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Max Lucado
Max Lee Lucado (1955–present). Born on January 11, 1955, in San Angelo, Texas, to Jack and Thelma Lucado, Max Lucado is an American pastor, author, and speaker renowned for his inspirational preaching and bestselling books. The youngest of four children, he grew up in a Church of Christ family, initially rebellious until converting to Christianity at 20 during a summer mission trip with Abilene Christian University, where he earned a BA in Mass Communications (1977) and an MA in Biblical Studies (1980). Ordained in the Church of Christ, he served as associate pastor at Central Church of Christ in Miami, Florida (1980–1983), and as senior pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas (1988–2007), transitioning to a teaching minister role until 2020. Lucado’s sermons, blending storytelling with biblical truth, emphasize God’s grace and hope, reaching millions through radio (UpWords), podcasts, and speaking engagements. He has authored over 145 books, selling 150 million copies, including He Chose the Nails (2000), Traveling Light (2001), You Are Special (1997, children’s), and Anxious for Nothing (2017), translated into 54 languages. Married to Denalyn since 1981, he has three daughters—Jenna, Andrea, and Sara—and one granddaughter. Diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm in 2021, he continues writing from San Antonio. Lucado said, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.”
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Max Lucado delivers a powerful sermon on the dangers of self-promotion, self-preservation, and self-centeredness, emphasizing the chaos and lack of harmony that such a mindset brings. He paints a vivid picture of an orchestra where each musician plays for themselves, resulting in a cacophony rather than a beautiful symphony. Lucado challenges listeners to shift from a 'me-centered' life to a God-centered life, where playing the music the Maestro (God) has given us becomes our highest priority, leading to harmony in families, businesses, and personal well-being.
A Selfish Symphony?
Self-promotion. Self-preservation. Self-centeredness. It's all about me! Everyone told us it was all about us, didn't they? Weren't we urged to look out for number one? Find our place in the sun? Make a name for ourselves? We thought self-celebration would make us happy... But what chaos this philosophy creates. What if a symphony employed such an outlook? Can you imagine an orchestra with an "It's all about me" approach to music? Each artist clamoring for self-expression. Tubas blasting nonstop. Percussionists pounding to get attention. The cellist shoving the flutist out of the center-stage chair. The trumpeter standing atop the directors' stool tooting his horn. The sheet music is disregarded. The director is ignored. What do you have but an endless tune-up session! Harmony? Hardly. Happiness? Are the musicians happy to be in the group? Not at all. Who enjoys contributing to a cacophony? You don't. We don't. We were not made to live this way. But aren't we guilty of doing just that? No wonder our homes are so noisy, businesses so stress-filled, government so cut-throat and harmony so rare. If you think it's all about you and I think it's all about me, we have no hope for a melody. We've chased so many skinny rabbits that we've missed the fat one: the God-centered life. What would happen if we took our place and played our parts? If we played the music the Maestro gave us to play? If we made His song our highest priority? Would we see a change in families? We'd certainly hear a change. Less, "Here is what I want!" More, "What do you suppose God wants?" What if a businessman took that approach? Goals of money and name-making, he'd shelve. God-reflecting would dominate. And your body? Ptolemistic thinking says, "It's mine, enjoy it." God-centered thinking acknowledges, "It's God's, respect it." Talk about a healthy shift. Life makes more sense when we accept our place. The God-centered life works. And it rescues us from a life that doesn't.
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Max Lee Lucado (1955–present). Born on January 11, 1955, in San Angelo, Texas, to Jack and Thelma Lucado, Max Lucado is an American pastor, author, and speaker renowned for his inspirational preaching and bestselling books. The youngest of four children, he grew up in a Church of Christ family, initially rebellious until converting to Christianity at 20 during a summer mission trip with Abilene Christian University, where he earned a BA in Mass Communications (1977) and an MA in Biblical Studies (1980). Ordained in the Church of Christ, he served as associate pastor at Central Church of Christ in Miami, Florida (1980–1983), and as senior pastor at Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas (1988–2007), transitioning to a teaching minister role until 2020. Lucado’s sermons, blending storytelling with biblical truth, emphasize God’s grace and hope, reaching millions through radio (UpWords), podcasts, and speaking engagements. He has authored over 145 books, selling 150 million copies, including He Chose the Nails (2000), Traveling Light (2001), You Are Special (1997, children’s), and Anxious for Nothing (2017), translated into 54 languages. Married to Denalyn since 1981, he has three daughters—Jenna, Andrea, and Sara—and one granddaughter. Diagnosed with an ascending aortic aneurysm in 2021, he continues writing from San Antonio. Lucado said, “God loves you just the way you are, but He refuses to leave you that way.”