"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