If at first you don’t succeed …

Theme: If at first you don’t succeed …

Verse: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the movie “Hitch”. It has nothing to do with sports (unless you consider jet-skiing a sport), so yes, I can use movie examples that are NOT sports related. The scene from the movie that applies today is when Hitch says, “Do you know the definition of "perseverance,", Miss Melas? Continuing in a course of action... without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure.”

For those unfamiliar with the story, Alex (Hitch) Hitchens (Will Smith) is a dating coach with Albert Brennaman (Kevin James) as a client. Hitch is helping Albert attract a celebrity client that is kind of “out of his league.” Meanwhile Hitch has his own dating drama. There are lots of ups and downs in the pursuit of their respective goals, but my takeaway was both gentlemen knew their objective and were determined to reach it even if it meant resorting to unorthodox methods.

So, what are we chasing? It doesn’t matter if it is a personal best in running a race or a better relationship with our Lord, there are going to be some hiccups. What happens when the path isn’t a smooth one? Do we give up or do we persevere?

Don’t worry if you are not a perfect Christian. God is molding us into being more like Jesus every day through each of our experiences. Along the way think about Hitch’s definition of perseverance. Continue on that course of action, without regard to whatever roadblock(s) the world puts in front of you.

Be confident during the trials because, though it may take a while, as we pursue Kingdom work, we will be rewarded with victory at the end!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Anger is but one letter removed from Danger

Theme: Anger is but one letter removed from Danger

Thought: “In any argument, anger never solves a problem nor wins a debate! If you are right, then there is no need to get angry. If you are wrong, then you don’t have the right to get angry.”

Jackie Robinson’s birthday was at the end of last month (January 31, 1919). We often celebrate his life in April on the anniversary of his breaking the MLB color barrier in 1947. But his journey fits along with the theme of the week so I thought why not take some time profile him.

It seems on a daily basis we face situations that call for confrontation. A customer service experience that goes south, a workplace incident where we feel we were “wronged”, or possibly a family misunderstanding that has gotten out of control.

Our natural human instinct is to fight back. And that certainly is the cultural norm. Our sports tend to reinforce that. In baseball, the custom is that if one player violates an unwritten rule (stealing a base when your team has a large lead, showboating after hitting a home run (see last week’s devotional), or crossing the pitcher’s mound when returning to the dugout) you can predict the next time that player comes to the plate, there will be some fireworks.

These responses are always done out of anger in an effort to send a “message.” In our regular lives we have no such outlet to send messages when we feel wronged, so we just display our anger in different ways. Often it is not pretty.

Robinson’s rookie season was filled with opportunities for him to fight back against injustice. My beloved St. Louis Cardinals allegedly threatened to strike if Robinson played, and the Philadelphia Phillies manager verbally abused him from the opposing dugout in an early season game. Instead of creating a confrontation Robinson merely went along his way doing the job the Dodgers hired him to do, that is play a pretty good first base (not his natural position), hit .297 (97 points higher than Bob Uecker’s career average), and help the Dodgers get to the World Series.

God does not want us to be Hotheads. The next time an opportunity arises that seems to call for lashing out at someone, reflect on Jackie Robinson’s rookie year experience. If you want to be a leader, to truly influence your community, it is better to remain calm, cool and collected just like Robinson did in 1947.

Have an AWESOME week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Be like Barry and Skip the Dance

Theme: Be like Barry and Skip the Dance

Verse: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2)

It’s Super Bowl week, so we have to talk about football. Ironically, we are going to profile a person who played for a team that has never made it to the Big Game.

Those of you who are old enough might remember one of the all-time great NFL running backs, Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions. He stands at #4 on the list of career rushing yards in the NFL and he did it in only ten seasons.

But to me what stands out about him is not the prolific stats, but how he conducted himself on the field. He scored 109 touchdowns in his illustrious, but all too short, career. And do you know what he did after each one of them?

He found the nearest official and without any fanfare, flipped or handed the ball to him.

Are you kidding me? No dance in the end zone? No chest bump with his teammates? No “discussion” with an opposing player?

Nope. He simply went to the Detroit sideline and waited for the next offensive series so he and the Lions could try again.

