Daily Devotional for Saturday November 12, 2005

Why a Baseball Game

(Matthew 5:14-16)

Last May, Liveprayer was the title sponsor for a Major League baseball game between the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and the Minnesota Twins. It was a wonderful opportunity to reach out to the world, those who enjoy baseball, and make people aware of this oasis of hope called Liveprayer.

I received many emails last spring after announcing that Liveprayer would be sponsoring the Tampa Bay Devil Rays baseball game with the Minnesota Twins on May 7th at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, asking why Liveprayer was sponsoring a baseball game. It is the same reason the Liveprayer television program is not on Christian television but the UPN affiliate in Tampa, the ABC affiliates in Jacksonville, West Palm Beach, and Miami/Ft. Lauderdale, the WB affiliate in Ft. Myers/Naples, and PAX in Orlando. That is how to reach the masses, most who are lost, going through the struggles of life and looking for answers!

Why do you see Coke every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Why do you see Ford every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Why do you see McDonald's every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Why do you see Levitra every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Why do you see Geico every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Why do you see Visa every time you turn on the TV or go anywhere? Every time you turn on the TV, the radio, go to a sporting event, go to a movie, open a newspaper, read a magazine, just drive down the street, you are inundated with messages from companies reaching out to the masses with whatever their product is.

What we are actually dealing with is the basic, foundational philosophy of what Liveprayer is all about. We are not here to preach to the choir, but to reach the lost and hurting in this world who don't go to church, will never watch Christian television, listen to Christian radio or music, or buy Christian magazines and books. These people all have 3 things in common. First, one day they will die and at that moment they will either spend eternity WITH God their Creator or SEPARATED from God their Creator. Second, Jesus died for their sins just like He died for your sins and mine. Third, like everyone who lives they have to deal with the trials of this life such as finances, health issues, relationship problems, people who die, and all of the other trials of going through this journey called life.

Since prayer is a universally accepted concept that people worldwide understand, Liveprayer is the perfect vehicle to reach people at those times in their lives when they are dealing with the problems of life and looking for answers, looking for hope. They don't have to come to a church, attend an event, or buy a book or tape. Liveprayer is there to pray with them and give them the hope they are looking for with no strings attached. The prophet Isaiah said, "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without cost." (Isaiah 55:1 NIV)

You see my friend, what the world is really looking for is the same thing each person is really looking for, and that is truth and hope. That is why so many people follow the cults and false religions. People are searching for truth and people are searching for hope. There is only ONE TRUTH, and that is found in God's Word. There is only ONE HOPE, and that is found in Jesus Christ. If Coke reaches out to the masses to sell people a soft drink, if Budweiser reaches out to the masses to sell people beer, if Ford reaches out to the masses to sell people a car, if McDonald's reaches out to the masses to sell people a hamburger,

WHY SHOULDN'T LIVEPRAYER REACH OUT TO THE MASSES TO GIVE THEM THE TRUTH AND HOPE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR???

I love you and care about you so much. I want to encourage you today to open your heart and understand that Jesus told those who follow Him to NOT hide their candle under a bushel. Sadly, that is what the church has done for too long. We have created the Christian trough and hide in our own little subculture that is comprised of the church, our own TV stations, our own radio stations, our own music, our own books and magazines, and left the masses outside of the trough for satan to destroy. That was NOT God's plan. Jesus took His ministry directly to the lost and hurting. Paul spent his entire ministry taking the Gospel to the lost and hurting in the world of his day. The Great Commission to reach the far ends of the world for Christ has not been changed or repealed.

I want to encourage you today to do your part. You don't live where you live, work where you work, recreate where you recreate, shop where you shop, have the hobbies you do by accident. Every single day God brings people into your life, across your path that are looking for His Truth and hope. It is no accident or coincidence you meet the people you do. If you knew there was a store where people could go buy a new plasma screen television for $50 you would tell everyone you know about that great deal. If you would get so excited and tell everyone you know about a great deal on a television, why can't you get even more excited to tell everyone you know how they can have tremendous peace, joy and abundance during this life AND be assured of living forever with God their Creator when their life is over?