You May Be...

 Think about this, you may be the only Christ someone sees today. If you really think about that for a minute I hope you realize the gravity of that responsibility. At your work, in your school, out at the grocery store, or even as you are driving down the road consider all the people you cross paths with on any given day. Now, stop and give some thought to what they see when those paths cross. We all have a bad day every now and then, but overall what you see is what you get. With that thought in mind, let's give some context to the notion that you may be the only Christ someone sees today. 

As a child growing up I was often reminded that my actions speak louder than my words. Thanks mom, you were so right. We can talk about taking care of the sick, hopeless, and lost, but what do we do when our paths cross someone who falls into one of those categories? Do we cross the road so we don't have to encounter the homeless person begging on the street corner? What is our instinct when we reach a disagreement with a friend or family member? Or, what is our response when we feel like we have been wronged by someone we trusted. The parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind here (Luke 10:25-37). In each of these and all other day to day occurances, if we call ourselves Christians, we are in a position to reflect Christ's love or we are set to demonstrate the same type of treatment that the world displays. Our job as servants of Christ is to live in His image. In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus reminded His disciples, "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven." You were made to shine so others can see an example of what it means to be a Christian. 

When you heard the premise of today's message, that you may be the only Christ someone sees today, you may have thought, "Boy I feel sorry for them." Trust me, that is the exact thought that went through my mind when I first heard this truth. I fall down so many times and I make more mistakes on a regular basis than I could ever live to make amends for. But, God is merciful and full of grace. HIs message to me is always going to be the same, I am not perfect, ask for forgiveness and give more forgiveness than you deserve.  Give more, share more, step up and step out more. Be the first to volunteer and the last to leave. Give a hand up, not a hand out. Smile when you've had a rough day and laugh when things don't necessarily work out the way you wanted them to. In other words, change who you are and the whole world will change with you!

What are the chances that you will encounter someone this week that you will be the only Christ they see that day? Based on the scripture above, I would say the chances are pretty high, almost guaranteed. So, what will that person or group of persons see? Will they be inspired to be more like you which in turn would be that they have chosen to live their life more like Jesus, or will they just see their own reflection in your words and actions? We must live in this world, but we do not have to be an example of this world. (John 17:16). 

I'll close today with a reminder that is often shared on a radio station I listen to often during my morning and afternoon commute. It goes something like this, "There are lots of great people in the world doing amazing things for people, if you can't find one today, be one." You may be the only Christ someone sees today, what will they see? 

Coach Carter

Be a Quitter

 Well, I guess today's title got your attention pretty quick. I've been writing Flat Tire Ministries blogs since 2016 and I can't recall a single message that the focus was inspiring folks to quit! I have been a promoter of the mindset of never quitting, never giving up, and always doing your best since I started coaching back in 1986, so what is going on now? Rest assured, I haven't given up and I haven't changed my message, but today I do want to encourage everyone to "quit". The question is what do I want to inspire you to quit today? 

If I have inspired anyone to never give up in spite of circumstances, challenges, opposition, or supposedly insurmountable hardship, it is my hope that today's message will inspire someone to quit. Quit smoking, quit eating unhealthy foods or drinks, quit watching so much TV or digital media, quit using illegal drugs, and quit sitting around doing nothing productive. In addition, quit stealing, quit lying, quit gossiping, quit neglecting your loved ones, quit putting yourself first in every decision you make, and quit spending your precious time on things that will have no positive impact on your life or on the life of others that you love, serve, or otherwise share life. In other words, quit disobeying the directive that Jesus shared during His time here on Earth. 

An adulterous woman was about to be stoned to death by an angry mob when one of the crowd yelled out to Jesus for his take on what they should do to the woman. Long story short, Jesus said let the man or woman who hasn't sinned throw the first rock. (See John 8:3-11). Mic drop. The crowd shamefully dispersed, realizing that they too were just as guilty of sinning and thus could be the next contestant on the  "Who Gets Stoned to Death Today Show". The woman, probably standing there awaiting a chiding from Jesus, looked to Him for His condemnation. What did Jesus say? "Quit sinning!" (John 8:11). In chapter 5 of the same Gospel of John, Jesus heals a man who had been crippled most of his life. What did Jesus tell this man to do? The only directive Jesus gave this man was to "Quit doing the things that are counter to living a Christian life" (John 5:14). Although Jesus taught His disciples and all those he came in contact with to never give up and to never quit doing the work they had been called to do, Jesus did share a clear message, be a quitter, quit sinning!

