Joe McCarthy, who managed the New York Yankees during their glory days, taught his team "Ten Truths of Baseball." The same truths are taught in different words throughout the Bible. Here are McCarthy's "Ten Truths" with Scripture references added:
1. "Nobody ever became a ballplayer by walking after a ball."
Translation: Success requires your best. Colossians 3:23
2. "You will never become a .300 hitter unless you take the bat off your shoulder."
Translation: You cannot succeed unless you try. I Cor. 14:12
3. "An outfielder who throws in back of a runner is locking the barn after the horse is stolen."
Translation: Success requires learning from the past, but planning for the future. Phil. 3:13
4. "Keep your head up and you may not have to keep it down."
Translation: To succeed, stay focused and positive. II Cor. 4:8-9
5. "When you start to slide, slide! He who changes his mind may have to change a good leg for a bad one."
Translation: A successful person is a decisive person. Luke 9:62
6. "Do not alibi on bad hops. Anybody can field the good ones."
Translation: Success depends upon how well you handle the difficult trials of life. James 1:2-4
7. "Always run them out. You never can tell."
Translation: Consistency produces surprising successes. Matthew 13:8
8. "Do not quit."
Translation: Success has never been achieved by quitting. Matt. 24:13; Gal. 6:7-9; Heb. 12:1-3
9. "Do not fight too much with the umpires. You cannot expect them to be as perfect as you are."
Translation: Success depends upon humbly and carefully choosing your battles. I Cor. 4:4
10. "A pitcher who hasn't control hasn't anything."
Translation: Success, like wisdom, involves the proper application of knowledge and talent to life. Galatians 5:22-23
It's baseball season. Play ball!
- Ken Haskins is the pastor of the First Christian Church.