Sports Displays Life

I really enjoy much about sports. One significant thing is the stories-that-relate-to-life. For example, in the 2004 Summer Olympics, Matt Emmons was just focusing on staying calm. He wishes he had been more concerned with where he was shooting.

Emmons fired at the wrong target on his final shot, a simple mistake that cost the American a commanding lead in the 50-meter three-position rifle final and ruined his chance for a second gold medal.

A story of triumph in the face of adversity from the same 2004 Summer Olympics, relates to gymnast Paul Hamm. After three rounds, Hamm held a good position, but a disastrous fall on the vault, in which he nearly fell into the judges' bench, dropped him to 12th place and he looked to be completely out of the running for any medals. (He is close enough to grab the judge's phone and call his dad to come and pick him up early!)

However, numerous faults by the other gymnasts, combined with Hamm's performance on the parallel bars, returned him to fourth place after the fifth rotation. Then, his high bar routine gained him a score of 9.837, winning him the gold medal by a margin of .012, the closest in Olympic Gymnastics history.

A story closer to home, literally, is of gymnast Shawn Johnson. She has won numerous championships and recently the US Olympic Trials. She just turned 16 and lives in the same town as I.

A compelling portion of her continuing story happened when a news reporter asked Shawn what it feels like to win the US Women’s Olympic Gymnastic Trials. She said: It is the feeling of hard work paying off. (Note: She has been training for 13 years.)

When I heard her say that, I thought about the “hard work” of spiritual growth. The following two verses came to mind:

Proverbs 23.12: Apply your heart to discipline and your ears to the words of knowledge.

1Timothy 4.7: But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.

This question also came to mind: In what area am I “applying my heart to discipline” with the purpose of growing spiritually? Horace Mann is quoted as saying, “Habit is a cable; we weave a thread each day, and at last we cannot break it.” What spiritual habit am I working to develop so that I can see the hard work pay off?

Most research indicates that developing a new habit requires devoting 15 minutes a day for 30 days. We each have 96 15-minute segments in our day. Can you afford to invest one of those in establishing a new spiritual discipline? Let me know how it goes in 30 days.

Foundations of Your Worldview

Read this quote this morning:
Follow your instincts. That's where true wisdom manifests itself.

A few moments later, I ran across this quote:
God gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.

The first comes from Oprah Winfrey; the second, from Solomon in Proverbs 2.6. The question seems to be, Who's view of the world and the way it works are you going to buy into?

Who are You Playing For?

By-and-large college athletics maintains a degree of purity that professional sports has lost. If you are not a sports fan, stick with me as this is not a story about sports per se.

Especially during the college football bowl season and the NCAA basketball tournament there are a number of human interest stories that transcend the athletic competition.

I’ve been moved by stories of athletes escaping war-ravaged homelands to achieve academic and athletic success along with much valued freedom; or of young men who have lost both parents due to drugs and gang violence and have successfully taken on the responsibility of raising their younger siblings while attending college and excelling in sports.

This past week, another inspiring story has risen above the excitement of athletic wins and losses.

Stephen Curry is a 20-year-old sophomore basketball player for Davidson College. Davidson is a 1,700 student liberal arts college near Charlotte, North Carolina. Curry played remarkably well and led his team to unprecedented success in the 2008 NCAA Basketball Tournament. While his accomplishments are record-worthy, what has gained significant notice are his feet—or what is on them.

On Curry’s NIKE basketball shoes, is a handwritten quote, “I can do all things…” Often this type of writing would be a sure sign of bravado or cockiness. That frequently happens in sports. Curry is different. He has exhibited a humility that's perfectly at odds with the statement he penned on his shoes.

"It's easy to give a lot of glory to yourself when you have a lot of success," Curry said in an ESPN.com interview. "And I could get into the mind-set that everything I'm doing is because of me. But I just can't think like that."

So it seems the writing on his shoes is not the product of a me-first mentality or an overblown ego lurking beneath a shell of false modesty. There just wasn't enough room to finish the quote.

"Oh, that," Curry said. "It's Philippians 4:13: 'I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.' It's always been one of my favorite Bible verses. … I realize that what I do on the basketball court isn't a measure of my own strength. Having that there keeps me focused on the game, a constant reminder of Who I'm playing for."

Stephen Curry is an accomplished athlete. He is also an outstanding spokesman for Jesus in his own unique way.

It is helpful to realize that you too can be an outstanding spokesman for Jesus, and you don’t need to be an accomplished athlete. Curry used the opportunities and tools available to him to share his faith. You can too.

What is "your game?" What are you doing in the arena in which God has placed you that points to Him?

