Don't Give Up...Don't Ever Give Up

Some of you may have noticed that ESPN has been running events and promos highlighting the Jimmy V foundation during the past couple of weeks. Jim Valvano, or Jimmy V as he is more affectionately called, was the head coach of the NC State team that pulled a miraculous upset over Hakeem Olajwon and the University of Houston to win the 1983 national championship in basketball. The jubilation and excitement was evident as Jimmy V danced across the court. This normally would be the thought of as the greatest moment in a head coach's career. Jimmy V was not your normal basketball coach. His last mission after being diagnosed with cancer was to start a foundation to help save lives by helping find cures for cancer. His speech from the 1993 ESPY awards program still plays 15 years later on national TV and has millions of hits on YouTube. Cancer didn't defeat Jimmy V....it gave him focus for his passion and his perseverance created a lasting legacy.

Hearing Jimmy V's famous speech, my thoughts can't help but to turn to Philippians 3:13-14 "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead. I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Acts 20:24 teaches us a similar lesson in regards to focus "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to God's grace." If we can stay passionate in our focus for sharing God's grace, then we can say like Paul at the end of his life "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:7).

So, what can we do to press on and finish the race strong? Well, we can be prepared through: 1) staying in constant communication with God through prayer, 2) reading the playbook (Bible), 3) spending time in the video room (remembering what God has done in our own lives), and 4) having a group of mentors/friends that provide God-guided counsel. Utilizing these tools to be solidly prepared, we can more fully understand God's love and grace and share why no one should ever want to be separate from God. As we are in the midst of the Christmas season, do you know of someone who needs to know God's love more? What good words will you have for them?

Who's Number One?

All this past weekend, the college football world was wondering who would win the Big 12 South and have the inside track for playing the SEC champion for the National Championship. Texas Tech fans were rooting for Oklahoma to lose, while Texas fans were rooting for Oklahoma to barely win so they might win a 3-way tie. As it turns out, all three teams won their games leaving it to the computers to determine whether Oklahoma or Texas would get the nod. Ultimately, Texas' petitioning for supremacy due to their head-to-head win over Oklahoma was not heard by the computers which awarded Oklahoma the Big 12 South championship. As you can imagine, this decision has sparked a lot of debate, consternation, pain (or happiness) among football fans.

Do you ever try to argue with God about who is number one in your life? You are not the only one. Samson bragged about his ability to kill 1,000 men with the jawbone of a donkey instead of crediting God for his strength (Judges 15:14-16). Wanting to be the best in our own strength can also lead to taking credit for what others have done in order to increase our reputation, like Saul took credit for Jonathon's victory over the Philistines in Geba (1 Samuel 13:3-4). It can also make us think that we have no faults like the Pharisee in Luke 18:11-12.

Well, there is only place for number one in our lives....there isn't 1a and 1b...just like 2 teams from the Big 12 South can't play in Kansas City this weekend for the Big 12 Championship. If we humble ourselves, we will be exalted...but if we try to exalt ourselves, we will be humbled (Luke 18:14). Proverbs 1:7 tells us that “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” There really should never be any doubt since God created the Earth, rescued His people from Egypt by parting the Red Sea, gave David the ability to slay Goliath with a sling and stones...the list goes on and on....most importantly having power over death by Jesus atoning for our sins. So, the next time you want to be number one, try to remember to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Being Matt Cassel

Can you imagine having to sit on the sidelines for 7 years before getting your big chance? Matt Cassel of the New England Patriots can. He can because he went to USC to be the quarterback for one of the great college football teams in the country. Instead, Cassel learned that he would be standing on the sidelines while Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart were leading the Trojans and winning Heisman trophies. He saw Carson Palmer get drafted as the number 1 overall pick in the 2003 NFL draft and Leinhart follow by being selected number 10 overall in 2006. Cassel was drafted (pick number 230 overall) by the New England Patriots in 2005. Most folks thought the Patriots were razor thin at quarterback and doomed to fail when Tom Brady got injured during the first game of the season. Admittedly, Cassel has grown into the position over the past 10 weeks...but who would have thought that he would be 1 of only 5 quarterbacks in the history of the NFL to pass for over 400 yards in 2 consecutive games and that the Patriots would have a winning record while both Palmer (injury) and Leinart (due to Kurt Warner's great play) have been on the sidelines for weeks?

So, what's Matt Cassel got to do with anything relating to God? Directly, he may or may not (as I don't know him or his relationship with Christ)...but I'll give you some examples of men God used for extraordinary purposes after waiting in what seemed to be everyday activities. David was tending his family's sheep when Samuel came to anoint him as the next king of Israel (1 Samuel 16:6-13). God waited until Moses was 40 years old to deliver his plans for Moses by speaking to him from the burning bush (Exodus 3:2-4). Peter and Andrew were just doing their jobs when Jesus came and recruited them to be His disciples.

