July 6

Fan-tastic It's great to be a fan. We follow our teams – or players – with a great deal of devotion. And when they are playing well, we feel great. In fact, when our team is hot, or riding a streak, all of life becomes filled with a certain excitement. But when they are doing poorly, when they're in a slump, or when they have been the doormat of the league for quite some time, we feel not only disappointed, but frustrated. We find ourselves agonizing over our teams fortunes, but unable to do anything about it ourselves, except watch, and wait, and ponder all the potential. It's like we've invested our hearts in our team, and live or die with their fortunes. Maybe that's the way it is with God. He's invested His heart in us – in fact His investment reached a pinnacle on a cross 2000 years ago. And I'm sure there are times God is pleased with the way we're "playing". We're riding a hot streak – loving, serving, forgiving, living in the power He intended us to have. And there are times God must surely be disappointed, and frustrated. We're in a slump – living in self-centered, destructive ways – thinking we need no one else, and living like it. God is our biggest Fan. And in ways beyond our ability to fathom, lives or dies with us.

July 7

Old-timers There's a certain freedom that comes with age. You would think it would be the opposite. You would think that aging would constrict and constrain us, rather than liberating us. Oh, from a physical standpoint, becoming older does present us with limits. We can't do quite as much, or it takes us longer to recover from exertion we used to think of as routine. And if we drop something on the floor, and bend over to pick it up, we look around to see what else we can pick up while we're down there. But the physical struggles are nothing compared to the emotional and spiritual emancipation that comes with maturity. When we are young, we are driven to measure up to standards others place upon us. And we strive to discover our place in life. We want to know we're OK, and we seek approval from those we think matter. We play to an audience, or a crowd, or whatever group we think wields influence. And as we becoming older, we discover that all the things we worked so hard to achieve and accomplish don't have much meaning. They're like the wind – or the tail of a comet – here and gone, nothing but a wisp. There are deeper things in life. Love and family, a sense of calling and significance, honor and integrity are the things that last. And the audience we play to? We discover there is really only an Audience of One – and He has already given His approval, on a cross, years ago.

July 8

Futures There is so much ahead of us – and each of us, no matter how young or old we may be, still has a virtual horizon of possibilities. We can do or be whatever we desire, given the limits of time and space. We can even reinvent ourselves. All we need is a vision. The Bible says it well…."Where there is no vision, the people perish." That's true of our lives as well. We need to know where we're going. For minor leaguers, the vision is obvious and universal. They see themselves playing in the big leagues some day. What are the "big leagues" for the rest of us? Achievement? Wealth? Career? Relationships? How do we measure our worth and identity? God has a plan in mind for each of us. He says in Proverbs, "I know the plans I have for you….plans to give you hope and a future." God's vision for us may or may not be what we consider the "big leagues". But it will always involve the things that make up the "Hall of Fame" – things like love, and joy, and integrity, and eternity spent in the wonders of peace. Catch the vision. The future is waiting. That's big league stuff.

July 9

Power Hitters They say the most exciting play in baseball is the triple. But there is nothing more majestic than a long, arcing fly ball that rattles around the seats deep in the upper deck. We love power hitters. We are awestruck even during batting practice, when the boys of the big bash unleash the long ball. And we celebrate as they take that self-congratulatory stroll around the bases. The ripple of muscle, the speed of the swing, the crack of the bat – and it's "outta here." Actually, we're intrigued by power of any kind and sort. Whether it's physical power, or corporate might, or emotional strength, or political force, or intellectual prowess, we give respect to those at the top. That's why Jesus' words about might and strength and greatness are so surprising to us. He says that true strength is measured in the ability to serve. In fact, those who rely upon their physical strength or the force of their personality are those who will lose. Jesus was the most powerful man ever to walk the earth. That's because He was not just man, He was God. He fed thousands of people with little more than a snack. He calmed the storms. He healed the sick. He walked on water. He even raised the dead. And yet, on a cross, He bowed His head and died. He surrendered, not to the cruelty of the human race, but to the will of His Father….and in dying, hit a grand slam.

July 10

Shining Stars We are always attracted to the "Stars". Whether that's baseball, or the arts, or in the political arena, or in the corporate world, there are those who shine a bit more brightly than the rest, and we notice them. Of course, the "Stars" reflect on our own lesser achievements. We don't have the ability to hit a curve, or to sing an aria, or we have not had the opportunity or wherewithal to make an impact in the political or corporate sphere. Maybe we do not shine quite or brightly or quite as distinctly from those around us. But we are still "Stars" in our own right. And no less an authority than the Almighty God of heaven and earth has said so. He has filled out his All-Star ballot and put our name right at the top. And we shine – not by generating a light of our own, but by reflecting the brightest light of all – the Light of the world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who entered the darkness of our mediocrity, wrapped Himself in our flesh, and lived and died that we might know the power of love, and the wonder of our place in creation. If you are still mired in darkness, if you are haunted by the sense of underachievement, or lost opportunities, or misguided youth, or wrong choices – now is the time – let the Light shine in your life. And be a shining star.

