Hand in Hand with Jesus

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

Isaiah 41:10

Once from my poor sin-sick soul
Christ did every burden roll.
Now I walk redeemed and whole,
Hand in hand with Jesus.

Hand in hand we walk each day,
Hand in hand along the way.
Walking thus I cannot stray.
Hand in hand with Jesus.

It's not at all uncommon to hear people talk about how much they trust in God, but all too often, when we watch the way they live, it's clear that it's not really true. Before any of us cast stones, however, can we all admit that we've been guilty of that same thing at some point or another? That said, no matter what we say or how we live the truth is, we're heavily dependent on God. In fact, we're fully dependent on Him. If not for His hand on our lives, we'd have nothing.

First, we need the hand of God to reach down to us in salvation. If it weren't for that, you, I, and everyone else would be bound for Hell, and quite honestly, that's what we all deserve. Our sin guarantees that, and it guarantees that there's nothing that we can do to climb out of the pit that we all naturally find ourselves in. One of my favorite songs is Squire Parsons' song "He Came to Me," because it tells that story exactly how it happened. When we couldn't get to God, He came to us and rescued us.

Even after we're saved, however, we're still dependent on God. Unfortunately, we still have to live in the flesh, and its desires don't change. If we give in to its wishes, it will continue to dominate us, and we will know nothing but defeat in our spiritual lives. To live in victory, we have to continue to walk hand in hand with Jesus Christ.

I chose the photo above for a reason. We are much like a small child, who while taking in everything around him overlooks potential stumbling blocks in his path. If not for his father holding his hand, he would likely fall and get hurt. From time to time he sees something that really catches his attention. If not for his father holding his hand, he would run to it, once again oblivious to any potential danger. As much as we don't like to admit it, that's just how sin is after we're saved. Sin has a way of appealing to the worst in us, and can draw us away if we're not close to our Father. He sees all of the stumbling blocks and the dangers, and if we'll hold on to his hand, He'll catch us when we stumble.

That's not to say that we'll never trip. We will. We're all human, and that humanity is certain to mess up at times. But as long as we're walking with Him, and we'll allow Him to guide us, we can find ourselves quickly back on track. Our Father wants to do nothing more than to restore us when we trip. He always wants what's best for us.

Are you walking hand in hand with Jesus today? If not, I'd suggest that you take a hold of His hand today and let Him take that role in your life. He wants to guide you down the rough path of life. He wants to help you back up when you trip. If you'll let Him help you and you'll depend on Him, you'll know just what it's like for Him to uphold you with His righteous hand.

Blessed Are the Peacemakers

Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

Matthew 5:9

Tonight, I watched the movie Woodlawn for the first time. It occurred to me that despite the fact that I was born years after the events, that I've never lived in Alabama, and that I never played high school football, I have a closer connection to the story than the vast majority of people who have seen the movie probably have. You see, my parents attended Woodlawn High School at that time. I heard plenty of stories about Tony Nathan as a kid, and I've been a lifelong Alabama fan. Because of the opportunities I've had to work the sidelines of local high school football games, I understand the football side of it much better than most with my background. I think that makes me appreciate the story more than I otherwise would or could.

This post is not going to be a review of the movie, nor will it be any kind of a social commentary. There's something far more important that I want to try to do here. I want to look at the impact of one character who appeared early in the movie and the ripple effect that he created by doing one thing: he chose to be a peacemaker.

If you've seen the movie, you likely know that I'm talking about Hank. Hank acted as a peacemaker between two groups of people that hated one another. Eventually, his impact also struck Woodlawn's biggest rival, Banks, creating a level of friendship between two teams who were arguably the most bitter rivals in the State of Alabama at that time.

How did he do it? As he told Woodlawn head coach Tandy Gerelds at their first meeting, he wanted to tell the team about Jesus Christ. Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." That's what Hank did. He lifted up Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ drew the young men on that team to Him. Jesus Christ brought peace into the hearts of those young men, and the change they experienced demonstrated how to have peace to those around them.

Jesus Christ, and He alone, is the source of true peace. Everyone has a desire for peace, but there are many who fail to find it. The reason is that they search everywhere but the right place. The things that the world tells them give peace only lead to destruction. The world's route to "peace" often leads to hatred and violence. It doesn't take a genius to look around at our world and see that.

