Wednesday, May 13, 2009

A Band of Brothers in Pinstriped Uniforms - Apples of Gold - May 13, 2009 -vi-

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Apples of Gold
 

Radio Script for May 13, 2009

“A Band of Brothers in Pinstriped Uniforms”

 

Hello, I’m Doug Apple…with Apples of Gold.

He stepped up to the plate. 

And with this guy on the mound, he so wanted to yank it, to pull it down the third base line.

But there was a runner on second.

What he should do is hit it behind the runner, to the first base side.  That way the runner could advance, getting closer to home. 

But he had a problem with that.  If he hit it to the right side, he was more likely to get out.  Yes, the runner would advance, but his average would de-vance.  And you don’t get big contracts and big endorsements with shrinking batting averages.

The pitcher rocked and fired, and what do you think he did?

Well that depends on whether he was a team player or not.

See, a team player wouldn’t even have to think about it.  He would automatically do what was best for the team.

And team players were what the Yankees had in the late 90’s, according to their manager Joe Torre. 

I got that from his new book “The Yankee Years.”

Torre said, “It wasn’t the kind of baseball Steinbrenner preferred, but it was smart, unselfish baseball and it was working.”

He said the players were less concerned about individual statistics and more concerned about doing whatever it took to win the game.

And I really liked this one quote.  He said, “…and it wasn’t so much because it was the Yankees…as much as it was because of the band of brothers in those pinstriped uniforms.  And for their unselfishness they were blessed with four World Series titles.”

Yes, the Yankees tried to improve on that by bringing in big stars, but here’s the lesson.  All the stars in the world won’t bring you a championship if they don’t work together as a team.

A team mentality is just different.  It’s kind of unnatural.  It goes against our selfish nature.

And yet a team mentality brings about success in almost every area of life.

Back to Joe Torre.  I like that phrase he used, “the band of brothers in those pinstriped uniforms.”

I think it’s cool to be on a team, with everyone dressed in the same uniform.  That uniform helps you shed your personal identity and take on the identity of the team.  It’s no longer “me” but it’s now “us.”  We are in this together – win, lose or draw.

Now listen.  As Christians, this team mentality is exactly what we are supposed to have.  If you are one of the saints, redeemed by Jesus Christ, then we are on the same team.

In Paul’s letter to the Philippians, he had a lot to say about this.

Philippians 1:27 says, “…stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel…”

In fact, Paul told them it would make his joy complete if they would just do that!

Philippians 2:2 says, “…then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Now look at that last part – being one in purpose.  That means we have the same purpose, the same goals.  We want the same things. 

A team won’t go far if everyone has their own ideas. 

For a team to work, the members have to give up their own agendas.  You have to trade in your goals for the goals of the team.

Now I know this really goes against the grain, especially in America.  We want our freedom and individuality.  And that’s one reason the church is less effective that it could be, I think.  Everyone has their own ideas, and we aren’t willing to give them up in order to hop on board with the team and all pull in one direction.

Look at Philippians 2:3.  “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

It’s like that batter with a runner on second.  He can give in to his selfish ambition, or in humility he can lay down his desires for the team.

Paul gives us the ultimate example in Jesus Christ Himself.  Here He was, the superstar if there ever was one.  “In very nature…God,” Paul said.  “But made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant…”

Remember what Jesus said in the Garden of Gethsemane?  “Not my will, but Your will be done.”

That’s what you do on a team.  You sacrifice yourself for the cause.

Yes, it’s a sacrifice.  You give up some things.  You lose some things.  So be it.

But here’s what you get.  You get to be part of a winning team.  It’s very rewarding to lay it all down for a cause. 

And on a team, you are not alone.  You know the rest of the team has your back.

And together we will be far more effective in meeting our goals of loving people, advancing the Gospel, and exalting Christ throughout the world.

We may not have the pinstriped uniforms, but we should be a band of brothers, ready to lay our own desires on the altar and come together as a team – a winning team – led by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.


Comments?

E-mail me:  dougapple@wave94.com.

May God bless you today!  With Apples of Gold…I’m Doug Apple.

Philippians
2:14 has great advice for members of a team:  no complaining or arguing!

© 2009 The Arrow’s Tip 
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(Proverbs 25:11 – “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”)

Why “The Arrow’s Tip”?  Each morning, after diligently seeking the Lord, I write Apples of Gold.  Then before I release it to the public I pray one final prayer, “Lord, send forth your arrows.”  I envision Apples of Gold as arrows, tips dipped in the river of the water of life that flows from the throne of God (Rev. 22:1), sailing toward the hearts and minds of men and women around the world.

Doug Apple
General Manager - Wave 94
Christian Radio for
Tallahassee
PO Box 4105
Tallahassee, FL  32315
(850) 926-8000

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