Bloody Knuckles and a Bruised Head

The Shining moment in my life came when my brother and I got into a fight and he ran to his room and closed his door. This act of cowardice infuriated me but unlike Jack Nicholson I did not use an axe to tear the door apart, I used my fists. I conjured up the strength of the Incredible Hulk and used every Bruce Lee move that I could think of to tear through that door. In what seemed like an eternity in reality only took a few minutes but I paid the price with some bloody knuckles and some bruises on my head. Needless to say, my knuckles and my head were not the only parts of my body that suffered that day. It’s not fun when your father makes you pick out the branch on the tree!

Unfortunately, this is how most of us spend our lives. We are good at beating on doors and it frustrates us to no end when they don’t open. Nothing is worse than thinking that a door should open for you only to have remained closed and not matter how hard you beat on it you just can’t seem to breakthrough. It hurts, it’s discouraging, it’s confusing, and it’s disheartening. We’ve all been there and most of us are still there. In fact, I don’t believe there is a one of us who is not standing in front of some door praying for it to open. Unless you have given up on praying, and I pray that you haven’t, your focus and energy are on getting through that door. Somehow, someway you are determined to not let this door keep you from your next job promotion, your new home, your new car, healing in your body, or salvation for a loved one. It could be that you are standing in front of that door waiting for the child that you have always wanted.

So, what do we do with these closed doors? I have a few thoughts and observations based upon personal experience.

1. Our focus is off. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being determined and with praying through for something. I believe God honors and loves this about us. But, I believe that what He loves even more is for us to focus on Him and not on the door. Matthew 23:27 tells us to, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” Jesus does not tell us to love God with some of our heart, soul, and mind, He wants it ALL. Boy, that’s hard to do sometimes isn’t it? When we want that new job, new car, new home, or when we wonder where the next meal will come from it just consumes us. It’s in our nature. But, here is the good news in Matthew 6:33, “But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” When we learn to put God first in all that we do and in all that we say He honors His Word and will provide for our needs. He’s faithful to His promises! It’s all about OUR focus.

2. Some doors aren’t meant to be open. Oh man! Why did I have to bring that up? I just encouraged us to refocus and spoke about God’s promises and now I have to go and talk about closed doors! Rev 3:7-8 says this, “These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” God will open and close the doors. It’s a matter of trust on our end to give Him the credit that He knows what He is doing even in times of frustration and anger towards Him. He knows our deeds, our hopes, our dreams, and our struggles and in His time and in His way He will open the right one. Closed doors being a positive thing doesn’t make sense to us but how many of you are thankful that your current job, home, car, etc. . . are perhaps not the ones that you wanted? I know that I’m thankful that I did not marry some of the people I dated and waited for the right girl to come along:) Those closed doors were a blessing!

3. Promotion comes from God. Honestly, isn’t this really how we want to receive our promotion? To know that God opened the door when no one else could is an awesome thing! Joseph is a guy that comes to mind. When he was young, around 17years old, he had a few visions that didn’t really sit well with his brothers. Most 17 year old guys are pretty cocky. I knew that I was! For the next 13 years Joseph spent time in a pit, was sold into slavery, was hit on by a married woman and wrongly accused, thrown into prison and then forgotten. All throughout the story of Joseph (Genesis 37-47) the Bible says that “God was with Joseph.” Why? Because Joseph remained faithful to God and in due time Joseph was released from prison and placed in the 2nd most important leadership role in all of Egypt. I don’t doubt for one minute that Joseph was not happy in a pit, in slavery, in prison, or feeling forgotten but He never lost sight of God and simply trusted Him.

I don’t know where you are but I know where I am and where I have been and I know that some closed doors don’t make sense to me. But, if we would learn to focus on God, thank Him for closed doors and remain faithful then in His time and in His way He will open the right door. Trust me, it will save you the pain of bloody knuckles and a bruised head.

 

Secular Music In Church?