July 6

Fan-tastic It's great to be a fan. We follow our teams – or players – with a great deal of devotion. And when they are playing well, we feel great. In fact, when our team is hot, or riding a streak, all of life becomes filled with a certain excitement. But when they are doing poorly, when they're in a slump, or when they have been the doormat of the league for quite some time, we feel not only disappointed, but frustrated. We find ourselves agonizing over our teams fortunes, but unable to do anything about it ourselves, except watch, and wait, and ponder all the potential. It's like we've invested our hearts in our team, and live or die with their fortunes. Maybe that's the way it is with God. He's invested His heart in us – in fact His investment reached a pinnacle on a cross 2000 years ago. And I'm sure there are times God is pleased with the way we're "playing". We're riding a hot streak – loving, serving, forgiving, living in the power He intended us to have. And there are times God must surely be disappointed, and frustrated. We're in a slump – living in self-centered, destructive ways – thinking we need no one else, and living like it. God is our biggest Fan. And in ways beyond our ability to fathom, lives or dies with us.

July 7

Old-timers There's a certain freedom that comes with age. You would think it would be the opposite. You would think that aging would constrict and constrain us, rather than liberating us. Oh, from a physical standpoint, becoming older does present us with limits. We can't do quite as much, or it takes us longer to recover from exertion we used to think of as routine. And if we drop something on the floor, and bend over to pick it up, we look around to see what else we can pick up while we're down there. But the physical struggles are nothing compared to the emotional and spiritual emancipation that comes with maturity. When we are young, we are driven to measure up to standards others place upon us. And we strive to discover our place in life. We want to know we're OK, and we seek approval from those we think matter. We play to an audience, or a crowd, or whatever group we think wields influence. And as we becoming older, we discover that all the things we worked so hard to achieve and accomplish don't have much meaning. They're like the wind – or the tail of a comet – here and gone, nothing but a wisp. There are deeper things in life. Love and family, a sense of calling and significance, honor and integrity are the things that last. And the audience we play to? We discover there is really only an Audience of One – and He has already given His approval, on a cross, years ago.

July 8

Futures There is so much ahead of us – and each of us, no matter how young or old we may be, still has a virtual horizon of possibilities. We can do or be whatever we desire, given the limits of time and space. We can even reinvent ourselves. All we need is a vision. The Bible says it well…."Where there is no vision, the people perish." That's true of our lives as well. We need to know where we're going. For minor leaguers, the vision is obvious and universal. They see themselves playing in the big leagues some day. What are the "big leagues" for the rest of us? Achievement? Wealth? Career? Relationships? How do we measure our worth and identity? God has a plan in mind for each of us. He says in Proverbs, "I know the plans I have for you….plans to give you hope and a future." God's vision for us may or may not be what we consider the "big leagues". But it will always involve the things that make up the "Hall of Fame" – things like love, and joy, and integrity, and eternity spent in the wonders of peace. Catch the vision. The future is waiting.

July 9

Power Hitters They say the most exciting play in baseball is the triple. But there is nothing more majestic than a long, arcing fly ball that rattles around the seats deep in the upper deck. We love power hitters. We are awestruck even during batting practice, when the boys of the big bash unleash the long ball. And we celebrate as they take that self-congratulatory stroll around the bases. The ripple of muscle, the speed of the swing, the crack of the bat – and it's "outta here." Actually, we're intrigued by power of any kind and sort. Whether it's physical power, or corporate might, or emotional strength, or political force, or intellectual prowess, we give respect to those at the top. That's why Jesus' words about might and strength and greatness are so surprising to us. He says that true strength is measured in the ability to serve. In fact, those who rely upon their physical strength or the force of their personality are those who will lose. Jesus was the most powerful man ever to walk the earth. That's because He was not just man, He was God. He fed thousands of people with little more than a snack. He calmed the storms. He healed the sick. He walked on water. He even raised the dead. And yet, on a cross, He bowed His head and died. He surrendered, not to the cruelty of the human race, but to the will of His Father….and in dying, hit a grand slam.

July 10

Shining Stars We are always attracted to the "Stars". Whether that's baseball, or the arts, or in the political arena, or in the corporate world, there are those who shine a bit more brightly than the rest, and we notice them. Of course, the "Stars" reflect on our own lesser achievements. We don't have the ability to hit a curve, or to sing an aria, or we have not had the opportunity or wherewithal to make an impact in the political or corporate sphere. Maybe we do not shine quite or brightly or quite as distinctly from those around us. But we are still "Stars" in our own right. And no less an authority than the Almighty God of heaven and earth has said so. He has filled out his All-Star ballot and put our name right at the top. And we shine – not by generating a light of our own, but by reflecting the brightest light of all – the Light of the world, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who entered the darkness of our mediocrity, wrapped Himself in our flesh, and lived and died that we might know the power of love, and the wonder of our place in creation. If you are still mired in darkness, if you are haunted by the sense of underachievement, or lost opportunities, or misguided youth, or wrong choices – now is the time – let the Light shine in your life. And be a shining star.