The Baseball Pitching Machine

In the daily course of conversation you can often hear someone say "I am just busy with life". I doubt that few of us cannot identify with what we perceive to be the message behind the statement. Life often lives her own life at a pace that can be difficult to keep up. In making life it's own entity we can quickly put together a list of items she seems to throw at us from every direction. I am also confident that many of us would describe life's ability to "throw out her stuff" as if it is being distributed by a baseball pitching machine set at high speed. The normal defensive move when experiencing such is to hunker down, cover up the best you can and pray that the machine runs out of baseballs quickly. Describing ourselves as "just busy with life" is the quickest way to share with someone that we are dealing with a lot of different issues and that we will not have the time to explain any of them. Our "just busy" condition gives us a quick way out and relieves us for the immediate moment of explaining ourselves, but that might not be best for us. With the celebration of Easter still on my mind from this past weekend, I cannot help but think about Jesus and the quick pace of life he experienced, faced and dealt with during his lifetime. In the last week of His life he was applauded and greeted with cheers as He entered the City of Jerusalem. At the surface of things that seems like a great way to begin any week. Who doesn't like being welcomed and from every appearance loved too! Yet, in His last week of life He would be betrayed by a close friend named Judas. Another close friend named Peter would swear allegiance only to turn out to not be a man of his word at that moment in time. Life started throwing out accusations and Peter quickly tried to hunker down but the pitching machine of life wasn't going to stop until he denied knowing who Jesus was. For me there is no doubt that what I just described would be more than enough to deal with, but for Jesus, that last week was still filled with more. He would experience being lied about by those who held leadership positions in the community and the church of all things. Jesus was arrested unlawfully and he actually experienced being tried and convicted by his enemies and the court of public opinion without even having a single visit to a legal court. Finally getting His day in court, Jesus discovered the legal courts had no intention of dealing with Him fairly at all. Life's players seemed to have everything stacked up against Jesus and no doubt those individuals had a sense of self-pride believing they had accomplished their goal completely. The one thing I can think of that is very upsetting to life is when you think you have everything taken care of and you discover there were some details you missed in your preparations. Jesus had predicted His death. He had predicted the circumstances surrounding the situation and He had even shared that He would rise again after the third day. These facts seemed to be overlooked. It might have been because those working against Him were "just busy with life", planning and plotting and they missed the important details. I appears very clear to me that there is something to be said for the details of life. In advertisements often suggest or say you better read the fine print. We say this because of our experiences and we share this word of caution because we would like to help others avoid a particular snare of life. Getting busy is really easy to do, paying attention to detail is actually a good habit that once practiced becomes an art to living life most effectively. The things that beset us in life are not necessarily being hit by a fastball or a curve ball hurled out by a baseball pitching machine. If you know anything about baseball you understand that players are actually taught how to take a hit. How to step-into a pitch. How not to be afraid of the fast ball that is coming at you. Learning to keep you eye on the ball from the pitchers glove and hand, until you connect your bat with the ball is the key and art to getting a hit. I am not suggesting that this is an easy art to master, but it is practice that makes your success more likely. There is a lot that can be said for being "just busy with life" but nothing can replace your preparation for life and I suggest a look at the life of Jesus for your answers. Until then

