Lakeside Community Presbyterian Church

⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches.

If you remain in me and I in you,

you will bear much fruit; 

apart from me you can do nothing.”

John 15:5

If you know me, you know that I love the Dodgers, and the last week has been a rollercoaster of emotions as the Dodgers and Padres battle in the Division Playoff Series. Friday night we will find out which team prevailed.

Throughout this playoff series, I have been listening to sports radio for both the Padres and the Dodgers while I drive. I have read online articles from the MLB (Major League Baseball) website as they review and analyze the two teams. I scroll through social media, following the comments and pictures of what has transpired during the game. I know that I get very invested in cheering for the Dodgers (My wife would say that I get a bit too invested). When the Dodgers are doing great, my exuberance overflows with shouts and cheers. When they are not doing well, I get quiet and wonder how will they ever win the game. The back and forth of emotions, especially during the playoffs, can be exhausting.

I will say this, the games and our current study of the book, Practicing the Way, have caused me to pause and take a look at my habits.

This past week’s study in Practicing the Way asked us to take an inventory of how we spend our time and where we invest ourselves. As I took my personal inventory, I realized that my practice of following Jesus (He is the Way of the book, Practicing the Way) is not as “consuming” as my cheering for the Dodgers during the playoffs. There isn’t anything wrong with my cheering for my team during a baseball game, but as I took my personal “Formation Audit” on how I spend my time, I realized that my “baseball habits” unintentionally form me more than my habits of spiritual formation. I probably need to make some corrections in my life. I know that the Practicing the Way small group is helping with these corrections.

I am still going to cheer for the Dodgers, but I am going to also check my “consumption habits” as I cheer. I need to seek out ways to be “consumed” in the ways of Jesus that outweigh my cheering for the Dodgers. I know that it will be a struggle, but it is good to pause and evaluate my life to see where I am investing my time and my habits. I hope that you will do the same by taking an inventory of how you are spending your time and see what “spiritual habits” you can make as a part of your routine.

I am praying for us as we seek to be Jesus’ disciples and walk in His ways.

^“23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night He was betrayed, took bread, ²⁴ and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁵ In the same way, after supper He took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” ²⁶ For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

(1 Corinthians 11:23-26)

All around the world on this first Sunday of October, churches will be taking communion.

Known as “World Communion Sunday” this is a reminder to all churches that the Body of Christ is multi-national and multi-ethnic. The diversity of the church will be seen as communion services will take place in centuries old gothic cathedrals of Europe and in open-air gatherings in Sub-Sahara Africa. We will all celebrate what Jesus Christ did on the cross for humankind and how the spread of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to places all around the globe reminds us that God’s message of redemption is active and His plan of reconciling the world to Himself is taking place today.

It is a foretaste of what is to come as described in the Revelation of John:

^“9 After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, ¹⁰ and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!”¹¹ And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, ¹² saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.””

(Revelation 7:9-12)