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This week marks my thirty-sixth Opening Day as a television director for Texas Rangers broadcasts. Someone asked me at church if I ever get tired of Opening Day. The answer is a resounding no! When I do it will be time to move to a rocking chair at the old director’s home. I feel like I am just behind Lou Gehrig as the “luckiest man on the face of the earth” to have been able to do this year after year.

In my mind there is no more special day in sports than Opening Day in baseball. It is an annual rite of Spring to post this article on the magic of Opening Day. The smell of freshly cut emerald green grass delights the senses. The base lines painstakingly and perfectly defined by a grounds crew that is committed to perfection on this day. Red, white, and blue bunting give the ball park a festive World Series look. The players bounce around like little boys. They seem a little extra grateful that they are paid to play a kid’s game.

The hot dogs taste like gourmet food. Humphrey Bogard wisely said that “a hot dog at the ballpark is better than a steak at the Ritz”. Souvenirs a young fan begs for become treasures to be kept until adulthood. And then it becomes a challenge to explain to your wife why a twenty-five-year old bobble head needs to be in the china cabinet.

Children skip school and parents do not care because memories are being made for both of them. There is no shot I love more as a television director than the one of a Dad or Mom pointing to the field and explaining this wonderful game to their child.

The atmosphere is truly magic. It is Opening Day and every team has hope. Every team is undefeated. Who will be this year’s team that surprises and surpasses all expectations? Each fan has dreams and they are hopefully, or perhaps hopelessly, optimistic. This is a new day and a new season. Old mistakes are forgotten. Past errors are no longer important. Today is the annual renewal of the incredible marathon that is big league baseball. It is a clean slate. The team has a new identity.

I once longed for such a defining moment in my spiritual journey. It took me a long time to understand that God’s Word tells us that every day is like Opening Day (Dave’s paraphrase). I do have a clean slate because of Christ. There is hope. Yesterday’s sins are forgotten if you have accepted the gift of Jesus on the Cross. Every morning that I awake and see the magic of a new sunrise I know that I am renewed, redeemed and ready to face the day whatever pitches are thrown my way. I don’t have to wait a year to have a chance for renewal. Paul writes that every day holds the spiritual magic of renewal and victory in Christ.

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. (I Corinthians 5:17-18, NLT)

I am grateful that in my spiritual journey God that has given me a chance for “Opening Day” renewal every day of my life. I have had some really bad seasons during my career as a follower of Jesus. But I am learning that every day is a gift. I hope I have a few more Opening Days as a director. Then I long for many more as a fan with my precious grandchildren. Dan Patrick once quipped about an injured player. “He is listed as day to day. But then again, aren’t we all?”

The fragile nature of our lives makes the bigger questions so much more important even as I enjoy the hope of Opening Day. Every day of my journey with Jesus can be like this special day in baseball. I can be transformed and new. Past losses (sins) can be redeemed and forgiven. There can be an exhilarating freshness in the journey. I can realize that I am a child of God and I can be grateful that I get to call Him Father. I can believe that my hope for the future is real. I can understand that I can be a better teammate to others that I encounter and not expect my team to be perfect. The magic of a fresh start happens once a year in baseball. It can happen every day for a follower of Jesus when we focus on His amazing Grace.

Author Dave Burchett’s latest book is Waking Up Slowly:Reconnecting with God and One Another.

Watching the wonderful story of Bart Millard in “I Can Only Imagine” caused me to remember a miracle I experienced with my own Mother.

I loved my Mom but our relationship was challenging. She was raised in a family where love was not openly expressed. She could be very negative and her comments had wounded me over the years. I felt like I was never enough. I knew that she loved me fiercely but I will admit that I grieved for a more gracious expression of her love. My Mom could be really difficult.

As her health declined I prayed that her relationship with God would be clear to her and to her family. In the last summer of her life I journeyed to Ohio to visit. A group of Christian friends in Texas told me they would pray that I could discuss salvation with my Mom. I thanked them for their concern but in my heart I felt they were naive. They didn’t know my Mom.

Fast forward a few days as I am sitting with my Mom. The conversation is mundane. Out of nowhere she dropped this bombshell.

“How can you be sure that you are going to heaven?”

You could have knocked me over with a feather and I immediately thought of those Saints in Texas praying for exactly this moment. And I felt a bit of shame because I was the naive one who doubted the power of prayer. I shared the gospel with my Mom. She assured me that she had trusted Christ as her Savior. The next question was nearly as surprising.