The children of God are to be peacemakers. We know something by experience that many of the people around us are completely unfamiliar with. We know the secret to true peace. The thing is, it's our job to make sure that the secret gets out. We as Christians know something that can change the world. Not only that, but we have been commanded to share that knowledge.

Are you a peacemaker? As unbelievable as it might seem, to be one is a simple thing. All you have to do is share Jesus. Tell people that He's the answer to the longing in their souls. Tell them that He is the source of the peace they've searched for. As shown near the end of Woodlawn, there is One Way. That way is Jesus Christ.

What Kind of Church Would You Make?

I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.

Revelation 2:19

Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.

Revelation 2:4

I watched the video of the song above on YouTube yesterday and started thinking about the idea of this post then. I decided once and for all to do it after the service at my church last night, in which my pastor spoke about the importance of having a zeal for the Lord. Our level of zeal affects other people, and I'd like to use this post as an examination for us all to see if we could pass the test.

If you're saved, you know what it's like to be on fire for the Lord. If at no other time, a Christian experiences that when he is first saved. There's an excitement at that point, knowing what Jesus Christ has done, and the newborn believer just can't wait to tell everyone about it. While that individual still needs to grow, if we lay the lack of spiritual maturity at that moment aside, that new Christian is living his life exactly how he should.

Sadly, if we're all going to be honest, we'd have to admit that there are times that we our lives don't even come close to reflecting that type of zeal. We're all imperfect, and we're going to have times that we aren't as zealous as others, but as soon as we realize it has happened, we need to get that right, and turn back to the Lord. In this post, I don't want to focus on the fluctuations, but rather, I want you to consider which of the above verses is the norm in your life. To make that question seem a bit more applicable to your every day life, I want to ask you a question: if every member of your church were like you, what would your church be like?

When I ask that, I'm not asking what your church would be like if everyone had the same talents and gifts as you do. A church needs many different types of people in that respect. But, what if everyone at your church was just as sold out to God -- no more, no less than you? Would your church be able to function like that? If you were (or are) a pastor, would you want to see a church full of you sitting in the pews?

How much of a giving attitude do you have? If everyone gave in the same spirit as you, would the church be able to keep the lights on? If everyone had the same burden for souls, would anyone get saved? If everyone had the same heart for their fellow Christians, would any edification take place? If everyone had the same desire to serve, would all positions in the church be filled? If everyone had the same desire for a strong mission program as you, would there be any missionaries sent out?

Even in what we would call the strongest churches, I can guarantee you that there are plenty of "bench warmers." These are the people who come (or maybe not, if it's not convenient that day), but do nothing once they're there. I'm not talking about people who are unable to do things right now, but those who simply refuse. If we had a church full of nothing but that kind of people, nothing would get done, and the doors would likely be shut sooner rather than later.

So, what kind of church would you make? Would a building full of you make up a church that was vibrant, active, and on fire for the Lord, or would you do just as well to sit home on Sunday and watch football if the entire membership were like you? If you're not satisfied with the answers to those questions, you can change that. Return to your first love, and put Jesus back at the center of your life. If you turn to go back to Him, He'll run to meet you and receive you with open arms.

How Much Is Your Pride Worth?

Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Today I saw a very interesting post on Facebook. It was shared by one of my favorite current quartets and was originally posted by one of their members. This member of the group had some big news to share: he got saved yesterday!

Before any rocks are thrown, allow me to remind everyone that this is something to be celebrated, and it's not the time to criticize anyone for "living a lie." Regardless of how or when an individual comes to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ, the most important thing is that it happens. That said, I can understand why someone would ask how a person could be involved in singing gospel music and not know the Saviour personally. Well, he had an explanation for that.

He told that when he was 12 years old he "prayed a prayer," and talked about all of the things that he had been involved with since then. He said that he knew the word of God and that on the outside, he appeared to be a great Christian. The problem with that is, it's not the outside that matters; it's the inside. You and I might not be able to see through the front that someone puts up, but God can, and He looks directly at the heart.

The thing I want to focus on today, however, is the thing that he said held him back from making things right for so long: pride. You see, it requires swallowing a lot of pride to be saved, since we have to recognize our total dependence on God. But I think that someone who has long been identified as a Christian by others has to swallow even more. Human nature would much rather justify itself that admit to wrong. The flesh will be concerned with "what others think." It's easy to dismiss that by pointing out that spiritual people will rejoice over the salvation and tell someone not to worry about what a few might say, but that's not an easy thing for someone who doesn't have the new nature to do.

