A New Year… wow, how time flies as we slip more and more into the category of “old fart” - I’ve always enjoyed this time of year for the time to “pause”, “reflect”, and “adjust” my life.  Here’s my self-evaluation to share with you and encourage you to go through a similar process of critical evaluation of your life and what course you are on compared to where you want to be:
 
Overall:
Did I have a good year? Why was it good?  Why was it bad? What good decisions did I make?  What bad decisions did I make?  If I had the year to do over, what would I change?
 
Personal Relationships:
How am I doing as a husband/Wife? Did I work on being a better husband/wife? If not, why not? Have I asked my wife/husband this question? Do I want to be a better husband/wife? What will I focus on this year to improve my role as husband/wife? How am I doing as a dad/mom? How am I doing as a brother/sister?  How am I doing as a friend?  What do I want to focus on in these areas and make solid improvements this year?
 
Career:
Am I in the right job? Is my job a source of joy in my life?  How can I do better in my job? What do I need to work on to make myself the employee I would want to hire or promote? How are my relationships at work?
 
Finances:
Are finances a source of joy or agony in my life? Do I have a finance plan?  If I’m off-track, why? How important is it that I get back on track?  When am I going to get the help I need for my finances? Do I donate enough to worthy causes?
 
Hobbies/Interests:
Did I have fun this year?  What is my source of fun in my life?  Do I need another BBQ pit? (Obvious to all of us…YES).. What plans do I have this year to make sure I have fun away from the stress of life?  
 
Relationship with Jesus:
Is Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior? If not, why not? Am I done with blaming “people” or “church” experiences for not having a relationship with Jesus? Am I ready to re-engage in Church for the right reasons? Have I read the bible? Cover to cover?  Why not? Do I pray enough? Do I thank God for His blessings in my life? Do I spend time with my wife/husband praying? Do I pray for my children? Do I pray with my children? Have I given my whole heart to God? If not, what am I waiting for?
 
My Ministry:
Do I have one? Do I want one? What would the perfect ministry for me look like? How important is it to me to have a ministry?  Am I ready to be labeled a “Jesus Freak” if I start a ministry this year?  Do I care what anybody but God thinks about a ministry for me?
 
Just some starter questions to get you going for the New Year.  A time to reflect on where we have been, where we are, and where we want to go.  Decisions have consequences…. And deciding not to make a self-evaluation is a decision.  

May God bless your year and guide you to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior!  Give it to God – your whole heart – what are you waiting for?

I just love our BBQ family.  In our world, the playing field is equal.  It doesn’t matter if you’re rich, poor, white, black, educated etc., we’re all on the same level, turning in our product in the exact same boxes, under the same rules for
everyone.  Pits come in all kinds of different configurations and guys have won cooking on every conceivable kind of cooker out there from under $100 to over $15,000! BBQ unites us by virtue of a shared passion and breaks down the walls that separate us in society. It’s one of the many attributes of BBQ that make it the great sport that it is.  Come to think of it, our BBQ world could teach the other “World” a thing or two.  
 
Funny how things have changed in the world of politics.  We’re a full year out and you would have thought the election was in the next month.  We’ve had debates and campaign reporting has been a nightly event for months already.
 
Caroline and I find value in following the political world.  The value, is a focus on what we need to pray for.  God wants us praying all the time…. (1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, [Luke 18:1 NKJV])…  
 
The downside is a feeling of hopelessness.  It’s a barrage of stories of how the devil roams about the earth destroying lives, families, hopes, and dreams on a daily basis.  In part, that is the “business” of News.  Bad news sells and Good News doesn’t get the ratings.  God knows this and, in His brilliance, He designed it so that we…you and I…. would bring the Good News to people on a daily basis.  It’s the same Good News manifested in new ways, new situations every day.  It’s the News that Jesus Christ, God in the flesh, came down from Heaven,
became man, bore our sins and made the way for us to spend eternity with God the Father in Heaven.  And our price is surrender to His will in our lives.  That’s called Salvation, that’s called becoming born-again.  When this happens to people, it’s an amazing, and un-deniable.  (17 Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. [2Co 5:17 NKJV])  It’s the gift from God for all of us, paid for by the blood of Jesus Christ.  At this point, I just gotta throw in there…. What are you waiting for?  Give it to God.
 