How do we act on our playing field? Do we spend time “over-celebrating” our victories? Or do we keep everything in focus, reflecting on how fortunate we are that God has given of the talent and opportunity to be in position to do whatever it is we do and, in that moment, have done it well?

Our God gives us the ability to succeed AND to fail. But He does not want us to put too much value on either of those extremes. God put you on this earth and gave you whatever platform you have as a way to impact others. How you react to success and failure goes a long way in determining what that impact will be. Your demeanor in those moments speaks volumes about your attitude and who is in control of your life.

So, the next time you reach the “end zone” during your life’s journey (fixing a plumbing problem in record time, knocking a presentation out of the park, acing a test, or achieving a Personal Record (PR) in a running/biking/swimming race), remember Barry Sanders. Just metaphorically flip the football to the official and get ready for the next play.

Have a SUPER (Bowl) week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

Don’t make me use your middle name

Theme: Don’t make me use your middle name

Verse: If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

How many of you got the lecture at home when you did something that embarrassed your parents? At my house such a lecture started something like this,

“David Bernard Schapiro, whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

These lectures usually include some semblance of this phrase.

“That was really embarrassing. Don’t you know who you represent (typically implying our family)?”

Over the years, hopefully I have gotten a little less embarrassing to my family. (I guess my sister Beth will have to be the ultimate judge of that since she’s one of the only a few people on the planet that has known me since birth.)

All that aside, there is one family we all share in representing. That is the family of God. It may sound like a great responsibility (which it is), but what if we choose to look at it as an opportunity?

Yes, an opportunity!

It does not matter where we are, we are always representing who (and whose) we are. And people are always going judge how us by how we react to the good and the bad through the lens of our Judeo-Christian faith.

Not always the easiest of tasks, I will grant you.

But in Deuteronomy there is a great verse for these situations. “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

There is plenty in this world that can cause us to seek battle over collaboration. But when the feeling strikes to doing something that will embarrass our family like fighting back out of revenge, remember who gives you the strength in battle and let Him guide you.

And don’t make God have to use your middle name!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Being There for Others

Theme: Being There for Others

Verse: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34-35)

A few noteworthy events happened this last week.

We inaugurated a “new” President.

We celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and

My first granddaughter, Hazel Ann Janssen, was born consequently making my first grandson, Wyatt, a big brother.

Hazel’s arrival also happened to coincide with the loss of a sports “legend,” Bob Uecker (aka Mr. Baseball). Most of you know him from his TV commercials for Miller Lite or as the fictional baseball broadcaster Harry (“Juuuuuust a Bit Outside”) Doyle from the movie “Major League.” Prior to all of that Uecker actually was an MLB player and World Series champion with the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. (And yes, I have to get this in. The Cards beat the Evil Empire, the New York Yankees, that year!)

Uecker made a second career centered around telling self-deprecating jokes about his time as a baseball player. Here are a few of my favorites:

- “I had a great shoe contract and glove contract with a company who paid me a lot of money never to be seen using their stuff.”

- “I led the league in go get 'em next time.”

- “I signed a very modest $3,000 bonus with the Braves in Milwaukee. And my old man didn't have that kinda money to put out.”

The thing I liked about Uecker was he never took himself too seriously. Even though he was quite successful in his post playing days, he made time for those around him and generally made the world a better place for baseball fans everywhere.

In our sermon this week Pastor Vicki cited one of Paul’s letters to Corinth that told them to get with it and stop being a “baby (immature) church.” The sermon described the characteristics of being a baby (immature) in our faith and being mature in our faith. What struck me on the mature side was that maturity is exemplified by, among other things, being there for others.

So, as Hazel’s arrival starts the clock ticking on another life in this world, let’s look back on Bob Uecker’s life and always remember that we are never too big or important to look out for others. Let’s strive to help the people around us and create a better world for Hazel, Wyatt, and their generation.

Have a GREAT week!

Injury Time

Theme: Injury Time

Verse: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Injuries are part of all sports. If you participate long enough, you will personally experience one somewhere along the line. Personally, I’ve dealt with a broken femur in high school, a ruptured Achilles tendon in my 30s, and most recently, two knee replacement surgeries.

