Connections 7-13-25 by First Southern Baptist Church

July 13, 2025

“A man’s own folly ruins his life, yet his heart rages against the Lord.” ~ Proverbs 19:3 (NIV) ~

FIXING BLAME

Several years ago, a woman filed a $1 million lawsuit against Dr Pepper. She had been chosen to participate in their half-time punt-catching promotion during a college football game. She didn’t win, but it was, according to her suit, Dr. Pepper’s fault.

She had been told she would receive three punts from a kick-simulation machine (catch one, $50,000; two, $250,000; all three, $1 million) and was told that the punts would come down in the general vicinity of the 50-yard line.

She missed all three because, she said, they came down too far away: one landed on the 44-yard line, one landed on the 45-yard line, and one landed on the 42-yard line. Therefore, she argued it was Dr. Pepper’s fault that she didn’t win $1 million. (I never heard if she won the lawsuit or not but now the contest has changed to a Toss for Tuition competition.) But back to my thoughts on this.

Sometimes it’s difficult for us to admit it’s our fault. It’s difficult to admit the role we play in our failures, in our setbacks, and our sin. It’s not easy to say: “I had a chance, but I blew it.” Too often, instead of fixing the problem, we settle for fixing blame on anyone other than ourselves.

Whether it’s in our relationships, our career, or our spiritual life, improvement (and, ultimately, mastery) begins with accepting responsibility for our own limitations, mistakes, and failures.

When faced with his own sin, King David said to God:

“I have sinned greatly by doing this. Now, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing.”

~ 1 Chronicles 21:8 (NIV) ~

When you don’t perform up to par professionally, personally, or spiritually you’ve got two choices. You can fix the blame, or you can fix the problem. The first step in problem solving the first step toward wholeness is taking responsibility. From there, we begin moving forward.

Here are 10 “IF” STATEMENTS that can help you in the area of taking responsibility for yourself and are worth living by:

• If you do not take ownership of your actions, your actions will eventually own you.

• If you talk too much, people will stop listening. If you don’t talk enough, people will never hear your point of view.

• If you are lazy, you will fail. Laziness will always overshadow your true potential.

• If you hate your job, you also hate half of the time you spend on this planet.

• If you don’t finish what you start, your success rate will always be zero.

• If you don’t learn from your mistakes, you probably aren’t learning much at all.

• If you are not happy, it’s time to change something.

• If you never stare off into the distance, you’ll never get there.

• If you dress a certain way, people will treat you a certain way.

• If you are overly emotional right now, make the decision later.

Blessings on your week as you perhaps choose two or three of the statements in the above list to begin working on. I am so looking forward to being with you all in worship this coming Sunday. I will continue my sermon series: STRAIGHTAHEAD

Pastor Terrell

Coming Soon! IMMERSE: Prophets Bible Studies will be held during August and September. Plan to attend on Tuesday mornings or on Thursday evenings. If you do not have an IMMERSE: Prophets Bible, you can purchase one at church for $5.