"DON'T BE A MEANIE, BUY A WEINIE"

Tommy ( I used to know his last name) sold hot dogs at St. Petersburg, Florida, St. Louis Cardinals Spring Training ball park. Al Lang Field it was called.

A wonderful man with a wonderful sense of humor. An elderly Black Man, I don't think he would have referred to himself as African American. Why? Gosh, I'm not sure he ever saw color on anyone. And I know he loved his country and would not want to emphasize any differnces or boundaries.

A diabetic, a disease which took his life all too soon, he made many people laugh and forget their problems for awhile at the ballgame. "Ice cold hot dogs for sale," he'd yell out in that loud voice that would carry all over the park. He'd laugh. He'd sing.

Blessed wth a beautiful voice, Tommy would sing. He sold hot dogs, but he was an entertainer. "East Side, West Side, All Around the Town," was one of his favorites. Along with "God, Bless America," and of course "Take Me out to the Ballgame." But my favorite was "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands," and when I spotted this picture, I thought of Tommy.

Oh, I didn't know him well. You know, that's not right. I did know him well. He just didn't know me by name. Twice a year for seven or eight years doesn't allow much time or opportunity for a relationship to develop. But I had observed him and saw the love he openly displayed for the Lord. He didn't hide his light under a basket.

I'd love to hear him sing again. And I'm sure I will. I'll just have to wait awhile. Then I can listen to Tommy for as long as I like.

LEAF HIM ALONE

Why the leaves, I don't know. But the horns are a dead giveaway. So I say, "Leaf him alone".

Scripture tells us in 2 Cor. 5:17 "Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away." The best thing about that is that Satan no more has dominion in our lives. Sure, we'll still sin because we're still human. But we're forgiven for our past, present, and future sins because of the death of Jesus on the cross. We don't go out to sin intentionally because we know we'll be forgiven. We don't want to, we don't have the desire to follow the ways of Satan. That's in the past.

But the evil one is sly. He evidently loves a good challenge. He seems to try harder to bring down evangelical leaders, preachers, other leaders in churches. He never rests.

We have to vow that while "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Rom. 3:23), we will "keep on keeping on" as former pastor J. R. Janese would say. Or "press on" as former SBC Pastor Greg would say. Or as Jesus Himself said during his 40 days in the desert, "Get thee behind me Satan".

NOW IS THE TIME TO WORSHIP

Want alzo lief God de wereld gehad, dat Hij zijn eniggeboren Zoon gegeven heeft, opdat een ieder, die in Hem gelooft, niet verloren ga, maar eeuwig leven hebbe.

That's Dutch. It's the most famous verse in scripture. It's the first verse perhaps many memorized. It's been translated into more than 1, 100 languages according to the Gideons International, founded in 1898.

That verse in itself, if a person never knew another one from the Holy Bible, is enough to worship the Lord. It sums up the gospel. It sums up the message to a lost world.

Oh there's so much more. Everytime I read scripture I find something new. Something I overlooked. Or something God withheld from me the first, second, or ninety time through. But in a nutshell John 3:16 is the key.

RETURN IS BETTER THAN REVENGE

They never made this movie. They changed the title to Return of the Jedi. I never read or heard why. I'm glad they did.

We hear enough about revenge in the world today anyway(s). And revenge is so temporary even if we feel we have achieved it. If we are honest with ourselves, we know we never achieved it. It doesn't work that way.

This year, the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals (I love that sound) went to Detroit to play the American League Champs in an inter-league series. The Cardinals beat the favored Tigers 4 games to 1 in the 2006 World Series, so journalists and announcers were talking about the revenge factor in the series. The Tigers swept all three games. But you know what? They didn't win the 2007 World Series by doing it. And even if both teams make it to the World Series again this season, it wouldn't be revenge for the Tigers to win it. God made it that way. He's the only one to enact revenge, and He can do it right.

For us to try is a natural human reaction. For us to forgive and move on is not. Lots of things that aren't easy are worth it. Let's try to please the Father and leave revenge up to Him.

