Tim Sinclair :: Books. Blogs. Broadcast.

The Beauty of Fruit

2012-02-16T06:19:00.000-06:00

As a young reporter in Virginia, Mark Twain was walking down the street one day when he ran into a female acquaintance of his. Seeing that Twain was carrying a cigar box under his arm, the woman said to him, "Mr. Twain, you promised you would stop smoking." To which Twain replied, "Ma'am, there aren't cigars in this box...I'm moving."

There's something inherent in all of us that--in an instant--can create excuses for our less-than-stellar behavior. The goal is to make others think better of us...to keep them from seeing our flaws...or to explain away the chinks in our armor. Our addictions are because of stress. Our moodiness is because of exhaustion. Our carelessness is because of busyness. Etc.

We even make excuses with God. I can't give to that homeless man...he might spend the money on alcohol. I can't serve in the nursery...kids really aren't my thing. I can't mentor a troubled high school student...my days are too full as it is. Etc.

You're probably familiar with the parable of the vine and the branches in John 15. Jesus is the vine, and we are the branches. The point, of course, is that when Christians stay connected to Christ, we are able to grow and flourish and produce spiritual "fruit." And that's true. But, to me, the most important part of that chapter comes in verse one when we learn that "God is the gardener."

If you're a gardener, you understand that the fruit your plants produce is for you. It's not for the rabbits...it's not for the neighbors...it's for you. If you want to give it away to those who need it, you can. If you want to use it to feed your own family, you can. If you want to just sit on your porch and enjoy the beauty of the fruit for yourself, you can do that too.

And I believe that God looks at us the same way. As the gardener, God asks his branches (you and me) to simply produce fruit. That's it. Produce. Distribution is his job. But when we make excuses--when we evaluate situations to determine whether or not our love or service or effort is worth it--we strip God of his right to hand out fruit that is rightfully his. We're essentially telling the Lord of the universe, "I'm only going to produce fruit if you agree to use it in the way that I want you too."

The next time God prompts you to love, give, or serve, don't worry about whether or not it makes sense or fits within your comfort zone. Sometimes God has plans in place that we can't see quite yet. Sometimes God wants to make a big difference with something small. And sometimes God just wants to sit on his back porch and enjoy his garden.

The Fine Line Between Thrifty and Stingy

2012-02-09T06:24:00.000-06:00

Maybe you have noticed this in your own life: any good thing--when taken to an extreme--can quickly become a bad thing. And knowing where the good ends and where the bad begins is critical.

There is an extremely fine line between:

Passion and anger.
Realism and pessimism.
Funny and annoying.
Thrifty and stingy.
Drive and recklessness.
Creativity and laziness.
Confidence and arrogance.
Curiosity and addiction.

It's easy to think that, just because our strengths and abilities were given to us by God, that we're able to properly use them on our own without his help, input, or direction. But that's not true. Each of us, left to our own devices, will likely take our unique personalities and penchants past the point of healthy and into the realm of unhealthy...or even sinful.

Leaders easily become bosses. Helpers easily become meddlers. Go-getters easily become aggressive.

You probably know the story of Mary and Martha from Luke 10. There's no doubt that Martha's desire to be hospitable was a good thing...I'm sure it was naturally a part of her being. But, in this instance, Martha crossed that fine line. I mean, Jesus was sitting in her living room and she was in the kitchen chopping potatoes. It's not that hospitality is wrong, it was just that Martha took it too far.

I guess the question for me--and maybe for you, too--is, "Have I left the creator of my gifts completely out of the process of using them?" If so, there's a distinct possibility that they aren't being used in the way that he intended.

Oasis is a Cool Word

2012-02-02T06:21:00.000-06:00

I'm not sure if it's ironic or providential that the word "oasis" has "as-is" in it.

That's what an oasis should be though, right? A place you can go--just as you are--to find rest, refreshment, relaxation, and perhaps even a new perspective on life. Whether your idea of an oasis is an island getaway, a secluded cabin, or an over-stuffed couch, the basic idea is the same: Come as you are. Leave changed.

Ideally, an oasis is what friendship should to be. And marriage. And church. And a relationship with Christ. We can bring our junk, work it out in a safe environment, and then move forward as healthier, happier, and more God-honoring people.

In Matthew 11:28 Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Notice Jesus didn't say, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you an earful." Or, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will shame you...or judge you...or shun you." No, the Lord of the universe promises us rest...even when we approach him with a trunk full of over-stuffed baggage.

And that is tremendously good news.

If you feel weary and worn down today--and even if you've been burnt by your friends or your spouse or your church--you can still find rest. You can still find a place to come just as you are. You can still find an oasis.

Jesus promises to be our oasis in Matthew 11. He takes us "as-is", and promises that (in the end) we'll be changed.

Why Don't Your Kids Go to Church?

2012-01-26T06:08:00.000-06:00

You may have heard today's youth described as a "generation of causes." And it's certainly true.

It's why few non-profit organizations ask teens and twenty-somethings for regular monthly donations but, instead, suggest that they purchase bricks or goats or wells instead. As a whole, Generation Y likes--perhaps needs--to physically see the tangible fruits of their time or money in order to get involved in a project.

This attitude has clearly taken its toll on church attendance. Regular church-going, without any measurable statistics to prove that change is occurring, is a hard discipline for many Y's to master. In fact, a new Barna survey has found that 59% of young Christians disconnect from the church after age 15...many never to return. Statistics like these, and real-world evidence of such numbers, have caused more than a few youth-focused ministries to spend less time on life-changing relationships with Jesus and more time on life-changing social projects.

For example, the United Methodist Church has started a new initiative called Spark12 that is designed to give youth a cause to fight for, rather than just a church to go to.

Passion conference attendees recently raised about $3 million dollars to help end slavery and child trafficking around the world.

A church in New York regularly encourages congregants to reach into their community and "serve humanity in fellowship, that all may grow in harmony with the good."

Please hear me: none of these activities is bad. Actually, they are each very good. My concern is that (inadvertantly) we may be teaching an entire generation to, essentially, "be good for goodness' sake." But, unfortunately, goodness' sake isn't good enough. We need to be good for God's sake.

In Matthew 25, Jesus explains that it is not just good to help those who are hungry or thirsty or naked or in prison, but those things are an actual reflection of our love for him. Jesus says to his disciples, "Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me."

