September 24, 2019

A Roaring Lion - 1 Peter 5:8-9

"I want you to meet one of my precious little stuffed animals today, little Leo. Leo the lion. Ain't he cute, soft, playful? Well, don't be lured in because Leo is not as playful as you think he is."

Family Discussions:

What is it about Satan that you've already seen in your life that it makes him look like a soft little stuffed animal when behind the softness there's a roaring lion there that's gonna eat your lunch?
What can you do today to get that lion out of your pen and out of your life?

Transcription:

00:14 I want you to meet one of my precious little stuffed animals today, little Leo. Leo the lion. Ain't he cute, soft, playful? Well, don't be lured in because Leo is not as playful as you think he is. We're in First Peter Chapter five verses eight and nine and it says this, "Be of sober spirit. Be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil rowls around like a roaring lion. Seeking someone to devour but resist him. Firm in your faith. Knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world."

00:48 One of the greatest basketball players who ever lived. I mean this guy could rebound like no one you've ever seen. I mean, he literally could have been among the two or three greatest of all time. Never achieved his greatness because he became bitter and the lion showed up. He had reason to be bitter. His wife had taken this little girl. But the bitterness became a lion in his heart and Satan literally took over and the guy couldn't even stay on a team. He couldn't even finish the season because bitterness ate him up. Because Satan like a lion began to eat his lunch.

01:26 I know another gentleman who, you know, Oh, he used to be the head of the family of families. I mean, the guy was making so much money. Had every, you know, sign of wealth that you could imagine for our guy to achieve.

01:39 One of my favorite singers of all time, one of the most beautiful voices, I think that's ever shown up on the radio, was this precious woman. And she started off in a choir robe as a teenager. Singing. She was a standout in the choir. And then somebody picked her up and took her to Los Angeles and made a record. And it wasn't long that she was the number one voice in America. Some say the number one voice in the world, but she couldn't give up her drugs. Her first designer drug showed up like a little bitty stuffed, you know, little lion pup. And it looks so innocent. It just took a little bit of the stress away and then it began to take over her mind and her life. And today she's on the side of the road. Strung out with a life history of being strung out on drugs.

02:47 It was in 2003 that the probably the greatest act in Las Vegas. Siegfried and Roy, you know, the, the great land tamers, the Great Tiger Tamers that were also, magician's world-class. They did feats that would just defy the imagination. And then one day one of their tigers turned on Roy and it almost killed Roy. I mean, just, you know, took his face apart and, and so it is with Satan. Don't you think that one little joint, it looks innocent. Don't you think for a second that, that one little, you know, alcoholic drink looks innocent.

03:29 Way down deep beneath that little stuffy, little cute soft face, there's a lion and Satan is behind that and he wants to eat your lunch. And so the question today is this, what is it about Satan that you've already seen in your life that it makes him, uh, you know, look like a soft little stuffed animal when behind the softness there, there's a roaring lion there that's gonna eat your lunch? And then what can you do today to get that lion out of your pen and out of your life?

September 17, 2019

A Solid Foundation Under Your Feet - 1 Peter 2:4-6

"If you're an OU fan - an Oklahoma University fan that is - in the last few years, you would probably join many others and say that your favorite player was Sam Bradford. What you would remember of Sam would be the touchdown pass every touchdown pass championship after championship. What you'll try to forget about Sam is the first play of his senior year when he was after yet another Heisman trophy."

Family Discussion:

When the earthquakes around you at school or at work, or your marriage or in your family, what are you going to do to build a solid foundation under your feet?

Transcription:

00:14 I don't think there's anything more helpless than being in the middle of an earthquake. I've never been in one. But my friends in Haiti have. All the kids in the schools that we've gotten to adopt and take care of over the years. What a horrible thing it must have been to be in schools and watch those schools caving over their head. But I see so many people. I meet so many people who have earthquakes every single day and just like those schools that unfortunately because of their poverty, we're not built on solid foundations. So many friends that I have their lives are not built on a solid foundation. I'll watch them crumble and fall in sports and in Hollywood and in Wall Street and in schools all across this country. This verse right here should help if you feel like the earth is trembling under your feet today we're in first Peter Chapter two verse four through six.

01:04 Let this build a foundation for you. And it says this, this is awesome. It says, "and coming to him as a living stone, which has been rejected by man, but it's choice and precious in the sight of God. You also is living stones are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God, which is a Jesus Christ for it is contained in scripture. Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious cornerstone, and he who believes in him will not be disappointed." If you're an OU fan - an Oklahoma University fan that is - in the last few years, you would probably join many others and say that your favorite player was Sam Bradford. What you would remember of Sam would be the touchdown pass every touchdown pass championship after championship. What you'll try to forget about Sam is the first play of his senior year when he was after yet another Heisman trophy.

