Fill'er Up?

"Fill'er up?" I can distinctly recall that question being asked as Mamaw Whetsel rolled down the window on her 1963 Ford Falcon and CD Thomason darted up to see how much Fire Chief gasoline she wanted on this visit. On top of that CD would clean your windshield, check your oil, air up your tires, and report back his findings. This memory took place in the era of full-service gas stations. Definitely a memory from the past, full-service gas stations featured attendants who pumped your gas while providing a quick check up on your vehicle's condition. The nice thing about a full-service station was that the service was customary and basically free. A full tank of gas pumped by an attendant with a spot-free windshield, now who wouldn't go for that? Of course, those times have gone by the wayside as self-service fueling became the norm and multi-pump stations the likes of Buccee's have made it virtually impossible to offer any kind of customer service that would resemble those days of old. Yet, where gas stations aren't able to offer a full-service experience today, when our life’s tanks are low, we do have a free of charge offer to have our lives filled with the mercy and grace that God offers.

In society today, people are searching for something that will fill their tank. Wealth, material possessions, "likes" or reposts on social media, or the number of followers each seem to be drivers in the world today. When the material world doesn't provide us with a full tank then the next place to look is creating a new reality. Divorce rates inch higher and higher, drug and alcohol addictions are rampant, and the mental health crisis for children and adults is ever alarming. It appears the more we attempt to "Fill'er up" with the world, the emptier our tanks seem to be. How can that be? The answer is not to be found in the world, the Apostle Paul said it best in II Corinthians 12:9-10 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."  Paul had realized the truth about living for Christ,  the truth that when I am weak and empty, the world won't be able to help me, but the energizing strength of Christ would give Paul all he needed to move forward and succeed. "Fill'er up!"

Today you may feel like you are running on fumes. God may feel distant or even non-existent, yet He is real and God wants to service your head, heart, body, and soul. You may have strayed from God's love or you may have never given your heart and soul to God the Father, but you can rest assured that God is real, God is love, and God wants to fill your life's tank with His free gift of salvation. In I John 4:4 we are reminded that "the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." With God all things are possible (Matt. 19:26), Christ gave His life for the sin of this world and now because Jesus willingly died for us, we have His offer to be full and never run dry!

If you feel like you are running on fumes or your tank is empty and you are stuck on the side of life's highway seeking roadside service, Jesus is asking you today, "Fill'er Up?"  

                                   

 "being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6

Coach Carter

Pedaling Uphill

 "We are on a journey!" I declared that proclamation to Ella and ChaCha, two of our granddaughters as took a Saturday morning bike and scooter trek to the library. Distance wise we were talking less than a mile each way, but with a 4-year-old on a scooter, and her 6-year-old cousin on a bike with training wheels it might as well have been a Spartan race course for this 61-year-old Poppy! I may be exaggerating a bit, we had tons of fun, checked out several books for each girl, stopped by a pizza spot to refill our tanks, and then we finished out the morning just in time to hit the pool for an afternoon of splashing and swimming. Good day, sleep came easy. But, that's not necessarily today's topic for our Flat Tire moment. 

Something that Ella has been dealing with on our biking excursions is the little inclines along the way when you transition from roadway to sidewalk. Those slight and modest inclines have been like a brick wall barricade as she pedals across an intersection to the next sidewalk area. When she gets across a street her inclination is to pause and timidly approach the upgrade, which in turn leads to her being stuck in place right there in the middle of neither being up the hill or down at the base of the ramp up. That in turn leads to a cry of "Poppy help me, I'm stuck." I, not wanting to be an enabler, decided it was time for Ella to overcome her mountain and so I talked with her about what to do at the next uphill approach we reached. What I told both girls is that when you reach any uphill struggle, you have to pedal faster and harder to make it to the level ground that awaits. As we crossed the next intersection, Ella checked for clearance and then pedaled her way across the street. She started up the ramp area, cheered on by ChaCha and I. "Harder, harder, keep pedaling, don't give up, don't stop you can do it!" I encouraged my little trekster as she overcame that "hill" and proudly pedaled on ahead of our entourage. I could sense the pride of her accomplishment when we stopped not far from there to catch a drink and cool down for a minute. Mission accomplished, for the rest of our morning walk, push, and ride, Ella pedaled through each and every intersection incline as we journeyed back home. 

