See It, Be It

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter

The Secret of How to Live (on) Forever

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter

The Price Is Right

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

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

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

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

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

Coach Carter

  

"Let it Reign"

The Contemporary Christian singer/songwriter Crowder sings the song, "Let It Rain", which sends out a dual message in my opinion. On the top layer "Let It Rain" asks God to "rain down" His love on us. The chorus echos that request throughout the song,

"Lord, I need you more and more (I need You more and more)

Let it rain, rain down on me

Every day, whatever You want

Not my will but Yours, Lord (not my will)

Let it rain, rain down on me"

I can feel the yearning for God's outpouring of love and constant companionship throughout his song. What I picked up on as I really listened to the words and cries for God's intervention in life's struggles in this song was a welcoming invitation. Today, I'd like to suggest we change the title of this song from "Let It Rain" to "Let It Reign". Subtle title change, dramatic change in request. 

When we figuratively ask God to "rain" down on us, that is more of a request for God's love, compassion, comfort, or peace to shower us with love. Blue skies turned gray? Let God's love rain down on us. Good times turned bad? Let God's comfort rain down on us. Has your happy day turned into a sad day? Let God's comfort assure you all is well through the rain of His loving embrace. If you have ever cried out to God in your sadness or disappointment and felt His embrace, then you know what it feels like to have God rain down His love. If you haven't ever asked God to rain down on your situation ask and you can experience the calming, peace of His love. 

For me, the deeper meaning, intentional or unintentional, of the title "Let It Rain" is the idea that I want God to "reign" in my heart, soul, body, and mind. "Every day, whatever You want, not my will but Yours, let it (reign) down on me!" This is a reference to Jesus' prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane just before His arrest and eventual death on the cross. Jesus prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42. Jesus was made of flesh and bones just like us, He didn't want to suffer like He was about to, but He also wanted His Father's will to "reign" over His own fleshly desires. Oh how I want to be more like Jesus! Lord not my will but Yours, let it reign down over me!

So what does that look like? We can all picture God's love "raining" down on us, giving us comfort in our grief and mercy when we sin, but what does it look like if we ask God to "reign" down on us? To me, just like the prayer Jesus prayed, we want to get to the place where we seek God's will each and every minute of each and every day. It no longer matters what we want to do, it is all about completely submitting to God's will for this life He gave us to live in the first place. "Not my will, but yours" basically means we are willing and ready to sacrifice what we want, and replace it with whatever God wants us to do or experience. We may receive showers of blessings or we may encounter storms of life, but regardless, we lean in and say "Lord, Thy will  be done, not my own". If we got everything the way we want things to turn out, there wouldn't be any storms, but storms are necessary when we submit our own desires and relinquish control over our lives to the Lord. Let it reign! Let it pour! Lord, I need You more and more! We can rest assured that God is in control of the "rain" and His "reign" reaches us wherever we may be.

"The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice." Psalm 97:1

Coach Carter

The MESSage in the Mess

 Stating the obvious, life is messy. Relationships can be fragile, where a word or especially a written word in today's texting society can send shockwaves through a longtime friendship. Finances are one paycheck blip away from a tumultuous hardship. Messes in the workplace, messes with our health situations, and messes on our daily journeys! Life is messy. Yet, as is the case with pretty much everything, I believe that there is a message in every mess of life.   

I'll be the first to admit that I'd prefer to not have any messy situations come across my lap. I mean who goes and gets in line for a disagreement, hardship, or calamity? Nevertheless, as we know all to well, the "bad" stuff happens and it often feels like it happens way too often! It is easy to get down or to feel downtrodden in the face of adversity. The potholes of life can lead to flat tires, which result in your life's journey being interrupted. What I'm suggesting today is that when the messy and inevitable stuff of life settles in on our lives, we don't have to appreciate the hardship, but we most certainly can and should look through the mess to see the message that God is wanting us to hear. I'd like to share three messages that I rely on when things have gotten messy for me and/or my family. 

First, it is important to remember that God has a purpose for each person's life. Before the creation of the world, God had a plan for Chuck Carter's life, and He created your life with a distinct purpose in mind. The Apostle Paul confirms this in Romans 8:28-30 with this encouraging promise, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. For those God foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those He predestined, He also called; those He called, He also justified; those He justified, He also glorified." Knowing God has a plan for my life gives me an indescribable peace and that peace gives me the strength to move forward in the face of the harshest of trials or tribulations. 

