When

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. So I do not run aimlessly; I do not box as one beating the air. But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. (1 Corinthians 9:24-27 ESV). “When…” and you complete the sentence! All of us have made statements like that in our lives. We convince ourselves that life will be better after something, or some event takes place. We tell ourselves that we will be better when we finish school, or when we get married, or have our first child, or when they reach adolescence, or when they leave home to find their own way in life. We tell ourselves that our life will be complete when our spouse gets his or her act together, when we get a nicer car, are able to go on a nice vacation, when we retire. The truth is, there's no better time to be happy than right now. The real question to answer is “If not now, when?” Your life will always be filled with challenges. There is no better time to decide to run the race before us than now! Once we come to the conclusion that happiness is not something to be gained in the future, but a gift to be received now, then we will begin to truly live the life God intended for us. We all have various challenges before us at different times in life. We ought to decide to be happy anyway. Alfred D Souza said, "For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin - real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way, something to be gotten through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, or a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." This perspective has helped me to see that happiness is not a future event. Happiness is a state of mind I may enter whenever I decide. So stop waiting until you finish school, until you go back to school, until you lose ten pounds, until you gain ten pounds, until you have kids, until your kids leave the house, until you start work, until you retire, until you get married, until you get divorced, until Friday night, until Sunday morning, until you get a new car or home, until your car or home is paid off, until spring, until summer, until fall, until winter, until the first or fifteenth, until your song comes on, until you've had a drink, until you've sobered up, until you die, until you are born again to decide that there is no better time than right now to be happy! Someone has said, “Happiness is a journey, not a destination; therefore, work like you don't need money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like no one's watching!” Listen to the Apostle Paul again: “Remember that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize. You also must run in such a way that you will win.” You can, if you will decide to do it today!

The Candy Man

For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. (Psalm 18:28-35 ESV). Recently I read the following story. It comes from an unknown author, but it carries an important thought as I think about what David meant when he wrote this morning’s verses. It originally came from Life magazine: Steve Bailey is the Candy Man from Lebanon, PA. Steve has about 20,000 Hershey's Kisses pass his inspection station every 60 seconds! Steve's job is to search for anything less than sheer chocolate perfection. He admits, some pieces don't quite pass the perfect specifications that are required. The public's expectations of what a Hershey's Kiss is supposed to look like when it is unwrapped are so high that only perfection will do! Steve will not allow a defective piece of chocolate to pass his station only to disappoint whoever unwraps it at home. No, when we indulge in a Hershey's Kiss, Steve sees to it that it is exactly 15/16 of an inch diameter at the base, that it has the proper smooth appearance, that it is not leaning to the side, and above all the imperfections his trained and a steady eye checks the curl at the top can't be either standing up too straight or drooping too low. It must be perfect! Now, here's the question. What happens to the Kisses that fall short of these lofty chocolate requirements? Steve tells us that he picks out the imperfect specimens of chocolate and brushes them aside to a catch-off pan where they go into a process that is called, the rework. Here the defective pieces are melted down, the chocolate is mixed with the rest of the pre-hardened candy, and the process starts all over again, continuing until chocolate perfection is reached. David says that God’s way is perfect AND all his promises prove true! He does not require us to be perfect, but through the work of Christ on the cross He perfects us. That is the essence of grace. We are not under some inspector’s eyes that will throw us back into the melting pot when he determines we are defective. The truth is that we all have “defects.” However, when we have come to the Lord, He sends His Spirit to indwell us and make us more and more like His Son in our character. Isn’t it strange how much the legalists demand that we be perfect? They would have us follow a strict list of rules in order to follow Christ. And when the “curl on the top” isn’t quite what it ought to be, they would condemn and reject us. God is not a “candy man.” He is a loving Father, who desires no more than our love in return. Rest in His grace today!

