If you reside in West Texas, the sport pages of your newspaper are filled with tidbits of information about the Dallas Cowboys (okay–and perhaps a few other teams). Soon they will begin preseason games. Points will be tallied and there will be a winner and a loser, but the games don’t really count. The preseason games are designed to prepare the teams for when the real season begins.

   It is possible for us to live our lives as if it is spring training or a preseason game. What we did or said doesn’t really count. We pick and choose the events we feel are those that matter—what we do at home versus what is seen at church.     
   Our minds can deceive us. Someday–when it matters, I’ll get serious with God! When my kids get older, I’ll have to start watching what I say. When the big boss comes next week, I’ll get my productivity up. The preacher will never know; we were on vacation after all!         

    This is it! Life doesn’t have spring training and preseason games. This is the Super Bowl. Our every thought, word, and deed molds and shapes our ministry, family, future, and eternity. This is real life right now!

·         Be willing to grow

·         Stay dissatisfied with average and the status quo

·         Improve relationship with the Lord

·         Desire Spiritual things

·         Hunger for the things of God