GLORY DAYS

If you read my other blog, On The QT, you know I'm in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, this week. When yesterday morning's temp reached 35 degree, it represented about an 80 degree difference from what I'm used to. And it reminded me of Jerusalem.

Not the temperature, but the variety. Just below Calvary lies Skull Hill. Just below, or adjacent to these, is the Garden and the Tomb where many say Jesus lay, and of course, rose. Others cite the Church of the Holy Sepulcher as the place where Jesus was buried. And if they're right, well, the Garden is still a spectacular spot.

When we visited the Garden last April, 26 of us, mostly from our church, friend Jeff Wilkinson and I had the same thought at just about the same time. You see, in the Garden were a variety of groups from different nationalities. As we were taking communion, you could hear singing by a few other groups. Jeff said, "This is what Heaven's going to be like. All God's people, different in how they look and speak, praising Him."

"That's just what I was thinking," I shared.

And that's what I thought of when I first saw the Tetons. God's magnificent creation. From the saguaros of the Southwest to the mountain tops, still covered with snow, in the Wild West of Wyoming. Different kinds of beauty that God has created. How can one walk on the beach of an ocean and not think of the Maker? Or see a sunrise over Papago Park? Or a multi-colored, multi-formed sunset? They are there for us to enjoy. They illustrate God's glory. And magnificence.

"THE TREES IN THE FIELDS WILL CLAP"

Another theory I have about current church music is based on the MTV high school loyalty and visiting other churches. Read on, faithful reader(s) to see how these fit together.

John Cruiser was a great Athletic Director at the high school. He was the first full time AD with no teaching load. But he had a load having to attend the various activities and games for a growing athletic department featuring both boys and girls sports. He is also responsible for beginning my announcing career which spanned 35 seasons in varsity football, basketball, and baseball. But that's a sidebar.

A guy who would have made a terrific athletic coach, W. F. Beckmeyer, known simply as Beck, was MTV's Music Dept. head for many years. While not writing the high school loyalty, he arranged it musically into one of the best around. It was original, catchy, and revered by many over the years. In the early 80's, one could see AD Cruiser on the gym floor of the varsity games clapping to the tune. I don't know if he knew the words, didn't want to sing, didn't like to sing but wanted to show respect, but he simply clapped to the beat. Others followed suit. Soon, students didn't know the words to the loyalty any longer, but they could clap it.

When I was less mature as a Christian and we were on vacation, that's what we did--vacate the church. We simply didn't choose to attend. What a mistake! When we're on vacation now, even a cruise, we seek a church or will lead the service as we did in South America in January. We have had some great experiences attending churches in Jerusalem, Australia, Boca Raton, etc. If it's Sunday, you'll find us skipping no more church if at all possible. What we have noticed at some, certainly not all churches we visit is that there's usually clapping. Sometimes in the place of singing, sometimes along with singing. Our son's church in MTV and our daughter's current church in San Diego probably do both as well as any. Many though drown out the words with the clapping.

So my final thoughts on church music are not to let the clapping take the place of the words as in the high school loyalty. My rule would be if you're going to clap, you must sing, too. Otherwise, please keep your hands to yourself.

THERE'S ENOUGH BLAME TO GO AROUND

There usually is you know. So what does this old picture of Lucille Ball have to do with a Christian blog? Well, you see it's all about music in churches today.

The two camps are Traditional Hymns versus Praise Songs. It is a very serious debate, causing long time members to leave their home churches because of the selection of music in the worship service. In addition, it has caused numerous churches to hold two services on Sunday morning to please churchgoers' preference in music.

You might think I'd prefer the traditional. You're right, for the most part. But I love some of the praise songs and have my car radio set on KLOV and other stations promoting the newer Christian music artists. For Father's Day I received a Mercy Me CD featuring "I Can Only Imagine", simply one of the greatest songs ever. So I guess I'm more of a blend type guy, because I really like how our 200 men in BSF sound when singing the traditional hymns.

While not blessed with the greatest singing voices, my wife and I sing every Sunday in church regardless of the type of music. We're about praising God and making a joyful noise. Certainly we have our preferences, but the music is all good, so why the hassle?

