Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee, similar to rival areas like Missouri and Kansas. As he was going into a one red light town, ten men who had leprosy, a horrific, contagious skin disease, met him. They stood at a distance and hollered in a loud voice, "Jesus, Master, have pity on us!"

When he saw them, he said, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And as they went, they were cleansed. (Can you imagine seeing your skin heal before your eyes?)

One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice and giving Jesus three claps. He threw himself at Jesus' feet and thanked him, and he was a Samaritan.

Jesus asked, "Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?" Then Jesus said to him, "Rise and go; your faith has made you well." (Luke 17:11-19 with a few additions)

What a tragedy it would be if only 10% of people ever took the time to go give thanks to people who changed their lives. During this month in which our nation celebrates Thanksgiving, I urge you to take the time, go back, and give thanks to people of your past who God has used to change and shape your life. For example, this morning I sent an email to the person who invested two years in my life when I first became a follower of Christ in 1982.

Let's play catch! Your turn to throw!

Back in my baseball days, our team's favorite trash talking statement to an opposing pitcher when we were winning was "Stick a fork in him! He's done!" At least we thought it was hilarious back then.

But do you realize that God does not say that to His children? The apostle Paul declares that God has begun a good work in us and will carry it out to completion (Philippians 1:6). In essence, God says that we are not done. We still have room to grow. We still have room to learn.

Are you a learner? John Wooden, legendary UCLA basketball coach, once declared to his players, "When you are through leanring, you are through!" Do you set goals each year to learn new things? In the past year, what have you learned from God?

Personally, this year has been packed with learning. I have learned how to plant and harvest a vegetable garden. I have learned how to shoot a bow and actually hit a target. I have learned how to shoot clay pigeons with a shotgun. I have learned that father/daughter road trips are a blast! Most importantly, God has taught me how to commit my children back to Him. And I have learned that what God requires of me is not out of reach for me.

If you know Christ, He is not done with you. What are you learning this past year? Let's play catch! It is your turn to throw!