WEBVTT 00:00:01.129 --> 00:00:04.950 can you guys good okay okay very good very good 00:00:04.950 --> 00:00:10.990 again my name is eric rowell and i want to thank 00:00:10.990 --> 00:00:13.470 the house for giving me the opportunity to speak 00:00:13.470 --> 00:00:17.030 with you today i believe i've been a member of 00:00:17.030 --> 00:00:19.109 the house for more than 10 years but i can never 00:00:19.109 --> 00:00:23.250 quite remember how long my youngest jude is 20 00:00:23.250 --> 00:00:26.690 years old and he's six foot three and He was 00:00:26.690 --> 00:00:29.250 baptized outside of Rock Island High School in 00:00:29.250 --> 00:00:32.929 that blue tub over there when he was about somewhere 00:00:32.929 --> 00:00:37.890 around here. But it's been a while that I've 00:00:37.890 --> 00:00:41.289 been here, and I've loved my time here. As we 00:00:41.289 --> 00:00:43.890 continue our series on the book of James, which 00:00:43.890 --> 00:00:47.229 comes after Acts and before Galatians, we set 00:00:47.229 --> 00:00:50.630 our focus today on patience, which is a noun 00:00:50.630 --> 00:00:53.869 that means having the capacity to accept or tolerate 00:00:53.869 --> 00:00:57.820 delay, trouble, suffering or suffering without 00:00:57.820 --> 00:01:01.479 getting angry or upset if you have your bibles 00:01:01.479 --> 00:01:03.759 with you or use of your phones there are also 00:01:03.759 --> 00:01:06.739 bibles on the tables please find james chapter 00:01:06.739 --> 00:01:10.379 5 verses 7 through 11 and when we read from the 00:01:10.379 --> 00:01:12.939 bible here at the house we like to stand in his 00:01:12.939 --> 00:01:15.739 honor so please do so if you are willing and 00:01:15.739 --> 00:01:26.349 able patience and suffering Be patient, then, 00:01:26.430 --> 00:01:28.870 brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. 00:01:29.790 --> 00:01:32.090 See how the farmer waits for the land to yield 00:01:32.090 --> 00:01:34.769 its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the 00:01:34.769 --> 00:01:37.870 autumn and spring rains. You, too, be patient 00:01:37.870 --> 00:01:40.750 and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is 00:01:40.750 --> 00:01:43.750 near. Don't grumble against one another, brothers 00:01:43.750 --> 00:01:46.269 and sisters, or you will be judged. The judge 00:01:46.269 --> 00:01:48.989 is standing at the door. Brothers and sisters, 00:01:49.230 --> 00:01:51.430 as an example of patience in the face of suffering, 00:01:51.629 --> 00:01:53.790 take the prophets who spoke in the name of the 00:01:53.790 --> 00:01:56.340 Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those 00:01:56.340 --> 00:01:58.840 who have persevered. You have heard of Job's 00:01:58.840 --> 00:02:00.920 perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally 00:02:00.920 --> 00:02:03.519 brought about. The Lord is full of compassion 00:02:03.519 --> 00:02:08.300 and mercy. Let us pray. Dear Lord, thank you 00:02:08.300 --> 00:02:10.580 for this glorious Sunday to gather on your behalf 00:02:10.580 --> 00:02:13.939 and share our interpretations of your wisdom 00:02:13.939 --> 00:02:16.919 and love. Let us walk away with a grander understanding 00:02:16.919 --> 00:02:19.020 of your commitment to our spirit and well -being. 00:02:19.599 --> 00:02:22.659 In your name we pray. Amen. You may be seated. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:32.259 For the most part, patience is something I believe 00:02:32.259 --> 00:02:34.879 we all have a general grasp of. Though I can 00:02:34.879 --> 00:02:37.759 imagine that we all can imagine those moments 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:40.719 in our lives when we're not very patient. Sometimes 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:44.419 the roadways are the best examples of this. When 00:02:44.419 --> 00:02:48.479 we see cars speeding past us or when we ourselves 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:53.120 are speeding past others. Or sometimes it is 00:02:53.120 --> 00:02:58.210 in the face of the microwave. when you are staring 00:02:58.210 --> 00:03:00.849 at the machine and you are waiting for your food 00:03:00.849 --> 00:03:03.330 to come out of that machine and you stop it at 00:03:03.330 --> 00:03:06.050 the 27 second mark because you are certain it 00:03:06.050 --> 00:03:09.550 is done. And then you realize it's not and you 00:03:09.550 --> 00:03:13.469 have to put it back in there. Most times when 00:03:13.469 --> 00:03:16.289 we think of impatience, we think of benign moments 00:03:16.289 --> 00:03:19.550 throughout our lives like the microwave or Christmas 00:03:19.550 --> 00:03:23.090 time. I distinctly remember one Christmas when 00:03:23.090 --> 00:03:26.340 I was about six, seven years old. My cousin and 00:03:26.340 --> 00:03:28.919 I snuck downstairs. Everyone was still asleep. 