Last week Tony LaRussa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre were unanimously elected by the Veterans Committee as the latest members of the Baseball Hall of Fame. All three are deserving and it is fitting that all will be inducted during the same year. Although each played in the Major Leagues they are all going in as managers. Torre had a very fine playing career and many feel, including me, that he was Hall worthy as a player. LaRussa and Cox, not so much. While Torre hit .297 with 2342 hits, 252 HRs and 1185 RBIs in 18 seasons; LaRussa hit a cool .199 with 35 total hits, 0 HRs and 6 RBIs in 6 seasons. Cox was only slightly better than LaRussa; hitting .225 with 141 hits, 9 HRs and 58 RBIs in 2 seasons in the big leagues.
This January 8, 2014 the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) will vote on the Class of 2014. It would appear that Greg Maddox is a lock to earn entrance in his first year of eligibility. Also up this year, for the first time, is Maddox's old teammate Tom Glavine. What a day it would be for Braves fans to have Cox, Maddox and Glavine inducted on the same Sunday afternoon in July!
What a run of extended excellence! There is speculation that if John Smoltz had retired sooner, all three pitchers would have waltzed in together. These players, along with "future Hall of Famer", Chipper Jones were major reasons for the Braves dominance for over a decade. Now they are all retired and I hope Braves fans appreciate what they had during those years.
Growing up a Cardinals fan I recall thinking that it was hard for me to remember a time when St. Louis didn't have a Hall of Fame caliber player. Growing up in the 60's and 70's I was aware of the final few years of Stan Musial's career. Then came Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Orlando Cepeda and later Ozzie Smith.
I decided to do some research; not just for the Cardinals but for each Major League team. What teams have had the most sustained stretch of Hall of Fame players? The answer might surprise you!
TRIVIA QUESTION: Every one of the current 30 MLB franchises has had a Hall of Fame player suit up for them; except one. What team has never had a Hall of Fame player wear their uniform? (answer at the end of this blog).
Considering only the modern era, beginning in 1900, I searched the data banks of Baseball-Reference.com. For this assignment I only counted Hall of Fame members who were elected as players. For example, LaRussa, Cox and Torre don't count. Even though they all played in the Big Leagues they were not elected for there playing career.
The obvious place to begin looking for Hall of Fame players was the New York Yankees. After all, they are the team of Ruth, Gehrig and Mantle; and 26 World Championships! What I found was interesting. The Yankees were not even in the top four teams for continuous Hall of Famer seasons.
Number one is the New York/San Francisco Giants with 73 . The Giants had at least one Hall of Famer on there roster every season from 1900 to 1973! Next longest is the one that I found really surprising: the Chicago White Sox with 66...from 1904-1970. Third on the list is the Cardinals with 64 straight seasons with a Hall of Famer in uniform (1915-1979) Fourth is the Red Sox at 61 (1933-1994) and then the Yankees at 55 (1913-1968).
Granted the Hall of Fame didn't even exist until 1936 so fans didn't know they were watching "Hall of Famers" in he early 1900's but they knew they were watching special players. The same is true today. The Braves have not officially had a Hall of Fame player in uniform his 1988 when Bruce Sutter was at the tail end of his career. But Maddox and Glavine can change that. Call it redemptive history. We will retroactively write their names along side the other legends once they are elected.
We often hear current or recent players called "future" Hall of Famers. Guys like Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Mark McGwire all appeared to be shoo-ins. But the steroid era has changed that. Still there are many players in uniform that would appear headed for Cooperstown when their careers are over. Discussing the chances of present day players is always one of my favorite hot stove activities and might be the topic of a future blog.
While the Giants have had the longest streak, the Pirates have had the longest drought between Hall of Famers in their uniform. The last Hall of Famer to wear a Pittsburgh uniform was Willie Stargell in 1982...31 seasons ago. (note that Bonds played for the Pirates from 1986 to 1992 but has yet to be voted in)
As noted earlier, only one team has never had a Hall of Famer put on it's uniform. The answer to the trivia question is: the Colorado Rockies. 1993 was the first year of existence for the franchise and no Hall of Fame player has so much as had a cup of coffee with the club. That could change in five years when Todd Helton becomes eligible.
Who playing today will reach back in time to rewrite their teams history? Mariano Rivera will have no problem achieving enshrinement. Albert Pujols, Miquel Cabrera, Clayton Kershaw are among many others on the road to the Hall. Many promising players have had their chances snuffed out by injury or failure to sustain the quality of play over the length of their careers. It is just another reason why baseball is the great game it is. It measures immediate success and rewards longevity.
Players come and players go. Some will burst onto the scene brightly and then fizzle out and will be just a footnote; but those that compete with sustained excellence live forever in the hearts and minds of true baseball fans!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Thursday, December 19, 2013
Friday, November 22, 2013
IF ONLY THEY HAD BEEN SHOOTING
Several years ago I gave my broadcasting students an assignment to interview someone who was alive during the Kennedy Assassination. I had gotten the idea from a CNN program hosted by Larry King. During the show King interviewed celebrities asking them what they were doing when they first heard the news of the shooting. There were many interesting and unique accounts.
Off with tape recorders went my students to interview parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were to find one person and interview them about that fateful day in November 1963. As the tapes came in many stories were just as interesting and unique as any celebrity's account. But one thing occurred over and over again. The accounts were WRONG. Not factual! Inaccurate!
How do I know? Because things that people say they remember never happened. They "mis-remembered". Chiefly is the description of what they recall on television. I will return to this is a moment.
It is said that the TV networks coverage of the Kennedy Assassination was it's finest hour, the coming of age of the relatively new medium. It was certainly historic. There had been Presidential assassinations before but none had ever taken place in the TV era.
Imagine what it must have been like in 1963. There were only three major networks; CBS, NBC and ABC. No cable. TV news was broadcast in black-and-white, mobile tape equipment didn't exist, most signals were sent by what is known as "hard wire" or microwave relays. There were not mobile satellite trucks that permit instant images like we have today.