Knowing God's Instructions

The Des Moines Register carried an article and review of a new book by John Izzo, “The Five Secrets You Must Discover Before You Die.” The article noted that that the author interviewed two Iowans in his research. From a practical standpoint, it is helpful to filter life and current culture—including the multitude of books that are published, through the grid of what the Bible says. This aids in recognizing the intersection of faith and life. Consider Izzo’s “Five Secrets” in light of what the Bible teaches.

Secret #1: Be true to yourself. The author says you should have the discipline to listen to your heart to find out what makes you happy and the courage to follow that path and make it a priority. Examine how God contrasts Izzo’s secret in Genesis 6.5 and Matthew 16.24.

Secret #2: Leave No Regrets. Izzo teaches that when faced with a decision, you should think of yourself as an old woman sitting in a rocking chair near the end of life and ask yourself: What decision do I wish I had made? At the end of life you won’t regret risks you took. Measure this secret against Philippians 4.6; Ephesians 5.1; and, 1 Peter 2.21.

Secret #3: Become Love. The author claims that people who “become love” look at love as a choice rather than an emotion. Choose to become a loving person by loving yourself, eliminating self-critical thoughts and then making loving relationships with others a priority by not being critical. Reflect on these instructions in Matthew 22.39 and Ephesians 4.32.

Secret #4: Live the Moment. Izzo claims it is important to live fully in each moment, not looking back or forward or judging each moment, but being alive in each moment with gratitude. Consider this biblical measurement in Colossians 3.1-4.

Secret #5: Give More Than You Take. Last, Izzo encourages you to find a connection with others that is outside yourself, not focusing on finding personal happiness, love, fame and fortune, but in acts that improve the lives of others. Explore these commands in Romans 12.10; Philippians 2.3; and, Acts 20.35.

Relationships In the Church

Researchers like George Barna have noted that as our society has become more advanced technologically, we have become more disconnected.

The disengagement our fast-passed culture creates runs counter to everything we know and feel as human beings, and as Christians. Henry Cloud, in Changes that Heal, writes: Relationship [or connection], then, is at the foundation of God’s nature. Since we are created in his likeness, relationship is our most fundamental need, the very foundation of who we are. Without relationship, without attachment to God and others, we can’t be our true selves. We can’t be truly human.

As our church has explored a number of arenas in which we make choices to help us grow spiritually, we recently examined the context of being Family Centered.

Being Family Centered means making choices in my life that are consistent with my design to live and grow in vital relationships, including marriage, family, and biblical community.

More than 50 times in the New Testament, God gives us instructions on how to relate to others in the spiritual community. This list includes:

Be at peace with each other. (Mark 9:50)

Wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14)

Love one another. (John 13:34-35; 15:12, 17; Romans 13:8;1 Thessalonians 3:12; 4:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:3; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 1:22; 4:8;1 John 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12; 2 John 5)

Be members of one another. (Romans 12:5)

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. (Romans 12:10)

Honor one another above yourself. (Romans 12:10)

Live in harmony with one another. (Romans 12:16)

Edify one another. (Romans 14:19)

Accept one another, just as Christ accepted you. (Romans 15:7)

Instruct one another. (Romans 15:14)

Greet one another with a holy kiss. (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20;2 Corinthians 13:12)

When you come together to eat, wait for each other. (1 Corinthians 11:33)

Have equal concern for each other. (1 Corinthians 12:25)

Serve one another in love. (Galatians 5:13)

Carry each other’s burdens. (Galatians 6:2)

Be patient, bearing with one another in love. (Ephesians 4:2)

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other. (Ephesians 4:32)

Speak to one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. (Ephesians 5:19)

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:21)

In humility consider others better than yourselves. (Philippians 2:3)

Bear with each other and forgive one another. (Colossians 3:13)

Teach and admonish one another. (Colossians 3:16)

Make your love increase and overflow for each other. (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

Encourage each other. (1 Thessalonians 4:18; 5:11, 14; Hebrews 3:13; 10:25)

Spur one another on toward love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other. (James 5:16)

Live in harmony with one another. (1 Thessalonians 5:13; 1 Peter 3:8)

Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9)

Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others. (1 Peter 4:10)

Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another. (Romans 5:21; 1 Peter 5:5)

Fellowship with one another. (I John 1:7)

These instructions lead us into deep personal relationships, to that intimate connection and care that is a part of authentic biblical community.

God’s design is that we live in relationship with other believers. A great next step is to explore the list and determine one way you can establish or further a relationship in the spiritual community that will help you continue to grow spiritually.