In Whose Name?

Like you, I was shocked to hear the news and see the graphic images of the mass murder at Virginia Tech. Cho Seung-Hui, 23, a senior English major, went on a shooting spree that left more than thirty dead and dozens more wounded. His violent essays, menacing photos and incoherent video messages provided few answers to what motivated him to hurt so many people.

On Tuesday, university leaders organized a public convocation on the campus of Virginia Tech to mourn the dead, pray for the wounded and begin the healing process. Almost 10,000 people filled Cassell Coliseum while another 20,000 sat next door in Lane Stadium to watch the service on a jumbo screen.

University officials, faculty, several local clergy, and President Bush, spoke to the crowd of tens of thousands. The first speaker, a Muslim cleric, spoke in the name of Allah and quoted the Quran. The second speaker, a Buddhist community leader, reminded the crowd that people are basically good. The third speaker, a female representative from the Jewish community, quoted from Ecclesiastes, “There is a time and a place for everything.”

Interestingly, the fourth and final clergy speaker, representing the Christian faith, was a Lutheran minister. He spoke of the “sovereignty of life” and referred to the many “religious streams that have refreshed parched people for many generations.” President Bush also sought to comfort the mourners by reminding them that millions were praying for them and commending them to the “comfort in the grace and guidance of a loving God.”

Some final remarks were offered by a popular English professor, Nikki Giovanni, who compared the tragic shooting to children in Africa dying of AIDS, Mexican children needing fresh water and elephants being killed for their ivory. When all was said and done, none of the speakers had used the name of Jesus Christ or even referred to him indirectly.

In a sense, this almost compounds the tragedy. Think about it. In America today it is all right to mention Allah and Buddha by name in public, but not Jesus Christ. I wonder if Cho, the gunman, ever had the opportunity to hear the life-transforming message of the gospel of Christ. How many of the students who were listening that day needed to hear that true healing, comfort and forgiveness comes from a personal relationship with Christ?

In Acts 4:12 Peter, a first generation follower of Christ, boldly proclaimed that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” He spoke these words in a day when it was illegal to speak in the name of Christ. He chose to act in a manner that was not only politically incorrect, but could have resulted in imprisonment or even death. May God grant us the same boldness to speak out in the only name that saves people, the name of Christ.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Pastor Gregg

The Master of the Masters

The eyes of the world were on 31-year-old Zach Johnson after his win at the Augusta National Golf Club on Sunday afternoon. In an interview shortly after the win, the Iowa native talked about his wife and 14-week-old son, thanked his coaches and to the surprise of many, gave glory to God.

With all the attention on Tiger, most golf enthusiasts put Johnson way down the list as a possible contender. Though considered a master with his irons, he ranks 57 in driving distance among the 60 players who made the cut. As the tournament progressed, however, he continued to climb the leader list. He started the final round two shots behind third-round leader Stuart Appleby and one behind four-time Masters champion Tiger Woods, the heavy favorite in Sunday's sunny, but cool final round.

Johnson took the lead with birdies on holes 13, 14 and 16 and never surrendered it despite a bogey on the 17th hole. Less than a half-hour later, he was wearing the Green Jacket awarded to each year's Masters champion and was handed the opportunity to share the secrets of his success to legions of golfers and the worldwide sports media. During his acceptance speech, Johnson said "Because it's Easter today, I want to say, 'Thank You, Jesus'."

In each of his national and regional TV interviews following the traditional champion's dinner late Sunday, Johnson continued to speak openly about his faith and what it meant for him to share such an experience on one of the most important days of the year for Christians. He also expressed humility. "I'm very normal. I'm as normal as they come," he said. "I love to play a game for a living. I love to play this game for just what it is, golf. I appreciate it and I feel honored to play golf for a living. Today was a day of perseverance and patience and redemption."

You and I will probably never have an audience of millions on television or in print, but still God gives us opportunities to point others to our faith in Christ. In both our successes and our failures, we can help others see how the power of Christ strengthens and sustains us. 1 Peter 3:15 commands us to “set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

Norm Miller Event on May 17th

Norm Miller Coming to Grapevine on May 17
Norm Miller, Founder and CEO of Interstate Batteries and NASCAR sponsor, will be speaking at a men and boy’s dinner on Thursday, May 17. Norm will be sharing the story of how he came to place his faith and trust in Christ. Norm and his NASCAR will be available for autographs and pictures. Tickets are available Sunday night or at the church office. For more information call 817-488-8533.

Opening Day Is Here at Last!

“Play ball!” Avid baseball fans begin counting the days from the close of the World Series in October until Opening Day when they will hear those two magic words. For over a century, the Opening Day of baseball has been considered the official start of spring by millions. Committed fans may forget anniversaries, birthdays or holidays, but never Opening Day.

