The Living Cornerstone Ramona & Howard Chadwick

Have you ever seen kids on the playground when something happens? Each child is pointing a finger at the other. Or how about the birthday cake is smudged and the two children point at each other when asked how the finger full piece got eaten. As we get older, the finger-pointing sort of sticks with us. Of course, it may not be physical finger-pointing, but more like on social media, texts, and those sort of things. It can relate to assigning blame or avoiding responsibility. Sound familiar?
It is in the bible too. It actually started very early in the bible. Genesis chapter 3. There is finger-pointing galore. Blame is easy to assign and re-assign. But the real issue is The Why of the finger-pointing. That is what this message looks at, yes the finger-pointing and blame game, but also the way you can overcome finger-pointing.

Have you ever seen kids on the playground when something happens? Each child is pointing a finger at the other. Or how about the birthday cake is smudged and the two children point at each other when asked how the finger full piece got eaten. As we get older, the finger-pointing sort of sticks with us. Of course, it may not be physical finger-pointing, but more like on social media, texts, and those sort of things. It can relate to assigning blame or avoiding responsibility. Sound familiar?
It is in the bible too. It actually started very early in the bible. Genesis chapter 3. There is finger-pointing galore. Blame is easy to assign and re-assign. But the real issue is The Why of the finger-pointing. That is what this message looks at, yes the finger-pointing and blame game, but also the way you can overcome finger-pointing.

Have you ever had a nickname? I had a grandfather named Louie Whitaker. I was named after him and I was called Little Louie, because he was the big Louie or just Louie. The name stuck with me only when I was around him. It was to distinguish us. There was a guy named Ted who was known as Tiny. But he wasn’t tiny. He was a big guy who was just a great person who helped everyone he came in contact with. If you are not careful, you can “own” your nickname and it can stick with you as well as influence how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you.
Jesus was having a meal just before Passover with some friends. A woman is at the meal and breaks open a very expensive jar of perfume and anointed Jesus as he was at the table. The criticism was quick and the woman was rebuked for using such an expensive item. Jesus was quick to set them straight and praise the woman for her act of worship. The story really centers on the woman, the perfume, Jesus and the detractors. But there is an important person that is just glazed over. The man in whose house where the dinner was held. His name was Simon and he had a nickname.

Have you ever had a nickname? I had a grandfather named Louie Whitaker. I was named after him and I was called Little Louie, because he was the big Louie or just Louie. The name stuck with me only when I was around him. It was to distinguish us. There was a guy named Ted who was known as Tiny. But he wasn’t tiny. He was a big guy who was just a great person who helped everyone he came in contact with. If you are not careful, you can “own” your nickname and it can stick with you as well as influence how you feel about yourself and how others feel about you.
Jesus was having a meal just before Passover with some friends. A woman is at the meal and breaks open a very expensive jar of perfume and anointed Jesus as he was at the table. The criticism was quick and the woman was rebuked for using such an expensive item. Jesus was quick to set them straight and praise the woman for her act of worship. The story really centers on the woman, the perfume, Jesus and the detractors. But there is an important person that is just glazed over. The man in whose house where the dinner was held. His name was Simon and he had a nickname.

Keep your eye on the ball. Can be golf, life, a job or project, but I think of baseball. Full disclosure, I am not a sports fan or nut. I don’t know averages, scores or leagues. I do know that if you don’t keep your eye on the ball, it can hit you. I learned it in sand lot baseball as a kid.
Keeping your eye on the ball is important in our Christian life. Satan loves to distract and divide us so that we get hit with the ball or quit. This baseball analogy had a stadium, teams, pitcher, batter and catcher. Even if you are not a sports fan (like me), you won’t miss the application for your life.

Keep your eye on the ball. Can be golf, life, a job or project, but I think of baseball. Full disclosure, I am not a sports fan or nut. I don’t know averages, scores or leagues. I do know that if you don’t keep your eye on the ball, it can hit you. I learned it in sand lot baseball as a kid.
Keeping your eye on the ball is important in our Christian life. Satan loves to distract and divide us so that we get hit with the ball or quit. This baseball analogy had a stadium, teams, pitcher, batter and catcher. Even if you are not a sports fan (like me), you won’t miss the application for your life.