Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison

Imagine yourself awaiting execution for some horrible crime. A man awaits in a leather hood and is wielding a large axe. You kneel before him, melting with the fear of a sure and impending doom. Then another man steps forward, the son of the king, and he stays the executioner's hand. He then orders you released and kneels in the very spot that you were in only a moment ago. Understanding dawns on you at just what the son of the king is doing for you. You try to stop him from taking your place but he shakes his head, looks deep into your eyes and says, "I am taking your place. All I ask is that you live for me". And you go away, filled with love, determined to meet his request.

Now imagine yourself the very next day, preparing to do the work of the one who paid your penalty. You look at the schedule that day - the schedule of the son of the king who took your place - and you decide that it is filled with things that are simply beneath your dignity. There is a lot of service to others and frankly it looks too much like work, so you walk away from duty without even a glance back and return to your old ways.

Ridiculous story, isn't it? Yet , when you think about it there are billions of people who have temporarily escaped the sword of the executioner because the real Son of the real King took their place. And, quite frankly, while they liked the sentiment of the grace that saved them, the life that they are called to looks too much like work. And... they miss the greatest opportunity of an eternal lifetime.  How about you?

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:6, NIV

To err is human... Alexander Pope

Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do. Benjamin Franklin

If you haven't seen it yet, you will. Last night in a political debate, one of the candidates, Rick Perry, drew a blank when trying to remember a vital point. It wouldn't have been so bad, but the moment went on and on. One of the commentators made it worse by laughing and asking if he really couldn't remember his point. When he couldn't, the commentator and the audience laughed. It was a genuine YouTube moment.

This morning, the news shows were still talking about this serious blunder. Most of the serious experts called in to comment on this serious matter were all in serious agreement: Rick Perry's run for the Presidency is over.

Seriously?

Now, I don't want you to get me wrong - this particular candidate is not my first choice for President. He is, however, the Governor of my state and I have voted for him on more than one occasion. If he runs for Governor again, I will probably vote for him again, but I simply have another preference for President in this election.

So the point of this little article is not to endorse or defend my choice for President - it's just to make this observation: If America has come to point that a man cannot make a mistake because it is not cool (and we like cool people), then we are in trouble. If we are primarily looking for smooth orators, one only has to go back to the late 1930's and see how well that worked out for Germany. In my opinion, you don't have to go back that far to realize that "smooth" and "cool" do not always equate to great leadership.

I believe that all Americans should be deeply concerned that we are becoming a nation that lives for the next embarrassing moment so that we can post it on YouTube or send it in to America's Funniest Home Videos or put it on some sick reality show so that we can laugh about other people's mistakes and feel superior about our own shortcomings.

It seems that the greatest sin in our nation today is to not look cool, (or to be associated with someone who does not look cool). It may be time that we all start looking a bit more at what people stand for, than at how well they deliver slogans under pressure. If our society is devolving into a people who live for the next big "gotcha moment", then we may be in bigger trouble than anyone had previously imagined.

Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? - Jesus (as recorded in Matthew 7:3, NIV)

This year will either be something great or a colossal waste of God's resources. Choose.

What would you do differently, if you could live last year again? Waste less time? Spend less money? Make more? Eat less? Exercise more? Worry less? Criticize less? Encourage more? While we cannot relive the past, we do have a fresh year just waiting for us to have another try - what will we do with this second chance? My favorite definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. If you and I are to ever begin to accomplish something truly important, then we will have to stop acting like crazy people and stop repeating the things that caused regret in years gone by.

So, here is some unsolicited advice for a better year. You don't have to take it, nobody will ever know other than you and God, but I am convinced if you will do these three things next year that your life will be transformed. The three things are simply this: Pray as much as you can. Read your Bible as much as you can. Worship with the church as much as you can.

"Just as I thought", you are saying to yourself, "what else would you expect from a preacher?" Nothing else, I would hope, for it would be a worthless preacher indeed who did not recognize these basic truths. The fact is that you will be happier if you pray more, you will be wiser if you consult the word of God more, and you will improve every facet of your life if you will worship more. You and I know this for a fact because we have proven it in our own lives - either by doing these three things... or by failing to do them.

So, if last year was not what you had hoped for then just try these three simple things. God is waiting for your prayers. Your Bible is right where you left it last. The church is meeting this very Sunday. These things will take time and effort and sacrifice but, if you will do them, twelve months from now you will look back upon this year as one of the very best of your life.  

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. For, He says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you". I tell you now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation.

II Corinthians 6:1-2, NIV

"We're going to Oz to see the Wizard. I'm going to ask him for a brain." The Scarecrow

I want you to know that my wife and I have brilliant children. I'm sure that they will all be nuclear scientists or brain surgeons or even game programmers someday. But along the way, there have been many times when I wished that they had joined the Scarecrow in his quest for a brain.

Any parent can recall dozens of times when their children acted in, shall we say, less than intelligent ways. But, that's okay, because that's how children get smarter - by acting dumb! The good news for those of you who have children at this stage is that they eventually do become smarter. The bad news is that they usually get smarter than their parents. Worse news, still, is that they know that they are smarter. Worse news of all is that they will let you know that they know that they are smarter.

That's when you hit them with a two-by-four.

Now, it's perfectly natural for kids to act like kids. It's sad, however, when they continue to act like kids long after they should have grown up. Sadder, still, is when we as children of God fail to mature at the pace that God knows we can. There are far too many adults wandering around this world of ours as if they need to make a quick trip to Oz to see if there are any brains left. They live lives that are contrary to the teachings of God, and they wonder why their lot in life is so hard.

Life is hard! Too hard, in fact, to go through it without wising up at some point. We see perfectly healthy people on the side of the road with signs that read, "Will Work For Food". Something childish within me wants to stop and tell them "that's how life works". We see these children of privilege, "Occupying Wall Street". They are mad! They are really mad! They are really, really, really mad! But, why are they so mad? It's because "rich people" won't give them some of their money! Really? Have we raised a generation of morons?

I look at such people, people who I feel should have made that trip to Oz long ago, and I feel pretty smug. Smug, that is, until I realize that this is the precise way I act before God at times. I have my "spiritual sign" that says, "Will work for spiritual food" and I imagine that God looks at me and wonders why I don't. 

If you find yourself in similar circumstances, then do what we all must do if we are ever going to amount to anything. Read your Bible, find out what God commands, and then do it! And, don't forget to ask for some wisdom to help you on your journey. You won't have to "go to Oz" to get it. Just open that Bible, read, and pray for wisdom. It will take a lot of effort, for such treasure is hard to come by... but it is worth the effort.

If you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God. Job 2:3-5, NIV