{"id":301471,"date":"2007-11-21T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2007-11-21T17:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/%series%\/making-the-most-of-the-dash\/"},"modified":"2007-11-21T12:00:00","modified_gmt":"2007-11-21T17:00:00","slug":"making-the-most-of-the-dash","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-the-most-of-the-dash\/","title":{"rendered":"Making the Most of the Dash"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>What are you doing today to impact others for eternity?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":91,"featured_media":294104,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"https:\/\/web.familylifetoday.com\/fl2007-11-21.mp3","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"00:","filesize":"12.25M","filesize_raw":"12847848","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":""},"categories":[2906],"tags":[4929,4722,4818,4159,4679],"podcast_series":[7552],"cwp_profile":[3076],"series":[2101],"class_list":["post-301471","podcast","type-podcast","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-becoming-a-christian","tag-christian-life","tag-christianity","tag-evangelism","tag-gospel","tag-salvation","podcast_series-for-a-time-we-cannot-see","cwp_profile-crawford-loritts","series-familylife-today"],"acf":[],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2024\/09\/FLT-Podcast-Cover-2-508x508-3.jpg?w=508","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/1001\/2023\/02\/image-scaled.jpg","download_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-download\/301471\/making-the-most-of-the-dash","player_link":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast-player\/301471\/making-the-most-of-the-dash","audio_player":null,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"light","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"https:\/\/podcasts.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/familylife-today\/id212174303?mt=2&app=podcast","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/0j5UaKdQOHQCuo1bt0ebEm","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"},"youtube":{"key":"youtube","url":"","label":"YouTube","class":"youtube","icon":"youtube.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/feed\/podcast\/familylife-today","embedCode":"<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"SZx0dle00H\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-the-most-of-the-dash\/\">Making the Most of the Dash<\/a><\/blockquote><iframe sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/podcast\/familylife-today\/making-the-most-of-the-dash\/embed\/#?secret=SZx0dle00H\" width=\"500\" height=\"350\" title=\"&#8220;Making the Most of the Dash&#8221; &#8212; FamilyLife\u00ae - A Cru Ministry\" data-secret=\"SZx0dle00H\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" class=\"wp-embedded-content\"><\/iframe><script>\n\/*! This file is auto-generated *\/\n!function(d,l){\"use strict\";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&\"undefined\"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!\/[^a-zA-Z0-9]\/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret=\"'+t.secret+'\"]'),c=new RegExp(\"^https?:$\",\"i\"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display=\"none\";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute(\"style\"),\"height\"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):\"link\"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute(\"src\")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener(\"message\",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener(\"DOMContentLoaded\",function(){for(var 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the Bible is not speculation.\u00a0 Hope in the Bible is settled confidence and assurance.\u00a0 Everyone that has that settled confidence and assurance in himself purifies himself.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You intentionally get on about the business of removing the stain of sin in your life and representing the nobility of your destination, but you've got to make the decision.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0This is FamilyLife Today for Wednesday, November 21st.\u00a0 Our host is the president of FamilyLife Today, Dennis Rainey, and I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We're going to talk today about how we go from having a \"Gee, I hope that happens\" kind of hope, to a real living hope.\u00a0 Stay with us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And welcome to FamilyLife Today, thanks for joining us on the Wednesday edition.\u00a0 You know, the subject we've been talking about this week has got me thinking of this illustration.\u00a0 There are some places you're going in life where you can just decide, \"I need to go to the grocery store on Saturday,\" and it doesn't really affect the rest of the week, you know?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0All right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0But let's say you were deciding in a few months, \"I'm going to be running a marathon.\"\u00a0 Well, now, that's going to affect your life between now and the marathon.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0If you want to finish it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0If you want to survive, it is going to affect \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0I could run a marathon right now, I'd run the first 100 yards \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t(crosstalk) \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Then I'll get in my car.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0The fact that we are on our way to heaven, if we know Christ, that is not a trip to the grocery store.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Indeed.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0That is one of those events that affects the rest of your life.\u00a0 Everything \u2013 Rick Warren has said it this way \u2013 he has said life is dress rehearsal for eternity, and eternity is where our focus is.\u00a0 This is just getting ready for it, and I think he's right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0I think he is, too, and I think as you prepare for heaven, and prepare to live for Him today, you need a coach.\u00a0 And I think we have a great coach here in the studio is with us, Crawford Loritts joins us again.\u00a0 Crawford, welcome back to the broadcast.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0It's good to be back, Dennis and Bob.