Dear Friends,
It was, I think, 1963 the last time I was at the ballpark to see the Braves play!
That was a long time ago. The ballpark, Connie Mack Stadium, was torn down l970. The game that I saw was the Philadelphia Phillies versus the Milwaukee Braves. It was an era when players named Hank Aaron, Warren Spahn, Lew Burdette, Eddie Mathews, and Joe Torre played on that team.
Recently, Sandy and I had the opportunity to go see the Braves play the Chicago Cubs in Atlanta. It was my first visit to see the home team in my adopted state of Georgia. Our first impression was that Turner Field is a magnificent venue to see a ballgame! It is a sanctuary for the "National Pasttime!"
There was a moment in the evening that caused me to stop and think. At one point, an attendant came to our row to ask if we wanted to order items from the concessions. Right by our seats, she was able to take the order, receive a credit card for the transaction, and transfer the order to the concession area. At the end of the transaction, she handed each person a printed receipt from a wireless credit card system.
A man down the row from us was sitting with three children. He placed an order for four hot dogs, two orders of fries, three Cokes, two frozen lemonades, and perhaps another item. That is all that I remember after the game. The attendant told him that his total was $57.00! Wow! That is a lot of money for snacks at a ball game. That expense did not include travel, parking, and tickets to the game!
Years ago, in the film "Field of Dreams," the Iowa farmer Ray Kinsella turns the cornfield on his farm into a baseball diamond. An author, Terrence Mann, is one who sees it. In a memorable speech he encourages the farmer to keep the field. He says, "Ray, people will come. They'll come to Iowa for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn into the driveway, not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at your door as innocent as children,
longing for the past. 'Of course we won't mind if you have a look around,' you'll say, 'It's only twenty dollars per person.' They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it; for it is money they have and peace they lack."
What is it that prompts people to pay the kind of money they pay at a baseball game? In Atlanta, it was most certainly a game of great baseball tradition, the Cubs versus the Braves. The game was a showcase of excellent talent --- good pitching, great fielding, hustle, drama, heroes, and homeruns. What a night!
But $57.00 for hotdogs and Cokes? Perhaps I should mention that the uncle of these children ordered cotton candy for four of them a few innings later. The cost for that gift was another $20.00. That is a long way from "buying peanuts and Cracker Jacks" at the old ballgame!
In a world with such great need, can we justify the way we spend our time and money on ourselves? The $77.00 spent on treats at that game would support a child for three months through World Vision.
If I am lacking peace in my life, or if my life is in need of connecting to something more meaningful, the answer may not be at the ballpark. It may be that it is time to invest our time and resources in some opportunities for service and concern for our neighbors.
Athletes make a lot of money. Stadiums are so expensive to build. While I understand that there are costs that need to be recouped by the owners of the baseball franchise, some of what I observed at the ballgame was quite a wake-up call.
In spite of it all, I had a great time at the ballgame! As a matter of fact, I am really looking forward to the next time I have the privilege of being taken "out to the ballpark!" Until then, I am going to try to do what I can for missions and outreach. A night at Turner Field reminded me that lots of folks may never get to see a ballgame…..and some may not have resources for providing for even their most basic needs.
Each Sunday morning, at either 8:30 or 11:00, there are services of worship which provide opportunity to establish a peace in our lives that is rooted in our faith and a compassion in our lives that emerges from the love of God. You are invited to that sanctuary without a ticket each week! See you in church!
Blessings!
ARM
Rev Alan R Miller
Something to Think About…
In Directions, James Hamilton writes:
Before refrigerators, people used icehouses to preserve their food. Icehouses had thick walls, no windows, and a tightly fitted door: In winter; when streams and lakes were frozen, large blocks of ice were cut, hauled to the icehouses, and covered with sawdust. Often the ice would last well into the summer.
One man lost a valuable watch while working in an icehouse. He searched diligently for it, carefully raking through the sawdust, but didn’t find it. His fellow workers also looked, but their efforts, too, proved futile. A small boy who heard about the fruitless search slipped into the icehouse during the noon hour and soon emerged with the watch.
Amazed, the men asked him how he found it.
“I closed the door,” the boy replied, “lay down in the sawdust, and kept very still. Soon I heard the watch ticking.”
Often the question is not whether God is speaking, but whether we are being still enough, and quiet enough, to hear. “Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10
Being still,
Anita
Many of us have either been the recipients of blood or some member of our family has been blessed with the “gift of life.” What a privilege it is to know that if we are in a car accident or have a disease that effects our supply of blood that blood will be made available to us. This happens only because people are willing to donate blood for this purpose. On July 18 from 2:00 – 7:00 p.m. in our social hall we will have the opportunity to give blood. Any person age 17 or older that weighs at least 110 pounds may be eligible to participate. Please call the church office to sign up to give the gift of life.
