Mr. Clemente, we need you-NOW!

There was a joke years ago about the Latin American ball players, “baseball been bery good to me,” and it was very true.  But how many had been good for baseball, or used their celebrity status outside of baseball?  During the Viet Nam War, many ballplayers did USO tours, with pitcher Ron Taylor of the 1969 World Champion Mets becoming a doctor at age 38 after seeing the horrors.  But one All Star, not mentioned much any more, actually ended up giving his life in service to earthquake victims in Nicaragua.  A 12 time All Starr, batting champ four times, Gold Glove winner 12 times, and hitting over .300 twelve times, and at his last at bat, unknown at the time, got his 3000th hit.  His number 21 retired by the Pirates, the Commissioners Award renamed in his honor, and a new rule of election into the Hall of Fame introduced after his death.  A career .312 hitter, how many know of or even remember Roberto Clemente?  Maybe on the field us old timers may remember, but do we remember his death, flying to Nicaragua with supplies for earthquake victims on December 31, 1972?  How it wasn’t his first time giving back, as every winter he had taken supplies and baseball items to Puerto Rico to the poor and needy.  He was the first Latin American player to win all those awards, but I remember him not as the man who always beat up on the Mets, which he did, but as a man of character, who gave from the heart, not in words, and more than from his wallet, that he was a doer and not just a sayer.  Whose character showed when needed, and Mr. Clemente, we need you-NOW!

My friend Nitro jokes how you can lead a horse to water, but a pencil must be lead.  We love to hear of the testimonies of those like Clemente, but very view spring to action, pick an excuse, we are all guilty.  So many warm pews every Sunday, maybe grudgingly reach into their credit card to give, getting the tax deduction of course.  But Jesus tells us to not only be hearers of the word, but doers. He tells us that we have no greater love than to lay down our lives for our brothers.  To love your neighbor as yourself, and then tells us we are all neighbors.  But why are so few doers, but complainers?  A young David faced this, and his prayer in Psalms reveals the answer.  Not more classes, more prayer, more giving, or more religion.  He says “grant me a willing spirit,” how many of us ever pray that one?  In Peter we find “he has given us his divine power for everything we need in life and godliness.”  But when we ask, and are given his spirit, do we act on it?  When I decided to get into ministry years ago, I visited with men who I felt were deep spiritually, only to find them bankrupt to the spirit.  “Raise money, build up a support group,” I was told,and when I questioned them, as Jesus told his disciples to only take what is in your pockets and he would provide, I was blown off.  Labeled as a rebel, and a loser.  In Christ maybe we need  more losers, not more fund raising.  But we are then called to action, few things bother me more than those waiting on God with their hand outs, when so many needs are right in front of them.  Waiting for the feeling to act, at the right paycheck, the right position, when you could be acting in faith, you can do what you need to do and God wants you to do.  By his spirit...not ours, but his.  By the way, next time you write asking for money, and sign off “in his service,” who is the his, you or Jesus?  Where God guides he provides, a concept few fully grasp hold on to.  David acted, and yes those who wait upon the Lord shall be blessed, he also knows those who delay.  And so do we.....and your true character is revealed.

So Mr. Clemente we need you, NOW!  Or more church all stars to step up and out of their religious experience and into a spiritual experience.  If your whole Jesus experience has been church, you might have missed the calling.  You can either be in God’s way or in his way, you cannot be both, you cannot expect glory for your actions and not give God his.  It takes the spirit, and your willingness to trust and obey.  It can be simple or you can make it hard, but it takes you and the spirit.  Your actions today will tell us more about Jesus in your life than all the money given, studies attended, or religious affiliations. 

