The "Fresh Prince" and self-made man

"In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is how he spent most of his days... I got in one little fight and my mom got scared. She said, you're moving with your auntie and uncle in Bel Air."

If you were a kid/teen in the '90's, you know the song. It's the intro to the "Fresh Prince of Bel Air", starring Will Smith. Will was a kid from Philly, whose mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle to get him out of a bad situation.

I was watching an episode of the Fresh Prince the other day and part of the story tied in really well with the lesson I was working on for Wednesday night. Will was starting to feel like he was too much like Carlton(his cousin who he thought was rich and spoiled). So, instead of using money from his uncle to pay for homecoming, Will decided to go out and get a job without telling his family. Before long, word got back to his aunt and uncle that Will was missing curfew, falling asleep in class, and skipping basketball practice. 

This turned into a confrontation between Will and Uncle Phil at the restaurant. Will explained how he was just trying to be a man and make his own way. Uncle Phil's response was what got me thinking. He said, "Nobody does anything without help... people opened doors for me. And, I worked hard to open doors for you! It doesn't make you any less of a man to walk through them."

 

 What does this have to do with my lesson? I am glad you asked. We were studying out of Jeremiah 18:

The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: 2 “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” 3 So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. 4 And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do.

5 Then the word of the Lord came to me: 6 “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

 As Christians, we need to remember salvation does not come from anything we do. It is a gift from God through Jesus Christ, our savior. That is the only way to be found right in His sight. We cannot do enough good or earn our way to heaven, because we have all messed up.

In this world, the self-made man is glorified. Getting somewhere on our own is something we take pride in. We must remember we are only as valuable as we allow God to make us. We must allow God to go to work and form us into something great.

This race is all about walking through that door of grace Jesus himself opened up on the cross!

Science is not a rival to religion

“Science investigates; religion interprets. Science gives man knowledge, which is power; religion gives man wisdom, which is control. Science deals mainly with facts; religion deals mainly with values. The two are not rivals.”

Martin Luther King Jr. made those remarks. We often hear debates centered around "science vs. religion". I think we are missing the boat. Just to keep it simple, I believe science goes a long way to tell us the only explanation for this world is a being greater than ourselves.

We read in Psalm 19:

The heavens declare the glory of God,
    and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
Day to day pours out speech,
    and night to night reveals knowledge.

That leads me to the following quote from Evelyn Underhill:

Rejoice always!

Robert Frost once said, "“Happiness makes up in height for what it lacks in length.”

Think about that statement and about the last time you were truly happy! What a feeling!

Why were you happy? New car? New job? A resolution to a big problem? When we rely on circumstances to make us happy, we will not get to experience fullness in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:4 tells us, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice." I think it means something that he repeats it for us again. "REJOICE!" What we find in the Lord is truly something to be happy about!

Through Christ, you have a promise of a home in heaven for eternity! REJOICE!

I am called to live by the same faith that Noah sailed by

I spent part of my morning listening to Jim Brinkerhoff's final sermon at the Auburn Church of Christ from Nov. 10th. Jim passed away last week and I attended a service celebrating his life Sunday.

I got a lot out of the lesson just from the sermon itself, but also from reflecting on his style of preaching and all the lessons I have heard from Jim over the years. His level of preparation is inspiring and his intellect makes me want to study harder. Jim taught me what a man of God should look like, because he spent his entire ministry pointing to God.

In this final sermon he is discussing the flood.  There were a couple of points that stood out. The first is the title of this post, "I am called to live by the same faith that Noah sailed by."

He goes on to remind us of God's gracious offer before the flood. And that at some point God's gracious offer ends. The same is true for us in God's final judgement when Christ returns. Check out the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:

37 For as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. 38 For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, 39 and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the Son of Man.

Jim says, "Do not let business as usual cause you to forget... How are you responding to the patience of God?"

