Lessons Learned from T-Ball

Imagine this poignant moment in sports. The baseball team dressed in their brand new uniforms are seated in the dugout, just before their first game. All eyes are on me, the coach. I'm reminding them of the importance of being focused on the doing the things we have practiced. When a hand goes up and one of the players asks, "Coach Ellis, when do we get refreshments?"

That's one of the joys of coaching a T-Ball team. T-Ball is an introductory level of baseball for five and six year old children. It' all about instruction and having fun. Teaching the kids the basics of baseball is the goal, but I've learned a few things, myself, being the coach of the "Gladewater A's." Things that are important in life and our faith.

1. Focus on the Basics...We don't talk baseball strategy or philosophy in T-Ball, we deal with the basics of baseball: throwing, catching, hitting and running. Five and six year olds can't turn double plays or hit to the opposite field. They have to learn "how to do" the basics before they can attempt advanced baseball stuff. For example, you must keep your eyes open, if you hope to catch the ball. Simple, but important. The same is true in your Christian life. You can't develop in our faith, if we don't read our Bible, attend worship, pray, serve others or share our faith. Those are basics that provide the foundation of our faith throughout our lives.

2. Don't Assume Others Understand what you are Talking About... In our first practice, I was letting the kids hit off the "Tee," and run the bases. Some of my players didn't know where to go when I told them, "Run to First Base." Even basic baseball terminology like "dugout," "shortstop", and "right field,is like a foreign language to them. As coaches, we have to be patient, specific and often show them what we want them to do. The same is true when we share Christ with others. Words like "saved," "Christian," and "redeemed" are familiar words to mature Christians, but for many who have no church background, they are roadblocks to understanding the gospel. So we must learn to be patient, communicate on their level and be more demonstrative in our witness for Christ. With T-Ballers, its "Show and Tell," you show them how and then explain it. Isn't that what sharing Christ with others is all about?

3. Live in the Moment... Five and six year olds don't have very long attention spans. They live in the moment. They don't think about championships at the end of the season. They think about sno-cones at the end of the game. They are not worried about being down by 7 runs, they just want to know when they bat next. Sometimes, your left fielder is watching an airplane fly overhead, as the ball rolls by his feet. Sometimes they forget to run, because they are waving at Mom and Dad. It isn't a priority to one of them that he is on third base and about to score a run, when he has to go to the bathroom, right NOW. T-Ballers live in the moment. In life, sometimes we forget to live in the moment. We so often get so caught up in "winning the game" that loose sight of just enjoying the experience. Even, as Christians we become so preoccupied with pursuing even our spiritual goals, that we miss enjoying what God is doing around us and in the lives of others.

My team of five and six year olds are learning a little about baseball, but their "old coach" is learning a few things from them. The next time, my center fielder is picking flowers off the clover in the outfield instead of chasing after the ball, I'll try not to get frustrated. Because he is picking those flowers to give to his mom. And when you think about it, which is REALLY more important?

35 Years...Jackie and Ellis

On March 16, 1974, an eighteen-year-old bride and a twenty-two year old groom professed their love for one another at the Central Park Baptist Church in Bossier City, Louisiana. The groom was a college senior who read water meters for the City of Marshall. She was a recent high school graduate who had just quit her job at McDonald's. Surrounded by family and friends, they said, “I do,” and kissed.

Thus began their journey together as husband and wife.

Today…after 35 years of raising three children who are now adults; planning and officiating three weddings; celebrating the births of our five grandchildren; ministry in eight different churches; living in ten different houses; surviving the typical family crises such as, arguments over money, the terrible two’s and the rebellious teen’s, car problems, loss of jobs, major surgeries, and the death of parents…we have not survived, but we have thrived as husband and wife.

I never thought I could have loved her more than I did on that day in March of 1974. But I do love her more…as my closest friend…as my partner in ministry…as the one and only true love of my life.

We have discovered that the marriage relationship is like a triangle with me, Jackie and God at the points. The closer our personal relationship moves toward God, the closer and stronger our relationship with each other becomes.

“So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” (Matt. 19:6)

It is my prayer that every marriage could have what we have. I know after 35 years of experience that it is only possible with the Lord in your life and marriage.

Got Water?

No Water. Last Tuesday evening, I went to wash my hands, and there was very little water pressure. I checked other faucets and the water pressure was little or not at all. I wondered did we pay the water bill? Is problem at just my house? Soon a neighbor called, "Do you have any water pressure?" After further investigation, I discovered that a major water line in the city's water system broke and the water towers were at low levels. For the next 24 hours, our community of nearly 6,000 had little or no water. It's amazing how dependent we are on hot and cold running water.

No water...to wash hands, dishes or clothes. No water...to fix coffee or ice tea. No water... for showers or baths. No water...to cook spaghetti or fill the dog's water bowl. No water...to flush toilets, brush your teeth or to take your medicine.

No water...caused local restaurants to close. No water...caused our schools to close. No water...forced our church to cancel all Wednesday activities. No water...caused our city officials, police and fire departments several anxious hours fearing any emergency that would need water. No water...truly interrupted our lives.

To make do, people in town purchased bottled water to drink. They went to friends and family members who had water to bathe. Pets were drinking distilled water from their bowls. Even when the water came flowing again, we had to boil it to be safe. I know that there are many places in the world where hot and cold clean running water does not exist. Life in those places is challenging, to say the least.

I am reminded of a woman who was drawing water from an ancient well, when Jesus came by and requested a drink of water. The woman didn't know that He already had "living water" to offer her. There are people all around us who have no water. They have drinking and bathing water, but not the "living water" that Jesus offers. The water that is ever refreshing and everlasting. The water that washes away our sins and overflows like a fountain into every aspect of our lives and on others as well. It springs from the heart of God through Jesus Christ into and through us.

Got Water? Living Water. Share It!