HORSING AROUND

Many years ago and for several years, I worked for our local elementary school as a para-professional.  I also drove a school bus for several years.  Over time, I began to amass a list of standard responses and strategies for addressing issues with kids.  

As the Bible says in Ecclesiastes, there is nothing new under the sun.  

There were about 15-20 top, seemingly random, interactions with kids I would have nearly every single day. 

On the bus, a regular issue was the age old practice of tattling.  "Richard is looking at me."  "Amy said she doesn't like me."  "Michael is chewing gum."  My response was most often something to the effect of:  "Please submit your complaint in writing and it must be in triplicate."  The response was usually a deflated look but no words.  Sarcasm is one of my spiritual gifts.  

One of the duty's on my list of responsibilities was Recess Duty.  Only about 10K times did a child run up to me and blurt out:  "HE'S CHASING ME!"  My standard response was to stand very still and say, "Ok, now chase me."  Since I was already caught from the start, they didn't know what to do.  Can I just tell ya something?  You cannot chase someone who is standing still.

Sometimes, we act like we are chasing God all around.  But, He has been right there beside us, standing still the whole time.  He was never running from us.  

Sometimes we spend so much time trying to get His attention, we don't realize He is trying to get our attention.  

We are making checkmarks on our list of good behaviors and trying sit up straight in church so that God might notice us.  But God is saying, "I see you.  I can wait.  Let me know when you are done horsing around.  I'll be right here."

Prayer -

Father, the Bible says You came looking for me and not the other way around.  Thank You for Your mercy, Your unconditional love, and definitely for Your great patience with me.  Please forgive me for my horsing around trying to impress You when it is a total waste of time.  Amen.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:10 (CSB)

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UNCONDITIONALLY CHOSEN & LOVED

Remember as a kid being part of choosing teams in P.E. class?  The P.E. coach would select a couple of team captains who were most likely the two most athletic students in the class.  Then, one by one, they would go back and forth choosing the members of their team for whatever sport the class was getting ready to play.

Subject to the sport to be played, the team captains would choose first those they believed would be likely to benefit their team the most.  It also meant that those of us who were the least athletic would be chosen last.  Regardless of where you may have fallen in the selection process, it would have left you with a feeling about where you landed AND about where those who were chosen first and last landed.  

In this model, some are more "chosen" than others.

I have used this illustration many times when speaking to groups.  I usually suggest we try it ourselves or at least ask the group to consider what it would be like if we did.  What if we had all the men in the room stand up, select two captains, and have them choose teams for a football game...?  Who would be chosen first?  Who would be chosen last?  Why?  How do you think those would have been chosen last would feel?

The less "chosen" you feel in that process, the more likely you are to start thinking and maybe even saying out loud:

• Who wants to play anyway?
• This game is dumb. 
• I don't want to play.
• My ankle hurts...I don't feel well... I'll just watch...

That is a natural human response when we feel others are chosen to participate and we are something less than chosen.

Can I just tell ya something?  We are not likely going to genuinely and humbly surrender to or faithfully serve in obedience a God we do not really believe loves unconditionally.  In the very same way God came looking for Adam and Eve in the Garden, you better believe that, oh hallelujah, God came looking for you.  When you are feeling something less than chosen or less than unconditionally loved by God, read all of Ephesians 1 aloud to yourself. Each time the Apostle Paul uses a pronoun such as our, us, or we, replace it with my, me, and I.

Prayer - 
Father, Your Word tells me I am unconditionally chosen and loved by the Creator of the Universe not because of anything I have done or can do for You.  This truth sits at the center of my hope in Jesus.  Help me to lean hard into these Biblical truths in my day to day and to live in such as a way that others are asking me about my hope.

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For he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.  -- Ephesians 1:4 (CSB)

For he chose ME in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and blameless in love before him.

IN CHRIST

Nearly every nation in the world has a McDonald's restaurant located somewhere within that nation.  It is either owned by a franchisee or it is a corporate owned store.  They are privately owned.  At the same time, nearly every nation in the world has a United States Embassy located somewhere within that nation.  Each one is owned by the United States.  They are government owned.  

When you go into a McDonalds in Mexico City, you are still in Mexico.  You are at McDonalds...IN Mexico.  

No matter what nation a United States Embassy is in, the ground where it rests is United States soil.  That land under a United States Embassy does not belong to the foreign country where it sits.  If you, as a United States citizen, are IN that foreign nation, the moment you step into the United States Embassy, you would technically be IN the United States - because you are IN the Embassy. 