See you soon, Jim

I was one of more than 1,000 people that flooded the Auburn Church of Christ Sunday to pay respect to a man that changed lives and inspired thousands of people to look to Jesus. Jim Brinkerhoff died last week after 30 years with the Auburn Christian Student Center. The sheer number of family, friends and former students in attendance is enough to tell the story of who Jim was and what he meant to so many.

Photo from Walt Malone

Over the last few days, I have read many tributes to Jim through blogs and social media. Each one of those tributes describing our beloved campus minister as a man of God who taught us what it means to serve the Lord.

I posted the following on facebook the day after he passed away:

My heart is still heavy with the news of Jim Brinkerhoff's passing. As the campus minister at the Auburn's Christian Student Center, Jim touched thousands of lives as he helped students develop and own their faith. 

What I remember most about Jim is how he poured himself into every lesson. You could tell how much he cared about what he was saying in those brief pauses where he would hold up a finger and invite you in to his thoughts a little deeper.

The lesson I try to live by and will always remember is a simple one: "I am a Christian who just happens to be a student(or whatever your current occupation or circumstance)". I have repeated this countless times in various lessons and conversations.

Jim Brinkerhoff was a giant of our faith in the way he lived his life always pointing to Jesus, showing us what it means to live Matt. 5:16. His legacy will live on throughout the world through us who shine the light we saw in him so abundantly. 

Sunday's service was captured on video. You can watch it in its entirety at the Auburn Church of Christ website under sermons.

"The breath in my lungs"

After Tressel Hawkins was stranded in the Gulf of Mexico for seven days along with his two friends Curtis Hall and James Phillips, the Coast Guard called off the search.

The three pals had set out on a fishing trip in a 23-foot catamaran in August of 2009 when the boat's bilge pumps malfunctioned, flooding the boat's cabin and ultimately capsizing the vessel more than 80 miles off the Texas coast. Hawkins grabbed whatever food he could find and survived for the next week sharing bubble gum, two bags of chips, a six-pack of crackers and three gallons of water with his two friends. 

It was a chance encounter eight days after the boat capsized that ultimately provided salvation. The skipper on another fishing boat on the way to Texas from Louisiana spotted the desperate fishermen about 200 miles from land. Eddie Yaklin says he saw something bobbing in the water and decided to go check it out.

I had the opportunity to interview Tressel Hawkins shortly after the ordeal and I will never forget one of the things he said. 

He told me about his hunger pains and hallucinations. He showed me the sores on his legs where he was stung by jellyfish while trying to escape the sun in the water. He says it was prayer that ultimately pulled him through. But, it was the content of those prayers that really stood out to me. 

Hawkins says the first few days his prayers were much like you would imagine. He asked God to rescue him and tried to make bargains with God on how he would change his life. Then, the last couple of days those prayers changed. He started to offer prayers of thanksgiving. He simply said, "thank you for the breath in my lungs". 

Tressel Hawkins

What a powerful message for us this week as we approach the Thanksgiving holiday. When I think about all the things I have and realize how blessed I am, I often overlook the gift of life. Make no mistake about it, that is a gift from God. 

Not only does he give us life here on this earth, he offers us hope for an eternity with Him in paradise. Our aim is to finish the race with God. Jesus offers us that hope in John 14: 

2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

If I could just touch his garment

Have you ever read a portion of scripture and thought to yourself, "how awesome would it have been to be there"? You can find one of those moments in Mark 5:

25 And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, 26 and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. 27 She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. 28 For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” 29 And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.

If I could just touch his clothes! What an experience that would be to feel the healing power of Jesus Christ!

Did you know you have that opportunity? It is available to you through his blood. Christ invites you to come in contact with him at the cross. It was prophesied in Isaiah 53:

But he was pierced for our transgressions;
    he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
    and with his wounds we are healed.

In this race, the cross is the power of God (1 Cor 1:18) to heal you and put you on the right course to life!


*developed from comments made by Chris August at Sunday night's concert at the VBC from TobyMac's Hits Deep Tour

Live Out Loud!

