I’ve never been much of a winner but my luck appears to be changing.

I attended a seminar in the ballroom of a major Strip resort yesterday afternoon. After the 500 attendees were seated and before the program began, I noticed each of my colleagues had a little red raffle ticket. As one of the very first arrivals, I’d registered before the red roll of tickets made its way to the table by the name badges, I’d missed out. We all laughed at the fact and it really didn’t matter to me anyway. 500 to 1 were slim chances for everyone. Our odds for world peace seemed a better wager.

As the program was beginning a passing staffer asked our table if we’d all been given our raffle tickets and again we all burst out laughing that the topic of a silly raffle ticket emerging at our table for the third time. I remarked at the oddity that if I’d been given a ticket at registration it would most certainly have been the winning one. Seeing I had no ticket at my place setting, she dropped one as the house lights dimmed, the stage was lit, and the program was underway.

It was an hour later before the start of the cocktail afterparty when the ladies at the stage dug into a shiny silver bowl, pulled a ticket and announced the raffle winner.
0682…036. They got my number.

The cheers were deafening as if our table had won the Super Bowl and the response back from the sea of hopefuls in the ballroom was that we were just a little too excited at the victory.

What I won was irrelevant, the most important part of yesterday was less about me having the winning ticket and so much more about eight complete strangers at our table bonding like best friends within 60 minutes.

I call that my lucky takeaway of the day.

“Be the best version of yourself.”

Something about that pleasantry so common these days doesn’t sit quite right.

It seems to me that without destiny or purpose, no number of personal growth calisthenics will make any real difference for anyone else.

Personal growth needs a destination.

For the best end game, start with what it really feels like to be truly alive.

Serve others.

So you think you’re far from the best this world has to offer?

Maybe you’re right, but you’re also far from the worst of its choices.

With a little integrity, wit, passion, kindness and a gentle heart, you’ll up your value and be more expensive but well worth the investment.

Act your price.

People will always pay handsomely for the rarer gem.

You and I cannot somehow be good enough nor well-behaved enough to gain entrance to heaven and eternal life.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Consider each new morning an open seat at a poker table.

Your deal is determined by a shuffle, so accept what’s handed you with grace and understanding that winning or losing is largely up to you.

Don’t cheat, don’t count, use your best skills.

Life’s not entirely a game of chance, but when it’s over the best of us smile and tip the Dealer for the chances you were given.

Depart the game a very rich man regardless and begin anew tomorrow.

God requires only repentance and faith, not obedience.

Obedience is the logical product of faith working in us through the Holy Spirit.

You can’t be good enough to earn a place in heaven because that’s a forced output reliant on you and you alone.

Having repented due to faith in Christ puts the burden of producing obedience in you on him and him alone.

For your ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all your paths.

‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭5‬:‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Hiding from the God’s sight is as old as creation. 

First in the garden, still today and through every tomorrow, there’s no escape from being found by God. 

He pursues us relentlessly, hoping we’ll stop the hide n seek because his nature is to be a seeker much more than is your skill at being a hider. 

Who in their right mind wouldn’t want the creator of all to look for them and redeem them for all time and eternity?

I wonder if they’ll wonder why
I never ever said good bye.
I’m not around and out of touch
Nothing nowhere, not so much.

I wonder if they’ll wonder where
I’ve clearly vanished to thin air.
Or look and see I’m not around
And hear me not, and can’t be found.

I wonder if they’ll wonder how
I took my leave without a bow.
Or disappeared without a trace
And left no tear on no one’s face.

I wonder if they’ll wonder when
I might be coming back again.
Like absences that reappear,
Not very likely, this is clear.

I wonder if they’ll wonder if
At six feet under when I’m stiff
I’ve gone away to heaven’s gate
With earnest hope for them to wait.

I wonder who will wonder then
Or think of things which might have been
Or wonder not, their life resume
To wonder things they just presume.

I wonder if I’ll even wonder
In that sleep to think and ponder
Thoughts like these I left behind
Or in their slumber never mind.

Or if and when and how and why
It even matters when I die?
But wonder not where I have gone,
Rejoice instead I’m finally home.

In spite of all this, they kept on sinning.
In spite of his wonders, they did not believe.
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭78‬:‭32‬ ‭NIV‬‬

-It seems with the passing of time, more and more people are seeking better reasons to believe.

-Verifiable miracles, unexplainable coincidences, parting seas and manna from heaven, we’re searching for greater and more contemporary reasons to sustain the faith we’ve long professed.

-“God said it and I believe it” is no longer enough.

So the other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he said to them, ‘Unless I see the nail marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.'”—John 20:25

-The lineage of doubting Thomas is all but in our blood. 🩸

Then Jesus told him, ‘Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.’-verse 29.

-It’s not that we lack miracles and evidences, it’s just a much greater challenge to live by faith.

Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”—Romans 10:17

-Seeking signs and wonders is a poor replacement for a robust study of the bible to build a fortress of sustainable faith.

-If your faith is on wobbly legs, I will venture so is your bible study.

-Faith without works.
It may be a misappropriation of that passage here, but like all things, if it’s something worth having, it’s worth putting in the work and letting go of the whine.

If not for learning hard lessons in this life, we would all die among the flames of pride.

I made some mistakes yesterday but fortunately the circumstances didn’t end tragically.

One of my first responses was “That’s so unlike me. I’ve always taken pride in managing the details of my work.”

Pride is dangerous. It leads to overconfidence and consequently lazy and careless behavior.

Do not despise the Lord’s discipline, and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I hope to never make the same errors again, but hope is a poor antidote to the toxins in a prideful heart.

I’m thankful I am under the grace of God, the evidence of which is acceptance of discipline and rebuke that place me back on track again…until the next time.

Thank God I’m not God.

I’d be so exhausted with me by now.