On the Rock.

America’s pastime. It seems like each year that my baseball devotion grows, I discover more and more of why baseball is the pastime of our country. First off, baseball is the most chill sport out there. When I’m watching baseball, life is good, especially at live games. Second, the required skill for baseball is something that is worth mentioning. It seems like football and basketball namely can be often so skewed. So often, playing these sports isn’t about skill, it’s about being tall enough, big enough, or strong enough. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying these sports require no skill, but with baseball it’s different. Short or tall, fat or small, white or black, anyone can be good at baseball. And different types of people don’t have much of an advantage; it evens out the playing field. Thirdly, who doesn’t love the pitcher/batter battle that goes on every single pitch? Each throw is specifically called for that situation, and with a new pitcher every single day, you never can predict what will happen. It allows for terrible teams to actually win games if the pitching matchup is right. Take basketball, for example. This year, the Charlotte Bobcats finished the season with a record of 7 wins and 59 losses, the worst winning percentage in league history (.106). When the Bobcats faced any team above .500, you could be almost certain they would lose. With baseball, every day gives a team a legitimate chance to win, and I believe it’s part of what makes baseball so exciting. Lastly, baseball is strategic. Mediocre fans can enjoy going to a baseball game, but it takes a great deal of baseball knowledge to truly comprehend what is going on. Not playing baseball all these years, I still have much to learn about the sport, and I learn a new rule or fun fact every day.

People call baseball boring. I hate that. The society we live in requires everything to be so fast-paced that for some people, baseball is boring. Slow down your life for just 3 hours, sit back, and really get into a game. That’s my challenge for today. 

Photo Cred: KBett. 

This August, I will be attending the Arizona State University. (go Sun Devils!) I will not drink, I will not have sex. I will not smoke or do drugs. Just because I am going to a school usually regarded as a “party school” does not mean every single student at that campus contributes to that title. Now by no means am I disregarding the fact that ASU is a party school. Not only is it ranked the 3rd best party school in the nation (by the Huffington Post), but also I have heard stories that verify this commonly held belief. ASU is a party school and I acknowledge that. But just because I am going there does not mean I will participate in the things that gave ASU its label. What frustrates me the most about this thought process is that often times, people who acknowledge ASU as a “party school” often know nothing else about the university, or why I am going there. Before you judge me based on where I chose to attend college, find out a little bit more about my situation, and I promise you will stand corrected.

Bill. Papa. Whatever you chose to call him, he had an impact in your life. My grandpa was the type of person you always wanted to be around. Willing to strike up a conversation with any stranger, Papa was the most talkative person I have ever known. Bill served in the United States Navy, and although he never fought in a war, he served on active duty for 8 years. (The war ended when he was on the USS Fechteler, headed for Korea to fight.) Today made me realize how thankful I am for the men and women that have served or are currently serving in our military. I have a great deal of respect for people like my Papa, who have protected our nation. So go out of your way today to honor some of the people that have fought for our freedom.

PS. I really liked how the MLB made all baseball players wear special hats to honor our troops.

On the Rock. For those of you that attended church today, my new title “On the Rock” should sound familiar. But for you all who didn’t make it today, here’s where it comes from.

In the midst of the craziness that all went down last Saturday, my uncle devoted some of his time on the trip to Elk Grove to write me a letter. My uncle Gary is a steadfast Christ-follower, and a soft-spoken family man. A wonderful husband an an exemplary father, my uncle Gary never ceases to impress me. He shows his love, however, in ways that aren’t what my immediate family is generally used to. My mom made a comment the other day to the effect of “he doesn’t show his love with hugs and kisses, but you know he loves you.” The letter he wrote to me for my graduation reminded me of that. A near 3-page letter, it outlined several pieces of advice that stuck with me. I have already tweeted a few of these, and may even post about some more, but what really hit me was the verse he wrote below his signature. “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock,” Matthew 7:24. At Senior Sunday this morning, I shared this verse and a short explanation of what this verse has meant for my life, but now I want to expand on that. Spoken by Jesus, these words could be literally referring to the words of Jesus. But I think Jesus wants us to take it a step further. By “words of mine”, I believe he is referring to the Bible as a whole. This is where I come in. I have been a member of the FBC Prayer Team for 6 years now. I pray nightly before bed, at meals, when I shower in the morning, and whenever I feel the need to talk to my God. Prayer in my life is far from lacking. Now, obviously, I could be praying more than I already do. I never want to be satisfied in my prayer life, or any other aspects of my faith. But I do realize that the area of my faith in which I struggle the most is reading the Bible. My house is not built on the rock; I am not solid in my knowledge of the Word of God. Going to Arizona State in the fall, I know that I will be challenged daily in my faith, and if I don’t enter into college prepared to defend my faith, I will fall, and this scares me. I am extremely thankful for my uncle Gary for putting this on my heart this summer. Right now, I am making a commitment to learn the Bible this summer. My favorite redhead Jamie Jillson is embarking on a mission to read the entire Old Testament. I venture out on a similar journey; to not only learn to defend my faith, but by using the Word, to also get some practice in before August. So come at me.

“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” -Matthew 7:24