"Regrets I've Had a Few"

In honor of death week, a tradition of most Memphians who remember the week Elvis Pressley died, I immersed myself in Elvis music. One of my favorites is when the king sings, “Regrets I’ve had a few, then again to few to mention.” (For the purest out there, I know Frank Sinatra recorded it first.) Irony seems to dance through these words when we consider the circumstances surround Elvis’ death. It did however spark my conscious to think about the regrets I have in my own life. Regrets are weird crazy things. They are situations in our life that if we could magically do over again, we would do differently. Regrets are different than failures. Regrets are not situations that we do not go into without much thought, we think them through, we pray about them, we move forward but in retrospect looking back we would have chosen something different. Regrets are not all bad, wrong, immoral, illegal, or unchristian. I regret I ate the whole pizza; I should have stopped at three pieces. Regrets are just situations in life, if we had to do all over again, we would try something different. I regret not spending more time with my loved one before they died. We have all had moments when we have said something to someone and we regretted it the moment it came out of our mouths. We all have regrets in our life. Some of us have a few, to few to mention, and some of us have too many to list. The thing about regrets is that in the precise moment, the decision, the action seems like the right action to take, but looking back we are not so sure.


As we continue our Batter Up! Sermon series while preparing the message of  looking at the Home Run Swing, I discovered how regrets keep us from hitting the homerun. We all love the home run ball. Hitting a homerun is hard to do but some players seem to do it with ease and make it look easy. In life we look at other people’s life and it seems they have the homerun swing. Everything seems to go their way; their job, marriages, house, kids, relationships, and other things we sort of envy. We begin to compare thier life to ours and more regrets begin to mount up. We look at them and say, “Man I wish I was that lucky.” Like homerun hitting and life; luck might not play any part in their success. When you watch a homerun hitter, they seem to do it with ease. What we don’t see is the preparation, experience, confidence, and wisdom the homerun hitters have. We see the ball go over the fences, the crowd cheer, and the fireworks explode and we forget the hours in the batting cage, watching video, weight training, and what the hitter has learned from the million of times at bat. If our life is full or regrets, to stop repeating them, we may have to explore new questions we need to ask ourselves. We need to learn, practice, and dedicate ourelves to when we are in similuar situations we make more wise desicisons. We might need to ask ourselves: What did we learn from our past? What is the most wise thing to do for our present circumstances? What is the best decision for our hope and dreams for the future? Answering theses questions before we act, may help us all reduce the regrets in our life..
Take care of yourself and one another,
Peace & Grace,
Tommy

“Handling the Strike Out"

Every one of us has moments in our life when we strike out. These are the moments in our life when we simply fail. We loose confidence, we mess up, we swing for something and miss, or we just stand there and watch the perfect pitch or opportunity pass us by. These moments in our life seem to stick with us forever. We can all remember freshly, no matter how much time has passed, those moments in our life when we have simple struck out. We have faced the humiliation and walked defeated back to the dug out. Each of us can recall when someone has hurt us or we have hurt someone else. We have all had situations in life when we have botched something up, messed up, made bad financial or business decision, trusted the wrong person, or someone we love has died. We automatically hold on to these moments and wonder why some people adjust better than we do.


Those that follow baseball will argue who is the best hitter of all time. If we look at statics only, (not getting into the steroid era debate) we look at three of the all time homerun leaders. George Herman (Babe) Ruth in 22 seasons hit 714 homeruns but also had 1330 strike outs. Hank Aaron in 23 seasons hit 755 homeruns with 1383 strike outs, and Barry Bonds 762 homeruns with 1539 strike outs. If you notice these hitters struck out about twice a many times than hit homeruns. What made them great was not their homeruns but how they overcame striking out. These great hitters did not allow the strike out to define who they were as a batter; if they did they would have never made it out of the minor leagues. When they stuck out, they adjusted their swing, reinstalled their confidence, and with great anticipation of success and enthusiasm stepped back into the batters box. They not once asked to be taken out of the game because of a strike out. They understand that slumps are just part of the game. When we look at baseball any great player will have a .300 battering average. A .300 batting average will get you into the Hall of Fame. Baseball is a game where greatness is defined by someone failing only 7 out of 10 times. In baseball like in life, you may fail more times than you succeed.

We all have failures in life, it is just apart of living. What is important is how we handle those strikeout moments. We have all made bad decisions, said the wrong thing, believed the wrong person, must trust in those who are not trust worthy, and let both ourselves and others down. Jesus’ own disciples struck out on him when he needed them most. Sometime in our prayers to God during our strike out moments we may be just asking the wrong question. We pray for God to deliver us, restore us, help us, and save us. These are great prayers however instead of simply asking God to rescue us; we may need to ask God what WE can do the next time we are in the batters box. We need to explore and be open to new ways God can help us adjust our swing, reinstall our confidence, and encourage us to get back in the game. Staying on the bench is not really an option. Just something to think about next time we strike out..
Peace & Love,
Tommy

