Welcome to my blog

Hello,

I’m Mark.  I hope you enjoy my blog.  I hope to have fun with it and hope it is something that can be a benefit.

Jackie Robinson’s epitaph reads “A life is not important, except in the impact it has on other lives.” I hope that this can have an impact.

Thanks ahead of time for anytime that you check out my blog.

A Veteran’s Day Thank You

I would like to send a special thank you to all the veterans on this your day that is set aside to honor you.

Thanks to all of you who have served and sacrificed to keep us free.   Thanks to those are seving at this time. 

May God richly bless each and every one of you!

For those who lost their lives for our freedom.  May we never forget — may we ever be grateful.

OSU v PSU

Ohio State versus Penn State.  Two names, two programs with a lot of tradition.  Tradition of winning.  The two storied programs collide this week in a put-up or shut-up game in the Big Ten.  The winner remains a player for the Big Ten title, the loser can make plans for the Outback Bowl at best.

Penn State is one of the most difficult places to play in all of college football.  The Buckeyes have been a mixed bag there in the past.  They’ve had success, they’ve had coloassal failures.  They’ve landed somewhere in between.  This year has an interesting game story with the return of Terrelle Pryor to Pennsylvania.  This time as the enemy.

Pryor wants desperately to make up for last year.  He was orchestrating a potential game-winning drive in a knockdown, drag-out low-scoring game, when he fumbled the ball trying to do more than he needed to.  As a result, Penn State recovered, scored, and won the game.

The pressure will be on Pryor and we see this week if he is maturing or if he still needs to be “babied.” 

I loved the wrinkles Ohio State showed in its offense last week against New Mexico State.  Being cute won’t get it done this week,  it all comes down to running the ball in this game.  The team who does it wins. 

Both defenses are off the charts good and offensively, veterans Darryl Clark at quarterback and Evan Royster at running back would appear to give the Nittany Lions the edge.   But don’t count OSU out.  Pryor is very dangerous and Devier Posey is devloping into the next star wideout in Columbus.  Jordan Hall, Boom Herron, Brandon Saine and Co. must be heard from in this game for the Buckeyes to have a chance.

Ohio State has a chance with Penn State this week and Iowa next week to become a member of the top 10 once again nationally.  They are touting this as a November to remember.  As Buckeye fans, let’s hope we can remember it for all the good things that could transpire and not that it turns out to be a disaster. 

 

Church Attendance: What a Blessing

A number of years ago I was having a conversation with an elderly gentleman.  He was my sister’s junior high basketball coach.  A very nice man, a grandfatherly type.  The girls on the team, my sister included, just adored him.

I don’t remember exactly how we got to talking about what we were talking about, but during the course of the conversation we began talking about church and he made the comment that he believed you could be a ‘Christian’ (the generic type) without going to church. 

My response was “eh, er”, cringe, wrinkled forehead, sucking of the teeth and saying, “well that may be, but you won’t be a very good one.” 

Looking back on that response — I don’t totally agree with it — I don’t believe you can be — because it’s just too important — too vital to a Christian.  It’s such a tremendous blessing to meet with members of like precious faith and worship God.

I read  an article recently in a church bulletin on this subject.  It talked about the blessings of faithful attendance and why a Christian should be in attendance at every assembly.

The list is as follows:

1. Commands are fulfilled (Hebrews 10:25).  It’s simple — we’re supposed to be there.  Notice the word command.  That means it’s not a suggestion, not we can if we can if we want — A command is fullfilled when we attend the assembly of the saints together.

2. Spiritual Growth And Development (Hebrews 5:12, Colossians 3:16).  Both are vital to a Christian.  Think about it — if you attend every service (including Bible Class) — that’s only 4-5 hours per week and the rest is filled with whatever and a lot of that is probably not good.  We have an elder at our congregation that refers to the assembly as a “feeding time”.  It is a feeding time for our souls.  Think about our physical feeding times — we don’t miss those — sustenance is important to growth as individuals and our health, provided we don’t make gluttons of ourselves or fail to nourish our bodies.  It’s the same with our spiritual lives — if we never, or very infrequently feed ourselves with the Word of God (a big part of being present at the assembly) then how can we maintain a quality spiritual life?  The answer is we can’t.

3. Comfort and Encouragement (Romans 1:12, Romans 15:32).  I like these.  I enjoy comfort and I liked to be encouraged.  I’m not always encouraged in my job, I’m not always comfortable with things that I’m asked to do.  Being at the chruch services gives me both and the more that I can do for God during that time — the better (i.e. teach a class, lead singing, read scripture, etc.)

4. Good Example and Influence (I Timothy 4:12, Titus 2:7-8 and Matthew 5:14).  We need good examples and influences in our lives and we generally don’t get them in the world.  That’s not to say that they are not out there, but the negative examples and influences far outweigh the positives.  We can have both in the church and its important for our spiritual statures.

5. Puts Christ and The Kingdom First (Matthew 6:33, Colossians 3:1-3).  You know the world doesn’t do this.  It’s all of self and none of thee in the world.  When we go to worship we must remember the primary goal is to put God and Christ first — we are worshipping God — we are not there to entertain ourselves.  Worship is not for us, it’s by us. 

