You never know whom you might sit next to on an airplane. Coming back from our senior trip in Costa Rica last week, I sat next to a top rank world poker player. A few years back, he won the coveted World Series of Poker, proudly sporting the champion’s bracelet. Our conversation was spirited and interesting, consisting primarily with my asking questions about his passion (poker). I was enthralled by his dedication and level of seriousness in which he approached his craft: playing high stakes poker. He had one all consuming passion.

Our conversation turned on a dime when he asked me what I did. I told him I was a pastor. You should have seen the look on his face. Immediately, our conversation centered on his spiritual upbringing and personal quest for the truth. I intentionally avoided the ethical debate around his profession and instead focused my conversation on what it meant to have a personal and authentic relationship with Jesus. It ended with his asking me if I knew of a church like Trinity in his hometown.

Here is how a poker player challenged me. He was a winner in his profession. In order to be a winner in any field, it takes passion. Passion isn’t something you acquire in higher education. It’s not an app you download or a skill you achieve. Passion is something you possess or rather something that possesses you. It is one of those rare emotions in life that you can’t fabricate – either you have it or you don’t. Passion is contagious; it’s the fuel that drives you. It sets you apart from the rest of the pack, giving you the winning edge. This weekend we conclude our series entitled JESUS. It is my hope He is our greatest passion!

Just a thought,
Carl

The process of life is a series of beginnings and endings – from birth to death and everything in between. The Bible says, “There is a season and a time for everything under the sun.” Seasons’ transitions, businesses’ transitions, sports teams’ transitions, and relationships’ transitions – every living organism must go through this process. It has been said, “Motion is the transition of living organisms.” Only dead things stay the same.

May is a month of transitions. Many seniors will transition from high school to college this month, while college students transition into the workforce or into the military. Some transitions are timed and expected, such as weddings planned for this summer. Other transitions happen unexpectedly, such as the loss of a job, an injury, a financial loss or a health crisis. Most of us are ill equipped for these unexpected transitions. When all of a sudden the ground beneath you begins to shift and the sturdy structures you have built your life around begin to shake, it is easy to become anxious and fearful, causing you to act out of character. How do you master your transitions? Four ways:

1. Admit transitions are a part of life. That includes those we welcome and those we abhor. Look at Ecclesiastes 9:11c from three different translations: (1) “…We each have our share of bad luck.” (2) “…But time and unpredictable events overtake all of them.” (3) “…But time and chance happen to them all.” Life happens! When it does, go with the flow and roll with the punches.

2. Anticipate the immediate disruption that transitions cause in our lives. Your focus, faith and feelings can go off-kilter. God’s wisdom is a stabilizing force. Isaiah 33:6 says, “Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation; the fear of the LORD is His treasure.”

3. There are some things you may have to let go. Accept it. With every ending, there is a new beginning. Isaiah 43:19 says, “Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it…”

4. Acknowledge the good. Philemon 1:6 says, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.” There is a silver lining in every situation. Out of the mess can come a message. Focus on the good – keep moving toward peace and closure.

Just a thought,
Carl