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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Confidence in God
May 25, 2006
I was beginning to think that Fred had ice water in his veins. It was the
bottom of the seventh and the score was tied 13 -13. The guys from
Universal Life Church had the bases loaded and one out in our Church
League softball game. While I was praying that no one would hit the ball to
me, Fred was on the mound and ready to face the next batter. He could
not help but hear the opposing team's third base coach heckling him and
goading him as he tossed the ball toward home plate.
The umpire yelled, "Ball one." The chatter from the sidelines got even
louder. "You gonna' walk in the winning run?"
"Ball two," the man in blue declared. Now the coach got even bolder and
began to rally his teammates on the bench. Fred just looked back at him
with a smile.
When the umpire shouted, "Ball three," I thought the coach was going to
do a back flip he was so happy. He began to taunt Fred by telling the hitter
that the game was over and that all he needed to do was wait it out.
At that moment the tide began to turn and suddenly it was "strike one" and
"strike two." A weakly hit ball to the infield and there were now two outs
and the goading and teasing began to ease up. A pop up came my way and
I squeezed it and held on for dear life. The inning was over and Fred had
won the showdown.
We went on to win the game in nine innings. After the game I asked Fred
what he was thinking at that moment when the heckling was at its loudest
and the pressure was at its greatest. He said he had done it before and that
all he had to do was concentrate and throw strikes.
As I walked away from the field I thought of David, the little boy who
went up against the giant named Goliath in the Bible. Like with Fred and
the FBC team, the odds against David were astronomical. Goliath was so
fierce that all of the king's men were cowering in their tents. His taunts
only seemed to shake their faith even more. Then David stepped up with
his sling and did what he did best. This shepherd boy was not afraid. He
had fought off predators who had stalked his sheep. With a simple fling of
his sling, this enemy would fall.
The secret to David's success went deeper than his ability to use a
slingshot. David knew that he could depend on God to be with him when
he called. Whether he was out in the fields tending his flock or staring
down an enemy of Israel, God had promised to be with him. So when he
went out to meet Goliath, David knew that he was not alone.
God's most frequent promise in the Bible is "I will be with you." He says
this over and over again to various people in numerous settings. This
promise is ours to claim as well. Nowhere is it more comforting than in the
23rd Psalm where it says, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art there also..."
Now I don't believe that God determines the outcome of ball games, but he
does promise to help us stay calm in the midst of adversity. That is what
Fred was relying on in that game. That calm helped him out of an
impossible situation. So if you've got some giant you are facing, think of
David and then turn to God. He will be there to help you walk through it.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
May 25, 2006
I was beginning to think that Fred had ice water in his veins. It was the
bottom of the seventh and the score was tied 13 -13. The guys from
Universal Life Church had the bases loaded and one out in our Church
League softball game. While I was praying that no one would hit the ball to
me, Fred was on the mound and ready to face the next batter. He could
not help but hear the opposing team's third base coach heckling him and
goading him as he tossed the ball toward home plate.
The umpire yelled, "Ball one." The chatter from the sidelines got even
louder. "You gonna' walk in the winning run?"
"Ball two," the man in blue declared. Now the coach got even bolder and
began to rally his teammates on the bench. Fred just looked back at him
with a smile.
When the umpire shouted, "Ball three," I thought the coach was going to
do a back flip he was so happy. He began to taunt Fred by telling the hitter
that the game was over and that all he needed to do was wait it out.
At that moment the tide began to turn and suddenly it was "strike one" and
"strike two." A weakly hit ball to the infield and there were now two outs
and the goading and teasing began to ease up. A pop up came my way and
I squeezed it and held on for dear life. The inning was over and Fred had
won the showdown.
We went on to win the game in nine innings. After the game I asked Fred
what he was thinking at that moment when the heckling was at its loudest
and the pressure was at its greatest. He said he had done it before and that
all he had to do was concentrate and throw strikes.
As I walked away from the field I thought of David, the little boy who
went up against the giant named Goliath in the Bible. Like with Fred and
the FBC team, the odds against David were astronomical. Goliath was so
fierce that all of the king's men were cowering in their tents. His taunts
only seemed to shake their faith even more. Then David stepped up with
his sling and did what he did best. This shepherd boy was not afraid. He
had fought off predators who had stalked his sheep. With a simple fling of
his sling, this enemy would fall.
The secret to David's success went deeper than his ability to use a
slingshot. David knew that he could depend on God to be with him when
he called. Whether he was out in the fields tending his flock or staring
down an enemy of Israel, God had promised to be with him. So when he
went out to meet Goliath, David knew that he was not alone.
God's most frequent promise in the Bible is "I will be with you." He says
this over and over again to various people in numerous settings. This
promise is ours to claim as well. Nowhere is it more comforting than in the
23rd Psalm where it says, "Yea though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for Thou art there also..."
Now I don't believe that God determines the outcome of ball games, but he
does promise to help us stay calm in the midst of adversity. That is what
Fred was relying on in that game. That calm helped him out of an
impossible situation. So if you've got some giant you are facing, think of
David and then turn to God. He will be there to help you walk through it.
God bless. See you in church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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