Foundation

I have talked about NCU Baseball as being a band of brothers, guys who can go to each other for anything and knowing that the next guy has you back. I can only speak of my hopes for the team, the men that we have must feel the same way and be willing to work together. We now have an extra month until our first game of the year and that will give us plenty of time to bond as a team and make sure we are on the same page. I am very excited for what the future holds for NCU Baseball. We have been given an opportunity to build a solid foundation for the Rams and I do not want to squander it over the next two years. It is time to impact our school in a new way and show that we are more than just baseball players.

All that being said, I think there is a verse that fits as we try to change the image of NCU Baseball on campus to fellow students and our professors. Ephesians 2:19-22 states, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." The cornerstone of a building is what sets the precedence for the whole building because the rest of the building follows the alignment of the first stone. Our team is being brought together for something greater this year and I firmly believe we need to chase after it and allow God to use us in a manner out of the ordinary. Let us allow God to come and build his temple among our team so that we may flourish and have his blessing for the 4 months we are together!

Joe

Warming Up

It is easy to get wrapped up in what is going on around you when you have friends, school, baseball, and the rest of your life going on. Baseball might seem small in your life but the bonds you build on a team will more than likely last you for years to come. It is not all about success, it is about finding guys you can rely on day in and day out to be there for you. Being able to look at the guys around you and know that they are going to give it all every time they walk into a practice or step on that field for a game is one of the greatest feelings ever. I feel like a lot of the teams I have played on have lacked that aspect from every player but I think we can make that happen. When we come together and allow God to use us, we will be unstoppable. We will not win every game but we will battle and as a whole we will be strong. It is easy to go to your small group of friends and complain about what is going on with the team and I am guilty of that myself. We need to address our issues with the team as they arise so that we can solve them and grow from it.

As I said yesterday, we need to build each other up and we need to also watch out for each other. Galatians 6:1-6 states, "Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself or you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor." Men, we all struggle and as brothers we need to look out for each other and actually be active in pushing others to grow. No one is above the team and no one is above another. Talent levels may be different and yes, some guys will start while others come off the bench but everyone is equally important. Do not think you are above reproach, we are all humbled at one time or another, myself especially. Let us grow spiritually this season as God leads us on a journey as brothers that we will never forget!

Beginning

Hey guys,

We are just a few weeks out form the first day of practice and I have a feeling that it is going to be a fun season. I know we are all anxious to get on the field and show what we are capable of but we have a long road to get to that point. Being prepared is the first step to the team being successful. Taking care of your stuff off the field is most important as baseball is secondary to everything we do. We have been given an opportunity by God to display our talents and represent His kingdom doing something that we love the most. Let us not forget that at any point during the season. We need to remember that while we do play college baseball, there are other things in life that we are better at. We should invest our time in regards to the future but at the same time develop what we have by dedicating the time that we have to get better. Talent alone is not enough for you to get by anymore, people WILL work harder than you and other teams will train more than you, it is your job to prepare yourself IF you want to win. One does not have to get along with everyone on the team but when we are together as a team, we need to set aside our differences and reach for a common goal, if everyone tries to do their own thing, we will crumble and we will be unsuccessful.

That being said, Ephesians 4:29 states, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." This verse is great for a team, do your best not to cut other people down and keep your teammates accountable to that. Understand that not everyone responds the same or has the same personality, the verse says to speak what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. In accordance with that, motivating a person by yelling might not work on someone else. When you are trying to help someone, sarcasm or telling them what they are doing wrong might not be the best, providing alternatives or explaining what might be a more effective way of doing something might be best. It is imperative that you get to know your teammates so that you can be effective at all times. Learn who you can mess with and learn limits because it will save a lot of drama and help us grow stronger. Let's prepare and have a good year!

Keep your eyes on the goal and come prepared to work everyday, its about competing at a high level and representing Christ in the best way possible.