Blog... 1st Entry
If you know me, you know that I love going to Atlanta Braves baseball games during the summer. Growing up, from 1991 to 2005, life as a Braves fan was good—very good. The team won 14 straight division championships, 5 national league pennants, and 1 world series championship. The pinnacle of Atlanta Braves success was made on an October night when Marquise Grissom caught a fly ball to secure the first World Championship in Atlanta Braves history.
Nothing held my attention more during my childhood summer days than those Braves’ teams. I rose and shouted with everything in me to cheer for an inning ending strikeout, or game winning hit. The tomahawk chop was so etched into my mind after attending a home game that I would find myself hearing the chant in my dreams.
It was easy to be excited to be excited about the Braves because, more times than not, they succeeded (at least from 1991-2005). By cheering on these teams, I brought praise to the Braves. My affections were centered on this team and their success. Their “glory” was on display by winning baseball games—the more dramatic the situation, the more glory.
Do you have things like this in your life? Do you find yourself wrapped up in making much of something? It could be going to a concert—in my case, screaming every lyric to the deep tracks on a U2 album. It may be your obsession with Jersey Shore by going around yelling, ‘It’s t-shirt time’/‘Cab’s Here’—for me it’s quoting “The Office.” Others make much of themselves by putting all energy, effort, and emotion into a job, family member, significant other…etc. Ultimately, we are defined by what we make much of—we are defined by what we “glory” in, by what we praise, by what we lift up.
The reality is that there is only One that is worthy of our affections, only One that deserves our praise, only One that is truly Glorious. God. God. God.
Would you ever praise the characters in a book over the author of a book? Would you ever give credit to the paint in a painting over the artist that painted a particular masterpiece? Similarly, God is the Creator of the Universe. He is over all things, and In Him All things hold together. Our lives should be identified with the author of creation. We should feel the weight of knowing that there is something that deserves all of our affection, and this One thing is God.
This is necessary for life—eternal life. The story behind ‘falling short’ of the glory of God should be explored before you can truly come to a place where you can be satisfied with his Glory. I recommend reading Romans chapters 1-3 to understand how we as humans fall short of the glory of God.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying God’s gifts to us—e.i. Atlanta Braves, U2, The Office (not sure if I would recommend Jersey Shore..haha). However, the foundation of all of our Joy needs to come from true Joy in God—that means loving who God is, loving what God does, and loving what God has done for you personally by giving you the opportunity to experience Him forever through the Cross of Christ. The anthem of our lives will carry far more meaning than the tomahawk chop should we choose to give Glory to God. Our God is greater than a baseball team that may win, on a good year, 60% of their ball games. Our God is more than a conqueror. He is perfect. Loving a perfect God is much sweeter than loving anything else.
Please read Romans chapters 1-3. Please respond with comments. Next week I will post the way God’s Glory is on Display in His Grace towards us (The atoning death/resurrection of Jesus, through justifying faith)
The Almost - True Christianity
Fear is the scariest thing on Earth...
Fear gives rise to so many negative decisions. Even now as you read this millions of people are making decisions for their lives that have fear as the number one motivator. We desperately grab on to anything that we know to be safe in order to avoid any hurt. The fear can come in many forms; fear of failure, loneliness, the unknown, loss, insecurity, or my personal strife, abandonment and rejection. Whatever the form, the objection of fear remains constant, which is emotional pain. Why are we so intimidated by this feeling? Agreeably it is not a good thing, but so much good can be derived from it. It is in these times that we grow, it is these times when the gift of time is apparent and we heal stronger than before, it is when we learn to appreciate the contrast between the good times and the bad. Furthermore its a period that God shows us comfort (Psalm 34:18). Although the goal is not get hurt, and yes, we should guard our hearts, but the fear of being broken hearted should not be the stimulus of our decisions. Instead, I believe that our actions should be based out of love, every single one of them. Theoretically, the actual shift in thinking that it would require to change the base of our decisions should be an easy one, because perfect love casts out fear (1 John 4:18). However one would have to understand that we are not capable of perfect love, only God is, and its only through him that we can make these decisions. What an incredible turn our lives would take if we took time to ascertain that our actions were based on love not fear before we acted. I want to live this way, I want to see where life leads when I am no longer a slave to fear. (Romans 8:15). In summation, my wish for my loved ones and my self is to live life to its fullest potential. I have seen people very close to me make major life decisions that were out of fear and insecurity and they have lead them down very dark roads. There is so much more to life than the precarious dance with success and failure. We shouldn’t be afraid (Romans 8:37).
Written by: Nancy Bryant
Date: July 1st 2010
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