On July 31, 1949 at a baseball game in Florida, a lightning bolt hit the infield, cutting a ditch 20 feet long, and killing the shortstop, first baseman, second baseman, and injuring thirty spectators.  Another account I read of this incident said the lightning strike hit the grandstands and spread across the field.  Regardless of the exact details of where the strike hit, I can only imagine the fear that must have been present among those in attendance.  The flash of lightning and the accompanying boom must have reverberated in their minds for a long time after the fact.

In modern society we seem to have statistics for just about everything.  As I looked for details about this event, I was amazed when I came across a website that specializes in detailing “death at the ballpark”.  According to this website, over 800 game-related fatalities have occurred at ballparks between 1862 and 2007.  Wow!

You can read it for yourself here: http://deathattheballpark.com/overview.html  

In my younger years I spent a great deal of time at the local community ballpark.  I played the game competitively from the age of seven all the way through college.  I have coached on a number of occasions, and I have umpired more games than I can recall.  Through these experiences I saw a lot of injuries: batters getting hit by pitches, line drives hitting fielders, foul balls striking spectators, collisions between players, players getting spiked by another player sliding hard into the base, outfielders running into the fence trying to catch a ball that would potentially be a home run, brawls on the field after someone gets hit by a pitch, and finally, even brawls among spectators after the alcohol had flowed for too long of a time.  I saw a lot of injuries, but never a fatality.

Reading the account of this lightning strike has been a gentle reminder to me of the fragile nature of life.  Every breath we take and every beat of our heart is truly a gift from almighty God.  Thus, I pose the question, “Is this a gift we too often take for granted?”  Based upon the typical routines of our day-to-day lives, do we experience a sense of gratitude for the gift of God’s love?

Listening to the words of Pope Francis during the World Youth Day celebrations, and watching his actions, has been thought-provoking on a number of levels. The secular media has obviously been enamored with some of the pope’s comments during the plane ride back from Rio, and a few reporters have tried to make his statements say what they want it to say. However, capturing the overall message that Pope Francis tried to communicate during this historic gathering in Rio seems to be elusive both for some on the right and the left.  Church leaders like Cardinal Dolan have attempted to clarify a number of issues that were raised during the impromptu plane interview, but it leaves me wondering how well the majority of us are grasping the pope’s message.  Are each of us ready to intentionally move from our “bullet-proof bubble” out into the communities in which we live?  To put it bluntly, are we willing to get out of the pews and seriously put our faith into action?

Statistics may reveal that it is safer to be in a church than it is to be at a ballpark.  The reality of the matter is that we don’t enter into the church building to simply be safe.  We enter the church building to encounter the living Christ in our worship, in the faith community that surrounds us, in the proclamation of the Sacred Scriptures, and in the Eucharist in which we share.  Through this encounter with the living God, empowered by the Holy Spirit, we courageously go out into the world proclaiming the Good News of salvation.  Let's live it! 

“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners…..”

Isaiah 61:1

Pope Paul VI issued the encyclical, Humanae Vitae on July 25, 1968.  You can read the entire document here:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-vi_enc_25071968_humanae-vitae_en.html 

What do we observe about the moral culture of our society in relation to what was said in this document back in 1968?  I would encourage you to at least read section 17 if you don't want to read the whole document.  This portion of the encyclical refers to the consequences of using artificial birth control methods.  Was Pope Paul VI correct in his observations?  Let's focus on just one sentence for a moment.

"Another effect that gives cause for alarm is that a man who grows accustomed to the use of contraceptive methods may forget the reverence due to a woman, and, disregarding her physical and emotional equilibrium, reduce her to being a mere instrument for the satisfaction of his own desires, no longer considering her as his partner whom he should surround with care and affection."

The man "may forget the reverence due to a woman".  How long has it been since you heard that type of language to describe a true relationship of love between a man and a woman?  The entertainment industry has worked diligently over the years to help dismantle the moral code to a point where we as a culture have lost the honor, dignity, and respect for married love and simply reduced it to the pursuit of our lustful passions.  Reverence is obviously lost in the process and so is sincere care and affection.

Humanae Vitae was greatly criticized and rejected as being out of touch with reality.  Now that we have 45 years of hindsight since the release of this encyclical, is the message any clearer than it was in 1968?

The streets are quiet and peaceful as the morning sun begins to sprinkle the area with the first rays of sunshine in the new day. The early hours offer a cool and calm feeling that is both reflective and energizing, but there is one unfamiliar twist to the setting of this particular day.  Although it is 6:00 A.M. and there are very few people in sight, the street is lined with empty lawn chairs.  That can only mean one thing—there is going to be a parade!

