The Prowess of King Grace

"Brooooks...you know what we forgot...?" 

Katy posed this question to me in the car last Saturday when we were driving through Hearne, TX on the way to watch our respective Alma maters compete in the gridiron version of the Battle of the Brazos at Kyle Field.  Instantly I recognized that we had traveled all this way from Allen, TX without our game tickets! 

This might appear innocent enough, and to some of you this dilemma evokes personal memories of similar blunders.  Everyone has surely experienced something like this, right?  But for myself and Katy, this was the SECOND time in two weeks we'd done it.  I guess we both expected the other to get them both times, or it just flat out slipped each of our minds all-together.  At least when we did it before the A&M v. Arkansas game we were closer to Allen and were able to swing back home to get them.  Our realization in Hearne, TX though definitely fell under the category of "too late..nothing we can do about it now."

What made it worse was that both sets of tickets were gifts from my parents.  Some son and daughter-in-law we are huh!  I told Katy to just go ahead and call my Dad and explain the situation...but she couldn't muster up the courage necessary I guess haha...so she declined and proceeded to go into panic/scramble mode and attempted to recall all the people she knew coming to the game in hopes that they might be able to perform a miracle of some sort to get us in.  Amidst the drama we eventually discovered that at the will call ticket office they frequently encounter forgetful and careless fans like us and that it was no problem at all for them to reprint the tickets.  WHEW!!! Dodged a bullet there for sure, thank goodness!  Some form of "Katy and Brooks-Aggie Jokes" undoubtedly and unavoidably will emerge from family and friends.  Maybe one day we'll learn and change, but it's doubtful ha!

Moving on, every time I return to College Station, and particularly when attending a sporting event, I'm reminded of how I used to be such a big Aggie.  I bled maroon as much as anybody.  If you look at my room in Temple where I grew up you'd still to this day find it with A&M wallpaper, an A&M bedspread, pillows, trashcan, balls, stuffed doll A&M corps guy, and (if it hadn't busted some several years back) an A&M beanbag.  In my closet if it hadn't been recently cleaned out you would have discovered countless A&M T-shirts, jackets, old baseball camp certificates, and pictures of A&M athletic greats and old inspirational 12th Man magazine articles. I could go on for a really long time, but just a few more items you'd discover in my room would be an R.C. Slocum autographed picture and hat, an old toddler play A&M football Jersey, pants, and helmet, a baseball Jersey signed by an early 2000's A&M team, and last but not least...a picture of me in a yell leader outfit when I was maybe 3 or 4 years old. 

I used to wear A&M jackets all the time when I was in HS, even more so than my Belton High letter jacket.  I had an A&M baseball cap that I wore ALL the time, so much so in fact that today it probably wouldn't even fit a pre-school aged Aggie fan due to having shrunk so much from my constant and frequent sweating while wearing it. 

So you get the picture...I was a Texas A&M Aggie, and all that that encompasses, through and through.  I was born into it, was surrounded by it, but also willingly followed and embraced the practices which were in line with it.  It was part of who I was...a big part!

Now since I was such a big Aggie, it should come as no surprise that I desired to play baseball for them in college.  But of course that's not how it turned out.  And to make a long story short, I ended up getting an opportunity to play at Baylor University instead.

Hmmm...given my background...that sounds "interesting" doesn't it...to say the least!  Some reprogramming was definitely in order.

All of these things again were called to mind when I went to the A&M v. Baylor football game a week ago.  So why do I bring them up?  Because what took place in my life by shifting my allegiance, loyalty, and identification from Maroon and White to Green and Gold must occur on a much larger scale for all who have accepted Christ.  If you want to play on His team, if you want to serve Him and walk in the the good things for which He saved you, then you have to acknowledge that you are not under the old regime of Sin, but the new rule of Grace.

A great passage that is foundational for this truth is Romans 6:1-14.  In my Spiritual Life class at DTS we've been going through it, and it definitely parallels my situation in shifting from Aggie to Bear.  It doesn't fit exactly, and off course I'm not meaning that the A&M culture is synonymous with the ruling power of sin and the kingdom of darkness, nor that Baylor is on par with grace's new rule and the kingdom of light.  Just hang with me and hopefully it will begin to come together and make sense. 

