthew 22:21. Jesus didn't direct those who were following Him to be insurrectionists, their responsibility was to follow the laws of the land, but to live out a life of sacrifice and service to the Word of God. If you choose to stand up for right, test what you believe to be "right" by the litmus test of God's Holy Word. 

Second, knowing the right thing to do doesn't mean it will be the popular thing to do. Peter was a paradoxical example for this point in our discussion today. Peter was one of Jesus' early adopters. A member of the original twelve disciples, Peter must have witnessed hundreds of miraculous healings and myriad instances of Jesus casting out demons from possessed individuals. Yet when Jesus was arrested and taken away by Roman soldiers, Peter was quick to denounce that he even knew who Jesus was. Three times Peter denied he was a disciple of Jesus before the rooster crowed, just as Jesus had predicted. (Luke 22:54-62). The paradox of Peter is what happened after he turned his back on Jesus during the arrest of Jesus. Scripture tells us that Peter went away and wept because he knew he had failed Jesus. This signaled Peter's repentance for failing Jesus, and as it is commonly said, well the rest is history. Peter went on to be an obstinate leader in the early church to the point that after His resurrection, Jesus named Simon Peter the rock or cornerstone of the Christian faith. Where Peter once denied Jesus, he moved forward standing for the righteousness of Christ as the risen savior and Son of the One True Living God. Peter was beaten, imprisoned, and eventually put to death himself, but his unwavering faith led him to share this message of encouragement for anyone who desires to stand up for the right of Christ in the face of persecution. Peter wrote to the early Christians in Asia Minor that were being persecuted for their belief telling them that, "... if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." I Peter 4:16. Peter was telling them that if they were persecuted for something wrong like murder or robbery that was the outcome you deserve, but if you are persecuted for standing up for God's Kingdom then that is honorable and honestly an admirable thing to do. 

For us today, doing the "right" thing is clearly following the example of Jesus. Jesus loved the unloveable, Jesus spent His days with the sick, the homeless, and the hopeless. Sinners and unbelievers were His company at the dinner table. Jesus healed men, women, and children regardless of where they were in their faith journey, because He knew that doing the right thing would pay off in the end even though it would cost Him His life as a human. What Jesus knew is that it wasn't about Him, it was all about building up future leaders for the early church so that today over 2 million people would proclaim the Christian faith. Through His persecution we have the opportunity to be saved and stand up for what is right. Truly "Persecution Prevails".

"For it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. The life I live now in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself up for me." Galatians 2:20

Coach Carter

Doing Nothing Is Doing Something

 Inaction is a choice. Fear of failure is a mindset. Doing nothing is doing something. In each of the aforementioned statements the choice to not take action is in fact a decision that fastens a person's life to inadequacy and most certainly increases the likelihood of being a stagnant person. Inaction may appear to be the "safe" choice at times, but man's progress throughout the history of time was not fueled by fear and complacency, instead progress is directly attached to creativity, resilience, and courage. 

It's fourth down and one yard to go for the first down, a decision has to be made. Inaction is not a choice. Who makes that choice? The coach. The crowd is chanting "Go for it", insights are shared from his assistants in the press box, or from the assistant on the sidelines, but when the decision is made the head coach has to decide what the next call on the field will be. After the call is made it doesn't matter what anyone else was screaming for the coach to do, it all lands on the coach after the next play is run. The one choice that the coach does not have at his disposal is the choice to not make a choice. Actually, if the coach doesn't make a decision and call a play the team is penalized and then the coach is still on the hook to make the call. Inaction is not an option. Right or wrong, good or bad, a decision has to be made by the coach. You are the coach of your life, your family, and on your job. The failure to make a choice just so you don't make a mistake is a terrible choice in itself, but as stated, it is a choice. Whether you are the head coach of the team, or if you supervise a set of men and women on the job, you have been given the responsibility to make choices and firm decisions. Sitting or standing still is not an option. That is why you have been placed in the position you hold. When you are sitting in traffic at a traffic light and suddenly it turns green, inaction is not an option. Sitting still is a choice of inaction, but that is not what automobiles were created to do, right turn, left turn, or straight ahead are the options. If you know where you are headed your choice is informed, but knowing where you need to go doesn't always ensure you will make the choice to go there. 

Fear immobilizes action. "If I just sit still then I won't mess up", is not the mindset of progress. Instead of being afraid of what will happen if we make the wrong decision, maybe we need to be thinking about what will happen if we don't make a decision at all. Instead of fear of failure, we should be more focused on what will happen if we don't make a decision. The "wrong" decision is a misnomer, what might appear to be the wrong choice may very well be the stepping stone to the ultimate place God purposed you to be. "A person plans their way, but the Lord directs their steps." Proverbs 16:9. Trusting in God comes through faith and building our faith comes through time spent in a relationship with God. Reading and studying God's Holy Bible, meditating and praying about what we have learned through our studies are building blocks of empowering us in our decision making process. The very truth that God "directs our steps" gives me the courage to boldly make a decision and move forward. 

Today's Flat Tire Thought, "Doing Nothing Is Doing Something" was inspired by a news story I heard on the radio recently. In Tokyo, Japan an annual contest is held entitled "Space Out". In this contest competitors are tasked with seeing who can do nothing the best. As I listened to the story, my mind trailed off to the idea that sitting there doing nothing is, in essence, doing something. When the decision to not do anything was made, the mold was set for deciding to sit idle and do nothing. But, I guess what I am suggesting is that idleness in itself is a choice. Where there is injustice, we must take a stance. When we witness what we believe is a wrong, it is our job to make it right, and when we are faced with the  choice to help we really have no choice, we either choose to help or we choose to join the "space out" world of doing nothing. Not a good place to be!

