Change Your Perspective and Change Your World

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

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

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

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

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

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

See It, Be It

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter

The Secret of How to Live (on) Forever

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter

The Price Is Right

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter