The Rangers fell 3 1/2 games back last night, losing 8-6 to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. The Rangers fell behind early, 8-0, and fought back only to fall by two runs. Richard Hidalgo was personally responsible for leaving 8 men on base, including the bases loaded twice and the tying run in the 9th.
The Gambler must be on tonight.
Evan Grant's weekly Rangers newsletter on the Dallas Morning News site has a wonderfully moving tribute to Michael Young's decision to be home for the birth of his first child. Not only is Young in Dallas, he is planning to stay for several days to bond with his newborn son and assist his wife. Grant's words are an impressive compliment to Young -- who has always impressed on the field -- as a man who has his priorities in order.
--------------
This spring, I led a Wednesday class through a discussion on "Hermeneutics: How to Get the Most from Bible Study." It was a fascinating journey down the path of Biblical interpretation.
As we neared the conclusion of the class, I did a survey of 25 issues that are subject to debate as a "matter of faith" or a "matter of opinion." The responses were amazingly diverse, indicating to me the struggle to reach consensus, even within our own fellowship at the Village.
I noted to the class the week following the survey that, in spite of the lack of agreement among our own class, we have met together weekly as brothers and sisters and held to amazing unity, displayed in loving fellowship for one another.
Unity, even within our own little family of faith at the Village, is not solely dependent on doctrinal agreement. In spite of our interpretive differences, we find our relationship to Christ as the ground for unity.
That's not to say that doctrine is irrelevant. It's simply a reminder that too many of us have made matters of faith out of matters of opinion. How many divisions within the body of Christ have been born of a stubborn reluctance to compromise on a matter of opinion issue?
As the church advances into a culture of rapid change, it is imperative to take our stand on the unchanging matters of faith explicitly mentioned in Scripture. It is also imperative to keep our eyes fixed on the King of the kingdom and to recognize that, as long as He is on the throne, His kingdom will be strong!
