Perspectives

Faith in Following

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Wed, 19 Sep 2018 17:37:00 +0000

I recently had breakfast with my nephew, Marc. As we talked, he shared that the Lord had given him an interesting insight about his proximity to the Lord. He said, "I start out following the Lord each day, but often find myself on the monkey bars at the playground--forgetting my commitment to stay close to the Lord throughout the day."

As I thought about his statement, I was amazed at just how practical that insight was to our day-to-day living. We say we will follow Jesus, but we get sidetracked either by the cares of this world or the concerns associated with our life.

The bottom line is whether or not we will follow Jesus and let him lead our lives or will we find ourselves self-occupied with cares and concerns he's already taken care of?

He said, "Follow me," not "Come stand beside me."

He wants us to trust him for what is ahead and to always be reliant upon his direction throughout the course of our life.

The words, "Follow me," infer that he's moving--not standing still. He wants us to move with him to those opportunities and experiences he's prepared for us in advance.

Are you standing still or are you following him?

The Abundance Code

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 05 Jun 2018 11:48:00 +0000

If you want to get someone's attention, start talking about abundant living. While that topic has seen its share of misapplication, it is a basic tenet of God's provision for his children to live in fulfillment and satisfaction.

It is hard to calculate the effect of God's blessing. To some, it is financial accumulation. To others it is simply a life in which he/she lives within an abundance of relationships and the security they produce.

During the course of my marriage (and adult life) we've experienced both lack and abundance. We've experienced loss and we've experienced financial gain. Through it all, we have gained perspective as to what real wealth is and what it is not.

I admit to a time when I actually tried to leave ministry because of financial lack and the frustration of having to tell my sons that I couldn't afford the things their friends freely enjoyed. If a well-paying job would have become available, I might have jumped ship and left the ministry. However, deep down I knew that God had a plan that, if I stayed the course, I would become the person He was developing through hard times.
He was right. Today I can say that I am rich--not in coin or currency, but in sound relationships and good health. God has afforded my wife and I a good life in which we have no sorrow from having made foolish decisions.

Yes, it is an abundant life--a GOOD life, thanks to a loving Father!

Proverbs 10:22

"The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and he adds no sorrow with it."

The Prodigal Society

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 13:57:00 +0000

Apparently, only news items that mirror the dark side of our society warrant mention on the evening news. Rarely do we see positive reflections of a society gone derelict. In fact, you might call us “The Prodigal Society” since we no longer care about pleasing God or allowing him in our public places, including schools.

By definition, “prodigal” means to leave a once-established place of safety and affirmation and choose rather to live in the forbidden zone of self-deprecationand indulgence. The Bible applied it to a son who desired to take his inheritance and leave home. After all, his older brother was the heir apparent to the family’s home and business. So, he traded his place of safety for a pit of pig slop.

Yet, it is not only individuals who have forsaken their place of safety and provision, it is our society at large. It has become prodigal from the provision and power that comes with a right relationship with a heavenly father who loves them very much.

What led up to our society becoming prodigal?

The American church has left its place of authority in our society.
It has wandered away from the provision of the Father.
It has forsaken spiritual disciplines that enable it to hear from the Father.
It has secularized and sanitized its program to a point of powerlessness and impotence.
Those who stayed in the church grew complacent and territorial (like the older brother in the story).

We have left the place of provision and power because we’ve gone after other things. We need to return to the place where God can again touch our hearts.

Only when God touches the human heart can real change—or even transformation—take place. The human heart that invites God’s redeeming touch experiences what no human agency can offer.

The Father has his eye on the horizon—waiting for his people to return to Him. He wants us to be proximal and not prodigal. He has an incredible plan that includes us being in close proximity to his heart.

We can no longer surrender to the maddening cries of secularism. It has taken us far from where we really need to be.

It’s time to come home.

Obstacles - Part 1

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Fri, 20 Oct 2017 14:40:00 +0000

The only thing about our journey through life (upon which we can depend) is that we will face obstacles along the way. I wish I could say that there is a viable option in which we can determine both the severity of the obstacle and its duration.

Obstacles (also known as challenges, trials, tests, tribulations, etc.) are what shape and mold us into a useful part of the human race. If nobody accepted the challenge of an obstacle and simply sat down and crossed arms, nothing of value would be learned or modeled for others.

Obstacles shape us in several ways. I know . . . who wantsto be shaped by the difficulties inserted into our life? Probably nobody. However, obstacles are a part of life and we must learn to capitalize on the potential personal gain one can experience through head-on confrontation with whatever seeks to block our progress.

Obstacles take many forms. They can be rejection, character assault, or even prescribed training like our armed forces utilize to harden and shape those charged with keeping us safe and free. Obstacles can also take the form of repeated detours that leave us questioning our original travel plans though life.

Here are several questions you can ask yourself when faced with an obstacle.

Questions:

What am I supposed to learn from this roadblock?

Am I on the right path?

Is my timing in God’s will?

Is this roadblock actually a divine protection keeping me from disaster?

Have I sought God’s will for my life and did I listen when He revealed it?

Am I determined to face each obstacle with a willingness to overcome it?

Do I look at each obstacle as a sign that I’m not supposed to go that way?

Do the obstacles keep me in a continual state of defeat?

I intend to address some of these questions in Part 2. However, re-read the list above and really think about how they might represent your attitude toward obstacles. This article’s intent is to bring light on those things that may be keeping you from realizing your God-given potential.

“Living in the Moment"

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 13:35:00 +0000

During a recent trip to the east coast of Florida, my wife and I decided to take in some beach time since our hotel was close to the ocean. We relaxed as we strolled in the wet sand as the only sound was that of the crashing surf and countless sea gulls calling to each other.

