Twins game!

 

Last week my daughter’s partner, Carter Perteet, mentioned that the Phillies would be in town next week. “Let’s go,” I instinctively said. And surprisingly the two of us found a night that worked. Last night I put on my Joe Mauer jersey and drove down Interstate 94 with Carter to watch my favorite team in baseball play the best team in baseball. 

What a beautiful night at Target Field. This was the third time this year, I’ve had the privilege of seeing the Twins at Target Field. And though I’ve been at Target Field many times since the picturesque palace opened in 2009, I still pinch myself to be able to enjoy an evening there. During the game Carter asked me if Amy and I watched the Twins much when we lived in Rochester. No. We wouldn’t travel often to watch the Twins play in the Metrodome. But Target Field? The experience is worth the drive. And fortunately my drive now is only 25 minutes. 

Many others wanted to watch the game last night—attendance was over 31,000. We still could walk-up and buy a ticket at the ballpark and look forward to the Twins upgrade. 

The Twins have a quality club—though they are hamstrung with Carlos Correa, Royce Lewis, and Jose Miranda not playing, arguably their best three hitters. And the lineup revealed their deficiencies. No one who started had an average over .265. And Edward Julien was batting fifth? I’d like someone with more baseball intelligence than me to explain that logic. And with Zack Wheeler pitching it wasn’t a surprise that the bettors had the Phillies as the favorite. 

But Simone Woods-Richardson gave the Twins a chance. I watched him more closely than I have in the past. He doesn’t throw many fastballs, but his off-speed stuff baffled the Phillies. He gave up three hits and one walk in six innings. Wow! When he was pitching in the sixth I asked Carter what were the chances that he would pitch in the seventh. Even having thrown 88 pitches at the end of the sixth it seemed he earned another inning. But Rocco—you know who I mean—not surprisingly went to the bullpen to bring out Jorge Alcala in the seventh. With a bullpen game on Thursday and a hot pitcher on the mound, wouldn’t it make sense to keep Woods-Richardson out for another inning? Why not save Alcala for Thursday? 

The Twins generated their best opportunity in the eighth. Three walks loaded the bases for Ryan Jeffers—who was the logical choice to pinch hit for Julien. My wife, Amy, called during that inning to see what was happening. I could hardly hear her with the crowd noise, so I had to end our conversation early. The anticipation was burst when Jeffers ended the rally by grounding out on a three and one count. 

Johan Duran was wild and gave up three runs in the ninth. I can’t say I was surprised. He now has five losses for the season. On the ride home I heard Baldelli say he isn’t worried about Duran’s performance. He might be one of the few people at Target Field last night who agree with that. 

I am a Minnesota sports fan, so I know what it’s like to lose. But in looking at this team it’s not hard to see the possibilities. Bring the above-mentioned three back and our lineup is excellent. Trade for a starting pitcher or get Chris Paddack back, and we have five quality starting pitchers. Trade or find another set-up reliever. Figure out Duran. All of the above seems possible. I believe the Twins will overtake the Guardians and win the division.

I am a Minnesota sports fan, so I know what it’s like not to have my expectations met. Jim Pohlad didn't help by demanding that thirty million of payroll be cut after last season's success. That money probably could have kept Sonny Gray in a Twins' uniform. His record in St. Louise would be quite an addition to our squad's record. I’m surprised that the media has not been more critical of ownership.  

I am a Minnesota sports fan, so I’ll keep rooting and hoping. “You’re telling me there’s a chance?” Maybe I am dumb, but I still do believe. Despite ownership and Baldelli, I still put on my Twins hat with anticipation for what could happen.

The people need to choose their leaders

How groups choose their leaders is one of the most important characteristic of any organization. I share with people all the time that one of the many reasons I’m proud to be Presbyterian is Presbyterian congregations choose their own pastors. It’s a distinguishing and important characteristic of being Presbyterian. The congregation appoints a group of people who brings a candidate to the congregation and then the congregation votes. If a person is a member of a Presbyterian church that person will have a say in the next pastor.

The events of the last week have thrown into question how political parties choose their candidates to be President.

A week ago Saturday, Thomas Matthew Crooke attempted to assassinate former President Trump at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. It’s incredible that if the bullet had been less than an inch to the left President Trump might have been killed. Thankfully, former President Trump “only” suffered a nick of his ear, though a full medical report from the physicians who treated him has not been shared with the public.

The question is hypothetical, but what would have happened if the Republicans would have had to choose a new leader? The party would have had less than a week to present a candidate to the delegates. Would the convention have been postponed. Would the party have had an election?

These questions are worth asking the leaders of the Republican party.

I also think it's important to continue to try to understand what led Thomas Matthew Crooke to attempt this assassination. He didn't seem to have many political opinions. Why would he risk his own life to attempt this heinous action?

Yesterday President Biden did the inevitable and honorable task of removing himself from running for President. When I saw his debate performance on June 27, I thought that there was no way he was capable of running an effective campaign for President. And even though it took President Biden three weeks to make his decision, his decision to withdraw was honorable. President Biden put the country ahead of his own political desires.