I read a scary statistic in Dr. Kara E. Powell's Sticky Faith. She sites a study that shows 50% of youth group members will lose or shelve their faith while in college. As a youth minister, I am startled by that statistic.

How do our kids beat the odds and develop a lasting relationship with Jesus Christ? I believe it starts with a willingness to live out loud.

Too often we want to camouflage our faith because our desire is to fit in and not ruffle any feathers. At times we all struggle with living in a way that others can clearly see we are Christians. Should a Christian even be able to blend in with the people around them? In Matthew 5:14-16 Jesus explains...

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

We have a responsibility to live out our faith so that others can see Christ living in us.

This was our theme this past weekend for the MYG Fall Retreat. We focused on what living out loud means and how letting our light shine helps us remain focused on our relationship with Jesus Christ.

MYG Fall Retreat - Nature's Classroom in Mentone, AL

When we live out loud our faith becomes real. When we avoid blending in, we are avoiding places and situations that allow us to be tempted.

Living out loud is all about running the race while modeling our lives after the author and perfecter of our faith, Jesus Christ.

I Ain't Nothin'

What is a Christian without Christ? It's really simple. This race is all about Him!

This is a saying I learned a long time ago and it has stuck with me. If you break down the word Christian, you can see where we need to focus.

(And, yes I know it is grammatically incorrect and should be "I am nothing". I just think it gives it more emphasis to say "I ain't nothin'". Plus, it makes it more memorable.)

A Spiritually Stubbed Toe

Your word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  (Psalm 119:105)

Have you ever walked through a dark room and stubbed your toe?  What a painful experience as you hop on one foot and try to console your injured toe by clutching it in your hand.  If only you had taken the time to turn on the light, or grab a flashlight to guide each step.  But, you didn’t.  Now, look at the pain it has caused.

 

In the 119^th Psalm we find the word of God compared to a lamp, a light to guide us on our path.  That is because this world that we live in is full of spiritual darkness.  If we try to feel our way through on our own, we will get hurt a lot worse than a stubbed toe.  But, if we turn to God’s word, our path in this race will be illuminated and clear.  

At some point, you're going to have a wreck

I posted yesterday about my trip to Texas and getting to see some great folks and a great football game. What I did not include in that post was what happened as I was preparing to leave.

Here are the basics of the trip: Thursday I flew into Austin. Then drove over to College Station to see the football game. Saturday night and Sunday morning, I made my way to Victoria to preach at the College Church of Christ. Monday, I drove up to Austin where I flew out Tuesday morning.

While I was on the way to Austin Monday an accident happened. I was headed up Highway 183 through Luling when a man in a pickup truck pulled out in front of me. I was driving about 55 miles per hour at the time and he entered the highway from my left on what was essentially a two lane highway. Construction has the two outside lanes blocked off. It appeared he was going to stay in the middle of the road until I was able to pass. However, as I got closer to his truck, he came over into my lane. I slammed on the brakes and tried to avoid him, but there just wasn't enough space between us. 

Map shows Luling, TX between Austin and Victoria

When I picked up the white Hyundai Elantra on Thursday there were only about 600 miles on the car. It was virtually brand new. Now, it has damage to the front passenger side and the front door on that side makes a popping noise when you try to open it.

Scene of the accident

The wreck wasn't my fault, but it sure wasn't the way I had planned to spend my final day in Texas. After waiting for the officer and swapping information, I had spent about 45 minutes on the side of the road. The guy that pulled out in front of me did not speak English, but he did have insurance. I had to immediately drive to the airport (about 40 miles away) to file an incident report with the rental company. I spent about an hour there before they swapped out my car and I was on my way. 

What happens next? I really don't know. I do know I wish I would have paid for that extra insurance. I think my insurance will cover any expenses the rental company tries to throw my way. But, in reality, there really shouldn't be any. However, if I would have just paid of few more bucks there would be nothing to worry about.