Jesus left a lasting impression on his early followers, Paul in particular continued encouraging men and women to be quitters. In Galatians 5:19-21 Paul exhorts the people of Galatia telling them if they don't quit their evil ways they won't inherit the Kingdom of God. The list is pretty inclusive: sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God." In other words, Be a quitter, quit sinning. And if you are struggling with the question, "If I quit doing all of the things listed above, then what will I do with all my time?" Never fear, Paul is near, in the same chapter he goes on to say instead of spending all of your time on these detrimental activities, invest your time, energy, and resources into activities that produce the following: "love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control" Galatians 5:22-23. Paul goes on to remind us that there is no law or limit to the amount of time, energy, and resources we invest in these attributes. 

Today I am going to close this message with three words that I am pretty sure I have never said in my life. While I want to encourage you to do more, give more, share more, and invest more into people, projects, and programs that will have a positive impact on this world we are living in, I also want to encourage you to stop doing the things in your life that will only have a negative impact on you and your circle of influence. Stop hurting others, stop taking and never giving, and stop waiting on someone else to begin a good work before you get involved. Today my advice to you, me, and the world is "Be a Quitter", quit squandering your life away and start living the life that God purposed you to live! 

Coach Carter

Use As Directed

 If you have ever picked up a prescription from your local pharmacy, most likely you have read the phrase "use as directed" as the instructions for its use. The pharmaceutical assumption is that the prescriber has provided guidance to the recipient regarding the dosage and frequency for the medicine to be taken. Without proper guidance from the doctor or pharmacist it stands to reason that a person could overdose or not gain the full effects of the prescribed medication. Equipped with the proper instructions those risks are mitigated, we follow the "doctor's orders" and typically the condition lessens and soon we are feeling like ourselves again. Just as following the physician's instructions helps ensure we start feeling better, in life there is a Great Physician who gave us a life to live and He too provides us with instructions on how to live that life. 

As each new child is born around this world, I imagine God blessing that new life and saying "use as directed". At birth we are given a life to live which will be stockpiled with decisions and choices. Babies and young children have adults in their lives that make the majority of those decisions for them.  As we grow and learn we become more independent in our thinking process and quickly we become the one who makes those decisions, right or wrong, good or bad, we are given the free will to choose to follow the instructions or follow our own desires. 

But, how do we know what is the right choice? How do we know we are living this life we have been given "as directed"? The answer is simple, we read the instruction manual and then we talk to the Physician who gave us the life we have been called to live. What gives us the confidence to live out our life according to the instructions we have been given in His Word? The words of Jesus quickly answer that question, "For the word of God will never fail" Luke 1:37. Do not get confused, reading the Bible and building a relationship with God doesn't give us a cure for every illness, issue, or challenge that we will face in life. Just as there exists the possibility that the medicine prescribed by a doctor does not take care of our illness, there are going to be trials and tribulations in the life God gave us to live and we may not receive the answer we want just because we presented it to God and asked for the answer we want to transpire. I think of Paul in II Corinthians 12:7-10 where he explained that he asked God to take away a thorn or some sort of medical infirmity three times to no avail. Paul came to terms with the fact that the medical issue was not going to be healed, but he also had a revelation that God wanted Paul to rely less on his own abilities and lean in more on God's strength which in turn made Paul strong enough to not only endure the affliction, but to be stronger through it for the sake of God's plan for the life He gave Paul to live. 

God gave each of us a life to live, He also gave us the directions for how to use the life He gave us to live. When we attempt to live outside of the "use as directed" guidance we have at our disposal, life can get wonky and if we choose to live outside of the instructional handbook, life continues to become more and more challenging. As the Apostle Paul was training and preparing Timothy to continue the Kingdom work he had been called to do, he reassured Timothy that the Bible would be his go to instructional reference in this verse, "All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." II Timothy 3:16-17. 

We take the medicine that our doctors prescribe because we trust that they have the knowledge and training necessary to heal us as long as we take their guidance and "use as directed". Living life and living it to the fullest can be a much bigger challenge. Building a personal relationship with our Lord and Savior gives us comfort, strength, and encouragement that if we take His guidance and "use as directed" we will fulfill His will and purpose for the life we have been given to live! 

