How about a feel-good sports story? My son Mark put me on to this one…

What to do if you’re a baseball fan in Philadelphia, home of some of the toughest, most unforgiving fans in baseball, and your star player, signed for huge money in the offseason, isn’t producing?

You give your star, non-producing player a standing ovation.

Trea Turner, Philadelphia shortstop was having a bad year. Nothing he tried was working. Here’s what happened when he stepped to the plate on August 4, as told in this Fox News report which starts:

It’s not every day that one of baseball’s worst hitters gets a standing ovation.

It was early August and Phillies shortstop Trea Turner, he of the $311 million contract and .657 OPS, was suffocating under the weight of heightened expectations. After signing a much-heralded 11-year megadeal in December 2022, Turner had spent most of his first season in Philly grasping at straws and swinging at air.

Despite this, a raucous Citizens Bank Park crowd of over 35,000 greeted Turner with thunderous applause as he strolled toward the plate for his first at-bat of the night. The Fightin’ faithful rose to their feet in a passionate, full-throated display of unconditional support. Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos scaled the dugout, a towel in his hand, emphatically gesturing for fans to continue.

“He needs to feel comfortable. He needs to feel welcome,” Castellanos told reporters afterward. “I know what that’s like. And I think that’s what that standing ovation does, like, hey we have your back.” – Jake Minst, Fox Sports

And what happened after? As of late August…

Buoyed by the Philly Cheer, Turner has completely flipped his season around, posting a 1.150 OPS with eight homers in the 22 games since. He looks like his confident, world-beating self.

Wow. If it were fiction, no one would believe it.

But they should. God often blesses us before our so-called performance, not after. It started with Jesus, did it not?

As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3.16, 17, NIV)

This was at the beginning of his ministry! Before he had actually done anything.

As a side note, the idea for a standing ovation came from one guy, a talk-radio producer:

I know he’s making $300 million so it’s unpopular to say that you feel bad for the guy but I legitimately feel bad for Trea Turner. Postgame interview was a tough watch, he’s in the cages until midnight. Just think he’s lost. A standing O on Friday would go a long way IMO. – A Tweet by Jack Fritz on August 3.

So one person can make a difference! One person who decided that praise rather than ridicule might make a difference. Applause for future success, not for boos for past failures.

As it is written, “I have made you a father of many nations” in the presence of Him whom he believed–God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did. (Romans 4.17, NKJV, emphasis mine)

Recently, someone on NextDoor began a post with “It bothers me a great deal…” She went on to describe a particular flaw in the way some people speak, dropping the “g” in words like “strength.” (She’d better not move to Alabama where nearly everyone drops the “g” in any word ending in “ing.” Do you see what I’m sayin’?) 

Anyway, I’m sad for the person who posted that. It’s one thing to notice something. It’s another to be “bothered a great deal.” I’m reading an excellent book suggested by blog reader Laura: Unoffendable by Brant Hansen. The simple premise is that believers ought to be among the least offended people. He disagrees that Christians are generally more offended than other people. He argues that our whole culture loves to take offense: “It’s the national sport.” (I’ve made the same observation, calling it “outrage.”) But just because everyone is doing it doesn’t mean we should be part of “everyone.” 

It’s a 200-page book that I haven’t finished yet, and I’m wondering how he’ll get 200 pages from such a simple idea, but he’s succeeding so far. One chapter explains that Jesus came to give rest, and taking offense at everything makes you tired. Here’s a sample:

Quit trying to parent the whole world. Quit offering advice when exactly zero people asked for it. Quit being shocked when people don’t share your morality. Quit serving as judge and jury, in your own mind, of that person who just cut you off in traffic. Quit thinking you need to “discern” what others’ motives are. And quit rehearsing in your mind what that other person did to you. It’s all so exhausting. 

It reminds me of Aibileen’s scene with Hilly in the movie The Help. Hilly is a judgmental, racist, conniving busybody full of religiosity and anger. Aibileen is her friend Elizabeth’s hired help and a wise woman who, when she finally confronts Hilly, is bracingly honest but still, somehow, loving: “Ain’t you tired, Miss Hilly? Ain’t you tired?” – From Unoffendable by Brant Hansen, page 57.