And now we get to Lucille Ball. She was of my generation; actually prior to my generation. A generation that never had praise songs. She's still popular in syndication, along with a bevy of others. Classics, do wop, the 60's, all are still very popular and played in malls and other places as an almost mood music type thing. While the Top Forty was important, at least popular, in my generation, it's non-existent for today's listeners. So my theory is that younger listeners want something that was their own. They turned to gospel, or Christian music. Amy Grant, Casting Crowns, et. al., sprung up and were highly successful. Finally, the generation after me had a voice. And it's a great voice. Unfortunately, it's also divisive.

Praise song artists are booming. So much in fact that I'm afraid that it's hurting its audience by over producing. What I mean is, in order to stay current, worship leaders present/teach new songs during worship services to an overly saturated audience. And that may be where part of the problem is. We like repetition whether in praise songs or hymns. The younger ones want new material and tire of repetition.

There are no answers here, just opinions based on hypothesis, offered to smooth the rift. Tomorrow I'll have yet another theory about church music. But for now, please pray about how you can support your music program at church, keeping God at the center of worship.

"WE BRING THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE"

"For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it."(NIV) The Message, crafted to present the ideas in everyday language, describes Jesus' words as, "Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self."

If this present life is your focus, then you'll miss out on so much. You'll be absorbed in yourself and your daily, weekly, even monthly activities. You'll be somewhat at least Hedonistic, living only for your own pleasure. If you take no risks, no chances for Jesus; that is, if you play it safe and seek pleasure and acceptance of men, then you are sacrificing the hereafter for now. The spiritual for the material. But if you're living for Jesus, you're serving others, loving others as we are told to do.

In baseball there's a pitching category called holds. Middle relievers, not closers, strive for the hold which means when they came into the game, their team was winning. When they finished their allotted inning(s) of pitching, their team was still ahead because the pitcher held the lead. Thus, he earned a hold. It's easy to hold on to this world. There are tons of attractions and distractions.

Sometime we have to lose (this world) and let go in order to achieve the victory for Jesus. And, to me, that's what Luke 9: 24 means. I'm trying to be a loser.

NO DISRESPECT INTENDED

"I am what I am

And that's all that I am

I'm Popeye the Sailor Man."

It's a great little ditty. "I am what I am" today has become "it is what it is". But while the former may be somewhat self-absorbing, the latter is simply fatalistic. Even though Popeye tries to lessen his importance by his disclaimer "and that's all that I am," he still misses the mark.

The Great I Am is none other than God. He uses those exact words in Exodus 3:14 when Moses asked God's name. You see, Moses needed proof that he had indeed spoken with the God of Israel. Yahweh, a derivative of I Am, gave him 3 signs. Moses' staff turned into a snake and back to a staff again; Moses' hand became leprous when he put his hand in his cloak, but when he it out again it was restored. And to top it off, Moses was to take water from the Nile (if the Egyptians were still in a state of denile) and sprinkle it on the ground where it would turn to blood.

The Great I AM is eternal and unchanging. Popeye and Bluto may be on re-runs for a long, long time--look at I Love Lucy, but they'll never be for eternity. There's only One and as He told Moses, all the generations will know Him as the Great I Am.

WE'LL GET A NEW BODY, YOU KNOW

Hopefully when we're called home to be with the Lord, our resurrection body won't look like Homer Simpson. But it will be in the future, and if that's what God wants for us, then He knows best.

But what do we know about our resurrection bodies? 1Cor. 15: 35-58 addresses the raising of the dead. Paul tells us that we will be recognizable in our resurrected bodies, but they will be better than we can imagine. So I guess we won't be looking like a Simpson after all. They'll not break down ever. (Phil 3:21) The best thing of all--they'll be bodies like that of Jesus.

What kind of body is that? A spiritual body for eternity. From what I understand, we will look somewhat like we do in our natural bodies, but we will be changed. "In a twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet, the dead will be raised imperishable...( 1Cor 15:52) Imperishable is the key, or at least one of the keys.

Whatever kind of body we were blessed with on earth (and what we did with it by good or bad habits) still was created from dust. Our resurrected bodies will be made from heaven. I know I like that better.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE EYE SURGERY

Just to sharpen our focus.

