OVERCONFIDENT?

How do you explain having a 24-0 lead and losing the game? Alabama led Auburn by 24 and did it. That just doesn't make sense, does it? You are supposed to win games that you are spotted 24 points.

How did it happen?

Auburn put more points on the score board. They won the second half of the game. They didn't quit. They played with passion. They believed.

What did Alabama do?

Well, they did get up by 24, but after that it was all down hill. There were too many bad plays, too many dropped balls, too many missed tackles, too many wasted moments.

Was Alabama overconfident? I don't really think so, but they might have been. I think that they just didn't play the whole game. It has 60 minutes. The only score is that matters is the score when the game is over, not the one when the first quarter ends.

There is a lesson in life in how Alabama got beat by Auburn. It is not how you start the game, but how you finish. That is one of life's greatest lessons.

FOR SALE!

Everything has a price, they say. The day after Thanksgiving everything is on sale. The lines are long. The shoppers are eager. Christmas is around the corner. Lots of shopping is ahead.

But I won't be in those long lines. It will take more than saving $20 for me to get into that rush the day after Thanksgiving. Some people were waiting in lines of up to 1500 people or more to get into Kmart and Toys R Us. Not me. I'll just pay the extra.

What do I want for Christmas?

Peace on earth.

Good will.

Health.

Good times with family and friends.

Not much else.

You can't buy that. It isn't for sale. Not at Kmart anyway.

LET'S COMMUNICATE

Communication capabilities today are astounding. Twitter, Facebook, emails, texts, snailmail, Iphones, telephone, TV, and on the lists goes. I get all kinds of communications from everywhere. It keeps one up-t0-date in the moment. It is real life.

Tuesday night I did face to face on an 4G Iphone. Amazing, as I talked with Julie, Alex, and Nic from Tampa. We could see each other on handheld Iphones as we talked. Too much!

I wonder what the next five to ten years will bring?

Thursday we'll celebrate Thanksgiving and will do face to face on an Iphone with Jennifer in Puerto Rico. Can't wait. I wish she could be here, but this will make it better.

We're traveling today to see family. Everyone be safe. Eat smart. Be thankful.

$35 FOR A $184 TICKET

Mark, Wanda's son, and I went to the Jags game yesterday after church. We had a wonderful service of worship, thanksgiving, praise, and testimonies. Several were baptized and the music was outstanding. I spoke briefly, but the primary part of the service was thanksgiving testimonies.

After church, Mark and I headed down to the Kings Ave. parking garage and caught the bus to Everbank Stadium. I didn't have tickets, but with a little wheeling and dealing, I bought tickets that put us on the 20 yard line.

The weather was gorgeous and the game went back and forth. It looked as though the Jags were destined to lose. The Jags had six turnovers and were behind with less than three minutes to go. But our running back caught a short pass and ran it 75 yards to the half-foot yard line. Two plays later we scored and won 24-20.

Mark and I had a great time at a great game.

Oh, Mark shared a few moments in church. He did a super job.

When we arrived at the stadium, I found a seller who wanted $60 bucks for a $84 dollar ticket and I got him down to $50. That wasn't as good as a ticket I bought two years ago for a Dallas Cowboy game. I went to the stadium hoping to get a ticket, but there were no tickets to be had.

As I was leaving, I overheard a guy walking behind me mention to his buddy that they should sell their extra ticket. I turned around and asked him how much he wanted for it. He said that it was a ticket on the 45 with a face price of $184. He said that he would take $50 for it. I asked if he would take $35. He said yes.

It pays to ask. You have not because you ask not.

ACTIVE AND BUSY

One of our grandchildren came for a visit some time back and could not get over all the things that we do as pastors. I guess people just really don't know all that goes into serving as a minister. I love my work and enjoy it for many reason. First, I know it is what God has called my to do. It has eternal purpose. I can see the change God makes in peoples lives and that is rewarding. The day of a minister is filled with so many varied and amazing things.

What have I done this week?

Prayed and spent time with God.

Visited the jail and hospitals.

Counseled and prayed with hurting people.

Studied and prepared sermons.

Baptized believers.

Overseen numerous planning sessions.

Written articles.

Preached.

Taught.

Attended a senior's dinner and spoke.

Took all kinds of telephone calls.

Helped host a preacher's meeting at our church.

Prepared to preach a funeral.

Studied and prayed some more.

