Nothing is Wasted

Good morning! I hope your week is off to a great start and that your weekend was refreshing.

How many of you used to watch the TV show McGyver? McGyver seemed to escape every trap, quandary and difficult situation through the use of the common, everyday objects that were near him. There wasn’t hardly anything he couldn’t put to use.

My dad has always been that way too. I remember as a kid, him teaching me to make a radio with a used pharmaceutical bottle and copper wire. He was always inventing, creating and modifying using things that were normally found around our house.

This thought brings me to the following verse from Proverbs:

Proverbs 12:27 (NLT)

Lazy people don't even cook the game they catch, but the diligent make use of everything they find.

Recent studies say that the average American generates 4.4 pounds of garbage per day. We unfortunately live in a throw away society. Disposable diapers, disposable batteries, single serving meals…the list goes on.

We have, as a society, moved away from being good stewards of all that has been given to us. We readily choose convenience and instant gratification over resource management and diligence.

Each of us has things in our lives that could be put to better use. Maybe you have some clothes that could benefit a family in need. Maybe that old car could serve a family that has no transportation. Maybe with a little thought and creativity, some of that junk in your storage room could find new use and purpose in some other way.

This week ask God to make you the best steward of all that He has given you. Ask Him to give you new ideas and new uses for the things that have long since fulfilled the original purpose. And as you mother used to remind you at the dinner table…you may not need it, but somewhere in the world someone in the world would love to have that very same thing.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Correction

Good morning! I hope your weekend was refreshing and that you find yourself energized this morning as you move into the new work week.

This past week my family and I took our summer vacation to northern New Mexico. I have always enjoyed going to the mountains and this vacation was no different. I am always awestruck by the awesome grandeur of God’s creation.

This trip for us was unique though, because we allowed our 16 year old to drive much of the journey. Christopher has been driving a little less than a year and this was his first experience with long haul highway driving and out of town driving.

Now Christopher is a good driver, for the most part, but there were times that I had to correct his driving behavior. Now I’m sure that Christopher didn’t find the correction to be real fun, but it kept him from killing us…so it was a critical and necessary part of the learning process.

Notice what the Bible says along these lines:

Proverbs 12:1 (NLT)

To learn, you must love discipline; it is stupid to hate correction.

None of us likes to face discipline or correction, but when we look back over our lives we find that some of our greatest learning experiences came from those times. As a child I learned respect for others on the receiving end of the paddle. It is a lesson that has stuck with me for life. In fact one of my stated core values is “people matter.” Even though I wasn’t appreciative of the spankings then, I’m eternally grateful for the lessons taught today.

By the same token, we need to realize that God also loves us enough to discipline us. There are times that if we were to continue our course uncorrected we would harm ourselves and possibly others with our reckless abandon. There are many times, when I have faced God’s tough hand of discipline, but I find that once again these have been some of my greatest experiences of personal growth.

Today you may find yourself on the receiving end of correction. Don’t get angry, but instead put on your pupil’s hat and learn the lessons well. You are being taught and molded for greater things.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

The Vacation Chronicles

I love the mountains! I have always loved going to the mountains for time away. The mountains around Santa Fe are unique, because this is still high desert country.

The one drawback to my time away here is allergies. The mountains are covered with pine trees and my nose is running like a faucet. Thank goodness for Benadryl.

Monday, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed to the Pecos river. We had been told that you could follow the river up to one of the peaks (about 13,000 feet), so that is exactly what we did. What a beautiful view. The river was very cold and the banks were lined with trout fisherman. Carol and I could have sat there all day,but the 9 and 5 year olds had different ideas. Monday evening Carol and I left the little ones with our 16 year old (they went and played miniature golf) and we went on a date.

Yesterday, we all headed out in separate directions. Collin and I had a dad day and went to the Bradbury Museum with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Nuclear science is fascinating, but it sure does cause you to stop and consider your values and ethics. I was impressed that within the museum they allowed for a display of opposing opinions and even provided a book to voice your own. Los Alamos is a very pretty place though, in fact I liked it so much I'm taking the family back there today.

Christopher took a 6 mile round trip hike up "baldie." His total hike took about 6 hours to complete, but he said it was well worth it.

Carol and Caitlyn stayed around the apartment and painted toe nails and finger nails and played on the playground.

We all came back together last night to grill hamburgers and watch season 2 of Seinfeld on my laptop.

I don't feel any older

Yesterday I celebrated my 37th birthday. Now I still have the same creaks, groans and hair loss that I had last week, so from a feeling standpoint I don't feel much different. The one thing that does remind me of the seasons of life is my current location.

My family and I are on vacation at our denomination's conference center in Glorieta, NM. The last time I was here was 23 years ago. I was a freshman in high school and my main objective was meeting cute girls with a minor emphasis on spiritual growth.

