Since March means March Madness and basketball, here’s a neat little video that demonstrates some basketball and some madness.
Take a few minutes and watch this here, and make sure you wait around until the end.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
March Madness continues tonight is full force, even though my bracket is kaput. Speaking of basketball, have you seen this video from this Spanish basketball game that has been circulating the Internet?
Although the end of this game is quit speculator, its the audio commentary that makes this clip – so make sure you have your speakers on. Even though you probably can’t understand a thing he is saying, unless like American Idol star Laura “you speak one language and that language is Spanish”. Anyway, despite the fact that you can’t probably are not sure exactly what he is saying, the emotion, raw and uncut at the end of this game comes through loud and clear. He is clearly overwhelmed, awe struck and full of joy.
I have to wonder when was the last time that I was presented with anything that produced so much joy that I was overwhelmed like this guy?
This was just at a basketball game, consider how others reacted when then encountered the Savior of the world
26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.” (Luke 5:26, New International Version, ©2011)
8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man. (Matthew 9:8, New International Version, ©2011)
Maybe today is a day to stop and consider the awe inspiring gifts you have received.
28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, 29 for our “God is a consuming fire.” (Hebrews 12:28-29, New International Version, ©2011)
Yes, yes I am. I am the 1983 Supershooters Champion.
That’s me on the right hand side of the picture. Yes sir! 42 points – Winner! Not only did I win my age group, but I would have won the whole “shooting match” is that cheater in the 16-18 age group wasn’t there. Look at him! He looks like we was in college. Next time you see me, bow before the Supershooter!
Yes, that is an accomplishment for a lifetime. Something that I should be able to hang my hat on, and just kick back and rest of my laurels the rest of my days!
Do you think so?
Well probably not. But I think sometimes we get to that place in life, where for some reason we become content with what we’ve done and who we are. We left go of training and discipline and a desire to grow and change.
But you know, I am no longer a sharpshooter. When I get to the gym, I send up more air balls and bricks then hitting “nothing but net”. I also used to be able to run 5 miles in under 27 minutes and 5K around 16 minutes. I can’t do that now either. Although age has some impact on these things, the reason I can’t do either of those things now has more to do with my dedication and the choices I have made. If I shot the round ball everyday, or if I trained aggressively everyday, I would stand a good chance at still be able to do some of those things.
That dedication to our spiritual growth is exactly why I write everyday. Although our works do not save us, God expects us to do something. He expects that we will react to his free gift and will work and do and dedicate ourselves to his service. We can’t find ourselves content to say, I used to be a good servant, or a used to count it joy when I was in trials, or I used to be humble, etc. Each day, we strive and grow and buffet our bodies – our spiritual bodies.
I am going to try my hand at a 5K this weekend I think. It will not be anywhere near 16 minutes. But its a start at physical training again. You see its not too late to train – physically or spiritually. So, lets remember the championship accomplishments of yesteryear, but lets keep moving towards more growth and more service to our master! Keep training. Keep loving, keep glorifying your Lord with your service
22Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror 24and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:22-25
“Intense”.
Several years ago that was the word that a co worker of mine used when asked to describe me in one word.
“Intense”.
At the time I thought that was cool. I thought it was great – even awesome. And that’s how I was – “intense” – focused on the goal. Come hell or high water, I was getting the job done, not paying attention to the human carnage I left along the way. The crying in the office – weak. Calling people on the weekend and demanding they fix the problem – of course, they should be in here working as well. Get it Done! Deliver. Destroy. That’s good. Right!
Over the past week I watched my son’s basketball team beat two opponents by the combined score of 106 – 6. Yes, that’s correct. 49-3 in the first game and 57-3 in the second. The boys kept the half court man to man press going the entire game – pressuring the opponents into mistakes. Some of the starters were always on the floor. They pushed the ball, fast break after fast break, up and down the court. They destroyed the other teams. Destroyed! That’s good! Right??
No, its not.
I have learned that relationships are more important than the work, and the way you win is just as important as the win. I have lived and played with intensity and I have seen the pain and carnage it brings. I have worked with such intensity and disregard for others, that my job has hung by a thread, only saved by the good will of others. Sometime, in some way, that intensity must give way to mercy. It must give way to grace. We are called to give our very best to God.
1 Corinthians 10:31 (New International Version)
31So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Colossians 3:23 (New International Version)
23Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,
We are called to play as hard as we can. Give 100 percent – always. But sometimes 100 percent means playing with control. Whether on the court, in school, or at work we must know that doling out mercy and compassion and grace are equally as important as pushing and driving and forcing.
And that’s why my heart is heavy. I sat at the scorers table for both games. I saw the angst and brokenness of the players. I saw the overwhelming helplessness and frustration of the coach, and the exasperation of the parents. Did we have to run a half court man to man press when we were winning by 25, and it was obvious this team was not coming back even if we played with 3 players? One of the teams only had 5 players.
1 Corinthians 9:24-25 (New American Standard Bible)
24Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win.
25Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.
There is a time to push it and to go right to the edge, and even more. But there is to be something different about those followers of the Christ. There is also a time to be in control and to pull back, and to show restraint. Both of these games demonstrated one of those great teaching opportunities, where we could taught our children the importance of displaying control and restraint and modeling Christ is all that we do.
I still am a very intense person, a driven person, but I hope that if my current coworkers where asked to describe me in one word that they would pick something other than “intense”. Maybe something closer to “servant”, or “merciful”. (Most would probably just say “Jerk!”)
It maybe that I am so sensitive to this because I am in such need of mercy and grace myself. Well, who isn’t? And that is why I want to teach our children that control, and extending grace, and extending mercy, are a very important part of giving 100 percent to God.
So, I write about this to use the opportunity to teach, I hope that as you read on, you consider your life. Is there a place where you still are running the full court press, where maybe you should drop back into a 2-3 soft zone and reach out to that person and provide the mercy that you have been all so freely given.
36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
Luke 6:36 (New International Version)
Also, what word would people us to describe you?