What's the lesson in all of this? At some point, you are going to have a wreck. 

Our lives are going to end up in a wreck if we don't do something about it. The difference is it will be our fault (Romans 3:23). And, there is only one way to avoid the penalty (Romans 6:23).

It's simple! 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)

The race is all about Him!

My Texas Family

I returned Tuesday from a trip to Texas where I got to see an amazing football game and had the chance to catch up with some old friends.

Amazing Football Game

Before I moved back to Huntsville in 2010, I spent a little over three years in the Lone Star State working for a TV station in Victoria, Tex. While I was there, I worshiped with the College Church of Christ where I served as pulpit minister part-time for about two years.

I am blessed to call the members of that congregation my Texas family. They took me in and treated me like kinfolk. It is not a large group, but love is abundant among the family of believers.

Part of my Texas Family: (Top Row: Bill, Ruth, and me)

(Bottom Row: Jim, me, Wanda, Nataliegh, and Jordan)

What is this love all about? I believe it is the love we read about in Ephesians 3:14-21:

14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

We share a common bond in our Lord Jesus Christ! In this fellowship we get to experience the fullness of God. As you read this, I hope you get the chance to experience Christ's love here on this earth.

The people in the church are far from perfect. But, as we allow Christ to dwell in our hearts, we begin to understand what it means to be rooted in love. And, that is what it is all about!

In this race, we run together with our eyes fixed on Him. It's a lot easier to get to the end when we have someone loving us by our side.

5 Things Spiritually Successful People Do

I saw an article from Forbes this morning titled 5 Things Super Successful People Do Before 8 AM. First of all, I was disappointed to see that sleep wasn't on that list, because that is typically what I am doing before 8 a.m.  The list did include exercise, mapping out your day, and eating a healthy breakfast.

There is no shortage of advice on being successful in this world. A simple google search for books on success yields page after page of resources. To me, that shows people are in search of answers. This world is full of failure and our friends and neighbors are looking for ways to overcome that disappointment.

However, there is only one fool-proof way to combat that issue. It starts with changing our definition of success to one rooted in God's word. If we put our self worth in the things of this world, we will continually be disappointed. There is always going to be someone out there with a nicer car, a more expensive house, and a bank account with a few more zeros.

There is a lot of wisdom in Matthew 6:19-21

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Success starts and ends with finishing the race as Paul talks about in 1 Timothy 4:7-8

7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

If we make the crown of righteousness our goal, we simply put our trust and faith in Jesus Christ. There are many things we can do on a daily basis to keep our eyes fixed on Him. In the spirit of the article linked above, I will list 5 Things Spiritually Successful People Do.

1. Read the bible. There is no better roadmap to success than God's Word. Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)

2. Pray. It is an amazing thought to consider you have the ability to speak to the creator of the universe. He is not only willing to listen, but He cares about what you have to say! ...The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)

3. Forgive others. It's not easy and they don't always deserve it. But, it's not about them. It is about storing up treasures in heaven. For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

4. Serve your neighbors. That is exactly what Christ came to this world to do. Our aim as Christians is to represent him in this world. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace. (1 Peter 4:10)

5. Love! It all comes back to this. Love is the foundation of our faith! The words of Jesus: “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 22:37-40)

How important is He to you?

 When you list out your priorities where does your relationship with God rank? Does it come after accomplishing your schedule for the day. Is it an afterthought to your busy lifestyle?

Sometimes we forget just how important our relationship with the Creator of the universe needs to be. I am reminded of the following quote from C.S. Lewis...

 If you believe in God, your lifestyle should reflect that belief.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. - Luke 12:34

 In this race, our decisions and actions tell the story of just how important Christianity is in our own lives.

#MyGodis

Last week during our Wednesday night class at MYG, we began a discussion of who God is and how He relates to us today. I asked the kids to consider how they would describe God and how their lives told His story to their friends and family.

