Who's at Third?

This is a question that I have almost never had to ask in my entire life since I have been watching baseball as a Braves fan.  Other than the instances when he was injured or playing left field, since the time I came to know what baseball was, there has been one man to occupy the hot corner for the Atlanta Braves, Chipper Jones.  However, today I find myself having to ask this question because today, my favorite player of all-time will not be in the line-up for the Braves.  After a magnificent career, this is the first time in 18 years the Chipper Jones is not in a braves uniform.  My love for the game and its beauty is something that I cannot describe, but I know tonight as the Braves take the field, as thrilled as I am to have baseball back, it will be a bitter sweet moment for me.

Ever since I was little Chipper Jones was my favorite play and whatever team I played on I tried my best to wear #10.  I admired the skill and toughness that he played with day in and day out.  Many of my best memories as a young boy are spending summer nights with my granddad as we watched the Braves play.  Often times they played well, other times they played terrible, but no matter what we always had Chipper to look to.  He is arguably the best 3rd baseman to ever put on a uniform and is surely a first-ballot Hall of Famer.  

The Braves will move on though and eventually the #10 will hang from the top of Turner Field along with the other greats in Braves history.  Whenever someone brings up the position of third base though, for the rest of my life, my mind will go to one number and one name, #10 Chipper Jones.

"Chipper just looks like a ballplayer, acts like a ballplayer, plays like a ballplayer; He is a ballplayer!"-Derek Jeter

-H.M. Mathis

My Personal Take Away From the Elections...

I sat up late last night and watched the numbers come in during the election.  As I watch different networks and my social media feeds a number of thoughts came through my mind about the great nation that we call The United States of America.  Here are just some of them and how we as Christian Americans should address the coming days of our nation.

1.  Social Media does not always bring people together.
I am the absolute worst at this! (The reason it is #1)  Especially in the fall when elections and college football season are happening it is easy for me to get on my Facebook and Twitter and blast how I feel about a situation and others to the world.  I have to constantly remind myself of James' message in James 1:19-20, "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;  for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God." 
I have found that often times my first reaction in this situation is anger toward anyone who holds a view that is opposite of my own.  I must remember that every time I send out a post it has, as a follower of Christ, the ability to either draw others to the gospel or push them further away from it.  Therefore, we must constantly use the availability of Social Media to to bring people together, and in turn, move together toward Christ.

2.  We all need to lay down our swords and come together in love for God and one another. 
First, I am not saying that Christians should give ground on their values or morals.  Christians should hold their biblical values and morals above all else when they head into a voting booth.  However, what I am saying is that both sides need to give and take on issues in order to push the country forward.  People should not back down on their core, top tier values but instead reach a hand out to someone on the other side with love and compromise in order to do what is best for the country.  Jesus calls us all to "Love the Lord our God and love our neighbor as ourselves". (Matthew 22:37-39)  Love shows compassion and is constantly striving to live cohesively together for the betterment of everyone involved.  If I continually love others as Christ loved them, it becomes easier to work together.

3. We MUST support our President, Barack Obama!
Support does not mean blindly following everything that he believes.  However, it does mean that we are to love and pray for him constantly.  If I am constantly praying for someone I find it very hard to harbor anger against them.  Scripture calls Christ followers to submit to the government and pray for its leaders because God has put these leaders in position for His will to be done.  (Romans 13:1, 1 Timothy 2:1-3)


I urge everyone to take time everyday to pray for all of our government leaders; whether they be local, state or national.  This is one of the most profound ways to show that you love and care for someone.  Whether we agree with the policy of our politicians or think they make the wrong decision in every situation, we are still called to pray and submit to these officials.  

-H.M. Mathis

People of the Week: South Rouse 1st Floor

Yea, I know this is a little late but I just got around to writing this so deal with it fellas. 

To Barrett Isbell, Derrike Black, Josh Boley, Nathanael Benitez, Raymond Chassevent, Bryan Rice, and David Bishop:

This year as I transferred to Anderson I was worried how I would fit in and things like that because I was the new kid on the block in a hall where it was almost all seniors who were very close to each other.  I could not thank God more however for the hall that I was put on and the awesome, yet at times disturbing, people I was surrounded with this year. 

So here is to all of you who are leaving me to go off to bigger and probably better things:

Barrett:  Keep the movies rolling boss and I know I will see you on campus next year.

Derrike:  Please never spank a child. 

Boley:  Make sure you wake up in time to cook the bagels in the morning, and Good luck to you and Meredith.

Nate:  I just know too many things about you...enough said.

Raymond:  O Raymond, how I miss falling asleep next to you every night.  (sigh)

Bubba and David (Daddy and Momma):  You two have to be done together.  Words cannot describe but I will try a litte:
"One Pop", "We need size, I'm going in", The male enhancement team, Hellen Keller, and so many more that do not need to be said over the internet.

But Thanks to all of you for always being there always willing to listen and talk whenever I needed help in anything possible.  Thanks for taking me under your wing when I was the lonely kid at his own little lunch table.  You guys were great to me this whole year and I wish all of you guys the best of luck in life and I cannot wait to see you fellas down the road. 

