Winning Ways -- Hillcrest Baptist Church

I Yam What I Yam
by Tom Goodman
October 14, 2009

Popeye was a philosopher.

Well, sort of. Actually, he was a sailor man who loved the sea and spinach straight from the can. He had a thing for a skinny gal named Olive Oyl and a soft spot in his heart for a kid named Sweet Pea.

But from time to time Popeye would wax philosophical. He accepted his life as it was, and he expected others to do the same. He would say, "I yam what I yam." Sometimes he would add, "And that's all that I yam."

We really have two ways to react to our imperfections. We can imitate Popeye or Paul. In Philippians 1:13, referring to the goal of Christ-likeness, Paul said, "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold if it. But this one thing I do: I press on."

Had some of us written that verse, we would have said instead, "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But, hey, I'm only human, so what do you expect? Don't get your hopes up. I yam what I yam."

This is why some of us never reach our full potential in Christ. We never become "entirely ready" to let go of the habits and attitudes that keep us in defeat. We come to a kind of tired truce with our weaknesses and simply accept that we can't make things any better.

This Sunday at 10:00 a.m., we'll learn to quit saying, "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam." Join us!

Take the Prayer Tour! This Sunday, come 45 minutes earlier than normal for a Prayer Tour through our facility. It will begin and end in the auditorium, and it will take 45 minutes to complete. You can begin anytime between 8:15 and 9:15 a.m., depending on what activities you have to get to. Many of our people will choose to begin the Prayer Tour at 9:15 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. in the auditorium in time for the worship service to begin.

You can choose the start time that works best for you, because the Prayer Tour will be self-guided. When you arrive in the auditorium you will be given a map of our facilities and a prayer guide. The guide will tell you where to stop in the building and what to pray for at each stop.

--Tom

The Popeye reference is adapted from a book by John Ortberg.

Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for...

Song of the Week, posted every Sunday.
Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday.

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I Yam What I Yam by Tom Goodman October 14, 2009 Popeye was a philosopher. Well, sort of. Actually, he was a sailor man who loved the sea and spinach straight from the can. He had a thing for a skinny gal named Olive Oyl and a soft spot in his heart for a kid named Sweet Pea. But from time to time Popeye would wax philosophical. He accepted his life as it was, and he expected others to do the same. He would say, "I yam what I yam." Sometimes he would add, "And that's all that I yam." We really have two ways to react to our imperfections. We can imitate Popeye or Paul. In Philippians 1:13, referring to the goal of Christ-likeness, Paul said, "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold if it. But this one thing I do: I press on." Had some of us written that verse, we would have said instead, "I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But, hey, I'm only human, so what do you expect? Don't get your hopes up. I yam what I yam." This is why some of us never reach our full potential in Christ. We never become "entirely ready" to let go of the habits and attitudes that keep us in defeat. We come to a kind of tired truce with our weaknesses and simply accept that we can't make things any better. This Sunday at 10:00 a.m., we'll learn to quit saying, "I yam what I yam, and that's all that I yam." Join us! Take the Prayer Tour! This Sunday, come 45 minutes earlier than normal for a Prayer Tour through our facility. It will begin and end in the auditorium, and it will take 45 minutes to complete. You can begin anytime between 8:15 and 9:15 a.m., depending on what activities you have to get to. Many of our people will choose to begin the Prayer Tour at 9:15 a.m. and end at 10 a.m. in the auditorium in time for the worship service to begin. You can choose the start time that works best for you, because the Prayer Tour will be self-guided. When you arrive in the auditorium you will be given a map of our facilities and a prayer guide. The guide will tell you where to stop in the building and what to pray for at each stop. --Tom The Popeye reference is adapted from a book by John Ortberg. Weblog: Check out my blog, "Get Anchored." Some things to look for... Song of the Week, posted every Sunday. Links to Your World, interesting and informative links, posted every Tuesday. Do you know friends who would appreciate Winning Ways? Just forward this e-mail to them! Have you subscribed to Winning Ways? You can subscribe by clicking here and following the instructions. Your e-mail address will not be sold or given away to anyone, and you can automatically change your subscription or drop it by following the easy steps provided with each e-mail. FRESH NEWS AT HILLCREST UPDATED WEEKLY: www.hillcrestaustin.org LISTEN TO RECENT SERMONS: Click here. MANAGE YOUR SUBSCRIPTIONS TO OUR EMAIL NEWSLETTERS: Click here. If you do not have access to the web, please send a note to newsmaster@hbcaustin.org to tell us of any changes you would like to make.