Some might say Clemente took one for the team, character will do that.  Some may add he was a fool to go and help those he didn’t know.  What kind of fool are you?  For Christ or for yourself?  To me all his stats add up to nothing compared to his humanity, what do your achievements add up to?  How are you known, how do you want to be known?  In humility Jesus gave, he still works on his birthday, on the Sabbath, and never sleeps or slumbers.  Ask God today to restore the joy of your salvation to you, to be set free and live in liberty.  When he grants you his spirit do something, knowing he will sustain you.  I can do all things in Christ Jesus who gives me the strength, and nothing without him.  As St. Francis of Assissi once said, “preach the word daily, using words when necessary.”  For God so loved the world he gave.....what are you giving?

Arrrgh matey...you see, not all Pirates are bad!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

understanding the rules of the game

That’s Entertainment! is the best way to describe sports anymore.  This time of year we have football, baseball, basketball, hockey, and soccer, all going on at once.  Where once we had baseball or football season, and the beginning of spring or fall, now it is 24/7 sports.  I mean entertainment.  Somehow the game has gotten lost or forgotten as we feel the need to be entertained.  Monday night was a good example, watch the Jets get destroyed by New England on Monday Night Football, or the Astros lead, then fall behind, then win it on a walk off homer in the last of the ninth.  Lots of channel surfing in between....both got boring.  But after listening to the announcers on MNF, take a sleeping bill and wake me after the game, wait they are the sleeping pill, I started listening to all the stupid things they said.  And drew my own conclusions...

Only in baseball is the field different at each stadium.  The bases are still 90 feet apart, the pitcher stands on a mound 10 inches high and 60 feet, 6 inches away, but all else is different.  Yankee Stadium has the porch in right field, Fenway Park “the wall,” in left, and a homerun to center in one park may be a long out in another.  Some years back when homeruns fell off, the call to shorten the fences went out, with a few parks moving the field ahead, leaving the fences alone.  Shrewd planning.  Another thing unique to baseball is defense doesn’t win games, scoring more runs does.  In football and basketball, defense can steal, intercept, or recover a fumble and score, a great catch in baseball only prevents the other team from scoring.  Just a thought.  Baseball has no clock, and can go on for hours, it has defined rules as opposed to football, please define pass interference and just what is a catch.  Basketball rules allow walking, double dribbling with a great latitude,  just how far is two steps?  In baseball there is no penalty for a foul, only arguing with an umpire will get you excused, 6 fouls in basketball, too rough in football.  Too rough in a game based on hitting?  But baseball does have its foibles, aka the strike zone.  Pete Rose once turned to an umpire after a strike call, the umpire explaining he did miss the pitch, but it sounded like a strike.  Why can an outfield catch a fly ball under the infield fly rule?  Why do baseball managers manage, but not in football, where they coach?   When you are replaced in baseball, you are out of the game, you are out for good, can we try that in football?  Add in TV time outs, reviews by the refs, and you wonder why we channel surf....

Religion like sports has rules of its own.  Dress this way, its own language, rote prayers, certain beliefs differentiating them, and the ability to not get along with other religions.  Some have strict rules, some are lax on rules.  Some preach grace, some preach works.  But all claim to represent God, but maybe not the same God.  Definitely not the same Jesus in many cases.  In some churches Jesus never made it off the cross, in others he is not Lord, his mother is.  Some only preach from the New Testament, denying his presence in the Old.  Some deny healing, claim you must be baptized to go to heaven, and don’t allow instruments.  Some baptize by immersion, some a sprinkling.  Some when a youth joining the church, others when saved and a choice we make.  Some preach all day, some multiple services, some short and to the point, others you leave wondering what was just said.  Some have Bible studies, but advise you against reading it in church.  And in every case, only one question should be asked, where’s Jesus? 