Fortunately, this young man didn't allow his pride to control him until it was too late. For so many, however, that is not the case. Many people take that pride to the grave, being much more interested in preserving their temporary reputations than their eternal souls. That's a very high price to pay, and in doing so, they're saying that their pride is more valuable to them than anything. I'm happy to say that I've seen people that I know quite well swallow that pride and accept Jesus. I don't say that in a gloating manner, but I say it in that I'm happy that they realized that their salvation was more important than anything else.

Pride doesn't get in the way of salvation only. Sometimes it can get in the way of our relationships with others, or our relationship with God. Sometimes, it allows hurt feelings to prosper which drain us emotionally, physically. and spiritually. Pride does a lot of damage. Sometimes it hurts only the one harboring it, but other times, it hurts others as well.

How much is your pride worth to you? If you aren't saved, are you willing to let it doom your soul to Hell? If you are saved, are you willing to sacrifice your relationships with others and your Saviour? Are you willing to allow your pride to tear you apart while you continue to self-justify yourself? If you've done any of those things in your life, I plead with you to sacrifice your pride for the good of your soul. Trust me, it's not worth the loss you'll suffer if you say no.

The Test of Time

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Hebrews 13:8

The truth given in today's text verse is one that many people try to ignore. That's not surprising since so many in our day want to live their lives doing things that are condemned by the word of God. But, although it pricks the hearts of unbelievers, it is quite possibly the ultimate comfort for believers out of all the promises found in the pages of scripture.

I know that's a big statement to make, because there are plenty of "major" promises in the Bible that we cherish. That said, I'm more than willing to stand by my comment, because in one sense, they all hang on this single statement. Yes, all things work together to them that love God, but how do we know that will always apply to us? Yes, God said that He would never leave us nor forsake us, but how do we know He won't change His mind? We know those things because we know He never changes.

We read the Bible, and we marvel over the miracles that we see and the great feats that servants of the Lord accomplished. We read the accounts of those events with amazement over the way that God used those men and women. But, while Hebrews 13:8 is a verse that is familiar to virtually all of us, and most of us could probably quote it in our sleep, I have my doubts that it has every really occurred to us what it actually means. I want you to stop and think about this for a moment: The God we serve is the same God that performed all of the miraculous works in the Bible.

I'm not going to say that God doesn't still perform miracles, because He certainly does. We've all seen Him move in wonderful ways, but I think we'd have to agree that He doesn't do things in exactly the same way that He once did. Because we now have His complete word, we no longer have the need for the sign gifts that were so prominent in Bible days. Even so, as the song above asks, "how could I ever doubt it, when mountains get too hard to climb?"

If God could do all of the things we read about in the Bible, what will we ever face that is too much of a challenge for Him? In fact, what will we ever face that is any kind of challenge to God? In Genesis 18:14 and Jeremiah 33:27, God asks if anything is too hard for Him. In neither instance is the question answered. It is the ultimate rhetorical question. To answer it almost seems ridiculous, because the answer is so obvious, but I'll answer it anyway: No!

Have you ever faced a challenge as large as a worldwide flood, a murderous bloodthirsty giant, the entire Philistine host making sport over you, a den of lions, or a fiery furnace? No? Well, if God could take care of Noah, David, Samson, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in those trials, don't you think He can take care of you in any situation you'll ever face considering the fact that He has never changed?

We frequently talk about people and things that have stood the test of time, but no one and nothing has ever done that as well as God, and never can. When is the last time you thanked God for the fact that He's never changed? When is the last time you considered the fact that you can trust in Him for everything and always will be able to? Praise God, He has stood the test of time!

Are You a True Champion?

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.

1 Corinthians 16:13

On Monday night, I made a Facebook post celebrating the Alabama Crimson Tide's win in that night's national championship game. A friend of mine who's an Ole Miss fan decided to tease me a little and asked me if it bothered me to know that there Alabama had lost to Ole Miss and that there was "someone better" out there. That made me think. It's what inspired this post.

There has been a lot of talk about the fact that this is Alabama's fourth national championship in seven years. That's obviously a big accomplishment, but did you know that only one of those four teams (the 2009 team) went undefeated? As already mentioned, the 2015 team lost to Ole Miss. The 2012 team lost to Texas A&M, and the 2011 team lost to LSU. Fans of those teams made a lot of comments about beating the national championships, some in jest, some not, but in the end, none of those comments change anything. You see, it's not the small picture of the single game that matters; it's the big picture of the full season.

