Chris Davis: A First Baseman In A Pennant Race

Photo Credit: Greg M. Cooper – US Presswire

So far, the 2012 Major League Baseball season has been filled with a ton of excitement. One of the reasons for this new found excitement was Commissioner Bud Selig expanding the playoffs by adding a second Wild Card team. There are new markets that haven’t been relevant in terms of the postseason in years that are now in contention. One of those teams is the Baltimore Orioles.

The Orioles haven’t been to the postseason since 1997, but under manager Buck Showalter, they are in the running for a playoff spot, and potentially, taking the American League East away from the New York Yankees! Despite their run differential issues, they have a belief in themselves that they can win a close game. They have one of the best closers in Jim Johnson and a solid offense, which gets major contributions from my latest interview.

Orioles’ first baseman Chris Davis made his major league debut with the Texas Rangers in 2008. For his years in Texas, he was known as a power hitter, but also as a player who struck out numerous times. In July of 2011, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles along with pitcher Tommy Hunter.

Now, Davis is making his stride with the Orioles. As of September 17^th, he is hitting .264 with 26 home runs and 70 RBI’s. He is hitting .319 in the month of September as he tries to help Baltimore take the next step.  He also has a win this year out of the bullpen in a 17 inning game back in May. On my show last week, I predicted Baltimore taking a Wild Card spot and Davis could be a small reason why!

Here is my interview with Chris about his faith, his time with Texas, what he felt after the trade, and Baltimore’s newfound success in 2012:

1. Chris, how did you come to know the Lord?

Chris: I started going to church with my family when I was young and was baptized at the age of 6 in the First Baptist Church of Longview.

2. Who have been some of your Christian role models both on and off the field?

C: My grandfather (Papa my mom’s father) was one of the biggest Christian influences in my life.  He passed away a few years ago but just the way he treated others and the way he lived his life were and still are an inspiration to me.  On the field I would have to say David Murphy and Josh Hamilton have been the two biggest influences on me.  They both taught me how to play the game for God’s glory and how to enjoy the process and not focus so much on the results.  It’s not about statistics; winning and losing but about how you handle yourself and what kind of image you present to the people who are watching.

3. What is your favorite Bible Verse and how has it exemplified your walk with the Lord?

C:  I have many favorites but I really enjoy Hebrews 12:1-2. (I actually have it tattooed on my right rib cage.)  It is a constant reminder that we will face many things in life that may be difficult and hard for us to understand but anything that we encounter Christ has already experienced and overcome.  We must remember to put our faith in the Lord and continue to persevere.

4. Talk about how God has used you in the locker room in terms of possible fellowship opportunities with your teammates.

C:  I try to lead primarily by example.  I think that it is crucial to walk the walk if you are going to talk the talk.  Many people will not believe what you say if you do not practice what you preach.  I try to control my language, my emotions, and carry myself as a man of God.  We have a number of guys who attend chapel on Sundays and we have actually had a few bible studies throughout the season.

5.  Last season, you were traded from the Rangers to the Orioles. Can you tell us about how you felt at at time and how God helped you get through it?

C: I went through a wide range of emotions.  I was excited to get the opportunity to play everyday in the big leagues with another team but I was also sad to leave behind so many friends.  I think God had been slowly preparing me for the trade for the past few years.  I had grown so much in my relationship with Him and had really learned how to trust Him and not lean on my own understanding.  That was crucial because I went through so many new things after being traded.

6. The Orioles are one of the surprise teams in baseball this year. What can we expect from the O’s down the stretch?

C: You can expect us to continue to play hard and to finish up strong.  Obviously not a lot of people picked us to do this well this year but we felt that we had a strong and versatile team in Spring Training and we believed in each other.  When you focus on the task at hand and worry about meeting your expectations and not others’ anything is possible.

Like I said at the beginning, the Orioles are a team that really feels that they are never out of a game. When doing this interview with Mr. Davis, what stood out to me was the fact that he talked about when you worry about meeting your own expectations, anything can be possible!

This reminded me of the verse New York Jets’ quarterback Tim Tebow tweeted out on Sunday, which comes from the gospel of Matthew when Jesus talks about a rich man entering the Kingdom of God. The disciples then ask Him if a rich man can’t enter, then who can get saved?

Jesus responds: “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”(Matthew 19:26)

The Orioles and even the Oakland Athletics are teams that do not spend like the Yankees, Red Sox, or other teams in the big markets do. However, they put their sight on their own goals and not how everyone expected them to do. With God, we as Christians, need to feel that with God, we can do anything we set our minds too. If we do succeed at those goals, we like Chris, need to continue to give God the glory in everything we do because He is Holy and Almighty!

