Chance

Written by cycleguy on February 10th, 2013

If you like westerns and read Al Lacy’s books, Chance is the name of a horse in this book. ๐Ÿ™‚

If you like to test your “luck” and play the lottery or gamble, chance is a “friend.”ย  ๐Ÿ™

If you are a daredevil, you will take chances.ย  I had a friend in college who could never pass up a dare.ย  Recently I took a “double dog dare you” from two brothers to the stage with me.ย  Their mother had made one a hat that looked like dreadlocks and the other brother had one that looked like a Mohawk (although Maximus came more to mind).ย  You can probably already see the picture in your mind.ย  ๐Ÿ™‚ I wore them both and got a big hoot out of the peoples’ laughing.

But the chance I want to focus on for this post was inspired by a story I used in my sermon Sunday.ย  You may have heard it before.

The story is told that in 1983 John Sculley quit his post at PepsiCo to become president of Apple, a role he served for ten years.ย  He took a big risk (chance) leaving a very secure job with a fantastic income for one that offered no guarantees, except fulfilling the vision of the founder.ย  Sculley says he made his move after Apple co-founder, Steve Jobs, goaded him with a question: “Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want a chance to change the world?”ย 

The rest, as they say, is history.ย  ๐Ÿ˜€

I have recently renewed my interest in John Eldredge’s book and “movement” Wild at Heart.ย  We are starting a men’s ministry at the church (led and dreamed about by someone other than me…yeah!) and it piqued my interest again in “men things.”ย  So, while working on a puzzle and then riding my bike inside (Ugh!), I have been watching Eldredge’s Boot Camp Live on DVD.ย  No matter what people have said about his book or theology, John’s basic theme has been that men have been passive too long and need to get their heart back for adventure, and ultimately for God.ย  Frankly, we aren’t going to change our world if we don’t have a passion for life.ย  We aren’t going to make a difference if we don’t take chances (more than gambling or games of chance).

I have said it before: I am 60 years old and I know I have a lot less years left to live than I have lived (unless God decides to fool me).ย  No matter how many of thoseย  years I have left, I don’t want to go out whimpering.ย  I want to go out with a bang, a shout, or some form of noise.ย  ๐Ÿ™‚ย ย  I still believe I have something to offer and want to be a world-changer, not a sameness-hugger or a poser (as John is want to say).

Where are you at these days?

 

34 Comments so far ↓

  1. Bill, no matter what age we are, we should be like Caleb and want to head to the hill country and fight giants!!!

  2. floyd says:

    I’m with you brother! I want to be bold and speak and act the power of God into this life. We are strong because of who we belong to. I so love your passion, Bill. I’m right behind you brother and I’ll step in front if need be. It’s great to be on the side of Truth!

    I sense that book getting closer!

  3. Daniel says:

    I am still seeking my purpose. I have had some notions of what that purpose is, but just when I start to settle my mind around what I think that purpose is, I find that I was wrong. Sometimes I feel like a woman who worries about her “biological clock” when she wants to have a baby but has not found her man. My biological clock is ticking loudly as the years pass by quickly and I still struggle to come to grips with who I am and what my purpose is.

    • cycleguy says:

      It is harder for some to see their purpose. I think it sometimes has as much to do with makeup as it does following God. If you are doing what God wants you to do, then you are fulfilling your purpose. You are being a good father to your daughter for one. Keep pursuing it Daniel and you may be fulfilling it without knowing it.

  4. Tami Grandi says:

    I am realizing more and more it’s okay to dream big dreams as long as He is in them. The one that I am dreaming is looking more and more like I just need to take that one big step… (and why does it always have to involve money- *sigh*)

    • cycleguy says:

      I NEVER want you to stop pursuing big dreams. NEVER! Unfortunately, they sometimes do involved $$$. But if it is His dream for you, He will make a way. Love you much.

    • Betty Draper says:

      “No matter how many of those years I have left, I donโ€™t want to go out whimpering.” Great purpose statement. Every time we have ever stepped over the “risk” railing God been there.

      Almost 30 years ago we had been accepted with New Tribes and was taking our church teens on one more retreat before we left for the training. There was the head of another mission speaking at the retreat. Excitely we were telling him of what God had been doing in our lives and the next step was New Tribes training. He said, first I would give you one strike because of your age, we were in our 40’s. Second I will give you another strike because of the age of your children will be when you finally get to the field. Then he said, I will give you a half strike because of the mission board you are going with. By this time I was mad and discouraged. I went back to our cabin so I would not lose my testemony. Later my husband came in and said, hon, lets just give ourselves that last half strike…we will strike out. Now if anything comes of this it will have to be God. I could write a book on all the negative we have been fed through the years at every step of faith. This is for Tami, everyone of those steps money was an issue, still is. One thing we always ask ourselves, if money was not an issue would we take that next step. If the answer is yes, then we step. When I want to live safe…I am making God small. A good book by Edward Welch…When People are Big and God is Small…that kills dreams…when God is Big and People Are Small we can dream big and act on them. Just writing this out makes me want to fight giants….