I'm not sure if Ella and ChaCha were completely ready for one of my motivational talks on life being tough and that sometimes you just have to pedal a little harder to overcome the obstacles to reach your destination in life, but that is exactly what came to mind as I briefly stopped and noted this "Aha" moment for me. There are so many instances in life where pedaling uphill may feel more like pedaling on one of those stationary bikes where it doesn't matter how hard you pedal you are still sitting in the same exact place. I know in my own life there have been times when it was more like being on an escalator trying to go up hill on a downward ride. Progress just wasn't there. I suppose it is safe to say that in life you have  overcome several uphill climbs, or it may be that you are currently in an uphill struggle, or it could be that you will be pedaling through an uphill climb soon, but regardless of when it occurs, we all have or will be facing a time of pedaling uphill to overcome that mountain in front of us.

Regardless of what your struggle is, be it relational, financial, or possibly a health related uphill struggle, you are not pedaling alone! Just as I encouraged Ella as she pedaled up that slight incline in front of her destination, God is right there with you in life's uphill challenges. Everyone's hill is unique, and in your life it most likely is the focus of your morning, day, and night. Know this, just when you feel like you want to give up because the struggle feels like it is too much to overcome, keep pedaling you can't give up! There is a helper who is there with you encouraging you on whispering in your ear "Harder, harder, keep pedaling! Don't give up and don't quit! You can do it!" " The prophetic words of Isaiah share God's encouragement to each of us "So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed. For I am your God, I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10. Whatever it is you are facing today, pedal on! God is near and He will see you through! 

Coach Carter

Hope

 My morning devotional today was centered around Hebrews 11:1 which declares, “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” The emphasis in my devotion was more of the literal application that we place our hope in Christ, I’d like to take the discussion about our “hope” a little different direction today as we delve into our Flat Tire Ministries Thought this week. 

Modern society’s definition of the word hope is different than the hope we read about in Hebrews. Today we use the word hope interchangeably with thoughts such as making a wish or some sort of good luck obligatory comment. “ I hope the Vols win today” or “ I hope everything works out for you and your family” are examples of our culture’s idea of hope. Or at least it appears that way to me.  

The hope that the author of Hebrews was talking about centers around faith. Disclaimer, the deeper the faith the clearer the understanding of hope in our context today. Without faith it is hard to comprehend the true essence of hope. In our conversations today the word hope isn’t based on a maybe/maybe not mentality, true faith creates an assurance of something that we can’t necessarily see, yet our faith provides peace and comfort because we know God’s will is about to be fulfilled in each and every situation. Paul shares his explanation for hope through our faith in Romans 5:3-5 “Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us.”  Does this mean that as long as we adhere to hope things are going to always work out the way we want them to? I’m sorry but that isn’t hope and it most certainly isn’t faith, that is more of rubbing on the magic lamp and being granted three wishes over and over again. 

So, if hope doesn’t produce wins for the Vols, and it doesn’t guarantee us that our loved one will be healed from their terminal illness, what is hope and how does it reveal itself in our lives? True hope is grounded in a faith that rests in our heart, mind, and soul that gives us the strength to face any and all circumstances and challenges knowing that God is in control and at the end of the day, His will will be done. Paul said hope doesn’t disappoint because when we trust God and place our faith in God then we believe that God’s plan, as difficult as it may be to accept, is bigger and broader than any plan we could ever imagine or conceive. Remember earlier when I said the deeper your faith the better you can understand the true meaning of hope? Well, Jesus, Son of God and son of man is our example of placing our hope in God our Father beyond compare.  

