Made New

Now instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he will not be overwhelmed by excessive sorrow. I urge you, therefore, to reaffirm your love for him. 2nd Corinthians 2:7-8

In 2nd Corinthians 2 Paul is writing about a man in the Corinthian church who had been spreading rumors about Paul and challenging his apostleship. Paul had forgiven the man but was disappointed that this man had not received any support from the other members. The church realized their fault and reprimanded the man. The man was repentant but the church would not truly forgive him. In verse 7 Paul says to the church, “forgive and comfort him; otherwise this one may be overwhelmed by excessive grief. Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him.

I have always liked taking something old, like a piece of furniture and sanding off all the old stains and finding out what the wood looked like when it was built. I remember refinishing the cabinets in our old house a few years ago. I have a tendency to overdo a project so before I started I was saying to myself, “just sand over them a little, you don’t have to get down to the bare wood”. I can never stop and I sand it down to where it looks like the wood is fresh from the lumber yard. I like to find out what is underneath the junk and there is something good about getting rid of the old and making something new and beautiful. Something that is old, but has been given “new” life is always prettier than something that is just new. After something is sanded back to its original look, it is always amazing how beautiful the wood is. I always regret having to cover it up again with something fake. As I think about our lives and our walk with Jesus, it is often difficult to get rid of the old. God created us as a new being but over time the world has left stains on us that hide the true beauty of what we are made of. We often try to remove a few of the ugly stains, but we try to hold onto a little of the old. The ugly part that we leave only ruins the look of the new. When I refinished our old cabinets, I wanted my wife to walk in and be amazed at what I had done. The only way I could make sure they looked new was to get rid of all the old. I sanded for hours and even spent about a week without fingerprints. I wanted to remove all the dents and marks that were left from years of wear and tear. If I had sanded a little of the old stain away and left the dents, the new paint would have only been a temporary cover of what was old. The ugly would have eventually shown back through. Sometimes in our lives, we have to ask God to return us to what he has planned for us. He promises to remove the dents and marks and cover us with a beautiful color that shows off what He has created.

I prayed today for God to restore me to what He has for my life. It is very easy to lose track of why I am here and who I am here to serve. He has an awesome plan for each of us and He gives us the tools we need. Allow Him to make you new and to remove all the dents and stains.

Chad

How strong is your foundation?

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.  Matthew 7:25

One of the offensive linemen came by to see me today and asked me to help change the spikes on his cleats. The cleats have seven screw-on spikes that can be replaced, but he had worn his down so far, I could not remove them. Of course I was angry that he had not taken care of something that although small and unseen by the spectators is critical to his and our success. And I pinched my hand with the pliers, so I was real upset. For an offensive lineman the spikes on his shoes are very important for his job each day but especially on Friday night. To execute a block and move a defensive player he must have good spikes and each of the seven must be in solid contact with the ground. If one is missing he may lose the leverage and push he needs to move his opponent. Also, if he leans forward while blocking, only using the front 3 or 4 spikes, the ground will give away and he will usually fall on his face. I am constantly telling my guys at practice to “get all your spikes in the ground”. He has to have a firm foundation to keep pushing, remain balanced, and to be successful.

What can the seven spikes on the cleats stand for? I hope mine stand for Faith in Christ, Hope in His promises, Love He has for me regardless, Joy that He gives me even during difficult times, Goodness that He shows me each day, the Strength He gives me to stand up against Satan, and the Prayer I can use to speak to Him each day. They can also stand for my wife, my son, my daughter, my parents, and maybe even my in-laws!  At work they could be the men I coach alongside each day or the teachers I work with throughout the school year. The people who believe in me and keep me strong. I began thinking, am I someone’s spike? Am I a small piece of what keeps them firmly on the ground, pushing? 

Sometimes, just like the spikes on a player’s cleats, they become wore down to a point that the strong foundation develops a weak point. That spike must be restored and strengthened back to where God can use it along with the others.

Ask yourself a few questions today:
What do your seven “spikes” stand for?
Which one needs strengthening?
Are all seven firmly on the ground?
What gives you strength to stand and keep pushing?
Are you someone’s spike? 

Ask God today to show you the weak point in your foundation, to restore those weak points to full strength, and to use you to be a firm foundation for someone in your life.  

