The Status Quo

 The literal Latin translation of the term "status quo" is "the state in which".  Leadership guru John Maxwell extends that definition, quipping that the status quo is best defined as "the mess we are in". I tend to agree more with Maxwell's thought over the literal definition, keeping things at the status quo level may feel safe, but if we want to grow, the status quo can do nothing more than hinder the growth and progress of any endeavor or initiative. 

Throughout my career there have been two phrases that have made me cringe as the words came out of the speaker's mouth. "Well, we've always done it that way" and "Well, we tried that once before and it didn't work", both of which are the epitome of living in the status quo. If Miracle Grow fast tracks a plant's maturity, then these two phrases are like Roundup to creativity and innovation, i.e. growth. In anything I am involved in I want to improve, improvement indicates progress, and progress equals growth.  Before we go any further, let's look at the danger of living in the status quo of our lives. 

To me the very words, "we've always done it that way" invoke laziness. In other words, why doesn't the person just say, "I don't want to change because it will mean I have to do things differently". The fear is that it might take the person or group out of their comfort zone. Sitting on a couch is comfortable, but I haven't witnessed much progress being made while someone is sitting on the couch of life. Additionally, the mindset of "we tried that before and it didn't work" reeks of conformity to the status quo of being content in the mess we are in. Of course there will be attempts in any venture that are not successful, that is the nature of innovation and any transformation our world has experienced. Growth actually is experienced in the struggles of life. Look at the transformation of a seed. After being planted the seed first dies, I suppose you can rank that as a struggle. Yet, after it dies as a seed, a small, tender plant emerges and works its way up to the oxygen and sunlight that are necessary for growth. In another example, babies transition from crawling to walking, yet throughout that transition, there are numerous plops to the ground, (explaining why God gave us extra padding on our derriere) before transitioning to a full blown walking toddler. Side note: Excited to have that experience with Baby June, granddaughter number seven, who will be making that transition sooner than later! 

Any initiative we undertake in life is going to involve change. If the world had been content with the Model T car then we wouldn't have Teslas today. Ray Kroc is credited with making McDonalds a global empire in the fast food world, but how often do you hear people talking about Maurice and Richard McDonald? The two brothers started McDonalds in the 1940s, yet it took adding the growth mindset of Ray Kroc to see what the potential was for the hamburger giant. Someone had to say we aren't going to be satisfied with the mess we are in and move the restaurant chain forward, Ray Kroc did just that. Say no to the status quo and say yes to the change in your life that needs to occur. 

I can just about guarantee that there is an area of your life that needs to experience change or growth. You may not be looking for it and you may not want it, (status quo) but with some introspection and reflection, you could identify at least one area of your world that is sitting in the status quo quicksand pit of your life. At work, in your home, within a relationship, or it could be in your daily walk with God, where do you want or better yet need to grow? Paul provided this challenge to the early church in Rome, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind." Romans 12:2. I don't want to crawl through life, I want to run, I want to grow, and I want to see the mess I am in, become the change I need to be in me! Say no to the status quo and live your life to the fullest! 

Coach Carter

 

Comfort-able

Comfort. There is a peace that we receive when we reach an understanding that God is in control of all things. That peace of mind provides comfort. Comfort in situations and circumstances that otherwise would certainly feel uncomfortable to most of us. Working through challenging circumstances, making difficult decisions, or losing a loved one all fit under the category of being uncomfortable. So, how does this comfort I'm describing take place when the world is compounding the stress of our life's discomfort? 

There is power in prayer. When I pray, I'm not just reading off my wishlist of needs, instead I approach my prayers in much the same way that I would talk with a friend. I spend a great portion of my morning time with God thanking Him for all He has done in my life and the lives of those I love. I give thanks to God for the blessings of health, my career, and all the opportunities that He has made available to me over the years that I have lived. I spend time each day asking God to forgive me when I fall short and I ask Him to teach me and grow me as a leader as I live out each day. And yes, there are times when I spend a considerable amount of time praying for peace in the storm I am facing, or strength to endure the adversity pounding on my door. Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and heavy burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30. At these times life may not be comfortable, yet Jesus tells us if we will bring our burdens and worries to Him we will find peace and we will experience rest. Comfort. 

For me praying is an ongoing part of my day. My morning time with God is the most important part of my day, yet prayer is not restricted or limited to a certain time of the day. God is with us and available to us 24/7. So, the question begs to be asked, "When do you find yourself praying?" For some people praying is associated with something they do when they are in need. I often say people commonly pray during hardships and heartaches, and the good news is that God is there and He hears us when we pray. Sickness, sadness, or times when we are scared make life uneasy, or un-comfortable. Even the mighty King David knew that the God who is for us is the same God who is with us. "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me." Psalm 23:4. Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me. Even when relationships are strained, God comforts us. Even when we are destitute and lost, God comforts us. Even when our health suffers, our business fails, or our lives get turned upside down, God comforts us. There is no valley too dark or too low that God isn't there right beside you, walking with you, providing peace each step along the way. Comfort.

Somebody is out there today that doesn't feel like God is there. You can't find rest and you don't have peace. Guess what? God hasn't moved and He hasn't left you alone to deal with your life's situations. If you are feeling all alone, maybe it is you who has moved away from Him? Or maybe you haven't formed that one on one relationship with God yet so knowing what and how to pray is foreign to you. Trust me when I tell you God is near and He is eager to have a personal relationship with you. As you lean into a personal relationship with God, you will find that He is always near (Psalm 34:18) and He is always available to give your tired and weary self peace. Comfort. 

When life feels like it is spinning out of control or when you just need reassurance that you are not walking alone, God is near, He is in control, and He has a plan. Trusting in God and walking with Him is the answer to your discomfort. In God you are "able" to find "comfort". Comfort-able. 

Coach Carter

Walk by Faith

 

Funny how things work. Almost exactly a year ago I wrote a blog entitled "Blind Faith" with the emphasis being on trusting God even though we can't see His plan. As I sat down to write this week's message the title "Blind Faith" was what I was thinking, but it sounded so familiar I decided to do a search of all the posts that I've been blessed to share over these past 10+ years of penning Flat Tire Ministries Thoughts. Sure enough, the April 27, 2025 post popped up on my screen. So, long story made short, I still have a message referencing blind faith, but definitely a different viewpoint for the concept in our message today. I've aptly swerved and renamed today's message "Walking by Faith", I hope it serves as a blessing to you as much as it has me! Read on. 

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1. There really isn't a better title for today's message than "Blind Faith" but nevertheless the concept can still be our focal point in our time together. As we get started, I think we need to have a clear idea of what is meant when we say someone has "blind faith". The term represents "a deep level of trust, often without evidence" according to the U.S. Dictionary. Hence another term, "walking by faith" as it is often used in reference to a person that "blindly" adheres to their walk with God. If I walk by faith fully trusting in God's plan, I am in essence walking in blind faith, because I haven't seen God, so my faith in God is based not on what I have seen, but instead on what I believe. For me walking by faith is similar to someone without sight that boldly moves forward trusting that the path forward is laid out in front of them. 

Visually impaired individuals are a model of bravery to me. I can't imagine what it is like to take that first step forward with no idea of what you are about to step out to. To do so you would have to have a great deal of faith that the road ahead is there, call it blind faith if you like, but I deem it courageous and admirable. Completely trusting in God requires that same boldness. For those that place their full trust in God and the teachings of His Holy Bible choosing to follow and adhere to His commands requires a certain degree of "blind faith". 