Jesus, knew He could impact this world teaching, preaching and modeling what a Christian life is, and evidence of that was bountiful during the time Jesus walked this earth. As Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, He knew what kind of impact He was having on mankind. Jesus also knew that what He was getting ready to endure was going to be painful to the extent of costing Him His life. Armed with that knowledge, Jesus prayed to His Father, “Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me. Nevertheless not My will, but Yours, be done.” Jesus knew that God’s plan needed to be fulfilled, regardless of the pain and suffering He would endure, Jesus knew that God’s plan through His death on the cross would have far reaching implications and outcomes beyond anything that His momentary suffering could produce. 

We can’t fathom God’s plan for our lives, plain and simple. Placing our faith in Christ means that we trust that God’s plan is being fulfilled through whatever it is we have to endure. God gives us that hope, a hope that says, “Father, not my will, but Thy will be done!” May your faith in God fortify your hope through whatever life situation you are going through today! Amen.

Coach Carter

Building a House

 My father was a contractor. Evidence of his years of labor can be found all across Hamblen County, and also around the southeast as he transitioned from being a residential contractor to that of a commercial builder across the mid-south landscape. I believe it would be safe to say that there wasn't one home or building that Joe E. Carter constructed where the cornerstone to the foundation didn't receive precise attention. If that pivotal starting point was not set with attention to detail, then the whole foundation would be out of square and thus increase the possibility of the building collapsing. So, without really saying it, ensuring the foundation is set correctly was an early indicator that the structure would be able to withstand the storms of nature that would inevitably place stress and pressure from every side. Whether you are a builder or not is uncoincidental, yet setting your foundation by the cornerstone of faith, is critically important as you live, learn, and grow. 

 

There is a classic children's book titled "The House That Jack Built" where whimsical event after event  occurs is traced back to the house that Jack built. In much the same way, our goal in life should be that each decision we make, every plan we devise, and our life choices that follow all relate back to the cornerstone of our faith. When our life's decisions are out of square with the Chief Cornerstone, we risk seeing our plans crumble and eventually fall. 

 

Jesus shared a parable in Matthew 7:24-27 in which he stresses the importance of building on the "rock" or cornerstone in life. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Basically, we have two choices build our faith on the sand of this world which has no consistency or strength and eventually watch your faith crumble and fall, or we can choose to build on the firm foundation of the Rock, which is Jesus the Cornerstone of life eternal. 

 

As you make your own personal decision of where you will build your faith, I believe it is advisable to look to the Carpenter on choosing your building site. Choose the Rock and from there ensure your life is squared and aligned with the Cornerstone of our faith. The winds may blow, the earth may quake and the storms will come, but through it all, we can rely on God who set the original Cornerstone in place to create our firm foundation! 

Coach Carter 

Solitaire = Solitude

 

Once during a return flight home, I noticed a gentleman seated cattycornered to me playing a game of Solitaire on his laptop. Now, during an extended flight you have numerous options for what you can do, read a book or magazine, watch a movie or show if available, play a game such as my flying neighbor was doing, or sleep. One additional option is to strike up a conversation with the complete stranger seated beside you. The majority of the options presented are for you and you alone, hence the game of Solitaire is aptly titled, because it is a game for one person pitted against a deck of cards. Given, the limited opportunities to move about freely and engage on a plane aren't overflowing, the concept of living life alone is easily highlighted in the journeys of a plane traveler. In comparison to the world we live today, it is much easier to live in a mindset of solitaire, but Solitaire in this case is synonymous with the word solitude. 