Parades have a long and colorful world history. 

http://www.historyofthings.com/history-of-parades  

The Macy’s Day Parade started in 1924 and is the largest parade in America, but there are many other spectacles offered across the country that can truly grab our attention.  I have seen small towns put on some pretty grand events in regard to their local parades.  In years past I have wondered if there would be anyone to watch the parade because it looked like the whole town was IN the parade.  It certainly is an ideal time for the community to come together.

This week, we have the opportunity to witness four parades in eight days in Cheyenne, Wyoming during the annual Cheyenne Frontier Days.  It creates an atmosphere that is difficult to describe if you have never experienced it.  Cheyenne has the parades, three free pancake breakfasts in which thousands are literally fed in minutes, the “daddy of em all” rodeo, concerts with famous stars, and so much more.  With all of this activity crammed into ten days, what significance is there to the four parades?

There are a number of practical as well as philosophical items that stand out for me.  Thus, I raise the following observations, thoughts, and questions:

1.      What time of night did those people put out their lawn chairs for the parade?

2.      Some of the chairs looked very nice.  How is it that the chairs aren’t stolen or vandalized during all of those hours they sit quietly unoccupied and unsupervised?

3.      Since horses are a predominant part of the parade, the route sometimes becomes “littered” with horse chips in the process.  When the line-up for the parade is created, who gets assigned to a position following the horses?  I hope they are wearing their boots.

4.      If we are willing to go to great lengths to get a front row seat along the parade route by getting our chairs out very early in the morning, what other areas of our lives are we willing to make such sacrifices?  Am I eager to put forth that same kind of effort to get a front row seat in church so I can be near the altar to witness the glory of the Lord up close and personal?

5.      Do I have my own pew in church?  How do I react if someone “steals” my pew and forces me to sit somewhere else?

6.      As I watch the parade go by, am I secretly hoping to see someone step in the horse droppings?

7.      In the parade route of my life, do I feel like I am in front of the horses, or am I behind them struggling constantly to not step in the droppings?

8.      In the parade route of my life, is the band playing in key and on time with all of the other members, or am I out of step and flat?

9.      In the daily course of my life, am I in my car trying to get somewhere quickly, only to come upon the parade route and realize that all of the main roadways are blocked off and impassable due to the parade?  What does that do to my blood pressure?

Working in a building that is right along the parade route offers a rather unique vantage point.  It makes it difficult to be a productive employee on these days as the bands go by boisterously playing their tunes, trucks blaring their air horns, and emergency vehicles sounding their sirens.  On the other hand, it makes one appreciate some of the simpler things of life.  Unlike the spectators sitting along the street, I have easy access to the restroom.  Let the parade begin!

What happens when we make choices in life that are less than ideal?  Some of these choices and decisions can be minor in nature and have very few negative consequences attached to them.  Major decisions, on the other hand, can have a much deeper and lasting impact that brings a lifetime of baggage that is hard to unload.  This is especially unfortunate if an indiscretion is committed at a young age and the stigma walks with you for the rest of your life.  If you become a “celebrity” in the process, it is even more devastating.

Our actions have consequences—and sometimes serious consequences—both now and for eternity.  Some would argue that it is difficult to prove anything regarding eternal consequences. Obviously, the gift of faith certainly plays a key role in our thoughts about heaven, hell, and eternal life.  To a person of no faith it would be a challenge to convince them of these eternal consequences.  However, in the here and now, consequences of actions are very evident.  We get glimpses into a variety of scenarios on a daily basis as we watch the evening news. 

Reflect upon what runs through your mind as I offer this simple birthday greeting.

Happy 40th birthday to Monica Lewinsky!

What are your initial thoughts after reading that greeting?  Take time to reflect upon it.

I don’t know what has happened in Monica’s life since she initially became a public figure.  I hope she has found some semblance of ordinariness in day-to-day living after the huge amount of public exposure she experienced in the wake of the scandal that engulfed her life. I am sure it has been a difficult journey for her, but I sincerely hope that she has been able to overcome the obstacles put in place by previous circumstances.

Is there any of us who wouldn’t take back some decisions we have made in life if we were given the chance to do so?  Let’s face it.  We all have our shortcomings and failings, and none of us want to be judged based upon our worst moments in life.  We look for acceptance, forgiveness and hope.  Let’s remember to extend these same considerations to others when they experience less than stellar moments in their lives.

The grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all!

On July 22, 2011 there was a double attack in Oslo, Norway beginning with a car bomb and then a shooting rampage. There were nearly a hundred people killed and hundreds more were injured. According to Wikipedia, "It was the deadliest attack in Oslo, Norway since World War II, and a survey found that on average, 1 in 4 Norwegians knew 'someone affected by the attacks.'"

The amount of violence that is exhibited all across the world is astounding. It grips up in a more profound manner when the attacks hit close to home, but the devastation is still real even when it happens half way around the world from where we are. Today let us pray for all the Norwegians who lost loved ones in these attacks. May they continue to find strength to carry on. Let us also remember in prayer all those who were physically injured. Some of these injuries were very serious and so we pray for continued healing and restoration of physical abilities. Finally, we pray for all those who are struggling with the emotional and spiritual turmoil that is left behind in the wake of such a tragic event.