      • cycleguy says:

        What an adventure you and Ace would have missed had you listened to the naysayer who ’bout took the wind out of your sails. Such a wise man you are married to. Thanks for the wise words to Tami. I will make sure she reads them.

        • Tami Grandi says:

          Thank you so much for your encouragement (yes, dad, I teared up). I know that it’s time to start pursuing the financial options so that I am ready when the window opens again (it only opens every few months for the program I want to do). Thank you again!

      • Susan says:

        Betty, the apostle Paul likely wouldn’t make it to the mission field today. Happily, Paul was called by God, and was used mightily because he obeyed. I’m glad for and blessed by what you and your family have done for Him!

  5. theoldadam says:

    I’m just trying to live. To do good now and then. To speak of Christ, now and then, into someone’s life who is hurting.

    One life at a time…He is changing the world.

  6. David says:

    I read that book a few years ago, maybe it’s time for me to read it again. I’m not one to re-read books but in this case it might be a good move. I’m not too many years behind you in age and right now I feel like I’ll be leaving this world with nothing more than an empty sigh and a voice whispering “I should have …”

    Thanks for the post

    • cycleguy says:

      David thanks for coming by and taking the time to leave a comment. Not sure who you are but i sure do appreciate it. Yeah, I would pick up that book again. how you are feeling is where I was when serving a church that was filled with 60+ y/o. I don’t want to go back there again. I hope you are spurred on to new adventures with Him.

      • David says:

        I’m just a fellow traveler, searching to write a better story. Something deeper and more meaningful than the story thus far written. Or maybe just needing to seek something different only to find that the road thus far traveled has more value than I realize and I’ve just been too blind to see …

        • cycleguy says:

          If you seek to write a better story I know God will help you do that. If i can help in any way, please feel free to ask. Thanks again for coming by.

  7. tcavey says:

    Where am I….I’m currently taking a chance with pursuing a writing career. Not for money, not for fame (in fact those are reason’s I want to RUN the OTHER way). I’m doing it because I feel it’s what God wants.
    I don’t know the entire plan. I may never get published. This road may simply be to humble me more, to make me more dependent upon my Savior. I don’t know, but I trust in the one who does know.
    Because I don’t want tomorrow to be the same as today. I want to DO something for Christ. I’m taking a chance. It may not seem big to most, but for me…it’s HUGE.

  8. I just turned 32 – which I guess isn’t ancient, but I feel like I’m at that point in my life where I need to get going. I’ve got to start really going for it before my life passes me by.

  9. Arny says:

    “I want to go out with a bang, a shout, or some form of noise. I still believe I have something to offer and want to be a world-changer, not a sameness-hugger or a poser”

    Amen!!!

    I’m doing great. feverishly trying to finish my bands full length spanish worship album…

  10. Susan says:

    I’ll be 60 next week, Bill. Having said that, I believe that God has something for me to do. The past few years have been recovery years from life stresses and religious abuse, but I’m moving forward and expecting that God still has things for me to do before I die.

    • cycleguy says:

      I love hearing news like this Susan. Keep moving forward and don’t let the past destroy you. You are more than a conqueror we are told.

  11. Mike says:

    Just finished “Wild at Heart” and am now reading “Epic” by John Eldredge. I am sharing my copy of “Wild at Heart” with my future son-in-law to read. It has got me more fired up for God than anything else in some time. I will probably re-read it after I get it back. Great book, and thanks for mentioning it to me a while back.

  12. Debbie says:

    I’m not a guy, but I still was moved by “Wild At Heart”. ๐Ÿ™‚ I think we should all go for it! The older , the better. We have a time pressure thing that way, to add to God’s nudges. God bless you!

    • cycleguy says:

      Glad you were moved by it Deb. Women need to read it or understand the 3 basic principles so they can help their man become whom God intended him to be…whatever that is. ๐Ÿ™‚

  13. Ed says:

    I definitely want to go out with a Bang! Doing something crazy sounds like an idea…definitely don’t want to live a dull life…just a peaceful thrilling one.