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There's always next year |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 10/12/2009 10:33 AM | Greetings on this finally dry day,
1967 was not a good year for me. My father spent about 3 months of it in the hospital fighting infectious hepatitis, my hometown exploded in the worst urban riots in American history, and my hometown baseball team, the Detroit Tigers, lost the pennant on the last day of the season.
From some perspectives, 2009 isn’t that great either. The economy has hurt us all, but especially my hometown. General Motors and Chrysler have gone through bankruptcy reorganizations. Unemployment in Detroit is upwards of 25%. And the Detroit Tigers lost the division championship on the day AFTER the last day of the season.
Unbelievable. 7 games in front of the Minnesota Twins on September 1st. 3 games up with four games to play. Yet, when the dust had settled, the Twins and Tigers were tied at the end of the season. Which led to what happened last night: one of the great games ever that unfortunately ended with the Tigers losing 6-5 in 12 innings. I was suddenly 11 years old, sitting in Tiger Stadium with my brother as the season came to a screeching halt. And to make it even worse, my favorite player, Dick McAuliffe, hit into a double play to end the game, the series and the season. To add insult to injury, it was the FIRST double play he had hit into all season. My shoulders are slumping just thinking about it.
(This is the part of my annual baseball missive where I attempt to connect baseball with our faith journey. Just thought I would give you a heads up.)
As a player and as a fan, baseball has taught me a lot, just like my faith. It has taught me how to be part of a team, just as my faith has given me a wonderful community to be in ministry with. It has shown me that everyone is important to the team effort, from the star pitcher to the lowliest journeyman utility infielder. Likewise, as the body of Christ, every one of us is important to glorifying God and serving Christ’s church. And the biggest lesson baseball has taught me is that yesterday’s game is yesterday’s news. There is always another game, there is always another season. We are always given another chance to get it right. The same is true of our faith: when we go to God with repentant hearts, we are forgiven and given another chance to get it right. And for both baseball and our faith, hope springs eternal. Always.
1967 was a bad year for me. But with 1968 came “next year” and the proof that hope is never lost. That year, the Detroit Tigers won the American League pennant for the first time since World War II and I was in the stadium with my dad and my brother and sister the night Al Kaline scored in the bottom of the ninth and the Tigers clinched the pennant. The city exploded, but this time in celebration. A couple of weeks later, they came from a 3 games to 1 deficit to win 3 straight games to win the World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. And the city came together, putting the awful events of 1967 behind us and becoming a true community once again.
So, in case you weren’t following this: 1967: Tigers blow the pennant. 1968: Tigers win the World Series. 2009: Tigers blow the pennant. 2010: Tigers win the World Series? I’m just sayin’….
For an updated prayer list and an updated list of coming events, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your prayer list:
Turley Higgins continues to recover from a heart valve infection at Piedmont Hospital. Doctors expect he’ll be home by Friday and will schedule surgery in about a month. He is in great spirits and feeling well and thanks everyone for their prayers and good wishes. Please keep Turley and Mary Patton in you prayers.
Tommy Wilson continues to recover at home. Please keep Tommy and Ammarie in your prayers.
Upcoming events
This Sunday, the Good Company Sunday school class will host a special event. Jim Mowrey the younger will present a study of “An Engineers View of Creation.” The class will meet in the “Sermon Starters” classroom (the conference room) and all are welcomed to this enlightening discussion. For this study only, the class will begin at 9:30. Make your plans now to join the discussion.
This Sunday, immediately after worship, the pumpkins are coming! Bring a change of clothes and help us unload. A light lunch will be provided. Our Cambodian brothers and sisters will be here, too, so come and catch up with how things are going with them. And go to www.brookhavenchristian.org and sign up for 3 or 4 time slots on the pumpkin patch over the next 3 weeks. It is a great way to help out with the fundraiser, and even more importantly, a chance to be the face of BCC to the folks in this community.
I hope you will be able to join us in worship as we once again celebrate the Lord’s Day together. This week we begin a three week sermon series entitled “Becoming the Church”. This Sunday’s sermon is “A Growing Faith” and the scripture is Acts 2:42. Have a great rest of the week.
Be peaceful,
Brad
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