Now I'm here watching my 16 year old son scouting out the high school girls who are here with their youth groups. Oh the joys of teenage boyhood.

My other children have been challenging me to miniature golf and are desparate to find a video game console somewhere. Sadly for them there are no TV's at Glorieta.

It has been a wonderful vacation so far. Friday night we went to watch the bat flight at Carlsbad Caverns. What an amazing sight to watch literally hundreds of thousands of bats take flight simultaneously. All heading out in different directions and by God's amazing design they find their way back to the very same cave the next morning.

Saturday as we drove Carlsbad to Glorieta, we took note of the antelope in the fields and enjoyed the changing landscape. Once we arrived we went into Santa Fe and enjoyed the free spirit of the plaza. There are many artisans and Indian craftsman who sell their wares in the plaza each day. We finished off the our tour of Santa Fe with a tour of the Saint Francis of Assissi Cathedral. What a beautiful, ornate sanctuary that is!

Yesterday was my birthday so we celebrated with a trip to Wal-Mart and Albertsons for groceries. After presents, a power nap and rousing round of mini-golf, I made bbq ribs on the grill. There is a Sunday School class from a church in Albuquerque staying at our apartments so they invited us to join them and we celebrated our time away together.

This morning I am sitting on the back patio of the Holy Grounds Cafe, which proudly serves Starbucks coffee. It is a beautiful morning. The sky is blue and cloudless the birds are chirping and the air is cool and crisp. There is a youth conference going on, so I am coming across pockets of young people doing their daily devotions and Bible study. Brings back alot of memories. I think today we are going to follow the Pecos River up to a 13,000 foot pass.

Need Wisdom?

Good morning! I hope you had a refreshing weekend and are starting your week with your batteries recharged.

Life is very fluid and situations change sometimes from moment to moment. Just when you think you’ve got the course lined out and all the answers in hand the situation changes or another scenario is presented. I find in leadership that this fluidity of circumstances tends to be more of the norm and less of the exception.

Times of uncertainty and ambiguity can be very stressful and tiring. There comes a point where your insight and wisdom just don’t seem to be enough. No matter how much you massage a matter over in your mind, you just don’t come to a conclusion that seems to provide some measure of peace or closure.

So what do you do with times like these? For some of us we just choose to mentally mull it over further. Others of us allow these things to become a point of worry and pre-occupation. The Bible, however, gives us this bit of instruction:

James 1:5 (NLT)

If you need wisdom—if you want to know what God wants you to do—ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking.

Ask for help…now that’s a novel idea!!!! God invites us to allow Him into our problems and quandaries. God is giving us permission to tap into His wisdom…which by the way is unlimited and immeasurable. Notice the words…ask him, and he will gladly tell you. The King James Version states that God gives wisdom “liberally.” Unlike others, God won’t even look down His nose at you for asking.

Let’s face it, the greatest counsel you can receive is the wisdom of those who have been there or have a greater vantage point than you do. God fits both of these criteria. He has been there, is there and will be there. He sees not only the past and the present, but He sees eternity in the same picture. He sees the things 1, 3, 5, 25, 100….years out, and He sees the effect of today’s decisions on tomorrow’s future.

This week you may be facing some dilemmas of your own. The invitation has been extended. Why don’t you spend a few moments and ask for wisdom from the source.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Are you ambidextrous?

Good morning! I hope you had a great Mother’s Day yesterday. For me, Mother’s Day is always a time to reflect and to give thanks for my own mother. Her example to me of how to live by faith has been instrumental in seeing me through the joys and trials of life.

As a pastor I am daily faced with the choice of being a “Lone Ranger” in the ministry or utilizing a team approach to ministry. For me this is generally a very easy choice. I have had to fly solo on many occasions, but have learned that my single efforts pale in comparison to the synergy of a corporate effort. Too many of us fail to tap into the strength, talent, ability and accountability of being a part of a strong team.

Today I want to focus on this idea of team building with you. This weekend during my personal Bible study I was reading in the book of 1 Chronicles. The 12^th chapter of 1 Chronicles describes the fighting men who went into battle with King David:

1 Chronicles 12:1-2 (NLT)

The following men joined David at Ziklag while he was hiding from Saul son of Kish. They were among the warriors who fought beside David in battle. [2] All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right. They were all relatives of Saul from the tribe of Benjamin.

The 2^nd verse of this passage caught my eye: “All of them were expert archers, and they could shoot arrows or sling stones with their left hand as well as their right.” Now this doesn’t seem like a very “spiritually deep” thought at first, but let’s think this through for a moment. When I was police officer one of the things that we often trained for was the scenario in which your dominant hand was injured. I am left handed and I can remember the first time I had to shoot my sidearm with my right hand. Talk about feeling akward…the feel of the gun in my hand was not natural. I had to constantly readjust my grip and my shooting stance never felt comfortable. As if the sidearm wasn’t bad enough, trying to use the shotgun off handed was even worse. Everything seemed clumsy and backwards.