When those inevitable injuries occur, it is very easy to play the “What-If” game.

- What-If I don’t recover fast enough?

- What-If I’m not the same athlete I was before the injury?

- What-If I’m more prone to injury?

- What-If I lose my position on the team?

- What-If I can never play the sport again?

You can combat the “What-If” game by knowing God has a plan for you in your injury time. Trust that He has your best interest in mind and that He will use your story to be a Kingdom moment to reach someone you never imagined through your recovery story.

Meanwhile on a personal level, while physical therapy is obviously a key component to the recovery, injury time is an opportunity for you to dig deeper into God’s Word and strengthen your faith. If you surround yourself with positive people (and I have had many of them surround me in my injury time over the years), you will find that is a vital part of the healing process as well.

So, when an injury befalls you, don’t become a recluse and a “Woe is me, Wally”. Trust that the injury is simply a part of God’ plan for your life. Embrace the challenge and know that He is preparing you for an AMAZING comeback!

Have a GREAT (and hopefully injury free) week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Rituals

Theme: Rituals

Verse: The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Wade Boggs (a Tampa native) had a remarkable baseball career. He is in the exclusive 3,000 hit club and one of only three players to have his 3,000th be a home run.

Boggs was famous for his pre-game ritual of eating chicken before each game. While there is no evidence that chicken provides any superpower for baseball (or anything else), there is some evidence that rituals help players focus on the task upcoming and perform better in the game.

The power of rituals is not confined to sports. How well our day goes seems to depend on how we start it. Perhaps you start with morning exercise, eat a certain food for breakfast, or wear specific clothing based on what day of the week it is. (Yes, I rotate my shirts through the colors of the rainbow each week and my closet is organized by Roy G. Biv.)

There is another ritual that can give us all great power. That is reading the Lord’s word and prayer. In Ephesians, Paul describes the word of God as a spiritual weapon to be used to combat forces that we struggle against each day. Having this weapon gives us the power of Jesus alongside us to combat problems such as destructive thoughts, anger, pride, and conceit.

So, as we start our days let’s ask God for His insight, protection, direction, and strength. That’s a ritual we can all share and in the end we will all be able to join God’s 3,000 hit club!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

Want Unity? Get an Alignment!

Theme: Want Unity? Get an Alignment!

Verse:

The University of Washington 8-man crew of 1936 was a special group. Their journey to an unlikely gold medal in the Berlin Olympics is featured in the movie “The Boys in the Boat.” Despite a number of setbacks along the way the team had a level of cohesion that transcended all the advantages held by their competitors from more experienced schools and the European national teams.

The 8-man crew competition is all about teamwork and unity, more so than most other Olympic sports. Even the strongest rower can be a detriment if he/she is not in synch with the rest of the team. Unity is paramount.

But unity in life is a difficult thing to achieve. We all have differences and disagreements. After all, we are not robots. The world around us makes that clear every day. Unity needs to be something we are constantly striving to achieve.

So, Dave, how do we do that?

It starts with having a common goal or focus. As Christians a good place to start with Jesus. Let Him be the filter we use to determine our actions and decisions. With that filter we gain alignment with Him. Just like our cars run smoother when the wheels are in good alignment, our ability to be good teammates, friends, spouses, parents and children goes smoother when we are in alignment with Jesus. We become more coachable in all aspects of our lives.

So, as we enter 2025 focus on Jesus and allow him to be the filter for all our decisions, especially when we are tempted to be disagreeable with others. Get in alignment with Him and the unity that provides will lead to a better and probably and less stressful life.

Have a GREAT week and Welcome to 2025.

Adapted from Lead with Faith Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Finish 2024 Strong

Theme: Finish 2024 Strong

Verse: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals were one of the most unlikely World Series champions. They endured a bumpy ride that included a 31-16 start, then two 8-game losing streaks and a losing record in the months of June, August, and September. Despite that, they found themselves qualified for the playoffs with an 83-78 record.

When it counted (playoff time), the Cardinals were ready. They were underdogs against the Padres, Mets, and Tigers, but won all three series to be crowned the champions!

