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The Focus
by Dennis Wheeler
Mike Barker had just entered basic training in the U. S. Air Force. On his first attempt in the obstacle course he completed the course far ahead of everyone else, but he was immediately confronted by his Drill Sergeant, who demanded, "Where are all your buddies?"
"Back there, sir." Mike replied, "I won!"
The sergeant barked, "The obstacle course isn't about coming in first! It's about finishing! Everybody finishes or nobody wins. Go back and run it again, and this time help the guys who are struggling along the way!"
That incident began Mike's transformation from a lone competitor obsessed with winning...into an encourager whose goal was to build teamwork.
Take a closer look at Jesus...He didn't move through life as a solitary figure, living a perfect life all alone. As He neared the cross, He totally emptied His heart in prayer for His disciples: "Holy Father, keep them and care for them - all those You have given Me - so that they will be united just as We are. During My time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost." - John 17:11-12 (NLT)
Now - that's teamwork!!
How will you run life's obstacle course today? Trying to win alone, or as our Lord prayed - - - together, united, encouraging each other until we all cross the finish line?
Sper wrote these words...
As Christians, we are in a race
Until the day we see Christ's face;
So let's encourage those who run
To finish and to win as one!
He serves as the Senior Pastor with southwest Virginia church... a loving church family in Abingdon.
He and his wife Sharon have been married for over 27 years and are the proud parents of two beautiful daughters, one son-in-law, and two precious grandchildren, the second arrived arrived on the scene in September 2004!!
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