We Need A Win

Win One For ____________

And you get to fill in the blank… Some may say “Gipper“, or “Freddie Steinmark” – it all depends on you, where you come from, and who you are in the fight for.

Have you ever gone into a game in the name or memory of someone who is unable to participate? Maybe they had a strong opportunity of helping to pull out another win, or championship title. Maybe some crippling disease keeps them on the sidelines and unable to participate. Depending on who they are and what they mean for the team, or the game, then you give it your all to claim the victory in the name of this person.

I can honestly say I’ve never been on a team, worked for an organization, or felt the need to stand up and declare victory in the name or memory of someone else. But when I read journals and stories that show how a person had such an impact on a team, then I comprehend how others feel and why they felt the need to give 110% effort, above and beyond. 

Still, we all know of companies, schools and churches who are built around the personality of those who fostered the ground floor opening of what the future will look like for these institutions. Founders. Ground breakers. Inventive personalities who get the ball rolling for future generations.

When I think of the automobile industry I cannot help but think of Henry Ford, and an Apple makes me remember Steve Jobs, or with any other technological marvel then I think of Bill Gates, Paul Allen, Michael Dell. Consider electricity as we know it and Thomas Edison comes to mind. Alexander Graham Bell helped us to have instant communications over previously unheard of distances.

This list is endless.

But when I go to my pulpit to preach, or my blog to write, there is always someone in the back of my mind that prompts me to think broader than myself. So often, I write to bring others to light. It’s not for myself. It’s not for them. It’s for all of us. So that we can experience a winning thought about learning and knowing something bigger and more important than ourselves.

A few days ago I was thinking how so many are pounded into losing positions and there is no champion for them. It brings to mind that age old story of a young shepherd boy who went to the battle lines to give sustenance to his brothers. As he approached he could hear a challenger in the distance throwing down the gauntlet.

You know the story. Or at least the gist of it. Why is no one standing up to this challenger? Because Goliath was huge! (1 Samuel 17:4) A bigger opponent than they had ever faced. Some measurements put him upwards of 9 feet tall! He was intimidating. “Have you seen him?” was the common rejoinder to David’s question, “Why is no one accepting the challenge?”

Well, I slew a bear and a lion, what do I have to worry about this overgrown man?

There was something about David’s confidence factor that we could easily say, “He’s just a young man. He’s not seasoned. He has no clue what war is like.” You know. Teenagers know it all and are over confident in their youthful vim and vigor!

They loaded David down with the kings armor. But he was such a smaller person the armor swallowed him up! Instead, he took the things he was familiar with. His staff used while handling his father’s sheep. Shrugged on his shepherd’s bag that probably hung at his waist (what they did for wallet’s before there was a back pocket!). Gathered five new stones from the local brook. And approached the challenger.

There is nothing in the language of scripture that states his awareness of size differential, nor fear of a first battle, or how the potential loss would devastate Israel. It was a “winner take all” contest.

Goliath despised and scorned him and Israel. “Is this all you’ve got?” But then he took it a step too far. He cursed David by his own gods. This had to get to David. Perhaps it was the cap of fluid that spilled over into action.

Then David said to the Philistine, “You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you and take your head from you. And this day I will give the carcasses of the camp of the Philistines to the birds of the air and the wild beasts of the earth, that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. Then all this assembly shall know that the LORD does not save with sword and spear; for the battle is the LORD’s, and He will give you into our hands.” (1 Samuel 17:45-47 NKJV)

In the analysis of his statement, please take notice:

• He never mentioned his own name or identity.
• He never bragged about his wins.
• He never compared the size of Goliath over the size of himself.
• He gives all credit to God, and none to his own king, brothers or other fighters.
• He declares what will happen in the next few minutes.
• He declares victory before the battle in the name of his God!
• And God does not need his puny little sling or 5 stones to win over Goliath.

God will win the Victory!

As Goliath drew near to David, scripture tells us that David ran quickly to the enemy, to the challenger, to the one who was going to lose. No fear, hesitation or feeling of trepidation. No change of heart. Let’s go!

Do your part, and God always does his! You are part and parcel in lockstep with God because you rose to the challenge. I do not see David praying before he ran at Goliath. No. All his praying had been done long before the start of the challenge.