The topics of being “relevant” in church and the “seeker sensitive” movement have been discussed quite extensively, and quite passionately I might add, in our churches and leadership circles for a while now. But, there seems to be a new level of discourse taking place in the area of playing secular music in church as a way to “reach out” to those who seem to have lost their desire to be a part of a church that they once knew. Like a business that spends millions of dollars researching the best ways to market their product the church has all too often made some compromises that have crossed the line. Listen, before we go any further I want to say that I believe that the Church is the greatest institution on planet earth and like any institution it is filled with flawed people who attempt to make right decisions but don’t always get it right. Therefore, my blog will also be flawed but it’s a place where I can share my own opinions and I welcome yours.

A widely viewed segment on the topic of secular music in church was discussed by three pastors; Mark Driscoll, James MacDonald, and Perry Noble on the highly popular “Elephant Room” series. You can listen to this 48 minute video here: Highway to Hell

Without saying much more, because I believe the video does a far better job than I could, I will admit that I am a fan of certain aspects of secular music. When I was in college I used to fall asleep to the sounds of Enya and as most people know I am a fan of Bon Jovi. Some would debate that if secular music should not be played in church then should a Christian be a “fan” of it. That’s a valid point.

So, I’m interested in your thoughts so post away!

 

Stuck

Have you ever been in a place where you just felt stuck? Perhaps you were stuck in an airport waiting for what seemed like an eternity for your connecting flight to actually connect. Maybe you chose to take a chance that a gas station would be just around the bend only to find out that your gas gauge was not completely accurate. Or perhaps you ran out of your house in a hurry only to remember that you had forgotten your keys just as you closed the door. Yes, I have done all three and it’s not fun being stuck in those situations!

But, I believe the worst place to be stuck is in life. Everyone wants to know what their purpose is and why they even exist. There is a reason why the Bible is the most sought after book in the world and a reason why Rick Warren’s, “Purpose Driven Life” was and still is a bestseller. We want to know what on earth are we here for and if what we are doing is actually what we need to be doing.

Many years ago I read an article in a magazine, I forget the name of it, that centered around something that I like to do when I can and that is to go hiking. A group of men decided to go on a very novice trek up a mountain when they noticed a storm coming on the horizon. So, they did what any smart man would do and they chose to take a shortcut. My son, Ethan, likes to remind me that my shortcuts are not really that short! In the hiking world getting off of the main path is not always the smartest thing in the world to do but when you are in a hurry to get from one place to another and you see a storm coming our tendency is to avoid it and go our own way. Their journey landed them in a precarious position of being stranded out in the open, staring up at a rock face, in the middle of the storm. Not good. They spent a few frightful hours, huddled together, out in the open until the storm passed and then they decided to go back the way that the came to reconnect with the main trail. There were three things that this experience taught the author that he shared with his readers.

Pray Simply. Their prayers, in the midst of the storm, were ones of, “God, would you please keep us safe?”, “Lord, watch over us until this storm passes.” Sometimes, we just need to quit over-complicating our relationship with God and learn to have a conversation with Him. The prayers of Jesus were very powerful but were very simple and direct. May we learn how to openly, honestly, and yet simply converse with God.

Wait Sometimes.This is the part where we feel stuck. The waiting is what is so hard and what makes us so impatient. Maybe we have been praying very simply but yet it still feels like the storm is raging and nothing is happening but oh there is much happening that we cannot see. Honestly, there is simply nothing that we can do in our own strength that will make this journey go any faster. If those hikers would have chosen to stay on the main trail they would have had the shelter to wait out the storm. Ephesians 6:13 tells us to put on the full armor of God and then when you have done all of that you simply stand. Isaiah 40:31 also tells us that when we wait on the Lord that we will receive strength, we will soar, we will run, and we will walk. It doesn’t sound like being stuck is where we will live if we can learn to be patient and wait on Him, does it?

