I coach fast-pitch softball...pony-tail division...girls...13-18 years old. It's great fun, the psychic income is high, and it keeps me running. Thank you, Lord.
The most important question I ask every player to consider--a question that should get asked before every pitch--is, "If the ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it?" Every player has to be ready for that. They need to consider the question beforehand, so that their response is [almost] automatic. If the ball comes to me, what am I going to do with it? Throw to first. Get the lead runner at third. Go for the force at the plate.
I heard an Easter sermon at Market Square here in Old Town Alexandria that repeated that softball question, but with two word changes. Pastor Tom asked the approximately 200 folks assembled at sunrise in the town square, "Since the gospel has just come at you, what are you going to do with it?" Now that's a great question. What am I going to do with it?
First, will I catch it? The gospel--that beautiful redemptive message--will I catch it? We know it is virulent, and infects millions of our fellow creatures every year. But will I catch it? Or are my antibodies so strong, my defenses so formidable, that I will attempt to avoid any contamination? Will I just let it go by--let the next guy pick it up--or watch it dribble through my legs or, worse yet, will I run from it? If the gospel comes at me, what am I going to do?
And if I catch it, what will I do with it? That's another great question. Make no mistake: no one can catch the gospel ball and just hold on to it. There are no "ball hogs" when it comes to the truth. If we catch this message, it is going to go somewhere...somewhere beyond us. The other players in our lives will see it. We're going to feel it. And we're going to do something with that hot potato called the good news. We will not be able to "privatize" it, to hide it away just for ourselves. This isn't some secret self-improvement project. No way. It doesn't work that way. The gospel is a flow, not a stock. It moves.
There were some great players on the city diamond Easter Sunday. Not their stats--their stats were pretty run-of-the -mill human being stats. Sinners all. No, it was their potential that's so promising. They are on the field, going after the gospel ball. There was also a good supply of new talent, too. Plenty of opportunities to catch the good news.
I believe many did. I sure did. Thank you, Lord.
Chris Joyce
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