The Greatest Hitter of All Time

 

This week, I heard a story about a little boy who was playing baseball by himself in the yard.  He threw the ball up into the air and swung his bat saying, “The greatest hitter of all time …”  But he missed, and the ball fell to the ground.  He picked up the ball, threw it up into the air, and swung again saying, “The greatest hitter of all time …”  But he missed again, and the ball fell to the ground.  He picked up the ball, threw it up into the air, and swung a third time saying, “The greatest pitcher of all time …”  That’s a cute little story, but how often do we make excuses for our mistakes?!  It’s easy to blame someone else for our mistakes.  Adam did.  It’s easy to shirk responsibility.  Cain did.  It’s easy to make excuses for our own sinful actions.  Achan did.  But it takes real Christian character to own up to your mistakes and to admit wrong.  David admitted his wrong and said in Psalm 51:3&4, “For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.”  And because David was honest with God, he was called “a man after God’s own heart”.  Hey, do you want to be pleasing to God?  Then be honest before Him.  Admit your wrong and come clean with God.  You’ll be glad that you did, and God will be proud of you.

Upside Down

 

When I play Santa, I take a copy of “The Night Before Christmas” with me to read to the children.  They like to have a book read to them especially by Santa.  But last week, I was in Springfield, Tennessee and absentmindedly forgot my book on the table (Santa is old and forgetful).  So, I went on Amazon and found two more copies (Santa is cool and uses Amazon).  One of the books looked in good condition on the outside, but all of the inside pages were printed upside down!  Actually, I think that the outside cover was just glued on upside down.  But, in any case, it would prove to be very confusing for children (and Santa).  Hey, I know some folk who are one way on the outside but upside down on the inside too!  They say one thing, but on the inside, they are hypocrites.  What a shame.  Because the worst person to lie to is yourself.  Hey, be honest with others and be honest with yourself.  When Jesus met the woman from Sychar at the well, she was hiding secret sins.  But Jesus told her in John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”   Jesus reminded her that God saw right through to her heart.  She couldn’t fool God, and you can’t fool God either.  Don’t try to look good on the outside while harboring secret sins on the inside.  And if you are, today would be a good day to come clean with God.  After all, He knows the secrets that you are hiding.  Only God can turn your life around … turn the inside, right side up and make your life brand new!

Country Store

 

In 1987 I took my junior high class on a field trip to Fall Creek Falls State Park.  We had sack lunches and stopped at a little country store just outside of the park to buy Cokes and eat lunch.  Many people stop there before going into the park, and they have several picnic tables around back.  A boy scout troop and several other people were already there.  Before getting off the bus, I warned my students about littering.  But the boy scouts obviously had needed my lecture too.  They were having a big time, carelessly dropping paper and plastic wrappers all over the area.  And their leaders paid no attention.  I was a little smug watching my students carefully stuffing their trash into their paper bags and then putting them into the trash cans.  But after the scout lunch was over, the boy scout leader stood up and said, “Alright boys, let’s police the area!”  And they did.  Those scouts went over the whole picnic area and picked up every scrap of trash leaving the whole place spotless!  I was stunned and embarrassed by my pride.  Hey, there are many ways to accomplish the same end, and my way is not always the best way.  Are you like me?  Are you often judgmental?  Paul reminded us in Romans 14:10, “But why dost thou judge thy brother? or why dost thou set at nought thy brother? for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ.”  Just like those boy scouts answered to their leader, I answer only to my leader, the good Lord above.  Other people aren’t any of my business.  I have my plate full taking care of myself.  Hey, is your plate full?  Are you taking care of yourself?  Think about it.