The King died (1894)

Sometimes we are tried and the Boston Beaneaters (now know as the Atlanta Braves) certainly were in 1894. Mike "King" Kelly was major figure in the Braves early history. He was probably the most popular player of his time. On November 8, at the age of 36, he died of pneumonia. Another misfortune also conspired to try the Braves that year. This on was minor compared to King's death but challenge the Braves. For much of the season, they were on the road with no home stadium.

On May 16th, a fire destroyed the South End Grounds. Imagine playing a game and in the third inning, a fire breaks out. They were playing Baltimore and the fire broke out in the right field bleachers. Gave new meaning to so and so "smoked that one".

So they switched some of there games to road games and then played some of them in Boston at the old Brotherhood League Grounds on Congress Street adjacent to the Boston Harbor.

Despite those trying happenings, they had a good season finishing in third place.

Free to pursue what God wants

I can learn to think like Jesus. He didn't expect to get His own way. Now that is radical. Who doesn't want to get their own way? Seriously. But that misses God's goal for our lives.  

I can be free. Free to pursue what God wants. Jesus only did what he saw his Father doing. No more, no less.

I can be free from being tyrannized by what I want. I can be obedient to what God wants. He is in charge of His country. I need to obey.

Jesus went through everything you're going through and more, learn to think like him. Think of your sufferings as a weaning from that old habit of always expecting to get your own way which misses God's goal. Then you'll be able to live out your days free to pursue what God wants instead of being tyrannized by what you want. 1 Peter 4

 

Not easy but you could see it coming (1879)

You are the younger brother. Your older brother is very talented but so are you. You don't want to be in his shadow. Pretty natural. So that was the case with George Wright. Very talented. No doubt about it. But it was hard for him. His older brother was in the lime light. 12 years his senior. He was the "Father of Professional Baseball". What do you do?

Well, in 1879, after working side by side for a decade, you part ways and leave the team (the Boston Red Caps, now the Atlanta Braves) that you both play for. And it has some very far reaching and perhaps unexepected consequences. you leave Boston and head not to far away to Providence. Not easy but you could see it coming.

The raw power of God

There is a time to think long and hard. That of course would be about what God has created. Just think about it. Think about it long and hard. It is amazing. The raw power of it all. Imagine, then think, about what it took to create all that we enjoy and take for granted everyday. Come on, think about it. NOW, think about it some more.

And, how mysterious is it that God could do all of this. We can't imagine it. It is beyond us. And, that God, lives in side of us. He can do anything in His Country. He is the President of it all.

By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can't see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. Romans 1

Two hours

"Two hours is about as long as any American can wait for the close of a baseball game, or anything else for that matter."

---- Al Spalding

Trust steadily

As I seek to mature in the Lord, one of the big three things to focus on is trusting Him more and more. I need to be steady in my trust. Not trusting one day and then not the next. Maturity is what I need to strive for. It is so easy to slide into trusting anything but God. That is so immature.

So it is focus and consistency. That is the key. Focus on Him who will complete everything. He is leading us toward that consummation. It is His heart's desire.

But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. 1 Corinthians 13

His generosity

As the Son of God, Jesus the Messiah had all the riches of our Father. Yet He chose to give it all away. He did it for us. He did it so we could share the riches of our Father as well.

It is His nature to be generous. He loves to give to us. Like any father, He delights in making things happen for us even if it means a sacrifice on His part. Now that is love.

You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich. 2 Corinthians 8:8-9

Hitless wonders? (1878)

Hitless wonders? Yes, but champions none the less. 1878 continued the amazing success of Harry Wright as the Braves manager. They ended up with a record of 41-19 and finished in first place, four games ahead.

This was an amazing year because the just couldn't hit. The ended up next to last in team batting average (.241) and slugging percentage (.300). They were dead last in on-base percentage at .253. The were last in hits and walks. Of course, for the whole league there were only 23 home runs the whole season. But this was bad compared to the rest.

And yet, they won the championship that year. Amazing!

Being sure

Am I sure? Do I know it for a fact? God's enabling Spirit is in us and lets us know that God is good and He loves us. Every detail is being worked into something good. That is just the way it is.

That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. Romans 8:28

May I be sure of God's love and the details He is working out for me.

Fear and no loathing

Nothing is impossible with God. Do we have confidence in Him? Do we know, deep in our inner being, that He loves us and won't leave us behind. Fear can be crippling. Fear comes from the lack of supernatual courage.

