Thoughts From Romans 8 - Part 5

 whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time.23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who[i] have been called according to his purpose. Rom.8:22-28

    A whole lot of groaning going on, here. Creation is groaning because it’s shifting, shaking, cracking,eroding, and kudzu and poison oak is overtaking it. Since we are animating creation in this way, we can also imagine it’s mind saying,” hang in there; it will soon be over and we will be back to our pre-sin, garden of Eden form.”

    Also, we who are believers groan because the suffering we are going through, we know intuitively that we aren’t meant for this but if we can just hang in there it will all be better like it was in the garden of Eden before sin. It’s interesting the reference to childbirth and labor because we know before sin that this process was done without suffering.

    Lastly the Spirit is said to be groaning prayers on our behalf to the Father. Why groans and what kind of prayers. The Spirit must be groaning in the same way Jesus groaned coming down from the mountain of transfiguration where he met with the Father, Moses, and Elijahand then experienced the total lack of faith of his followers. He groaned, “How long shall I stay here and put up with you?” The Spirit is inhabiting sinful bodies who are praying for earthly things and He must be groaning,”What you just prayed for isn’t going to work out for your good. Father, here is what they really need.” Imagine if God had given you everything you asked for, how messed up you would be, The Spirit knows what you need and intercedes accordingly.

     I groan a lot at the age of 70 but unfortunately my Godly groaning is far surpassed by my aches and pains groaning. May I long much for for a new heavenly body and to be free from this cursed world.

Thoughts From Romans 8 - Part 4

  For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Rom.8:19-22

         Imagine being a Dodgers or Yankees or Alabama football fan. You would be use to winning. Being a Badger and Brewer fan, I can only dream of a championship. My contention is that when and if it happens, the joyous celebration that will be had by the fans will make the celebrations had in LA, NY, and Tuscaloosa look like Lutheran confirmation parties. We have a hope far more intense than any hope ever experienced by perennial winners because ours is based on suffering.

       I recently listened to an open air question and answer period where skeptics asked Christian panelists questions. One of the questions intrigued me and wasn’t answered well at all. Whereas the usual question is if God is all powerful and loving, why do people suffer, this person went beyond this and asked, “ If God is all knowing and all powerful, he would have known people would disobey Him so why didn’t He create a fallen world that didn’t include suffering of the innocent?” This question doesn’t impugn God’s omnipotence like the first one but rather questions His goodness. I wonder if the answer has to do with hope. If we didn’t have suffering, would we even hope for Heaven? Phillip Yancy in his book the Problem of Pain wrote that pain is a megaphone screaming that there is a better place coming. The earth is not our final destination.

         Cancer, earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, birth defects, miscarriages all point to the fact that something is really broken down here. As we groan, let’s not lose hope but rather let it supercharge our hope for a new heaven and a new earth.

Thoughts From Romans 8 - Part 3

  Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.    Rom. 8:17-18

          Statistics are coming out that over 7000 Christians have been killed by fundamental Muslims in Nigeria the first 8 months of this year. Charlie Kirk was recently killed for his Christian views on morality. Paul says in these verses in Romans that as children of God, we are heirs. We like to think of all the good things we will get as heirs. When my Dad died, I got some silver and gold that he had saved up worth $8000 and his fishing tackle box which I use to this day. I also got a broken riding mower, 2 broken chain saws, a 22 rifle (I don't hunt), and a stamp collection. Have you ever tried to cash out a stamp collection? No one wants them! It's a thing of the past.

           What Paul is saying is that along with the good things we get as heirs, we are going to get bad things, too. The world will hate us because it hated him. We inherit the opposition of Satan because he is opposed to Jesus. We are going to suffer because Jesus suffered and unfortunately that is part of our inheritance. But the good thing is that compared to what we are going to get when the suffering is over, it's well worth it.