Fighting against social injustices should be an outflow of our relationship with Christ, not the sum total of it. If Jesus himself isn't powerful enough to lead the next generation to care for the lost and the broken and the needy, why would we expect that by exclusively caring for the lost and the broken and the needy it will lead the next generation to Jesus?

Should the church care about the physical needs of those in their community and around the world? Of course. But, without Jesus as both the means and the end of such care, church ceases to be church and starts to be nothing more than charity.

The Best Way to Get Jesus into Schools

2012-01-25T06:21:00.004-06:00

One of the most controversial things I have ever said on the radio came when I suggested that many Christians may not realize what they're asking for when they demand that prayer and Jesus and Christianity be allowed in our public schools.

As our Constitution is set up, any government institution that opens itself to one religion must also open itself to all religions. The first amendment says, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof." It's not that Jesus can't be present, it's that--if he is--then Mohammed and Buddha and everyone else have to be allowed in as well.

For the last 235 years Christians haven't had to worry about other faiths stepping on our toes. We have enjoyed our religious freedom because, frankly, there hasn't been anyone else exercising theirs. But in the 21st century we're faced with a problem: people of other faiths are demanding the same rights as us.

My original point was, if religion is going to be an "all" or "nothing" proposition in school, then I choose "nothing." And now, fourteen months later, the primary reason for my concern is being played out in dramatic fashion in North Carolina.

After The Gideons International delivered several boxes of Bibles to Windy Ridge intermediate school, administrators allowed students who wanted one to come by the office and get a copy. When a concerned parent questioned that decision, the school assured her that they would make available religious texts donated by any group.

What the school didn't know was that the parent in question, Ginger Strivelli, practiced Witchcraft...and she wanted to distribute pagan spell books at the school.

Oops.

It is incredibly narrow-minded and short-sighted to believe that by advocating for "freedom of religion" in the public square Christians are merely opening our kids up to periodically lighting a Menorah or singing an African harvest song once a year. How might you react if your child brought home a book of witch spells that he picked up from the school secretary? Are you okay with a student praying to Allah over the school intercom? How about your daughter sitting next to a guy in class who is allowed to carry a small, religious knife?

(Can't happen? Last year a Michigan school made headlines for allowing members of the Sikh faith to carry small, symbolic knife known as the Kirpan.)

Witches believe they are religious. So do Sikhs. And so do Satan worshipers. And the harder we fight to get Jesus into our schools, the harder we are fighting to get all of the rest in with him.

Given the scope of our Constitution and the inherent risks associated with our current approach, it seems to me that the only good way to get Christ into public schools is to put him inside our kids before they go.

The Most Harmful Word in the English Language

2012-01-19T05:56:00.000-06:00

We are living smack-dab in the middle of what could easily be dubbed "The Entitlement Generation." An unapologetic "I-want-what-I-want-when-I-want-it" attitude is pervasive in our culture, and I truly believe that one word has single-handedly done more to contribute to this idea than any other:

Deserve.

Deserve is used by advertisers to create discontentment.

"Call right now to get the tax relief you deserve."
"We can help you buy the house you deserve."
"Join now to sculpt the body you deserve."

Deserve is used within families to demand fairness.

"I had to give the kids a bath last night, so I deserve to watch TV tonight."
"She went out on Friday, so I deserve to go out on Saturday."
"This relationship isn't working, and I deserve to be happy."

Deserve is used with our finances to avoid perseverance.

"She got a job right after college. I deserve one too."
"The next door neighbors have a new car, so I deserve one too."
"I have worked here for five years, so I deserve a promotion."

Webster's defines the word deserve this way: "to merit, be qualified for, or have a claim to because of actions, qualities, or situation." But I think it can be broken down far more simply than that.

Deserve means to "de-serve."

As in, un-serve. As in, the opposite of serve. As in, a selfishly inward focus rather than a sacrificially outward one. When we feel like we deserve something, we are likely de-serving someone else at the same time.

Entitlement is a human problem, not a Godly one. If God were in the business of fairness, Jesus never would have gone to the cross. God never would have shown Noah the rainbow. Hebrews 4:16 wouldn't tell us to "approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace...."

Jesus came to earth to be a servant. To give love, to show mercy, and to offer grace to a world that didn't deserve it. He deserved more. He deserved better. But he served instead.

Christ already knew what I am just now learning...that every choice we make says one of two things about us. It either says "I serve," or it says "I deserve."

We Get It...You Love Your Mom

2012-01-10T11:25:00.000-06:00

(This is a completely satirical piece in the wake of the recent Tim Tebow phenomenon. If you're not up to speed, you might want to read this article first.)

Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is a great basketball player. He really is. And he seems like a great guy. He really does. But I, for one, am tired of seeing and hearing about his mother every thirty seconds.

Before each home game, Rose walks to the west end of the United Center, looks up to Suite 45, and blows a kiss to his mom. And she blows one back. Every. Single. Game.

In December, when the 23-year-old star was awarded his new contract, he threw his love for mom in our faces yet again. "I can say this now, Mom...we finally made it!"

When Derrick Rose was awarded the NBA's Most Valuable Player Award last season, he thanked his mom again. "Last, but not least, I want to thank my mom, Brenda Rose...You keep me going every day. And I love you. I appreciate you being in my life."

I mean, I know she means a lot to him and everything--and she's the single most important influence on Derrick's life--but, come on man, enough is enough. He even cried!

In post-game interviews with tiny newspapers and giant television networks alike, Derrick Rose talks about how much he loves and respects his mom, and I think it's time that someone tell him to leave the sappy stuff at home and focus on basketball for once. No one is paying to see him gush. We're paying to see him win basketball games. Doesn't Rose realize that he is thrusting his personal family business into arenas that are unexpected and unwelcome?

The situation is clearly out of control and needs to be stopped. Otherwise, every professional athlete might start talking about his or her mom before and after games. Then what?

Jesus Looks Good On You

2012-01-03T09:20:00.000-06:00

What do the George Foreman Grill, Dyson vacuum, and Chevy Volt have in common? Well, other than having power cords and being made of plastic, they are also specifically designed to show you how good a job they're doing while they're doing it.

The Foreman collects grease and fat from your burgers in an oval-shaped tray. The Dyson gathers dirt and debris from your carpet in a see-thru container. The Volt displays your gas mileage and energy savings on the dashboard display.

