Old Sneakers

It is early Sunday morning and as usual I am rising early to get ready to sing for Mass. This particular Sunday morning I have risen very early because my old enemy "the GERD" is on the warpath and it’s just easier to get up and address it with some carbohydrates and medicine. I dressed quickly, its cold in the house this morning, however; when I went to put on my shoes I found that my rather smallish feet were puffy and would not shove into my trade mark topsiders, in fact the only shoes they were going to go into are my old (and rather beat up) McGregor sneakers complete with the oh so stylish Velcro straps-yippee! I definitely am not dressed to impress this Sunday.

Its kind of that way with our Christian life, our Lord Jesus Christ gives us new threads to put on (the white robes of righteousness), but we struggle to keep them clean. I am not sure what foot apparel the Lord recommends, but I am willing to guess it’s not my old beat up sneakers. I know that in my Christian life even clothed in new righteous attire, spiritually I insist on putting the old sneakers back on.

This is what St Paul talks about in Romans Chapter 7-my old nature wars with the new nature given me by Christ. There are parts of my life that I must bring under subjugation to the will of Christ. Earlier St Paul spiritually throws up his hands, Oh wretched man that I am (in the King James version) who will deliver me from this body of death (7:24)?
But then old St Paul gives us the get out of jail free card in chapter 8. If you are in Christ, there is no condemnation. How do you know if you’re in Christ? You have his Spirit prompting you to do and think about things that lead to life and peace. St Paul gives us a check list in Philippians 4:8 (8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things-NIV). How do you know you are in the Spirit? St Paul again spells it out in Galatians (22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness and self-control-Galatians 5).

Some day I will fully recover from my physical difficulties and I will go back to my topsiders. I will have moved far enough down the road to recovery to let go of the beat up old sneakers I think about what in my spiritual life is still putting on the beat up old sneakers and how can I, with our Lords help, move away from it.

You see spiritually the old sneakers just don’t go with the new ensemble.

We will speak again my internet friend, the Lord willing,

(an ever shrinking) Big D

When we see Jesus

I recently heard a song on a Christian radio station about what people are going to do when they see Jesus. Some will shout Hallelujah while others will dance before the Lord. Some will fall to their knees and some will cry tears of joy. I wondered which of these people would I react like? As I thought about it, I came to the realization that I would not be anyone of these people. I am not a shouter at least not anymore and anyone who has seen me dance would ask that I kindly spare them the awful spectacle. I know we will get a new glorious body, but it will take some growing into for me. I have had these creaky knees so long that falling on them is at least going to take a decade to get use to. Well, I might well cry tears of happiness, but I am not a crier at least not away from my immediate family and a very few close friends.

That leads me to a bigger question, how do I define my relationship with the Lord, or maybe a more important question how does the Lord define his relationship with me? How do I want the Lord to define his relationship with me? St John spells it out for us in his gospel. Jesus is talking to his disciples in the 15th chapter, earlier He tells them to remain in him, and without Jesus we are powerless. He gives the disciples a command "Love one another as I have loved you" (John 15:12) Easy to say but tough to do when you consider what Jesus was about to do (and Jesus knew he was about to do it).

With the tough command however come the keys to the kingdom. Jesus graduates the disciples, they are no longer servants, he calls the friends-later we become sons after he is glorified.

I have been blessed in my life to have many great friends starting with my wife, a guy I have known since 7th grade, my siblings, my college housemates & friends, friends and fellow singers at my parish, guys from D & D, I am humbled by their friendship. Jesus is the friend that is always there for me 24/7/365. No matter where I am, how I am feeling, He is there. His messages are always life giving. He has given me eternal life.

So getting back to the question, what will I do when I finally meet the Lord? I will walk right up to the throne, shake his hand, and give him a hug. For those who feel this might be a little presumptuous I can only say, for what ever reason that I don’t understand, He gave his life for me. He thought enough of me to give his life for me (think about that next time you are really down on yourself-it might give you a boost). So for me, I am walking up to the throne extending my hand and giving the Lord a hug. After all, it's how you would greet a friend. I don’t have any fear of what the Lord might say-you see, I know my friend.

We will speak again my internet friend, the Lord willing,

Big D (and a shrinking Big D)

The Power of Christ meets the power of Christendom

What has not been said about the power of a God so magnificent that he spoke the universe into being, made the blind to see, lame to walk, and dead to live again.

To the believer this power is unquestioned, but often believers miss another potent power granted us by Christ, and that is the power of the Holy Spirit manifested especially in the church setting. I recently had a heart attack and very serious surgery (5 bypasses-yippee-no waiting-did I mention yippee?), But I as a Cradle Christian underestimated the power of God and the amount of love and outpouring of prayers by Family (siblings, immediate family) Friends from all parts of my life, one I had not talked to in 20 years, but God put it in his heart to call me at 11:30 the night before bypass surgery-and Tim thank you for the "hamster story." What I needed was laughter-you sure brought it home!

I have a very good friend whose Uncle/God Father just had emergency open heart surgery (3 bypasses), but like me this guy does not know how many prayers are being offered up-Family, Friends, College Housemates & Spouses, and it branched out to (in my case-I 'll ask my siblings to pray as well-this will hit their prayer chains at all churches, Protestant and Catholic alike-does not matter-our brother in Christ needs prayer-all divisions drop-and the urgent need assumes its rightful place). Talk about the power of prayer then think about the exponential power of prayer, gee, I think if handled right, we might be able to get some things done!

So if you’re reading this, say a prayer for our fellow brother in Christ, Ted. Pray as the Holy Spirit of God leads-and keeps all prayer on track-The Spirit is not only the comforter, but also the great coordinator for millions upon millions. It takes a God this powerful and wise to keep it all straight, but personal enough to hear each and every prayer. What a comfort and as the old song writer wrote "What a Friend we have in Jesus!" Time to throw this one in the internet ocean-we will speak again, BigDale (but getting smaller by the day)

The Power of Christ meets the power of Christendom

The Power of Christ meets the power of Christendom

Mary of Bethany anoints Jesus-keeping Jesus first

In John Chapter 12 there is a confusing, at least on first inspection scene. Jesus is reclining at the supper table as was the custom when Mary of Bethany came in and anointed Jesus feet with costly perfume-the bible says costing about a years wages. Judas makes the point-why wasn't this lavish gift sold and the money used to benefit the poor? Jesus said leave her alone-this is meant for my burial.

As usual, the Master has multiple reasons for his comments, some are for the people who were present then, and some illustrate priciples for us today.

First of all Jesus never allowed piling on especially for women and children. Jesus did not duck away or make a policiticially correct comment like "yeah, it should have been given to the poor, but I did not see her coming or I would have stopped her." She wipes his feet with her hair-not something many of us would be comfortable with, but Jesus accepts the gift the way it was given-just the same way he accepts everyone who comes to him, just as they are.

Secondly, he is still trying to get through to the disciples that bad, very bad things are about to happen. The disciples are not listening or do not want to consider the possibility.

Thirdly, what does this say to us today? Jesus, a huge advocate for the poor and down trodden makes the comment, "the poor, you will always have with you, but you not always have me." This seems a little sharp, but the lesson is put me first, and this lesson reverberates down to us today with all of our social action groups and activities. We must first honor the Master in everything we do. We have to have our priorities straight to keep from going off course. Seek Jesus and his kingdom first!

Time to toss this into the internet ocean, I hope it helps someone. We will speak again good reader....Big D