Again, Jesus said it first:

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly. (Matthew 11.28 – 30, MSG)

I’ve been wondering when to write about this August 25 article in the Denver Post: Broncos reveal $100 million upgrades to Empower Field at Mile High: What’s new at the stadium. It bothered me when I first read it. $100M to upgrade a stadium that’s only 22 years old? Team president Damani Leech is quoted as saying:

It’s been exciting. Over the course of the past season, when we traveled to other stadiums, you really (understood) the responsibility we have to provide a great experience for our fans…[we wanted to enhance] the gameday experience from an operational and entertainment standpoint.

Central to the upgrades was an enlarged scoreboard “now the fifth largest in the NFL.”

Really? My son now has season tickets to the Broncos, and I went to two games last year. I don’t remember sitting there thinking, “Wow. This would be so much better if we had a larger scoreboard.” I was thinking, “This would be so much better if the Broncos could actually win some games.”

Last year the Broncos had a new ownership group, a new, proven quarterback, and a new head coach who proved to be so inept that he didn’t last the season before being fired. So now the Broncos have a new, proven head coach along with a $100M stadium upgrade. The result? Woody Paige’s editorial in the Colorado Springs Gazette summed it up after the Broncos lost opening day to the Las Vegas Raiders, 17 – 16:

Now the Broncos have lost a combined 22 consecutive games to the Chiefs and the Raiders. Seven straight shambles have happened in the Broncos’ own stadium, which is not the happiest place on turf. Doesn’t matter who owns the franchise, who is the CEO or the president or the general manager. Certainly doesn’t matter who the head coach is, or who the quarterback is… Size of the scoreboard doesn’t matter.

Indeed, the size of the scoreboard doesn’t matter. What matters are the numbers on the scoreboard. Do you want to offer Bronco fans an “enhanced experience”? How about winning a few games? The Cleveland Browns defeated the Cincinnati Bengals 24 – 3 yesterday in a driving rain storm. Ahead by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, it didn’t look to me like fans were going home. They sat there in their plastic rain gear, joyful, all the way to the end. An enhanced fan experience? Sitting in the rain? I don’t know how big their scoreboard is, but they couldn’t have seen it. No matter. They had a ball.

The Broncos seem to have lost focus on what’s important, and sometimes I think some churches are the same. Church worship leader Danny Byrum wrote:

The church in America is in a cycle of prosperity.  Impressive church venues are everywhere.  Millions of dollars are spent to remodel sanctuaries, build new ones, purchase gear, keep up the latest trends in stage production – live video capturing – and worship song-set automation software.  Yet, many who attend services find themselves standing in silence, watching screens, and observing performers on a platform.  I call this lack of congregational engagement Wallpaper Worship. In his endorsement of my book, author Philip Yancey says: “In my lifetime worship has changed from something we do before an audience of God to something a few semi-professionals do for an audience of us.” Is Worship “One Size Fits All”? Danny Byrum, June 4, 2019

My friend and blog reader Barry Weber reminded me of something in his comment on the September 9 blog. Here’s part of what he said:

I’m reminded of a Promise Keeper’s event in Boulder many years ago worshipping with hundreds of other men. A truly joyful experience.

I was there. It was thousands of other men, and it was one of the best group worship experiences I’ve ever been in. The stadium was built in 1924 and is still in use. We had a praise band but no special effects. What made the experience special was those thousands of men, enthusiastically singing, and worshiping together. Men of every age, socioeconomic level, race, and even church affiliation. It wasn’t the venue. It was the men – and God was in that place with us.

