If I were to tell you that I am very impressed with the Texas Rangers Baseball team that would be an understatement. Yes, it is true that their 90 wins in the regular season was impressive for this young team. Yes, it is also true that their winning the Division Series against Tampa Bay was impressive. Yes it is exceptionally true that their winning the ACLS over the giant 210 million dollar New York Yankees was most impressive. The fact that this young team is going to the World Series is impressive in so many ways, but that is not what impresses me the most.
For me the most impressive thing about this young team is that they seem to understand the concept of team. It has been awhile in the arena of professional sports that you and I have been able to witness a bunch of highly paid athletes functioning as a team on every level. The players seem to have a very difficult time talking about themselves as individual players. For each player it is all about the team and how great the team is.
One of the most impressive and moving things they have done as a team has been their constant love and respect the team has shown toward their strongest and weakest player. Josh Hamilton is easily the strongest player on team and maybe the entire American League. He is also the weakest because of his addiction to drugs and alcohol. At the moment Josh has his addiction under control by the grace of God and the support of people who hold him accountable. The impressive part about his weakness is how the team supports him and gives him an amazing amount of love and support. During a time when most teams would be popping Champagne bottles this team first reaches for the Ginger Ale for their initial celebration. They do this out of love and respect for their weakest player the great Josh Hamilton.
That is really what each of us is called to do in our Christian walk. You and I are called to love, respect and support those around us who are the weakest among us. In a world that seems to revolve around “self” it is a challenge to remember to put others first and to seek out those who need special help and attention. Paul said it this way in his Philippian letter, “ If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
So let each of us take a lesson from the Texas Rangers and live out the instructions from God to “consider others better than yourself”. Let us find ways to elevate those who are the weakest among us and treat them with love and support. The most important thing you can do each day is to make someone else feel important and special.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Monday, October 18, 2010
Ultimate Sacrifice
This past Friday afternoon I just happened to be at the intersection of Industrial and Airport when the traffic was stopped by three Collin County Constable units. I sat there for awhile wondering what was going on. I thought that was a strange place to stop traffic for no apparent reason. After a minute or two the Constable units were replaced by McKinney police units and then a few motorcycle units drove by and I began to think to myself that something special must be going on, then about that time around fifty bikers with United States of America flags attached drove by. Then I saw the hearse and it hit me, this was the day that Army Pfc. Cody A. Board was coming home. I will never forget this moment in time. What a moving event to witness, the honoring of a young man who gave his life for his country.
Last year this young man was in High School just across the street from our church. He had his whole life ahead of him along with plenty of choices to make about his future. He chose to serve his country. He chose to protect our rights and freedoms as Americans. He chose to put himself in harms way so that you and me would not have to and so you and me could live our life in the way that we chose to live it. On October 4, 2010 Cody A. Board made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
This scene is replayed all over our country from time to time (way too often). A young man or woman who has chosen to serve their country gives their life for their country and they come home in a flag draped coffin. There is an official escort; a full military funeral and the presentation of an American Flag to the parents or spouse along with the sincere appreciation from the Commander and Chief on behave of the nation. Then it’s over…except for the pain and memories of a loved one who has died fighting for a cause much greater than them.
I do not know the family of Cody Board, but I hope they know how much I along with you appreciate the service and sacrifice they have made. Freedom is not free. Freedom comes at great cost and sacrifice. Without men and women who love their country enough to fight for it and die for it we would not have a United States of America. This great nation of ours did not just happen. It happened because millions of men and women have pledged to serve, protect, and fight and if needed die for their country.
The freedom you and I have in Christ was not free either. The victory over death and the promise of eternal life with God came at great cost and sacrifice. For that I will be eternally thankful.
Once you understand the sacrifices made for your life and your eternal life you are never the same. The Stars and Stripes are no longer just a flag to be flown over ball fields and post offices. The Flag is a constant reminder of the high cost of freedom. To a greater degree every time I see a cross I am reminded of the high cost of spiritual freedom. I am reminded of the love Jesus has for me.