Uh-Oh

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10 ESV). Don’t you just hate it when you hear the words, “uh-oh”? I can think of several places when that would be especially true. For example, when you are having any kind of surgery, you sure don’t want to hear the doctor say, “uh-oh!” And there are many times when it goes without saying! Just ask the First National Bank of Chicago. Their computer said “uh-oh” to the tune of $763.9 billion! The largest computer error in the history of banking in the United States occurred in mid-May of 1996 when a faulty computer program deposited millions of dollars each into more than 800 First National Bank customer accounts. Jeff Ferrera called his bank to check on his balance. After going through the list of menus, an automated voice told him his checking account balance was $924,844,208.32. To say the least, he was startled! Then the computer technician at Zenith Electronics began weighing his options. Some of his friends suggested that he wire it to the Cayman Islands and buy himself a new identity. Then he thought about putting his millions into a short-term account, earning a few thousand dollars in interest, and then returning all $924.8 million to the bank in a few days. "I figured they won’t catch it for a week," he told himself, "and I’d put it all back. What’s the harm?" As it turned out, he needn’t have worried. The bank spotted the computer error of depositing more than six times its total assets into various accounts and froze all accounts. By 1 a.m. on the morning of May 18, everything had been cleared up. There will always be uh-ohs in our lives. Some of them are more destructive than others. However, the promise of God is that they never need be permanent. When John wrote to the young Christians the words of our reading today, he let that truth be very clear. The only thing standing in the way of anyone being completely forgiven is their unwillingness to agree with God that they made a mistake. If you will confess your sin, God’s promise is that He will forgive it. From Texas history comes the story of the conversion of Sam Houston. At one tine, the Texas hero was called “The Old Drunk.” While he was governor of Tennessee, his wife left him. In despair he resigned as governor and tried to escape his problems by going to live among Cherokee Indians. He stayed drunk much of the time. It is said that the Indians, as they walked through the forest, would have to move him out of the path where he lay in a stupor. He married the daughter of a Baptist preacher and later trusted Christ. It was then that he began to change. This is what prepared him to be the great hero of the Texas revolution when he routed General Santa Ana’s Mexican army. Every Texas remembers the immortal battle cry of Sam Houston, “Remember the Alamo.” However, the real battle was won long before that in Sam Houston’s heart. When he learned the power of forgiveness through God’s grace, he was then truly ready to lead Texas to freedom! How about you today? Do you need to confess and receive the restoration of God’s grace? You can, if you will.

Promise Yourself

But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.” (Matthew 22:34-40 ESV). If you have ever attended the meetings of the Optimists, you are very familiar with the following. Promise yourself… To be so strong that nothing can disturb your peace of mind; To talk health, happiness, and prosperity to every person you meet; To make all your friends feel that there is something in them; To look at the sunny side of everything and make your optimism come true; To think only the best, to work only for the best, and to expect only the best; To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own; To forget the mistakes of the past and press on to the greater achievements of the future; To wear a cheerful countenance at all times and give every living creature you meet a smile; To give so much time to the improvement of yourself that you have no time to criticize others; To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear; and too happy to permit the presence of trouble; To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world, not in loud words, but in great deeds; To live in the faith that the whole world is on your side so long as you are true to the best that is in you. 1 As I began to think about the verses of this morning’s reading, it was easy for me to recall the recitation of this “creed” on those days I have visited in the Optimist Club I have attended. So often we hear sermons about loving the Lord and loving others that we forget there is an important qualification to those two commandments. Jesus taught that we should love others “as we love ourself.” For many people that would be more of hatred than love! True love does begin within you. Mr. Larson did have the right idea when he penned those words adopted by Optimists all over the world as their creed. Read it again, this time with the thought of how you might apply each one in your life this week. 1. The Optimist Creed was authored in 1912 by Christian D. Larson, an advocate of positive thought. It was adopted as Optimist International's creed in 1922.

Paraskevidekatriaphobics

O house of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the LORD. For you have rejected your people, the house of Jacob, because they are full of things from the east and of fortune-tellers like the Philistines, and they strike hands with the children of foreigners. Their land is filled with silver and gold, and there is no end to their treasures; their land is filled with horses, and there is no end to their chariots. (Isaiah 2:5-7 ESV). “Magic and divination” were two of the practices of the pagan cultures of Isaiah’s time that brought the judgment of God. God has never approved of anything that would turn a person away from faith in Him alone. The superstitious coupling of Friday the 13th with calamity is one of those seemingly harmless fears that are really rooted in such a lack of faith. It is very old in western culture. The sixth day of the week and the number 13 both have foreboding reputations dating from ancient folklore. People have feared Friday the 13th as a day that comes some three times a year and brings more misfortune than any other day. Folklorists say it's probably the most widespread superstition in America (and no doubt other parts of the world, as well). Some people won't go to work on Friday the 13th. Some won't eat in restaurants. Many wouldn't think of setting a wedding on the date. It is easy to ask, “How many people at the turn of the millennium still suffer from this phobia?” According to Dr. Donald Dossey, a therapist specializing in the treatment of phobias and credited with coining the term "paraskevidekatriaphobia," as many as 21 million do in the United States alone. If that's correct, something like eight percent of Americans is still in the grips of a very ancient superstition. Does it make any difference? Can it really hurt to be a little more careful on such days? Isn’t it just a harmless superstition? According to the Scripture, it is not harmless at all. The reason that it is such a destructive practice is due to the fact that it takes our mind away from a complete faith and trust in the Lord. There are other such superstitions that do the same thing. Do you have any of these practices that have crept into your life? Do you have lucky charms in your home? I saw a movie the other night and a scene in it was particularly interesting. It was the story of the Cole Younger and Jesse James gang. One of the members of the gang had just taken a rabbit’s foot from a victim they had killed in a gun battle and as he rubbed it, he said, “This is my lucky rabbit’s foot.” The Jesse James character replied, “Wasn’t very lucky for that guy!” Later in the film, he is holding that charm as he is shot trying to rob a bank! Isaiah begins the instruction with a very clear request, “Come, people of Israel, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Whether it is a rabbit’s foot, horseshoe, kitchen witch, or any other charm, our focus must be on the Lord and Him alone. When we walk in His light, we need no other. Take a look at your practices today and refocus your faith in Him. It is not a matter of luck, but faith!

