Don't Give Up!

In his book A Call to Excellence, author Gary Inrig describes the record for the shortest major league baseball career in history. Harry Hartman was pitching for the old Brooklyn Dodgers. He was a gifted young ballplayer whose day of glory arrived in 1918 when he was called up from the minors to pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

As he approached the mound, he was thinking that this was the moment he had dreamed about, the beginning of a great career. His dreams began to fade, however, when his first pitch was hit for a single. The next batter tripled. Rattled, Hartman walked the next batter and the next hit for a single. The next batter tripled. Rattled more, he walked the next batter on four straight pitches, and when he did throw a strike to the next hitter, it went for a single.

Frustrated and dejected, Hartman had had enough. He headed for the showers, dressed, and walked out of the stadium to a naval recruiting office, where he enlisted. The next day, he was in a military uniform, never to be heard from in professional baseball again.

When I read that story, I wondered if Hartman ever had regrets about giving up too quick on professional baseball. Think of all the time and energy he expended to get to the place of being a major league ball player. What if he had stayed in baseball, practicing more and working harder to be a better pitcher? Could he have had a long, successful career in baseball? Could he have made the All-Star team or even been a Hall of Famer? You and I will never know the answer to those questions because Harry Hartman quit.

Are you considering quitting something because it is hard? Let’s face it, sometimes it is hard to be married, to be a father, to stay with a challenging career or to build a ministry. At times quitting looks very attractive as a quick way to escape the pressure, discouragement or boredom of hard things. God has a strong word for those who look at quitting as an easy way out, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up"(Galatians 6:9).

God promises to honor our efforts if our desire is to please Him and grow His Kingdom. Perhaps we will not see the full results of our perseverance in this life, but there is a payday someday, when God will reward your work.

Shoulder to Shoulder,

Gregg

Who Do You Look Like?

Every year an organization publishes what they call their “Stella Awards” for the most outlandish lawsuits (stellaawards.com). The “Stella” is named after Stella Liebeck, the woman who sued McDonalds after she spilled a cup of coffee on herself while driving. Last year, the #1 Stella award went to Allen Ray Heckard. Even though Heckard is 3 inches shorter, 25 pounds lighter, and 8 years older than former basketball star Michael Jordan, the Portland, Oregon, man says he looks a lot like Jordan, and is often confused for him.

He claims the confusion has created a lot of grief for him. As a result, he believes he deserves $52 million "for defamation and permanent injury", plus $364 million in "punitive damage for emotional pain and suffering", plus the SAME amount from Nike co-founder Phil Knight, for a grand total of $832 million. He dropped the suit after Nike's lawyers chatted with him, where they presumably explained how they'd counter-sue if he pressed on.

My friend, I hope you bear a spiritual resemblance with one of the most well known men who ever lived – Jesus Christ. According to Romans 8:29 God’s grand purpose for your life is to conform you to the image, or likeness of His Son. Being Christ-like does not imply that we are on an equal standing with Christ. He is the preeminent Son of God and will be forever exalted beyond any mortal. Becoming Christ-like refers to the work of God in our lives by which we gradually begin to think and act more like Him.

As we grow and mature in our faith we become more like Christ. As we become more like Christ, we bring God greater glory. As we glorify God in our home, workplace and community, people are drawn to Him. In this way we fulfill God’s great calling on our lives.

Shoulder to Shoulder,
Gregg