“What if you trusted Christ but haven’t lived it?”

Wow. What do you say to that? I chose to tell her the truth. That she was a child of God but she had forfeited a lot of joy by not walking more faithfully with Him. She had likely missed chances to serve and probably many blessings the Lord had desired her to experience. Still, there was a nagging question in my mind that I lacked the courage to address. I knew there were people who had hurt my Mom deeply and she showed no signs of forgiveness. I was fairly certain she would take that bitter anger to her grave.

But Mom took those comments about living for Jesus to heart. She chose to try to live for Him with the rest of her days. She told my niece that she had prayed more in the last year than she had in her whole life. She regularly asked me to pray for her and told me she was praying for me and especially for Joni as my bride was battling breast cancer (Joni is now a 12 year survivor).

My Mom began to regularly tell me she loved me. That was something you didn’t say in her family. A few weeks later she told me she was sorry if she had hurt me with her words or actions. That was the first time I had heard those words from my Mom in my entire life. It was a powerful moment of grace and reconciliation between us. When I saw her for the last time she kissed me and said, “you don’t know how much you mean to me.” But she was wrong. I finally did.

But the real miracle happened in her last days. My Niece asked Mom about a woman she had felt so much bitterness and hatred toward. When I was told about her response the words sent chills through me.

“Oh honey. That was in the past. I have forgiven her.”

What irony that I write so much about forgiveness and my Mom gave me a miracle of forgiveness as her final gift. Forgiveness can happen. It is never too late. For those who think they cannot forgive I will tell you that with God it is possible. I witnessed a miracle in the last year of my Mother’s life. She was able to lay her burdens at the foot of the Cross and pass unencumbered into the presence of the Lord.

I pray I will never lose hope in the relentless and redemptive love of our incredible God. John states it beautifully in this passage.

Sometimes I just want to step away from people. I get tired. Living in honest community can be frustrating and discouraging. And then the song “Lean On Me” cycles up on the music list. That is not funny Lord. The lyrics sung by Bill Withers talks about being there for others. Life happens, John Lennon famously said, when you are making other plans. Life has been happening to us and many close to us in recent months.

Sometimes in our lives
We all have pain
We all have sorrow

Lean on me, when you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend

I have been thinking a lot about community. I have, to be honest, had moments when I wondered if living in community with messy people is worth it. I have come to understand why legalism is so much easier than grace. Legalism allows me to assess the situation and then apply a verse, assign a task and move away in self-righteous expectation. If that person rejects that Biblical admonition or task then legalism allows me to withdraw because they are disobedient. Grace does not give me that option. Grace demands that I move toward the struggle of my brother or sister and not away in judgment. No wonder grace is a tough sell.

That is the glorious dichotomy of grace. Grace wears me out and lifts me up. Grace frustrates and exhilarates.  My old nature screams that people who make bad decisions over and over get what they “deserve”. They don’t “deserve” to be pursued and loved and restored. They made their bed now let them lay in it. But there is a small quiet voice in my heart that tells me that they have value. That they are loved by their Creator. And that voice asks who am I to decide who “deserves” anything?

A quote by Pastor Paul Donnan says it far better than I ever could.

Grace doesn’t treat us better than we deserve. It treats us without the slightest reference to what we deserve. Grace ceases to be grace if God withdraws it upon any human failure. If Grace is in any way tied to something you do, then it is no longer a gift but a wage, and that’s not grace.

And, to be selfish, the lyrics of Bill Withers tells me why it is in my own best interest to give grace willingly.

I’ll help you carry on
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need
Somebody to lean on

Yep. It is just a matter of time until I will be begging for grace for some stupid action or word. Paul knew that was true and reminded the Galatian Church.

Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived. (Galatians 6, The Message)

Why are we so willing to receive grace and not extend it? Maybe the next lyric has a clue.

Please swallow your pride
If I have things
You need to borrow
For no one can fill

Pride. Pride causes us to cover our needs because that would show weakness. Pride tells us to wear a mask of false joy so that others won’t know our shame and sin. Our Father in Heaven designed this journey to be lived in community. God knows that we need Him and we need one another.

We all need somebody to lean on
I just might have a problem
That you’ll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Yes it is hard to walk with the wounded. Yes it is frustrating to watch messy people make the same mistakes over and over. Yes it is tiring to give grace to the needy. But my heart’s desire remains the same. These words in Hebrews wrap it up nicely.

And don’t forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God. (Hebrews 13:16)

Do the right thing. Help those in need. Pleasing God.

