Sometimes God has a lesson for me that is hard to miss.
Earlier this summer, Andy and I were at Kaufman Field for the Twins/Royals game. We were in a crowded section fifteen rows up from the first base line. To my left were some college-aged guys who consumed five beers in as many innings. Behind us were a line of Royals fans, including a father and his eight-year-old son.
At some point, I started entertaining the idea that it would be very fun to catch a foul ball and give it to the eight-year-old. I’m not sure why. But the desire was strong enough that I sent up a quick prayer asking the Lord to send a ball my way so that I could give it away. Then I pretty much forgot about it.
By the 7th inning, the beer-saturated guys to my left vacated their seats for some other activity. In the top of the inning, Carlos Gomez stepped up to the plate and hit a ball our way. The entire section stood up attempting to catch the ball. It hit some seats and probably some people and then rolled along the now vacant row of seats and to my feet.
It seemed like the boy didn’t know exactly what to say when I handed him the ball. The dad quickly shook my hand. Andy said that the boy didn’t let go of the ball for the rest of the game. At one point, I looked back and saw him trying to clap with ball in hand.
It’s just a ball. But baseballs from major league baseball games mean a lot to eight-year-olds. What fun it was to make his day. He now has a little object to remind him of the baseball game he went to with his dad. Did he go home and show it to his mother? Did he show it to his friends? Does he keep it in a drawer with important things, like where I kept the ball from a Denver Bears’ game when I was his age?
Giving away the ball gave me much satisfaction. Far more than if I had kept it.
Hence the lesson. Many times God gives things to us so that we can give them away.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dear Tiger
Dear Tiger:
Though we have not met, I wanted to write and offer some encouraging words during what have to be the most difficult weeks of your life. The exposure you are experiencing these days would be a nightmare for anyone.
This may not make any sense to you, but having your transgressions revealed now could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Please hear me out on this.
The reason I say this is that someday everything will be revealed. I am a Christian. I believe that there is a God, and that He made Himself known to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus made this startling statement: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:2-3)
Someday all transgressions will be known. The transgressions that people thought they had successfully hidden and gotten away with shall be broadcast. I’m not sure how this will take place. I just know that it will be a very bleak day.
It gets worse. When this happens, the reaction of friends and family and onlookers will be the least of worries. The God whose commandments we have broken will be present. His punishment will be more severe than you could possibly imagine. Each person will have his offenses against God clearly revealed as their knees tremble.
But there is good news, Tiger. There are some who will be saved from this dreadful moment. Jesus says, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). You are invited (I’m inviting you now) to believe in Christ. That He was God in human form. That He suffered a cruel death – not for His own sins – but to pay for ours. That we have forgiveness from God through our faith in Him. That we avoid judgment and have eternal life in heaven.
Yesterday I heard a Christian on the radio singing – rejoicing – that he doesn’t have to bear the burden of the man he used to be. I thought of myself and the transgressions of years past (and of this week). Because of Jesus I don’t have to bear the guilt and impending judgment of those failures. But I also thought of you. The burden of the man that you used to be must be incredibly hard to bear right now. The great news is that you don’t have to. Jesus has borne it and you can experience God’s forgiveness. I hope that you can experience this first hand, as I have. Winning the grand slam will pale in comparison.
Dave O
Though we have not met, I wanted to write and offer some encouraging words during what have to be the most difficult weeks of your life. The exposure you are experiencing these days would be a nightmare for anyone.
This may not make any sense to you, but having your transgressions revealed now could be the best thing that ever happened to you. Please hear me out on this.
The reason I say this is that someday everything will be revealed. I am a Christian. I believe that there is a God, and that He made Himself known to us through Jesus Christ. Jesus made this startling statement: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.” (Luke 12:2-3)
Someday all transgressions will be known. The transgressions that people thought they had successfully hidden and gotten away with shall be broadcast. I’m not sure how this will take place. I just know that it will be a very bleak day.
It gets worse. When this happens, the reaction of friends and family and onlookers will be the least of worries. The God whose commandments we have broken will be present. His punishment will be more severe than you could possibly imagine. Each person will have his offenses against God clearly revealed as their knees tremble.
But there is good news, Tiger. There are some who will be saved from this dreadful moment. Jesus says, “whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life” (John 5:24). You are invited (I’m inviting you now) to believe in Christ. That He was God in human form. That He suffered a cruel death – not for His own sins – but to pay for ours. That we have forgiveness from God through our faith in Him. That we avoid judgment and have eternal life in heaven.
Yesterday I heard a Christian on the radio singing – rejoicing – that he doesn’t have to bear the burden of the man he used to be. I thought of myself and the transgressions of years past (and of this week). Because of Jesus I don’t have to bear the guilt and impending judgment of those failures. But I also thought of you. The burden of the man that you used to be must be incredibly hard to bear right now. The great news is that you don’t have to. Jesus has borne it and you can experience God’s forgiveness. I hope that you can experience this first hand, as I have. Winning the grand slam will pale in comparison.
Dave O
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