Dear Members and Friends of CUMC:

 

Greetings to you in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.  I give thanks to God for you.  Please tell your family and friends about our newsletter on our website: http://www.gbgm-umc.org/clintonumc-md/.  Father’s Day is being celebrated on June 15^th, almost 98 years after the first one was celebrated on June 19, 1910.  Since many fathers’ favorite pastime is watching a baseball game, I think the following story is most appropriate.

 

The Lord’s Baseball Game

 

            Henry and the Lord stood to observe a baseball game.   The Lord’s team was playing Satan’s team.  The Lord’s team was at bat; the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs.  They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was LOVE.

 

            LOVE swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because LOVE never fails.  The next batter was named FAITH, who also got a single because FAITH works with LOVE.  The next batter up was GODLY WISDOM.  Satan wound up and threw the first pitch.  GODLY WISDM looked it over and let it pass.  Ball one!

 

            Three more pitches and GODLY WISDOM walked, because GODLY WISDOM never swings at what Satan throws.  The bases were loaded.  The Lord then turned to Henry and told him that He was now going to bring His star player.  Up to bat stepped GRACE.  Henry said, “He sure doesn’t look like much!”  Satan’s whole team relaxed when they saw GRACE.  Thinking he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch.  To the shock of everyone, GRACE hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.  However, Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by.  He went up for the ball, but it went right through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing to the ground.  Then it continued over the fence for a home run!   The Lord’s team won!

 

            The Lord then asked Henry if he knew why LOVE, FAITH, and GODLY WISDOM could get on base, but could not win the game.  Henry answered that he did not know why.  The Lord explained, “If your LOVE, FAITH, and GODLY WISDOM had won the game, you would have thought you had done it by yourself.  LOVE, FAITH and GODLY WISDOM will get you on base, but only My GRACE can get you home.  My GRACE is the only thing Satan cannot steal.”

~Author Unknown~

 

            May God grant you a Happy and Blessed Father’s Day.

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                /S/

 

                                                                                                                                                                        DOROTHEA BELT STROMAN, Pastor