Seems worth it to me.

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Full disclosure. Bart Millard is a friend. So this review could have been an awkward (not Happy) dance if the movie based on MercyMe’s iconic song had fallen flat. But it does not. I Can Only Imagine delivers a powerful and compelling story of redemption, forgiveness and the power of God’s grace.

This is a Christian movie you can recommend to friends who have been wounded by life. It is unabashedly Christian but it works because it is not preaching. It is Bart Millard’s story. The elements of faith are not contrived or cringe-worthy because they are simply his story. There is no more powerful canvas to illustrate faith than watching normal people do extraordinary things through the power of faith.

Dennis Quaid does a masterful job portraying Bart’s abusive dad Arthur. Quaid captures the fearful rage but also the tortured pain in Arthur’s own soul that needs a healing touch. J.Michael Finley plays Bart Millard perfectly although not quite as awkward as the real Bart. Sorry, I couldn’t play this entirely straight. This is a well done movie across the board in storytelling, acting and photography.

Understanding Bart’s difficult background made me understand even more why Bart was undone when he finally comprehended the miraculous depth of God’s Grace. Learning about a Father’s love that never changes inspired Bart Millard to write lyrics like this in the song Greater.

This article is one of the hardest ones I have ever composed and it is not because I don’t believe deeply in the importance of this discussion.  It is because I know a lot of readers will react defensively and negatively. Regular readers know that I am not a political guy. I generally don’t write or talk about politics. My hope is in Christ and not in Washington and I mainly talk about Jesus, Grace, and community. Nonetheless, I must address politics when I see it is dividing the body of Christ. The New York Times wrote an eye opening and heartbreaking article “A Quiet Exodus: Why Black Worshipers are Leaving White Evangelical Churches”.  According to the article the tipping point was the 2016 election and the lack of support from white leaders and pastors addressing the concerns of people of color.

Many, if not most, white Evangelicals have a gigantic blind spot when it comes to race in America. What is history for me is still personal for my black brothers and sisters. I will speak for myself when I say that I am not as color blind as I once believed. The truth is I was simply blind. Blind to the pain and fear of our black brothers and sisters in Christ. I asked two dear black friends to share what is the most pressing thing on their heart. I put no parameters on what they wrote. These men love Jesus, the Church, and white people. They love me and I love them. What they chose to write about is the political climate in the country and in the church. I can no longer ignore what is hurting people I love.  Please, please, please pray for grace to hear their hearts as you read their words. I am guilty of trying to spin how my black brothers and sisters see our culture but I don’t have the right to redefine their story. I cannot look through the lens of being a person of color in this country. I cannot walk in their shoes. I need to listen and respond in grace and love. Montagne McDonald is the pastor of the historic King Solomon Missionary Baptist Church in Nashville. Here is what he wrote.

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28, KJV)

These days, racial tension is high. In America it appears we are as divided as ever. Police brutality, Confederate monuments, the National Anthem, and our current president and his administration have become very polarizing issues. Differing opinions is nothing new, nor anything we should be overly concerned with. However, there are people with extreme views who add the proverbial fuel to the fire.

Many of these extremists have ethnic or racial nationalism in common. This has become concerning, especially to people of color. Racial nationalism is the ideology that says one’s national identity is based on race. Those who adhere to this way of thinking believes it is wrong for races to mix and have a racially based desire to keep other races out of their country. There is nothing wrong with being proud of your heritage, or racial pride. The problem comes when that pride become a source of hate for others who do not share the same ethnicity. I never understood how self-love could turn into racial hate.

In Galatians chapter 3, Paul was explaining to the church that the promise of God is better than the law, because the law is unable to truly change the heart, yet faith does. In verse 28, when Paul says in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek, Paul is telling us in Christ we are all equal. We are all valued. That is why there are so many people of color and women who resist this current administration. We do not feel valued. When this president hires Jeff Sessions, who has a history of work against racial equality, we do not feel valued. When President Trump himself has a racist real estate rental history, yet became the 45th president anyway, we do not feel valued. When Trump’s very words have become rallying cries for the Alt-right who carry racial nationalism like a badge, we do not feel valued. These are just a few examples of why we resist Trump.

