Chapter 3 - Honesty and Stewardship

Quit tootin your own horn. Nobody likes a bragard or name dropper. My college baseball coach used to teach us that there was a fine line between confidence and conceit. Then when we would take the field he would often to tell us to walk the line. I loved Dungy's comparison of Barry Sanders and Deion Sanders. Wow what a contrast in personalities.

Matthew 23:12 tells us whoever humbles himself will be exalted, but whoever exalts himself will be humbled.

The big question that I see here is how do you walk the line? How do you balance the confidence in who you are and your abilities with the humility that God desires in your life? What are your thoguhts?

Chapter 2 - Honesty and Integrity

Yesterday we talked about our character. So much of our character is determined by our level of integrity. I am not sure who first coined the phrase, "Integrity is who you are when no one is looking." I first read it from Bill Hybels 20 years ago at a Willowcreek Conference and it really stuck with me. I was thrilled to see Dungy quote it on page 12. The hardest part about living it out is to realize that there are very few times when no human is looking and never a time God doesn't see your actions. The phrase should probably be rewritten that, "Integrity is who you are when you think no one is looking." Can you think of a time when you thought no one was watching you and later found out that they were? How did you find out someone was watching?

The book of Daniel is full of stories of integrity. From Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego refusing to bow to the statue of the king to Daniel praying no matter who was watching. What would you have to change in your life to live with that kind of integrity? As Tony Dungy said it is the "choice between what's convenient and what's right". Do the right thing?

Chapter 1 - Character

I remember my dad telling me once that it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and a split second to destroy it. Well all of us have probably at sometime or another had one of those bad split seconds. Unfortunately we have had to learn the hard way about the amount of time that it takes to rebuild character and the trust that goes with it.

In chapter one Dungy makes a comparison between a couple of players that they were considering drafting. In the end much of the decision came down to character. In the fast paced world of the NFL it was refreshing to read that at least a few teams still consider character important. We have been bombarded over the last two decades with leaders who had no character.

Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:33 that "Bad company corrupts good character!" I love Dungy's quote on page 5, "What you do is not as important as how you do it." So let's ask each other as men, "How you doin?"

He is right on target when he says that our character is determined by decisions we make in challenging times. What are the challenges on your plate right now? The decisions you make determine the kind of person you are. Make those tough decisions before the challenging times come and then you simply have to hold on to what you know is right!

So what are your thoughts about character?

In Search of Some UnCommon Men

Hey guys don't forget during the month of May we will be reading Tony Dungy's book UNcommon Man and dialoguing on the blog daily. Oh yea that's TOMORROW!!! Start reading and I'll comment on chapter 1 tomorrow.

I've Been Working Out

Today I was reading this passage in 2 Corinthians 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

I love it when God shows me something. I suddenly feel stronger than ever. At least for this moment.

How about you? Feeling worn out lately ...

IT's HERE

They actually got the forecast primarily right and the snow, ice, and snow is here to the tune of 6-8 inches. Trees are down everywhere and many people are out of power and its going to be a really cold night. It reminds me of the old saying, "Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it." A whole bunch of people really wanted the snow and may have not considered the possibility of the downed trees and power lines, because they just wanted to see and play in the beauiful white fluffy stuff. But after it has fallen and broken limbs and been driven on and turned black from the street sludge, it's just not that pretty anymore.

Sin has that same kind of appeal that draws us to it and then turns dirty and breaks things and causes far more hurt and problems than we realized it would when we were anticipating the joy of the momentary.

Here is to hoping you are safe, warm and have power and food. I really hope that you can get out and make to our pep rally on Sunday morning! Then after we come to church, let's go out and be the church!