I seldom watch Major League baseball games on TV. It’s been that way for years. Recently, however, I found myself watching the Baltimore Orioles play the NY Yankees. In a surprise to most baseball fans, the two teams are now tied for first place in the American League East.

What you don’t know is that I’m an Orioles’ fan. I have been since I was a kid growing up in the mountains of Kentucky. Most of my friends liked the Cincinnati Reds. Not me! I liked the “birds.”

It all started when I was ten years old and watched my first NFL game on TV. The Baltimore Colts were playing the Minnesota Vikings in the playoffs. The Colts’ uniforms were blue and white…the same colors as my beloved KY Wildcats. I became a Colts’ fan and started rooting for Baltimore. It just made sense that I would then pull for the Baltimore Bullets of the NBA (now the Washington Wizards) and the Orioles in baseball.

The early seventies were a great time to be a Baltimore sports fan. In October 1970 the Orioles won the World Series, in January 1971 the Colts won the Super Bowl, and in April 1971 the Bullets made it to the NBA finals before losing to the Milwaukee Bucks.

I’m now 54 years old and I still pull for the “birds.” It all started with something so simple…I just turned on the TV and saw those blue and white uniforms.

When you think about it, a lot of things that shape our lives begin simply. Like the invitation from Evelyn to attend her church. It was just an ordinary Monday in my Sophomore Geometry class. It was a simple invite. My life hasn’t been the same since.

Even more amazing is this: the Pastor of that church Evelyn invited me to attend in that small Kentucky town was originally from Lancaster, SC. He would later baptize me, ordain me, and mentor me. When I graduated seminary, he was serving on the convention staff for the SC Baptist Convention and recommended me to the church in Sumter I served before moving to Rock Hill. The Pastor who followed him in that KY church would later move to Charlotte and be the person who recommended me to the search committee for FBC Rock Hill.

In other words, that simple invitation to attend church started me on a journey that helped shape my life and opened the path to fulfilling God’s plan for my time on earth. That church became more than the place where my walk with Christ began. It became the place where God introduced me to the two Pastors He would use to recommend me to the only two churches I’ve served in full-time ministry. Like I said…it all started with a simple invitation.

Life often turns on the simple things. Thus obeying God, even in the small things, can lead to life altering events we have no way of anticipating.

By the way…I’ve never been to Baltimore. I think I’ll do something about that someday.

Pastor Steve Hogg