Homecoming Service - Dallas Baptist Church - Dallas, NC - September 29, 2019

It was my honor and joy to share the message for the homecoming service at Dallas Baptist Church.  

http://dallasbaptist.net/2019/09/30/homecoming-september-29-2019/?fbclid=IwAR1j4c2dRgsQGUULIZ3hTsQoSN1dGI604xN0Q6GVE--E4J0S48aySzpusvM

The Middle Ground Is Undervalued

Moderate approaches to life don't make the headlines.  It's the extremes that make the news many times.  Even bases and acids have to produce the right mix to allow for pure water.  A centered lifestyle allows for a good mix of rationale and emotion, mixed in with a good dose of spirituality and a healthy appreciation for the mystery of life.  People like John McCain had enemies on both sides of the political aisles.  Jesus did as well as he talked with religious people from all walks of life.  I am a centrist and a happy one.  It's a good place.  I don't like to sell my soul to those who need or demand absolute allegiance, other than to God.  The middle lets me hear various opinions on new housing versus maintaining lively green spaces.  The middle ground helps me to own my humanness while keeping in touch spiritually and rationally.  I am a middle child, well sort of, as I have an older sister, and older fraternal twin brother and a younger sister.  I assume that would make me a card-carrying middle child.  Jesus said, "blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God."  I realize that life will demand fierce competition and strong stances on occasion.  Yet, more times than not, the middle is the better place, even with a little wiggle room to the right and to the left as necessary.  It's a good thing that the sun rises and it sets.  I don't think constant 90 degree sun would work well, although 10 hours of it in the summertime sounds like a great day to me.  So, I continue to seek middle ground, peace, and harmony as I am able.   One day all creation will be brought home to God and all Creation will find the ultimate middle ground where the wolf and lamb will lie down and the adder and young child will play side by side.  Sign me up.

The Rhythm of Believing and Doing

In the Gospel of of John, chapter six, the disciples ask Jesus what work they must do and Jesus says the simple word, "believe." He told them to believe and that would be the work. It's a mixture of some ideas and it's simple yet profound. The work is to believe. Really, that simple, really?

Yet, once the work is done, it becomes a matter of living life. It's pretty routine sometimes. Believe and then go forward, boldly into life. Enjoy your breakfast. Talk to family and friends on the phone. Pray. Contemplate. Slow down. Enjoy the day off. Open your heart to someone you may not really like very much. Take the trash to the county dump. Get up and go to work. Do your job. Trust that the best is yet to come. It seems to me that once "believing" has occurred, then the assurance of God's presence and help in the world is a matter of God's commitment to people. Yes, God is there and God helps and God leads. But, the choosing and doing is all a matter of choice.

So, the veil between the deep spiritual connection with God and the joy of living life is a truly thin one. There is unity between believing God and brushing one's teeth. They are connected. There is no separation. God is present in the believing and God is present when I took my trash to the dump this morning.

I guess the key is this: Believe. That's where everything starts but its all connected. One life. One body. God with me. God with you.

Tweaking Golf's Short Game: Intuition and Practice

Last weekend I had the joy of going to the golf range, with my son, and getting some much needed practice.  It was fun to see him make consistent, long straight drives between 230 and 250 yards.  My drives were a bit shorter but both of us are somewhat consistent drivers.  It’s fun to stay with one’s best club (the driver) and enjoy the regular payoff of a good drive.  It feels good to hit the ball well, but the truth be known, it’s one’s weakness that really adds strokes to the final score.  For me that’s my short game from 50 yards out to the green and flag.  There is no doubt I add more strokes to my score around and on the greens. 

At the range I made a concerted effort to hit numerous balls with my pitching wedge.  It’s one of the most important clubs in the bag:  driver, pitching wedge, and putter probably the top three.   I was pleasantly surprised at the positive shot results as I “intuitively tweaked” my pitching wedge backswing and club speed.  It took some really bad shots to help me realize where and how to make some needed tweaks.  Practice pays dividends.  Intuition helps with deciding what changes to make.  My golf short game needs a lot of work.   New insights and results happened when I made a change or two.  In this case, I shortened my pitching wedge back swing and it gave me more control of the ball speed and direction.  It felt good to see visible results. 

Intution is a gift that all humans can tap.  It’s that inner knowledge that leads one in a better direction when facing challenge or change.  Intuition is something that can be gently held as it ever so subtly leads one forward with new goals and vision.  Practice doesn’t hurt either.  Playing is one sure way to improve.  Practice does make perfect as the saying goes.   Lowering my stroke numbers from 50 yards out will make golf more fun for me.  Tweaking my game is on me.   Intuition and practice should be two of the best friends of the weekend golfer.