Hot Stove League

Time to Gather 'round the Hot Stove

Winter is here for another six weeks and the Super Bowl is over ... so fire up the Hot Stove and gather around it's time for the Hot Stove League to get fired up.

Hot stove league is a baseball-related term referring to the sport's off-season. The phrase does not denote an actual league, but instead conjurs up images of baseball fans gathered around hot stoves during the cold winter months to discuss their favorite baseball teams and players.

Arguments about player stats always ensue.  Will past performances be repeated? Can woeful performances be replaced with improvement?

Hope is always present around the Hot Stove as the future lies in wait ...

That got me to thinking ... (always a dangerous activity if you like sitting still).

What if people gathered around and discussed our lives as Christians?  What if churches could trade us as pastors (they do that in many ways)?  What if we could trade members (we do that to don't we)?

What would we discuss?  What would we say?

They are a good tither ... but they could improve ...

They always are ready to serve ... but they rarely volunteer ...

I could list many more, but it might get to personal ...

What statistics are there to reveal your heart ...

Attendance at worship and study ...

Giving ....

Service ...

Witness ...

As a pastor, I began to think of what is revealed in my preaching ... so I went digging for my stats ...

Words matter to preacher and over the past 4+ seasons, I have preached 230 sermons ... average length 30 minutes with a few that went extra innings!

Of those sermons 70% came from the New Testament. Over all 49.4% came from the four Gospels.

I guess that means I am focused on the Life of Jesus ... I would like to think that is what it means.

I wonder what this coming season will reveal?

Some might think that is too much ... some not enough ... I guess that's why we gather around the Hot Stove to speculate.

What will be said of your life when those gather?

Trade 'em or Keep em' ?

Love 'em or Leave 'em ?

I hope that we all still see what God sees ... a great upside!

He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus 

Philippians 1:6 NIV

Making Preparations ...

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:17-19 NIV

This afternoon has been a whirlwind of activity at the church.  A very different Thursday afternoon from most ... the cleaning crew was in to do their usual work ... but the worship director was also in setting things up in the sanctuary for this evening's service and a crew of ladies from the UMW were into to get things ready in the church for a Community Maundy Thursday Service and Easter Services this Weekend. 

Everyone was working with such great care and lovingly cleaned every spot and tidy every corner in anticipation of this evening and Easter.

While appreciate the extra effort to tidy up the church - the smell of 'lemony' clean is a nice addition to the church, part of me wonders why not every week?  But then I remember, the passage from Matthew and how it ends ...

Olive tree wood model of the Last Supper

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.  Matthew 26:17-30 NIV

Perhaps our efforts are easier on a day like this ... in a week like this ... because we do our work knowing that Jesus will show up tonight as we gather around the table. 

We also know that the tomb will be empty come Sunday and we will celebrate the hope of resurrection. 

Maybe if we could keep the anticipation of Easter alive during the week, it would change how we prepare each and every week for Worship.  The anticipated encounter with the Risen Savior tends to change how you act.

 

Until then, I am thankful for the many hands that have been through the church making preparations for an evening at the Table with Jesus.