We can see the results of God's hand. All of creation was breathed into existence by His command "Let there be light and there was light". Genesis 1:3. The miracle of a newborn child, a star racing across the starlit night, or even the roaring crash of a mighty wave as it approaches the shore. These are all visual examples of God's hand, but they are not God. Our faith, blind as it may be, trusts that God created all of the aforementioned along with everything else we see, hear, or even sense. Love is felt and experienced, we don't see "love" but we feel it and we trust in it. "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not die, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Whosoever "believeth" shall be saved. For some people "seeing is believing" for those who trust in God and place their faith in Him, the evidence is not in seeing God, but believing in God! Hence blind faith walking!

But how does all of this apply to your own daily walk? You may be dealing with health matters that far exceed what any other person around you deals with on a daily basis. You may have hit rock bottom financially and you can't see the day of light from the pit you are experiencing. Drugs, alcohol, or any other addiction, I don't walk in your shoes, but there again you don't walk in mine. We each have to walk in our own shoes. So, not that what you are dealing with is better or worse than your neighbor, but singularly relevant, whatever you are walking through you can be at peace because you are not walking alone! Just as Hebrews 11 goes on to explain, men and women down through history walked by faith, blindly trusting that God was real and that God was right there beside them along their journey. By faith Noah, by faith Abraham, by faith Moses, by faith Samson, David, and all the others that followed up to you and I all walk blindly trusting in our Lord and Savior's plan for this life He has given us to live. 

If you are not trusting God then you are living life blindly as well, but that walk is dark and lonely. Allow yourself to develop a faith that walks through darkness without stumbling or getting lost. Walk by faith not by light and allow God to direct your path, (Proverbs 16:9). God's love is unlike anything we experience outside of Him, He has a plan for your life and He walks alongside you each step you take. 

"What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived - the things God has prepared for those who love him" I Corinthians 2:9

Coach Carter

Which Way Do I Go?

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6

This couplet has always been one of my favorite sets in the Bible. There are two parts to the thought, one a directive and the second a promise.  The first portion of this verse exhorts us to trust in God and not in our own abilities, thoughts, or plans. The second section of Proverbs 3:5-6 provides a promise that God will direct our steps if we seek His will and follow Him. Life gives us the decision to make on our own, we can choose the dark, bumpy and curvy road or we can allow God to lead us on the narrow but straight and smooth interstate of life. 

Staying with our analogy of roads and highways, think about your travels and the routes you have taken to get from one place to another. In my own experience I have traveled the back roads of Northeast Tennessee my whole life and I can attest to the curvy, up and down nature of the roads I have encountered. Add to that, when the sun goes down and the moon is not on full display, those curvy roads become even more hazardous due to the lack of adequate lighting and signage. If you aren't familiar with the backroads you are traveling, especially at night, drivers are forced to slow down and focus a little more intently on the curves up ahead. In much the same way, when we choose to make our own decisions in life we often find ourselves on the backroad of life experiences where things can be much more treacherous, filled with curves, blind spots, and embankments that lead to dark valleys below. 

On the other hand, when I choose to travel the highways or interstates the roads are well lit, with an abundance of signs, flashing signals, and markers that explain which way to go and how far away I am from my destination. A marked difference in traveling conditions for sure. If I again apply this to our ability to allow God to direct our way, His way is illuminated well through His guidance found in the Holy Bible and the by the nudging of His Holy Spirit. You are not alone when you choose to travel with God. 

Jesus talks about this himself in His teachings found in the Gospels."Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." Matthew 7:13-14. Basically what I believe Jesus was saying is there are two routes you can choose, one road is dark and if you choose that road you are basically on your own. Rarely are there flashing warning signs about the drop off ahead on most backroads just as the ways of this world don't come with warnings or "Danger Ahead" signs to help us in our times of adversity or affliction. Yet, if we choose to take the well lit path, the interstate of life, God is there shining His light and providing us with a roadmap to follow. 

That roadmap is Jesus. "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6. No one finds his way on his own. Nobody can drive blindfolded on a dark, curvy backroad and not end up at best in a ditch. The way is broad and it may feel good at first, but that way of life doesn't end well. The "way" described by Jesus is the only way to find the light we need for our travels to be safe equipped with the guardrails and well lit warnings of the danger that lies ahead. The good news is there are only two paths to choose between. The even better news is you have the opportunity to choose which road you will travel. Make the right choice today, choose His way. His way is illuminated and straight. Even when you face obstacles on His path He will be with you as you navigate and complete your journey! Drive on. 

Coach Carter

What If the Answer Is "No"?

What is the purpose of prayer? Have you ever given thought to how you pray, when you pray, or even what you pray for? To me, prayer is part of my relationship with the Creator of Heaven and earth, the omnipotent Father of all creation. Nothing that exists was created outside of His Hand, and there is a purpose to everything that happens in the world we live in. There are different types of prayers. Prayers of thanksgiving for all that God has done, is doing, and continues to do in our lives. Prayers for guidance or direction with decisions we are facing, or often our prayers can be focused on support for family, friends, or others we are directly or indirectly connected to. I'm guessing that the most frequent type of prayer is one where we are requesting help from God for divine intervention in our own adversity or affliction. In my personal prayer life, I strive to intertwine all of these in my daily prayers. I don't want my prayers to be all about me, and I definitely don't want to fail to thank God for his omniscient presence in my daily walk. Additionally, it is important to include intercessory prayers for the needs of those that I love, live, and share life with each day. Today's question isn't necessarily about what you pray about or even when you pray, today I'd like to pose a question, What do you do when you pray and God's answer to your prayer is "No"? 

I suppose you could say there is a certain level of expectancy that God is just going to snap His fingers and answer our prayers when we ask Him to come to our rescue. I mean didn't Jesus tell us in Matthew 21:22 that "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."? Well, yes and no seem to be an appropriate response to that mindset. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus shared another thought around this idea of ask and receive. "Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours." Mark 11:24. Over the years I have struggled with understanding this concept. On the surface level it sounds like in the verse from Matthew that Jesus was telling us all we have to do is ask for whatever it is and we will receive it; pray, snap, it is done. We can all attest to the fact that that is not how it works. In the verse from Mark the clarifying phrase for me is "believe that you have received it and it will be yours." Believing that you have received it for me says ask for an answer to your prayer and accept that whatever the outcome of the situation is, God has a plan and a purpose. If we believe with that level of trust and confidence in God's divine power, then we can accept that God has heard our prayer and He is working in and through whatever is going on to a result that will carry His plan forward. That is hard for us, when we pray for healing and it doesn't happen what is our response? When we ask God to restore a broken relationship and resolution doesn't happen, do you trust that God's plan will be fulfilled and it may not be done right now? Whatever the situation or circumstance, how do you respond when the answer to your prayer is "No"? 

For some, praying and receiving a "no" response results in the person turning their back on God. "I asked and you didn't heal my family member, so I'm done with religion." Another perspective to a "no" response is that God is punishing you by not answering your prayer. That way of thinking is counter to God and His way. In the Book of Job, we are introduced to a true, blameless man of God named Job (Job 1:8). Satan seeks to discredit Job by hitting him with all levels of destruction and loss. Job loses his children, his material possessions, and even his own health and through all of that Job maintains his unwavering trust in God. As hard as it had to be, Job submitted to God and His provision. Job took the stance that "... God teaches people through suffering and uses distress to open their eyes." Job 36:15. To accept an answer of "no" to our prayers is hard, yet it is possible if only we will trust, obey, and allow God's plan to be fulfilled in us and through us. 