-H.M. Mathis

People of the Week: President and Mrs. Whitaker

Yes I know I was not happy with P-Whit last week but this week he has just made my day.
Every year at exam time Mrs. Whitaker bakes thousands of cookies in her kitchen and they hand deliver them to the students in their dorm rooms!  I personally believe this is pretty awesome.  This is one of the reasons I am a huge fan of the small campus feel of Anderson and cookies never hurt my feelings either.  So here is to you President and Mrs. Whitaker!  I appreciate the cookies in my time of stress and sadness.
-H.M. Mathis

Your life in 6 words...

Ernest Hemingway once wrote a story in 6 words.  This was considered his best work even though it was clearly his shortest. He wrote:
"For sale:
baby shoes, never worn."
He said these words described his life in just 6 small words. 

We studied this is our chapel service yesterday here at the great Anderson University. (Yes she is seriously great even though I am not happy with her at the moment--see previous post)  I was then challenged to try to describe my Christian life in only 6 small words.  This is what I came up with:
"Blood bought,
Willing Submission,
Continuous Service!"

My continuous goal to live this way every day.  Each 2 word phrase is a portion of the Christian life and something that I am learning to try to realize daily.

"Blood bought":
Jesus Christ bought me with the blood that He shed on the cross.  He gave a willing sacrifice so that my soul  could be saved!  I am saved because of what He did for me and nothing of what I can do.  I deserve eternity from Him but because of His love and mercy willingly gave up His life for mine.

"Willing Submission"
I strive everyday to willingly submit to the will of God on my life.  I must continue to give up my own desires and be willing to accept God's desire for my life.  John 3: 30 says, "John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease."  I must get out of the way daily so that Christ can show me HIS way.  I must be willing to go wherever he leads, whatever the cost, whenever He tells me to!

"Continuous Service"
I cannot become complacent as a child of God.  I must continue daily to find a way to impact others the way that Christ has impacted me.  I cannot just say that I am a Christian and not serve those around me.  James 2:18-20 says, "Yea, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God; you do well: the demons also believe, and tremble. But will you know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?"  I must put action to my beliefs and try to impact people around me as much as possible.

I challenge you to come up with your own 6 word story and post it as a comment.  See if you can describe your intentions and goals of your daily life in just 6 words.

-H.M. Mathis

Aight Thanks...

At this current moment I should be driving down good ol' highway 28 on my way home to Aiken, SC.  HOWEVER, I am not due to the fact that Anderson University has given us class tomorrow on Good Friday.  For those of you who do not know this is the day that Christians remember as Christ being sacrificed for the sins of the world.  Anyways, Anderson felt the need to give us class on this day due to the fact that we had 3 days of snow that cancelled class at the beginning of the semester.  So yes, I am upset that our Christian University has scheduled class on this Christian holiday. 
Any nay-Sayers who have not stopped reading to this point will surely be mad over this post or then comment and say how selfish it is of me to 'complain' about this fact.  I know your argument though.  You are saying that all I am, and the other 2,500 students that share my opinion, doing is wanting another day out of class and we are lazy.  You even call us selfish because we just want this day that is meant to remember the sacrifice that was meant to save you and I as just a day off.  This is not the case however.  Good Friday is used to remember what Jesus Christ has done for us and how no matter what we do without Him there is no way we could enter into heaven as Christians.  This is a day to celebrate, yes celebrate, and give thanks that God would have such love, mercy and grace to save a bunch of unworthy sinners such as myself.  So yes I do see this day as a day to celebrate and spend with my family as well as other Christians to commemorate what Jesus Christ did because He desired to spend eternity with you and me. 
So yes I am highly upset that my Christian University will be having class tomorrow while my friends from secular universities will be spending time at home on this Christian holiday.  I just feel that this is a bad job of setting an example by one university to another.  So I am quite sorry Anderson University right now we are not friends.
Aight Thanks.
-H.M. Mathis

Person of the Week: G-Baby

So, I feel like taking a break from studying and the only blog topic that I have not done in awhile is a person of the week.  So today this person will be, yes I know I am suprised as well, G-Baby!  Good Ol' Grayson Alan Mathis.

O G-Baby where to begin o sweet and loving brother!  I congratulate you on your win this past week in the BFL on Santee, way to do work.  I know we all give you a hard time bout your ability out there on the water but just as Aguilar did, I always knew you could when even Teresa and Mark doubted you.  So congratulations.  Thank you for being a good big brother even though at times we wanted to kill each other or mom wanted to kill us both.  So here are your 15 minutes my friend and I am sure that I may lose some followers for selecting such a bad topic but I will stand up to them, cause I stand for a lot of things! I Love you Buddy!  DT4L!

"Somebody just back of you while you are fishing is as bad as someone looking over your shoulder while you write a letter to your lady."  ~Ernest Hemingway

"Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley."


-H.M. Mathis