Stick to the Path. It’s our human nature to take things into our own hands and to find the shortest way to get from point A to point B. When it comes to the purpose and will of God that theory simply will not work. It never has and it never will. The sooner that we can get that through our thick heads the better off we will be in this life. God has given us the gift of free will. We can choose any direction that we want. But, when we come to that proverbial fork in the road the best course of action is to pray simply and to wait sometimes which in essence give us the ability to stick to the path. He is the vine and we are the branches and apart from Him we can do nothing.

Pray, wait, stick=unstuck!

 

Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

The older I get (I’ll be 41 in November) the more that I seem to enjoy the simple things in life. Grilled cheese and tomato soup is a staple in our home, especially when the air becomes a bit cooler. I have spent most of my life going from one place to another, always in a hurry, and always very busy. When I was younger, I was what you would call a “church rat”, someone who was at church whenever the doors were open. These days, we have a hard enough time getting people to just attend the regular two-night-a-week-church schedule, but that’s another blog for another time. I still remember my Children’s Church days with Pastor Dave and Kathy, and singing in the Kid’s Corral Choir. I played soccer for BRYSA (Blue Ridge Youth Soccer Association) which is still in existence today. My Summers were spent playing in the yard across the street from my house where my friend Darren lived. It was our miniature version of the field portrayed in the movie, “The Sandlot.” Home base was the dirt in front of what I believe was an old oak tree that stood at least 70 feet tall. In order to hit a home run you had to clear the street and then the two trees in my front yard. To this day, Darren and I have a dispute as to who hit more home runs. Either way, we both beat Hank Aaron. My youth ministry days were spent learning from the likes of Billy, Ed, and Kelly. Billy taught me the importance of relationships. I gave him a really hard time but yet he loved me enough to believe in me and see the best. I owe him for that. Ed was only there for six months but he taught us guys how to make a fart sound out of the side of our mouths. I can still do it to this day so I guess he taught me something. Kelly taught me how to be tough in my faith and not to allow the devil any entry in my life. Sadly, I did not always heed his advice.

When I think back to my childhood I think about times when life was simple. A lot of that, of course, had to do with not having too many responsibilities other than pulling weeds, mowing the grass, and picking up the dog poop in the backyard. Today, the responsibilities of being a husband, father, and pastor can weigh heavily on me. What I find these days is that I’m not only busy in my daily life but my mind is also in constant motion. Sometimes I can be too busy in that way.

A friend of mine, Frank Iddings, said this to me many years ago; “The Bible is complicated enough that the most brilliant minds could spend a lifetime studying it and yet never find all of its meaning, but it’s simple enough for people like you and me to understand.” I have been guilty of over-complicating my Christian faith. There is a difference between complex and complicated. We tend to take the complexity of Scripture and over-complicate it.

Jesus is the greatest example that we should follow. He did many things well but what He never neglected was rest and time with His father. For Him, it was simple. It gave Him peace, rest, and understanding of His father’s will. May it be just as easy for you as making grilled cheese and tomato soup.

 

 

Do Something Great, It’s Never Too Late!

Yes, I have to admit that I’m a “closet rapper.” Much to the chagrin, and sometimes occasional delight of my family I have been known to lay down a cool beat, “homie beat boxing style.” And I’m not alone. All across this great country of ours are other white, middle-aged, wannabes, who captivate the captive audience of their families with endless streams of lyrical non-sense as they travel endless miles in their rolling studios.You know who you are. So, here’s to you, “Mr. white, forty-year old, bald, overweight, wannabe with a Herbie Hancock complex.” Freestyle away!

http://www.ehow.com/how_2032353_write-rap-song.html

I believe there are many of you that have mad talent and skills that are only shared in the privacy of your dreams. You’re afraid to try anything new because you are scared to fail or you are frightened of the rejection that you might face. But, I’ve got news for you! YOU WERE CREATED TO DO SOMETHING GREAT! I can’t take credit with what I’m about to share with you because a simple Google search will yield the same results but take a look at and be inspired by these stories:

-Jesus was born of a virgin. He was the son of a carpenter. He wasn’t someone who you would pick to be a King but now we call Him, “The King of Kings.”

