Not Everyone Gets a Trophy

We live in a world where we make up names of awards so no one feels left out. Where everyone's a winner. Everyone is excelling at something.

And, unfortunately, we minimize the adverse effects of defeat, 2nd place, and the need to try again. Instead, we elevate others' opinions, practices, or decision to walk away when their preferences aren't embraced.

What kind of culture are we creating? To believe that someone's self-esteem, the need for tolerance of their attitudes and behavior, or re-creating the rules for their unique circumstances should be the motivating factor for excellence and success.

Not everyone gets a trophy!

Commitment, discipline, endurance. It's developing those traits along with the right attitude and physical ability that will lead to a successful path of some intended end.

Half-hearted commitment that sways with the winds of criticism and personal comfort will not lead to success. Lack of discipline that will not put in the work required to develop those skills will not result in success. Short-sightedness that easily gives up when the work becomes difficult will not lead to ultimate success.

But really, when you think about today, Memorial Day, there's a greater prize to be embraced. Our trophy, our freedom is being held in honor today. But not everyone gets to hold that trophy.

Why?

Because they're commitment, discipline, and endurance was put on display that you and I could hold the trophy high today. We owe so much to them for the fight they had to never give up, to put our preferences ahead of their own, to see the mission through to the end even though it cost them their very lives; what a great sacrifice.

But there's also another One who paid the ultimate sacrifice. The trophy of real freedom is on display in the form of an empty cross and empty tomb. While on earth He was never privileged to hold high above His head a trophy. If anything, He accepted last place by holding a towel and bowl of water.

And to see what we've gained by these people, by that One person willing to negate ever holding a trophy; life and freedom! So, today, may we be grateful for the enduring sacrifice of these brave men and women offering their lives for our freedom.

Perhaps a fitting remark for today would be the words of John F. Kennedy, "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And today, given the ultimate sacrifice of God's Son Jesus on the cross, it would also be fitting to say, "Since Jesus took up His cross for me, how now may I take up my cross and follow Him??!!"

While many of us are trying to conjure up a way to win our next trophy, our next prize, maybe we should stop to see that we all have the most amazing trophy we could ever hope to attain in the sacrifice of those who have gone before; life and freedom!

Pull Over

Have you ever been pulled over? Me too. And it was no fun--at all.

Hearing the tone of disappointment and receiving a citation with freshly written ink demanding my appearance and cash just above his signature. He was in no way going to excuse my absent-minded decision to press the pedal so sternly with my witty style of manipulating jargon.

Not only do we find ourselves pulling over because of self-inflicted acts such as speeding and reckless driving, but there are other moments that find us heading to the shoulder of the road as well.

Not too long ago I felt the weight of my truck shifting hard left. Strange to me, I decided maybe I should ease off the road to survey the ensuing problem. Flat tire!

How did that happen? I have my oil changed, brakes checked, and tires rotated like clock work and here I sit on the side of a busy highway wondering how am I going to make it on time to my next venture. Spoiler alert; I was late! Very late!

Sometimes it happens that things beyond our control, like a flat tire, get in the way of us moving seamlessly from one place to the next free of pain or worry. But pulling over instead of ignoring the tug and pull that life puts on us is the best thing we can do.

I'll never forget driving on the dusty roads of Africa admiring the beautiful landscape as we passed by countless acacia trees and creatures of the wild such as zebras, lions, giraffes, and rhinos that can only be found in their natural habitat or zoos around the world.

And as our group admired the beautiful yet rugged terrain we couldn't help but pull over, pause, and stare with amazement. There was something about that moment that captured our attention, captured our affections--our heart--that we would have most certainly missed had we not pulled over.

There are instances in life when the best thing we can do is pull over. Whether it be friends flashing their blue lights of accountability, the natural warning signs of our own life's version of a flat tire, or simply the beautiful design of relationships or God's creation; often our best option is to simply put it in park. Pull over.

