Jim Martin's Encouragement Note

(Unsplash - Guzman Barquin) The List of Five Dare to Do the Right Thing, Not the Easy Thing They have a front row seat. Our children and grandchildren see us up close. They tend to see most everything. When I was a young father, I read a story regarding this that really caused me to think. The author wrote about fishing trip he experienced, as a boy, that helped shape his character. His family had...

(Arc De Triomphe - Paris) The List of Five The Key to Living a Beautiful Life On occasion, I have been with a Christ-follower who leaves me thinking, “I want to be like this person!” At other times, an entire community of Christ-followers has left me inspired and encouraged. The gospel-centered life displays a beauty that is compelling. I appreciate the following words written by Biola University...

The List of Five The Friend Who Helps You Finish I love this powerful story ( CNN ): It’s an image that encapsulates the power of friendship through adversity: Kevin Sinfield , a legendary figure in the sport of rugby league, stops short of the finish line of a marathon to gather Rob Burrow, his friend and former teammate, into his arms. The poignant moment came at the end of the inaugural Rob Bur...

The List of Five When You Wonder if You Are Good Enough Perhaps you, like me, have wondered about this at times. Am I enough as I attempt to be a parent to my two daughters? Anne Lamott speaks of how eventually we have to let our children grow up: They have to find their own ways and their own answers. You can’t run alongside your grown children with sunscreen and ChapStick on their hero’s journey...

The List of Five “I Can’t Believe You Dropped the Ball” It was a Thursday, about 7:00 PM in the evening. I had just watched my 6th grade grandson play a baseball game. It took place at a baseball complex in which a number of games were played at the same time. After the game, I began walking to my car. Ahead of me was a boy, maybe ten years old, and his dad. He was in his baseball uniform and appa...

The List of Five “I’m Out of Next Times” What do you do when there are no more “do-overs?” Recently I listened to a conversation between Kate Bowler and NPR broadcaster, Mary Louise Kelly in which they discussed her memoir regarding raising children and trying to have a career. I then listened to an excellent interview with NPR broadcaster Scott Simon in which he interviews Mary Louise Kelly regar...

(Unsplash - Shaojie) The List of Five Are You Willing to Ask? “May I ask your advice regarding a problem?” For some, asking this question may be very difficult. Simply asking this question to another might cause some of us to feel vulnerable and exposed. Old insecurities may get in the way. Many of us are willing to help others. However, some of us may be reluctant to ask for help. It often takes...

(The “Quiet House,” — Laity Lodge) The List of Five Take Care of the Soul Someone told me the “ Quiet House ” was remote. It certainly was! I neither saw or heard another person from the time I checked in until I checked out a few days later. The Quiet House is owned by Laity Lodge, located deep in the Texas Hill Country, on the banks of the Frio River. The small house is surrounded by the trees a...

(unsplash - Priscilla Du Preez) The List of Five Sunday, BBQ, and an Ordinary Day All Sunday morning, I had looked forward to eating BBQ for lunch. We pulled in front of the Underwood’s BBQ at 7828 Lake June Road in Dallas. This was the 60s. Our family had just left church in Southeast Dallas. Yet, this was no ordinary Sunday for our family. Today, we were going out to eat. Now this was rare for o...

(unsplash - Dan DeAlmeida) The List of Five Tremble With Gratitude There are precious moments when a family is together and they remember the stories that are important to them. Often these stories may be about family members who have died and yet the stories still live. Wendall Berry wrote in his book, Leavings : I tremble with gratitude for my children and their children who take pleasure in one...

The List of Five Today is the Day to Care I want the people who matter most to me to know that I care. When we lived in Waco, Texas I received a call one day from a person who asked to meet with me, along with her spouse. They wanted to meet for counseling, to talk about the difficulties in their marriage. I met with this couple and they talked at length about what was unpleasant and dissatisfying...

The List of Five Refresh and Recharge I love the following, written by Billy Oppenheimer (December 11). It speaks to how we might better work and focus. In a twelve-year stretch, the legendary college basketball coach John Wooden won ten NCAA championships. In that period, his teams won a record 88 consecutive games and seven championships. So thinking Wooden would find it impressive, a young go-g...