That helps me understand what the Apostle Paul meant when he referred to followers of Jesus as being IN CHRIST.  It has been said Paul used the phrase IN CHRIST 170 times.  It has been said, as a result, that it was Paul's favorite saying.  Can I just tell ya something?  I am not going to count to confirm but know that he said it many times.  IN CHRIST simply means belonging to Jesus or being in unity with him.  

There is a wonderful mystery to being IN CHRIST. It is a partnership with Jesus which we cannot fully understand this side of Heaven.  

Words cannot adequately and fully describe this partnership. But oh hallelujah, it is possible to have less than a full understanding about something and still be perfectly delighted about it.

Prayer -
Father, You now I do not understand everything about You and Your ways.  Help me to know that it is not only ok to not understand it all but also that You are not asking me to have it all figured out anyway.  Amen.

He also raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavens IN CHRIST Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might display the immeasurable riches of his grace through his kindness to us IN CHRIST Jesus. 8 For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift ​— ​ 9 not from works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created IN CHRIST Jesus for good works, which God prepared ahead of time for us to do. -- Ephesians 2:6-10 (CSB)

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McDonalds Restaurant located in Mexico City

BAD FEAR, GOOD FEAR

To say that May 1, 2018 was a "pretty exciting day" at Casa Canote would be a gross understatement.  At approximately 5:20 PM, while sitting in her recliner, my wife looked down to see a 6 foot black snack curled up in our living room.  For clarification, we do not own a 6 foot black snake, nor do we have ANY other pets.

I was on my way home, arriving only moments after "the incident."  As I pulled into the driveway, three of my daughters and my beautiful bride came running out of the house screaming.  They were followed by my 5 year old son, Nicky Blue Eyes, who found the entire scene to be very entertaining.  As I got out of the car, they were getting into the car.  Somehow, in the chaos, I was able to determine there was a snake AND I would need to capture it or otherwise get it out of the house.  One daughter was still inside standing on the couch...also screaming.

After chasing the snake around the living room with a broom, flipping over a several pieces of furniture in the process, I was finally able to coax the snake outside.  It was during this time that my wife, engine running, used several long blasts of the car horn to communicate with me from the driveway.  I very clearly understood 3 distinct statements from her:

1. This is not ok!!
2. We cannot live here anymore!!
3. Burn it down!!

Now, we do live out in the country which I consider to be a privilege and blessing.  It does come with some issues which must be dealt with including the occasional snake, mouse, raccoon, or opossum. However, in the 21 years since we built our house, this was the first snake to violate the clearly established protocol for humans and snakes to co-exist.

Can I just tell ya something?  Fear serves one good purpose:  It keeps you alive.  Good fear is an instinctive natural human response to survive.  When you see a 6 foot snake curled up 1 foot away from you, there is a natural "fear response" which fires off a couple of quick commands:

1.  Do not pet the snake.
2.  Get away from the snake.

However, there is also a bad fear.  Bad fear manifests itself in the form of unnecessary anxiety or worry.  Bad fear is a liar.  God did not create us to live our lives in fear.  In fact, according the Bible, we were created to live with power, love, and a sound judgment or courage.

So what are you worrying about?  Where is fear, anxiety, and worry being allowed to manifest and grow in your life?  Christian, oh hallelujah, God gave you a spirit to overcome that!

Prayer -

Father, I know the difference between instinctive life-preservation fear and the unnecessary fear which leads to sinful anxiety and worry.  Help me Lord, to lean hard into You in all things, trusting in Your promises, and relying on the strength of Your Holy Spirit within me.  Amen.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but one of power, love, and sound judgment. 

-- 2 Timothy 1:7 (CSB)

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TOMATO SAUCE MUSTACHE

Yesterday, I discovered that one of our kiddos, who shall remain nameless - I'll just call her #7 - left an open tin can, half full of tomato sauce overnight in the refrigerator.  I happened upon this senseless crime against humanity when I opened the refrigerator and said can tumbled out slopping tomato sauce all over me, the freezer drawer below, the kitchen floor, and across to the china cabinet.  This happened at around 8 AM putting me at only two cups of coffee... just enough to prevent a killing spree at Casa Canote.

Of course, my mind goes to how we have failed as a parents.  It was a punch in the gut to my parenting confidence.  How could #7 have reached the age of 14 in our house and not yet know this is NOT ok?!?  When have we ever left an open half can of anything overnight in the refrigerator?!?  

I could just picture the fuzzy tomato sauce mustache of mold and food poisoning which was surely already beginning to grow across the top!  

It was the same sort of feeling we parents get when our child acts out in a publicly humiliating way...like the grocery store, the library, or worse AT CHURCH!  

Can I just tell ya something?  From the 10K foot view:  We are not perfect parents and I bet you are not either!  To be fair, the older I get, the more clearly this reality becomes settled in my mind.  None of us have it all figured out and that's ok.