We walked down to the edge of the water and allowed the surf to lap at our ankles and then retreat to the collective body of water. The ebbing of the waves was, in itself, relaxing. We are often able to repeat this exercise in relaxation given our proximity to one of Florida’s beautiful beaches. We are truly blessed!

On this particular day, I came away with a little more than relaxation. I noticed that as long as the surf didn’t wrap around my ankles, nothing changed. But when the surf enveloped my feet and ankles, I noticed that the sandy base beneath my feet began to erode from the water causing me to sink a little deeper into the wet sand. It didn’t take long before I had to step to the side and allow the process to start all over again.

While I have experienced this erosion phenomenon many times during my residence in Florida, I had never really given much thought to it. Perhaps I was in a more perceptive state of mind as several thoughts came to me.

First, there are times when we just want to enjoy the moment but before long, find ourselves stuck in that which was once enjoyable but eventually become a trap. Rationalization and justification begin their predictable process only to leave us without an authentic exposure to what started the whole sensation in the first place.

Second, our lack of movement ensures an absence of new revelation. What was once enjoyable and relaxing has become a tedious process in maintaining what was lost through our stationary stance.

I believe that God wants to give us new experiences each day to keep life from lapping around our ankles and entrapping our future in a “moment” experience. He wants us to allow his mercy and grace to flow into our lives each day—not to entrap us but to free us from our propensity to live in the moment with no eye to our future.

If the enemy of our soul can keep us from accepting new places and new adventures with the Father, he can stifle our spiritual growth.

Remember, we can live so much “in the minute” that we miss the big picture of God’s ongoing provision and revelation.

"What You Fear the Most . . . "

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Sun, 17 Sep 2017 12:40:00 +0000

Director James Cameron produced an ocean adventure epic costing 69.5 million dollars and was called, ‘The Abyss.’ In his 1989 story, a team of oceanographers worked on the ocean floor in a laboratory designed for deep-water exploration. As I recall, the movie was one of the first of its kind in which they took CGI (computer generated imagery) to the next level in entertainment. I sat mesmerized by the imagery on the screen and felt fully ‘submerged’ in its story line. In short, the story was about their encounter with a life form that emerged from a giant ocean canyon they referred to as the ‘abyss.’

So, to make a long (and very exciting) story short, the team member played by Ed Harris decided to risk his life in an effort to see how far down the abyss went. There were additional factors that weighed into his decision, but for brevity sake, let’s leave him there for now . . . falling deeper and deeper into the canyon.

Life is like that. We encounter abnormalities that threaten to sink us and drag us into an abyss. We might even feel helpless as we free-fall downward into what can only be our worst imaginations.

Believe it or not, God designed these times to teach us to trust him more. While we rarely appreciate the experience in real time, hindsight always teaches us that God will not let us crash into something at the bottom of the abyss in which we find ourselves descending. The lesson takes place during the free-fall. It is then that we encounter the sustaining power of a father who loves us too much to treat us in a reckless manner.

Back to The Abyss. Eventually, Ed Harris hit the bottom of the abyss. There, beautiful creatures took him on board an alien spacecraft and saved his life. That’s the Cliff Notes version. What he feared the most was what saved his life.

The lessons we learn during our apparent free-fall are the lessons that will save our lives and prove that God really does know what he is doing and that he loves us more than we could ever imagine.

Remember, nothing ever happens in your life without first gaining his permission.

Jim Beaird

"In the Eye of the Storm"

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Thu, 14 Sep 2017 18:28:00 +0000

As we prepare for another hurricane, I heard a song by Ryan Stevenson – “The Eye of the Storm.” I could not help but listen as the lyrics articulated what we’ve all been through this last week – a hurricane of uncertain trajectory! Every part of our state of Florida could be impacted. Yet, the song had been written prior to the state’s latest storm. Interesting. I think the providence of God played in there somewhere . . . just in time.

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I am reminded that storms are not optional. They are a part of the natural system of the earth. They produce scenarios that really challenge individual thought and reason. I weary of people saying that God has judged our state by sending a storm to wash away things He doesn’t like. That's just nonsense.

A storm is a storm. Period. What God DOES want to accomplish, however, is to get people to work together and believe the best in each other. Watching neighbor helping neighbor pleases the Father. It is then that the very bestimpulses emerge from our fallen human nature.

We are forced to take inventoryof what is really important in life and, in those moments when the pain of overload threatens our willingness to go on, He is right there . . . in the middle of the storm.

“In the eye of the storm, You remain in control;
And in the middle of the war, You guard my soul;
You alone are the anchor, When my sails are torn;
Your love surrounds me, In the eye of the storm.”

(A special thanks to Ryan Stevenson!)

Jim Beaird

Ram in the Thicket

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 19:26:00 +0000

We have all measured the cost of our own generosity. In our minds, we think, “I can afford this . . . or at least recover shortly.” Isn’t that the way human nature calculates seeming acts of sacrifice?

Abraham was asked by God to give Isaac as an offering upon a mountain. Isaac was God’s fulfillment of a promise made long ago to a barren couple well into their final years. Now, God told Abraham to give him back.

Imagine with me the untold devastation the couple felt when everything they had ever hoped for and prayed for was now being recalled.

I can see the knife being held in his hand just as it ascends before the plunge. I can see the young boy on the stack of stones being used as an altar. I can see the pain in the father’s eyes as tears flow down his cheeks. But, like I said, God provided a ram to be the sacrifice. He wanted to know what was in Abraham’s heart. Would he cling to the blessing of a child in his old age or would he honor God’s directive?

Of course, we know the biblical narrative behind the directive. It was a test. Abraham passed. The boy and his father returned home to a very relieved mother.

Isaac’s father was provided a ram in the thicket—just in time!

God does ask things of us in order to test and stretch our faith. He knows what’s ahead and has promised to always keep us in the hollow of his hand. However, during the test we often feel abandoned and left to our own calculations. God’s reason for the test is to take us to the next level in our trusting him and in his demonstration of provision.