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Crawford is a board member of FamilyLife, and \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0I am not a bored member.\u00a0 I am a board member.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0You are not a bored member.\u00a0 Those board meetings are exciting.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0That's right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Because God's up to a lot of stuff here.\u00a0 In fact, I was just going to ask you \u2013 as a board member, not a bored member \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0I got it.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0As a board member of FamilyLife what would you report what you're seeing to the listeners who invest in this ministry?\u00a0 Because you have the stewardship, the legal stewardship and governance of this ministry allotted to your charge, along with six others.\u00a0 Give them a little stockholder, stakeholder report here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Well, you know, Dennis, it's like what I said to the staff, team, at the headquarters some time ago here in Little Rock, and so answering this question is not a soft toss for you to give to me to brag about FamilyLife.\u00a0 I mean this.\u00a0 I have served on a number of boards throughout my ministry career and life.\u00a0 This, by far, is one of the better boards I've ever served on in terms of the heart engagement of the people who serve on that board.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0It's not just the general interest in the ministry and a desire to give financially to it.\u00a0 Each board member has a heart commitment that goes beyond anything that I've seen.\u00a0 It's hard to tell the difference in this regard from your senior leadership who are here every day, and the board members, the engagement in our last board meeting that we had about where the ministry is going, the vision for the ministry, what we could be, the greater impact that we could have \u2013 it's beyond anything that I've seen in a long time, and I've sat in a lot of board meetings.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Where you were bored.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Well, the truth be told, I was looking at the watch wondering when can I get an earlier flight?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Well, I do think \u2013 well, I know God is at work, and I sure appreciate you and Karen, your history with FamilyLife that goes all the way back to 1982, '83, somewhere in there.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Something like that, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0And speaking at our Weekend to Remember conferences, writing books, which we're looking at another one here today.\u00a0 I just appreciate your oversight and the spiritual investments you make in this ministry because you listeners need to know that a ministry like FamilyLife really does need spiritual accountability.\u00a0 And we have that because of men like Crawford Loritts.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0I want to say something, though, that connects this to eternity.\u00a0 You know, being involved with FamilyLife, our kids were very young.\u00a0 Brian was 10 years old when we first started speaking at these conferences, and then Heather was \u2013 she's four years younger, and this kind of thing, so our kids were real small.\u00a0 One of the things that our involvement with FamilyLife did for us was that as we spoke at these conferences, we were reminded of the eternal perspective that we needed to live out in front of our kids. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And, to a large degree, God used FamilyLife and our involvement with the ministry to launch our kids and family.\u00a0 Now, here is a connecting point \u2013 the listeners need to understand that you need some type of outside visible involvement that focuses upon God's heart as a conscience to your own personal walk with God to remind you of what eternity is really all about.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And I think the question in life, and the effectiveness in life is what are you willing to do?\u00a0 Everything comes down to that.\u00a0 You can have great, lofty plans, you can have great, lofty dreams, you can talk a good game, but the question about eternity is what are you willing to do with your life and the decisions that you make?\u00a0 And then how does that life affect those around me?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Crawford, you make a statement, and I've quoted you many times on FamilyLife Today that our lives ought to be more than a dash between two dates on a tombstone.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0That's right, that's right.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Unpack that a bit.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Well, you know, whenever someone dies, and you go to the gravesite and a few days later they put a little gravemarker there and there's the date of your birth and date of your death, and there's nothing you can do about when you were born, and there's nothing you can do about it when you die, usually, but there is this dash.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And life is lived in the dash, and you decide what's in that dash.\u00a0 You make decisions about that.\u00a0 But here is the point \u2013 the choice that is placed before us, God explains that you can either have life or death in your dash.\u00a0 It all depends on what you decide to do.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You know, John talks about that one day we're going to be in His presence, we're going to live forever, we don't exactly know all the implications of heaven.\u00a0 He says everyone that has that hope, that hope, that hope \u2013 and hope, in the Bible, is not speculation.\u00a0 Hope in the Bible is settled confidence and assurance.\u00a0 Everyone that has that settled confidence and assurance in himself purifies himself.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You intentionally get on about the business of removing the stain of sin in your life and representing the nobility of your destination, but you've got to make the decision.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0You do, and as you were talking about that, I just broke into a big grin, because I had the privilege, along with another friend of yours, Kevin James, who is a pastor in Cleveland, Ohio, to put together an evening that was a total surprise to you.