Accepting God's wisdom and his omniscient plan for this life that He has given us to live allows us to look at a "no" response and trust that God has a plan. I can tell you, that won't happen without having a relationship with God. The two earlier responses of turning your back on God or feeling that God is punishing you for all the bad you have done are reactions that can be accomplished without a relationship with God. The only way to accept adverse outcomes to a prayer request is through a relationship with God that understands and accepts that God's response may be yes, it may be not right now, and it may end up being "no". A "no" response does not mean God has turned a deaf ear to our plea, it simply means that God hears you and He will answer your prayer, but it is our duty to trust that the outcome of any situation is going to be part of God's plan. Our humanness will not allow us to see God's plan, that is why our response has to be one of trust and faith that will see us through. One day it will all be revealed. Will it happen while you are here on this earth? I can't answer that one, but I can hold on to my faith and trust that my God is faithful and that today's "no" may be tomorrow's "YES". 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Coach Carter

How to Be Content

 "The fountain of content must spring up in the mind;" is the beginning of a quote by the late18th century English writer Samuel Johnson describing his take on how to attain happiness in life. Sadly, Johnson did not do a very good job of taking his own advice, yet his advice does serve as a steady reminder of where our contentment and just as importantly, our discontentment resides. The circumstances and the situations we deal with today may be out of our immediate control, but the perspective we take and the outlook we present are 100% ours to decide. 

There is a parable that I adhere to in my own theory of perspective = reality that aptly describes where being content originates. There once were two separate travelers, each seeking a new town in which to settle. As the first man prepared to enter a new city he encountered a wise, old man sitting outside the city gate. "Sir, what are the people like in this city?" he inquired. The older gentleman replied with a question, "What were the people like where you came from?". The traveler snorted and bellowed out "The people in the city I just left were a bunch of wicked, evil people. They gossiped and lied all the time. They were a bunch of thieves and liars." The wise man replied, "You will find the people to be the same in this town." After hearing this the traveler made the decision to keep searching for a city that was more like what he was looking for. Along came the second traveler and as he came upon the same elderly wise man near the gate, he too inquired about the type of people he would find in the city. The wise sage reissued the same question to this man. "What were the people like where you came from?". To this the traveler excitedly shared that the people in the town where he previously resided were, " Oh, it was wonderful, we had dear friends there and the town was so supportive of each other. There was never a lack for anything because the town was always eager to assist the people living there." As you might guess, the wise old man repeated his earlier response, "You will find the people in this town to be the same". I'll just say, if you didn't feel that last line coming, you may need to be doing more than just reading today's message! Regardless of your current circumstances, you have the ultimate ability to determine how you perceive your life's current state of being. 

Samuel Johnson's quote continues, "... he, who has so little knowledge of human nature, as to seek happiness by changing any thing, but his own dispositions, will waste his life in fruitless efforts, and multiply the griefs which he purposes to remove." I can't walk in your shoes, I do not deal with the issues you deal with in your current life's journey, nor do you fit into my size 9 1/2 treads. "To each his own" aptly describes how we should view the list of issues each of us deal with on a daily basis. I say that because I do not want to oversimplify what you are going through that may be well outside of my own experience. What I am saying though is regardless of what you are dealing with, YOU are the one who gets to decide how you will handle it and what your perception of the quality of life you are currently living is. I've said it countless times in my life, I am a relentless optimist and when it comes to the cup being half full or half empty, I can honestly say, I'm just glad I have the cup. I'll find something to put in it! I may have to dig a well, squeeze a coconut, or tap a hole in the dam, but I'll find something to drink! In my opinion, my optimism is a direct reflection of my faith in God's love and commitment to "never leave me nor forsake me" Hebrews 13:5.

To each person their "thing", which could actually be several things that have just compounded over time, is the worst situation possible. And it may very well be. That being said, regardless of what you are dealing with, it is also your choice on how you perceive your life's circumstances. I reference the Apostle Paul here because He is my beacon of hope when life seems to be full of despair. Paul endured so much in his walk with Christ and through it all he made the decision to believe that God can and does use our hardships to help us find contentment in Him. Paul had a thorn in his side. What kind of thorn, was it a literal thorn in his side or was it a figurative thorn similar to one of the varied thorns you may be dealing with today? Paul doesn't elaborate, but believe me he had several complications and issues in his life that he could have been talking about, the point is it doesn't really matter. Paul went to God not once but three times asking Him to remove the thorn and thus relinquish the painful condition he endured. Although Paul asked God to remove the thorn, who wouldn't, he also made the decision to trust in God's omnipotent power and boast of his personal decision to be content in his pain. "... I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, with insults, with troubles, with persecutions and difficulties for the sake of Christ, for whenever I am weak, then I am strong." II Corinthians 12:9-10.

The choice is yours. You will decide whether you will thrive in your circumstances or if you will sit down in the middle of your very own pity party puddle and sulk. It is easy to be discontent, I don't know why it is so much easier to be beat down by our own mind, but as I used to tell my athletes it is much easier to drag someone down, rather than pull them up. I believe the same is true for our disposition, it is easy to be brought down when the going gets tough, but it is a challenge when we are stuck up to our necks in quicksand and it doesn't appear that a helping hand is available to pull us out to dry land. I choose to do whatever I need to do to keep on going! I'm gonna look for a hand from God when there are no other hands in sight and I am going to hold on to His hand whatever comes my way. Will I be content in the quicksand pits of life? No, but I will be content in Him who gives me the strength to endure and overcome whatever man has placed in my way! In God I am content and I am made strong! 

Coach Carter

From, Through, For, and To

I don't think anyone living in the U.S. of A. could say they didn't know this is Easter weekend. I mean enter any retail store and you'll find colorful Easter bunnies stationed beside bright rainbow colored plastic eggs, and a plethora of assorted chocolate bunnies and sugary sweet delicacies. Clothing stores boast their Spring apparel and mixed in amongst the shorts, bathing suits, and flip flops, there are an assortment of Easter outfits as they were often referred to back in the day. Over the Easter weekend there will be egg hunts, family meals, and time to share laughter and make memories. Don't get me wrong, I'll be boiling my eggs and eating my share of the ham and rolls, but in all of the celebration of Easter, I certainly do not want to forget why we celebrate the Easter weekend. The Son of God, Jesus Christ, came to this world with the full understanding that His life would be all about sacrifice. As we celebrate Easter today, it is my prayer that we keep His sacrifice at the forefront of all we do today.

For me, Easter is all about four little prepositions, from, through, for, and to. The Apostle Paul provides the context for our conversation today. In Paul's teachings to the early church in Rome, he shared this reassurance of the sovereignty of our Lord and Savior, "For from Him and through Him, and for Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever! Amen." Romans 11:36. Bringing out the old English teacher in me, it feels appropriate to clarify the role of a preposition in the English language. By definition a preposition serves to express the relation between two words such as, the man is "on" the bus, or the girl went "out" the door. My purpose in defining what role a preposition plays in our vernacular is simple, each of the four listed prepositions above directly support how our relationship with our triune Father should be lived out.  King David presented a rhetorical question that he in turn answered himself in Psalm 121 that is applicable to our first preposition "from". "Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and Earth." Psalm 121:1-2. Everything we have ultimately comes from above. God is merciful and He blesses us even though we haven't earned it or deserve it. If this is true then the forgiveness we received for the sins of this world surely did come by way of Jesus dying for the sins of this world. Again Paul penned our second reminder using the preposition "through". "For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit" Ephesians 2:18. The blessings we receive whether it be a hot meal on the table, or a brand new Easter outfit, came to us by way of Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross. It is through Him our sins are forgiven. (Colossians 1:14). The third connecting preposition is "for" and this three letter word brings our relationship completely together. "For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. If there is one key verse in the Bible that explains why we celebrate Easter this might very well be it. Back to our definition of a preposition explaining the relation of one thing to another,  God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are the only reason we can be forgiven of our sins and promised eternal life in Heaven. And finally on this Easter Sunday, before the eggs are hidden in the grass, before we sit down for our ham or turkey, my prayer is that we remember who is responsible for the gift of salvation we have received. "To God be the glory, honor, and praise." Romans 11:36. Jesus made the sacrifice that was necessary for us to be saved from our sins over 2,000 years ago. His sacrifice placed us in direct relation to receive forgiveness for our sins. Share the Good News with someone you spend time with today. For it is all from Him, Through Him, For Him, and To Him that we live today. 

