The sermon I heard Sunday morning was about life. Christ’s death was a sobering and important event but his resurrected life is what gives us a future. His death brought reconciliation but his resurrection brought us life. I want to live in that, rejoice in that, give praise in that. Reconciled through death to sin and self, alive through the power that created the world and shook the earth.

An Angel won the Masters. Some guy from Argentina. My man Phil made a good run at it and Kenny Perry had it in the bag then blew it.
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The Rangers bullpen stinks!
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Obama pulled the trigger on rescuing the freighter captain. He allowed Navy snipers to take out the pirates. Now, the pirates are saying they will strike back. They must be nuts.
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I spent a good part of the weekend watching our youth kids compete at LTC. It’s a fun experience every time I go – being with friends and watching our kids perform. It takes a lot of effort to pull it off and I’m thankful for all the people who work with the kids all year to prepare them.
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I saw the “hot dog man” yesterday at church in Fort Worth. Some of you may remember the hot dog vendor at Rangers games who had a very distinct way of announcing that he was selling hot dogs. I’ve mimicked his voice with my kids from time to time. He was a celebrity of sorts and I’ve often wondered what happened to him. I found out yesterday. He has laid down his celebrity status so he can spend more time serving God. He realized the celebrity was all about him and was taking him down a road he didn’t want to keep traveling.

I miss the hot dog man at ballgames but I much rather hear his compelling story of a desire to serve God.
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Our Savior is risen. He is no longer in the tomb. He defeated death for me and for you. Rejoice!

I’ve tried to hold the line on Obama-alarmism but this bill floating through the house seems a bit scary. Mandatory voluntary service? Seems odd. Something else I read said that religious-based service will not count. Hmmmm. Check it out. I’ve got more research to do myself.
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=92288
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Pirates have captured the captain of an American freighter. I want to avoid bloodshed and have tried to tone down my rhetoric over the past few years but I’m thinking a team or two of Navy Seals visiting the pirates (not a social call, mind you, but an all-out assault) might help slow down their desire to be involved in thievery and kidnapping.
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Tragic news about the Angels pitcher who just finished a great game and was killed after the game in a hit-and-run crash. 22 years old.
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I hope to watch the Passion of the Christ again this weekend. Each time I have watched it, it has become more personal to me and, while graphic, I appreciate the reminder of the pain Christ suffered for me. I talk about the sacrifice but it’s easy to forget how much He suffered.
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I wonder how our faith would change if we knew we might be killed at any moment for being a Christian. Just a few days ago I was thinking it would be cool to have a bigger TV while at the same time, I bet someone was worried about being identified for professing Christ because they might be imprisoned or killed.
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God is love (1 John 4). Using that verse, I paraphrase 1 Corinthians 13 this way. God is patient, God is kind. God does not envy, God does not boast, God is not proud. God is not rude, God is not self-seeking, God is not easily angered, God keeps no record of wrongs. God does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind (Luke 10). Using that verse, I paraphrase 1 Corinthians 13 this way. I will be patient, I will be kind. I will not envy, I will not boast, I will not be proud. I will not be rude, I will not be self-seeking, I will not be easily angered, I will not keep record of wrongs. I will not delight in evil but will rejoice in the truth. I will always protect, always trust, always hope, always persevere. Today, that is what I will strive to do if I want to live in the image of God.

In Christ alone, my hope is found. God is so good. He offers me peace in times of storms, He offers me hope in times of despair, He offers me joy in times of sadness. He will carry my burden, He will mourn for me. I love God today like I have never loved God before. I pray that love grows, it prospers and spreads through me and fills me up.

I hope your Easter weekend is filled with the peace, love and joy that only comes from our Creator and Savior, the Lord God.

1 Corinthians 9:23-25 (New International Version)

²³I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. ²⁴Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (New International Version)

¹Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. ²Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

These passages came to mind tonight during Bible study. I thought about the race we must run and what kind of race it is. Is it a sprint? I think that is often what we want it to be; a race that takes effort but where the goal is reached quickly but the race usually isn’t quick. Is it a marathon? While our race may be long, I don’t think distance is the only issue. I have settled on the idea that the race is often more like a steeplechase; long and grueling on it’s own mixed with many obstacles that will wear us down, cause us to fall and render pain.