When there is a crisis out, and they do come, our confidence must be in Him. Our courage is with Him. He can, with a word, reverse the crisis.

He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Matthew 8:26

May I trust Him and have His courage.

Really? That is a good name? (1907)

I don't think a lot of this nickname. But then again this is the Braves I am talking about. So, in 1907 they changed from the Beaneaters to the Doves. It didn't seem to help since they finished 7th in the pennant race with a record of 58-90. They were a dismal 47 games behind. Fred Tenney continued as manager. What is weird is that this was an improvement over the previous year. Go figure.

The Dovey brothers operated the club. They thought their name would be better than the Beaneaters. They also improved the South End Grounds where they played at the time. They added a new scoreboard (to keep up with the opponents runs better???) and cushioned a few seats. How about some better players? Hmm, there is a thought.

Can't fire the owners as we have learned.

Special agents

God has a plan for us. Under His plan, we are special agents of Jesus. His assignments for us aren't "normal". They are special. Planned out just for us. How amazing is that?

Now that is some very good news for today. That brings some much needed grace and peace to our lives.

I, Paul, am under God's plan as an apostle, a special agent of Christ Jesus, writing to you faithful believers in Ephesus. I greet you with the grace and peace poured into our lives by God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ. Ephesians 1:1-2

May I understand the role God has for me and serve as His special agent.

115 years (2010)

115 years is a long time. But when you are the Braves, history is on your side.

The 16-5 romp on April 5, 2010 was the Braves' biggest Opening Day romp in 115 years, since a 21-6 pasting of the Baltimore Orioles in 1896.

And so, it was a historic opening day in 2010. And the Braves continue on.

God is serious business

There is a lot frivolity going on and there is nothing wrong with that. Fun is fun and God is good with that.

God Himself is serious though. His business is serious stuff. We should take Him seriously. He is in charge of His government. He is not neglecting anything. He is paying attention to His goals. His plan is being executed. He is getting it done. He is serious about it.

God is serious business, take him seriously; he's put the earth in place and it's not moving. 1 Chronicles 16:30-33

May I be serious about His business.

"Do not resist an evil person." ~Jesus

"Do not resist an evil person." ~Jesus http://ow.ly/5mqZU

Tough stuff

This is tough stuff. It doesn't feel right. Our natural reactions, in relationships, can get us in trouble. Jesus has a different standard for us. Unless Jesus has invaded our life, relationships can be pretty difficult at times. Real love in relationships can require supernatural courage. It can only happen after Jesus has changed us. Jesus demanded that the "Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth" world of natural and religious rules be completely changed. God is love and that is not how He does things. It isn't how He wants us to do things either.

And so, it takes supernatural courage to love the way God loves us. But that is the way He wants us to love. That is what relationships in "His world" look like. This is an example of how to be a servant leader in relationships. The other alternative is to be a follower of how our "friends" do things.

"You have heard that it was said, 'Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.' But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Matthew 5:38-42

May we love the way God wants us to. May our relationships be based on how He loves not the way that serves us and not others.

Who we really are

It is interesting how some people just don't "get it", i.e., understand what we are up to in God. We know we are His children. We know He loves us and how amazing that is. We know he is not angry or upset. We know He has our best interest at heart. We know He cares beyond anything we can imagine. We know He is in a good mood, all the time.

We really are the children of God. Really. No doubt about it.

What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are. But that's also why the world doesn't recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he's up to. 1 John 3:1

May I know who I am in Him.

"Never promise more than you can perfor

"Never promise more than you can perform." ~Publilius Syrus, 1st century B.C.

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to c

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be." ~John Wooden

The greatest mistake you can make in lif

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one - Elbert Hubbard

If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, yo

If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm. -Vince Lombardi

Baseball is a game of second chances (1940)

Billy Southworth got a second chance. In 1940 the Cardinals, who were struggling, fired Ray Blades. In comes Billy, from Rochester. So, what happens. The Cardinals take off. They had some talented players like Stan Musial coming in from the farm teams. This started thier "golden age". After he came on board that season, they won 69 of 109 games. They move from seventh to third place. In 1941 they came in second. The next three years they won three penants and two World Series titles.

How is that for a second chance?