Other grills get rid of the same amount of grease, but it runs between the grates. Other vacuums pick up the same amount of dirt, but it's hidden in bags or behind the case. Other cars get good gas mileage, but it isn't calculated right in front of your eyes.

As you make dinner, clean up the house, or drive to work, these products are telling their story the entire time. Foreman and Dyson and Chevrolet have figured out just how important it is to show externally all of the amazing things that are happening internally. People tend to wholeheartedly buy-in to products that constantly remind them just how transformative they really are.

Of course the Bible has figured out this concept, too. James 2:26 says, "Faith without works is dead." I had always taken this verse to mean that my faith isn't real if there is no action behind it. And that's true. If my beliefs don't change me much, then my beliefs aren't worth a whole lot. But I think there is another, more long-lasting, application of this passage as well: future faith is dead without works today.

Our children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren will choose to either follow Christ or deny him. And much of that decision is based upon the faith that they see lived out in mom and dad or grandma and grandpa. If following Jesus is perceived to be merely an intellectual exercise--with little to no physical change--then the faith of our future truly will be dead. If James 2:26 were written for a high school health class, it might say, "Humanity without reproduction is dead."

As with grills and vacuums and cars, it's critical that the inner-workings of our faith be exhibited on the outside as well. It will be much harder for the world to deny that Jesus is real--to dismiss the idea that faith works--if they see Jesus on you rather than just hear that he's in you.

Say Merry Christmas, Now!

2011-12-20T07:08:00.000-06:00

I don't know about you but, for the past few years, it seems to me as if the "Merry Christmas" versus "Happy Holidays" war has been at an all-time high.

On one hill are Christians who can't stomach the thought of either Christmas being lumped together with Kwanzaa and Hanukkah or having Jesus' birthday turned into "just another pagan holiday." On the other hill are atheists and pacifists and members of non-Christian faiths who either don't believe in Christ or don't want to risk offending those who don't.

I completely understand most Christians' desire for the right to say or display "Merry Christmas" when and where they want to. I want that too. What I don't completely understand is the pseudo-recent obsession with requiring everyone else on the planet to follow our lead. I say "Merry Christmas" because it is what I believe, not because I think it's what the person I'm talking to believes. My words speak of me, not them. So, when someone greets me during the holidays, I expect to hear what they want to say, not what they think I want to hear.

If we (as Christians) don't want to shop at a store that refuses to recognize Christmas, then we shouldn't. If we want to respond to every "Happy Holiday" greeting we hear with "Merry Christmas" instead, then we should do that. But why in the world should we expect--or demand--that people who have no belief in Jesus use his name?

Forcing the "Merry Christmas" issue is, effectively, asking people to break the third commandment. Taking the Lord's name in "vain" means to use it in a worthless or empty way, devoid of meaning...OR to attach Christ's name to something that isn't from him. Demanding that an agnostic or atheist, Hindu or Jew use the name of Christ is actually doing both. Since none of these beliefs recognize Jesus as their savior, saying "Merry Christmas" is using his name in an empty, meaningless way. Plus, it's attaching Christ to something that isn't of him. Namely, a holiday season that is nothing more (to them) than snow and presents and time off from work.

So, if you're not celebrating the birth of Jesus this year, please don't say "Merry Christmas." That's not what you mean. Say "Happy Holidays" or "Season's Greetings" or "Merry Gift-mas"...but don't pretend that you're stopping down to remember a miraculous birth that you don't believe ever occurred. If December 25th is simply a day to spend with your family and exchange gifts and drink eggnog, then be honest about it. It's fine.

As for the rest of us, we shouldn't be offended by those who opt for a holiday greeting rather than a Christmas one. Their choice of words is simply a reflection of their heart. Matthew 15:18 tells us, "But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart." And, if Christ isn't in someone's heart, why should we expect it to be displayed in his or her language?

It is not your job to change someone's heart. Nor is it mine. Our job is to show people--through our words and our actions--the true Christ of Christmas, and then let him take it from there.

Tim's 10 Most-Fascinating People of 2011

2011-12-15T08:13:00.001-06:00

Barbara Walters revealed her "10 Most-Fascinating People of 2011" this week, and the list read like the front page of the National Enquirer. With a few exceptions, each person (or group of people) on the list was simply popular tabloid fodder. And, to me, there's a big difference between popular and fascinating.

Is it really possible that there is nobody on the planet that is more interesting--more intriguing--than the Kardashian sisters, Simon Cowell, and Katy Perry? Or Pippa Middleton, Derek Jeter, Eric Stonestreet, and Jesse Tyler Ferguson?

So, I've come up with my own list. We'll call it "Tim's 10 Most-Fascinating People of 2011." Some are fascinating for good reasons. Some are fascinating for bad reasons. But, unlike Ms. Walters' list, each has a story to tell...and a story that Americans who live in places other than New York and Los Angeles want to hear.

1. Herman Cain* - former Godfather's Pizza CEO who rocketed to the top of the Republican presidential nominee polls before a handful of harassment allegations forced him to drop out of the race.

2. Tim Tebow - Christian quarterback of the Denver Broncos who is now being called the "Mile High Messiah" after a series of miraculous come-from-behind wins.

3. Navy Seal Team 6 - the military team that took out the FBI's #1 Most Wanted man, Usama bin Laden, while he was hiding in a residential area of Pakistan.

4. Reed Hastings - Netflix CEO who, literally, lost millions of customers with an ill-advised and dramatic price hike for his DVD delivery and download service.

5. The clean-up crew at Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactor - men and women who have willingly risked their lives to protect their country after the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.

6. Joe Paterno - former head coach of the Penn State Nittany Lions who, at 83-years-old, lost both his job and impeccable reputation after a child abuse scandal involving one of his former assistants came to light.

7. Sandra Bullock - A-list actress who went through a very public (and very messy) divorce in the midst of adopting a baby from New Orleans.

8. Paris Jackson - 13-year-old daughter of the late Michael Jackson who has recently said that she wants to, in some ways, follow in her father's footsteps.

9. An Occupy Wall Street protestor - a relatively new group of Americans who converge on major city centers to live in tents, sleep in trees, and willingly get arrested for their beliefs in economic equality.

10. Amy Chua - Yale Law professor and author of Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother who received significant criticism for her radical, bordering on abusive, views on parenting.

So what do you think? Did I miss anyone? Who would you put on the list instead?