We know the One who is perfect, and He has all of the advice we could ever need right in His Word.  As Christ-followers, we also have the Holy Spirit to guide and direct us as we do our best to parent our children.

Of course, we want to raise Godly kids who will follow hard after Jesus, and not grow mustaches and botulism in their refrigerators!  

The only way to do that is God’s way.  We cannot expect ourselves to be perfect parents.  We also cannot expect our children to be perfect kids.  We are all a work in progress.  That means one thing we can do is have confidence in God's promise to keep working in and through us until we are complete.  And just a reminder:  If our children know Jesus, then oh hallelujah, that promise is for them as well!

Prayer - 
Father, thank You for your promises!  You have promised to meet all of my needs, that all things work together for good for those who love You, and that nothing I do can make You love me any more or less than You already do.  Help me to lean hard into You as a parent and to trust in Your perfect plans and timing for me and for my children.  Amen.

I am sure of this, that he who started a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.  -- Philippians 1:6 (CSB)

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THE PROMISES OF GOD

THE ROMAN ROAD TO THE GOSPEL

SERMON SERIES

Listen as Pastor Chris Canote leads us through an in depth study of the most influential book of the Bible and the greatest letter ever written. You will learn about the true essence of Christianity and salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.  -- Romans 10:17 (CSB)

SERMON AUDIO PODCAST

PASTOR CHRIS CANOTE - SERMON LIBRARY

TAKE THE WHEEL

We drove through extreme weather during the drive both to and from Acuña, Mexico for our most recent week of hosting Team Ministry through our mission agency, Evident Ministries.  It was severe a thunderstorm on the way down and ice on the way home.  We travel in two large passenger vans, both full of people and pulling trailers.  The thunderstorm felt like driving through a hurricane and required intense focus but was manageable.  The ice on the way home, however, was terrifying and overwhelming.

We discovered the sleet had turned to ice when our van, trailer in tow, slid sideways across a bridge as we drove through a hilly and curvy area north of Abilene, Texas.  

I frantically tried calling my son-in-law, in the second van, to warn him but we had a weak cell signal.  The only words he made out between several calls was:  SLOW DOWN!  He made it across fine.  

A few miles later, we were on a long downhill slope with a curve at the bottom and the highway was a solid sheet of ice.  I pulled over to the shoulder, but even though we were only driving 15-20 mph it took a half mile or so to get completely stopped as we slid on the ice.  Everyone was praying under their breath as both drivers got out and talked through how to proceed.  If we waited, how long would we be waiting?  We had small children and an infant in the vans.  What is around that curve at the bottom of the hill?  About that time, two vehicles came down the hill from behind us.  Both were sliding sideways on the ice.  We agreed it would be safer to inch forward than to sit still and get slammed into by other drivers.

I can say with certainty that pulling back out onto that ice covered highway, not knowing what lie ahead, required me to summon up a greater amount of courage combined with a deeper draw on my faith and trust in God, than anything I have EVER done in my life.  

It was a leap of faith which required that we literally allow Jesus to "take the wheel."  We made it down that hill and around the curve with no major problems.  Praise the Lord!

Peter had an opportunity to take a leap of faith, but his fear got in the way.  But Peter's faith journey began long before the day he stepped out of the boat.  God had provided Peter with circumstances throughout his life to strengthen his faith and to trust Jesus.  Each situation led up to that one significant moment where he would decide whether or not he was going to fully trust Jesus for protection as he stepped out onto the choppy waters. Can I just tell ya something?  Our focus is on Peter's lack of faith when he took his eyes off Jesus.  But Peter had greater faith than any other disciple on that boat, as he knew in those first steps he could trust Jesus.

Jesus called out to Peter to follow Him and be a fisher of men and He also called out to Peter to step out of the boat. Both times, Peter obeyed and responded.

Each day, we are given opportunities to respond to Jesus. He is always calling us to Him and wants our full surrender, obedience, and trust. You and I can cultivate a heart like Peter’s where we grow in trust and confidence by focusing not on ourselves or our circumstances but on God and the things of God.  Let Jesus take the wheel in your life today. 

Prayer - 
Father, You have promised that because of Jesus and the cross and my surrender to you, I am Your adopted child, co-heir with Jesus.  You have promised to never leave me nor forsake me.  What could I worry about?  Give me the courage today to allow Jesus to take the wheel, not as a co-pilot but as THE pilot.  Amen.

“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter answered him, “command me to come to you on the water.”  He said, “Come.”  And climbing out of the boat, Peter started walking on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the strength of the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me! ” -- Matthew 14:28-30 (CSB)

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PRETENDERS

THE ROMAN ROAD TO THE GOSPEL

SERMON SERIES

Listen as Pastor Chris Canote leads us through an in depth study of the most influential book of the Bible and the greatest letter ever written. You will learn about the true essence of Christianity and salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus.

