LETTERS FROM TIM Aug. 18,                                                                                        San Diego, CA   Hey!  I hope this letter finds you encouraged in the Lord.   .  . Things continue to go well here.  I had my first rough outing last night.  I pitched 3 1/3 and gave up 6 runs.   I felt ok, but it was just one of those nights.  We travel to LA after the game tonight.  We have a four game series there before we head back to Atlanta.     I do want you to know that God continues to do great things here.  Our Bible studies have been great.  We've been going through the book of Philippians together.  I praise God for Paul's insight.  We as God's children have so much to offer to others.  I hope you and your family have a wonderful day. Continue to pray that God will give me and my teammates strength as we finish the next couple of months.  This time of year is tough mentally and physically.  Thanks for your prayers.   Phil. 4: 4-5 Rejoice in the Lord always again I will say rejoice!  Let your gentle spirit be known to all men.  The Lord is near.   God Bless, Tim   July 27, 2004 Pittsburgh, PA   I'm sorry it has taken me a while to get back to you.  Things have been pretty busy the last couple of weeks.  Things continue to go well for me.  I do appreciate all the prayers that you continue to lift up for me and my teammates.  It has been an exciting month in Atlanta.    Being back in the state of GA is awesome.  Looking at my career and seeing what God has done to get me to this point is amazing ( Playing with my own brother and in Atlanta).  I wish words could describe the way I feel.  We do serve an amazing God!!    I hope that you're encouraged just as much as I've been.     Phil. 1:6 For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.   I hope that we can all become as confident as Paul was.  He came to know that Christ was going to complete him as a man of God.  Remember God will never give up on you!!!   Your Bro in Christ, Tim ___________________________ June14, 2004                             Columbus, OH   2 Cor. 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.   2 Cor. 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.   2 Cor. 5:20-21 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.  He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.   It's amazing how the word of God will refocus you!!!!!!  These verses open up my eyes to my past and allowed me to reflect on what God has done in my life.    What an honor it is to serve our Lord and King!   _____________________  April 26, 2004 Richmond, VA   Hey!!  I hope that everything is going well for you.  I sure have had some exciting times to start the season.  Watching God move right before me is something that continues to blow me away.  We had another good turn out for chapel Sun.  I believe there was a total of 13 guys.   I continue to have great talks with a lot of the guys. Something we're focusing on right now is .....   Isaiah 55:6,   Seek the Lord while He may be found; call on Him while He is near.   God makes Himself available!!!  We just need to realize the importance of slowing down and spending time with God.  This is something I truly need to grasp.   God totally desires nothing more than to reveal Himself.   It just goes to show that Isaiah 55: 8-9  is right on... For my thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways declares the Lord.  For as the heavens are higher than the earth;  So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts.   It reminds me of how much I need to seek the Lord.  I'm totally lost without Him!!  I'm also grateful that He made Himself available to me.  May we forever Praise Him!! _________________________ March 30, 2004                                                Orlando, Fla. Wow!  I can't believe my 6th spring training is about to be over.  It seems like 1997 was just yesterday and I had my eyes set on one thing and one thing only.  Back then I desired nothing more than to make it to the big leagues.  Just three years out of high school that dream came true.  I remember making my first start in Detroit against the Tigers.  It was such a rush and yet there still was a void in my life.  My second start in the big leagues was my first major league win.  I had it all figured out now.  I was in a serious relationship and all I wanted to do was get married.  See I thought that would fulfill the void that I still had.  I didn't want to see that God was trying to speak to me.  After my third start I was back in the minors and my relationship with the one I thought I was going to marry was on the way down.  It wasn't  long after that season that I quit running from God.   I finally realized it wasn't about me.   Which brings me to this very moment....   Time sure has changed.  You probably figured out how God used those circumstances in my life.  He set me free of the things that was controlling my life.  I desire nothing more than to walk with Him as best I can.  It's not about me.  My void has been filled with the love of Jesus!!    As I come to the end of another spring training I totally want to be all God wants me to be. This Sat. they will make the final cuts in Atlanta.  I'll either start the season in Atlanta or Richmond,  Va.  I do want you to know that I'm completely surrender to do what God has called me to do.  I know God knows the desires of my heart.  As I look back I'm grateful for everything that I've been through.  I'll continue to run the race that God has set before me.   I'm  very excited to see what God has in store for the rest of 2004.  I  I can't thank you enough for being my prayer warrior.  May we continue to see God's hand before us.  He loves us and has great things planned for us.    To God be the Glory!!     Walking with Him, Tim