Five syringes discarded on the side of a Rocky Mountain road just outside of Boulder, Colo., were not exactly what I expected to see. Yet, as I cycled through some of the most scenic and challenging roads in all of Boulder, the site was unmistakable. I knew that many competitive riders used the high altitudes to train for races; but it appeared that it wasn’t just the altitude that would enhance their performances that day.

The world of sports has taken a beating this year.

In sports today, everything a pro athlete does is under a microscope. Every single day newspaper headlines scream about another athlete who has crashed and burned. Sometimes it's part of their personal life, while other times it's directly related to his or her sport. Either way, we have access to information about virtually everything these athletes do. Their lives are in full view.

If we're honest, I don't think any one of us would want that kind of scrutiny and spotlight on our lives. We all sin. And since our mistakes don't usually make the headlines, it's easy for us to think that we're getting away with them and just sweeping them under the rug. But, like I tell my kids, the truth always comes out.

Have you ever been caught off-guard and missed an opportunity to share your faith? I have. And each time it has happened I have become more determined to “always be prepared.” Peter speaks often of preparation. And he knows that the only way a believer can be fully ready to defend the faith is if he is prepared.

One thing I've realized in my life is that I have great intentions. And I would imagine that the same is true for most of us. We make resolutions, we make commitments, and we set goals that we intend to keep. If we're really good, we even give someone else permission to hold us accountable and make sure that we do the things we say we are going to do.

Most of us truly want to experience God's best. We want to get healthy. We want to honor God with our bodies. We want to take care of His temple. But somehow we just don't get it done. And in our country, we have access to more opportunities than in any other country on the planet. Whether it's information, entertainment, technology or even food, we have convenient access.