(*Herman Cain was included on Barbara Walters' list as well.)

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? Really?

2011-12-08T21:06:00.001-06:00

I've said it before, but it's worth repeating: most of life's problems come as a result of unmet expectations. If you're hoping for flowers and a quiet dinner on Valentine's Day and your husband gives you nothing more than a card, there's a problem. If you thought your teenage daughter would be home right after the 7 o'clock movie and she doesn't show up until midnight, there's a problem. If you assume that you'll get a 5% raise at the end of the year and you get 2% instead, there's a problem.

Honestly, I think this is the very reason that the holidays are such a difficult time for many of us. The poor feel poorer. The sad feel sadder. The lonely feel lonelier. All because the expectations at Christmas are so much higher than the rest of the year. And, frankly, with songs like "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year" all over the radio and happy, dancing Santas all over people's lawns, it's no surprise.

So, if you're feeling a little Grinch-y this holiday, there are two things you should know. The first is that, despite what your head and your heart may be saying, you are not alone in your struggles or in your sadness.

Other families are missing loved ones too.

Other families are fighting with each other too.

Other families can't afford everything they want too.

Other families are stressed out too.
Other families are holding years-long grudges too.

In fact, my own family is mourning the loss this year of an uncle who always sat at our table on Christmas day. Our finances are far shakier than we'd like them to be. And stress? Yeah, we've got plenty of that too. And there are many thousands, probably millions, of others in a far worse place.

The second thing to remember is this: Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year because everyone seems happy. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year because it's the season in which we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. Whether the kids are jingle-belling or anyone is telling you to be of good cheer, Jesus still came to earth as a baby and was born in a manger to a virgin named Mary. Angels still appeared to the shepherds. Wise men still followed a star. The calendar was still split in two. That's wonderful no matter how you slice it.

If we're looking for happiness at Christmas, we're often going to be extremely disappointed. However, if we're looking for joy...there's not a reason in the world that we shouldn't find it.

An Open Letter to Illinois Football Fans

2011-12-08T11:40:00.001-06:00

When Ron Zook walked into the WBGL radio studios last Thursday, he was a full hour early for our interview. For the first time in seven years, the former Illinois head football coach was without a schedule. Without someplace to be. Without a game plan to go over or a running back to recruit. When Zook realized his error, he simply said to me, “I’m not used to this.”

Just five days earlier the coach had been fired by University of Illinois Athletic Director Mike Thomas. The move wasn’t unexpected but, to the 57-year old Zook, it was certainly disappointing. Regarding both the present and the future of Illinois football, the former coach takes an opposing view of many fans and members of the media. “I know that the program is in great shape right now. They’ll go on and, hopefully, have the success that everyone wants them to have – me included.”

Though our thirty minutes together was supposed to focus on him, his family, and his future, Coach Zook found it hard to talk about anything other than his former players. As I thanked him for his service to the university and to the Champaign-Urbana community as a whole, the coach responded, “I wish that the community could get to know our players like I do. They’re good kids and they want to do the right thing. They know the difference between right and wrong. They’re searching just like all young people are…and we’re just trying to help them make the right choice.”

During Ron Zook’s tenure at the U of I, it’s apparent that he helped many players do exactly that. Trulon Henry, a senior set to graduate at the end of the semester, recently said of the coach, “I’d jump off a cliff for him.” Zook recruited the linebacker to Illinois after Henry had served time in prison for armed robbery. “A lot of coaches wouldn’t have brought me here.”

But, in my mind, Ron Zook isn’t “a lot of coaches.” He’s a hard-nosed guy with a heart of gold…committed to teaching his players how to overcome adversity both on and off the field. Zook understands that there is far more to life than football, and his goal is to adequately (and appropriately) prepare these 18- to 22-year old men for both. Big Ten fans should know better than anyone these days how hard that outlook can be to find.

Partway through our conversation, I watched Coach Zook’s eyes water as he talked about his own life outside of football. He teared up as he mentioned his two daughters, and how he was looking forward to their family’s annual tradition of shopping on Christmas Eve. It was a tender part of the coach that, I would guess, not too many die-hard Illini fans ever had the chance to see. I can’t help but wonder if public sentiment would have been different if they had.

But, of course, college coaching decisions aren’t made on feelings. Nor should they be. Hirings and firings are made on results, and that’s where it seems like Illini nation may have lost its collective long-term memory.

With a bowl berth this year, the Illini program that Ron Zook built is headed to its third post-season game in the last five seasons. This hasn’t happened to Illinois since 1994 and is the exact same 2007-2011 ratio as arch-rival Michigan. In 2008 Illinois appeared in the coveted Rose Bowl for the first time since 1984 and for just the second time since Kennedy was in the White House. With a win over UCLA in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl this year, the Fighting Illini will have won bowl games in consecutive years – something the team has never before accomplished.

After Zook’s two rebuilding years in 2005 and 2006, the Illini finished with a winning record in 2007 and 2010, with the chance to be above .500 again in 2011. Again, that’s three of five. Have we forgotten that, between 1991 and 2004, Illinois finished the season at one game over .500 or worse eleven times? Five times in the 80s, nine times in the 70s, seven times in the 60s, etc.

The 2008 Rose Bowl clearly turned the Illini faithful into the Illini delusional. Fans now expect to win every single game, and be in the Bowl Championship Series hunt every single season. Anything else, it appears, is unacceptable. But it is also unrealistic.

One sniff of the roses does not turn Champaign, Illinois into Happy Valley, Pennsylvania. One BCS bowl does not turn U of I's Memorial Stadium into OSU's Horseshoe. For the Fighting Illini program, every bowl berth is marked progress...every winning season is a sizable step in the right direction. Any Illinois football fan who assumes that the team is going to miraculously morph into Alabama or USC in the blink of an eye (or, for that matter, in seven years) is kidding themselves.

I want the Fighting Illini to win as much as the next guy, but Ron Zook was a coach, not a magician. As I see it, Illinois fans either need to quickly learn this concept or sincerely hope that our next head football coach's name is David Copperfield.

A Verse That Doesn't Mean What You Think It Means

2011-12-05T08:52:00.001-06:00

Despite being one of the best players to ever play college football, Tim Tebow has taken a ton of criticism in his career. Some believe it's because of his faith. Some don't. But, at least for our purposes today, that distinction is irrelevant.