The List of Five This is the first Encouragement Note of 2023. Thank you for subscribing and for reading. About this time each year, I reflect on the previous year and consider what challenges or opportunities might be next. Writing this Encouragement Note has been helpful with this. When Insecurities Get in the Way It really is important to pay attention to those from whom you can learn. Recently...

(Collierville, Tn. City Park) The List of Five What You Might Become I was a young husband, father, and a discouraged minister. I felt insecure and inadequate in a variety of ways. About this same time, I stumbled upon the following story: There was once a sculptor who worked hard with hammer and chisel on a large block of marble. A little child who was watching him saw nothing more than large and...

The List of Five Pay Attention to What Matters The little girl above is my granddaughter, Elsie. I have no trouble paying attention to her. Like my three grandsons, she is very important to me. When she wants my attention, I notice. Occasionally I read Rob Walker’s, “ The Art of Noticing .” Each time I read this newsletter, I am reminded again of the importance of noticing something or someone. I...

(Unsplash - Jonas Jacobsson) (Sorry - There is no podcast/audio available for this issue due to a technical problem.) The List of Five What Might Keep Me From Showing Up For many of us, the answer to this question might be summed up with the following words: * My Fear * My Anger * My Pride Yet, we may be closing ourselves off from much of life as a result of these lingering emotions. My anger, fea...

The List of Five Who Needs a Harsh Critic When You Can Look in the Mirror? Some of us are much harder on ourselves than we would ever be on other people. For example, you may know what it is to “put yourself out there” and mess up. * You are in conversation with someone and later realize you called him by the wrong name for the last 15 minutes. * You are an elementary school teacher and realize th...

The List of Five The Simple Act of Building Another Up My eight year old grandson, Lincoln, and I stepped into Kroger to buy a few items. Lincoln stood in the check-out line holding a package of frozen slice and bake cookies. The picture on the package showed the cookies with the figure of a pumpkin on each one. The self-checkout machine was being monitored by an African-American lady in her 60s....

(Upsplash - Glenn Carstens-Peters) The List of Five Navigating the Egos My friend spoke of an upcoming business trip. In the conversation, he talked about having to “navigate the egos” on this particular trip. Perhaps you can relate to this. You may know that whenever you deal with particular people or group, you will have to “navigate the egos.” Consider the following situations in which the ego...

(Unsplash - Sead Dedić) The List of Five When Ordinary People, Like Us, Are Called to be Brave Life is often hard . You and I know this. Yet, the challenge for us typically lies in the specifics. When are you and I challenged to be brave? * Facing incredible pressures at work and and yet wanting to navigate these pressures in a Christ-like manner. * Starting the day each morning with chronic pain...

The List of Five Hard Work? - Yes - But Don’t Forget This Essential Sometimes you may wonder if your effort really matters. I’ve certainly wondered this at times. I served as a minister for almost four decades before moving to Memphis almost nine years ago to work with Harding School of Theology. The previous twenty years were spent serving a congregation in Waco, Texas. Throughout these years, I...

The List of Five Dare to Bring Your Empty Hands I was in middle school in a small Christian school. Many of us had been together since the very early grades. A girl who had been in our class moved away to another state. The following year, she wrote a letter to the class. A teacher read it aloud. In her letter, she mentioned how much she missed ”everyone” naming more than a few classmates. I remem...

(Unsplash - Markus Spiske) The List of Five Feeling Weak? This can be is a Game-Changer I recently saw a 2019 tweet from Beth Moore that got my attention. She wrote: The weakest person praying is stronger than the mightiest one who’s not. You may believe, at times, that you are a weak, blundering, child of God. Yet, when you pray, you may actually be stronger than the smug, self-assured person who...

(Unsplash - Tim Mossholder The List of Five Critical Step: Continue to Learn into the Future Early one morning, I was about to meet an older, more experienced minister for breakfast. He was a guest speaker at a ministry conference in a nearby city. I was a young husband, father, and minister. I had met this person briefly and he was gracious enough to spend this early morning hour with me. I had c...

(Unsplash) The List of Five This is why we are here I once served as the minister for a small church in Carbon, Texas about an hour from Abilene. This was a farming community, composed of acres and acres of peanuts. Each Sunday, Charlotte and I would drive an hour to this church, stay all day, and then drive back to the Abilene area that evening. At the time, I was in seminary at Abilene Christian...