Sharon Lutheran Church recently issued the following announcement.
To the good members of Sharon Lutheran Church. The idea came from the Directorof Adult Ministries at St. John's Lutheran Church in Salisbury. I felt it was very insightful and ppropriate and received her permission to use this idea to speak to you all. I have normally prepared something during this "Stay at Home" and " tay Safe" practice we are all observing. Diane's focus is for our elders at St.John's and is called: "Senior Seasons." Hope you will find this focus to be uplifting coming from a devoted layman. Peace and blessings, Pastor Nelson
"God Doesn't Throw Gutterballs!" (Romans 8:31-39)
Anyone who happens to be interested in Bowling knows that the object is to roll your ball down the lane to crash into the ten standing pins in an effort to knock down as many as possible. You have a second ball to roll in an effort to take out any that remain. Of course, the skill is to knock all ten of them down with the first roll in what is called a "strike." The higher the number of pins one knocks down, determines who is the winner. To miss the lane completely is to throw a gutterball-- which gives no credits.
An overriding theme within these verses is that God is in control. He looks at the big picture--we can call eternity. But from our perspective, we tend to be shortsighted. We are not conditioned to look at the big picture. It is easy for us to look for control through our own eyes. In reality, that is what Sin is all about. Sin is our battle with control. We not only want to control ourselves and our agendas, but we want to control other people and situations, money and popularity. We think we know what is best for us.
Our prayers are often; "God help me through this crisis. Make this, that, and other things happen the way I feel you want them to happen--according to your will. May your will be done." You see we often put God's will into what we think it ought to be. We frequently put God dead last, even in the midst of our good intentions. But who is really in control? God is not God if he is not in control. He created the world and humanity--male and female--and "it was very good." (Genesis says.) We could say that God created time and set it in motion toward eternity. His creative hand began the chain of events that got us to where we are today along with the promise of the future. God was the cause of it all. We have witnessed the effects of God's creation throughout time, space, and history. God has intimate knowledge of all of his creation. We are never off of his radar screen so to speak.
Let us look again at the image of the sport of bowling. When we get ready to bowl, we choose a boll from the rack of options. We want one for our proper hand, we want one that fits our fingers, and we want one that seems to be the right weight. We hope we have selected what will help us achieve our purpose--to knock down the most pins. We dry our hands. We make our approach just so. We wind up for a swing that will be perfect and turn loose of the ball at the right time--hopefully to roll a strike.
The ball is on its way. We have provided the best effort possible--amateur or pro. When we let go, the ball is on its way. We have done our best to attempt to eliminate any variable that would deter it from its purpose. If it ends up in the gutter, it is of our doing. So we have to try again. Professional bowlers spend hour of time to improve their techniques, concentration, and strength. However, unlike human bowlers, God's aim, is perfect. In a sense, we strive to do our best and follow the directions, advice, and motivation of our Lord.
God has given us the creative ability to roll strikes. When we do throw gutterballs, we can take comfort in St. Paul's words that "Nothing--no person or peril in heaven or earth--will ever separate them from the Love of God, because you are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ the Lord."
Thank God, gutterballs are nothing we have to worry about in our life's game-- we could compare to the sport of bowling. God allows us to throw gutterballs, but encourages us to keep trying to improve. Never give up!
Peace and blessings, Pastor Nelson
Original source can be found here.
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