One More For JC

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.  Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.  Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.  (Galatians 5:24-26) Most people who know me consider me to be one of the most competitive people they know (if not THE most).  Most of my life I took great pride in that.  If you stepped onto the basketball court, the baseball diamond, the bowling alley, the ping pong table, or whatever with me, you knew full well you were not only going to get a challenge, but everything I had to give. Losing for me was not an option; I simply had to win.  This challenge I placed upon myself drove me to improve and drove me to succeed.  For years, I considered this a good thing.  What was wrong with striving to improve or striving to be the best?   It took a great deal of humbling to finally get the answer.  For years, I missed what impact my competitiveness was havin

Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Hebrews 12:1-3) When I reflect upon this verse and think about those sins that prevent me from fixing my eyes on Jesus, one of the first things that come to mind is my pride.  A couple weeks ago I was reviewing some of the verse applications I had written last year.  I came across the following words that I had shared in the app entitled “Nothing is Hidden From God” written on 8/8/1999: “The main reason I created this site was twofold:  1) To share my love for Christ with others and  2) To overcome my resistance to read the bible.  For most of

I heard, but I did not understand.  So I asked, “My lord, what will the outcome of all this be?”  He replied, “Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.  Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.  None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.  (Daniel 12:8-10) Thankfully, Y2K has come and gone.  Fears over a nasty computer glitch swept the world.  Many people took extra precautions to avoid a potential disaster.  Holiday travel was at a low, baked beans and bottles of water were snatched from the shelves, extra money was taken out from the bank, generators were stockpiled, etc.  But nothing happened.  As each country successfully rang in the new millennium without any major problems, a collective sigh of relief was exhaled.  For my part, I took a number of precautions.  I withdrew most of my money from the stock market in November.  On the 30 th , D