I don't know how fast you're racing down life's highway but let me encourage you; don't ignore the warning signs leading to a disastrous and dangerous off road course and don't ignore the beauty of these little moments that can only be enjoyed when you hit the pause button in your life.

Life is happening fast; one selfie at a time! Instead of turning up the music with your windows down, speeding through life, scrolling through everyone's latest post and picture upload; take time to simply stop and enjoy the small moments that are telling a much bigger story than that one song, that one video, that one photo. Pull over!

Soap Dispensers

Is there anything more disappointing than walking up to an empty soap dispenser?

Standing in the buffet line, walking up to the teacher's desk, leaving someone's side in a hospital room. Expecting, anticipating, hoping that the hand sanitizing station is going to fill your germ-covered hands with its liquid cleanser.

And then...Nothing!

No liquid, no foam, not even one drop!

You feel so dirty! Like you should hang a sign around your neck that screams, "Unclean!"

So you begin an all out search for someone somewhere that has Germ-X strapped to their fanny packs for such occasions. These faulty mechanisms attached to the walls of public facilities have only provided false hope for clean hands.

Oh the joy of the tingling sensation of 99.9% of the world's germs falling to their deaths on your newly sanitized hands!

Seriously though! Do we really think that there's an endless supply of liquid goodness being dispensed from that small bottle of sanitizing therapeutic lather?

Neglecting its use or even over-extending its purpose can create a faulty mechanism that develops cracks and malfunctions. We have to quit abusing and ignoring its intended design.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a soap dispenser? Of course not! That's ridiculous!

But have you ever thought of yourself as a love dispenser?

I don't mean the sappy kind of love where romance novels bode. That's probably more like lust.

We each have an ability to dispense love in such a way that others feel its effects and it creates an affinity, a pureness, a cleanliness, an acceptance that causes them to crave it even more.

But the problem with many of us is that we let love rest in our bodies like Germ-X in a bottle and we are constantly saturating and lathering ourselves with self-love. And when we become consumed with ourselves we begin neglecting others and cracks begin to develop in our relationships with those that actually mean the most to us.

On the other hand, we can become so generous in pumping out our love for others that our love meter becomes broken and we are simply running on empty with no sign of re-filling in sight. And when this happens those closest to us will likewise suffer the results of our misused bottles of affection.

The reason I'm so passionate about soap dispensers is that I've been on the receiving end of a sanitizing station malfunction. And it's disappointing!

And the reason I'm so passionate about being a better love dispenser is because I've been on both the giving and receiving end of a love dispensing malfunction. And it's heartbreaking!

Our lives require a constant, mutual filling and dispensing of love and affection. We have been created with an innate desire to belong and feel loved. And when we learn to find a healthy balance of giving and receiving love toward others we will begin to recognize that we are fulfilling our God-given design.

Count it all Joy!

Date to the prom; that's joy. Magna Cum Laude; more joy. First job; even more joy. Wedding day; some say the best joy. Baby's birth; is there a greater joy? Better paying job; definitely more joy than the first. Grandparent's Day breakfast; can't wait for that joy.

Memories like these create a monumental highlight reel of joy. We place stakes in the ground of our past to re-visit those accomplishments and experiences with friends and family. And aren't we all notorious for re-telling our favorite childhood memories with old friends and new acquaintances with phrases like, "Remember when we...?"

To this day, one of my favorite memories was the zip line across the driveway with rope and a horseshoe!

Unfortunately there are memories we've been charged to recount that seem more like blooper videos and blundering mistakes caused by our own ignorance, apathy, or lack of self control.

Remember that phrase in the Bible, "Count it all joy, brothers, when you enter various trials?" Many of you have probably scratched your head and wondered, "What was James thinking?" I know I have. He says trials, those moments that disrupt the natural rhythm of life, are supposed to be times that we count as joy. Yeah right!

