Going for Broke

Todd Hoffman just went for it.

Something had to give. His aviation business was about to go bust, so chasing a dream he brought together a few unemployed buddies, outfitted for a gold mining operation, and headed for the Klondike. The American Dream combined with Todd's frontier spirit gave inspiration to sift out gold from them there hills in the Yukon.

Yes, I am one of those 5.5 million viewers that can't wait to get my Gold Rush fix every Sunday night. Todd and the gang can get it done! In spite of the odds, discouragement, breakdowns and frustrations, the Quartz Creek Crew hunkers down and forges toward the goal of the gold. They probably can skin Griz, too. Tough and determined, Todd is going after the dream that his father, Jack went for back in the 80's when he was mining in the Alaskian wilderness.

What is "gold" to you? What is so important to you that no obstacle will prevent you from pursuing your "gold"?

It may be because I have crested 50, but I can think of nothing more valuable than character. It's not the money that matters, but how a man makes it that does. It's not just the words a man speaks, but the content of those words that defines a man's heart. I want my young adult sons and daughter to have the capacity to be financially free and responsible, but I desire for them to be people of character, no matter their net worth. I want that for myself too, by the way! To me, spiritual character is the gold standard.

When Paul prays for his friends, he asks God for this in their behalf; "I pray that you be rooted and established in love. I pray that you may be able to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge." (Ephesians 3:17-19). The kind of love that the Bible speaks of and that Jesus fully revealed and demonstrated is totally selfless. It is the kind of love that willingly lays down self interest, ego and personal want, prefering that the needs of others be first addressed. Bible kind of love is devotedly sacrificial. It's just not human. It's supernatural.

Not only can you experience a God version of "love", you can live it. That is why Paul prayed for this kind of love to for his friends rather than an Escalade. When we realize how deeply we are loved by God, we understand that His affection for us is radically profound. He provides for us grace, at His own expense and as a gift of His kindness. Then His kind of love flows from us to others...even to those that we might not like so much!

God-like character grows over time as we cultivate our relationship with the God Who loves us. Visit www.camdenbc.com and take advantage of a 40 Day Personal Growth Plan that is designed to strengthen your spiritual life and character. Be as resolved as Todd! Do whatever it takes to develop the lasting character qualities that are character gold.

You may find out that you ARE the Gold Mine to others in search of the precious and the priceless.