Batting all alone Faith - we shall see - is sometimes a collective and sometimes a very private matter. When a nation unites to defend its peace and freedom against an invading enemy, we see an illustration of collective faith. But when an institution delegates enormous decision-making powers to the chief executive officer, the decisions will become painfully private. The presidency of the United States has been described as the loneliest office for that very reason. The buck stops at his desk. He is up to bat. Alone! One man against the world. Faith, we soon discover, is a very private matter. Our most important decisions cannot be passed off to anyone else. Consider the basic decisions: (1) What am I going to do? What career will I pursue? In a free society, you, and you alone, must decide! Out in front of you are nine members of another team plus a stand full of spectators watching to see how you will perform! No state bureaucracy will select a profession for you! That's being in the batter's box alone! (2) Who will be my one essential friend? Whom shall I marry? Or shall I remain single? No government agency, no academic advisory council can make that decision for you. You are in the batter's box - alone! That calls for strong, private faith! (3) What religious choice will I make? I can choose to believe in nothing or I can choose to believe in something. Atheism or theism. It's your decision. You're up to bat. You can't avoid the moment. Sure, you can run scared, throw the bat to someone else in the dugout - avoid the choice - call yourself an agnostic. But then - face the consequences - you're out of the game! Choose faith: take a swing at it! Become a believer. After all - faith is the only positive option open to you. The other alternatives are negative! And nothing positive ever follows negative decisions! With permission from Dr. Robert H. Schuller from this book! The Ultimate Sacrifice FOR US!