Matthew 5:9
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God."
  
John 14:27
"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let you hearts be troubled or afraid."

John 16:33
"I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In the Gospel of Matthew chapter 12 verses 18 through 21 we see the words of the prophet Isaiah recalled from chapter 42 verses 1 through 4 in regard to The Chosen Servant. "A bruised reed he will not break, a smoldering wick he will not quench, until he brings justice to victory. And in his name the Gentiles will hope."

Although I have read these verses many times, something was different yesterday when I reflected upon them. I have typically viewed these verses in the context of the gentleness and compassion of our Lord. However, there is also a tone of strength in these words.  Although the Chosen Servant will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoldering wick, he will bring justice to victory. That certainly gives the Gentiles reason for hope.

I believe the message in these few verses is very pertinent for believers today in regard to how we share the Good News with others. Are we faithful to the message while being gentle and compassionate in the delivery? There is plenty of pain and hurt in the hearts of many people. The world can sometimes be a very cruel experience. Reaching out to people with the Gospel message is certainly an admirable task, especially when they are hurting. Does the Gospel message bring hope for healing and forgiveness, or does it bring shame, guilt, and condemnation? What is the Gospel we proclaim in our words and in our actions?

Communication methodologies have changed immensely over the last 20 years and some key ingredients to effectiveness seem to have been lost in the process. Where is respect, honor, common courtesy, and tact? An abrasive personality in a face-to-face interaction is bad enough, but give that same individual the opportunity to communicate through e-mail and abrasiveness can be taken to a whole new level. The inability to hear the tone of one's voice in electronic communications can be a detriment to realizing just how rude, crude, uncouth, and socially unacceptable the message may truly be. This type of experience can be devastating to an already spiritually and emotionally wounded individual, and if it comes from a person in a position of authority, the impact is even more catastrophic.

It is important for people of faith to build up the Kingdom of God through our words and actions. Even if the majority of the secular culture would prefer that Christians keep their worldview to themselves, we have a responsibility to continue to live our lives in faithfulness and fidelity to our Lord, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we have a responsibility to be a beacon of hope to others who are struggling. Are we willing to bring the love of Christ to others without breaking the bruised reed nor quenching the smoldering wick? 

On July 19, 1950  Pope Pius XII issued his encyclical, Summi Maeroris. You can see the full text here.
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/pius_xii/encyclicals/documents/hf_p-xii_enc_19071950_summi-maeroris_en.html 

It is interesting (and sad) to see how appropriate the message still remains today.  Paragraph 12 summarizes some of the challenges we face and what our response should be as Church.

12. As a matter of fact, there have never been lacking, either in ancient or in more recent times, those who tried to subjugate the peoples by the use of arms; on the other hand, We have never ceased to promote a true peace. The Church desires to win over peoples and to educate them to virtue and right social living, not by means of arms but with the truth. For "the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty to God"
(II Cor. 10, 4).

World events make it clear that we are far from having a lasting and true peace. What will we, as individuals and as a Church, do in our local communities to promote this true peace for which we long? It has been 63 years since this encyclical was written. How well have we implemented the message contained in this document during all of those passing years? What progress will we make in the next 63 years? 

On this date in 1970 major league baseball player Ron Hunt set a new record by getting hit by a pitch for the 119th time in his career. Although I was only 10 years old at the time, I can remember the discussions at our community ball park surrounding this "accomplishment". As a young player, I had already had the experience of being hit by a pitch on a few occasions, and I knew that I had no desire to pursue such a record as the one Ron Hunt was holding. There had to be an easier way to make the record books.

Do not fear. Have courage. These are admonitions Christians have received for centuries.  Our response to the challenge of living a faith-filled life in the modern world can certainly require the gift of fortitude. Have we had the courage to stand up for truth and righteousness when we have been smacked down figuratively or even literally by those around us? Although it sometimes hurts, have we stood at the plate without bailing when the pitch comes sailing toward us? Have we stood firm on the promises of God?

The polarization of worldviews in contemporary society tends to create an environment in which an exchange of ideas in a thoughtful and orderly fashion is highly improbable if not impossible. Tolerance is preached as long as you agree with the views of the one preaching tolerance. Otherwise, the overriding sentiment seems to be that it would be best if you simply kept your opinions to yourself. Oh, and look out if you think there is an Eternal Truth. How unenlightened can you be?

