FROM THE PULPIT: LIKE RUBE WADDELL, WE CAN GET DISTRACTED

Rube Waddell was a great pitcher for the Philadelphia A's baseball club in the early 1900's. He held strikeout records that stood until Nolan Ryan in 1973. His career was short, however, and he died young of tuberculosis. Even in his prime, he was known as an eccentric. His craziness, as well as his talent, helped draw fans to the ballpark. He would sometimes tell his outfielders to sit down, then proceed to strike out the side. He did cartwheels off the mound after beating Cy Young in a 20-inning game. And he had a great fascination for fire engines. Whenever he heard one, he would run and follow it-even if it was in the midst of a game he was pitching!

Sometimes we Christians are like Rube Waddell. We have something much, much better than a great fastball. We have Jesus Christ, the source of life and joy. We also have his mandate to share his love with others, and to tell the good news of his dying for our sins to others. Yet, we listen to many distractions. Like Rube Waddell's fire trucks, all sorts of things divert our attention away from God. Jesus called them "thorns," the cares of this world and riches (Matthew 13:22). We forsake the Creator for created things!

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," Jesus said. (Matthew 5:8) A pure heart is concerned for pleasing God and Him only. A young man who has found the girl of his dreams will promise her the sun and moon, and will do anything in the world for her. Such is Christ's love for us, and much more. Yet we often treat Him as if He weren't there. "My people have committed two sins: they have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that can hold no water. My people have exchanged their glory for worthless idols." (Jeremiah 2:13,11)

Let us truly repent! Turn once again to God. Let us "complete the game" we have started. Don't switch teams, or leave the field for a fire truck. "Seek first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you as well," Jesus instructs us from the Sermon on the Mount. (Matthew 6:33) Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. (James 4:8) For God is the only true God; let us worship nothing else.