-Winston Churchill failed sixth grade. He was subsequently defeated in every election for public office until he became Prime Minister at the age of 62. He later wrote, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never – in nothing, great or small, large or petty – never give in except to convictions of honor and good sense. Never, Never, Never, Never give up.”

-Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was “too stupid to learn anything.” He was fired from his first two jobs for being “non-productive.” As an inventor, Edison made 1,000 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”

-Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he succeeded.

-R.H. Macy failed seven times before his store in New York caught on.

-An expert said of Vince Lombardi: “He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation.” Lombardi would later write, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.”

-Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Jordan once observed, “I’ve failed over and over again in my life. That is why I succeed.”

-Hank Aaron went 0 for 5 his first time at bat with the Milwaukee Braves.

-The first time that Jerry Seinfeld walked on-stage at a comedy club as a professional comic, he looked out at the audience, froze, and forgot the English language. He stumbled through “a minute-and a half” of material and was jeered offstage. He returned the following night and closed his set to wild applause.

-Beethoven handled the violin awkwardly and preferred playing his own compositions instead of improving his technique. His teacher called him “hopeless as a composer.” And, of course, you know that he wrote five of his greatest symphonies while completely deaf.

There are countless other stories that are out there such as Helen Keller, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Abraham Lincoln. And for those of us who have grown up in church you will recognize the following list of people in the Bible who did great things.

Noah was a drunk, Abraham was too old, Jacob was a liar, Leah was ugly, Joseph was abused, Moses had a stuttering problem, Gideon was afraid, Rahab was a prostitute, David was an adulterer and a murderer, Jonah ran from God, Naomi was a widow, Job went bankrupt, Peter denied Christ, The disciples fell asleep while praying, Martha worried about everything, The Samaritan woman was divorced (more than once), Zaccheus was too small.

Now, before you dismiss this list from the Bible as being nice and sweet let’s remember that these were REAL people who had the same struggles, the same sins,and the same fears as you and I. They aren’t made of paper and placed on the old felt boards in your Sunday School rooms. They were real!

I don’t care if you have been divorced, committed adultery, lied, denied Christ, live in fear and worry, or what your fear is, God has created you to do something great. You are NOT a second class Christian. You were created in the image of God and He loves you! So, get off that road that you’ve been traveling and take the next exit. Something great lies ahead!

GO DO SOMETHING GREAT!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Where are you living?

I’m convinced that many Christians are not living a life full of victory. They have chosen to live in defeat and have simply accepted the way things are and have decided to do nothing about it. They live in fear, in doubt, and they worry that God has forgotten about them and so they just float along through life. How do I know? Because I used to live in that home. I didn’t HAVE to, I CHOSE to. There is a difference. Hey God! Where are you? Why isn’t Jeremiah 29:11 happening for me? Have you forgotten about me? Those are the questions that I yelled at God. The last seven years have been the most difficult and the most challenging years of my life. I needed to step away from ministry as I knew it and allow God to work on me, I went through a number of job layoffs and reduction of hours, and I simply could not find “my place in this world” (shout out to Michael W. Smith). I took on part time jobs and my wife worked after hours at school to help make ends meet. It’s not fair! This is not supposed to happen! But, it did. So, I came to a crossroad in my life where I could choose to live where I was living or I could choose to move out. The decision was up to me. God allows us to make those types of decisions. I chose to move out! The landlord didn’t like it but I could care less. I was paying way to much to live in those conditions.

I decided it was time for me to become Eustace Scrubb. Remember him from the movie, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, an adaptation from the novel by C.S. Lewis? Here is an excerpt from the webpage; WikiNarnia:

Finally one night, Eustace heard Aslan calling to him and saying “Follow Me”. Eustace told Edmund later that he was afraid, though as a dragon he could’ve eaten any lion; he wasn’t afraid of being eaten, he was just afraid. Following Aslan he was taken to a pool where he wanted to bathe his leg. Aslan told him that he must first undress. Scratching and clawing himself, Eustace desperately tried to shed his scales like a snake skin. After three times through this ordeal, he began to fear that he would never be rid of the scales. Aslan’s voice told him “You will have to let me undress you,” and he tore the skin from Eustace, picked him up and dropped him into the pool. As Eustace washed he realized that his arm was no longer in pain because he had turned back into a boy. He returned to the camp and told Edmund what had happened to him. It was Edmund who told him that the lion must have been Aslan. Everyone saw after this that Eustace was a much better natured boy.

