Keep Swinging!!!

A few years back the Detroit Tigers were having a horrible season. At the end of April they were on track to becoming the losingest team in the history of baseball. They didn't quite make it, but they did manage to set an American League record for most losses (119) in a single season.

If you are a Detroit Tigers fan, it was a long winter! But just two seasons later, the Tigers were on track to becoming the winningest team in baseball, breaking a record set by Chicago in 1906. They didn't quite make that record, but they still had a great season.

Quick turn around, wasn't it? This reversal didn't happen by accident, and how it happened is best described by the experts, but here's the point I want you to pick up on today: It happened. The worst team in baseball in one season became one of the best teams in baseball just a few seasons later.

Personally and professionally we all endure losing seasons from time to time. A losing season may tell us that it's time to start over, but it doesn't tell us it's time to quit. If you've suffered some setbacks in life, whether in your family or job or school, first remember that you're not alone. And second, it doesn't mean that your best days are forever behind you. There's a big season right around the corner.

I've always found the words of the prophet Isaiah comforting. He wrote: "When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. Do not be afraid, for I am with you." (Isaiah 43:2 & 5)

For those who trust in God, we have no reason to fear because He is with us. Trials and troubles are cyclical, but the promises of God are permanent.

If you're where the Tigers were in 2003, look at where they are now. This can be you. I encourage you today, keep swinging the bat. Keep running the bases. Don't give up. You may be struggling in certain areas now, but those struggles are temporary. You'll experience a turn around, because God's promises are forever.

Home, Sweet Home!

I read a story about a little dog named Mugsy, who was walking across the street one day and, tragically, was hit by a truck. His sad owners took Mugsy down to the pet cemetery and buried him. They were so sorry they would never see their precious little dog again.

But a few days later, much to their surprise, they found Mugsy scratching at the back door. They could hardly believe their eyes. They opened the door and let little Mugsy in. He was covered with dirt but alive. It turns out their little dog wasn't dead after all. They had buried him alive, but the industrious little pooch clawed his way out and found his way home.

I read a definition for the word home that I liked. It said, "Home is not where you live, but where you are loved." And when you utilize that definition, then the words of Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz are so true: "There's no place like home!"

Regardless of what you might call "home" here on earth, did you know that God has an eternal home waiting for all who will trust in Him? It's called heaven. In John 14:2 Jesus said, "There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you." I hope it's your plan to go there!

If the definition of home is that it is a place where you are loved, you'll never be more at home then when you get to heaven. But you have to get ready. Here on earth, you might buy a house or rent an apartment or live with parents and call that home. To prepare for your home in heaven, all you have to do is trust in God and ask for His forgiveness for your sins. Then, someday, it will be "Home, Sweet Home" for you in heaven!

Why mention this at all? Because God has put a homing instinct inside every person, a sense that there is something more to life. In fact, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says, "He has put eternity in their hearts." Because of this, we will never be fully satisfied in this life. There is always going to be something missing.

So I encourage you.......enjoy your home here on earth, but make heaven your eternal destination. You'll never regret it.

Tax Day!!

I probably shouldn't go here, but I'm going to anyway. Yes, it's tax day. Normally it would be April 15 but because it fell on a Sunday we get a one day reprieve.

So have you completed the tax forms and sent them in? I hope you got a refund. If not, I hope you saved a few bucks so you can pay what you owe.

Did you know that God addressed taxes in the Bible? Yep. I won't go into all of the references, but here's one that stands out to me. It's found in Romans 13:7 and it says: Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

Everyone owes some kind of tax. Whether it's income tax, sales tax, property tax or some other tax, we owe them. God says we should pay. There may be other "fees" or "revenues" that we owe. God says pay them. But He also says to pay respect and honor to whom it's due.

Then, in verse 8 it says: Pay all your debts, except the debt of love for others. You can never finish paying that! If you love your neighbor, you will fulfill all the requirements of God's law.

Taxes and fees, hey, it's only money. It's the respect, honor and love for others that really matter! Those are the things that truly impact people's lives.

Sure, pay your taxes, but let me encourage you: don't forget to "pay" the other things as well. Give your respect, honor and love to those around you and watch them bloom like a spring flower!

Spring Cleaning

Let me approach a subject that we may not like very much: Spring Cleaning.

