Author: Kevin Burrell

Imagine a crowded stadium on game day. Thousands of people fill the seats wearing jerseys, waving banners, and cheering loudly for their favorite team. They know the players’ names, sing the fight song, and celebrate every victory. They are passionate fans.

But when the game ends, those fans go home. They don’t attend practice the next morning. They don’t run the drills. They don’t watch film. They don’t endure the discipline, the sweat, the sacrifice, or the cost of being on the team.

A player, however, lives a completely different reality. The player shows up early. The player trains when it’s hard, listens to the coach, follows the playbook, studies video, and stays committed even when the crowd disappears. Being on the team requires obedience, sacrifice, and daily commitment.

In the same way, there is a difference between being a fan of Jesus and being a follower of Jesus. Fans admire Jesus from a distance. They like His teachings, enjoy the songs about Him, and may cheer when they hear inspiring sermons. But admiration from the seats costs very little.

Followers step onto the playing field. Followers listen to Jesus and shape their lives around His words. They choose forgiveness when it’s difficult, love when it’s inconvenient, and obedience when it’s costly.

Following Jesus means surrendering control and trusting Him with every area of life.

Jesus never called people to be His fans. He called them to be fully trained disciples. He called them to be committed followers.

Jesus fed 5,000, and many followed Him for food and miracles. But when Jesus began teaching hard truths, most walked away.

Jesus often taught in synagogues. Many listened, but few accepted His message.

Jesus entered the Garden of Gethsemane with eleven disciples before His arrest. Eight stayed near the entrance. Three went further to pray. All fell asleep. And only one stood by Him at the foot of the cross.

Listen closely: here is the hard truth. The closer you get to the cross, the smaller the crowd becomes.

I encourage you today, don’t simply be a “fan” of Jesus—be a committed “follower” of Jesus. Don’t leave. Don’t walk away. Don’t abandon Him.

Be bold. Be committed. Be faithful.

Be His disciple!

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Harland Sanders was born in 1890 near Henryville, Indiana. He grew up facing hardships, taking on adult responsibilities early after his father died. Throughout his life, he worked an array of jobs: farmhand, soldier, streetcar conductor, railroad worker, salesman, and lawyer, rarely finding long term stability. Yet he never stopped searching for an opportunity that fit.

That opportunity finally arrived in his 40s when he began cooking for travelers at a gas station in Corbin, Kentucky. His homemade meals became so popular that he opened a small restaurant and developed the pressure fried chicken and secret spice blend that would later become known as “Kentucky Fried Chicken.”

It was not until Sanders’ late 60s that KFC made a worldwide impact. Sanders did not build his empire in his youth. He built it in his senior years. His story stands as a powerful reminder that age is never an excuse to stop pursuing a dream that God has placed in your heart.

In a similar way, age has a way of whispering lies to us…

• “Your best days are behind you.”

• “You have done enough. Someone younger can take it from here.”

• “Just settle down. God surely is not expecting much from you now.”

However, Scripture cuts straight through those lies with a beam of truth. Joshua was likely between 80 and 90 years old when God spoke these words to him in Book of Joshua 13:1.

By any earthly measure, Joshua’s résumé was full: battles won, faith proven, leadership demonstrated. Yet when God looked at Joshua, He did not see a man who was finished. He saw a man He could still use.

God said, “There is still much land to be conquered.”

In other words, “Yes, Joshua, you are an old man, but get up, pal. I am not done with you!”

The world retires people. God reassigns them. The world sees limits. God sees availability. The world measures age. God measures obedience.

Joshua’s story teaches us that God does not shelve His children because of their age. He empowers them in every season for His purpose. If anything, age often sharpens what youth cannot: wisdom, perspective, steadiness, patience, and an ear tuned to God’s voice.

Listen closely: the same is true for you. Whether you are entering your later years or simply feel past your prime, hear this truth:

“If you are still breathing, God is still building.”