What is He asking of you? Has he asked something that your calculations cannot justify? Your part is to trust him. His part is to provide a ram in the thicket—just in time. What he placed in your heart, he will accomplish – with room to spare.

Jim Beaird

"The Pain of Overload"

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Fri, 05 May 2017 11:16:00 +0000

“It hurts!”

Those were the words of David Tate, 180 pound safety for the 1990 Chicago Bears. He was not referring to getting blocked on a play. He was referring to the good-natured rivalry between the smaller defensive backs and the defensive line of the Bears.

One day, 320 pound William “the Fridge” Perry caught Tate and collapsed on top of him. As if that were not enough, 270 pound Richard Dent, 275 pound Dan Hampton, and 270 pound Steve McMichael joined Perry in squishing the much smaller Tate. That’s 1135 pounds of pain! More than half a ton! Tate later replied, “I don’t think those guys knew how heavy they really are!”

Life has a way of weighing us down and pinning us to its playing field. We feel hard pressed with the responsibilities of life—not to mention the things that occur without warning. It seems that surprises come in multiples—one thing after another and usually on top of what is already weighing you down.

Jesus told us that we could trust Him to take us through life’s toughest trials. In Matthew 11:28-30, He said,

“Come to Me, all you who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

When life hits you and pins you down and when you think the very life is being crushed out of you, look to Jesus Christ and trust Him for the strength to come through victorious! He’s already been crushed and bruisedbeyond what we will ever have to experience.

Jim Beaird

Roots of the Fallen Nature

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Sat, 22 Apr 2017 12:31:00 +0000

In his classic writing, The Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer relates how it is the propensity of fallen man to always want to possess things. He states, "There is within the human heart a tough fibrous root of fallen life whose nature is to possess, always to possess. It coverts "things" with a deep and fierce passion."

In the biblical narrative about Abraham and his promised heir, Isaac, God had to deal with a heart attitude Abraham had developed toward his son. He had actually allowed a root of possessiveness to go deep into his heart and choke out the intimate relationship once held with God. This could not be. God needed to help Abraham realign his affections to where they once were--before Isaac's presence dominated his dad's love.

You know the story. A directive to sacrifice the love of his life--his son, the rightful heir to all he possessed. We may never really understand the turmoil Abraham went through that night just before the trip with Isaac to do what God had commanded.
Only a loving parent can understand the depth of anguish he experienced. But he was obedient and you know the rest of the story. God blessed his obedience because Abraham realigned his priorital love toward God--the giver of all things and of life itself.

Roy Hicks Jr. once said, "What you give to God, He'll give back with power." I wonder how many of us have not experienced God's power because we hold to the things in which we are confident and experienced. Have we developed, as Tozer put it, "a tough fibrous root" in our hearts that keeps us from the kind of blessing God intended for us all along?

Whatever you embrace will shape you. It will determine your priorities and establish your value system. If you refuse to let go, you will discover that a tough root has grown in your heart and it has control over you. It keeps you from becoming the individual God intends you to be. Its end is death.

However, if you submit to God's design, you will need to do some root-removal. The pain of the process will produce a product pleasing to God--an uncluttered heart capable of receiving His richest blessing!

Dr. Jim Beaird

Generosity: A well-Kept Secret

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Thu, 09 Feb 2017 17:38:00 +0000

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"Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.” - Luke 6:38

Did you know that Luke 6:38 has nothing to do with the giving of our tithes?

Let that sink in for just a moment. . . .

Ok, I’ll say it again. Luke 6:38 has nothing to do with the giving of our tithes.

Our tithes already belong to God. Returning them to Him simply elicits His provision in meeting our daily need. I’ve always said that 10 percent of our income has the potential for either a curse or a promise of provision. Try not giving your tithes. I guarantee you will have repair bills or medical costs equaling or surpassing what you didn’t give in tithes.

But, I’m not expounding on the virtue of giving your tithes.Stay with me.

We always seem to link tithes and offerings to God’s blessing. I did, until one day I saw Luke 6:38 in a completely different light. That’s when I realized that God wanted to bless my life through the incredible principle of ‘generosity.’

My wife and I started secretly responding to need as it became apparent to us through various opportunities.

At first, we did not expect anything in return. We still don’t.

However, we discovered that God rewards the generous spirit. Things started appearing in our life that did not fit into the “need” category.

We actually began to experience a form of blessing that God reserves for the generous individuals who are willing to be His answer to prayer in someone’s life.

Generosity has added a whole new dimension to our life.

Ways to practice “generosity:”

1. When in a restaurant, pray for an opportunity to pay someone’s meal cost. Simply ask the waitress to “snag” their check, wait till after you leave and then tell them their meal ticket has been paid. This is a great way to bless police officers and first responders.

2. Listen to conversations in which someone shares a financial or other need. Ask God to show you how He wants you to be His answer to their prayer.

3.Tip your waitress/waiter or hotel maid well—even if the service was not up to your approval. Perhaps they need someone to bless them and help turn a bad day around.

4. Don't wait until you have extra. Be generous out of your need. That's the seed that God blesses!

5. Oh, and don't give to get. That takes all the fun out of the whole idea of being God's boots on the ground. Don't worry . . . He will bless you in ways you never imagined.

If you decide to trust God in this area, do so with no other motive than to be His hand in someone’s life. Do it anonymously and do not look for an opportunity to be praised for your generosity.

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After all, God keeps good books!

Dr. Jim

Old Ruts Won't Take You to New Places

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Mon, 02 Jan 2017 14:17:00 +0000

As I walked down the wooded path near the river, I noticed a pair of parallel ruts that seemed to go on forever. The wheel channels were dangerously deep from years of use. As I thought about those ruts, I imagined a horse-drawn buggy with a tired horse pulling it and walking between the ruts.

