Great New Devotional Guide for Men - especially the sports-minded!

Living Life in The Zone is subtitled “A 40 Day Spiritual Game Plan for Men.”  Written by Kyle Rote, Jr. and Dr. Joe Pettigrew, the book combines inspirational stories, sports terminology, biblical wisdom, and practical application to teach us what God intends for our lives.  From their “in the zone” reference in the title, to the breakdown of each chapter into areas like “coach’s corner” and “time out,” the authors attempt to appeal to the sports-minded interest of many men.

Utilizing the examples of successful men that most of us know from following sports and/or business, they show us that we can find fulfillment in our lives and “elevate our game” into the zone that God has for us.  With thought provoking questions for each day and assignments to put it all into practice, Living Life in the Zone is an excellent devotional book, especially for the former jock or current sports fan.

Every athlete has looked at a scoreboard to see how he or his team is doing.  How are we doing in the most important game of all, the game of life?  This book helps us to both evaluate that and to improve upon what we are doing.

Disclosure of material connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the booksneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Noticer by Andy Andrews

Recently read The Noticer, a book about life change and perspective. The main character, Andy, encounters a strange man at one of the lowest points of Andy’s life. The man is, by his own definition, a “noticer,” a person who observes things that others miss. He encourages Andy, gets him reading biographies of men who overcame their situations, and helps him to get his life back on track. As the book progresses you see the number of people who have experienced a new perspective!

When Booksneeze.com sent me the complimentary copy of the book, I was surprised by the author. My first knowledge of Andy Andrews was as a comedian. It was a blessing to see his skill as a writer and motivator. He presents a message of life change by making us become a part of the life experience of the characters, but then he turns it around and has the reader look inwardly and make it personal. While one cannot expect too much from a book, it did make me think about how I treat others, how I react to situations, and how I look at life. I highly recommend this book.

Playing through the Pain!

Most athletes and most of the general public are familiar with the expression "play through the pain". In fact, athletes take a great deal of pride in being able to do just that. This past weekend Virginia Tech offensive lineman Greg Nosal took it to the extreme when he played for over a quarter after losing the end of his finger on a play. He finished the first half and then played the third quarter before they took him back into the locker room and reattached the finger tip. We see it as a badge of honor to play in pain.

Life is a little different isn't it? Playing through the pain is not a sense of pride, but rather for many it is simply a necessity. Life brings pain and we all struggle at times with carrying on when it just hurts too much. I think of so many friends, neighbors, co-workers, and acquaintances that are dealing with pain right now. Whether it is a medical condition, the loss of a loved one, the estrangement of a child, or a host of other issues, the pain seems overwhelming at times. I recently had a toothache and when I went to the dentist, she asked me to rate the pain from one to ten. I honestly told her that most of the time it was a 5, with the occasional spike to a 12, but that even in the best of times, it was still there! That is how certain seasons of life are for us. Some days are more bearable, but the pain seems to linger even at best.

But thankfully, we don't have to handle these situations in life by ourselves. God's promises today are the same as in His Word:

"Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." (Genesis 28:15 ESV)

"And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:20 ESV)

He also told us that a Helper (His Holy Spirit) was coming.

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. (John 16:7 ESV)

That Helper takes us through the pain and gives us the strength to carry on. So whatever your pain this day, know that He has not left you alone. In fact He has provided you with a Helper for that very purpose!

Playing the Game to Win!

A ball is generally viewed as a spherical shape which is by definition “a round body whose surface is at all points equidistant from the center.” When you think of a baseball, basketball, soccer ball, tennis ball, or volleyball, they all fit this definition. The fact that a football (the American version) doesn’t meet that guideline is what makes it a unique and interesting piece of sporting equipment. Someone has said, “If you think nothing is impossible, try dribbling a football.”

If it is all you have, you can play baseball with a tennis ball or soccer with a volleyball. A football is really designed to be used only as a football. As a kid, there were two games we played with a football and both of them were similar yet with significant differences. At recess, we would often play “Tackle the man with the ball.” For those of you who missed out on this character building experience, the game consists of tossing the ball to one man who then becomes the target for everyone else playing the game. Once you cradled the ball in your arms, everyone else sought to pound you into the ground. After you were tackled, you then passed the ball off to someone else and you joined the tacklers. During any given recess, the game would move over every inch of the playground as there were no boundaries, no sidelines, no out of play. There is never any real winner, at best only survivors!

The other game we played was the standard game of football. While there are many differences between football and “tackle the man with the ball”, one of the major ones was that football involves boundaries. Whether it is an organized and sponsored event with official chalk lines and goal posts, or backyard games with trees marking the goal lines and trash cans for out of bounds, the game has its guidelines. Because there are goal lines, there is way to win.

Many choose to go through life playing a version of “tackle the man with the ball.” They live with no guidelines, no rules, and no significant goals. They are busy, aggressive, and even enthusiastic. But they are all over the place. In the end, they discover they have played a game in which they can’t win! Sadly, unlike "tackle the man with the ball," in playing this game with life there are no survivors.

That is not the way it has to be. God gave us guidelines for this life. One day someone asked Jesus about these guidelines: "Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?"