Even as a Yankees’ writer, I find myself pulling for the Orioles and I wish Chris and his team the best of luck the rest of the way!

Steve Cishek: Setting Up For The Lord

(Photo Credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Coming into the season, one of the more intriguing storylines around Major League Baseball was the newly formed Miami Marlins. They got a new stadium, a new manager, and brought in some big money free-agent signings in shortstop Jose Reyes, closer Heath Bell, and starting pitcher Mark Buehrle.

As we are in the All-Star Break of the baseball season, Miami has gone through many ups and downs. Some of those include manager Ozzie Guillen’s comments about Fidel Castro, their winning record in May, and Bell’s six blown saves in the first half.

For this interview, I wanted to hear from someone in the organization to reflect on their faith and the Miami Marlins. I reached out to set up man Steve Cishek. Cishek has been in the Major Leagues for two seasons and the 26-year-old righty has had the best season of his career so far

In the first half, he went 4-1 with a 2.17 ERA and one save. In 37.1 innings, he had a 2:1 K:BB ratio and only gave up nine earned runs. This includes a 0.56 ERA in the month of July so far. He is unique with his sidearm delivery, but his faith is what makes him a unique individual off the field.

This is my Q+A with Steve that we did a couple of weeks ago:

1. How did you come to know the Lord?

Steve: When I went to Carson-Newman college (Baptist School) I was introduced to FCA and those people that worshipped every tuesday showed me an amazing deal I was missing out on. I was shown through a friend that since I do not have Jesus I can’t make it into heaven and she and one of my team mates brought me to FCA and eventually helped me pray for forgiveness.

2. Who have been some Christian role models on and off the field for you during your walk with Christ?

S: Definitely one of my best friends, A.J. Battisto who is one of the strongest Christians I know. He is rehabbing an injury for the marlins. Also Chris Coghlan has been very encouraging and we have had some great studies together. Our chaplain Chris Lane is also amazing. He takes time to drive 40 minutes out of his way to teach us and guide us in the word for Bible Studies and Sunday Chapel services. 

3. What is your favorite Bible Verse? Why and how has it exemplified your walk?

S: Colossians 3:23. I carry it in my back pocket when I pitch every game. It reminds me that when I am pitching, I can’t pitch to impress our coaches of staff or any team mates. I’m working for God’s glory. With good outings or bad outings he doesn’t care how I pitch. No matter what He loves me. So it takes an enormous amount of pressure off me to perform for a crowd or coaches. And good outing or terrible outing I always thank the Lord for what he has done in my life and for allowing for me to play baseball.
4. Do you feel religion and sports can co-exist today? Talk about the fellowship you have had in the clubhouse whether its with the Miami Marlins or in the minor leagues
S: Christianity and sports can co-exist yes. As ball players we have an amazing platform to be an example of Christian faith. People are always seeing what we do and if we live it out people notice and ask. It is a great platform to share our faith and what Jesus has done for us. The only tough thing is no one is perfect, and since fans watch our every move we sometimes fail, so we need to be careful.

5. If a teammate or coach came up to you wanting to know about your faith, what would you tell them?
S: I would tell them I am a Christian and if they had the time I’d share the gospel with them.

6. How has the first year been in Miami for you guys so far?

S: It has been a blessing. I love the stadium, minus the Cleavender haha. But it is a great atmosphere and a beautiful park. Also Miami is a great city and living here has been great.

7. Talk about what it is like playing for a manager like Ozzie Guillen .

S: It is great. He is everything you want in a coach. He has our backs, and he loves family. When you aren’t performing to his expectations he lets you know it. And he likes to keep it light. We play hard for Him because we know he demands it from us and I hope that will never change. He has been great for the team.

We at Jesus N Sports wish Mr. Cishek best of luck going forward and continue to pray for his walk with the Lord and pray for the Miami Marlins to play the best they can in the 2^nd half as well as glorifying the Lord Jesus on and off the field.

You can follow Steve on Twitter: @srSHREK31

Finishing Strong

Photo Credit: MIke Stobe/Getty Images

The fans waited over fifty years and 8,019 games for history to happen.Friday night, it happened for the New York Mets over at Citi Field with their ace Johan Santana. Yes, for the first time in franchise history, a Mets’ pitcher finally threw a no-hitter in their 8-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.