To be honest, it would have been better if President Biden had chosen to drop out earlier. I half expected him to drop out the next day after the debate. And to be quite frank, it would have been even better for the country if he had decided not to run for President. I had always understood that because of his age he was only going to run for one term. But then he changed his mind. And the Democratic Party accepted his decision.

People knew about his decline long before it became apparent to the nation on June 27. And somehow the word did not get out.  I think it’s important to know who protected him. It’s important for the truth be known.   

I’ve always respected President Biden for his intelligence—he’s always seemed like a very smart guy. I still remember him eviscerating Robert Bork during Bork’s Supreme Court hearings. I went out of the way to read the transcript of the hearing because I wanted to read word-for-word the questions President Biden had asked. But there was a different President Biden at the debate that I had never seen before.

Yesterday when I was driving back from Duluth after spending five days “up north” my wife, Amy, and I listened to a number of shows about President Biden’s decision and what will happen next. Already Vice-President Harris is receiving many endorsements.

But here’s the thing. Vice-President Harris might be the right person to receive the nomination. But I think she needs to earn the nomination from voters. I believe that some sort of nationwide primary could be set up before the Democratic convention. Let her earn the nomination and let others have the opportunity to earn the nomination. If need be, postpone the convention, so an election will take place.

James Carville had an idea that could also be helpful. 

Opinion | James Carville: Biden Won’t Win. Democrats Need a Plan. Here’s One. - The New York Times (nytimes.com)

 If some level of election doesn’t happen, Vice-President Harris will always be vulnerable to the charge that she wasn’t elected by the people. It is in her own interest to run for election in her own party. 

A defining characteristic of democracy is the people choose their leaders.

These are very strange times for our country. Former President Trump was almost killed; President Biden dropped out of the race. The best way to navigate any types of changes is for the voters to have the final say. They are the lifeline of democracy.

Presbyterians can grow, right?

The 227^th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) just finished meeting last week in Salt Lake City. I followed along fairly closely as I was very interested in what was happening. I watched many of the committee meetings and plenary. I listened to the debate about the Olympia Overture as I drove to Worthington last week. For me it is awesome to be able to listen and watch the sessions. All of the sessions can be seen at: 226th General Assembly (2024) | Live Into Hope (ga-pcusa.org) 

I had a special interest in what happened at General Assembly as my niece, Julia Prouty served as a Young Adult Advisory Delegate, and my sister, Rev. Pam Prouty, resourced a committee. 

I have a high amount of respect for the Teaching and Ruling Elders who gave of their time to serve the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Salt Lake City. Thanks for your service!

Presbyterians are different from other denominations or branches of the church as power flows from the local congregation to wider governing bodies and from wider governing bodies to local congregations. 

I kept folks at Chain of Lakes informed about what was happening with General Assembly. The pcusa web site listed the top ten items of General Assembly. Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) - GA commissioners and advisory delegates got a lot done in Salt Lake City (pcusa.org)

What is disappointing to me is that church development was not one of the top ten items of General Assembly. Most Presbyterian churches are declining. I’ve written before that if the CEO of a corporation saw the level of decline in people that the PC(USA) has experienced, that person would issue a clarion call for change. 

Other organizations have noted that churches are declining. MPR shared an excellent conversation last month about the decline of churches. It’s worth hearing at Why are so many Americans leaving church?   | MPR News. 

I am blessed that the church I am serving is not declining. Worship attendance in 2024 at Chain of Lakes is thirty-five percent higher than 2023. We’ve already received nineteen new people as disciples or members this year, and I wouldn’t be surprised if we receive another nineteen before the end of the year. The Session of Chain of Lakes just voted to start two services starting in September. Though some would experience our congregation as small, we’re growing fast. 

I believe that this growth has happened for two main reasons. The first is our youth and children’s ministry has vastly expanded since we hired Amanda Serfling as our Family Ministry Director. We frequently have over twenty children and youth attend worship. We’re hoping that fifty children attend Vacation Bible School at the end of the month. 

For churches who don’t have a lot of youth, my word of encouragement would be to hire the best person you can to grow your ministry. Youth and children will come to a church, but they need a ministry to which they can connect. 

I was hoping that General Assembly would have said that for the next two years Presbyterians are going to resource and focus on ministries with youth and children. 

The second reason for the growth at Chain of Lakes is our acceptance of the LGTBQIA+ community. Chain of Lakes is one of a handful of churches who go out of our way to accept people. The first marriage I officiated was a gay marriage; we have people who travel almost thirty miles to our congregation because they cannot find a welcoming congregation near them. 

I get it that many congregations don’t accept the LGTBQIA+ community. And some believe that orientation is a sin. I’ve responded to these beliefs before. This video shares why I think that our support is biblical. The Bible and LGTBQ (vimeo.com)

The key point for congregations is we need to be resourced by the wider governing bodies of our denomination. We need ideas for growth; we need trainings on growing; we need resources that will help. The work of the General Assembly is important, but until the wider governing bodies of the PC(USA) get the message that congregations need support, I would guess that Presbyterian congregations will keep declining.  

If decline is okay for Presbyterians, then there’s not much that can be done. It is certainly not okay with me. 

I’m hoping that before the next General Assembly in 226 in Milwaukee, this denomination who I love can see evangelism and church growth as a priority. So much so that it will be in the top ten list of accomplishments at that General Assembly.