Locker#169

I have now returned from beautiful Tiger Town in Lakeland, Florida where I had a remarkable experience.

My dream as a boy was to make the big leagues.  Originally the thought was to make it as a player.  My athletic, baseball playing days have come and gone.  Now, as a professional instructor, I consider my time at the Detroit Tigers training complex the closest I've come to the major leagues...so far.

I spent 3 weeks as an instructor for the Doyle Baseball Academy.  I had the honor to work along side the best baseball instructors on the globe.  I am forever grateful.  Also, I had the opportunity to instruct many great athletes.  Some of the best 18U baseball players from around the world attend the Doyle Academy.  Many of these players will play at the college and professional level.

There is so much to report, but the one thing that stood out to me was the display of respect.  There are three particular examples.  First, the rapport between the instructors was amazing.  The styles, experience and knowledge among the group was quite diverse but the one thing that linked us all together was our mutual passion for the game and the development of kids in baseball and in life. 

And for the athletes themselves, their respect for each other was nothing short of spectacular.  Watching the players interact and help each other improve was refreshing.  Keep in mind that the ages participating in the academy was 12-18 which gives an indication of the varying skill levels of the players.  Junior and Senior Academy athletes had no problem partnering during drills and learning together.

Finally, the most surprising display of respect was of the on site professional players toward the academy athletes and coaching staff.  Many of the GCL Tigers made themselves available to the players and coaches.  It was cool to see the interest taken by the pros toward the academy.  There was a couple of days when the academy was on the field competing in game play when visiting pro teams (Blue Jays & Yankees) stopped to watch.  I confess my focus was diverted a few minutes watching these pros watching my guys.  Of course the academy players thought this was something special.  It was!  The best compliment to them as players was their attention.

Locker # 169 has been cleaned out with nothing left behind.  I have taken with me some great memories, new friends and a fresh outlook toward what God is doing in my life.

Faith As A Practical Matter

For too long in my life I viewed faith as an intellectual proposition.  Intellect is involved but the longer I live the more I know that my faith is best defined by my actions--attitude and behavior.  As corny as the hymn sounds, the lyric is way true:  "And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love."

Studying the book of James these past few months, this lesson is obvious.  James is a pastor at heart and he is clear that demonstrating our being is a big deal.  The question I continued to ask as I read was of the chicken and egg variety.  What comes first--faith (right belief) or action?  James is, after all, writing to Christians who have their theology down.  This letter is a dummy's guide to living it; seriously, living it.

Throughout my study I was struck by how practically James thinks.  Not much raw theology here like Paul's writings but heavy on life application.  I can imagine James as he writes this letter, writhing with emotion.  I can see the passion and feel the heartache as he thinks of his brother, the Christ.  James is full of love as he writes, desperately wanting to shepherd the Christians who would be reading this letter.

In an extremely random way, the image shown above can be a metaphor for James' message about faith and action.  My faith is square.  It has boundaries and limits.  Most of the time, I know what I believe and can articulate it.  When you get to the center of faith, that is, the essence of what faith is, demonstration and application matter.  If un-fairness (or greed, pride, selfishness, or whatever you deal with) isn't reported in my life then what reason (or right for that matter) do I have to declare I live in a square house?  I guess what I am suggesting is that we cannot have one without the other.  Faith without works is truly dead.  Character generated from faith is real religion. 

Maybe this is why, as Christians, our message often sounds stale and out of touch.  Often the hearers of the message cannot see and understand the purpose of our declaration.  "Show me, don't tell me," they say.  Because that utterance is tough to defend I say, "agreed".

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.  But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.  That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.  James 1:5-8 (NIV)

Upside Baseball

Several weeks ago I wrote right here that something big was coming.  That something big is here and ready to be announced. 

Please don't misunderstand.  This is NOT another 'Bron prime time decision, all drawn out to maximize ratings.  No, I am not moving to Miami, although I hear the weather and culture is very appealing.

