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Many Christians are being labeled as intolerant and outdated because they agree with this theology.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
Friday, June 28, 2013
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!
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