Steve Prefontaine was a world-class runner who beat other runners with his incredible toughness. As Christians we are being beat down by the world and taking blow after blow for the sake of Christ. We are called to die daily and to be conformed into the image of Christ. We should grow in our toughness and allow trials to shape us.

In 1 Kings 6 the Lord came to Solomon and promised Solomon that if he observed His laws and kept His commands then the Lord would live among the Israelites and not abandon His people. Solomon knew the law, especially Deuteronomy 17 which instructed kings on how they should serve. By 1 Kings 11 Solomon had violated the law and pursued gold, foreign women and foreign gods. When we are tempted for power, money, lust, and more things that will set us apart from God, we must confess our sins and repent and turn back to Jesus.

In 1st Kings 3, God comes to Solomon in a dream and asks him to ask for whatever he wants. Solomon understood the important responsibility of leading God's people and he asked for a discerning heart to govern God's people. It says the the Lord was pleased with Solomon's ask and God blessed Solomon and gave him way more than he could have ever asked for. We tend to be trivial with our asks and we don't get in the paint with God because we don’t understand his ways however, we too have the opportunity to ask the Lord good asks that are in line with His desires for us, but we have to have a trustworthy relationship with the Lord and learn and study His Word. As we mature in the Lord, our asks will also mature.

Jesus said if you want to be a great leader then you must be a great servant first. Are we willing to humble ourselves before the mighty hand of God? We look to Jesus who was the perfect servant leader as He humbled himself to the point of death of the cross. If you humble yourself and serve others with all we have, like Jesus did, then God will exalt you.

Jesus is the gift that keeps on giving because He rescues us like He rescued Peter. Jesus didn't give up on Peter after Peter denied Him. Instead He showed Peter His glory and came near to him because He was loved Peter. Peter realized it was Jesus on the seashore and he hurried to Him. Jesus calls you back into fellowship with him even when you blow it. We can trust in the finished work of Jesus.

In John 13, Jesus demonstrated to his disciples what role they have with one another and how they should live. We live on a dirty earth and we need to serve one another by confessing our sin and metaphorically washing each other's feet. As Christians we live in humble obedience to Christ and we look to Him who humbled Himself on the cross for our sins. We trust & believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Have you done that in your life?

The world might think it's strange that Christians don't partake with them in living the happy hour lifestyle. We are told in 1st Peter 4 to not join the non believers in debauchery because they will give an account to God. We seek the pleasure of the Lord in all we do. If you are stuck in the party scene, then get out and take the exit ramp to Jesus.

In Daniel 1, Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself and eat the King's food or drink the wine. Daniel understood who God was and he was not going to give his mind away. Resolve or purpose starts ahead of time and Daniel looked for ways to expand the gospel. God gave Daniel and his friends wisdom knowledge and skills. As believers, we have to be like a flagpole that is firmly planted in Christ and not like a flag that is blowing in the wind and giving into the world's desires.