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:31.659 And we went to investigate what we had underneath 00:03:31.659 --> 00:03:35.819 the tree. I found one with my name on it. And 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:40.139 I'm sorry, young people, do not do this. I tore 00:03:40.139 --> 00:03:44.199 a corner of the box to reveal what was inside. 00:03:44.259 --> 00:03:46.680 And I cannot remember what was inside, but I 00:03:46.680 --> 00:03:51.740 was excited that I was getting that. I then turned 00:03:51.740 --> 00:03:55.770 the box around and... pushed it to the wall, 00:03:55.909 --> 00:03:58.810 and when I woke up that morning, it was the first 00:03:58.810 --> 00:04:01.590 present that I opened, and I tore it from the 00:04:01.590 --> 00:04:04.990 piece that I had torn to make sure I would not 00:04:04.990 --> 00:04:09.789 be caught by the P -O -P -P, the Present Opening 00:04:09.789 --> 00:04:13.990 Policy Police, who were certainly looking for 00:04:13.990 --> 00:04:18.449 Snoopy kids at Christmas time. I don't believe 00:04:18.449 --> 00:04:21.490 James, chapter 5, verses 7 through 11, speaks 00:04:21.490 --> 00:04:24.800 to remind us of those benign moments. but truly 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:27.819 the moments in our lives that are trying, those 00:04:27.819 --> 00:04:30.720 that possibly we will suffer in, and possibly 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:34.180 for long periods of time. Some of those moments 00:04:34.180 --> 00:04:37.459 involve our children as perhaps their emotional 00:04:37.459 --> 00:04:40.319 state is fragmented or their behaviors are wayward. 00:04:40.879 --> 00:04:44.139 Sometimes our work is challenging as it may drain 00:04:44.139 --> 00:04:47.339 us mentally and physically. Sometimes it's a 00:04:47.339 --> 00:04:49.920 health issue within ourselves or someone we love, 00:04:50.079 --> 00:04:53.279 an ailment that is not easily remedied. and can 00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:57.279 be debilitating. And sometimes, suffering can 00:04:57.279 --> 00:05:00.720 come from a tragic loss. I am very pleased with 00:05:00.720 --> 00:05:02.459 my life in this current state. There are many 00:05:02.459 --> 00:05:04.279 struggles the members of the Rowell household 00:05:04.279 --> 00:05:07.519 have endured over the years. To this day, there 00:05:07.519 --> 00:05:09.560 is still anguish that arises from time to time, 00:05:09.899 --> 00:05:14.399 often unexpectedly. But we have persevered, and 00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:17.180 we feel the benefits of patience that bring about 00:05:17.180 --> 00:05:21.589 the blessings of peace and comfort. But how does 00:05:21.589 --> 00:05:25.930 one have patience or acquire patience when it 00:05:25.930 --> 00:05:28.550 is initially happening, when it appears that 00:05:28.550 --> 00:05:31.870 the mountain has fallen upon us, when it appears 00:05:31.870 --> 00:05:34.410 that both God and the universe have decided to 00:05:34.410 --> 00:05:38.709 punish us for some unknown reason? Catastrophe, 00:05:38.870 --> 00:05:41.689 misfortune, heartbreak forever loom over our 00:05:41.689 --> 00:05:43.949 lives, seemingly waiting for the right moment 00:05:43.949 --> 00:05:47.170 to send us into a tailspin, to dash our dreams, 00:05:47.310 --> 00:05:52.379 and to confound our intellect. Both science and 00:05:52.379 --> 00:05:55.240 Greek philosophy speak of the four natural elements 00:05:55.240 --> 00:05:59.259 of the universe being fire, the sun, air, earth, 00:05:59.439 --> 00:06:02.939 and water. For the sake of this discussion, perhaps 00:06:02.939 --> 00:06:06.160 there are four elements of patience. And for 00:06:06.160 --> 00:06:09.319 me, those would be hope, understanding, love, 00:06:09.540 --> 00:06:13.579 and support. Hope would be the emotion that says 00:06:13.579 --> 00:06:16.339 we will get through it. That someday we will 00:06:16.339 --> 00:06:19.439 feel less pain. Someday we will no longer cry. 00:06:20.329 --> 00:06:24.009 and someday we will be happy again. Understanding 00:06:24.009 --> 00:06:26.689 is created when one pays attention to the world. 