Nationalism of any kind can be used to divide, rather than unify. For America to heal from it’s past we must cast aside these racist ideologies. No matter what color you are or where you came from, you are valued by God. If God values you, then so do I. I have no time for this ideology of extreme racial nationalism because it only leads to separation and we are in desperate need of unity. To overcome this ideology, we must speak in solidarity against it. We must make our voices heard. We must, like Paul, speak against any way of thinking that holds one race above another. We must openly declare that America is not a white nation, a black nation, or any other ethnicity. We are a nation of diverse people who make up the greatest nation on earth. We are more than the color of our skin.

As Christians we are compelled to believe that but the truth is we cannot be truly color blind. That would deny the culture of my brothers and sisters. But we can, as finance executive Mellody Hobson noted in a popular TED talk, be color indifferent and hopefully color brave. My dear friend Duke Barnett added to Montagne’s words. I would trust Duke with everything and anything in my life. He is one of my most trusted friends. Please hear his words.

I’m angry and deeply saddened by the fact that our country which professes “One Nation Under God”, “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal”, would have elected a president who promotes racial nationalism, or specifically white nationalism. As you know, I don’t have a problem talking race…for I’ve been married to my wife who is white for 30 years. We’ve raise 3 wonderful kids and have 3 precious grandkids. But the challenge still exists for equality for them. In my opinion, I think the problem with the white nationalists is the world has left them behind and Trump was supposed to be their savior. I don’t espouse to evolution as my way of being, I believe in creation. However, I do believe society has “evolved” since creation. White nationalists however, have not and they will not defeat the work of God. Montagne McDonald hit it on the head…we must openly declare that we are a nation of diverse people, created by God to be his representatives in this world (John 14:14). Our most important job is love (Matt 22:37-39). Therefore, carrying a racist agenda doesn’t align with those commandments. I’m appalled at those who call themselves Evangelical but follow these non-Christian principles like racism! Again, “there is neither Jew or Greek”! The word of is very clear in saying, “by this they will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another”. I’m praying for change of hearts but prayer is not enough! The word tells us to GO and make disciples, not just pray that change happens! I’m willing to work with anyone. But, our communities of color are angry, disappointed, saddened by the narrative that’s being displayed by Trump. We need change!

You may not see the political climate as my brothers see it. For years I pushed back about white privilege because I am just a Hillbilly from Southern Ohio who overcame a family culture that had never valued higher education. But the fact is this Hillbilly can walk through Walmart without the staff watching me suspiciously. This Hillbilly can drive through a wealthy neighborhood without drawing scrutiny from the police. There is still a systemic racial component in our culture. Every black friend I have tells me that is true. So what can I do as a white follower of Jesus? Embrace my black brothers and sisters. Hear their hearts. Stand with them and let them know that our bond in Christ is stronger than any other bond. Racial reconciliation will never happen until the church gets it right. Don’t react from a political point of view.  React as a follower of Jesus who bore the Cross for all colors. The only color that truly matters is red and that is the redeeming blood of Christ. I stand with my black brothers and sisters today. I can’t fully understand their story because I cannot walk in their shoes. But I stand with my brothers and sisters in their desire to follow Jesus and make a difference in our divided culture. In Acts we are challenged as leaders to be shepherds of all people

“Watch out for yourselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God that he obtained with the blood of his own Son.” (Acts 20:28, NET)

I want to be used by God to be a part of that solution. Would you join me?

This quote grabbed my attention recently.

“What a wonderful life I’ve had – I only wish I had realized it sooner.”  Collette

That is true for most of us. But for some reason we tend to dwell on the disappointments, failures and hurts instead of the blessings most of us have in abundance.

I love this passage written to the church at Colossae.

Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us. Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus…   (Colossians 3,  NLT)

Ouch. And amen. Here is a very uncomfortable pop quiz based on this passage.

1. Do I live like Christ is all that matters?
2. Do I put on mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience each day?
3. Do I make allowance for other’s faults?
4. Do I forgive those who offend me?
5. Do I understand how much I have been forgiven?
6. Do I let the peace of Christ rule my heart?
7. Am I always thankful?
8. Do I let the message of Christ fill my life?
9. Do I teach and counsel His wisdom to others consistently?
10. So I sing to God with a thankful heart?
11. Is everything I do or say predicated on being a representative of the Lord Jesus.
12. Does Jesus still love me?

My answers. 1. Not always, 2. Not consistently, 3. Sometimes, 4. Usually, 5. Yes, 6. Most of the time, 7. No,
8. Not always, 9. Not consistently enough, 10. Usually, 11. Nope, 12. ABSOLUTELY!

The answer to number 12 is the mystery of grace and Christ’s work on the Cross. If God graded me on the honest answers to those questions I would be in deep trouble. What grace demonstrates to me is that God loves me and calls me His child in spite of my mediocre results to the quiz.