Even in my years of following Christ, I was still trying to do things on my own. It’s the reason why I made poor decisions and the reason why I chose to live where I did, in defeat. And that, as a man, is hard for me to admit. But, I had to admit that I needed to allow God to “undress me” if I was ever going to live in victory again. I did, and it hurt. Peeling those old thoughts and habits off of us can hurt can’t they? The old wine-skins need to be thrown out and replaced with new ones! God brings healing to hurts and to scars, if we allow Him. He’ll be there through the pain. He will never leave you or forsake you! That’s His promise to you.

When you live in defeat, the blinds are drawn and you can’t see anything but what’s in front of you. When you choose to live in victory, the blinds are thrown open, the sun shines in, and what you see is limitless. Things are still tough. I wish I had more money and a better car. I’d like to own a home with a fenced in backyard. But, I’m a rich man living in a poor man’s house and that’s far better than living where I was.

During the course of this season of my life, I have seen God restore, heal, mend, fix, provide, the miracle of a newborn son, a wonderful wife, awesome friends and the face of God smiling down on me. May you be encouraged today, may you move out from where you are, and may the face of God shine down upon each of you.

Enjoy the journey!

 

Do we really love the Kingdom of God?

Like many of you, I am a part of the social media network and I enjoy connecting with old and new friends, especially through Facebook. I never really grasped the concept of Twitter, although it seems as if I signed up for it a long time ago, so I won’t be “tweeting” anytime soon. But, the one thing that I have noticed is that our conversations are no longer private. People tend to air their “dirty laundry” out in public these days and they don’t care who reads it or if it offends someone. For me, I’d prefer that people not see my Superman underwear hanging out on the clothes line.

But, the question is, do we really love the kingdom of God? We know of the ten commandments and most of us know them by heart but the Bible says that “we’ve all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory” (Romans 3:23), which means that we are all in this together, we are the same, regardless of the pedestal that you or someone else has placed you on. Jesus tells us to love God with everything that is within us and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). This comes down to a heart issue between us and God.

Valentines Day is right around the corner and all through the stores you will see candy shaped hearts, stuffed animals with hearts held in their arms, heart-shaped cards, and just an array of pink and purple decorations. The symbol of the heart is at the center of this holiday.

The heart is the most important organ in our bodies, without it we will die. Jesus said, “if you love me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15), “he who does not love Me does not keep my words” (John 14:24). These are very strong words but in essence Jesus is asking us, “do we really love the Kingdom of God?”  The heart is at the center of the Kingdom of God.

I believe that we spend too much time in gossip and slander and not enough time in reading our Bibles or praying. We spend too much time in other people’s business and not enough time in God’s business. We spend too much time noticing the speck in someone’s eye that we don’t notice the log sticking out of our own. Do you get the point? I don’t know about you but I’m tired of seeing God’s children being satan’s marionettes puppets. The Bible tells us to, “submit ourselves (our hearts) to the Lord, resist the devil (cut those strings) and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). Do we really love the Kingdom of God?

 

Hard Times Come Easy

I don’t know about you but everywhere I turn it seems as if people are going through some hard times. There are wars, rumors of wars, hate, a bad economy, sickness, disease, and people are losing their jobs and homes. The list goes on and on, doesn’t it? Around every corner you turn there seems to be, yet, another obstacle in the way, another mountain to climb, another river to forge. Perhaps you have asked the question that so many of us have asked, “When will I catch a break?” It’s a valid question that we can expect to be answered. Why? Because God will ALWAYS honor His Word!