00:06:27.689 --> 00:06:31.129 Tragedy abounds everywhere, as does joy. And 00:06:31.129 --> 00:06:33.209 to understand the fragility of life along with 00:06:33.209 --> 00:06:36.269 its trials, one is able to better handle sufferings 00:06:36.269 --> 00:06:39.610 when we do not feel we are alone in our anguish. 00:06:40.810 --> 00:06:44.730 Love. Love comes when we still love the lives 00:06:44.730 --> 00:06:47.649 we have, despite what it is that we have endured 00:06:47.649 --> 00:06:51.379 or what we have lost. Whatever has befallen us 00:06:51.379 --> 00:06:55.560 will not last, nor will it be the last. We need 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.759 to continue to rejoice in the existence that 00:06:57.759 --> 00:07:02.199 is ours, for in life we have opportunity. And 00:07:02.199 --> 00:07:06.120 lastly, support. It is quite difficult to accomplish 00:07:06.120 --> 00:07:08.639 anything in this world without the support of 00:07:08.639 --> 00:07:12.180 others. Family, friends, neighbors, co -workers, 00:07:12.420 --> 00:07:15.779 churches, strangers, all can provide. encouragement 00:07:15.779 --> 00:07:18.240 to handle the difficulties, the sufferings, because 00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:21.860 there is relief in community. There is renewal 00:07:21.860 --> 00:07:27.899 in relationship. Hope, understanding, love, and 00:07:27.899 --> 00:07:43.819 support. I am a collector of things. This is 00:07:43.819 --> 00:07:48.040 my Luke Skywalker Red 5 battle helmet from the 00:07:48.040 --> 00:07:52.180 first movie, A New Hope, that I got a couple 00:07:52.180 --> 00:07:57.920 of years ago that I wear often. I will not put 00:07:57.920 --> 00:07:59.620 it on because it will interfere with the headset 00:07:59.620 --> 00:08:02.660 here. But any young people want to come up when 00:08:02.660 --> 00:08:04.339 this is over, you want to put it on, you can. 00:08:06.240 --> 00:08:08.920 I have many things that are Star Wars items. 00:08:08.959 --> 00:08:12.389 You can ask my wife what they are. I got action 00:08:12.389 --> 00:08:15.129 figures. I got miniature ships. I got drinking 00:08:15.129 --> 00:08:18.730 glasses. I got Legos. I got all kinds of stuff. 00:08:19.410 --> 00:08:23.790 I actually also have, to the grace of my wife, 00:08:23.970 --> 00:08:28.970 I have Obi -Wan's lightsaber. It lights up. It 00:08:28.970 --> 00:08:31.970 makes sounds. I can change the colors. It is 00:08:31.970 --> 00:08:34.149 outstanding. If I would have brought it today, 00:08:34.409 --> 00:08:36.470 I would not have gotten through this, and none 00:08:36.470 --> 00:08:42.500 of you would have either. Collecting started 00:08:42.500 --> 00:08:47.679 for me when I was about 10 years old. And it 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:57.220 started also with items that are in this box. 00:08:58.600 --> 00:09:04.379 This box is filled with baseball cards. Though 00:09:04.379 --> 00:09:06.440 I played basketball in high school and in college, 00:09:06.659 --> 00:09:10.720 my first love was baseball. I grew up on the 00:09:10.720 --> 00:09:12.679 south side of Chicago, and when I was about seven 00:09:12.679 --> 00:09:15.539 years old, I walked into the room of my uncle, 00:09:15.639 --> 00:09:18.779 and he was watching baseball. I had never seen 00:09:18.779 --> 00:09:21.720 it before. And I said, what's this? And he said, 00:09:21.820 --> 00:09:26.000 baseball. I went, okay. I actually remember the 00:09:26.000 --> 00:09:29.799 moment, what was on the screen, and who was on 00:09:29.799 --> 00:09:32.740 the screen. It was the Chicago White Sox. Their 00:09:32.740 --> 00:09:35.279 second baseman, his name was Tony Bernazard, 00:09:35.279 --> 00:09:37.519 and I believe they were playing the Toronto Blue 00:09:37.519 --> 00:09:42.639 Jays. This is me at six or seven years old. I 00:09:42.639 --> 00:09:47.539 love the game so much that to this day, since 00:09:47.539 --> 00:09:50.460 then, I have gone to a game at least once every 00:09:50.460 --> 00:09:53.039 year with maybe a few exceptions, maybe four 00:09:53.039 --> 00:09:56.200 or five years. And yes, I know the White Sox 00:09:56.200 --> 00:09:57.799 are pretty much the worst team in baseball right 00:09:57.799 --> 00:10:01.320 now. But in 2005, they won the World Series, 00:10:01.659 --> 00:10:07.779 so I'm good for the rest of my life. There's 00:10:07.779 --> 00:10:11.519 a card in this box that I want to talk about. 