A Stone's Throw

While in seminary in Fort Worth, TX, there was always a running joke about Texas Stadium, the former Dallas Cowboys stadium.  The joke (even said from pulpits in the area) was “the reason why there is a ‘hole’ in the top of Texas Stadium is so that God can watch his favorite team!” (Insert rim shot here!)  Seriously?!  I know it is a joke and all, but does God truly care about sports?

Don’t you think that God is maybe a little more concerned with the poor, the sick, the disenfranchised in this world?  I mean, I am just as big of sports fanatic as it comes, but let’s not blame God for the current standings in the NL Central!  The reason for the standings lies central on the players and managers of those teams!

Interesting article on “faith & sports” on CNN.com.  It is definitely a good read.

What do you think?  Does God really care about sports? Have we “trivialized” faith by “blaming God” for wins and loses?  Is this kind of “evangelism” more of a turn-off than turn-on to people?

When did God become a sports fan? – CNN.com.

Tonight was our first baseball game for Taylor’s team.  I am managing his team this year and it has been a lot of fun.  We played really well but came up a bit short tonight.  However, one big thing that I know I personally learned was that we all need to learn WHO we should listen to–in baseball…and especially in life.

My fellow coach came up after a half inning and said, “Only one of us (coaches) needs to talk to a batter at a time. I noticed that I was trying to talk to a batter and I looked down and you were already talking to him.  They aren’t hearing both of us…(probably neither of us when we are talking at the same time.)”

We also have a couple of players that have a really hard time “nicely ignoring” the crowds and focus on just coaches and fellow players.  When I was umpiring, one of my mentors used to say, “you can’t have ‘rabbit ears.’”  Meaning, when you are behind the plate, especially, you need to focus on your job, not listen to your critics calling balls and strikes from the stands on the 1st or 3rd base lines.

I was reminded tonight of the passage in the Gospel of John where Jesus tells about the sheep and the shepherd.

³The watchman opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. ⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. ⁵But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.” ⁶Jesus used this figure of speech, but they did not understand what he was telling them.

⁷Therefore Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. ⁸All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. ⁹I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved.^[a] He will come in and go out, and find pasture. ¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:3-10

So, who are you listening to?  Are you trying to listen to too many things all at the same time? Are you listening to the encouragers in your life?  The critics? Let us focus on the Master’s Voice, which brings us life!

Earlier today, I tweeted “ Is it just me, or do you have “Tin Cup” flashbacks when watching The Masters and they talk about Rory McIlroy and you think Roy McAvoy?” Really made me chuckle and remember The Colonial at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth while I was in seminary.  My buddy Rick Murray and I went to the tournament one day and I recall D.A. Weibring pulling a “Roy McAvoy” and hitting a ball right into the drink.  He had gotten himself in jail (which is easy to do at Colonial for sure) by hitting his drive close to some overhanging trees.  His first approach shot clipped a branch and landed in the pond.  He didn’t even look at his caddy.  He stared straight ahead at the ripples in the water and snapped his fingers for another ball.  After receiving the ball his didn’t even move at all…he just turned his hand over to drop the ball.  Awesome!!  He then hit his second ball within like 5 feet.  Unbelievable.

It was really something to see him be so laid back and roll with the punches.  No overreaction, not tantrum, no clubs thrown, no curse words.  We would all do well to take a play out of D.A.’s playbook.

How about you?  Any good stories of when you saw someone cool under discouragement or failure?