For Santana, his night did not come with its usual control of his pitches (five walks), but what amazed me about his performance was his endurance. He came into the year with issues about his shoulder, having missed last year due to shoulder surgery. He threw a whopping 134 pitches! The Mets have been one of the surprise stories in baseball this year with their 29-23 record (as of June 1^st) and are doing better than their cross-town rivals right now.

What I want to focus on is the no-hitter itself. It is tough to get the last out in baseball, but it is also grueling to get through all nine innings without allowing a hit. You can be dominant, but sometimes have to rely on your defense like Santana did when he was assisted by Mike Baxter’s great catch in the 7^th inning.

The 9^th inning is the toughest. Just knowing you are three outs away from history, it is tough [with all the fatigue] to finish with the same kind of stuff that you started with. David Freese of the Cardinals gave Santana a tough last out, but that 134^th pitch was a swing and a miss to seal the deal!

As Christians, we have a similar scenario. We are taught to finish the race and run the course with Christ! However, it is not an easy feat. Just take a look at one of the heroes in the hall of faith (Hebrews 11). It is the judge Gideon. People tend to focus on the story of Gideon in terms of the good things he did and how he went from working in a winepress as the lowest in his family to becoming a leader of 300 men in his defeat of Midian. (Judges 6-7)

However, what goes overlooked is the power and prestige he got and how he changed as a person. After his defeat of the two kings of Midian (Zebah and Zalmunna), Gideon felt a sense of power and vengeance, killing the people of Succoth and Penuel who would not help them by providing aid to him and his battle weary troops. This was not the same timid Gideon we were introduced to in Judges 6 & 7. After the defeat, the people of Israel approach Gideon and request that he become their king. Gideon responds by saying the right things:

“I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” (Judges 8:23)

To some, this sounds like a denial of a position, but to others, it could sound like a qualified acceptance. Towards the latter part of his life, Gideon acts more like a king by making a golden ephod that had Israel go into spiritual idolatry or taking on many wives. He even names his son Abimelech, which means “My father is king”! He does not back up the theology he speaks with his actions.

Today, I exhort you to keep the faith and finish strong. Unlike King David, Gideon did not repent for the sins he committed, so first, I pray that you continue to repent to Jesus of all your wrongdoings as will I. But, don’t look ahead to the end! We are not promised tomorrow and we are called to live for Jesus EVERY DAY! ‘Finish Well’ today is the key here! I know it may seem tiring, but God did not say there would not be trials and tribulations along the way! Think of ways, in which we can finish not only today, but this weekend, or the rest of this week.

In the end, I hope that we can all be like Paul who said “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7).  As I wrote earlier, that 27^th out can be the toughest, but we have to remember and thank God for getting that 27^th out for us on the cross for our salvation when He said “It is Finished!” (John 19:30)

God Wants Us All To Step Up

(Photo Credit: Reuters)

The latest injury surrounding the Major League Baseball scene involved one of the most iconic players in the history of the game. Last Thursday night, before the New York Yankees began the series with the Kansas City Royals, Rivera was doing in warm-ups what he had done for eighteen years.

As he was shagging fly balls in the outfield, Rivera stumbled on the turf, which resulted in a tear of his ACL. He is now out for the rest of the 2012 season, but has vowed that he will come back to the Yankees next year.

So, the Yankees are now faced with a dilemma. Who will be the closer for 2012? The choices are between 8^th inning man David Robertson or former Rays’ closer Rafael Soriano. The main mindset that has to be going on in the Yankee clubhouse right now is the next man has to step up. There is no moping in the clubhouse because when someone goes down, the next man on the sidelines has to be ready to check into the game.

When I went to Bible Study the other day, the story of Deborah in the book of Judges reminded me of this situation. Deborah was a prophetess of the land of Israel when the people would go through cycles where they would follow the Lord under a judge, but then would turn away from God once the judge left. Deborah accompanied the army of Israel, under the leader of a man named Barak, as they defeated the Canaanite army led by Sisera at the River Kishon.

After Sisera is killed by Jael via a tent peg, Deborah sings a song of praise after the victory. In the song, the Lord notes the tribes who defended Israel in the battle and those who did not (Judges 5:13-18). And since the LORD is the one who inspired the text of Scripture, we could say, the LORD noted who stepped up and who didn’t.