And TV news used film. It is difficult to imagine today, when nearly every human over the age of 12 has a mobile device with a camera, that only two people were recording when the President of the United States was murdered in public, in broad daylight!
It was all because of film. TV stations could not afford to roll through reel after reel of film. Film was and is expensive. It had to be developed in a lab. A news cameraman would have been eaten alive by his news director if he had returned with hours of spent film of a routine motorcade. Why shoot that much footage when you were only going to use a small amount on the news anyway? Once the film was exposed or developed it could not be reused; as with video tape or digital video today. It is for this reason I have banned the word "film" in my classroom. We have never filmed anything in my 22 years of broadcast teaching. We have taped, videoed, recorded and captured...but we have never filmed. The "F" word is forbidden in my class.
Film is the reason we only have one account of the actual shooting. You see, no one expected it to happen! As a result, call it bad luck or poor timing, not one TV station or network had its cameras rolling at the precise moment the shots were fired. They didn't want to waste film! The only useable footage was shot on a Bell and Howell home movie camera by an amateur, Abraham Zapruder.(There was another amateur's film from much farther away with far less clarity.)
Zapruder's film would be copied for the FBI and the rights to it were sold to Life Magazine. This is where my student's interviewees have foggy memories. I listened time and again to people describing how they watched the film of the assassination over and over again. But they couldn't have. No TV station or network had access to it. They didn't have the legal rights to it. It belonged to a print magazine!
John Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963. The first public viewing of the Zapruder film was not until February 13, 1969 at the trial of Clay Shaw in New Orleans. This trial was the basis for the Oliver Stone movie "JFK". It would be six years later that the first TV airing would take place. News reporter and talk show host, Geraldo Rivera gave America it's first televised viewing on March 6, 1975.
So you see? They couldn't have watched it over and over and over again. Not in 1963. Since that airing on Rivera's show the Zapruder film is considered to be the most exam piece of video in history! Since it's release it has been shown so much that people who lived through those dark days actually believe they saw it at the time.
Although there is only one true video account of the assassination there are dozens of conspiracy theories that linger 50 years later. The delay in the public's viewing of the actual footage for so long helped spawn many of them. Despite the freedom to watch and examine and study there are still questions about what happened and how.
Because of one man, Abraham Zapruder, this event, the most blatant, and public murder of the 20th Century, has been frozen in time. What if the networks and the local TV stations had been rolling their cameras? Would it help put to rest some of the conspiracy theories? We will never know. History tells us that there were at least two shooters that day. One, we are told, was Lee Harvey Oswald. The other was Zapruder with his home movie camera.
If only someone else had been shooting too!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Off with tape recorders went my students to interview parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles. They were to find one person and interview them about that fateful day in November 1963. As the tapes came in many stories were just as interesting and unique as any celebrity's account. But one thing occurred over and over again. The accounts were WRONG. Not factual! Inaccurate!
How do I know? Because things that people say they remember never happened. They "mis-remembered". Chiefly is the description of what they recall on television. I will return to this is a moment.
It is said that the TV networks coverage of the Kennedy Assassination was it's finest hour, the coming of age of the relatively new medium. It was certainly historic. There had been Presidential assassinations before but none had ever taken place in the TV era.
Imagine what it must have been like in 1963. There were only three major networks; CBS, NBC and ABC. No cable. TV news was broadcast in black-and-white, mobile tape equipment didn't exist, most signals were sent by what is known as "hard wire" or microwave relays. There were not mobile satellite trucks that permit instant images like we have today.
And TV news used film. It is difficult to imagine today, when nearly every human over the age of 12 has a mobile device with a camera, that only two people were recording when the President of the United States was murdered in public, in broad daylight!
It was all because of film. TV stations could not afford to roll through reel after reel of film. Film was and is expensive. It had to be developed in a lab. A news cameraman would have been eaten alive by his news director if he had returned with hours of spent film of a routine motorcade. Why shoot that much footage when you were only going to use a small amount on the news anyway? Once the film was exposed or developed it could not be reused; as with video tape or digital video today. It is for this reason I have banned the word "film" in my classroom. We have never filmed anything in my 22 years of broadcast teaching. We have taped, videoed, recorded and captured...but we have never filmed. The "F" word is forbidden in my class.
Film is the reason we only have one account of the actual shooting. You see, no one expected it to happen! As a result, call it bad luck or poor timing, not one TV station or network had its cameras rolling at the precise moment the shots were fired. They didn't want to waste film! The only useable footage was shot on a Bell and Howell home movie camera by an amateur, Abraham Zapruder.(There was another amateur's film from much farther away with far less clarity.)
Zapruder's film would be copied for the FBI and the rights to it were sold to Life Magazine. This is where my student's interviewees have foggy memories. I listened time and again to people describing how they watched the film of the assassination over and over again. But they couldn't have. No TV station or network had access to it. They didn't have the legal rights to it. It belonged to a print magazine!
John Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963. The first public viewing of the Zapruder film was not until February 13, 1969 at the trial of Clay Shaw in New Orleans. This trial was the basis for the Oliver Stone movie "JFK". It would be six years later that the first TV airing would take place. News reporter and talk show host, Geraldo Rivera gave America it's first televised viewing on March 6, 1975.
So you see? They couldn't have watched it over and over and over again. Not in 1963. Since that airing on Rivera's show the Zapruder film is considered to be the most exam piece of video in history! Since it's release it has been shown so much that people who lived through those dark days actually believe they saw it at the time.
Although there is only one true video account of the assassination there are dozens of conspiracy theories that linger 50 years later. The delay in the public's viewing of the actual footage for so long helped spawn many of them. Despite the freedom to watch and examine and study there are still questions about what happened and how.