And the list goes on.

Wednesday night just as church began, one of the little boys of the church came running up to me with a gleam in his eye and a note in his hand. I have something for you he shouted out. Everyone around was watching him. He had a special appreciation note for his pastor that he had personally made. Now I have been blessed by untold notes of kindness through the years, but this one was special.

That makes it worth it all. It was homemade and

from the heart. Special.

I think I'll try harder to be a good pastor.

14 JOKES AND 14 COMPLIMENTS

For the last two weeks Wanda and I have shared one joke and one compliment each day with each other. Right after our morning devotions and prayer we have taken another few moments to make each other laugh and feel better. That is 14 jokes and 14 compliments.

Laughter is like medicine and compliments makes one glow. We have decided that we will continue doing this regularly.

We have so much to be thankful for and we both desire to do everything we can to bless each other. That is the best way to live. Loving, laughing, lifting each other up. 14 jokes and 14 compliments help do that.

Wanda said that she had too many compliments to choose from to share with me. Now that is a very good feeling. Wow! I feel that way too. We're blessed!

And the jokes were really funny too!

***

One of our wonderful church members, Roger Brooks, passed and went to heaven this past Sunday. Roger was 85. His wife told me that she was going to see a neighbor and told her husband that she would be gone for a few minutes. He sked her to come and sit in his lap, and she did. They kissed, and then she left. Later when she returned home, he had gone home to glory. Their last moment was a sweet kiss and hug. What a wonderful way to remember your last moment with your spouse - a kiss and a hug and then gone to heaven.

HAIL MARY

The last play of Sunday's Jacksonville Jaguars game was the best play. Tied with just seconds to go, the Jaguars threw a fifty yard pass hoping for a miracle. Yes, miracles happen. The other team's defensive player leaped high and slammed the ball toward the ground, but a Jaguar play caught the ball and walked one yard to score as the time ran out.

Talk about a fantastic finish, this game had one whale of a finish.

That goes to prove that one should not give up until the game is totally, completely over because the last play could produce a miracle.

They call such plays a Hail Mary play. It is one long pass hoping for a miracle. It is a play with a prayer.

Sunday it worked.

SHOW ME YOUR PASSION

What is it that you are most enthusiastic about? What do you love? What lights your fire? What is it that you just can't live without?

Those are pointed questions that I can answer for you. All I need is to look at your daily planner, or calender, or at least have you write down what you do with your time.

We gravitate to what we love, have passion for, and simply cannot live without.

Show me what you do with your time and I will tell you what you love. It is just that simple. We do what we want to do. We lean toward what we love. It is heard in the talk of our day, the view of our eyes, the actions of our hands and feet.

Like to eat?

Like to read?

Like to hunt, fish, gold?

Like to sew?

Like to travel?

Like to motorcycle?

Like to be with family?

Like to do God?

Like sleep?

Like to couch potato?

Like to work?

Like to goof off?

Like to computer?

Like to football, basketball, or baseball?

Like to Facebook?

Like to zoom the Internet?

Like to talk?

Like to pray?

Well, you get it. Show me what you do with your time and I will show you your passion.

So what is the take-a-way today?

Answer this question, what's first in your life?

I WON!

Getting exercise is tough for preachers. Have you ever noticed how many preachers are overweight and in poor physical shape? Our jobs are too sedentary, too mental, and so lacking physical exertion. Now preaching admittedly does put some physical demands on the body, but not much.

Through the years I have done all kinds of things to try to keep in shape. With all those chicken dinners and banana puddings, it is never easy. So what do you do?

I have ridden bicycles, jogged, ran, walked, jumped rope, done yard work, gone to exercise centers, played tennis and basketball and golf and softball and football and calisthenics and pushups and workout videos and on and on the list goes.

Now I am walking and jogging and playing basketball and working in my yard.

Guess what?

I have beaten my music pastor and youth pastor the last two weeks in basketball. They won the first week, but I have made a comeback and have won the last two weeks. I am 61 and the music pastor is 21 and the youth pastor is early 30 something.

That is 40 years and 30 years difference. Not bad. Not bad.

I shall toot my own horn for now.

You know the verse: "Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that tooteth not his own horn, verily it shall not be tooted!"

ONE EXTRA HOUR

Wow, wouldn't it be nice to have an extra hour every day. I really love the time change each November when we gain one hour. It makes the few days following easier for me. I am not really a morning person, though that is changing more and more. This extra hour is helpful.