            When I was in medical school an offer came that anyone who wanted to donate bone marrow would get paid $50. That was an incredible amount of money to me back in 1977. What I didn't realize was the amount of pain I would endure for that $50. However, when it was all over and I was holding that check, it was well worth it. Compare that to the glory of Heaven waiting for us and my illustration pales in comparison. We are big Survivor fans, it is now season 49, and there is never a shortage of people who will endure bugs, snakes, sharks, starvation, dehydration, extreme heat and cold, typhoons, constipation and pooping in the ocean, no showers or hygiene for 30 days for the chance to win $1,000,000 (1 in 18) but more than likely more than their expected 15 seconds of fame. Temporary suffering is well worth it to them.

        Medical missions are getting harder and harder for me at 70. The travel, the heat, the mental stress and physical stress of seeing 60-100 patients a day takes its toll. I look for reasons, frankly to not go. But then I'm reminded of the fruit that's borne and I rethink suffering. 

         Is temporary suffering something that you are willing to endure for the glory to be revealed? If not, you and I aren't focused on the prize, or we are seriously underestimating the value of that prize. It's going to be well worth it so don't shy away from suffering.

Thoughts From Romans 8 Part 2

  10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. 11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children,   Romans 8:10-16

          Were you ever put in positions in life that caused you great anxiety? I'm sure you have unless I'm reading too much of me into you. I moved a lot so every few years I was starting fresh in a school where I had no friends. That causes anxiety! But the worst situation was starting medical school. I was always at the top of my class and suddenly I was in a class where everyone was at the top of their class. Not only that, but many had spent prior years in the medical field like nurses, PA's, Nurse practitioners, EMT's and they already knew medicine. I didn't know the difference between an intern and internist. (if you don't either, well there is a huge difference as I embarrassingly found out) I had imposter syndrome long before anyone even knew what that was. Frankly I feared failing, being inadequate, and second guessing my choice to go to medical school. People ask me why I didn't become a sports doctor as much as I like sports. The truth is we had a sports doctor give a lecture and he was putting his hand in weird positions and saying, "A patient comes in with their hand looking like this. What nerve is injured?" Classmates were yelling out correct answers and I couldn't hazard a guess. I said to myself, "I guess I'm not smart enough to go into that field", which is ironic because there are insider jokes about Orthopods are the dumb doctors and just like to saw and hammer things.

          Now what if my father would have been dean of the school? Would I have feared failing? Would I have feared being kicked out? No! Why? Because my father would have been committed to me succeeding. He probably would have had the lecturer over for dinner and given me a private tutorial. I would have thought, "you guys know a lot, but my daddy is in charge of this school." I would have had the most powerful advocate on my side who was committed to me succeeding and one who I could take all my shortcomings to, and he would understand and ease my anxiety and fears and help me in my times of need. But I didn't.

         But I do have this advocate in life. My daddy is king of the universe. What do I need to fear? I can go to Him anytime because He is committed to my making it to the end. He is for me. I can cast all my cares, fears, anxieties, short-comings, inadequacies on Him because He cares for me and He actually has the power to help me. I can actually go through life and not fear what the world fears because I know the creator of the whole world and He loves me so much that He died for me. Man, life is great!

Milwaukee Brewers Top Prospects 2026

       Every year I look through the stats of players in our farm system and compile my list of top prospects. I don't use advanced analytics and I don't use fielding stats, just your basic old timey stats. I like to find 25, a complete roster but seldom do I find that many that meet my rigid standards. We are said to have one of the top minor league systems which reflects good drafting, after years of poor drafting, and the unwillingness of Matt Arnold to give any of them up for a temporary asset to help us in post season. So let's look at these guys that kept us from getting a stud closer for the playoffs.

