For the past ten years, I have been the pastor at Sardinia Baptist church in the southwestern corner
of Decatur County Indiana. Living in nearby Columbus, I have made numerous trips through the
countryside on a weekly basis, taking pretty much the same route every time. A few years ago, I began
to notice along the way a tall tree, standing alone next to the road. It was like a sentry overlooking this
huge field. Though I never knew what kind of tree it was, it was obviously very old and imposing. I also
watched the changes in this tree as the seasons changed, and the weeks and months rolled by. In the
summer, it was very green, and waved in the wind, but then in the fall, I could see the leaves begin to
turn, and eventually fall to the ground. Winter brought only its stark limbs against the usual gray skies,
but in the spring, it was always a joy to see the buds come out and the blossoms bring it back to life.
One day, on our way to the church, my wife noticed that the tree was gone, a pile of logs now, laying
in a ditch next to the field. A few weeks later, even the logs were gone, and there was no sign that a
tree had ever been there. Even the stump had been removed. I have thought about that tree often in
relation to life.

Working with athletes has been my vocation for many years, and their careers often remind me of
that tree. The professional athletes devote every ounce of energy to their sport, but even the best are
usually finished at the age of forty, about the time most other people are entering their vocational
prime. They are replaced. A new younger athlete is brought in, and in a few years, these stars are
gone and often forgotten. Many of the athletes, though, leave a legacy. It might take some thinking to
remember their statistics, but fans remember them in other ways. Tony Gwynn recently passed away.
He was an all star, but is remembered best for an engaging smile, always willing to sign autographs, and
forgoing a bigger salary to play 21 years with the San Diego Padres.

Christian athletes leave a spiritual footprint. Many of them realize they are where God wants them to be
to influence others. They can have an impact, particularly in the clubhouse where they can share easily
with teammates who find that the money and fame doesn't always bring happiness.
Chris Coghlan played some seasons with the Florida (now Miami) Marlins. An aspiring outfielder, he
was known to be a hard partier off the field. In spring training in 2007, he was invited to the Marlins
major league camp for the first time. He was suffering from a hangover as he arrived on the first day,
and made such a bad impression, the Marlins sent him to their minor league camp down the road.
There, he was paired up with a roommate who spent time each night reading the Bible. Coghlan's
curiosity got the best of him, and he began to question his roommate about life. As Coghlan stated
in a conversation, "Eventually, one morning in a Starbucks in Jupiter, Florida, I found the Lord." That
roommate was soon out of baseball. Coghlan went on to be the National League Rookie of the year in
2009, and is currently the leftfielder for the Chicago Cubs. He now spends his time sharing his passion
for Jesus Christ.

There is now no sign of that tree ever being there, but it reminds me that when I am gone, I hope to
have a legacy that will endure for eternity. I am often reminded of the many people who taught me in
Sunday School, and quietly influenced me as I was growing up. Most have gone to their eternal reward,
probably never knowing what a part they played in my life. May we always realize the role we play in
this world.

Sports is a great diversion, but sometimes, it has to take a backseat to real life. Recently, I had to take time off to have surgery on a slow growing cancer. After a sleepless recovery night in the hospital, the surgeon came in and said, "We were able to remove it. You did great. I think you will be fine."  I dropped my head back on the pillow and a great sigh of relief came over me.

I was sharing the room with a man who was in great pain. His news was not so good. Separated only by two thin curtains, I later heard his doctor say, "You have a large mass. There aren't many options. We can do nothing, in which case you will die, or we can look at some treatments that may prolong your life."

I did not hear the response. I had not seen this man. I didn't even know his name. He had no one come to visit him in the short time that we were there. We were like two ships passing in the night. My first response was to go over and talk to him and let him know I was a minister, but I soon realized that was more a dutiful response than a caring one. Also, I could barely move myself.  He was soon discharged, and the cleaning crew came to prepare for whoever would be next in that small area.

