In American sports, October is all about baseball playoffs. We are pulling for our favorite team, hoping they go to the World Series and win! We spend many hours in front of the TV and if we are lucky, get to go to a game in-person.

Why is baseball the beloved American pastime? Could it be that baseball brings a group of men from all over the U.S. with all different backgrounds, different ages and sizes, different strengths and talents together to make a baseball team? Each person on the team has a different job to do. If someone doesn't give 100%, he not only lets himself down, but the team as well. If someone on the team has a bad game, the rest of the team needs to jump in to cover. You can't play baseball without the pitcher. The pitcher can't pitch if he doesn't have a catcher. If you don't have basemen, then you can never get anyone out. If you don't have the outfielders, then who is going to catch the pop-ups?

The Church is setup in the same way -- a group of men and women come together to make a team. If we don't give 100% in the ministries in which we are involved, then the church suffers. A worse case scenario would be that we don't give of our time at all.

Now the body is not a single part, but many. God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored; all the parts share its joy. Now you are Christ's body, and individually parts of it. (1 Corinthians 12:14,18,26-27)

If a Church member is having a hard time, it is our calling to step in and help. Pick that person up and lead them closer to Christ.

Like the many positions in baseball, the Church has just as many positions... a lot more than just priests. The people of the Church are the players in this game. If we don't step up to the plate, then the Church suffers. How involved are you in the game? Do you give of your time and talents? God has a spot for you in His body.

Afraid that you lack the right talents? God qualifies the called; not calls the qualified. I never would have thought I was qualified to be a youth minister. I had big plans to move right up the corporate ladder into big business. But God had other plans for me! As soon as I listened to God and got in the game, my life became richer than ever before.

The Church needs you. It's time to play the game!

Jukebox: This is October