Finishing Strong is what champions do! There are plenty of examples in the Bible! Paul started as a persecutor of Christ followers but finished as probably the quintessential Christian leader of his time. David and Peter were much like the 2006 Cardinals. Each started strong, stumbled along the way, but recovered to finish well.

So how can you FINISH WELL?

Self-Talk: Our words are very powerful. How we speak to ourselves can be the difference in finishing or not. To quote John Blutarsky (Bluto) in the movie Animal House, “When the going gets tough, (pregnant pause as he attempts to remember the rest), the tough get going”! Filling your mind with positive thinking, optimism and belief will help you finish well.

Encouragement: Having people in your corner will help you overcome obstacles and setbacks. These can be members of your small group, or your team at work. Think about the last time your fans carried you to the finish line and know that you can be on the other side of that for someone else.

Clear Vision: Finishers keep the goal in sight. When the WHY is big enough, distractions tend to melt away.

So, as we conclude 2024, analyze the journey you have been on. Maybe it has been a rocky road. If it has, just think about those 2006 Cardinals who hung in there. Like them, you too can finish the season strong to become the champions!

Have a GREAT week and Finish 2024 Strong.

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Making the Impossible, Possible!

Theme: Making the Impossible, Possible!

Quote of the Week: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” (Helen Keller)

Jake Olson was a college football player for the University of Southern California Trojans. He played in only two games in 2017, as the long snapper. You know, the guy you hear about only when the punt or field goal attempt doesn’t go off as expected. Although Jake played only two games, his story is one of the most compelling in school history.

You see, by the age of 12 Jake had lost both his eyes to cancer of the retina.

Despite his lack of sight, Jake had vision. He loved the game of football, so he taught himself to excel at the only position he could play without sight — long snapper. He was so good at the skill he made the Trojan football team as a walk-on.

His impact has gone well beyond being responsible for the points the Trojans got on plays he snapped the ball for. To this day, he continues to be an inspiration for everyone who needs a vision in their lives.

Having a vision is more than being able to see. It means creating a picture of the world you want for yourself and those around you. Without vision, life becomes mundane, and we will not be living up to the potential that God has for each one of us.

Our church has the vision to be the church of “Three Rs.” That means

We seek to be ROOTED in God’s Word. Being rooted in God’s Word means to be established firmly and deeply in Jesus Christ; He is one voice that we seek to direct our paths.

We seek to be RENEWED by the Holy Spirit. God can change us from the inside out! This means getting rid of the old, unhealthy, and worldly parts of our lives and allowing God to do something new within us.

We seek to REACH the world for Jesus Christ. Keeping the joy of knowing a very real Jesus is not something to be kept to ourselves. We need to share His love with others.

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, it’s a good time to examine our lives and ask what our vision is.

Are you up for it?

Have a GREAT week and Merry Christmas!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Theme: Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Thought of the Week: If you think you can OR you think you can’t, you’re right!

Have you ever listened to a postgame interview after a team seemed to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat? After the reporter asks the obligatory, “How do you feel after leading the game-winning drive?” or “Can you take us through that final sequence?” the player(s) usually come back with something like

“We believed in ourselves and knew all we had to do was execute.”

That, my friends, is powerful!

The winning team (or person), especially at the higher levels, is usually the one that operates better on the six-inch playing field that exists between their ears, not the one covered with grass, hardwood, asphalt, or ice. They have trained their brains to have mental toughness. They reject negative, self-defeating, discouraging thinking.

Instead, they have belief and faith. Instead of focusing on what can’t be done, they focus on what is possible. Adversity and problems are replaced with solutions.

This is called transformative thinking! Romans 12:2 tells us we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Colossians 3 and Philippians 4 have some things to say about retraining our minds as well.

The game of life is won or lost above one’s shoulders, in our minds. If you want to win you need to train your brain to know it can be done. Until that transformation takes place don’t believe everything you think.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Be an Inadequate Leader!

Theme: Be an Inadequate Leader!

Quote of the Week: “I'm a karate man! Alright. Karate man bruise on the inside! They don't show their weakness.” (Billy Ray Valentine (Eddie Murphy), Trading Places, 1983)

Aside from being asked to explain the quadratic equation formula or asked to name Uzbekistan’s capital, when was the last time you uttered any of the following phrases?