Ball parks may differ, Jesus stays the same.  Rules to worship may change, who we worship shouldn’t.  Getting together with like minded people should not be confused by unity in the spirit.  The pulpit is not a place to sell your book, or promote political views, we need to be about God’s business instead of our own.  So many times we talk of how the first church was and envy it, but how many of us give our goods to the Lord when a need comes up?  Gather in the spirit instead of a denomination?  How many are excited to give, or pay a tithe grudgingly?  When going from religion to Jesus at first I was a stranger in a strange land.  He was a friend, savior, and Lord.  We prayed openly, read not studied our Bibles, were excited to meet other Christians, and showed the gospel by our actions.  We had a freedom not found in religion, not mentioned in denominations, and forbidden by some pastors.  We had a joy that was beyond a happiness, we wanted to give before we were asked, and repented when we fell.  We grew in grace, not in religion, we wanted to be more like Jesus, and left it all up to him.  We looked forward to the end, but were able to enjoy the right now because we knew what was coming.  With no TV time outs....or blown calls from God.

So if you relationship with God is like sports, games on but nothing to watch, if you channel surf churches, if once you enjoyed the game but left and want to come back, Jesus is waiting.  He offers you love, joy, peace, and patience.  He won’t trade you after a bad year.  No judgment calls on sin, he puts it out there, or on being saved either.  We know the size of his ballpark, our records are not stored for future use, aka our sin is washed away, and he never changes.  A foul ball will always be a foul ball...

And hitting a home run will never be a long out in his park.  No “oh I didn’t know that was a rule here” from him, and the rules don’t change for love.  He is the love of the game we all search for but seldom find.  And when we do, we win, big.  You may be losing with minutes to play, behind with two seconds to play, or down to your last strike, and walk away a winner in Jesus.  Religion won’t make you a winner, only point out your faults, which rules do.  Try Jesus today and start enjoying the game of life he trained you for.  Love and live, forgive and forget, give and then receive, all because Jesus cares for you.  Live by the size of your God not the size of your park.  And if you happen to have fun doing it, now that’s entertainment!

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

The Midnight Special

Some say the legend began in the deep South, while some versions say it came out of Texas.  Some words base it on a black man, some a Mexican, and some a white.  No matter, it has been around for over 120 years, a hit in many different music genres, it even gave name to a TV show, and the origin still remains a mystery, while many different variations of the lyrics appear, but they all have on thing in common.  A light shining out of the dark....

The song is called The Midnight Special, about a train racing by a prison in the night, and on certain occasions, when the headlight shines into a cell, the person will get a reprieve.  A true legend that no one has ever been able to verify, but the Midnight Special still “shines it light, or life down on me...”  More than an urban legend, or even a suburban legend, it is more than a prison or even a railroad legend, it sings of a man incarcerated and then let go by a divine providence when the light shines down on him.  Maybe even a hint of the gospel involved, such are the ways of a legend, maybe even might make a good Twilight Zone.  Add into it “People Get Ready,”  “you don’t need no ticket, you just get on board,” any aspiring Christian singers out there, this may be your next hit!  I can hear it in a bluesy background.

Now all lies are based on truth, in some cases becoming a truth, but varying from the truth of Jesus Christ.  Take freedom for instance, and many are trying to take it from you.  When Pearl sang “freedom’s just another word for nothing left to lose,” lack of taking care of yourself becomes another’s burden.  Ask Cain, we never did get an answer from him when God asked “are you your brother’s keeper?” We assume we should be and some are, but are we really?  Or is our love for one another just a truth, only when someone is looking, or do we really love on another?  Lock and load, let society take care of them, when God calls to us to take care of others, a major failing of the church today.  But when the church, the government, and even well meaning ministries fail, Jesus never does.  Anyone behind bars, or in a bind, or in a hopeless situation is looking for a way out.  Religion may last for awhile, like being on parole with certain rules, but only Jesus can save you, and change your situation, by changing you.  A quickie nirvana may feel good for a moment, but that train is still coming, and unless it is Jesus, look out.  It is his light that truly shines on us, showing us the way, through and not around.  A train must stay on its tracks, while we are often off track.  But whatever cell we find ourselves prisoner in, when Jesus’ light shines on us, we can find freedom, true freedom in him.  Where his spirit is there is liberty, available to all, no matter your sin against him.  Sin loves the darkness where it can hide, but Jesus will expose it and deal with it, but only if you let him. 

