Every day things happen -- amazing things. Things we didn't plan. Surprises apparently out of nowhere. Sometimes we don't even notice. And then again, sometimes we take note and ponder -- briefly. Was it chance? Luck? Happenstance? Why did this door suddenly open and that one slam shut?

But the occurrences pile up in our memory and the statistical odds become far too great to be mere circumstance. There appears to be logic and order in the progression of individual human life -- as if a Hand was guiding, gently, step-by-step.

Can it be? A destiny? But why would purpose find me? Seek me out, a speck in the universe?

Look around. Order, structure, logic, life, intellect -- everywhere. Can these be chance? Notice the intricacy of one ecosystem, or of one flower, or of one tiny gnat. How can it be that such craftsmanship occurred randomly, without plan? Or me, the speck who thinks and observes? How can I be conscious and free and recognizing something leading me -- step-by-step?

The Hand, the plan -- not random, but loving; caring for me--the speck, the gnat. Me (and you) -- tiny in the scope of the universe, but grand in design and purpose and function and significance.

Regard what happens. Things happen to you and to me and they are far too statistically unlikely to be trivial. Meaning abounds all around, if we will but notice!

The brackets are set for tourney time and millions of people are filled with excitement, enthusiasm, and anticipation at the thought of watching young college men compete for the NCAA Basketball Championship. Over the next few weeks adult, American "macho" males will be wearing funny make-up, dancing on bleachers, and shedding real tears when the team that they are going-crazy-for loses.

They call it madness and it really is an insanely hyped-up time! Americans put far more energy and excitement into watching a basketball tournament than they do into the things that really matter like: spending time with their kids (when have you ever seen a "macho" male put make-up on and dance on a bleacher for his children), worshiping God (my gosh, most basketball fans are the "frozen chosen" in church -- if they go at all), helping the moms and the little brothers and sisters of the players who are stuck in inner city poverty (say what?--that one doesn't even compute), and overcoming their personal self-destruction and misery (we'd rather use the tourney to help us stay in personal denial).

I watch some of the tournament. We have four teams from Tennessee in it this year (Vanderbilt and Belmont from Nashville). Plus I like Kentucky (I hope they don't fire Tubby). But come on, this tournament is just a series of games! Young men playing games! That's all.

Why is watching games worth more excitement and enthusiasm than being with our kids, worshiping the Living God, helping hurting people, and overcoming personal weaknesses? What if Americans put the same level of interest and commitment into those things as they do into a month of madness? Wow. What beautiful lives we could have!

Why does American Christianity appear to only have two forms: DB or SH? I so wish I could find or help create a third type.

DB stands for Dull and Boring. How is it that we American Christians take the most exciting thing in the history of the world -- the Living God becoming a human being and paying for the debt of our sin -- and make it dull and boring? Do you ever look around in church? People are yawning, nodding, looking at their watch, and otherwise zoned out. Talk about dullsville -- people passively, emotionlessly enduring dry ritual. They even joke about sleeping in church. Surely Christianity means more than that!

And then there is the SH type of American Christianity -- Slick and Hyped. This type has the slicked up preacher and the cool worship leader hyping up their name, their CDs, their books, their fund raising, their agenda -- while acting like cheerleaders for God. And everybody blindly says "Amen" and claps while they drop the money in. Then they all have their Starbucks before they leave the church building. Is that what Christianity is about?

What about deep, heart-felt repentance? What about humility? How about a little excitement about Jesus instead of about the preacher? How about helping those who are hurting and those who are poor? How about obedience to the Living God and living a righteous lifestyle every day of the week? In the New Testament Christians shed tears, but where are the tears in American Christianity?

DB and SH don't do it for me! Sometimes I can hardly stand it! Sometimes I want to stand up in a DB or SH church service and shout: "Jesus Christ is in this room! Doesn't anybody notice Him? Why are we so rudely ignoring Him?"

God, have mercy on us! Forgive us that we have turned worship into a ritual or a game. Help us repent and open our hearts to You, the Ever Present and Living God. Free us from our bondage to religious practice and hype. Help us truly love and obey You before it is too late. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Anybody can go with the flow of impulse, craving, habit, tendency, compulsion, peer pressure -- into immoral and self-destructive thoughts and behaviors. It takes no courage, no power to give in to wrong desires. It is so easy to follow evil -- anybody can do it.

But to resist, to fight against and overcome the forceful pulls toward wrongful thinking and hurtful action -- that takes great guts and tremendous courage! It takes mighty people -- real men and real women -- to live right!

Anybody can throw up excuses (or their alcohol and drugs), but it takes a hero to "just say no". Anybody can lie, but only the bravest humans will stand up and tell the truth even if they have to suffer for it. Anybody can be a passive slave to sexual desire, but only the strong are faithful to their husband or wife when married and to God when single. Anybody can spout out profanity and vulgarity, but only a champion will speak pure, uplifting, and encouraging words.

In our society most people seem to go with the self-destructive flow, but who has the guts to boldly say, "No!"? To be in bondage or to be free, that is the question! ---YOU---

Two forces are pulling us apart, tugging us in two opposite directions at the same time. And they won't let go. Ouch!

One force is a compelling inner pull toward negativity, self-destruction, immorality, and evil. The other is a sort of inner nudge to do right, to be positive, to help others, and to avoid evil. We humans are like a character in the old cartoons with a little devil on one shoulder and a little angel on the other; both trying to persuade him or her to do their bidding. That is not just a cartoon. It is real life!

All of us human beings are caught in between two forces each striving to influence our behavior. We live in a moment-by-moment tug-o'-war -- constantly yanked around.

Which force wins in a human life? When I talk about this to the men in the Salvation Army Rehabilitation Center where I am the counselor and chaplain, I use the following illustration. I ask for two volunteers -- one to represent the bad force and the other to represent the good force. Then I have each volunteer take one of my hands and begin to pull on my arms.

Guess which man wins in the tug-o'-war when I am the "rope"? You got it, and the men get it to. The force that wins is the one I pull with. If I consistently pull with the man representing the self-destructive force it wins. But if I consistently pull with the man representing the positive force, it wins. And when I waver, neither wins.

Life is just like that. Are you being pulled down by negative, self-destructive compulsions? Stop pulling with them and begin to consistently pull with all your might against them and with the positive forces in your life.

Are you wavering? Quit changing sides. Don't just pull for the good now and then. Instead, continually pull for the good and your life will be good.

Which side is winning your personal tug-o'-war? It is really up to you! The force you choose to consistently pull with will decide whether you win or lose! Choose wisely! ---YOU---