[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"\u002Farticles\u002Fcaught-in-the-middle":3,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcaught-in-the-middle-surround":79},{"id":4,"title":5,"author":6,"bibleBooks":8,"body":10,"columnName":61,"date":62,"description":16,"extension":63,"image":64,"meta":65,"minRead":66,"navigation":67,"path":68,"postType":69,"publication":70,"publicationUrl":64,"seo":71,"stem":72,"topics":73,"__hash__":78},"blog\u002Farticles\u002Fcaught-in-the-middle.md","Caught in the Middle",{"name":7},"Dave Faust",[9],"Matthew",{"type":11,"value":12,"toc":57},"minimark",[13,17,25,28,31,39,45,51,54],[14,15,16],"p",{},"Anthony Munoz celebrated his fortieth birthday last month, just a few days after being inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. Even non-football fans were impressed by the induction ceremony. Large, muscular men known for their ability to intimidate and knock others down on the playing field wiped tears from their cheeks as 17-year-old Michael Munoz paid tribute to his dad.",[14,18,19,20,24],{},"\"Thank you for always being there, ",[21,22,23],"span",{},"for"," always being consistent, but most of all, thanks for always being a real person,\" Michael told his dad in front of a crowd of thousands and a national television audience. An All-American in college at USC, then selected to the Pro Bowl for 11 consecutive years, Anthony is widely considered one of the best offensive linemen ever to play professional football. But few honors rival the respect and admiration of one's own children, so tears flowed as young Michael spoke of his dad's love for the Lord and for his family. \"You've been my model. I have learned to say, 'I'm sorry; I was wrong' from you. . . You have modeled humility. . . You've taught me to let my actions speak louder than my words and to make people more important than things. . . . You've shown me how to be a man.\"",[14,26,27],{},"Things don't always turn out so well for athletes and their families. We're more likely to hear about Dennis Rodman's off-court antics or boxer Mike Tyson's earbiting episode than about a faithful family man who phones his wife and kids when he's on road trips and serves his church and community behind the scenes. Baseball great Mickey Mantle was known for living in the fast lane. Before he died in 1995, he told young people, \"Don't be like me.\"",[14,29,30],{},"But famous athletes are really not so different from the rest of us. You may not make millions, but are you tempted to misuse your money? No one may seek your autograph, but are you tempted to kneel before the god of your own pride?",[14,32,33,34,38],{},"Right after he turned 30, Jesus went through a time of testing in the wilderness (Matthew 4:1-11). From Jesus we learn, ",[35,36,37],"em",{},"When you're weary, don't give up."," \"Tell these stones to become bread,\" Satan told Jesus who was hungry after 40 days and nights of fasting. But Jesus refused, for he knew that \"man does not live on bread alone.\"",[14,40,41,44],{},[35,42,43],{},"When you're not tempted, don't yield to physical desires or emotional pressures"," and have an affair, quit going to church, or throw away your faith in God's ability to provide.Trust God to care for you, but don't test his love by doing something foolish. On the pinnacle of the temple, looking down where thousands of worshipers gathered, Satan challenged Jesus, \"If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down\" and let angels \"lift you up in their hands.\" But Jesus refused, choosing to bear a cross rather than to please the crowd.",[14,46,47,50],{},[35,48,49],{},"In your pursuit of success, don't bow down to the wrong master."," You can have all the kingdoms of the world, the devil offered, \"if you will bow down and worship me.\" But Jesus sent the devil away with Scripture ringing in his ears. \"Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.\"",[14,52,53],{},"Jesus' faithfulness sets the example for all of us, and midlifers are no exception. Don't let sin catch you in the middle of your life and sully your past and spoil your future. Instead, midlife can be the perfect time to catch a new fervor for faith and a new zeal for service.",[14,55,56],{},"You may not be inducted into any Hall of Fame, but if you keep your eyes on Jesus and do what's right, someday a grateful church and a grateful family will say \"thanks for staying faithful.\"",{"title":58,"searchDepth":59,"depth":59,"links":60},"",2,[],"From the Editor's Desk","1998-09-27","md",null,{},4,true,"\u002Farticles\u002Fcaught-in-the-middle","column","The Lookout",{"title":5,"description":16},"articles\u002Fcaught-in-the-middle",[74,75,76,77],"Biblical Theology","Church Leadership","Intergenerational Ministry","Spiritual Formation","09THw70BPy1qDt3BK2BayrM8loMvKRU47E5-kcqAmOM",[80,85],{"title":81,"path":82,"stem":83,"description":84,"children":-1},"Can't Stop the Clock","\u002Farticles\u002Fcan-t-stop-the-clock","articles\u002Fcan-t-stop-the-clock","How will you feel at 11:59 p.m. on Friday, December 31, 1999? How will you feel when, like scissor blades, the hands of the clock prepare to snip off the end of another decade, another century, another millennium?",{"title":86,"path":87,"stem":88,"description":89,"children":-1},"Publication: Christian Standard","\u002Farticles\u002Fchristian-standard-article-sam-stone","articles\u002Fchristian-standard-article-sam-stone","*He Made Us Better:*"]