So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the message about Christ.  -- Romans 10:17 (CSB)

SERMON AUDIO PODCAST

PASTOR CHRIS CANOTE - PRETENDERS FROM THE SERMON SERIES:  THE ROMAN ROAD TO THE GOSPEL

PASTOR CHRIS CANOTE - SERMON LIBRARY

KNOW YOUR ENEMIES

In some respects, it feels like my beautiful bride and I have been married 100 years.  We have lived a variable hodgepodge of seasons including our share of hills and valleys.  

We have faced and endured together many of the usual suspects in the obstacles and trials of life.  

At the same time, it feels like not that long ago, we spent our senior year in high school working and saving our money, preparing for a wedding.  We were married a week before our high school graduation.  That meant we had the same last name and sat next to each other at our graduation ceremony.

I still remember our first argument as a married couple.  I will never forget how she came crawling to me on her hands and knees.  She looked me right in the eyes and said, "Get out from under that bed you big chicken!"  Some of my memories are a little fuzzy.  It went something like that.

Married life can be the most wonderful and rewarding of life's experiences.  It can also be a hot mess.  

Marriage comes with the highest highs and the lowest lows.  When two flawed individuals commit to a lifetime together, it is reasonable to expect something less than perfection.  In fact, there is no such thing as a perfect marriage.  Too often in marriage when there is conflict, we identify our spouse as the enemy. Can I just tell you something?  Our spouse is never the enemy. When we recognize the real enemies, we can more effectively fight the battles in our marriages. Our real enemies are the powers of darkness and our own naturally selfish human condition. These enemies often go unnoticed in the heat of battle.

Marriage is difficult and also amazing.  Real success in marriage comes when God is kept at the center and must include humility and a willingness to forgive.

When we are selfishly focused on me, me me and on pleasing our own natural desires and preferences:

1. We cannot please God.
2. We cannot love our spouse according to God's Biblical standard or to the commitment we made in our marriage vows.
3. We are not likely to offer forgiveness for our spouse's failures and weaknesses.

Prayer -
Father, thank You for the gift of relationships and for designing and creating the institution of marriage.  Help me to be the best husband I can be today.  Help me to focus more on You and the needs of others and less on myself.  Amen.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 
-- Ephesians 6:12 (CSB)

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WE'VE SEEN A THING OR TWO

My wife and I have ten children together.  We married when we were 18 and had our first child one year later.  Our oldest, Samantha is 30 years old TEACHES 1st grade.  Our youngest, Nicky Blue Eyes, is IN the first grade!  They are spread out between 6 and 30.  

You might think we could quote the Farmers Insurance tag line, "we know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two."  

I suppose that is a reasonable assessment.  However, to be fair, just when we think we have seen it all, something new comes along and blindsides us when we aren't looking!  We have seen some "success", whatever that means.  We have also had our share of parenting failures.  We are not now nor will we ever be ready to get cocky and overly confident about our parenting skills.  And, of course, we still do have five at home.

One issue which is easier to discuss and plan for than it is to actually pull off is the concept of allowing our children to suffer for the benefit of learning to become an adult.  Whether from their own bad choices or those of someone else, just like any other parent, we want so badly to rescue them from the pain.  Actually, we are naturally inclined to make every effort to prevent the pain of poor choices in the first place by making all the choices ourselves.

God has a better plan than that for our children.  He has a better plan than that for us now as adults.  God's plan is to perfect us through the trials of life.  

Can I just tell ya something?  Character-building life lessons are rarely learned during the sunshine and rainbows.  

Instead, those learning experiences which make the greatest lasting impact, come during the difficult times.  Surviving a trial or difficulty in life teaches us to persevere despite the pain.  Removing the trials and consequences of poor life choices from our children deprives them of the chance to grow, to build character, and to learn to trust in God.

The bottom line is that we ALL experience the best character-building, personal growth and maturity when we go through something.  It is a mistake to inhibit your child's growth opportunities by rescuing them from or taking over difficult situations.  Is that easier said than done?  Yes.  In fact, I submit that you cannot do it alone.  This is, in part, why God designed the family unit with two parents.  It also requires us to rely on Him and the supernatural power of His Holy Spirit within us.  

Prayer - 
Father, thank You for Jesus and for Your Holy Spirit.  Help me to focus less on my circumstances or the circumstances of our children and to focus more on You and Your glory.  Help me to trust in Your promises which are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  Amen.

We rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. 
-- Romans 5:3-4 (CSB)

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