Over the weekend I was watching the US Open. The commentators were talking about one of the lesser known professional golfers, and you could tell that they really didn't know what to say about the man. He was not at the top of the Leader Board. He would not come in first or second. Finally, one of the commentators said, "Well, one thing you can say about him, no matter what - he never quits, and he always finishes strong."

I like that. Never quit - finish strong. When I think about "finishing strong" I am immediately drawn to the scripture where Paul says at the end of his life, "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7). In reading that, it seems that Paul did not want to be disqualified in his "race" because he slowed down or quit. He kept churning and staying with it, and thus prevailed against bigger foes.

There is a story that has passed around for years about a bulldog. The bulldog that was tough and mean, but it was small. One day he trotted down the lane and came to a house where two much bigger dogs lived. They attacked him and got into quite a scrap. The little bulldog had enough and left. The next day, he strutted back down the lane and returned to the same house, where "Round II" commenced. The same result ensued. The bigger dogs got the best of him, and he left. The next day, he came again. And so on it went, until finally it got to the other two big dogs. When they heard that little bulldog snorting and approaching, they were terrorized. They did not want to fight each and every day. That "dogged persistence" is what made them quiver in fright whenever they heard that sound headed their way. The bulldog prevailed simply because he would never quit.

There is something to say about that "dogged persistence". That attitude that that says, no matter what, I will keep on keeping on, doing my part, serving my God. We all meet obstacles in our life, and we all experience struggle, but the difference is in how we respond. The Apostle Paul, and that little bulldog, both resolved not to quit, and that persistence and perseverance is what is expected from us as well. As former President Teddy Roosevelt said, "There has never yet been a man in our history who led a life of ease whose name is worth remembering."

The way to finish strong is quite simple: Don't quit! There is no such thing as "retirement" for a believer. Keep praying, keep practicing, and keep promoting the faith. And remember, as Paul states, "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day?and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing" (2 Timothy 4:8).

Invite someone to church on Sunday.

Bill