Easter's Past - Easter 2014

Growing up as a child I didn't understand the spiritual significance of Easter, nor did I understand the role of Jesus Christ and how the story of Jesus is the story of Easter. As a child properly understanding how Easter Egg Hunting, special musical church cantatas, and sunrise services all were connected was not exactly easy. One element of Easter I did understand was that I would be accompanying my mother for a day of shopping and trying on clothing. My mother's mission was the perfect 'Easter Outfit', as for my mission, I cannot remember ever having one. My mission if anything was to do what my mother said, to put on each outfit she picked out and to "stand up straight". I am confident that there are many reading this column that can remember hearing those say type of words from your mother too. Reflecting on the meaning of Easter has been a life long journey. I suspect it would be nice to point to a specific time and place and write that I understood it clearly at this moment in time, but that is not the case. It has been an ever evolving understanding and even now I am still learning and growing in what Easter means to me. As a teenager I had the unique musical experience of signing the Baritone Solo role with the Orchestra of the Cumberland's and a full SATB chorus for a solemn production of The Seven Last Words of Christ. Preparing for this role was not only challenging musically but emotionally. Attempting to put your mind in that place, the place of the crucifixion and to focus on His words uttered on the cross is a challenge for any Christian at any age. For me, this experience would be an asset in helping me tap into my personal connection with Easter. Another experience that left a lasting impression on my spiritual growth and heightened sense of understanding of Easter was a visit to the Holy Land. This trip included a musical performance at the Garden Tomb owned by Joseph of Arimathea. Joseph gave his personal burial plot to the Disciples and the Family of Jesus at the request of Nicodemus and others. He did this so Jesus could be properly buried in accordance with religious traditions and customs. Little did they understand at that time that Jesus would only be inside the grave for three days, and then He would rise again, just as He had predicted. If you have or had questions about the meaning of Easter and the story of Jesus Christ you join a group of many who have attempted to understand His death, burial and resurrection. I want to write that I am squared away with all my questions now, but that is not the case. I still question His love. After all, saying you 'love me' is one thing, and laying down your life and dying for me is something else. It is hard to figure out so we ask a question like why? The only answer I have is because that was the Father's plan, and Jesus was obedient, obedient to the point of even death. This is difficult to put a mind around because we are use to witnessing selfness. Who gives up everything for someone like me? This is the question I still ask, especially when I know I have failed Him in actions and words. Rusty Goodman pinned the thought perfectly in the song "Who Am I that a King would bled and die for". This Easter my phone hasn't rang (yet) with my mother informing me of a shopping trip to pick out my 2014 'Easter Outfit'. Growing up when my mother and father organized our family Easter Egg Hunt, as the youngest child, I always had the benefit of assistance. One of my parents would stand next to an egg or point out where a prize egg was to help me in my find. As I continue to grow in understanding the meaning of Easter, I realize that my parents and others have been helpful in my personal journey of realizing that Easter is all about Jesus, and still difficult to understand is that Jesus was all about me and you. Jesus is Easter and His focus was totally on us. Jesus is offering us assistance this Easter. He wants to help us find the ultimate prize egg. Forgiveness of our sins and eternal life. Until then

Encounter Community; University of Kentucky NCAA Tournament Run;

The unexpected things we receive in life are always the best. I am mindful that this statement can be made for all things good, but the unwanted unexpected things that are unwelcome do not fit into the 'always best' category. This past weekend I spoke at Encounter Community Church. Encounter is a new church plant in Ownesboro-Daviess County, Ky. Their intent is lead people to an encounter with Jesus Christ. On Saturday, the University of Kentucky played Wisconsin in that unexpected NCAA Tournament journey. Volunteers from the church were building a new platform all day on Saturday and I dropped in to deliver homemade milkshakes and to watch the basketball game on their large screen televisions. I joked on Sunday morning that I had been in church during the game Saturday night to make sure the communication lines were open between Heaven and Arlington, Texas. The UK win over Wisconsin certainly was a surprise. The entire UK run in the NCAA Tournament was one of those unexpected things that was really good. Lots of folks who had no plans to visit the State of Texas in April had unexpected changes in their schedules. On Monday night when the University of Kentucky faced the UConn Huskies the unwanted, unwelcome arrived and the youthful Big Blue Nation found themselves wishing they had not burned their couches earlier as they needed one to sit in and reflect after losing in the National Championship Game 60-54. When the unexpected good and exciting arrive and the unexpected, unwanted unwelcome bad arrives within such a short time frame the emotions can be a roller coaster, but the encounter is actually a friend. This maybe shocking news, I only watched two UK games this year. UK-Michigan & UK-UConn. I did watch the final 7.2 seconds of the UK-Wisconsin game but not sure if that counts. I had been working upstairs and walked downstairs to gather something when I witnessed the final seconds on the television that was playing. This year for Christmas my sister & brother-in-law gave me a Wildcat T-Shirt. It actually is the only such shirt in my wardrobe. I am not anti, I just do not have a big blue passion like others. I do find it fun to throw out the Kentucky Basketball facts as the history is impressive, fan or no fan. Finding a way to use the unexpected moments in life to our full advantage can be challenging. While the focus might highlight the best of things, it could be best for us individually if we focused on the not so welcome things. Learning to use those type of experiences to grow through, and incorporate into the integrity and character of who we are, and what we believe might be the best thing to do. Instead, sadly often the focus is on the negative, what didn't happen and all the 'what if's' of life. Speaking at Encounter Community and focusing on their name and meaning I began to think about all the encounters Jesus had with people and all the life changing moments that occurred. There was Saul, a persecutor of Christians until he had an encounter. We now know him as Paul in the Bible. Zacchaeus was a tax collector whose life was changed because of his encounter. His heart change most interesting included him leading a group to speak with Joseph of Arimathea, the disciple who would give up his death tomb so Jesus could be properly buried after being crucified. The Samaritan women who met Jesus at Jacob's well had a changed life too, all because of an encounter. Andrew and James, brothers who were fisherman had an encounter and followed Jesus. They left their fishing nets after one conversation. The list of folks whose lives were changed because of an encounter are endless and whose stories are powerful because of the experience. The Wildcats might not have won a national title or championship, but the experience and lessons of the journey might be worth a million dollars in life-living. How we deal with our unexpected, welcome and unwelcome things in life makes all the difference in what happens after the fact. Embrace the encounter, it is a key to something unexpected, positively. Until then