Jesus replied, "'You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'” (Mat 22:36-39)

Paul shared about life’s goal line this way: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by confessing with your mouth that you are saved.” (Rom 10:9-10)

Life is intended to have boundaries and goal lines. When we acknowledge them and live by them, we discover “the win.” “I have written this to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know you have eternal life.” (1Jn 5:13)

Preacher Shoes

When I went into the ministry over 30 years ago, my father-in-law called and said for me to meet him at the Mccollum-Ferrell Shoe Store in South Boston, VA. When I arrived, he instructed me to try on a pair of black Florsheim Wing Tips. He informed me that every preacher had to have a pair of these shoes. It was evidently part of the "uniform" if I was entering the ministry! They were great shoes - practically indestructible. But I did discover a major problem.


I had to make a hospital call a few days later and so I dressed up in the appropriate "preacher attire" for back then, including my new "preacher shoes." As I went to enter the hospital, all decked out and looking very professional I might add, I suddenly discovered a danger of shoes with solid leather bottoms. They are very slick when they meet the right surface, such as a marble hospital floor. The real issue at that point was incompatibility - I had one foot on the non-slip mat and the other on the very "will slip" floor. The result of this “unequal yoking” was the one and only full split of my entire life! I am not sure which was greater – the physical pain or the pain of embarrassment.

I managed to right myself and made my way very carefully through the hospital to visit my patient. If you have ever witnessed someone just learning to ice skate and can picture their shuffling little steps, you have the picture of my journey down the halls. This gait was necessary both due to the shoes and to the fact that I had strained muscles I didn’t even know existed. My next stop after the hospital was the shoe repair store, where I had him put rubber heels on my brand new shoes!

I still have those shoes today and occasionally wear them when I am preaching. The only thing marring them today after 30 years is a scar made by a barbed wire fence 25 years ago when I stopped to help at a car wreck scene. Other than that, they look almost exactly like they did the day I bought them (except for the addition of some rubber heels).

They have stood the test of time, serving me well in the pulpit and, after a little bit of a learning curve, on the street as well. I have been through a number of suits, several cars, even worn out a Bible or two. But my “preacher shoes” have made it through. What else has survived those 30+ years?

§ My marriage to the most amazing woman in the entire world.

§ My relationship with my son with whom I would say I am closer now than ever before.

§ My love for and dependence on Jesus!

§ My desire to see others know Him and His marvelous gift of salvation.

§ My passion to proclaim His Word wherever He gives me opportunity!

§ The hope that is ours in Christ Jesus:

if indeed you remain grounded and steadfast in the faith, and are not shifted away from the hope of the gospel that you heard. (Col 1:23)

Thoughts from my front yard

This past Wednesday, we experienced a huge storm that came through the area. In fact, many of you were with me here at church when it hit. The next morning I was walking to the paper box and along the way I was picking up small branches and debris that had been blown across the driveway. I had an impressive little armload when I turned and looked back toward the house. Suddenly I felt quite foolish when I realized I had focused on these few small twigs when I had an entire tree fallen in my side yard!

That is like so many of us today. We are so focused on the little things, dare I say, the insignificant things that we miss what has fallen around us. I am worried about how I will look or how I will be perceived in a particular situation. Will I look stupid? Will I sound stupid? What will people think of me? I have my focus on the “twigs” of my life.

We look at others and we are critical of their dress, their hairstyles, their music, or their (you fill in the blank here). We want people to look like us, talk like us, be like us! We are so caught up in differences (“twigs”) that we miss out on the more important things.

At church, we can be focused on the “twigs” as well. The music is too loud, or not loud enough. It’s too contemporary or too old fashioned. The temperature is too hot, or too cold. The preacher is too loud, or he doesn’t speak up. The greeter didn’t smile at me, or she was way too friendly.

I am so thankful to be a part of this church and to be around people who see the big picture. However, let us never forget that it is easy to get focused on the little things and the wrong things. Remember, it is not about me (or you), but always about Him! Remember also, that we live in a world filled with people who have fallen (just like us). Let us never battle over worship styles, hair styles, or clothing styles when there is a world that has fallen and only Jesus can pick them up. Let’s never worry about how we will look and instead let’s always show others how the Savior looks!

Responsibility

I have been in ministry for over 30 years. Church business meetings over those years and in those churches have been "interesting". I have been in churches where we debated everything! Many of you know what I am talking about. The $200 printer needed to be voted on by the church in business meeting and then needed to be tabled to see if the committee could find something better (read that cheaper).

The congregation where I now serve is on the other end of the spectrum. While we have committees that provide help and oversight and have the necessary checks and balances in our system, our church family gives to the staff so much freedom. They trust that we have done the work to discover the best solution or that we have a reason for the direction in which we are leading.

With all of that trust, though, is great responsibility. When someone trusts you, whether it is a spouse, a child, a friend, or a congregation, it should make you want to justify that trust even more. Now, as I write that, I know there are numerous cases of the exact opposite happening. There are those who have violated that trust and run off unchecked. Increased trust should, however, lead us to run toward His holiness and not away from it. As a staff, we seek to stay faithful to the Lord, to His call, and to the people who put their trust in us.

With trust in your leadership comes great opportunity. Use that for building His kingdom. With trust in your leadership also comes incredible responsibility! Use that for showing His Honor and Glory!