After naming the tribes, a few verses later Deborah references the inhabitants of place called Meroz saying,

“Curse Meroz”, said the angel of the Lord, curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the Lord, To the help of the Lord against the mighty.”(Judges 5:23)

So why does this story apply to us today? Well, the Lord does not want us to be Meroz. In times of strife, we have to trust God to help us with our battles because the Lord works everything for good for those who love Him!

Whenever God calls us, we have to always be ready to answer that call! God will note in His mind who stepped up for Him and who did not when we stand before Him on the Day of Judgment. We just can’t sit on the sidelines and be lukewarm about our faith! The Lord wants us to go forth and preach the Gospel to all nations.

Once the Lord calls us, it is time for us to heed the precious Word of God and OBEY IT! Today, I exhort you to do just that. Even if circumstances deny us the amount of fellowship we hope to have, we must be sold out to God individually and wait for Him to re-open doors of opportunity. It is up to us to continue being diligent and to not let our guard down at any situation. Keep the Word of God in your heart and your minds because it is our weapon to use against Satan, just like our Savior did when He was tempted in the desert. (Matthew 4)

Let The Lord Take The Lead

Jim Thome slugged his 600th HR last night and is a man who cared more about the whole. We should play the background and let the Lord lead! (Duane Burleson, AP)

Lately, my friends have had me listen to the song by LeCrae called Background. It has taught me that we need to let the Lord take the lead in our life and not look for personal glory .Sometimes our actions are not recognized or hyped by everybody, but in the end, the Lord recognizes our service to Him and looks down upon us with great favor.

Last night, a great accomplishment happened in Major League Baseball. It was done by a man who has been under the radar for most of his career. Minnesota Twins’ DH Jim Thome became the 8^th man in baseball history to reach 600 home runs for his career. He hit two home runs, including number 600 off of Daniel Schlereth, in the 7^th inning of a 9-6 victory. He hasn’t won a World Series or been the star of a team, but Thome belongs in the Hall of Fame for being presumably clean in the steroid era and he always shows great class and professionalism.

One of the men in the Bible who always let the Lord take the lead was John the Baptist. John was a man who came to prepare the way for the Messiah. However, people thought he was the second coming of Elijah, but he came to “prepare the way of the Lord” (Isaiah 40:3). In the third chapter of John, his disciples wonder why Jesus is getting all the attention for baptizing when John the Baptist bore witness to him. Shortly after, he tells them this:

“I am not the Christ, but I have been sent before him. The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:28-30)

We need to take the example of John the Baptist in our lives. When we submit to Christ, we have to decrease our role and let Christ be the one who leads us to success. Thus, we honor Him for the success we have in our lives. Jim Thome never boasted about his accomplishments and never was a man who cared about himself more than the team. We should do the same and care for what the Lord wants us to do before we care about ourselves!

Do the Right Thing

Texas Rangers Ball Park (Photo: Moderndayblog)

The Texas Rangers have announced that they will build a bronze statue at the stadium in honor of Shannon Stone. Last month Shannon died when he fell from the stands trying to catch a foul ball. The Texas Rangers will build a statue that will depict the Brownwood firefighter Shannon and his son Cooper at a game. The statue will likely be up next season outside the park’s home plate. The statue will be called “Ranger Fan”, to show a father and a son together at a ball game. The family is very touched by the Rangers wanting to do this in memory of Shannon. Shannon’s wife, Julie said, “was touched and grateful” and hoped the sculpture would be a reminder of a family’s love- love of each other, love of spending time together,  and the love of the game.”

It’s is always interesting when you try to do the right thing, people criticize for doing it and accuse you of doing the wrong thing. When I was reading this story on Yahoo Sports, I looked at the comments placed by those type of people. There were great comments that were applauding the  Texas Rangers and giving them praise. Than there seemed to be more negative comments, saying the Rangers were only doing this so they wouldn’t get sued, and why do it for a guy who shouldn’t even gone after the ball, why do it for Shannon when there are those who fall and die for this country and so many other negative comments. This morning I even read more comment about how this man was no hero, he was just a clumsy dad who should have thought about his son before ever trying to leap for a foul ball. Maybe they are right about this man, but we weren’t there and we don’t know what he was thinking. He should of made a better decision but he did it for his son.

In our walk as Christians, we are trying to do what is right but for some reason people still accuse us of doing wrong. Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:11-12; “Dear friends, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from sinful desires, which wage war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.”(NIV)  We need to still live good lives in this world and do the right thing even if we get accused of doing wrong. We do the right thing and live the right life so that others may see our good deeds and glorify God. We live to please God not man. Paul wrote to the Thessalonica Church in 1 Thessalonians 4:1, “Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”  As Christ followers we know how we ought to walk and how we need to please God and we need do this more and more every day of our life.

