Have you noticed the changes in recent days? The leaves are changing colors and falling off the trees. The temperature is changing. The Texas Rangers are going to the World Series for the first time in their history. My once vibrant tomato plants are now slowly dying. The Mississippi State Bulldogs are ranked for the first time in almost a decade.

Change happens all around us, if we take the time to observe. But the most important part of a change discussion is about whether or not each one of us will make necessary changes in our lives. Leo Tolstoy once said, "Everybody thinks of changing humanity, but nobody changes himself."

As we see changes around us this fall, what needs to change in your life or what changes are you already making? For me, there are a couple of personal changes that are in progress. First, I am living my life with more urgency for the gospel of Christ. I am more urgent in proclaiming the gospel to people. I am more urgent in living the gospel. I am more urgent in pressing others to proclaim and live the gospel. And for me, the gospel in a nutshell is the saving and redemptive work of Christ in all areas of our lives and society.

Second, my prayer life is changing. I am praying scripture more often, especially the Psalms, and it is very refreshing for me and I hope for others as well.

As you notice the leaves changing colors, what is changing in your life for the good of the kingdom of God? Let's play catch! It's your turn to throw!

You are prone to be prejudice. I am prone to be prejudice. People of all races are prone to be prejudice. In this hotly contested political season, racial and prejudice accusations are being thrown by people of all political parties. The sad but comical truth is that all people are prone to prejudice.

Prejudice can be defined as making a judgment beforehand without getting the facts. And aren't we all guilty of doing that frequently or almost daily. For example, you made a judgement about the slow driver in front of you on I-70 before you know the facts. You made a judgment about the person in front of you in the check out line in Price Chopper before you know the facts. You made a judgement about the overweight person before you know the facts. You made a judgement about the single mom before you know the facts. You made a judgement about the good-looking athlete before you know the facts.

Prejudice can lead to horrible attitudes and acts toward people. For example, as a young boy in the deep south I remember seeing the KKK burn a cross in my neighbor's yard just because of prejudice. I remember many people calling me "white trash" because of where I lived and who I spent time with each day.

Prejudice runs deep in my life and in your life; therefore, we have to walk in step with Christ and seek redemption in all areas of our lives. In Christ, we are a new person, the old attitudes and thoughts are gone. One exercise that helps me overcome prejudice is to take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ (Second Corinthians 10:4-5). Another exercise that helps me is to go gather facts before I make a judgement.

There is no doubt that God does not want us showing favoritism or prejudice to others (James 2:1ff). Let us seek to be renewed in Christ each day and seek to be a good imitation of Christ each day.

What exercises do you practice to overcome prejudice? Let's play catch! It's your turn to throw!