Month: April 2018

I like to find the meaning of words. Maybe someday I can string all of these words into a sentence or even a book. You think? This week, I use the word “practice” which if you do a quick search in google means, “the actual application or use of an idea, belief, or method as opposed to theories.” or “repeated exercise in or performance of an activity to acquire or maintain proficiency in it.” I like the simple phrase “practice makes perfect”. What skills are we practicing?

For example we can become expert liars. Some folks cannot tell the truth as they have become so proficient liars. When they open their mouths, expect a false statement. Perhaps that is our own negative perception or maybe not. Our politicians on both sides of the aisle seem to be very good at speaking falsely depending on what side of the aisle we claim alliance. Other examples of practicing to perfection is baseball. I love to watch our grandsons play baseball as their ages reflect their ability to play the game. Our youngest is just learning to hit from a coaches pitch and run to first base. It is irrelevant at this point whether the ball is caught by the first baseman, as he will be safe regardless. Our second youngest is now hitting off a machine thrown pitch and running to first then second then third then home depending on the quality of fielding by the opposing team. Our oldest grandson is all about hitting homeruns or at least doubles where he can try to steal for home. Occasionally, we get to see the college games where errors are not so often. It is all about time spent to practice as close to perfection as we can get in whatever we choose to practice.

Did you know we are what we practice to be? We can practice sin and fall deeper into darkness. On the other hand, we can practice being more like Christ who was without sin. We can remain in relationship with others aspiring to be more Christ like and sin no more. Can we become completely sinless. I think not but we can strive for perfection. In 1 John 3, we can read the differences in what we practice to make perfect. We can practice sin as in verse 4 or we can remain in relationship to the one who was without sin in verse 6. It is that simple. We can remain in witness to the ultimate peace maker or we hide in the dark and fool ourselves. We are all given a free will but be aware with that gift we must choose wisely and surround ourselves with those who will help us become proficient on the practice field of life.

T

 

We are not living in a static world but a relativity world where standards of absolute are absent. Absolute darkness for example is the total absence of light. Can you imagine being in the total absence of light? There are very few things that are absolute in this world we inhabit. Our air we breath have impurities and our food is full of additives. We adapt to survive. I can get into the deep thoughts of how space and time are relative or how mass is relative to the speed of light and energy but I am sure we all know by heart Einstein’s theory of relativity. Yeah right! Enough of physics!

I would like to keep it simple to say everything is relevant which means everything is connected in some way or the other.  Darkness is the non-existence of light.  It would indeed be a very dark and extremely cold place without light and energy. I believe when we isolate ourselves from the warmth of the light, we are subjecting our whole being into an unnecessary stress. Yet, there are many people living in darkness who can not see that the presence of light will make a huge difference in their existence. Some of us in an effort to be politically correct think that living in darkness is our only possible existence or perhaps we are too proud to reach out for more light. All of us live in an imperfect non-absolute world but many of us live in so much darkness that it consumes our soul.

In 1 John 1:5, the writer says that “God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.” In other words, he is absolute. He is the opposite of darkness that is without light instead he is without darkness. It is our nature to live in the darkness where we can hide with shame but if we do so, we never realize our God given talents to change the world. We are not vampires who are destroyed in the light. Understand, that it may hurt a little to be exposed to the light but without a little pain there will never be any gain. We can live in the light and be cleansed. Take the step of faith in this relativity kind of world and rely on the absolute absence of darkness for your strength.

T

The fact of existing, occurring, or being present in a place is the definition of presence. There is an old hymn called “Were You There” most likely composed by African-American slaves in the 19th century. It was first published in William Eleazar Barton’s 1899 Old Plantation Hymns according to Wikipedia. In the United Methodist Hymnal, credit for the music adaptation was by William Farley Smith in 1986. The lyrics ask the serious question whether we were present during the crucifixion of Jesus. I believe we cannot escape the truth that we may not have been physically present, but we were certainly present in our contempt for all things unknown. One person without doubt who was present and without contempt was Mary Magdalene.

This Mary is not to be confused with the mother of Jesus. She was a Jewish woman that traveled with Jesus, witnessed his crucifixion and was the first to see him resurrected. She may have been a repentant prostitute though not supported by the gospels. She may have been the unknown sinner who anoints Jesus’ feet but also not substantiated as fact. There have been many movies, documentaries, plays, songs, etc. about Mary Magdalene that can lead our imagination to all sorts of conclusions to whom she was. I simply say she was always present. Can we say the same?

In this day at this time, can we remain in the presence? In 1 Corinthians 15:10, Paul says “I am what I am by God’s grace.” He says his grace was not wasted on him as he worked hard to deliver the message because of God’s grace. Do you think that those slaves that composed the lyrics to “Were You There” only doing it to ease their pain or was it there way of delivering the message of hope to all of us? You can read in John 20 and Mark 16 how Mary Magdalene’s presence, in my opinion, is how the message was received by us all. She was a true believer and a woman in a man’s world who was always present.

T

What is the difference between participation and commitment? By definition, participation is the action of taking part in something. Commitment is dedication to a task or purpose. I like bacon and eggs for breakfast. Which animal is truly committed to the cause? Is it the chicken or the pig? I believe life is full of people who participate but less people are truly committed to a cause. Unfortunately, I also believe that there are much more people that neither participate or a true committed person. I know Palm/Passion is behind us as we rejoice in knowing Christ is risen, but I wanted to reflect a little on the passion story.

Mark chapters 14 and 15 are full of those who participated in the story. The man carrying a water jar (14:13) was a man way ahead of his time as it was unheard of a man doing what was considered a woman’s job in those days. Where did he come from and what happened to him? How about the slave who had his ear cut off only to be restored to health (14:47). You think he may have had a change of heart who became a testifier of the truth from that point onward? Of course, who can forget about Barabbas (15:6) that was saved from death by being replaced with an innocent person. I imagine he too became a convert. Then there was Simon (15:21) who was forced to carry the cross. He probably believed his circumstance changed drastically by being at that place at that time. Finally, there was Joseph from Arimathea who dared to approach Pilate (15:43). (Get the book “Christ Commission” by Og Mandino to learn more about the author’s fictional story of Joseph. Maybe true?) I can go on about other characters but I ask you what did these characters have in common? They all were participants in the passion story. Who was the only person truly committed to the cause? During this new season of Easter, may we all remember to be participants in the story but let us give all credit for the one who paid the ultimate price for our everlasting freedom.

T