What's your "El Whapo"? You know, that major screw up, failure, or shortcoming - that interview for which you were grossly unprepared, the speaking engagement in which you abused the English language even though' it's your native tongue, that break-up which was borderline harassment before it was over.
Huge mistakes. We've all made them. Some of us are making them now.
Our Enemy is Awesome
Be encouraged, our enemy is awesome! He is awesome at fighting dirty and reminding us of just how miserable and unworthy of Jesus' love we truly are. Pond scum. Dreg of society. Single-celled life forms look down us. We're screw ups and failures, flunkies and losers.
It Is Good to Remember Our Losses
In Mike Krzyzewski's words, he of Duke basketball fame, "I believe every person has to learn from success and failure. That's why...I did not want any of [my staff] to forget that terrible loss to Virginia", (109-66). Coach K, as he is affectionately known, concluded a two-season run with 21 wins and 34 losses; boy was loss #34 a doozy.
Instead of "changing everything", as I am prone to do, they made no major changes. They believed in their training, in themselves and in one another. It would be just five short years before Coach K would earn, not one, but two national championships. Coach offered the following, "We should never forget a defeat. Defeat can be the key to future victory."
Jesus = My Righteousness
I am a failure at being righteous. I am not good - not even close. I am not righteous, holy, sanctified or pure...in and of myself.
The message of the gospel is that my life does not define me, nor does it define my destiny, nor my eternal destination. I will not be judged by God according the number of 'El Whapos' committed but according to my faith in Jesus, the Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5.21. I have become the righteousness of God.
Let's live it out today, friends.
Huge mistakes. We've all made them. Some of us are making them now.
Our Enemy is Awesome
Be encouraged, our enemy is awesome! He is awesome at fighting dirty and reminding us of just how miserable and unworthy of Jesus' love we truly are. Pond scum. Dreg of society. Single-celled life forms look down us. We're screw ups and failures, flunkies and losers.
It Is Good to Remember Our Losses
In Mike Krzyzewski's words, he of Duke basketball fame, "I believe every person has to learn from success and failure. That's why...I did not want any of [my staff] to forget that terrible loss to Virginia", (109-66). Coach K, as he is affectionately known, concluded a two-season run with 21 wins and 34 losses; boy was loss #34 a doozy.
Instead of "changing everything", as I am prone to do, they made no major changes. They believed in their training, in themselves and in one another. It would be just five short years before Coach K would earn, not one, but two national championships. Coach offered the following, "We should never forget a defeat. Defeat can be the key to future victory."
Jesus = My Righteousness
I am a failure at being righteous. I am not good - not even close. I am not righteous, holy, sanctified or pure...in and of myself.
The message of the gospel is that my life does not define me, nor does it define my destiny, nor my eternal destination. I will not be judged by God according the number of 'El Whapos' committed but according to my faith in Jesus, the Christ.
The Apostle Paul wrote, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." 2 Corinthians 5.21. I have become the righteousness of God.
Let's live it out today, friends.