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Showing posts from March, 2013

The home-run that wasn’t...

My son John's first hit in a baseball game was a long time coming.  But, late in the night of May 12, 2010, the wait was worth it.  John Thomas was in his first season of baseball that year.  We had been appointed to St. Paul United Methodist Church in Bridge City, Texas.  Bridge City is a community in which children are born with a glove in their hand.  And, baseball and softball are sacredly passed from generation to generation.  So, it was a bit challenging for John to catch up because his first season was in kid pitch baseball.  He had never been in a game before.  The first couple of games he looked like he was totally lost.  The coaches even discussed having him play down at coach pitch and learn for a season because they were worried he might get hurt in the box.  A stubborn father, I refused and explained that he would learn.  But, when he got in the box for his at bats under the lights, he seemed to freeze.  He was not...

Let Jesus wash your feet...

Maundy is an English derivation of the Latin word mandatum. Mandatum translates roughly as command or mandate today.  Maundy Thursday is the day that the church is called to remember Jesus’ command to his disciples at the Last Supper.  “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” John 13:34.   Context is important.  This command is given after Jesus has stripped himself, wrapped himself in a towel, and washed the disciples‘ feet.  Peter objects to Jesus serving him in this manner, but Jesus rebukes him.  This passage is about more than disciples’ willingness to be uncomfortable and serve others.  Sometimes disciples try to serve others without ever allowing their own feet to be washed.  It is difficult to pour out love and grace for others when you have not actually experienced the therapeutic loving and healing grace of Jesus Christ in your own life.  Instead of wounded...