Coach Carter

  

Are You an Inventor or Just a "Ventor"?

A valuable lesson I've learned over the years is that just because I am the leader of a school, a department, or even a school system, I don't always have all the answers to every question or situation. Leadership is developed through experience which in and of itself develops resilience, knowledge, and hopefully wisdom. (I say "hopefully" only because it depends on what we do after an experience whether it becomes wisdom or not. There is a definition of insanity that applies here if you'd like to explore that one.) Problem solving is a key attribute in leadership and developing that skill is one that benefits both the leader and those that he or she is leading. As a leader of leaders, one of the best strategies I have found in building problem solving skills is to provide the person with the issue at hand to be directly involved in the pursuit of an effective solution. There is one school of thought that holds to the idea of "Don't come to me with a problem unless you have two or three potential solutions", which sounds great in theory, but if the person had the best solution in hand why would they be coming to you for help? I recently had one of our principals reach out to me about an issue he is dealing with in his school. One of the last things he did in his email request to meet was state that he would bring some possible solutions with him for when we sit down to talk. For me that only expedites the process and provides us with more time to explore and dissect his potential solutions, while also providing me with more context of what type of outcome he is pursuing. What I bring to the table is a vast array of experiences that help guide our conversations and allow us to shoot holes in proposals that may have hidden land mines just waiting to happen. Here, past experience serves as the teacher of wisdom. Although each situation has its own nuances, similarities between past experiences and a current issue at hand offer a golden opportunity to talk through those possibilities before landing on the path forward. Remember, "the more things change, the more they stay the same!"

Today's Flat Tire Thought asks the question, are you an inventor or just a "ventor"? Well, I made up the word "ventor" and I also gave the word its very own definition. A "ventor" is a person who comes to a person they envision as being able to take care of whatever it is that is creating a hardship for said person. Now, don't get me wrong, I value and appreciate my colleagues coming to me to work through their thoughts and matters of concern, yet a "ventor" is someone that doesn't really have a possible solution, they just want to get their frustration off their chest and in the process gain some magical wisdom from the person "in charge". Well, if that was the proper way to develop problem solvers the old proverb about catching a fish for someone or teaching them to fish would not hold true and I believe we all can agree it is much better to teach others how to fish for solutions to their problems rather than setting the hook yourself all day long! 

I stand firm by my assertion above that just because I am the leader, that doesn't mean I have all the right answers. So, if I as a leader don't have all the answers the question begs to be asked, is there a better source to reach out to when there is a problem to be answered? In my own walk, there are friends, colleagues, and mentors that I reach out to when I have my own head scratchers to solve, and when that happens I always try to follow my own advice and go with some potential solutions in hand. That being said, do you have somewhere to turn when even your dearest friend or confidant can't seem to walk you through to a plausible solution to your problem? I turn to our God, He is closer than a brother and His knowledge and wisdom go beyond compare (Proverbs 18:24 & Proverbs 3:19).

I am so guilty of coming to God through prayer asking Him for answers to the issues I am facing in my life each day. Not that God doesn't want us to do just that, "Ask and it will be given to you' seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8. The God we serve is omnipotent and omniscient, yet in His infinite wisdom, he desires to see you and I grow in our own wisdom and knowledge so we can in turn invest the same in those we live, love, and work with each day. How much would you or I grow if all we had to do was come to God and "vent" our own frustrations or issues to Him and then just sit back while God lays out the perfect solution. If that were the case, who would need AI anyway, right? God is not artificial intelligence, the God of all creation knows all, yet rather than give us the answers to our dilemmas at the very moment we vent out our frustrations, God wants us to grow and become the leader in our world of influence we are designed and destined to be. 

Knowing that God desires for us to come to Him when we have problems that are weighing us down, and understanding that God wants us to grow and gain knowledge and wisdom through our experiences, what is the healthy balance between dependency on God and reliance on God. For me, I believe God expects us to depend on Him just as we depend on water to survive, God is our Living Water. (John 7:38). Yet, just as we should go to our leaders here on earth to help us work through potential solutions to our problems, hence "inventors" of solutions, God is there to direct our steps and illuminate our path (Psalm 119:105). It is our duty to call on God in all situations and circumstances, the Apostle Paul encourages us to "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."   I Thessalonians 5:16-18, and in James 1:5 we are instructed, "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you". 

My daily prayer is that I am always more of an "inventor" rather than being a "ventor" and I also pray that I will always be a positive thought partner for those I work alongside each day. Yet, I know that there is only one true problem solver and He is always available for both you and I as we traverse life's journey each day! Keep on seeking His will, and keep on knocking on His door! Amen. 

Coach Carter

"Be Like Mike"?

 The "Be Like Mike" Gatorade commercial campaign from the 1990s convinced youngsters, and some not so young youngsters, that if they wanted to be more like basketball star Michael Jordan, drinking Gatorade was a big part of the process. Great marketing campaign, Gatorade saw an iconic legend in the making and they positioned themselves right there alongside Michael Jordan's thirst quenching image. As it was in the 1990's it is still the same today in 2026, people are desperately looking for someone to "be like". Sports figures, glamorous movie stars, or possibly even more current social media influencers garner thousands or possibly millions of followers who dream to be like ______________. (You fill in the blank). The question begs to be asked, if the world wanted to be like Michael Jordan then and the world wants to be like X, Y, or Z, is there a firm, more reliable example that we should all be striving to be like? 

I would like to suggest that there is an example that exists and His example has been available for us to follow for over 2,000 years. Jesus came to this world and lived a sinless life. Now that example may be hard for us to follow, the Bible even tells us in Romans 3:23 "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God". We aren't and can't be sinless like Jesus, but in comparison, I can't drink Gatorade and suddenly start doing 360 dunks either. I can't be Michael Jordan, that job has already been taken, and I can't be Jesus either. I just have to strive to be more like Him, "Be Like Jesus". 

The early followers of Jesus had a real life upper hand on us, they actually walked with Jesus, listened to His teachings, observed His healings, and learned first hand what Jesus lived out when He, by example, displayed to them how to forgive and to love even in the most extreme circumstances. Jesus was arrested without committing a crime, convicted by a mob jury and sentenced to death, beaten and tortured by Roman soldiers, and laughed at in His pain and suffering. (Luke 22-23). What did Jesus do? Before we hear the answer to that question, we need to compound the pain and suffering by adding being nailed to a wooden cross so that he could be crucified as demanded by the mob that had gathered that day. And what did Jesus do? First, we know what He didn't do, Jesus did not seek retaliation. His purpose was not to condemn or punish people, Jesus came to this world to save it not destroy it. "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." Matthew 20:28. While Jesus hung on a cross between two convicted criminals, suffering the pain and agony of crucifixion, beaten, downgraded, mocked, and spit upon, Jesus quietly whispered a prayer to His Father in Heaven, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do". Luke 23:24. "Be Like Jesus".