Because of one man, Abraham Zapruder, this event, the most blatant, and public murder of the 20th Century, has been frozen in time. What if the networks and the local TV stations had been rolling their cameras? Would it help put to rest some of the conspiracy theories? We will never know. History tells us that there were at least two shooters that day. One, we are told, was Lee Harvey Oswald. The other was Zapruder with his home movie camera.
If only someone else had been shooting too!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Monday, November 18, 2013
ANGER MANAGEMENT
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
(James 1:19-21 ESV)
The scripture verses above were the focus of a recent community group bible study in which I participated. The next day my personal bible study pointed me to 1st Corinthians 13.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.... (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV)
These two passages seemed to come together as one clear message speaking to me. Anger is something that I have wrestled with in my adult life. My reactions often times are the exact opposite of what James tells his "beloved brothers" to do. I am afraid I am more like pre-resurrection Peter than I am like James.
I have found myself quick to hear what I think someone is saying--which really is not listening or hearing at all. I have been slow to speak when speaking out is necessary in taking a stand or promoting a cause. I have been slow to anger when I witness wrongdoing or injustice
Conversely, I have been slow to listen to others' viewpoint or reasoning. I have been quick to speak without thinking things through. I have lost my temper over what later I know are battles not worth pursuing. My anger was far greater than the offense.
During the discussion I reasoned that much of what James is calling for is a humbleness of spirit and self. Why do I/we get angry? It is often because I/we feel we are in a superior position than whatever person or circumstance gets in our way. One member of the group called it "goal blocking". He said that he gets angry when anything stands in his way.
Our discuss questions include conversation about justified anger or appropriate anger. Some could not think of times in their lives when anger was justified or appropriate. I thought this to be a little short-sighted. (It didn't make me angry, however, even though I felt I held a superior position...so much for humbleness). I said that I think anger at injustices such as child abuse, discrimination, racism and other types of social issues could be justified. To me, anger at circumstances and actions is much different from anger toward individuals.
I could be wrong here but I think James is writing about long held anger that festers and poisons oneself. Granted, he is not dismissing the quick flairs of road rage or quick tempered vitriol but I think it is the anger that we feed that hinders our souls.
When I think I am superior or hold a superior opinion /position I am more likely to have my anger fueled when someone says or does something counter to my desired and pre-determined outcome. This thinking requires me to assume I am in the right. It then is more about ego and winning: winning the argument, winning the point, winning dominance. Sounds like a far cry from the meekness James writes about.
And what about that stuff Paul writes about? Be not arrogant, not rude, not irritable, not resentful. My, oh my, don't insist on your own way? I know that is where I get into trouble! I would guess most of us do too!
Upon deeper reflection, I pondered why any of us have the right to get angry at all."...the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.: This is where humility really comes into play. If we submit ourselves to a greater authority and accept our unworthiness and inferiority it really makes it much easier to control our actions regarding anger,
That higher authority I refer to, of course, is Christ. When we stack our thoughts, words and deeds along side of a perfect Savior we are all going to fall well short. Against a holy scale we all fail. There is no grading on the curve.
Anger is not a sin. I talked earlier about cases where anger can be legitimate. Jesus displayed anger during his life on earth. He turned over the tables of the money-changers in the temple. This was not a temper tantrum. It was an act of purifying the temple. It was in all it's display the product of the righteousness of God.
Are there things we should be angry about? I believe so. I actually believe that we are wrong when we don't get angry sometimes.... "it (love) does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. The truth can't be twisted to fit our agenda or our motives. We have to view the truth through the lens of the cross.
Here is a simple measuring stick: Re-read 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. Replace the word "love" with "God"; because we are told in 1 John that "God is love. Then replace the word "God" with the name of Jesus. Re-read it. After all, we are told "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."(John 1:1 ESV). "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV).
Now as Christ Followers we are to be like Christ; so substitute your name for the words "love", "God", "Jesus" and "it". Re-read it. Let it soak in. Is (insert your name here) patient and kind? Is it true that (insert your name) doesn't envy or boast? Is (yep you again) arrogant or rude? Does (you get the idea) insist on their on way?
I know when I place my name in those verses I cannot measure up. I see my failures and shortcoming. I see that regardless of how good I may try to be or how right I think I am, I will never be in a position to justify long held spirit killing anger. Up against a infinitely Holy God I really don't have any right to be angry at all!
Since that night of community group I have worked to be conscience of what causes my own anger. I have tried to be quicker to listen and slower to speak. As with most things I am a work in progress. Based on the passages above the answer for anger is love. If we can manage to love others it would be a whole lot easier to manage our anger!
God Bless and thanks for reading
Jeff
(James 1:19-21 ESV)
The scripture verses above were the focus of a recent community group bible study in which I participated. The next day my personal bible study pointed me to 1st Corinthians 13.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Love never ends.... (1 Corinthians 13:4-8 ESV)
These two passages seemed to come together as one clear message speaking to me. Anger is something that I have wrestled with in my adult life. My reactions often times are the exact opposite of what James tells his "beloved brothers" to do. I am afraid I am more like pre-resurrection Peter than I am like James.
I have found myself quick to hear what I think someone is saying--which really is not listening or hearing at all. I have been slow to speak when speaking out is necessary in taking a stand or promoting a cause. I have been slow to anger when I witness wrongdoing or injustice
Conversely, I have been slow to listen to others' viewpoint or reasoning. I have been quick to speak without thinking things through. I have lost my temper over what later I know are battles not worth pursuing. My anger was far greater than the offense.
During the discussion I reasoned that much of what James is calling for is a humbleness of spirit and self. Why do I/we get angry? It is often because I/we feel we are in a superior position than whatever person or circumstance gets in our way. One member of the group called it "goal blocking". He said that he gets angry when anything stands in his way.
