The View From Behind Home Plate

I have become the half-time enemy and half-time friend of all baseball coaches and players, a villain in blue, an umpire. I am in my second season as an official for the recreation league in my county. I do this for a few reasons: to pay for my mission trip to the Dominican Republic, I love baseball, and because I learn so much about baseball, life, and God.

Over the last few days I have become aware of a trend. I normally can tell who will strikeout, provided the pitcher throws enough strikes, and who will hit the ball into play. I can tell by the look in the kids eyes. Every kid has a mixture of fear and excitement coming to the plate. The step from the on deck circle and begin that walk to the box. As the approach something happens. The hitters loose their excitement and become very somber and determined in the eye. You can tell they are talking to themselves and preparing for the at bat. The others have a look of dread, fearful hope, or apathy. 90% if the time the outcome is determined before the guy steps in. Even if a hitter should strikeout they leave with a certain look that says you got me this time but now I know how to get you. It is something inside that makes the difference. Having been a former player and current coach I know that the something is confidence and experience. There is no shame in striking out and there is no way that if you stay in there and keep swinging at strikes that you are going to strikeout every time. Any pitch that enters the zone can be hit. You get three chances and it only takes one. Confidence.

Now, what does this teach me about God? Well I am according to the Bible indwelt with the Holy Spirit of God. I have an internal resource that created the universe and controls the outcome. I will step up to the plate of life and trials will be hurled straight at me. I will turn towards them and try to send them back but sometimes I will miss. Strike one. Here it comes again. Strike two. Here it comes again. Strike three. Man, I failed, that curve took me by surprise. Ok, here we go again, Lord, I know the curve is coming because that is what took me out last time. Here it comes. Foul ball, strike one. Ok, Lord, I got a piece of it. Please, help me get it next time. Ok whatever come this time I am going to hit this one. Perhaps, I did.

You see, I can turn inside my head and talk with God. He can help me be a person of courage and strength. I need not fear men or what they can deliver my way. Yeah, they may get me this time, but life recycles. God stays with me. So like Daniel, as I step into the box, I determine I will not strikeout, and with God's divine guidance, I will put the situations I face into play. Confidence in God.

Well, Are You?

13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

John 4:13-14 (KJV)

1 Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2 And he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's mouth. 3 And thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon the well's mouth in his place. 4 And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5 And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6 And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7 And he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye the sheep, and go and feed them. 8 And they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.

9 And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 10 And it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother.

Gen 29:1-10 (KJV)

Ok, we have two stories that occur by a well. In the first, listed second we find that a stone is over the well. This was done so that the sun did not dry up the well, or so that pollutants did not get in the well and poison the water, or that the well did not fill with dust and become shallow or nasty. All of these reasons were a good one to wait until evening when all the flocks were gathered. In the second story, listed first, Jesus is speaking to a woman at a well. He compares the physical well to His followers, a.k.a., Christians.

So, why write about these two facts? I want to ask you a question and myself a question. Are we spoiled, shallow, or just dried up by the world? Before I can answer this question I need to determine how effectively I have been at guarding my life against the influences of the world (Satan's philosophical playground). If I have not thought it necessary to guard against this influence then chances are my flowing water is cloudy in the ethics bucket, or speech bucket, or internet bucket, or movie bucket, or TV show bucket. It could be worse it could be a mud pie of these things. Now I do not want to drink these last two analogies and chances are you do not want to drink them either. Therefore, why did I allow this to happen? Because I like to push the envelope of acceptability and walk up against sin with the narrowest of margins that still says to the outside observer, "See I am separated from the world." However, what is the cost for this way of thinking? I could be clearer, deeper, and not so thirsty.

Ok, one example from my struggles. CSI, I really like this show, is not a good show to watch for me and likely not for others. It is entertaining and I know it is about the scientist who catch the bad guys, and that is great. However, with each piece of evidence I get to visualize a murder, rape, beating, shooting, stabbing, poisoning, or freak accident, over and over again. I am placing violence in my well. How can my water supply not be affected? Just a thought from me, what do you think?

Care for little ones

Matt 18:1-6 (KJV)

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.

4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

5 And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.

6 But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.

 

When we observe a small child do we think of greatness? Do we see a kindergarten age child as a symbol of greatness? Of course, we do not see such a small child as a symbol of greatness. We see presidents, congressmen, millionaires, maybe pastors, and other big church leaders as great in our society. The apostles likewise looked at their society, the measures of a man, and were prompted to ask for quantifiable standards by which they could measure greatness in the coming kingdom. Jesus answer was simple, see this child, view yourself the same.

 

Children by and large have no rights, and their personal expectations are generally disregarded. How many children even as teens have a say in where they live or go to school. Their personal preferences may increase with age but they are not all fulfilled. This is why they struggle with authority. As the progress in growth they learn to evaluate and analyze their surroundings, make determinations, and select a mentality towards various events, places, and people. Then comes the struggle between authority, who may not have the same view or opinion, and the child. The child does not have the authority to carry out their plan and must capitulate to the adult.

 

We have evaluated our world, made our plans, and determined how things should be only to be confronted with God's reality. Often this brings conflict because we will not humble ourselves, like a child. So we begin to humble ourselves on a regular basis only to have someone tells us we are not right? I mean we are doing the best we can, or at least think we can? Even if the person is right and is not gentle to us little children we will kick, scream, or pout. Remember at this point we are talking about adults.

 

So, now for verse 6 and what I really want to address. "These little ones" in the Greek means anyone of lesser dignity. This is the Senior Pastor to Junior Pastor, Pastor to Flock, Sunday School Teacher to Class, School Teacher to Class, Upper Classman to Lower, etc… You get the idea. We are to exercise great care to not offend (entice to sin) someone who looks up to us or at least whose care we have been given. How scary is this warning now? Therefore, we must take great care to encourage and not discourage, find meeker ways to address problems, to demonstrate love and care. I am amazed how we forget that the goodness of God leads us to repentance. You would think that we had to feel the fires of hell first and then we can repent by the way we see problems handled. Instead we are convinced of hell, sin, and our just reward, but shown mercy, love, and God's kindness in our lives. Then we understand and cling in love, not fear (it is not perfect, and is not from God), to our Lord. Why then do we jump down a teen's throat? We as adults cannot handle this internal conflict without bad attitudes. Perhaps we all need to consider our actions before people. I do not know about you but that millstone thing does not sound fun.