After Jesus' death on the cross, it would have been plausible to believe that the movement He had started would sputter and eventually fade out for whatever religion came next. His resurrection provided the evidence that this was not just another man, this man Jesus, was truly more than just "another man". Men like Peter, James, John, and eventually Paul who converted from being a persecutor of Christians to the author of the majority of the books in the New Testament, lived out the example that Jesus displayed. One minor character's story found in the Book of Acts truly exemplifies the impact Jesus had on His early followers. In Acts 7:54-60 we read about Stephen who was stoned to death because he was sharing the Good News of life eternal through the redemption of sin which the death of Jesus provided to us all. Stephen's unwillingness to break from his trust and faith in God is an example many would shy away from today, but it was something else that I read in the account of Stephen's death that glared out at me that needs to be shared. As the blunt impact of heavy stones crushed his body, Stephen prayed. And what did he pray? Lord have revenge on these people who are murdering me, not a chance. Stephen who in moments would take his last breath cried out "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." Acts 7:60. "Be Like Jesus".

Stephen was a minor character in the Bible, his role in demonstrating that the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross was not lost is a major story worth sharing. Today, you will make hundreds of choices and decisions that will influence or impact those you love or share life with in many different capacities. What example will you display? Will you live a life that looks like the way of this world, or will you choose to... "Be Like Jesus"? 

Coach Carter

Failure Defined Differently

 The Merriam Webster Dictionary defines the term failure as "a lack of success". There are numerous varying meanings for the word failure such as, not reaching a measurable objective, an inability to perform, or giving way under pressure. The root core of the word failure is a feeling of not living up to the expectations of the person who is experiencing the "failure".  I prescribe to a different definition of this word that so many people allow themselves to be labelled by. For me failure is best defined as "an opportunity to learn and grow". Failures can define a person in a positive or negative sense, but that is up to the person. Rather than allowing what others may perceive as a failure to define us, choose to use the experience as an opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed. 

Learning from our failures i.e. mistakes, is a part of life's normal process in growing and becoming the person God created you to be. When we make a mistake, we gain an opportunity to figure out what went wrong, what we did that messed up, and gain additional knowledge so that mistake doesn't happen again. In my role as a teacher/coach the vast majority of student/athletes I have coached do not come onto the playing field having mastered every aspect of the sport they are embarking upon. My hope is the young person has a mindset of wanting to grow, which ultimately will traverse through many wins, losses, setbacks, and advances. It is essential that the student/athlete doesn't give up when things get tough, but instead they embrace the struggle as a viable part of the learning to succeed process. 

The old expression, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me" aptly fits in our conversation around growing through our mistakes. If we are fooled or tricked by someone once that is on them for tricking me. If it happens a second time then I obviously did not learn from my previous mistake and learning, which leads to growth, did not happen. I have to accept ownership for my lack of learning from my negative experience. To put this more in context for our discussion today, if I don't learn from my mistake and it happens again, that is the bedrock foundation of what we would label as a failure. As in any classroom or sport, making the mistake is not the issue, not realizing you made a mistake and thus not correcting your mistake is where true failure creeps into the equation. We fall down, we get up, we analyze why we fell down, and we take the corrective steps to learn and adopt new strategies that will keep us from falling down due to the previous reason for our fall. 

I'm pretty sure most of us have heard of the "school of hard knocks". In essence life's bumps in the road equal the classroom of lessons learned and skills attained. Without education, there is no learning. Without learning there is no growth, and with no growth there is no progress. We stand still in our mistakes and if we persist in our mistakes we actually begin to lose traction and slide backwards, losing any positive momentum we may have experienced. 

The Apostle Paul put it this way in this discussion regarding failing, getting back up, learning from mistakes, and then continuing to press forward, "I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us." Philippians 3:12-14. I can almost hear Paul on the sidelines shouting out the same support for his "players" that He learned through the greatest "Coach" of all time, "Don't give up, Don't Quit, and Always Do Your Best!"  Paul doesn't say things are perfect and obstacles are obsolete. Instead Paul's message to the Christians in Philippi was, I haven't learned it all and at times I get knocked down, but you can't keep me down because I am chasing after the perfection of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. You will get knocked down and you may at times feel like a failure due to your circumstances or situation, but remember this, failure is temporary while you are learning from your mistakes. Progress and change occur when you learn from your mistakes, take corrective action, and then launch yourself right back in the life God purposed you to live!

Coach Carter

Be Careful What You Ask For

In thinking out loud, have you ever said, "I wish I had a little more patience" . Over the years, I have said that myself numerous times, and I have heard it said by others more times than I can count. What stands out in my memory about quipping that phrase is, inevitably someone would quip back, "You better be careful what you ask for". Why should anyone be careful when asking for more of a virtue that we can all benefit from seems like a fair and logical question? A question I'd like to explore today in our time together. 

For an athlete to get stronger they have to exercise their muscles. For most athletes that means they are, to some extent, going to be exercising with weights. Barbells, dumbells, weight machines, whatever form it is, weightlifting increases our strength and builds our muscles. An important aspect of weight training is that as our muscles develop, the weight being lifted has to be increased or the muscle becomes complacent and doesn't grow. Muscles won't grow unless they are challenged. In much the same way, our patience quotient does not increase unless it is challenged, in most cases challenged daily over an extended period of time. This is the essence of the warning behind being careful what you ask for. 

There is a second part to the statement "Be careful what you ask for" it goes something like this, "because you might just get what you asked for." For our purpose and in relation to our weightlifting analogy, if you want to develop more patience, just like building our muscles, you have to exercise the muscle of patience through things that require patience. In the Bible, Job demonstrates what true patience looks like. Job was being pounded on by the devil, who was attempting to show that Job wouldn't be so committed to God if things weren't going so well for him. Job lost his children, his possessions, and was stricken with an ailment, yet through all of the tragic losses, Job's faith did not waiver or wane. Even Job's wife questioned how Job could remain faithful after losing their children and all their possessions, "Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold on to your faith? Curse God and die!" Job 2:9. Even with this encouragement from his wife, Job would not recant his trust in God. Job's stance was firm and each time he was challenged to turn his back on God, Job stood committed. "He said, "when I was born, I had nothing. When I die, I will take nothing with me. The Lord has given me all the things I have. The Lord may choose to take those things away. I will continue to praise the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21. In other words, regardless of what happens to me, I am going to trust the One who lives in me. (I John 4:4). Job basically was saying I don't really know what God is doing here, but at the end of the day, I am going to trust in God and I am going to never give up on God. Job trusted God and through all of the adversity and affliction he endured, Job would not give up on God. Job's example is the textbook definition of what patience looks like for each of us. 

Job's friends tried to get Job to acknowledge that he was being punished by God, as we discussed above Job's wife tried to get Job to basically renounce God, but through it all Job made the decision to persist and persevere. This is where patience is developed. Just as a muscle is built and made stronger through the adversity of the increased weight it is forced to lift, Job's faith was increased through the adversity and affliction he endured. This doesn't happen overnight. This is a time consuming journey and all the bumps and potholes along the way make it an uncomfortable ride. God never left Job and He will never leave you alone to travel down the lane of adversity you most certainly will traverse. 