Three steps

We are always, and I mean always, in such a hurry these days. Our culture is on hyperdrive. We want it and we want it now. My dad has always said "Patience is a virture." And it is. My dad (and my heavenly Dad) are right.

What is the promise to us. Waiting patiently for the Lord means that He is more inclined to listen to us. And, He will hear our desperate cry.

So here you go. Three simple steps. He is in a good mood.

I waited patiently for the Lord;

he inclined to me

and heard my cry.

Psalms 40:1

"He that cannot obey cannot command."

"He that cannot obey cannot command." ~Benjamin Franklin

" A different world cannot be built by

" A different world cannot be built by indifferent people." ~Peter Marshall

Vim and Vigor

"Baseball is the exponent of American Courage, Confidence, Combativeness, American Dash, Discipline, Determination, American Energy, Eagerness, Enthusiasm, American Pluck, Persistency, Performance, American Spirit, Sagacity, Success, American Vim, Vigor, Virility."

-- Al Spalding

 

"Never dull your shine for somebody els

"Never dull your shine for somebody else." --Tyra Banks

Dick McBride (1878)

James Dickson "Dick" McBride (June 14, 1847 – October 10, 1916) was from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was the star pitcher and the player-manager for the Philadelphia Athletics of the National Association from 1871 through most of the 1875 when Cap Anson took over as player-manager for the remaining eight games of the season.

 In 1864, while serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, he was allowed to take a 3 day furlough to participate in a series of baseball exhibitions between clubs from Brookyln and the local Philadelphia clubs. It was during this time that the north's attention had turned to military defense, not baseball, so Brooklyn strategically scheduled these events hoping to take advantage of the situation to get some well sought after wins in "enemy" territory. The presence of Dick didn't do much, as all Philly teams were beaten soundly.

Dick had a pitching record of 149 wins and 74 losses during that period with the Athletics. McBride finished his major league career the following year, in 1876, when he was signed by the Boston Red Caps (now the Atlanta Braves of the National League when the Association failed. He had a record of 0-4 before his career came to an end. McBride died in Philadelphia at the age of 70, and is interred at Lawnview Cemetery in Rockledge, Pennsylvania.

" I saw the angel in the marble and car

" I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." ~Michelangelo Buonarroti

"One of the stupidest things I can do i

"One of the stupidest things I can do is assume other's motives since God says I cant even accurately assess my own! Jer 17:9" ~Rick Warren

The Brat (Eddie Stanky)

What happens when "The Brat" slides into "The Bull"? The Brat breaks his ankle and that is what happened to Eddie Stanky when he slid into third against Brooklyn's Bruce "The Bull" Edwards on July 8, 1948. That ended the season for him.

Eddie played for the Braves in 1948 and 1949. Eddie was born on September 3,1916 in Philadelphia. He was a very good second baseman for the Dodgers. So much so, when the Braves needed a good middle fielded, Owner Lou Perini brought him onto the club. Manager Billy Southworth agreed that if they were going to make a run for first, they needed strength at second. With a rookie Al Dark at short, they needed a sure hand. Too bad his 1948 season would be so short.

Just the facts?

Luke got it right. Knowing and having supernatural courage (faith) about Jesus is what it is all about. He made it his mission to present "the facts". He investigated it down to the last detail. Imagine having been there and seen and known so many who experience Jesus. Imagine getting it right and writing about it. It is ours and we can know too. What a story. Thanks for men like Luke.

So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story's beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught. Luke 1:1-4

May I know beyond a shadow of a doubt about the reliability of what I have been taught.

How they got there (1878)

The Red Stockings (now the Atlanta Braves) were making a showing in Boston. But they were not without rivals in 1878. Providence was just 50 miles away and had just joined the National League. But they were also coming on strong. They finished third to Boston's first place.

So, how to fuel the rivalry? Get special trains to make the 50 mile journey back and forth. It worked in 1878. Instant rivalry and more games for the fans.

"Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lone

"Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. " -Maya Angelou

Not forced on us

Some things just aren't forced on us. We can have it or we can not. Peace comes from knowing His love and doing what He wants. We have to let that kind of peace happen. Jesus has peace to offer us like we have never known. His peace can rule over any other emotions that we have.

The phone is ringing. A text has arrived. The email arrives "You have peace from Jesus" we hear. A tweet shows up on Twitter. It is Jesus calling us to peace.

For this peace, I am very thankful.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15

May I let His peace have precedence over any other emotion in my life.