There was no resistance because the paths were well-worn. The driver did not have to steer. The ruts were so deep the wheels were literally locked in their channels.

Every once in a while the ruts were shallower, allowing the buggy to break free if necessary. But when that happened, the buggy tipped and jarred and tossed its load around. The driver had to hang on for dear life and the horse had to pull harder. Once free of the ruts, the driver could take the carriage wherever he wanted to go.

There are several observations that accompany this thought.

Roads are nice, but without maintenance usually become ruts;
Ruts come in pairs—breaking free requires a second effort;
Being in a rut takes you to the same place every time and requires little of the driver;
Ruts develop from years of repetition;

Gaining a new sense of direction and purpose requires a second effort to break free of the second rut.

The second rut is the hardest rut from which to break free. Why? Because all four wheels follow the curvature of the ruts. One set of wheels is still between the ruts and the other set is free of the ruts. The objective is to break free of the ruts altogether.

However, another“tipping” awaits the second effort. This is precisely where most drivers either go back into the path provided by the ruts or they give the second effort—usually the hardest part—to break completely free of the rutted path. The second rut tips the wagon the most and presents the greatest danger to the driver, the wagon and the horse.

The idea of being in a rut is not really given much thought because those who have been driving the wagon usually feel they have earned the right to put the wagon on auto-pilot right there in the ruts.

Just remember, ruts dictate direction and negate creativity. They become “long graves” with a predictable death to those locked in their grip. Breaking free requires courage, vision and determination to cut a new path to God.

If you are locked in a rut and your joy in life seems non-existent, determine to break free from the old rut and carve a new path to a preferred future.

Old ruts won't take you to new places.

“Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” Isaiah 43:19

Jim Beaird

Who Are You Going to Listen To?

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 14:40:00 +0000

My oldest son is an adventurer. He has climbed the 4 highest mountains on 3 different continents. His superb training and conditioning provide the needed edge to endure the harshest environmental elements on earth. He has camped in minus 40 degree temperatures and has endured the worst planet earth could offer.

His most recent adventure was climbing Mt. Everest - 29,029 feet.

While he was on Everest in April and May of 2011, he accomplished something only 3,000 other people have ever accomplished. He summited. While many thousands of climbers try to reach the peak, 99 percent of them fall short of reaching the highest pinnacle in the world.

He told me something I shall never forget. He watched many others begin the ascent but one by one, they decided to quit without ever reaching the summit. Just being on the mountain was enough for them. They began to listen to the voices that told them to quit. The voices said, “You are getting too tired. You might die up here.” He said he actually saw a man die on the trail to the top. When they die, they are left on the mountain, and he said he literally stepped over some bodies frozen into the snow and ice.

Climbing Mt. Everest takes about 60 days. Kyle said it was surprising how many people only wanted to say they had been on the mountain without ever reaching the summit—or even coming close. But he said, “Most quit because either they were not conditioned to even be on the mountain, or they lost the mind battle and started listening to others who were talking negatively and pulled their thought processes down with them. He went on to say, ". . . nobody who started talking negatively ever reached the top."

There are voices competing for your attention right now. How you respond to those voices determines how you will finish. Who are you going to listen to?

There are trials playing out in your lives right now. You might be entertaining the decision to give up and accept defeat. Who are you going to listen to?

Your sense of self-worth and self-esteem has been eroded by a relationship gone badly. You see no good in yourself or anybody else because you have believed the lies about the lack of possibilities. Who are you going to listen to?

The enemy of your soul wants to come between you and your promise. He’s injected thoughts of discouragement and doubt. Who are you going to listen to?

You are beginning to wonder if the dreams you had earlier in your life will ever come to pass. It was God who put those dreams in your heart and it is the enemy who wants you to give up on them. Who are you going to listen to?

The truth is, we condition ourselves to accept the worst in life instead of the best. We talk ourselves out of God’s richest blessings and build a whole theology around second best.

Who are you going to listen to?

What Really Matters Will Not Be Lost

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 03 May 2011 13:02:00 +0000

If I were to ask you, "What event comes to mind when I say shipwreck?" Most immediately refer to the sinking of the Titanic while in reality, it's loss of life paled in comparison to the Lusitania (1,924), the Wilhelm Gustloff (9,300), or the Dona Paz (4,386).

One such disaster stands out among the others as truly unique. It is the sinking of the Andrea Doria in July 1956, Italy's finest and most luxurious ocean cruiser ever. Its amenities included state-of-the-art technology and a unique double hull to ensure its unsinkability. It had made the trans-oceanic trip exactly 100 times and was now nearing New York Harbor early the morning of July 26. At the same time, the Swedish-American cruiser, Stockholm, with its bow heavily reinforced for ice breaking, was leaving the harbor. There, in the dense fog off Nantucket Island, a maritime disaster was about to be written into the history books.

Following several critical errors by the boats' captains and crew, the Stockholm slammed into the side of the Andrea Doria. As the two giant vessels sat motionless in the water, the Andrea Doria's fuel tanks filled with 500 tons of sea water. The bow of the Stockholm had slashed through both of her hulls and she began to list sharply to one side. A distress signal was immediately sent out and all but 52 people were saved.

The thing that makes this story incredible was not the relatively low loss of life from both ships, but a unique rescue no one has been able to explain. After the Stockholm had been towed back into New York Harbor, workers began to inspect its damaged bow. There, in the twisted beams of iron and steel, they found a young girl. The interesting thing about this girl was that she had been a passenger on the Andrea Doria. As the two ships collided, she was actually clawed from her sleeping compartment and deposited in the bow of the Stockholm. It took several days to reunite her with her grief-stricken mother. She is Linda Morgan, step-daughter of the famous ABC correspondent Edward P. Morgan. Her younger sister was killed.

