ENTER YOUR ARENA

Have you thanked Him?

Have you praised Him?

Have you made it your priority to agree and cooperate with Him today?

Have you taken that deep breath and listened for what He has for you today?

1 Timothy 2:1 (The Message)

The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know.

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. – Theodore Roosevelt

Our Worship Pastor Anna who was pinch-hitting for her husband yesterday, shared this little quote as a part of her encouragement/sermon.

Yet it was later in the day that this little quote “came to life” so to speak.

I left church and traveled to Mt. Vernon Ohio where I was honored to sit with and share with about 20 faith-leaders from the Knox County area.  Dotted across the room were different denominations and perspectives but they were all coming together at the beckon of a “man in the arena”.

This journey of working with the addicted has caused me to encounter and engage some of the most remarkable and thoughtful folks.  One such individual has become a “good friend”. He is Common Pleas Judge Rick Wetzel of Knox County.  And it was he that open the doors to “his arena” and asked for us to HELP him to do what he has been called to do, administer justice without sacrificing mercy; to join him in “his arena”.

Judge Wetzel is a deeply passionate follower of Christ upon whom GOD’s favor is undisputed.  And as he tearfully and passionately asked for prayer for those who will and have occupied his courtroom, as he asked for his community’s hand of help to curb the ever-invading influence of addiction and trauma in his sphere, I was reminded of the little quote Anna had shared earlier in the day.

Judge Wetzel’s face was “muddied” yet he was undeterred.  Without fear of scrutiny by the politically correct he was reaching out fearlessly to those whom he knew would persevere, sweat, and walk with him.

It was a powerful afternoon to say the least; an afternoon marked by prayer, enthusiasm, and devotion.  The afternoon served to inspire me for what will likely be another “day in the arena”; to inspire me to wade into without fear of failure praying that I will treat it worthily.

That brings me to you today.

You have been placed into your arena today, in fact you have been called into it! 

I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out… – Ephesians 4:1-3 (MSG)

Be willing today to stand for what you know to be good and just.  Find a place to serve.  Be undeterred even if you get a little bloodied or muddied in the process. 

Take a risk.  Share.  Love.

Remember

“A ship is always safe at the shore - but that is NOT what it is built for.” ― Albert Einstein

And neither are you.

Enter your arena.

I love you all…

OPPORTUNITIES for HOPE