Chad

“One moment creates another moment”

Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment.  Matthew 9:22

We can probably all remember a key moment in our life when we made the correct decision and it lead to another good moment. We can also all remember a moment when a poor decision was made and it unfortunately lead to another negative moment. In my life as a father, a moment of time spent talking openly with my children always leads to another moment of trust. A moment of caring for my wife during a difficult time creates another moment of trust between the two of us. As an offensive line coach I often point out to my guys how one moment of a game created another moment. Maybe it is a first down that our team only makes by inches that allows us to continue on to the moment we score several plays later. One moment would not have happened without the other. I especially like the moments when their attitude as a group could have changed to very negative but they pushed themselves through the difficult moment. Their attitude in one moment created another more positive moment. Again, one would not have happened without the other. I have also been a part of games where a moment, early in the game that was not handled correctly or with a good attitude, created the moment that caused our team to lose. In football, and in our lives, we never know which moment will lead to the key moment that decides victory or defeat.

Our lives are also full of moments that create other moments. It could be the moment a friend asks about our relationship with our Heavenly Father. If we are prepared at that moment to give an answer for our joy it will create the moment when our friend accepts Jesus as their Savior. However, a moment when our words or actions do not represent our Savior creates a moment that causes our friend to see our faith as phony. Each moment counts! In the verse from Matthew 9, a woman who had suffered with an illness for twelve years approaches Jesus in a crowd and touches his robe. She knows if she can just touch his robe she will be healed. Jesus, although in a crowd with many people touching him, feels the sick woman touch His robe. He turns to her and says, “Your faith has healed you” and the woman was healed at that very moment. What if she had doubted at the most critical moment of her life? That one moment in time, when she believed even touching the robe of Jesus would heal her, created the very next moment when she was healed. A moment of faith created a moment of healing.

I prayed today to value each moment whether exciting or routine. I also prayed to allow God to control each and every moment and for the moments of need to also be moments of faith.

Chad

Your Name

In his name the nations will put their hope.” Matthew 12:21

Have you ever given much thought to the importance of your name? When my wife was pregnant with William and Sydney, we gave their names a lot of thought. It took us longer to decide on our son's name but eventually decided to name him after our fathers, William Hixson Lamb and Rubie O’Neil Eads. We decided on the name William O’Neil Eads. It was a special name to both of us because it includes the names of the two most important men in our lives. We kept his name a secret from our families until after he was born. I will never forget walking into the waiting room after his birth to tell our dads that my son would be William O’Neil. Our daughter's name came much easier because we knew for a long time that she would be named after our grandfathers, James Sidney Kendrick and Henry Egar Love. We were proud to give our new baby girl the name, Sydney Love Eads and it fits her perfect to this day. Our names are important because it was well thought out by our parents and it belongs to us. People know us by our name and there are thoughts they have when they say or hear our name. Our character is closely tied to our names and we should always work to honor the people who gave us our names and the people we are named after.

During Jesus’ time on the earth He was called by many names. All of His names refer to His power, His character, or His relation to His Father. People all across the world know Jesus by the many names in which Christians refer to Him. He is called the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. He is called the Cornerstone because He is our foundation. He is called Counselor because we can go to Him with any problem or worry and He will honor our concerns. He is called Shepherd because He guards His flock and counts us each as most important to Him. He is called the Lamb of God because He freely gave His life as a sacrifice for us. He is called King of Kings because He is mightier than all the earthly kings. He is called the Light of the World because He is the shining light that guides us through a wicked world. He is called the Prince of Peace because He lived a sinless life and gave away His life freely. He is called Rock because we can build our lives upon Him and the foundation will never grow weak. He is called Healer because He can heal our minds and bodies. He is called Emmanuel which means “God with us”. Maybe the best name of all is Savior because He saves us from our sins and promises us eternal life. 

We also have many names that we each are called and we should always be proud of these names. I am called Coach by many people each day. To many others I am Teacher. To others I am Neil and Linda’s son. I am also called Jamie’s husband or William and Sydney’s dad. All of these names mean as much to me as the name given to me by my parents. Honor the name that you have been given by your parents and also the names that many others call you. Maybe it is friend, teammate, mentor, brother or sister, or classmate. Most of all, honor the many names of Jesus. Allow Him to be your shepherd through the trials of life. Ask Him to be your Counselor when you are facing worries. Rely on Him to be your Light in a dark world. Most of all ask Him to be your Savior.