We need to serve God, live the life God has called us to live, be examples, continue doing the right thing, and walk as Jesus walked no matter if others accuse us of doing something wrong. So continue walking the walk and talking the talk and live a life that will bring honor to God.

God Will Never Walk Out on Us

Carlos Zambrano walked out on the Cubs, but God in our darkest times will never walk out on us! (Getty Images)

One of the more memorable series this year in baseball has to be what has taken place between the Chicago Cubs and the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field. The baseball storyline has to be Braves’ 2B Dan Uggla and his quest to match the great Joe Dimaggio’s 56 game hitting streak. However, for the sake of this Christian blog, we want to focus on the whole saga that took place Friday night surrounding Cubs’ pitcher Carlos Zambrano.

In that game, Zambrano was ejected for throwing two straight inside pitches to Chipper Jones in the 5^th inning in a game which he gave up a career high five home runs. The Cubs’ pitcher has had his issues with umpires, managers, and his own teammates over the course of his career. Friday night was a new low for him.

He went down into the clubhouse, cleared his stuff out of his locker, and told people in the room that he was leaving the game of baseball for good. According to his agent, Zambrano didn’t mean to actually retire, but that he said he would retire out of emotion. On Saturday, the Cubs put him on the disqualified list. This means that he cannot participate in team activities for 30 days and that he will not be paid over that duration of time. Personally, I think his time in Chicago has worn thin and the team should eat the contract. That would benefit both the team and Zambrano himself.

Fortunately, we have an Advocate in Heaven who will never leave us and shows His abundant mercy at all times. Moses tells the Israelite people in Deuteronomy as he is making way for Joshua to lead Israel “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).I love this verse because it shows that God is always on our side, so why would we want to leave a great God like Him?

Today, I exhort you in times of frustration to continue to seek the Lord! Even in our times of most trouble, God is always with us! A psalm of David also shows that the Lord is with us even in our darkest hours. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18). The Father always watches over everyone and He will not let us take our stuff and just leave. Once we submit to Christ, He puts us in His hand and He will never let us go. We should never give up in seeking Christ and He will never give up calling us home.

Take me out to the Ball Game

Bricktown Ballpark (Photo: Joseph Mills Photography)

I enjoy watching Baseball but not on TV, I enjoy going to the ball park, eating peanuts, cheering on the team, watching the game live and always wanting to catch a foul ball or a home run ball. I have been to Atlanta Braves, Texas Rangers, Oklahoma City Redhawks, Frisco Rough Riders, and other games but I still have not caught a souvenir ball.

So I read about this young boy who caught a foul ball at the Giants game and than gave it to the older man in front of him. The boy’s family, friends and the fans around him greeted the move with lots of smiles and applause. Why would he give a foul ball to this older man? Why, because before he caught his foul ball the older man caught one and gave the souvenir ball to him. What a great gesture that both of these guys did for each other. This reminds us of the friends you can make and the experiences you can have each time you go to the ballpark. We hear stories of fans wrestling in the garbage for a baseball, stories of fans beating up other fans just because they cheer for a different team and a story of two women fighting over a bat at a Royals game.

It’s great to hear stories of people sharing, caring and even giving foul balls way to the person next to you. I applaud this young boy who when it was his turn to catch the ball, he gave it to the man who just gave him a ball instead of keeping both. That would be hard for me since I have never caught a foul ball, but this young boy is an example to me. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:12: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” We can learn so much from the youth around us by the examples they set. If you are young and reading this blog, you can be an example to anyone you come in contact with.

We need more young people stepping up to the plate and being an example in their speech, in their lifestyle, in their faith and in their purity. This young man showed all of these traits by just returning the favor to this older man. He could of kept both balls but he didn’t. We need young people who are willing to walk the walk and talk the talk, and who are willing to be like Jesus. Jesus is our greatest example and we need to walk in his footsteps. Peter writes in 1 Peter 2:21,” For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” Jesus left us a pattern to follow, an example to live by and we should follow in his steps. As young people can be great examples for us, we need to be great examples for them and not just for them but for everyone we come in contact with. Are you following in the footsteps of Jesus?