The children of Israel always seem to bring encouragement to me. These were regular people, children of God like you and me, who experienced all sorts of joy and difficulties, and they certainly liked to complain! Sound like anyone you know? For years, these people had been in slavery to the Egyptians. They were beaten, forced to work in unreal conditions with impossible expectations, and to top it off, the king of Egypt ordered all of the newly born males to be killed as they were literally coming out of the womb. Enough was enough. The Israelites had finally reached their breaking point and they did what all of us do when the hard times come, they turned to God.

“Now it happened in the process of time that the king of Egypt died. Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So, God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. And God looked upon the children of Israel and acknowledged them.” (Exodus 2: 23-25).

God heard their groaning and God remembered! It wasn’t that God had forgotten anything or that He was too busy, but I believe that He allowed the children of Israel to go through this season in order that they might finally come to a place of complete trust in Him. We have to be careful NOT to blame God for everything. Sometimes, it’s just life. The people of Israel did nothing to deserve the pain and punishment that they went through, but it happened and they, like us, said, “When will this be over. When will we catch a break. God, are you up there?”

Recently, I was laid off from my job of two years. This was my second layoff in the five years that I worked for this organization and my third total layoff in the past three years. When I look at my still unpaid school loans, credit card debt, car payment, doctor bills, etc. . .I, too, begin to feel that enough is enough. Is it wrong to feel that way? No. Is it wrong to just want to be in that “sweet spot” in life where you go to work feeling fulfilled and can pay your bills? No. Is it wrong to want the best for you and your family? No. In fact, God wants ALL of this for you and I. Trust me, I don’t understand why God allows certain things to happen and I don’t know why God keeps some of us in the potter’s hands longer than others. Bu, I have come to a place where I’m tired of trying to figure it out and maybe that’s exactly where I need to be. Maybe, just maybe, I haven’t fully given all of my cares and worries to God, or perhaps it’s just life. Who knows? Only God knows the “plans that He has for us.” (Jer. 29:11), and the reasons why.

There will come a time when the hard times will end. The bondage will be released, the Red Sea will part, and there will be rejoicing on the other side.

Until then, and I say this to encourage myself as much as I do you, take heart in knowing the following:

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7).

And when you feel tired and read to quit:

“Patient endurance is what you need now, so you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that He has promised.” (Hebrews 10:36).

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge cloud of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress. And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1).

Currently, I’m “in transit” and sometimes I’m not sure what to do with the waiting. Let the song below be an encouragement to you as it has been to me.

Enjoy the journey!

 

It’s a Mario Kart World

My family and I LOVE Mario Kart, or should I say, we are ADDICTED to it. I’m not sure who to blame for the addiction but I do have to admit that I played this game quite often when it first came out on the Nintendo 64. Remember that one? I still remember my Commodore 64 computer with the floppy disks, but that’s another story.

My son, Ethan, who is 4, is actually really good at this game. Sarah, my wife, is stuck with two guys (kids) who always seem to team up on her each race. Secretly, I believe she is wishing that our next child will be a girl. But, we all know that boys rule!

As a Pastor, it’s in my blood to try to find some sort of meaning in just about anything and come up with a sermon that will bring that point across. Since I am between churches right now, this blog will have to serve as my platform.

Life is a lot like the Mario Kart world. First, you get to pick which car you drive and you can choose which character you will be. Second, you can pick your own teammates and even decide which course you will drive. What you don’t get to choose though is what happens to you along the way. Now, for some of you that haven’t played Mario Kart this blog will leave you scratching your head, or perhaps cause you to go out, buy a Wii and Mario Kart. If that happens, I should get some sort of royalty. But, for those of you that play the game, you’ll know what I mean.

