Now that the hype of the Final Four is over, and since hardly anyone pays attention to professional basketball, its time to turn some attention to the "boys of summer." Baseball, otherwise known in our home as the greatest sport ever played, is the sport of choice for our family. Over the next three days, I will point out some ways in which we use the game of baseball in the lives of our sons to build Christian character and cultivate biblical masculinity.

Why We Love Baseball for Character Building

We believe that sports in general can help us observe our children in various contexts to see how their character is developing. As a dad it is particularly important to me. I am gone during the day because of vocational responsibilities and since my job is such that I cannot bring my children with me (such as a farming situation) I do not have the opportunity to see them in a crisis or under pressure.

Baseball helps me with this. Since the game is played at a slower pace than some sports, each play, and player, is highlighted on every pitch. You do not need to watch the game film later to know who missed a fly ball, who struck out, or who got thrown out stealing second base. I can easily observe what my sons do when they miss a ground ball, when they strike out, and when they are put in to pitch under a pressure situation with no outs and bases loaded.

The game is so full of subjectivity that I can easily see them in situations when they are treated unfairly. A ball is called a strike. A safe slide into third is called out. And most of the time, because of the easy access to players in the dugout, I can make mid-game character corrections, without waiting until we all get home.

I can see what they do when they lose big, when they win big. It gives me an opportunity to see what comes out of them in situations that I cannot possibly manufacture at home. I am not living for the day when my sons become the next Derek Jeter or Alex Rodriguez. In fact, I would generally not wish the life of a professional baseball player on anyone. And although we love to play the game, we are not living for it. It is a parental tool that also happens to be really fun.

Beginning tomorrow, I will look at the first four of 12 connecting points between baseball, biblical masculinity and godly character.

- Randy Stinson | CBMW