Christians and Softball

[nrajeff]

awwww!!

hit me again!

Can I help?

[Sparko]

Can I help?

only if you love me, Jeff.

[mossrose]

Can I help?

I think you better go and read the BoM, jeff.

[Cow Poke]

I think you better go and read the Bible, jeff.

Fixed it fer ya, Moss.

[nrajeff]

You are not going to make a very good God one day with an attitude like that. Genesis 18

23-25 Abraham confronted him, "Are you serious? Are you planning on getting rid of the good people right along with the bad? What if there are fifty decent people left in the city; will you lump the good with the bad and get rid of the lot? Wouldn't you spare the city for the sake of those fifty innocents? I can't believe you'd do that, kill off the good and the bad alike as if there were no difference between them. Doesn't the Judge of all the Earth judge with justice?"

26 God said, "If I find fifty decent people in the city of Sodom, I'll spare the place just for them."

27-28 Abraham came back, "Do I, a mere mortal made from a handful of dirt, dare open my mouth again to my Master? What if the fifty fall short by five—would you destroy the city because of those missing five?"

He said, "I won't destroy it if there are forty-five."

29 Abraham spoke up again, "What if you only find forty?"

"Neither will I destroy it if for forty."

30 He said, "Master, don't be irritated with me, but what if only thirty are found?"

"No, I won't do it if I find thirty."

31 He pushed on, "I know I'm trying your patience, Master, but how about for twenty?"

"I won't destroy it for twenty."

32 He wouldn't quit, "Don't get angry, Master—this is the last time. What if you only come up with ten?"

"For the sake of only ten, I won't destroy the city."

33 When God finished talking with Abraham, he left. And Abraham went home.


For the sake of ten links to different threads supporting the claim, I will spare Cerebrum from being told that he failed to provide many examples of the analogy in question. But if there's only one or two, I shall destroy that city. : )

[Sparko]

[COLOR="#0000CD"


For the sake of ten links to different threads supporting the claim, I will spare Cerebrum from being told that he failed to provide many examples of the analogy in question. But if there's only one or two, I shall destroy that city. : )

Ah there's the arrogant God we have all come to love. Welcome back Jeff!

[nrajeff]

only if you love me, Jeff.

Man, what a dilemma.....

[nrajeff]

Ah there's the arrogant God we have all come to love.

Well, if I have anything close to the amount of arrogance and capriciousness of the God you currently love and worship, then you should start believing in the theosis/deification of humans, right?

[Cerebrum123]

Man, what a dilemma.....

That was a good one.

[OtherCheek]

That was a good one.

I'm glad to see that someone else here can appreciate NRAJeff's wit.

[Cow Poke]

I'm glad to see that someone else here can appreciate NRAJeff's wit.

Oh, horsehocky -- it's not the FIRST time we've acknowledged something funny Jeff said. He really CAN be a hoot at times!

[Cow Poke]

On the topic of softball.....

I used to hate when "Softball League" time came around at Church. We had a rule that only "active members" could play on the team, so shortly before softball time, you'd find men becoming "active" in Church so they would qualify to play ball. It was shameless.

One year, it got so bad, because we had all these "outsiders" who would show up for softball, and there would be all kinds of unsportsmanlike conduct, cussing, yelling... it was embarrassing. So I told our Church "no softball this year -- if you want to play, go join some other team". I had some guys who were really upset, but I got a call from the coach asking me if I could come to a meeting of some of the ball players to hear their concerns. I agreed.

When we met, the coach very humbly asked if he could make a presentation before I said anything. I agreed. He began to explain that he knew why I was upset. He admitted that the unsportsmanlike conduct the previous year was a terrible embarrassment to him personally, and it was an affront to the name and mission of our Church. Then he got a little misty, and said, "Pastor, I'd like for you to reconsider letting us have a Church league this year. I promise to take personal responsibility for the conduct of our team members, and I promise that, if there is not a marked change in this year's performance, I will resign as coach, and never ask for a church league again".

I was impressed. I asked him to continue.

He said, "The Lord has put on my heart that winning men is more important than winning games". He explained that he didn't care if they won a SINGLE game, because he was more interested in representing Christ and our Church's name than he was in "winning".

Half way through the season, I was amazed. When there was a controversial call at first base, it was OUR guys who would say, "No, I was out... he tagged me fair and square". Any time there was a borderline call, our guys quickly insisted it be resolved in favor of the other team.

Even more amazing than that was the fact that, by the END of the season, our guys had won TWELVE MEN to Jesus Christ! Some from our team, and a number of guys from other teams. I remember one time when our first baseman called for a time-out, because the runner on base - from the other team, of course - wanted to pray with him and receive Jesus as Savior. Right there in the 7th inning!

And, as a very important aside... our guys won every single game they played that year. Many years ago, but it was, IMO, Church League Softball at its FINEST.

[nrajeff]

So, adapting this into a parable about this forum....

... He admitted that the unsportsmanlike conduct (toward the pro-LDS) the previous year was a terrible embarrassment to him personally, and it was an affront to the name and mission of our Church.... "Pastor, I'd like for you to reconsider letting us have an LDS-related discussion forum this year. I promise to take personal responsibility for the conduct of our team members, and I promise that, if there is not a marked change in this year's performance, I will resign as moderator, and never ask for a church league again".

I was impressed. I asked him to continue.

He said, "The Lord has put on my heart that winning men is more important than winning debates". He explained that he didn't care if they won a SINGLE debate, because he was more interested in representing Christ and our Church's name than he was in "winning".

Half way through the season, I was amazed. When there was a controversial call in a post, it was OUR guys who would say, "No, I was wrong... he pointed out my mistaken conclusion or ad hom fair and square". Any time there was a borderline call, our guys quickly insisted it be resolved in favor of the other team (the pro-LDS).

Even more amazing than that was the fact that, by the END of the season, our guys had won TWELVE MEN and ke7 to the Jesus Christ of Evangelicalism! Some from our team, and a number of guys from other teams...And, as a very important aside... our guys won every single debate they played that year. Many years ago, but it was, IMO, TWEB at its FINEST.

[Cow Poke]

So, adapting this into a parable about this forum....

Please, feel free. But it was a very powerful spiritual event which was part of a wider Revival we were having in our Church at the time.

[nrajeff]

Please, feel free. But it was a very powerful spiritual event which was part of a wider Revival we were having in our Church at the time.

I was just saying that it might be an inspirational pattern to emulate here, which might have similar success here...