Good morning and welcome to a brand new work week. Yesterday we were privileged to give testimony of the resurrection of our Savior by attending a service dedicated in His honor. You didn't know that yesterday was a special day of recognition? It was and is every week as we gather on the FIRST day of the week as a local called out assembly who are covenanted together to carry on the work given to us by our Lord. The famous preacher D. L. Moody once observed this: "The difference between listening to a sermon on the radio and attending Church is like the difference between calling your girl on the phone or spending an evening with her." I know for me, being in my place each Sunday has proven to be a blessing and I can testify that it is absolutely the very best way for me to start out a brand new week. But, enough sermonizing so early in the morning, how in the world are you doing anyway on this
Monday, October 25, 2010? People do take their sports seriously don't they? A few weeks ago we had in our metro area the spectacle of a brawl that erupted involving the coaches at a Pee Wee football game. We're talking kids aged 5 to 7 here. We're talking about a video of the entire mess being seen all over the world. We're talking about the league suspending the coaches and teams for the rest of the season. We're talking about a court case where the ruling of the league was first set aside but has now been upheld. Did I mention it is Pee Wee? We don't even have to think about what kind of lessons this sends to these kids.
I suppose we should be glad it's not quite as bad as what's going on in England right now. They have this superstar footballer named Rooney who is leaving his team and may be headed for an arch rival's squad. We think Americans are crazy when it comes to sports, well, across the pond they have had to call out the police to protect Rooney and his family from mobs that descended on his mansion. Some of the banners threatened his life if he signed with the rival city. Their football is soccer and people there are beyond fanatical about it. They even have a category for those who have been banned from the sport for violence. They are called hooligans. (Flash update: Rooney agreed to stay with his current team for a huge amount of money. Is that a surprise or what?) I believe as the world economy continues to falter both here and abroad folks will continue to be wound up about as tight as they can be and at times it will contribute to some bizarre behavior. I can remember when I was much more passionate about sports. I still enjoy watching games or my designated driver in NASCAR but I know better than to become entangled to the extent that it messes with my life. Just a few weeks ago I made the mistake of watching the last five minutes of a college football game where LSU and Florida were playing. That more than 30 minutes to play 5 ended up with LSU winning in an unbelievable comeback which they are well known for. Just a handful of minutes of my time on a Saturday night but it got me so stirred up I was still wide awake at midnight. How stupid is that? This is another reminder of why I try not to put myself in situations where this can happen. You take this as an example from a casual observer and put the passionate fan in my shoes, no wonder there are explosive outcomes from time to time.
Too bad all the energy and passion we devote to sports can't be shared a little in other more meaningful areas of life. I don't begrudge folks their enjoyment but we all could use some balance when it comes to how we devote our time and energy. We've all heard the preachers rail on and on about how folks can be overflowing with excitement for their particular sporting event but can't seem to stay awake during a Church service. That might be an almost too easy point to make but there is a greater truth behind it. Our Savior lamented how that the harvest was overflowing but there was a shortage of willing laborers to work the fields. (See Luke Chapter 10) In order for ministries to be productive we need folks who can become passionate about their work for the Lord. And, as the song says, "Little is much when God is in it." I've observed over the years some little known, behind the scenes ministries where the people involved were excited and motivated to see people helped. The result? Lives are touched. Lives are changed. Lives are enriched. And, more than anything else, God is honored and glorified through His people at work. Uh huh, that's right. Work. The word means just what it means. Our dear Brother James writing in his letter to his scattered flock in the first century had some inspired thoughts on this subject. He implored his readers not to just hear the Word but to be doers. That brings up a good question. Doers of what? He answers that very clearly by saying this: "and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (Read about it in James Chapter 1.) We all should be involved in doing something for our Lord. Something. What something will I do? What something will you do? A good question as we think about the winners and losers from our sports saturated weekend.
Amen. ......More later.
I suppose we should be glad it's not quite as bad as what's going on in England right now. They have this superstar footballer named Rooney who is leaving his team and may be headed for an arch rival's squad. We think Americans are crazy when it comes to sports, well, across the pond they have had to call out the police to protect Rooney and his family from mobs that descended on his mansion. Some of the banners threatened his life if he signed with the rival city. Their football is soccer and people there are beyond fanatical about it. They even have a category for those who have been banned from the sport for violence. They are called hooligans. (Flash update: Rooney agreed to stay with his current team for a huge amount of money. Is that a surprise or what?) I believe as the world economy continues to falter both here and abroad folks will continue to be wound up about as tight as they can be and at times it will contribute to some bizarre behavior. I can remember when I was much more passionate about sports. I still enjoy watching games or my designated driver in NASCAR but I know better than to become entangled to the extent that it messes with my life. Just a few weeks ago I made the mistake of watching the last five minutes of a college football game where LSU and Florida were playing. That more than 30 minutes to play 5 ended up with LSU winning in an unbelievable comeback which they are well known for. Just a handful of minutes of my time on a Saturday night but it got me so stirred up I was still wide awake at midnight. How stupid is that? This is another reminder of why I try not to put myself in situations where this can happen. You take this as an example from a casual observer and put the passionate fan in my shoes, no wonder there are explosive outcomes from time to time.
Too bad all the energy and passion we devote to sports can't be shared a little in other more meaningful areas of life. I don't begrudge folks their enjoyment but we all could use some balance when it comes to how we devote our time and energy. We've all heard the preachers rail on and on about how folks can be overflowing with excitement for their particular sporting event but can't seem to stay awake during a Church service. That might be an almost too easy point to make but there is a greater truth behind it. Our Savior lamented how that the harvest was overflowing but there was a shortage of willing laborers to work the fields. (See Luke Chapter 10) In order for ministries to be productive we need folks who can become passionate about their work for the Lord. And, as the song says, "Little is much when God is in it." I've observed over the years some little known, behind the scenes ministries where the people involved were excited and motivated to see people helped. The result? Lives are touched. Lives are changed. Lives are enriched. And, more than anything else, God is honored and glorified through His people at work. Uh huh, that's right. Work. The word means just what it means. Our dear Brother James writing in his letter to his scattered flock in the first century had some inspired thoughts on this subject. He implored his readers not to just hear the Word but to be doers. That brings up a good question. Doers of what? He answers that very clearly by saying this: "and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does." (Read about it in James Chapter 1.) We all should be involved in doing something for our Lord. Something. What something will I do? What something will you do? A good question as we think about the winners and losers from our sports saturated weekend. Amen. ......More later.
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