After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” (Revelation 7.9 – 11, ESV)

It’s often said, “There’s no retirement in the Bible!” It’s a good sentiment: we should be about God’s work as long as he leaves us here. The statement itself, however, is not quite true:

And the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “This applies to the Levites: from twenty-five years old and upward they shall come to do duty in the service of the tent of meeting. And from the age of fifty years they shall withdraw from the duty of the service and serve no more. They minister to their brothers in the tent of meeting by keeping guard, but they shall do no service. Thus shall you do to the Levites in assigning their duties.” (Numbers 8.23 – 26, ESV)

The Levites served on active duty from age 25 – 50. Their duties were physical: moving the tabernacle and its furniture.

All those who were listed of the Levites, whom Moses and Aaron and the chiefs of Israel listed, by their clans and their fathers’ houses, from thirty years old up to fifty years old, everyone who could come to do the service of ministry and the service of bearing burdens in the tent of meeting, those listed were 8,580. According to the commandment of the LORD through Moses they were listed, each one with his task of serving or carrying. Thus they were listed by him, as the LORD commanded Moses. (Numbers 4.46 – 49, ESV)

As an aside, note that in chapter 4 it’s age 30 – 50. In chapter 8, it’s 25 – 50. There are opinions on this discrepancy. The most reasonable appears to be that the first five years were training or doing support work. At age 30, they actually began carrying things.

In many churches and Christian organizations, people stay too long in leadership positions: the senior pastor who won’t retire, the church organist who won’t step down. (Political leaders from both major parties seem to share this problem!) This text in Numbers, while not a literal command to us today (it was guidance for the Levites!) seems to suggest that as we age, our roles should become advisory and supportive.

They may minister to their brothers… (Numbers 8.26)

Imagine the 49-year-old Levite with nearly 20 years’ experience. One day he’s the ranking guy on the team of Koathites, say, who’s in charge of carrying the Tabernacle furniture. The next day is his 50th birthday. Now he gets to serve the younger men. We move from being the doer to being the advisor and cheerleader.

I meet regularly with a young man who serves on the staff of an international youth ministry. He also is often the featured speaker at youth conferences. I wouldn’t be any good at either of those jobs, but I get to process life and ministry with him.

On a related subject, I saw this quote a few weeks ago:

The goal is to design a life that you don’t need to retire from. – Sahil Bloom, The Retirement Trap

I commend the article to you in its entirety. Maybe I’ll write something on it in the future.

In the meantime, maybe we should all give ourselves to “age-appropriate ministry” – a term I just coined! And part of our ministry at any age is to train the next generation. After all, if I KNOW that I’m not going to serve forever, best I train others, yes?

And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2.2, NIV)

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. (Titus 2.3 – 5, NIV)

Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office. (Hebrews 7.23, NIV)

In Numbers 1, we saw a repeating series of paragraphs counting warriors. In Numbers 7, we have another repeating section, this one counting offerings. Here’s the first such paragraph:

Now the one who brought his offering near on the first day was Nahshon the son of Amminadab, of the tribe of Judah; and his offering was

• one silver dish whose weight was 130 shekels,
• one silver bowl of 70 shekels, according to the shekel of the sanctuary,
  • both of them full of fine flour mixed with oil for a grain offering;
• one gold pan of 10 shekels, full of incense;
• one bull from the herd,
• one ram,
• one male lamb one year old, for a burnt offering;
• one male goat for a sin offering;
• and for the sacrifice of peace offerings,
  • two oxen,
  • five rams,
  • five male goats,
  • five male lambs one year old.

This was the offering of Nahshon the son of Amminadab. (Numbers 7.12 – 17, LSB, bulleted for clarity)

There are twelve such paragraphs, identical except for the names of the tribes and their leaders. PLUS, there’s a summary paragraph relisting all the gifts x 12.

I call it repetitive. I used to teach writing, and we valued conciseness. There are so many ways to “improve” this chapter, aren’t there? For example, we could write the paragraph above, and then say something like, “And all the other leaders of the tribes brought identical offerings on the following days. And here’s a list of those tribes and their leaders.”

The Book of Numbers doesn’t do it that way. Each day’s offering is listed in full as if it’s the only one. Even though there is a total given at the end, meaning the aggregate of the offerings counts, each day’s offering is given individual attention. Each on a different day: day 1 through day 12.

