There's No Crying in Baseball

OK... so we gave it our best shot. I am happy to report that I didn't cry last night... I simply turned the TV off and went to bed. I was not happy, but I was so tired from being up so late on Tuesday night (basefall fatigue had really set in) that I drifted off to slumber land in no time. In fact, I was falling asleep during the game... maybe that is why they lost.

I recognize that these guys are professionals and that the White Sox just out-played the Astros... but seriously, what is up with making us keep the roof open? That completely compromises the homefield advantage. But at the end of the day, the Sox had the bats and we just didn't. We could get them on base without a whole lot of trouble... we just couldn't bring them home to save our lives (or to save a World Series that Houston has waited forever for).

I now have three times in which I can sing the words "It's the most wonderful time of the year."

1. The Christmas Season - pretty much have to sing it then since it is a Christmas song... and Christmas does celebrate a pretty important even in history (but this is not meant to be a serious post... so I will leave it at that).
2. The Month of March - the NCAA tournament is definitely the best sporting event in a given year. It beats out all others because I can get into it no matter who is playing. It is all about the underdog sticking it to the powerhouse teams.
3. The Month of October - In the future, I don't know if I will be as excited about the MLB play-offs if the 'Stros are not playing; but I have certainly enjoyed it this year. I am sure that ever year has its own special drama... so we'll see what happens next year.

And yes, I do realize that all three times of the year can't really be the most wonderful... but work with me on it, OK....

Emotional Involvement

So I have always been pretty aloof when it comes to getting emotionally involved with others. I am an emotional person, to be sure. But I try to guard myself from letting other people/things get to me emotionally. I always expect the worst case scenario so as to always be pleasantly surprised when the outcome is favorable. So some may say I am a pessimist (or call me Debbie Downer), which is fair to a degree.

But recently, I have let myself get emotionally invoved. I have opened the flood gates and given my heart away. I have fought it for a few years... as there has always been something in the way to keep me from truly letting that wall down.

But recently, I have decided to throw caution to the wind.

I am speaking - of course - of the Houston Astros. They have won more than the NLCS... they have won over another fan. Now many will say that I am merely a fair weather fan who is hopping on a bandwagon. To a degree, that may be true. I had written the Killer Bee's off in June of this year, but was still hopeful for next year. I have only been into the 'Stros for about 6 years... and this year I have decided they are worth the effort. So time will tell if my heart stays with them..

So to all the lifers out there who have been in a love affair with the Astros for years... I congratulate you in this season of joy as well.

Will the Astros win it all? Who can tell for sure this side of October 30. But one thing is for sure... they will give it their best shot, and I will probably cry if they don't. But such is the price you pay for getting emotionally involved with another.

Captivating and Pure

I have been reading a book entitled "God Wrote a Book" by James MacDonald. The book is essentially a defense of the Bible as God's inspired Word to mankind. One of the points made in one of the chapters is that Scripture is captivating... that it stirs the soul like no other piece of literature. When I read that, I paused and asked myself if I really believed that statement. I mean there are many people who read/hear Scripture but are not moved by it like they are moved by some songs... or some other written words. But then my thought changed as I considered how millions of lives have been transformed by the Word of God... because of His Spirit guiding the reading of It and so on. So I agreed that it was captivating... but it had been a while since I was personally captivated by Scripture, so I was still "unsure." (I read this chapter a couple weeks ago)

Last night, a friend of mine was telling me about his experience at another church here in Houston - Grace Presbyterian. He attends the evening service at HFBC, so he decided to take the opportunity to visit another church on Sunday morning; and that is where he found himself. He said that as they were administering the Lord's Supper, they had someone reading Scripture verses one after the other. No commentary... just Scripture. He said that is was a very worshipful experience as he considered the beauty of (as he put it) the "pure Word of God read aloud."

Then this morning, I read 2 Timothy. There were a number of things in the book that popped out to me, but one thing in particular stayed with me long after my eyes passed over the words:

"Remember Jesus Christ..." - 2 Tm 2:8a

Now the verse goes on to say more (hence the reference being 2:8a). But those three words were absolutely Captivating and Pure.