There are apparent shipwrecks in marriages, occupations, relationships, and ministries. There are times when you may feel you've already slipped beneath the waves. A catastrophe may have changed the course of your life and you couldn't understand why it came about and how it could ever fit into His plan for your life.

You might even feel like the little girl, Linda Morgan, who was literally clawed from her place of safety on the Andrea Doria and deposited in the midst of massive wreckage in another vessel. Your former feelings of safety and security evaporated in the aftermath of the circumstance that left you feeling shipwrecked and broken.

Let me tell you what the Apostle Paul told those aboard the rapidly sinking ship that was supposed to take him to Rome (Acts 27:1-27). The storm will soon be over and what really matters will not be lost.
Additionally, you are God's chosen vessels--ships that carry the good news through the storms of life bringing hope and healing to those who desperately need to know God cares.

God has not left us, nor will he abandon ship when life sends us a tsunami. Nothing has happened in your life that has not first received his permission. The power of his love will both sustain you and keep you when you think all is lost.

Remember, your storm will soon be over and what really matters will not be lost.

God's Timing Pattern

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 13:33:00 +0000

One of the most interesting components of football provides a partial understanding of the providence of God. It is called the timing pattern. A wide receiver or tight end breaks from the line of scrimmage--apparently oblivious to what the quarterback is doing in the backfield. As he jukes right or left, he turns and BAM! There's the football. If executed properly, the timing pattern is almost indefensible, but requires BOTH the quarterback and the receiver know the pattern and willingly commit to making the play exactly as it was designed.

An interesting quality of the timing pattern also requires the thrown ball be almost to the receiver before he turns, finds the ball and makes the catch. Here's another interesting side note. The quarterback did not throw the ball to the player but rather to a place on the field. If the receiver does not execute his pass route properly, he is not there when the ball arrives.

God designed life to be a timing pattern. We can know what God wants us to do and where he wants us to be if we listen carefully to his daily instructions detailing the "plays" and routes necessary for being in the center of his will. We huddle with the Father and listen intently as he lays out the plan--not in some generic and general sense, but in a specific and deliberate manner that always produces eternal results.

The problem most encounter is simply a misunderstanding of who's calling the plays and what their specific function is to be. Can you imagine what would happen if a quarterback called a certain timing pattern and the receiver decided his own route was better? He would not be at the place on the field when the ball arrives and the defenders easily move in for the interception. Good play gone bad!

We find ourselves in timing patterns of life that demand our complete trust. Will God's provision be there when I need it? Does he know where I am right now? Does he know the struggle I go through to be obedient to his play-calling?

The weak link is never with God. He is faithful to execute the plays he's called in the lives of his obedient children. He has already thrown the ball--his provision--and it's up to us to be where it will arrive.

Following a Fixed Point

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 01:18:00 +0000

My brother, Jon, recently posted some thoughts about the moral compass of our conscience . . .

"It’s a moral compass that’s aligned with the true north of God’s own standards for right and wrong."

I couldn't help remembering a unique practice I adopted a several years ago. As I spend many hours in board meetings and committees, I decided that I needed a reminder of an eternal value.

I never will forget the first time I used this unique reminder. I arrived at a board meeting at about the usual time. Others were preparing their places at the table with an assortment of folders, computers and other gadgets. After I had my folders in place and ready for the meeting, I reached into my brief case and retrieved a small compass which I promptly laid on the table directly in front of where I sat.

After a short moment, I discovered an uneasy feeling at having to eventually explain my choice of "gadgets." I was sure that someone would say something, but the morning went by and nobody said a word. I remember the relief I felt at not having to explain. My practice continued for several years without a single inquiry. Finally, someone asked me, "Jim, why do you always have a compass on the table?" I had forgotten the uneasiness of my first few meetings when I was just sure someone would want an explanation. "Are you lost?" they asked, trying to bring some levity to their curiosity.

I looked across the table and started my explanation. The room was filling with board members following a needed break in the meeting. As we returned to our chairs, I could tell another board member was also curious but would never venture into the potential "gotcha" waters. Then another member tuned his ears to hear the explanation. "It is only a reminder that there is always a fixed point in the decision-making process. This little compass always points north--wherever it is--always north. We have a fixed point in Jesus Christ. He is always the same--never changes. We can always depend on Him to give us direction when we are lost. We deal with a lot of issues here and, I don't know about you guys, but I need to know there is a fixed point to which we can keep coming back."

That was all I said. Nobody laughed or inquired further. The meeting started again as I sat staring at the compass, evaluating my explanation.

We need to know there is a fixed point in life. People easily lose their way as hope disappears from their once confident life. Jesus Christ is that fixed point and He will never point us in the wrong direction. We can depend on His unfailing love and guidance.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6

The Stretching and Blessing Principle

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Thu, 30 Dec 2010 14:47:00 +0000

There are times when we simply need to know that God still speaks in ways we can understand. It is not always in a bolt of lightening or in a mighty whirlwind (or in our case in Florida, a hurricane), but He always finds a way to speak to the heart intent on hearing from him.

As I sat quietly reading from Acts 10 recently, I felt myself being drawn into a familiar portion of Scripture--you know, the one where Peter had a dream and a large sheet with animals of all kinds was lowered from heaven. Then he heard a voice which said, "Kill and eat." Peter hesitated because Jewish dietary law did not permit eating the kinds of animals contained in the sheet. But the voice continued, "Do not call unclean what I have called clean."

Across town at the same time, a man named Cornelius--a non-Jew, had a dream instructing him to cross town to where Simon the tanner of hides lived and retrieve a man named Peter. Peter would tell them about the Messiah and the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ--at least that's what the voice indicated.