00:10:12.679 --> 00:10:17.100 And for those of you who might be watching, if 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:19.279 we can get a picture to come up on the screen, 00:10:19.460 --> 00:10:23.840 this card is of this person. Is there anyone 00:10:23.840 --> 00:10:28.320 here that can tell me who this is? Who's the 00:10:28.320 --> 00:10:33.759 first baseman? Bill Buckner. Who said Bill Buckner? 00:10:34.200 --> 00:10:37.870 Good job there, sir. His name is Bill Buckner. 00:10:40.289 --> 00:10:44.889 In the fall of 1986, I was 15 years old, and 00:10:44.889 --> 00:10:46.850 because I love the sport of baseball, I watched 00:10:46.850 --> 00:10:50.929 the 1986 World Series by myself between the New 00:10:50.929 --> 00:10:54.950 York Mets and the Boston Red Sox. The Mets hadn't 00:10:54.950 --> 00:10:57.909 won the series in 17 years, and the Red Sox hadn't 00:10:57.909 --> 00:10:59.929 won it since they traded away Babe Ruth to the 00:10:59.929 --> 00:11:05.210 Yankees 68 years prior in 1918. Many sports fans... 00:11:05.399 --> 00:11:07.799 knew the woes of the Red Sox, so much of the 00:11:07.799 --> 00:11:10.940 sporting world in 1986 was rooting for them. 00:11:11.700 --> 00:11:13.840 Personally, I didn't have a dog in a fight, and 00:11:13.840 --> 00:11:15.480 I was simply a lover of the game just watching 00:11:15.480 --> 00:11:18.980 it. In the best -of -seven series, the Red Sox 00:11:18.980 --> 00:11:22.440 were up three games to two. With one more win, 00:11:22.580 --> 00:11:24.039 they would gain the World Series and end the 00:11:24.039 --> 00:11:27.720 curse of the great Bambino, Babe Ruth. In game 00:11:27.720 --> 00:11:30.779 six, which was in New York, in the bottom of 00:11:30.779 --> 00:11:33.039 the tenth inning, the Red Sox were up five runs 00:11:33.039 --> 00:11:35.740 to three, and there were two outs. with nobody 00:11:35.740 --> 00:11:38.940 on base and the red sox were poised for the victory 00:11:38.940 --> 00:11:43.379 in their dugout players and coaches were showing 00:11:43.379 --> 00:11:48.600 emotion of excitement in the locker room their 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:52.500 cubbies were covered in plastic the world series 00:11:52.500 --> 00:11:56.840 trophy was rolled in the owner of the red sox 00:11:56.840 --> 00:12:02.039 was brought into the locker room and a sort of 00:12:02.039 --> 00:12:04.879 a stand was was erected so that when the players 00:12:04.879 --> 00:12:09.399 would come in, the sports reporters would be 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:11.340 able to report on what had just happened in the 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:14.620 locker room. Everything was set up. Well, if 00:12:14.620 --> 00:12:18.220 you don't know this story, the Mets rallied, 00:12:18.259 --> 00:12:21.179 and they scored three runs in the bottom of the 00:12:21.179 --> 00:12:24.740 ninth, bottom of the tenth, rather, on three 00:12:24.740 --> 00:12:30.659 hits, a wild pitch, and an error. The plastic, 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:34.110 the champagne, and the trophy. were removed so 00:12:34.110 --> 00:12:37.490 fast that by the time the Red Sox got into the 00:12:37.490 --> 00:12:40.250 dugout, they had no idea what had taken place 00:12:40.250 --> 00:12:44.870 inside. The Mets would win the game, the next 00:12:44.870 --> 00:12:49.289 game, game seven, which was two days later, and 00:12:49.289 --> 00:12:51.730 they would win another World Series after the 00:12:51.730 --> 00:12:55.169 first one in 1969, and the Red Sox would go another 00:12:55.169 --> 00:12:58.470 17 years without winning another World Series. 