It’s Monday morning and after having a least 4 cups of coffee I think my brain is finally starting to function. For a pastor Monday’s always start a little slow, after 6 services on Sunday and preaching at least twice it takes a few minutes for the synapses to start firing with a regular rhythm. Now that the coffee has taken effect these are the thoughts rolling around in my head.
1) In my message on Sunday I used an illustration about the baseball statistic called a “quality start”. Just to remind you a quality start occurs when a starting pitcher completes at least 6 innings and gives up 3 runs or less. It is a way to give credit to a pitcher even though he does not complete the game. Quality starts can be a good thing in baseball and in life but I think that what is even more important is a quality finish. In baseball the guy who finishes the game is called the “closer”. When the pressure is the greatest and the game is on the line that’s who they give the ball to. He is the guy they count on to get the other team out and finish the game strong. He “saves” the the game. In life beginnings are important but the finish is what really counts. I want to have quality starts where I begin with passion and resolve, but it doesn’t mean much if I never finish what I begin. God wants us to be closers, to be strong till the end, living up to our commitments, and not to giving up when things become a little difficult, that’s when a save occurs. In the scorcard of life I want to have more “saves” than “quality starts” because life doesn’t end at 6 innings. As the great theologian Yogi Berra once said; “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
2) We have a unique opportunity to do something meaningful on Halloween. Shine Your Light is a way to redeem a night that the enemy has taken as his. When you tell people that you care about them and God loves them it can make a real difference. Who knows what kind of a hurt the costume is hiding? We know that the real answer to the pain of life is to “Encounter the Reality of God”. Take a few moments on the website and see how you can be engaged in this outreach to our community. I believe it can have a dramatic impact on all of us.
3) Another lesson learned from the UW Huskies. This one comes from their agonizing last minute loss to Arizona State on Saturday night. You’ve got to play the whole game. Finish strong or all you’ve done may be lost.
God is faithful keep on trusting.
Cal