Do you like to speak in public? What about in front of many adults? What about speaking in front of your school board? Three students at a local middle school did just that the other night to defend why they thought FCA should be allowed in their school. For three months, this school board tabled the decision to allow FCA to start, but these students stood their ground and continued to pursue the school board until they allowed them to speak. These brave students had to stand tall for their faith.

When you are a sports legend like Coach John Wooden, the opportunity to give of your time and resources can be found waiting around every corner. People have been looking to attach his name to charitable causes and have been chasing him down for personal appearances ever since he became synonymous with college basketball greatness.

Wooden, being the servant leader that he is, has graciously accepted many offers over the years. He has visited numerous veterans’ hospitals and children’s hospitals. In fact, it’s organizations that support kids that really get his attention.

They are rare and very hard to come by, but every once in a while, you can spot one. There aren’t too many in locker rooms or on ball fields, but, once they are identified, they stick out BIG TIME! When a “VRP” is around, you feel like a million bucks. They just have a way of making you feel special. What is a VRP? It is a Very Refreshing Person. These people breathe life into the ordinary and transform it. As lifters, they have an ability to bless others and bring words of encouragement.

As I write these devotions, I always try to challenge the readers with the questions at the end. I find myself beginning my final questions with "start today" or "today, how can you start…" In a society that is so goal-oriented, we sure procrastinate a lot. Why do something today that can wait until tomorrow? We say, "It can wait," or "I will have time later to get to it." Is it because we are self-serving, or because we simply aren't willing to do what it takes TODAY to make necessary changes in our lives?

I wake up to the sound of a jingle coming from my chocolate lab’s collar at the foot of my bed. Abbie is rustling around getting ready for a new day and soon makes her way over to my side of the bed. She sits looking up at me waiting to see if I’m going to join her. After all, it’s a beautiful new day created by the beautiful One.

With Abbie in tow I head out of the driveway for my morning run along a dirt road. The road seems to play out my life with each step I take. It is uneven and filled with deep holes, and I know that at any moment I could trip and fall. But I have faith in God’s path and direction, and I press onward responding to His call.

I recently went through a life-changing experience. After years of pain and struggle, I finally had a total knee replacement on my left knee. Before my surgery, everyone who’d gone through the same thing said having it done was a great decision. Today, one week after surgery, I am slowly beginning to believe that. The previous six days, however, have been marked with pain like I’ve never felt before. I’ve experienced new struggles that seemed unreasonable and have often been tempted to quit. All of this because of a change in my left knee.

Known as “The Flying Scotsman,” Eric Liddell ran to victory in the 1924 Paris Olympics. He won a gold medal in the 400 meter and set a world record with his time of 47.6 seconds.