At the University of Florida, Tebow won the National Championship (twice), received the coveted Heisman Trophy, and broke darn-near every record a college quarterback could break. Yet, going in to the NFL draft, it was the consensus opinion (of ESPN and others) that Tebow wouldn't fare well at the elite level. He was too short. He threw sidearm. He wasn't accurate. He couldn't adapt to an NFL offense. He wasn't fast enough. He was "soft."

And guess what? Tim Tebow is winning anyway.

After starting the season 1-4 with a different quarterback, the Denver Broncos inserted Tebow into the lineup and saw an immediate change. As an NFL starter, Tim Tebow is now 6-1 and has won five games in a row. The Broncos are 7-5 and in a tie for first place in the AFC West. Tebow wins...despite any concerns about his height, throwing motion, accuracy, brains, speed, or commitment.

What would have happened, though, if Tim had listened to the critics? What if he had decided that ESPN was right. What if he had packed up his cleats and decided to become a real estate agent or an insurance salesman? Well, first of all, the Denver Broncos wouldn't be in the playoff hunt. And, secondly, you and I would have missed out on an important life lesson.

I don't know which voices in your life are telling you that you can't do what you've been called by God to do, but I do know that critics are out there. I know that you have people who do their best to convince you that you're too weak, young, old, damaged, poor, dumb, or insecure to fulfill the plans that the Lord promises he has for you.

Though you and I aren't in the NFL, there will always be those critical of our hopes and plans and dreams. There will always be voices that tell you to not go to seminary or enroll in nursing school. There will always be friends encouraging you to bail on writing a book or starting a ministry. There will always be family members who push you to give up on the dream of owning your own business or becoming a full-time missionary.

The natural verse to end with, of course, is Philippians 4:13 which says, "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." It's important, however, that we not assume that these words imply that God will bless everything that we want to do. Rather, they mean quite the opposite. God will give us the strength to do everything that he wants us to do. Even if it's scary. And even if no one else thinks we should.

Throwing Gifts on the Front Lawn

2011-11-30T11:56:00.001-06:00

I spent an hour watching the original "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" movie with my wife and boys a few nights ago. I know it's a classic but, somehow, I had never seen it before.

Early in the movie, the elves made all sorts of incredible toys in Santa's workshop but, because of the Winter Warlock who lived on a nearby mountain, they decided to just throw them in the front yard. Rather than risk the potential pain and danger of delivering their toys to the sad children in Sombertown, these elves were content to create a yard full of useless lawn ornaments. Attempting to cross the mountain--even for something good--was just too big of a risk.

Over the past few days I've been wondering how often I turn my God-given gifts and talents into pointless Christian lawn art? I've been asking why I am content to live my life in the "faith bubble" that I've created for myself? Maybe it's because I'm afraid of failure. Or rejection. Or pain. Or embarrassment. Maybe it's because I don't want to leave what's comfortable. Or safe. Or popular. Or traditional. Maybe it's because I'm selfish. Or ignorant. Or lost. Or blind.

Regardless, I'm guilty. And I'm guessing that you probably are too. At least some of the time.

Is there a co-worker you've been led to share your faith with?
Is there a ministry at church that you've been called to work with?
Is there a homeless person you've been inspired to talk to?
Is there a book you've been equipped to write?
Is there a child you've been asked to foster?
Is there a team you've been told to lead?
Is there a mountain you've been challenged to cross?

It's a bit counter-intuitive, but the gifts that God has given to you and me were not meant exclusively for us. They were meant to be given away--to be shared--even when there's fear and trembling and maybe even a little sweat involved. Romans 12:6-8 says, "We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."

God has given each of us specific talents and abilities and callings and passions and desires. The question is, in the face of even the slightest resistance, what are we going to do with them? Are we going to selflessly give these gifts away or carelessly throw them on the front lawn?

Cancelled Dreams

2011-11-09T09:53:00.000-06:00

American Eagle Flight 4144 from Chicago to Champaign is rarely late and almost never cancelled. According to Flight Stats, the plane arrives on-schedule 83% of the time, and has only been cancelled twice in the past two months. On Tuesdays, American Eagle performs even better between the Windy City and the Twin Cities with an 89% on-time percentage.

On most days, a delay or cancellation for Flight 4144 is merely an inconvenience for a businessman trying to get home or for a University of Illinois parent trying to visit campus. Another plane heads--shuttle style--the same direction two hours later. Maybe a family dinner is missed. Or a meeting. Or, heaven forbid, an Illini game. But two hours isn't usually a big deal.

But on this particular Tuesday, when Flight 4144 was cancelled for just the third time in three months, it wasn't "most days." And two hours was a big deal.

Anna Ocean was supposed to be on that tiny plane. Traveling from Seattle, Washington, Anna was rushing to see her dad, Champaign resident James Harry, who was on the critical care floor of Provena Hospital.

Just six months before, Jim was at our house...and he was beaming. As we celebrated my son's second birthday, we celebrated Jim's daughter too. He hadn't seen her in person yet, but he had pictures, and everyone at the party had the chance to look at them - at least once. Calling Jim a "proud papa" would have been a massive understatement.

My wife's 82-year-old uncle had finally found the daughter he thought he had lost forever when she was about the same age as my two-year-old son. For 50 long years this quiet, unassuming man frequently wondered where Anna was and what she was doing. Then, this past March--with one phone call--Jim not only found his long-lost little girl, but two grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. He called that discovery "the highlight of my life."

Jim and his wife Judy planned a trip to Seattle for a reunion in August, but that's when Jim's health began to deteriorate. Diagnosed with Myasthenia Gravis--a disease that causes extreme muscle weakness and fatigue--doctors said that Jim had to wait until he was healthy enough to make the cross-country flight. Unfortunately, healthy never came.

As I stood in his hospital room on Monday, Jim was on a respirator and had more IV's in his body than I have fingers on my hands. Sedated, he looked peaceful, but his heart was far from calm. Jim's pulse and blood pressure rose and fell dramatically, setting off alarms at the nearby nurse station faster than they could reset them.

That's when Anna was called. And that's why Anna was supposed to be on American Eagle Flight 4144.

The plane should have landed at Willard Airport in Savoy at 4:50pm on Tuesday, November 8th, but it never left Chicago.The flight was cancelled. And with it, the possibility of Anna and Jim seeing each other for the first time since the early 1960s.

