(Friday)
He shoots! He scores! This time of year those are words to live by. Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinals were last night, finals are tonight, and the ACC championship game is scheduled for tomorrow night. Then it’s on to Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament. Yes, it’s March Madness, and I’m wrapped up in college basketball.
Each year I look forward to all that the sport has to offer in March especially when the conversation turns to Tobacco Road – a sort of pet name for four large North Carolina universities who compete in the ACC. As a Carolina fan (that’s North Carolina as in University of North Carolina – Go Tarheels), I’ve been pleased with the progression in the ACC tournament so far, but I do have a sense of sadness around some of the happenings and the upcoming NCAA games. I always look forward to the possibility of exciting face-offs among the NC teams. This year a major rivalry has already been eliminated from the both tournaments – not because of game losses, but because covid-19 has been found among the players. While that may not be the team I might have rooted for, I feel a bit of melancholy that such an outside force is changing the lives – and in some cases the futures – of these young men. Unfortunately, this pandemic is much bigger than my basketball enjoyment.
So much about this virus has caused a sense of gloominess and loss, and I find it unreal that we have endured this interruption for more than a year. With the outrageous disruptions imposed on our lives, basketball should be a welcome distraction. What I’m finding, though, is that March Madness may well refer to something altogether different than a beloved tournament. In a sense, March Madness could be called Covid Craziness. What began in March a year ago, continues this March with just as much uncertainty and distortion. This crazy time is, well… madness!
The early church was no stranger to madness – March or otherwise. Long before the New Testament writers, we find the psalms and prophets filled with laments and longings for protection in the games of life. In our daily scripture today, we hear David crying out for deliverance. “…they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble….” We hear Daniel questioning his own prophecies. “I heard but could not understand; so I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?’”
Then we turn to today’s letter from Paul to the people at Ephesus. We hear the hope and promises made just for us, and we realize… this game ain’t over yet, and we know the outcome! With the Bible as our playbook, God coaching, Jesus as our teammate and the Holy Spirit leading the cheering section, we will win this life tournament. The entire matchup may come right down to the last seconds, but Jesus is the best shooter in the league! I simply have to do my part of listening to the coach, following the playbook, and playing well with other teammates. Then I can just enjoy the view as Jesus drives toward the goal for the home team knowing that I’m about to hear those familiar words to live by: He shoots! He scores!
Playing for Team Jesus,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM EPHESIANS 1
God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace: We thank you for the gift of life: for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures life, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life. We thank you for the mystery of creation: for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear, for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder, for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves. We thank you for setting us in communities: for families who nurture our becoming, for friends who love us by choice, for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding, for children who lighten our moments with delight, for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future. We thank you for this day: for life and one more day to love, for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace, for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved, for your grace and one more experience of your presence, for your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation. For these, and all blessings, we give you thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
re-worship.blogspot.com
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 107 – Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
Daniel 12 – Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
Ephesians 1 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html
He shoots! He scores! This time of year those are words to live by. Atlantic Coast Conference quarterfinals were last night, finals are tonight, and the ACC championship game is scheduled for tomorrow night. Then it’s on to Selection Sunday and the NCAA Tournament. Yes, it’s March Madness, and I’m wrapped up in college basketball.
Each year I look forward to all that the sport has to offer in March especially when the conversation turns to Tobacco Road – a sort of pet name for four large North Carolina universities who compete in the ACC. As a Carolina fan (that’s North Carolina as in University of North Carolina – Go Tarheels), I’ve been pleased with the progression in the ACC tournament so far, but I do have a sense of sadness around some of the happenings and the upcoming NCAA games. I always look forward to the possibility of exciting face-offs among the NC teams. This year a major rivalry has already been eliminated from the both tournaments – not because of game losses, but because covid-19 has been found among the players. While that may not be the team I might have rooted for, I feel a bit of melancholy that such an outside force is changing the lives – and in some cases the futures – of these young men. Unfortunately, this pandemic is much bigger than my basketball enjoyment.
So much about this virus has caused a sense of gloominess and loss, and I find it unreal that we have endured this interruption for more than a year. With the outrageous disruptions imposed on our lives, basketball should be a welcome distraction. What I’m finding, though, is that March Madness may well refer to something altogether different than a beloved tournament. In a sense, March Madness could be called Covid Craziness. What began in March a year ago, continues this March with just as much uncertainty and distortion. This crazy time is, well… madness!
The early church was no stranger to madness – March or otherwise. Long before the New Testament writers, we find the psalms and prophets filled with laments and longings for protection in the games of life. In our daily scripture today, we hear David crying out for deliverance. “…they drew near to the gates of death. Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble….” We hear Daniel questioning his own prophecies. “I heard but could not understand; so I said, ‘My lord, what shall be the outcome of these things?’”
Then we turn to today’s letter from Paul to the people at Ephesus. We hear the hope and promises made just for us, and we realize… this game ain’t over yet, and we know the outcome! With the Bible as our playbook, God coaching, Jesus as our teammate and the Holy Spirit leading the cheering section, we will win this life tournament. The entire matchup may come right down to the last seconds, but Jesus is the best shooter in the league! I simply have to do my part of listening to the coach, following the playbook, and playing well with other teammates. Then I can just enjoy the view as Jesus drives toward the goal for the home team knowing that I’m about to hear those familiar words to live by: He shoots! He scores!
Playing for Team Jesus,
Pastor Beth
PRAYER FROM EPHESIANS 1
God of all blessings, source of all life, giver of all grace: We thank you for the gift of life: for the breath that sustains life, for the food of this earth that nurtures life, for the love of family and friends without which there would be no life. We thank you for the mystery of creation: for the beauty that the eye can see, for the joy that the ear may hear, for the unknown that we cannot behold filling the universe with wonder, for the expanse of space that draws us beyond the definitions of our selves. We thank you for setting us in communities: for families who nurture our becoming, for friends who love us by choice, for companions at work, who share our burdens and daily tasks, for strangers who welcome us into their midst, for people from other lands who call us to grow in understanding, for children who lighten our moments with delight, for the unborn, who offer us hope for the future. We thank you for this day: for life and one more day to love, for opportunity and one more day to work for justice and peace, for neighbors and one more person to love and by whom be loved, for your grace and one more experience of your presence, for your promise: to be with us, to be our God, and to give salvation. For these, and all blessings, we give you thanks, eternal, loving God, through Jesus Christ we pray. Amen.
re-worship.blogspot.com
KEY VERSES FROM TODAY’S SCRIPTURE READINGS
Psalm 107 – Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress; he sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction.
Daniel 12 – Many shall be purified, cleansed, and refined, but the wicked shall continue to act wickedly. None of the wicked shall understand, but those who are wise shall understand.
Ephesians 1 – In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us.
For today’s full scripture readings, click here… https://www.divinestreet.org/lent-scripture.html