The Sin of Omission

Within the past Sunday's Sermon, I used a poem by Margaret Sangster that many asked about. Here is that poem. It is also found within William Bennett's masterful collection titled "The Book of Virtues"

The Sin of Omission
Margaret Sangster

It isn’t the thing you do, dear,
It’s the thing you leave undone
That gives you a bit of heartache
At the setting of the sun.
The tender word forgotten,
The letter you did not write,
The flowers you did not send, dear,
And your haunting ghosts at night.
The stone you might have lifted
Out of a brother’s way;
The bit of heartsome counsel
You were hurried too much to say;
The loving touch of the hand, dear,
The gentle, winning tone
Which you had no time nor thought for
With troubles enough of your own.”

Okay Dave, Just for You!!

So I've been reminded that it has been a while, January 28th to be exact, since I posted a blog. SORRY!!! So I'll make an attempt to share some words of wisdom!

How about these words ... Never, never, never give up! Those are easy words ... those are profound words ... those are perfect words ... IF ... we actually abide by them. Last night was a good example of those words. There were 7.1 seconds on the clock. My beloved Lady Volunteers were down 46-45. Candace Parker - the perenial All American was not on the top of her game following a twice seperated shoulder in a previous outing. Alexis Hornbuckle hadn't even scored 1 point all night. Only 45 points for a team that is used to dominating the game seemed quite shallow. And, with only 7.1 seconds left and the Lady's on the lower standard of the score, it seemed as though LSU was finally going to a National Championship game.

The inbound pass went to Candace. With her long frame she easily took the ball down the floor in just 4 or 5 steps. She dished off to Nicki Anosike, who herself was having a rough night. The "easy" lay-up was not even close. But, Alexis grabbed the rebound and dropped in a bucket ... literally within the last second. As the ball went through the net and the clock stopped at .7 seconds, the Lady Vols were up 47-46 and all LSU could do was hope for a miracle ... one which never came.

7.1 seconds for most people is nothing. The first paragraph took me longer than 7.1 seconds to write. 7.1 seconds ... easy to give up that much time ... however, time is our most precious commodity. It is the one thing that doesn't change with inflation ... it is the same every day ... 24-hours ... 1,440 minutes ...86,400 seconds every day. In the grand scheme of things ... 7.1 seconds just doesn't seem to amount to much.

Just remember though ... it just could be the difference between going home and playing one more championship game. Don't ever underestimate the value of a few seconds. It could be the most important seconds of the game!

I Know It's Been A While

Greetings!
I know that it has been a while since I last blogged, but I've had a lot on my mind and figured it might all come out in one jumbled mass! However, today as I was reading one of my favorite fellow bloggers - his words really jumped out too me. So - I want to share them with you. This is from friend, fellow blogger and minister, Aaron Chambers ...

Monday, January 28, 2008
They Like Jesus But Hate The Church?

In a meeting I attended recently with some church leaders from around the country I heard this phrase spoken as a sample of how young adults view the Church: "They like Jesus, but hate the church."

Interesting.

And impossible.

If I understand New Testament ecclesiology we don't have the luxury of separating Christ and his Bride.

Jesus and the Church are one and the same.

When Saul was on his way to Damascus to continue his persecution of Christ's Church a blinding bright light appeared from heaven, Saul fell to the ground, and he heard a voice from heaven saying, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"Acts 9:4

Who was Saul persecuting? The Church.

Who did the Lord accuse Saul of persecuting? Himself ("Me")

What's the lesson? Jesus was taking the persecuting of his church personally. What you do to the Church you do to Jesus. What we do to--and say about--the Church, we're doing--and saying--about Jesus.

We can't like Jesus and hate the church. It's a false dichotomy (Jesus on one side-His Church on the other).

That's like saying, "I like Arron, but hate Rhonda (my wife)." Here's a little advice: Don't say that within swinging distance of my right arm. :)

How you treat my wife is how you treat me.

I understand the angst reflected in the statement ("I like Jesus but hate the Church"). Many young--and older--adults are frustrated with the legalism, traditionalism, and divisiveness they see in their congregations or the church as a whole. They love Jesus and want to see his Bride become all she can be, but I think they're . . . we're . . . going at it the wrong way.

In my opinion the best way to help the Bride of Christ (the Church) to become stronger, healthier, and more unified is simply to love her--and her Groom--even more.

