| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Steadfast and immovable” Our Bible verse for today: “But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Stay focused on the goal and keep moving forward” Last Saturday our Youth Department sponsored a 5K run/walk at the Cumberland Mountain State Park (a big “thank you” to Shawn and Amanda, Josh and Shelby for your excellent leadership in planning and supervising it. You did a great job!) It was a fun event complete with business and family sponsors, tee shirts for all the participants, water stations, music, and hot dogs on the grill at the end. There was also a park ranger with a gun. (I wasn’t sure if the gun was because of the possibility of bears or if he had heard that Southern Baptists can sometimes be stubborn and difficult. Either way, I felt safe). The course was over a moderately difficult unpaved hiking trail with inclines and declines, small streams to cross, and other obstacles to navigate. It wasn’t particularly difficult but then again, I’m not twenty-five anymore. Once upon a time, a long, long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I used to be a jogger. I was never fast but I could jog a long time and cover a lot of distance. I once completed a half-marathon (13.1 miles). But that was then and this is now. I walked this course (meandered), and a six-year-old finished thirty minutes ahead of me (true story). The key for me, whether I was jogging a half- marathon or meandering through at 5K while being beaten by a six-year-old, has always been to do what Paul wrote about in Philippians 3:13-14 (above), stay focused on the goal and just keep moving forward. My thoughts were on the finish line and I just kept putting one foot in front of the other until I got there. That’s a good strategy for a run/walk event, and it’s also a good strategy for life. Stay focused, keep putting one foot in front of the other, and don’t stop. It has been rightly said that “many people leave the dock five minutes before their ship would have come in.” I’ve shifted metaphors but I think you see the point. Most people stop way to soon when they should keep going. It’s the primary reason people fail instead of succeed – they stopped when they should have kept going. If something is worth starting then it’s worth completing. I encourage you to stick with the things you start. Stay focused on the goal and just keep moving forward. God bless, Pastor Jim |
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