This is critical and key to our wins. Prepare long before the challenger is before you. Prepare everyday because you never know when a simple delivery action becomes a battle action. Keep your wits about you because you have God on your side. It is he that will fight the battle. It is he that will win…

Let’s win one for God! Let’s win one for us…

You Are What You Consume

A quick thought for this morning…

Jim Rohn said, “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” and this got me to thinking. If we are the average of 5 then that means we consume and represent the ideas and actions of the average experience of 5+1, because I must put myself into the conversation. A former Yahoo director, Tim Sanders, said, “Your network is your net worth.”

In others words, you are the composite of the people you surround yourself. Most like to have people in their peer group a little less smarter than themselves so their personal light is not diminished. The truly smart person looks for connections that are more knowledgeable and experienced than themselves so as to continue learning from those who have more to share.

Additionally, we are a product of what we consume via entertainment, sports, books, and every other category you can think of. What you spend most of your time consuming will identify you more than you know. But the person(s), sports or team we identify with has many inherent problems and issues at the individual level, and for most of us we do not agree with their acceptance of life.

This makes me wonder exactly about the peer groups we tag into. How much are they influencing us? Or how much do we influence them? I’m thinking about Bill Gates and his first meeting with Warren Buffett. Both fabulously wealthy, and both with a great business mind that solidifies their positions as some of the most wealthiest people in the world. What draws them to each other? Surely they don’t share experience and knowledge to each other in a way that influences the other on how to make more money?

No. They play bridge together.
Bill learned as a child,
but Warren challenged him to play as an adult,
and in tournaments!

True. They rub their knowledge off on each other, and each has a different history and age group they identify with, but they probably have only a few others in the world that fit their personal world.

I was thinking about Jesus and what drew his 12 followers (disciples) close to him. Each one was below him in knowledge, background, and experiences. Yet each follower must have felt restless about the conditions around them and what they could offer to the world. In other words, each of the 12 were searching for something they could “buy” into and commit themselves to. Jesus was there at the right time to encourage them to follow him.

I wonder how many others failed to follow when he asked them to? Surely Jesus was looking for willing hands and minds, but I suspect he also needed specific individuals to fill out the team he would lead.

And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (Mark 1:16-18 NKJV)

Notice! 11 English words and they left everything to follow him! Their peer group was 12+1 (themselves), and it was not an easy ride. Jesus knew he had only 3.5 years to prepare them to be leaders, and that theirs would be an almost thankless job in the crucible of politics. Not only would they battle their own clans, but the conquering nation would challenge them to the very last breath of their life.

But their rewards were out of this world! And maybe that’s the problem we have in surrounding ourselves with humanity. Peer groups, networks, mentors, … whatever you want to call it, most of our surrounding influences have only this world in mind. Perhaps we need these to keep our feet grounded in reality, but there is something more we live for than a reward system that is short lived.

Think about it the people you are most influenced by, versus the ones you spend the most time with. Their is a correlation. I found it. Think about it. You’ll figure it out.

The Second

Today is the second day of a new year.

Is it less important than the first? Yesterday was a holy day (holiday). For many it was a day off. Sleep in and sleep off the party.

And, it is a three day weekend!  So, for the Second, a Saturday is in play. Typical day off, again, for the majority.

This gives me pause to consider all the Seconds in my life.

The second day of creation:

“And God called the firmament Heaven. And the evening and the morning were the second day.” (Genesis 1:8)

Not that place of future reward, but that physical entity that we look up and see, day and night.  A view of beauty.

The second born:

“And the first came out red, all over like an hairy garment; and they called his name Esau. 26 And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob: and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.” (Genesis 25:26-26)

There is no back seat for the one not first born. Just ask those successful second born kids! Bill Gates! Stand and take a bow! Vaughn! You too! Elizabeth… You know!

This posting could go on for awhile.

Even when I’m first I must consider myself second:

“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”(Matthew 6:33)

God first.  Me second.

Take a few moments and consider all those important seconds in your life.  Do not focus on only the firsts.  There is plenty of attention to spread around!

If I Were Wealthy

Of course, the first thing to think about…

What is wealthy?

• Some wish to be like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett. Rich beyond any measuring tool they can imagine! More money than you know what to do with. Teams of people to manage the accounts. Money invested to make more money. And the pile of coins just keep growing and growing.
• Perhaps you would like to be Midas – everything you touch turns to Gold. Bill and Warren are not like this. They have their share of setbacks and failures. Only, they have so much it’s not likely to upset their apple cart, now. But in the early days of wealth building? I am sure there were some teetering moments at the edge of success or failure.
• Other’s wish for the success that produces wealth and they look to the performers, stars and athletes. Of course, many of these successful people pay for their success through extremely hard training, schooling, challenges, and some time living at the bottom of the heap.
• Still, way too many others dream of winning the lottery… Did you know a high percentage of winners are just as dirt poor 7 years later, as they were when they scrabbled together the milk money to buy a chance? Does not sound like a wealthy mindset no matter how you look at it!

