Detroit Tiger and Grace

In continuing with my animal theme I thought I would include Tiger, the Detroit Tigers that is. Last summer, a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers was one out from pitching a perfect game. Only 20 other pitchers in the history of baseball have done this. It is that sport’s most difficult feat. And on the last play of the game, as he ran to first base to tag out the runner, the umpire blew the call. He just completely missed it and in doing so created a media storm of failure and ridicule and anger.



One out. One umpire. One pitcher. Frozen in time with one of the worst moments in sports history. It dominated sports conversations for weeks.


Professional athletes sometimes get a bad rap. They get arrested, they do steroids, they inevitably get in trouble . We constantly hear all about the bad stuff. It was refreshing to see In this dramatic event Armando Galarraga showing real grace and forgiveness when he said “Nobody’s perfect, everybody is human.


Then we turn to the umpire, Jim Joyce, one of the most well respected umpires in all of baseball. He’s umped the World Series, playoffs and every other big game you can imagine. He started in 1989 and has a tremendous track record. And in one split second, all of that became overshadowed by a mistake. He entered the history books, alongside Bill Buckner and other goats after this event. How quickly it can all turn on us, and his response, his honesty about blowing the call is a great example for us when we do. He owned the moment, stepped into and didn’t blame anyone else. He fell and we all do.


What a great lesson we can each learn from these two men in the way they handled a very difficult situation. We are all going to fail sooner or later, lets each strive to handle the situation in a way that will bring honor to God.




23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
- Romans 3:23-24 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we thank you for this lesson that we can learn from a baseball game. We pray that when we fall we will handle it with grace and that Your love will be shown through it. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Sloth and Judging Others.

One day, a man in the forest found a large two-toed sloth on the ground, upon the bank of the Essequibo. “As soon as I got up to him,”; he says, “the sloth threw himself upon his back, and defended himself in gallant style with his fore legs.”“Come, poor fellow,” said he said, “I'll take no advantage of you in your misfortune; the forest is large enough for both you and me to rove in; go your ways up above, and enjoy yourself in these endless wilds; it is more than probable you will never have another interview with man; so fare thee well.”

On saying this, he took a long stick which was lying there, held it for him to hook on, and then conveyed him to a high and stately mora. The sloth ascended with wonderful rapidity, and in about a minute he was almost at the top of the tree. Thus, the world has erred in its judgments concerning the sloth, from descriptions being given of him on the ground, and not in the only position in which he ought to have been describe, namely, clinging to the branch of a tree.

We must be careful not to judge others. People are to be appreciated for those things which they do best. We must remember that people have different abilities, experience and education. God has given each of us unique and special talents.






For everyone who has will be given more, and he will have abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.
-Matthew 25:29 (New International Version)


Dear Lord we pray that our eyes would be open and that we would look past the weaknesses in others and look for the positive in each of them. In Jesus' name, Amen.

The Red Panda and Meeting Together.

The red panda is an omnivorous mammal (though it mostly eats bamboo), between 55-60mm long, noted for their characteristic red and buff fur, long tail, and characteristic 'panda' markings on their face. Despite their name, they are not related to pandas, and belong in their own family - Ailuridae. The red panda is found in the Himalayas at high elevations, in deciduous and coniferous landscapes, where they are excellent climbers. They prefer temperate climates.



The red panda has a mild disposition, likes to be alone, and is known in the wild, and in some zoos, as being a gentle and even-tempered creature. Red panda teaches us the value of gentleness. Sometimes gentleness can be a survival skill too. When we negotiate the world around us with the guidelines set forth in the Bible instead of outright fear or aggression, we often make more intelligent and wise choices.


We can learn from the Red panda that even if we are happiest on our own, or wish for space to ourselves - sometimes we must take the time to spend time with others, what better place than at your church with your brother and sister's in Christ.






24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.


- Hebrews 10:24-25 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we would take the time to join together with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Help us be an encouragement to them and likewise help them be an encouragement to us. In Jesus' name, Amen

Sanctification and the Dog.

There are many things that a dog does not like. Chief among them for many dogs is the seeming innocuous task of having their nails clipped. Dogs have very sensitive paws. I have often been amazed at the amount of time our Dalmatian spends grooming. The lick,lick and lick is often followed by nibbles and chomps directed at the skin and between the toes. Taught at a very early age to be fastidious groomers by their mothers, what we might regard as almost ritualistic and surely repetitive is really more than it seems. Dogs don’t sweat. For the most part they exchange body heat largely through panting. But there is one place on their bodies that is the exception and that is the bottom of their paws. The only place on a dog’s entire body that sweats is its paws. Stress a dog and make it pace. Then, touch the bottom of their paws. Surprisingly they are quite moist. It is no surprise, therefore, that dogs are so sensitive to the manipulation or grooming of their paws. Their paws are precious to them providing not only their sole means to escape enemies and pursue prey but also the one avenue by which they are able to employ evaporation as a means of cooling down.