In the end of Job's story, the devil realizes that Job's faith and endurance are real and that Job is not going to falter and stumble into blaming God for his misfortunes. Instead Job does exactly the opposite. Job places his trust in God and basically says if this is the way my life is going to be then so be it. Yet as we read the rest of the Book of Job we learn that Job's health was restored, his livestock and possessions were multiplied, and Job's family was expanded as well. Job would not give up on God, through all of the adversity he endured, his patience was challenged and Job proved faithful. 

Job was challenged and for his endurance Job was awarded back more than he lost. When we feel like we are at the end of our rope and our patience is fading fast, may we be reminded that just as Job confronted adversity with patient trust and faith, we too must choose to do the same exact thing. Patience is a virtue that is learned and without adversity there is no lesson to learn. Hold on to your faith, trust in God, and He will patiently walk alongside you each step along the way! 

Coach Carter

Ponds or Rivers

If I asked you to imagine a visual of living water, which image more likely would come to mind, a river or a pond? For me that is a pretty simple response, a river is constantly moving, winding back and forth, carrying boats, tree limbs, and other items downstream. In contrast, ponds may appear stagnant and stale, there really isn't any movement of the water in a pond. If you had to choose one of the two sources of water for a drink, would you choose the ever moving, bubbly fresh water from a river, or would you choose the stagnate, stale pond to quench your thirst? That choice is obvious, yet in life we many times forego the living water to instead choose the stale pool that this world offers. 

Before we "dive" into our comparison of rivers and ponds, it is relevant and important to define true living water. For our Flat Tire Thought, we need to envision "Living Water" as God. There are numerous references throughout the Bible referencing the living water of God, His Word, and Jesus His Son. God is alive and His Holy Spirit flows through our lives. The Holy Bible is the living word of God. Historical in context, preordained in purpose, the Holy Bible is God's guidebook that surpasses all time and perspectives. Finally, Jesus makes reference to Himself as the true Living Water in the Gospel of John, "But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." John 4:14. Shall we continue? 

In my purview ponds appear lifeless. In most cases the boundaries are visible and there is no life force outside of rain adding to the quantity of water available. In a good rainy season ponds may appear fresh, but when there is an extended dry period, the perimeter of a pond begins to decrease and the water begins to develop algae due to inaction and a lack of a fresh water source. In much the same way, the ways of this world may appear to be thriving and growing, but in reality the ways of this world will only leave us thirsty for another drink of the next mounting wave. As a pond begins to shrink when the precipitation decreases, so do the ways of this world as it becomes obvious that the stagnancy of this world cannot meet the needs of our heart and soul. 

Conversely, from the moment we are in the presence of a river, the water appears to have a life of its own. Always moving, increasing in volume and speed after a storm, and eager to arrive to fulfill it's purpose of providing life to the bigger body of water it is destined to support. The sound alone of a mighty river flowing over rocks in a rapid demonstrates the livelihood and power of this body of water. Teeming with life, rejoicing in its purpose, and resistant to man's constraints, a river provides a wonderful comparison to the Living Water of our God. Jesus definitively proclaims His role as the source of living water in this scripture taken also from the Gospel of John, "... Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them." John 7:37-38. Notice verse 37 says that Jesus said in a "loud voice", which creates the image of the mighty river of life that Jesus is for all that believe. Not just a mighty river, but a river of living water that will flow from within us. Most certainly, we are to drink from the true well of Living Water which is Christ and then per the words of Jesus we are to allow His Living Water to flow outwards forming tributaries of the good news of hope and life eternal with God our creator and Heavenly Father! 

The question today is a choice. Do you want to drink from the stagnate pond of this life, or will you choose to drink from the well of Living Water that flows like a river from God, through His Son Jesus, to all who accept His offer to drink from the water that never runs dry and will eternally quench our thirst? The choice is yours. Choose God's river of life!

Coach Carter

Are You Spending or Investing Your Time?

 How do you "spend" your time? Do you spend your time earning an income to in turn spend your income on material possessions? Or do you spend your time chasing worldly pleasures and treasures? I'm not completely convinced that I've figured this one out at this point in my life, how about you? If I make the decision to purchase a brand new 2026 Ford Bronco, I will "spend" a number of years paying for that vehicle. Maybe I really "need" a new vehicle, or maybe I just want that new Bronco because they look really cool and I'd love to have one? The point here is, I am making an investment of more than my resources to make this purchase. I am committing to "spending" my time, which is finite not infinite, on a vehicle that may or may not be worthy of that investment. The question I have to ask myself is whether the time I will spend paying for something like a new vehicle is going to be a worthy investment of my energy and time.

Let's just say for our purpose today that you purchase that new Bronco, vacation condo, or whatever it is you might be contemplating making an investment in and the payback covers the next 5, 10, or even up to 50 years (if lenders are allowed to offer 50 year mortgages as recently rumored) of your life. You will "spend" those years paying off the loan you made. That is a major investment of your time. Now let's throw an unexpected emergency expense into the equation and suddenly you may be taking on a side or part time job to maintain your quality of life. That means you are going to be making an adjustment to how you "spend" your time. Time that was formerly spent with family or supporting others suddenly is being "spent" on paying for your investments. Again the common denominator is found in the idea of, is what you are investing your time in worth the time you will be spending. An applicable verse here is found in the teachings of Jesus as He exhorted,"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal." (Matthew 6:19)

Keep in mind as I mentioned earlier, time is finite. We do not know how long our lives on this third rock from the sun will be. We can bank on the averages that an adult male in the United States lives to be around 75 years and for females that number sits at approximately 80 years of age. Those are averages which basically means some will live well beyond those averages, but on the flip side some of us will not live out the full three quarters of a century. Based on this knowledge, shouldn't we make sound investments of our resources which ultimately have a huge impact on how we "spend" our time? The accompanying verse in Matthew 6:20 provides a better investment of our resources and time, "But store up for yourselves treasures in Heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal."

Investments are for the most part a choice. I will choose to purchase a 2026 Ford Bronco, (as much as I like those, I won't be purchasing one), or I can choose to keep the dependable Toyota Rav4 I have or possibly purchase a well maintained used vehicle, reducing the investment and the time that will be spent paying for my investment. Something that needs to be thrown into the mix on the decision making process of how we spend our time is the return on our investment or the ROI. This is critically important, regardless of the cost of the item being purchased, what will that investment bring back to the investor. In our vehicle illustration, it is well documented that a brand new vehicle drops in value as soon as you drive it off the lot. Is that a good investment? I'll leave that one up to you to decide. With material purchases you can do the same ROI analysis, but the investment of where and how we spend our time has a different ROI analysis formula. For us to "spend" our time on an investment it needs to pay back an eternal return on that time spent. Investing in your family spending time sharing, playing, learning, teaching, serving, giving, and training them to be leaders is an investment that we will never regret spending the time we invest. The ROI here is eternal, what we value and invest in will flourish because we care about the future of our investment. That is time well spent. Jesus completed the lesson above with this investor's gem, "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:21). 

At the end of the day, when the rubber hits the road, each person has to evaluate their time and how they will spend it. My request is that in that evaluation consider the investment of your time and the return on your time spent. What do you value? What do you want to receive in return for the time you will spend obtaining your investment? Those are critical to making a sound investment. Do you want a garage full of things that eventually will rot and rust, or do you want to "spend" your time investing on things that will impact the world eternally? "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." (Matthew 6:24) 

Invest well, the dividends are eternal!

