FINISH...

Pete Carroll, the head football coach for the University of Southern California Trojans, gave his team a t-shirt with the words, "FINISH" emblazoned on it as a motivator for this season. After dismantling Penn State in the Rose Bowl, 38-24 I think you could say, "Mission accomplished."

It got me thinking that the apostle Paul could have had a similar t-shirt back in his day. He had such a life-changing experience with the Lord Jesus Christ there was nothing that was going to get between him & the mission that Jesus had given. Give some time to think about what he wrote while he was in chains & nearing the end of his life...

Philippians 3:10-19
I gave up all that inferior stuff so I could know Christ personally, experience his resurrection power, be a partner in his suffering, and go all the way with him to death itself. If there was any way to get in on the resurrection from the dead, I wanted to do it.

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back.

So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision—you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.

Stick with me, friends. Keep track of those you see running this same course, headed for this same goal. There are many out there taking other paths, choosing other goals, and trying to get you to go along with them. I've warned you of them many times; sadly, I'm having to do it again. All they want is easy street. They hate Christ's Cross. But easy street is a dead-end street. Those who live there make their bellies their gods; belches are their praise; all they can think of is their appetites.