Pitchers 

     SP   - Dorchies  18 y/o RH  Low A  ERA 2.74   82IP  89K  Avg .174  WHIP 1.05

              Dubanewicz  19 y/o  RH  Low A  ERA 2.40   Avg .235  WHIP 1.12

              Colmenarez  19 y/o RH  DSL   ERA 2.14   Avg .167   WHIP .90

              Mayorquin  17 y/o RH  DSL   ERA  2.45  IP 47 BB 7 K 49  WHIP 1.07

              Duran  17 y/o RH  DSL  ERA 2.77  Avg .136  WHIP 1.08

              Gillis 25 y/o RH  High A  ERA  2.65  Avg .243  WHIP 1.16

              M. Hernandez 19 y/o RH Low A  ERA 2.00  Avg .217  WHIP .99

              Renz 18 y/o RH  Low A  ERA 2.33  Avg .174  WHIP 1.14

              Letson 21 y/o RH AA  ERA  2.40  IP  41  K 49  Avg .214  WHIP 1.04

              Hardin 23 y/o AA  ERA 2.72  IP 96  K 96  Avg .262  WHIP 1.18

              Kuhner 24 y/o LH  AAA   ERA 2.77  IP 110  K 117  Avg .233  WHIP 1.18

             * Didn't include Miz or Henderson because I consider them MLB already

     RP        

              Derlin Garcia   18 y/o RH  DSL  ERA 1.86  Avg .182  WHIP .93

              Yaeger 27 y/o RH  AAA  ERA  2.04  Avg .178  WHIP 1.05

              Yoho  25 y/o RH  AAA   ERA 0.94  IP 47  K 60  Avg .164  WHIP  .99

     Catcher

             Lugo 18 y/o RH  DSL  .303/.405/.393/.798

             Dinges 22 y/o RH  High A  .300/.416/.514/.930  HR 13

     Inf

           2B J. Martinez 18 y/o DSL Switch  .321/.445/.532/.977  BB 30 K 22 SB 24 CS 1

           SS Adamczewski 20 y/o High A  LH  .320/.420/.490/.910

           SS  Pena  18 y/o High A  RH  .307/.372/.471/.843 (career #'s)

           SS Made 18 y/o AA  Switch  .298/.402/.452/.854 (career #'s)

           1B  Burke 22 y/o AA LH   .300/.377/.579/.956  HR 16  RBI 82

    OF   

        Frias 17 y/o  LH  DSL  .316/.411/.400/.811

        Ibarquen  19 y/o RH  Low A .290/.408/.407/.815

        Ragsdale 21 y/o LH Low A .300/.437/.314/.751

        Cameron  28 y/o RH AAA  .282/.378/.576/.954

     

 So there you have it. Big disappointments this year Pratt who had the opportunity to take the leap but just didn't seize it. Expect Boeve to have a rebound season after injury plagued season. Quero ready to make leap but he is no Contreras at the plate. Yoho gets the yips when he gets called up. Yeager deserves a shot. Made moved up well but Pena didn't. Interested to see if Burke has to spend a year at AAA. Cameron couldn't cut it in majors although really didn't get regular playing time. Deserves another shot.

       

Thoughts From Romans 8

 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, 4 in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. 6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. 7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. 8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.  Rom. 8:1-9

          Romans 8 separates the whole world into two camps - those who have the Holy Spirit in them and those who don't, or the saved and the lost, or the dead and the reborn. Paul tells us that the definition of "to be saved", the Christianese that we throw around, is to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. He comes inside at our point of repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Christ for our sins and His resurrection from the dead and breathes life into our dead soul that has been stillborn since Adam's sin.

          I recently went to a baseball game with my friend Bob who is an avid fan and got his name on the wall for having season tickets for so many consecutive years. When he asked me if I wanted to go see it, I bantered, "No thanks, my name is in the Lamb's Book of Life", to which he replied, "How do you know? We can go down and SEE my name." He's right about one thing, I can't see my name, yet I just by faith believe it's in there. Paul says in 2Corinthians that we are to examine ourselves to see if we are in the faith or you could say to see if our name is in the book. What are some self-examination tools we have to see if the Spirit is truly inside us?

       First, we see in verse 5 that our minds would be set on what the Spirit desires. What does the Spirit desire - to magnify God. If our mind is set on how can I achieve glory, then our minds are governed by the flesh rather than the Spirit. Am I into self-promotion or God promotion? Do I desire He increase, and I decrease or vice-versa? The flesh and the Spirit butted heads last night at the Charlie Kirk funeral. You could see those who used the platform for advancement of self, power, party versus those who just wanted Christ to be magnified. The problem is that most who are self-promoting are probably deluded into thinking they are saved. That's why self-examination is so important.