As I continue to watch and listen to the many political discussions taking place across the country, it becomes more and more evident that Christians will be getting hit by pitches on a more frequent basis as the level of intolerance for traditional viewpoints grows. Are we going to be willing to stand firmly in the batter's box when the pitches are coming at us wildly from a variety of directions? We may not be called to martyrdom for the sake of the Kingdom, but it is likely we will take some hits at least verbally, if not physically. At 10 years of age I will admit that I experienced fear in the batter's box when the pitcher was lacking control, and there was no way I was going to emulate Ron Hunt. As an adult, I hope I can learn from his example and muster the courage I need to stand firm in the faith.

"Do not fear for I am with you."
(Isaiah 41:10)

Have you ever had one of those days when it seems that everyone is angry or upset about something? No? Excellent! Then pretend with me for a moment that there are days when not everything goes exactly as planned, and let's put it into the context of your local church congregation.

If disagreements arise within the church community which direction do people tend to go?

Matthew 5:48 (Expectation of others)
Luke 6:36        (Expectation of how I am to be treated)
John 8:7          (But he/she deserves it)
John 8:10        (What? You gotta be kidding me!)
Luke 23:34      (Hopefully, in all seriousness, we are here)

We are one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. May we live up to the ideal!

It’s summer! There is ample sunshine, plenty of social gatherings, and an overall opportunity to be fully alive. So why do I feel so exhausted?

In her kind and loving way my wife started the day off yesterday morning by looking at me and saying, “You look rough.” I responded, “That’s good. Then my appearance matches how I feel.” Obviously, that was the wrong answer for me to give because then we proceeded through the 20 question scenario. She proceeded to ask: 

1.      Why do you feel rough?

2.      Didn’t you sleep well?

3.      What’s on your mind?

I’ll spare you the remaining 17 questions, but you get the picture.

In reality, I had actually been pondering some of those questions for weeks. Specifically, why do I feel so run down and sluggish? I had even picked up numerous books at the library in my quest for shaking off the cobwebs that had seemed to gather on my psyche. One of these was entitled, The Way of the Heart: Desert Spirituality and Contemporary Ministry by Henri Nouwen. As I read the book I was looking for the key to moving out of the rut in which I had found myself?

Reading the insights of Henri Nouwen certainly reminded me of some things that were missing in my prayer life—especially silence and solitude. His words resounded in my head over and over about the need for solitude. I frequently sit in church all alone in front of the tabernacle during my lunch hour.  This provides the opportunity to maintain silence, but I became very aware after reading this book, that I am a long way from experiencing solitude. Silence on the outside may be present, but my inner world continues bouncing around all over the place and solitude isn’t anywhere in sight. Quietness in the depths of my heart seems to be only a dream, and without solitude there is no chance of truly praying without ceasing.

Yesterday, as I sat in the Lord’s presence, my mind was filled with the anxieties of the world. It was like a newscast going from one negative story to the next—the Zimmerman trial, the IRS scandal, protests over the Texas pro-life legislation, a judge overturning a pro-life law in North Dakota, the continuing challenges all across the country in regard to the sanctity of marriage, and on and on the newsreel kept going in my head. Although the church was completely quiet while I sat there lost in my thoughts, the noise inside my head made it quite evident that finding silence or solitude would be a monumental task. Why was it so difficult for me to pray?

I had also started reading another one of the books that I had checked out from the library. This one was entitled, The Cause Within You: Finding The One Great Thing You Were Created To Do In This World by Matthew Barnett. It is a fascinating book centered on Matthew’s ministry as a 20 year old pastor in one of Los Angeles’ most dangerous areas. Matthew provided a lot of food for thought in regard to the outreach of the Church to those who are hurting. In the midst of all of the stories, what worked and what didn’t, I found a nugget of inspiration that I am hopeful will be helpful in refocusing my energy. In one of his epic failures during his early ministry, God revealed to Matthew that he wasn’t to be pursuing success. He was simply called to be a blessing to others. This statement mirrors that of Mother Theresa of Calcutta when she reminded us that God doesn’t call us to be successful; we are called to be faithful. I summarized that if I am being a blessing to others, I am being faithful.

It is no secret that day-to-day life can take a toll on us. People involved in ministry are subject to the same difficulties and challenges as everyone else. We can become tired, disillusioned, disaffected, apathetic, etc. When this happens, the joy of the Lord cannot be seen in us. If Church leadership succumbs to complacency and indifference, the flock will certainly suffer the effects. Subsequently, it is important for all of us, clergy and laity, to keep our batteries charged and ready to go.

I will continue to pursue the opportunities to sit quietly before the Lord. Eventually, I pray that the outer silence will make its way more fully into the depths of my heart providing the solitude which is desperately needed to more readily hear the voice of God. It is with the grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and the power of the Holy Spirit that I will gradually move from spiritual sluggishness to spiritual fruitfulness in both my prayer and my actions. Anticipation now fills my heart as I eagerly embrace the rest of the day looking for the opportunities to be a blessing to others. Maybe tomorrow I won’t look as rough?