In spite of the discomfort with offhanded shooting and off handed baton swinging, these were still critical skills to develop. Those who worked along side of me needed to know that I could continue in battle even if my dominant hand or arm were injured and I needed the same assurance about them.

So what does this have to do with you? Every day we have a choice to go it alone or to surround ourselves with others who can assist us in the journey. When David chose those who would surround him in battle, he chose those who were both skilled with their weaponry and those who were adaptable to the changing battlefield. In my ministry I am constantly on the lookout for those who can enhance our ministry team. I watch for those who are skilled with the gifts, talents and abilities that God has given them. In the end the ministry team is able to do much more for the Kingdom of God than I could ever do on my own.

Today I want to challenge you to look at who surround you. Have you chosen to surround yourself with quality people? Are you always on the lookout for those who have displayed great skill and passion, so that they can enhance your team?

Secondarily, consider yourself. Are you skillful with the tools, gifts, talents and abilities that God has given you? If not, I challenge you to hone your skills and become an ambidextrous warrior.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Search and Rescue

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that your week is off to a great start.

As most of you have seen on the news this weekend, the small town of Greensburg, Kansas was devastated by a powerful tornado this past Friday. This report hit very close to home for our family as we have friends who live in Greensburg. Even as I am writing we still have not heard from some of them. This is also very personal to us, because 6 years ago we lost our own home in a devastating tornado, so those images conjure up many memories.

Today officials continue their house to house search in Greensburg. They are looking for those who are trapped and unaccounted for. It is with this thought of search and rescue that I bring you this morning's encouragement.

Search and rescue, this phrase may bring to mind a variety of mental pictures. You may see men with bloodhounds looking for missing child in the woods. Perhaps you see a Coast Guard diver being hoisted from the water via helicopter with a sailor who has had to abandon ship. Maybe you envision a firefighter climbing to the top of a ladder truck to perform a high angle rescue or a group of good Samaritans digging through a pile of rubble with their hands after an earthquake. No matter what you envision, the principle is still the same, seeking out and retrieving those who find themselves trapped.

For me the ultimate example of search and rescue is found in Jesus. Read His words as recorded in Luke:

Luke 19:10 (NLT)

And I, the Son of Man, have come to seek and save those like him who are lost.

Jesus came to actively seek those who are separated from the love of God. The mental image of the word seek is similar to the action of sifting through the dirt by hand to uncover a victim, just like the images we see after an earthquake or a building collapse.

The search, however, is only the first part of the equation. The task is not complete until the rescue has taken place. That is why Jesus said that He came to "seek" and "save" those who are lost. For us, the rescue took place at the cross. Jesus offered Himself as a living sacrifice to bridge the separation between God and man. We could not bridge that gap on our own. Our best deeds and greatest works still are not enough;it took Jesus to remove the barriers that kept us trapped.

Today as you reflect upon the search and rescue that was done on your behalf, take time to say thank you once again. Take comfort in the fact that Jesus continues to go heart to heart on His divine rescue mission and every day people are being given a new lease on life.

Until next Monday keep the victims of the Greensburg, Eagle Pass and other recent tornadoes in your prayers. May God's richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Do you know where the fish are?

Good morning! I hope you had a blessed weekend and are refreshed as you enter into this new week.

This past Friday I had the privilege of joining a group of ministers and lay leaders for a deep sea fishing charter in the Gulf of Mexico. After our 3 hour journey on the water we were finally at our destination about 30 miles out from the coast line. We dropped our lines and….nothing! Twenty-six men went from high expectation to shear boredom. We couldn’t even buy a nibble.

Fortunately for us, we were under the watch care of a veteran sea captain. Our captain knew where to find the fish and so he wasted no time in retrieving the anchor and we set out for a new location. The captain maneuvered the boat into position and told us to drop our lines.

Now let me stop here for a moment and put some application to this story. All of us have had unproductive days of fishing. We’ve been dating for years and haven’t found the “right one.” We’ve been at the company for years and never received that promotion. We’ve been courting that potential client and time after time we hear the word “no.” Unproductive fishing…we’ve all been there. So when we are presented with the opportunity to cast our nets again we have a choice. We can dwell on the past lack of productivity and just quit or we can cast our nets one more time, knowing that a bountiful catch is out there.

Simon Peter’s encounter with Jesus rings true to this thought:

Luke 5:4-7 (NLT)

When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Now go out where it is deeper and let down your nets, and you will catch many fish."

