It's not just a story.

It's not just a story.

I think too often we (Christians) read the stories found in the Bible and, while we don't do it consciously, we forget the reality of what we are reading. Yes, we acknowledge the reality of a God story in our hearts. But in our minds, we too often forget that the words in that amazing book are written about real people, in a real place, at a real time; people who dealt with real situations in a very real world and who were loved by a very real God.

It's not just a story.

I have too easily fallen into the trap of forgetting that I could have talked with these people if I had been there. They are just like my neighbors, my coworkers, my family and friends. They lived and breathed and played. They had jobs and laughed and cried. They got angry with one another, questioned their faith in God, and sought out salvation. They mourned the loss of those who died. And they celebrated the birth of a new child.

It's not just a story.

It's easy to look back at their story and wonder where our place would have been. But you don't need to take away the technology and the fast-paced reality of our world today. You don't need to change cultures. There's no requirement to speak a different language. Stripping away the layers of time and distance are not necessary. The reality is, right here and now, we all find ourselves living in the words of their story, dealing with the same situations, being loved by the very same God. Because the truth of it is, it's not just a story.

It's our story.

They're More Than Just a Team...

 

People who know me know I’m a New York Yankees fan. And I know what that brings with it, especially living in Texas. And I’ve heard it all. “They buy their championships.” (As if every other major league baseball team has a roster full of guys who play for free.) “It’s the evil empire.” (As if Darth Vader himself came down from the Death Star to rule the MLB galaxy with a Louisville Slugger and a Rawlings glove.) “Yankees suck!” (As if 27 championships in their history is a case to argue sucking.)

What most people don’t know is what the Yankees truly represent to me. See, I don’t like the Yankees because they’re the greatest team in the history of the MLB. I’m not going to lie, though; it’s a nice feature of the team. But I could just as easily be a Cubs fan…or a Cardinals fan…or a Tigers fan…or an Angels fan. Okay, maybe not the Angels. I mean, I have to draw the line somewhere! But I’m not a fan of those teams. I’m a Yankees fan. And here’s why…

I’ve written about the greatest gift I’ve ever received ... it was from my grandfather when I was 11 years old. That gift lit a spark that began a passion for more than the Yankees. It lit a love for baseball itself.

The Yankees are a team, to me, that represent so much of why I love this country. Steeped in tradition, the Bronx Bombers have been around since 1903 (1901 if you want to go back to their origins in Baltimore). But it’s more than the history. The Yankees, to me, are baseball. And baseball is more than a sport to me.

Baseball is something that brings families together. I was reminded of this yesterday when my oldest son sat with me during the Yankees/Rangers game and cheered with me, and he’s a Rangers fan! Why did he do it? Because it’s not just 9 guys on a field. And he came to understand that (after some explaining, of course).

Baseball has given our nation reason to celebrate in times when there wasn’t much to celebrate. It’s been there to reunite us and solidify our resolve. Just look at the first games played after the 9/11 attacks. Stadiums were packed, the national anthem was belted out, and people had reason to cheer once again.

See…the Yankees aren’t just a team to me. And baseball is not just a sport. They are a picture of our country. I had the opportunity yesterday to step onto the field and meet a few of the Yankees. I stood there with my family, literally feet away from Derek Jeter as he took batting practice (alone) and was in awe of how a ball and a stick can mean so much to me. I’m 36, and I was watching him hit as if I were a 10 year old kid standing there. And I was reminded of the passion I have not only for the great game, but for this great nation (yes, even still I have hope in our country).

I don’t idolize the Yankees. My idol is Jesus Christ. But I do honor them. I appreciate what they do. I respect the fact that they represent so much of what I love about America. And sure, I know they have their detractors. That’s ok. That’s part of it. America has its detractors too. But the fact is, what they represent in my life means more than any amount of championship trophies. They take me back to a time of innocence, and remind me that it’s okay (and even necessary) to have unbridled passion for something bigger than myself.

 

 

 

It's Simple...

Have you ever looked at a word so many times that it becomes like a foreign language? Ever said a word so many times that it eventually sounds like gibberish? Ever heard a word so often that over time it became nonsense?

 "Simple” is one of those words to me. Typing it just now, I had to double check the spelling.

It seems to me that the simple things in life should be, well, simple. But I’ve discovered that some of the simplest things in life are the most difficult to grasp, and to apply. At least, we try to make them that way.

We like to take the most simple concepts and make them nearly impossible to understand and grasp.

But the greatest reality of all – the Gospel – is perhaps the one we confuse the most. At its heart, it is one of the simplest things to explain. But we’ve confounded and confused it with so much misinformation, misunderstanding, perversion or flat out falsehoods that too many people have no concept of what it really is. So I want to take the rest of this post to lay it out, simply... 

• God has an amazing plan for all of our lives.
• Because of our sin, we’re separated from God and thus unable to live out that plan on our own.
• God loves us so much that He bridged the gap, the chasm between us and Him by sending  His son, Jesus Christ, to live righteously, die sacrificially, and rise bodily.
• It’s our choice to accept that reality or not.

That’s it. Of course, the repercussions are towering, because they are eternal. And we don’t want things that are that important to be so simple. But the truth is that the Gospel is simple. And it’s simply up to us what we do with it.

So, what are you going to do with the simplest, yet most profound concept in the universe? The choice is yours.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Find out what it means to me.

To me? It means honoring someone. And it’s something that is earned.

Too often, people today demand respect. But if you have to demand respect, I have to wonder if you really deserve it.

Respect is a commodity that increases the more it is given away. It’s a funny thing that way. By respecting others, you are earning respect for yourself.

Respect is something that also takes time. I could demand that you respect me the moment we meet. But even if you say you do, do you really? No. Respect is like a reputation. It takes time to build up. It takes work. It takes consistency. It takes patience.

So if you want people to respect you, start first by asking yourself, “What am I doing to earn respect? Am I giving respect away to others? Am I being patient in wanting to be respected?”

R-E-S-P-E-C-T. You found out what it means to me. What does it mean to you?