“Be the change that you wish to see in the world.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Transition?

What’s going on with golf right now? I mean, I understand that it is the end of the season, but there is not a lot of it going on. I have read that the players were concerned that the season was too long and they are looking at working on a different schedule.  I know a lot of people that think that they should suck it up and continue to play because of all of the money the players make. I am sure the PGATour can work something out for the players that can keep the advertisers happy and the viewership up.

It won’t bother me. I’ll still keep an interest in what the players are up to on tour. Even with the NFL in mid-season, I still want some golf and in California, we can play golf year around.

Then we have the World Series with the San Francisco Giants sweeping the Detroit Tigers. Incredible win for the Giants. I’m not a huge baseball fan, but I do enjoy the playoffs and of course the World Series. I enjoy the stories of how some of the men were traded or drafted to the different teams and how some of the men were living before their life in professional sports.

With all of the sporting events taking place and school, with work and well, life, how do we find time to reflect and spend time with our most important relationship we should have…our relationship with the Jesus!

Don’t get me wrong, I really can say that I enjoy sports just as much as the next person. But, sometimes it can get me off track of what I am really here to do. I am learning that it is OK to like sports and excel in them. I finally figured that out after researching this verse that is found in 1Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 

Paul is teaching the Corinthian church that are struggling with some of the things they are doing, “Religious” or “Traditional”, which we have learned over time can bog us down from being more productive in our spiritual and everyday life which we are more inclined to pay attention to.

In the book of Mark 7 verses 1-13 Jesus is having a discussion with some of the teachers and high priests of His time. The teachers were angry with Jesus about His disciples not washing their hands properly and other silly little matters that have nothing to do with our relationship with Jesus except for men to follow man made rules.

Jesus tells them this in verse 8, “You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Now some of us enjoy tradition and some of us don’t really care. My point to this story is not so much about traditions as it is about our habits that may have been formed out of traditions. A lot of times these traditions become the normal part of our culture. You know some of them, taking your hat off at the table or during the national anthem. Or if you’re really religious, making a sign of the cross before you enter particular areas, or large number of other religious motions we do. There are literally millions of them!

So what do we do? So, if we take another look at the verse above, 1 Cor 10:31 and look at a few words. Let’s take the word “whatever”. I don’t think Paul is trying to be the proverbial “Valley Girl” “Whatever” approach! I can look at what he is saying in context with what the rest of the verse and story says, and how Jesus reacts to this issue. It’s almost like a Nike add, “do it all for the glory of God”

I worked as a Men’s Ministry Director at a church in 2006-2008. This particular church was going through a major transition. The pastor of 33 years had suddenly passed and the church was in a tailspin of egos and “Tradition”. When I was asked to be a interim director, I walked in to, what I used to call a “Ferrari” that was wrecked and needed to be repaired from the frame to the paint job. This was a premier Ministry that most of the main players had walked away from disgruntled and bitter.

While I was there, we went through five pastors. I’ll never forget one of the pastors when he came on board for our first staff meeting. He said something that I have never forgotten and use to this day. He knew the problem we were in and was there to get us back on track. This church had been around for over fifty years, so change was not what the parishioners were interested in hearing. They wanted to go back to the “way it was.” What they didn’t understand, was there needed to be change. The traditions were robbing some of the other believers of an experience that would not be allowed to happen as long as it stayed the same.

So, as the meeting was in session, our new pastor began leadership training. Something the staff had never experienced before. After prayer and a few announcements, he made this statement, “People are against what people don’t understand”. Now, I know that isn’t that profound until you really understand the gravity involved in establishments that hold on to tradition. It becomes part of who we are, it can become a habit then to a lifestyle. Just go to any third world country and try to feel comfortable. If you have ever been into most parts of Mexico, you can’t even throw toilet paper into the toilet when you’re finished doing business. I’m sure some of you know what I’m talking about. I’m against doing that, but I got used to it.

What I am saying is this, If you are doing life because you are used to doing something because that is the way it has always been done and someone might want to show you a better way, don’t get upset, try something new, it might be a better way. I think Jesus was telling us to do something different to get out of the mundane routines of life to get our focus on Him. So we could get out of our comfort zone and get uncomfortable in life in order to get comfortable in trusting in Him.

 This way, you and I can be comfortable in doing what we are called to do and to do it to the best of our abilities and give glory to Him through our efforts. There is nothing better than a happy worker, not worried about someone looking over his shoulder. That person knows who his real boss is and if he pleases Him, that is the highest pleasure! Ephesians 5:10 “Find out what pleases the Lord”