I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.

                                                                                    –Michael Jordan

King David, Abraham, or Peter could have made a similar statement. Being human means, we don’t always succeed. Some of the greats of the past had their down times. There is only One who walked this planet and did everything perfectly.

The Lord knows we are but dust. However, He is willing to take us into His family, treat us like His children and motivate us to do better in the game of life.

Isaiah 41:10

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

1 Peter 5:6–7

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.

This is the only life you will be given. Play hard, give it your best shot, and stay in the game.

Think about it.

Gary

Both the hummingbird and the vulture fly over our nation’s deserts. All that vultures see is rotting meat because that is what they look for. They thrive on that diet. But hummingbirds ignore the smelly flesh of dead animals. Instead, they look for the colorful blossoms of desert plants. The vultures live on what was. They live on the past. They fill themselves with what is dead and gone. But hummingbirds live on what is. They seek new life. They fill themselves with freshness and life. Each bird finds what it is looking for. We all do.

– Steve Goodier, Quote Magazine, in May, 1990 R.D.

This is a great article in explaining how many are feeding on the things of life. The past is history and all we have is today. What are we going to do with this present life – feed on dead stuff or seek something fresh and powerful?

Matthew 6:11

Give us today our daily bread. 

Matthew 16:11

How is it you don’t understand that I was not talking to you about bread? But be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

Freshness and nutrition come in rightly dividing the Word of Truth. Jesus sets a table full of provision in His Word to get us through today. Rotten stuff comes from the empty religion exemplified by the Pharisees and Sadducees who show up in every generation.

Give it some thought and feast on God’s fresh provision for today.

Gary

I was driving through Quebec with some friends when we spotted an antique car in a field. We had to go and check that out. Standing there admiring the car, my friend said, ”That’s a 1936 Ford.” I quickly replied, “Why does it say Chevrolet here on the hood?” How could we tell the make without a name plate?  We hadn’t come into the world until almost two decades after this car was manufactured.

The lens that we look through when considering things of the past can be very foggy.  Color schemes and designs between manufacturers of that era made it hard to distinguish the difference between makes.

The Old Testament can be like that if we don’t focus our vision through the New Testament.  Both are unique and one can not be understood without the other. The amazing thing is that, after 2,000 years, folks are still enamored with the Book.

2 Timothy 3:16

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,

Romans 15:4

For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Old cars can draw us in and so can the Old Book.

Think about it.

Gary

I was mowing the lawn one summer when a car stopped. Two men, carrying Bibles, got out. They approached me and asked if I knew what the Bible taught. I replied that I did have some questions about the Book. I asked, “How many books are there in the Old Testament?” They didn’t know the answer to that one. I asked another question, “How can you teach me about the Bible when you don’t even know how many books are in it?”

Let’s be very clear: false teachers only know the arguments relating to their false doctrine. They can’t go outside the box. That’s why they can believe the 144,000 sealed of Israel are Gentiles when the Scriptures clearly define them as Jews.

People who carry the Book don’t necessarily know what it contains. Jesus spoke on this subject:

Matthew 23:15

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel across sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes a proselyte, you make him twice as much a child of hell as yourselves.

Don’t worry about their knowledge. Know what the truth is.

Give it some thought.

Gary

“I would just as soon listen to a gangster lecture on honesty as watch Hollywood portray the Bible.”
— Vance Havner

That statement was made over three decades ago and is as relevant for today as it was then. Movie stars, athletes, politicians, and millionaires try to promote the Word of God. I wonder if they even know how many books the Bible contains.

Great preaching and teaching by those who are unrecognized by the world have brought me closer to God. Indeed, many struggling congregations have provided the Christian soldiers for the upcoming generation. In addition, these nameless servants don’t pray for notoriety but faithfulness.

Colossians 3:23-24

Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.

Serve not for the recognition of men, but for that of God.

Give it some thought.

Gary

Recorded on 21 and 22 October 1965, “Nowhere Man” describes a man with no direction in his life and with no genuine worldview.

He’s a real nowhere man
Sitting in his nowhere land
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody

Doesn’t have a point of view
Knows not where he’s going to
Isn’t he a bit like you and me?

Nowhere man, please listen
You don’t know what you’re missing
Nowhere man, the world is at your command

He’s as blind as he can be
Just sees what he wants to see
Nowhere man, can you see me at all

Nowhere man, don’t worry
Take your time, don’t hurry
Leave it all ’til somebody else
Lends you a hand

The Beetles hit the nail on the head with that one. There are so many on the planet who don’t know where they came from, what they are doing here or where they are going after this. They are waiting for something to happen as they live a life of quiet desperation.

The Bible is the only true source that addresses that situation:

Genesis 1:27

God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

John 6:27

Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

You are not a freak of nature. Give it some thought.

Gary

If God has called you, you don’t need a lot. The account is found in the book of Genesis. God called Abraham to leave home and family for a land promised to him and his descendants.  His first act of disobedience was bringing his father and nephew, Lot, with him. His father never made it and took him on a side trip. Lot made it, but was a constant source of irritation in the land.

When I teach on this account, I tell believers to remember never bring along a “Lot” when God calls you. God will supply all you need in the land. It’s a lot that drains us of spiritual life.

1 John 2:15-17
Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.

You didn’t bring anything when you came into the world, and you won’t carry out anything when you leave. Stay light and always be ready to move out without unnecessary baggage, including individuals.

Give it some thought.

Gary