There is land yet to conquer. There are prayers yet to pray. There are people yet to disciple. Lives to encourage. Wisdom to pass on. Kingdom work to engage in. Battles still needing a seasoned warrior.

Do not let your age become an excuse to retreat to the sidelines, or to your sofa. Do not quit. Do not give up. Do not put life on cruise control. Do not assume God has moved on to someone younger. God does not look at your ability. He is looking for your availability. Finish well.

Submit. Surrender. Obey. Stay faithful. Keep saying yes to the One who never stops working through surrendered hearts.

God is not finished with you. Not today. Not at your age. Not ever, until He calls you home.

Just ask Joshua when you see him.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Major League Baseball scouts, college coaches, recruiting coordinators, and R&D departments place great value on analyzing video. They spend countless hours watching “clips” of potential prospects. They slow the film down, rewind key moments, and study tendencies and details—how a hitter loads in his approach and how his swing works; how a pitcher repeats his delivery; and how an infielder’s hands and feet work when fielding routine ground balls or making off-balance throws. These “clips” reveal more than raw talent; they show priorities, habits, and patterns. The “clips” never lie.

In a similar way, the “clips” of Jesus’ life that we read about in the Gospels reveal His patterns and priorities: “He got up early. He sought solitude. He prayed. He worshiped His Father.”

It wasn’t an afterthought or a leftover activity squeezed into His schedule. It was foundational. It was a priority. Before teaching, before healing, and before leading—Jesus worshiped.

Mark 1:35 gives us one of the clearest “clips” of Jesus’ priorities. Read it again. Lean into it. Chew on it. But don’t miss it.

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed.”

If we claim to be disciples of Jesus, our lives ought to mirror the patterns and priorities of His life—not out of duty, but out of devotion. Disciples don’t just admire Jesus; they model what He modeled. The “clips” of our lives never lie—they only reveal.

Listen closely. Here is a question worth examining: If someone studied the “clips” of your life, what would they reveal? Would they show that you prioritize time with God, or that you only turn to Him when the pressure of life is on?

Discipleship means learning to order your life the same way Jesus ordered His—putting worship first, seeking the Father early, and letting everything else flow from that place.

Before the day gets loud. Before you click on your social media. Go to a solitary place and worship God. Spend time magnifying Him. He can’t wait to spend time with you. That’s where strength is formed, direction is given, priorities are set, and hope is established for your life.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Imagine you’re on a flight cruising at 550 mph at 35,000 feet. You’re comfortably seated, enjoying your journey with the other passengers. Suddenly, a voice comes over the intercom:

“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard the world’s first fully automated plane. There is no captain or first officer on this flight. Just sit back and relax—nothing can go wrong, go wrong, go wrong, go wrong…”

As the announcement sinks in, a wave of panic spreads through you and your fellow passengers. You look around, gripping your seat in fear while exchanging worried glances with those around you. The thought of being on a plane without a human pilot raises fears of what could happen if something goes terribly wrong.

In a similar way, this picture serves as a powerful metaphor for life. Just like the passengers, we often find ourselves in situations where we feel out of control. We may think we’re safe; however, the absence of guidance can lead to fear, anxiety, and uncertainty.

However, the Apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 16:25…

“Jesus Christ has revealed His plan for you, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time.”

Listen closely. Don’t miss that truth. Lean into it. Chew on it. Allow it to settle deep in your heart. God has a plan for your life! It is He who is writing your story.

You will face storms—whether personal struggles, health setbacks, relational challenges, sudden loss of friends or family members, or financial hardships. However, the key is to remember that, unlike the automated plane, you are not alone. You have a Divine Captain who is always in control. His eye is on you every moment of every day. You are the apple of His eye.

When you put your trust in Jesus, you can find peace in the turbulence of life. Just as the passengers needed to trust the technology, you must trust in God’s plan for your life. Remember, He is the One who is writing your story. He is your guide. He is your Shepherd. He is ensuring that you will reach your final destination safely—no matter the storms you encounter or the storm you’re currently enduring.