[5] "Master," Simon replied, "we worked hard all last night and didn't catch a thing. But if you say so, we'll try again." [6] And this time their nets were so full they began to tear! [7] A shout for help brought their partners in the other boat, and soon both boats were filled with fish and on the verge of sinking.

For Simon Peter this issue was trust. Do I trust that this Jesus knows what He’s talking about? Am I willing to risk my pride for the sake of a bountiful harvest? These are the kinds of questions we all face. Can we trust God’s leadership enough to cast the nets again even when the previous attempts have been unfruitful?

This past Friday, we all trusted our captain. Within a matter of seconds every man had a fish on the line. Over the course of the next 3 hours, all 26 of us motley thrill seekers would reel in over 300 pounds of fish. Our trip was so productive that we had hit our limits almost an hour before our fishing time was scheduled to end.

The productivity of the trip came down to these key truths:

• Our guide knew the waters, he had been here many times before
• Our guide could see what was beneath the surface
• We simply had to follow his instructions, trusting that they were reliable

Today you may be asking yourself: “Is it worth casting the net one more time?” I want to challenge you to keep throwing the net overboard. Until God shows you a different course or direction, keep trusting in the outcome. Your time is coming…even if you don’t see it from your current vantage point.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Have you heard...?

Good morning! I hope you had a great weekend and that you are off and running this morning.

This past weekend my family and I relocated our household to a new place of residence. We are blessed to have so many who willingly gave of their time and muscles to help us undertake this effort. So with sore muscles and joints I bring you this morning’s encouragement.

I want to begin by identifying a few of the most dangerous places in America:

• The office water cooler
• The school playground
• The women’s restroom
• The men’s locker room
• The office break room
• Corner gatherings at the church house

Do you know what these places have in common? What makes them so dangerous? Each of these places has historically been breeding grounds for gossip. We’ve all seen it happen before our very eyes…in fact most of us have been sucked into its grasp at one point or another.

Gossip often disguises itself under good and noble intentions with such titles as “information”, “thought I would let you know”, or “did you hear?” At the heart of gossip is a selfish desire to judge others according to our standards or to place ourselves in a position of knowing another’s business.

The problem with gossip is the fact that human communication is not all that reliable. You remember your grade school days when you played the gossip game don’t you? One student would tell the next student a secret and that student would relay that message to the next student. By the time the message had gotten to the end of the class, it was always totally different than how it began. We listen and speak through our own filter of understanding so our communications are never 100% objective.

Consider what the Bible says about gossip:

Proverbs 11:13 (NLT)

A gossip goes around revealing secrets, but those who are trustworthy can keep a confidence.

Gossip is like identity theft. It can damage a person’s reputation, career, relationship and even their faith for years to come with little hope for repairing the damage to their name.

The best of friends are those who can hold strict confidences. We need to be very discerning in what we share and to whom we share it with. Some things simply do not need to be shared. Their disclosure benefits no one and in the end the harm done far outweighs any gain that may be achieved.

This week you may have an opportunity to be apart of the gossip in the workplace, school yard or even the church house. I want to challenge you to break the cycle. Remove yourself and make the truth your standard for living.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

People who get on your nerves

Good morning! I hope you had a restful weekend and that you have hit the ground running this morning.

Do you know anybody that is argumentative? It doesn’t matter what the topic of conversation may be, they are going to turn it into an argument. If you say blue, they say red. If you say hot, they say cold. So how do you deal with people who are difficult to get along with…much less love?

In Paul’s letter to the young pastor Timothy these words are recorded:

2 Timothy 2:24 (NLT)

The Lord's servants must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone. They must be able to teach effectively and be patient with difficult people.

Now let’s be honest, some of us, myself included, enjoy a good verbal jousting session from time to time, but generally my enjoyment of these interactions depends on how full of myself I am that day. Truthfully though, rarely is there any positive outcome to these sessions of quarreling. I have made it a personal rule of thumb for many years now that I will not conduct theological debates with people. I may be able to present stellar arguments, but in the end I will rarely change anyone’s theological position and most of the time it simply drives a wedge.

The truth is quarrels don’t draw people closer together, but instead they pull people apart. When we make kindness the order of the day we are making a conscious decision to take the high road with everyone. When we choose to bestow kindness on others, we acknowledge their value as a person. Over time kindness can break through even the toughest of hearts.

When we choose this high road of kindness it makes this final instruction of patience much easier. Remember that your interactions with difficult people are character shaping moments in your own life. When you place value on another then you are willing to extend much more grace and mercy than you might otherwise. For me the rule has been this…every person I meet is someone that Jesus died for. By remembering that the ground is level at the foot of the cross, I recognize the fact that I am no better than anyone else.

Today you may be surrounded by difficult people. Appreciate their uniqueness, take a deep breath and extend a refreshing dose of kindness.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Have you talked to your advisor lately?

