From: The Pastor’s Heart
To: You
Title: “Replay Challenge”
Last night we (the family), went to Turner field to watch the Atlanta Braves play the Miami
Marlins. We were able to secure some very good seats on the field level just beyond the
first base line where Pastor K. was able to loudly cheer on her favorite player, Freddie
Freeman. I have to admit that even though the food is grossly overpriced, the footlong
chili-cheese hotdogs are magnificent and the peanuts weren’t bad either.
The game was competitive and exciting in every way, especially when the bases were
loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning with the score tied: 2-2. Our team was up to bat
and at the time we only had one out. The batter swung on the first pitch and ended up
hitting it softly back toward the pitcher. The opposing pitcher picked up the ball and
quickly threw out our shortstop who was running toward home plate from third base. The
catcher caught the ball then he threw it as hard as he could to first base trying to get the
ball there before the hitter stepped on the plate. It was a very close call and the first base
umpire called our guy Out! However, the Braves manager challenged the call (because it
was so close) and all the referees assembled together to watch the replay.
The replay showed that our hitter was actually safe and instead of the inning being over, it
continued and we eventually won. It made me think about the times the enemy had me
out dead to right and it should have ended for me. I thought about the many close calls
when it appeared as if things were over and I would not recover or be victorious from
what had just transpired. It looked that way for many of us at first glance, but then the
glorious God we serve called time out and made us look at the replay. He showed you
and I that even when everyone thinks we’ve lost and the mistakes made were beyond
repair, that His love and mercy has the last say. We were bound for hell because of the sins
we committed, but then He grabbed heaven’s monitor and told the world to look again.
Jesus paid the price for us and took on the penalty for our sin and shame. The scripture
says, “He that knew no sin became sin for us.” I am forever grateful by His love and I
know you are as well, so that’s why we cannot give Him anything less than our best every
time we represent Him. We cannot dare allow the hustle and bustle of life to alter our
level of commitment and the pursuit of excellence in advancing the Kingdom of God. We
must step up to the plate and realize that we’ve been given another chance to do it right
this time. We have been given hope where there was no hope and victory in areas that we
didn’t deserve.
Tomorrow we worship as a body of believers. Let’s not waste even a second complaining
about what we don’t have. Instead, let’s celebrate that He called for an Instant Replay!
EVERYTHING WE DO MOVING FORWARD WILL BE INTENTIONAL AND DRIVEN WITH
PURPOSE TO REPRESENT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN THE BEST POSSIBLE LIGHT!
NOTHING WILL BE DONE WITH ENERGY LESS THAN OUR BEST AND EFFORT BELOW
OUR MAXIMUM POTENTIAL.
OUR SERVICE IS LOCAL, BUT OUR REACH IS GLOBAL – SO WE CANNOT REDUCE OUR
PRESENTATION DOWN TO WHAT’S CONVENIENT, BUT RATHER WE MUST RAISE IT TO
THAT WHICH IS EXPLOSIVE!
Get ready for major change that’s coming systematically, intellectually, purposefully, and
professionally. Nothing we do moving forward will be done haphazardly, sloppily, poorly,
or carnally.
We Are the LIGHT!
Sincerely,
Pastor J.E. Chandler, Sr.
(CEO/Pastor of MLCM)