The Adventure Called "Life"

 

If adventures weren't filled with a certain degree of challenge, danger, and the unknown we wouldn't call them adventures, they would literally be just a walk in the park. Strolling along, paved path, and not too many foreseeable obstacles as we take a walk in the park, but that isn't an adventure and honestly that doesn't really look like the way life happens for the vast majority of us either. Walking in the park is fine for a little stroll and exercise, but as we all realize, a walk in the park doesn't get you anywhere just around and around the circle we go. That's why our lives need to be adventurous, with all of its challenging unknowns. The challenging times in our lives are when we grow and when we mature into the person God made you and I to be. 

Adventurous men and women choose mountains to climb and rivers to forge because of the unknown. Explorers like Christopher Columbus and mountain climbers such as Sir Edmund Hillary did not overcome their challenges in life by paddling around familiar waters or going for a walk in the park, no instead they laid out a course to overcome the unknowns and to reach the peak of their challenges in life. I propose to you that if you are not embracing your challenges in life whatever they may be, you my friend are just out for a walk in the park. 

Life should be an adventure, I can attest that many times the challenges I have faced were and have not been memories that top the list of "Most Memorable Moments" in my life, but if I am completely honest with myself the "adventures" I have endured are the very times in my life where I have grown into the man I am today. When things go wobbly, and trust me they will if they aren't already in this crazy world we are living in today, you have to persist, trek forward, and seek the learning that is available to you. 

Each of us have differing levels of "adventures" in our lives. For some those would be work related. Challenging co-workers, unreasonable expectations, or uncertain futures each qualify as adventures you must travel. Maybe your adventure is health related, sickness, concerns around Covid-19, long term illnesses, or any of the myriad options that could fill that space. Relational, financial, addictions, or depressions your adventures may look like Mt. Everest, but at the end of the day they are yours and you have to strap up your boots and get to climbing. 

The learning curb is deep, but the takeaways are life-changing. The process may be painful and realistically enduring for many, yet the growth that we experience from overcoming the monstrous mountain in our lives turns us into an overcomer, a mountaineer of life. Jesus comforted His disciples with this message of hope, "I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world." John 16:33. That's it. You will either spend your life trying to stay in the park making laps and wearing out a trail that has already been paved, or you will accept the challenges that are thrown at you like darts at the bullseye, and turn your mountains into moments and your rivers into a channel of hope and new beginnings. 

Paddle hard and climb high!

Coach Carter

Fellow / ship

 

 I once heard the word fellowship described as, two fellows on one ship. I like that. In most instances the actual word fellowship is used either to describe individuals that are gathered together for the purpose of extending their education in some related fashion, or if you happen to attend a religious gathering the goal is to fellowship with others thru worship. In either instance, both are connected in that two, or more, people are getting together in support of each other. In the times we are currently living we could all use a little more fellowship. 

We can look at the Webster definition, we could Google it, or search it out on Wikipedia, but I like the definition that started today's message, two fellows on one ship. When we are sailing down our river of life, we don't go it alone. We should want to share the beauty of the trip. When the waters are calm and we are pretty much flowing with the current fellowship is easy and time spent together is relaxing. Support with directing your boat is easy, as probably the biggest concern is just keeping your boat headed down the river's path. The challenge begins when storm clouds open up and empty out their storage. During a storm, those same two fellows are now being taxed to navigate the waves, rocks, and the torrents of wind and rain. All of a sudden what was a simple float downstream can become a life-threatening adventure. That is where fellowship becomes much like the life jacket we count on to keep us afloat. During the storm one fellow is steering the water craft, while the other is providing the necessary energy to push the boat away from danger and into safer waters. In much the same way, it is not advisable to do life's storms by yourself. 

As we navigate a global pandemic that screams at us to "social distance",  we must keep in mind the necessity of having "fellowship". Two fellows on one ship, they are in it together good or bad, rough waters or smooth sailing. Nobody said they have to be standing right beside each other, good fellows can support each other on the same ship of life without having to be right up in their face. Reaching out to check on a friend or colleague, offering sincere help with a job or task, calling regularly to see how your friends are doing, or dropping a card of support are all ways to be two fellows standing on one ship together. What about praying for your fellow man? Interceding on the behalf of friends, family, and others that are going through a tough stretch of the river need your support and there is no better support than that of our Lord and Savior. 

