ole satchel...

History is my favorite thing. I like to read and watch historical things. When I was growing up I would spend hours looking over historical material. I really like the stories surrounding sports history. I would watch all the NFL reviews I could as well as old NBA footage .The Ken Burns documentary "Baseball" is by far the best for baseball history. I saw it on PBS a few years back and was instantly hooked. I bought the book and believe it to be the best historical account ever recorded for any sport. I loved reading about Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Jackie Robinson and Willie Mays. One of the beats stories is about former Negro league pitcher Satchel Paige. He started his career in 1923 with the semi-pro Mobile Tigers at 18 and pitched until the age of 60. Satchel was in the major leagues with the Cleveland Indians and the St Louis Browns and he was also on several barnstorming teams. I like Satchel for a number of reasons but my favorite was his rules for living. Here they are….

1.Avoid fried meats which angry up the blood.
2.If your stomach disputes you, lie down and pacify it with cool thoughts. 3.Keep the juices flowing by jangling around gently as you move.
4.Go very light on the vices, such as carrying on in society — the social ramble ain't restful.
5.Avoid running at all times.
6.And don't look back — something might be gaining on you.
Satchel could have been one ofthe greatest pitchers in baseball. i often think he was like Lazarus....you cant keep a good man down...When Jesus called Lazarus out, the Greek is translated "Lazarus!!! Here!!! Outside!!" What a sight it must have been. I have often wondered what Lazarus did after that. Was he on the speaking circuit? Did he wake up every day just excited to be alive? I wonder if his rules for living went like this…

1. wake up each day and live like it's the last one.
2. if you have a problem with a someone go ahead and swallow your pride and make it right. this could be your last chance.
3. when you walk have a little pep in your step. people notice how we act and no one likes a crybaby.
4. dont sweat what other people say or think about you. if God makes us and saves us and we serve Him and live like Christ...then why care what the world thinks?
5. go strong every day and leave no doubt who you love.
6. and dont look back...thats the old life and it was terrible.

We need to really live. we have been called out from death and now have life. go fight win!!


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