The longer you allow a dog to go without grooming, especially a dog that is kept indoors and away from the natural corrosive environment that will normally serve to keep a dog’s claws blunted and short, the harder and harder it becomes for it to walk. As the claws grow the paw is pushed upward causing an abnormal pressure on the spine. Eventually a dog with unmanicured claws may develop back problems, become listless or agitated. Yet, as good as grooming is for a dog, the dog doesn’t seem to recognize the boon. It will pull, bite and writhe in your grasp as if you are trying to inflict great harm on it. And, the fact is, nail clipping is uncomfortable for most dogs since their paws are very sensitive to touch, temperature and pressure. The very thing that benefits them is the one thing they most fear.


Sanctification, the process by which we are made holy, like Jesus Christ, through the power of the Holy Spirit seems to have the same effect on humans as nail clipping does on dogs. We want to be like Christ. We long to conform to the image of our Savior in every way possible. We long to walk uprightly and in a “holy” manner. But we often stumble and fall. Just as a dog must be sat upon in some instances just to convince it that what we are about to do will ultimately be for its own good, so too sometimes our God must sit upon us with the weight of his grace.


We need to keep working toward the goal of being what God wants us to be no matter how uncomfortable that may be.


13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
-Romans 6:13-14 (New International Version)




Dear Lord we pray that we will allow you to work through us. We pray that no matter how uncomfortable it is we will allow you to do your work through us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Be still Like a Rabbit.

One morning there was a young boy taking a walk. As he was walking before sunrise through the neighborhood, he came upon a rabbit sitting on the sidewalk. He passed within just a few feet of him (her?), but he didn’t move. Tranquil and still, he watched as the boy came and went. As I read the story something occurred to me–if he had food to give him, the rabbit would have to remain still to receive it. If he didn’t trust the boy enough to let me walk up to him and offer the gift of food, he couldn’t give it to him.



This reminds me of todays verse. “Be still and know that I am God”









He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”


- Psalm 46:10 (New International Version)






Dear Lord we pray that we will be still so we can hear what you have for us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Lessons on Forgiveness from a Monkey.

In Southeast Asia, monkeys are trapped in an unusual way. A trap is made by hollowing out a gourd. It has one opening, which is only large enough for the monkey to put his hand in. The gourd is tied or nail near the ground so it cannot move. Then, the hunter puts a piece of fruit inside for bait. When the monkey smells the fruit, he puts his hand inside to grab the bait. When he tries to pull the fruit out, he can’t because his closed fist is too large to pull out of the small hole. The monkey is trapped! It would be very easy to get away - simply let go of the bait. But the monkey will not let go. He is in terrible danger as the hunter approaches, but he will give up his freedom to keep holding onto the bait. If only the monkey knew the terrible price he was going to pay for refusing to let go of that bait!

Sadly, people are often the same way. Refusing to forgive someone is like the monkey refusing to let go of the bait. Unforgiveness brings terrible consequences to the one holding on to it. Unforgiveness is a sin and it often leads to more sin. It causes hatred, envy, bitterness and more. The unforgiveness truly holds that person captive.

Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
- Colossians 3:13 (New International Version)


Dear Lord we pray that we would truly forgive those in our live and that we wouldn’t hold that a disagreement against them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Friendship and the Rhino.

Across the grasslands of East Africa, live some of nature's most fascinating animals. The rhinoceros, a two-horned terror of tremendous speed, size and agility, is feared by most of the creatures in the wild. Being one of the most dangerous animals in the world, the rhino is avoided by most animals, that is, except the buffalo bird. Watching the rhinoceros in his natural habitat, you would see these birds perched on his back. From time to time, some would be pecking into his back much as a woodpecker would work away at an old tree. Others would be flying about the head of the rhino and still others lighting on his ears. The most amazing thing is that the rhino does not attack. This is so, for the two have an understanding. From birth, the rhino has poor eyesight. In addition, his body is covered with parasites which he cannot control. The flock of birds on his back do him a great service by eating these parasites, which are the whole of their diet. And, if there is any danger in the area, these birds let out a shrill call warning the rhino of what he cannot see. In return for this service, they are protected from their natural predators by one of Africa's largest mammals. In a real sense, these two totally different animals of the world kingdom are fulfilling the responsibilities of mutual friendship.







For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.


- Ecclesiastes 4:10 (New American Standard Bible)






Dear Lord we are thankful for our friends. We pray that we will be the encouragement that they need and that we will be there when they need to be lifted up. In Jesus' Name, Amen.