I think most of us would agree that the devastation caused by setbacks such as bankruptcy, cancer, job loss, betrayal, and death aren't worthy of our joy. Yet, every time I read James's letter, that phrase "count it all joy" sounds more like a command than a suggestion.

But what if we removed just one word? What if we removed the word "it"?

The word "it" seems to emphasize the circumstances of the trial rather than the result the trial is actually producing. There's no way our hearts can be happy when bad things happen in life. The pain of life will always hurt. Death will always have a sting. We are wired to feel and express those emotions.

What we must learn to realize is that the trials, the pain, the hurt has purpose. You see, the joy isn't found in the trial itself. Rather, the joy is found in the character the trial is producing on the inside.

When we only experience the good things in life we rely too heavily on our own intelligence, ability, and strength. When circumstances beyond our control, the seemingly bad things in life, the things that require someone else's intervention, we experience a process of change and maturity that we would never know otherwise.

So, count all the joy that can be experienced knowing that all of life's circumstances are working in you to create a more perfect version of yourself if you'll learn to yield to the work God is doing through your glad obedience!

That's Why I Believe

I woke up in English class one day....

After wiping away the saliva that had seeped out onto my cheek during a tape deck reading of "The Great Gatsby," I remember the teacher pausing the tape and asking a series of questions from chapter seven (I think--I can't remember now).

Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?

And I was stumped. I wrote the questions down with no response and thought, "This will be easy to grade!" All would be lost in hopes of maintaining an "A" average in the second week of school.

Little did I know that those questions would either haunt me or drive my every decision for the rest of my life. Opportunities and plans such as school, careers, and relationships all run through the grid of those questions.

Who will you marry? What will you do with your life? When do you want to consider starting a family? Where do you want to live? Why do you want to go to school there? How will you pay the bills?

Places like Wikipedia provide quick answers to questions such as "Who was the 27th president?" (Taft, by the way) Or you can YouTube how to change a spark plug in your lawn mower. Or research your favorite colleges based on location, tuition, or degree programs. Goodness, you can even search for a potential mate through sites like Match, EHarmony, or FarmersOnly.com.

While the facts to many subjects or situations are made available through exploring the internet there seems to one question that can be somewhat difficult for any individual to answer; the question, "WHY?"

When the question "why" arises we must research and provide a simple plan or a strong defense. It's no longer citing facts but developing an argument or opinion that often involves an emotional appeal.

"Why" seldom lets us cakewalk through life.

Questions like, "Who will win the World Series? What's your favorite dessert? Where is the most beautiful place on earth?" become more thought-provoking when we attach the question "Why?" to our response.

Why do so many people see questions about faith differently? Most people's faith is centered around a collection of facts that held with strong belief to provide a defense with an emotional appeal.

Remember the story of Thomas? Jesus had appeared to all of the disciples except him. They tried to convince him that Jesus had risen from the dead but apart from the facts he failed to believe; particularly, the scars found on his hands and his side.

When Jesus appeared to Thomas, He removed all doubt and Thomas' response was, "My Lord and my God!" Then he devoted the rest of his life to making a strong appeal to those whom he met about the risen Christ. Why did he believe? Because of the proven fact of Jesus' resurrection.

Christians aren't defending an issue of intelligence, philosophy, ideology, or doctrine. They have a strong emotional appeal to a personal story of how the facts of Christ's life, death, and resurrection have impacted their life.

Our purpose isn't to argue our way to victory. There will always be someone more intelligent or perhaps more belligerent in their own defense. But we, like Peter and John, must feel so convicted to say, "We cannot deny what we have seen and heard!"

Defending your faith isn't so much convincing others as it is daily convincing yourself of the truth. We must remember that faith is believing today the promises of yesterday. Christ has always proven Himself faithful. Never once has any of His promises failed. That's why I believe!

Beware the Bleating Sheep

My uncle is raising goats!

Why? I don't know.

