If You're Going the Wrong Way...Turn Around!

by Moore, James W.

• ISBN13: 9780687006885
• ISBN10: 0687006880
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-01
• Publisher: Dimensions for Living

Summary

Recently I attended a meeting that was held in the Worthington Hotel in downtown Fort Worth, Texas. As I checked out of the hotel, I asked the desk clerk, 'œWhat is the best way to get out of downtown Fort Worth and back to the interstate highway?' The clerk said, 'œThat's easy. We are at the corner of Houston Avenue and Second Street. You will come out of the parking garage onto Houston Avenue. Turn right on Houston, go down to 6 th Street and turn left, and it will take you right to I-35.' I did exactly what he said. I came out of the parking garage, turned right on Houston, went down four blocks to 6 th Street, and turned left, and sure enough, I could see I-35 just ahead of me. I headed straight toward it. I drove just a short way and saw a ramp connected to I-35. I went up the ramp, rounded a curve, and you wouldn't believe what I saw. The ramp had three lanes, and painted on the three lanes were three bold arrows'”and all three of those arrows were pointing straight at me! Quickly I realized that not only was I going the wrong way on a one-way street, but even worse, I was going up the off ramp of I-35, one of the busiest interstate highways in the known world! Well, I did what anyone in his right mind would have done: I made the fastest U-turn in the history of the world. A.J. Foyt, Jeff Gordon, and Mario Andretti would have been proud of that U-turn. I found out later that the hotel desk clerk had meant to say 'œ5 th Street' rather than 'œ6 th Street.' But the point is clear. When you are going the wrong way, when you are going a dangerous way, a destructive way, a potentially deadly way, there is only one thing to do: Make a U-turn as fast as you can!             This is true not only on the streets and highways of America. It also is true on the spiritual and moral roads of life. And the good news is this: With God, U-turns are allowed! God permits U-turns! God enables and empowers U-turns! There are some situations in life that call for a U-turn; nothing else will work.

Author Biography

James W. Moore is senior pastor of St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas

Table of Contents

Introduction: If You're Going the Wrong Way Turn Around!	p. 1
From Talking About the Cross to Taking Up the Cross: "It's Not Enough to Be Great on Paper"	p. 11
From Old Life to New Life: "Some Things Just Need to Be Thrown Away"	p. 19
From the Quick Fix to the Deep Commitment: "Good Things That Are Here to Stay Don't Get Done in Just One Day"	p. 27
From Selfish Ambition to Humble Service: "The Meaning of Greatness"	p. 35
From Self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness: "Lord, Help Me to Live for Others, That I May Live Like Thee"	p. 45
From Emptiness to Zestful Living: "A Prescription for Meaningful Life"	p. 53
From Silly Fretting to Creative Worrying: "How to Improve Your Worrying"	p. 61
From the Good Fridays of the World to the Easter Sundays of the World: "We Too Can Be Resurrected!"	p. 69
From Doubt to Faith: "Good News for the Doubting Thomases of the World"	p. 77
From Fretfulness to Courage: "The Answer, My Friend, Is Blowin' in the Wind"	p. 85
From Magic-Lamp Praying to Friendship-with-God Praying: "How Do We Pray?"	p. 95
From Fear to Confidence: "The Name of God Is 'I Shall Be There'"	p. 101
From Not Knowing the Words to Knowing the Code Words of Faith: "The Windtalkers"	p. 109
From the Fear of Death to the Promise of Eternal Life: "What Do We Believe About Eternal Life?"	p. 117
From Trust in Self to Trust in God: "Can We Really Change?"	p. 125
Suggestions for Leading a Study	p. 133
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