Instead, Anna arrived in Champaign at 7:50. Jim passed away at 7:02.

Since that day, I can't tell you how many times I've said to myself, "The story wasn't supposed to end this way." If anyone deserved a happy ending, it was Jim. He was a humble, unassuming man who was content with what he had. Uncle Jim never asked anything of anyone. Ever. Not even in his final days. Jim had the uncanny ability to find joy in the little things of life and I, for one, was thrilled at the prospects of watching him find joy in something big--something huge--that Tuesday night. Even if it happened as he took his last breath.

But, sadly, it wasn't to be.

My hope today comes from John 14 in which the Bible promises us that the story isn't over. It doesn't have to end in tragedy. God has prepared a place in heaven for all those who believe in him. A place where we will once again see those who have gone before us. A place where Christ followers will go when we die, or where Jesus will take us when he returns.

In a broad sense, this means that there will be many thousands of happy reunions in heaven as loved ones reconnect with Christian parents and grandparents and friends who have gone before them. But right now, for my family, it means that the final say in whether or not Anna and Jim ever stand face-to-face wasn't up to American Eagle.

The end of their story--and the end of yours and mine--rests in something far more secure.

I'm Positive It's Negative

2011-11-09T08:32:00.000-06:00

I finally got a call from my doctor on Tuesday. After more than six weeks of waiting on pathology results for a small tumor that was removed from my scalp, we have answers.

The results...were negative. The good kind of negative, not the bad kind. As in, the tumor was not lymphoma. Three different labs looked at the sample, including Mayo Clinic, and each them said it was incredibly difficult to determine what they were looking at. In fact, one of the pathologists at Mayo said it was "one of the strangest things I've ever seen."

As I understand it, the tumor was made up of "atypical lymph cells of the T variety," but (thankfully) these cells weren't cancerous. In layman's terms, my head randomly decided to grow a benign tumor made up of cells that were acting much like a bored group of honor roll students wandering the streets after dark. They shouldn't have been there, but they weren't doing anything bad once they showed up.

A collective sigh of relief has been breathed at the Sinclair house for sure...but we still have many questions that will hopefully be answered by our oncologist next week:

- Would those cells have turned into cancer if given more time?
- Will the growth come back?
- Could a similar thing show up somewhere else?
- Should we do regular scans to make sure everything is okay?

Regardless, my wife and I would like to thank you for your prayers, cards, phone calls, and offers to help. I can't tell you how much those have meant to us. We're tremendously grateful for the good news about my health, but we're almost equally as grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, listeners, and readers. Again, thank you.

Is It Cancer or a Giant Zit?

2011-11-02T09:48:00.000-05:00

Today marks 38 days since a small tumor was removed from my scalp. Back then we thought it was just a oil-filled cyst, but when my doctor began the procedure, he quickly realized otherwise. Within a week, two area physicians and one pathologist all wanted to say that I had lymphoma, but no one was quite willing to.

Five and a half weeks (and three pathology labs) later, we still don't have answers. Mayo Clinic, one of the finest medical facilities in the world, has the sample now...but we're still waiting. Was the growth really cancer or was it just a highly-agitated, incredibly-gigantic zit? Hopefully we will know sooner rather than later.

As my wife and I have looked for hope and solace in our time of waiting, we have spent many hours trying to discern what God's plan is in all of this. Is he trying to teach us patience? Is he attempting to deepen our prayer lives? Is he encouraging us to draw closer to each other? Is he hoping that this situation will allow us to better tell his story someday? Is he challenging us to live out our faith in the face of fear?

Maybe.

But what if this time of waiting is not about me (or us) at all? What if my waiting is simply a small part of someone else's story? What if somewhere, somehow God is doing something which requires my patience right here and right now? What if my suffering is for their good? What if my agony is for their well-being? What if God is simply asking me to sacrifice my own personal comfort for another human being?

Jesus experienced that very thing on the cross. God was doing something for us, but his one and only son had to suffer in order to make it happen. Jesus wasn't getting a return in exchange for his pain. His death on the cross wasn't a business transaction. His crucifixion was suffering exclusively for our benefit. Actually, that's what made it so special. There was no selfish reason--not one--that Jesus should want to die. But he willingly did. For you and for me.

Romans 8:28 says in part, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him." And, often, our assumption is that "good" means that we will be healthier or wealthier or wiser when the suffering ends. But I'm not so sure that's always true. What if suffering for someone else's gain, with no tangible benefit on the other side, is--in and of itself--"good?"

Would You Please Pray for Me and My Family?

2011-10-21T13:08:00.000-05:00

Patience has never been my strong suit. I don't like sitting in traffic or waiting in line. If I send an email or leave a phone message, I get antsy if the person I'm trying to contact hasn't responded in a few hours. I'm not even very good at holding on to a present for someone once I've bought it. I have this crazy need to give the gift to them right then.

You can imagine my frustration then with a recent series of health concerns. At the risk of boring you with details, here is the timeline of what has transpired in the past few months:

September 26 - I had minor surgery to remove what my doctor thought was a benign cyst from my scalp.
October 3 - Pathology revealed that the cyst was actually a tumor...and my doctor and the pathologist both suspected lymphoma. The sample was sent to a lab out in California to get a second opinion.
October 6 - The secondary pathology results come back "inconclusive," leading my oncologist to send the tissue to Mayo Clinic before proceeding with any form of treatment.
October 19 - We learned that not only were the Mayo results not available, but they didn't even have the sample yet! My oncologist decided to order a PET scan while we're waiting, just to get a jump on things.
October 21 - The PET scan is scheduled for early next week, but we won't have our next meeting with the oncologist until Thursday the 27th.

Essentially, since being told that I possibly have lymphoma, my wife and I have had to wait three agonizing weeks with no definitive diagnosis or treatment plan. And there is more waiting to be done. Given that my life is in the hands of these results, I'm growing increasingly frustrated with the entire process. (On the positive side, waiting for a traffic light to change doesn't seem so bothersome anymore.)

I'm reminded of Isaiah 40:31 which says, "They who wait upon the Lord will get new strength. They will rise up with wings like eagles. They will run and not get tired. They will walk and not become weak." But, being completely honest, I am tired. I am weak.