The following definitions from and paraphrase/explanation of Romans 6:1-14 was one of my assignments for my Spiritual Life class.  I've adapted it slightly to fit in with this post.  Read through this passage if you'd like, then look at what I wrote below.

For this assignment I read for preparation Thomas Schreiner’s Romans Commentary. 

Definitions

Sin in Romans 6 represents a tyrannical governing authority which exercises its rule and power over every unregenerate creature; a mark of the old era of history due to Adam’s sin.  Sins should not fill a completely different category apart from sin, for it is solely because of sin’s ruling power over men prior to their conversion that causes them as slaves to naturally obey and commit various sins.  The word continue when used here in relation to sin carries with it the implication of remaining under the authority sin wields as master, practically acting out of allegiance to its reign, obeying and submitting to its orders and regulations. 

When in this passage Paul brings up the concept of death, his main objective involves a statement of fact that upon conversion all who were in Adam, and hence under sin’s tyranny, are by all intents and purposes now dead to sin’s power; it’s a literal reality that sin’s hold on them has been cancelled out and nullified. Baptized when used signifies our identification and union with Christ, our belonging to and incorporation into Him, the last Adam, as opposed to the first Adam, who led us into the realm of sin's dominion. 

The term Old self refers to the pre-Christ era reality that all were helplessly yet willingly enslaved to sin’s wicked sovereignty, and it serves to represent and explain the plight and identity of humanity, both collectively as a whole and each individual within the whole.  The term body of sin means the physical nature of sin and the way the body was used for it.  When brought to nothing is used, the idea is its exile or banishment, so that no longer it may control.


Paraphrase/Explanation

Paul’s argument in this passage is that it is inconceivable that we remain under the repressive rule of King Sin so as to allow grace to increase. It doesn’t work that way he explains. For once we have accepted Christ we are no longer alive to this evil emperor and empire.  Paul is stating a fact that we have indeed been lifted up from underneath this corrupt governing authority. We may no longer act out of allegiance and loyalty to our old King.  King Grace is our master now; to him we owe our dedication and commitment. We wear his colors, follow his agenda, bow and serve him alone. Through Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, we become set free from sin’s grip and stronghold. Whereas before we were under sin’s curse, now we are under grace’s freedom. Our identity is now wrapped up in Christ, unlike before when we were tethered to sin.

King Sin’s administration characterized by oppression left none in its wake unmarred.  But because of Christ’s death, burial, and resurrection, each individual that puts their faith and trust in Christ’s finished work has the same power that raised Him from the dead within them.  The notions and powers that caused the body to commit sins compulsively have been banished. That which remains in the physical body should then contend to commit righteous acts that lead to life, rather than sins that lead to death.

A conquering King has plundered the old dynasty and has set up a new organization. His purpose in doing this was to completely obliterate everything from the previous dictator’s ruthless agenda, so that the people would finally experience liberty. Their desire now should certainly be to follow the new King’s instructions. To cut all ties with the past and get on board and in line with these realities and with what the new King is doing. The people should put the past behind them and focus ahead so to discover how best they might serve wholeheartedly this King that has pure motives and commands justly.

************

Just as when a caterpillar transforms into a butterfly there is no turning back, so also when we become Christians the former reality is cancelled out.  Same thing when I became a Baylor Bear.  I signed with Baylor and consequently that meant signing off on everything A&M.  I've got a new coach, a new assignment, a new group of teammates, a new uniform, a new environment.  I might as well "know" this and act accordingly, "consider" myself dead to A&M, and "present" myself in full-fledged service and devotion to Baylor.  Even today, after all the ways Baylor University and the baseball team blessed and provided for me, how bizarre and treasonous would it be for me to revert back to my old desires and ways with respect to A&M.  I can never be an Aggie again, it's impossible!  And why would I want to, I have a new home and a new family.

Same thing once you become a Christian.  Know you've been united with Christ and therefore dead to sin and its authority.  Ponder this and line your life up with this reality.  Consider (some translations use "reckon") yourself dead to sin (why would you go back and serve a tyrant like Sin when you can flourish under Grace?) and present yourself as a tool for righteousness. 