The rest is history. Cornelius found Peter at Simon's place. I can just imagine the conversation between the two as Peter eyed the Gentile (probably unclean) standing before him asking him to come and talk to a group of more Gentiles. He is probably thinking, "Boy, first a strange dream telling me I can eat unclean foods, and now this Gentile asking me to come and fellowship with more of his ilk."

The bottom line was that God wanted to stretch Peter's belief system so he could bless a whole class of forgotten souls--the Gentiles. But . . . that's not the way we've always done things! Wrong! God's plan must include everyone or it is just another exclusive club with its social barriers preventing His message of rescue from being heard by everyone.

Peter was stretched and responded appropriately to God's purpose for his life. Cornelius (and a host of Gentiles) were blessed and received the message of hope gratefully. End of story? Not yet . . .

The challenge to me came so abruptly it almost knocked me off my chair. I realized that, like Peter, I considered certain people beyond God's desire to reach. You know . . . . that element of society which lives on the extreme edge of radicalism and adopts belief and behavior so far beyond our scope of correctness that we've written them off.

Wow. I had to take a deep breath and gather my best theological thoughts. Then I realized, we are usually unwilling to be stretched so others can be blessed. I had just prayed for a revelation from God's Word and here it was--non-theological in its import but resoundingly clear in its effect on me.

I realized He was teaching me a new principle--at least new to me. It is the stretching and blessing principle. He stretches one so another can be blessed. Good plan and no waste. Ok, Father . . . I'm starting to get it . . .

Low Tide in Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 03:07:00 +0000

As we crossed the Tampa Bay bridge on our way to the airport, I noticed that the tide was out and the water had receded several hundred feet from the shore. Hundreds of birds flocked to the extended shore line as a veritable feast of creatures lay flip-flopping in the sunlight, trying to get to the water and escape their hungry pursuers. Everything has a purpose, I thought, as we continued our drive to the airport.

The scene was one I'd seen hundreds of times--low tide meant feeding time for sea gulls, herons and other birds intent upon keeping the balance of nature on an even keel. I'd never given it a second thought, except to simply note its periodic and predictable occurrence.

As I drove, my mind would not let loose of the familiar scene. Then it occurred to me that God has chosen the simple things--even in nature--to demonstrate his ability to guide us through life. For instance, the tide is caused by the moon's gravitational pull upon the earth. As the earth rotates, tides shift around the world, and millions of creatures either get fed or get fed upon.

The low tide demonstrates how an eternal force can have an effect upon our world. While it may be one way in which God shows his care for an infinite number of aquatic creatures, it represents only a tiny percentage of his involvement in his creation.

We all experience low-tide periods in our lives. The safety of the shoreline suddenly gets displaced by something outside of our control and we simply flip-flop in the newly inflicted discomfort trying to regain our familiar and safe surroundings. Life's low tide actually provides a balance only God can orchestrate into a time of growth and purpose.

High tide follows low tide. Up times follow down times. Victory follows adversity. Perhaps something outside your immediate sphere of influence proves to be detrimental to the order of your neat and predictable life. Whatever you are going through at this particular time is not permanent--it's just God allowing times in which your character is tested and your resolve to follow through is solidified. Tough times produce tough people.

God loves us too much to allow comfort and security to rob us of the opportunity for growth. The secret is to understand the purpose of the low tides.
Nature's tide responds to the pull of the moon; ours--the SON!!

Got Guilt?

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 12:50:00 +0000

“I have discovered this principle of life—that when I want to do what is right, I inevitably do what is wrong. I love God’s law with all my heart. But there is another power within me that is at war with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin that is still within me. (24) Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death? The answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 7:21-23, 25)

The interesting thing about the “resident evil” Paul speaks about in vv. 21-23 is that it not only produces awareness of the sinful nature still at work within us which tries to disconnect us from the Father’s love, but it also produces debilitating guilt. In my experience, the guilt issue does more damage to our confidence in Christ’s love than anything else.

That the sin nature will always be at work within us is a given and we will always struggle with its vacillating frequency of expression. Yet, the guilt issue is the deal breaker for most Christians who cannot understand why they still have sinful urgings and occasionally lapse into carnality. Subsequently, the question of heaven-readiness makes a person feel like a boat anchor stuck on the bottom of the lake. We fear getting left behind and wonder if we will ever truly rise above the grip of the old nature.

The only thing God wants us to take away from this portion of scripture is the provision of 7:25—Jesus Christ. Paul simply states the answer is in Jesus Christ our Lord. God made everything about us and he delights in our fellowship. Yet the old nature still levies explosive salvos into our thinking via outside stimuli and watches our reaction to the thought bombs. The fact that our sinful nature can still come out of hiding and raise its ugly head once in a while is reason enough to be sober about the possibilities and effects of yielding to its occasional lure. We cannot let our guard down nor can we grant the enemy diplomatic immunity.

Some may choose to live in guilt because they feel they deserve its oppressive presence as penance for their misdeeds. But, God has provided an answer. That answer is Jesus Christ—his full presence in our lives and his strength at work against the lies of the enemy.

What’s the issue? The sin we commit or the guilt we allow?

Remember, guilt comes from the enemy but grace comes to the repentent heart from a loving Father.

The Seed of a Dream

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 14:16:00 +0000

A young student stood before his teacher's opened and extended hand. "What do yo see in my hand?" asked the teacher.

After a brief moment the student replied, "I see garden seeds."

The teacher paused, waiting for the student to amend his brief reply.

Then he said, "Look again. What do you see?"

The student's eyes lifted to meet the penetrating gaze of the teacher. "Seeds. Just some seeds," he finally said. "Nothing more or less . . . just some seeds." The teacher's eyes never lost contact with those of his young prodigy.

"And what would happen if I planted them?" he quizzed, attempting to draw out more than the student initially gave him.

After only a brief moment, a grin appeared on the student's face. "Then that's where you'd really have something! That's when the seeds could become what they were intended to become," he replied, his grin widening. "You have to plant them for them to be useful. Otherwise, they will always just be seeds."

