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An
Outreach Publication of the Church of Christ at
Creekwood |
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It has been called “the ultimate act in sportsmanship.....” It
occurred in a college softball game on April 26 in
Ellensburg, WA, in which Western Oregon was facing
Central Washington in the second game of a double
header. According to Graham Hays, “umpires confirmed that the only option available under the rules was to replace Tucholsky at first base with a pinch runner and have the hit recorded as a two-run single instead of a three-run home run. Any assistance from coaches or trainers while she was an active runner would result in an out. So without any choice, [Western Oregon Coach] Knox prepared to make the substitution, taking both the run and the memory from Tucholsky.” Then
Coach Knox was asked a question: “Excuse me. Would it be
OK if The one who asked the question was a member of the opposing team: Central Washington senior and first baseman, Mallory Holtman. The umpires huddled and ruled it to be legal, so Holtman and Central Washington shortstop, Liz Wallace, lifted Tucholsky off the ground, supported her weight between them, and began to carry her around the bases. They stopped at each of the remaining bases and lowered Tucholsky, allowing her to gently tap the base with her left foot. The trio finally reached home plate – and with a standing ovation from the fans – the homerun hitter was passed into the arms of her own teammates. Western Oregon went on to win the game 4-2, but it is THIS ultimate act of sportsmanship that will be remembered most. * The selfless actions of Holtman and Wallace picture what Jesus Christ wants to do for each of US: He wants to carry us all the way home to heaven! It’s not that we’ve hit a home run and then injured ourselves along the way, the fact is we have all “struck out” at the plate (Romans 3:23)! Yet, God loves us so much that He offers us forgiveness through His Son Jesus and – through Him – the opportunity to go Home. Jesus will forgive and “carry home” those who: believe in Him (Acts 16:30-31), turn from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confess Him before men (Rom 10:9-10), and are baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38). He will continue to “carry” those who continue to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7). The REAL ultimate act was done when Christ went to the cross to pay the price for our sins (Ephesians 1:7), enabling us – by His grace – to go home to heaven. Will YOU allow Him to carry you home through your trusting obedience? -- David A. Sargent, Minister Church
of Christ at Creekwood
*
Information gleaned from “Central Washington Offers the Ultimate Act of
Sportsmanship” by Graham Hays, ESPN.com -- To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:
HTML version: subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchzip.com Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org
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