Understanding these truths is essential to Christian growth and maturity.  Not regarding my A&M stuff alone of course, but how it relates to Christianity.  I'll confess that you might occasionally catch me kissing my wife when A&M scores or swaying back and forth sawing Varsity's horns off in order to keep the peace in the stands.  But I must take far more seriously my reverting back to sinful habits in line with sin, my former master. 

Thanks be to God for saving me from sin's authority, giving me over to grace, placing me in Christ, indwelling me through the Holy Spirit, and granting me precious things such as redemption, justification, forgiveness, and eternal life.  May the work of the Godhead in our salvation be our utmost delight and, a la "The Spirit of Aggieland", may our boast be of prowess bold. Of the ruler we think so grand - Grace!

No Comparison

If you have followed the 2011 MLB playoffs, you might have noticed the Sparky 11 memorial patch the Detroit Tigers players and coaches are wearing to honor the late great Sparky Anderson.  The Hall of Fame manager passed away last Fall, and led the Tigers to a World Series title in 1984.  Before coming to Detroit, he led the Cincinnati Reds, or "The Big Red Machine" as they were known in their heyday, to two World Series Championships in '75 and '76.  Both the Tigers and Cincinnati Reds displayed their own respective tribute patches throughout the entire 2011 season.

Below is a excerpt from an article that appeared in The New York Times following Anderson's death, which captures the coach's respect and appreciation for the athletic talent and skill of one of his Reds players, Johnny Bench:

During his news conference after the Series finale in 1976, Anderson was asked to compare Yankee catcher Thurman Munson, who was voted the American League’s most valuable player that season, with Bench, the Reds catcher and eventual Hall of Famer who had been the National League’s M.V.P. in 1970 and 1972. The question lighted the bonfire of Anderson’s loyalty to his players.

“Munson is an outstanding ballplayer and he would hit .300 in the National League,” he replied sharply, “but don’t ever compare nobody to Johnny Bench; don’t never embarrass nobody by comparing them to Johnny Bench.”

Standing nearby, Munson heard Anderson’s words, and when he followed Anderson to the microphone, he said he felt “belittled.” Three weeks later, Anderson wrote Munson a letter of apology, released by the Reds, that he had “no intention of trying to belittle you or any other catcher.”

Johnny Bench was an incredible baseball player, and I even did a project on him when I was in elementary school.  Now I never saw him play, but he was one of my Dad's favorites so I looked up to him as well.  One of the things I learned about Bench was that his hands were so big that he could hold 7 baseballs in one hand.  Now take my word for it, that's freakishly impressive.  If you have that many baseballs lying around at your house then try to see how many you can hold. 

One of his fans even wrote Bench a letter asking him if this were true, that he could hold that many.  Take a look at this picture of Bench holding the baseballs and the letter.

Wow...pretty amazing!  But would you believe that in Scripture we get a description of something even more incredible that God can control or measure with His hands!

Proverbs 30:4 asks the question of "Who has gathered the wind in his fists?", with of course God being the implied and intended answer.  Now passages like this can be confusing, so I don't want to appear misleading.  For God is spirit, and doesn't have a physical body or hands like we humans have.  Texts such as this one are then meant to demonstrate and show His supreme power and sovereignty.  They are meant to humble us to the point of submission and authentic worship.  We serve a God who is so holy and high above us, totally beyond our capacity to comprehend. 

Among others, a few Scriptures in this same line include Job 38, 39, and 40, and Isaiah 40.  Look below at part of Isaiah 40:

 

Isaiah 40:12-18

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand
and marked off the heavens with a span,
enclosed the dust of the earth in a measure
and weighed the mountains in scales
and the hills in a balance?
¹³ Who has measured^[a] the Spirit of the LORD,
or what man shows him his counsel?
¹⁴Whom did he consult,
and who made him understand?
Who taught him the path of justice,
and taught him knowledge,
and showed him the way of understanding?
¹⁵Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket,
and are accounted as the dust on the scales;
behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust.
¹⁶Lebanon would not suffice for fuel,
nor are its beasts enough for a burnt offering.
¹⁷ All the nations are as nothing before him,
they are accounted by him as less than nothing and emptiness.
¹⁸ To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?

