Reggie Jackson Steals Second

            Several years ago, TODAY IN THE WORD related this story about Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson:

            Players who are in the game don’t always see the game. Even a star like the great Reggie Jackson still needed a coach.

            Earl Weaver demonstrated this point when he managed Reggie for the Baltimore Orioles. One of Weaver’s rules about base stealing was that runners had to have a signal before stealing.

            This upset Reggie because he had studied many of the pitchers and catchers in the league. He knew those he could steal against.

            During one game Reggie stole a base without a signal. His technique was flawless. He certainly didn’t expect the coach to disagree with his decision.

            But Weaver pulled him aside and explained why there had been no signal. Reggie’s action, though successful, had actually helped the other team. By having first base open, the opponents had been able to walk the next man (a powerful hitter). That forced Weaver to use a pinch hitter too early in the game.

            The coach trusted Reggie’s ability, but he also knew that it wasn’t time to steal a base. The player had a limited view; the coach saw the whole game.

            Humility realizes that this is the way it is with God. We have a limited view; God sees all.

Master of the Universe

            We need loved ones to keep us humble. For Shikhar Ghosh, that person was his wife.

            In July of 1998, Ghosh was on the cover of FORBES magazine but forgot to tell his wife. At supper, on the day of the magazine’s release, he asked her pass the rice. She replied, “You're a ‘Master of the Universe.’ Make it come to you.”

Source: FORBES, April 23, 2012

The Women’s Tee Box

            It can be difficult when our failures become public. Several years ago, a gentleman recounted an awkward moment he had experienced on the golf course:

            It was a sunny Saturday morning on the course and I was at the beginning of my pre-shot routine, visualizing my upcoming shot, when a voice came over the loudspeaker.

            "Would the gentleman on the women's tee back up to the men's tee please!"

            I was still deep in my routine, seemingly impervious to the interruption.

            Again the announcement, "Would the gentleman on the women's tee kindly back up to the men's tee!"

            I simply ignored the guy and kept concentrating, when once more, the man yelled: "WOULD THE MAN ON THE WOMEN'S TEE PLEASE BACK UP TO THE MEN'S TEE!!"

            I finally stopped, turned, looked through the clubhouse window directly at the person with the microphone and shouted back, "WOULD THE IDIOT IN THE CLUBHOUSE KINDLY SHUT UP AND LET ME PLAY MY SECOND SHOT!"

            All of us hit "bad shots" that eventually come to light. All of us fail. All us fall short of God’s glory.

            It seems appropriate, therefore, that we maintain an attitude of winsome humility. That’s what a sinless Jesus did. Thinking of Jesus, Paul wrote,

            Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves (Phil. 2:3). CEV

SUPERMAN AND THE SEATBELT

           I have immense respect for the great boxer, Muhammad Ali. That’s why I read with great amusement a story, perhaps apocryphal, on one of those Internet sites last week. Of course, during his heyday, Ali was known as much for his braggadocio as he was for his boxing.

            The legend goes that once Ali was flying to a fight on a commercial airline. Before the plane took off, a flight attendant, making her rounds, noticed that Ali had not buckled his seat belt.

            The flight attendant asked him to buckle up, and Ali refused. The flight attendant insisted, but Ali said, "Superman don't need no seatbelt."            

            The attendant replied, "Superman don't need no plane."

            Ali buckled his seat belt.

            It’s always good to keep things in their proper perspective.

             3 O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?
4 Man is like a breath;
his days are like a passing shadow (Psalm 144:3-4.) 

          

Story Source: Perry Greene… http://www.sermoncentral.com/illustrations/sermon-illustration-perry-greene-humor-80350.asp

He Adores His Maker

            Benjamin Disraeli was a prime minister of England in the 1800s. A friend of his once remarked to another acquaintance—the British citizen, John Bright, “You ought to give him [Disraeli] credit for what he has accomplished, as he is a self-made man.”

            “I know he is,” retorted Mr. Bright, “and he adores his maker.”

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience… (Col. 3:12.) ESV

"You’re Like God"

            A few years ago, I read where a grandmother told about a conversation with her grandson:

           

            My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, “Granny, do you know how you and God are alike?”

            I mentally polished my halo while I asked, “No, how are we alike?”

            “You’re both old,” he replied.

            Nothing like kids to keep you humble.

How Did You Become a Hero?

            Humility and modesty are traits to be admired. That’s why I appreciate the story about the small boy asking John F. Kennedy how he became a war hero.  

            “It was easy,” Kennedy answered. “The Japanese sank my boat.”

Standards

              As the father of a boy, I appreciate the old joke about a father, who was trying to motivate his young son to be more studious. One day, he told his boy, “Son, did you know when Lincoln was your age, he would study books by firelight?”

             “That’s great, dad,” the boy replied as he pondered that image. “Dad?”

            “Yes, son.”

            “When he was your age, wasn’t he president?”

            While we should hold high standards, let us maintain a spirit of humility.

All Ground Is Level at the Foot of the Cross

            There is a story told, perhaps legend, that relates a remarkable truth:

            The Duke of Wellington was once taking Communion along with the other members of his church. Being an Anglican, he and all other members would approach the communion table and kneel down to receive the sacrament.

            It so happened that a very poor man walked up the opposite aisle and, reaching the communion table, knelt down close by the side of the Duke.            