Our discuss questions include conversation about justified anger or appropriate anger. Some could not think of times in their lives when anger was justified or appropriate. I thought this to be a little short-sighted. (It didn't make me angry, however, even though I felt I held a superior position...so much for humbleness). I said that I think anger at injustices such as child abuse, discrimination, racism and other types of social issues could be justified. To me, anger at circumstances and actions is much different from anger toward individuals.
I could be wrong here but I think James is writing about long held anger that festers and poisons oneself. Granted, he is not dismissing the quick flairs of road rage or quick tempered vitriol but I think it is the anger that we feed that hinders our souls.
When I think I am superior or hold a superior opinion /position I am more likely to have my anger fueled when someone says or does something counter to my desired and pre-determined outcome. This thinking requires me to assume I am in the right. It then is more about ego and winning: winning the argument, winning the point, winning dominance. Sounds like a far cry from the meekness James writes about.
And what about that stuff Paul writes about? Be not arrogant, not rude, not irritable, not resentful. My, oh my, don't insist on your own way? I know that is where I get into trouble! I would guess most of us do too!
Upon deeper reflection, I pondered why any of us have the right to get angry at all."...the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.: This is where humility really comes into play. If we submit ourselves to a greater authority and accept our unworthiness and inferiority it really makes it much easier to control our actions regarding anger,
That higher authority I refer to, of course, is Christ. When we stack our thoughts, words and deeds along side of a perfect Savior we are all going to fall well short. Against a holy scale we all fail. There is no grading on the curve.
Anger is not a sin. I talked earlier about cases where anger can be legitimate. Jesus displayed anger during his life on earth. He turned over the tables of the money-changers in the temple. This was not a temper tantrum. It was an act of purifying the temple. It was in all it's display the product of the righteousness of God.
Are there things we should be angry about? I believe so. I actually believe that we are wrong when we don't get angry sometimes.... "it (love) does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. The truth can't be twisted to fit our agenda or our motives. We have to view the truth through the lens of the cross.
Here is a simple measuring stick: Re-read 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8. Replace the word "love" with "God"; because we are told in 1 John that "God is love. Then replace the word "God" with the name of Jesus. Re-read it. After all, we are told "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."(John 1:1 ESV). "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 ESV).
Now as Christ Followers we are to be like Christ; so substitute your name for the words "love", "God", "Jesus" and "it". Re-read it. Let it soak in. Is (insert your name here) patient and kind? Is it true that (insert your name) doesn't envy or boast? Is (yep you again) arrogant or rude? Does (you get the idea) insist on their on way?
I know when I place my name in those verses I cannot measure up. I see my failures and shortcoming. I see that regardless of how good I may try to be or how right I think I am, I will never be in a position to justify long held spirit killing anger. Up against a infinitely Holy God I really don't have any right to be angry at all!
Since that night of community group I have worked to be conscience of what causes my own anger. I have tried to be quicker to listen and slower to speak. As with most things I am a work in progress. Based on the passages above the answer for anger is love. If we can manage to love others it would be a whole lot easier to manage our anger!
God Bless and thanks for reading
Jeff
Sunday, September 15, 2013
ARE WE LOSING OR HAVE WE ALREADY WON?
Former Birmingham News sportswriter Wayne Martin for years covered the beat of the Birmingham Barons. I got to be friends with Wayne while I was the Barons' play-by-play announcer. Wayne's contention was that no matter the score of the game at that moment it was incorrect to say someone was winning. See, the outcome had not yet been decided. For example, if the Barons took a 1-0 lead in the first inning it didn't mean they were winning the game. They were just leading. In reality, even though they were ahead, they could be in the process of losing. The point being: If they lost the game 2-1 they were in the midst of losing all along; even though they were leading at one point. Pretty deep stuff. Oh, how many times I have watched my beloved Cardinals leading the Braves in Atlanta only to find out they were losing all the while!
But there is another more serious "competition" that is occurring in our world today. I am here to tell you that in this case the game has already been won! No matter what the score, no matter what the count, no matter what the circumstances...it is "game over"! The final outcome has been determined.
One of my longtime friends and former schoolmates forwarded on Facebook this weekend a video that has been making the rounds online since 2008. It talks of the alarming decrease in the fertility rate of certain demographics in Europe and in North America. This video laments the ever increasing numbers of Muslims in those countries and serves as a warning to Christians that we soon will be outnumbered.
The first reaction by many professing Christians is "oh no...we are losing." Should we Christians start having more children to "catch up"? Do we need to put a limit on Muslim births. Surely the video is not a call for "ethic cleansing". The video actually quotes a German government agency: "The fall of the (German) population can no longer be stopped. Its downward spiral is no longer reversible...... It will be a Muslim state by 2050." Wasn't that the same type of thinking that lead to the extermination of 6 million Jews?
Some view the Muslim community as the enemy rather than as part of God's creation. Some fret over the "obvious" non-Christian while accepting a non-biblical American dream based Cultural Christianity. Or worse yet, ignore the need of family, friends and co-workers to see the TRUE gospel displayed to them and for them.
I do not take the message of this video lightly. There is urgent physical and spiritual need in this world. However, if we approach our witness as if we are "attacking" the enemy we will close off the ears of the very people we are witnessing to. This includes our interaction with Muslims, atheists, agnostics, gays, liberals, conservatives, et. al.
This particular blog is not meant to be a deterrent to witnessing, missions or evangelism! I think the message is quite clear we must "preach the gospel to all nations." We want others to share in the eternal life that we are assured through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! However, we should not view those who are not Christ followers as our enemies. Instead we should see them as our brothers and sisters who were created in God's image too. Let's approach them not as a judge for their salvation but with confidence in the sovereignty of our Lord to call them to Himself. True Christians want God to receive His full glory from all people groups, tongues and nations. I prefer for God to be God. I will never be ready or qualified to judge who "gets in and who doesn't."
Christians spend so much time defending God that we often stand in the way of His work. God doesn't need me to defend Him. Last time I looked, He was a pretty BIG GOD! Because of that He DOES deserve my effort to share the good news. Rather than judge and hate we must share with them, love them and let God work in them.