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Oh, my goodness.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0In fact, your wife, Karen, set us up to be able to surprise you with a black tie event.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I was there, I remember this.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Remember?\u00a0 Remember?\u00a0 It was a magnificent \u2013 I wish I had a videotape to put on our website of this event, because \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And you had no idea, what, until you walked in the door?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Absolutely not.\u00a0 It was so believable, her story, because of this organization she's involved with was doing the major fundraiser.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0He was grousing all the way there because there was a good basketball game on that night, and he was really \u2013 his heels were \u2013 you could see \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0\u2026 dug in \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0\u2026 there was a hoof print all the way from the front door of the hotel through the marble all the way to the \u2026\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0I have since duly repented.\u00a0 Get on with the story.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0But he walked into there, and what happened was a two-and-a-half hour banquet.\u00a0 Bob, you remember \u2013 that celebrated your dash, except it's not a dash between two dates.\u00a0 You're still living out the dash, but it was \u2013 as you just were talking about, Crawford.\u00a0 It was about celebrating a life that is attempting to be lived to honor God, and you had an interesting thought as you were sitting there being honored by that event, having your son share a tribute and others honor you for your contributions to churches and ministry.\u00a0 What was that thought that crossed your mind?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Oh, my goodness, you know, this is very emotional.\u00a0 You know what I thought about?\u00a0 My mind went way back to my great-grandfather, Peter, who is buried in an unmarked grave behind Thomas Chapel there in Conover, North Carolina, who was a slave, who used to sit and sing and pray, and I don't know what he prayed about, but as I sat there, I couldn't help but think about the shoulders of the people that \u2013 and to this very day I stand on.\u00a0 An enormous price that they paid, and people who believe God for a time that they could not see and a father who would tell me, \"Boy, you're going to do much better than I've done,\" and he wasn't talking about money or that kind of thing, but he was talking about that he just believed that God was going to do something in my generation that he could have never done.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And I just had all those people, that cloud of witnesses behind me, and here is what I want the listeners to understand \u2013 life is a continuum.\u00a0 It's not just about you, and the harvest that you will reap may be long after you're gone.\u00a0 That's why you have to live for what really matters.\u00a0 And, for whatever reason, God allowed me to see some of that, but I took it more as a tribute to a previous generation's greatness than to anything that I may have accomplished.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0You believe that perhaps that evening was the result of the prayers of previous generations?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0I absolutely believe that.\u00a0 I absolutely believe that.\u00a0 And, you know, the thing that keeps me \u2013 I won't say that I've never wrestled with pride.\u00a0 Anybody that tell you that, they wrestle with pride and they lie.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t[laughter] \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0So I'm never going to say that, but you know the thing that keeps my feet on the ground when God does something in a wonderful way often is to remember that, is to remember that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You know, this stuff may not \u2013 I mean, I spoke in Dallas not long ago to one of the largest family \u2013 the largest FamilyLife \u2013 well, conference, I suppose, but we did arena events before.\u00a0 And you stand up there, and you see God work in a powerful way, and the Lord whispers in your ear, \"You know, this may not be about you, buddy.\u00a0 It may have been about somebody way back yonder that said, 'God, I don't know what you're going to do, but maybe my grandchildren, my great grandchildren do something to help other people, to impact them.'\u00a0 And God may have said, for whatever reason, I'm answering the prayer.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And that keeps a lot of my head from going places where it doesn't need to be.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0You know, Crawford, as I look at the Scriptures, you see that God does invite us to enjoy life on earth.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Yes, He does.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0But 1 John, chapter 2, verse 15, says, \"Do not love the world or the things of the world.\"\u00a0 Help our listeners understand the difference between enjoying life and loving the world?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Yes, you know, love is an allegiance deal.\u00a0 You could say that what I love I am tied to.\u00a0 And we're called to like the world and like the stuff that's in society, but my allegiance is to Jesus.\u00a0 He's my captain, and He is my King.\u00a0 There is nothing in this life that's permanent.\u00a0 And so although I love great vacations with Karen, I love a great meal, we like to go to the theater, we love life experiences and have a great time.\u00a0 None of that stuff really is permanent, you know? And I'm not attached to any of it, I'm only attached to my eternal home, I'm attached to Jesus.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0So we walk through this place realizing that we're temporary apartment dwellers.\u00a0 We don't have permanent residences down here.\u00a0 We're not here to enjoy square footage, so to speak.\u00a0 We are here to do a job, pitch our tent, enjoy part of the journey, but not to allow the journey to be the final destination.