Major League Baseball's first officially recognized franchise, the Cincinnati Reds, were historically awarded the privilege of "opening the Openers" and hosted the outings from 1876-1989. Opening Day is often accompanied by fireworks, bands, speeches, parades and more promotions than can be counted. More than an event, the Opening Day of baseball has become an experience.

On April 14, 1910, President, and baseball enthusiast, William Howard Taft became the first sitting President to attend Opening Day. Since then, eleven sitting U.S. presidents have tossed out the season's ceremonial first pitch. One standout, Harry S. Truman, showcased his ambidextrous talent when he threw out balls with both his right and left arm in 1950.

There have been many Opening Day notables during baseball’s first one hundred years. Ted Williams’ holds the record of hitting in every opening game he played. Cleveland pitcher Bob Feller threw an Opening Day no-hitter in 1940, the only Opening Day no-hitter in Major League history. Hammerin' Hank Aaron ignited the crowd at Riverfront Stadium on his first swing of the 1974 season when he hit his 714th career home run to tie Babe Ruth on the all-time list.

One reason I think so many look forward to Opening Day is the message it sends, the message of beginning again. Every team is starting with the same record. The errors and mistakes of past seasons are forgotten, and a spirit of optimism and hope permeates the diamond. Each team believes that this will be their year, their chance to take a pennant and play for the World Championship. In a sense, Opening Day is a picture of the grace of God.

Though we all live with regrets, God, through His amazing grace, is willing to forgive and accept us as His own. We can all begin again, fresh and new through the miracle of the New Birth. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, “If anyone is in Christ he is a new creation; old things are passed away, all things have become new.” The message of this verse is the message of beginning again. There is a God who loves you and can make all things new. May you experience this place of grace.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

The Ultimate Gift

There is a movie in the theaters that has a great message for men. The Ultimate Gift is based on the book by Jim Stovall, who is an amazing story himself. Jim Stovall is a blind man who has taken his limitations and turned them around as a path to success. He has become a national champion Olympic weightlifter, successful investment broker, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker.

The Ultimate Gift is a story of Red Stevens (played by James Garner), a self made billionaire who has left a video will to his very greedy family upon his death. His long time friend and lawyer, Ted Hamilton is in charge of distributing his oil estate and other belongings. Steven’s greedy family leave angry, with no sense of grief or loss, because they do not get all that they want from the estate.

The most disrespectful of the lot is Red Steven's out of control grandson, Jason Stevens who does not seem to care whether he gets anything or not. He is content to live his decadent lifestyle and move on. However, Red Stevens leaves him the choice of fulfilling a list of requirements before he can get his gift. The requirements consist of 12 tasks, which his uncle refers to as gifts: the gift of work, of laughter, of family, of learning, of problems, et cetera. If at any time he fails to meet them to Ted Hamilton's expectations, he will not get anything at all.

In the process of completing the requirements, young Jason encounters many people who help him begin to realize what is truly important in life. In the process of helping people in many challenging circumstances, Jason is confronted with his own self-centered life.  Slowly he begins to see human beings as people of worth, not just objects blocking his way. In the end he gains a new perspective on what is really important. The ultimate gift is a valuable life lesson.

Proverbs 13:22 reminds us, “A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children.” What type of inheritance are you planning to give to your children and grandchildren? Hopefully it is more than material wealth. I challenge you to give them the example of a balanced life. A balanced life is one that illustrates for them the importance of balancing material wealth and possessions with the wealth of relationships with family and friends.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

Coach Landry's Priorities

Several weeks ago I had the opportunity to attend a business leader’s prayer breakfast in Dallas.  The keynote speaker was well-known author and motivational speaker Ken Blanchard. Many know Blanchard from his bestseller, The One Minute Manager. You may not know that Ken Blanchard became a Christian some years ago and is now an outspoken believer.

During his talk, Blanchard shared a great story regarding a conversation with Tom Landry some years ago. Blanchard asked Landry how he was able to keep his head while coaching all those years in the uncertain and volatile world of professional football. The legendary coach paused a second, thinking about his answer, and then responded. He explained that his secret was maintaining his priorities, God first, then his wife, then his children and finally his work. Then he added, because he lived by those priorities even if he lost on Sunday, he still had a lot left.

In Matthew 6:33 Christ taught us, “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Making God the priority of your life is much more than just going to church, it is making God the center of everything you do, including your work. When God created Adam, the first thing he did was to put him to work in the garden. We work for more that a paycheck, we work to fulfill a sacred calling.

This Sunday night we begin a six week study of the world of work. I think you will be pleasantly surprised to see how much the Bible says about work. Work does not have to be a drudgery of routine and boredom. God can transform our attitudes about our work.  He can help us see that our work is a sacred task and that we have a ministry to the people with work with.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

Amazing Grace!

