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Pastor's Corner with Dr. Melvin O. Marriner

Pastor’s Corner: Kentucky Wildcats: ‘Perfection Is Good’ Though Not Easily Achievable

This column focuses on “perfection” and our earnest efforts to achieve it in both the secular and spiritual realms. So that I’m communicating as clearly as I possibly can with this written format, allow me to share with you just a few of the several definitions of the word “perfection” given in the New World Dictionary as well as the Bible Dictionary as follows: New World says that perfection is “the act or process of perfecting.” It’s “the quality or condition of being perfect.” It’s an “extreme degree of excellence according to a given standard.” It’s “a person or thing that is the perfect embodiment of some quality.” The Bible Dictionary, most especially in the Old Testament, says that perfection basically means to “complete or finish” something. While in the New Testament, it suggests that perfection is “the attainment of the end or aim of being – and is therefore a relative term to be understood within its context.” These are various definitions of perfection.

The word “perfect” itself also has multiple dictionary meanings as follows: It means to be “complete in all respects; without defect or omission; flawless; faultless; and most excellent.” Also, it means to be “completely correct or accurate; exact; precise; pure; and absolute.” Let me define the word “moral” as well because it’s most important in the spiritual realm. Moral or morality relates to or deals with one having the ability to discern and make the distinction between right and wrong conduct and behavior. It’s the quality or character of being in accord with the principles or standards of right conduct and ethics. Now I included all those definitions for clarity in this column so that I would be better understood when I share my secular and spiritual beliefs going forward in what will undoubtedly be at least two columns pursuant to my subject: “Kentucky Wildcats: ‘Perfection Is Good’ Though Not Easily Achievable.”

To further establish a few “ground rules” if you will; and to give myself just a little “wiggle-room” as I share my pertinent belief about this whole concept of perfection or being perfect, let me clearly express right here at the outset of this series of columns that I “do not” know it all! However, and with that said, I do take the Word of God – The Holy Bible – literally! I believe that God the Holy Ghost said just what he meant and meant just what he said. I don’t add to it nor do I take anything away from it. I have “banked” my life on the Word of God! Now if the Bible is simply just another book – the world’s “best seller” – and that’s all that it is, then not a one of us have a prayer or hope for eternal life.

No, I don’t know it all, and I don’t profess nor do I proclaim to know it all. I’m extremely limited with my knowledge, understanding, and meaning of Greek and Hebrew words and language. However, I do have a reasonably good command, knowledge, and understanding of the English language and my King James Bible is written in English. Therefore, I believe God and what he has said. And I believe he meant just what he inspired “holy men” to write in his Holy Word.

Well, by now, I’m rather certain that you don’t see any real connection between my subject and the University of Kentucky Wildcats basketball team that’s waiting to play in the NCAA Final Four Championship on this coming Saturday and Monday, April the 4th and 6th, respectively. And I understand that because this initial column was written and submitted to this newspaper on Wednesday, April 1, 2015 – several days prior to the Final Four Basketball Tip-Offs in Indiana. Of course now you and almost all others here in America are well aware of what team won the 2014-2015 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship. At the time of this writing, however, I was certainly hoping that the Kentucky Wildcats would win it all. I believed that they were the best team all season long with the best players and possibly the best coaches as well. And I still believe that!

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They were doing their best to become the “first team” in NCAA Men’s Basketball history to complete a 40-game undefeated season and the eventual champions. In other words, they established their seasonal goals and objectives early on and were on a mission to complete a “perfect season” knowing full-well that it wouldn’t be an easy feat to accomplish with all the other NCAA Division I teams gunning for them. I sure hope they were successful in accomplishing their mission. Look for Part II of this series about the “Kentucky Wildcats: ‘Perfection Is Good’ Though Not Easily Achievable” in next week’s New Journal and Guide newspaper. I will have more to say about perfection, especially from the spiritual perspective, as well as about the Wildcats’ successful quest for a “perfect season” – that is, unless those guys in the “black-n-white, pin-striped shirts” with the whistles in their mouths decided the outcome of the game – as they so often do! While all four teams are very good with talented players – Kentucky is the best. Go Wildcats!

“Grace and mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be multiplied!”

Gerald D. Tyler, an ordained elder with senior pastoral experience, has been a God-called practicing minister since 1977 teaching and preaching the salvation gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

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