Are you overflowing or running on fumes?

I had the privilege last night of attending the Pott Lincoln Baptist Association Sunday School training at Sharon Baptist Church.  I was definitely blessed by the words spoken and empowered to be faithful to leading in my Sunday School class.  See, as one of the speakers Scott Pace (professor at OBU) stated in his address, God only calls us to be faithful to him. We naturally have a predetermined set of outcomes that we look for to discern if something was successful or not. But that's not what God said. He said "Well done good and faithful servant" Matt. 25:23.  God is pleased when we are faithful.  One of the other speakers spoke on building relationships.  My wife said that one thing she remembered about this topic was that the speaker stressed the importance of being filled up each day.  Filled up meaning you have spent time with God in prayer and in his word so that you are prepared for the day and possible ministry opportunities God has given you.  If you aren't filled up, how are you going to be prepared to show God's love to someone else or speak words of encouragement. You can only share God's love from what He has given you.  You can't receive it unless you spend time meeting with him. The picture of you overflowing with God's love and direction is one that people will be drawn to and seek out for help. If you are intentional about building your Sunday School and reaching people with God's love you got to get filled up.  Then in turn, they can learn how to get filled up to bless someone else. May God bless your ministry.

Run John Run

   So I started back running again about a month or two ago.  I decided I wanted to run faster than I did last year when I ran in the Barney Shirey Memorial 5K. I think I ran it in about 24:45 but felt totally wiped out when it was over. I could have been that I only trained for a few weeks prior to the run. I guess it's the competitor in me that always wants to compete at something, even if it's something as monotonous as running. So my goal is to knock off about 2:45 off of that time. That would be pushing me pretty far but why set goals that are easy to reach. Meeting hard goals makes it that much more fulfilling and drives you in your training.  When I get on a certain kick I go a little overboard sometimes. Case in point, I plan to run in the Route 66 Half Marathon in mid November in Tulsa.  I figure, as long as I am doing all this running I might as well do something I haven't ever done.  Also, since I will have put quite a bit of training into running the half marathon, if I don't succumb to injury or disaster through that experience, I guess I will try and run the full marathon at the OKC Memorial Marathon in April. Disclaimer, I know I am just on a "running high" so to speak and I may swear off running for life after the half marathon so I reserve the right to bow out of the full marathon experience without guilt or possible public ridicule. I don't know what my next competitive endeavor will be but I have several months (and many long runs) to think about it.
   On a side note, I love how Jonathan now always asks, "Are you sweaty daddy?" anytime he sees me wearing my gym shorts and tennis shoes. I guess he is a bit leery about running up and hugging me after he got sweat all over him hugging me post run one day. Experience is the best teacher, especially for little boys.

Friday Night Lights

I just had some old memories come into my mind as I was thinking back to my high school days at Tecumseh High School.  I know, the memories aren't that old by many folks standards. Anyway, I remember many of the little details about going to the Friday night football games.  Now I didn't play football because mom scared me out of playing saying I would hurt myself and wouldn't be able to play basketball.  Well it worked so I got to watch my friends from the stands.  Of course, they used to play at the old stadium in the middle of town so everybody used to get real close and personal to the person next to you because there wasn't any room.  There was usually about four different sections to the seating arrangements. On the end was the band. Then came the student section which had an ever changing seating arrangement from people getting up and down throughout the game.  The middle section right under the press box was for the parents of the players and where most of the verbal assaults on the officials came from.  There was always at least one cow bell in attendance every game.  The final group was all the middle school and underclassmen behind the bleachers who were too busy flirting and sending secret messages via their bff to the boy/girl of their dreams.  I remember the constant pounding of the little boys dressed up in their own football jerseys as they ran across the metal walkway or hopped down the metal bleachers making as much noise as possible. Of course I had a personal interest in the band performances since my future spouse was either playing an instrument or throwing a flag up in the air.  Unfortunately I have only been to a few games at the new stadium and that involved taking my own young kids with me so I don't recall if any of the former traditions of my youth have emerged in the newer, more spacious stadium at Tecumseh High School.  I hope to attend more games this year and possibly see some familiar faces that I haven't seen in a while.  I don't know what section I fit in this time but maybe I can figure it out. GO SAVAGES!

Pride

Hey gang, I'm back from my hiatus.  At least for a post.  I've been reading some good stuff from the book "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis.  That man had some deep thoughts rolling around in his head. I'm glad he put them onto pen and paper though.  One chapter in particular took on pride as one of the hardest sins to recognize in your own life.  He gives the example of school teachers or parents appealing to kids to find the self discipline and strength within themselves to suppress sinful desires of lust, sloth, cheating, whatever the case may be. Upon conquering this "sin" by self will and determination they unwittingly harbor a sense of self pride that they can avoid sinning if they put their mind to it. What they have done in a sense is allow themselves to build up pride in their heart and distance themselves from a reliance on God.  What better way for Satan to gain a foothold in your life than to distance you from a reliance on God.  We know God does not want you to have any part of lust, sloth, cheating, etc... but he knows the only true way to defeat sin is trusting in his strength and power.  Now obviously there are other types of pride that I am not speaking to.  Pride in your country, or a family member, or even in a job well done.  Not what I'm talking about.  It is when you begin to think you can handle things on your own in a world where God is in control of your next breath, that Satan wins the battle.