Take Me Out To The Ball Game 4/30/2017

Good Morning,

Sitting next to me at my desk is a very hot cup of Door County Red Velvet Mocha Coffee and my buddy Gibbs, our English Springer Spaniel. Actually he is sitting on my feet. He is probably a little cold. I just started a fire in the hearth I cleaned last week, thinking I was done with fireplaces for the year. I was wrong. Seems as if winter returned.

Over the last couple of days Rene and I have set a few goals for the summer. More cookouts and picnic table time are on the agenda. Some minor landscaping repairs are on the list. One air show with friends made the cut and last but not least we are planning to go to a professional baseball game. We have a beautiful ball park that actually has a retractable roof so rain issues are never a problem. We love to get to the park early and cook a few brats, eat some nachos, and watch as thousands of other people do the same. It is always a festive atmosphere. Now rain can make a difference outside and ruin the picnic, but we people from Wisconsin are hardy and everyone owns some type of shelter. The menu can always change to sub sandwiches eaten inside the truck.

But let's talk baseball. Baseball is simple to understand. One team is on offense and one is on defense. One team has a pitcher who throws the ball to the batter of the offense at home plate. It is the batter's responsibility to hit the pitch thrown by the defense and then run the three bases hopefully to get back to where he started at home plate. This scores a run when he touches home plate. Now those of you familiar with baseball fully understand this.

Christian life is like a baseball game. We are put into the game (life) we get on base and we are the object of the defense's attention. They do not want us to make it home. (heaven).We are on first base and we cannot steal all the bases to get to home plate. We need someone to get a hit or make a sacrifice bunt to advance us in our direction. The opposing team (Satan) tries to pick us off by distracting us and then throwing our way at first base trying to stop our advance.

But then the team Slugger (Jesus and  His death for our sins) comes up to bat. He lays down a sacrifice bunt to get us moving in the right direction. We freeze at first base not knowing if we should advance to second base. The base coach urges ( Holy Spirit) us to move forward (repent) and we do.  We find that once we accept the sacrifice hit to move forward, our feet pick up speed, the bunt that was laid down slips through the infield and heads to an unsuspecting outfield. The crowd (angels) is wild, cheering beyond belief.  Our Slugger is right behind us, this bunt will be an in the park home run. The Coach keeps us going toward home, the Slugger is pushing us on, we round third base and the defense is still trying to pick up the ball and throw us out. But home plate is in our sight ( end of life) they cannot stop us, They have a week arm and at the end of our run we step on home plate to the cheer of the crowd and the Umpire (God the Father) calls us "SAFE". One runner home!!!!!! Brought home by the Slugger and He is jumping up and down celebrating us coming home. He says. "well done'!

Luke 15:10New International Version (NIV)
¹⁰ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

So if you are blessed to go to a baseball game whether professional or a Little League game enjoy this thought. Where are you on the base path of life? Do you know if you are making it Home? or are you going to be stopped at third base? Have you accepted the hit from the Slugger?

John 14:6New King James Version (NKJV)
⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Romans 10:13New King James Version (NKJV)
¹³ For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

Batter Up!!!

Have a great day.

Marty