Returning to the political world we live in, this translates to the solutions we are all looking to find and it’s right before our eyes….. Salvation is the Solution.
 
Terrorism: Salvation is the Solution
Political gridlock: Salvation is the Solution
Broken homes: Salvation is the Solution
Murdering Children legally: Salvation is the Solution
Lying politicians: Salvation is the Solution
Corrupt governments: Salvation is the Solution
Human trafficking: Salvation is the Solution
Drug trade: Salvation is the Solution
Child abuse: Salvation is the Solution
Sexuality and Gender issues: Salvation is the Solution
Tables of death : Salvation is the Solution
Angel tables : Salvation is the Solution
Addiction: Salvation is the Solution
Poverty: Salvation is the Solution
National debt: Salvation is the Solution
Congress: Salvation is the Solution
President: Salvation is the Solution
Supreme Court: Salvation is the Solution
Hollywood: Salvation is the Solution
Main stream Media: Salvation is the Solution
Fox News: Salvation is the Solution
Thugs: Salvation is the Solution
All Lives Matter: Salvation is the Solution
Planned Parenthood: Salvation is the Solution
Republicans: Salvation is the Solution
Democrats: Salvation is the Solution
White, Black, Yellow, Green, purple, turquoise, chartreuse… people of all color:
Salvation is the Solution
American, African, Mexican, Asian, European, Iranian, Russian, Egyptian, Syrian
etc…..: Salvation is the Solution
 
Our prayers are focused…. Salvation will change the World we live in.  Are YOU saved? Have you surrendered your whole heart to God?  There’s no half-way on this, you’re either in…or out!  If you are saved, you won’t need to “sell” it, this scripture will glow in your life… 17 Therefore, if anyone [is] in Christ, [he is] a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. [2Co 5:17 NKJV]

Today is YOUR day to become a part of God’s Solution!  Give it to God! 

Am I doing what God wants me to be doing?  Do I hear that, still, small voice of God directing my life?
 
These are questions I ask myself on a daily basis.  Doesn’t matter if things are going great, or there are mountains of struggles that I’m wading through.  I have been convinced, over and over, that God’s plan for my life is far greater
than anything I could have imagined and my commitment to serve Him, and deepen my relationship with Him matures every day.
 
All of us in Pro BBQ strive for the ultimate victory every time we pack up our trailers, set up camp, and cook through the weekend.  It’s the vision of hearing your team name called LAST.  Grand Champion has a very special ring to our ears.  It makes the trip home so much more FUN!  When we think back on the weekend, we don’t ask…. Who beat me? LOL.  Grand Champions put us in a club with fellow competitors that is very special.  Some will say that some GC’s are better than others, but I would disagree, each one is special, each one puts a mark on your career.  When all is said and done in our Pro BBQ careers, however long that may be, we will look back with joy at those special moments when our name was called LAST.
 
For me, I will remember those GC times for sure, but one time, one moment, will stand out as the ultimate highlight for Give it to God Pro BBQ.  Recently, I competed in Vidalia, LA… an amazing contest and one of the top contests in the country.  As I was walking around, one of the cooks, Billy Staggs stops me and asks, “my brother has been watching your videos over the last year and was wondering if you would have the time to BAPTIZE him this weekend?”  I was blown away and jumped on the opportunity.  At 4 PM, we were at the pool and I had the honor of baptizing Lee Staggs into God’s family.

Now, keep in mind, that baptisms, for me, are extremely emotional and represent a saved soul from the grips of the devil.  I get all choked up every time I watch one.  Thank God, I was able to hold it together to enjoy the moment
with Lee.
 
