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Program Notes or Transcript

Is winning really everything? In this competitive world, we often get the impression that only those who “win” are successful. Sometimes, it takes the humility of a child to teach us about true success. Stay tuned to Take 5 and learn how to be a real winner. Hello, Doug Flemming your host for another edition of Take 5, produced by the Church of the Nazarene. Before I go on, though, let me remind you that you can be a “winner” with Take 5. Just write to us or call us and you could receive a small token of our friendship.  My email address is radio@wmc-ap.org.  The following story was related to me via email from the mother of a boy named Kenneth. Kenneth was in junior high school and was excited about competing in a day of Special Olympics. While his parents watched proudly from the stands, Kenneth ran and won the first race. He was proud of his ribbon and the cheers from the crowd.  He ran in a second race. Just at the finish line, when he again would have won, he stopped, then stepped off the track. After the race, his parents gently questioned him. “Why did you do that, Kenneth? If you had continued running, you would have won another race.”  Kenneth innocently replied, “But, Mom, I already have a ribbon. Billy didn’t have a ribbon yet.” Kenneth was willing to give up personal glory, applause and reward for the benefit of one other child. Would you be willing to do the same?

Today’s Music: Nothing without Christ, NewSong

What a great example Kenneth of humility and sacrifice. His response is the essence of true success. Jesus gave us another example as described in Philippians 2. We are told to “let our attitudes be the same as that of Christ Jesus, who did not try to hang onto power and glory, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…being obedient to death, even death on the cross.” Friend, Jesus laid down His crown so that you and I could live. He sacrificed His own glory so that we might cross the finish line. He challenges us to treat our fellow men in the same way, with humility and love. A true winner is one who helps others to succeed. May God bless you and keep you running and winning the race.