No man knows the number of his days

Many who know me know that I have been dealing with several important life-direction choices in recents months and weeks.  For the most part, they've gone down in flames.  My attempt to join the Army as a chaplain was shot down (no pun intended) by a single doctor's opinion about the health of my knees (and yes, I'm still running and playing ball each week).  A couple of other opportunities have recently come to my attention, but there have been snags that may prevent them from working either.  In the midst of my own angst, and my genuine concern for the well being of my wife, I got a strange phone call this past week from my best friend.
I've received hundreds of call from him over the years, we've played sports together and hung out for almost thirty years, but this call was different.  The voice on the other end of the line was strained and sounded weaker somehow.  It didn't take long before he told me that he was in the hospital.  Having played basketball together six days prior I at first thought it was a joke; but it wasn't.  Long story short, my friend had been rushed to the hospital for an emergency situation that while treatable, could have been life threatening if no dealt with quickly.  We're both 36, our birthdays are a month apart; that's a wake-up call.  While I was worried about the direction of my career, my finances, and my wife (all legit things), my best friend was suddenly facing a very serious medical situation.  In the long-run, he'll be fine and this will be a blip on the radar, but it is also a reminder that none of us know the day or hour appointed for us by the Lord.  We don't know how long we have on this Earth to make a difference, how much time we'll have with our loved ones, or how many 2nd and 3rd chances we'll get to do the right thing.  Let's not waste any more of that time, it's too precious.
Get better soon, those 18 year old kids still need to be taught some lessons on the court.

Sermon Video: John 12:23-32 "When I am lifted up"

Jesus prepares his followers for the road to the cross by explaining that the Son of Man must be lifted up.  In God's ultimate act of love, his holiness and wrath are satisfied by the sacrfice that Jesus chooses to make on our behalf.  Jesus also reminds us that if we're going to be his followers, we're going to need to be servants who rely upon God for rewards rather than seeking after reward in this life.

To watch the video clink on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Sermon Video: "Do you believe in the Son of Man?" - John 9:26-38

One of the Bible's unsung heroes, the unnamed blind man healed by Jesus, stands up against the powerful Pharisees, a religious group with a reputation for piety and self-righteousness.  When he asks them if they want to become Jesus' disciples too, they throw him out.  Jesus seeks out the healed man and asks him if he believes in the Son of Man.  What was his response when Jesus told him he was looking at the same man who had healed him?  "Lord, I believe."  Jesus' care for this one forgotten man illustrates the lengths that God will go to in the ongoing effort to share his Grace and Mercy with us all.

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2

Play Ball!

Today is that quintessential American day, the opening day of Baseball.  In the tradition of the fans of generations past, most true-believers think that there team has a chance this year.  Well, maybe not in Cub fans, but just about everybody else.  There's something special about being able to start over fresh each year.  No matter how well, or how poorly, last year went, this year starts from scratch.  In life, most of us could use a fresh start from time to time.  Perhaps our career needs a restart, perhaps our finances, or perhaps it is our relationships that need to be revamped and renewed. 
In keeping with my firm belief that God must love baseball (you did see "Field of Dreams", right?), the Covenant that he made with the people of Israel contained this concept of starting over.  Every fiftieth year was a Year of Jubilee (Leviticus 25), a year when all property reverted to its original owner and all slaves were given their freedom.  The purpose of the Law was to give those who had fallen on hard times a second chance.  No family would be down and out forever, and nobody's wealth could grow to great at the expense of his neighbors.  This may not make economic sense in the modern economy, but it certainly makes spiritual sense.  We've all spent time heading down road that lead to nowhere, and we've all done serious damage to relationships that mean a lot to us.  As Easter approaches, consider the opportunities that you have to reconcile to those whom you've hurt, and take the God-honored step of going to those who have hurt you and letting you know that you've forgiven them.  What grudge is worth holding on to year after year, what offense is worth the destruction that it does to our own souls when we cling to it?
Our God is the God of second chances, he gave one to Moses, David, Rahab, Ruth, Elijah, Johanh, Peter and Paul, just to name a few.  Why not imitate our heavenly father and be the people of second chances?  A new season offers new hope, and a new chance.  Go Tigers!

Sermon Video: John 9:13-25 "I was blind but now I see!"

What is the response to Jesus healing a man born blind?  Wonder?  Gratitude?  No, controversy.  The healing took place on the Sabbath when "work" was forbidden.  What kind of man heals with the power of God on the Sabbath?  The healed man's famous response to being questioned on the matter, "One thing I do know, I was blind but now I see!"

To watch the video, click on the links below:
Sermon Video Part 1
Sermon Video Part 2