All this brings me back to the title of this blog. You see, as my pastor David Platt says, God has this thing rigged! The battle has already been fought and it has already been won. Long before we were born, God called us to Himself. Oh, it may "appear" that we are losing but in reality Christ has already won! Will there be rough roads ahead?...you bet! Will it be easy?...not likely! But just like with the baseball analogy we must keep "playing". Just because the outcome is assured doesn't mean we can "coast this thing out." We MUST know Christ....and we must SHOW Christ in how we deal with everyone we encounter!
Some reading this will fall into one of the groups mentioned above. My prayer for those who have not yet accepted the gift Christ has provided you is that you will reflect on the words of Isaiah: "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
For those of you watching the scoreboard, the game has been won. Now let us gather all God's people to cheer the victor!
To God be all the Glory!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
But there is another more serious "competition" that is occurring in our world today. I am here to tell you that in this case the game has already been won! No matter what the score, no matter what the count, no matter what the circumstances...it is "game over"! The final outcome has been determined.
One of my longtime friends and former schoolmates forwarded on Facebook this weekend a video that has been making the rounds online since 2008. It talks of the alarming decrease in the fertility rate of certain demographics in Europe and in North America. This video laments the ever increasing numbers of Muslims in those countries and serves as a warning to Christians that we soon will be outnumbered.
The first reaction by many professing Christians is "oh no...we are losing." Should we Christians start having more children to "catch up"? Do we need to put a limit on Muslim births. Surely the video is not a call for "ethic cleansing". The video actually quotes a German government agency: "The fall of the (German) population can no longer be stopped. Its downward spiral is no longer reversible...... It will be a Muslim state by 2050." Wasn't that the same type of thinking that lead to the extermination of 6 million Jews?
Some view the Muslim community as the enemy rather than as part of God's creation. Some fret over the "obvious" non-Christian while accepting a non-biblical American dream based Cultural Christianity. Or worse yet, ignore the need of family, friends and co-workers to see the TRUE gospel displayed to them and for them.
I do not take the message of this video lightly. There is urgent physical and spiritual need in this world. However, if we approach our witness as if we are "attacking" the enemy we will close off the ears of the very people we are witnessing to. This includes our interaction with Muslims, atheists, agnostics, gays, liberals, conservatives, et. al.
This particular blog is not meant to be a deterrent to witnessing, missions or evangelism! I think the message is quite clear we must "preach the gospel to all nations." We want others to share in the eternal life that we are assured through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! However, we should not view those who are not Christ followers as our enemies. Instead we should see them as our brothers and sisters who were created in God's image too. Let's approach them not as a judge for their salvation but with confidence in the sovereignty of our Lord to call them to Himself. True Christians want God to receive His full glory from all people groups, tongues and nations. I prefer for God to be God. I will never be ready or qualified to judge who "gets in and who doesn't."
Christians spend so much time defending God that we often stand in the way of His work. God doesn't need me to defend Him. Last time I looked, He was a pretty BIG GOD! Because of that He DOES deserve my effort to share the good news. Rather than judge and hate we must share with them, love them and let God work in them.
All this brings me back to the title of this blog. You see, as my pastor David Platt says, God has this thing rigged! The battle has already been fought and it has already been won. Long before we were born, God called us to Himself. Oh, it may "appear" that we are losing but in reality Christ has already won! Will there be rough roads ahead?...you bet! Will it be easy?...not likely! But just like with the baseball analogy we must keep "playing". Just because the outcome is assured doesn't mean we can "coast this thing out." We MUST know Christ....and we must SHOW Christ in how we deal with everyone we encounter!
Some reading this will fall into one of the groups mentioned above. My prayer for those who have not yet accepted the gift Christ has provided you is that you will reflect on the words of Isaiah: "I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.”
For those of you watching the scoreboard, the game has been won. Now let us gather all God's people to cheer the victor!
To God be all the Glory!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Friday, June 28, 2013
EXCUSE ME, THERE'S SOMETHING IN MY EYE
How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,’ when you yourself do not see the log that is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother's eye.
(Luke 6:42 ESV)
Wow, what a week it has been! The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. In so doing, same-sex couples in the 12 states that recognize these unions, are entitled to the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples. This will affect, among other things, retirement benefits such as medicare and social security.
Advocates of same-sex marriage see this as a civil rights victory. As a matter of law I agree with the ruling. The way I see it, if two people are legally married they should be entitled to the same privileges of any legally married couple. However, I don't see the ruling as an endorsement of same-sex marriage specifically.
Most of the reaction to the ruling that came across my Twitter account and newsfeed on Facebook was in support of the ruling. The reasons for agreement seemed to range from social justice to Christian inclusion and love for all people. Others are saying that it is the continuation of the decay of the United States' morality.
Last Sunday I sat and listened to a sermon by my pastor Dr. David Platt on The Cross and Christian Sexuality. It is amazing that nearly one year ago the elders of the church were lead to present this sermon series at this time and that it would be preached the Sunday before the Supreme Court would rule on DOMA. In the sermon David spoke to the point that sex is never celebrated biblical outside a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman. This includes premarital, extramarital, homosexual, prostitution and pornography. He stated that some would view these words as hateful and harmful.
Many Christians are being labeled as intolerant and outdated because they agree with this theology. As a Christ follower, I want to live a life that honors and glorifies God. The problem is I am a sinner. NEWS FLASH: We all are. ("...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,..." Romans 3:23 ESV) Many non-Christians and some Christians have, as Dr. Platt stated, "exchanged truth for tolerance." I agree with him. There can only be one truth. This becomes a "Catch 22" when tolerant people become intolerant because others won't accept their tolerance. Something like that! I will go further. Some Christians have exchanged grace for intolerance.
