The place I live is now a zoo. We got a new roommate and with him came a new dog. A young dog. An energetic young dog. His name…. Beethoven. Just kidding, his name is Wyatt.

Before Wyatt, the other two dogs in the house (Squirrel and Katie) lived a life of laying on the couch and pooping in the back yard. Their biggest worry was trying to reach that itch.

This is Squirrel.

This is Katie.

Enter Wyatt

That’s Wyatt and behind him was his dog food bag.

The next picture is some carnage that Wyatt did to my room after kicking the door open and running upstairs to share his mud with me.

Now things are different. At first Squirrel and Katie were annoyed and mad that a new dog was in the house that wanted to play and lick them constantly. Then things started to change, they still hate to be licked and bothered, but now they have a new attitude. They escape the backyard together. In fact, I found all three making a break for it this morning.

Katie is back to turning over trash cans and rummaging through them. Squirrel thinks the carpet mat in the bathroom is HIS bathroom. They are all acting Wyatt’s age and not their own.

Hopefully this is all just a phase that will go away, but it’s been interesting to see the behavior of the other dogs. If iron sharpens iron, then young dogs ruin old dogs behavior.

One last picture. Here’s Wyatt trying to get back through a hole he dug to the neighbors house.

It’s 4th and 3 and your favorite football team lines up to punt the football. You sit back in your chair and accept the fact that it’s the right decision.

But is it?

A new study has come out that says teams should start going for it. The author backed it up with all the statistical information and made a pretty good argument.

Then he said something that hit me like a ton of bricks and it didn’t have to do with just football.

In short, almost all people tend to fear losses far more than they value equivalent gains. In this perspective, a punt is considered the “break-even” decision. A failed conversion attempt is seen as a loss, and a successful attempt is seen as a gain. But the loss is feared disproportionately, and the result is clouded decision-making.

When your favorite football team actually goes for it on 4th down, how nervous are you? I know I am on the edge of my seat. It’s because we know what we are risking. There is something on the line. This is the last chance.

In my Christian walk and even life, how many times have I decided to go with the “break-even” decision? The one that didn’t cause any risk of a “loss” or a “gain.” Just walking through life breaking even…

Thinking back to football games I have watched… the ones I remember most are the ones where risks were taken and much was either lost or gained.

It’s time to start going for it.

The last time I read one of Lucado’s books I was 17 years old. I don’t remember the title or even what it was about, so when I got his newest book, “Fearless” in the mail, I was understandably skeptical. Then I opened it. This book could not have come at a better time in my life. Going through a season of complete change, the word “Fearless” wasn’t in my vocabulary.

Lucado takes each chapter and picks a fear that is common today. Using scripture and personal stories, he tackles fear head on and gives the reader hope in todays frightening world. Whether it is fear of overwhelming challenges or fear of God not being real, Max delivers real and honest answers about each topic.

After reading this book, I was able to do just what the tagline said. I closed the book, sat back and imagined my life without fear. Then I got up and faced my fears head on and surrendered them. I’m not claiming to be fearless, but now I trust more and fear less. So can you and that’s why you should read it.

Jesus Calling by Sarah Young is a daily devotional book written from the perspective of God. Each day there is a short passage that serves as a reminder of God’s love. To be honest, I wasn’t sure of what to expect at first, but each devotional is supported by scripture. I also found that each day served as encouragement to face the trials and temptations that were in my life at the time.

I also have to confess that I prefer “Streams in the Desert” to this devotional. I am more of a narrative person, so I enjoy hearing stories and specific examples of faith demonstrated, but don’t let that deter you. This book is a wonderful encouragement for anyone trying to daily live out the convictions and love of Christ in their life. I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for daily guidance.