One Pastor's Perspective

Holy Week, for any Christian, is a time to slow down and reflect on what our faith is really all about. NOT JUST a time to think about Easter, but a time to really look at the earthly life of Christ and the events that led to that old rugged cross we sing of . . . And, think about all of this for a moment.

This week began on what we traditionally call Palm Sunday, a time when many, many people lined the road coming into Jerusalem for the triumphant entry: Jesus, saddled on a donkey, slowly riding through the praise and palms. People giving him the coronation-style parade and shouting praises to Him. Some of those same people would, in less than five days, yell “CRUCIFY HIM!” when asked what to do with Jesus over Barabbas, a hardened criminal they asked to be released.

You think YOU could have a bad week?? Nothing compares to what Jesus faced that week. Around the church, Easter is the pinnacle of what we do. And we take it seriously. And the devil knows that, and tries to make this week the most difficult.

We cannot let him win this battle, because we know Who wins the war!!

How did Miami make it to the dance and Virginia Tech did not?? Yes, I know the “experts” have their opinions, but watching them both play often, I don’t understand that one at all. No offence to the Hurricanes . . . I think they BOTH should have made it. But the facts are, there are only 34 at-large bids. The best way to KNOW you are going to the dance is to win your conference tournament.

Who’s gonna win?? Anyone who knows me (or will look below this post OR to the right) knows who I am cheering for, but at this point, it is anyone’s dance. One of the great things about this tournament is that anyone can win. Giants will fall and underdogs will prosper.

It is the most wonderful time of the year!!!!

A Building of Character

That is a statement that perhaps can only be understood if you have ever been part of a team. And, I am NOT talking about coaching . . . Coaching must be there, too, but for a team to function properly, leaders must lead it in the right way. Believe it or not, I played four sports in high school, and the love of my high school life was basketball. I was probably not quite as good as I would like to think, but I loved it. I worked at it. And it taught me so much about life to be on that team.

Throughout my high school career, I learned to valuable lessons: How to win and how to lose. The second one, maybe a little more often than the first. And I would like to think it built character. But what I want to write here today is that where the coach had a great impact, the greatest impact was from the team leaders. The peers that stepped up and taught us younger guys about all of this. Without them, I would not have been able to step up when I was a senior and do the same for the younger guys I played with. Without them, I probably would not have gone into coaching basketball, something I have done since I graduated in 1984 up until about three weeks ago when my guys won their league in the church league.

In varsity sports, seniors carry the weight of this. Because, like it or not, people ARE listening, watching, and they will follow (good or bad). And when those who should lead do not, it is a painful thing to watch. And when you see one stepping up, even in the face of adversity, you need to recognize it and ENCOURAGE them. That is something I think I will do today.

Because, a team also needs ENCOURAGEMENT.

I think all of this really does tie back into the church as well. A pastor can only coach so much . . . It takes LEADERS to motivate and move. Peers who buy into the common vision (which, in our case, is the KINGDOM OF GOD) and are willing to do what it takes: Even if it means sacrificing self for the greater good. That is something foreign to our nature and difficult to do, but it is EXACTLY what Jesus did for us.

Will YOU step up and lead today?

NO . . . That didn’t work for me at all. Not that it matters, but I started to change the channel when he came on and could not immediately find the remote. So, I watched and listened.

NO. That is not gonna work at all. Not that he was obnoxious or spewing the kind of four-letter words that he usually spews (and, like his disciples spew also), but he really looked uncomfortable and added nothing to the clip I saw. In fact, he looked angry to be there. I thought he was gonna start chewing Digger Phelps (another long time old coach who DOES do a great job in the chair). Maybe he will start throwing chairs through the HD monitors or slapping the cameras.

In honor of this, the 400th post to this blog, I will award the coveted Commerical of the Day award.

The COTD goes to Dunkin Donuts, for their total dis of Starbucks in a commerical on ESPN today. Dunkin spoofs the French/Italian words on the Starbucks menu, finally deciding that it is not really french or italian, but “Fretalian.” GOOD ONE, GUYS!

Now, if you REALLY want to get them, build a DD in Florence!

So easy to talk about, so hard to accomplish . . . To exhibit grace when things do NOT go your way. Yep, that is a tough one, and yet we are called to do it. Too many Christians are syrupy-sweet when it comes to daily living UNTIL the tide turns and something doesn’t go their way. Then we see their teeth. Then, as if from a Dr Jekyll/Mr Hyde movie clip, things go from zero to ugly in 2 seconds.

WHY? Why do we feel like we need to behave this way? WHY do we feel like we have the RIGHT to behave this way? I will tell you why . . . Because we do listen to and ascribe to the teachings of Jesus, but WE STILL LISTEN TO THE WORLD WHEN IT SAYS “Don’t put up with ANY JUNK!” Let me say that another way . . . It is because we have one foot in the kingdom of God and ONE FOOT IN THE WORLD. Yep, I wrote it.

It is wrong for ANYONE to conduct themselves with the grace of God ONLY WHEN THINGS ARE GOING THEIR WAY. Guess what?? The tide WILL TURN and there will always be times in life when things are not going your way.

And, those times tell the story of YOUR CHARACTER. How about a litte grace under pressure???

Not a quote of the classic hit by the Who . . . The one in which they say a worty dird. No, yesterday as we talked about character, the bottom line is who we are in private, behind closed doors, in the “hidden” places, IS WHO WE ARE PERIOD. A sermon like that is difficult to deliver, because I am not perfect and do not profess to be. I am a work in progress and God teaches me and molds me all of the time (because I NEED IT!!)

We need to be keenly aware that those around us are watching ALL OF US and they desperately need to see that Christ makes a difference in our lives. And the only way they will see that is if we put on this big, dramatic, churchy front all of the time and make them feel like they are missing out! RIGHT?!?!?

WRONG. The only way they will see it is if it is REAL to us. If we are REAL. The irony is, we think we can fool people, but many people can see right through. ARE YOU REAL?? WHO ARE YOU?

A Lesson in Character