Close Only Counts in Horseshoes…
Father, it is hard to believe that we are already two months into the school year and that the holidays are so very near. I would pray for direction as Thanksgiving and Advent are just around the corner. May I put forth what Your heart desires. Amen.
Romans 3:21-26 (<<click here to read the passage)
Anybody that knows me, knows that I am not a sports enthusiast. I can watch games with those who enjoy them and know enough about them to know what’s going on, but I would pretty much never sit down and watch something – anything – sports related all by myself.
Regardless, there’s a lot that sports and athletics can teach us. The Apostle Paul was one to use athletic references in his writings (Philippians 2:16, Galatians 2:2, Galatians 5:7, 2 Timothy 4:7).
That being said, there is a quote that we are all pretty much familiar with that has its origins in the game of baseball. Frank Robinson was an American professional baseball outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball, from 1956 to 1976. He was the first to say, “Close don’t count in baseball. Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades.” The quote appeared in Time magazine (July 31, 1973).
Close only counts in horseshoes and hand grenades. You can fall short using those two items and still accomplish some of what you had intended.
To fall short of something means to be less than what you need, expected, or hoped for, or to fail to reach a satisfactory standard.
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. v23
We are all – farmers, housewives, pastors, shoe salesmen, seminary professors, plumbers, schoolteachers, popes, doctors, baseball players, and anyone else you would care to add to that list – we are all sinners. And we all – every single one of us – fall short of God’s glorious standard.
There is nothing we can do about it. But verse 22 states,
We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. NLT
We are all sinners and we all fall short, but we all can be made right. Jesus Christ is the key.
God’s word can most definitely speak for itself.
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus. vs24-26 NLT
Thank You, Jesus!
Nov 1st, 2022, Tues, 4:50 pm
A Perfect Circle?
A full weekend of physical labor but thank You Father for the ability to do what I did. My body was complaining some last night but today I’m doing well! Thank You for Your continued blessings!
Romans 3:20-21 (<<click here to read the passage)
Have you seen the videos where someone stands at a chalkboard and in one fell swoop draws a perfect circle? (Click here to see it!) It’s amazing! I know I couldn’t do it. I have seen skilled artists painting names on the glass of doors and drawing seemingly perfectly straight lines. I know I couldn’t do it. The thing is if those drawings were meticulously scrutinized, are they truly perfect? I would think it would be nigh impossible to be perfect…don’t you?
This verse from Romans 3:20 states,
For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are. NLT
A lot of us sure seem to have our act all together when it comes to living upright before the Lord and the world. But if our ways were to be meticulously scrutinized against the Law, I think we would be found wanting. Actually, I know we would be found wanting. We cannot in our own efforts of diligently, carefully, painstakingly following the Law do so. It is not possible. Only one person ever did…Jesus.
The Law is a compass to the circle or a ruler to the line we have drawn. Our errors and our shortcomings are highlighted by true examples of straight lines or perfectly round circles. That’s what the Law accomplishes for us, it simply shows us how sinful we are.
But you may ask, then why have the Law at all? If we can never master it, why did God give it to us? Without it, we could not comprehend what sin is. The Law clearly spells out what sin entails. And we might shun admitting it, but the Law is a gift. If we did not have it to point out our sin, we might be tempted to argue that we are pretty good people. Goodness, we do that enough already don’t we? How many times have we exclaimed, “I’m not that bad!”
Again, the Law is the compass and ruler that shows just how crooked or out of line we are spiritually. God’s Law is the rule of right which proceeds from his own immaculate holiness.
The Law cannot save us but in showing us our sinful depravity, it points us to a path to righteousness that is available [independently and completely] apart from the Law… v21b…but Paul’s details on that will have to wait until next time!
Oct 31st, 2022, Mon, 12:30 pm
Yellow Jackets and Us
It’s been a scrambled kind of day, Father, but I am grateful that You are rock-solid through it all. I can trust and lean on You at any time throughout the day. All praise to You!
********
Today at lunch we noticed that we’re no longer seeing yellow jackets at our deserted hummingbird feeder (no I still haven’t taken it down…). That got me thinking, “What happens to yellow jackets when the weather turns cold?”
So, of course, I looked it up. I learned that yellow jacket workers die after 5-7 days of temperatures 45° (F) or colder. The new queen, who will create next year’s colony, survives by burrowing deep into the ground where she hibernates until spring.
Beginning October 14th, we had nine straight days when our temperature dropped that low – hence, no yellow jackets.
But the article (from Arrow Exterminating Company out of the New York area) had a lot of interesting information.
Unlike some creatures that will store food, yellow jackets have very much of a hand-to-mouth existence…meaning that the food they gather is used to feed themselves, their queen, larvae, or young. None is saved. In the spring, food is abundant, and the colony’s population is at its lowest.
However, by the time the weather starts to turn cold in the fall, the colony is at its maximum size and simultaneously food sources are starting to dwindle. This is why yellow jackets are so aggressive in the fall. Like any other starving creatures, they’re ill-tempered and desperate to get anything that can be used to feed themselves, the colony, or the queen preparing for winter survival.
As I read through it, I couldn’t help but think of people. Many live paycheck to paycheck, with little to nothing to spare. When you add addictions to drugs or alcohol, their lives, and the lives of their family are impacted astronomically. Another contributing factor is the “keeping up with the Jones” malady. You know, the mindset of having to have things mainly because everybody else has things. Sure, it’s nice having things, but it’s not always good for the bottom line.