Good morning! I hope your Easter weekend was a great time of faith, family and friends.

Easter is always a special time for me. I use it as an opportunity to reconnect myself to the foundation of my faith. Some times it is good to go back to the basics. For me, Easter is one of those times when I go back and re-examine the significance of the cross and the empty tomb in my life. Without either one, my faith would be null and void.

Today I want to talk to you about living your life with purpose. As my backdrop, I would like for you to consider the following Psalm:

Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

The Lord says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.

I will advise you and watch over you.

You’re never too old for advisement. Many of us use advisors as part of our day to day life. Doctors, attorneys and accountants (especially for the next week) are just a few of the advisors many of us have. Even though we will seek advisement for those things, we often are negligent on seeking advisement for the bigger picture of life itself.

The Bible makes it very clear that God has a very specific plan that was specifically designed for your life:

Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord. "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Before you were born, God knew you. He knew your personality, your strengths, your weaknesses, your successes and your failures. With all of those things in mind, He crafted His plan for your life and it is as unique as you are.

Sadly, even though we know this about God, we are all too often negligent in consulting Him for guidance and direction. If I was taking a long journey, I would most definitely put my beginning and ending point in to Mapquest® and print out a detailed map. If I was going to a new city, I would ask those who have been there what sights I should see and the best way of getting around.

If we will ask and listen, God is more than willing to give us guidance. The danger for most of us is that we don’t ask or we don’t listen. Sometimes we listen and get part of the picture, but then we run off ahead and get off course. The key is to be patient, allowing God to reveal the pathway one step at a time. You can trust His advisement, because He has already mapped out the course. When things don’t make sense, you can still have confidence in the knowledge that in God’s perfect timing the pieces will all fit together.

Perhaps this week you need to clear some time and meet with your Heavenly Advisor. Ask for direction and then sit back and take note of all that is revealed. He won’t lead you astray, His plan is perfectly designed for who you are.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Are you teachable?

Good morning! I hope you are off to a running start this morning, facing your week with enthusiasm and energy.

I remember the final days of my Senior year in high school. I was so excited that my years of formal learning were finally going to come to an end. I had been burdened for so long with homework, exams and courses that seemed to have little meaning for the rest of my life. Little did I realize that the greatest learning times of my life were still to come.

I find myself today, nearly 20 years later, aware of the fact that I must never stop learning or I risk becoming stagnant and irrelevant. Now, I would be lying if I said I enjoy school…in fact to this day, there are fewer places I would rather stay away from, however; the reward of instruction far outweighs the burden.

Look at the following verse from Proverbs:

Proverbs 13:14 (NLT)
The advice of the wise is like a life-giving fountain; those who accept it avoid the snares of death.

The real issue here is whether or not you have a teachable spirit. Many of us reach a place in our personal lives, our faith, our careers, etc… where we think we have nothing left to learn. We want to be the ones with all of the answers, but we never open ourselves up to be stretched. By our own arrogance we bring our lifelong process of maturity to a grinding halt, never allowing anyone else to impart greater knowledge or wisdom into our lives.

One of the things I have valued over the last 5 years is the relationship I have developed with my mentor. Each month this man has permission to stretch me, challenge me and even correct me. What a blessing this has been. I have grown so much more, because I have allowed myself to remain teachable. I fully realize that there are others out there who by their experience and training have much greater knowledge and insight than I do.

Today, I want to challenge you to always be striving to go higher. Don’t allow yourself to settle for a permanent plateau, but instead open yourself up to be pushed. You are never to old to stop learning…in fact the day you stop learning should be the day you draw your very last breath.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Striving for Excellence

Good morning! I hope your weekend was relaxing and that you have hit the pavement this morning ready to run with excellence.

This morning I want to talk to you about striving for excellence. In high school I was, for lack of a better term, a professional slacker. I graduated high school with an underwhelming 2.86 GPA, even though I tested out on the top end of my college entrance exams. The greatest barrier to my success was my attitude. I had a sharp mind and all of the potential in the world, but I wasn’t interested in excellence. I was more interested in doing just enough to get by.

You’ve known people like that haven’t you? Some of you are also proud graduates of the school of “just enough.” Today I want to challenge you with this verse from Galatians:

Galatians 6:4 (NLT)
Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won't need to compare yourself to anyone else.

Excellence is a core value that comes from within. It is a desire to do more than “just enough.” Let me give you an example that I’m sure most of us can relate to. You go to your local retail outlet and after standing in line for 10 minutes at the checkout counter it is finally your turn. Generally at this point we will encounter one of two people. The first person considers their work to simply be a “job.” They are more interested in getting their regularly scheduled break than in doing the best job possible. They don’t greet you, they don’t make eye contact and they treat you like you’re an inconvenience. The second person is a person who absolutely loves what they do. They find a deep sense of purpose and meaning in their work. This person greets you with a smile, they look you in the eye, and they carry on a conversation with you and thank you for your business when the transaction is done.