6. Fulfills Duties To Others (Ephensians 6:4, I Peter 3:15 and Hebrews 13:3).  By taking our children we are training them in the ways they should go.  We are preparing ourselves — strengthening our faith so that we can give an answer to others concerning our faith and we can exhort and encourage one another — pray for each other. 

7. Bears Fruit and Good Works (Titus 2:14, John 15:8, James 3:17).  God wants us to bear fruit, He wants to show Him that we are His followers and this is a way to do it.  Christians belong to him, why would we not want to be others who belong to Him?

8. Be Ready, Watching, Waiting (Matthew 24:44, Matthew 25:13, Mark 13:33-37).  We don’t know when the Lord is coming back, but we know He is.  I would love nothing better to be at church services when that happens (if it happens in my lifetime).  Because if I’m at church, I’m not doing something else that maybe I shouldn’t be.  Although, on second thought, that is probably too easy.  Church attendance makes us ready, keeps us watching and makes us long for that day when Jesus does indeed come to get His bride. 

So, if I had a chance to answer that man again, I would tell him, in a loving manner, that he is wrong — you cannot be a Christian and not attend church services.

For those, who are my brothers and sisters in Christ that may read this, that are struggling with showing up to worship the Lord.  I hope this helps you to realize what you are missing when you aren’t there.  Come, spend more time with your family — we miss you and you are missing out on a tremendous blessing.

I’ve been fortunate, I’ve gone to church as long as I can remember and I don’t regret one time.  I look forward to it.  My Sundays and Wednesdays are planned around it.  If there is something that I want to watch on TV on Sunday or Wednesday or during a Gospel Meeting, I either record it or simply just miss it.

See you Sunday or Wednesday.

Not a Recent Problem

In keeping with the previous post — I want to continue with the thought of trying to keep our Christianity true.  Not just saying it and then doing something else.  

In Luke 16:15 Jesus discusses something that is not a recent problem.  Jesus’ words come after another “confrontation” with the Pharisees.  In verse 13 Jesus had just taught about ‘how no one can serve two masters…you cannot serve both God and Money.’  (NIV)

Verse 14 talks about the Pharisees who loved money, heard what Jesus was saying and sneered at him.

To that Jesus replied to them in verse 15 “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of men, but God knows your hearts.  What is highly valued among men is detestable in God’s sight.” (NIV)

Justifying yourselves in the sight of men is not a recent problem.  We see very clearly that the Pharisees did this — we do it.  They were good at it — we are very good at it.

The Pharisees often appeared in garbs of piety.  We wear our Christianity like a label.  “See, see I’m a Christian” we say. 

The Pharisees made pious pretentions to impress the populace with their religion and we, sadly, sometimes fall into the same trap. 

God tells us that those who love the praise the men more than than the praise of God are not looked at favorably to say the least. 

This is a continual problem today, nothing new.  We need to be careful in that regard — to make sure our Christianity is pure and true. 

We must avoid the desire of the Pharisees in Matthew 23:5 where Jesus said.  “Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long.”

In other words their religion was for show — sometimes ours is too.  It should never be that way. 

 

Looks Can Be Deceiving

It’s true.  Looks can be deceiving.  A person can be one way in appearance, but something altogether different inside. 

Outward appearances do not prove the heart.  We really don’t have to look any farther in scriptures than the Pharisees.  They wanted to impress people with their religion.  They looked religious — very religious — and that’s what they were counting on.

But God was not moved. 

The Pharisees were self-righteous.  Their appearance looked great, but inside they were a mess.  Jesus talked about this in Matthew 23:5-9 as a part of seven woes that he issued to the Jewish leaders. 

“Everything they do is done for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long;  they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them ‘Rabbi’.  But you are not to be called ‘Rabbi’ for you have only one Master and you are all brothers.  And do not call anyone on earth ‘father’, for you have one Father, and he is in heaven.” (NIV).

The word we like to use for this type of behavior in present day language is hypocrite.  Being a hypocrite is bad, because a hypocrite has a difficult time changing and is a very poor example and a bad influence.

Paul instructs us in II Corinthians 5:12 with these words.  “We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than what is in the heart.”  (NIV)

It’s a true statement that looks can be deceiving and they can be harmful to Christianity if our actions do not back up what we look like. 

 

OSU vs. New Mexico State

The Buckeyes step out of conference this week to take on the Aggies of New Mexico State.  OSU is a 44-point favorite.  I don’t like those huge spreads, because they are hard to cover and for some reason that makes a difference in the polls and the national perception.  Although, Ohio State is clearly out the national title picture this season.

Although Ohio State may not cover the spread, they should have an easy time with the Aggies, who, in a word, struggle.  The Buckeyes should get a chance to work on their running game and it looks like Brandon Saine may play despite having suffering a mild concussion last week.   It was good to see youngster Jordan Hall gets some more carries and the Scarlet & Gray may have found something in Jermil Martin.  Although, I must remember it was Minnesota they were playing.