Every dream begins as a seed. Anyone can take something already developed and manage it. It takes a visionary to take the small thing and see what it can become with God’s help.

God delights to give us a small measure of something and watch us learn to trust him for the wisdom and insight to grow it into something of significance.

When we realize that the small thing we have has potential and opportunity for God to demonstrate how big he really is, only then do we understand the process of God’s development of his children.

He gives us things that have potential—seeds that can be grown into mighty oak trees—and expects us to be stewards over that potential. Every child of God receives the same opportunity to envision the possibilities and watch God demonstrate his awesome power.

We must have confidence, not only that he will allow the dreams he's placed in our heart to come to fruition, but that the pursuit of those dreams belongs to us as stewards.

Dare to dream big. After all, it is God who placed those dreams in our heart for a purpose. His design for our life manifests itself in the growing of those small seeds into something that pleases him and brings significance to our lives.

The Masterpiece of the Broken

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 13:08:00 +0000

"What does this bunch of poor, feeble Jews think they're doing? Do they think they can build the wall in a single day by just offering a few sacrifices? Do they actually think they can make something of stones from a rubbish heap--and charred stones at that?" Nehemiah 4:2

God always seems to see the big picture. I am reminded of the rebuilding of Jerusalem's walls under Nehemiah. Some of the rubble stones were even charred from fire and lay in a heap with the other stones.

The workers who rebuilt the wall used everything, put the broken pieces back in place, and did not apologize for the way things looked. Obviously, it drew sarcastic comments from the detractors who were actually squatters and did not want the wall rebuilt.

But the images I keep thinking about are the charred stones.
Imagine what the wall must have looked like—charred stones intermingled with the clean ones, producing a speckled effect from a distance. In the end, it did not matter whether or not the stones carried a layer of soot produced by a destructive fire. It only mattered that they had not been discarded and were being used in equal amounts with the other stones.

It must have looked like a patchwork of odds and ends, yet produced strength enough to accomplish the enormous objective of providing safety for those within its boundaries.

God uses the discarded, burnt-out remnants of humanity to achieve his masterpieces in the lives of those who call him Father. He uses the unlikely, the wounded, and the rejects to do what only he can do—produce a masterpiece whose ingredients are as unalike as possible—just to show he can.

It's the Masterpiece of the Broken.

The Shadow of Discouragement

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:05:00 +0000

It comes silently and lurks just outside of our awareness. It waits patiently for the precise time, knowing it will come.

It cherishes its mission and is master of instilling doubts and fear in a healthy heart.

Its effectiveness is especially lethal during times of illness or fatigue as dropped defenses ensure easy prey.

It speaks to the heart of one who falters, insinuating God’s broken promises and disregard for one’s condition.

It lines the heart with doubt and infects the soul with poisonous lies.

It seeks to dim the awareness of God’s radiance and blocks out the rays of optimism and hope.

It boasts of futility and questions the resolve to finish at all—let alone the determination to finish strong.

It is a well-worn tool, used for centuries to pry into a man’s heart and deflate good intentions.

It clouds the purpose of a life and injures perspective. It blurs focus and inflicts double vision.

It is an overwhelming and ever-increasing weight hiding in the back-pack of responsibility.

Its price tag is easy credit with compounding interest.

It is the sound of a single note played at a deafening pitch, blocking out life’s melodies of joy.

It feeds on fruitless activities and misplaced priorities.

It convinces of the need to change venue without realizing the vision.

Its credentials boast countless successes in human failure.

It feeds on despair and punctuates disappointment.

It suggests the abandonment of goals and argues the validity of work ethic while dousing the heart with ice water.

It seeks to annihilate one’s future with promises of doom and disappointment.

It scoffs at the resolve to shake free and reinforces its hold on the hapless heart. It robs courage and peddles fear—replacing hope with the gloom of uncertainty.

It pastes itself like a poster in one’s heart and mind as a constant reminder of its presence.

It knows when to leave dormancy and sap existing life.

It is ever resourceful—constantly changing to blend with our lives and avoid detection.

Discouragement is the enemy’s “main drain” in the lives of those who are determined to go the distance but lack the stamina.

God knows all about the enemy’s strategy. He knows all about our weariness and disappointments. His strength sustains us through trials and fears. His great love compels us to receive His promises as relief from the assaults of the enemy. We have borne the yoke of discouragement far too long.

Psalm 55:22 tells us;

Cast your burden on the Lord, and He shall sustain you; He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Receive a promise—His promise—that will never be affected by the power of discouragement nor will it give way to an enemy who knows no mercy.

That Sinking Feeling

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 02:26:00 +0000

The western banks of the Hudson River in New York used to be the anchorage point for dozens of WW II battle ships. For decades their shells bobbed lifelessly as they awaited the inevitable time when they would be dragged out to sea and used for target practice or simply sunk.

These ships once sailed the wartime oceans filled with fuel, munitions, and supplies that would launch an army into the heart of the Axis empire. But, for the last several decades, they have simply been a shadow of their former usage.

About ten years ago I talked with a man I considered influential to my work ethic. He was on my short list of people I allowed to speak into my life. I looked forward to hearing his inspiration as we exchanged greetings and began our impromptu discussion. But as we talked he shared his disappointments in not receiving credit for things he’d accomplished. I noted the far-away look in his eyes as he recounted the things he did—mostly for others, and all for the Kingdom of God. Others had been honored—he had not. In his senior years he became a cynical man. I was shocked at the bitterness that seeped from deep within his soul.

I realized he was like those ships—once useful, now overlooked in his contribution to the lives of countless others. He appeared to be waiting for the time when he could be taken to sea and sunk. The passion was gone from his voice—the glint from his eye.

