Do Over

I don't know what the word is for the male equivalent of a "chick-flick" would be (possible blog topic)...but the movie "City Slickers" certainly would fall under that category. I was "lounging" in my hotel room last night, and this classic show came on. So I popped some popcorn, grabbed a bottle of Diet Coke (w/Splenda), and watched.

In the film, Billy Crystal, Daniel Stern, and Bruno Kirby take time to extoll the greatness of the "do-over." The "do-over" played a huge role in our backyard kickball games. Inevitably someone would kick the ball into our overgrown Magnolia tree. Everyone would scream, "Do-over," thus sending the batter/kicker back to the plate...and sending me into the garage for a variety of missiles to throw at the ball in an effort to resume the game.

As I ponder the phrase "do-over," I'm reminded of a couple of folks who could use a do-over.

-Michael Jackson: Ol' Jacko should've thought through the invitation list to some of those sleep-overs. He also should talk to the guy that stole his real nose.
-Uzzah: The young man in 1st Chronicles 13 who saw the Ark of the Covenant falling and said, "I got it!"
-The parents of former Kansas City Royals firstbaseman Willie Mays Aikens: POSITIVE that their young son would be the next great slugger, they set him up for failure by naming him after the "Say-Hey Kid." You can come up with your own combinations of names...but I think Pat Putnam Aikens would've been more appropriate.

I'm sure there are others...but my feeble mind is drawing a blank.

The phrase "do over" has a deeper meaning to me. Although the theme of "City Slickers" is far from any religious overtone, the message of "do over" is a central message of Christianity. We, as Christians, get a "do over" because of the blood of Christ. Unfortunately, this gift from God has been treated by some as the right to live an anything-goes, do-what-you-wanna-do life. But this "do over" is not a free pass to keep kicking the ball up in the Magnolia tree. The Father didn't send his son to earth, watch him die, then live without him for three days so that we can continue in our old ways. Instead, He asks us to become something new.

Romans 12:2 - "Do not be conformed to this world, but be TRANSFORMED by the RENEWING OF YOUR MIND, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God."