Mistakes are made by humans and the last time I checked that is all this world is made up of. Perfection is not our goal, although in today's society many are driven to be "perfect". Let me assure you, there has only been one perfect person that has ever walked the face of this earth and today He sits at the right hand of His father in Heaven. Progress is experienced through choices to proceed, even when it looks like the safe thing to do would be to sit still and do nothing. Trust me, doing nothing is not our option. Get your hands dirty, sweat a little bit, make some mistakes along the way, and do something. As noted above, if God is directing our steps, then it is our job to go out and fulfill our life's purpose. Keep in mind, doing nothing is not an option in the Kingdom of God! 

Coach Carter

The Power Behind You

 In life there are times when it is going to feel like the world is stacked against you. Not being pessimistic, just being realistic. Challenges are inevitable, trials are common, and adversity may feel like a constant companion during seasons of life. In my opinion, the key to enduring the complexity of these chapters in our life's journey is found in faith. Recently, a friend and colleague of mine shared a bit of inspiration with me that I felt compelled to share with you today. 

Coach Anthony Richardson pulled me aside before a recent coaches devotional began and provided me with a quote that boosted my spirit and energized my soul. "The task ahead of you, is never as tough as the Power behind you." How true that is. Notice I said how true that is, not how easy it is to remember and apply, this is where our faith steps up and steps in. Notice I capitalized the word "Power" which for me was intentional and representative of the power inside me that strengthens me and gives me the strength and will to carry on. The power behind me is much like the power of the wind that pushes the sails of a boat forward. The power behind the sails may have been created by a storm, but God is the master of the storm and just like the wind that supports the sails in moving the ship, God gives me the strength I need to move confidently forward with God directing my journey. 

Trouble will come, inevitable as it may seem, but that does not mean it will gain victory over us. In what is probably one of the most well known Psalms, David proclaims in Psalm 23:4 that, "Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and staff, they comfort me." Even when David felt like he was in a dark, hopeless valley, God would not let him go it alone. Just as the wind moves the ship forward, God's strength encourages us to move forward. All we have to have is faith. That sounds simple, but unless you have a faith filled mindset, this too will prove hard to accomplish. 

Thank God, I have His promise inked on my heart, mind, and spirit. The Power behind me is my strength, God has my back and He walks alongside me through whatever lies in front of me. Just as the wind moves a ship forward, the strength of God's word and believing in His promise to never leave us nor forsake us gives me what I need to do each day I live! God's strength goes before us and when the storm rage, I will remember that the Power in me and behind me is stronger than the task in front of me! Praise God!

Coach Carter

Knowing "Who" Instead of Asking "Why"

 Simon Sinek's book, "Start with Why" purports the idea that knowing your "why" in life will give your life purpose and that purpose will drive the decisions you make each day. That brief synopsis of Sinek's book does not even come close to doing justice for the breadth of insight and knowledge that the book deserves. I highly recommend adding "Start with Why" to your reading list. The premise of Mr. Sinek's book is to encourage us to find our "why" in life. Not to be confusing, but too often our "Why?" question isn't the journey to realizing our calling in this life we have been given to live, instead it is the question that we ask when we can't seem to find purpose in our lives ups and downs, ins and outs, or victories and defeats. That "Why?" question may be better suited as the question of "Who?" 

When an adverse situation occurs in our lives, one of the first questions asked is "WHY?" "Why did that tragic car accident happen?" Receiving an unexpected medical report lends itself to asking "Why me?" Relationships end and we just can't seem to justify the "Why did that happen to me or us?" Where Simon Sinek encourages us to know our "why" in life, I am here to share with you that knowing your "why" in life is important, but when the question is "why" did this happen to me, we better know "Who" is in charge and has set His purpose for your life in motion even before you were born. (Jeremiah 1:5) 

When tragedy strikes attempting to find the why is almost pointless, there is no valid explanation for the unexpected death of a child, and there is no logical way to answer the "why" of how one person receives cancer treatment and is healed and another person with the same diagnosis receives the message that their treatment was unsuccessful. There just isn't a reasonable answer to those types of situations. It is hard to not ask that question, yet my faith tells me to not ask "why", but instead I believe the better question needs to be "Who?" Who is in control of this world and "Who" walks with me through the valleys of life and provides me peace in the face of adversity. 

Throughout the Bible God reminds us that His plans are bigger than anything we can conceive. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts," declares the Lord. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9. Paul shared that "... we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28. And one other of the myriad references to God's pre-planning for your life that the Apostle Paul provides, "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10. The promises of God and His Word are true and can be trusted. We have to change our mindset from "why" did this happen, to I'm not sure why this happened, but I know "who" is in control and his plans are not my plans. I will trust and believe!

What I am suggesting today is not an easy task. Tragedy often invokes the question "Why?" That is going to be our initial reaction. That is human, we hurt when adversity or affliction hit home and regardless of our faith walk, we can't fathom how something horrific could happen in our lives if God truly loves us. This is where faith starts walking. For anyone that does not know God, truly knows God, this is a tremendous task. Having a relationship that is constantly growing and maturing makes this possible. We aren't asked to explain the "why", we are asked to lead others to the "who". Knowing God, trusting God, and allowing God to direct your path, makes the struggles and pain of this world beyond bearable. We are more than over-comers, we are conquerors through the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:37-39. 
Place your trust in the One "who" walks alongside you and makes clear your path today. Amen. 

Coach Carter

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