BIBLE LESSONS...IN THE FLESH (or lack thereof)

Matthew 5:37 "Simply let your yes be yes and your no, no; anything beyond this comes from the evil one". AMEN on that one. This past spring, I was approached by our church softball coach (great guy) and asked if I would play softball. I informed him that I had retired from softball mainly because of my wife does not like my frequent, sports related, visits to the E/R (lip stitches, head injuries, ankle sprains, etc. You know, Go Big or Go Home stuff). He was very understanding and asked if he could put me on the roster anyway, just in case they didn't have enough players to play. As I look back now, THAT was the perfect time for me to use the biblical principle in Matthew 5:37. I should have just said thanks, but no. Instead, I elected to gamble a little. I asked, "How many players do you have"? He informed me that it looked like he would have 15, 16, or17. Good odds. So being the idiot that I am, I told him that I would play if he had a situation in which they would have for forfeit for lack of players. He said great and I went on my merry way. Flash forward to yesterday. The family and I spent my day off at The Beach Waterpark. When we left at 4:30, I had a voice mail. I had gotten "the call". Due to 3 injuries, vacations, and work schedules; we need you to play. Being a man of my word, to the game I went. The game started with a prayer and I was so thankful that the guy who prayed asked God for no injuries. We were up first and I was shocked to hear that I was batting fourth. Fourth? I have not swung a bat in two years....I should be batting 9th. It gets worse. Incredibly, my first time up, I hit a bullet to right field....base hit. I actually got on two times in a row. I'm not sure which one it was but at some point early on, I found myself rounding third and heading for home plate(you're excited, I can tell). The throw home was coming so it was inevitable that I was going to have to slide on that parking lot they call an infield. Down I went and safe I was. After I got up, I looked down and saw this (only caked with dirt and rocks, click the picture, it looks better up close)

Bible lesson...in the flesh.