What a ball game!

05/08/07 07:54 AM
We have a lot of fun on our church softball team, and last night's game was no exception. Along with playing very competitively, everybody also had a great attitude that honored Christ! I'm really proud of you guys!

We went up against Stone Memorial and they have a really good team. We exchanged leads throughout the game, but we were up by three in the top of the last inning. All we had to do was get them out and go home, but it didn't work out that way. They managed to score 4 runs and take the lead! Thankfully, we were the home team so we had another shot at it in the bottom of the seventh.

We were down 14-13. Lee Forbes was up first. Lee is a master at finding the line on either side of the diamond. He hit a rope down the first base line for a stand up triple! Next up was Spencer Johnson. At first, I was wondering whether they were going to intentionally walk him. They should have. He hit the second pitch over the right center field fence for a game winning two-run homer! Wow! What a come back!

While I still really enjoy playing ball, what I enjoy even more is the fellowship. The camaraderie that we share is a lot fun. It's also a good reminder of the priority of relationships. No one player, regardless of how gifted he or she may be, can do it all on the ball field. Games are won when players play as a team. In much the same way, the Christian life is not a "solo sport." We need each other. Consider the following passages in light of your friendships in Christ:

If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken. (Eccl. 4:10, 12)

See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. (Heb. 3:12-13)

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)