An Amazing Race

If you watch television, then you know that we have just come through a season of finales for most network shows. It's that time of years where we often say farewell to favorite characters or where we are left with a cliff-hanger while we wait for the fall season to begin. For a number of years now, Amazing Race on CBS has been one of the most watched TV shows in America, and is one of my favorite shows as well. I enjoyed watching each of the teams run their races as they travel around world in hopes of winning the race.

We are between seasons right now on that particular show, but as we wait for the next installment, it occurred to me that we are all in an amazing race. This television program is really a good metaphor for life. We face roadblocks and detours on our journey through life. We're looking for clues as to where to go next. We want to finish well. When we step onto the final mat at the end of the race, we won't be awarded a million dollars or hear that we are the first to finish. Instead, we who are in relationship with God through Christ will be "awarded" an eternity with Him and will be hearing a different affirmation:  "Well done, good and faithful servant.....enter into the joy of your master."  (Matthew 25:21 ESV)

Challenges. Roadblocks. Detours. Interaction with other racers. Clue boxes. All these are elements of a popular television show. But they are elements of our lives as well.

Things in life don't always go as we plan them. There are obstacles, like having a stroke, to overcome. Sometimes we get on the wrong road. Our relationships with others don't always go smoothly. But through it all, we have a "clue box" to guide us. We have written instructions, the Bible, and we have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us on our journey.

How do we know how to run our race? By looking to our "clue box", the Bible:

"Let us lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith."  (Hebrews 12:1b-2a NASB, emphasis mine)

If you have ever watched runners, they don't carry a lot of stuff with them. They don't load themselves down with clothes (like hats and coats and mittens and purses, etc.). They don't run with luggage. That's the imagery that this verse gives us. Don't run your race through life carrying unnecessary baggage. "Lay it down." Get rid of your excess baggage. Confess your sin. Lay it down, and run your race.

Run with endurance. Life is a marathon, not a sprint. There will be roadblocks and detours and false starts. Even so, don't give up. Run your race. Run with endurance.

Run your race, not someone else's race. Follow where God leads you, which may not be where He is leading someone else. How will you know? Follow the "clues" in the "clue box". And follow the last instruction in this passage.

Fix your eyes on Jesus. That's the key to running your race. To running your race successfully. To finishing well. Follow that instruction, and you'll be amazed! You will be running an amazing race!

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."  (Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB)

Time to Remember

 

 

 

 

We're approaching the Memorial Day holiday, which many view simply as a kick-off to the summer vacation season. But Memorial Day is so much more than that. This is a holiday which has its roots in the days following the Civil War and which began as a way to honor and remember those who had died in that war.  Although in recent years it has been observed much like other patriotic holidays (Independence Day and Veterans' Day) as a way to honor all the men and women who serve in our nation's military, I believe it is important to remember why we have this particular holiday. 

 

This day is so much more than just a kick-off to summer, and it is so much more than a day to honor the military, as important as that is.  We have Armed Forces Day (the third Saturday in May) to honor those who are now serving in our nation's military.  Sadly, unless you are part of a military family or you live in a community near a military base, you may not even be aware of this holiday.  We have Veterans' Day in November to honor all those who have served in our nation's military.

This holiday, Memorial Day, is a day set aside to remember those who have died in service to our country. To remember that freedom isn't free. To remember that all those who went off to war didn't come home. Memorial Day is a day to remember.

In places like Gettysburg and Vicksburg. At Bull Run and Bunker Hill. In faraway places like Normandy and Argonne. Korea and Vietnam. Baghdad and Mosul. Kabul and Kandahar. In all these places and many more, somebody died for you. Memorial Day is a day to remember that. Somebody died for you.

As you're celebrating Memorial Day with family and friends, remember.

This weekend, while you're enjoying your day off from work, or your day at the beach, or your barbecue, or your ball game, take time to remember.

Freedom isn't free. 

Remember.

Somebody paid the ultimate price so you can enjoy all these things.

Remember.

Somebody died for you.

Remember.


"Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 ESV)

Three Hungry Women and a Pie

Last Thursday, we headed to Pigeon Forge, looking forward to a relaxing weekend getaway with some friends. We settled into the cabin we had rented and set about the business of making memories. After settling in, we headed into town in search of some dinner. We had a delicious meal at J.T. Hannah's on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge. (Highly recommended. Check it out if you're in the area.)

Since no good meal is complete without dessert, we stopped to pick up some pie at another of my favorite places, The Pottery House Café (also highly recommended), where we purchased not one, but two, pies! We were beginning to drool over thoughts of key lime pie and coconut cream pie, but there was still one more stop to make. While the guys went into the local Kroger for a few supplies, we women were left in the car with the pies. Oh my. How we were longing to eat some pie, but we had no utensils. Cathy did have some straws in her car, so we were almost ready to suck the pie through a straw when the guys got back to the car. Oh, the things hungry women can dream up when pie is involved!

We - and the pies - arrived safely back at the cabin where pie was properly served with plates and forks. No straws needed!

Friday morning found us at the Applewood Farmhouse Restaurant (again, recommended!), one of my favorite places to eat breakfast.

After we had eaten far more than any of us needed, we headed out for a morning of retail therapy and other fun pursuits.



Unfortunately, our weekend came to an abrupt end when we received word that Al's dad had fallen and was in the hospital. We packed up and headed to Columbia. Even though our holiday was cut short, our friends had a refreshing weekend making more memories!


As the poet Robert Burns said, the best laid plans go oft awry. Certainly this weekend did not turn out exactly as I had envisioned it. But how thankful I am. Thankful for the gift of friendship. Thankful for even a brief bit of time away with special friends. And thankful that, no matter what happens and how often my plans are disrupted, God is in control.


"Even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." (Psalm 90:2 NASB)