I won a cool trophy for a model car that I built when I was around junior high school age.</p><p>The contest was held at Ernie's Toyland in Marysville, California. Some of my friends entered their model cars too. At that time my dad was manager of the United California Bank located across the street from Ernie's.</p><p>The car I built was the model of Big Daddy Ed Roth's Outlaw by the model car maker Revell. It had a lot of decals and I did a good job of getting them all on straight. Then I made a display stand for the Outlaw that set it off nicely.</p><p>I was delighted that I received one of the first place trophies. However, the next day at school I overheard one of my friends say, "Parker won because his dad knows Ernie."</p><p>At first I didn't quite get the slur. I thought I'd won fair and square. But over time I began to wonder if they were right.</p><p>Then I remembered that I'd also made the little league team the year before and knew that I wasn't a very good player. But my classmate Robert didn't get picked for a team and he was a way better baseball player than me! I least I thought so.</p><p>He was quite upset that I'd made a team while he hadn't. He let me know of his displeasure the next day at school. I liked Robert and didn't get why he hadn't been selected.</p><p>As I pondered this I recalled that my dad knew some of the men that made the player selections. And I did some more wondering.</p><p>But as I write this I'm not recalling any other times where Dad did such things. He was a believer in hard work, self-achievement, and attending, as he put it, "the school of hard knocks!" So it's seems out of character for him.</p><p>Maybe I just had some jealous friends. They weren't happy about my successes, that's for sure.</p><p>I know of one prize that I really want to win by God's grace. I want Jesus to say to me one day, "Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!" (Matthew 25:23)</p><p>Hearing him say, "Well done." will make all other prizes, earned or otherwise, pale in comparison.</p><p>There's a Bible promise that tells me it can happen. It says, "God who has begun a good work in you will complete (perform, finish) it unto the day of Jesus Christ!" (Philippians 1:6) Plus there's another verse that says, Jesus is "the Author and Finisher of my faith." (Hebrews 12:3) and yet again, "Faithful is he that calls you who also will do it!" (Hebrews 13:5)</p><p>Maybe getting some help from a Father isn't so bad after all. Thank you, Lord!</p><p>John Parker is the pastor of ChristChurch, located at 260 N. Sixth Street in Chowchilla. Phone: (559) 665-2093. Email: <a href="mailto:john@plugintolife.com">john@plugintolife.com</a>