But first a few things about sin, if it wasn’t fun you wouldn’t do it, and until you realize it is sin, you won’t change.  Changing your habits will not get you saved, only Jesus will, and the change will come from within, shining out, to light the way.  Like when a door is opened in the rats scatter from the light, evil cannot stand in God’s light, and in Jesus there is found no darkness at all.  No sin found in Jesus, he was without sin, a train I like to ride on.  And it shines in brightest day light, not just in the darkest night, for God is light.  Imagine no light and you have no God.  No wonder evil likes the dark and avoids the light.

But your sin will find you out, Jesus is not on a campaign to smear you or to highlight your sin.  He has come to save us from the darkness, letting his light shine down on us, like the moon reflects the sun’s light, Jesus reflects the father’s love for us.  But with a day of reckoning coming, when the train will leave the statin for the last time, and darkness will have its way for awhile.  People get ready is more than a song, it is a call to Jesus, and he is the ticket to eternal life.  He is the Midnight Special, shining down on us, bringing light and life to those in darkness.  He is more than a legend, more than folklore, more than a hit song, he is the truth, he is the way, and in him is the life.  Without him you live a lie, going the wrong way, and dead in your sin.  There may be variations of the song’s words, but not of God’s word, Jesus.  We may not know the song’s origins, we know Jesus’ origins, and we can return there with him, heaven. 

So let the Midnight Special, Jesus Christ, shine down on you.  Let him light up your life, privately, publicly, emotionally, physically, and spiritually.  Let him save every aspect of your life, not just what shows.  There is debate about where the true Midnight Special originated, only one was found on an Illinois Central line in Mississippi, but the oldest origins go back to North Carolina.  We know the origins of Jesus, no debate there.  And only one version of the gospel.  Let his light shine down on you today, be set truly free by his spirit, know where you are going after death here, many claim the origins of the song, maybe that explains the different versions.  Jesus was a hit long before the song, and will be forever.  You don’t need no ticket, you just thank the Lord.  And let his every lovin’ light shine down on you!”

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com

Seaver

Growing up in the New York Metro area, you were either described as a Met or Yankee fan, never both.  After talking with a Yankee fan they knew the Yankees, but not much else about baseball, but the Met fan knew all about the National League, they were baseball fans.  Win or lose, they were fans.  And after both the Dodgers and Giants left in 1958, there was no baseball for four years, and then came the Mets.  With old cast outs whose names were known, and the other National League teams coming to town, baseball was alive again, even if the Mets weren’t very good.  Casey Stengel, the old Yankee manager was their first manager, they lost 120 games that first year.  But soon outdrew the Yankees in attendance, with heroes such as Marvelous Marv Throneberry, who dropped a ball a kid threw to him for an autograph, Choo Choo Coleman, Pumpsie Green, Felix “Wrong Way” Mantilla, Hot Rod Kanehl, Elio Chacon, and Roger Craig, who lost 17 straight games, they were called the Amazins’, and New York loved them, despite the fact it would take eight years to have a winning record.  But when they did...