I tell you all this, because I will look back on that moment as the highlight of my BBQ career.  A moment that demonstrated how God has worked through me for His glory.  Many times I’ve wondered, but never again.  As my beautiful wife Caroline told me…” this makes the 5 years worth it”!
 
57 But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless. [1Co 15:57-58 NLT]
 
 
Salvation
Salvation changes everything
It brings rivers of tears
To a life of ignorance
Of a man on a tree….. for me.
Salvation shifts the focus
Away from me…
Clearly on thee
Salvation moves desire
From a buzz, a nightcap, a TGIF
To dive into His Word and find real relief
Salvation highlights why…how and When…
I deserve Hell, no questions, no excuse, no spin
Salvation deploys the grace that wipes it all clean
Salvation changes everything
And only God….
Only God…
Only GOD.
He wants…and deserves… our whole heart
 
What are you waiting for?

Another Sunday Morning…. Post BBQ Contest.  I wake up knowing that I just competed this weekend and very similar to when I was a party animal…. I start to rummage through my mind to remember what happened.  Not being a drinker anymore, it’s actually easier to remember. But then….but then, the agony of defeat is all too common on these Sunday Mornings.
 
It’s the reality of my Professional BBQ career.  I am definitely not putting together a Hall-of-Fame resume.  Time after time, week after week, contest after contest, I cook my heart out.  I work the craft of competition BBQ relentlessly even practicing on weekends I don’t compete.  I load up, travel, set up and get to cooking, all the while hoping, beyond hope, that this is the day.  
 
I don’t have to win it, I really don’t, just stay consistently in the top 5 and I’m a happy, happy camper.  So the contest marches through it’s rhythm of preparation, cooking and turn-ins.  All is said and done, it’s in the hands of the judges and I break camp and get ready for awards and the ride home…hoping the phone call to Caroline is different this time… maybe some Good News.
 
Award presentation time and we move from 10th place to 1st and aside from an occasional consolation call… I sit, and I sit, and I sit… I watch and hear the names of friends called and I try to be happy and congratulate them, all the while feeling ashamed and embarrassed concocting thoughts of them thinking how bad a cook I really am.  I mean, “he” cooks all the time, you’d think he would do better?  I stick around as long as I can take it, and then to the truck for the ride home and the phone call to Caroline.  
 
That call is similar, I got my butt kicked…. I know I cooked well, she agrees and tries to help, but there is no help, there is no consolation, it’s misery and grief…because I let it be that way. I make the decision to wallow in self-pity.
 
What I am quick to set aside, to ignore, to downplay…is the exceptional Good News that I have to share at every contest.  The Good News of Jesus Christ as the Savior of us ALL.  The fact that this life has a time-line, we all have a turn-in date, and we all will be judged.  The GREAT NEWS is that on that day, in that moment, every one of us has the opportunity to be Grand Champions by simply making the choice to accept the Love of Jesus into our hearts and make Jesus our Lord and Savior.   
 
In the grand scheme of things… THAT matters, THAT is important.  THAT stands for eternity…   TRUTH. [Rom 10:9-11 NKJV] 9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame."
 
How often I forget that, how often I chose to overlook the truth!  I’m a competitor and God wired me that way.  He knows how much I want to win and His choice is for me to languish in defeat to serve His purpose with my Life. As hard as it is….THAT, is a Blessing I desire to understand more and more.  I am ashamed of losing God’s perspective for 1 second, but I do it regularly and I ask God to forgive me…. And He DOES.

1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. [Col 3:1-4 NLT]

28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [Rom 8:28 NLT]

11 Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again--my Savior and my God! [Psa 42:11 NLT]
 
I’m not the best at Pro BBQ, not even close… But I’m gonna show up. I probably won’t win, but you will know I was there.  To stop competing is the most selfish decision I could make and would permanently label me a loser.  Not going to happen.. my time is here and now, regardless of the score sheets.  God’s purpose for me, today, and always will be in the seeds planted for hearts to turn to Jesus Christ.  Give it to God.  What are you waiting for?