Yet, I knew him as a man full of passion—full of purpose. He was the type of individual who inspired others to reach for greatness. He never accepted excuses—a no nonsense kind of guy. He affected the lives of all who dared to risk the inevitable challenges they knew came from simply being in his presence. He made people want to try harder—to excel at life and ministry. Now, he visibly mirrored a passionless heart.

I couldn’t help but wonder if his perspective would have been different if he knew the real impact he had on so many younger men who emulated his style and drive.

I remember mostly the pace of his life and the things he accomplished. I remember his excellent Bible studies—the kind that makes a person say, “Wow! I never saw that before!” But I also remember watching him look down, shake his head in apparent futility, and walk away muttering something to himself as if trying come to grips with his disappointment.

If you haven’t guessed by now, I believe that how we end up is more important than how we start out. My dear friend lost something along the way that he never recovered. In his final years he lived without the acclaim he rightly should have enjoyed, yet he finished his race just ahead of the dark cloud that had nearly engulfed him earlier.

I feel inspired anew just thinking of how I wanted to please him and gain his approval. Yet, through his foray into despair, he taught me not to look to men for the approval that can only come from God . . . . . I think he knows that now.

Hot Wings 'N Things

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 22:53:00 +0000

Once a week, my wife visits her mother in another city in the Tampa Bay area. She’s usually gone overnight and returns the afternoon of the next day. Her absence used to set the stage for an indulgence in one of my favorite foods—spicy hot wings—lots of them!

I like hot wings. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it. In fact, I can have a tail-gating party with myself right in my own living room during one of my favorite team’s football games. (I usually do not invite guests because that cuts down on the wing supply.) But that’s ok . . . I can cheer in stereo and make up for the low tailgater numbers.

I hope you can detect the over-emphasis on my love for hot wings, but everybody has a weakness, right? After all, aren’t we all entitled to some indulgence to keep our eyes from crossing? Wouldn’t want to end up like that!

Actually, self-indulgence is a killer. (THAT was sure a change of pace!!) True . . . self-indulgence is a killer whose prey includes those whose appetites rule their lives. I’m not just talking about food. Anything that indulges the mind or body fits into the category of lethal choices. We make lots of them because they’re subtle and usually do not carry an immediate consequence. Rather, they offer sensory satisfaction that fuels our drive to indulge and de-sensitize our good judgment.

While my love for hot wings is epic, I also know that I cannot allow myself to let that appetite over-ride my balance in decision-making. (But, you must admit, that’s easier said than done.) Additionally, I am no longer a young man and my body cannot deal with the constant bombardment of spice and lard like it could at a younger age. My body’s metabolism has changed and so must my choices in food. When I was younger, I could eat as much of anything I wanted—and often did. My problem was not drinking or smoking or drug use. It was food—even though I did not consider it a problem until the consequences started emerging.

So, then . . . is the issue to make right choices about things we once took for granted, or must we begin to gain a wider perspective about the choices we make earlier in life? I think “earlier in life” gets the vote. The sooner a person engages in constructive decision-making, the sooner he or she puts to rest the things that tend to cause problems later in life. You can see the consequences of poor choices all around you every day.

My wife had to watch her weight early in our marriage, but I didn’t have a thing to worry about because my metabolism allowed me to pig out on anything I wanted. She began making the right choices then, and today enjoys a svelte and fit figure. Now, I’m the one who has to really watch the caloric count. It could have been easier if I’d started when she did earlier in life. Funny how that rings of poetic justice!

I contend that if a person began to make choices based upon an understanding of the future consequences or benefits of those choices, more decisions would be made that produce a richer, fuller life.

My goal is to grow old with the wife of my youth. To do that, I must continue to make better choices about the appetites I once allowed to rule my life. It’s all a matter of perspective—getting things into the right focus. It’s about making right choices and being able to live with the satisfaction those choices produce.

The Empty Stall Stigma

noreply@blogger.com (gatorguy) — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 01:20:00 +0000

The whole issue of productivity can be boiled down to what is used and what is not. Busyness for busyness sake is not productivity. Neither does the hand of the idle nor the belly of the sluggard compliment a job well done or an enterprise fully accomplished. Yet, these two diametrically opposed sides of the coin have much more in common than the initial inspection would reveal.

It is true that the empty stall gathers no mess. It is also true that a rolling stone gathers no moss and that a parked car saves wear and tear on the tires while increasing gas mileage. An un-watered lawn saves water and an un-vacuumed room stirs no dust.

This train of thought leads only to abuse through non-use. More is at stake here than is easily observable because it is hidden behind the perception that ‘safe’ is alright. After all, nothing will be lost if nothing is placed at risk—right?

The gifts, talents, and abilities that God has given to us were given for a reason. He wants to accomplish two things—the development of His resources and the deployment of His servants. Neither can take place in a venue of safety. Man’s propensity for safety stalls everything that God seeks to do in the life of a believer that—somewhere along the line—told God that they are His and that they will go wherever He wants them to go and do whatever He wants. But, they settle into a predictable lifestyle that yields neither fruit nor adventure.
That’s right, I said ‘adventure.’ God wants us on the edge of our seats just waiting for what He reveals—just ahead—around the corner. He wants us dependent upon Him for directions through the things that will shape us into vessels He can use—in His way, in His time. No predictability here!

Proverbs 14:4 says, "An empty stall stays clean," but the second half of the verse says, “but no income comes from an empty stall.”

The question I face is this—“What will I do with my stall?” Will I keep it clean and safe and predictable or will I invite people and events that will change its pristine décor and, perhaps, leave a mess. Will my stall show signs of use and be a friendly place for those who need God’s touch or will it resemble one of those museum displays of a room where so-and-so used to sit and reflect on who knows what?

What will be the epitaph when all is said and done? Will more be said than done?

Ah, yes. An ode to the odorless stall.