       Secondly, in verse 6 we see that the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Paul says in Phillipians that those run by the flesh have their minds focused on Earthly things, but our citizenship is in Heaven, and we eagerly await Christ's return. If we are truly saved, we should be thinking like aliens, pilgrims, sojourners, ambassadors, deployed soldiers, all those terms used in the epistles emphasizing that we are just visiting this planet and our real home is in Heaven. If you ask people that claim to be Christians, they will acknowledge that fact. But when you examine their use of time, money, you would see that they are treating this world as their home. But our calling isn't to judge them but rather look at our own calendar, checkbook, social media, apps, etc. What kingdom is our mind fixed on - Earth or Heaven?

      Lastly, in verse 7 Paul says that the mind controlled by the Spirit desires to obey God's law or we should be desiring to live Holy lives or imitators of Christ. We should be asking "What would Jesus do?" in every situation. Jesus said, "if you love Me you will obey my commandments. Why do you call me 'Lord, Lord' and don't do what I say?" If we are reserving the right to decide which of God's commands we will obey, like loving and forgiving our enemies for example, or sexual mores which may not represent contemporary thinking, we are being run by the flesh. It's easy to point at someone like Trump who said, "Charlie loved his enemies but I hate mine.", and judge which eternal camp he is in but once again, that's not the point. We are to self- examine and see which "drivers" of our life have a "firewall" to obeying Jesus and tear those walls down in complete surrender.

        Don't deceive yourself about something so important as your soul. We often watch reality shows and comment how self-unaware some contestants are. (We watched Traitors season 3 and Tom Sandoval may be the most self-unaware person ever) Yet our flesh thrives on self-deception, and we must examine ourselves to make sure that we are true believers. Use these tests and see.

More Thoughts From Hebrews 9

 After reading chapters 7,8, and 9, I was forced to ponder the question, if God is perfect, knows the future, never makes mistakes, is never taken "off guard", why did He make an imperfect covenant that 2000 years later was replaced by a better one? Why didn't He make the better covenant, the one that worked, straight away? In our world, it would be like making the computers that looked like refrigerators at the onset and later introducing the microchip so a computer can be held in your hand, all the while having the microchip from the start. It doesn't make sense, does it?

        I can't say I understand this fully but let me give some thoughts. If Jesus met Adam and Eve as they were exiting the garden and was carrying a cross and had them nail Him to it, I have to believe they would have no clue what's going on. First of all, I would guess they would think,"I only made one mistake in my life and it's causing a person to die? What's up with that?" The Old Covenant shows us the seriousness and regularity of sin and the inability to stop from sinning. Every day the Israelites were reminded of the seriousness of their sin as they saw the sacrifice of lambs.  They were not "mistakers" but sinners and sin was not just a moral lapse but cosmic treason. Not only that, but they couldn't stop sinning. My understanding of the Millenium says that even with Satan bound for 1000 years, Jesus ruling on the throne, garden of Eden like conditions restored, when Satan is released, he will find an army of willing volunteers to rebel against Christ.

         Second, the Old Covenant taught that "the wages of sin is death". "The soul that sins shall die." The death of innocent spotless lambs on their behalf told them something had to die to atone for their sin. The fact that it had to be repeated day after day showed them that the atonement was only temporary and made them long for something more permanent.

        Third, a priest had to represent them. Only a select few Israelites could go into the presence of God and those unauthorized few that tried were struck dead or became lepers or in Saul's case lost the Kingship. The Old Covenant made them understand that someone had to enter on their behalf and made them long for the day that they could boldly enter God's presence.

         The Old covenant, an inferior covenant, was necessary to reveal the gravity of sin, that sin is only paid for by death, that our default mode is sin, that someone chosen by God has to intercede for us on a regular basis because the atonement was only temporary. When the time was right and mankind understood this and longed for a better way, God stepped in with the better covenant. He didn't send a spotless lamb but a sinless God/man Jesus to be the new Adam and undo what he did. Jesus died for our sins once and for all, the perfect for the imperfect, so we can go into the presence of God after he entered before us. He took away our sins permanently and sent us the Holy Spirit to dwell inside us to make it possible not to sin. Why it took 2000 years to introduce the New Covenant? Maybe we are slow learners?