My eye surgery occurred when I retired and tired of wearing glasses sought a surgeon. Rather than the laser surgery, he performed something close to abrasion surgery. He used a laser, but my retina was not cut or flapped. He sorta reshaped my eyeballs. One for long distance seeing and one for close reading.

As Christians, our focus must be on Jesus. We are aliens in this world (John 17:14) and therefore, why let our attention be here. So how do set our sights on eternal things?

Since we live in this world, that's not going to be possible 100% of the time. Or even 50%. So what we must do is to live with a purpose ( don't forget Rick Warren's A Purpose Driven Life) and that purpose is to live for the glory of the Lord. What that means is quite simply to accept that God is the one in control of our lives. He has a perfect plan for our lives. When we are submissive to Him, we are pleasing to Him. When we follow Him, we give Him the glory. And that's the only way to glorify God.

In our daily lives, then, we need to show that we are salt (Luke 14:34). We don't need to blend in with the world. As salt preserves as well as flavors, we need to preserve good and add flavor to life. We need to show off God, literally. To show that we have a heart for God. How do we have a heart for God? John Calvin says, "when we go in the name of the Son". If people see us in our daily lives and can't tell that we are Christians, then we've failed. If we're living for the kingdom, it will be apparent.

While I was recovering, I couldn't read, couln't watch even big screen tv because I could see were blurs. And that's often the way it is when we take our first steps as followers of Jesus.

Our pastor sees it as a progression from seeker to student, from student to server, and from server to shepherd. What separates one from the other is often time simply our focus.

WILSON REVISITED

Remember Castaway, the Tom Hanks movie a few years back where he found a Wilson volleyball? It kept him company while he waited to be rescued from an uninhabited isle.

I watched a 1958 sermon from the Rev. Billy Graham the other night and he made a point that I was unaware of. He said many joke about going to hell, saying "well at least I'll have a lot of friends there". Maybe so, Rev. Graham said, but you won't see them. He added, you won't even see the devil. You'll not only be separated from God; you'll be separated from everyone. You'll be all alone for eternity.

So what else do we know about hell, Hades (Rev 1:18), Sheol, the lake of fire, or Gehenna? All are referred to in scripture as a place generally thought to be under the earth. The one exception could be Gehenna in the Valley of Hinnom near Jerusalem where children were sacrificed to pagan gods (2 Kgs 23:10).

We also know it's for eternity. An eternity separated from God because of rebellion or refusal or denial. It's the biggest mistake a person ever makes. I started to compare it to not being invited to a party and sitting at home alone knowing how much fun everyone else was having there. But it's so much worse than that.

And to think, in hell you won't even have Wilson.

NOTHING GOLD CAN STAY, BUT GOD IS MONEY

First, let me explain. My favorite all time poem is Robert Frost's short poem "Nothing Gold Can Stay".

It goes like this, well not really--it is this

Nature's first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her earthly leaf's a flower,

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf,

So Eden sank to grief.

Dawn goes down today,

Nothing gold can stay.

I love the simplicity of saying that nothing valuable, nothing even perfect like the Garden of Eden lasts. Nothing that is but Our Lord. And He's money.

Money's a slang term used by others who aren't money. What that means is that in a pressure situation, when the game's on the line, the person you want to come up to the plate, take the last shot, sink the putt, or carry the ball is the one who performs exceptionally well in those situations. Money himself or herself never thinks that way: they just want to be the one. They are relaxed. They've been there before.

So who's money? So who can stay? The triune God, and that's who.

Matt 3:16-17 "As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on Him. And a voice from heaven said, 'This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased'." God in three persons in two beautiful verses of scripture.

God is money. God is gold.

"THANK YOU, GOD FOR THE COLOR PURPLE"

Good friend Lori Crawford started a Prayer Works ministry at our church three weeks ago. Approximately 20 of us meet 30 minutes before our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship nee Sunday School class) starts.

