Unfortunately, My Knees No Longer Have That Same Passion. They Have Made It Clear Through

Carpe Diem What would you do between the two whistle blows that I love basketball. I love the grip of soft leather and the snap of marked the beginning and end of your shift? Seize the day or fresh twine. I love the mathematical trajectory of a long three- let it carry you along? pointer. I love the camaraderie that instantly arises when five players, who may have never met each other before, assemble Either of these scenarios sort of sounds like the one life that themselves in brotherly sporthood to defeat a fivesome who each Christian has on Earth. God has sent us into the game— would dare step on the same court to oppose them. just one game—to “play” as hard as we can. He is our heavenly Boss who wrote our job description and who expects Unfortunately, my knees no longer have that same passion. a hard day’s work from us. However, we are not left to They have made it clear through official channels (nerves, founder on our own. As Ephesians 2:10 says, “… we are His bones) that “jump” is a four-letter word which should not be workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which uttered, let alone attempted. God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”

Nevertheless, the dream remains. Go ahead, ask my wife; The defense of the lives of children not yet born in a nation she’ll shake her head and tell you that her husband maintains content to let 4000 of them be torn to pieces everyday in co-citizenship in LaLaLand. She knows that I still believe that abortion clinics, the coming alongside of mothers in crisis one day, because of a minor injury to one of its star players, an pregnancies, the raising of awareness in our communities, and NBA team (LaLaKers?) will call me up and say that I am the support of pro-life organizations are some of the most needed for one game. There will be no possibility of a second important works assigned to the “employees” of the Church. game, their front office will assure me; my NBA career will begin and end with that one game. Those are hard assignments, for we are all struggling not just with people and events around us but also against our old And, oh, can I see that game right now! At the whistle to nature. Sometimes, we just don’t want to hear Coach tell us to signal the start of the game, I’ll want to be the one to jump ball get into the game, or we prefer to run our own plays when against the opposing center. And each time that an opposing we’re in the game. Maybe we’re asleep at our desk, idly player tries to drive to the basket, I’ll grit my teeth and plant passing time in front of the computer screen, or working only myself in the lane to take the charge. I won’t care if my face for ourselves, while the clock ticks away. is left with size 22 tread marks. What do I have to lose? Or if a ball is rolling out of bounds, I’ll hurl my body head first Nevertheless, the desire to hear the Master say, “Well done, across the scorer’s table and into the stands to save the ball. good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21) can rejuvenate us And for the entire 48 minutes until the final whistle blows, I’ll when we feel powerless and can fire us up again. Should we be all over my defensive assignment more closely than bark not, then, throw our hearts, minds, souls, and bodies into the on tree. game—into our work—with no fear of the opponent or the final whistle? When it blows (in 48 minutes? 48 months? 48 OK, maybe you don’t appreciate a game of hoops quite as years?)—when the day is done—our labors are over, and we much as I do. So, instead, imagine your best day at work— get to go Home. whether that be at the office, on the road, or at home with children. Imagine that you had just one day to work, to be as Bob Brown fully creative and productive as possible in the setting President, HCRTL assigned to you. Just one day to define who you are.

Upcoming Right to Life Events

-BALTIMORE MARCH FOR LIFE January 13, 2007 -HCRTL MONTHLY MEETING The 2nd annual Baltimore March for Life will originate at 2 nd Thursday of Each Month 8640 Bel Air Road at 1:15 p.m. Parking will be at St. Beginning February 8, we will meet on the second Joseph’s Church, located at 8420 Bel Air Road. Thursday of every month from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. in Meeting Room 1 of the Bel Air Branch of the -NATIONAL MARCH FOR LIFE Harford County Library. (2/8, 3/8, 4/12, 5/10, 6/14) January 22, 2007 Speakers, discussions, fellowship, and more are on The 34th annual National March for Life will take place the agendas. on the Mall in Washington, DC. -WEEKLY PRO-LIFE PRAYER MEETING - MARYLAND MARCH FOR LIFE Every Monday Night March 5, 2007 All are welcome to a weekly prayer meeting at 7 p.m. in The 28th Annual Maryland Candlelight March for Life Rooms 13 – 15 on the second floor of the main building will originate at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in of Mt. Zion United Methodist Church. Mt. Zion is Annapolis at 6:30 p.m. located on Route 22 about a quarter-mile west of the intersection of Route 22 and Route 543.

Please consider supporting the work that HCRTL does. Be so kind as to cut out this box and mail it to HCRTL / PO Box 13 / Belcamp, MD 21017. Check as many lines as that apply. Include any contact information that you’d like to share.

____ I will try to attend the HCRTL monthly meeting.

____ I will try to attend some of the Monday night prayer meetings.

____ I would like to receive emails from HCRTL. My email address is:

____ I would like to contribute $10 (or more) to HCRTL. (Please make check payable to HCRTL and mail it to HCRTL / PO Box 13 / Belcamp, MD 21017. Because we are working to change the law, the federal government does not allow this gift to HCRTL to be deductible for federal income tax purposes.)

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