00:13:00.350 --> 00:13:02.509 For those of you who know that series, you know, 00:13:02.990 --> 00:13:05.090 what has been shown over and over again for nearly 00:13:05.090 --> 00:13:09.350 40 years and it has been that error and that 00:13:09.350 --> 00:13:13.470 era was committed by bill buckner i've seen it 00:13:13.470 --> 00:13:15.690 so many times i don't know if my visions are 00:13:15.690 --> 00:13:21.629 my own or of the replays each of us has made 00:13:21.629 --> 00:13:25.269 and will make a regrettable error something that 00:13:25.269 --> 00:13:28.429 perhaps haunts us for the rest of our lives but 00:13:28.429 --> 00:13:30.990 i don't know if any of us will make that error 00:13:31.950 --> 00:13:34.210 in front of approximately 50 million people. 00:13:35.529 --> 00:13:38.490 Post that World Series, the life and times of 00:13:38.490 --> 00:13:41.070 Bill Buckner, who played 22 years of professional 00:13:41.070 --> 00:13:43.649 baseball and made a ton of money, were fraught 00:13:43.649 --> 00:13:47.690 with regret, yes, but mostly with fear and anger. 00:13:48.610 --> 00:13:51.309 For much of the remainder of his life, not only 00:13:51.309 --> 00:13:53.750 was the error shown repeatedly on television 00:13:53.750 --> 00:13:55.610 whenever the subject of the World Series came 00:13:55.610 --> 00:13:59.850 up, he and his family were harassed by fans and 00:13:59.850 --> 00:14:03.750 the media. everywhere he went. It got so bad 00:14:03.750 --> 00:14:06.330 for him that after years of suffering, he moved 00:14:06.330 --> 00:14:08.809 out of the state of Massachusetts following his 00:14:08.809 --> 00:14:13.509 retirement and moved to Boise, Idaho and vowed 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:16.190 never to return to Boston where the harassment 00:14:16.190 --> 00:14:20.990 was the worst. It took Bill's faith in God and 00:14:20.990 --> 00:14:23.309 an extreme amount of patience made up of hope, 00:14:23.429 --> 00:14:28.179 understanding, love, and support. for him to 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:30.679 get through a very difficult 20 years of persecution. 00:14:31.799 --> 00:14:34.139 What also helped was the Red Sox finally winning 00:14:34.139 --> 00:14:39.440 the World Series in 2004 and again in 2007. After 00:14:39.440 --> 00:14:41.639 numerous requests, the Red Sox, after that first 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:45.080 World Series, asked Bill Buckner to come and 00:14:45.080 --> 00:14:48.639 return to Boston, and he finally relented. On 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.399 opening day of the 2008 season, Bill Buckner, 00:14:51.539 --> 00:14:54.379 to the surprise of all fans in attendance and 00:14:54.379 --> 00:14:56.779 all those who watched on television, walked out 00:14:56.779 --> 00:14:59.399 to the mound to throw out the ceremonial first 00:14:59.399 --> 00:15:02.720 pitch in front of a standing ovation that lasted 00:15:02.720 --> 00:15:05.960 for two full minutes and brought tears of forgiveness 00:15:05.960 --> 00:15:10.379 and peace to his eyes. After retiring from the 00:15:10.379 --> 00:15:12.940 game, Bill Buckner successfully invested in real 00:15:12.940 --> 00:15:15.379 estate in Idaho and also had stints as a minor 00:15:15.379 --> 00:15:19.679 league manager. Bill Buckner died in 2019 due 00:15:19.679 --> 00:15:22.360 to a long illness surrounded by family and friends 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:25.559 and ceremoniously by the Red Sox. and general 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:28.139 sports fans who had come to appreciate his life. 00:15:28.860 --> 00:15:31.100 He was survived by his wife and three children. 00:15:31.860 --> 00:15:34.539 Those who knew him best said Bill died in peace, 00:15:34.720 --> 00:15:37.940 knowing of God's love. Through patience, again 00:15:37.940 --> 00:15:41.460 made up of hope, understanding, love, and support, 00:15:42.139 --> 00:15:44.879 Bill Buckner was able to let go of the pain and 00:15:44.879 --> 00:15:49.860 regret that haunted him. There is another card 00:15:49.860 --> 00:15:56.289 in this box. I want to show you guys. If we can 00:15:56.289 --> 00:16:01.450 bring this person's picture up. Does anyone recognize 00:16:01.450 --> 00:16:09.149 him? I didn't think anybody would. This person's 00:16:09.149 --> 00:16:12.950 name is Donnie Moore. Many sports fans remember 00:16:12.950 --> 00:16:15.870 Bill Buckner's era and the subsequent torment 00:16:15.870 --> 00:16:18.730 he went through. But most people who watched 00:16:18.730 --> 00:16:21.090 at that