Chad

"Studies have shown"

Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Ephesians 6:4

Today is Father’s Day and I woke up thinking about my own father and what he means to me and my brothers. I was watching one of the Sunday morning news shows and they were doing a special on the new generation of dads who are trying to spend more time with their children. They said fathers, more so than ever were taking on many of the household duties and much more of the childcare responsibilities. They went on to say, “recent studies have shown” that young children who spend more time with their fathers will grow into more confident young people. They showed videos of fathers and small children taking classes together to learn activities that will enhance their time together. As I watched the television I became even more thankful for my father. None of the information from the show was wrong but, my father never needed a study to teach him how to spend time with me and my brothers. As far as I know, my father never even participated in a study and I know he never attended a class to learn how to spend time with me. I am being a little sarcastic but the Sunday morning news program did make me appreciate my father even more. My father raised three boys to be confident young men who are capable of raising our own children. My father worked long hours at a physically demanding job but always had time to throw a ball, teach us to fish, or help with homework. More important, he taught us by example how to work hard at whatever the job may be. We learned that not all work is fun but we were expected to do the work correctly regardless. We learned that honesty is a trait we must have and dishonesty would never be accepted. We learned that we were important to our father by the way he treated our mother with love and respect and we slept safely every night because our dad viewed our lives as more important than his own.

My father’s love for me and my brothers was a tiny glimpse into the depth of love my Heavenly Father has for me. As fathers we have an awesome responsibility to be the spiritual leaders of our homes. Sure, we have to teach them how to fish and how to throw a ball but our most important mission is to teach our children about our Heavenly Father. I am very thankful for a father who did all of those things, and never needed a study to show him how.


Chad

Take Refuge

But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Psalm 5:11

Do you remember a place or maybe a stuffed animal that made you feel protected? I was reading Psalm 5 and it reminded me of how my daughter would come to our bed at night if she woke up and was afraid. It was almost every night for about six years. There were also stuffed animals and blankets that my children liked because they felt safe. For a small child, the presence of mom and dad make them feel safe and protected. When I read verse 11 it reminds me of a place that I knew very well when I was a young child. My Granny and Granddaddy’s back yard seemed huge when I was young. They actually owned two lots so it was bigger than most yards in their neighborhood. Granddaddy would mow the grass but everything else was left to grow, so it was a great place for a little boy to explore. The yard was surrounded by large bushes that closed the yard in like a wall. In the middle of the yard stood an enormous magnolia tree with limbs that reached out from the trunk and bent toward the ground. My Granny and Granddaddy’s back yard was also directly under the path of the planes that flew into the airport. They looked like they were going to hit the top of the large tree and to a small boy the noise was a bit scary. Each time I was in the yard alone, and a plane would fly over, I would run to the trunk of the tree and wait until it had passed. Nothing could harm me under that huge tree. In my mind, I was totally safe under the strong branches of the massive tree. I must have been right about the tree however. About twice a year, when I get a little free time, I will drive over to my Grandparents old neighborhood. Everything is gone from the old neighborhood. My old house and my grandparent’s old house have been torn down, the roads are gone, and all the trees are gone. The only thing still standing on the street that was once filled with houses and trees is the huge magnolia tree that kept me safe from the scary planes flying over. It makes me feel good to see it and it reminds me of a great childhood with the best grandparents ever.

Verse 11 tells us where our true protection comes from. Not protection from the sound of a jet engine, but the protection from the evil in the world. God will spread His protection over us so we can rejoice in Him. I pray each morning for God to spread Himself over my family and protect them. I not only pray for their physical protection, but I also ask Him to protect them emotionally and spiritually. Let's do the same for all the people in our lives.

Chad

Can you do it when you’re tired?

Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired as he was from the journey, sat down by the well. It was about noon. John 4:6

Yesterday during workouts I was walking around the weight room and watching the boys lift weights. Toward the end of the workout, we had the boys do a drill that requires them to squat and jump for a thirty second period. We want them to perform the drill with the correct technique for the entire thirty seconds, regardless of how they feel. As each group rotated around to this particular station and performed the jumps, I noticed a common trend among many of the players. At the beginning of the drill each of the boys performed jumps with a high level of energy and required very few technique corrections. However, as the repetitions added up, many of the boys completely gave up on the proper technique and just survived until the whistle blew. I thought about a few things while I watched and tried to use the time to teach them each a small but valuable lesson. I told a group of them that what separates the average teams from the great teams and what separates a great player from a bench warmer is not always natural talent.