I don’t know that any of those analogies are right but I do know this. The race we are running started with a glorious event that we are about to celebrate – the resurrection of the Christ. I want to keep my eyes fixed on the prize because a high price was paid on my behalf to receive it. I want to keep my eyes fixed on the prize because I want to know the pure joy of being in the presence of God.

It was a great day at the ballpark yesterday. Cold and windy outside, warm and sunny inside AND the Rangers smoked the Indians. Some impressions:
1. An Army band was there playing some pre-game music and the national anthem. Last year, the same band was playing at a game via a live feed from Afghanistan. Pretty cool that they were there to play live.
2. It was the first time I experienced a pre-game timing problem at a Rangers game. Two B-1 bombers flew over at the exact time they were supposed to but we were only halfway through the national anthem. You cannot hear a band playing or the person next to you singing when two B-1 bombers fly over you.
3. George Bush got a HUGE reception of cheers when he came out to throw the first pitch. It was a strike.
4. The Rangers infield played as good a game as they could play I think. Young Elvis Andrus made some great plays at shortstop and Michael Young looks like he’d always played 3rd base.
5. Every time Josh Hamilton comes up to bat, people expect a home run.
6. Jerry Jones was at the game. I expected to hear more boos when he walked out but maybe people didn’t notice…or didn’t care.
7. The Jerrydome is HUGE.
8. A kid stole 3rd base. It’s a promo deal where the kid has to run from the left field fence, grab 3rd base and run back in 40 seconds. I thought it was pretty cool and then it turns out the boy who did it was sitting behind us. He was pumped. Funny thing was, someone else was supposed to do it and they couldn’t find him and the boy behind us was walking by the people looking at the right time.
9. I like the checkerboard baseball field.
10. The crowd doesn’t respond much to the people throwing t-shirts in the crowd.
11. I liked the old-time scoreboard in left field but the new video board is kind of neat. People who couldn’t see the big screen above home run porch can get all the info now.

It was a fun day and a great start to the Rangers season. 161 more to go.
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North Carolina ran away with the game last night. They were my pick to win it all but I was afraid Ty Lawson would be injured and went with Memphis. Ty Lawson wasn’t hurt enough not to play, was the Player of the Game and dominated throughout the tournament. It wasn’t a great game to watch but not surprising.
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A different note. There’s a funeral for the police officer killed in Bridgeport today in Decatur. I read part of an interview with the police officer’s mother the other day and one of her statements is still with me. She talked about praying for the family of the guy who killed her son and talked about their loss also. Amazing grace and mercy from a woman who is suffering and a beautiful story for all of us. I know they will be in pain today and many other days but it seems their family is focused on the greater reward.

until Opening Day at The Ballpark! I think I heard that the Rangers won a record number of spring training games this year. I don’t know what that means for the regular season but I find with the Rangers, you celebrate what you can.
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Tragedy struck a Bridgeport family yesterday. I still don’t know the whole story but a guy rammed a police car killing the officer and leaving a wife and 5 year old girl without their husband and dad coming home. I offered up a prayer for them last night but really didn’t even know what to say other than leaving it in God’s hands to hold them up and to let them see Him in this.

I was in one of our stores the other day helping the manager interview people. A question I often ask is “tell me a difficulty you have worked through and what you learned from it.” Her difficulty was that her 19 year old son was shot and killed a few years ago and what she learned was to quit hating God and let Him into her heart so He could bring healing and peace. She admitted she still struggles but is getting closer to God everyday.

I don’t understand what’s going on at times but I know He is there and He wants to help me overcome what obstacles are thrown in my way.

I hope you find peace and joy that only comes from God.

That may be what some of you say when reading my ramblings. I looked back and realized I’ve been posting blogs for over 3 years. It doesn’t seem like it’s been very long at all but I also think I’m still 30 sometimes so the mind does play tricks on me.
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It’s hard when the economic crisis hits close to home. The husband of one lady in my office just found out his company is laying people off and if the tide doesn’t turn quickly may shut the doors. Another husband’s company has discontinued offering insurance because of money troubles.