Since that time, I have thought a lot about life and death, and legacy and sports. For the time being, God has seen fit to apparently put me back on the right track. The date for my demise does not seem to be imminent. I wondered what the doctor thought as he walked away from that man. I am sure it was not the first time he had to give someone their death sentence. What did he feel? I have never been in the medical profession, but I am sure there have to be emotional moments that require you to be professional, and set your emotions aside.

I also wondered about my own life and legacy. How would I feel if I had been given that same death sentence?  I remember talking to a friend once about another friend who was very ill. "Is he terminal?," I asked. "We are all terminal," was his wise response.  So what are we to make of our lives? My legacy is probably telling others about Christ through the vehicle of sports.

I once mentioned that to a pastor. "Sports!," he said. "That's the biggest waste of time there is."

Though I disagreed, it did get me to thinking about myself and the ever growing world of sports ministry. My conclusion was that sports has a large platform, and gives us a way to share the most important thing in life, knowing Jesus Christ.

Roman Gabriel III is the president of a sports ministry in North Carolina called Sold Out Ministries. Gabriel is a talk show host, motivational speaker, and evangelist who uses the testimony of NFL players to spread the good news of the gospel. His father was an all-pro quarterback for the Los Angeles Rams in the 1960's. He recently was quoted in an interview with the Baptist Press about older players like Roger Staubach, Reggie White, and current Green Bay QB, Aaron Rodgers.

“The message of these and other players reaches people who otherwise wouldn't have anything to do with the Christian faith. A great deal of Americans are never going to walk into a church and hear that.  In this country, that is what it is all about. People look up to fame and fortune." Rodgers was the recipient of this years' Bart Starr award, given before the Super Bowl to the NFL Christian player of the year.

There are many silent witnesses in the sports world. Athletes who excel, and let their lives tell others about Jesus Christ. I feel a new mandate to do my part to give them a voice in spreading the gospel. My desire is not be famous, but when my time on earth is done, to hear the words of the Savior, "Well done, thou good and faithful servant." 

"But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.” Then the men who had gone up with him said, “We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we are.” So they brought to the people of Israel a bad report of the land that they had spied out, saying, “The land, through which we have gone to spy it out, is a land that devours its inhabitants, and all the people that we saw in it are of great height. And there we saw the Nephilim (the sons of Anak, who come from the Nephilim), and we seemed to ourselves like grasshoppers, and so we seemed to them.” ~Numbers 13:30-33

Who was the most intimidating opponent you ever faced in competition?  How did you perceive yourself in comparison with his/her abilities and stature?  Did your opponent see you in that same light?  Today’s scripture tells a similar story.

In the Old Testament book of Numbers at chapter 13 and verses 30 through 33 we read, “Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, ‘We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it.’  But the men who had gone up with him said, ‘We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.’  And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored.  They said, ‘The land we explored devours those living in it.  All the people there are of great size.  We saw the Nephilim there.  We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them.”

Caleb was about to lose his patience with his teammates.  They had seen the greatest place they could ever imagine and he was ready to take possession of the place, but his teammates were all afraid. 

Did you hear how they perceived themselves?   They said they saw themselves as grasshoppers in comparison to their opponents.  Worse still, they appeared to be grasshoppers in the eyes of their opponents.

As you compete today, will you see yourselves as Caleb did – fully able to compete with anyone and anywhere?  Or will you see yourself as a grasshopper, one totally out of his league? 

My challenge to you today is to look your opponent directly in the eye and when you see a reflection of yourself in his eyes, see the image of a champion and not that of a grasshopper.

Growing up I played little league football. I had the title of being the fastest on the team. There was one day when a new kid joined the team and he was said to be very fast, according to some of my teammates. At the end of practice was a time for conditioning. We would run a certain distance turn around and run back. Well, everybody wanted to see if this new kid could beat me running. After practice, we got on the starting line, the coach blew the whistle for the command to go and I slipped! The new kid beat me. But that's not the end of the story. We got on the line again, the coach blew the whistle and I took off. After that slip I didn't loose again. I learned that in order to get a good start I needed to have my cleats dug in the ground.

