Monday, June 15, 2009

would i? peg leg!

friday night, i experienced one of those "time slows down, brain makes analysis, body reacts" moments. i was heading for second base, and the shortstop had gotten a ground ball and was running there, too. there were two outs, and my brain did the math on the distance we both had to cover. if i slid HARD, i could beat him there. i did. the bad thing is, the bag didn't really give at all. so, since friday evening, my left leg has been like a giant stoved finger... a big, old club hanging from my hip. it really is troublesome when your knee refuses to bend!

one of the guys said to me as i stood doubled over after the slide, "you know, you really don't have to do that... especially when we're ahead 12-3." well, that's just not me. i go after it, cause that's the way i'm wired.

which brings me to the point of this blog... i was reading 2 Corinthians 12 the other day, and came across verse 15: "i will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls." did you catch that? "i will MOST GLADLY spend and be spent for your souls." that's how paul described his ministry! and that's how i want to be for the sake of the gospel (not just in athletic competition)!

the cool thing is, i can couple the two in softball. after playing 8 or 10 years with my cousins' church, we have our own team this year. it mostly consists of young guys who aren't very active in church and whom i don't know much about their spiritual condition. of course, it's my privilege to have the team devotions before the games and to make sure that the gospel is plainly spelled out for all to hear.

what's my prayer in this thing? "God, i'm asking You for these souls!!! (fred, fred, nate, jake, zach, sam, brian, jess, jeff, steve, matt, nate, brian, louis). i will MOST GLADLY spend and be spent for them! use me."