I think most of us would agree that we would rather deal with the second person. They have made excellence a priority in all that they do. Their sense of self worth is not found in their title or their hourly wage, but instead in a job well done.

Sadly, many of us are guilty of being the first person. We spend way too much time looking around to see what everyone else has. We are more concerned about everyone else’s work, without ever taking a critical look at our own work.

For me the greatest thing that has moved me from “slacker” to “striver” is to look at my work through a different lens. As a follower of Jesus, I strive to do everything for His honor and glory. When I began to realize that my actions are a reflection upon Him, and that my work when done to the best of my abilities brings glory to Him…work took on a whole new meaning.

Today, I want to challenge you to work with excellence. No matter how menial or trivial you may think your position in life is, view it as a chance to shine. Be the best at what you do…the world is watching.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Standing with Integrity

Good afternoon! As you may have noticed, this morning’s encouragement did not arrive in a timely manner. As you well know, some Mondays are just that way. I hope that your morning was productive thus far and that your week is off to a great start.

Today I want to share with you the following verse from Proverbs:

Proverbs 10:9 (NLT)
People with integrity have firm footing, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.

Integrity is one of those things we all seek in those we interact with, but sadly it is becoming harder and harder to find. In today’s cut throat world, people will use every means, tactic and scheme to get ahead. Decisions are made in boardrooms all across America without a thought being given to those who are affected in the aftermath.

I often hear those of the “builder” generation talking about a simpler time when a man’s handshake was binding and a promise could be counted on. I was very blessed to have the concept of integrity lived out in front of me. My father has always been a man of his word even when it wasn’t popular or easy. As the years have gone by, I have watched many of his peers and counterparts fall by the wayside, because they were willing to compromise, but in the end my dad stood strong and survived.

People of integrity have firm footing, because they do not shift with opinion, pressure or temptation. A man or woman of integrity is the same whether no one is watching or the whole world is watching. Integrity runs much deeper than action, but is instead a core value that comes from within.

This week many of you will have opportunity to compromise your values, beliefs and morals. This will be a crossroads for you…will you be true to what you believe in or will you bend to conform? Sadly with compromise you may see some temporal gain, but in the long run, your compromise will catch up with you.

A few years ago, my wife and I took a cruise to the Caribbean. For two days we traveled through 13’ waves as we traveled towards our destination. It was amusing to watch people attempt to walk straight as the boat beneath them was buffeted. Try as you might, you were inevitably going to zig-zag. This is what happens when we compromise. It is impossible to take a
stand, when you allow your values and convictions to change.

This week I challenge you to make a commitment to integrity. Commit that no matter how tempting the compromise, you will stand for doing what is right. In the end, your stance will cause you to stand out. People will see you as trustworthy and honest. Your input and influence will carry much more weight, because your character will have proven itself time and time again.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Rainy Days

Good morning! I hope you recharged your batteries this weekend and that your week is off to a great start. This week our local students are out for spring break. This is a time where students take a week off from the daily pressures of school to enjoy some downtime.

Many of the students will be disappointed today, because it has been raining throughout the morning. Rain never seems to come at opportune times, like just after you’ve washed your car.

Rain although not always convenient is always necessary. Look at the following scripture:

Psalm 147:8 (NIV)

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

Today I want to focus on rain. Not the meteorological kind of rain, but instead the rains of life. It has been said that “in each life a little rain must fall.” This statement is very true, and yet minimizes the truth. Life doesn’t just come with a little rain, but sometimes it comes with storms and torrential downpours.

So why do we go through these rainstorms of life? Notice in the verse I quoted above that grass grows on the hills because of the rain. Ultimately the rains come into your life to make your life more fertile for the blessings of God. Today I want to focus on a the rains that may be in your life today.

It is important to remember that rain softens the soil. Growing up in Kansas and Oklahoma, I can remember seeing the ground during times of drought. The soil would crack and these cracks would run deep. The crops in the fields would begin to burn and turn brown. The soil was hard and could not be easily tilled or plowed, but when the rains came the soil was transformed. The ground would become soft and pliable. It was easily tilled and the crops flourished. The roots were nurtured by new found sustenance and from the ground the crops drew life.

You see some of the rains we encounter in life are sent to deal with the hardness in our hearts. The rains come to soften the rough edges in our life. God uses these times to make the soil of our hearts fertile for His purposes. As our hearts begin to soften they become pliable and are easily molded. The softening of our heart allows for greater nurture and spiritual health.