            Someone came and touched the poor man on the shoulder. He whispered to him to move away, or to rise and wait until the Duke could receive the bread and the wine.

            Overhearing the conversation, the great commander grabbed the hand of the old man and held on, preventing him from rising. Reverently and distinctly, the Duke said, “Do not move, we are all equal here.”

A Hero to his Valet

There is an old saying, attributed to various people, that “no man is a hero to his valet.” Well, one man was a hero to his personal servant.

Edmund Morris, in his fabulous book, COLONEL ROOSEVELT, writes about Roosevelt taking a speaking tour in England after he was president. At the end of the trip, Roosevelt said goodbye to his friend, Arthur Lee, and to the valet, who had taken care of his needs during his trip.

After he boarded the ship, that would take him home to the United States, Lee was surprised to see Roosevelt’s servant crying. He asked him what was wrong.

The valet replied, “Excuse me sir, but in all my 30 years of service, I have never met such a great gentleman as ’im.”

Humility from the great is always appreciated.

Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn't think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what (Phil. 2:5-6). THE MESSAGE

Bad Publicity

  5 In your lives you must think and act like Christ Jesus.

 6 Christ himself was like God in everything.

       But he did not think that being equal with God was something to be used for his own benefit.

 7 But he gave up his place with God and made himself nothing.

       He was born as a man

       and became like a servant.

 8 And when he was living as a man,

he humbled himself and was fully obedient to God, even when that caused his death—death on a cross (Phil 2:5-8). NCV

Abraham Lincoln believed people should not think too highly of themselves or boast about their accomplishments. He reportedly said, “What kills a skunk is the publicity it gives itself.”

Bobby Jones--A Man of Great Humility

            Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers, if not the greatest golfer, of all time. During the "Golden Age of Sport", the 1920's, Jones reigned supreme with Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Bill Tilden as one of the great athletes. He's the only athlete to ever have received two ticker tape parades on Broadway.

            From 1923-1930 Bobby Jones won 13 of the 21 national tournaments he entered. He won four U.S. Opens and finished second four times. He won all three of the British Opens that he entered. In all of the tournaments he entered, he never missed the cut. And, of course, he is the only man to have ever won the Grand Slam in one calendar year.

            Years ago, I read an article on Jones in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. I learned that Bobby Jones was a man of great intellect. He earned a degree from Georgia Tech in mechanical engineering. Not satisfied, he earned another degree at Harvard in English literature. Later, he entered Emory University's school of law. After his second year, as a lark, he decided to take his bar exam. He passed.

            You would think, with all his fame and success, Bobby Jones would be a man with tremendous ego. Such was not the case. His habit, whenever he played golf, was not to play with the “big-shots.” Instead, he would habitually go to the course and play with anyone he met, great golfer or lowly duffer.

            But to me, perhaps, the greatest testament to Bobby Jones' humility was when he was a student at Harvard. Obviously, he would have loved to have played on the golf team. By then, he was a world famous champion.

            Harvard rules; however, would not allow a college graduate to play on their team. So Bobby Jones offered to be the team manager. Much to their embarrassment, Harvard officials informed him their team already had a manager. Bobby Jones then volunteered to be the assistant manager for golf team. And that was how he served. He was just glad to be able to help.

            Now how many of us would be willing to do that?

The Old Pick-Up Truck

There is an old story, probably apocryphal, that humorously reminds us of the biblical values of modesty and humility. It teases us Texans, but that’s okay, and it proves a point.

A Texas rancher driving through Vermont had to stop to let a farmer’s cows cross the road. As the farmer passed in front of the Cadillac convertible, the rancher called out to him, “How much land you got, partner?”

“Well,” the farmer said, “My land runs all the way down there to them alders along the brook. On the meadow side, over there, it goes clean up to those larches on the hill.”

“You know,” said the rancher, “I got a spread in Texas and I can get in my pickup and drive all day without reaching any of my boundary lines.”

“That so?” said the farmer. “I had a truck like that once.”

The Know-It-All

A classified ad came out in a newspaper twenty or thirty years ago:

FOR SALE BY OWNER; Complete set of Encyclopedia Britannica, 45 volumes; excellent condition; $500 for the set or best offer; No longer needed, got married last month; wife knows everything.

That ad makes me think of James 4:10, “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

Who Is Going to Hold?

John Brodie was pro football’s first player to sign an million dollar contract. His career spanned from the late fifties to the early seventies and during his prime, he was without doubt one of the great quarterbacks in the game.

In the mid-sixties, Brodie and the old American Football League’s franchise—the Houston Oilers—arranged a deal which called for him to switch leagues and join the Oilers. It was this transaction that helped to cause the merger between the National Football League and the AFL.

Because of his success, a reporter decided to goad Brodie a little during a particular press conference. The reporter asked Brodie why it was that a million dollar quarterback had to hold the football on field goals and extra-points. "Well," Brodie replied, "If I didn't, it would fall over."

Now that's a great answer. John Brodie certainly didn't have to hold the football. Some other "lesser" player could have performed this menial task. But Brodie's answer indicated an attitude of humility. An attitude which displayed that he was not too big for a job.

Surely we Christians, called by Jesus to be a humble people, can demonstrate this kind of spirit.