This weekend, ML baseball
is being played in Europe for the first time – London, England. They are
putting on a great pitching clinic!
At the start of the
game they played – the Star-Spangled
Banner – it was written after Francis Scott Key witnessed the bombing of Fort
McHenry by the British in the War of 1812.
Our National Anthem was followed by – God Save the Queen. Our Revolutionary
War was fought to declare freedom from the rule of the king.
The great turning
point was the Declaration of Independence – July 4, 1776.
Fifty-six men
signed the Declaration of Independence. Their resolve resulted in great
suffering for themselves and their families. Of the 56 men, five were captured
by the British and tortured before they died.
Twelve had their
homes ransacked and burned. Two lost their sons in the Revolutionary Army.
Another had two sons captured. Nine of the fifty-six fought and died from
wounds or hardships of the war. Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter
and trader, saw his ships sunk by the British navy. He sold his home and
properties to pay his debts and died in poverty.John Hart was
driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their thirteen children fled
for their lives. His fields and mill were destroyed
At the battle of
Yorktown, the British General Cornwallis had taken over Thomas Nelson's home for
his headquarters. Nelson quietly ordered General George Washington to open fire
on the Nelson home. The home was destroyed and Nelson died bankrupt.
There was a great cost
in signing the Declaration of Independence.
We are reminded today, there is a cost to following Jesus
A person approached Jesus – “I will follow you wherever
you go” – “Foxes have dens, birds of the sky have nests, Son of Man has nowhere
to lay his head.” Rome has occupied
Israel and they lord it over them – In the same way, more and more, our
governments, especially in our State, challenges our beliefs – so, do we give
in? Go along? St. Thomas More – “I am the king’s good servant, but God’s
first.”
Jesus tells another “follow me” – Let me go and bury my
father first. Who could be against
burying father? Points to excuses. There is always an excuse! Ask ourselves – will this action lead me to
heaven or away from heaven?
I will follow, but (conditions) “first let me say
farewell to those at home” Conditions – what is in it for me? What am I getting out of this?
Those who signed the Declaration could have said – lets go
along with whatever the King says – or – could have made many excuses – or –
made conditions – what am I getting out of this?
It is not a simple thing to be a disciple!!!
Remember the movie - A League of their Own – Women’s baseball
League WWII “There’s no crying in baseball”
Dottie wants to quit – her manager sees her packing - her husband
is at war - tension with sister - grind on the road
It’s too hard! - Manager: It’s supposed to be hard - that is
what makes it great!
We are called to greatness – Jesus says – come and be my
disciple!!!