Obama has fired one CEO and I wonder if he will put pressure on others. I’m no fan of unions so I look at the UAW skeptically wondering what they will do to help. I saw today that some AT&T employees may go on strike. Really? Do they think that’s a good idea right now? I bet there are A BUNCH of people who will gladly take their jobs.

I’m still thinking this country is going to reap what we have sown and it will not be pretty or easy. I don’t know when and how but at some point, something has to give.
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I don’t think I would have ever dreamed I would blog about Kris Kristofferson or a song he has sung. You just never know.
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A good friend of mine (HINT: he’s Jamaican, a teacher at a Ft. Worth law school, missionary and preacher) turned me on to looking forward to things based on the number of “sleeps” before they happened. It started with a trip to Brazil when we counted down the number of sleeps until we were back in our own beds.

4 more sleeps to Rangers opening day game! I’m looking forward to seeing more of the Josh Hamilton story being written. Every interview I have seen with him has included his faith and reliance on God. I’m looking forward to: seeing how Michael Young makes the transition to 3rd, seeing Elvis Andrus make some incredible plays from shortstop, seeing if Ian Kinsler can get started on another MVP-like season, seeing how Chris Davis does in his sophomore year, seeing if Millwood delivers in his contract year, seeing where Saltalamacchia and Blalock end up and seeing if Teagarden is going to be the super-catcher people are talking about.

I have no expectations but only hope that the Rangers play competitive ball.
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A friend of mine often uses quotes from Christian writers to help illustrate an idea on his blog. Me, I use Kris Kristofferson. I heard him singing “Me and Bobby McGee” the other day and a line from the song has stuck with me. Freedom’s just another word for ‘nothing left to lose’. Truth Kris, truth.

I’m not here to advocate giving up everything I have. I have wrestled the past few years with material possessions and what makes God happy. Where I went off the rails a bit was worrying that I had too much when the problem was really with where my heart is. Am I more concerned about helping those who need help or am I more concerned with protecting my assets? When my heart is attuned to God, when my desire is to serve Him first using whatever gifts I have to offer, the material isn’t a problem. But when I’m more concerned about my assets and adding to my collection – my heart strays from God and His desire for me to serve in His kingdom.

Having nothing to lose isn’t just about material possessions, it’s about our heart. When I am living in the light, following God’s desire for me, living in concert with Him so that when something does go wrong, when something is lost, I am free to let it go and know God has a plan for me. Freedom is letting go of everything I’m tempted to grab hold of and just letting God hold on to me, trusting that He will never drop me, never let me go.

Thanks for those great words Kris.

I hope you are also finding the freedom and peace that God offers.

The Final Four is set. I’m pulling for North Carolina to win it all. I’m often a fan of the coach as much as the team – one reason I’m always pulling for Duke to win – and Roy Williams seems like a good guy. I could pull for Pitino but I haven’ t seen his team play one time this year so I’m lost with them. Villanova and UConn are too far north for me to cheer for. Crazy, huh? Go Tar Heels.
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Do you think people still see things from God? Do they see ghosts or angels? Do they have dreams that tell them a story they need to hear? A few years ago, I would not even entertain the idea but through some experiences that have changed my heart, I’m not so sure. Now, let me be clear that I’m not saying it happens. I don’t know but I’ve heard stories of people who see these things and I believe they believe it.

I watched another special on Josh Hamilton last night. At one point, he saw clouds that he believes were symbolizing the fight between good and evil. He also says he had a dream where he was at the Home Run Derby being interviewed by a female reporter…and then it happened.

I do believe that both God and satan can inject themselves in our thoughts (which is why we need the Holy Spirit-supernatural to help us fight with or fight against supernatural) so why can’t those thoughts come in dreams or some other form.

I’m treading on dangerous ground, opening up ideas that I have no answers too and far too little understanding. It’s something bouncing around in my head causing me to wonder how God can work in our lives.

I do know this. I become a bigger Josh Hamilton fan all the time. He and his wife have fought battles many of us can’t understand and they have come through it together standing firm in God’s mercy and grace. My hope is that he will continue to succeed and use his platform to spread the good news of a God who loves His children and wants them in a right, reconciled relationship with Him.

May you find the joy and peace today that only comes from God.

A great poem from an email passed along to me and from me to you…