Interestingly enough, the 2011 Alabama team famously rematched with the LSU team that beat them in the regular season in the national title game. When all was said and done, they left no doubt about that game, winning 21-0 with the most outstanding defensive performance I've ever seen on any level. Instead of packing it in because their opponents had already taken them down once, the Crimson Tide played with determination, ready to prove that they were champions.

The more I think about it, the more I'm convinced that this is the perfect analogy for the Christian life. No one outside of the Lord Jesus Christ has ever won every battle of life. He, and he alone, can claim the perfection of an undefeated life. Friend, you and I are imperfect. We've all lost games, so to speak. I'm not trying to excuse sin, but it's a fact that as long as we're in the flesh, we're going to continue to do so. The important thing then, is how we respond to those failures. Do we allow them to define us, or do we get back up and continue to battle? Sometimes, we'll even have to fight the same battle more than once. When we do, do we allow our previous failures to doom us to failure a second time?

We all want to be champions, but if we give up after a defeat, it will never happen. I don't think I'll ever forget a quote from a high school football coach this past season after his team battled through a difficult second half to manage a comeback win in a south state championship game: "Never underestimate the heart of a champion!" The heart of a champion of faith is one that will stand fast in the faith and be strong. A champion is one who learns from his mistakes and allows them to draw him closer to the Lord. A champion is the one who never quits.

Yes, three of those Alabama teams lost a game, but that doesn't change the fact that they're champions. Their commitment to excellence and their willingness to fight on after those losses defined them far more than the losses did. Can the same be said of you?

Fighting for Victory

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

2 Timothy 2:4

I've been an Alabama football fan for my entire life. This season, I watched the least college football I've ever watched in a season by a long shot, but I still watched most of Alabama's games. Despite the fact that I generally find that my interest in football is waning, there was no way I was going to miss them battling Clemson for the national championship last night.

To say that it was a hard fought game would be an understatement. The Crimson Tide emerged with its 16th national championship in program history 45-40, but they had to battle for all 60 minutes to secure it. To be perfectly honest, at the end of the third quarter and the beginning of the fourth quarter, I thought that it was going to slip away. I had never seen Alabama lose a game that could win a national championship, and things appeared to be heading that way.

Yet, somehow, the game didn't go that way. Alabama came up with key plays when they needed them, and they staved off an attempt by Clemson to rally in the waning minutes. The final bits of doubt weren't erased until Bama recovered an onside kick attempt by the Tigers with 12 seconds left. From that point, a knee killed the clock and brought the confetti down as the Tide celebrated.

The ironic thing about the whole game is that even though, as I said, I didn't watch much football this year, I think I enjoyed this championship more than any of the others I've seen. My apologies if your favorite team is mentioned ahead, because I'm simply trying to make a point. I watched the 1992 team rout the heavily favored Miami Hurricanes 34-13. I watched the 2009 team hook the Texas Longhorns 37-24. I watched the 2011 team get revenge against the LSU Tigers 21-0, and I watched the 2012 team throttle the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 42-12. What then, made this one so special?

I'm not far removed from the game at all, but I think I've already figured it out. While the 2009 team got a little bit of a scare in the championship, none of those teams were challenged in the title game like the 2015 team was. If they wanted to win, they were going to have to fight for it, and that's exactly what they did. The more I think about it, the more it reminds me of life. I'm sure I don't have to tell you this, but life is tough. As the text verse above shows, life is a battle. Every day, we're met with new and difficult challenges. To be a success, we have to fight them.

Just like last night's game, there will be times that we feel like we're up against the ropes. There will be times that we feel like failures, and truth be told, we're going to fail at times. When that happens, the question we have to ask ourselves is, how will we respond? Do we simply throw in the towel and assume we've lost, or do we fight on, and try to regain the ground we gave up? Those slipups are one of the things that we're not supposed to be entangled in.

Nowhere in the Bible do we find sinless perfection. God expects us to give our best to stay away from sin, but the Bible makes it clear that we will fall sometimes. Some of the greatest men in the Bible met with some of the greatest failures found in its pages. Men like Abraham, David, Noah, and Samson come to mind immediately. Yet, despite their faults, we don't think of them primarily in regards to their shortcomings, but for the incredible faith they displayed. When they fell, they picked up the sword and continued to fight.

