Monthly Archives: May 2019
Baseball legend, Bill Buckner left several important legacies. He played major league baseball for 22 years. He had a stellar career. Buckner won a batting title and all-star nod back-to-back, and finished top-15 in MVP voting three consecutive years. His career consisted of 2,715 hits, 1,208 RBI, 1,077 runs scored and 174 home runs. It was a great record! But many fans forgot all the great things he did and turned against him for ONE PLAY. Sadly it’s that singular play at first…..
When trouble comes, a Christian’s first instinct is to ask God to deliver them. Jesus modeled another response: “Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason [to die for the sins of the world] I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name” (John 12:27). Observations: 1. It’s not wrong to have a troubled heart in the face of suffering. Jesus did. 2. It is…..
Jesus healed a man who had been blind from birth (John 9). He employed a “down-to-earth” visual by mixing saliva with mud which he placed on the man’s eyes and sent him to wash in a nearby pool. Imagine the indescribable joy of the man and all who knew him when he suddenly saw everything perfectly! But Jesus’ enemies were incensed. Their excuse for attacking Jesus was that it was the Sabbath and they defined Jesus’ healing as forbidden “work”…..
“I am the light of the world.” If I made that audacious claim, even (or especially) those closest to me would assume I was joking or insane. But when Jesus said it, He spoke the truth. Think of the symbolism of light versus darkness. Jesus is the embodiment and provider of understanding, clarity, guidance, life, new life, growth, health, warmth, transparency, righteousness, beauty, optimism, and hopefulness. He makes it personal and gives a promise: “I am…..
