The memory of the righteous will be a blessing, but the name of the wicked will rot." Proverbs 10:7
That was the passage this week for my Men's LIFE Group that meets in Grayson on Thursday mornings. We had a great discussion, and the passage spoke to me so much I keep thinking about it. I think the first thing we think about is the memory we'll leave behind when we're dead and gone. That's really important. If we could just 'get' what it meant to live with the end in mind instead of the here and now, we'd all leave a much better legacy. But people have memories of us now, too. People we have worked with, waitresses who have served us, cashiers that have scanned our Doritos, friends we had in high school, someone we worked out beside at the gym, even our kids before they got on the bus this morning. We have tons of short memories about what we experienced when we were with people. And they have a memory of us.
Are we living in such a way that THAT memory is a blessing? Or do curses fill their mouths when they think of our name? I don't want my name to be rot in the thoughts of those I encounter. I want my name to bring a smile to their face, not because of anything great about me, but because they felt the love of Christ in my presence. The memory will last much longer than the conversation and even our relationships. This passage from God is simply a reminder that how we interact with others matters deeply. We are leaving behind a legacy. We are giving some kind of meaning to our name. Make a good legacy. Make it a strong name. Make it a memory of someone who was righteous and sold-out to Jesus.
First United Methodist Church of Griffin
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
162 games, 1 season...1 day
It comes down to 1 day for our Atlanta Braves. Literally, it's all going to go down in a span of 24 hours. If the Braves and Cardinals both win or both lose, we'll hop on a plane for St. Louis and play a do or die game. But it could end tonight. It took 161 games later...and it comes down to one last game. We win, they lose and we go to the playoffs. They win, we lose, the Cardinals go to the playoffs.
Now, I say "we" because I'm a Southerner and Southerners love the Braves. My Papa watched the braves in the 70s and 80s when they flat stunk. But he loved them. He lived to see them win the Division and National League in '91, then died in August '92. I remember that I was the only one in my family that stayed up to watch them against the Pirates in '92 when Sid Bream made his famous home plate slide. I think I had to for Papa. Now, I live in the Atlanta area, and the Braves are a part of my culture. Now it's one game for an entire season.
Have you ever had a day like that? I mean, think about it. Have you ever had a day, heck, a span of three stinkin' hours, that will determine if the last year of your life was successful? Most of us don't do life that way. One dinner usually doesn't define your year as a family. One presentation usually doesn't define your year at your job (though it might). For me, one sermon usually doesn't define the year for my ministry (though it could). Those things tend to be more abstract. If the Braves win and the Cards lose, this last year will have been a success. If they the Cards win and the Braves lose, this last year will have been a disappointment. And one of them will have to lose at some point. It's an interesting thing to think about. I thought about what Chipper and the boys must be thinking about this morning when I got up. 161 games...and it's down to this. One game. 9 innings. 27 outs. 4-5 at bats to change history.
Thankfully, you and I don't have many days like that. But you did have one. You don't remember it? You weren't exactly 'there.' Thousands of years of history had defined humanity and threatened to define it thousands more. One day changed everything -- the day Jesus went to the cross. One chance. A few hours on a cross...to change history. It could have gone differently. Jesus could have refused, could have struck everyone there down, could have called on 10,000 angels to rescue Him. He didn't. He pulled out victory, for us, on that final day. Of course, 3 days later, everything changed again. The savior who had died a gruesome death was alive -- again. It was another of those one days.
Maybe you won't clinch a playoff spot today. Maybe you won't change history. None of us will forgive the sin of the world and claim victory over sin and death. But what might we do in one day? Have you taken a moment to thank God for that one day that changed you? Have you asked Him what you might could do in one day.
Go Braves!
Go Astros! (Sorry, Cardinal fans. Jesus loves you, too. I just don't love your team tonight. If it's any consolation, Stan Musial was my Papa's all-time favorite player. But Stan the Man's not playing tonight, Pujols is, so here's to Albert going 0-4!)
Thank you, Jesus, for that one day!
Now, I say "we" because I'm a Southerner and Southerners love the Braves. My Papa watched the braves in the 70s and 80s when they flat stunk. But he loved them. He lived to see them win the Division and National League in '91, then died in August '92. I remember that I was the only one in my family that stayed up to watch them against the Pirates in '92 when Sid Bream made his famous home plate slide. I think I had to for Papa. Now, I live in the Atlanta area, and the Braves are a part of my culture. Now it's one game for an entire season.
Have you ever had a day like that? I mean, think about it. Have you ever had a day, heck, a span of three stinkin' hours, that will determine if the last year of your life was successful? Most of us don't do life that way. One dinner usually doesn't define your year as a family. One presentation usually doesn't define your year at your job (though it might). For me, one sermon usually doesn't define the year for my ministry (though it could). Those things tend to be more abstract. If the Braves win and the Cards lose, this last year will have been a success. If they the Cards win and the Braves lose, this last year will have been a disappointment. And one of them will have to lose at some point. It's an interesting thing to think about. I thought about what Chipper and the boys must be thinking about this morning when I got up. 161 games...and it's down to this. One game. 9 innings. 27 outs. 4-5 at bats to change history.