What did I do with the extra hour?

Well, it comes a mid-night on Saturday night. That gives an extra hour to prepare on Sunday for church. It makes the day for better and not as stressed getting out of the house to church. It is nice.

What would I do if I had an extra hour each day? Or one extra hour each Saturday? I know that isn't going to happen, but that would be great.

Time is a huge commodity. We all have the same number of hours and minutes in each day. The issue is what will we do with our time, and how will be use the time we have?

The next few mornings will be a little easier for me. I love this time change. I just desire to use the time I have in the best possible manner.

MORE LAUGHTER AND LOVE

Is laughter better when it happens spontaneously or intentionally? Can you plan to laugh? Is planned laughter lessor laughter?

Why would I ask that, you might wonder?

Wanda and I have made a commitment to love and laugh with each other more. We are on a two week journey of telling each other a joke and compliment daily. It is planned, programed, and happening. And it is special.

Yes, laughter can be programed. Just look at your television, movies, and comedy clubs. It is all programed and planned. They even have piped in laughter to accentuate the mood. It helps to have a few people in the crowd who laugh and therefore encourage others to laugh with them. Laughter promotes laughter.

Watch the kiddies. They have a giggle box that is always turned on. Everything is funny. They just laugh and their little buddies and friends laugh with them. And life goes better for them.

Adults need that. Couples need that. Marriages need that. Everyone shouldn't take life so harshly seriously. Yes, there is a time to cry, be sad, and mourn, but there is time enough in life for all of that. God's Word teaches us to laugh.

So, Wanda and I are laughing together even more.

In fact, her compliment to me on Thursday was that I had a good sense of humor.

Thank you Wanda.

How is your sense of humor? Is it broke? Is your face in an upside down smile?

TWO COMPLIMENTS

Wanda and I are on a two week journey to build each other up. Isn't that what we are supposed to do in marriage? Build each other up?

As I write this post beginning on Monday, we have told two jokes each and shared two compliments to each other. I don't have time to write the jokes, but they were funny and we laughed hard. That makes for a nice beginning to a day. Of course, we have our morning devotion and prayer together. That is the best.

So what did I compliment her on?

Day One: I told her how much it meant to me that she diligently worked on finding unique ways to please me. She is a wonderful wife.

Day Two: I told her that I loved the fact that she liked things to be clean. I have a clean house to live in and she is a clean, sweet smelling lady.

What did she compliment me on?

Day One: She said that I was a very kind person. She loved the kindness I show her and others.

Day Two: She said that she appreciated that I cared about changing and doing things uniquely to please her. She said that it touched her that I cared enough about her to do things differently if that is what she desired.

We have twelve more days to go. I think we'll just laugh and love and love and laugh. Doesn't that make life go better.

Everyone needs a compliment all along. I know I do.

LOVE AND LAUGH

Wanda and I are embarked on a two week commitment of love and laughter. We have agreed to two weeks of sharing each day one joke with each other and one specific compliment to the other. I have stacks of joke books and files of funnies, but I will not use any of them. This has to be new material.

We compliment each other daily, but during these next two weeks we will be even more specific in encouraging each other and writing the compliments down. It isn't my role to straighten her or anyone else out. We don't have issues, but we do want to make our marriage even better. More compliments can only help.

Saturday, I woke up with the idea of cooking an egg omelet for breakfast. Believe it or not I cook breakfast every so often, but I have never cooked an omelet. But, if you google omelets, you will find a number of short videos to tell you how to fix delicious ones. So that is just what I did. Did you know the secret to cooking a great omelet, is to cook the bottom side and then stick it in the broiler to cook the top. That way you don't burn the bottom while trying to get the top done. At least that is what the video says.

Well, I did it, and it works.

Wanda loved it. She told me later that she woke up wanting an omelet. She was really surprised when I told her I was cooking an omelet for her. Then she bragged all day how good my omelet was.

Yeah, I said. I know what you're doing. You're bragging on how good I did it so I'll keep on cooking them. You know what. She is smart. A little bragging makes anyone want to do more. That is just the nature of life.

So, the two week experiment begins.

Loving compliments and then sharing a laugh together. It should be a great two weeks. I'll write how it goes and share the best jokes. The may be better than Reader Digest jokes.