“I don’t know!”

“I’m going to need some help!”

“I have some weaknesses!”

“I don’t have all the answers!”

If you said you can’t remember, you are not alone. Our human nature is to avoid showing weakness in any situation. We are raised to believe that any sign of weakness means you are not a leader. The reality is nothing can be further from the truth.

The most successful leaders are what are known as Limited Leaders. They know they have gaps, blind spots, problems. In Jeremiah, he cries out to the Lord, “Lord, I am inadequate, and I can’t do what you are asking.” But God did not choose Jeremiah for his skill (BTW: God does not need our limited skills). He chose him for his availability, humility, faith, and trust. God wanted him to be a Limited Leader.

A Limited Leader has three key characteristics.

1. Great Self Awareness: This helps them build effective teams that will not be clones of the leader. The Kansas City Chiefs and Detroit Lions would not be leading the league if they sent out 11 Patrick Mahomes or Jared Goffs every play.

2. Openness about their weaknesses: This sort of openness empowers team members to step in with skills the leader lacks. It helps the team grow.

3. Realization that failure is inevitable without God: Failure is at our doorstep each day unless God steps in. If you want to do something really big, trust God with the “impossible.”

Do you want to be a Leader? Then be an Inadequate One. Be available, humble, faithful, and trusting. God will fill the voids and lead you to VICTORY!

BTW: To save you a Google search Uzbekistan’s capital is Tashkent.

Have a GREAT week!

Just Be You!

Theme: Just Be You!

Thought for the Week: “You are unique, just like everyone else.”

When you were a youngster, I’m sure at some point you dreamt of being someone else. It might have been a sports icon. During the 1960s and 1970s in Crystal City, MO that might have been a local sports hero like Danny Larose, an All-American at MIZZOU who played for several teams in the NFL, or Bill Bradley, who played basketball at Princeton and for the New York Knicks. For others, it might have been an actor/singer or other performer or a relative that was quite special to you. My Uncle Bob likes to recall that I wanted to be President of the United States (not a particular one, just the President).

Fortunately for the country my childhood dream never became a reality.

There is nothing wrong with childhood dreams. They can be motivating, inspiring us to do better in school and work harder in sports or other crafts. The challenge is as we get older, we need to lock in on who we are and eventually stop trying to be something or someone other than the person God created us to be.

The “True You” is what you are on the inside. That is much more powerful than any outward appearance we might take on. Changing how we look on the outside doesn’t do anything about what is on the inside.

As we enter the Christmas season, this is a good time to reflect on the reason for the season, Jesus, and the transformational power He has for our INSIDE. Through Him, our hearts, mind, thoughts, and attitudes (all internal things) can change opening our lives to be all that God designed us to be on the inside; a unique person that has a purpose and a path to follow.

The journey to the “True You” goes through Jesus. Seek Him First!

Happy Thanksgiving and Have a GREAT week!

CAST some sunshine toward others

Theme: CAST some sunshine toward others

Thought for the Week: “Spread sunshine all over the place and put on a happy face.” (Albert Peterson (Dick Van Dyke) Bye Bye Birdie, 1963)

My good friend, Ron Rook, had a tag line on his e-mails that said a lot about his attitude towards work and life. It read, “The Answer is Yes! Now What is Your Request?”

Ron was famous for always working to get to “Yes” when someone asked something of him. That attitude opened the door to conversation about whatever issue was at hand. That led to a discussion and more often than not a solution that was acceptable to all.

Too often our face and body language shut down an exchange before conversation even begins. That’s called having the “No-Face”. If you are in the business Making More and Better Followers of Jesus (or frankly any endeavor), that’s no bueno. You always will get further and grow more by wearing your “Yes-Face”!

Ok, Dave. What does a “Yes-Face” look like? Well, try this. Think that you want to C-A-S-T your “Yes-Face” to others. You want your face to be:

C – Confident

A – Approachable

S- Smiling

T - Trusting

(There are more characteristics, but I could spell a word with these four, so I went with these. I guess I need to get better at Wordle.)