My second encouraging scripture is taken from the Book of Genesis and the story of Joseph's life. Joseph endured many hardships in life ranging from being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers, to being thrown into prison for a crime he didn't commit. If you know Joseph's story then you know that through those hardships, God had a plan to make Joseph second in command in Egypt and eventually have the opportunity to save his father and family from starvation and death. It would have been easy for Joseph to have blamed his brothers for all he endured, but instead Joseph realized that God works through what we see as messy to get us to His message. "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." (Genesis 50:20). Too often folks want to give up when things get messy, God wants us to be like Joseph and endure the messy so we can live out His ultimate plan for this life God gave us to live. I can list way too many instances that if I had given up or walked away from the messy things in my life, I would have never received the message to "Never give up, Never quit, and always do your best". That mantra has driven me throughout my career and my personal life. 

Lastly, knowing that God is with us gives me the strength I need to persevere. In Romans 8:31 Paul asks two extremely bold questions for us to answer during our daily walk through the messiness of life. "What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" If God is walking with you through the trials of life, then who could ever provide enough opposition to outdo God? Let me answer that question, it isn't possible. If we are willing to endure the messy whatever it may be, then the comfort and courage we have in knowing God is for us and He is with us, gives us the strength to carry on. That is why the author of James 1:2-4 was able to make this bold statement, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Let me paraphrase that tidbit of advice, "When things get messy, hold on tight, don't give up, help is on the way!" That is the message,  you are not alone, you will never be too far away from God that He isn't right there with you. It may feel like you are alone, but that is on us, God is faithful and His love endures forever. 

Today, I encourage you to look inside the messy and find the MESSage God has for you!

Coach Carter

Come on in, the Door Is Open

I can remember times throughout my life when I have visited friends or family and as I knocked on the door or rang the doorbell, a voice from inside would call out, "Come on in, the door is open!" What a sense of comfort and trust I felt. Here was someone that couldn't see me, but they knew me and they felt comfortable enough to say come on in, with no regard of my appearance or life condition. I mean honestly, I could have just come out of a mud pit and covered from head to toe with caked on dirt. I could have been sprayed by a skunk and my odor would definitely precede me. Any number of conditions may have befallen me before I knocked on that person's door, but hearing those words, "Come on in" put a smile on my face. I hope you have had that same experience in your life. The sad reality is that some haven't, and others may feel like they don't have anyone that would ever say those words to them. Trust me. There is someone who is eager to call out to you, "Come on in, the door is open" you just need to knock on His door!

Christian singer/songwriter Zach Williams has a song out on the soundwaves titled  Jesus Loves , in which the invitation to "Come on in" could have easily been the title. Actually, the inspiration for today's Flat Tire thought came directly from the words of this powerful song. Williams provides a litany of open invitations to those that we may not have been so quick to offer the open door policy from above. The renegades, the rebels, runaways, prodigals, those that are lost, the backsliders, the up all nighters, and those in a rut all receive the invitation to come on in. As I read the lyrics I wondered if that list was being offered to me so that I would not have the opportunity to think I was not invited! Well, if that list doesn't cover your life, then maybe something from the second stanza resonates with your life. Those with shattered dreams, bruised, battered, or even barely hanging on. Those who are heartbroken, lonely, or all alone. Those that believe they are an outcast or stuck in their past, and those that are scared of letting go of the past. Guess what, the invitation is open to you as well. "Come on in, the door is open!"

The truth of this open invitation lies in the very words of Jesus as He shared the original invitation to His disciples and a crowd of people He had never personally met in Matthew 7:7-8 "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." The door is open, come on in! This was the message Jesus was sent to this earth to share. No one was to be excluded, nothing from their past was so bad that they were not invited. Instead Jesus made it clear that if you ask, you will receive. If you seek Him, you will find Him, and whoever knocks on His door to salvation, the door is open, so come on in. That message was true more than 2,000 years ago, and it is still true today. Jesus is the founder of the "open door" policy, and His offer is available to you and I regardless of our dirt or our baggage, to each of us He is shouting out, "Come on in, the door is open". 

To expand on the truth that Jesus invites anyone and everyone to enter into His righteousness, let's turn to another directive from Jesus found in Matthew 11:28-30, "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 weary souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." I find comfort in this scripture, knowing that Jesus wants my dirty past, he feels the pain of my sufferings, and He wants us to place all of our burdens on Him. I can almost hear Jesus calling out, "Come on in, the door is open, take your dirty shoes off at the door, you won't need them anymore!" 