The next time you fall, what will you do? Will you stay down and let your mistakes get the best of you, or will you get up and continue to fight for a championship? The game isn't over until God calls you home. Keep fighting until the clock hits zero, and the Lord will reward you with something much better than a gold trophy. You're going to see plenty about the Alabama football team in the upcoming days. Let them inspire you to continue to work for the Lord.

The "Repentance" of Stan Mikita

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.

I Peter 3:15-17

After every NHL season, the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy is presented to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." An enforcer or a player known for rough play cannot win the trophy, no matter how skilled they are or how well they perform on the ice. Stan Mikita won the award in 1967 and 1968, but just two years before his first win, no one would have ever dreamed that he would ever receive it. You see, there was a key event in Stan Mikita's life that caused him to change his style from that of a bruiser to the sport's ultimate gentleman.

Five times in the early years of his career, Mikita was in the top 10 of all players in the NHL in penalty minutes, amassing anywhere from 97 to 154 PIM in those seasons. He was known as a dirty player -- a reputation that he very much deserved -- and everyone knew not to mess with him on the ice. While no one likes a dirty player that doesn't play for the team he cheers for, that physical style of play has always been considered to be a part of hockey. Everyone understood that, and no one asked questions... Well, almost no one, that is.

Upon returning from a road trip, Mikita's wife told him a story that made him re-evaluate his style of play. She and their daughter had watched one of the Black Hawks' road games, and the young girl had asked her mother a question: "Why does Daddy spend so much time sitting down?" Mikita's wife related that story to her husband when he arrived home.

For a moment, try to put yourself in Mikita's place. What would you say? Would you really want to say, "Well, Sweetheart, Daddy breaks the rules a lot and does mean things to people?" Of course not! Neither did Mikita. He credits that incident for changing him as a player. The effect was immediately noticeable. In 1964-65, he had 154 penalty minutes. That number fell to 58 in 1965-66 and 12 in 1966-67. He never again had more than 85 PIM in a season or finished in the top 10 in that stat. In fact, he's generally now thought of as a gentlemanly player.

Mikita's daughter was watching him, and there are people who watch you. Maybe they're your children, your grandchildren, or your nieces and nephews. Maybe they're not related to you. Maybe they're not children. It doesn't really matter who they are; the way you live your life in front of them is what you're telling them life should be like. If someone were to come to you and ask you why you do the things you do, could you answer in confidence, or would it be a sting to your conscience in the way that Mikita's daughter's question was?

If life had a penalty box, how much time would you spend sitting down? Would someone be likely to ask why you spend so much time sitting down? We're all human. As long as we're in this life, there's no such thing as sinless perfection, but the times that we fall should be the exception rather than the rule. It would have been a lot easier for Mikita to answer his daughter in one of the seasons that he had 12 penalty minutes than the one in which he had 154. By the same token, if our lives are lived in accordance to the principles of God's word, it will be much easier for us to give the answer about the hope that is within us. That's what makes us ready to give the answer.

Stan Mikita's penalty minutes are now a matter of record, and nothing can change that. Your past is in the past, and nothing can change it. You can, however, change the future. Is there something in your life that would discourage someone from wanting Jesus Christ in his heart because your life tells him it's not worth it? If so, do what Stan Mikita did. Repent of those things and with the help of God, turn over a new leaf.

And Can it Be?

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

And can it be that I should gain

An interest in the Savior’s blood?

Died He for me, who caused His pain—

For me, who Him to death pursued?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

The questions posed in the first verse of the classic hymn "And Can it Be" are very piercing. The answer to them all is the same -- yes -- though it's quite difficult to understand why. In fact, humanly speaking, I can't think of a single reason why the answer should be yes. Still, it's all true, and this song gives us one of the most personal expressions of the experience of the grace of God that we are ever likely to see.

The first question of the song seems to be one of disbelief. Is it really true that I of all people have access to the blood of Jesus? As remarkable as it seems, we do. "And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Despite the fact that I have done (and can do) nothing to earn this right, Jesus Christ made Himself the propitiation for my sins, and in doing so gave me an interest in His blood.

But that doesn't tell the whole story. Despite the fact that the offer is made to so many, there is enough to go around. Though many will refuse this most generous of offers, the blood of Jesus Christ was shed for them as well -- He did enough for the entire world. As the songwriter said, "Though millions have come, there's still room for one." That will always be true.