As a coach, it is imperative that you wear a “Yes-Face” for your team. The team will be inspired if they know the coach believes in them. If you are a player, the “Yes-Face” tells the coach you are with the program and ready to perform in the game.

We all have opportunities to be a coach or a player in life, so we all have an opportunity here. Let’s wear our “Yes-Face” more than our “No-Face” and CAST rays of sunshine in others direction.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Let’s have some PDA

Theme: Let’s have some PDA

Verse: Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. (Romans 12:10)

The military frowns on (or at least it used to) Public Displays of Affection (PDA) while in uniform. The leadership thought that it hampered good order and discipline for the soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and now guardians (a Space Force person, not a member of the baseball team from Cleveland).

But God’s ok with PDAs, in fact He encourages it. Our relationship with Jesus was never intended to be a private thing. Did you ever consider how passionately we can discuss our cars, our vacations, the Buccaneers latest game, why we hate the Yankees, or a host of other subjects, but we keep our passion for the Lord on the downlow?

As we enter the Holiday season, maybe this is the time to show some PDA for God and His son, Jesus. How should we do that? Here are a few suggestions.

Humble Service - Look for ways to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus

Anonymous Giving - Not that there isn’t a need every year, but this season seems to call for extra level of generosity. If you are in a position to do so, look for opportunities to support quality charities in your local area.

Unselfish Sacrifice - It can be as simple as being the one who gives up their chair for an elderly person or pregnant lady or the one who buys (or makes) a meal for a homeless person you see as you go about your day. Do it without a thought of what you will get in return.

PDA is an external expression of an inward reality. We want the rest of the world to see God through each one of us!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Let’s have a winning record!

Theme: Let’s have a winning record!

Verse: Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. (Matthew 19:26)

In August 1977, about 30 members of the Crystal City Hornet football team got the season-opening remarks from coaches Dick Cook and Rodney Mills. It had been a few years since the Hornets had finished the year with a winning record, so the coaches provided a team goal to finish in the upper half of the conference standings. As the smallest school in the county, it seemed like a daunting task.

But Coach Cook and Coach Mills knew what they were doing. They had given the team a challenge that would stretch us beyond our expectations. Sure enough, three months later we finished at 6-4 and in third place (out of 9). Most importantly, we beat the crosstown rival, the Festus Tigers, a year after they stole a victory from us (but that’s a story for another day).

The beauty of this goal was it kept us focused throughout the year. Unlike college football where a single defeat for most teams can ruin any hope of a getting in the playoff for the national championship, we could focus on the whole season. One little setback didn’t derail us.

We need focused goals in our lives. Many times, those can be found in a Mission Statement. Our church has a simple to remember, but POWERFUL, mission statement that applies to everyone in the Christian faith.

MAKE MORE AND BETTER FOLLOWERS OF JESUS. It does not get much simpler than that. If someone is not a believer, let’s bring them into the fold. If they are a believer, help them become more like Jesus.

If you try to do that every day, you will finish with a winning record!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

No Pain, No Gain

Theme: No Pain, No Gain

Verse: For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Romans 8:18)

When athletes train one of the common adages heard is “No Pain, No Gain.” It’s great motivation to do an extra set of weights, or run another mile on the trail. But can the same motivational saying be applied to the rest of our lives?

Answer, Sure!

If we want to grow SPIRITUALLY, our faith must be tested. We need to engage in situations in which we must depend on God instead of our own strength. In short, we need to get out of our comfort zone and really dig into His word.

If we want to grow RELATIONALLY, we need to consider others before ourselves. Put aside our selfishness and lay down our pride. We must extend forgiveness when harboring resentment may be the easier path.

If we want to grow MENTALLY, we must seek new learning experiences and engage with others who know more than we do (for me, FINALLY there is something on the list that’s easy to find). Seek out those experts and find out not only what they know but find out how they think.

If we want to grow EMOTIONALLY, we need to experience what others are feeling. That is, “walk in their shoes” before rushing to judgment or to “SOLVE” their problems.

The Apostle Paul did all these things. In Romans he said that no matter what present suffering he endured (and he endured plenty), it was not worth comparing to the glory that all believers will experience because of Christ’s suffering on the cross.