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0I remember a friend of ours telling us one time, Dennis, that every time he has a great meal, he said he pushes back from the table, and he says, \"That's just a taste of what's ahead\" \u2013 of the meal that I will enjoy someday at the marriage supper of the lamb.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0What a wonderful way of putting that, yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And it's not that he is disparaging the meal he just had, he enjoyed that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0It's an hors doeuvre.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0Yes, and it's just a little taste \u2013 the best meal on earth.\u00a0 Somebody has said if you're a Christian, this life is as bad as it will ever get for you.\u00a0 If you're not a Christian, this life is as good as it will ever get for you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Boy, what a way of putting it, and that's the issue, and I just trust that some of our listeners now who are wrestling with their faith will come to understand that that really is the point.\u00a0 This is it.\u00a0 This is it.\u00a0 I mean, this is about as good as it's going to get if this is really our ultimate aim and we're not followers of Jesus.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0If your life is all wrapped up in yourself.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Yes.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0That's a pretty small package.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0It really is and, you know, this is sort of a crazy way of coming at this, but I am very concerned with some of our younger Christian couples who are raising kids who are so passionate about giving them all the experiences in life that, you know, the soccer, and the Little League baseball, and you guys know that our kids went through all that.\u00a0 I was an athlete, and there's nothing wrong with any of that, but I'm a little bit concerned that as we raise our children that spiritual values in the eternal is not really framed the way it needs to be \u2013 how important all that is to their total development.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Yeah, boy, if you can throw a fastball and you can hit a ball, if you've got a great foot-eye coordination, great, wonderful.\u00a0 But make sure that they understand what real passion is anchored to \u2013 what they ought to lay their lives down for, where great joy really comes from \u2013 knowing and serving your Creator and understanding that you're going to live with him forever.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0And for those young couples who are listening, instead of becoming defensive, as they look at their own values and kind of reflect upon what you just said, Crawford.\u00a0 What we're appealing to them about as an older generation is, you know what?\u00a0 The younger generation is raising those who are going to take all of our places if Christ doesn't come back.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Absolutely.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0So the question is \u2013 what are your values all about?\u00a0 Or maybe the better question is who are your values about?\u00a0 Are they about Him or about you?\u00a0 Are they about the eternal, or are they about the temporal?\u00a0 I couldn't help but think here as we kind of wrap things up \u2013 Romans, chapter 12, verse 1 and 2 \u2013 I've not heard many sermons on this recently. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0When I was cutting my spiritual molars, Romans 12:1-2 seemed to be echoing and bouncing around within the growth of the Jesus movement back in the '60s and '70s.\u00a0 I just want to read it again because ultimately what we've been talking about here as we think about for a time we cannot see, living for heaven, is ultimately not being conformed to the world but being transformed, and that's what Romans 12:1-2 exhorts us to do.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Paul writes, \"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship and do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.\u00a0 Purpose that you may prove what the will of God is; that which is good and acceptable and perfect.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0What this younger generation and, for that matter, our generation longs for today \u2013 they long for that which is good, acceptable and perfect.\u00a0 They long for the will of God.\u00a0 Now, the question is how are you going to get it?\u00a0 The only way you're going to get it is by crawling on the altar and submitting yourself as a living sacrifice to Jesus Christ and say, \"I am yours.\u00a0 Use me as you wish.\u00a0 I want to be about the King's business.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And I'd like to challenge you, Crawford, to just lead that person in prayer right now.\u00a0 We have to be talking to a man or a woman, maybe single, maybe married, maybe divorced, I don't know what circumstance that person may be facing today but as they listen to us talk, they become convinced it's time.\u00a0 It's time to get on with the King's business and live for a time we cannot see.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Give that person a challenge and lead them in a prayer, Crawford, of submitting their lives to Christ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Meaningful Christianity is never just embracing a process but it's coming to points of crisis.\u00a0 What you just described is giving into a decision that needs to be made.\u00a0 There comes a point where I have to say, \"This is God's life, and I'm deciding to place it all in His hands.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And I want to challenge the listener today to do that \u2013 embrace the crisis, make the decision, lay it all out for him.\u00a0 Let me pray for you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Father, thank you so very much for your mercy, and I just thank you that you call us to these points in our lives where we have to decide who we're going to listen to.\u00a0 Are we going to give in to the voice of heaven, our true home?\u00a0 Are we going to allow the noise in this life to drown out the very power that we need to make a difference.