I'm tired of waiting. I'm tired of wondering. I'm tired of worrying my wife. I'm tired of staying up until midnight having morbid conversations. I'm tired of smiling and saying "I'm fine" just because I don't want to get into it. I'm tired of living my life under a cloud of uncertainty.

Thankfully, I'm also reminded of Exodus 17 where Moses was watching a battle between Israel and Amelek. When Moses held up his hands, Israel would be winning. When he put them down, Amalek would take control. In verse 12 it says, "Then Aaron and Hur held up his (Moses') hands, one on each side. His hands did not move until the sun went down." When Moses didn't have the strength to continue on his own, God provided people to help him press on. As it turns out, I need people like that too.

Though I have had many close friends and family praying for me already, I guess I'm asking for more. I'm asking for help "holding up my hands" today. When you get the chance, would you be willing to pray for me and my family? Pray for strength. Pray for encouragement. Pray for a complete absence of lymphoma in my body. And above all--despite the waiting, the fear, and the frustration--pray that my hands be held up throughout this entire process.

Who Is God Voting For?

2011-10-20T05:55:00.000-05:00

An article on CNN's website asks, "Who does God want in the White House?" In the piece LZ Granderson notes that at least four Republican candidates--Rick Perry, Michelle Bachmann, Herman Cain, and Rick Santorum--have said that God told them to run for President.

Granderson is clearly bothered by this duplicity (or four-plicity), and he repeatedly uses it to question the sanity of the candidates and/or the omnipotence of God. At one point Granderson writes, "Four candidates have claimed a level of divine intervention with their campaign, which either means the creator of heaven and Earth is hedging his bets or somebody's mistaken." The author has even come up with a question for the next debate: "Now which ones of you were really called by God and which ones are hearing voices in your head?"

Sadly, Mr. Granderson has made an incorrect assumption. He assumes that if God is calling someone to run for President, then God is also guaranteeing that he or she will win. And nothing could be further from the truth. I'm a firm believer that God sometimes allows, and even plans, our "failures"--mainly because he has a much broader view of success than we do.

Could it be that God is using these politicians to spur others (on both sides of the aisle) to get, be, and do better? Could it be that there is personal growth that will be immeasurably shaped through their candidacy? Could it be that God is giving some or all of them valuable experience for a Presidential run in the future? Is winning the only reason that God would ask someone to run for office?

As I stated in a recent post, our definition of failure and God's definition of failure are not the same. Often, our short-term disappointments are merely circumstances considered by humans to be devastating, but orchestrated by God to be divine.

None of us--including LZ Granderson--can say for sure whether Perry, Bachmann, Cain, or Santorum have truly heard from God. But it is entirely possible that God has told each of these candidates to run for President. And it is also entirely possible that none of them will win. And neither option indicates that the candidates are somehow crazy or that God is somehow irrelevant.

God can ask someone to run for office and ask you to vote for someone completely different at the same time...without contradicting himself. He's big like that. I need this reminder as much as anyone: Questioning what God has asked others to do is, at best, a colossal waste of time. At worst it's prideful and arrogant and sinful.

Personally, I have a hard enough time discerning what God has asked me to do.

(Wonder what I would say about my faith if I ran for office?)

Did I Just Lie to God?

2011-10-13T06:08:00.000-05:00

This might very well be the most ambiguous blog post I've ever written, and I apologize in advance for that. But, at this point, the specifics aren't important. The mindset in the middle of those specifics is.

I prayed a really difficult prayer the other night. I said, "Lord, I don't like this, and I would like you to miraculously change this. However, if this is what it takes to better tell your story...if this is what it takes to teach me who you really are...if this is what it takes to make me who you want me to be...than this is what I want."

In retrospect, I kinda feel like I was lying to God because, on a purely human level, this is not what I want. In fact, this is the exact opposite of what I want. This is scary. This is painful. This is out of my control. I don't know about you, but I am not a big fan of fear and pain and insecurity.

However, I'm reminded of Jesus who prayed a very similar prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane before being crucified. He didn't like what was about to happen to him. It was going to hurt, and he wanted out. So, he asked for an alternative. Yet Christ also took time to acknowledge that God's will should trump his wants. In Luke 22, Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”

I don't know what this looks like for you. Maybe it's the loss of a job or the loss of a spouse. Maybe it's a health concern or a financial crisis. Maybe it's a failed relationship or a failed business. Maybe it's an uncontrollable addiction or an uncontrollable child. Frankly, it doesn't matter. Just know that it is okay to pray for your own wants and desires. It's okay to pray for healing or restoration or favor or relief. It's okay to pray for selfish stuff. Jesus did.

The key, though, is understanding that this is part of a bigger plan. This is something that God can change, but that he reserves the right not to. This is part of a story that we are not the author of, and that we don't know the ending to.

We all want our way. But just imagine where we'd be if--2,000 years ago--Jesus had gotten his.

A Faith You Can Be Comfortable With

2011-10-06T05:40:00.000-05:00

The Transportation Security Administration unveiled a new plan this week that will allow frequent fliers to bypass certain security measures in order to speed up the check-in process. Over the last few years (and certainly since September 11, 2001), the lines at our nation's airports have become exponentially longer, and the TSA hopes that this policy change will help move things along.

Travel safety is but a small example of a principle that applies in nearly every aspect of life: freedom and security are inversely proportional. The more freedom you allow, the less security people have. The more security you put in place, the less freedom people have. For example...

- Allowing people to freely board an airplane risks a terrorist attack.
- Allowing your children to ride their bikes to a friend's house risks a kidnapping.
- Allowing your spouse to travel regularly for business risks an affair.
- Allowing your teenager to go to a party risks underage drinking or smoking.
- Allowing customers to post openly on your business Facebook page risks profanity.
- Allowing banks to set their own fees risks the consumer being taken advantage of.

In each of these examples, the "freedom vs. security" line is solely determined by a person's or organization's comfort level. And that line can vary wildly based on the person or people involved. One guy with a few explosives in his shoe made Washington uncomfortable enough to change the travel policies for 400 million Americans.One suspicious van driving slowly around the neighborhood can make many parents uncomfortable enough to keep their kids inside the house. One four-letter-word can make many businesses lock their social media pages down for good.

Unfortunately, it seems as if many of us (myself included) tend to use comfort as our barometer for spiritual things as well. We frequently condemn, judge, criticize, and hate on people who engage in activities that we are personally not comfortable with...as if our likes dictate God's laws. We use our upbringing and experiences to shape our beliefs instead of allowing the Bible to do that for us.

