of a hill, a pitt, a diamond, & some red letters....

at one time, i was so far away from god. we were all born at such a vast distance from the Uncreated Creator. The Majestic Author. the distance was impassable, impossible, and impenetrable by me. it just was...and i didn't even know it. 


the other day my mom and i (whoot whoot for quality time with my momma here in GA) went to see "MONEYBALL." a movie based on the story of the General Manager of the 2002 Oakland Athletics, the assistant GM, the coach, and the team itself. The team had had some losing seasons. a lot of losing seasons, and when there were wins in division championships, they'd often lose the round. the GM (brad pitt) was sick of losing and had come to terms, rather boldly with the impossible odds of winning doing the same things the same way. it wouldn't work, the scouts could not keep looking for good players with good health.... 
he found a young dude (jonah hill), with a brilliant mind and a heart of research....he knew about a theory, and knew about the economics of how wins could be derived: get on base. so the GM snagged the young guy from another team where he was undervalued and asked him to be a part of a ship that needed re-direction.


i needn't a pathway to the Heavenly Father. Christ was the pathway. it is miraculous to me that while i was still heading the wrong way, the Father gave me a young man to help change the direction of my life. 

John 14:6 (ESV)  "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

Romans 5:8 (ESV) ^"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

Romans 5:2 (AMP)  ^"Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God's favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God."

1 John 1:7 (AMP)  "But if we [really] are living and walking in the Light, as He [Himself] is in the Light, we have [true, unbroken] fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses (removes) us from all sin and guilt [keeps us cleansed from sin in all its forms and manifestations]."

 

The GM loved the game enough to try something different, not just love the force of his habit. With the new strategy the Oakland A's established the leagues longest winning streak, but still didn't "win it all." However, the Red Sox were inspired by the theory, implemented it, and a few years later "won it all" (2004).

we have won it all because of christ. 

he has given us prevailing strategies (his Life), triumphant hope (abundant freedom now), & real success (his ways established)...all because the Heavenly Father loved us enough to change the direction, implement a new way, and overflow his love unto us.