Life is difficult. Relationships are often hard. The Holy Spirit is prompting us to see through a new lens. It is only possible when we focus on how much we were forgiven when we were unforgivable and how we were accepted when we were unacceptable.

There is a huge risk when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable in Christ. It is especially tough when we have been once or twice burned by life or by others. But it is a risk not only worth taking but I believe necessary to grow more like Christ. There is a song from  Martina McBride that talks about the risks of life. Here is a sampling of the lyrics from Anyway…

You can spend your whole life building something from nothing
One storm can come and blow it all away
Build it anyway
You can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and you know it might not ever come your way
Dream it anyway

Chorus:
God is great, but sometimes life ain’t good
And when I pray it doesn’t always turn out like I think it should
But I do it anyway, I do it anyway

This world’s gone crazy and it’s hard to believe that tomorrow will be better than today
Believe it anyway
You can love someone with all your heart, for all the right reasons, and in a moment they can choose to walk away
Love’em anyway

And that is my desire as I follow Jesus. Sometimes life ain’t so good. I believe it is a dangerous teaching that Jesus will make your life all green lights and blue skies with good health always and riches untold. Jesus gives you purpose and significance. Eternal hope. Peace. Security. But there are no guarantees that life with Jesus will be trouble free. Au contraire. Difficulties refine us in our faith and reveal our spiritual status with Christ. “Consider it all joy”, James says, “when you encounter various trials.”

Choose to dwell on the blessings. Choose to build it anyway. Dream it anyway. Believe it anyway. Forgive them anyway. Love them anyway. My reason for making those choices is very simple. God chose to love me anyway when I did not deserve such love. My prayer for every follower of Jesus is that they never have this realization late in life.

“I have had a wonderful life with Jesus – I only wish I had realized it sooner.”

Learn more ways to become more connected with God, one another and yourself. Would you join me on that journey in 2018? Click here to check it out.

One of my peers recently noted that “getting old is not for sissies”. Indeed. Even if you escape personal difficulties you undoubtedly have family and friends who are going through physical, emotional and spiritual trials. One of the songs that I default to when I am walking through valleys with others is from singer/composer Rich Mullins. The song is from his CD called Songs and it is simply titled “Hold Me Jesus”.

Well, sometimes my life
Just don’t make sense at all
When the mountains look so big
And my faith just seems so small

Right now I am in a pretty good place in my life and journey with Jesus. But then I started thinking about the many friends and loved ones who could relate completely to those lyrics in their current situation. And I can certainly remember seasons of my life when those words accurately reflected the condition of my soul.

And I wake up in the night and feel the dark
It’s so hot inside my soul
I swear there must be blisters on my heart

And I remember how I used to respond. I would deduce it must be my fault and I would decide that I had to do something to bolster my faith. I had to read more verses or do a study or pray more or believe more. But the answer was far more simple and the chorus by Rich Mullins nails it.

So hold me Jesus, ’cause I’m shaking like a leaf
You have been King of my glory
Won’t You be my Prince of Peace

I need to quit flailing and trying so darn hard to be righteous. Hold me Jesus. Won’t you be my Prince of Peace? I have started praying a prayer that is simple and profound.

“God…would you love me today?”

And He does. But I remember how I used to think that I had to “do stuff” for God to earn His favor and receive His love and peace. For those of us “doers” who absolutely must do something here is your assignment.

1. Trust who God says He is.
2. Believe who God says you are.
3. Allow God to love you.

That’s it. I made it so stinkin’ complicated and religious for so many years. When I do those 3 things I find myself humbled. I worship. Those actions cause me to submit, sin less and want to obey from my heart. Commitment comes out of gratitude and not teeth gritting compliance.

Why did I fight this amazing grace and His unconditional love. Rich Mullins nails that too.

Surrender don’t come natural to me
I’d rather fight You for something
I don’t really want
Than to take what You give that I need
And I’ve beat my head against so many walls
Now I’m falling down, I’m falling on my knees

That was me. Hanging on to the familiar malaise of self-effort instead of surrendering and accepting grace and freedom. Rich Mullins is now with the King of glory and the Prince of Peace but his ministry continues around the world. Next time you are flailing and striving to please God why not try that little prayer.

“God…would you love me today?”

“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, The Message)

Learn more ways to become more connected with God, one another and yourself. Would you join me on that journey in 2018? Click here to check it out.