In 1967 a young hard thrower from USC joined the Mets, and in 1969, would lead them out of the cellar, and to winning the World Series.  His name, Tom Seaver, Tom Terrific the press called him, his real name George Thomas Seaver, we all knew him as Tom, or Seaver.  He would go 25-7 that year, was Rookie of the Year, Cy Young Winner three times, eventually pitch a no hitter, set a strike out record, and win 311 games, not all with the Mets.  He could throw 100 mph for nine innings, when 90 was considered fast, and today 100 is no big deal, but only for five innings.  Tom really was terrific, and after twenty years of the Big Leagues, still winning, he felt his fastball wasn’t enough, he quit.  His telltale right knee dragging on the ground fading away, one of the few men respected and feared in both leagues, by both old and new players.  Retiring to Seaver Wineries with Nancy his wife, who we all knew and loved, she sat in her seat every game he pitched, he had faded from public view.  Even though a hero, he went quietly, and I hadn’t thought about him in years, until a documentary on him called “Seaver” was on.  He truly was a good guy, fading into history his good name intact.  But the end of the show had me almost in tears.  You see at age 75, and the 50th Anniversary of the Mets 1969 Miracle 100-to-1 World Series victory, Tom would not be attending.   Number 41, his number retired, would be absent.  He had come down with dementia, and doesn’t remember.  All the thrills, the wins, the celebrations, his Hall of Fame, his old Met teammates, and even Nancy, don’t matter.  So they made a special trip to him, while he still could, old teammates and lots of love.  He cannot remember them now....and I still want to cry.  Maybe just one more dinner he would remember, one last interview where we could thank him, where he would know what he meant to us, and now he never will.  He doesn’t remember......and we’ll never forget.

It has been said that life interferes with our plans, and getting older I have to be reminded sometimes, but whether remembered or lost, they still happened.  Today many will make history, some on Facebook, some in pictures, some only in the memory banks, but we will all do things to be remembered.  Just not when they are happening.  I often think of the disciples at the Last Supper, they didn’t know it would be their last one with Jesus, and how many probably gave little or no thought to communion, and to his request “do this in remembrance of me.”  Did they ponder the things they had see him do, or the things he said he would do?  How many would later mention “remember when he healed the leper, forgave the woman, fed the 5000?  It is never mentioned their having communion again, but why other reason would there be other than to remember him?  Today communion has become a religious event, with the elements given more importance than Jesus, or even his words.  I watch as young kids sneak inline to get a drink of alcoholic wine, who do a rote prayer, to an event once a month, or on Easter.  Who forget it is all about Jesus, just a thing we do on the first Sunday of the month, and makes the church service longer.  Have we retired Jesus’ number and gone into a spiritual dementia?  Do we even know him at all, what do you remember about Jesus when you take communion?  Maybe we are more like the disciples than we think....and then the spirit came upon them.  And the game changed....forever.

When I lost my job, I was shocked and humiliated, but came home and took communion in my kitchen.  With orange juice and saltines, I remembered all the things he had done for me, and who he was, and still is.  It wasn’t a ceremony, but reaching out to Jesus, seeking him and his guidance.  I won’t say the times were easy, but he never left me, all my bills were paid, we never went hungry, and he always provided.  Just as I remembered him.  We may neglect or even forget him, he never forgets us, and will always welcome us back anew.  Forgoing all the religious rhetoric and making it personal, just as he said.  What an enlightening moment for me, as my full time ministry began, and just like the disciples was able to do many things in his name, again just as he promised. 

It may have been awhile between prayers, church, or communion, but he stands by waiting for you.  A true servant and savior.  Today may be the Old Timers day when you sit with him and thank him for all he has done, taking communion in remembrance of him, while you still can.  Many will come by and visit Seaver, wishing to remember that special moment he gave us.  To minister to Nancy, but somehow it won’t be the same without Tom.  He won’t remember.  Fortunately Jesus never forgets, only our sins are banished and never remembered.  Pray for Tom today, and those who don’t know Jesus, or who have put him on hold.  Take a moment to remember him, at your next meal thank him for providing, maybe take communion at home privately.  Restore him to his rightful prominence, then do it over and over.  In remembrance of him, the son God sent because he loved us so much.  Maybe one last time before we too cannot remember....with one thing to consider.  When Jesus prayed he looked to heaven, we bow our heads.  I bow, eyes open to look at the food he provided....to see his evidence, and to honor him privately.  Personally.  In remembrance, but not memory, for he is still alive. 

We won’t remember our last supper, it is important to remember the one with the disciples.  What a team they were.  The things they went through together with Jesus. And the things we can too...

love with compassion,

Mike

matthew25biker.blogspot.com