The Sacrifce Bunt

In the current sermon series I’m preaching, we learned that the sole goal and responsibility of the leadoff man in baseball is to get on first base. After getting on base, the next batter must strive to get the leadoff man into scoring position. With no outs, the best way to get the runner into scoring position, getting them to statically the desirable position to score is the sacrifice bunt.  For those who know nothing of baseball, the sacrifice bunt is where the batter takes a different stance and lightly hits the ball, so the infielder can get it and throw him out a first which advances the leadoff man to second.  When the batter bunts, he is trying to get out advancing his teammate into scoring position. If you have never played baseball, bunting is hard to do. You must expose yourself to the pitcher, when one squares away, you expose your intentions, and it ruins your own personal statics. A well timed, well placed bunt is not flashy. People in the stands don’t tend to get excited or cheer for a well-placed bunt.  ESPN doesn’t show highlights of greatest bunts. We want to see the home run hit. In a game where success, fame, and money are stressed on individual statics and achievements, a sacrifice bunt is not helpful to one’s contract negotiations.  I have yet to hear of a manager sign a contract for a player that is just a good bunter. I cannot name on person that became famous because of their bunting abilities. Yes, there are good hitters that can bunt well, but no one wants to be the guy who has to sacrifice bunt. If you ask most baseball players they would rather try to get a hit than bunt.

Our culture that we live in celebrates, rewards, and glorifies personal statics and achievements. We reward those who do what they do and do it well. In our personal careers we are evaluated, valued, and accepted by our personal statics and achievements. It begins to define who we are. We all want bigger and greater. This works for preachers too, I have yet to hear a minister of a large church not tell me within two minutes of any conversation how many members they have in their church. Listen carefully next time you hear a pastor of a mega church and you’ll hear the number, I’ll guarantee it. I’ll admit it most preachers don’t like to sacrifice bunt either. We begin to value our self-worth by such goals. As a society we cheer the runner as he crosses the plate but rarely acknowledge the guy who laid down the sacrifice bunt. 

There are crossroad moments in our lives that we must choose to do something for ourselves or sacrifice for others. I have found that these moments define who we are. I can recall these crossroads moments in my life where my life could go one way or the other. The problem is I struggled just like everyone else, I don’t want to sacrifice bunt. I want or need to swing for the fences; I want the attention of hitting the home run. I want people to acknowledge and celebrate my accomplishments, I want to improve my individual statics and Christ keeps asking me to lay down the bunt. When we sacrifice for others, it pleases Christ, but not necessarily brings about fame and fortune. When we sacrifice bunt for others, we find something more valuable. There is something intrinsic about sacrificing for others. The ability to give up a little of our self to influence someone else’s life is the greatest feeling in the world. It is a blessing upon all blessings. Even if we feel we have nothing to give, we can all lay down a sacrifice bunt to advance others. In the processes we may find we all win in this game of life. I have come to give thanks to God for these reoccurring crossroad moments, where I am reminded of the bigger game. The bunt may not be glorious but necessary to win the game.

Peace & Grace,

Watering Plants

An elderly man in his nineties has the most beautiful garden in Centralia. He planted it for his wife who passed away some twenty years ago and has kept it going in her memory. Among the beautiful flowers are budding green asparagus plants. While admiring his stunning garden, in the brutal summer heat, an innocent observation was made. “I bet you have to water these all the time in this heat.”


“No” the gentleman replied. “I don’t water them at all. If you water them the roots will not grow deep. They will stay shallow and expect to get watered all the time. If you water them once, you will have to continue to water them daily. The plants become dependant on the water and will not grow deep roots. Deep roots strengthen the plant. It makes it stronger in times of excessive heat, drought, and frost in the winter. It is a lot like our relationship with God. In times of plenty we are not strong. Our roots don’t grow in faith to sustain us for the hard times ahead.”

When our life is sweltering away under the heat, when we are in a drought, when we thirst for more, maybe it is during these times we are establishing longer stronger roots for our Savior. These deep roots that will sustain us for the real tough times ahead as it is then our faith is strengthen so we may flourish while others expire to the heat.

“Are you Don or Sancho?”

(Note: this is a message sent to my congregation but after second thought I strongly believe that it is applicable to others life as well. Especially what we teach our children.)
I am more of a professional wrestling type of guy and don't necessarily like going to musicals, but I found myself captivated by Man of La Macha, especially its two characters. One (yes I had to Google it as I could not remember) is Don Quixote. He is the dreamer of impossible dreams, lover to those who won’t love him back, and tilter at windmills. The other character is Sancho Panza, the faithful follower who never dreamed of something better or dared to color outside the lines. Sancho Panza reminds me of so many great people who are content with muddling along merely surviving. I don’t know about you but I do not want to live my life or pastor a church full of Sancho Panzas. I don’t want to be apart of a faith that is content to merely surviving. And I hope you don’t either.
I want to be a part of a group of friends or a church full of Don Quixotes who dream the impossible dream; who dare to take on the world and shake it till it rattles; who help people reach their God given potential; who thrive on the inherent risks of the Great commission and Great Commandment. And I trust that you also want to be part of that kind of church.

