Champs...Again!

For the second year in a row, Devonshire Church has won the Capital Area Church Softball League (CACSL) championship. It took three close, nail-biting games against Christ the Savior to determine the winner. After losing the first game, we came from behind with bottom of the seventh inning heroics to win the second game. We only hoisted the trophy after a triple and a homerun in the top of the seventh gave us a slight 3-2 lead. But, that one run is all we needed. Once again, our solid defense proved enough to prevail in the end. (For more on the narrative of this game, along with pictures, check out DevonshireDiaries).

This trip to the league championship was our fifth straight. Our name has been engraved on the trophy three times in that span of time. Very impressive for a group of men who truly play with a competitive drive that shows respect for the game, it's fellows competitors, and those who officiate. I'm so proud to be part of this group. Their comradery and their encouragement means the world to me. What a privilege we have to play hard and bring pleasure to the God who made us and watches over us.

Champs!

For the fourth year in a row, Devonshire Church made it to the championship game of the Capital Area Church Softball League.

Last night, in front of about 150 "fans" (between the two teams) Devonshire secured the trophy for the second time in a 16-14 thriller against a very good Clark's Valley EC Church. We also finished with a best-ever 18 & 3 record.

Sports has so shaped my life. I love the competition. And, as I've gotten older, I love the camraderie that I share with my teammates and the members from the other teams. Last night was no different.

Even though there were winners and losers in last night's outcome, I think the way the two teams handled their attitudes and actions made God smile.

And, that's really all that matters!

The Quarterback I Really Admire

Tonight, the Bengals play the Lions in their second preseason game.

You might think that my sights will be set on Carson Palmer. Nope. I will be watching the Lion's starting quarterback, Jon Kitna.

Without a doubt, Kit is my favorite active athlete. He is a committed Christian. Football simply is the stage for him to display his passionate commitment for Christ. Jon says, “My mission is to do whatever I can to be obedient to Christ and further His Gospel; tell people about the things He’s done in my life and the things He can do in their life.”

Since Kitna joined the Lions in '06 (after four years with Cincinnati Bengals) one blogger has noted that 20 players have given their lives to Christ. Last year, I actually heard Jon in an interview celebrate the fact that the marriages of teammates were being healed. I love what makes this athlete tick.

A blogger from http://jcsuperstars.wordpress.com/ did a really good job of capturing the heart and mind of Jon. Check out this, Christ turns Kitna's Life Around and this, Jesus Is My Coach. One of my great privileges was to meet Jon when he was with the Bengals. He was gracious enough to be pictured with me.

Carson Palmer and Jon Kitna are close Christian brothers. The Battle of the Big Cats (Lions and Bengals) will be fun to watch.

Championship Game!

Jordan's summer basketball team won their second championship in three years. In a spirited battle with the boys from McDevitt, the guys from Central Dauphin won by 15-plus. That makes two Rec-Team Championship for Jordan this year...winter and summer. Attaboy, Jordan!

Personal Goal: Realized!

July 28 was a big day for me. It was "maximum lift" day at the House of Pain (the name of the home gym where I work out). So, there I was under the bar ready to benchpress 225 lbs. One lift to realize a personal best. With serious struggle and strain and alot of groaning, the bar went up...all the way! Not bad for the skinny kid from Huntington, Indiana. By the way, the real stud of the day was my House of Pain host, trainer, and lifting partner, Doug Foltz, who hoisted a staggering 280 lbs. Attaboy, Doug!

Church Softball Highlights from 2008

Unfortunately, Devonshire Church could not defend its 2007 Championship. We'll have to settle on the fact that we were runnersup in 2008. What is more, we made it to the Championship Game for the third straight year.

We had a great time. And, we have pictures to prove it.

Quote of the Week: "Tough to Be An Atheist"

Rick Reilly, former writer for Sports Illustrated and current writer for ESPN, is credited by me with the best quote of the week.

While chronicaling the comeback story of baseball's, Josh Hamilton, i.e. from "baseball phenom" to "drug and alcohol addict" to "down-and-out baseball player" to "confessing sinner and committed Christian" to "restored Major League baseball player" to "All-Star" to "Home Run Derby record holder," Reilly said, "It's a tough night to be an athiest."

Honestly, every day is tough to be an athiest.

The Scriptures Help Us Fight Satan

Did you watch the Home Run Derby Monday night? What a treat. Josh Hamilton blasted 28 homeruns in the first round. A record! Even though he lost the event to Justin Morneau, Hamilton won the hearts of many.

Hamilton is an unlikely All-Star. With all the potential in the world, Josh was the first pick in the '99 draft, signing a $4 million bonus that he would blow over 5 years on alcohol and drugs. He hit the rock bottom of his addiction in 2005. He was out of baseball for three years, having never made it out of the minor leagues. Now, three years later, he is having an incredible season in the Major Leagues. What an amazing comeback!

What's more amazing is how the grace of God has changed his life. Hamilton surrendered himself to Jesus Christ and says, "What I did was simple. I put God first in my life."

Today, Josh finds help from the Bible to withstand the temptations of his past addiction. A Houston Chronicle article explains, "Hamilton doesn't socialize with teammates if there's going to be alcohol. During a trip to San Francisco, he encountered several teammates in a steakhouse. He stopped by their table, said hello and returned to his hotel room. During trying times, he recites James 4:7, one of dozens of scriptures he says has helped. 'Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.' 'I've found if I remember Scripture, things go away.'" For more on Josh's story, watch his interview with Jim Rome.

We memorize a lot of things. Phone numbers to our favorite restaurants. Website addresses. Sports statistics of our favorite teams and players. Hamilton reinforces the positive value of memorizing Scripture. King David was empowered by this discipline. He says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11).

If scripture memorization is good for a king, then it is good for you and me. To get started, try Mark 12:29-30. It will help you to remember to love God more everyday and to love others a little bit better.

An Epic Battle

Well, my softball season ended tonight. For the third straight year, Devonshire Church made it to the Championship Game of the Capital Area Church Softball League (CACSL). This year we came in as the "defending champs," having won it all in 2007.

In an epic three game battle (best of three series) we lost to a great team from CrossPoint Church. After winning 9-4 in the first game, the big bats from CrossPoint proved too much in the second game as they won by mercy rule (up by 10 runs after 5 innings). That brings us to the rubber game. We jumped out to a 2-0 lead. They quickly tied. Long story short, we were tied at the end of regulation (7 innings). In the top of the eighth, CrossPoint sent three runs across the plate. With our turn at bat, we had a chance with two out and two on but couldn't come up with the runs. CrossPoint is the 2008 CACSL Champs. Congratulations.

But here is the cool thing: we had a blast competing with the guys from CrossPoint. If you were watching our interactions you'd see us talking to each other; congratulating each other on great plays and hits; picking each other up when we got knocked down. Alot of times you get into these games and things get so competitive that relationships take the hit. Not in these games. The two teams simply played hard and enjoyed each other. High fives and hugs were shared after the game.

I like to think that our two teams made God happy tonight. We played all out, keeping in mind that even in competition we are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength as well as love our neighbor as ourselves. If you observed our teams after the game, you saw men huddling together in their respective teams to pray and thank God for the opportunity to play the game regardless of the results.

The above picture is my favorite. It captures our devotion to God and to one another. I say it often to these guys, "I love playing with this team." Actually, we are more than a team. We are more than athletes. We are brothers in Christ and truly care about each other. With all this said, I can't wait until next year when we get a chance to grab that trophy back.