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Lord Jesus, I ask of you in the name of your Son that you'll give hope to that one person; that you will give help and give a sense of incredible encouragement as they embrace the longing that You've placed in their soul and turned themselves completely over to You.\u00a0 In Jesus's name, amen.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tDennis:\u00a0Amen and, Crawford, I want to thank you for your leadership in FamilyLife.\u00a0 Thank you for being a board member, and for just your friendship over the years.\u00a0 You're a good man, and I look forward to finishing \u2013 running toward the finish line with you.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCrawford:\u00a0Same here.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tBob:\u00a0And let me just say, if I can, for those folks who may have prayed along with you, Crawford, we've got a book here at FamilyLife called \"Pursuing God,\" that we would be happy to send to anyone who prayed a prayer like that for the first time and said, \"I do want Jesus Christ to be at the center of my life.\u00a0 I want to make Him my priority.\u00a0 I want to be living for His purposes and for His kingdom.\"\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0The book, \"Pursuing God\" helps you understand what it means to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.\u00a0 It gets you pointed in the right direction, and we'd love to send it out to you at no cost.\u00a0 All you have to do is call or go online and indicate that you'd like a copy of that book.\u00a0 \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0The number to call is 1-800-FLTODAY.\u00a0 That's 1-800-F-as-in-family, L-as-in-life, and then the word TODAY.\u00a0 Or you can go online at FamilyLife.com and click the red button that says \"Go\" in the middle of the screen.\u00a0 That will take you to the area of the site where there is more information about the book, \"Pursuing God.\"\u00a0 Just indicate that you'd like a copy, and we're happy to send it out to any of our listeners who prayed today and who want to turn their life over to Jesus Christ.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0You may also want to get a copy of Crawford's book, which is called \"For A Time We Cannot See,\" and that is also available on our website at FamilyLife.com, or you can request it when you call 1-800-FLTODAY.\u00a0 Again, if you go to our website, there will be a red button in the center of the home page, and you click that button, it will take you to the area of the site where there is more information about Crawford's book, or you can call 1-800-FLTODAY and you can order the book over the phone.\u00a0 We'll be happy to get it sent out to you, and I hope many of our listeners will get a copy of this book and will read it.\u00a0 In fact, you ought to make plans to read it between now and the end of the year.\u00a0 It will help give you the right focus as you start 2008 and head into the New Year.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And I don't want to start thinking about New Year's now because this is Thanksgiving Eve, and rather than thinking about starting the New Year we ought to be thinking about giving thanks.\u00a0 And one of the things we're thankful for here at FamilyLife is you.\u00a0 We thank God for those of you who listen to this program each day, for those of you who have contact us with questions or with comments or with stories about how God has used the ministry of FamilyLife in your life.\u00a0 That's always encouraging for our entire team.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0And we're also grateful to those of you who not only listen but help support the ministry of FamilyLife Today with donations.\u00a0 We are listener-supported, and so those financial contributions help pay the bills.\u00a0 They make it possible for this program to be on the air on this station and other stations all across the country and without your financial support we wouldn't be able to be here each day.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0So we really do appreciate the partnership you have with us, and this month we want to make available a DVD as our way of saying thanks back to you for your partnership with us.\u00a0 The DVD is called \"The Very First Noel,\" and it's an animated retelling of the Christmas story that features Andy Griffith doing the narration, and it's something your whole family can enjoy as you prepare to celebrate Christmas this year.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Again, the DVD is our thank you gift when you make a donation of any amount this month to the ministry of FamilyLife Today.\u00a0 You can donate online at FamilyLife.com, and if you do that, as you fill out the donation form, you'll see a keycode box.\u00a0 Just type the word \"Noel\" in that keycode box so that we know to send you a copy of this DVD.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Or call 1-800-FLTODAY, make a donation over the phone and mention that you'd like a copy of this DVD and, again, we're happy to send it out to you, and it's always great to hear from you.\u00a0 We appreciate your partnership with us.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0Well, tomorrow we hope you can take a break from your traditional Thanksgiving celebration to spend a few minutes with us.\u00a0 Dolphus Weary is going to join us.\u00a0 We're going to hear about his experience growing up in the Deep South, in the rural South, as an African-American many decades ago.\u00a0 We'll hear what life was like for him and for many other African-Americans on tomorrow's program, and I hope you can be with us for that.\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0I want to thank our engineer today, Keith Lynch, and our entire broadcast production team.\u00a0 On behalf of our host, Dennis Rainey, I'm Bob Lepine.\u00a0 We'll see you back tomorrow for another edition of FamilyLife Today. \n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\t\u00a0FamilyLife Today is a production of FamilyLife of Little Rock, Arkansas, a ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ. 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However, there is a cost to transcribe, create, and produce them for our website. If you've benefited from the broadcast transcripts, would you consider <a href=\"http:\/\/wp-stage.familylife.com\/www\/donate\">donating today<\/a> to help defray the costs?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p>\n\t\t\t\tCopyright \u00a9 FamilyLife. 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