It's been a busy couple weeks. After buying my car, I've been spending the majority of my time continuing my preparation for the up-coming spring training. Now its the Tuesday before the Saturday that I start my cross country drive to Arizona. In the last few weeks I've made quite a few positive moves to get ready. The bullpens have continued to progress and the arm strength is where it needs to be. I'm happy with how well and injury free (knock on wood) I've been so far. The only complaint being a sore lower back which can most likely be attributed to the increase in baseball activities instead of just lifting weights.
Since I quit my painting job, I've seen quite an increase in my pitching lessons with my current clients wanting more lessons and new clients coming on board. I had been a bit apprehensive about making enough money to last me until I left, but it appears I've been blessed. So instead of working all day and then doing lessons, I've been able to work out in the morning, see my girlfriend at work and then go throw with my pitching coach and head to the indoor facility for lessons in the evening.
In the past week, I also had two different speaking engagements that I had been anxious to complete before I let. The first was a chance to give my testimony as the guest speaker at an Upwards Basketball end of year celebration ceremony. Although a bit nervous before it started, this opportunity proved to be a perfect way for God to work through me and speak through me in a way that I felt truly "spoke" to the audience. Numerous parents approached me after the ceremony, thanking me and telling me their own personal stories about how what I said affected them. As much as I enjoy church, the feeling I have after sharing my testimony in that fashion is incredibly powerful.
The second speech a gave was a chance to give back to my former high school baseball team and former teammate/current head coach of my high school. On Saturday, I was asked to be the guest speaker for my old high schools baseball camp. In addition, I lead the campers in the pitching portion of the program. This was equally as fulfilling in a slightly different way. Although not directly spiritual in nature, I feel that by giving the campers good advice and hopefully becoming someone they can look up to, then it is equally beneficial as a direct testimonial.
So now I have a few more days to get my life together before I leave...packing, organizing, and still throwing and training.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Feb. 7, 2008 (Day 14) - Purchases
Life can be classified in terms of purchases, all aspects of it. This past week marked the start of Lent on Wednesday, the start of my pitching off the mound on Tuesday, and the start of my new car loan on Thursday. In many ways, each of these events represents a purchase of some kind.
I enjoy Lent, because it signifies a time in my life that I can recommit how I live my life to better act as Christ would want me to. For the past few years I've given up drinking any alcohol for lent. It's actually coincided nicely with the beginning of my training for the baseball season and subsequent spring training. I like to think that its no accident that the things I try do for God also help me achieve a goal that I hope is also God's goal for me. During Bible study this week, we descibed Lent as giving up some of our time and giving it to God. In a way, we are gladly paying or purchasing a more Christ-like life using our time (usually spent in unChristian was) as money. So in that light, in addition to giving up alcohol, I've decided to devote more time to reading the Bible. In fact, my commitment this Lent season is to read atleast a few chapters each day. It's only day 2 of Lent, but so far, so good.
The second 'purchase' of my week invovles time as well. I began throwing bullpens off the mound for the first time this Tuesday. I am no longer working for the painting subcontractor in the morning, so I have a lot more time to work out and also meet with my old high school pitching coach to work on my mechanics. I will be throwing off the mound with him on Tuesdays and Thursday until I leave. My first 2 'pens have gone very well. My arm isn't at its strongest point, but I"ve been happy with where I am at at this point. So, to prolong the metaphor, I am purchasing a stronger arm and better pitching mechanics with the extra time I've given up paiting to work out more and throw more often.
Finally, the real purchase of my week involved thousands of real american dollars...no metaphor needed. I bought a car this week. Its exactly what I'd been looking for and very excited to have a new ride to take me to tucson this year. It was a lot more money then I've ever spent on anything before, but once the shock of the sticker price wears off, I'll be nothing but happy with the car. It's a bit daunting having so many new expenses, but I figure now's as good a time as any to make a decision like this one. My payments aren't too bad, and if everything goes as planned, I'll just make payments while I'm away at ball and then hopefully pay it down a little better next off season.
Hopefully all of the purchases I've made this week will continue benefit me in the long run. I would say so far, they are designed to do just that.
I enjoy Lent, because it signifies a time in my life that I can recommit how I live my life to better act as Christ would want me to. For the past few years I've given up drinking any alcohol for lent. It's actually coincided nicely with the beginning of my training for the baseball season and subsequent spring training. I like to think that its no accident that the things I try do for God also help me achieve a goal that I hope is also God's goal for me. During Bible study this week, we descibed Lent as giving up some of our time and giving it to God. In a way, we are gladly paying or purchasing a more Christ-like life using our time (usually spent in unChristian was) as money. So in that light, in addition to giving up alcohol, I've decided to devote more time to reading the Bible. In fact, my commitment this Lent season is to read atleast a few chapters each day. It's only day 2 of Lent, but so far, so good.
The second 'purchase' of my week invovles time as well. I began throwing bullpens off the mound for the first time this Tuesday. I am no longer working for the painting subcontractor in the morning, so I have a lot more time to work out and also meet with my old high school pitching coach to work on my mechanics. I will be throwing off the mound with him on Tuesdays and Thursday until I leave. My first 2 'pens have gone very well. My arm isn't at its strongest point, but I"ve been happy with where I am at at this point. So, to prolong the metaphor, I am purchasing a stronger arm and better pitching mechanics with the extra time I've given up paiting to work out more and throw more often.
Finally, the real purchase of my week involved thousands of real american dollars...no metaphor needed. I bought a car this week. Its exactly what I'd been looking for and very excited to have a new ride to take me to tucson this year. It was a lot more money then I've ever spent on anything before, but once the shock of the sticker price wears off, I'll be nothing but happy with the car. It's a bit daunting having so many new expenses, but I figure now's as good a time as any to make a decision like this one. My payments aren't too bad, and if everything goes as planned, I'll just make payments while I'm away at ball and then hopefully pay it down a little better next off season.
Hopefully all of the purchases I've made this week will continue benefit me in the long run. I would say so far, they are designed to do just that.
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