True Christians believe that God is the creator of all things; He is Holy. He gets to call the shots: HE is God; not us! Who would we have God make muchof than...God! If God elevated someone or something above Himself He would cease being God. Among the characteristics of God is his graciousness. It would serve all of us well to remember that.
Secondly, as mentioned earlier, man is sinful. We all may not have the same sins but we have enough of our own to not cast stones at anyone! We all have the desire to sin; to rebel against God. We are born with hearts of pride that choose our ways over that of God's.
Thirdly, we all need a savior. As a Christian, a Christ Follow, I believe that is Jesus Christ! Again according to David Platt, the ultimate question in life is this: "How can a holy God save rebellious sinners who are due His judgement? This questions leads to the underlying tension: "How can God express His holy justice without condemning us in our sin?" And: "How can God express His holy love without condoning us in our sin?" The answer is the sufficiency of Christ!
I have echoed in my past writings what Christians claim about our savior: Jesus lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die and conquered both sin and death with his resurrection! THAT is how God saves us! That is the Gospel. Christ is sufficient!
Fourthly, there is the necessity of faith! Christians must have faith that God is God, that we are in need of a savior because we can't do it ourselves, and we must have faith that Christ is sufficient. Salvation cannot be earned and faith is not a crutch. It is not wishful thinking. ("For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"-Romans 8:24 ESV) Even the non-believer has faith! They have to have faith that they are right in saying there is no God or that Jesus is not the Messiah!
Fifthly, Christ Followers are convinced of the urgency of eternity. This is not a game. According to Platt, "Hell is a dreadful reality for those who turn from Jesus, Heaven is a glorious reality for those who trust in Jesus." Let me add this: we should not seek God to get heaven, eternal life, treasures, streets of gold or angel wings! We should seek God to get God!
Now, tell me, does this should hateful? Harmful? If we as Christ Followers believe all these things wouldn't it be the height of hate to not share this with friends, neighbors, co-workers and loved ones? Stay with me here! If I have the key to eternal life and oneness with the God of the universe, who is great and deserving of all honor, glory and praise shouldn't I share that?!
But how do I share it without seeming judgemental, outdated, intolerant? Much of the perceived problems with Christianity is the actions and words of...well, professing Christians! The scriptures tell us that in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Christ is the Word. And Christ is Love! I am afraid that many are "preaching" a gospel void of love.
True Christians/Christ Followers do not spew hate, hateful words and hate filled actions. True Christians do not show up and protest funerals of soldiers or innocent victims of violence/tragedy. True Christians do not bomb abortion clinics. Remember Jesus' words, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
(Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
True Christians/Christ Followers LOVE. Why? Because He first loved us! But that does not mean that we turn a blind eye to sin; regardless of whatever that sin may be.The majority sin does not win here! Sin is sin and should be taken seriously. God takes it so seriously that he sent His Son to die for ours sins!( "You have been bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."- 1st Corinthians 6:20 ESV)
It is said "hate the sin but love the sinner". Not bad advise. But be careful that you don't have something in your eye when choosing which sins you hate.
SAVED BY GRACE. Praise God!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
(Luke 6:42 ESV)
Wow, what a week it has been! The United States Supreme Court has ruled that the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) is unconstitutional. In so doing, same-sex couples in the 12 states that recognize these unions, are entitled to the same rights and privileges as heterosexual couples. This will affect, among other things, retirement benefits such as medicare and social security.
Advocates of same-sex marriage see this as a civil rights victory. As a matter of law I agree with the ruling. The way I see it, if two people are legally married they should be entitled to the same privileges of any legally married couple. However, I don't see the ruling as an endorsement of same-sex marriage specifically.
Most of the reaction to the ruling that came across my Twitter account and newsfeed on Facebook was in support of the ruling. The reasons for agreement seemed to range from social justice to Christian inclusion and love for all people. Others are saying that it is the continuation of the decay of the United States' morality.
Last Sunday I sat and listened to a sermon by my pastor Dr. David Platt on The Cross and Christian Sexuality. It is amazing that nearly one year ago the elders of the church were lead to present this sermon series at this time and that it would be preached the Sunday before the Supreme Court would rule on DOMA. In the sermon David spoke to the point that sex is never celebrated biblical outside a covenantal relationship between a man and a woman. This includes premarital, extramarital, homosexual, prostitution and pornography. He stated that some would view these words as hateful and harmful.
Many Christians are being labeled as intolerant and outdated because they agree with this theology. As a Christ follower, I want to live a life that honors and glorifies God. The problem is I am a sinner. NEWS FLASH: We all are. ("...all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,..." Romans 3:23 ESV) Many non-Christians and some Christians have, as Dr. Platt stated, "exchanged truth for tolerance." I agree with him. There can only be one truth. This becomes a "Catch 22" when tolerant people become intolerant because others won't accept their tolerance. Something like that! I will go further. Some Christians have exchanged grace for intolerance.
True Christians believe that God is the creator of all things; He is Holy. He gets to call the shots: HE is God; not us! Who would we have God make muchof than...God! If God elevated someone or something above Himself He would cease being God. Among the characteristics of God is his graciousness. It would serve all of us well to remember that.
Secondly, as mentioned earlier, man is sinful. We all may not have the same sins but we have enough of our own to not cast stones at anyone! We all have the desire to sin; to rebel against God. We are born with hearts of pride that choose our ways over that of God's.
Thirdly, we all need a savior. As a Christian, a Christ Follow, I believe that is Jesus Christ! Again according to David Platt, the ultimate question in life is this: "How can a holy God save rebellious sinners who are due His judgement? This questions leads to the underlying tension: "How can God express His holy justice without condemning us in our sin?" And: "How can God express His holy love without condoning us in our sin?" The answer is the sufficiency of Christ!
I have echoed in my past writings what Christians claim about our savior: Jesus lived the life we could not live, died the death we deserved to die and conquered both sin and death with his resurrection! THAT is how God saves us! That is the Gospel. Christ is sufficient!