We can never run out of words to attempt to describe our Lord. Our language falls short in describing his glory and majesty. I am reminded of a sermon from S.M. Lockridge that is captured in the following video (definitely worth your time!).

To me, the most moving part of this sermon is when he pauses and says, "I wish I could describe Him to you!" That encompasses who He is. We can talk about Him 'til we're blue in the face. But, until you experience Him, you just won't understand.

"Do you know Him?"

If the answer is yes, I am going to issue you the same challenge I gave to my youth group. Get on your facebook page, twitter account, or whatever social media you are a part of and tell all your followers who God is, using the hashtag #MyGodis.

#MyGodis (space) enter you description

Here are some of the tweets from the MYG...

Take a moment in this race to encourage your brothers and sisters and share with the people around you who this God is that we serve.

Outkicking your coverage

Have you ever heard the phrase 'outkick your coverage'?

In football it describes a play where a kicker launches a ball too far, giving the other team possession of the ball with the coverage team still several yards away.

In a social setting outkicking your coverage is engaging in a romantic relationship with a person who is much better looking, and/or smarter, and/or in a higher socioeconomic class than you. Basically, a person who is widely considered to be 'out of your league.' (I mentioned this phrase in a bible class at MYG and I was surprised none of the kids knew what it meant.)

Enter Jason Mortensen. Looking at the following picture of Jason and his wife Candice, I would say he outkicked his coverage.

You may have seen Jason recently as a video of him waking up from surgery went viral. As he is coming down from the anesthesia, he sees his wife and does not recognize her. See how he responds in the video below (edited for language and conciseness).

Have you ever had one of those moments? A moment where you get a second to take a deep breath and realize how good you have it?

Take a minute to think about your relationship with God. The Creator of the universe desires an intimate relationship with you! Anytime you want, you have the opportunity to talk to him. And, He listens! He cares about you so much he even knows the number of hairs on your head!

Is your reaction similar to Jason's?

GOD wants a relationship with ME?!?!

"I hit the JACKPOT!"

In this race we are running, we need to keep our eyes on the prize. It is encouraging to take a minute to realize who is on our side!

Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb

It's simple, really. "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace..." (Ephesians 1:7).

This simple truth is the cornerstone of our faith. In Jesus Christ we find our purpose and our hope for a life beyond this world.

Through his blood the race is won. Sometimes, we just need to refocus on the prize and take another look at our game plan. If it's not all about the Lamb of God, we are missing the most important part.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  (Hebrews 12:1-2)

Make me new

They’re ugly with their tubular, segmented bodies that often resemble plants.  They don’t have good vision and often only come out at night.  They are big trouble for farmers, as they cause enormous losses mainly by eating leaves.  

There are not too many redeeming qualities for a caterpillar.  Did you know caterpillar hair has even been known to be a cause of human health problems? 

But, there is something special about a caterpillar and it starts when it builds it’s cocoon.  That ugly, costly, dangerous creature with bad eyesight is transformed into a beautiful butterfly. (Ethan explains the process in the video below)

In Romans 12, Paul describes what it means to undergo transformation.

 1 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

When we become Christians we take part in Christ’s death burial and resurrection, and we are raised to walk a new life with him.  Just like the caterpillar rids itself of its old skin, we put away our old self and live like Christ.  Christians are to undergo a complete change, which under the power of God will find expression in who we are and how we live.

Notice that Paul uses the passive voice (when you make the object of an action into the subject of a sentence) here in verse two when he talks about transformation.  This indicates that “transformation” is something we allow to be done to us, not something we do by our own power.  Instead, God’s power changes us.  

We become a new creation.  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

In our sin, we start out uglier than that caterpillar. But what we become in Jesus Christ is more beautiful than anything we can imagine.

The words of the song “Make Me New” come to mind.

Make me new, Lord Jesus, make me new.

For it seems that in so many ways, I’m not enough like You.

Take this weary vessel I have been and mold me once again.

