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Chip Shots from the Ruff of Life
by Tom Kelley
A newspaper that is curculated in the Louisville, Kentucky area ran a story on Kentucky basketball in this week's rag. They tied the idea of "passion" into it, which, in and of itself, was not a problem. However, the front cover showed Jesus holding a basketball with the story's caption emblazoned in print reminiscent of the move, "The Passion of the Christ", just below the picture of Jesus.
The owner of the paper said that he was not mocking the Lord in any way. One of his deliverers saw it differently. David Wine refused to deliver the paper saying it was, indeed, a mockery of the Christ. On into the paper was another depiction of Jesus, this time with one of those multicolor wigs and a parody of John 3:16 based on basketball. But the owner was not mocking or making fun of Jesus, His purpose, or our faith.
I think he was...intentionally. Here's why. I love my wife. I chose her to be my life partner more than thirty years ago. She is my best friend, my lover, my confidante. Would I feel that a newspaper had defamed my marriage if they showed a picture of my wife in her wedding dress holding a photograph of Bill Clinton with the caption, "True Love," underneath? If it were your wife, would you?
The sanctity of purpose is inviolate. My wife and I are one. We are together because we have chosen to be so. That is our purpose in life...to be one together. God sent Jesus into the world for a purpose. That purpose was not to choose a sport. Like it or not, Jesus was not a fisherman, though He hung out with such. That purpose was not to be a carpenter, though He was raised by one. What He was and, praise the Lord, still is, is the sacrificial lamb.
"But He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned, every one, to his own way; and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all." Isaiah 53:5, 6 "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21 That's the Passion.
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"Point of Reference" from
"As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the man." Prov. 27:19
Read Article »...He was the Minister of the Minorsville Christian Church located near Stamping Ground, KY.
...Becky and Tom have three children; John, single and in worship ministry in Nicholasville, Kentucky; Sean, married (Jennifer, elementary school teacher) with twins (Grace and Patrick, b.d. 10/31/04) and regional director of Papa John's Pizza in Central KY; Kara, married (Vince Taylor, prison guard) and working with Hospice East in Winchester, KY.
...Tom went to be with the Lord on November 13, 2009 after a lengthy battle with cancer. If you have been touched by Tom's writings please send an email to Tom's son at jkelley@catalystchristian.net
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