Coach Carter

Endurance

 John 3:16 is probably the most frequently quoted verse in scripture, and if that is true, Philippians 4:13 isn't far behind. Athletes preparing for competition may be the group that most commonly recite this verse. Picture an Olympic weightlifter as he approaches the bar holding what will be his personal best if he successfully lifts the weight. Over and over again he repeats the verse, "I can do all things, I can do all things, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!" That may very well be an appropriate application of Paul's declaration, yet I believe Paul had a varying mindset as he penned this encouraging verse. For me this verse "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength" Phil. 4:13, screams of endurance and perseverance. Allow me to explain myself. 

Overcoming a challenge requires endurance, but in the above example of our muscle bound Olympian, the encouragement of referencing Philippians 4:13 is more of a motivation to excel rather than endure. I can win this race, I can get this job promotion, I will have a successful surgery. In these instances the support of leaning into Philippians 4:13 is more about the outcome than it is about the investment of time and patience to endure through whatever lies in front of us. Paul penned this scripture not in isolation, but as a culmination of a much larger proclamation of faith. The preceding verses are critical to understanding Paul's declaration of faith found in Philippians 4:13. 

In the same chapter, just before Paul shares his "I can do all things" statement,  Paul shares his adherence to the concept of faith through endurance in verses 11-12. "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want." Philippians 4:11-12. To me this speaks more to enduring circumstances and adversity rather than an encouragement to win the competition of a sports arena. 

Paul says he has learned to be content whatever the situation is. He has learned to endure hunger and he has learned to give thanks in times of plenty. For me, the best application of this verse is found in our reliance on God to walk alongside us regardless of what is happening in us or to us. Sickness, work challenges, relationships, financial uncertainty, all of these can cause us to waiver and stumble if we don't understand that the endurance we embrace, will build the perseverance that will lead us to the contentment that Paul references and most certainly adhered to in his own personal life journey. 

Whatever you are going through I will not minimalize in any manner, in your world it is big. What I will tell you today is you can do this, not on your own, but because you are not alone! Our daughter recently shared that the girl's preschool director and my dear lifelong friend, Mrs. Judy Wise, frequently reminds the boys and girls that they can do hard things. That is God's message to you through the encouraging words of the Apostle Paul, YOU can do hard things, YOU can do ALL things, not on your own, but through Christ who gives us the strength, the will, and the endurance to persevere regardless of what is standing in front of us. The contentment which could be labelled peace, is where the strength of this verse is found. Paul said "I have learned to be content" (Phil. 4:11) regardless of his current situation. When you are enduring  sickness for yourself or a loved one, being content sounds off center. I don't believe God was telling Paul to be content in the sickness, but to be content in knowing that God is in control, God has a plan for each of our lives, and we find the peace and strength to confidently move forward because "He who is in us, is greater than he who is in the world" I John 4:4. Our peace and endurance isn't because of anything we can do, but our comfort is found in trusting that we can do ALL things through Christ who is living in us. That is the essence of Philippians 4:13, I can, you can, we can do ALL things through Christ who is in me, in you, in us and He gives us the strength we need to not only endure, but to conquer and overcome! 

Confidently move forward knowing that the God of all creation lives in you, and His strength walks before you and in you! Amen

Coach Carter

Change How You Think ...

 Life is full of choices, research tells us that each person potentially makes up to 35,000 conscious decisions each day. Take sleep time out of the equation, (which involves a decision about when to go to bed) and the numbers equate to something like 2000 decisions each hour or a decision every two seconds. Exhausting if you had time to think about it! For today's purpose, I'd like for us to focus on how we spend our time thinking. The way I see it we have a choice in how we think. We can either spend our time worrying about things, or we can spend our time meditating and in prayer about those same concerns. 

Worrying is not constructive. As a matter of fact worrying is debilitating and thus destructive in nature. Spending your time worrying about matters doesn't change the matter in any way. Should I go or should I stay? Will I fail or will I be successful? The list goes on and on, we can literally worry ourselves out of doing anything. Productivity is decreased or denied as we digress into worrying and creating mental images of the worse case scenarios in our minds. In Luke 12:25-26 Jesus raises this poignant question, "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?" Not being a fatalist, but more of a realist, we aren't guaranteed tomorrow, none of us are. When we woke up this morning, that was the gift we received, the gift of today. Holocaust survivor Corrie Ten Boom said this about worrying, "Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength." If we spend our time worrying about what "might" happen, then we give up on the potential of what "might" happen if we move forward instead of sitting around worrying about things that haven't even happened. It would be interesting to see how many people would have been successful in life if they could have just left their worries behind them in the dust of hesitation and fear. Worrying is an anchor that we choose to knot ourselves to, but as with any choice there is another option, an option that provides the energy to move forward with confidence and hope!

"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done." Philippians 4:6 (NLT). The Apostle Paul could have been justified by our modern standards if he had been a worrier. After his conversion as a Christian persecutor to that of a mouthpiece for the Christian faith as we know it today, Paul spent the last portion of his life being persecuted, pursued, and prosecuted for his faith in Jesus. I suppose you could say Paul had legitimate concerns that would have caused many of us to be stuck in our worries and fears. But not Paul, his challenge to the Church in Philippae was to stop worrying and start praying. Prayer and meditation about your prayers is powerful. Paul went on to explain why prayer is so much more powerful than worry, "Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His Peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7 (NLT). In other words, prayer instead of worry creates peace in your heart and mind. That peace, God's peace, exceeds what we are humanly capable of experiencing on our own. When we spend our time praying and seeking God's will, not our own, that peace is powerful and it allows us to move forward confidently guided by a higher calling than our own design. 

Prayer in itself isn't going to solve our dilemmas and it doesn't guarantee us that our potential worries will magically be resolved. What prayer and subsequent meditation does provide is hope. God's response to our prayers isn't what reduces the worries of life, it is more of the salve that is applied to an injury to heal the hurt and reduce the pain. Ultimately, prayer provides peace in your life's storms and when we experience the peace of God that is where we transcend worry to a state of peace. The status may not change, but the perspective we adopt changes. When the perspective changes what might have been used to create worry and anxiety actually becomes the very fuel that motivates and moves us to where God needs and wants us to be. Fear freezes, faith fuels. 

Am I immune to worry? I'd be telling one if I said that I never worry. Do I live or choose not to live my life because of the worries in my life? No. When I begin to feel that I am worrying, I turn to prayer to help bring my thoughts into a different perspective on life and what is happening in my life. I move from a place of what is happening to me, to a place of what God is doing through me. When my perspective is more about what God can do in me and through me, I begin to leave behind the worries of what may or may not even happen. Worry is time lost that denies us of the unlimited possibilities God has in store for us if only we step into the light of God's purpose for the life He has given us to live. Change how you think and change how you live life!  

Coach Carter

 

Waiting

 "The Lord is good unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord." Lamentations 3:25-26

Waiting is a skill that many of us struggle with, we have become accustomed to instant gratification when we see something we want. Fast food, overnight delivery, and instant communication technology make it hard to practice the skill of waiting for something. This instant gratification mentality has become so prevalent in our world that it even spills over into our prayers and requests to God. In the face of hardship, uncertainty, or any level of adversity, we want to come to God and pray for an instant answer. Where we have become programmed to expect instant responses to our request, it is humanly reasonable that we would expect God to respond to our prayers instantly. But that isn't how God works. As the scripture above explains, "it is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait" (Lament. 3:26). With so many instant solutions available in life, is it possible to develop the skill of waiting? The fruit tree farmer is a prime example of someone who has polished the skill of waiting, active waiting that is. 

