Baseball – Page 3 – Deep Thoughts & Little Happenings

May 6, 2021May 6, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Training

This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! 2 Corinthians 5:17 (NLT)

Last week, we looked at the spiritual parallel between every Major League Baseball (MLB) player receiving and accepting an offer to play and every Jesus-follower receiving and accepting The Offer to follow Jesus.

Did you know each new MLB player starts in the Farm System? They do! There are six farm teams that are Minor League Baseball affiliates for each major league team. Each of the six farm teams represents a division in the farm system and those teams are ranked from Rookie to Triple-A. The players on these teams play against other teams in their division.

Not every new player stays in the farm system the same amount of time. For example, Bryce Harper first signed with the Washington Nationals in 2010 and quickly moved through their farm system. He began the 2012 baseball season with their Triple-A team but finished that same season as a member of the Washington Nationals starting roster.

Did Bryce have more things to learn even after he started playing in the major league? Yes! Did he learn them? Yes! He learned some things quicker than others, but he definitely learned through the system and is continuing to learn today. Yes, Bryce still plays professional baseball. He is currently playing for the Philadelphia Phillies and continues to mature as a player and as a person.

What’s the spiritual parallel?

When we first accept Jesus’ offer of salvation and choose to follow Him…

We all start in the same place.

We all need training.

We will always be active participants even while we train.

Just like baseball players are learning through the farm system while playing other equally matched teams in the system, we will be actively following Jesus and intentionally learning from Him as we follow.

God uses several training methods as well. One is His written word, the Bible; another is Holy Spirit, who dwells within every Jesus-follower. Other Jesus-followers like pastors and teachers and other learners help us learn. We learn while we live. Living well requires practice and time. Some lessons we will learn quicker than others. Some of us will move quickly through the initial training, but none of us will ever quit learning or practicing or using our training.

We’ll talk more about practicing what we learn next time.

Between Then and Now…

1 Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Make it a priority to read some of the Bible every single day and discover the benefits of reading God’s word.

2 Read Psalm 119:11. Why do you think learning God’s word helps us make right choices?

3 Read Romans 12:1-2. Talk to Jesus and ask Him to help you see the areas of your life where you need to stop conforming and allow His word to bring transformation.

Digging Deeper:

Galatians 5:25, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 5:11-13 & 1 Peter 2:1-3

If you have not yet met Jesus, you can meet Him today. He created you. He loves you. He wants you to be a part of His family. I encourage you to step into the life He created you to live. You will still have the troubles of this world, but you will no longer be facing them alone. I’m praying for you! https://peacewithgod.net/mobile/?utm_source=Microsoft&utm_medium=CPC&utm_term=HowToGoToHeaven&utm_campaign=USPWGMobileSearchMic

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

April 29, 2021April 29, 2021

Learning from Baseball: The Offer

Key Verse:

It’s not important who does the planting, or who does the watering. What’s important is that God makes the seed grow. 1 Corinthians 3:7 (NLT)

What do all Major League Baseball players have in common? Each one received an offer to play for a team in the league. They all chose to accept The Offer they were given.

There’s a spiritual parallel. The Bible tells us God draws us and grows our desire to be Jesus-followers. And Jesus-followers telling others about the Good News of Jesus is all part of His plan.

You may be asking, “What’s the Good News?”

In a nutshell? Jesus is The Good News.

Why? Jesus is the One who bridges the gap between our sinfulness and God’s holiness. Jesus is the only way our relationship with God can be restored.

You’re probably wondering why the relationship was broken. Long ago, doubt in God’s word being right and His character being good grew into the first act of disobedience. That was the day sin came into the world and infected all mankind. Sin created separation between us and God because holiness and sinfulness cannot co-exist. (You can read all about God, creation, and the first sin in the first three chapters of Genesis.)

Jesus is God in the flesh. Yes! God clothed Himself in flesh and subjected Himself to the limitations of the flesh. But Jesus also had the same Holy Spirit every single Jesus-follower is given at the time of our salvation.

Salvation? What am I talking about? Okay, Jesus left His kingdom, came to earth and lived a sinless life in the flesh, willingly died a gruesome and undeserved death on a cruel Roman cross, was buried in a borrowed tomb, and was resurrected again on the third day. The death and burial of Jesus removed the barrier of sin. His resurrection overcame the power of death which is the final penalty for sin.

Salvation is freedom from sin and its penalty.

All people sin, so there’s no finger pointing here. Jesus is the only person who has never sinned.

Jesus paid the wages of sin for everyone. Forgiveness of sins is a done deal, but we have to take what’s been so freely given. We cannot earn our salvation. But, we can choose to believe Jesus earned our salvation for us, and then live the rest of our lives by faith.

If you haven’t already accepted The Offer, you don’t have to wait for a “right” time. You can accept The Offer right now! The Bible is clear…

If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Romans 10:9-10 (NLT)

If you just accepted The Offer of salvation through Jesus, CONGRATULATIONS!