This morning you may have awoken to a rain cloud pouring down in your life. If this is true, take heart, be thankful that the rain has come. God is working to soften and mold you, so that your life will be abundantly fruitful.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Unity in Diversity

Good morning! I hope you had an amazing weekend and have hit the ground running this morning. This weekend I was blessed to enjoy some time with my youngest son as we took a tour of the Texas State Aquarium. Those one on one times with each of my children are some of my favorite times.

Over the past two weeks I have had the privilege of leading my church family through a “round table” discussion time as we unpacked everything God had been showing us during our recent 40 days of prayer. It was exciting to see groups of young and old, male and female sharing with one another all that God had been revealing about themselves and about our church. In the end there was a unity of thought and spirit that was unmistakable. It is with this thought that I bring you this morning’s encouragement.

Ephesians 4:1-3 (HCSB)

I, therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, urge you to walk worthy of the calling you have received, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, accepting one another in love, diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us.

God has created each of us to be unique. There is only one of me; I am not a cookie cutter of anyone else. I have unique gifts, talents and abilities that set me apart. The problem arises though, when I decide that my ideas, direction and passions are the correct ideas, direction and passions for everyone. It is easy to begin to develop this isolationist, “us and them” mentality.

The difference in people is something to be valued and appreciated. Can you imagine going to a symphony concert and only hearing kettle drums play. It might be kind of interesting for a few moments, but at some point it would get annoying. The kettle drum is at its best when it is surrounded and accompanied by the flute, the clarinet, the trumpet, the tuba, the violin and so on.

The introvert needs the extrovert and the leader needs the follower. The communicator needs the doer and the thinker needs the feeler. God has created us to be much like the symphony. We are at our best when we live out the purposes that God has given us to the full extent of our gifts, passions and abilities. When these are combined with those around us who are doing the same, our lives become a beautiful symphony that brings glory to God.

In the end, it is the very Spirit of God that unites us together. It has been said that “the ground is level at the foot of the cross”, simply meaning that we are all equal in the sight of God. No one has greater or less standing, and every life counts.

This week I challenge you to value the diversity of those God has put around you. Their lives bring out the best in you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Working Together

Good morning! I hope you had a fantastic weekend and are starting the week off energized and refreshed.

Over the weekend my family and I were finally able to move into a home here in Corpus Christi. As is always the case, God provided in His own unique way and in His own perfect timing.

Moving is always an exciting time. The anticipation of a new place and new experiences are always fascinating. Unfortunately though, moving is also hard work. Somebody has to lift those boxes and move the furniture.

This weekend I was blessed to be joined by many friends from our church who offered to lend a pickup truck, a back, a hand or anything else they thought might be helpful. What would have been an all day or multiple day process by our family alone was instead achieved in just a few short hours.

It is with this thought that I bring you this morning’s encouragement. In Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi he wrote these words:

Philippians 2:2 (NLT)

Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one heart and purpose.

As a leader I get the privilege (and sometimes the pain) of watching people discover that God has put people in their lives for a reason. Many of us have “can do” type personalities and by nature tend to be somewhat self reliant. One of the greatest downfalls this mindset brings is limited potential and productivity. As one person, I can only do so much. At some point I will exhaust my resources and strength.

When a person finally comes to the realization that God has placed others in their lives who share common passions and purpose, they have just unlocked the door to an astonishing truth. A group of people working together with a common passion and purpose create a “synergy.” This combined effort allows productivity to multiply exponentially above what a single individual could accomplish on his/her own.

Now, when you take this a step further and bring God’s power, purpose and vision into the mix, the outcomes can be mind boggling. Think of it this way. Jesus chose 12 disciples, one of whom would later betray Jesus. Through the remaining 11 men, God began a movement in the hearts and lives of people that continues to this day.

This week you may have some big tasks ahead of you. I encourage you to pray about those who will assist you. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Remember two heads are always better than one.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Hard Times

Good morning! I hope that your weekend was refreshing and that you have hit the ground running this morning filled with energy and enthusiasm.

This past week was filled with some major challenges for my family and me. We have been attempting to resolve our housing issues here in Corpus Christi, but continue to face new hurdles and obstacles with each step (or so it seems). Of course, trouble rarely comes in single packages. On top of the housing issues we learned that the deep freeze in Pennsylvania had caused pipes to burst in our now vacant home and as of last count the bill was into the thousands of dollars range.

Maybe you’ve had weeks like that too. The car breaks down and the kids get sick. The company lays you off and the water heater goes out. When we have times like this our first inclination is usually to ask God “why?” “God, why are you doing this to me?” “God, why is this happening to me?” “God, why aren’t you helping me?” Sound familiar?

Today I want to share with you some thoughts on tough times. Look at the following passages from the book of James:

James 1:2-4 (HCSB)

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

A couple of things I want you to see from this verse. First of all when need to step back and look at the big picture. Hard times are part of a refining process. Think about the forging of steel or the purification of gold. The processes of forging and refining require intense heat. Only after the metal is liquefied can the impurities be removed. The shaping also requires intense heat so that the metal is malleable. That is why we are instructed to “Consider it a great joy,” because the bigger picture shows us that we are being refined and strengthened.