Throughout the song,  Jesus Loves , Williams extends the invitation that Jesus provided to us while He walked and taught in this world. I want to close today by sharing the last stanza of the song: 

"So come on in, the door is open, and the savior's arms are too. The table's set, a seat is waiting and He saved it just for you. So no more running, no more hiding, come on in and you will find that you don't have to be enough, no, no, no, it's been decided by the blood. Yes, you're someone Jesus loves, someone Jesus loves, you're already someone Jesus loves." Zach Williams

Imagine yourself knocking on the door to Jesus's house, you knock and all He says is "Come on in, the door is open" Ask, seek, and by all means knock, His door to peace, love, and salvation is open and waiting on you.

Coach Carter 

Are Mistakes Really a Mistake?

John Maxwell's "The Daily Reader" is a constant source of guidance and growth for me as I am ever  developing others and myself as lifetime learning leaders. Maxwell's inspirational guide is packed with daily practices that should become part of who you are if your aspirations are to be a leader. (Don't forget, everyone is a leader. The only differentiating factor is some people are leading up, others are leading down, and some are leaders of complacency and therefore not leading anywhere, they are stuck in the mud of mediocrity.) In today's Flat Tire Thought, I'd like for us to dissect the true essence of making mistakes and how we should view mistakes in our life's journey. 

To some of us out there, if I were to ask an audience if any one of them had never made a mistake and one person raised their hand you would be so impressed. For the majority of us, we would be skeptical, and for a few of us we would call it what it is "not possible". There has only been one person who has walked this earth who was faultless to the level of perfection, and beyond that we are all a bunch of mistake prone individuals. But, guess what? That's okay, my question today is "Are mistakes really a mistake?"

Here's what the Apostle Paul shared with the followers in the Church at Philippi, "Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:12-16). The "this" that Paul is referencing in verse 12 is nothing less than the perfection of Christ. Yet, it is noteworthy to point out that Paul says he knows he hasn't reached perfection, and most certainly never will, but he continues to "press on". In other words, Paul is ensuring us that it is okay to mess up, mistakes are a normal part of life. Not that we want to go out and live a destructive lifestyle, but more that we understand that we are not perfect, and when we fail or make a mistake the positive or the negative outcome associated with our mistake is to be determined by what happens next. 

Some folks choose to wallow in their mistakes and vow to never mess up again, but the methodology they choose to utilize is to stay right where they are and never go out on a limb again. Others make mistakes and choose to never take ownership of their mistakes. My daughter, who is a little more like me than she may want to own up to, shared this one with me the other day from decorated military veteran and author Steve Maraboli, "Those with a perpetual victim mindset tend to create the situations from which they suffer." Own up and be accountable, mistakes and even failures are going to happen, it is okay to admit you messed up. Then there are others that have the ability to do great things, but they are so easily frozen by the fear of failure that they do not take any chances so they won't ever be in danger of making a mistake. I personally cannot relate to this mentality. I often use the analogy of a baby learning to walk. If the baby, in fear, does not stand up and take that first step and eventually fall on their derriere, then that child will be crawling around on the floor throughout life. I don't want to crawl, I want to walk, run, and eventually fly! (Isaiah 40:31). 

I guess you can figure out the last group of individuals and how they face mistakes. I belong in this group, not because of anything I've done outside of never quitting or never giving up, but because of the perseverance I have developed through adversity throughout my life. It is my belief that the grit and resilience to overcome mistakes and even monumental failures in life is in each of us. How we address, deal with, and eventually move forward or backward will shape us as either an overcomer or an underachiever. The day that I read this devotional in the Maxwell daily encourager, I made a note in my phone of what I believe would serve as my philosophy in life as it pertains to mistakes and failures. "I would prefer to have a life full of the mistakes I've made rather than make the mistake of not living life to the fullest and learning from the mistakes made in those experiences." I do not promote recklessness and I would by far rather have things go just as planned, but at the end of the day, the flat tires in my life and the shattered panes of glass I have looked through have been the driving force to the man I am today. Through God's unending mercy and grace, I have not only survived, I have thrived due to His guiding hand and His loving embrace. So I ask you today, "Are mistakes really a mistake?"

Coach Carter