Three days

After a fairy long dry spell, it has now been raining for three days. Technically, today is the third day and it would have to rain all day for it to be true to say, at the end of this day, or perhaps in the evening, that it has been raining for three days. It has also been three days since...since...never mind. Christ was in the grave for three days before rising from the dead. That's an historical fact. I wonder if anything else which has died recently will come back to life. There is always hope.

Winning Is Everything

Everyone has heard the saying, "It's not whether you win or lose, but how you play the game" or variations on that theme. One common retort to that maxim made by people who really like to win, is to say that only losers say winning is not important. The more ruthless among us might respond with "winning is the only thing that matters."

So how important is winning? Is it more important than playing fairly and within the rules? More important than playing with the application of maximum effort, yet still being able to accept defeat gracefully? Is it more important than playing for the fun it?

I am a competitive person. I play games to win, and if I don't try to win, it isn't fun. If my opponent isn't trying to win it also diminishes my enjoyment. I'm a stickler for the rules and I believe I also demonstrate what is called "good sportsmanship", but I do like to win. Winning is more fun than losing. Trying to win infuses the contest with meaning and drives me to do my best.

Winning equals success. Losing is the same as failing. We talk about this kind of success in sport, in business and arguments, and even in personal relationships where the rules of fair play are no less pertinent. Most people would agree that winning is an important and worthwhile ambition...but not at any cost. Unethical or immoral behavior is not an acceptable way to win. Winning by any possible means usually suggests the employment of foul means, and this is not regarded as okay. It isn't cool to win by cheating, and people don't like ungracious winners either.

Winning is not everything in sport, business or personal relationships. People who think it is, are justifiably criticized and held in low esteem. There was however, one instance in which winning was everything: the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Christ's death and resurrection are historical facts. This is the Christian interpretation of those facts. Jesus not only died for our sins but defeated the power of sin and death when he rose from the grave. If Jesus had not won this victory for us, we would have all been lost. If Jesus has not conquered death, as we believe, then our faith in Him is useless. Jesus victory means everything to us. When it comes to the eternal destination of our souls, and the freedom to live this life free from the tyranny of sin...winning is most certainly everything.

What's you view on winning? Are you competitive?

Photo sources:

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/25/172879971/the-science-of-being-top-dog

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/head-to-head-is-winning-gold-so-important-yes/story-fn9di2lk-1226445022553

http://mycrazylifeasanavywife.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/god-is-preparing-you-today-for-victory.html

Death and Resurrection

It's Easter so it should come as no surprise that I am writing about death. This year however, has been especially poignant for me as I remember and acknowledge what Jesus Christ did for me on that day, and his stunning triumph over death and hell three days later.

A friend of mine, Rob Silver, was diagnosed with lung cancer about four weeks ago, and died three weeks later. Despite a part of me not wanting to go and see him dying in hospital, I felt compelled to go. I'm glad that I did because I was able to hold his hand and say thank you, and goodbye.  He died the next day. An otherwise fit and healthy, non smoking Christian, a family man, a minister, a friend to many: suddenly called back home to Heaven.


We were all still in shock when we attended his "celebration of life" service, and yet it was the most uplifting and inspiring funeral I have ever attended. I left feeling happy and light. There was sadness of course. He will be missed. But there was also joy. Rob had a profound impact on my life, as he did on the lives of countless others. He was a man who understood God's grace and showed it to others. He was a man who believed in the promised glorious afterlife, the resurrection of the dead, a new imperishable body within which his soul would forever cease suffering. The pain of life in this broken world is over for Rob.

I have been to the funerals of people who are either unsure about the afterlife or do not believe there is one. The contrast between Rob's life celebration and these funerals is too stark for words. Depressingly sad. I believe, as Rob did, and billions of others do, in everlasting glory in a place where there is no suffering or sorrow. I believe this because of the historical fact of the death and resurrection of Christ, and because of the difference He makes in my life. I live this life with great hope, inextinguishable hope and my prayer for everyone at Easter, on Resurrection Sunday, is that they will also know this hope, this love and this grace. Happy Easter.

It Makes Sense to Me

Infomercials can be compelling, almost addictive viewing. Even when all you want as a result of your channel surfing, is to find something interesting to watch for an hour while you exercise on the cross trainer.

The movie I was watching finished, after my hour long run, and on came this advertorial about the Omni DualSaw. This product was so good, boasted the voiceover guy, that it required two top TV salesman to sing its praises. Ignoring the somewhat counter intuitive nature of this opening statement, I looked on as two friendly neigbourhood, tradesman like, salesmen walked on to the set in the middle of a very clean workshop-so clean in fact you could have been forgiven for thinking it was built especially for the ad-and began to spruik the unbelievable benefits of this revolutionary saw.

After three minutes I had decided I wanted one. After fifteen minutes I was still watching in wonder, dreaming of how I could use this awesome tool, and waiting anxiously to learn the price.

The infomercial tapped into a desire that I have, and have had for many many years. It spoke to me as though I was the only person to whom the company hoped to sell it. It talked my language. It presented expert witnesses, professional and amateur users. It performed almost magical demonstrations right before my eyes. I saw, and I believed.

I don't have any money to spend on a fancy saw, but it was easy to imagine hundreds, even thousands of people around the country, or around the world, dialing the number on the screen and giving over their personal details including credit card numbers in order to own one of these amazing saws.

If I told you what Jesus could do to change your life. If I brought forward expert eyewitnesses to testify, and if I demonstrated the power of God in front of your eyes, would you be convinced that you had to have Jesus in your life? Would you dial the number on the screen and pay whatever it cost to have the life transforming, sin forgiving, broken heart healing power of the resurrected Son of God? It makes sense to me. It always makes sense to me, but it is especially poignant at Easter.

I needed to be saved and forgiven, and Jesus has done that for me by dying on the cross. I needed hope, and power to life a right life, and Jesus gave them to me through his Resurrection. At Easter, I say thank you because it makes sense to me.