God will walk with us through our pain. We just need to stay in the game. Push beyond your perceived capabilities and let God help you grow to be everything He intended.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Let’s Have a LONG word of Prayer

Theme: Let’s Have a LONG word of Prayer

Verse: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18)

We’ve heard it a thousand times. It goes something like this “Let’s have a QUICK word of prayer.” It usually comes at the start of a church meeting, a big sporting event, or before we sit down for a meal. The message is, let’s get this obligatory prayer out of the way so we can get on to the “IMPORTANT” event that is before us.

What is prayer, really? Is it the bowing of our heads and reciting words we barely think about OR is it communication with God?

If prayer is communication with God, then shouldn’t our lives be one continuous prayer? Should it not be the driving force in our lives?

Communication is a two-way street. Part of prayer is our words TO God; but the other part of prayer (and probably the more important part) should be listening to what is coming FROM God; what He is telling us!

Our prayer time should be intentional, patient, and purposeful. It should not be something we rush through to get to the next order of business.

So, the next time you are tempted to have a QUICK word of prayer, know that all you are really doing is changing the form of the communication with God. Quick Prayer or Long Prayer, He hears you either way.

But do you hear Him?

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

The People in your Neighborhood

Theme: The People in your Neighborhood.

Verse: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39)

It’s been quite a couple of weeks in Florida. In case you were on a trip to Antarctica or something like that, we’ve had a couple of hurricanes blow through the Tampa area. The recovery from Helene and Milton is on-going as I write this. Hundreds of thousands of homes are still without power and thousands have big recovery efforts in front of them.

But in my microcosm of the world, the hurricane aftermath revealed something about the human spirit that inspired this missive.

On Thursday morning, I woke to see what Milton had brought. As the sun rose, people emerged from their homes and began cleaning their yards. But soon I noticed something. After cleaning their own yards some of my neighbors went to the next house and cleaned that lawn as well because they knew the family had evacuated, or the residents were elderly or infirmed. As the phenomenon of “doing of little extra” became evident, it became the norm. Dozens of families were going the extra mile. It became almost a competition between the sides of the street. Who could get their side done faster?

In about 5 hours, the neighborhood looked like nothing had happened (but for the bags of debris neatly piled by the curb). The road and sidewalks were clear! I know it wasn’t the biggest of deals in the recovery effort, but it was inspiring to see neighbors helping neighbors rake debris, cut limbs, sweep paths, and get life back to some sort of normalcy.

That’s all being a neighbor is. Giving a little extra when you are able. Show some kindness to your fellow man. That’s what God asks of us is to “Love our Neighbor as Ourselves. (Matthew 22:39)”

My salute to the Remington neighborhood in Lake St. Charles, Riverview, FL. You may not have known it, but you were putting God’s Love on display by exemplifying what being a neighbor is all about.

Have a GREAT week!

Who’s on your Dream Team?

Theme: Who’s on your Dream Team?

Verse: Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

When Coach Herb Brooks, 1980 Olympics U.S. Men’s hockey coach, presented his proposed team to his staff he got a little surprised reaction. His assistant remarked that Coach Brooks had left some of the best players in the country off of the team. Coach Brooks response was, “I’m not looking for the BEST players, I’m looking for the RIGHT ones.” Those players may not have been the best individual players, but as a group, they were the best for the assignment at hand.

Jesus created His team of 12 disciples in a similar fashion. The 12 were not the great religious scholars of the day or those who might otherwise be regarded as “the best players of the day”. No, these were men who worked “regular” jobs; fishermen, a tax collector, and even political activist and certainly not widely regarded as a set of perfect people. But this group of regular Joes, Jesus’s Dream Team if you will, embarked on a journey that would change the world.

If Jesus needed a Dream Team around him, who are we to think we can navigate this world without similar support? We all need our own Dream Team around us. A small, inner circle that can support us in areas where we are lacking, or to be there to pick us up when we fall. We need them at our jobs, in our workout groups, and certainly in our spiritual lives.

It’s probably worth looking around your life and examining what our inner circle looks like. Is it a Dream Team? If not, what changes do you need to get not the BEST people, but the RIGHT people on-board.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page