Adolescent Atheist

I am a baseball coach. A very good one...i think. I have a lot to learn. Honestly, instructing high school boys about the game of baseball is fun, tiresome, and rewarding. Being a former high-school baseball player it is awkward being on the coaching side of the game, but i immediately recognize the tremendous amount of influence that i have. I have the power to: make the guys run all practice, to work on their pitching form, to change the way that they think about the game of baseball. They are starting to think like i think. Work hard, fundamentals, work as a team, go full-speed, etc.
Knowing all this, one athlete told me something that i want to change. He saw the "reject religion, embrace Jesus," shirt that i was wearing and formally proclaimed to the whole team and myself that he didn't believe in God, heaven, hell, or anything of that nature. A fifteen-year-old-atheist. He's not even old enough to drive let alone his adolescence, practical (or walking) philosophy. The question that he arose which comes from even the oldest and intellectually savvy philospher is one of the problem of evil. He seemed dogmatic, even for a teenager.
So, what happens? Does the teenager learn about hell, heaven, God, Jesus from his stinkin' baseball coach? Use the influence that God has given to you, remember what is most important, and love people.

Serve Swerve

Serving. It is something that is much larger than what you're thinking. The side that we think of is, the one that involves hard work. The one that requires time, energy, money, and maybe some of your image. Don't look at this side. Look at the other side. It is the side that makes a difference. The side that God wants you to look at. It is the side that opens up the eyes of the one that you are serving. It makes them say, "...why did you do that?" It makes them wonder, "that person is different, that is cool!" I got a compliment the other day after serving a friend, he said, "you are my savior." I figure I be Jesus to him first before I introduce to him the true Savior. The one that saved me and that compels me to serve others...because He did not come to be served, but to serve others and to give His life as a ransom for many.
Serving is intentional. Jesus did this. Lets take the serve swerve, no random acts of kindness, but kindness that is done with a purpose to point to Jesus. Get into the swerve and let your life be infused with this mindset and joy.