Many of the activities the players do during workouts or at practice can be enjoyable if they are feeling good at the time and only do a few repetitions. The tough part comes when they are tired, sore, and hot. The player I am always looking for is the young man who can continue to do a skill properly when his body is telling him to stop. They must develop the mental toughness to keep doing everything properly even when they are tired. In the fourth quarter of a game, when everyone is tired and beat up, they will continue to execute the techniques of their position at a high level. The game would not be won by the player who has the most stars beside his name or who can bench press the largest amount of weight. The game would be won by the team of players who continue to perform the skills necessary to win, although they are equally as tired as their opponent.

The older I get the more I notice how many people cannot continue to perform when they are tired. They may be tired physically, mentally, or emotionally but they give up on the proper techniques of life at the first sign of difficulty. They also give up on becoming what God has planned for their life, now and in the future. During Jesus’ life on the earth he experienced many of the same daily difficulties as we do today. I am sure there were days when his body was tired, maybe his feet hurt from walking all day, he was emotionally exhausted from being around so many people, and he just felt like going to sleep. However, as we look at John 4:6 we notice that Jesus was tired from his journey and sat down beside a well. He was probably glad to have a few minutes to rest his legs and refresh his body with the water from the well. But, after resting for only a few minutes, a Samaritan woman came to the well to draw water. I would have probably spoken to her and greeted her with my normal, “How are you doing,” but would have been too tired to change her life. Jesus, tired as he was, did much more than speak to her, but he changed her life for eternity.

Today I wanted to remind each of you that God has given you the strength to keep going and that you can do it when you are tired. He places you in those situations where you are tired but have to keep going for a few reasons. I think he wants you to prove to yourself that you can and he wants you to trust in him for the strength. 

Chad

Hope

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you. Psalm 39:7

As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Psalm 71:14

I was at church a few weeks ago and I heard someone use a word that I hear very often but have not given much thought to this simple word's meaning. The word was hope. People use the word hope when talking about a lot of things. They hope for a good grade, they hope for a good job, they hope for a great marriage, they hope to be successful, and they hope to always have hope. I think we often hope for things that we should be praying about and working toward. What happens to a person when they lose all hope? Maybe they turn to a life of drug or alcohol use to mask the loss of hope. Marriages end because a husband or wife has lost hope in the future with their spouse, and people commit suicide every day because they have lost hope. But we also see people who have lost everything except hope. Maybe they have lost family, friends, jobs, or money but they still have hope. People survive terrible illness or tragedy and all they have left is an ounce of hope.

Where do you find your hope? I am blessed because I can always count on family, but my hope should never be in humans. I have been fortunate to be successful in my job, but I should never put my hope in my career because it could change drastically tomorrow. Our hope should always come from and be in our Savior Jesus Christ. Our hope in Him comes from remembering the blessings we have in our life and from remembering what He has done for us. We have faith and a hope for a great future because He promises to give us a future and a hope. Our hope is not in the things we see every day or the people we know but in the promise that He is always with us, guiding each step of our life. When our hope comes from Jesus alone, we will always have a great hope regardless of the trials we face and the ups and downs of life.

I HOPE you have a great day,

Chad

Guard Duty

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.                       1st Corinthians 16:13

When I was little my friend and I went on “Guard Duty” almost every night of the summer and most weekend nights of the fall and winter.  We would dress in camouflage, carry our play guns, and wear Army helmets.  We would patrol the street and the alley guarding against burglars and enemy attacks.  We must have done a pretty good job because there were very few instances of theft on our street. My family did have cars stolen on two occasions and lawn furniture was stolen from our front yard however, those were also the nights that my mother made us come inside early.  The thieves obviously had scoped out the neighborhood and knew when to strike!  The neighbors never knew we were around because we did a great job of staying hidden because of the possibility of a sudden attack on 7th Avenue North.

When I read the verse from 1st Corinthians it makes me think about how serious my friend and I took our role as neighborhood protectors.  As the sun went down on a summer evening, one of us would call the other and ask if we were going on guard duty.  We would get our helmets, guns, and, if our moms said OK, even some camouflage face paint. We fully expected to catch a burglar and were always ready, well as ready as an eight year old can be, to take them down.  Now as a 48 year old, I catch myself walking outside late at night and just looking around.  I guess once a fake soldier, always a fake soldier.

