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)