There is a new movie out that I highly recommend. The movie, titled Amazing Grace, tells the life story of a great champion for Christ, William Wilberforce.  Born in 1759 to a wealthy family, Wilberforce got away from his Christian roots during his college years at Cambridge. Influenced by others with low morals, he was caught up in a hedonistic lifestyle. In 1785 he experienced a spiritual encounter with Christ which he later described as a conversion experience. He resolved to commit his future life and work wholly to the service of God. He sought advice from John Newton, the author of the famed hymn Amazing Grace.  Though now a well-known pastor, Newton had been a slave trader before his salvation experience.

Wilberforce, a member of Parliament since the age of 21, believed that God wanted him to use his influence to end slavery in the British Empire.  In 1791, after almost five years of preparation, he introduced his first anti-slavery bill, aimed at ending the slave trade. The bill was overwhelmingly defeated, but Wilberforce was undeterred. He continued presenting bills each session of Parliament until both houses voted to ban the slave trade in 1807.  He now turned his attention to passing a law that would free all the slaves in the empire. Along with his work in Parliament, he helped found several abolitionist and missions organizations. Now ill and aging, Wilberforce made his final speech before Parliament in 1823, pleading for support of a bill outlawing the practice of slavery. He retired from Parliament the next year but continued his efforts to pass anti-slavery legislation.

He died on the morning of July 29, 1833. William Wilberforce was buried in Westminster Abbey on 3 August, 1833. The funeral was attended by many members from both Houses of Parliament, as well as many members of the public. One month later, Parliament passed the Slavery Abolition Act that gave all slaves in the British Empire their freedom. It had taken more than 40 years for Wilberforce to see his dream fulfilled.

The life of William Wilberforce serves as a great example for believers today. He chose to live on principle, doing the right thing, even when it was unpopular. He persevered, ultimately triumphing over his adversaries and winning the day. He chose a cause that was bigger than himself, a cause worth living and dying for. 

Galatians 6:9-10 reminds us, “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” My friend in Christ, find a cause worth living and dying for, fight for it with all your might, persevere until the end. 

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

Dungy and Smith, Doing It God's Way

Facing off in this year’s Super Bowl, coaches Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith reached the pinnacle of their chosen careers as NFL coaches. The exciting thing for me is that they were able to do so without compromising their Christian testimony.  "I'm so happy that Lovie got [to the Super Bowl] because he does things the right way," said Dungy. In a story in the Miami Herald, Dungy said, "He's going to get there with a lot of class, no profanity, no intimidation, but just helping his guys play the best that they can.”

Both Dungy and Smith are well known in their prospective cities for their squeaky clean lifestyles. Neither man uses profanity, drinks or smokes. They rarely raise their voices, in meetings with players or on the sideline during games. They carry themselves with an air of grace and control. They are not shy about revealing their religious beliefs. Their values and lifestyle seem to run counter to what most of the peers are doing. Smith was recently quoted in a Chicago paper, "That's the way I try to do it, and I think it's great that we're able to show the world not only that African-American coaches can do it, but Christian coaches can do it in a way that, you know, we can still win."

For years, Dungy has preached to players that faith and family came before football. He chases his assistants away from the office at night, insisting they spend the time at home. He is also well known for his charitable work off the football field. He has always been about helping others, his strong sense of community evidenced by an extensive record of supporting worthy causes. He raises money to fund college scholarships for underprivileged children, frequently speaks to faith-based groups and has worked with prison ministries and foster-parent organizations, among others.

Both men see their coaching career as a ministry opportunity, first to the men they are working with and then to the community. They like to be seen as counters to the long-held culture of fear associated with football coaches. They see their roles as teachers, not generals, who lead by explanation, not intimidation. When Smith began working for Dungy during his time at Tampa Bay, he was reminded of his own father, Thurman Smith, who was the ultimate optimist, showering his children with praise. Dungy, after the Buccaneers lost their first five games in 1996, did the same with his assistants. A philosophy of positive reinforcement was established.

"I think young people are struggling with their identity," Dungy says. "What really makes them tick? What's important to them? We're getting a lot of conflicted messages. That's one thing that we, as a society, have to get across to our young guys: How are you going to be defined? Are you defined by being successful at work? By being an All-American or a Pro Bowler? Is that what makes us, or is it something different? Hopefully, we can get across to them that it's something different. It's what you are internally."

Proverbs 3:5-6 teaches us to “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make your paths straight.” For years I have tried to remind God’s people that when we go God’s way we get God’s best. If two men can maintain their Christian convictions and testimony in the midst of the rough and tumble world of the NFL, and be successful, you can do the same in your career field. Let’s do it God’s way and see what happens.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg