Baseball has been called “America’s Pastime.”  Its players have been referred to as the “boys of summer.”  In these days of complex computer generated entertainment; it is refreshing to return to the simple joys of a ball and a bat.  May of today’s adults believe that baseball teaches valuable life lessons.  Consider the following such lesson:

Behold a ball team went forth to play a game of ball.  Just as the umpire was saying “batter up,” the catcher for the home team arrived and took his place.  The centerfielder and the second baseman didn’t come at all, but later sent regrets saying, “We have to go to a chicken dinner at Aunt Mary’s today.”  The third baseman, likewise, failed to show up.  He had been out late the night before and preferred to spend the day in bed.  The leftfielder was away visiting another game across town.  The shortstop was present, but left his glove at home.

Verily, verily...when the pitcher took the mound, he looked back to see his teammates and his heart was heavy when he saw so many empty places in the line-up.  The game had been announced and the spectators were  in the stands waiting.  So the pitcher tightened his belt and did his level best, but for some reason, he could not put it over the plate.  He could not “find the groove.”  Some of his teammates began to ride him for the wild pitches, and loud “boos” began to come from the stands.  At the close of the game, the home team (what was left of them) was mercilessly beaten.  After hearing of their team’s disgraceful defeat, the absent players decided it must have been due to the poor pitching.

Behold, a preacher went forth to preach…but that’s another story.

Many churches suffer from “summeritis” during the fair weather months.  Don’t you miss out on the many things God is doing at FBC Duluth this summer.  We have a “hot” summer in store for us!

Bro. Mark