The pitchers and catchers will soon be showing up for baseball; then the rest of the players will come, and a team will be formed.  Some people are discouraged about baseball because of the poor showing last year and the years before that, and some are discouraged because of the cheating that has been revealed that taints the 2017 seasons and the Astros win. We’re reminded of the “Black Sox Scandal” of 1919.  While we know that there is “no crying in baseball”, there shouldn’t be any cheating either.  This is “America’s pastime” after all.  I have loved baseball for a long, long time. I went to my first game in 1942.  During the 1968 World Series my children were forced to watch the games with me with my announcement that “this is history”. This was something I said when I wanted them to watch something, whether it was every space shuttle launch or waking them in the middle of the night to see a man walking on the moon on television. We would wake them and take them out to watch an eclipse or a meteor shower. They tolerated me quite well.  At least with the Tigers’ poor showing last year we are assured they weren’t cheating. In 1984, my son would be off deer hunting up north during the World Series, I found this to be unsatisfactory and so bought him a portable TV so that he could watch the games while camping. He was very popular and it was even reported to my brother-in-law in Sterling Heights that his neighbor had met the nicest young man who let them watch the Series games with him and his friends and coincidentally the young man had the same last name as my brother-in-law. Baseball is great because with every yell of “Play Ball,” every Season, every game, 182 times plus playoffs and Championship games there is a chance to get it right.  The team has a fresh beginning every time they play.  Some years they will be champions and some years they will be losers. We’ve had more championship seasons than a lot of teams. Baseball is like life, every day, 365 times a year we have another chance to get it right.  We get up in the morning and say, “This is the day I will get it right.” Sometimes we fail and sometimes we do better, but always God is saying I love you, you are my child, keep trying. Win or lose we are blessed with an Almighty Father who loves us, who believes in us, and is cheering us on.

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22-23:

“Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; All I have needed thy hand hath provided—Great is thy faithfulness, Lord unto me.” 

Great is Thy Faithfulness by Thomas Chisholm based on Lamentations 3:22-23

  Lord we thank you for your love and mercy. We thank you that we get new chances every day to do your will. Be with our church, may we be the hands and feet of Christ.  Be with those who grieve, those who suffer illness, those who need your strength in their lives; may they find you.  Be with our Pastor, continue to bless his ministry, be with our staff, strengthen and uphold them, be with those who seek to serve you, may they find your mercy and love upholding them.  We with our country Lord, lead us in your ways. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen

  Grace Epperson