 

Although I started today's FTM Thought with a trifle anecdote that took place during one of my flights, the idea of living life in solitude isn't a lifestyle to embrace for us as servants of God. We weren't designed to live life alone, from the beginning of time, God's plan was for man to not live life alone. (Genesis 2:18). With all of the modern technology literally right there in your hands, it is easy to pull away from society and set all of our attention on the index card sized computer screen to which we are attached. A keynote speaker at a conference I was attending this past week was making a point about how attached we are to our phones, Crystal Washington motivational speaker, asked the audience how many people sleep with their phone? Many replied that they didn't sleep with their phone but that it lays on a bedside table or area within arm’s reach during the night. The majority of that same group did not think that sleeping with their phone in such close proximity was a problem. Washington quipped, "If you slept with a beer beside your bed within arm's reach every night that would be a problem!" Too often when Missy and I are out to eat at a restaurant as you scan the dining area, couples and even families are all solitarily entranced with their personal screens. They are there together in complete solitude. 

 

This life of living in solitary solitude isn't relegated to our cell phones, in our larger metropolitan cities there are people literally living on the streets. It is too easy for us to walk by or possibly step over a homeless person and just keep on walking, as if we just stepped over a log that has fell across our path. My nephew/son Bo, served our country in the Air Force and while he was stationed in the horn of Africa at Djibouti, he shared with me the desolately impoverished state of that area of the world. Children walking around naked, skin and bones, laying in the doorframes of buildings much like our favorite canine pet. The big difference there, we invite our dogs into our homes, bathe and groom them, and feed them without them even whimpering. We live in this world together in complete solitude. 

 

And probably most problematic for our society is the choice to live life in solitary solitude. We choose to live outside of God's plan for us to live in a community of believers. His church, His people, His family shares, gives, and serves each other, especially those who are in need. The term "neighbor" does not only reference those who live next door, Jesus commented on watching out for your neighbor several times during His life on this earth. In Luke 10:27 Jesus answers the crowd "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself." In Mark 12:30-31 Jesus is quoted saying, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these." And notably, one of the best examples of Jesus's advice to not live life alone is His parable of the Samaritan and the man lying in the ditch after he was beaten and robbed. In these instances, Jesus directed us to live life together in complete union, personally connected to Christ and personally connected to our fellow man. 

 

I think back to my airline companion who completed his full journey without saying a word to anyone, but then I also reflect on how often I too go through opportunities to connect and in my busyness, I fall short of God's plan for this life He gave me to live. My challenge today is to myself as much as it is to each of you. Don't spend your days playing Solitaire in solitude, find someone to share God's good news with and live life as God intended for us to live it, together, unified not isolated. Where Solitaire is a game for one, the game of life is not one to be played alone. Engage!

Coach Carter

Life Savers

 

 When you hear the word lifesaver what comes to mind? Most likely one of two images cruise across your frontal lobe, either a fruit flavored candy or a pool accessory used to assist struggling individuals in over their head. Well, today I'd like to bring a different image to mind as you ponder on this life changing term. 

 

In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is quoted as saying, "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it." Luke 9:23-24. Well now, isn't that quite the paradox? I can't think of too many things in this world that by losing them you in essence secure the thing that you lost. Common knowledge tells us that when we lose something there is a probable chance that we may never find it. Yet, in this case, Jesus says that to "save" or find eternal life you must first give up or "lose" your life. I suppose the question then is what do we have to do to "lose" our life? 

 

Losing your life in this context isn't referring to a literal death, but instead, symbolic ways that we give our life to gain more back in return. Sacrifice, self-denial, and service or we could call them the "Selfless S's" are all about losing self by doing for others. The dictionary defines sacrifice as "an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy." When we talk about self-denial the focus is more on what I can do for others, instead of what can others do for me. And the third term, service, references the idea of helping others especially those who may be less fortunate than ourselves. The Bible is full of examples of men and women of God who lived out the Selfless S's in their walk with God. Ruth, made the choice to go wherever Naomi, her mother-in-law went and to live out her life with her even though her husband, Naomi's son, had died and she really had no commitment to Naomi (Ruth1:16-17). 

