It's never too late
For the last several weeks we have been conducting an experiment with this GodIssues ministry. Each day I have recorded a radio spot which has aired on three secular stations. This daily essay has then been posted on godissues.com as "the rest of the story" to which we invite the radio listener. Early results are extremely encouraging. We will continue airing radio spots on single stations for the next few weeks, testing the market for each station in preparation for the next stage of the radio ministry strategy in the fall.
Meanwhile, I'm now returning GodIssues Today to its original purpose: a daily email which looks at current news in spiritual perspective. There's much in the news which invites comment today. But being a Dallas resident and fan of our basketball team for 26 years, I am irresistibly compelled to write today about this simple fact: the Mavericks are going to the NBA finals. Even if you don't care, there's a lesson in that fact worth considering this morning.
When the Mavericks fell behind by 18 points early in Saturday night's game, it seemed we were destined to lose. Just as we were sure to lose the previous series to the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, playing game seven on their home court. But new coach Avery Johnson has taught the Mavericks a fact we do well to affirm today: if you'll keep playing hard, you're never out of the game. Try hard enough for long enough and good things will happen.
It's a fact of Scripture. When the Hebrews were enslaved in Babylon, with no hope and no future, the Lord assured them, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). He planned to rebuild their nation and eventually bring the Messiah through them to the world. But there was and is a condition: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (v. 13). If we will seek our Father's purpose and submit to his plans, we will experience all that he intends for us. He will work for his glory and our good.
So we must not give up. The motivational creed is also a simple fact: quitters never win and winners never quit. That's true by definition. If we quit before the game is over, we cannot win it. If we keep shooting, and running, and playing defense, something good will eventually happen. It's always too soon to give up.
Where does that fact find you this morning? Do you have an "insolvable" problem, an "incurable" disease? No, you don't. Stay in the game and trust your Father. It's always too soon to quit. This is the warning, and the promise, of God.
Meanwhile, I'm now returning GodIssues Today to its original purpose: a daily email which looks at current news in spiritual perspective. There's much in the news which invites comment today. But being a Dallas resident and fan of our basketball team for 26 years, I am irresistibly compelled to write today about this simple fact: the Mavericks are going to the NBA finals. Even if you don't care, there's a lesson in that fact worth considering this morning.
When the Mavericks fell behind by 18 points early in Saturday night's game, it seemed we were destined to lose. Just as we were sure to lose the previous series to the defending world champion San Antonio Spurs, playing game seven on their home court. But new coach Avery Johnson has taught the Mavericks a fact we do well to affirm today: if you'll keep playing hard, you're never out of the game. Try hard enough for long enough and good things will happen.
It's a fact of Scripture. When the Hebrews were enslaved in Babylon, with no hope and no future, the Lord assured them, "I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future" (Jeremiah 29:11). He planned to rebuild their nation and eventually bring the Messiah through them to the world. But there was and is a condition: "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (v. 13). If we will seek our Father's purpose and submit to his plans, we will experience all that he intends for us. He will work for his glory and our good.
So we must not give up. The motivational creed is also a simple fact: quitters never win and winners never quit. That's true by definition. If we quit before the game is over, we cannot win it. If we keep shooting, and running, and playing defense, something good will eventually happen. It's always too soon to give up.
Where does that fact find you this morning? Do you have an "insolvable" problem, an "incurable" disease? No, you don't. Stay in the game and trust your Father. It's always too soon to quit. This is the warning, and the promise, of God.
posted by God Issues at 5:05 AM
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