God treats each of us as special and joyfully accepts our offerings. And the promise is, God loves and blesses the *individual* cheerful giver:

Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Corinthians 9.7, 8, ESV, emphasis mine)

It’s College Football season, and I’ll try not to devote too much space to it, but two stories from the opening weekend stand out and make the same point.

First was the University of Colorado’s (CU) stunning upset of Texas Christian (TCU). TCU was favored by three touchdowns. CU won the game 45 – 42. The pundits were shocked, and the praise has been unending. I live in Colorado so I’ve watched CU’s attempt to recover from a 1 – 11 season last year – not a typo – worst record in all of college football. Their hopes were pinned to the charismatic, flamboyant Deion Sanders, “Coach Prime.” Here’s how ESPN writer David Hale described how “we” (ESPN experts) blew it:

We doubted.

Who wouldn’t have doubted this Colorado team? All the hoopla and hype in the world couldn’t erase the utter catastrophe of 2022, when the Buffaloes were 1-11 with seven losses by at least 30 points.

We lectured.

Of course we lectured. Deion Sanders essentially upended every lofty, moral (and, yes, utterly ridiculous) notion of genuine amateurism by effectively cutting two-thirds of this team upon arrival. If Coach Prime had a constant megaphone to tout his new approach to roster building, we could at least use our soapbox to argue against it.

We learned.

Oh, yes, we learned so much Saturday, and we came away looking like fools after Colorado beat TCU, last year’s national runner-up, 45 – 42 in Sanders’ first game as the Buffaloes’ head coach.

The article goes on, and I recommend it in its entirety if you care about such things: College football Week 1 highlights: Top plays, games, takeaways.

The second story is LSU falling to Florida State 45 – 24, after being outscored in the second half 31 – 7. LSU was ranked #5 to Florida State’s #8. It should have been a closer game. LSU Coach Chip Kelly summed it up:

How do we handle this? Is this who we want to be, or do we look at this and say this isn’t the kind of football team we want to be. When you have those kinds of losses, they are disappointing, and in some instances, they are devastating losses, but it’s how you respond to them. They have a chance to respond to this very disappointing performance in the second half.

So the choices they will have to make will be ones that start tomorrow.

The lessons for both CU and LSU are the same. Forget the past as the Apostle Paul wrote:

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,… (Philippians 3.13, ESV)

CU has another game coming up Saturday. Last Saturday’s game is gone. Their opposition, Nebraska, has game film to look at, and both teams have exactly one week to prepare. In addition, CU has the burden of not believing their own press reports. This week’s gushing by the sports world will not win Saturday’s game.

LSU has, as their coach said, choices to make. Will they wallow in their Sunday night failure, or will they regroup?

Both teams have some forgetting to do. What about us? Do we bask in past glory? Telling stories about how God worked 10, 20, 30 years ago? Or are we still upset about some failure?

But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way. (Philippians 3.13 – 15, ESV)

Or, as we like to say, it’s our 660th monthiversary!

Picture made at Sylvan Lake in Custer State Park, near Mount Rushmore, August 3, 2023.

An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. (Proverbs 31.10 – 11, ESV)

It’s not often (in fact I can’t ever remember doing this!), that I write a sermon and then change it the day before. In this case, same title, just a different emphasis. Yesterday, I shared the abbreviated version of what I preached Sunday. Today, I’ll share the abbreviated version of what I didn’t preach – it will make a good sermon for another day.

It starts the same:

Let’s flip the script, and instead of talking about taking our faith to work, let’s think about bringing work to our faith.

By that I mean, “church” often carries a different set of rules from “work.” People can walk into a church on Sunday morning, turn off their brains, zone out, and walk out an hour later. That sort of behavior wouldn’t go over well at work. When folks work, there is…

• Commitment, which leads to…
• Competence, which isn’t sufficient without…
• Character. We develop Competence and Character through…
• Companionship (meaning one person “trains” another, but “training” doesn’t start with “C”!)