In the same way, we must have our faith "dug in" to the work of Jesus Christ for our lives. Playing sports was a large part of my life growing up. I competed and worked for the starting spot year after year. Earning recognition and praise for achievement made me feel like I mattered. On the other hand, when I made a mistake or did not achieve I felt very insignificance and often unloved.

For years, this was the way I related to God. If I performed well I expected good things and I actually expected some type of punishment for falling in any way. Oh how I was so deceived.

"But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,  whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.  It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law." ~Romans 3:21-28 


These verses clearly show that we can only have a right relationship with God through Christ and Him alone. We can't earn approval or significance through our behavior. I'm not good that I deserve anything or am I ever so wrong that I'm out of reach of God's grace. 

This love of God (Romans 8:38-39) is a help when I'm down and (Romans 5:6-8) is humbling when I begin to feel good about myself.


When we remember to stay "dug in" to the truth of the gospel by the Holy Spirit, at the start of each day we love  because we've been loved, forgive because we've been forgiven and give because we've been given the greatest gift ever given.

Working to impress God doesn't work

To God be the glory,
Jason

Chapel Talk for May comes from Bill Houston, founder of Chaplains Roundtable.


I love baseball!  I always get excited when a new season rolls around for many reasons.  First, it reminds me that spring is finally here.  After a long, cold winter we can finally put away the coats and boots and enjoy the warm air and sunshine.  The start of baseball season also ushers in renewed hope and a fresh start for coaches, players and fans.  I’m a huge fan of the Baltimore Orioles.  We made the playoffs last season and we’re off to a good start again in 2013.  But something happened recently that signifies just how good this team has become after many years of sub-par performances.  On April 23rd, they beat the Toronto Blue Jays 4-3 and in doing so, won their 100th straight game when winning after the 7th inning.  That is significant.  It shows just how good the pitching staff is performing…especially the bull pen.  This club now has confidence that if they are ahead after the 7th inning, they have a pretty good chance of winning.  Now will it happen every time…of course not.  But the Orioles have shown that they know how to finish a game.  

Well, there’s a promise in God’s Word that we can count on 100% of the time.  It is found in Philippians 1:6.  Paul writes “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…”  Now that’s consistency.  Those are words we can be sure about no matter what circumstances we may be facing, no matter what challenges may be before us or what trials may be at our door.  God will complete the work He has started in you and me.  It is a 100% guarantee!

Author: Bill Houston

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…” What would you say if I told you the author of those words was thrown from a rooftop? How in the world did he find joy? Well, before the brother of Jesus even shares a thought, an important introduction is made. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” (James 1:1).James calls himself a servant and he calls Jesus “Lord.” That doesn’t ring of childhood memories does it? He does not introduce himself as Jesus’ brother, or even the Pastor of the Jerusalem church. If he belongs to a master, his life is not his own.

James continues to share that our response not the trial is what makes an impact. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4). Perfection, or maturity helps us ascend the stairs aware of the chance that we will be thrown from the roof. My question is, who is watching you ascend the steps and what impact is on your mind, the ground or the lives around you? Being focused on others shows maturity. James knew others would walk him up and many would watch him fall, yet he writes, “Count it all joy…” Think through this as you face trials and realize that not only did the author of this book face many, his Master made the walk before all of us. And they both found joy as they persevered for someone else’s sake. Your circumstance may cause an impact with the ground. The question is, will you make an impact on others lives while you are walking up the stairs? 

About Steve Sisco
Serves as the Chapel Leader to the Cincinnati Reds. He accepted Christ as Savior 1994 while playing in the minor leagues. Played professional baseball from 1992-2001 prior to entering ministry as Minister to Students at Urbancrest Baptist Church where he was ordained. - Information provided by baseballchapel.org