So rejoice!

Why?

Because…

“You have a home in heaven, an eternal body being kept for you by God Himself.”

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

“Don’t worry” may be the most difficult command in the Bible to keep. Everyone has worried. We disobey that command all the time. Why? Because it’s in our nature to worry.

People commonly worry about money, financial security, pending retirement, job stability, health, children, personal relationships, family relationships, death, failure, and rejection.

However, worry has never changed anything. Worry is worthless. It can’t change the past. It can’t control the future. Every moment we spend worrying is a wasted moment of our life.

Listen closely: worry focuses on your fears instead of trusting God. It’s practical atheism. When you worry, you’re acting like an orphan. You’re acting like you don’t have a heavenly Father who has promised to care for all your needs.

When you worry, you think it’s up to you to take care of your problems. That’s not in the Bible; that’s in self-help books—and it’s just not true.

To overcome the power of worry, you have to choose your focus. If you focus on your problems, you’re going to become unstable, fearful, and anxious. The key to overcoming worry is not to say, “I’m not going to worry.” That never works, because you’re focused on what you don’t want. The key is to change the channel. Don’t resist it.

“Refocus!”

Center your focus on God. Trust in His love, goodness, faithfulness, and the promises He has for you. Don’t trust in your feelings—trust in God’s Word, the Bible.

Lock eyes with Jesus today and walk toward Him. You’ll be glad where you end up at the end of the day.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

In the four major sports, great head coaches do not just lead their teams; they develop people. They invest deeply in their assistant coaches, shaping them, stretching them, and preparing them for what is next in their coaching careers. These assistants study the system, learn how to lead a locker room, manage pressure, manage people, and make decisions when it counts. Over time, a “coaching tree” is developed that forms fully trained leaders who go on to become head coaches and make an impact.

What is striking is this: the best head coaches never rush the process. They do not recommend one of their assistant coaches for a head coaching position until that person is fully trained and ready to lead. Readiness is not just about knowledge of the game; it is about character, conduct, understanding, maturity, humility, and the ability to lead others with excellence. It is a reminder that leadership is not given lightly; it is cultivated, developed, and fully trained.

In the same way, God cares deeply about the heart of a leader.

Jeremiah 3:15 says, “And I will give you shepherds (leaders) after My own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”

Jesus modeled this perfectly with His disciples. He walked closely with them. He taught them. He corrected them. He allowed them to grow. And even though Jesus had all authority, He chose patience. Do not miss this:

Jesus made fully trained disciples, and then He appointed leaders.

He shaped His disciples’ character and conduct first, before He entrusted them with leadership and influence (Luke 6:40).

Listen closely: the right type of leaders are not born; they are fully trained over time. They start out as seekers, become followers, are fully trained as disciples, and then serve as appointed leaders.

Who has trained you? Who has developed you? Better yet, whom have you trained, developed, and equipped to become fully trained disciples of Christ? What does your “disciple tree” look like?

When you become a leader after God’s own heart, with the right heart, the right knowledge, and the right understanding, you will always get the right results.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Have you ever witnessed a “mic drop” moment? Jesus had many of them. Here is one.

For 38 years, the lame man sat by the pool of Bethesda, watching, waiting, and hoping. Thirty-eight years of seeing others step into the water while he remained confined to his mat.

Thirty-eight years of disappointment rehearsed into belief: If only I could get into the pool, then I would be healed. The problem, he thought, was access. The solution, he believed, was the water.

However, Jesus saw something deeper.

When Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” it was not because Jesus lacked compassion. It was because 38 years of long-term brokenness can quietly reshape our expectations. After decades of pain, the man no longer imagined wholeness. He only imagined better odds. His answer revealed where his faith had settled, not in God’s power, but in a process. Not in a Person, but in a place. And yet, Jesus did not correct him with a sermon. He healed him with a word.

“Stand up. Pick up your mat. Walk.”

