"Signs You Are Too Old for Trick or Treating" and "The Pumpkin!"

Today's Truth: "A Game Day!"
by Pastor Chris Maxwell, Orlando, Florida

My baseball season ended before World Series game seven. Though I enjoyed unexpected teams playing like a group of giants and angels, I've grown weary of Atlanta's bravery not going far enough.

Then football ended early also. My Yellow Jackets lost key players on offense and defense to injuries. But if the Jackets only win one more game - the game against their neighborhood dawgs - and if the Falcons pass me a few more surprises, maybe football returns for several weeks in the winter.

The sport though, at least my sport, started last night. A friend invited me to bring two of my sons and sit beside him at TD Waterhouse to watch Magic begin again. And begin again they did.

Hill played like a healed athlete. McGrady played like a calm man, saving his moments of excellence for times of desperation. Burke showed why we needed a 28-year-old rookie to return from Greece to his Florida home. Armstrong is still little but big. Kemp is still big but we need big. Together, teamwork worked.

In the third quarter the Magic went down by nine. I told my friend Mike, "The next two minutes will bring us back or keep us out." We came back. We took over.

With four minutes left in the game I said to Mike, "We can't let them make a run. We need to hit them while they are down." We didn't let them and we did hit them.

I learn lessons from the fields, from the courts. As children wear masks on a Halloween time I remember more than sports. I remember historical heroes who played the game of life, risking more than falls, defeats or injuries. God's team players gave lives for victory. All Saints Day plays back the games, highlights victorious victims, and reminds us of a willingness to risk all in pursuit of a win over sin. I like that day much better than the cover-your-face-and-eat-too-much-candy day.

The Magic took off their masks last night. No predictions or promises or preseason politics mattered. What they did on the court mattered.

God's followers must take off masks in the game of life. No pretending or prompting or positive propaganda needed. Only what is done for the Owner matters.

If you are a spiritual point guard, bring the ball up the floor and motivate teammates what to do as you get them going. If you are a shooting guard, fake and turn then take that open shot. Big man? Hit the boards. Small forward? Stop the lead scorer on the other team before expecting to raise your own numbers. I call it teamwork. The Bible calls it a body, a house, a flock. Working best equals working together.

Injuries and free agents, victories and defeats, wars and rumors of wars, sins and sicknesses, debates and inquiries, costs rising and accounts dropping, broken plans and lonely hands: that's life. But since saints took risks, we are free to survive and succeed in every season.

It's almost like believing in magic. Just better.

Along the way,
Chris Maxwell

Powerful Statement: "Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for the gracious" (Psalm 112:4, NIV).

--by Pastor Chris Maxwell, Evangel Assembly, Orlando, Florida. Used by permission.

Read Pastor Maxwell's bio and enjoy his poetry!

Inspiration, News, Devotionals, Humor & More to Start Your Day!

My Pastor's Message of the Day--Updated each weekday!
Introducing Pastor David Watson, Central Assembly, Springfield, Missouri

Feel like pokin' around Peggie's Place?
START HERE or skip straight to the ROOMS!.
Have fun--and should you get lost, scroll to the end of a page for a directory.

"Peggie Breaks"--humor & inspiration links each month

The Devotional Buffet--for over 500 archived devos at Peggie's Place!

+ + + + + + +

For more humor, visit The Fun Room at Peggie's Place!
For more inspiration, visit The Prayer 'n Praise Room at Peggie's Place!

For more daily humor:
Reverend Fun--A fun Christian cartoon of the day!
Pastor Tim's Clean Laugh List--a daily email humor list

Thanks for coming! God bless--and see you tomorrow!

Remember, there's nothing that can happen today
that you and your Lord together cannot handle!

Please e-mail me to say hi.

All Scriptures are taken from the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

Humor and inspiration in Tickles 'n Truth are extracted from items that circulate around the Web. Many authors are unknown; I do not claim copyright privileges on the articles used. Should you know the author of a certain piece, please notify me that I may give proper credit.

Privacy Statement at Peggie's Place!
Peggie's Personal Statement of Faith . . . The Peggie's Place Story & a Mission Statement

AddThis.com

AddMe - Search Engine Optimization

Most of the music playing at Peggie's Place originates from Songs of Praise.
Visit their great Web site to hear beautiful tunes by many talented artists. CDs are available.

Celebrating God's goodness . . . . . . 15 million and counting!

Note: Counter keeps a running total of "page views" for the entire site.
--It jogs around the world and around the clock--to find YOU!

This Christian home has been visited a zillion times since December 26, 1995!
Well, not quite, but there HAS been a houseful--and STILL room for one more--YOU!
The Christian Counter scans the entire site--and there's plenty of chocolate for everyone--so enjoy!

Please note that while I strongly adhere to major tenets of the evangelical Christian faith, I may not personally agree with every specific doctrinal belief set forth in other Christian pages. I do want to provide a diversity of links and resource material for the entire Body of Christ to enjoy, and trust you will view it as such.

A safety tip: Internet links and material may include other links and/or material which do not reflect my Christian views or yours. Please choose wisely and use with discretion! And if you find an ugly spider hiding in a dark corner, you may smash it with a broom from my BROOM CLOSET--I hate offensive stuff too!

|Contact information: E-MAIL| HOME| |Exploring Peggie's Place: A Site Map | |The Digital Den|
|Father's House: A Worship Experience at Peggie's Place!| |The Blue Room| |Virtual Vacation!| |!WordWalk!|
|Son Room| |Fun Room| |Family Room| |School Room| |Prayer 'n Praise Room| |Mystery Room| |The Banner Room|
|The War & Peace Pages at Peggie's Place!" |Devo ARCHIVES| |The Christian Armor| |Favorites Room| |Hide 'n Seek Search|
|Celebration Room| |Chat 'n More Next Door | |All the Rooms| |Tragedy Pages| |Tower of Strength devos|
|Peggie Breaks!| |The Daily Doorstep| |Words from the Well| |Daily Bible Booster devos| |YOUTHlinks!| |Tickles 'n Truth|

Report problems to pbohanon@peggiesplace.com.

Copyright 1996-2009 by Peggie C. Bohanon, Springfield, MO. All rights reserved.