If you feel alone in the midst of the storms of life you are enduring, keep in mind you are never alone. God is a "fellow" you can count on regardless of the storm's intensity. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us that God will "never leave us nor forsake us", he is in fellowship with us regardless of the conditions or circumstances we are facing in life. If fellowship is two fellows on one ship, God is that constant companion in life's fellowship. We who believe are called to live in the image of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Our goal in life should be to model the fellowship Jesus had with His disciples, in calm waters he was there sailing along with them, and when the storms hit, Jesus was there to quiet the storm and bring peace and safety to the men on the boat (Mark 4:35-41). That is what we are called to do for those we are in fellowship with today. It is easy to be on the boat together when the sailing is smooth, we need fellowship during the storms of life and right now we are in the bowels of several storms like none we have endured in our lifetime. 

You can go it alone, you can fend for yourself and expect others to do the same. That my friend won't get it done. Life is a journey we are traveling down, we need support and what better way to receive it then doing fellow/ship together!  

“Come to me, all you who are weary and 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.

Coach Carter

 

Living in a Tent or Building a Mansion

 A dear friend of mine, Pastor Rick Bradbury, recently shared with me that Colossians 3 is one of his favorite chapters in the Bible. Personally, I would have to agree with Rick, this particular chapter of the Bible is almost like a handbook for those living the life they have been given through Christ. One of my devotions this week had as the related scripture Colossians 3 and the topic was a comparison of living life for the moment, to living life with something bigger than the temporary cares of this material world in mind. Something that really caught my attention was an analogy used by the author in which he compared this material world to living in a tent, and living this life for God to living in a mansion. My take away from that devotion was this question, "Are you spending all your time furnishing a tent, or are you investing in a mansion where you can and will live eternally?"

Ironically, the author of Colossians 3 was the apostle Paul who supported himself through the trade of tent making. Funny, because Paul actually was investing in a mansion through his service to God, even as he earned his wages making temporary tent homes to sell. As the chapter begins Paul poises this declaration, "So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective." (Colossians 3:1-2 The Message Bible) Basically, Paul is charging the church of Colossae, and us today to stop putting all of our efforts in the temporary things of our everyday lives (Matt. 6:19) and start investing our attention on the things that will have more of a legacy impact on the world in which we live. 

Paul moves on through the next several verses of the chapter explaining what the difference between putting our efforts into furnishing a tent and building a mansion for life looks like. Tents are temporary. If you live in a tent you pretty much are worrying about what is going to happen today. Is it going to storm, better secure the straps, going to be hot today, better open up the flaps, or even where will lunch come from today, because there wouldn't be any electricity in your tent to store food for any duration of time. How does that compare to those of us living our lives for the moment. Paul says that those who are living "in a tent" are more concerned with "sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry" (vs. 5). Temporary things, that list is all based on "wanting" something right now, like idolatry for example, what we idolize whether it is better looks, a fancier car, faster boat, more money, new spouse, or even a bigger, fancier house that should not be where our main focus should be. There's nothing wrong with owning a tent, it just shouldn't be where all of our efforts are placed. Tents are temporary housing. 

In juxtaposition to an earthly tent, in verses 12-14 Paul shares that it is far better to invest our efforts in the following manner, "... clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity." Sounds a little different, doesn't it? Investing in a tent everything that is going into it is about you being satisfied, when we are constructing a mansion everything going into it is directed towards everyone else besides self. Instead of greed there is compassion. Replace lust and impure thoughts for kindness and patience. And probably the biggest difference would be choosing to love and serve others over using them for your own selfish desires. 

You can choose to invest in a tent. That is definitely your prerogative, but just keep in mind a tent is a temporary house. Far better it is to put your efforts into building the foundation for that mansion in the sky where you will reside forever. A mansion is a big place, one that you don't want to live in all by yourself. Put your efforts into building your mansion with others in mind. What we do each day, and how we live our lives is an investment in that mansion. Paul tells us in verse 17 that all we do each and every day we should be doing it in the name of our Lord Jesus. I don't know about you, but I've slept in many a tent and that's okay for a night or maybe two, but I don't want to live there. The good news is you don't have to, you have the opportunity to build that mansion for the future, today. You decide. 

Have a great week!

Coach Carter

Flat Tire or Window of Opportunity?

 

 I'm supposing that most everyone that reads the Flat Tire Ministry Blog has seen the connected picture of the guy sitting on his tailgate stranded on the side of the road with a flat tire. When I started this blog, I was looking for an associated picture that captured the essence of the whole idea behind Flat Tire Ministries. This picture does. When you have a flat tire whether it be a literal blow out on your car or the more figurative flat that sidetracks your momentum in life, we each have a choice to make. Sit down and feel sorry for yourself until someone comes along and helps you out, or if you are of the Mister Fix a Flat mentality, you see the flat and you get to work on fixing it so you can get on down the road of life. The guy in the picture is obviously at the end of his rope. The look of disappointment and downheartedness is on full display letting us know that he is thinking in his head, "I quit".  