No water stirred. No ritual followed. No assistance arrived. The healing did not come from the pool he had trusted for nearly four decades. It came from the voice standing right in front of him. In an instant, muscles strengthened, bones aligned, and hope was restored. What 38 years could not fix, Jesus resolved in a moment.

Then comes one of the most striking “mic drop” moments of the story: Jesus turned around and walked away.

Wait. What?

Multitudes had gathered, waiting and hoping Jesus would heal them, knowing death was likely imminent if He did not. Yet Jesus healed this one man, turned around, and walked away.

I can only imagine the anger, confusion, frustration, and disappointment that countless people felt in that moment. Why only that one man? Why not me?

Listen closely. Jesus leads under priority. He never leads under pressure. The same holds true for your life today. Jesus does not need optimal conditions to work. He does not need you to be first in line, strong enough to move, or articulate enough to explain your pain. He only asks that you listen when He speaks and respond in obedience when He asks, even when it feels impossible.

The man stood up before he had proof. He carried the mat that once carried him. His obedience became the evidence of his healing.

Jesus still walks into crowded places today. He still sees individuals overlooked by systems and worn down by waiting. And He still speaks life with authority, power, and compassion.

The question is not whether Jesus can heal what you are currently going through, but whether you are willing to release the false sources you have trusted in and believe that Jesus alone is all you need.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

Indiana University Head Football Coach Curt Cignetti broke into coaching in 1983, beginning his college career as a graduate assistant at the University of Pittsburgh. As a GA, his duties included long “grunt work” hours for minimal pay. Then, in 2011, Coach Cignetti landed his first head coaching job at the Division II level at Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP)—and 13 years later, he did it again at the Division I level with Indiana University in 2024.

Coach Cignetti was replanted from place to place over the past 43 years of his football coaching career, impacting the lives of countless coaches and athletes—many of them at Indiana University—where he won his first Division I Football National Championship as head coach last Monday night in Miami.

In a similar way, imagine the Apostle Paul, shackled in a Roman prison, his freedom stripped away and his missionary journeys halted. The man who once blazed trails across the ancient world—preaching the resurrection of Christ to kings and commoners alike—was now confined to a prison cell. It could have been the end of his story, a tragic fade into obscurity.

But Paul saw beyond the bars. He declared that his imprisonment wasn’t a setback, but a divine setup. Guards heard the Gospel, fellow believers were emboldened, and the message of Jesus spread like wildfire throughout the empire, impacting countless lives. What the enemy meant for silence, God orchestrated for amplification.

Now fast-forward to your life. Perhaps you’re staring at an unexpected pink slip from your employer or packing boxes for a move you never planned. Maybe a relationship has shattered, or a dream has derailed, leaving you uprooted and asking, “Why, God? What have I done wrong?”

Here’s the challenge: stop viewing these divine detours as punishment. God isn’t a cosmic disciplinarian wielding a whip; He’s the Master Storyteller, weaving your experiences into a tapestry that glorifies His name. He may replant you in a new city, a different workplace, or an unfamiliar role—not to sideline you, but to position you where the Good News can flourish through your living testimony.

Think about it. That new job might place you among colleagues desperate for hope, where your quiet faith becomes a beacon in their darkness. That relocation could land you in a community ripe for revival, where your story of God’s faithfulness ignites conversations about Christ. Paul didn’t choose his chains, but he surrendered to the One who did—and in that surrender, the Gospel advanced.

Here’s the encouragement: your life is no accident. God is writing your story with eternal ink, plot twists included. Every “detour” is a deliberate path to purpose. Romans 8:28 reminds us, “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.”

Listen closely—this is where it gets challenging: don’t steal God’s pen. Don’t grasp for control, scribbling your own endings, clinging to the familiar, resisting the replanting, or demanding explanations before you obey. “I’ll follow You, God—but only if it makes sense to me.” Paul didn’t do that. He trusted the Author, even in the dungeon. And so should you.