time don't remember Donnie Moore's significance 00:16:21.090 --> 00:16:25.190 in the fall of 1986. Before playing against the 00:16:25.190 --> 00:16:27.809 Mets, the Red Sox had to play against the California 00:16:27.809 --> 00:16:30.649 Angels in a best -of -seven game series with 00:16:30.649 --> 00:16:33.090 the winner being the representative of the American 00:16:33.090 --> 00:16:36.549 League in the World Series. The Angels were up 00:16:36.549 --> 00:16:41.129 three games to one, needing one more out, needing 00:16:41.129 --> 00:16:43.669 one more victory to advance to the World Series 00:16:43.669 --> 00:16:46.850 for the first time in franchise history. The 00:16:46.850 --> 00:16:49.190 Angels do not have a tragic history like the 00:16:49.190 --> 00:16:53.110 Red Sox. They don't have the time of being great. 00:16:53.629 --> 00:16:56.289 winning several World Series in the early 1900s, 00:16:56.330 --> 00:16:59.090 then having years of being dormant, and then 00:16:59.090 --> 00:17:02.529 becoming great again. The Angels simply hadn't 00:17:02.529 --> 00:17:05.410 been anything. They had been in existence for 00:17:05.410 --> 00:17:07.730 about 17 seasons, and they were owned by Gene 00:17:07.730 --> 00:17:10.369 Autry, the once -famous actor and singer of old 00:17:10.369 --> 00:17:15.269 Westerns. In Game 5, the Angels were home, and 00:17:15.269 --> 00:17:17.869 they were up 5 -4 in the top of the ninth inning, 00:17:17.990 --> 00:17:22.170 with two outs and a runner on first base. Donnie 00:17:22.170 --> 00:17:24.970 Moore was the closer of the team and an all -star 00:17:24.970 --> 00:17:27.630 the year before. He was brought in to shut the 00:17:27.630 --> 00:17:29.750 door on the Red Sox and put the Angels into the 00:17:29.750 --> 00:17:32.329 final series, the most important series any Angels 00:17:32.329 --> 00:17:34.950 player, employee, or fan would ever experience. 00:17:36.009 --> 00:17:38.029 With two strikes, Donnie Moore threw a forkball. 00:17:38.829 --> 00:17:42.170 It was to a player named Dave Henderson, a backup 00:17:42.170 --> 00:17:45.049 outfielder. And Dave Henderson hit that forkball 00:17:45.049 --> 00:17:47.829 over the left field wall for a home run and to 00:17:47.829 --> 00:17:51.059 go up by one. The Angels would tie the game in 00:17:51.059 --> 00:17:52.660 the bottom of the ninth and send the game into 00:17:52.660 --> 00:17:55.579 extra innings. In the 11th inning, with Moore 00:17:55.579 --> 00:17:57.740 still on the mound, he would allow the bases 00:17:57.740 --> 00:18:01.599 to get loaded. And with one out, that same backup 00:18:01.599 --> 00:18:04.779 outfielder came up to the plate, hit a deep fly 00:18:04.779 --> 00:18:07.240 ball. It was caught, but the runner from third 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:13.720 scored. So now the Red Sox are up 7 -6. The Angels 00:18:13.720 --> 00:18:15.819 come up in the bottom half of the 11th inning, 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.440 and they do not score. So they lose that game. 00:18:19.720 --> 00:18:22.339 Remember, they were up three games to one, so 00:18:22.339 --> 00:18:25.299 now they're up three games to two. They lost 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:30.339 the next two games by blowouts. The Red Sox will 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:32.519 win those games and go on to the World Series. 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:36.660 I didn't do research to find a story that would 00:18:36.660 --> 00:18:39.880 contrast that of Bill Buckner's. I knew this 00:18:39.880 --> 00:18:45.960 story. I actually watched Game 5 in 1986. I was 00:18:45.960 --> 00:18:48.119 there in front of the television when Donnie 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:50.720 Moore threw that home run. and I have never forgotten 00:18:50.720 --> 00:18:54.200 it. It is perhaps the first time I ever felt 00:18:54.200 --> 00:18:57.519 true empathy for a public figure. I remember 00:18:57.519 --> 00:19:00.619 watching Donnie Moore walk around the mound as 00:19:00.619 --> 00:19:02.880 the batter went around the bases, and in that 00:19:02.880 --> 00:19:05.119 moment, he was the saddest person I had ever 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:10.380 seen. Three years later, Donnie Moore was dead 00:19:10.380 --> 00:19:19.079 by his own hands. James Chapter 5. verses 7 through 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:22.079 11, again speaks about having patience and the 00:19:22.079 --> 00:19:25.319 virtue of persevering through suffering. Donnie 00:19:25.319 --> 00:19:27.880 Moore regretted giving up that home run, and 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:29.440 he shouldered much of the blame for the Angels 00:19:29.440 --> 00:19:31.440 not going to the World Series by the Angels faithful. 