Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Sports Analogy: The Draft

I thought about writing this post last month when the NFL draft was going on but it's still appropriate with the upcoming drafts of the other major sports (NBA, MLB, NHL).  When thinking about the draft, it works well with the situation of life that I'm in right now.  I just finished my Master's of Divinity degree and am in the process of looking for a full time ministry position.  In many ways, it is similar to a college athlete who finished his collegiate career and waiting for the time of the draft.

There is the declaration that you are available, the answering of questions, the checking over of one's background and credentials.  And then there is the wait.  We see the players as they wait to hear their name called and find out where they will be going to play.  In a lot of ways, that is how I'm feeling right now.  Sending out resumes, answering questions, and waiting.  Waiting to get a call saying I have been hired, that I've been "drafted".

Just as certain teams look for a particular need to fill for their teams, the same is true in ministry.  God has designed me with gifts and abilities that work well with certain ministries (college/young adult, discipleship).  And I know that He has the right place for me to serve.  I just pray and wait for the call.

Wherever I get "drafted", I'm excited about the next phase of my life and what God has in store for me.  Until then, I wait for the call...

Friday, May 20, 2011

Diamond Club and a Walk Off Win: Sixth Royals Game of 2011....In Review

It was about time for another Royals game.  As my time in Kansas City is coming to the end (because I'm graduating from seminary), I wanted to make sure that I got in at least one more Royals game.  So to celebrate that (and because my friend Kyle came in to visit), we, along with Lane and Tyler, headed out to the K to see the Royals take on the Texas Rangers.

We got some really sweet seats off of Stubhub.  They were Diamond Club tickets (so some of the really sweet seats behind home plate) for almost half off.  The tickets also included premium parking (which was pretty sweet).  When we got to the ballpark, we got to park literally right across from the ballpark (inbetween the K and Arrowhead).  We went through the Home Plate Gate and headed into the Diamond Club section.  It was really cool.  The club section has a suite area that has its own restaurants and seating area.  We sat at a table and someone came up and took our orders.  We could even have started a tab (we didn't).  I had a slice of oven bricked pizza (a BBQ brisket pizza) that was really good and some Dr. Pepper and watched the Rangers do BP.

When the game started, we headed over to our seats.  We were 12 rows back from the field (not counting the BATS section which is directly behind home plate) on the first base side (think where the left handers bat from and that's the section we sat in).  The seats had a cushion built in to them and there was in seat ordering of food as well.  I ended up ordering a foot long hot dog (that was really good too).  The game itself was interesting.  There was a HR by the Rangers in the 2nd inning and for most of the game that was the score.  Luke Hochevar, starting pitcher for the Royals, pitched well aside from the HR he gave up.  He ended up pitching 8 2/3 innings before they went to the bullpen.  The Royals finally got the clutch hit in the bottom of the 9th to tie it up and they went to extra innings.  Then in the bottom of the 10th, Jeff Francoeur came through with the walk off base hit to win the game 2-1 in 10 innings.  The winning pitcher, Greg Holland, was called up that day from Triple A and pitched 1 1/3 innings.

After that win, the Royals were now 5-1 in games that I've attended.  After my time in Kansas City, I've grown to enjoy watching baseball even more.  I will miss watching games at the K.  We'll see where God leads me next.

Saturday, May 7, 2011

Buck Night & Fireworks Friday: Fifth Royals Game of 2011...In Review

Yesterday was my second Royals game in a row to attend and fifth of the season.  I went with a couple of guys from church and got to take in another Buck Night/Fireworks Friday.  Buck night is $1 hot dogs, peanuts and small cokes and then Fireworks Friday is a fireworks show after the game.

Yesterday was also a Baseball Equipment drive that the team was doing to collect money and used baseball gear for those who need it.  And for a $20 donation, you could get a brown bag with an autographed baseball inside.  I tried it and ended up with a Jason Kendall autographed ball.  Eh, not who I wanted but it's something.

It was also the debut of superstar prospect 1B Eric Hosmer.  He was called up after Thursday's game and the sports world was buzzing afterwards.  His name became a trending topic on twitter.  People were making up "Hosmer Facts" in the same was as they're "Chuck Norris Facts".  For his first game, he didn't do too bad.  He helped turn a double play in the 1st inning.  He had two walks & a stolen base.  He did strike out looking two times to finish the night 0-2 (I will say at least one of his called third strikes looked like ball four).

The game itself was a good one for the most part.  Alex Gordon hit a home run.  Sean O'Sullivan pitched a pretty good game (a quality start).  Unfortunately one bad inning proved to be the downfall as the Royals lost 3-2.  They now have a record of 4-1 in games I attend.

It was a fun night for the most part and I'll miss going out to the K once I graduate in a few weeks.

Friday, May 6, 2011

School Day at the K: Fourth Royals Game of 2011....In Review

It had been awhile since the last time I had been to the ball park and I was itching to get back out there again.  So me and Lane made the trek out yesterday to the K to see the Royals take on the Baltimore Orioles.  It was School Day at the K which meant lots and lots of little kids.  We learned our lesson and got tickets in a section not in that area.  In fact we got Dugout Box seats for really cheap, they were 4 rows from the field.  They are probably the closest I've ever been to home plate & the field.

We were fortunate as we were late getting to the ballpark because of class (it was a day game, 1:10 scheduled start).  However there was rain that morning and on the way to the ballpark so there was a delay.  When we got inside the ballpark, the rain pretty much ended.  There ended up being about a 45 minute delay to start the game.  Once the game got started, there was no rain until we got back into the car at the end of the game.

The game itself was a good one...for the Royals.  Aside from giving up a run in the 1st inning, starter Bruce Chen pitched a really great game.  And the offense really came through early and often, including a 4 run 1st inning which even included a play when the sun peaked out and it caught the Orioles off guard and it dropped right down.

The scoring got capped off with a home run in the 8th by Melky Cabrera.  The Royals went on to win 9-1.  The cool thing also about the game was that Lane and I got on TV several times, mainly like blink and you miss but if you pause it at certain points you can make us out pretty clearly.  That was cool.

So right now the Royals are 4-0 in games I attend.  I joked with Lane that the Royals should bring me on the payroll in some capacity since they win every time I go to their games....just a thought.  :)