I would agree with you that most of the world would love for the opportunity to acquire more – after all, wealth can buy possessions!

Some judge their wealth based upon possessions. As much as I admire certain cars, houses and land, there is something about living in a wealthy estate that does not appeal to me. Most wealth has to be protected. And that often means having people around to do the protecting.

If wealth is defined by things, then I would live in a far off valley, close to a river, surrounded by mountains with hanging glaciers, plenty of cold and cool weather, and not another soul in sight.

The next best thing would be to buy John Denver’s estate for nearly $11 million dollars, and enjoy the fruits of his imagination and my money! You could sit on the deck, listen to his songs, and imagine what it must have been like to have his talent! Or, is this simply giving in to spending hard earned dollars for anothers dream?

Regardless of how you define wealth, the next thing to consider is what would you do with it?

I often teach that if you cannot manage your $100 dollars properly, there is no way you can manage your $1,000,000,000 dollars (add as many zeroes as you wish!).

Managing wealth is managing yourself.

If you cannot control your impulses with a $100, then your impulses are greater when you have greater sums. If you cannot pay your bills with $100, then the same will be true when you have more in the bank. If you cannot cheerfully give to God with only a widow’s mite bank account… Well, Jesus has something to say to you!

Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the offering box, and he saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. And he said, “Truly, I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them. For they all contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”  (Luke 21:1-4 ESV)

Reality speaks volumes – if you are poor with that $100, then you are poor with a million bucks in the bank. If you cannot give to God when you are only making pennies, then the same spirit will be there when you are making greater sums.

The richest man in the bible cried out, “All is vanity.” Then he wrote many words about acquiring wealth and managing it. Solomon did not start his life as a shepherd boy in the field like his father. No, he started with the wealth of kingdom that his father had built – and he maximized that wealth into something greater. He writes:

Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist. (Proverbs 23:4 ESV)

Do not work to acquire wealth… What a strange thought. Some folks work hard to acquire so much and then have so little time to enjoy it.

What takes me down this path today?

I made a pot of regular coffee this morning. Early, as is my habit. As I was enjoying the opening of the day I thought about that wonderful Peet’s Espresso Forte bag of coffee beans that I save for special moments. The thought hit me, “If I were wealthy I would drink Peet’s all the time!”

Voila! I need to be wealthy!

Still, I cannot judge wealth by which coffee I chose to afford, or not. All around me people spend great sums everyday for that drive-through beverage that makes them feel special. Most of it is not real coffee! It’s doctored and shaded and sweetened – somewhere buried in that cup is a little bit of coffee flavor and a whole lot of gunk!

For that daily habit of a $4-5 dollar cup of joe, I could spend only $1 per day and enjoy several pots of Peet’s Espresso Forte coffee.

So, it’s not about the money. It’s about choice. Where do I chose to spend my money? When I grocery shop, I hunt for bargains. When I am about to spend $125 on a tank of diesel in my truck, I look for the cheapest gas. When I go to a buy coffee…. Hmmm….

If I were wealthy, then Peet’s would be a daily experience. Since I am not, I enjoy it as an experience to be savored!

One of these days!

Where Are We Going?

Twists, turns, switchbacks, boxed in, closed up, no exit, where to next?

Often the way I feel as I think about the future.

Where are we going? What’s next? What’s happening? Which way will we go?

Since we cannot shape the future, the best we can hope for is shaping our own personal desired future but activating things in our present that reveal their full self in some future date and time.

• Retirement? Shape it now!
• Vacation? Plan it now!
• Starting a family? You better know what you can handle!
• Career? Begins in your youthful days and you have already started the shaping process.

I had a conversation this morning with a medical professional. She was interested in climbing. More than just rock climbing, but the action that requires great skills. She stated something that stuck with me, “Some people just naturally come by their skills. Others of us work hard at it. Those skills just do not come easy for me.”

Now, it’s not to say you cannot get to your desired place in the future – but it does mean some will work harder to get there than would others.

When we think Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Michael Dell – we see them as successful – but how did their lives start out? These men were all born within just a few months of myself. We are all pushing the big 6-0… Their worlds are secure in ways that mine will never be, but what did they have to do to get there.