What is your opinion on drinking, dancing, tattooing, smoking, card-playing, skirt-wearing, church-going, TV-watching, and family-planning? Do your feelings represent your comfort or do they represent God's commands?

Christians have varying opinions on what the Bible says about certain issues, and that's to be expected. The challenge, however, is not letting our faith be formed by comfort but, rather, by Christ.

A Long Walk, Spoiled

2011-09-29T06:04:00.000-05:00

I had the opportunity to play golf last week with an amazing group of pastors. It was a fun day getting to know other ministry leaders and relax together on an absolutely beautiful morning. The course we played is less than a mile from my house, and I have been there dozens of times. However, three of the four guys on my team were from out of the area...meaning every hole was brand new to them.

As we played, I was able to tell our foursome where each bunker was and which way the greens sloped. I knew which holes were coming up next and where we needed to aim in order to have a good angle in to the pin. I even pointed out where several hidden water hazards were. I was full of information.

The problem was that, despite my knowledge of the golf course, I am terrible at actually playing golf. No, seriously. I am awful. In four hours last week, I might have had seven decent swings. And most of those were practice.

In short, I was a fountain of information with barely a trickle of application.

I don't know about you, but I feel that way in my faith quite a bit too. I know a bunch of Bible verses. I understand what salvation is and how it works. I can even answer a fair number of theological questions. But when it comes to "playing the game" well, I'm not that great. I am frequently a fountain of spiritual information with barely a trickle of spiritual application.

Someone once called golf, "a long walk, spoiled", and I can't help but wonder if that person was simply frustrated with not being able to put their knowledge of golf into practice on the course. I wonder if they just wanted to enjoy the game without putting any work into playing it well. I wonder if they longed to be a professional without first being a novice.

Spiritually, I'm that guy sometimes. I forget that Christianity is not intended to be "a nice life, spoiled." Like golf, Christianity requires work. It requires discipline. And, more than anything, it requires practice. Otherwise, we're just wandering around the course of life shouting instructions at all of the actual players.

Hurting People You Don't Love...Yet

2011-09-22T05:58:00.000-05:00

If there's one concept I wish I had fully grasped much earlier in life, it's this one: The choices you make today will affect people you have not yet met, but will one day love.

While making knowingly poor decisions in the past, I was prepared to deal with the immediate, personal consequences. I was even willing to accept the impact that my actions would have on people around me. What I forgot to account for, however, were the parts of my future that would be harmed.

It's impossible to know who you'll be hurting or what you'll be harming with the unwise choices that you're making right now, but the bottom line is that there are always future ramifications for today's decisions.

Giving yourself away in college will rob you of offering your entire self to your spouse on your wedding night.
Racking up massive credit card debt when you are newly married will prevent you from adequately providing for your future kids.
Gossiping about people in your church or school or neighborhood will remove opportunities for new friendships down the line.
Developing an alcohol, gambling, or pornography addiction during your 20's will steal your ability to interact in a healthy way with the friends or family you have in your 40's.
Abusing a child now will take away your chances of spending time with your grandchildren later.

Proverbs 24:14 tells us of the long-term benefits associated with making wise short-term decisions. "Wisdom is like honey for you: If you find it, there is a future hope for you...and your hope will not be cut off."

It is hard to think about more than the immediate sometimes. Trust me, I have been terrible at it. So, as a reminder to us both, I'll say it again: The choices you make today will affect people you have not yet met, but will one day love.

Am I Any Different?

2011-09-15T06:01:00.000-05:00

Being called the "villain of accountants" or the "villain of quilters" would be one thing. But Mike Tyson is known as the "villain of boxing." That's no small feat.

In his career Tyson has been accused of domestic violence. He has been convicted of rape (as well as bad acting). The heavyweight champ has bitten off the earlobe of an opponent, and has since been banned from the sport that he dominated for so many years.

Mr. Tyson also happens to have an image that matches his sketchy reputation. It's a scary one. A noticeable one. An easily-maligned one. A "forget-about-the-plank-in-my-own-eye" one. Take a few shots at Tyson's character, and there are few people who would blame you for it - much less call you on it.

Recently I've been wading through a lot of my own junk. I've been taking inventory of the baggage that I carry around with me. And the more I do so, the more I'm compelled to ask how different Mike Tyson and I really are. I mean...

- Is the tattoo etched on his face any different than the smile I plaster across mine?
- Is his bad-boy persona any different than my good-guy routine?
- Are his public addictions and financial issues any different than my private ones?
- Are his verbal outbursts any different than my sarcastic jokes?
- Is his love of attention-demanding movie roles any different than the approval and affirmation that I covet in my own life?

It seems to me that all of us (Mike Tyson, you, and me) are in the same boat. We are all hiding pain. We are all masking insecurities. We are all covering up faults and flaws and foibles.

We just happen to be wearing different costumes.

__________________________________________________________________________

Visit People of the Second Chance.

Pieces of the Puzzle

2011-09-01T05:59:00.000-05:00

The other day my four year old was putting together a puzzle on the floor of our family room. He had been holding one of the pieces for quite some time when he looked at me and said, "I can't figure out where this one goes."

Looking down from my spot on the couch I told him, "That's because you're not ready for it yet." And he wasn't. Some of the edges were connected. A few of the middle pieces were in place. But, from where I sat, it was clear that my little guy had much more work to do before understanding where to put the piece in his hand.

Jeremiah got stuck holding something that simply didn't fit yet. And while the only solution was to put the piece down and get to work doing other parts of the puzzle first, he didn't want to. He wanted to make it fit right then.

I don't know about you, but I honestly believe that most of my life has been riddled with impatience (and outright defiance) over wanting to do and be things that I'm simply not ready for. Truth be told, I still have a lot of not just hard work, but heart work to do before God can use me.

Nashville pastor Justin Davis recently said on Twitter: "We often want to pursue being used by God before we pursue being healed by God." I was one of those people. And maybe you are too. Maybe you are tightly holding on to a piece of your puzzle that simply isn't ready to be used yet. Maybe you have some work left to do. Maybe there is some healing that needs to happen first.

Maybe, just maybe, when you and I ask God why we can't figure out where a certain piece of our life is supposed to fit, he is simply saying, "That's because you're not ready for it yet."