The something big is that I am now a business owner!  Upside Baseball it is called, and I offer private baseball skill lessons and character development mentoring to kids ages 5 plus.  Customized lesson plans and success tracking devices are features of this new venture.  The benefit, of course, is a baseball experience for the whole person;  improved playing skills and maturing character all wrapped together.

I am just underway and there is still lots to do.  The website is not up and running quite yet but the facebook fan page is so search "Upside Baseball" and click "like".  Tell all your friends too.

Now go outside and play catch.  It is a great pick-me-up. 

Real World Theology

I wonder what it's like to be the rainmaker?
I wonder what it's like to know that I make the rain?

I would store it in boxes and be completely selfish, letting it out only to show off.  Rain storms would truly be storms, meant to push my authority onto the world.  See how big I am would ya!

God, the rainmaker, has a different purpose; that purpose much greater than I can understand completely.  Because of his great love, he sends the rains to nourish the earth; growing the new and purging the spent.  The beauty in every space is from God who is a creative creator.

I wonder what it's like to be a superhero?
I wonder where I'd go if I could fly around downtown?

I would get a high off impressing people with my powers.  Helping others in peril wold be about me, not them.  My friends would be pissed at me for being a showoff stuck on myself.

Jesus, my superhero, was about using his power; healing and forgiving those who approached him seeking relief.  Instead of these miracles propelling him to mass popularity, his actions of grace and mercy lead him to his death.  For God's glory, Jesus did these things; feeling the hurt of rejection and the weight of sin.

I wonder what it's like to be the head honcho?
I wonder what I'd do if they all did just what I said?

I would shout out orders, demanding I be served.  My interests would be first, not considering how my demands would change everything.  Being the boss does not inspire relationships but produces loneliness.

The Holy Spirit, the head honcho, is a still voice speaking into my life the things of God.  Everyday, the Spirit is hanging around because he lives within me.  Shaping my thoughts, moving my heart, directing my steps; the Spirit does not force himself upon me.  He gently asks me to follow God.

This is the real world.  This life is a hassle and daily grind.  God is in control.  Nothing is beyond his power.  Jesus came to demonstrate his Father's great love for us and to give us hope for his kingdom that is coming.  The Holy Spirit is motivating and moving us to that bright future when all the hassle will be gone.

Hang in.  The real-real world will be glorious!

Something Big

This is a big week.  Something important is happening and I am experiencing conflicting emotions.

Some of you know that there was a period in my life where I was just going through the motions.  This was a dark time.  I do not want to re-tell this story here, but suffice it to say, I was in a bad place emotionally, which effected me adversely in all areas of my life.  What I am announcing here, the reason this is a big week, was born from this bad time.  My journey through despair lasted about 2 years, and the path I am on now is about a year and a half in the making.

Drum roll please.  (Unofficially) I am a small business owner.  This becomes official with confirmation of processed paperwork already in the works.  The business is private youth baseball instruction and character development.  When confirmation comes I will be able to give more details.  My purpose now is to declare that God has cared for me beyond my wildest dreams.  The last 3 and a half years have been foundational toward the sense of accomplishment that I am experiencing now.  My heart has been re calibrated and my mind cleared and focused.  I can dream again.

One of the tools I have learned to use to transfer dreams to reality is affirmation.  I have always enjoyed inspirational quotes.  Now I do more with them than enjoy; I use these to motivate and inspire.  These quotes are used to affirm my desires and movement toward success.  One that I have used as I developed a business plan is, "If you build it, he will come." (famously from the film "Field of Dreams").  More significantly, I have been affirmed by God himself.  There have been few times I have believed God has spoken directly to me.  Last Sunday is one of those times.  Experiencing anxiety about the process of starting a business while considering all that could go wrong, I sensed God telling me to do this and shortly after that impression, I was thinking about everything that could go right.  I remembered again all the reasons this is important and why I am going for it.

So, yes, this is a Big week.  Bigger things are still to come.  I am feeling great ambition but also fear.  Strangely, I think these two emotions can work well together.  I suppose I will find out soon enough. 

Here is an affirmation for you:  "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."  (James 1:5)