Others did not begin their careers that we know them the most as until late in life. James Michener was in his 50’s before he started writing. In fact he is quoted as saying:

I am not a very good writer, but I am an excellent rewriter.

My brother, Ken, might be considered by some to be a good preacher, but he simply says he “… is a good storyteller…”.

Some want their success to be gauged by the amount of money they make. I think that someone like Sister Theresa was just as successful and she had nothing to her name. Warren Buffet does not live beyond his means – from his original start several decades ago. He still lives in the same old house, and drives older cars. He’s not flashy in his expenditures. His wealth did not drive him to extravaganzas…

When I think about the leaders of our nation I wonder where they thought they were heading when they started entering the political frame? When they end their career, do they feel like they have succeeded? I’m thinking of Anthony Weiner… Ronald Regan…

So. Maybe they had a dream different or bigger than mine. My dream is not yet fulfilled. I am still in the working stage!

What’s your dream? Where are you going? And, big question, will you recognize when you have arrived?

It Was My Birthday

It was 1955. January 13. I breathed my first breath.

As mom and dad’s first, I was the human test subject for everything that my siblings later got to enjoy without all the hassles. I set the stage on sleeping habits, dining room etiquette, play time, and how warm does it have to be before I can go play outside barefooted (I remember asking this with frost on the ground around 6 years old – I have ALWAYS liked it cold…).

While chatting with the kids Saturday night at my birthday dinner, I made sure they knew that in just 2 years I would be the big 6-0… And in 20 years I would be my mom’s age, and in 25 years I would be my dad’s age. Gives me perspective to compare my age to others!

They all pitched in and bought me a recliner. I have needed one for so long and refused to spend the money. Never have I thought that this would be a wonderful gift. Thank you family!

Then, they met us at a restaurant of choice – “The Screen Door” in Portland, OR. Southern cooking. Catfish, collard greens, red beans and rice, fried okra, gumbo, jambalaya, corn bread, fried chicken – and a host of other southern delicacies that will be enjoyed at another time.

Additional presents were given. Mat and Elizabeth gave me a book that promises to be a good read. Jason and Felicia gave me three coins of the realm to add to my collection – all with the year 1955 imprinted on them. Emma gave me and Brenda both unique mugs with her smiling face and comments that we were the best!

Then we talked about all the famous people who had a connection to the same year – Bill Gates and Steve Jobs were born the same year (I knew I ran in great tech circles), Einstein died that year (I got some of his smarts), and many other names were mentioned – some you would know and many others you would not.

This season we have decided that we want to celebrate our Birthdays with some special experience rather than just endow gifts on the recipient. I cannot wait to see what all the other birthdays will entail. Especially after enjoying mine so very much. Thanks to my family!

This got me to thinking about special days.

I serve at a marvelous church with wonderful Christians. They are such a special group of people. They honor us with their support and they honor God with their love. Along the way, someone decided to start giving me a birthday gift. It’s one thing that I do not expect or need, especially seeing as to how there are so many in the church that has a birthday, every year, and we do not focus on them. Still, I appreciate their thoughtfulness and you exceeded yourselves yesterday. Blessings to a wonderful church family.

When we were younger, and birthdays were always so special, I remember one year how mom organized a birthday celebration for me and my brother Vaughn. My birthday is mid January and his is mid February. It seems like we had over 100 kids at the party, and with special organizational skills, mom directed each group with special events – from windows of time we did a scavenger hunt (??), cake and punch, open gifts. Never did one group interfere with the other group. I wonder why she did not do this every year? Thanks to my parents for memorable birthday celebrations.

Next year my wife and I will celebrate 40 years of marriage. We seldom ever do anything special for our anniversary, oft times being so busy with life that we do not even take the time to buy each other a gift. Just being with each other is often gift enough. However, 40 is a major milestone and I think I see an overseas trip in the works. After all, not only is she celebrating this same anniversary with me (Thank you! Love you!), we also celebrate the same birth year.

You need special days in your life. Fun. Different. Memorable. Or even filled with the sameness of familiarity. Whatever works. When we start demanding these special days then they become full of drudgery. When they are spontaneous, then true memories are recorded in our brains to feast on at some future date.

I do not post my birth date on any social media. It is actually no ones business – except for those who are close enough to know and to respond. To all of you who sent birthday wishes – Thanks You. You are special to me. If you forgot… I mean, after all, how could you forget? It’s me we’re talking about!!!