Change my heart. Change my spirit. Make me new.

Jesus leads the way in this race and the only way to gain the prize is to be transformed. The only place we can find that transformation is through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Shutdown offers a reminder of God's promise

As we experience day four of the government shutdown, I am reminded of just how temporary this world is. I am thankful that the place I am headed is sure to never fail.

In Romans 8 we find God's promise that he will be there no matter what.

38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Sometimes our path can be treacherous. The race we are running can be difficult. But, through it all remember that He will not leave you nor forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6)

1 In the Lord I take refuge;
how can you say to my soul,
    “Flee like a bird to your mountain,
2 for behold, the wicked bend the bow;
    they have fitted their arrow to the string
    to shoot in the dark at the upright in heart;
3 if the foundations are destroyed,
    what can the righteous do?”
4 The Lord is in his holy temple;
    the Lord's throne is in heaven... -Psalm 11 

Running the Race - What is it all about?

"My only aim is to finish the race." Those are the words of Paul as he was speaking to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20. In verse 24 he says, "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."

This is not the only time Paul refers to this life as a race. In his first letter to the Corinthians he says, "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." 

And in 2 Timothy 4:7, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."

It's no accident that this metaphor is used frequently in the New Testament. It actually makes a lot of sense.

Do you remember the last time you watched the olympics and saw an American drape the flag around them as they stood victorious on the medal stand while the National Anthem rang out. Did you feel a sense of pride? At the very least I am sure it was fun to watch. 

We share in those moments with the athletes as they take the spotlight every four years. But, we very rarely consider the price these men and women pay to have a gold medal draped around their necks.

Olympic athletes spend years honing their craft - years of rigorous training and discipline.

The parallel to our Christian lives is undeniable. Without the right training and discipline, we are sure to fail.

That is what "Running the Race" is all about. This blog is designed to be a source of encouragement and support as we run together toward the prize, fixing our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-2). My goal is to post personal stories, inspirational quotes, and scripture that help me in the race. My hope is that it helps you along the way as well.

"Goodbyes" tend to put things in perspective...

As I begin a new chapter in my life, I am ending another. That's the way it goes, right? And, the end naturally leads to "goodbyes".

At the beginning of the month, I started working with the Monrovia Church of Christ in Madison as the Youth Minister. Since I graduated from Auburn, I have been working in ministry part-time. However, recently, I have been feeling the tug to make a full-time commitment to kingdom work. This past summer everything fell into place with my life and the congregation at Monrovia. So, here I am.

Before full-time ministry work, was full-time TV work. I got my start in television in Victoria, Tex. back in 2007. After just over three years in the Lone Star state, I was offered a job back home, at FOX54 in Huntsville, Ala.

Last night, two of my nephews joined Ari and me for the last segment during my final broadcast with FOX54.

There, I said goodbye to the people in the Tennessee Valley. After the show, there was a series of "goodbyes"to my co-workers.

As I made my rounds, I realized how much "goodbye" puts things in perspective.  In my own life, leaving TV is a big deal. It's the only thing I've known in my professional life. "Goodbye" represents a major life change. So, cue the streamers, cake, and balloons! 

But, it doesn't always work out that way. You see, to everyone else, it's just another day at work. It's really not that big of a deal. It means somebody else will be producing the Nine O'clock News. It means there will be somebody else sitting behind the desk during the newscast, making jokes with Ari and Mark. But, life goes on. 

During those final "goodbyes", I learned that some people actually do care more than I thought. And at the same time, others do not care as much as I gave them credit for.

Ultimately, the perspective I gained is that it's not about me. We can try to make life about out-gaining the people around us. We can place our wants and desires above those of others. We can even become a pretty big deal in this world we temporarily live in. But, what does it matter?

James 4:14-15 ...What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

As we run the race, looking to Jesus (Heb. 12:1-2), "goodbyes" can offer the perspective we often need to keep our eyes focused on Him.