Be an Inspiration

I have always been a big Atlanta Braves fan and grew up watching them play. My dream was to one day go to watch them play in Atlanta and a few years ago that dream came true. My wife bought me tickets for Father’s day one year and I was three rows from the dugout. The stadium, the game, and the Braves was everything I dreamed about. Could you imagine having the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at Turner Field?

Tonight, Lily Anderson got that opportunity and inspired those in the stands, the Braves and the world. After singing the National Anthem, according to Braves reliever Peter Moylan describes “was the longest standing ovation he has witnessed”. Now Lily isn’t a famous singer but is a 10 year old girl who was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma in 2009 and has gone through difficult rounds of chemotherapy and surgery. She was singing the anthem as part of “Rally Night, an evening of fundraising and awareness to benefit Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research which Brian McCann hosted. After watching the video of her singing, I notice two things about her: her smile and the gleam in her eyes. Lily has inspired a lot of people, just check out her Facebook page, not only with her song Thursday night, but with her entire fight with cancer.

If Lily can inspire so many people, look at what you can do. Be an inspiration to someone and make a difference in someone’s life. The word inspire is derived from Latin words meaning “to breathe into.” To inspire means to affect, to stimulate to action, to motivate, to touch and give hope to. Lily did all of these on one night standing on Turner Field singing with her heart our National Anthem. Jesus calls us to do the same. In Matthew 5:13-15 we are called to be the “Light of the word and the Salt of the earth.” To Shine our lights and Flavor the world is what this life is really all about. Paul wrote to the Thessalonian Church in 1 Thess. 5:11, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.” Are we encouraging and building one another up? Are we making a difference in people’s lives by giving them hope and inspiring them to live for Jesus?

You can learn more about Lily and her fight against cancer at PrayforLilyAnderson.com and on her Facebook page. She will inspire you like she has inspired me to write this article. Lily made a difference in my life by showing me that no matter what you are going through, keep smiling.

Be a world changer, make a difference, and inspire the world to be more like Jesus. Thanks Lily for inspiring me to be a better person and to keep smiling. Please take some time to pray for Lily and other children and their fight against cancer. Donate some money if you can to this great cause. Share Lily’s story with others in your life. These are just some ways you can Be an Inspiration.

God Wants Us to Forgive Others

Jerry Meals made a bad call last night, but the Lord wants us to make the good call and forgive others. (Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)

The best story in Major League Baseball has to be the Pittsburgh Pirates. After seventeen straight losing seasons, their young talent is blossoming under manager Clint Hurdle. They are right in the thick of things in the NL Central and are actually buyers going into the Trade Deadline on Sunday. Last night, the Pirates were robbed of getting a chance to win the baseball game against the Atlanta Braves.

In the Bottom of the 19^th inning during a 3-3 game, Atlanta had 2^nd and 3^rd with one out with pitcher Scott Proctor at the plate. Proctor hits a ground ball to 3B Pedro Alvarez who makes the throw home that clearly beats Julio Lugo. Catcher Michael McKenry appears to apply the tag, but home plate umpire Jerry Meals calls him safe giving the Braves the victory. Today, everyone is calling for more instant replay in baseball and naming the call the worst ever made in MLB history. There have been worse, but it ranks up in the top 10 of what I have seen.

However, followers of Christ should not hold a grudge against Jerry Meals for very long. I’m sure Clint Hurdle will not have anything nice to say to Meals tonight who will be the umpire at third base. We should take the example that Jesus gives us on the Sermon at the Mount. This message shows us that no matter what harm is done to us, we still need to show the strength to forgive others as our Father up in Heaven forgives us.

“For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. (Matthew 6:14-15)

We have to remember that Christ died as the propitiation for our sins and that we should be angry when a brother sins, but still find it in our hearts to forgive them and show them compassion. Jesus wanted to share that with his disciples, especially the one who was going to be the rock on which he was going to build his church.

“Then Peter came up and said to him, “Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.” (Matthew 18:21-22)

So even when a call goes against you to lose a game or somebody says harmful things to you, I exhort you to stay strong and look to Jesus on how to counter back in a way that the Lord would do. Human error is a part of baseball, but it is also a part of life and we have to understand that. That is why without the grace of our Lord and Savior and His death on the cross, we would be condemned to eternal punishment. Keep this in mind as you seek Christ and try to preach the Gospel to people that if they try to persecute you, stand firm for God and He will reward you in heaven.

Finally, we have to pray for the Meals family. They are being harrassed and two message boards have posted his address and telephone number. Nobody deserves this and we need to pray to the Lord that Meals and his family are kept under the protection of the Lord’s strong shield.