Coach Carter

More of These

 As we roll on into 2025 it is commonly accepted that folks will compile a short list of resolutions that they intend to apply to their day in and day out lives. Exercising regularly, changing dietary habits, slowing down on smoking, stepping up on work habits,  and turning the electronic devices off most likely top our lists. Well, I would not be forthcoming if I didn't admit that I too have set some goals for change in 2025, some physical (getting rid of about 10 lbs. and keeping it off!), and some transformative in more of a spiritual sense. Whatever it is that you have listed as a "New Year's Resolution" it will only be as successful as you make it a part of who you are and how you do you. It's kinda like that old saying, "what you put in is what you will get out". In 2025, my prayer is that you will make an investment into making goals that will not only impact you, but goals that will impact others through the work to improve you and your walk with God. 

Trimming off 10 lbs. will obviously be of benefit to me personally. The health benefits alone make it a no-brainer, but more than that the better physical condition I am in the better capable I am of working without experiencing adverse physical limitations, the better my endurance will be, and the better I feel about myself the more likely I will be to engage myself in activities and settings where I can learn, grow, and serve others. You see, if I only look at decreasing my weight for my personal benefit, then I'm the only one that I am accountable to thus lowering the stakes on sticking to my resolution. Placing the opportunities to serve others and benefit others through my service raises the stakes and increases my role and responsibility in ensuring I stick to my plans. Not that trimming off 10 lbs. isn't important to me, but my intrinsic goals far outweigh any self weight loss goals I could set anytime, beginning of the year or not! 

I have landed on two such goals as we embark on the wonder of a new year filled with myriad opportunities to serve others and provide a glimpse of the One who modeled the example on what true service looks like during our own daily walk. Kindness isn't always considered a quality that tops the list in new year resolutions, but after I heard a radio disc jockey provide the following definition I decided to up my kindness ratio in 2025. Paraphrasing the definition "Kindness is lending your strength when someone is in need." Now you can place that in simple terms such as opening the door for someone when their arms are full, that is the kind thing to do, but when I heard this definition it hit me that I need to be on the lookout each day, seeking opportunities to show kindness to someone who is in a position of need. Homelessness creates a scenario of great need. Regardless of why someone is homeless it is not my job to judge them, but it is my responsibility to show them kindness because they are definitely in need. Lending strength to a homeless person could mean utilizing my financial ability to provide a hot meal or an extra blanket, but it could also mean serving hot meals at a shelter, working to expand mental health services in my community, or just acknowledging a homeless person exists and calling out their name to God for deliverance from the situation that has created this situation in their life. That is just one example, kindness can be shown in any and all aspects of your life. On the job, with your family, or even in the passing of someone on the side of the road stranded by a flat tire or other mechanical breakdown. Mark Twain is credited with having said, "Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see." May your life be filled with opportunities to show kindness to those in need in 2025. 

Coupled with kindness I want to do more to sacrifice self over others. The United States Air Force motto is "service before self", this embodies the idea that our professional and personal lives should be more focused on how we can help others rather than how we can be supported by others. We can sacrifice our time, our means, and our personal wants for the good of others. In the same vein as kindness, when we sacrifice we take our strengths, skills, and assets and lend them to someone else that is in need. Doing what is expected does not necessarily constitute a sacrifice, to sacrifice we must do something that is out of the ordinary, and in some cases that sacrifice borders extraordinary. In our reference to the USAF service before self lends itself to the ultimate sacrifice, a trait that members of the armed forces in general accept when they sign up for duty. Jesus is our true example of sacrifice. In the Gospel of John, Jesus stated that, "Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one's life for one's friends." John 15:13. I'm not expecting anyone to go out and physically lay down their life for the sake of someone in need, but the essence of sacrifice is that we are giving something up that makes us comfortable, for the sake of someone who is less fortunate and in need of what we can offer. If we give to someone in need out of abundance that isn't really a sacrifice. If, on the other hand, we don't have an abundance and we still give to someone in need that becomes a sacrifice. 

I have chosen kindness and sacrifice as two key attributes that I want to increase in my life in 2025. Both of these are direct examples of service before self and both require giving away something to someone in need. Being nice to those who are nice to us isn't necessarily increasing our kindness quotient. And doing things that are expected of us doesn't really qualify as making a sacrifice. Both require giving of oneself out of a spirit of service to others in spite of our own needs. I am choosing kindness and sacrifice and I invite you to join me in giving more of ourselves in those areas in 2025, but please don't limit your choices to something that I feel I need to do. Whatever it is that you can do that will benefit others more than it will impact you, go for it! Find your area to serve or who knows, your decision may be to serve in 2025. My prayer is that God will give you more, more opportunities to give, to serve, and to sacrifice. Less of me, and more of these! 

Coach Carter