One of the greatest blessings that goes along with Pro BBQ is all the time I have to drive to, and from, contests. Over the last year and a half, I have put on more than 50,000 miles and I have enjoyed every one of them.  For me, all that time in the truck, is precious.  I tune in Christian radio, or listen to my CDs and get into prayer, praise and worship.
 
One of my all-time favorite songs is by Mercyme, “I can only imagine”.  Every time I hear it, I think about the moment when I will be standing in front of God….the CREATOR GOD. Here is a verse that really hits me:  
 
To be surrounded by your glory​
What will my heart feel​
Will I dance for you Jesus​
Or In awe of you be still​
Will I stand in your presence​
To my knees will I fall​
Will I sing hallelujah​
Will I be able to speak at all​
I can only imagine, yeah, I can only imagine​
​
Yesterday afternoon, the wife and I were just enjoying a nice afternoon at the house.  BBQd some steaks for a late lunch and were just hanging out.  Caroline snapped this picture:

And as I reflected on it later in the evening, I thought, I could NEVER have imagined my life the way it is RIGHT NOW!  I never could have imagined the peace, joy, calm, comfort, secure, happy, fun, engaged, connected, evangelical life I’m living 365/24/7.  Caroline loves me more than I could ever deserve and I feel it everyday.  Our furry babies give me indescribable love, I have my own BBQ business that I love and I get to hang out with the most amazing people on the Pro BBQ tour 25-30 weekends a year.  
 
Am I wealthy…YES! Extremely Wealthy, because God’s definition of wealth is: “Wealth is not determined by how much you have, it’s determined by how little you need”
 
Absolute truth is that I have Jesus in my heart, I’m all in for what He needs me to do while I’m here with a pulse.  I am His and He is mine and I need nothing else.  A direct result of my surrender to His lordship is a life I never could have imagined, awaiting the moment we meet face-to-face.
 
8 Then I heard the Lord asking, "Whom should I send as a messenger to this people? Who will go for us?" I said, "Here I am. Send me." [Isa 6:8 NLT]  
 
20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ
lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved
me and gave himself for me. [Gal 2:20 NLT]  
 
If you haven’t given your whole heart to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you are missing out on the life that will blow you away, as it does me.  Whatever is holding you back, whatever is keeping you apart from making that complete surrender… Kill IT!  Give your whole heart to God.  What are you waiting for?

During my daily bible reading this came up the other day…
 
24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus--the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God. [Act 20:24 NLT
 
Wow, this hit me right between the eyes.  It’s so cool how God will use His Word – the Bible -  to speak to us with messages we need to hear, exactly when we need to hear them.  No matter how many times we’ve read a piece of scripture, God will re-cycle it to pinpoint what He needs us to hear at the moment we need to hear it.
 
Last month, I made the decision to do a small little cook-off in Brookhaven, MS.  I learned about it at the KCBS event there a month earlier.  I was given a flyer for a block party, chicken and rib cook-off sponsored by the Pleasant Ridge Pentecostal Church.  The plan was to have a stage with Christian music, games and fun for all.  I just had to check it out.   
 
As usual, I got there early and was the only team on-site.  Picked out my spot and began to set up.  The organizers welcomed me and were excited that my billboard for Jesus truck and trailer would be front and center so people driving by would see it.  Towards late afternoon, the teams started arriving and setting up and by early evening everyone was in place…..All 8 of us.
 
Went to bed early and up at 3 A.M. to get my game-face on and get things rolling.  I love that time of the morning where everything is quiet and the world is just beginning to wake up and welcome in another day.  As I sat there, with my coffee and bible, I asked God… what am I doing here?  This is a non-sanctioned, tiny event with only 8 teams?  Do you really want me here?  As God is as God does… the answer came quickly.  After spending some time with new friends just yucking it up as men do at BBQ contests, eating some, made from scratch, wild hog biscuits and telling the thank you fairy story to every team.. He began to show me.
 
