(This is a weekly article that I wrote for the "Dallas New Era" newspaper)

Steroid use... a new form of "temptation". Why has steroid use become so rampant in sports? You probably have heard that Floyd Landis, the Tour de France victor has tested positive in a drug test. However, based on my understanding, he was taking some other medication that may have produced a "false positive" in this drug test. I hope the test reveals a "false positive." This has been a great story and I, for one, would hate to see it destroyed by performance enhancing drug use.
Which leads to another question; "Why are so many athletes using performance enhancing drugs?" One would presume it's to get "an edge" on other athletes. In order to be a "great" baseball player many current athletes have, unfortunately, bought into the false idea that to be great you have to cheat. However, a review of baseball history reveals the names of many great baseball players that didn't use performance enhancing drugs. For instance, Willie Stargell didn't use steroids but he was great. Willie Mays didn't. Babe Ruth didn't. Johnny Bench didn't. They were great baseball players. Or, maybe it's just the temptation is present today. All of us face temptation. And, there are more opportunities for temptation today than ever. The internet presents a venue for pornography that hasn't existed before. Credit card offers are sent to college students when 30 to 40 years ago that temptation didn't exist. The scriptures tell us that Jesus faced temptation at the outset of His ministry. At each temptation, Jesus responded with scripture. However, Christian, the apostle Paul has told us, "No temptation has overtaken but such as is common to man... and God is faithful who with the temptation will provide the means of escape also" (I Cor. 10:13). Temptation has been around since the garden of Eden. We just face it in different forms today. But God can help us deal with temptation. Whatever temptation you are facing today, God can help you deal with it.

What I am reading....

I will edit this post from time to time to give updates on what I have been reading and studying.

Check in every now and then to see what's new.

• "How to Be Like Women of Influence" by Pat and Ruth Williams
• "Looking At Life Through The Rear View Mirror" by Paul W. Powell
• Book 2

"Only God is in the position to look down on anyone, and he never does."

I like that quote. It comes from the book "Looking At Life Through The Rear View Mirror" by Dr. Paul Powell, Dean of Truett Seminary, Waco, Texas. Dr. Powell has been a friend of mine for years.

Christians, unfortunately, have a tendency to judge others or look down on others if they don't behave in a manner that we think is appropriate or think the way we think they should think. Consequently, we "judge" them or look down on them. When we do so, we put ourselves in the position of God.

That's why I like this quote... "Only God is in the position to look down on someone, and he never does." God loves us where we are. God picks us up.

Jesus said, "Do not judge, or you too will be judged" (Matt. 7:1) NIV.

"The good Lord gave us mountains... so we could learn how to climb."

I like those lyrics. They are from a new song by the country group "Lonestar." I don't listen to a lot of country... primarily just when the kids are riding with me... today, I had run an errand with my son, Will. The radio was on but... I wasn't really tuned in... if you understand what I mean. But, I heard the line, "The good Lord gave us mountains, so we could learn how to climb." That struck me.
These are the lyrics to the chorus of the song..."Times in life, when you gotta crawl, Lose your grip, trip and fall;When you can't lean on no one else, that's when you find yourself;I've been there and I've noticed that Walking is easy when the road is flat Danged ole hills get you every time, The good Lord gave us mountains, so we could learn how to climb."
There is some good life teaching in that song. There are times in life when you've gotta crawl. You do lose your grip or you trip and fall. I have fallen and I imagine you have as well. There are times when you can't lean on no one else. But, here, I differ with the song. You do have to find yourself but, for the Christian, you never find yourself alone... the Bible says the Lord never leaves us nor forsakes us...
There are hills in life and if you're not careful, they will get you but, they don't have to. God gives us mountains so we can learn how to climb.
James said, "Consider it all joy... when you encounter various trials" (Jas. 1:2).
So, when you're facing a mountain, remember the lyrics to the song... "the good Lord gave us mountains so we can learn how to climb."

A pic of my kids... Will, Robert and Sarah. Easter, '06

Me, my daughter, Sarah, and my wife, Holli at an LSU football game in the fall of '05

Many people have a tendency to compare themselves to others. They do so by saying, “I don’t speak like that person.” Or, “I can’t sing like that person.” You get the idea.
Well, you can take some pressure off of yourself because God doesn’t expect you to be better than another person. God expects you to be yourself. Be your best.
Someone has said, “You are not accountable for being the best, but you are accountable for being your best.”
I read a little poem recently that highlights the importance of doing your best.
“If you can’t be a highway, then just be a trail;
If you can’t be the sun, be a star;
It isn’t by size that you win or you fail---
Be the best of whatever you are.”
So, are you doing your best? You may have a tendency to compare yourself to others and say, “I’m not as talented as they are.” God doesn’t expect you to be like that person. You need to be yourself.
God has given you unique gifts and abilities. Use them for God’s glory.