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From The Pastor

June 21, 2019 by Rev. John Hartman

From the Pastor

“The Bible and Baseball”

Back in 1986, Bob Brenly was playing third base for the San Francisco Giants. In the 4th inning of a game against the Atlanta Braves, Bob Brenly made an error on a routine ground ball. A few batters later, he kicked away another grounder. And then, scrambling to field the ball, he got up and threw wildly past home plate trying to get the runner. Two errors on the same play! A few minutes later, he goofed again, thus earning the dubious distinction of becoming the first player in the baseball history to commit 4 errors in one inning. Those of us who have made public errors can imagine how Bob Brenly felt during that long walk off the field and into the dugout after the inning was finally over.

But, in the bottom of the 5^th inning, Brenly hit a home run. In the 7th inning, he hit a bases loaded single that drove in two runs -- and tied the game! And then in the bottom of the 9th, he came up again with two outs -- and ran the count to 3 balls and 2 strikes. And then, Bob Brenly hit a massive home run into the left field seats to win the game for the Giants.

Bob Brenly’s scorecard that day read, “3 hits in 5 at bats, 2 home runs, 4 errors, 4 runs allowed, 4 runs batted in, — including the game winning run.” Isn’t life a lot like that, too? It is a casserole of hits, runs, errors and outs. And yet, God is present in all of it. And with his presence comes the promise of his grace, and redemption, as we are free from the burden of our sins.

The reality of our persistent failures and limitations should not paralyze us, because know that our story fits into a larger picture of the story of Jesus Christ. In the Kingdom of Christ, as the Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:28-29, “all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose" and those who love God are being conformed to the image of Christ.” This is what I am going to be talking about this Sunday, June 23, so please join us at 10:00 am for our one and only worship service in the Family Life Center.

Pastor John

Quote of the Week

“The work of redemption was accomplished by Christ in His death on the cross and has in view the payment of the price demanded by a holy God for the deliverance of the believer from the bondage and burden of sin. In redemption the sinner is set free from his condemnation and slavery to sin.” John F. Walvoord

John F. Walvoord was a Christian theologian, pastor, and president of Dallas Theological Seminary from 1952 to 1986. He was the author of over 30 books, focusing primarily on eschatology and theology including The Rapture Question, and was co-editor of The Bible Knowledge Commentary with Roy B. Zuck.