You see, when you start this race you are pretty much even. No one has any unfair advantage and everyone has to fend for themselves (unless you do team racing). Each track is unique, just like the seasons of life. Some tracks are easy, some tracks are challenging, and some tracks are quite difficult. Each track offers its own set of challenges and you have to choose carefully how you navigate each one. At times, it can become so overwhelming that you simply choose to quit. What makes it worse is that you can acquire non-lethal weapons throughout the game. If you are in first place you can bet that you’ll probably end up with a harmless banana peel that you can leave for someone to slip on or if you are near the end of the pack you might get the bullet which will immediately transport you closer to the front. There are green turtle shells that you can use to ricochet off of targets, or the red turtle shells that seeks out its targets. You can use the mushrooms for turbo power, the lightening bolt to zap your opponents and make them shrink, or you can send the dreaded blue turtle shell to the front of the pack and take out the leader. It’s a fast paced game, full of obstacles, fun and frustration.

Yes, it is a Mario Kart world. Life can be that way some days, can’t it? You can start this journey off on the right foot and have everything going for you and in an instant you get hit from behind, spun around, zapped, or squished. It’s at that moment that you have to decide if you wan to continue racing or if you want to quit. There are no guarantees in the Mario Kart game that you will win if you keep racing, in fact, you will get hit, spun, zapped, and squished a few more times, but I can guarantee you that if you don’t quit in life you will be a winner (Just like Derek Redmond at the 92′ Olympics)

Everyone of us are either on an easy track, a challenging track, or on a difficult track, and throughout this journey we will take a ride on all three.

But, God give us a hope, a plan, and a future in Jeremiah 29:11. He tells us we are no longer condemned in Romans 8:12, He gives us eternal life in John 3:16, He tells us to give Him ALL of our burdens in Psalms 55:22, and Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

It’s a Mario Kart world, how will you finish?

 

The 4th Quarter

Ah, football season is right around the corner and every guy, and even some ladies, are already gearing up for their fantasy football drafts. Would you believe that there is actually a sort of “fantasy football super bowl” in Vegas each year? It’s true. Those guys eat, sleep, and breathe fantasy football all year round. I thought I was hardcore by having 4-8 fantasy teams each year but these guys blow me out of the water!

Just like fantasy football, many real-life football games are won and lost in the 4th quarter. All of the training, film study, and hard work that goes into a season is really geared towards the 4th quarter. As a soccer player, I hated to run. I know it sounds a little ironic but I really didn’t like to run. Forrest Gump and I did not have that much in common because I could not “run like the wind blows.” Now, don’t get me wrong, I could run and hold my own but there were some guys who could just run all day long, and I hated them. . .kinda. It just came easy to them. But , nonetheless, we all trained for those final 5 minutes left in the match. Every sprint, jog, and run we did in practice paid off in those final few minutes if we gave it our all in practice.

I believe, if my research is correct, that the Miami Hurricanes were the team to begin the now famous holding up of four fingers at the end of the third quarter. The ‘Canes, to those of us who are fans, knew that in order to be the best you had to beat the best and for the majority of their games, they did. In fact, they hold the NCAA record for the most home wins which stands at 58. But, the crucial part of each game was the 4th quarter. It’s the part of the game when you’re the most tired. You either choose to give up, coast along and hope someone else makes a play, or you buckle up your chin strap and finish what you started.

Let me encourage you, from current and past experience, to let God finished what He started. It may hurt, it may take too long, and it may not make any sense, but God has a plan. Sometimes, I wish God would write them on the wall, or speak to me in an audible voice, but He speaks through His Word! In order to make it through the tough times, and the times in which life just seems to be standing still, you have to dig deeper. You don’t have to do anymore to prove yourself to God. He loves you how you are. But, the digging deeper requires a persistence that cannot be taught, but must be learned. My son likes to use the phrase, “this is taking forever”, and it usually involves either a road trip or the times when I pray with him, either way, he echoes what I want to say to God sometimes.

Thank God for all of the experiences, good and bad, that I have been through. It’s been training for this current journey and those same things have been training for your journey. It’s the 4th quarter, you’re tired, you might even be losing, but you have a choice to make, what will you do? Me? I HATE to lose!!