Spring means many things to us. But one of the most notable things that comes with spring is spring cleaning, when we go through our houses and take care of all the messes that have built up over the months.

I heard about an interesting custom in Italy for New Year's Eve. At midnight, the windows of every house open and everyone pitches out whatever they absolutely hate-furniture, clothes, dishes-they all come crashing to the ground. Now I would call that serious housecleaning.

I don't know about you, but I am not the tidiest person on the face of the earth. Right now my garage needs spring cleaning so badly! My office tends to get cluttered with various projects I'm working on. Some of you know how that works. Stuff just kind of adds up. You work on something and instead of cleaning up the mess you just move on to the next project.

Then there are people like my wife who is always doing a little here and a little there and keeping the place in great shape.

Unfortunately, the same thing tends to happen in our spiritual lives. There are some of us who allow problems to develop. We allow things to get really out of control. And when we reap the inevitable results of sin or when some crisis hits, we turn to God and say, "Lord, I need Your help to get me out of this mess."

And then there are others who live their spiritual lives the same way that my wife cleans house. They are always maintaining their relationship with the Lord, little by little, day by day, always cultivating it, and constantly keeping their hearts in a right relationship with God. That is the way to live.

You might think, "Yeah, well, I may not be the tidiest person in the world, but I get the job done." Perhaps, but think of all the time you would save if you maintained things regularly and didn't have to do a major cleaning overhaul every so often!

Again, let me apply this spiritually. If we will maintain our daily walk with God we can avoid most of the pitfalls that crop up when we don't. 1 John 1:9 tells us, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just toforgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Need a little spiritual spring cleaning? Go to God. He'll listen, and if you ask Him He'll forgive. Then, focus on that day to day walk with God......that day to day cleaning. It's much more satisfactory, friend, I promise!

I encourage you this week, work on whatever spiritual spring cleaning might be necessary. And then, maintain on a day by day basis and enjoy the blessings of God!

Holy Week

This week is often referred to as "Holy Week", which began yesterday with Palm Sunday. This final week of Christ's ministry and life before He was crucified was clearly important. Three of the gospel writers (Matthew, Mark, and Luke) devote a full third of their contents to reporting this week, and the entire last half of the Gospel of John is dedicated to this week. Jerusalem, which had a normal population of about 50,000 at this time, had at least tripled in size because of the influx of pilgrims celebrating the Jewish holiday Passover. Early (Palm) Sunday morning Jesus made his entry into the city. This was the end of all privacy and safety, and the beginning of what would be an inevitable collision course with the religious and political authorities. Crowds began to shout and sing as they threw down their garments on the pathway to cushion his ride - an Oriental custom still observed on occasions - as well as palm fronds, the symbol of triumph.

I have often wondered how many of those people who enthusiastically cried, "Hosanna!" on Palm Sunday shouted, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" a few days later. Some may have been keenly disappointed, even angry, that Christ didn't use His miraculous power to establish an earthly kingdom. Hadn't He created a golden opportunity to rally popular support by parading into Jerusalem and offering Himself as King?

But Jesus didn't come to establish a kingdom on earth. He came to establish His kingdom in the hearts of humanity. It wasn't about a palace and a throne and a mighty scepter for Jesus, it was about forgiveness for sin and the promise of eternal life with Him in heaven. And who is this for? For everyone, my friend. Everyone. John 1:13 says, "But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." I love that word, "all". What does it mean? It means ALL. Like the children's song, "Red and yellow, black and white, we are precious in His sight......"

There are people today who have the wrong view of Christ just as those on that day had a wrong vies. Christ does not offer immunity from life's hardships, a cure for every disease, or the promise of financial success. What the King offered then is what He offers today-Himself as the sacrifice for our sins, and an invitation to trust and serve Him. If we accept His offer, we will not be disappointed.

Palm Sunday is past, Easter Sunday is just days ahead. I encourage you to attend church this Easter Sunday. Even if you're not "a church goer", attend anyway. Why? Who knows......you might learn something new about God and find hope that was lost somewhere along the way.

If you are in the Osceola area and don't have a church you regularly attend, I invite you to worship with us. You can find details of our services at http://www.oagministries.com.

Blessings to you, my friend! And may the love of God bless you and fill you to overflowing!