I'm also pretty sure that most of us have realized that he is carrying a load of tires in his truck bed. Is the guy so focused on the flat that he doesn't even see that he has the solution to the problem right there on his truck? Maybe he doesn't have a jack? Maybe all of the tires are flats that he was taking to the shredder? Maybe he is running late to an important appointment and now he isn't going to make the date? A myriad list of maybes comes to mind, yet those maybes are also just hindrances or excuses standing in the way of getting his tire fixed and getting on with his appointed journey. When a flat tire happens, problem solving 101 has to hit the ground running. 

For most of the 19 flat tires I've experienced over the last several years the solution was pretty simple, get the jack and spare tire out of the vehicle, remove the flat tire, install the spare tire, tighten up the nuts, and move on down the road. In other cases, it made much more sense to get out the tire repair kit I have amassed through all my flats, pull the nail or other road hazard out of the tire, smear cement glue all over the tire plug, plug the tire, and then top off the air pressure in the tire. From there it is back on the road and back to my appointed rounds. A couple of those 19 have caused me a great deal of frustration and in at least one instance required me to get the help of a tow service. That one was a big disappointment to me. I don't want to have to ask someone to help me with my problems, and fixing my own flat has become a motivating force in my life and how I approach life's flat tires. 

Lots of symbolism connected to the whole idea of fixing a flat tire. I am so thankful for the gift God has given to me through the series of flat tires I have persevered through and grown both mentally and physically in my resolve to overcome life's flat tires in whatever shape they are handed to me. Relational flat tires, financial blow outs, medical or health related flats, disappointments, deep valleys, and even death rank as flat tires in our lives, the question is do you sit on the side of the road or do you get to work on plugging, patching, or replacing the flat and get back on with your life's intended purpose? I choose to move forward, so I choose to fix my flats! 

God doesn't want us to sit stranded on the side of the road of life either. If whitewalls would have been around back in the time of Joseph, he would have probably had a truck bed full of flat tires to carry around like the guy in our FTM photo. Cast in a pit by his own brothers, and then sold into slavery by the same siblings, flat tires. Worked his way into management only to be falsely accused and imprisoned, flat tires. Found favor in prison and was assigned to the Pharaoh and eventually rose to second in command over all the kingdom of Egypt. What if Joseph had decided to sit down and quit? Joseph's failure would have impacted the future of so many others. In the end, Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for what they did to him and also be reunited with his father and ultimately save his family from famine. You see your flat tire doesn't just impact you. Your choices to get up and fix your flats has a direct impact on those you love, live, and work with in life. 

Many people feel that their decision to not move forward and fix their flat isn't anybody's business except their own. Joseph's story reminds us that the decisions we make to either face the flat and fix it, or sit back in self-pity and do nothing hoping someone else will fix your problems has a direct impact on generations to come. You have a purpose and if you stop moving forward to fulfill that purpose, the impact on other lives will be long lasting. You may not be able to fix your flat on your own, fortunately you aren't alone in the repair business. God promises to be with us, "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” DEUTERONOMY 31:6. 

So, the next time you get a flat tire, real or perceived, don't be like the guy in the FTM photo, get out your lug wrench and start changing that flat! The decision you make will impact your life, and the lives of so many others! 

 Coach Carter

United We Stand...

 

It isn't hard to conclude that the strength of a collective group is going to out perform any effort from an individual. Teams are created in an effort to bring the best of the best together from each individual's strength so that the best outcomes can be reached. Throughout history great significance has been given to the idea of having a united front stemming back to the words of Jesus, "Every kingdom divided against itself is laid waste, and no city or house divided against itself will stand." Matthew 12:25. One of our future founding fathers John Dickinson referred to this presumption of unity as a rebellious group of colonists gathered to decide whether a fight for independence from their mother country of England would be possible only to conclude that it would be an all or none proposal for their bid to succeed. Before the Civil War began, it appears Abraham Lincoln spent considerable time in the Holy Book as he is recorded as having said "a house divided cannot stand". The words of President John F. Kennedy echo this sentiment in his "ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country" speech which resonate the ideal of the collective efforts of us all for the betterment of the whole. Today's Flat Tire is not political, although we do face obvious and glaring divisions in our country. One perspective would tell you it is the Democrats that are dividing our country, another person will ultimately tell you it is the Republicans that are slicing the knife right down the middle of our country. I stand today as a member of the "United" States of America and I will tell you that we are only as "united" as the proverbial weakest link in our chain. 

