Sobering words

Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”

I’ve been thinking about this statement a lot since I first read it a few days ago.  I think what King is saying is this: don’t measure a man when everything in his life is wonderful; measure a man when everything in his life seems to be going against him.  It is in these situations that you see the character of that man.

Kevin
   
“A Christian is like a tea bag – he is not worth much until he’s been through some hot water” - Author unknown

Shine the light

A few days ago at church, a question was posed that has since been ringing in my ears.  It was not from my pastor but rather from a gentleman who was allotted a few minutes in the service because he is involved in our local outreach ministry.  The question was simply: “How are you going to let your light shine today?”

The person didn’t quote this passage, but I’m reminded of Matthew 5.  Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.  A city on a hill cannot be hidden.  Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl.  Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven” (verses 14-16).  You may think that this concept is only limited to doing something big like sharing your faith with someone.  While that certainly applies to this idea, there are other examples.  Let me list a few that come to mind.

We can let our light shine by selflessly serving others when we desperately want to be served.  We can shine our light by living a life of integrity and Christ-likeness.  Here’s one that may surprise you: we can shine our light by doing our very best at our jobs.  You say, "You've lost me."  Well, if people know you are a Christian, and you’re always slacking off, this doesn’t represent Christ very well.  We should do our very best on the job.

How about this one?  For those of you gentlemen that are married, you can let your light shine by loving your wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:25).  You are to die for your wife if you have to, but the more likely scenario is for you to die to your wants and desires, and instead serve her and meet her needs.

To sum it up, my heart’s desire is to let my light shine. I desire to simply point others to the greatness of God, not to the greatness of Kevin Bauer (because honestly, I am not great).  The way I look at it, a day that I choose not to shine the light – to “put the lamp under a bowl” as Jesus put it – is a squandered day and opportunity.

“How are you going to let your light shine today?”

Kevin

There's no offseason in the NFL

If you are a football fan, you are no doubt aware that four time league MVP Peyton Manning was recently released by the Indianapolis Colts.  Since then, every team in the NFL has dreamed about what it would be like to have the great Manning as their starting quarterback. 

I myself have been watching this Manning saga closely.  As I see it, there are only two teams that are on the list of becoming the next team that Peyton plays for.  #1: The Denver Broncos; #2: The Arizona Cardinals.  Some of you are wondering why I’m not listing the Miami Dolphins.  I could be wrong about this, but I just don’t think he’ll go to Miami because the Dolphins just finished a disappointing 6-10 season.  At this point in his career, I don’t foresee Peyton going to a team that is not a legitimate contender.  The Broncos, of course, went to the second round of the playoffs and lost to the Patriots.  The Cardinals were in the Super Bowl a few years ago under Kurt Warner, but have come upon hard times since Warner’s retirement (they just concluded an 8-8 season).

There was a report that stated that Peyton was leaning towards the Denver Broncos.  Meanwhile, the Jacksonville Jaguars have apparently expressed interest in Tim Tebow if the Broncos sign Peyton Manning.  Here’s the link, if you are interested.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/17728016/report-manning-favors-denver-broncos-would-trade-tebow

Only time will tell how this whole episode will play out.  Peyton just finished meeting with the Cardinals; I wouldn’t be surprised if Manning makes a decision soon. 

The reason I am bringing all this up is an important one.  As a Bronco fan, I would certainly be thrilled to have a fantastic quarterback like Manning in Denver.  But as a Tim Tebow fan, I have to wonder what is running through Tebow’s mind as he tries to block out all of the talk of Manning.  I came across this inspirational quote that Tebow made long before this Peyton Manning storyline developed.  “Something I learned early in college [is] not to worry about what I can’t control…But what I can control is my attitude, my effort, my focus every single day and that’s what I’m trying to worry about.”    

http://www.quotesandpoem.com/quotes/showquotes/author/tim-tebow/174478

Tim’s sentiment is something that we all can learn from.  Clearly there are things in each of our lives that we can’t control.  We can’t fret, worry and agonize about these things.  Why not?  Well, for one thing, because it does absolutely no good to do so.  We have to remember and hold on to the fact that God is in control, no matter what.

Kevin

“Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything” - Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

The fragility of life

Many years ago, I heard a public speaker claim that with advances in scientific technology, proper exercise, and so on, he expected to live to be one hundred years old.  That was the exact word he used; he said he “expected” to live to be 100.  I find this man’s declaration problematic because he is not doesn’t taking into account how fragile life is, no matter how technologically advanced we get.

For example, have you considered how incredible it is that we drive to work, school, and local hangout spots, and then subsequently return home safely?  Think about how fast we go in our cars today.  The posted speed limit signs on the interstates where I live ranges from 55-75 miles an hour!  Even side streets can go up to as high as 45-55 miles an hour!  At that speed, one wrong move and your life could end in a second from an oncoming car.  Every day we take our lives into our own hands by choosing to get behind the wheel of an automobile simply because of the convenience of arriving at our destinations quickly.

Or for another example, contemplate how the Bible mentions that we should be grateful just to awaken every day because it was God who sustained us, and kept our hearts beating overnight as we slept (Psalm 3:5).

In a classic episode of the TV show “Frasier” a man died of a heart attack even though there was no indication whatsoever that this was imminently approaching.  Frasier then spent the rest of the episode obsessing as to how this man could have been overtaken by a heart attack.  He discovered that the man ate right, exercised regularly, and didn’t smoke or drink alcohol.  Such is the fragility of life!

Nowhere in the Bible do we read, “Expect to live to be 100 years old.”  To the contrary, the Bible says cherish each day for the gift of God that it really is.  James 4 even says that we shouldn’t go around saying, “Tomorrow we’ll go here and do this,” because we don’t really know what is going to happen tomorrow.  Instead we should say, “If it’s God’s will we’ll go here and do this” (James 4:13-15).

Kevin