In this we again see something else significantly greater than 7 baseballs related to God's mighty hand of power. 

I taught part of this lesson to some of my HS students a few weeks back.  But instead of using the 7 baseballs analogy, I presented them with a list compiled by ESPN on what numerous sports writers and fans consider to be the most unbreakable records in all of sports.  Certain milestone achievements definitely set athletes in a distinct category above all other contemporaries.  And yet after viewing some of God's accomplishments and milestone achievements, as highlighted in the above readings from Job and Isaiah, we all agreed that these sports feats truly paled in comparison.

As Isaiah 40:18 above states, To whom then will you liken God,
or what likeness compare with him?

There's no comparison...literally!  For even Thurmon Munson and Johnny Bench were literally and figuratively in the same ballpark so to speak.  Not the case with us and God.  Even more so, as 1 Corinthians 4:7 states "What do have that you did not receive?  If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?"  We really don't have much room to brag whatsoever about anything we have or do.

But the best part of all of this is that God still loves us and desires a relationship with us!  Isn't that crazy.  While Isaiah 55:8-9 applies to God's thoughts and ways in relation to ours, Psalm 103:10-13 does in accordance with God's steadfast love toward those who fear him.  Both passages claim that these traits of God are as high as the heavens are above the earth.  Something great to lean on!


Like all Biblical truths, ones such as this should lead us to praise and worship.  The following song captures all of the above sentiments in an amazing way, and it's lyrics allude to several of the passages mentioned (AND cool fact - this singer's brother attends Allen Bible and plays with me on the softball team, kinda neat).

 

"Reel" Cool Readings...Finding Forrester

This past week I celebrated my 25th birthday.  One quarter century down, only God knows how many more to go haha.  When put like that 25 seems relatively young but also somewhat established.  Which to a certain extent might ring true.  However, I'm learning day by day that becoming established the way our world uses that word is not how God marks or measures spiritual growth and development.  The world grades maturity in relation to how far along you are in your quest toward independence, whereas through a biblical lens, the focus centers around growing in your quest toward dependence upon God. 

Chopping "in" off that first highlighted word above often seems unpleasant to the Christian participant.  Still, God has a purpose in stripping His own of any buffer they might use to hinder their conformity to the image of Jesus.  Two words that speak volumes to this concept are brokenness and repentance.  I've heard one pastor say that if repentance describes the 180 degree change in direction we make on the highway of our attitude and behavior, from our sinful ways to God, then brokenness is the off ramp.  Brokenness is the place where we get off, the place where God halts us and stops our progress in that destructive direction.  And while we definitely experience these things along the pathway leading to our conversion, these same feelings and attitudes must likewise remain to further catalyze growth and development in Christ. 

Rather than acting as a one time phenomenon, authentic believers living Spirit-filled lives will to some degree daily exhibit brokenness and repentance, as they grow in their understanding and awareness of their own sinfulness in light of God's holiness.  In other words, the clearer one perceives God's holiness, the more their own lack of said holiness becomes apparent.  The Bible on multiple fronts illustrates this concept.  But before I go to one particular passage let me introduce a movie clip I want to show from Finding Forrester. 

To quickly set the stage, this 2000 American drama film revolves around the relationship between the two main characters, Jamal Wallace and William Forrester (played by Sean Connery).  Both have a passion for prose, with Jamal fitting the mold of raw, talented, up and coming protege.  Forrester (in the movie he's literally one of the greatest writers of the 20th century) recognizes Jamal's potential and endeavors to train and fine tune Jamal's natural ability.  One of these training sessions is highlighted in the clip below, take a look:

I viewed Finding Forrester recently this past summer with Katy, after not having seen it since my high school days with my good buddy Cody Street.  He might be the only one to get the following lines "And you're black!"  or "You dog-eared them"...good times!  Now I must admit that I did wear my socks inside out in high school prior to viewing this film, and once I saw this part I felt affirmed and assured the habit was well grounded.  But only after this summer did I pick up on the connection between the type of writing Forrester was after in Jamal and the type of praying God is after in His children.  Let's take a closer look.

