World Champions after 24 years

For Missouri baseball fans, Friday, October 27th, 2006 was a very good night. After waiting for 24 years, the Saint Louis Cardinals won the World Series.

I was thinking about this today. How many years of disappointment was there? How many times did the Cardinals "almost" make it. But year after year, they just couldn't quite finish the deal.

Did the Cardinals give up? Did they say, "It's never going to happen. We're never going to win. We should just quit." No! They continued going to practice. They continued looking for better strategies and better players. They continued going out on the field and doing their best.

I believe we can take some lessons from the sports professionals. Don't give up. Keep looking for better strategies. Keep going out on the practice field. Don't give up on the game.

God has called you to be on his team. To become a follower of the Lord Jesus Christ. If you have joined his team - don't give up. Remember that most of the prophets waited a lot longer than 24 years to see the results of their faith.

But the follower of Christ, who keeps going, is promised victory over the world as well. You too can be a world champion.

Pastor John

In the cross of Christ I glory

I just read in the news that a college long associated with the Anglican Church, William and Mary, moved to remove the cross from their chapel. They wanted to make it more open to people of other faiths.

The administrator sent out an email to the staff explaining, "In order to make the Wren Chapel less of a faith-specific space, and to make it more welcoming to students, faculty, staff and visitors of all faiths, the cross has been removed from the altar area."

Many people around the world would agree. The cross needs to be removed. "For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor. 1:18.

"We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength." 1 Cor 1:24-25.

Why does the world want the cross removed? Why is this such an issue around the country? There are two reasons.

First, many people don't understand the power of the cross. By the cross, that is Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, we have access to heaven. We can be saved! But if you don't understand your need for forgiveness and that we have this wonderful free gift from God, the cross looks like a bunch of foolishness.

The second reason the world wants the cross removed is that it's offensive. The cross tells us that we can't be saved by our own goodness or our own effort. We can never be good enough.

But if you understand the message of the cross, you understand that why Christians love the cross. As Paul says, to those who are being saved - it is the power and the wisdom of God.

I pray that we will never be so concerned about other opinions that we ignore the God's opinion. For the foolishness of God is wiser than the wisdom of man and the weakness of God is greater then the strength of man.

God bless you
Pastor John