Those were fun nights as a kid and I always took my job as the neighborhood guard very serious.  I think about those times now that I am older and I hope I am as serious about guard duty today as I was then.  Do I guard my heart against the evil thoughts and negativity that can so easily creep into my life?  Do I guard my brain against the words and images that Satan can use to take me away from the thoughts of my Heavenly Father?  Most importantly, do I guard my family against the evil in this world?  Am I on guard every day and never take a night off?  I pray each day that I am doing my best to guard you and I trust that you are doing your part to be on guard.  How do we guard ourselves and our loved ones?  I believe we can do this by first of all praying.  Pray each day and ask God to fill your heart and mind with His thoughts.  Pray for Him to increase your faith daily by reminding you that He is always present.  Pray for each other daily and ask Him to protect your family, friends, coworkers, and teammates.  Pray each day for God to not walk beside you, but instead to walk directly in front of you and lead your every step. 

Chad

Friendship

Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. 2nd Timothy 4:9-10

The verse from 2nd Timothy is short and does not at first glance seem to have much life changing information. However, when we know a little background information we will see how we face this same issue today in our lives. Paul is writing to Timothy from his prison cell in Rome and knows he will never freely live outside the walls of the prison. During his time in prison Demas had become a trusted friend who Paul could confide in and receive encouragement from while going through this trial. When Paul writes to Timothy in chapter 4 he is encouraging him to continue the fight and to continue in the work for the Lord. He also tells Timothy to, “Do your best to come to me quickly”. Paul knows his time on earth is very short and he hopes to see Timothy before he dies. I imagine he is alone in a dirty cell and is longing to see a trusted friend. He goes on to tell Timothy that Demas has deserted him because he loved this world. It was probably difficult to be friends with Paul during this time in Rome. I am sure Demas knew the persecution Paul would continue to receive until the time of his death for following Jesus. Maybe Demas knew, deep in his own heart, that he did not have the same faith as Paul. He could not be in Paul’s presence without feeling ashamed of himself. Earlier, being friends with Paul, was probably exciting because of the great things he would witness but, as the persecution became more severe, Demas was not truly committed to Paul, and more important, to Jesus. Paul could look to his future and see the reward he would receive for his suffering but Demas only saw the penalty for his beliefs. Paul knew he would be accepted into eternal life with his Heavenly Father but Demas only wanted human acceptance in his life on earth. Paul knew his life of suffering would soon end in a glorious triumph but Demas saw only defeat in a future of following Jesus. What would I have done if I was Demas? What would you have done? I hope and pray that we would all be like Paul. I am sure he was disappointed and probably thought about and prayed for Demas everyday until his death, but he did not let the loss of a friend change his mission. Paul never let the decision by Demas cause him to doubt his work for the Lord and he never allowed it to make him lose focus on who he was serving.

It is disappointing when a friend, who we believed would be faithful to us throughout our lives, suddenly decides it is not popular to be called our friend. Maybe we had spent many years sharing our beliefs together to find out they were only our beliefs and not our friends. When a person we have considered a friend suddenly no longer speaks, avoids interaction with us, or treats us like we are a stranger we feel a sense of loss. We may also even begin to question ourselves about what we may have done in the past to ruin a friendship. We also begin to doubt the value others may have placed on our friendship. Were they really our friend before or was it just for convenience until they found someone better? We do not know how Demas lived the remainder of his life. Did he regret that he deserted Paul? Did he ever think about Paul or did he erase him from his memory resigned to the belief that Paul was a radical? Did he live the rest of his life quietly for the Lord, obeying all the rules, but making little impact in the world? Or did he realize the opportunity he missed and devote the remainder of his days to living like Paul and for his Savior?

Thankfully we are also told in Proverbs that we always have a friend and He sticks closer than a brother. Even when we feel as though all the world has deserted us, we always have a friend by our side watching over us, protecting us, and loving us. Jesus will never desert us because He is our brother.

Chad

Faith

He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20

In Matthew 17 we read about Jesus healing a boy possessed with an evil spirit. As Jesus approached the crowd a man came to him and asked Jesus to, “Have pity on my son.” He tells Jesus that his son suffers a great deal and he had already brought the boy to the disciples, but they could not heal him. Jesus in one command healed the boy immediately. The disciples came to Jesus later and asked Him why they could not heal the boy. They had probably tried but they doubted whether they could do anything without Jesus beside them. Jesus told them why they were not successful, and it is probably the same reason we often fail. Jesus told them, “Because you have so little faith.” He did not say, “You tried your best or you almost healed him.” Jesus even goes on to tell them that it only takes a little faith. If they had only had faith as small as a mustard seed they could have healed the sick boy, but also could have moved a mountain. Jesus tells the disciples that it would have only taken a very small amount of faith to heal the boy, but all of them together did not have enough.