02:01 He gets injured the first game and can't play the whole year. But Sam had a foundation. He found that foundation at home. He found it in his church and he found it at Kanakuk Kamps as a teenager where he came to these Kamps. Sam had a foundation and he came back from that injury and he ends up becoming the number one draft choice that year in the NFL draft. And then if you're from Texas, probably one of your favorite player of recent years would be Colt McCoy. I met Colt as a sophomore at a college event and watch Colt humbly affirm his faith in Christ because his daddy had built a foundation. His family had built a foundation. His church had built a foundation under his feet and then did an event his senior year with Colt and watched this man grow and mature in Christ.

02:49 And once you walk out on that stage with 2000 students, admiring, not the guy who threw touchdown passes, but the guy who threw touchdown passes for God, literally that campus had changed in those four years. Uh, that Colt was there playing varsity football. And then in the championship game where the National Championship and the Heisman trophy was on the line and Colt gets hammered early in the game and a nerve is damaged in his shoulder and he can't play the rest of the game, lose the championship. And after the game they ask him, you know, how did he make it? He said how to make it. He said, my faith in God was unwavering cause Colt had a foundation under his feet and his foundation was Christ. And then my hero, Jim Welch. The guy who led me to Christ when I was a Kamper at Kanakuk Kamps. You know, one of the greatest speakers because he was just so on fire for God.

03:42 Harvard Grad, great man, great athlete. He picks up a hitchhiker and the hitchhiker slits his throat from ear to ear and cuts through his voice box. You could barely hear him speak, but what does he do? Does he give up? No, the best days of his life were after the hitchhiker that cut his throat. Just like the best days of Sam's life are the best days of Colt's life were after that because he had a foundation under his feet. And you know what the Scripture promises that in Christ, you can build that same foundation under your feet. And that's why we do these devotionals together every single day. This is the cornerstone of your life. And here's my question for you today. When the earthquakes around you at school or at work, or your marriage or in your family, what are you going to do to build a solid foundation under your feet? So that window earthquakes around you, you won't fall in the earthquake.

August 17, 2019

Finish Strong! - 2 Timothy 4:5-8

"I knew a guy named Richard one time who was just talented as all get out. You know, I'll never forget him. He came to our Sports Kamps from Oklahoma when I was a little kid. He was the fastest kid in Kamp. He was the fastest kid I'd ever seen run a race and nobody could beat him. That is until the summer that Sam came to Kamp."

Family Discussions:

How do Paul's words encourage you today?
When we tend to quit sometimes when, you know, when Sam gets the lead, what did we do?
What are some of the Sam's in your life that make you feel discourage?
How are you going to finish strong even when they get in the lead?

Transcription:

00:13 Are you about to finish school? Or finish for the holidays? Or maybe finish a job? Or to finish an assignment? Or maybe even finish life? Not knowing how many days, you know, are ahead of you. Today Paul has got some great words in Second Timothy Chapter Four, verse five through eight about how to finish. We're always finishing something. Check this out. If you want to know how to finish. He says, "but you be sober in all things. Endure hardship. Do the work of an evangelist and fulfill your ministry." For Paul is talking about himself. He said, "I'm already being poured out as a drink offering and the time of my departure has come. I fought a good fight. I finished the race. I've kept the faith. In the future, there's laid up for me, the crown of righteousness, which the Lord the Righteous Judge will award me on that day. And not only me, but all those who've loved his appearing."

01:17 Paul was finishing his life. He knew he was just about to be killed and he said that he would finish and he would keep the faith. You know, I knew a guy named Richard one time who was just talented as all get out. You know, I'll never forget him. He came to our Sports Kamps from Oklahoma when I was a little kid. He was the fastest kid in Kamp. He was the fastest kid I'd ever seen run a race and nobody could beat him. That is until the summer that Sam came to Kamp. You know, Sam was on Richard's opposing team and Sam was one step faster out of the starting blocks. His first 10 yards of the race were like lightning. And I watched Richard as Sam race three or four times, and every time Richard got sixth place, not second or third, but six.

02:04 You know what happened? You guessed it. When Sam took the lead, Richard would quit. He couldn't stand the idea of second, so he'd quit. He never even crossed the finish line. Oh, you know, my First Year in coaching, I was fortunate to coach at Texas A&M, and our slogan during spring training in those days was "Finish Strong." It was that simple. Gene Stallings was the head coach. Still a great friend to this day. But man, when he would say finish strong, I mean every drill, every play, every down you could hear coach Stallings and one of the coaches say, finish strong, finish strong. You know, we didn't want any Richards at Texas A&M University. Um, you know what, man, life is so much like a track race. It's so much like a football game. You know, you get knocked flat, you get, you know, belittled.

02:53 Uh, you know, Sam is always there to take the lead away. You get discouraged. You want to running. But the runner who keeps his eyes on the prize and keeps his legs pumping to the finish line, wins the most important race every single time. God guarantees it. All we've got to do is finish strong. And here's the questions for today. How do Paul's words encourage you today? Finish strong! When we tend to quit sometimes when, you know, when Sam gets the lead, what did we do? Finish Strong! And then what are some of the Sam's in your life that make you feel discourage? And how are you going to finish strong even when they get in the lead? The lifeline for today is this: Fight the good fight, finish the race and keep the faith because the crown of righteousness is awaiting the one who does.