Recently one of his nanny goats birthed three kid goats. From what I understand, while I'm no goat enthusiast, nannies typically birth one or two but can birth as many as five kids at a time. I'm doing good to keep an eye on the one kid I've got at my house.

As his farm continues to grow there is a constant barrage of bleating goats. Seriously, think about it! All that tugging on shirt tails and jumping on the furniture. "Mom, can I have some milk? Can I go outside to play? Billy, won't stop head butting me!"

While I'm sure there are some significant differences between goats and sheep would you please spare a moment to see the implications of the following story?

There was a king named Saul who was given orders by the prophet Samuel to attack and overtake an enemy's land. "Destroy everything! Have no mercy and take nothing for your own personal possession!"

But once the king entered the land, he spared King Agag and kept for himself the best of all the livestock and possessions. "He would not destroy completely" all that was there. And God regretted that he had made Saul the king.

When Samuel confronted Saul, his response was, "I have done all that the Lord has commanded me." And Samuel said, "Then what's this bleating of sheep that I hear?"

You may be asking, "What does this have to do with me? I'm not a goat farmer, king, or prophet?" No, but we're all prone to lie, steal, exaggerate, or simply rebel against what we've been instructed to do; remove anything and everything that stands in the way of God being acknowledged as the supreme being in our lives.

While God has probably never said, "I regret that I ever made you," He does hold a high standard that He expects us to uphold. The problem is that we keep trying to hide the bleating sheep of our disobedience and show our reluctance to follow His command with a dazzling display of livestock. But He hears every form of bleating and inhales the stench of our foul behavior, and He's not pleased.

The bleating sheep represents the pastures of our wrongdoing, our sin. And when God says to destroy everything, He means it. Make no room and have no reservations for what seems acceptable, rational, or justifiable in your own eyes. Bleating sheep aren't worth God's disappointment, anger, or absence in your life; He will not contend forever with the sound of bleating sheep in your fields.

Do you hear the familiar sounds of bleating sheep in your land? Stop pretending! Stop dressing up your secret sins as something God can be pleased with! Quit justifying your actions to do what you want! Kill those sheep!

I know it doesn't sound lovely nor is it saturated with this hyper-grace version of Christianity we've become accustomed to sharing. But God isn't interested in making our lives comfortable; He's interested in making our lives Christ-like. And that requires putting to death every bleating sheep of sin in your life.

Fortunately for us, there was one last bleating sheep, the one that uttered the words, "It is finished!" Do we really even understand the implications of that phrase? "It is finished" removes the need to hide in fear, to embellish our way to some justifiable end, or to build our own monuments of arrogance and pride. And when we behold the prize of His Son we can be assured that He will most certainly be pleased with us!

Follow Through

"L cookie jar!"

While that phrase may seem random and meaningless it has become a resounding phrase spoken time and again in our driveway.

My son has taken to task with playing various sports including basketball. And I'm making every attempt to teach him the proper form of shooting in the most kid friendly way possible; hence the phrase, "L cookie jar!"

With his feet square to the basket, the ball lying on his fingertips with his arm shaped in the form of an "L," we elevate our legs and extend our reach as if we're peering into the almighty cookie jar on the counter. And for the finale of our form, "Hold your follow through!"

Life is no different. We create a plan of what we hope to accomplish. Slam dunks, one handed runners in the lane, jump shots from the corners or off the glass, and even 3-pointers way beyond the arc. We hope to develop the mechanics and formation of some intended result.

We come from a respected family in our community, graduate with honors, attend the college of our choice, begin a lofty career, marry our high school sweetheart, have cute and adorable kids, and start filling the buckets of extravagant vacations, all the while hoping that the retirement account will hold steady as we approach the end of our careers. It's the American Dream!

But just like my son, we can rush through the motions with bad form or become so short-sighted that we forget to hold our follow through. And the end result can leave us watching mediocrity creep in to our otherwise hopeful attempts to excel.