"Amen and Amen!"

Merry "CHRISTmas"

My daugher and I noticed it at nearly the same time ... but she voiced it first. With an air of disgust she noted the words on the sign to her high school as we pulled in Friday morning for the drop-off ritual. The sign had the politically correct greeting of "Happy Holidays" but underneath was the "Word of the Day" ... Nativity. She said, "that just doesn't make sense!"

I understood her lament. In a politically correct world - afraid to mention "Christmas" as you might offend someone - yet encouraging others to understand the word "nativity" ... a term whose very meaning is "representation of the birth of Jesus Christ".

May I suggest to you ... do what I have been doing ... when those who feel compelled to simply offer the politically correct "Happy Holidays" ... respond with a hearty "Merry Christmas." I've been doing that lately and have noticed some of the best responses from cashiers and clerks and even passersby.

I think everybody would rather have a Merry Christmas instead of a Happy Holiday anyway!

Merry CHRISTMAS!!!!

FINALLY!!

It took 32 years ... 1,864 kickoffs ... and 90-yards ... for Michael Spurlock to accomplish something that had NEVER been done before. It sounds relatively simple, but for a team that has never done things in a simple way ... it was tremendous. For the first time in history, a Tampa Bay Buccaneer scored a touchdown by returning a kick-off. Finally, that monkey is off of their backs.

I'm sure all of us have had things we have attempted over and over and over - and yet over again - and continually failed to the point that we just gave up trying. Well, take a lesson from the many who have found themselves on the receiving end of a kick off or punt and had their hope dashed by some defensive player who tackled him short of his promised land of the end zone ... keep on trying ... some day - you'll find yourself celebrating in the end zone!

A Football Parable

Once upon a time, there was a football team. They were pretty good ... had a good team ... moved the ball well. But they just didn't score too many touchdowns. So, they tried some new plays and that seemed to work ... but pretty soon, the new plays became standard plays and they were back to just making it to mid-field and not much farther.

So, they decided to draft a couple of new players. They were full of energy and passion for the game, nearly to the discouragement to some of the players that had been on the field for a long time. All of a sudden, the quarterback had a really good receiver to go along with some of the seasoned veterans and he had a running back that could not only move the ball, but could block for the other backs when necessary. The quarterback began to notice that the team was playing at a level they had never played at before.

But then, one day, some of the veteran guards and backs and receivers started talking amongst themselves in the lockerroom. They didn't like the new receiver and running back too much. One of them didn't wear their uniform the same way everybody else did and the other one seemed to get the ball too much, they thought. Disgruntled, even though their team was winning, they decided, one by one, to simply stand on the field. They wouldn't move from their position. So, one game, the quarterback received the snap, went back to pass the ball and because he couldn't see over the line very well, he threw the ball to where the receiver was supposed to be, but he hadn't moved. The opponents intercepted and ran unimpeded to the end zone.

The next series of downs didn't go much better. The running back was handed the ball, but he just stood there. He didn't even try to move. The quarterback wondered what was going on, but recieved the next snap and by now, a couple of the guards had decided to simply do nothing as well and the quarterback, left ungaurded, was pummeled by the opposing team. After a couple more plays like that, he was simply carried off the field ... defeated.

The moral of the parable ... everybody has a place on the team and when one or two players purposefully decide not to play ... it leaves the team vulnerable and helpless.

Linus and Charlie Brown

Here we are approaching CHRISTMAS again - notice I did not say the politically correct "Holiday Season." I'm not sure what everyone is so afraid of in refering to Christmas as "Christmas." Oh - anyway - that's another blog for another day.

Don't you just love "A Charlie Brown Christmas?" It is a perennial favorite and within that simple cartoon is a question of monumental importance. Charlie Brown simply (and loudly) asks ... "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?"

It is such a basic question and such a powerful one at the same time. Linus masterfully tells the story of Christmas and very casually announces to Charlie Brown ... "that is what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown."

I would imagine that we have a lot of Charlie Brown's in our world today who just want to know what it is all about ... in fact, some of their questions may even point toward a deeper well ... "why was Jesus born in the first place?"

That's what we'll be talking about at the church I serve over the course of the next few weeks ... He was Born ... to bring peace ... to fulfill the law ... to give life ... to die ... and ... to build a church. I hope that you will join us, either in person or via the webcast each week.

Until then, have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!