My prayer this day is one of thankfulness for all those who have made my life possible and for the One and Only who makes eternal life possible. May I live my life in such a way as to show true appreciation for both.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Last year this young man was in High School just across the street from our church. He had his whole life ahead of him along with plenty of choices to make about his future. He chose to serve his country. He chose to protect our rights and freedoms as Americans. He chose to put himself in harms way so that you and me would not have to and so you and me could live our life in the way that we chose to live it. On October 4, 2010 Cody A. Board made the ultimate sacrifice for his country.
This scene is replayed all over our country from time to time (way too often). A young man or woman who has chosen to serve their country gives their life for their country and they come home in a flag draped coffin. There is an official escort; a full military funeral and the presentation of an American Flag to the parents or spouse along with the sincere appreciation from the Commander and Chief on behave of the nation. Then it’s over…except for the pain and memories of a loved one who has died fighting for a cause much greater than them.
I do not know the family of Cody Board, but I hope they know how much I along with you appreciate the service and sacrifice they have made. Freedom is not free. Freedom comes at great cost and sacrifice. Without men and women who love their country enough to fight for it and die for it we would not have a United States of America. This great nation of ours did not just happen. It happened because millions of men and women have pledged to serve, protect, and fight and if needed die for their country.
The freedom you and I have in Christ was not free either. The victory over death and the promise of eternal life with God came at great cost and sacrifice. For that I will be eternally thankful.
Once you understand the sacrifices made for your life and your eternal life you are never the same. The Stars and Stripes are no longer just a flag to be flown over ball fields and post offices. The Flag is a constant reminder of the high cost of freedom. To a greater degree every time I see a cross I am reminded of the high cost of spiritual freedom. I am reminded of the love Jesus has for me.
My prayer this day is one of thankfulness for all those who have made my life possible and for the One and Only who makes eternal life possible. May I live my life in such a way as to show true appreciation for both.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
New Bulb - No Light
Has this ever happened to you? You change a light bulb and turn on the switch and the new bulb does not work. I am sure that has happened to most of us who have to change light bulbs from time to time and it happened to me just the other day. One of our lights in our bedroom had been out for several days and finally I went to effort to bring the ladder upstairs, which in and of itself is quite a chore. Well, between my wife and me we get the bulb changed and then we notice that the brand new light bulb right out of the box does not work. You know that is just the way life is some times.
Life does not always work the way you think or hope that it should. Even some of the simple things in life can become difficult. Something like changing a light bulb can become a difficult thing. Life is like that. You go through life with little or no problems and then boom! something happens to throw off your whole day or week or even change your life forever.
God promises that we will have difficult days, but he also promises that with faith we will be able to handle whatever comes our way. A burned out light bulb from time to time is just reminder that everything on this earth is temporary. That’s right temporary. You and I are here for just a short time and then our life on this side of eternity is over. It really is an “every second counts” world that we live in. Everything and everyone has a purpose to fulfill. Each person has their own journey or road to travel and you never know what is just ahead over the next hill or around the next curve, but we travel by faith knowing that God will see us through.
What is your purpose in this life? What have you been called to do or become? What are your gifts? What brings true joy to your life? What brings to you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction? Find the answer to those questions, and then set out to do those things in your life. Fulfill your God given purpose.
Jesus came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. As a matter of fact Jesus also said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” So a word to the wise and the unwise, make sure your journey is on that narrow path which has been set out by Jesus. It is the only path that leads to a home with the Father.
Remember, you were called to make a difference in this world. So get with it! Work hard! Serve with passion! Love with all your heart! At the end of your life…come home to the Father. The latch is on the outside and the light is always on.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Life does not always work the way you think or hope that it should. Even some of the simple things in life can become difficult. Something like changing a light bulb can become a difficult thing. Life is like that. You go through life with little or no problems and then boom! something happens to throw off your whole day or week or even change your life forever.
God promises that we will have difficult days, but he also promises that with faith we will be able to handle whatever comes our way. A burned out light bulb from time to time is just reminder that everything on this earth is temporary. That’s right temporary. You and I are here for just a short time and then our life on this side of eternity is over. It really is an “every second counts” world that we live in. Everything and everyone has a purpose to fulfill. Each person has their own journey or road to travel and you never know what is just ahead over the next hill or around the next curve, but we travel by faith knowing that God will see us through.