One after another, guys were coming over to my camp and wanting to share their story with me.  Some shared struggles they were having, others wanted to share their journey and trials along the way.  Each of them felt a comfort with opening up to me on deeper issues of the heart…. And that was the clear answer from God.  THIS was exactly where He needed me to be, for these men to share their hearts with someone they could trust.  What an honor and a privilege.
 
The contest ended like they all do, I walked away seeing God in new ways and making friends that will last a life-time.  I share all of this with you because God’s plan for your life is HUGE, but it may be very small as the world sees it.  His plan may be for your biggest impact to happen in the smallest crowds.  His glory and plan are for everyone to see the light of Salvation through what we do and how we live our lives.  The first step in all of this is to surrender to the King of Kings, Jesus Christ.  He wants your whole heart and nothing less.  Once done, you will
wonder why it took so long to make that decision.  Give it to God…What are you waiting for?  God bless you, I love you! 

Another contest, another absolute butt-kicking… and man does it hurt.  I work so hard, put my whole heart and soul into the cook, only to come out middle or bottom at the end.  Sundays are tough these days after contests.  It’s the same feeling I had after losing a big game while playing at San Jose State University…didn’t happen often, but it’s an empty, pain in the pit of my stomach.  The reality is that, win or lose, it’s in the books.  There is nothing you can do about it.  It’s what draws us to the sport, feeds our competitive spirit, and drives our Sunday celebrations or depressions.  I usually snap out of it by mid day, but it’s a rough road that I bump along.
 
Ok, so many of you that follow my BBQ adventures…aka ministry, know that I make videos from each contest.  It’s a fun way to catalog the event and reflect on over time.  These have evolved into a template where I share interactions with fellow cooks, talk about the event and chronicle the location.  About mid-way through, I take a little break and fade to a slide show of all the pictures I take during the contest.  I try and get around and catch every team at some point during the cook.  It usually happens on Friday morning, very early, that I sit down in my little cook area and turn on the recorder to capture some audio that will play along with the slide-show.  These little talks give me the chance to reflect on the moment, the calm, peaceful reflection of what is the essence of Professional BBQ.
 
After the contest in Brookhaven, MS, I made the video and was watching the final edit.  I didn’t notice, but Caroline was listening behind me.  After that, we packed up for church and headed off.  I was lamenting about the loss, the hurt, the pain, the dis-appointment, and Caroline just listened quietly.  Then she dropped the bomb…. She says, “you know, I listened to your video this morning and you talked about everything you love about BBQ.  You mentioned the people, the cooking, the relationships, the sharing of meals, holding cooks church, the travel to different communities…”  I said, “yeah, that’s what I love about the whole process”.  And then she says,"You don’t mention winning!"
 
Talk about dropping the BOMB… Wow, it hit me between the eyes.  There is so much that I take away from the competitions that brings joy to my heart, but I put them on the side-line to the results, which don’t come to mind when I think about what I love in BBQ.
 
It’s taking for granted the blessings God pours out to us every day that we simply dismiss.  For some reason, looking at the negative is a magnet for our thinking and reflection time…when it should NOT be.  I know it’s human nature, I know it’s the competitive spirit we all have in this sport, but that doesn’t make it right or put into its proper perspective.  God’s love for us is consistent, no matter the outcome and that is worth celebrating every day, over and above, where we finish on the score-sheet.  God’s plan for us is perfect, have you given Him your whole heart?  You can take His promises to the bank.  God bless you and read this scripture very slowly, it will give you the right perspective for your next “Sunday-after” feelings.
 
1 A psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I have all that I need. 2 He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. 3 He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. 4 Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. 5 You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. 6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the LORD forever. [Psa 23:1-6 NLT]