Think about it. A fruit tree farmer plants a seed and then at best has to wait 6 to 8 years before fruit is produced. That requires a tremendous amount of patience and trust that the time invested will eventually pay off. This is where the skill of waiting becomes active. If planting the seed was all that a tree farmer had to do that would make it a pretty easy task. He would plant the seeds and then come back six or seven years later and start harvesting the tree's fruit. That isn't how waiting works in farming and it isn't how it works in our prayer requests. True, after the seed is planted the waiting period begins, but not a passive, sitting back and waiting for the outcome to happen. Active waiting requires us to take all actionable steps to move forward as we wait on God's plans to be fulfilled. This methodology applies well to how prayer works as well. Planting seeds, and saying a prayer is just the beginning of the process. 

After the seed is planted the farmer commits to nurturing the seed throughout its seedling stage, then to a sapling, and onward to the time that it becomes a mature fruit bearing tree. Adding nutrients to the soil, providing adequate amounts of water, and weeding the area around the tender plant ensure that the tree has the opportunity to grow and mature properly. The Apostle Paul compared nurturing God's plans and purpose to the same duties our tree farmer must adhere to in this scripture from I Corinthians 3:6-8 "I  planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their labor." The farmer plants and provides the labor, but at the end of the day, it is God who causes the tree to bear fruit. In the same way, we make our prayer requests known to God, but after that we are called to action. We just don't rub the magic God lamp and instantly receive the answer to our prayers. After we pray, we begin the process of actively waiting on God to answer our prayers. 

Actively waiting on God means that we go about the business of seeking His will, following His commands, and nurturing the seeds that God has planted in our hearts, minds, and body. We are called to action in our waiting, prayer is not a passive activity, and it is not a guarantee that the outcome will be exactly what we have prayed. With prayer there exists three responses, yes, no, or not right now. Having a personal relationship with our Maker is critical in understanding and accepting this truth. Through prayer and meditation we learn to discern our desires from God's plans, and we gain wisdom to understand that God's plans are bigger than we may ever see. Submitting to God's will is an action step in the waiting process while God works in us and through us. So just as the tree farmer must nurture the tree as it grows, we too must nurture our relationship with God in preparation for His will to come to "fruition" in us. 

Waiting, actively waiting is an ongoing process that doesn't stop when our prayers are answered. Just as the fruit tree farmer has to continue to prune and inspect the trees for any kind of infestation, we too must continue to increase and grow our relationship with God. "... The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much." James 5:16. The verse doesn't say that the fervent prayer of a righteous person availeth much as soon as he prays, the promise isn't in the timing of God's action, but more about His promise to hear our prayers and then we submit those prayers to actively wait on God to fulfill His purpose and plans in us and through us. 

Two calls to action today. First, there is an ancient Chinese proverb that says the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago, and the next best time is today. Plant a tree for your children's children. Second, as you plant the seeds of your prayers and concerns to God, set a course of action that won't have you passively sitting around waiting for God to miraculously answer your prayers. The fact that a tiny seed can become a mighty oak is amazing, just imagine what God has in store for you! 

Coach Carter

In the Dark

 The phrase, "being kept in the dark", speaks to the idea that someone is purposefully not being given the whole story in a given situation. This could range from not telling someone that the reason they are to arrive at a location at a certain time is because there is a surprise birthday party planned in their honor, all the way up to some type of hidden agenda created to deceive or mask ulterior plans. I recently had an encounter with a dark closet that illuminated my perception of this poignant, little phrase.

I enjoy the stillness of the early morning. No TV, no music, low lamp lighting, and limited distractions make it a perfect setting to study, meditate, listen, and pray. I function well in the calming darkness of the predawn hours, even when a room in our home is dark, I get around well without stubbing my toe or tripping over an errant toy or stuffy left by one of the grandkids. Paradoxically, I have reached that stage in life where reading glasses are a must. My overall vision is still good, but magnifying the print in a book or paper is my norm today. I have a pair of readers sitting near my devotional spot, in my vehicle, in a drawer at work, and one that I keep hung around my neck as I move about my day. I've gotten so used to wearing my "readers" that many times I'll just push the glasses down towards the tip of my nose and just look out over my glasses when I'm looking at something beyond print that I can see adequately without the aid of magnification. 

One particular morning, I had started my devotional time when I realized I needed a new journal out of my closet. I hopped up and strolled into the spare bedroom to retrieve the book from our closet. I didn't think to turn on the light because I was pretty sure I knew exactly where my stash of journals was located. The darkness of the closet surprised me a bit as I struggled more than I anticipated. At that moment during my struggle to find the writing journal in the dark closet, I realized I still had my glasses on. In a moment of clarity amongst the darkness of the closet, the epiphany struck me that my glasses would not be of any assistance as long as I was "kept in the dark". The readers that level my eyesight to near 20/20 vision were of no assistance when there was no light to assist my ability to see. I suppose this was my "Aha" moment from God for today's Flat Tire Ministries moment. We can have the best vision possible, but still not be able to see if we are overtaken by the dark. 

For our purpose today, darkness refers to anything that keeps us from seeing more clearly the truth of our life's current situation or anything that obstructs our decision making process. In our mind we may believe we are living in accordance with God and His plan for the life we are called to live, but could it be that darkness has decreased our ability to see the reality of our situation? Jesus shared a parable about two men who had two completely different views of their personal faith and relationship with God. In the Gospel of Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells of a Pharisee and a tax collector who both came to the temple to pray about their salvation. Pharisees were religious members of society who lived a legalistic, holier than thou, lifestyle before, during, and after the death of Jesus. When I say "holier than thou" what I am saying is that the Pharisees were definitely "religious", but their strict adherence to the commands of the Old Testament made them unwilling to accept anything or anyone that was not in direct compliance with the Bible as they interpreted it. Tax collectors on the other hand were despised by the vast majority of people in Jesus' day because of the persecution and heavy burden their tax collecting efforts had on the average family. In the parable, the Pharisee approached the temple with this arrogant prayer, "God, I thank you that I am not like other people - robbers, evildoers, adulterers - or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get." Luke 18:11-12. On the other hand, the tax collector, in a repentant stance, stayed back away from the temple and cried out, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner!" Luke 18:13. Jesus proceeded to share "I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted." Luke 18:14. Standing the two characters from this parable beside each other with their bio below their picture it would appear easy to choose which one was justified in their faith. Yet, the Pharisee, in his mind, was better than those who weren't as religiously lawful than himself, which made him better than others that were deemed less religious. The tax collector, by definition, would have been seen as a sinner beyond sinners, yet his recognition of his own sin ladened life provided him with forgiveness and salvation. I think it is safe to say the Pharisee's legalistic faith created a situation where he was in the dark about the reality of his judgmental arrogance. 

As I reflected on my "walk in the dark" experience, it came to me that we have to be careful to not allow ourselves to start thinking we are better than others or that we are right and "they" are wrong when it comes to matters that we should not be attempting to be the judge and jury in. Our job is to remain humble, accepting all others just as Jesus modeled, and rather than judging others leave that to the One that will not only judge others, but will also judge the life that you and I live. Jesus reminds us that judging others isn't our job in Matthew 7:3-5, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye', when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye." Clearly, just as it is being in a dark closet, if you have a plank in your eye you can't see clearly. 

My daily prayer is to remain humble and non-judgmental in my walk of faith. I am a sinner and only by and through the grace of God am I saved. I pray that the love I show for all mankind resembles the agape type of love that Jesus taught about and displayed to all mankind. Amen

 Coach Carter