Monday Night Bible Study
The Monday Night Bible Study will resume their regular schedule on July 18 at 7:00 p.m. We will cover lesson number 7 on that night. Remember to bring your suggestions for our next study.
Youth Car Wash Saturday
Bring your cars, trucks & vans to the church Saturday, July, 16 between 8:00 and 3:00 to have them washed by our youth. Your donations will help fund the youth trip to Camp Livingstone in Tennessee this month.
Council on Ministries
The Council on Ministries will meet on July 19 at 7:15 p.m. All members are encouraged to be present and make a report of the activities within your area of ministry.
Children’s Church Volunteers Still Needed
Children’s Church, for children ages 4 – 1st grade, will begin when school starts and we need volunteers to serve on a rotating team. Our hope is to have enough
It is time to begin thinking and planning for the 2005-2006 school year’s church activities for children. Not only will we be starting Children’s Church but also Sunday Night Live (our ministry to children ages 3- 5th grades.) SNL happens each Sunday evening from 5:00 – 6:30 with a time of Bible Study, games, crafts and praise and worship. If you would like to volunteer to help with this ministry to children, please contact Anita as soon as possible.
Visitors and Breadmakers Needed
Would you be willing to visit those who visit our worship services and take them a loaf of bread? Or would you make bread for the volunteers to take on their visits? If you would help with either of these areas of ministry, please contact Anita
A Service of Magnolia Manor www.magnoliamanor.com
Dive into Better Health
With the sweltering summer season in full swing, the interest and enthusiasm to exercise is not as strong. Yet the best physical activity for older adults can be found in an ideal spot during the summer months, a pool. In addition to improving cardiovascular health, workouts in H2O increase strength and metabolism and slow-down age-related loss of muscle-mass. And for those with bone or joint problems, the buoyancy and resistance of the water gives the body a workout while easing strains on aching areas. As you cool off this summer in the pool, enjoy the benefits of better health.
I will support First United Methodist Church by…
MY PRAYERS
Grace Stevens, Jim Blocker, Elizabeth Hutton, Ann Powers, Dorothy Stagmeier, Davis Darsey, Jean Jelks, Carolyn Strickland, Chris Varmecky, Liz Muncher, Ethelda Lee, Lynn Bean Lanier, Lynn Sikes. Our soldiers and their families. Harold Lynn, Jeff Smith, Ray Barrett, Evan McLain, Ike Sallee, Brian Layer, Bruce Gannaway, James Lockridge, Spence Burnett, Jeff Starkey, Shane Baker, Tommy DeLoach, John Grady, Steve Lutsky, Bill Howard, Geoff DeTingo, Jason Matthews, James Lowe, Brian Butler, John DeStazio, Thomas Kupsh, Korey Kramer, Vanessa McCulley, Brian Hudson, Rodney Takahashi, Darryl Bell, Mario Crook, Sub Hall, Jim West, Robb Waters, Donald Smith, Richard Aaron, David Stroupe ,Matthew Wickham, Will Arnett, Justin Blackstone, Joseph Foust, Jerald Smith, Jake Rice, Steven Louviere, John Durst, Tom Mentes, Jon Sullivan, Aaron Duncan, Richard Macdougal, Timothy Plumb, Josh Lamere, Mike Musgrove, Brian Wilber, Patrick Kilby, Bob Warren, Charles Whitsel, Clifford L. McDaniel, Jr.
MY PRESENCE
Sunday School:.......................................................................................152
Worship 8:30:...........................................................................................93
.............11:00:........................................................................................173
Total Worship:.......................................................................................266
MY GIFTS
Received Last Week: .................................................................$10,268.39
Received to Date:....................................................................$231,221.00
Memorials:.........................................................................................$30.00
Youth...........................................................................................$1,854.00
MY SERVICE
Ushers:........................................................................... Jeff Arnold, Capt. ...............Allen Brown, Danny Norman, Tom Ratcliffe, Craig Stafford,
.........................................................Durand Standard, George Stagmeier
Security Steward:....................................................................Hal Stafford
Greeters: (Front) ...................................................Dick & Shirley Cohan
..................(Back)......................................................................Dot Cohan
Acolytes:.......................................Morgan Fermin and Saif Wilkes-Davis
Crucifer:............................................................................... Carson Smith
Altar Steward:....................................................................... Judy Shippey
Sound Room: (8:30)............................................................. Brian Smith
........................(11:00)...........................................................Bill Strickland