Fourthly, there is the necessity of faith! Christians must have faith that God is God, that we are in need of a savior because we can't do it ourselves, and we must have faith that Christ is sufficient. Salvation cannot be earned and faith is not a crutch. It is not wishful thinking. ("For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees?"-Romans 8:24 ESV) Even the non-believer has faith! They have to have faith that they are right in saying there is no God or that Jesus is not the Messiah!
Fifthly, Christ Followers are convinced of the urgency of eternity. This is not a game. According to Platt, "Hell is a dreadful reality for those who turn from Jesus, Heaven is a glorious reality for those who trust in Jesus." Let me add this: we should not seek God to get heaven, eternal life, treasures, streets of gold or angel wings! We should seek God to get God!
Now, tell me, does this should hateful? Harmful? If we as Christ Followers believe all these things wouldn't it be the height of hate to not share this with friends, neighbors, co-workers and loved ones? Stay with me here! If I have the key to eternal life and oneness with the God of the universe, who is great and deserving of all honor, glory and praise shouldn't I share that?!
But how do I share it without seeming judgemental, outdated, intolerant? Much of the perceived problems with Christianity is the actions and words of...well, professing Christians! The scriptures tell us that in the beginning was the Word. And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. Christ is the Word. And Christ is Love! I am afraid that many are "preaching" a gospel void of love.
True Christians/Christ Followers do not spew hate, hateful words and hate filled actions. True Christians do not show up and protest funerals of soldiers or innocent victims of violence/tragedy. True Christians do not bomb abortion clinics. Remember Jesus' words, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
(Matthew 7:21-23 ESV)
True Christians/Christ Followers LOVE. Why? Because He first loved us! But that does not mean that we turn a blind eye to sin; regardless of whatever that sin may be.The majority sin does not win here! Sin is sin and should be taken seriously. God takes it so seriously that he sent His Son to die for ours sins!( "You have been bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."- 1st Corinthians 6:20 ESV)
It is said "hate the sin but love the sinner". Not bad advise. But be careful that you don't have something in your eye when choosing which sins you hate.
SAVED BY GRACE. Praise God!
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Wednesday, June 26, 2013
BASEBALL TRULY IS A NUMBERS GAME
Baseball is all about stats...numbers. No sport clings to milestones and statistics like baseball. A couple of recent events had me scrambling to BaseballReference.com to do some research about numbers of a different kind; uniform numbers. First, there is the commemorative patch the St. Louis Cardinals are wearing honoring Stan Musial. Then there is the movie "42" about Jackie Robinson's first year in the major leagues.
The 2013 Cardinals are wearing the number 6 in memory of the greatest Cardinal of them all, Stan Musial. When Musial retired in 1963 the Cardinals immediately retired his number. No other Cardinal would ever wear that number again. Musial played 22 seasons with St. Louis beginning in 1941. My thinking was that since it has been 50 years since he retired no Cardinal had wore number 6 in 73 years! That is a long time for a number to be out of commission. However, I was surprised to learn that "the Man's" number 6 was actually worn by someone else in that time. Ironically, it is another Cardinals great that also has HIS number retired...Red Schoendienst.
Red, who was Stan's roommate, wore #6 in 1945, while Stan was in the military. (Red would later wear number 2 as a player, coach and manager for St. Louis and the Cardinals retired his number when he was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.)
Still, wearing a single uniform number for 22 years and having it retired for 50 years is a long time. In fact, that is a long time to have a number unavailable for use for someone else. So, I got to investigating numbers worn in the Major Leagues.
There have been a little over 18-thousand players to don a uniform in the history of Major League Baseball. Finding a uniform number for a new player can be tricky; especially when there are numbers that have been retired officially and NOT officially. The Reds, for example, have not officially retired Pete Rose's uniform but no Reds player has worn # 14 since he was banned from baseball while managing the team. No Cardinals, Rockies or Astros player has worn #57 since the death of Daryl Kile. There are other case of numbers that have been placed in "mothballs" by teams until the "right time".
Good luck getting a good number with the Yankees. With 25 players, a manager and a coaching staff, plus a MLB high 16 retired numbers already taken you may get a number more resembling an offensive lineman than a catcher!
Speaking of Yankee catchers, both Bill Dickey (15 years) and Yogi Berra (17 years) had their # 8 retired. Plus, MLB has retired the number 42 in honor of Jackie Robinson. 545 players have worn # 42 on big league uniforms over the years. The Yankees' future Hall of Famer, Mariano Rivera who is still permitted to wear #42, has sported that number for 19 years, longer than any player in Major League history.
Rivera's 19 years wearing the same number may be the longest for #42 but it is not the all-time record for a number. That honor goes to the venerable Charlie Hough who wore #49 for four different teams over a 25 year career.
Here is a Top-10 list by years of wearing a number in MLB history:
( Number worn-Player-Number of years)
1. # 49 Charlie Hough-25 years
2. # 25 Tommy John-24 years
# 35 Phil Niekro--24 years
# 47 Jesse Orosco-24 years*
5. # 8 Carl Yaztrzemski-23 years**
# 20 Don Sutton-23 years
# 32 Steve Carlton-23 years
# 54 Rich"Goose" Gossage-23 years
9. # 6 Stan Musial-22 years
# 24 Willie Mays-22 years
# 44 Henry Aaron-22 years
# 44 Willie McCovey-22 years
10. # 8 Willie Stargell-21 years
# 31 Greg Maddox-21 years
# 33 Eddie Murray-21 years
# 36 Jim Kaat-21 years
# 36 Gaylord Perry-21 years
# 43 Dennis Eckerley-21 years
*Wore #47 with 8 different teams
**Holds the record for wearing number with one team.
Is your head swimming yet? You have to a pretty good player to last that long in the Major Leagues, much less keep the same uniform number all those years. Of the 18 players listed above, 13 are in the Hall of Fame. Greg Maddox would appear to be a lock when he become eligible and some argue that Jim Kaat should be.