We pray according to ACTS. A represents adoration that we give to the Father; C for confession (done on our own afterwards), T for thanksgiving, and S for supplication or petition. It's really been a blessing to me and has helped me in just a short time frame to "grow wise". Grow in the Word, in the spirit. Grow wise, not in knowledge but in the discernment I receive from the Lord.

Yesterday, in the Thanksgiving portion, I prayed "Thank you God for the color purple". I didn't stop there. "That was a prayer our granddaughter prayed once, and I thank you for the teachers that taught her all blessings come from you."

We're told in scripture that the little children will lead us ( Is 11:6). Thanks, Amelia for your discernment. You don't have to be old to be wise.

THE LOOK

From teachers, parents, and spouses we've gotten "the Look". It invariably means You're busted, You're caught, You've really, really disappointed me.

It's so much more than the look from the eyes on a butterfly's wing. It bores deep into your soul.

THE LOOK of all time had to have occurred just outside Caiaphas' house in Jerusalem. Jesus had told Peter he would deny Him three times. Peter objected. He truly loved His Lord. Yet after he cut off Malchus' right ear when they came to arrest Jesus in the Garden at Getsemene (John 18: 10) he did just that. And after the third denial, the rooster crowed as Jesus had told him.

On his way to Caiaphas' house for the second trial, Jesus had His hands bound behind Him. And He looked directly at Peter. (Luke 22:61-62). It completed Peter's total humiliation.

I never want my Lord to look at me that way. Oh, I know I disappoint Him daily, but He's also a forgiving Lord. And if Peter repented and asked forgiveness, scripture tells us he was forgiven. But I imagine he never forgot THE LOOK.

"GIVE PEACE A CHANCE"

The Beatles first told us that in lyrics many years ago. Ok, I'm sure they weren't the first. Also, while I'm at it, I know this bird is not a dove. It was the perfect picture for this post, and that's why I chose it.

The non-descript white bird initially looks peaceful. Yet upon closer inspection, he looks a little fraggled. That's the bird of peace for this world, where our peace is transitory at best. The peace that God gives is the peace of the dove. It's calming. It's so lasting, it's eternal. Receiving God's gracious gift of salvation brings us peace (Rom 5:1) But the peace of the moment, the peace in this life is such a blessing as well.

How is this peace achieved? By turning over control. By giving control to God, we relieve quite a burden. What's more is that that is exactly what God wants. His peace will guard us against those forces that we have no control over anyway(s). For instance, I could easily get upset when I look at the slate of candidates vying to be our President in 2008. When I catch part of the debate on tv, I find my blood pressure rising. I need the calmness that only God can provide.

Jesus is even called the Prince of Peace (Isa 9:6). By accepting Him as Lord and Savior and turning over our lives to God, we'll secure that peace. Don't get me wrong--there'll be plenty of valleys in this life. But we'll know where can find "Peace in the Valley".

ASEA WITH NOAH



Noah's only mentioned in Genesis. Yet his story is one of faith, endurance, and patience.



We've all felt uncomfortable is different settings. We've all felt that we stood out in the crowd or were so buried in the crowd that no one could find us. But can you imagine ever being in a world where only you and your family worshipped God?



Where God spoke directly to you? And told you to build a huge ark, 3 stories high, in the middle of a desert? And it would take you 120 years to build it?(Gen 6:3) We simply can't envision that scene. Yet time and time again God proves all things are possible through Him.



Including the animals instinctively going to the ark (Gen 6:20). And after 150 days of rain, which had never occurred before the Flood, and one year and 17 days at sea, Noah was let out of the ark. God Himself had shut Noah in the ark and he waited patiently for God's perfect timing before he was allowed to leave the ark.



There are so many applications of Noah and the Flood to us today. From Psalm 31:20, just allow God to shut you in and protect you from the things of this world that can harm you. But before He can shut you in, you must first come to Him. Don't wait. Even in Noah's time we're told that people were eating and drinking and getting married right up until the time of the Flood. Be ready: be right with God.

BETTER THAN WE DESERVE

One of my best buddies ever was Sam. A science teacher, he was kind and understanding. Also a teacher of adults in computer skills, he was unmatched. But he could zing you with one line and perhaps his favorite occurred on the golf course.