…and all of those things need to characterize our walk with God.

This story captures the essence:

George was a house-builder in Montgomery, AL, and by his own admission, life wasn’t going well for him. In July 2001, a friend, in the time-honored tradition of that part of the country, invited George to church. George wouldn’t agree to go until he found out that he didn’t have to wear a tie or sit in a comfortable pew where he might fall asleep! The service was a newly offered “contemporary” service, meeting in a fellowship hall furnished with the world’s most uncomfortable folding chairs.

George listened to the sermons, came back for more and started attending a men’s Bible study meeting at the church on Tuesdays at 6am. In December, at the Tuesday morning study, we presented the gospel clearly: “You can’t be good enough to earn God’s favor, but Jesus died on the cross so you can share his life. ‘The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’ Romans 6.23.” George formally committed his life to Jesus and continued his commitment, bringing work to his faith. He grew in competence as he learned more about scripture and put it into practice. And his character improved to the point that his subs, the guys he built houses with, noticed that George was nicer, not so short-tempered as he was.

About a year later, in January 2003, I said, “George, you need to think about passing on what you’re learning to others.” In the language of this outline, “Be a companion!” His immediate response was that he wasn’t a public speaker. I explained that he didn’t need to be a public speaker; he just needed to share what he was learning over a cup of coffee.

So George went to a Christian bookstore, purchased some Bible study books, went to Hardy’s for some breakfast biscuits and invited his sub-contractors over to his house for breakfast and Bible study.

The last time I saw him, after we’d already moved back to Colorado, it was 8am on a Tuesday morning, George was meeting with 25 men in a clubhouse that they built. Of course, he’s not a public speaker! But he is a companion. He also prays with subs and employees in his office when they need it.

When Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful and the laborers are few,” I think he’s saying, “Where are my Georges?” Jesus is looking for men and women who will bring work to their faith and then, of course, take their faith to work!

I wrote yesterday about sharing with the folks at our church Sunday about the importance of work.

• You serve God by your work. Your work is a continuation of God’s work in the world.
• You serve people at your work: your clients and co-workers
• If you do #1 and #2 well, you can advance the Kingdom from your work.

Then I flipped the script and suggested that in addition to “taking our faith to work,” we ought to “bring work to our faith.” Our church is experiencing loss because our pastor is being treated for advanced cancer. I told the folks:

Coming here used to be routine. We come, Pastor Dave is here to challenge and encourage us, and, as only he can, love on us, and now he’s not here. Our faith requires a little more work these days. – Bob, in a sermon, September 3, 2023

I reminded us that life has always been tough and believing in Jesus doesn’t change that. Paul finished his letter to the Ephesians with these words:

God is strong, and he wants you strong…This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. (Ephesians 6.10 – 13, MSG)

I then suggested a few folks who brought work to their faith:

• The Apostle Paul: commitment

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3.12 – 14, ESV, emphasis mine)

• Epaphroditus: service

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. (Philippians 2.25 – 30, ESV)

• Epaphras: prayer

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ Jesus, greets you, always struggling on your behalf in his prayers, that you may stand mature and fully assured in all the will of God. For I bear him witness that he has worked hard for you and for those in Laodicea and in Hierapolis. (Colossians 4.12, 13, ESV, emphasis mine)

You can listen to the sermon at mcpcusa.org. It’s the whole service: the sermon itself runs from about the 19-minute mark to the 41-minute mark.

Our pastor asked me to preach yesterday, and I opened the way I usually do on Labor Day, talking about the importance of work. I told them:

• You serve God by your work. Your work is a continuation of God’s work in the world.
• You serve people at your work: your clients and co-workers
• If you do #1 and #2 well, you can advance the Kingdom from your work.

Then I flipped the script. Stay tuned.

Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done. So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. (Genesis 2.1 – 3, ESV)

Six days you shall labor, and do all your work… (Exodus 20.9, ESV. Also Exodus 23.12, 31.15, 34.21, 35.2, Leviticus 23.3, Deuteronomy 5.13)