MORE FUN WITH NUMBERS
Nine teams have retired number 5; which is the most. Will the Cardinals someday make Albert Pujols number 5 the 10th to be retired?
The number worn by more MLB players is: 22. There have been 834 player who have worn that number. Only Jim Palmer has had it retired. The Orioles did so after his 19 seasons.
The next most popular numbers are:
#27 (813 players)
#26 (801)
#24 (781)
#21 (777)
#17 (771)
#23 (768)
Uniform numbers are certainly as much a part of the game of baseball as batting averages and earned run averages. Most kids, who played the game at any level, try to get the same number for their uniform as their favorite player. For me, the numbers on the back of a big league uniform were as impactful as the "S" on Superman's chest. # 45 will always be Bob Gibson, 20 is Lou Brock, 14 is Ernie Banks, 24 Willie Mays, 44 will forever be Hank Aaron and Willie McCovey. All, "super-heros" to baseball fans!
They say you can't tell the players without a scorecard but there are some players who never needed one...you just knew!
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
WHAT HAS HE DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
I have never enjoyed the thought of giving my "testimony". Not that I am shy, have stage fight or afraid to share. It is just that I never had a "road to Damascus" experience where I knew the exact moment I was "saved".
When my pastor recently encouraged (urged) us to write our story it sounded much more appealing than sharing my testimony. I have grown weary of men and women talking about things they did long ago and how that led to them accepting Christ. I am thrilled that they have found salvation but my point is I want to hear how God is working in your life now! If your story is more than a few weeks old perhaps you need to reflect on what God is doing in your life today.
All that being said, there is not a date or a time that I can point to as when I accepted Christ. As long as I can remember I have always known He was walking with me and my dependence on him. Unfortunately, I have strayed from the path in my walk with Him on more than one occasion; all the time knowing that He never left me.
So I basically have a boring testimony, but the continued work that The Lord reveals to me is more exciting now than at any other time in my life. I see how God continues to weave people in and out of my life to reveal His glory.
During that Sunday's sermon I began to think, "Did I grow up in a Christian home?" I had to stop and really reflect on that. I did not grow up in the Bible Belt. I was raised where it is particularly difficult to tell the difference between those who are Christians, those who say they are Christians, those who think they are Christians and those who aren't.
Both of my parents swore, my mom smoked, my father didn't attend church with us as kids. I saw examples of my mom coveting other's possessions. I saw my dad be miserly with his money. I saw him lose his temper over what seemed to be trivial things. Yeah, my parents were flawed; like all of us.
My dad had a high school education and my mom never finished high school. Their Biblical knowledge when I was growing up was limited and elementary. Yet my mother made sure my sister and I were in Sunday School every week.
It was there that some wonderful men and women poured themselves into me. I owe much to those Sunday School teachers who helped me grow spiritually. But had it not been for my mother's commitment for us to go to church I never would have been given that opportunity. I should also say that she went with us. It wasn't as if she dropped us off at the curb and came back and got us in an hour.
So, when I was reflecting back I had to ask myself about what type of home I was brought up in. Sure, I can point to this fault or that, but when I look for signs of fruit I also see those.
I knew without a doubt my parents loved me. They were never shy about telling us that. My dad is still the most honest man I have ever known. He had a work ethic second to none. The man I thought was stingy and miserly was actually quite generous. In later years when my sister and I had access to his banking accounts we discovered that he had a hard time telling anyone no. Anyone that is that was not our mom or the two of us. He could tell us no with no problem.
We found canceled checks to any charitable organization that sent him a solicitation. Though the sums may have seemed small to some, they were sent with a giving heart.
I saw fruit from my mom in the generosity of her heart. She would give you the shirt off her back if you ask her for it. She was the eternal optimist; with her glass always half full. She could be quick to get angry or to get her feelings hurt, but she was just as quick to forgive. Even though she was not a Bible scholar she knew that her salvation was in Christ.
What a tough women she was! She never really complained about the pain she felt or how sick she may have been. She might mention it, but it was never her topic of conversation. Her work ethic was just as strong as my dad's.
When my dad retired from his "day" job he began to attend church with us. He and mom got more involved in church service. I am convinced that both grew in their relationship in the Lord during their later years. I trust that both of my parents are experiencing the glory of God's grace in everlasting salvation.
So, how does all this relate to "my story" in the present? For one thing, I realize the need to look differently than those who are not Christians. More than ever I want others to see Christ in me! I also understand that being a believer is not the same as being a Christ follower. The Bible tells us that even Satan and his demons believe. Following is more than intellectual knowledge or belief. It is making Christ the Lord of your life. I realize that many times I have done the right thing for the wrong reasons. There have been times when I wanted to be regarded highly by man rather than wanting God to get the glory.
So, how does all this relate to "my story" in the present? For one thing, I realize the need to look differently than those who are not Christians. More than ever I want others to see Christ in me! I also understand that being a believer is not the same as being a Christ follower. The Bible tells us that even Satan and his demons believe. Following is more than intellectual knowledge or belief. It is making Christ the Lord of your life. I realize that many times I have done the right thing for the wrong reasons. There have been times when I wanted to be regarded highly by man rather than wanting God to get the glory.
The cool thing is that my "boring" story is still being written. It started years ago by God's grace and it continues today because of His mercy. There have been some regrettable events in my life. I have made bad choices. I have bargained with God and tried to twist his arm. I have wanted my will at time more than I have desired His. I have put other gods before Him. Yet, through it all He has never left me and through the life, death and resurrection of Christ I am reconciled to Him forever!
As I strive to know Him more, the more He reveals Himself to me. Now that I think of it, every day I seek His face is a "Road to Damascus" experience and I can't wait until tomorrow!
In the meantime, what has He done in your life lately?
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
Thanks for reading!
Jeff
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