If you’re in a season of transition today, lean into it. Share your faith boldly in your new environment. Let your resilience preach louder than words. God isn’t done with you—in fact, He’s just turning the page, beginning a new chapter where His glory shines brighter through your yielded heart.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

There are moments in life when we feel the weight of our own brokenness. Have you ever been there? I certainly have. We carry wounds from our past, failures that haunt us, and weaknesses that make us feel “spiritually crippled.” Like Mephibosheth hiding in an empty, barren place, we often retreat to our cave of shame—convinced that God could never want someone like us, or even use someone like us, because of our past failures and mistakes.

In a similar way, that is the story of Mephibosheth. He was the son of Jonathan and the grandson of King Saul. When he was a small child, news came that Saul and Jonathan had been killed in battle. His caregiver tried to flee with him, but in the rush she dropped him, and he became “permanently crippled in both feet” (2 Samuel 4:4).

Many years later, when David became king, he remembered his covenant with his best friend, Jonathan. He sought out and found Mephibosheth living in obscurity and fear, expecting hostility because he was a descendant of the former king.

Instead, David brought Mephibosheth into his household and gave him a permanent place at the king’s table—treating him like one of his own sons (2 Samuel 9).

Listen closely: Mephibosheth’s story is more than a historical account—it’s a living picture of the gospel. It’s your story. It’s my story. Just as Mephibosheth was dropped, wounded, and left unable to help himself, all of humanity has been left wounded, scared, and crippled by sin. You carry spiritual brokenness you did not choose, and you may often hide in fear, shame, or a sense of unworthiness.

Yet just as King David sought out Mephibosheth—not because he had anything to offer, not because he had earned favor, but simply because of a covenant of love—

In the same way, God seeks you. Not because you are strong, but because He is faithful. Not because you are worthy, but because of the covenant sealed by the blood of Jesus.

Listen—God is not waiting for you to be perfect before welcoming you to His banquet table. He is not waiting for you to have your life all cleaned up. Your scars, weaknesses, and failures don’t push Him away; they simply magnify the beauty of His grace and mercy.

Come to Jesus just as you are. He loves you unconditionally—and He has a chair reserved just for you at the King’s table.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.

We are nearly two weeks into 2026. Millions of people began the New Year with these words:
“This is my year!” – uttered with laser-focused excitement and determination.

Gym memberships will skyrocket. Fruits and vegetables will sell out. Journals will be filled with promises to finally become that person—organized, disciplined, healthy, and kale-loving.
By February? Not so much.

The gym grows quiet. The kale salads dry up. The donuts are back. And the only thing organized is the Amazon queue.

The New Year stirs something hopeful in all of us, but we’re quickly reminded that authentic transformation is more challenging than a checklist.

That’s not failure—it’s reality.

As 2026 begins, I encourage you to set goals—but hold them loosely. Instead of striving in your own strength, invite God—the One who created you—into the process. Let your deepest resolution be dependence, not performance.

When our focus shifts from what we can accomplish to who we are becoming in Christ, everything changes. Think progress, not perfection.

The apostle Paul writes:

“But I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead. I keep pressing on.”

Don’t miss these words: Focus. Forgetting. Looking forward. Pressing on.

Paul wasn’t chasing self-improvement; he was pursuing Christ. He didn’t dwell on past mistakes, guilt, failures—or even successes. His eyes were fixed forward—locked in on Jesus. On growth. On grace. On mercy. On obedience. On progress. On becoming more like Christ.

That kind of focus frees us from shame and pride—and anchors us in purpose.

Listen closely: As 2026 begins, release the pressure to perfect yourself. Resolve instead to make progress by relying on Jesus. Ask Him to shape your heart, deepen your love, and align your steps with His will—not your own.

He is writing your story every day, and He never takes a day off.

True transformation isn’t found on the field or court of competition, in the gym, the calendar, the planner, the salad bar, or the bank account.

True transformation is found in a life surrendered to Jesus Christ—every day.

Blessings in 2026.

Love God. Love People. Live Sent.