Thankfully, you and I don't have many days like that. But you did have one. You don't remember it? You weren't exactly 'there.' Thousands of years of history had defined humanity and threatened to define it thousands more. One day changed everything -- the day Jesus went to the cross. One chance. A few hours on a cross...to change history. It could have gone differently. Jesus could have refused, could have struck everyone there down, could have called on 10,000 angels to rescue Him. He didn't. He pulled out victory, for us, on that final day. Of course, 3 days later, everything changed again. The savior who had died a gruesome death was alive -- again. It was another of those one days.
Maybe you won't clinch a playoff spot today. Maybe you won't change history. None of us will forgive the sin of the world and claim victory over sin and death. But what might we do in one day? Have you taken a moment to thank God for that one day that changed you? Have you asked Him what you might could do in one day.
Go Braves!
Go Astros! (Sorry, Cardinal fans. Jesus loves you, too. I just don't love your team tonight. If it's any consolation, Stan Musial was my Papa's all-time favorite player. But Stan the Man's not playing tonight, Pujols is, so here's to Albert going 0-4!)
Thank you, Jesus, for that one day!
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
What's with all this blood?
That was the question I was asking myself as I finished reading through the stories of the plagues over Egypt in Exodus. The first plague turned the Nile to blood. The last plague was the bloodshed of Egyptians and their livestock, and the protective barrier for the people of God was the blood of a lamb on their doorposts. It's a bloody book, probably R rated for violent graphics.
It all goes back to Eden. Remember the serpent? Remember him convincing Adam and Eve to eat the fruit? Remember what God said? The sin of humans caused death to enter the picture. Death. Bloodshed? I wonder if Adam and Eve had even seen blood? They would surely see it now. A whole book later and an entire river was blood. God was right. Death, blood, ugliness, and bleakness had entered the picture because of our sin.
But that is not the end of the story. God always flips the script. It's blood that saves the Hebrews from death in Exodus, it's a sign on their doorpost that they belong to God. And that's what they call in the literary world as 'foreshadowing.' God turned the whole thing around. He's like that. Our sin brought death into the world, and God would use death to make everything right again. The blood of the lambs on the doorpost of the Hebrews was only a snapshot of what God was going to do in Jesus. The blood shed by Jesus would bring forgiveness with it. The death of the Savior would bring life again. If you are like me, you've made your fair share of mistakes, but God has a way of turning our greatest shortcomings and turning them upside down for our good. We brought death and blood into the world, and, yet, the death and blood of Jesus saved us. And his resurrection beat them once and for all.
The blood tells a story. It's a story of redemption. A story of things turning around. A story of how something ugly can become so beautiful. There's a story like that in you if you will let Him turn it around.
It all goes back to Eden. Remember the serpent? Remember him convincing Adam and Eve to eat the fruit? Remember what God said? The sin of humans caused death to enter the picture. Death. Bloodshed? I wonder if Adam and Eve had even seen blood? They would surely see it now. A whole book later and an entire river was blood. God was right. Death, blood, ugliness, and bleakness had entered the picture because of our sin.
But that is not the end of the story. God always flips the script. It's blood that saves the Hebrews from death in Exodus, it's a sign on their doorpost that they belong to God. And that's what they call in the literary world as 'foreshadowing.' God turned the whole thing around. He's like that. Our sin brought death into the world, and God would use death to make everything right again. The blood of the lambs on the doorpost of the Hebrews was only a snapshot of what God was going to do in Jesus. The blood shed by Jesus would bring forgiveness with it. The death of the Savior would bring life again. If you are like me, you've made your fair share of mistakes, but God has a way of turning our greatest shortcomings and turning them upside down for our good. We brought death and blood into the world, and, yet, the death and blood of Jesus saved us. And his resurrection beat them once and for all.
The blood tells a story. It's a story of redemption. A story of things turning around. A story of how something ugly can become so beautiful. There's a story like that in you if you will let Him turn it around.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
It's gonna get worse before it gets better
"You have made us a stench to Pharoah and his officials and have put a sword in their hands to kill us." Exodus 5:21
Those are the words of the Hebrews to Moses after he goes to Pharoah the first time to tell him to let the Hebrews go. They were in slavery. Moses demanded that they be let go so they may worship God. Pharoah not only refused, but made life even more miserable for Israelites. As I read that passage, I thought, "Oh brother, it's going to get worse before it gets better." Often, that's the case. We become so accustomed to the status quo in our lives that we begin to accept it for fear of the pain it will take to break free. The Hebrews got comfortable in slavery. That sounds crazy to us. But, to them it was at least a 'known commodity.' Breaking free would require Pharoah to lash out at them, which they feared would be worse than what they were currently experiencing, and they weren't sure the payoff of life free with God would be worth it. That's because they drastically underestimated how good life with God is. If we really understood it, we'd go through anything to get there. You know, if God is working to get you to a better spot, I want you to know something: it might get worse before it gets better. But the life God has planned for you is worth it. Fight the status quo. Buck the system. Break the chains that are holding you back. You were meant for so much more.