00:19:32.779 --> 00:19:36.059 But there is a question. What is the difference 00:19:36.059 --> 00:19:40.380 between Donnie Moore and Bill Buckner, particularly 00:19:40.380 --> 00:19:43.660 in the realm of patience? Why is it, perhaps, 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:46.500 that Donnie Moore did not endure like Bill Buckner? 00:19:47.279 --> 00:19:49.599 Why did Donnie Moore not receive the moment in 00:19:49.599 --> 00:19:52.240 the sun years later with an ovation and tears? 00:19:53.740 --> 00:19:56.000 I do not know much about Donnie Moore's life 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.460 as very little has been written about a man who 00:19:58.460 --> 00:20:00.980 played 13 years of professional baseball with 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:03.599 none of his statistics being worthy of notation. 00:20:04.940 --> 00:20:07.880 But I can imagine he may have been, in the most 00:20:07.880 --> 00:20:10.920 difficult time of his life, devoid of patience. 00:20:12.240 --> 00:20:14.559 Which again is having the capacity to accept 00:20:14.559 --> 00:20:19.400 or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:23.480 getting upset or getting angry. Maybe Donnie 00:20:23.480 --> 00:20:26.359 did not have the hope that brighter days were 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:29.160 ahead, that he would survive his fall and be 00:20:29.160 --> 00:20:31.599 redeemed in some way by those who knew of his 00:20:31.599 --> 00:20:34.920 mistake. Maybe Donnie Moore did not understand 00:20:34.920 --> 00:20:37.400 that so many others before and after him have 00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:40.740 failed before the eyes of many and lived to tell 00:20:40.740 --> 00:20:43.819 the tale of redemption and grace, like Buckner, 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:46.829 which happened only two weeks later. There are 00:20:46.829 --> 00:20:50.710 also people like Jackie Smith. Jackie Smith was 00:20:50.710 --> 00:20:54.329 a tight end for the Dallas Cowboys. And in 1976, 00:20:54.390 --> 00:20:56.450 I believe, he dropped a touchdown in the Super 00:20:56.450 --> 00:21:00.390 Bowl against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Or there's 00:21:00.390 --> 00:21:03.069 Chris Weber of the University of Michigan, who 00:21:03.069 --> 00:21:06.410 called a timeout late in the game when his team 00:21:06.410 --> 00:21:09.569 did not have any timeouts. And the University 00:21:09.569 --> 00:21:14.099 of Michigan lost that game. Maybe Donnie did 00:21:14.099 --> 00:21:16.039 not have as much love for himself as he needed. 00:21:16.940 --> 00:21:19.119 Maybe there was too much self -loathing and anger 00:21:19.119 --> 00:21:21.519 and a lack of appreciation for the life he had 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:25.700 and the man he already was. And maybe Donnie 00:21:25.700 --> 00:21:27.799 believed he did not have enough support around 00:21:27.799 --> 00:21:31.579 him, people he trusted that not only told him 00:21:31.579 --> 00:21:33.819 he was going to be okay, but that would walk 00:21:33.819 --> 00:21:35.960 with him every step of the way until he was okay. 00:21:37.789 --> 00:21:39.670 People that would not condemn him for something 00:21:39.670 --> 00:21:41.829 so simple as throwing a pitch near home plate 00:21:41.829 --> 00:21:43.829 and contributing, not causing, but contributing 00:21:43.829 --> 00:21:48.089 to the loss of an important game. I do not know 00:21:48.089 --> 00:21:50.630 the reasons that Donnie Moore is no longer with 00:21:50.630 --> 00:21:53.130 us, for only he and God knows what caused his 00:21:53.130 --> 00:21:56.190 decisions in his final moments. What I do know 00:21:56.190 --> 00:21:59.750 is this, fragile is the mind that is without 00:21:59.750 --> 00:22:03.730 patience. I will ask another question to this 00:22:03.730 --> 00:22:05.789 room, but I will not ask you to raise your hands 00:22:05.789 --> 00:22:09.150 with an answer. Who here without raising your 00:22:09.150 --> 00:22:12.250 hands knows someone that has committed suicide? 