 

If you haven't figured it out over the years, Paul is a Bible hero to me. His service to God in spreading the Word of God and establishing Christianity across the Mediterranean coast and into Asia Minor. After Paul's conversion on the Damascus Road, he spent the rest of his life serving Christ. Not only did Paul expand the church, but he also served Christ by recording thirteen books of the New Testament. But, ultimately we have the primal example of being a life saver thru the life and teachings of Jesus. 

 

Jesus lived a sinless life, humble, sacrificing selflessly, and denying His own life so that we can today receive eternal life with Him in Heaven. If there is need of a model of self-sacrifice through both service and denial of self, Jesus lives it out in His prayer to His Father just before His arrest and impending crucifixion. "And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Matthew 26:39. 

 

 Basically, Jesus said I am willing to save humanity even if it is going to cost me my own life. 

That is the life I want to live out. Am I successful doing that every day, no I am human, but do I have a model to follow and a desire to live out this life I have been given as a servant leader, most certainly. Today, I ask you to make that same commitment to serve God without a thought of how it will impact yourself positively or not so positively, and to do so in a sacrificial manner that basically says "Thy will be done, not my own". (Matt. 26:39).

 

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." Galatians 2:20

Coach Carter

 

 

It Takes Two

 

You may have heard the old saying "It takes two to Tango", which delivers the point that just as it is impossible to tango without a partner, it is just as impossible to get into an argument without a willing partner. We won't always agree with everyone's point of view, but in our time together today, I'd like to suggest that even when our perspectives disagree, there is a path available that seems uncommon in the world we live today. 

 

Biblical truths are not ours to pick and choose, but how we approach situations is completely up to us. We have some advice to follow provided by the Apostle Paul. The church in Corinth struggled against the worldly culture of the day and Paul had to basically "coach'em up" on a wide range of topics on how to live life as a new Christian, ranging from what was okay to eat, who it was okay to marry, all the way down to not arguing and bickering with others. "Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels, and the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful." II Timothy 2:23-24. Basically, if we desire to be God's light in a dark world, then what good will be produced by us arguing and quarreling? Getting into an argument means that two people both believe they are correct in their stance. Arguing establishes that you believe you are right and you may even have the proof to support your stance, but it is safe to assume that the person on the other side also believes they are correct and most likely they have some supporting evidence for their conviction. Who's right? Who cares? We are not the judge and we are not the jury. If it feels wrong to you then stay away from it. Other than being able to say, I was right, what gain is there in winning an argument? 

 

Whatever happened to the idea of "we will just have to agree to disagree" as an acceptable way of nullifying an argument? Paul spent a whole chapter in the Book of Romans explaining that there isn't anything to gain by arguing with someone. "Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister" Romans 14:13. We may disagree, and we may have our facts to back us up, but at the end of the day, it is God who will be doing the judging, don't attempt to take His job. (Romans 14:10-11). Am I suggesting that we be acceptable to an "anything goes" mentality? Absolutely not. 

 

Arguing about who is right and who is wrong, may win a battle here and there, but the war will wage on. The real battle is not "who" is right or wrong, but instead it is the battle between right and wrong, good and evil, Godly or worldly. To win the war we must be willing to live out right and allow the world to see God living in us and through us. If we enter a discussion with a mindset of I'm right and you're wrong the outcome will most likely be one that creates a barrier between you and the other person. How can we ever expect to share God's message of forgiveness and acceptance in a world of judgement and dissent? If our hope is to make a difference in this world who is it that we hope to make a difference with? The people that think and act just like you? Not a hard assignment if that is your goal. Instead, our goal is to reach those that need to hear about the God we serve and the unconditional love He offers each of us. 

 

Tough choices require more effort than the simple. Arguing is simple, one opinion plus one opinion equals two differing opinions, thus you can easily have an argument. The challenging thing to do is take two different opinions and try to look at the other person's opinion from their point of view. Empathy, sacrifice, and perspective will serve you well if you allow them. The next time you feel that a disagreement is headed your way, remember it takes two to tango and it takes two to argue, be the bigger one and choose the path less traveled. 

Coach Carter