What is your purpose in this life? What have you been called to do or become? What are your gifts? What brings true joy to your life? What brings to you a sense of fulfillment and satisfaction? Find the answer to those questions, and then set out to do those things in your life. Fulfill your God given purpose.
Jesus came so that we might have life and have it abundantly. As a matter of fact Jesus also said, “I am the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except through me.” So a word to the wise and the unwise, make sure your journey is on that narrow path which has been set out by Jesus. It is the only path that leads to a home with the Father.
Remember, you were called to make a difference in this world. So get with it! Work hard! Serve with passion! Love with all your heart! At the end of your life…come home to the Father. The latch is on the outside and the light is always on.
Love God. Go Love Others.
Monday, October 4, 2010
The Box Score
Baseball is called America’s Past-Time. I must admit that I have really gotten into the Texas Rangers this season. They have been a fun team to watch both on and off the field. The whole “claw” and “antler” thing has give the team and their fans some added fun, but you have to know that all that would not be fun if they were not winning. Time will tell just how good this team really is this year. Baseball is an interesting sport. I don’t know of any other sport that keeps track of statistics the way they do in baseball. The important stat is the win loss record, which for the Ranger this year was 90-72. The game of baseball seems to keep track of everything from the number of At Bats, Runs, Hits, doubles, triples, HR, TB, BB, SO, SB, CS, OBD, SLG and of course the Batting AVG. Then they go further by tracking how well a particular player hits against a certain pitcher while runners are in scoring positions in the bottom of the 9th inning during a day game in the month of September. Yes, they really have those stats and the amazing thing to me is that someone gets paid to keep all those stats. Baseball is America’s Past-Time.
I wonder what it would be like if all of our life was tracked in the same way every detail of baseball is tracked. If we knew how often a salesman made a successful sale on a Monday morning after the Dallas Cowboys won their game on Sunday while the salesman wore his black pants, blue shirt and silver tie? Or if we knew how many times we said things we should not say while driving in traffic during rush hour while being 20 minutes late to work? Or what if all the interactions between our spouse and children were tracked and everyone knew when we acted nice or when we lost our temper or our patience or when we gave our wife flowers. What if all of your life what tracked and posted for everyone to read? The question is would that matter to you? Would it change the way you interacted with your spouse and your children? Would it change the way you acted in traffic or other challenging situations?
Well, to some degree those things are tracked by others. Your spouse and children know what your record is and the people in the grocery store sure know about your personality. And people do get to witness how you drive every morning and afternoon and you can be sure that if it is note worthy someone is telling a story about you.
You and I are called to live our life differently than those around us in this world. We are called to be “lights in a world of darkness”. We are called to make a difference in this world that will change the lives of others forever. So this is a gentle reminder for you and me that people are watching and some of them are keeping score.
Love God. Go Love Others.
I wonder what it would be like if all of our life was tracked in the same way every detail of baseball is tracked. If we knew how often a salesman made a successful sale on a Monday morning after the Dallas Cowboys won their game on Sunday while the salesman wore his black pants, blue shirt and silver tie? Or if we knew how many times we said things we should not say while driving in traffic during rush hour while being 20 minutes late to work? Or what if all the interactions between our spouse and children were tracked and everyone knew when we acted nice or when we lost our temper or our patience or when we gave our wife flowers. What if all of your life what tracked and posted for everyone to read? The question is would that matter to you? Would it change the way you interacted with your spouse and your children? Would it change the way you acted in traffic or other challenging situations?
Well, to some degree those things are tracked by others. Your spouse and children know what your record is and the people in the grocery store sure know about your personality. And people do get to witness how you drive every morning and afternoon and you can be sure that if it is note worthy someone is telling a story about you.
You and I are called to live our life differently than those around us in this world. We are called to be “lights in a world of darkness”. We are called to make a difference in this world that will change the lives of others forever. So this is a gentle reminder for you and me that people are watching and some of them are keeping score.
Love God. Go Love Others.
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