The coaching staff should get a chance to get extended looks at some people on both sides of the ball.  I think the chances of the Buckeyes looking past New Mexico State is virtually nil after learning a very tough lesson two weeks ago in West Lafayette.

An interesting side note to this game is Trevor Walls, the Waverly, OH product.  I announced games for the Waverly Tigers when Walls was a freshman and even though he didn’t play much, the talk that he was going to be very good and you could see it.  And he was very good for the Tigers. 

I’m sure a contingent of Waverly folks will make their way up Route 23 and root Trevor on.  The reports are he may play — he may not — I watched a little bit of their game last week and he was in the line-up.  Good luck to him in the rest of his college career, but I think he and his fellow mates are going to be in for a long day.  Walls may get up close and personal with the likes of Thaddueus Gibson, Nathan Williams, Doug Worthington and Co. 

OSU does win in rout in preparation for what hopes to be a November to remember with Penn State, Iowa and the team from up north on the horizon.

Be Courageous, Take a Stand for Christ

John 19:12 “From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jews kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar.  Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’”

Pilate was caught between the conflicting voice of his own conscience and the voice of the people.  In listening to the people — he took the easy way out — he did what was easy.   In the following verses (v.15-16) we see that Pilate handed Jesus over to be crucified. 

It takes courage to stand against the crowd.  It is getting tougher by the day, because you can be called a “hate-monger” or be accused of uttering hate speech by denouncing sinful practices. 

No matter how hard it may be — a Christian must be courageous and take a stand for Christ. 

Galatians 1:10 says the following:  “Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men?  If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

There isn’t a whole lot I can add to that.  So, I bid you farewell for now.

Some Good Instruction

Read Luke 21:34-36.  It just good instruction from the Master on how we need to live our lives.

“Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkeness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap.  For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth.  Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man.” (NIV)

For Christians of every age — every circumstance, this is good instruction.  It reminds us to not follow a course that leads to suffering, a course that leads to nausea that follows a debaucherous night.  Don’t get drunk.  I’ve frankly have never understood the big deal with that one anyway.  To get the point where you don’t even remember what happened.  Yeah, that sounds like fun.

Also, don’t allow the cares of the world to become a snare.  It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the cares of the world, we can do it without really trying.  Jesus tells us beware, keep alert and do not let this happen. 

If we can do that, oh what a great life we can have.

What Lesson Do You Teach?

The following is a from a church bulletin that I receive.  It poses a very important question.  Because little ears may listening, and little eyes may be watching.  A spouse whose faith may be wavering and in need of encouragement is listening and watching.  A relative or friend who is in need of hearing more of the gospel may be listening and learning something about you. 

The question is What Lesson Do You Teach?

Every Sunday, folks leave church, get in the car and begin to drive home.  Here are some of the positions a person can take as you drive away: 

1. Do not mention anything that happened.  The whole experience was lived in another world; now you are back in the real world.  Play Devil’s Advocate.  Take the opposite side from the preacher; punch a few holes in the sermon.  Make fun of the song leader noting that he sang too slow, too fast; pitched the songs too low or too high; sang too many songs or not enough.  Make fun of the prayer leader.  Criticize the entire service and the public ministry.

Or 2. Make an effort to be supportive.  Speak kindly of the Elders, Deacons and Minister.  Display an attitude of love and appreciation and above all unity.  Remember; there may be ears listening and learning.  There is a teachable moment right after worship.  Give some thought as to what you make of it. 

Very important for us to ponder.  We must remember that sometimes Jesus and the Lord’s Church is judged by actions, by our words, by our feelings.    

OSU v Minnesota

Ohio State’s season is at a crossroads after last week’s disappointing loss to Purdue.  They can move forward and go after another Big Ten title or they can continue to spiral downward to a lesser bowl and have to hear more about how the University of Cincinnati has passed them by as the top team in the state.

The problems are fixable, but the supporting cast must help Terrelle Pryor.  He is on an island, he feels like and has probably been told that he has to make the plays for the Buckeyes to be successful, which is what led to his turnovers against the Boilermakers.

Granted, he must play better and be more consistent, but he didn’t get a lot of help last week.

Turning the page to Minnesota, in year’s past a person would feel sorry for the Gophers because they have to play OSU after a loss.  That was not a recipe for success.  The jury is still out as to whether that will be the case this year.

This is why OSU’s season is at a crossroads –they have figure out a way to put Minnesota away early and for the offense to get some confidence. 

The defense was not at fault last week, but having had to play the majority of the game on the field for the past several weeks it finally caught up with the Bucks versus Purdue.

It’s homecoming and Ohio State should start on a new win streak.  There is still a lot to play for, another Big Ten Championship is still possible and its start on Saturday.

Pryor and head coach Jim Tressel will answer the critics and I expect the Buckeyes to respond from the sucker punch from last week, which is what happens when you get caught flat-footed.

I think it is lesson learned for Ohio State and we begin to see what they are made of or not.

Minnesota has a solid offense and beat Purdue by 15 points when those teams met head-to-head.  Defensively, the Gophers are not particularly strong, but yet neither was Purdue. 

It’s a Noon kick on ESPN.