00:22:14.809 --> 00:22:18.230 I imagine some hands would raise if you do. And 00:22:18.230 --> 00:22:20.769 I imagine some of those hands while raised would 00:22:20.769 --> 00:22:24.390 tremble because the person that was lost was 00:22:24.390 --> 00:22:28.490 someone that was dear to you. Just be patient 00:22:28.490 --> 00:22:30.750 is something we say to one another all the time. 00:22:31.369 --> 00:22:34.509 And most of us are patient. But for some of us 00:22:34.509 --> 00:22:37.390 who are missing either hope understanding, love, 00:22:37.589 --> 00:22:41.970 or support, or in our minds, all four, patience 00:22:41.970 --> 00:22:45.529 is hard to come by. For those of us who are going 00:22:45.529 --> 00:22:47.289 through a difficult experience at this moment, 00:22:47.450 --> 00:22:49.609 or will go through difficulty in the future, 00:22:49.970 --> 00:22:54.509 please find patience. As God has said, be patient 00:22:54.509 --> 00:22:57.630 and stand firm, because the Lord is coming. The 00:22:57.630 --> 00:22:59.970 Lord's coming is near, and we count as blessed 00:22:59.970 --> 00:23:03.109 those who have persevered. Remember that this 00:23:03.109 --> 00:23:06.279 thing, whatever it is, shall pass. and joy is 00:23:06.279 --> 00:23:09.339 forever on the horizon. Remember to understand 00:23:09.339 --> 00:23:12.039 that you are not alone. The others share in your 00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:15.640 grief, and they too have survived. Remember to 00:23:15.640 --> 00:23:18.220 love yourself where you are worthy. Not only 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:21.740 does God love you, but so do his people. And 00:23:21.740 --> 00:23:24.640 lastly, seek comfort in those who will support 00:23:24.640 --> 00:23:27.619 you and those who will care for you, whether 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:33.259 they be family, friend, or stranger. For those 00:23:33.259 --> 00:23:35.680 of you who may be struggling in some aspect of 00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:38.259 your life, and for those of you who know someone 00:23:38.259 --> 00:23:39.859 who may be struggling in some aspect of their 00:23:39.859 --> 00:23:43.500 lives, go to them and offer patience, filled 00:23:43.500 --> 00:23:46.720 with hope, understanding, love, and support. 00:23:47.519 --> 00:23:50.880 Be diligent in your desire to see them through, 00:23:51.079 --> 00:23:54.720 for we are called to be good neighbors. As said 00:23:54.720 --> 00:23:59.759 in 1 Peter 3, verse 8, all of you be like -minded, 00:23:59.880 --> 00:24:03.640 be sympathetic. Love one another. Be compassionate 00:24:03.640 --> 00:24:08.259 and humble. Donnie Moore was born in Lubbock, 00:24:08.279 --> 00:24:17.240 Texas. He played for five major league teams 00:24:17.240 --> 00:24:20.980 and was drafted at the age of 19 in the first 00:24:20.980 --> 00:24:24.220 round by the Chicago Cubs. Bill Buckner also 00:24:24.220 --> 00:24:27.519 played for the Chicago Cubs. He played a one 00:24:27.519 --> 00:24:30.460 -off star game in 1985, and like Bill Buckner, 00:24:31.470 --> 00:24:33.289 At the time of his death, he was married with 00:24:33.289 --> 00:24:42.109 three children. Let us pray. Dear God, weak are 00:24:42.109 --> 00:24:45.529 our legs and doubtful are our hearts when the 00:24:45.529 --> 00:24:49.250 trials of life overcome us. Please help us stand 00:24:49.250 --> 00:24:53.089 and remember to be patient when no other actions 00:24:53.089 --> 00:24:57.230 remain. Whether we rise or succumb, keep our 00:24:57.230 --> 00:25:00.509 souls in your everlasting warmth. For in you, 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:04.000 We are forever whole. In your heavenly name we 00:25:04.000 --> 00:25:08.740 pray. Amen. Thank you for allowing me to speak 00:25:08.740 --> 00:25:11.240 and share with you a few of my passions and insights. 00:25:12.579 --> 00:25:16.700 Following service today, go in peace with the 00:25:16.700 --> 00:25:19.720 knowledge that both God and life are most precious 00:25:19.720 --> 00:25:20.539 to behold.