Face the facts, I'm a loser

I was apart of some pretty amazing sports teams. When I ran cross country in high school we won 1 dual meet in four years. In swimming we won about 8 meets in that stellar high school career. Outside of roller hockey I at least lost 3 out of every 4 meets I participated in. The sad fact, I loved every minute of it.

The relationships and fun that I had on those teams were second to none. From my cross country bonding trips as we crazily ran through the woods to having to be up at ready to go at 5 for a 6 a.m. practice. Some of the memories of those so-called loser teams I will have for the rest of my life. Some of my greatest friends came from those teams. I wouldn’t trade any of those experiences for a couple of more wins. I cherish being a loser.

Paul talks in 2 Corinthians 12 about boasting about weakness. Most people don’t boast about things they are not good at. We try so hard to focus on what we are good at. Listen to what Paul says in some of verse 9-10…

“Therefore I boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

When we are weak we are strong? Sometimes at our weakest moments or times when we fail, we have the realization we are not God. We are humans, full of mistakes, sin and weak. Ever feel like the more you try to control, the less control you have? Paul wasn’t ashamed to be a loser for the simple fact it made Christ more glorified. When he is weak, it truly shows the power of God through all Paul went through. It wasn’t about him, it was about Christ. Christ is strong when we are weak.

Praise God for being a loser. Through being a loser at different aspects of life, it shows me the true need for a savior because I am a ruthless, lawless sinner. I have to admit my weakness because it glorifies God. In cross country we lost a ton, yet they were we some of the best moments of my life.

When is a time you can cherish being a loser? Sometimes our weakest times can be our best times in life. Times we will never forget and we are thankful for those weak moments in life because it shows we are truly apart of something greater then ourselves. Enjoy being a loser. Don’t be ashamed of weakness.

Have a great day.

Why are you doing it, your never going to make it

There is time when utter determination matters.

Some of the greatest inventions and things we use on an everyday basis were made by people that ended up broke and unnoticed.

Charles Goodyear started the tire and spent his life broke.

He died 40 years before Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company was founded.

He spent his entire life working on a product that left him broke but he believed he could do.

He eventually did, but it was after his death that it took off.

I am glad he stuck through it because I like tires and I couldn’t imagine driving on anything else (Until the future looks like it does in Back to the Future 2).

There is something about a determination that people can’t stop.

I ran a marathon in 2000.

I am not saying this to gloat but to tell you what happened before.

Usually you are supposed to take it easy in running before a marathon.

I had one of my biggest cross country meets of the year the day before.

After running that race I was talking to a family member and told them I had to get ready to go to Detroit for the marathon.

This person told me, “Joel, I don’t understand why you are doing it, you’re never going to make it.”

“Thanks,” I said while laughing.

Four hours and nineteen minutes the next day I finished the marathon.

Sometimes people do not know or understand determination.

Sports scientist looked at what it takes to hit a major league pitcher and came to the conclusion the ball came way to fast and in many different directions.  With human brain signals, there is no physical way the body should relay signals to be able to hit a baseball with the bat.

Crazy how that was said and it doesn’t happen that way.

Faith is the same way.

People have doubt for 2,000 years Christianity wouldn’t make it.

Apostles were just jailed for sharing Jesus.

The Sanhedrin wanted them dead before one named Gamaliel spoke up.

He said this in Acts 36, 38-39…

“Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing…Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”

They decided not to kill the apostles (They were still flogged).

Even through the pain of being flogged the apostles continued to sharing Jesus and rejoiced that they could suffer for a cause they believed in.

Do you suffer for a cause you believe in?

The apostles never stopped.

They kept preaching the good news of Jesus.

Determination, the apostles had it.

Do we have the same.

There are things I am determined to do in life.

Being a better husband and father.

Serve God to the best of my abilities.

Improve showing love and grace to all people.

What are you determined to do?

What has slowed you down from doing that?

Goodyear didn’t give up and 40 years after he died, he succeed.

What do you want to succeed in today?

What are you doing to go for what you want?

The apostles wanted to share Jesus and not even flogging could stop them.

What has stopped you?

What can you do to stay determined?

Have a great day.