We’re famous! My son and I end up on TV as Rangers sweep Astros

“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

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By Bobby Ross Jr.

ARLINGTON, Texas — Hey, that’s me!

And my son Keaton!

We ended up on Fox Sports Southwest on Wednesday night, cheering wildly as the Rangers walloped the Astros, 14-3 — part of a four-game sweep that propelled Texas to a 2.5-game lead in the American League West.

A few more pictures from a fun night of September baseball:

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Boy Scouts’ gay-friendly policies draw mixed responses

Boy Scouts’ gay-friendly policies draw mixed responses (reporting from Piedmont, Okla.): Some Churches of Christ maintain ties with BSA, while others align with a new national scouting organization.  PIEDMONT, Okla. — Ken Richter loved the Boy Scout life. Starting as a 7-year-old Cub Scout, Richter embraced the outdoor adventure, the leadership training and the character development. “I loved to go camping and canoeing, and I made a … Continue reading Boy Scouts’ gay-friendly policies draw mixed responses

Ten years after Hurricane Katrina, survivors keep counting blessings

‘God allowed us to make it through’ (reporting from New Orleans): At the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Christians who survived keep counting their blessings. NEW ORLEANS — Ten years after Hurricane Katrina waged war on the Gulf Coast, Christians in hard-hit New Orleans are looking back — and ahead. Frank J. Harden, an elder of the Louisa Street Church of Christ, recalls fleeing 260 … Continue reading Ten years after Hurricane Katrina, survivors keep counting blessings

In the heat of the pennant race, it’s nice to be back ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’

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“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

• • •

By Bobby Ross Jr.

ARLINGTON, Texas — If you’re a regular reader of my MLB ballparks blog (I love you, Mom!), you know how much I enjoyed my first-ever visit to Detroit’s Comerica Park last weekend.

But Friday night, my Rangers were back home at Globe Life Park in Arlington — and my sons Brady and Keaton and I made a quick trip down from Oklahoma City to see the game.

We had great seats along the first-base line and got to see a masterful pitching performance —  just one run and two hits allowed over eight innings by new Texas ace Cole Hamels — as the Rangers defeated the Baltimore Orioles, 4-1.

The Rangers maintained a half-game lead over the Minnesota Twins for the AL’s second wild card and moved within four games of the Houston Astros in the AL West.

A few pictures from the game:

Continue reading “In the heat of the pennant race, it’s nice to be back ‘Deep in the Heart of Texas’”

Online wars over doctrine spark concern

Online wars over doctrine spark concern (reporting from New Orleans): Amid heated talk on social media, two-day symposium brings together leaders for face-to-face dialogue.  NEW ORLEANS — And they’ll know we are Christians by our … vitriol on Facebook? Scriptural and responsible use of the Internet was a key point of discussion as more than 100 ministers and church leaders gathered for the recent “We … Continue reading Online wars over doctrine spark concern

Rangers and Tigers and baseball, oh my! Joyfully checking Comerica Park off my bucket list

“Take me out to the ball game” is my blog on major-league ballparks and the wonders of witnessing America’s favorite pastime up close.

• • •

By Bobby Ross Jr.

DETROIT — Comerica Park did not disappoint.

On a reporting trip to the Motor City — timed to coincide with my beloved Texas Rangers playing the Detroit Tigers in a four-game series — I was able to see three games.

Comerica — No. 3 on my bucket list of ballparks I had yet to experience — definitely lived up to the rave reviews of diehard Tigers fans such as my friend Ron Hadfield.

The tiger statues out front, the postcard-perfect downtown skyline beyond the outfield walls, the raucous fans totally committed to (and occasionally, totally frustrated with) the hometown heroes with the Old English “D” on their caps — all of these things add to the ambience of this 15-year-old baseball shrine.

Continue reading “Rangers and Tigers and baseball, oh my! Joyfully checking Comerica Park off my bucket list”

5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city

5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city Melissa Binder is rocking the Godbeat in one of the unlikeliest of places – Portland, Ore. “Who else is going to tell you what religion in the rest of the United States might look like in 50 years?” The Oregonian writer responds when asked about covering faith and values in America’s least-religious city. Binder’s … Continue reading 5Q+1 interview: Melissa Binder on the thriving Godbeat in America’s least-religious city

Love the preacher who left? You won’t like the new one

Love the preacher who left? You won’t like the new one (reporting from Wichita, Kan.): Instead of hiring a ‘sacrificial lamb,’ interim ministry advocates urge a process of reflection and discernment. WICHITA, Kan. — Mark Frost drives a Ford Focus. His other vehicle, he quips, is a Cessna. “So I feel like I’m coming home,” Frost jokes as he introduces himself to the RiverWalk Church of … Continue reading Love the preacher who left? You won’t like the new one