This Sunday Tom Brady will lead the New England Patriots toward the pinnacle of NFL success – a fourth Super Bowl win, riding the wave of an unprecedented undefeated season. He is one of the most adored and admired players in football history. On top of that, he has been heralded as America’s Most Eligible Bachelor by “Entertianment Tonight” and a host of others who know this kind of thing.
And he’s anything but satisfied.
In a December 2007 interview on “60 Minutes”, Brady got honest and vulnerable. Take a look. If you are a Christian, your temptation will be to preach to Tom Brady. Before you give in to that urge, I suggest you let Tom Brady preach to you.
My wife’s car had a flat tire today. There was no question what to do. We called Flores Tire. I’d like to tell you why.
When babies are born, God gives them a voice and lungs to sound the alarm when they have a need. The only word they know is “Whaaaaa,” but it works pretty well.
He was one of the most powerful men in the world. But he lived in total fear. He stayed deep in the inner recesses of a huge castle. He barricaded himself in a small, bombproof room, with walls made of concrete three feet thick. He allowed himself only one tiny window protected by thick, yellow glass. With only a few amenities each night, and a military cot for his bed, his self-imposed prison was his fortress within a fortress. He would sleep fitfully, then leap to his feet to check at the yellow glass, to make certain that the dark moving objects on the other side of the glass, his personal guards, were on duty protecting him. His name? Josef Stalin.
Needless to say, Uncle Joe, whose adopted name (Stalin) means – get this – “man of steel,” developed a spirit of fear. Needless also to say, he didn’t get it from God. Though he once was a seminary student. Anyway…
This isn’t about Stalin, but stealin’ – and how the enemy can steal your joy and confidence. [click to continue…]
I love pastors. I love being one most of the time. Michael Spencer, aka the Internet Monk, has helped remind me why. (Read here if you dare, and remember why it’s important to pray for and encourage YOUR pastor, whoever it may be.)
A. W. Tozer used to tell this imaginary story. It’s the first Palm Sunday, and here comes Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. The crowds are shouting “Hosanna! Hosanna!” Some in the crowd throw their coats in the road; others spread out palm branches. “Well!” says the donkey, swishing a fly off a mange patch. “I had no idea they appreciated me like this! Listen to those praises, would you. I must really be something!”
Funny, isn’t it? The only thing the donkey did was bring Jesus to the people. And that’s all an effective pastor does, too. For a donkey to receive the praise offered to Jesus is silly. For a pastor to do so is suicide. The effectiveness of any and all ministry is measured by how well we bring Jesus to the people.
E. V. Hill once said that “preachers are like fertilizer. Pile them up and all you get is a big stink. Spread ‘em out and they can do some good.” [click to continue…]
“OLDS 1999 Intrigue. Totally uncool parents who obviously don’t love teenage son, selling his car. Only driven for three weeks before snoopy mom who needs to get a life found booze under front seat. $3,700/offer. Call meanest mom on the planet.”
Her phone lit up, as you might imagine. Nobody wanted to buy the car, but everybody wanted to talk to Jane.
It’s a story I heard a long time ago, but I can’t verify that it actually happened. But a preacher told it, so it must be true. The Smithsonian Institute conducted an experiment to see if a cork, suspended by fishing wire, could move a steel beam, suspended by a giant cable. The small cork was rigged to something that made it hit the steel beam over and over again. Time after time the cork hit the beam, and nothing happened. After many hours, however, the beam began to move. First, ever-so-slightly. Then more and more, until the beam was swinging wildly. The lesson? The persistence – the consistency – of the cork moved a seemingly immovable object.
This is about my New Year’s resolution. Singular. More on that in a minute. But first, a few other things to weave together.
Joyce is an editor for New Hope publishing. I’m working with her on a book project, and last week we got together by phone to talk about it.
Joyce is also a prayer warrior. And before we did anything of a business nature, she wanted to pray. “You go first,” she said. So I committed our time and the project to the Lord, asked for His direction on our conversation, etc. – the kinds of predictable things anyone would ask the Lord’s blessing on.
I found this link on Josh Harris’ blog site to “Cletus Take the Reel” – a spoof on Carrie Underwood’s hit song. I had never heard of Tim Hawkins before, but he’s hilarious.
If you’re in the South Plains (Texas) area, Tim will be here in January.
This Sunday Tom Brady will lead the New England Patriots toward the pinnacle of NFL success – a fourth Super Bowl win, riding the wave of an unprecedented undefeated season. He is one of the most adored and admired players in football history. On top of that, he has been heralded as America’s Most Eligible Bachelor by “Entertianment Tonight” and a host of others who know this kind of thing.