Pentecost Sunday, I revealed just one of God’s visions for us for the upcoming year. We are to double our worship attendance in one year as well as transform our city like never before. I asked each one of you to join me in what would appear to the normal eye to be an impossible task. If you were not there I am asking you now to join me in this mission to grow our church, expand God’s kingdom, and transform Centralia like never before. You heard me correctly. We are going to turn this small group of faithful people into hundreds that will transform our city. Yes we have had great success over the past four years, yes we have a healthier, striving, Christ centered church, but God wants more. He wants our best.

We can do this. You know how I know? Because God tells us in scriptures we can. And the Apostle Paul tells us why. He reminds us that we “can do all things through Christ who strengthens us”. (Phil 4:13) Do we really believe these words? More importantly, how many of us live as if we believe it? All things possible if we believe. Now, I know that is a big IF. But I also know our God is a big God. The only thing that keeps God from achieving his dream for our church is us.

The first time I read Philippians 4:13, I stopped and asked myself if I really believed it. Do I truly believe I can do all things through Jesus who gives me the strength to do it? It I believe it, and then what do I have to change in my life to reflect my belief? I can not be Sancho Panza. My life must reflect that of Don Quixotes. We as Christ community can not act like Sancho Panza and just strive to survive. We can not be sacred at life and not dream. We can not stand in Gods way of accomplishing so much for His people. Invite, dream, and be strengthen and join me one this awesome journey.

Until we are together again take care of yourself and one another.
Peace & Grace,
Tommy

STRESS & Life

Life and stress… they go hand in hand. We will experience lots and lots of stress in our life. There is no getting around it. I believe that the degree to which we effectively manage and cope with the stress in our lives will determine the degree to which we are healthy. If we turn to unhealthy behaviors to cope with the stress, our physical and emotional health will suffer. Many people turn to food as a way to cope with stress. Others turn to the use of drugs. Some turn to alcohol. Still others light up a cigarette. Some burn the midnight oil surfing the internet and pay for it the next day because they have had inadequate sleep.


Long ago Jesus told his followers: “Come to me all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find much rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. I don’t know of any more effective technique to get a handle on the stress in my life than to turn to Jesus. God designed you and me in a way that our spirit, mind and body would react together in a marvelous way when we feel tense and anxious and “heavy” and set our heart and mind on Jesus. God knew that Jesus was our anecdote for stress … not drugs, food, alcohol and the internet. That’s why he inspired Matthew to capture and write about Jesus’ short teaching on this topic.

How do we “Come to Jesus?” We pray. We listen to inspirational music. We sit or walk quietly and listen for His voice. We cry out to Him in desperation. We read His Word, the Bible. We get on our knees and pour out our heart to Him. When we do this, He promises that He will give us rest. Is your life heavy and full of stress? To what or whom do you turn to when you are weary? Do you know someone that needs so rest?
See you in church, but until then take care of yourself and one another.
Peace & Grace,
Tommy

People ask me to pray for them on a regular basis. It comes along with my job and I have come to not only embrace it but at times endure it. I get it, I mean I work for Jesus and part of that job description is to lift up prayers from those who ask. It’s hard at times. I’m not one of those ministers that just say, “I’ll be praying for you” and walk away like it is just a parting comment and pleasant way to move on about my day. Jesus will know when I’m slacking. There are days I don’t feel very much like praying. Not even for myself much less a list of others. It can wear a guy out, praying and all. Then there are times like yesterday.


While in the waiting room of the doctor’s office, yesterday I began a conversation with Jim. (Jim is not his real name, as there is anonymity in my prayer list) Jim asked me to pray for him. Jim explained how he and his wife after having raised a son and daughter of their own decided under God’s calling to adopt two girls from China. I expressed how awesome that was. Jim asked me to pray for the girls. No biggie I thought. He proceeded to tell me about eighteen months ago, his wife passed away after a horrible brief battle with cancer. Then just three months after his wife passed away, his adult son was arrested and sentenced to spend the rest of his natural life in prison. His daughter in her twenties stepped in to help raise the girls. Up until this January, when she died suddenly of an undiagnosed brain tumor. He was all the girls had left. They had planned a trip back to China leaving today so the girls now 16 and 13 could visit their home land. Jim had to back out of the trip because he had just been diagnosed with advanced stage four lymphoma and was advised not to take the trip. They were to travel with a group of ten other parents who all adopted girls at the same time. This group agreed to surround the girls and take them on the trip anyway. Jim’s prayer request was to pray for their safe travel and that God cold allow him to live at least five more years as then both girls would be over 18 and or legal age.

At that moment I felt unworthy as Jim asked me to pray for him and the girls. At that moment my heart broke for Jim. There in the waiting room, my life problems seemed so insignificant. I felt like a wimp. God opened me up when I met Jim. I realized what an honor and privilege it is to add Jim and the girls to my list. God used this stranger to reaffirm what we do as ministers are important in the lives of those who suffer. Thanks Jim for the lesson on life and yes I did pray for you and the girls today.