The notion of a chain's strength only being as strong as its weakest link fits appropriately in our topic of unity. Whether we are having a discussion about the fight against the novel COVID-19 virus, the stain of slavery and racial injustice, or who will be the president that leads our country for the next four years, our success with any of those topics all corrals around the idea of "us" fighting together rather than each of us falling alone. Mask or no mask, Black Lives Matter and all lives matter, the left, the right, the ultra-left or the ultra-right, we no longer stand as a nation, we stand as a multitude of weak links in our collective country's chain. We must turn our minds from the thought that it is "us" against "them" to a mindset of how "we" can overcome the obstacles that lie in our paths together. 

Looking back at Jesus' comment that a house divided cannot stand the context in which He spoke those words is important and relevant. Jesus was being accused of working as an agent of Satan by casting out demons. His wise response was, why would the devil be working against himself by removing demons from individuals? Sound reasoning in my opinion. In much the same way in the minds of most people in America today the belief they have isn't necessarily bad or evil, but as Americans we have forgotten the collectiveness of our individualism and thus we are creating a chain that is weak in each of its links. Have we as a nation forgotten that the uniqueness of this great country is that it was founded on the belief that men and women are all created equal and all men and women should be born free to choose what they believe? 

That doesn't mean that we have to agree with each other all the time, we just have to be willing to accept different viewpoints for what they are, someone else's view, and then respect that person and their view just like you believe they should respect you and your view. It works both ways you know. As I was finishing up this week's thought a daily scripture app I have on my phone dinged today's verse, a very fitting verse to conclude today's message: "so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other.  If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it." I Corinthians 12:25-27. 

Read it and interpret it the way you want to, my mind reads it and hears no division, equal, and caring for all parts equally, because we are all part of the whole! May we as a whole nation not worry about how great we are as a nation, but instead how we as a nation can move forward together as a nation "linked" to one another with love and concern for our fellow man, woman, and child regardless of race, religion, or where we stand on the scale of liberal or conservative politics. 

I will Pray for peace across our country and around this world!

Coach Carter

 

Rivers and Floods

 

The Nile River Delta is a life line to the agricultural success of its Northeast African region. As a 6th grade social studies teacher it was always a challenge to demonstrate to my students on a flat map how the flow of the Nile actually runs in a northward direction. The elevation in the south where the Nile actually gets its start is higher than the areas in the north near the mouth of the Nile as it flows into the Mediterranean Sea. Thus, when you look at a map and try to explain to students that Nile river actually flows northward it doesn't look possible. That southern elevation creates a mighty force of H2O at times overflowing the banks and causing destruction along its course. As flooding and the ensuing destruction occur, something essential and beneficial is also happening. When the Nile and all other rivers flood, loose top soil nutrients are sweep up in the forceful river currents and carried miles and miles downstream. If you've ever witnessed a creek or river after a heavy downpour the water's color is distinctively changed from a clear, clean appearance to that of a caramel brown rapid. As the waters of the Nile reach the lower elevations in the northern region of Egypt the flooding waters begin losing the assistance of gravity, water runs downhill not up, and then nature takes over as the once flooding waters begin to form the delta region where the mighty Nile river becomes several small tributaries moving at a much slower pace. As this happens the dirt and its nutrients start to settle and rest on the surrounding area. The positive outcome of this course of nature is a fine layer of silt filled with rich nutrients that create a fertile soil base for raising crops in what otherwise is a harsh environment for agriculture. In essence, without the flooding waters of the Nile River, the Nile Delta would not receive the nutrients needed for fertility and thus impact the growth and output of crops that provide nutrition and a livelihood to thousands of families in and around Egypt. 

Okay, so now you have endured what so many of my former sixth grade students had to survive, but what does this have to do with our time together today as we prepare to face a new week of challenges and opportunities? Well read on and you shall see. Just as the flooding waters of a river pick up nutrients and carry them on downstream to ultimately provide much needed nutrients and fertility to the soil, we too should be gaining knowledge, wisdom, and strength as we deepen our relationship with God through prayer, mediation, study, and other forms of daily worship. In Paul's letters to the church in Philippi he encouraged the followers there to constantly be growing in their understanding of Christ with this scripture: "I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return.  May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God." Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT). The love of Christ overflowing into your life, you growing in your relationship with Christ and then the fruit of that growth in your relationship not only impacting you, the soil in which it was planted, but also providing much glory and honor to Christ through the service you provide to others. Sound familiar? 