Far too often the problems we see in adults, and children, too, for that matter, have deep roots. It’s easy, on our end, to blow up and get frustrated or angry…to demand punishment or at least a good tongue lashing. But how does that really change anything, except to maybe push the issues down even further…even deeper?
One of the things I’ve come to understand in ministry is that what many people need is an investment…and I’m not talking money. I’m talking about time – the most valuable commodity of all. Even from the pastoral end of things that can be difficult. How do we pull that off effectively?
I guess that’s one advantage of my work outside of the church. When you are with people for multiple hours several days a week, that back-and-forth becomes easier. You develop trust and a rapport with one another. Both of you are investing in each other, and you both benefit from your relationship.
And you know, that’s what Jesus did. Throughout His life, He invested in others. He spent time with them…and most importantly He loved them, with all that He was. Lives were changed…for eternity!
Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit… but with [an attitude of] humility [being neither arrogant nor self-righteous], regard others as more important than yourselves. Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Philippians 2:3-4 AMP
Oct 27th, 2022, Thurs, 5:16 pm
No Excuse
A lot has filled this day, Father. I would ask that You keep my eyes open and my mind attentive as we come together. May Your word be heard. Amen.
Romans 3:9-20 (<<click here to read the passage)
I’m sure the habit that I continue to practice, I picked up somewhere in my childhood. When I have done something or said something wrong – not as in making mistakes – but when I have intentionally done or said something of which I am guilty, my mind rolls over and over again, all the reasons that I should not be pronounced guilty if I am found out.
My mind goes through all kinds of scenarios of excuses and rationalizations. It’s an odd habit, I guess, but it seems like I do it every time. I even go through the exercise if I am not guilty if I just thought I might be.
But even in my own mind, I quickly conclude that those arguments would fall apart and that I would have nothing to stand upon except the bare-naked truth regarding what I had done.
Humanity is replete with excuses and rationalizations. We are also very good at attempting to deflect our guilt to someone – almost anyone – else.
We may make excuses before each other, but there will come a day when we all will have nothing to stand upon except the bare-naked truth regarding what we have done. Like it or not, that is the way it will be when we stand before God at the end of all time.
In verses 10-18 of today’s passage, Paul groups together portions of several Psalms with the addition of Isaiah 59:7-8, to clearly communicate where we stand in the light of God’s holiness. It strikes me silent. I have no excuse. Thoughtfully read these verses through. As the Amplified Bible begins verse 10, “As it is written and forever remains written…” (emphasis mine)
“No one is righteous—
….not even one.
No one is truly wise;
….no one is seeking God.
All have turned away;
….all have become useless.
No one does good,
….not a single one.”
“Their talk is foul, like the stench from an open grave.
….Their tongues are filled with lies.”
“Snake venom drips from their lips.”
….“Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.”
“They rush to commit murder.
….Destruction and misery always follow them.
They don’t know where to find peace.”
….“They have no fear of God at all.” Romans 3:10-18 NLT
Lord Jesus, every single one of us is guilty. May we readily admit our guilt and humbly stand before You, our only source of forgiveness and salvation. Amen.
Oct 26th, 2022, Wed, 7:53 pm
Avoiding the Collision
Another beautiful day, Father! Thank You for the opportunity and the ability to get outside and accomplish a few things. All are blessings from Your generous hand!
********
One of the challenges with driving in our area is the very healthy population of white-tailed deer. They are usually more active at dawn and dusk. Of course, as I am pulling out of the bus compound for my elementary route, the sun is just beginning to color the horizon. I see a lot of deer in one general area specifically.
This morning, I saw deer cross in front of me two times, close enough that I could see them in my headlights but far enough away I didn’t have to slam my brakes – though I did apply them some because they are known to travel in twos and threes. I also saw a nice-sized buck standing on the side of the road. As I came upon him, he bounded off into the field from which he had come.
In my time bus driving, I’ve only hit one and the bus wasn’t damaged. The doe didn’t fare so well. But depending on how you hit them, it can damage the bus.
The thing is there is no way to prepare for it. You’re rolling right along and then “bam!” out pops a deer. Sometimes you can avoid the collision, but other times you’re just blindsided!
One of the challenges in life is that there is an overabundance of temptation. The bad thing is that it is active all the time – every waking moment there is a chance that we will be accosted by temptation. Deer are beautiful animals, but you don’t want one taking out the front quarter panel of your car. Temptation can be incredibly alluring, but we must be careful that we don’t allow ourselves to come to the point where we fall flat on our faces, covered head to toe in sticky, gooey, impossible-to-remove guilt and remorse. The damage is done…but thank the Lord, it is not irreparable if we come to Him!
You’re rolling right along, and temptation crosses your path. Sometimes we’re good at slamming on the brakes – throwing up a quick prayer for the Lord’s intervention. “Nope, nope, nope, I don’t want to think that, see that, do that! Lord, help me!” And oft times before we know it, another temptation and possibly another temptation follows close behind on the heels of the first one.
When the temptation just will not depart, I’ve gotten in the habit of throwing my mind in a totally different direction. I have to do something to take my mind off of whatever is attacking me. For me, a song usually helps! Words of a hymn or recently I even sang the words to “Jesus Loves Me”! The Holy Spirit is there to help us, and literally, He is a thought away! Breathe a simple prayer and He is at work. I’d say that He is the one that prompts me to sing!
We can only do so much to withstand the attack of temptation, but with the Holy Spirit at our side, we can conquer whatever comes our way! Amen – so be it!
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. 1 Corinthians 10:13 NLT
Oct 25th, 2022, Tues, 5:07 pm