I want you to notice the next point of these verses. Hard times produce endurance. Look back over your life for a moment. I want you to consider some of the adversities God has brought you through over the years. If you remember what it was like to be in the midst of some of those hard times, you probably didn’t think you would make it through…but you did! With each of those events in your life you became a little stronger. You met the next hardship with the confidence that God saw me through before…He can certainly see me through again. The hard times you face today are giving you the strength and courage for the obstacles that lie ahead of you.

Lastly, these trials are part of a maturing process. God is molding you and shaping you day by day. This is a lifelong process that doesn’t stop until we are ushered into His presence. Each day God is carefully working in and through your life, so that His glory is reflected in every area of your life. When life is at its worst, God is at His best. Those around you will see God’s strength and endurance shining through you.

This week you may be facing some difficult challenges, but take heart…every test has a beginning and ending. At some point this test will be over too.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Fear of the Unknown

Good morning! I hope you are feeling refreshed after your weekend and have hit the ground running this morning.

One of the greatest fears most of us face on a day to day basis is the fear of the unknown. Yet, we are often required to make decisions and choose directions without knowing the end result. Many chose never to move from the place they find themselves, because of the fear of what lies ahead. For the follower of Christ these circumstances become a time to exercise their faith muscles.

Hebrews 11:1 (HCSB)
Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen.

So you may be asking yourself; “Where does faith come from?” Look at what the Bible has to say about the source of faith:

Romans 10:17 (HCSB)
So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.

Faith is birthed in your relationship with Jesus. Ultimately faith is an issue of trust. To take steps into the unknown requires a high degree of trust in the one ordering your steps. Trust is built through relationship and experience. The more intimately I become acquainted with someone and the more I interact with that person, the greater my trust will become in them. I will base my trust on previous situations in which their guidance or support proved effective and appropriate.

In our relationship with God we are often asked to take steps of faith. If we only operated in the realm of what we could see or accomplish on our own, then we would never develop a deep reliance upon God in our lives. We would simply take the credit for everything that happens in our lives and we would rob God of the glory He is due. When God asks you to take steps of faith, His desire is twofold. First He is seeking to reveal new things about His character and His love for you. Secondarily, He wants to bring glory to Himself through your life, by building that high degree of trust. God is glorified in your life when you are doing much greater things than you could ever do on your own or when you are overcoming circumstances that seem impossible.

This week you may find yourself facing the unknown. I encourage you to change your perspective to a viewpoint of faith. Realize that God is asking you to take undefined steps, because He wants to develop a deeper relationship of trust and intimacy with you.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl

Keep pressing on

Good morning! I hope your previous week was a great one and that you are starting this week off refreshed and energized.

Last night those of us in the United States went through the annual tradition (and for some a near religious experience) of Super Bowl Sunday. This year’s Super Bowl was especially noteworthy for at least 3 reasons. First of all the coaches of both teams were African Americans. Secondarily and more importantly, in my mind anyway, both men are outspoken Christians who are not ashamed of their faith. Finally we saw Peyton Manning, considered by many to be the best quarterback in the NFL, receive his championship after many close calls and near misses. Today I want to use Peyton Manning as the backdrop for this morning’s encouragement.

Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:4 (NIV)

The Indianapolis Colts led by quarterback Peyton Manning have been a dominant football team for a number of years. Almost yearly they are expected to make the playoffs and many consider them a Super Bowl contender. However, over the past several years they have always been knocked out of contention in the final games of the playoffs. Many sports writers have hinted that Peyton Manning was simply not capable of winning the “big one.”

The disappointments and defeats along the way never sidetracked this quarterback. Each year he has returned sharpening his skills and playing at the top of his abilities. The setbacks of prior years were not roadblocks to success, but instead were building blocks to victory. This year Manning proved that he was the caliber of athlete who was capable of leading his team all the way to victory.

So what about you? Have you faced some big losses lately? How are you dealing with those defeats? Have you hung up your helmet and shoulder pads vowing to never play the game again?

Many of us get sidelined, because we give up too soon. The fumbles of life are building blocks that make us stronger. As the verse I quoted indicates; it is perseverance that brings about maturity and completeness. I don’t cherish the failures and setbacks in my life, but I wouldn’t trade them for the world, because they have molded me into the man that I am today.

Today, Peyton Manning and the Colts get to relish the joys of being Super Bowl champions. Starting in September it will be time to persevere once more if they intend to remain champions.

This week I encourage you to lace up your cleats, grab your helmet and get into the game of life.

Until next Monday, may God’s richest blessings be yours this week.

Carl