Those are the words of the Hebrews to Moses after he goes to Pharoah the first time to tell him to let the Hebrews go. They were in slavery. Moses demanded that they be let go so they may worship God. Pharoah not only refused, but made life even more miserable for Israelites. As I read that passage, I thought, "Oh brother, it's going to get worse before it gets better." Often, that's the case. We become so accustomed to the status quo in our lives that we begin to accept it for fear of the pain it will take to break free. The Hebrews got comfortable in slavery. That sounds crazy to us. But, to them it was at least a 'known commodity.' Breaking free would require Pharoah to lash out at them, which they feared would be worse than what they were currently experiencing, and they weren't sure the payoff of life free with God would be worth it. That's because they drastically underestimated how good life with God is. If we really understood it, we'd go through anything to get there. You know, if God is working to get you to a better spot, I want you to know something: it might get worse before it gets better. But the life God has planned for you is worth it. Fight the status quo. Buck the system. Break the chains that are holding you back. You were meant for so much more.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Sick
So, I was a pretty sick puppy this weekend. I had some kind of cousin of strep throat. Got some meds in me, and I'm getting good to go, thanks to the doc. I feel good, but sometimes I get reminded that my energy isn't quite what I want it to be. The sickness is still in there...a little. I want to push on ahead, but I know my body is not quite ready.
Often, we try to run in our faith before we are well. Our lives have had a wound, pain, or the sickness of sin. The Great Doctor brings healing, but sometimes we don't let that healing take root long enough. We only get half-well and start running again, and the wound re-opens or sickness comes back. We end up struggling with the same problems we thought we'd overcome or dealing with the same ol' sin we thought we'd defeated.
My doctor told me that I need to make sure and take my antibiotics for the entire 10 days. There's a reason for that. The important time frame is to get me fully well. Have you sat with God and let Him heal you? Did you get a little touch of grace and start running again before you were made whole? Let the Physician heal you, and make sure and take the time to sit with Him before you get out in rat race again. You need to be well, to be whole for him to use you.
Often, we try to run in our faith before we are well. Our lives have had a wound, pain, or the sickness of sin. The Great Doctor brings healing, but sometimes we don't let that healing take root long enough. We only get half-well and start running again, and the wound re-opens or sickness comes back. We end up struggling with the same problems we thought we'd overcome or dealing with the same ol' sin we thought we'd defeated.
My doctor told me that I need to make sure and take my antibiotics for the entire 10 days. There's a reason for that. The important time frame is to get me fully well. Have you sat with God and let Him heal you? Did you get a little touch of grace and start running again before you were made whole? Let the Physician heal you, and make sure and take the time to sit with Him before you get out in rat race again. You need to be well, to be whole for him to use you.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Surprise, surprise!
A couple of weeks ago my wife and I tuned in and watched the movie Country Strong. I had been meaning to watch it for a while. As a side note, Tim McGraw has become a pretty good actor. I like most of the stuff he's done. Anyway, it was deeper and better than I expected, and the ending was very surprising. Movies rarely surprise me at the end. I love it when they do, but it just ended in a way that I didn't see coming.
It's fun when a movie does that; not so much in life. When life doesn't go the way you want it to go or when a situation ends up much differently than you anticipated, it isn't always fun. Life is, invariably, unpredictable. What do you do, then? This is why it's so crucial that our faith is in something, or, rather, someone, who is never changing. Whe life doesn't go the way you imagined, when the world throws you a curveball or when things don't go according to our plan, our hope is in the One who never changes, the One we can count on, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The truth is that we should expect life to surprise us. Life is full of uncertainties. We're traveling on an uneven landscape. It's just the way it is. But no matter how rocky it gets, you can count on God. He can be trusted. You can be sure of Him. That doesn't mean it will always be smooth sailing. It just means that you'll always have a Captain by your side.
It's fun when a movie does that; not so much in life. When life doesn't go the way you want it to go or when a situation ends up much differently than you anticipated, it isn't always fun. Life is, invariably, unpredictable. What do you do, then? This is why it's so crucial that our faith is in something, or, rather, someone, who is never changing. Whe life doesn't go the way you imagined, when the world throws you a curveball or when things don't go according to our plan, our hope is in the One who never changes, the One we can count on, the One who is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.