Just as the flooding waters of a river benefit from the nutrients collected along its journey, your time spent with God creates a flood of positive outcomes and righteousness that all benefit others more than yourself. As you spend time with God reading His word, listening for His guidance, and thanking Him in both the blessings and the adversities of each day, you will begin to overflow just like the mighty Nile River of the African continent. Keep in mind though, the fertile soil of the Nile Delta doesn't happen without the flooding as the river flows northward, and in much the same way, we won't grow in Christ if we do not invest the time each day to learn and advance our understanding of God's will for our lives. Unlike the flooding rivers of this world, nature doesn't just give us the nutrients we need to flood our souls with the plans God has for us to fulfill. That responsibility falls on each of us in our own personal choice to follow Christ. 

Creeks and rivers meander along their destined course slowly and peacefully on a normal basis, yet when the skies open up and the rains overflow their banks the force and power of that same river are evident to the eye and ear. My prayer for you today is that you will allow God's word to flood your mind, body, soul, and spirit. Each day you have the opportunity to read His word, seek His guidance, and allow His love to flood your soul and ultimately impact the world in which you live. Be a river of love, not a pool of discontent. The choice is yours, flow. 

Coach Carter

48 hours

 

The premise behind the popular television series "48 Hours" is that after a crime occurs there is a very tight window of around 48 hours to get a strong lead or gather evidence when solving that crime. The show centers around detectives hurriedly piecing together the case during that 48 hour period because they know that after that space of time expires the chances of apprehending the culprit decrease by about half. Many times, this bracketed 48 hours is called the "critical time" as is witnessed by the actions of those involved in solving the crime display a sense of urgency you can almost feel as the viewer. The whole idea of knowing you have 48 hours to make something happen strikes me as a topic to address in our lives as well. What if you knew you had 48 hours to live? What level of intensity would our actions be altered, and which items on our laundry list of "too dos" might change? 

48 hours. What if you could somehow be forewarned that at this particular moment your time on this big rock would expire in 48 hours? Would your priorities change in what you wanted to get done? Would you place an all-out effort on contacting those that you love so much and make sure that they know that you love them? Would you possibly lay down that grudge you've been holding against a friend that betrayed your trust and go make amends? What about the friend that you broke the trust and they haven't spoken to you in years? Would you make the effort to seek their forgiveness and tell them how sorry you are for what happened? 

How about those long-term plans? I know people that actually sit and mark days off a calendar waiting on the day that they get to retire. In essence, what they have been doing for years is marking off anticipated days awaiting a big pay off when they reach that golden day on the calendar. What if the knowledge that you only had 48 hours was in your grasp? Would you so eagerly be marking off the next day? My guess is that those two days would go way too fast and the pen used to mark off days would get discarded quickly. 

48 hours, 48 days, 48 months, 48 years, or even 48 minutes the point is none of us knows when our time is going to come. In Matthew 24:43 Jesus warns the disciples "But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into." How many of us would leave our house unattended this evening if we knew that someone was going to break in and steal our possessions? "Hello??" I didn't hear anyone lining up for a dinner date armed with that bit of info, but we don't know when a thief may target our house, our car, or even our family. We can't and shouldn't live in fear that we could get robbed, just as we shouldn't be living in fear that we might die at any moment, yet what Jesus was warning His disciples is you have to be prepared, take the initiative, and most importantly don't sit around reclusively waiting for something bad to happen.

I struggled with writing today's message. The purpose of Flat Tire Ministries is to be an uplifting, inspiration as you start your week. The thought of dying isn't really a topic of great inspiration, yet I'm not exactly sure that the takeaway from our time today should be focused on the concept of having only 48 hours to live. I believe today's message is directed towards that relationship that needs to be mended. We don't know what tomorrow holds, we just know who holds tomorrow! If you read this message today and a face popped into your head, that is the someone you should be going to and mending that broken relationship. Yes, you can apply this message to getting your priorities in order, yes, it is extremely suitable for someone that doesn't feel like they are walking in step with our Creator, and yes, it is possible that this message is speaking to you about how you live each day like there is an unlimited number of days, weeks, and years at your disposal. The point is we all need to be moved to action today in some aspect of our lives.

Whatever your application is the main thing is you apply it to actionable steps and you don't put it off till tomorrow. "When I see them I'll talk to them", nope that's not what I 'm saying. I'm challenging you to get moving today. Maybe you physically can't get to that person today, ATT duh? Pick up that phone and call them. Of course, going in person would be best, but don't put things off that need to be taken care of today. 48 hours, 480 hours, 48 years, life is going to be exactly what it is supposed to be. We don't control that, what we can control is what we do right now. The challenge is posted, what are you going to do with it?

"This is the day that the Lord hath made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

Coach Carter