If you caught Forrester's correlation between believing in lucky socks and praying don't be alarmed, totally not where I'm going with this!  There are though a few parallels between his advice on writing and effective praying.  Personally, I enjoy writing and about 90% of the praying I do is written.  So if that's not the case with you, this may not hit home as much.  But I'd still encourage you to give it a shot.

Did you hear Forrester say that "the first key to writing is to write".  I think that's also so true of praying.  Just like learning to ride a bike or how to swim, it's impossible through a correspondence course or online class.  You learn as you go by actually doing it!  And while we don't need to worry about writing first or second drafts to God, the advice Forrester gives about writing from the heart first is certainly applicable.  Our hearts and minds can work in concert though, for the more we learn about God, the more we should come to love Him.  Increased knowledge then serves as the firewood we load into the fireplace of our heart's affections as John Piper puts it, so that our passionate love for God can burn and flame all the more reverently, respectfully, and fearfully.  Hence, these informed affections can be poured out to Him through praise and thanksgiving in our prayers.

Forrester models his method to young Jamal, and seems so comfortable and easy going as he's writing.  The reason of course being that he's done it for so long.  Likewise, have you ever heard someone pray and you could just tell by the weight and richness in their words that they walk close with the Lord...that him or her communes frequently and deeply with their Heavenly Father?  One pastor I know describes hearing a seminary prof he had at DTS pray by saying "listening to his prayers was like stepping into heaven".  Man wouldn't it be so sweet to have that kind of fellowship with God!

Once Jamal finds himself stuck, his pen without a course to plot, Forrester stimulates his creative juices by giving him a document that he himself wrote years prior.  He explains "Start typing that, sometimes a simple rhythm of typing gets us from page one to page two...and when you begin to feel your own words, start typing them." 

This principle especially I'd like to hone in on. Right around the time I viewed this film last summer, I began memorizing part of Psalm 25 and using it in such a way as Forrester describes. It was written by David soon before his death. This "man after God's own heart" can most definitely be counted on to teach us a thing or two about prayer. Over the past several months I've employed verses 4-15 primarily (neat coincidence that this 25th Psalm has been so huge for me leading up to my 25th birthday huh).

Psalm 25:4-15

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O LORD;
teach me your paths.
⁵Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation;
for you I wait all the day long.
⁶Remember your mercy, O LORD, and your steadfast love,
for they have been from of old.
⁷Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
according to your steadfast love remember me,
for the sake of your goodness, O LORD!
⁸ Good and upright is the LORD;
therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹He leads the humble in what is right,
and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness,
for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.
¹¹For your name’s sake, O LORD,
pardon my guilt, for it is great.
¹²Who is the man who fears the LORD?
Him will he instruct in the way that he should choose.
¹³His soul shall abide in well-being,
and his offspring shall inherit the land.
¹⁴ The friendship^[a] of the LORD is for those who fear him,
and he makes known to them his covenant.
¹⁵My eyes are ever toward the LORD,
for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

I would encourage you to do the same thing as Jamal did, but take it one intense step further.  Enmesh yourself in this passage, verse by verse, day by day.  Pray these things, soak yourself in the truths he articulates!  Like a see-saw, continually swing back and forth between dwelling upon God's steadfast love and faithfulness and your own inadequacy and sinfulness.  Lean on Him, let His goodness and mercy overshadow your own guilt.  Pray like David, who even after a lifetime of intimate fellowship with God, still above all else humbly desired that God lead, teach, instruct, and walk with him more deeply.

And when you begin to feel your own words, start praying them as well, but keep returning to these.  The maze David was molded and shaped in was a course mapped out by God leading to David's utter dependence and trust in God, rather than himself. 



Robert Robinson wrote the following hymn in his early 20's and it certainly is in line with David's heart in Psalm 25, even if this passage was not his primary motivation.  I love the following version, enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdRKM7JnB3M&feature=related