The truth is that we should expect life to surprise us. Life is full of uncertainties. We're traveling on an uneven landscape. It's just the way it is. But no matter how rocky it gets, you can count on God. He can be trusted. You can be sure of Him. That doesn't mean it will always be smooth sailing. It just means that you'll always have a Captain by your side.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Not Ashamed
We had a Tailgate Sunday this past week where we worship outside, everyone brings a bunch of good food, people grill out and everyone wears their favorite team gear. I wore my Braves hat and shirt. Several people asked me if I was ashamed to wear my UGA gear and wondered why I didn't have it on.
I thought it was a funny comment. Me...ashamed? If you could see my basement, you would know that it is impossible for me to be ashamed to be a Bulldog, no matter how dismal they look on a given Saturday. And, believe me, I've seen some dismal Saturdays recently. I've been to 60 straight games and I'll be at 60 more in a row, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.
But there was another reason I donned my Braves gear instead of my Dawg gear. I never wear my UGA stuff to church. The Deep South is passionate about college football. It's one of my favorite things about living here. I love that sports talk radio shows are talking about football in March. People take it very serious. I don't know many people that love their team more than I love my Dawgs, but it is not worth it for my apparel to get in the way of the message God has given to me. I don't wear UGA stuff at church because I'm representing Christ, and Christ is non-partisan. I think Jesus even loves Gators, Tigers, Jackets, and Volunteers, though I've yet to find the exact verse :)
Some would argue that I'm not being authentic. But I think there's more to it than that. I am being authentic because perceptions matter to me. Even on a fun Sunday, I wouldn't want a fan of a rival team to tune out God because of what I've got on. You think that's outlandish? Then you haven't been to and SEC stadium recently. People care about this stuff...a lot.
It really is about a broader issue. What are we doing to represent Christ the right way? I know I get this wrong a lot, but how we behave in the world is crucial to the Kingdom. The words we say, the house we live in, and the clothes we wear represent Christ in some way. Let us make sure that others know, first and foremost, we are on His team. And let us make sure that nothing is standing in the way of the Gospel.
Of course, I caught so much razzing this year, it makes me want to wear a real doozie of a Bulldog outfit next year!
I thought it was a funny comment. Me...ashamed? If you could see my basement, you would know that it is impossible for me to be ashamed to be a Bulldog, no matter how dismal they look on a given Saturday. And, believe me, I've seen some dismal Saturdays recently. I've been to 60 straight games and I'll be at 60 more in a row, Lord willing and the creek don't rise.
But there was another reason I donned my Braves gear instead of my Dawg gear. I never wear my UGA stuff to church. The Deep South is passionate about college football. It's one of my favorite things about living here. I love that sports talk radio shows are talking about football in March. People take it very serious. I don't know many people that love their team more than I love my Dawgs, but it is not worth it for my apparel to get in the way of the message God has given to me. I don't wear UGA stuff at church because I'm representing Christ, and Christ is non-partisan. I think Jesus even loves Gators, Tigers, Jackets, and Volunteers, though I've yet to find the exact verse :)
Some would argue that I'm not being authentic. But I think there's more to it than that. I am being authentic because perceptions matter to me. Even on a fun Sunday, I wouldn't want a fan of a rival team to tune out God because of what I've got on. You think that's outlandish? Then you haven't been to and SEC stadium recently. People care about this stuff...a lot.
It really is about a broader issue. What are we doing to represent Christ the right way? I know I get this wrong a lot, but how we behave in the world is crucial to the Kingdom. The words we say, the house we live in, and the clothes we wear represent Christ in some way. Let us make sure that others know, first and foremost, we are on His team. And let us make sure that nothing is standing in the way of the Gospel.
Of course, I caught so much razzing this year, it makes me want to wear a real doozie of a Bulldog outfit next year!
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Bad Intentions Sometimes Lead to God's Redemption
"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish
what is now being done, the saving of many lives." Genesis
50:20
This one verse is why the story of Joseph is one of my favorites in the Bible. I just got done reading through Genesis this week, and it always floors me. Sometimes life doesn't go the way you think it should. Sometimes people do things to harm you. Sometimes you get thrown a curveball. But, we serve a Great God. And He is a God who can take any situation, even though it was meant for evil, and flip it around and use it for God. God can redeem. It is part of His nature. He is a redeemer. Perhaps you've been wronged. Perhaps you've fallen on some rough times. Have you prayed about how God might use it for good? One thing that sticks out about Joseph is that he remained faithful at every turn. Even when he had every right to be bitter, mad at God, mad at his family, and think about quitting -- he remained true to God. He trusted God would work it out. He believed their were better days. He thought that following God was worth it, even when it didn't go as planned. God is worth it, and you can trust Him. He can flip our lives around in an instant. He just asks us to be faithful in the face of turmoil.
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