For fans of baseball and in particular, fans of the Texas Rangers, we are coming off a hard week. The outcome of the world series was a heartbreaking way for an incredible season of baseball to end. For a moment, it was easy to forget how much fun was had along the way.

The day after their game six defeat I had lunch with my seven year old daughter, and while I was sitting with her in the elementary cafeteria, I noticed a phrase written on the back of another 2nd grader’s shirt.

“No one remembers who comes in second,” it said.

For a split second, it was a reminder of why the outcome of game 6 was so painful…

But as I thought about it a bit more, it also brought to mind how unhealthy that way of thinking really is and how disturbing it was to see that quote on the shirt of a seven year old boy.

There are 30 Major League baseball teams.
Only 8 of those teams made the playoffs.

4 teams went home after the first round.
2 more joined them after the second round.

Only one playoff team won the last game of their season.

It takes 11 playoff wins to clinch the World series.
The Rangers won 10.

They fell short of their ultimate goal by one game.

But along the way, they gave each of us, their fans, quite a ride. They played with great pride and class. They openly celebrated their connection to one another as teammates with each hit, each great defensive play and pitching performance. They gave their best effort and over the course of a season that included thousands of pitches, they ended up only one strike short.

If any one of them were our son we would feel nothing but great pride in what they accomplished and how they handled themselves as individuals and a team along the way.

So if your young son or daughter has a shirt that says, “no one remembers who comes in second,” let me gracefully suggest that it’s time to remove that shirt from the rotation.

Ultimately, what we want our kids to know more than anything is that we want them to always give their very best. If that means they come up one strike short, they should also know that we will celebrate and remember how proud we were of what they had done.

The 2011 Texas Rangers are and always will be a team worth remembering.

Every few months I get a nice break from writing our GPS guide. Our Senior Pastor will usually take a message series and give me a few weeks to recharge which I greatly appreciate.

Today is my first day back after one of those extended rests. I’m working on GPS for the week of Thanksgiving.

Writing this daily devotion guide is one of the most unique and special things I’ve been able to do as a pastor. In a way, I feel like I get the chance to share some in some powerful moments because I know these words will be read by individuals as they spend a few moments alone with God. With each day, I hope that the words I offer invite people to open up and hear a special word of hope and encouragement from God for that particular day.

As I put together five days of reading on the subject of “thanksgiving,” I can’t help but feel a tremendous sense of gratitude today for the opportunity to work on a resource like GPS.

It’s good to be writing again.

I’ve spent some time over the last week reading Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson.

I’m about halfway through the book at this point and it’s been a good read thus far.Jobs authorized this biography participating in over 40 interviews with Isaacson and giving him full control over the finished product.

The back cover describes Steve as someone, “whose passion for perfection and ferocious drive revolutionized six industries: personal computers, animated movies, music, phones, tablet computing, and digital publishing.”

At the same time, as I’ve read through the first half of the book, it’s striking to read how those closest to Jobs describe what a self-centered, petty, and narcissistic man he could sometimes be. I’m waiting for the great moment of redemption. Unfortunately, I’m not sure it’s waiting for me in the chapters that follow.

I don’t think anyone can argue with the idea that Steve Jobs was a revolutionary genius, but that also brings to mind the sad truth that the products he helped create will one day become obsolete.

I’m looking forward to finishing the book, but at this point I’m reminded that I don’t buy into the idea that life is about doing great things.

To use one of Steve’s phrases, “I think different.”

The great product of our life should not be a computer or a smart phone or an animated movie.

It’s people… who we become, and who we enable and encourage others to be.

This morning I went out early for a five mile run. The sun wasn’t up yet and it was a bit chilly which I prefer. It was an easy paced and beautiful run. I felt refreshed and energized when I got back to the house.

Not every run over the past several months has gone as smoothly. It’s been a long training season and the extended summer temperatures didn’t help matters.

Yet, here I am.

Seven days away from catching a flight to New York City.

Ten days away from running my second marathon through the Big Apple.

It’s been a wild ride, but I’m ready, and excited again about the opportunity to run in support of the 1,000 orphans in Africa that our church is supporting.

If you want to be a part of seeing hope restored for these kids, I’d love to have your support.

Hope you can join us. RSVP here.