With your acceptance, you’ve been given the promise of new life. Yes! It’s true! A life lived by faith in Jesus creates change in us.

Believing in and following Jesus brings with it a progressive change in our thoughts and actions. Why? What we believe will always influence our choices and changed choices create changed lives. The changes may be less noticeable in the beginning, but no worries; change will come.

Let’s stop there for today. We’ll take a deeper look at living a life of faith and change next week.

Between Then and Now:

1 Read the books Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John in the Bible. If you’re not familiar with the Bible, these are the first four books in the New Testament and their location is listed in the Table of Contents. These four books are called the Gospels because they’re about the life of Jesus.

2 If have not already accepted The Offer of salvation through Jesus, what’s holding you back? This is not a rhetorical question…formulating your answer will bring clarity to your questions or concerns about Jesus and salvation.

3 If you have accepted The Offer, why did you? Again, this is not a rhetorical question…formulating your answer will bring added clarity for those times when you’re the one sharing the Good News of Jesus with others.

A word of caution: Don’t get hung up on a prescribed timeline. In baseball, it may take someone until their high school or college years before they discover their love of the game. That’s why today’s verse is important. The Good News of Jesus is like a seed planted. It’s not a comparison game of how long ago the seed was planted or how few or how many people nurtured the seed. It’s about the seed being planted so it can grow. God will complete the work ! Just know…God has not forgotten you or the one you love. He hears all your prayers, and He wants them to accept His Offer of salvation even more than you do.

Digging Deeper:

Jeremiah 29:13, Luke 19:10, John 1:1-18, John 3:16-17, John 6:44, John 14:6 & 15-21, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-13, 1 Corinthians 3:6-7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 5:16 & 22-25, Ephesians 2:8-10, Thessalonians 4:13-18, & Hebrews 11:1

April 22, 2021April 22, 2021

Learning from Baseball: Who’s in Charge?

Key Verse:

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 (NLT)

Today I’m sharing another spiritual parallel baseball season has me remembering. It is not a new truth, but it is a foundational truth for all Jesus-followers.

There are four umpires in each Major League Baseball (MLB) game. Home Plate Umpire is the one “in charge” of the game. The other three are called Base Umpires and are stationed near the bases. Home Plate Umpire says when play begins and ends. He’s the one who decides if a pitcher throws a ball or a strike or balks. He decides whether a batter checked his swing, foul tips, or is hit by a pitch. He’s also the one who calls the runner safe at home. **

Umpires know how the game is supposed to be played. They know the rules of baseball, and they’re the ones who determine whether the players are safe, out, have or have not committed an infraction, and everything in-between.

Okay, I’m guessing you’ve already recognized the spiritual parallel.

God is the creator of all life. The Bible is His written word, and He is the final authority on what is right and what is wrong. God is the only One who can say whether or not we have met the requirements to safely enter the Kingdom of Heaven (His home).

No worries! He’s made a way. Yes! He’s provided all we need to be on His team and get safely Home.

The way is Jesus!

But what about all the living we do between becoming a part of the team and going home? It’s right there in the middle of living where we learn and practice.

The middle of living is also where we are most susceptible to the danger of forgetting who’s “in charge” and has final authority.

We get distracted by our own point of view. In our daily relationships, conversations, challenges, praises, heartbreaks, surprises, and responsibilities, we forget to remember.

I’m definitely on Team Jesus. I have no worries about going Home. But…

Sometimes I resemble the batter who swings too late or too early and either misses the ball completely or makes a bad connection and pops up, flies out, or hits into a double play. Other times I’m like the batter who gets called out watching.

Either scenario puts me at a crossroad.

Will I argue or accept the call?

I’ve gotten better, but there are times I still catch myself trying to convince the LORD my thoughts, words, or actions (or lack thereof) were right.

Yes, I know this is the same as saying God’s wrong!

Yes! I know I’m not trusting Him or His thoughts and ways.

Yes! I know I struggle against His authority because I’m trusting my own understanding of the situation and focused on my own Point of View.

Maybe that’s why 1 John 1:9 and Romans 8:1 are two of my favorite verses. They’re filled with promise and hope for those of us who forget.

And God is faithful. He always keeps His promises!

Next week we’re going to look at getting the call to be on Team Jesus.

Between Then and Now…

1 Practice daily the disciplines of reading your Bible (listening to God) and praying (talking to God).

2 Take some time to think about the situations when you are most prone to argue your point of view.

3 Ask Jesus to show you what you’re not seeing, what you’re missing, and how to correct the problem and get a hit.

Digging Deeper:

Proverbs 3:5-6, John 3:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12, Romans 8:1, 1 John 1:9,

Fun Fact: In 2014, the Instant Replay Review System was implemented – MLB Coaches are now allowed to challenge some calls of the umpire. Reviews are examined by umpires at the Replay Command Center in New York City who have the final decision on whether to uphold or overturn the initial call. ***

** Umpire (Baseball) – Wikipedia

*** Instant Replay in Major League Baseball – Wikipedia

April 15, 2021April 21, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Influence and Impact

Today’s Scripture Passage:

1 Corinthians 12

Key Verse:

If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad. All of you together are Christ’s body, and each of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:26-27 (NLT)

If you don’t follow baseball, you might not know the Washington Nationals did not get to play the first four games of this year’s season.

