Just a few more days . . .

I have been keeping myself from posting, only because I have been busy planning for our church's 51st Anniversary Celebration and Homecoming.

Finishing touches are being placed, even as we speak. A great day has been planned. A wonderful celebration is expected. We are anticipating a church full of people who have come for one purpose: to glorify God and recite in each other's hearing what He has been doing among us.

Lots of surprises in store, too. More on that later - after the celebration!

In the world, but not of it

For a long time I envied my friends Joseph, Miriam, Hope, Grace, Melody, Charity, Mary, Nathan, Michael, Matthew, John, Thomas and Martha. These dear friends had their actual names found in the Bible. The closest I got was "whosoever" in John 3:16!

But in John 17:20, Jesus, praying for those He is about to leave, says "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word." There it is! Jesus was praying for me, as I am one of those who believed as a result of the disciples' words about Jesus Christ.

The next verse asks that I would be united to the same purpose, goal and direction as Jesus Himself and the apostles: proclaiming the glory of God to a world that desires to hear nothing contrary to its beliefs. And what was Jesus' request for His disciples (and by extension for me as well)? That we not be taken out of the world, but protected from the evil one, according to verse 15.

Wouldn't it be better if we were kept from the world and its influences? Can I not show God's love without interacting with the unseemly sinful world? The simple answer is NO. As a disciple, my place is to be IN the world without becoming a part OF the world. I must not abandon my place in the world because God has not abandoned His interest in the world, see John 3:16 for proof of this.

So what is my task in this world that I am to be IN and yet OF which I am not to be? My responsibility is to remain in the world as a witness to the Truth of God's Word, not to withdraw from the world, or to disengage myself from the world, or (what would be worse) to be confused for the world. As I proclaim that witness, I must be prepared to receive all the hatred the world will direct toward me, knowing that I am protected by my Heavenly Father, who is acting in response to His Son's request.

Robert Murray McCheyne once stated "If I could hear Christ praying for me in the next room, I would not fear a thousand enemies. But distance makes no difference; He IS praying for me." With such prayers being offered on you behalf, go do what is right and pleasing to Him today.

Does life exist during football season?

One reader asked via email about the philosophy of sports. Specifically, “Why are sports important? Is it reasonable to give one’s life to interest in sports?” This is a great question and a timely one at that. For what it is worth, my fantasy football team won this week. But back to the question at hand: why are sports important?

First, a few areas NOT being discussed here. Yes, folks have a variety of interest that may or may not be understood by others. I am not discussing why some are sports fanatics. I also acknowledge that physical exercise IS profitable. I will also give a nod to the fact that many sports metaphors are used in Scripture. Yes, watching competition is enjoyable; and the better a person competes, the better they are to watch. Face it, would you rather watch Tiger Woods drive off the tee, or me? I guess if it had been a while since you had a really good laugh that left your sides aching and your eyes watering, you might choose to see my swing but that is your mean-spirited sadistic nature showing, isn’t it?

I want to discuss the seeming importance of sports. Notice the word “seeming” and its relationship to sports. I do not know of any area in the world where sports as a whole are more emphasized than here in the US. We devote every spare moment to it; create TV channels to watch others participate; organize leagues to meet with others who are just as enthused with a particular activity. The list goes on. A neutral observer (the proverbial alien dropped in without knowledge of our society) would come away with the impression that we are obsessed with sports and sporting. To what end? Our days are overscheduled, our children over-stimulated, our sidelines packed with over-worked, over-stressed parent / coaches all in the name of activity, sports and its benefit. May I politely ask, “What lasting benefit?” On rare occasions, life can be enriched by sports. But those are the exceptions, not the rule. Some use sports as a means of entry to presenting the gospel; but the sports are serving the gospel. Too often in society, all is subservient to the god of sport.

Another subject to ponder: why is it so important for “my” team to win at the expense of “their” team? It is always curious to hear the MVP thank their Creator for giving them the victory. Please do not misunderstand me, thanks ought to be given; but what about the loser? Did they not pray? Were their prayers not answered? My simplistic answer is this: God is glorifying Himself through various means; some of which are easier to comprehend than others.

How much effort should be devoted to sports? Again, principles of moderation and service come into play. When the line is crossed and activities are being served rather than serving a purpose in life, the activity needs to be curtailed. This serves for your little girl’s soccer team as well as your son’s weight lifting, your spouse’s needlepoint and your own online fantasy teams.

While sports can be exciting and provide moments of diversion and enjoyment, they are meant to supplement life not be the aim and goal of life. Yes, a few individuals excel to the level that they can make a living at entertaining us with their ability; but most of us would do well to realize our limitations – and be willing to limit ourselves to demonstrate our control over life. Life ought not be the control over us.

Having said all of that, please pray for my wife as she begins leading a home school physical education group tomorrow. Sports are good; she knows how to keep them in balance with the rest of life.

Memorial Thoughts

Much will be made this weekend (and has already been made in the days leading up to Monday) of the fifth anniversary of the attacks in New York City, Washington and Pennsylvania. It is important that we remember those 343 members of the NYPD and associated services who bravely lost their lives while attempting to rescue others. It is vital that we not allow ourselves to forget the tremendous breach that was made in our national psyche and sense of security. We ought to give ourselves permission to grieve and remember.

However, we must not automatically relegate the destiny of each soul ushered into eternity on that fateful day to the confines of God's eternal presence and blessing. While their loss was tragic and still brings tears to my eyes, God did not change the standards of entrance into His eternal presence for one day, one minute, one moment.

The real tragedy would be for those of us who remain to pass off considering their eternal souls because we don't want to consider that we face the same fate: death at a time of God's choosing and not our own.

Are you ready?

I find it also remarkably fitting that on the weekend when the nation will focus attention on the "needless tragedy" resulting in the death of over 3,000 innocent civilians, our church family will be focusing our attention on the needed tragic death of one innocent civilian resulting in the possibility of eternal life for the rest of the planet's occupants. This we will do in His remembrance, until He comes!

For Frank . . .

Just in case the centuri0n was wondering, this is where I am right now!Polihale State Park, Kauai, Hawaii (above)
Napali Coast (below)