Normally I try to follow a central theme in my posts on this blog. But today, I'm going to deal with various thoughts that I've had over the past few days.

Let's start with last Friday. That night, I went to Dave Hardin stadium at Paulding County High School prepared to watch my middle son, Will, play his last high school football game. They were playing one of their county rivals, Hiram High School. But, this game had a little extra "mustard" to it. The winner of this game got the fourth and final seed from our region in the play-offs. So, it was pretty tense from the start. I had prayed that if it were the Lord's will, the kids could pull an upset and win. I don't know if the Lord is interested in football or not but, I figured I would pray anyway! And, we had an "angels in the outfield" experience. Our kids won! It was wild! So, they get to play one more week. They are facing a gargantuan task in their first round opponent (MLK in Atlanta.. they are ranked 3rd in the state) but, we are "in."

Then, my parents came up last weekend. We don't see them nearly as often as we once did. But they came up for Will's senior night. Although we don't see them much, it's always neat when they come and it's sad when they leave. They are aging. I know; everyone does. I guess I just wasn't ready for it.

Finally, Holli and I attended the Georgia Baptist Convention in Augusta on Monday and Tuesday. This was my first "GBC" to attend. It was a neat experience. It was also a little lonely. I don't know many ministers in Georgia yet. So, I'm trying to meet new people. I now understand how people feel when they visit a church for the first time.

It's cool today. I'm looking forward to something warm to eat tonight and watching a little college football on Thursday night. I hope you have a great day.

I'm a sentimental dude. I guess that's a little weird, since I'm male. But, that's the way I'm wired. I have a tendency to hang onto things.
When the last college football game of the season is played I will dwell on the fact that it's over for several months. It's normally kind of sad. For some ladies it's a happy moment because now, they feel like they have their husband "back" for a while. lol. I do the same thing when I watch the championship game of the NCAA basketball tournament. And... at Christmas... the same thing.
Tonight will be one of those nights.
My middle son, Will, is a senior. This is his last home football game for sure and possibly his last high school football game, period, if the team doesn't win. Will has played 3 years at Paulding county high school. For the last three years, during the fall months, we have normally been at a high school football game on Friday nights. And, that will probably continue even with him graduating because my daughter, Sarah, is a cheerleader.
But, tonight, may bring the curtain down on one season of our life.
If they win they go to the playoffs so we would have one more game.
Tonight, my mind will go back to all the pee wee football games and middle school games. They will go back to team parties. It will go back to yelling like crazy when they won as little kids and hugging them telling them "it's ok" when they lost.
Tonight, Will is going to stand on the field at Paulding county stadium with his mom on one side and me on the other and his name will be called out. They will mention the activities he's been involved in, what his future plans are and folks will applaud. Then, we will take our spot. When it's all over, he will hug his mom and run back to the locker room to get ready for the game.
Then, his team will play Hiram, one of their county rivals. We hope they win. They hope they win. But, when it's over, win, lose or draw, he's still my kid and I'll be proud of him.
One thing I'll remember about his football time... he always ran to his spot. Always. Didn't matter how bad they might be getting beat, he ran to his spot. That made Daddy proud.
Well, the tears are starting.
Already.
And it's just 6:30 e.s.t. on Friday, November 9th. I've got 13 hours to go before game time.
"Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to be the dad of Robert, Will and Sarah Potts."

If you haven’t read it, you are at least familiar with the book Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. The book was written by Robert Louis Stevenson and published in 1886. It’s about a London lawyer who investigates strange occurrences between his old friend, Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The book is known for its portrayal of a psychotic condition known as “split personality.” The phrase “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome has even made its way into pop culture in describing someone with a split personality.
Christians deal with the “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome as well. We want to do the right thing. We want to guard our tongue. We want to think pure thoughts. But does that happen? Not always.
We find ourselves battling. We know the right things to do.
Don’t gossip.
Be kind to one another.
Treat others as you would like to be treated.
But at times, doing those things is a challenge.
Then, there are moments, when, perhaps more filled with the Spirit than at other times, we say encouraging things. We help others. We have a benevolent spirit.
When those times come, we feel good about ourselves and about life. It feels good to help someone. It warms your heart to say an encouraging word. So, why can’t we do that all the time?
The reason is that there is a battle going on inside every Christian called “the battle of the flesh and the spirit.” And the flesh is strong. We can crucify it daily but it comes back. It comes back because it’s strong!
One day we can experience peace and contentment. The next day, due to the strength of the flesh, we can battle envy and greed.
One day we can experience the peace of Christ. The next day, anger can fill our hearts.
The apostle Paul described this dilemma when he said, “For the good that I wish, I do not do; but I practice the very evil that I do not wish. But if I am doing the very thing I do not wish, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me…. (Romans 7:19-20).
I can identify with that!
So, every Christian deals with the “Jekyll and Hyde” syndrome to some degree. So, how do you handle it?
The first step is to be aware of it.
Second, when we find ourselves battling, James tells us “Submit therefore to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Know that the power of the Holy Spirit in us is greater than the power of the flesh and if we will ask the Lord, He will help us deal with our temptation.
So, when you are having a “Jekyll” attack, ask the Lord for strength so that the “Hyde” side will be more evident in our lives.

What's important to you?
Have some things become more important to you than they should?
I haven't made a blog entry since August 10. That's almost 3 months. Part of the reason is that blogging had become too important to me. Let me explain.

Back in August, I began going through a real time of spiritual renewal. I was reading the little book "The Calvary Road". (If you haven't read it, you need to. It's good.) God began speaking to my heart and, honestly, blogging wasn't as important as it once was. Reading that book led me to realize the need to make some changes in my life. On many days, the first thing I would do in the morning was update my blog. But, during that time I realized I had gotten my priorities out of order. I was having a devotional time with the Lord but it wasn't always first thing. So, I re-prioritized some things.

Second, when I decided to begin blogging again, I couldn't access my blog. The problem is still not totally resolved but it's resolved enough for me to resume posting. I changed my email address during that time and I think that change hindered me from being able to sign on.

I will write more about my time of spiritual renewal in the coming days.

For now, I ask you, "Have some things gotten out of order in your life?" Have some things become more important than they should be? There is a little verse tucked away in the book of II Chronicles 18:4 that has spoken to me in the past couple of months. The verse says "Inquire first for the word of the Lord." I have put that verse on my p.d.a. Every day, I am reminded to "Inquire first for the word of the Lord."

It's making a difference in my life.