Halls of Fame & Faith

This week, January 28th, in American History - The Baseball Hall of Fame opened in 1936!

The U.S. Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY selected it's first members on January 28, 1936 (1936 was a difficult, but good year for America as Jesse Owens & the rowing team from the University of Washington won Gold Medals at the Olympics in Berlin). The first baseball players selected into the Hall of Fame were Ty Cobb, Babe Ruth, Honus Wagner, Christy Matthewson & Walter Johnson. The Clark Foundation funded the project that served to honor these & many other baseball greats. The opening of the Baseball Hall of Fame could not have come at a better time as The Depression was wrecking havoc across America.

The men chosen as the first inductees were not perfect. There were not even perfect at playing baseball. However, they mastered art of playing baseball. Each player improved the game of baseball with their presence & performance. The impact of these men in the game of baseball has endured generations. Their dedication & devotion to improving their craft through the years earned them well deserved recognition.

America has been & still is a land of opportunity! Our nation has allowed men & women to construct their own lives. People have the privilege of living according to the dictates of their consciences. Therein, we all have the potential to pursue our competences & capabilities as we see fit. We have the joy of discovering our abilities & passions in a fulfilling manner. Thankfully, Cobb, Ruth, Wagner, Matthewson & Johnson found their passion on the baseball diamond!

Additionally, The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA is a great place to visit! The Pro Football Hall of Game in Canton, OH is equally impressive. They, like Cooperstown, offer some of the best of American discipline, determination, devotion to teamwork & excellence. There is much to be thankful for in America!

God gives us the Hall of Faith in the book of Hebrews in the Bible. Hebrews Chapter 11 provides a list of some of God's most choice servants...men & women of faith who overcame odds & adversity to be found faithful to God. Some of these heroes of the faith are Noah, Abraham, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, David & more. They were not mentioned by God because of their perfection, but because of their faith.

3 Statements: First, each demonstrated faith even after failure. Second, each demonstrated courage when it counted. Third, each demonstrated obedience against the odds. Result: being listed in God's Hall of Faith. More importantly, God received glory & honor through their faith, courage & obedience. Each of these attributes work together...they go hand in hand. Again, they were not perfect, but they knew where they stood before God. They put their safety & security on the line for something or Someone bigger than themselves. Each found a way to obey at crucial points in their lives.

Whether you are baseball fan or not - I hope you recognize how significant it is to learn from those who have gone before us...especially, those who excelled at their craft. It's imperative to maintain a connection to our past. We should not live in the past, but there is much to honor & learn. I'm grateful for Abner Doubleday, or whomever invented the game of baseball. I proud to have played a game that so many in America & the world have enjoyed. I'm thankful for those who played the game with intense passion & excellent performance. For me, that is Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Davey Lopes, Roberto Clemente, Rollie Fingers, Reggie Jackson, Ozzie Smith & so many more!

In faith, I am grateful for Joshua, Joseph, David, Paul, Timothy & others. I want to grow from learning their attributes & characteristics that made them extraordinary. I want to pay attention to the teaching God provided through them. Studying history & learning from others failures & victories can be crucial in personal development, today.

Be encouraged, dear friend, God may be using you today in more ways than you know...stay the course & Godspeed!

Bruce