The disciples had been witnesses to many of Jesus’ miracles and had even been able to heal other people before. What was different about this child or this moment in time? The disciples had been with the crowd and a group of men who were teachers of the law had been arguing with them. Maybe the disciples had become frustrated with the teachers and their arguments had made them doubt what they believed. When they were confronted with the sick boy their faith had become replaced with doubt. After all, the smartest people in the town had told them they were foolish for following a man that was a scam. They let a few words by the teachers create doubt in the faith they had built through witnessing the miracles.

I think the same thing happens in our world today. We have seen the miracles that God causes to happen in our lives and built a great amount of faith but, when confronted by someone with opposite views, our faith begins to weaken. We are also told by the world that a faithful person is also a foolish person. After all, according to many, only a foolish person would trust what they cannot see. I think God knows our faith will be mighty at times and weak at others. We may ask "why?" on many occasions and on others we can see His works. But in Matthew 17:20 He tells us to have faith as small as a mustard seed and nothing will be impossible, even moving a mountain.

Chad

RIP 007

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. 1st Timothy 6:17

As I was driving to work a few mornings ago I heard a report on the news about the death of Roger Moore. Mr. Moore was 89 years old and is known all around the world as James Bond or simply as 007. I was sad to hear about the passing of one of my childhood and adulthood heroes. By the time I arrived at work I could feel the weight of the world on my shoulders as I realized that I would be alone to save the world from all the evil villains! I was relieved to know that Jaws, the guy with the metal teeth, had already been defeated by 007 so I would not have to fight him. Bond, James Bond was a fictional character from movies but maybe we can learn a few things from his life in Her Majesty’s Secret Service and generally saving the world from evil.

First of all, James Bond was ready for any situation and was never caught off-guard by his attacker. Maybe it was the army of assassins who tried to kill him while he was skiing in “The Spy Who Loved Me” or the beautiful woman who appeared to be in love but suddenly turned on him in every movie. He always seemed to know what was about to happen long before it actually happened. In Matthew 24:44 we are told, So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Our Savior will return in an instant at a moment we do not expect, so we must be constantly ready and prepared to greet Him. We also already know our attacker and we have the weapon of prayer to defeat him.

The second quality we can learn from 007 is to be daring. Mr. Bond always decided on a course of action, acted immediately without hesitation, and adjusted his plan as the circumstances changed. However, he never regretted or doubted his original plan. We should also search for God’s plan for our lives, go about that plan with full commitment, and be willing to adjust as God directs us. But never regret or doubt the original course He had for you.

The third quality we can learn from James Bond is to always finish what you started. When 007 set his mind to a mission, saving the world from annihilation, or defeating an evil villain he always finished the job. He never worried about the lengths he would have to go to complete the job or the toll it would take on him personally. In 2nd Corinthians 8:11 Paul tells us, “Now finish the work, so that your eager willingness to do it may be matched by your completion of it.” We are also here on a mission and each of us is expected to complete the mission regardless of the circumstances presented to us or the personal toll it takes from us.

Last, not least, but maybe the most important quality we can learn from Bond is to go when called and don’t worry about minor things. The James Bond movies are filled with scenes of 007 arriving to a fancy hotel and checking into a beautiful room with no luggage. Soon after arriving he would be in a fight for his life with an assassin sent to kill him. Of course, Bond would win the fight but would have several cuts on his face and his expensive suit would be bloody and torn. However, Bond would appear very soon in a new suit, clean from the brutal fight, with no sign of damage to his face. 007 did not worry about packing for his missions but relied on his survival skills, resourcefulness, and charm to get all he needed. After all, he is James Bond, 007! We are told in Matthew 6:34 to not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself and each day has enough trouble of it’s own. We do not have to rely on the magic of television because we have a Heavenly Father who promises to provide all we need and He proves himself to us daily.

"Maybe I am not too old to be a double-nought spy!" Jethro Bodine-Beverly Hillbillies

Chad