Issue link: https://cp.revolio.com/i/1502536
Be Ready! Laz Alba International President BSHDFC Baseball is my favorite sport. I started playing baseball at the age of eight and I continued playing all the way through high school and I was a pretty good ball player. In fact, after high school, I was going to be drafted by a professional team. However, I made some foolish mistakes and my career as a baseball player never materialized. In all the years I played, I only got injured once and it was my mistake that I got hurt. I was playing third base, covering the bag because there was a runner on third. I'm not sure what happened next, but I lost focus and didn't notice the pitcher had thrown to my base to try to pick off the runner. The ball hit me square in the face – knocked me out and I had a cut, was sore, and black and blue for days. After getting hit in the face by a baseball, I quickly learned a valuable lesson - to always be ready and never lose focus when out on the field. Well, the same applies to ministry. We must be ready to always serve. There are no days off from being a follower of Jesus. There are no days off from being a Black Sheep. In 2 Timothy 4:2 we read, "Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. The first command that Paul gives to Timothy is to Preach the word of God. But how does this command apply to us as Black Sheep? After all, we're not all preachers/pastors. We can simply do it through the wearing of our vests, by shining boots at an event, through our daily lives, by establishing relationships with those that we ride with, earning the right to be heard. A favorite saying of mine often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi is, "Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary, use words." The second command that Paul gives to Timothy is to be prepared. To Be Ready, in season and out of season or said differently "whether the time is favorable or not." We need to be constantly on the lookout to glorify God and to make Him known to others. Let's be intentional when we're out there on our bikes. Let's not lose focus and remember that we're missionaries and who the mission field is. Then lastly, Paul commands Timothy and us to patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage people with good teaching. The word "encourage" has the thought of comfort. Something important for us to remember is whether we bring correction and/or rebuke, we must always do it in a gracious manner. And always with proper/correct doctrine. What does the Bible say about the issue? People don't need our opinion; they need the Word of God. Let's commit to be ready! Let's be focused and always looking for ways to serve others and make Jesus known to those that don't have a relationship with Him. Love you all, Laz Alba. b Welcome To Our Newest Members! Kevin & Shannon Ross. (Arrowhead, AZ) Jeffrey Vacura (Inland Northwest WA) Dereck & Tracie Case (Mt Rainier, WA) Lawrence & Carol Lloyd (Hickory, NC) Wesley & Petrina Kelley (Antelope Valley, CA)