We live in a world that can garner all the necessary information made available through Wikipedia, TED Talks, and YouTube videos to be highly successful but information alone cannot replace commitment. Initiating a plan does not guarantee success or promise its completion.

While this generation is willing to take a stand for many causes and issues, does it have the wherewithal to see it through to the end? Not necessarily making the most noise, creating the most riots, or gaining the most media attention; but simply choosing to do the right thing for the right reasons.

The greatest legacy we can leave is to ensure the social fabric of society has the proper form and follow through for the next generation. While chasing the American Dream is much to be admired, perhaps it's not the greatest accomplishment in life worth pursuing.

I know it may sound silly but what if the lessons I'm teaching my son in our driveway are the most important lessons he'll ever learn in life. Do it the right way, every time, until its complete. Don't quit. Don't take shortcuts. Don't put it off on someone else. Commitment in the face of adversity, choose to stay the course when it's difficult, find meaning in the midst of the mundane.

It's this commitment that leads to a development in our character that makes our Dad proud!

Let's Go Hiking

It's hiking season!

That season of year where flowers bloom, the leaves are green, and we find ourselves escaping the toils and screams of society to enjoy the serenity and beauty of nature.

We take selfies nestled deep in the beautiful landscape of our new favorite bluffs, mountain streams, and waterfalls with phrases like #nobetterplaceonearth or #myheartishappy or #naturesfinest.

Have you ever noticed that some of the most beautiful, most alluring places to journey often have a "No Trespassing" sign posted right in front of your eyes? Doesn't that just burst your bubble?

And life is no different. There are boundaries arranged for our protection but it often looks more alluring than the dull and mundane dusty roads of everyday life. We want to escape toward something more attractive all the while ignoring the signs that we're trespassing into a world full of disappointment and frustration.

While God doesn't always post a "No Trespassing" sign in our midst, He's whispering "Don't go there" all the time. A familiar quote by James MacDonald, "When God says don't, He means don't hurt yourself," has captured the implications of choosing our own path void of the wisdom being served by God's Word.

God's goal for us is to journey through life enjoying the benefits of His blessings without stepping off the cliff of the enemy's attempts to detour our lives in the wrong direction. It's just that sometimes the enemy's voice is more enticing than God's whispers of truth.

Then every time we pass one of those "No Trespassing" signs we snatch it off the dangling limbs leading down the path of temptation and strap it around our necks for the rest of the world to see. And it becomes the badge bearing a new attitude toward those other passers-by on the trails of life.

So when people begin to notice suspicious attitudes such as short tempers and blame shifting we begin to tell them to keep out, "No Trespassing!" It's then that we've learned to take what God meant for good, protecting us from harm by telling us to keep out, and we've re-framed the phrase "No Trespassing" to keep people far away from our deceitful hearts.

God created community for us to enjoy traveling through life together. Unfortunately, when we begin to chart a new course that is leading toward destruction we begin to isolate ourselves from others and refrain from authentic community and accountability.

To fully enjoy the trails of God's creation we must also learn to stay on the course of God's design. Don't ignore the "No Trespassing" signs and guardrails on the paths and highways of life. We will never experience the fullness of the happy life God provides if we continue to ignore His signs or turn a deaf ear to His whispers.

My Pleasure

What is your favorite fast food restaurant?

For breakfast; Hardee's or Bojangles? With kids; McDonald's or Wendy's? With friends; a Zaxby's platter or Little Caesar's Hot-n-Ready? These decisions are always tough and vary with the shifting circumstances of who, what, when, and where.

My favorite restaurant, without question, is Chic-Fil-A. I don't know if it's the product of such great food, the customer service that goes above and beyond typical fast food chains, or the leadership and character qualities they employ with each member of their team.

But there's one thing I know I can always count on; it's hearing these words ringing from every checkout line, "My pleasure!" Without fail, those words always follow the exchange of my money for their #1 combo with a lemonade.