Take a Chance

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:24-29 ESV). To have hope you must take risks. To have hope you must take action. To have any outcome worthwhile you must take risks. When you really think about it, our every action is at risk because there aren’t any guarantees. What I’ve learned is that the more risks you take, no matter how small, you’ll accumulate enough faith in yourself to plow through most challenges life offers every single day! The question that is always raised when taking a chance is whether it is worth it? Everyone will risk an awful lot to act on the things that are most important to them. If someone you love were drowning, you might risk your life to save them. Or if you believe strongly in justice, you might risk ridicule to stand up for someone who is being treated unfairly. Every risk, whether it is reaching out, testing yourself, trying new things, or accepting challenges involve putting your values on the line. Sometimes the risks involve seemingly small things. It may be more risky to tell someone you care about that you are lonely, or to say, “I’m sorry” than it would be to try to climb a steep mountain. There are many kinds of risks in life, emotional, intellectual and physical. The important ones are those that help you grow and express your values. The following examples are from an article I read recently:  To laugh is to risk appearing the fool. (so what!)  To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. (do it anyway!)  To reach out for another is to risk involvement. (Go for it!)  To expose feelings is to risk rejection. (Know where you stand!)  To place your dreams before the crowd is to risk ridicule. (Who cares? Its’ your life!)  To love is to risk not being loved in return. (Its’ a two way street!)  To live is to risk dying. (Its’ inevitable!)  To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure. (Can you imagine if all the great leaders didn’t?) Please remember that risks must be taken because the greatest tragedy in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing to look forward to, therefore is nothing. Yes, you may avoid some suffering and sorrow, but you can’t learn, feel, change, grow, or love. Take a chance! Trust the Lord and move in His power!

Stick Like Glue

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:10-12 ESV). Josh Billings shared the following proverb recently: “Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing till it gets there.” There is some wisdom for us to consider in that little truth! Ready for a baseball trivia question? Who is Clint Courtney? If you're unsure, don't bother requesting the answer from Cooperstown, N.Y. Clint never came close to making it into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In fact, it's very doubtful that his picture appeared on any bubble gum cards. This guy wasn't a legend in his own time -- not even in his own mind. He was only a memory maker for his family, and a few die-hard fans who were inspired by his tremendous fortitude. Clint played catcher for the Baltimore Orioles in the 1950s. During his career he earned the nickname of Scrap Iron, implying that he was hard, weathered, tough. Old Scrap broke no records -- only bones. He had little power or speed on the base paths. As for grace and style, he made the easiest play look rather difficult. But armed with mitt and mask, Scrap Iron never flinched from any challenge. Batters often missed the ball and caught his shin. Their foul tips nipped his elbow. Runners fiercely plowed into him, spikes first, as he defended home plate. Though often doubled over in agony, and flattened in a heap of dust, Clint Courtney never quit. Invariably, he'd slowly get up, shake off the dust, punch the pocket of his mitt once, twice, and nod to his pitcher to throw another one. The game would go on and Courtney with it -- scarred, bruised, clutching his arm in pain, but determined to continue. He resembled a POW with tape, splints, braces, and other kinds of paraphernalia that wounded people wear. Some made fun of him -- calling him a masochist. Insane. Others remember him as a true champion. 1 Like the postage stamp, we need to be people who can “stick like glue” to the task in front of us. The only real failure is in failing to continue! As the Apostle Paul left his last instructions to Timothy, he encouraged him to persevere. It is a fit word for us today!