Why? Because four team members tested positive for Covid. And five more players, plus a staff member, were quarantined due to contact tracing.

That’s right! The disease created a rippling effect of impact on the entire team. And it didn’t stop there. It also affected the other teams they were scheduled to play.

Now please don’t misunderstand the point of this. I’m not implying Covid is the result of sin, and I have no idea if the team members’ choices played a part in them contracting Covid. That’s not my intent!

But…

I am thinking about how insidious sin is. Yes! Jesus-followers are not immune. We’re freed from sin and forgiven for our sin, but we must never allow ourselves to forget the dangers of practicing sin.

Sin will infiltrate every fiber of our lives and impact all those around us. Just like Covid infected one member of the team and spread to others. Our sin is like an infection in the body of Christ.

Jesus cautioned His disciples about the “yeast” of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

But Jesus also said the Kingdom of Heaven is like a little “yeast” that spreads throughout an entire batch of dough.

All I want us to think about and remember today is…

We are responsible for our choices and our choices determine what type of influence we are in every one of our relationships.

Are we going to be like the bad company that corrupts good character?

Or are we going to be the faithful companion whose life helps others rise up and become both healthy and beneficial members of the body of Christ?

Digging Deeper:

Psalm 101, Matthew 13:33, Mathew 16:5-12, 1 Corinthians 5, 1 Corinthians 15:33, Galatians 5 & 1 John 1:9

1 Pray before reading this week’s Digging Deeper verses. Ask Holy Spirit to help you understand what you’re reading and how each applies to your life.

2 Who are the people who influence your choices? Are they bad company or faithful companions? What about you? What permeates the lives of those around you?

3 Is there something you need to confess? If so, talk to Jesus about it today. Don’t wait! Forgiveness and cleansing are promised to all who confess their sins.

April 8, 2021April 21, 2021

Learning From Baseball: Be a Team Player

Today’s Scripture Passage:

Romans 12

Key Verse:

Just as our bodies have many parts and each part has a special function, so it is with Christ’s body. We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other. Romans 12:4-5 (NLT)

Baseball season has begun, and I’m a fan. More specifically, I’m a Washington Nationals Fan. I chose them as “My Team” back in early 2008 after we returned to Northern Virginia with plans to retire in the area. Our entire family are sports fans, but I’d never had my own team. I deliberately waited until we were settled in one place, but once chosen, I quickly began calling myself a Nats Fan.

Honestly, the Nats were hard put to win a game in those early years, but I didn’t care. We went to games or watched on the local station, MASN. I got to know the players and which positions they played. I cheered for them by name.

I knew how to cheer. I’d watched George and the children play enough softball and baseball games to know a lot of the proper terminology; pitcher, catcher, batter, baserunner, infield, outfield, umpire, bases, pitcher’s mound, batter’s box, dugout, etc.

What I didn’t realize was how much more there is to baseball than hit the ball and run the bases, or catch the ball and get the runner out. I didn’t grasp just how crucial it is for each player to do their part and only their part. I didn’t understand the importance of each position and the part each position played in the overall success of the team.

Yes, I knew playing well won games, but baseball requires all nine positions to play their part well. Starting pitchers can help you win, but they can’t win the game singlehandedly. They need teammates who are fielding hits and getting outs. They also need those same teammates to get on base and score runs. Clutch hitters need others to be on base in order for their hits to have maximum benefit. A grand slam only happens if the bases are already loaded when a homerun is hit.

All team members must learn and practice regularly the work of their position. The same is true of every Jesus-follower, and today’s Scripture addresses this type of teamwork in the church. Each part contributes to the success of the whole. No one position has more value because each position is needed. How do we know this? Holy Spirit wouldn’t give us our gifting for the body if the body didn’t need it.

The body is all Jesus-followers everywhere which includes the local church where we serve and worship. Reminder, the church is not the building; the church is the people.

Holy Spirit assigns us our position in the body. The position may change as the body changes but what is required of each position is to do our part. My part will support the other parts. If I try to do the part of another, I will neglect my part. Neglecting to do my part is disobeying the One who has given me my position in His body.

Digging Deeper:

1 Corinthians 12:12-27, Ephesians 5:20 & Colossians 1:18

Jesus Journaling:

1 Take time this week to read the Digging Deeper Scriptures.

2 Set aside some time to do a Spiritual Gifts Survey (if you haven’t already). If it’s been a while, you may want to take it again. Ask Jesus to help you learn and practice using your gifts and playing your position well.

3 Read Ephesians 6:18.