Reflections From Sunday Evening

I've been thinking about the Royals while watching them play (not very well) in Boston this weekend. It is pretty amazing how good this team is especially when compared to how - less than good - they were for several years. When we came to Platte Woods 10 years ago the Royals were in a season where they would lose 105 games included a 19 game losing streak. How do you do that? I remember the down years and one thing that people kept talking about was how difficult it was for "small market" teams to compete in the economy of baseball. It was easy for Kansas City, Pittsburgh and Minnesota to talk about the competitive disadvantage they had with New York, L.A. and Boston. (Of course nobody said much about St. Louis who always has one of the best teams in baseball. But I digress). It appears that a common trait of teams not doing well was they made excuses. Of course there are always challenges but they are not justifications for excuses. The Apostle Paul wrote; "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:20) In essence all we must do is take a look and we see the handiwork of God. People may talk all they want about not believing in God or questioning God's existence. But the Word states it clearly. Look around. Nature itself cries out that God is real. People are without excuse. I find it much more helpful to accept responsibility instead of making excuses. In the Church excuses do no good. For instance... When a person visits church seeking to encounter God we have no excuse to not be prepared to meet people where they are. When a person is in need of prayer we have no excuse for not ushering someone into the presence of the Lord. When a person is discouraged we have no excuse for not providing an opportunity for uplifting inspiration. When justice is denied someone we have no excuse for not being the voice for those who are not heard. When a person loses hope we have no excuse for not offering a vision for what life may be. I could go on and on. What would this week be like were we to step forward in faith and avoid excuses? It's been a good day. I hope you've had a good day too. steve