Have you ever thought about what it would sound like to hear God say, "My pleasure?"

He did.

"It pleased the Lord to crush Him."

Jesus was betrayed by His own disciple, falsely accused by His own countrymen, beaten by Roman guards, and ultimately executed by crucifixion and it pleased the Father to see His son agonizing in pain under the weight of such a devastating event.

"Father if there is any way to pass this cup from me, nevertheless may your will be done." And it pleased the Father.

"Eloi Eloi lama sabachthani?!" [My God, my God why have you forsaken Me?] Yet, it pleased the Father.

How could He be pleased?

Think about the paradox of this event. Jesus had all authority but surrendered himself to the Father's will. His suffering brought pleasure to the Father. He gave up His life for us to have life. His body was broken that we may become beautiful.

He tasted the bitterness of death that we may taste the sweetness of life. Because of this exchange, this transaction, our account has been paid in full with His words, "It is finished!"

How did Jesus muster up the boldness and the breath to speak these words? Very simply; He was obedient, He was willing to surrender, He had faith in His Father.

And what about you? What is required of you to hear God speak "My pleasure" over your life? Obey; God's will be done. Surrender; give your life into His hands. Faith; trust Him with every situation in your life.

The daunting task of crushing His son was the necessary payment to make this great exchange. And on Sunday when Jesus arose from the grave the invitation was given that we may receive life.

How fitting is it that Chic-Fil-A would be closed on Sundays; the day God opened the door to life and provided a seat at the table of His presence?

Dropping the 'F' Bomb

Have you ever said something you wish you could take back? 

I remember like it was yesterday playing at a friend's house as a kid. Amidst all the running around I remember smelling something terrible. And without hesitating, I looked at my friend and said, "Who farted?" 

The look on his face was priceless. He gave a blank stare then turned to his mom as she cocked her head with a look of disappointment and said, "We don't say the 'F' word." 

What just happened? You mean to tell me that I just dropped the 'F' bomb!

I know. I get it. We've all heard worse. Said worse. Thought worse. I mean, really, how terrible can that 'F' word be? There are countless other words that defame, exclude, and cause issue with those in our midst than that.

What about these 'F' words? Fine, fear, failure. I would suggest using these words to describe our attitudes and behaviors can be more detrimental than some other words we tend to think are brash and unacceptable in our dialogue. 

We believe the lie that we're fine. How are you? Fine. How are the kids? Fine. How's your job? Fine. Everything's fine. Seriously? When, in reality, you're physically and emotionally fatigued. Your spouse is lonely. Your kids are craving attention. Your performance at work is lacking. But in your mind, everything is fine. 

We need to stop tipping our hats with these friendly gestures and learn to be honest and transparent with those who can hold us accountable for our words and actions. Fine has become a word of endearment to keep others from digging beneath the surface and reaching the depths of our heart.  

Our best moments are being paralyzed by fear. We don't seize opportunities for success and adventure because we fear the possibilities of being de-railed along the way. Too often the risk of the unknown outweighs our attempts to accomplish or experience something new in our life. 

We often feel victimized and demonized by our past failures. We feel our identity is wrapped up in what we've done instead of who we are. Our minds are like a punching bag mauling our thoughts with words of guilt and condemnation. Our self-worth has been decimated under the scrutiny of our past mistakes. And this couldn't be further from the truth. 

We need to stop dropping the 'F' bomb and start cleaning up our speech. We need to learn how to take every thought captive. What does that mean? We need to pour our words through a filter that provides a fresh, life-altering, life-giving view of who we are and what we're to do. 

No, we're not perfect. No, we don't have it all figured out. No, we don't have all the answers. But we have a direct line to the One who knows the truth about how we're doing, who can cast out fear and doubt, and who forgives our past mistakes. He alone is the ultimate 'F' bomb; He's our Father.