I don't think the expression was born on this shot, but he used it early and often. On an approach shot to a par five, I hit a terrible slice that veered way right, struck some concrete slabs that had once been tile for a ditch or cart path and careened onto the green. Naturally Sam was there with the line, "That's better than you deserved." He had just the right amount of sarcasm in his tone that made you feel guilty about your good fortune.

But God does that to us all the time. And without the sarcasm. He gives us better than we could ever deserve or earn on our own. Praise God for that, for no one should want what we deserve. What we deserve is death or separation from God because of our inherent sinful nature, "for there is no one who does not sin". (I Kgs 8:46)

In fact in Psalm 103:10 we're told "God does not treat us as our sins deserve," so scripture hits close to the mark in this verse. Ironically, and just the opposite, sin by its definition means to miss the mark. To fall short of the perfect standard of God. God simply cannot tolerate sin. And He doesn't have to. He's God. But what a perfect plan to allow His Son to sacrifice His life to cover or cancel our sins--past, present, and future.

I accepted the gift bounce that my golf ball got. That is, I didn't go back to the concrete and drop my ball and play my fourth shot from there. I accepted the lucky bounce and putted my fourth shot from the green. I accepted God's gift of salvation and received from Him, not what I deserved, but what He freely offered. My prayer is that you accept the gift of salvation, too. It makes all the difference.

IT REALLY MAKES ME WONDER

It seems in today's society, people accept talking about God. Well, most anyway(s).

"Thank God." "I pray to God..." "The Man upstairs," even "a higher power" can be spoken without people feeling uncomfortable.

In fact, people accept, again for the most part, the term Christ. "When Christ returns" or "He is a saint; he's almost Christ-like," can be said without people squirming or dropping eye contact.

But mention Jesus, and people change. They will stiffen, bow their neck, paw the ground. Even telling them that you're a church-goer, or telling them you're a Christian will not have the same effect. Tell them you're a follower of Jesus. Don't even add Christ. Just Jesus. For them to think that you're on a personal or first name basis with Him scares them.

"No Other Name But the Name of Jesus;" "I'd Rather Have Jesus than Anything;"

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus --There's Something About that Name," and a ton of other hymns and praise songs about how precious the name of Jesus is lifts my spirit. And to think that I am on first name basis with him is not brash thinking on my part--it's His desire. John 10:14 tells us, that Jesus is the good shepherd, that He knows His sheep and His sheep know Him. What's more is that He lay down His life for His sheep. If we are His sheep, we are on a first name basis, praise the Lord.

1Peter 4:16 reveals to us that "as a Christian, do not be ashamed". If we were on first name basis with the governor or senator from our state, if we were on a first name basis with the President, we'd feel honored. How about first name basis with the name above all names-- the King of all Kings!

WHEN PEYTON PLACE WAS MILD

There were a few shows on television when I was in high school that featured a teenage cast. The Patty Duke Show, The Monkees, and Peyton Place come to mind.

They were certainly tame compared to today's tv offerings. Basic service, not cable. The innuendo or the things that young teens might whisper about and certainly never, ever in mixed company talk openly about are unfortunately the staple of American tv today.

Ephesians 5:15 tells us "Be very careful, then, how you live--not as unwise but as wise." We have to be wise in selecting entertainment. Even if it's flipping through the stations or channel surfing during commercials. It's so easy to lose focus.

I wrote one entry about a spiritual pet peeve of mine, and today I'll share another. Christians who state, "It was a good movie except for the language." I know exactly what they mean. But by supporting the arts that express unacceptable language, then they are still supporting and not rejecting.

I'm reminded of God's command to the Israelites not to intermarry with the Caanites, Amorites, et. al, (Judges 3:5) which resulted in their pagan worship. It started very slowly by adding idol worship to their worship of God. And somewhat similarly, if we allow just a little bit of immorality to seap into our entertainment choices, then it can take control. It can make us calloused after awhile. Tolerant, indiffferent, accepting, embracing.

A little bit of bad language, a little bit of innuendo...where do we draw the line? I read recently about a test like this. Would you feel uncomfortable if Jesus were sitting there with you?