The second question is one that is answered by our text verse. Yes, we're all sinners, and that is what necessitated the crucifixion of our Saviour, but He still died for us. Note that the Bible doesn't say that He died because of us. It wasn't necessary that He died simply because we are sinners and that there was no way for Him to avoid death. It was necessary that He died because He loved us and wanted to save us. His death was by His own choice. He died for us.

We have the answers to the first two questions, and yet, Charles Wesley asked one more question in the first verse of this beautiful hymn. Yes, we did gain an interest in the Saviour's blood, and yes, He did die for us. He told us so in His word. Even so, the depth of that love caused Mr. Wesley to exclaim his wonder and ask his God how He could pay that price. Even though we have those answers in the Bible, the extreme lengths that God's love was willing to go to makes it all incomprehensible to us. I know that God loves me, and I know that He gave His Son for me, but I'll never understand why.

One day, those of us who have experienced this incredible love and grace will be caught up to Heaven to spend eternity with the Saviour who made it all possible. And yet, as long as that eternity rolls, I don't believe we'll ever get past the wonder of it all. Throughout eternity, we will continue to praise God for this amazing love. This hymn gives us a bit of a peek into the praise of Heaven, but it still falls short of the splendor we'll behold when we finally se our Savoiur face to face. We're on the small end of something very big!

The Consistency of Mike Gartner

Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.

1 Corinthians 4:2

Wayne Gretzky won five goal-scoring titles, eleven Art Ross trophies, and won the Hart nine times. He had an NHL record 92-goal season, another eighty goal season, and two more 70-goal seasons, and is tied with Mike Bossy for the most 60-goal seasons (5) and 50-goal seasons (9). Gordie Howe led the NHL in goals five times, won six Art Ross, and won six Hart Trophies. Brett Hull had three consecutive 70-goal seasons (scoring 86 in one of them) and won the Hart Trophy in 1991. Jaromir Jagr has five Art Ross trophies, a 62 goal season in 1995-96, won the Hart in 1999 and the Pearson on two other occasions. Marcel Dionne won the Art Ross in 1980 and won the Pearson twice. Phil Esposito posted the first 70-goal and first four 60-goal seasons in NHL history. He led the league in goals six times and won the Art Ross five. He won two Hart Trophies and won the Pearson on another occasion.

You're probably wondering what I told you all of that. Well, I told you all of that to tell you this: despite the fact that Mike Gartner never did any of that, he is the only other member of an exclusive club that includes all of the names above. They are the only seven players in NHL history to score at least 700 goals in their careers. His highest single season goal tally was 50, and he hit that only once. He never finished higher than fifth in the league in goals or tenth in points. He never finished any higher than fourth among right wingers in all-star balloting. How then, did he manage to score so many goals?

Remarkable consistency was the secret to Gartner's success. From the 1979-80 season through the 1993-94 season, he never failed to score at least 30 goals. After the lockout-shortened season that followed snapped his streak, he managed two more such seasons, bringing his total to 17. The consecutive and total 30 goal seasons marks are both NHL records. Mike Gartner was never among the game's elite players and he was never considered to be a super star, but his nearly unmatched level of consistency meant that he was dependable. Year in and year out, you knew what you were going to get from Mike Gartner. That earned him his spot among that elite company and in the Hockey Hall of Fame.

When people look at our lives and our Christian service, they should have the same feelings about us. "But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil." The way we live should be a matter of what you see is what you get. You don't have to be the best at whatever you do, but God does expect you to faithfully serve Him to the best of your ability.

Last night, my church had a watchnight service to welcome in the new year. The final preacher of the night is a member of the church, and when our pastor introduced him to the pulpit he said that he was going to give him the best compliment that he could think of to give to any Christian: he's faithful. Our measure of success in the Christian life is just that. The only thing God expects us to do is be available to Him. As it has been said, the best ability is availability. As the hymn "Our Best" reminds us, "our talents may be few, these may be small, but unto Him is due our best, our all.

It doesn't matter if you're a great singer, or a great teacher, or a great musician, or a great anything by the standards of your fellow man. It is true that your service should prove to them that you are dependable and faithful, but none of us should strive to impress any other person. We should strive to impress God. Mike Gartner's career is a good model as to how to do that. Don't try to match anyone else's best. Simply go out day by day and give your all to the Lord. It might not be noticed on earth, but it is noticed in Heaven. God will always reward faithfulness.