Korean Veteran William F Day - Kentucky Governor lower flags half-staff

Visiting Washington, D.C. is an exciting adventure and to be totally honest, there is so much to see and do in the Nation's Capital that it is impossible to accomplish over a weekend or even a weeks time. I have had the enjoyment of visiting the District of Columbia on many occasions and one of my favorite historical sights to re-visit is the Korean War Memorial. There is something about understanding the political environment during that period and time frame in the world that helps set the stage for viewing the memorial. When I think about the sacrifice of our nations citizens to secure freedom I am moved toward greater thankfulness and appreciation. When you first view the Korean War Memorial in person the first thing that strikes you is the size of the monuments. Their larger than life presence scattered throughout the field as they are posed in such a way as to be making their way through a field is a moving and inspiring moment. The individual soldier monuments' serve as a reflection of their impact during the war and their impact in the world because the defended democracy and fought for freedom across the seas and around the world. The day was December 2, 1950 when Cpl. William F. Day was declared MIA (Missing In Action). The combat actions were between the CPVF and the 31st RCT in the vicinity of the Chosin Reservoir, Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). On September 13, 1994 the DPRK unilaterally turned over 14 boxes containing remains believed to be unaccounted-for U.S. Servicemen from the Korean War. The remains were reportedly discovered eleven miles south of Hargarurilong, which is the route the 1st Marine Division used for a withdrawal to Hungnam. The Northeast Asia Research and Analysis Division concluded the association of the remains with that of Cpl. William F. Day a Kentucky soldier who went MIA during that time frame and who had traveled that route during the war. Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear has ordered all flags half-staff on Monday, April 7 in Honor of Korean War Casualty William F. Day. Memorial Services will be conducted at Ballard Memorial High School in Barlow, Ky., with interment to follow at the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery outside of LaCenter Ky. Remembering and honoring his life and sacrifice are most important for Kentuckians to do at this time. Remembering those who have served is always the right thing to do and to honor his life at this time is most appropriate as we should never forget those who left to serve and have never returned. 64 years is a long time to be away and 64 years is a long time to be remember and loved. Closure is an important element and while questions may still linger from the conflict and the exact details of his death remain unanswered, he has been returned home and in dignity and honor he will be saluted by a grateful Commonwealth and Nation. Our Country has been served by so many willing Kentuckians, willing to 'suit up and march away' as in former days, or volunteer as is the enlistment process of today. There are 7,888 Americans who remain unaccounted for from the Korean War. The Bible is very clear about giving honor to whom honor is due. Scriptures is also very clear in its teaching that there is no greater sacrifice/love than being willing to lay down your life for another. William F Day not only lived up to these distinctions but he died demonstrating these traits of honor and heroism. Long has the flag for MIA's waved over Courthouses, Parks, and government buildings and long have we not forgotten those that never returned home. Receiving Full Military Honors for his service the presentation of the Flag of the United States will be presented to the family on behalf of the President of the United States representing the heart of the nation of citizens who are grateful and humbled by his service and his sacrifice. Traveling the road ways you may see the flag of our Nation and our Commonwealth at half-staff. Know this represents the highest salute of our government and it should cause the humble salute of our heart knowing that William F Day, 25 years of age from Hayward, California will be laid to rest in Kentucky. God Bless American and God Bless the Commonwealth of Kentucky! Until then