The bottom line is, we never know when God is going to come calling with His new mission for us (Proverbs 16:9). All we can do is to be faithful with what we have been given, have open ears, and a pure heart...and be ready to play when God calls our number, just like Matt Cassel was ready for the Patriots.

Are You Playing Not to Lose?

If you watch many football games, you will likely hear a commentator discuss the perils of a prevent defense (a defense where the team with the lead is willing to give up chunks of yards because they think it gives them the best chance of winning). Some commentators will go so far as to say that the only thing a prevent defense does is prevent a team from winning. While one can certainly debate the relative strengths and limitations of the prevent defense in football, I believe God is firmly against us living life in a “prevent defense” type of mode.

God promised the Israelites that He would rescue them from Egypt and give them a “...good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey...” (Exodus 3:8). That being said, God didn't want the Israelites to just be on cruise control seeking comfort and actively demonstrating their faith in God. God gave the Israelites opportunities to grow and reveal their faith in Him. Likewise, David was anointed the future king of Israel as a young shepherd boy (1st Samuel 16:1-13), but still hat to face Goliath (1st Samuel 17) and be harassed by King Saul. Another example is Jesus' calling of Peter to be fishers of men (Matthew 4:18-20). Peter and the disciples were certainly not on a vacation cruise of the Mediterranean just listening to Jesus talk about how wonderful heaven is going to be one of these days....in fact Peter and the disciples were in for all sorts of persecution including being arrested and killed for proclaiming that Jesus is the resurrected Messiah.

While the eternal destination of all people who have accepted Christ as their Lord and Saviour is known and not in doubt, this knowledge doesn't mean that we should just live the rest of our lives seeking comfort. We are to be like John, preparing the way for Christ's return to Earth....telling all who will listen “...I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ' Make straight the way for the Lord'” (John 1:23). Let's go about life swinging for the fences and not just limping to the finish line with a prevent defense to gain temporary comfort.

The Benefits of Chopping Wood

The slogan for Rutgers football team during their 2006 rise was “chopping wood”. Chopping wood was meant by the coaching staff to symbolize staying focused on the task at hand. How often are we distracted by circumstances that are out of our control or things that really aren't that important in the big picture? What could we gain by keeping focused on the task at hand?

The book of Proverbs has a lot to say a being diligent (and folks say Proverbs is only about wisdom!). Diligence is rewarded with positions of authority (Proverbs 12:24), an abundance through hard work (Proverbs 28:19), and the ability to give without sparing (Proverbs 21:26). So, what does it take to be a diligent person? Diligent people are planners (Proverbs 21:5), take care of business without procrastinating (Proverbs 10:5), and prize their possessions (Proverbs 12:27).

Things may not always look like they are going our way. If you don't believe me, just ask David (Psalm 13) or Job. If this is where you are, Romans 5:3-4 has good news for you, “...suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” So no matter whether things are going well or we're in need of some good news, let's keep chopping wood.

Quarterback/Receiver Communication

Have you ever watched a football game and seen a football thrown without a receiver in sight? If it is a team you are rooting for, you may have found yourself saying “What are you doing?”. The pass is usually either incomplete or intercepted by the defense. The television cameras often pan to a scene where the quarterback and receiver are trying to figure out what happened.

Football commentators will tell you such throws are often the receiver’s fault. With God as our quarterback we never have to wonder where the fault is because God is always on the right page. We are told in Deuteronomy 32:4 that God “is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all His ways are just” (also see Psalm 145:17, Hosea 14:9, and John 14:6). We, on the other hand, are not perfect and may 1) break off the route due to fear or lack of faith or 2) not know the proper route because we haven't spent enough time in the playbook.

We are told in Joshua 22:5 to “...love the Lord you God, to walk in all His ways, to obey His commands, to hold fast to him and serve him with all your heart and all your soul.” That may sound pretty daunting, but we are to ask for help like those before us. Moses put forth a humble request to the Lord, “...teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you...” (Exodus 33:13). David echoed this request in Psalm 86:11, “Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” If two members of the Hall of Faith (Hebrews 11) ask God for direction in His ways, why are we so stubborn to figure things out by ourselves?

Remember, saying I don't have enough time is not an acceptable excuse. Are you saying that God failed to meet your needs? If so, Matthew 6:33 and 7:7 offer a strong rebuttal. So, let's get our noses in the playbook so we know the plays God wants us to execute on the field of everyday life.

Commitment to Excellence

If you follow the history of the National Football League, you are probably familiar with Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis' slogan “commitment to excellence”. The slogan seemed quite fitting back when the Raiders won 3 Super Bowls between 1976 and 1983. Now, the once proud franchise (and owner) appear to be in disarray. The team struggles to have a winning record, fires coaches on a routine basis, and is considered a laughing stock of the league.

That only happens out in the “secular” world though, right? Well, the Israelites had a proud history out being God's chosen people that were delivered from bondage and given the promised land. However, they often failed to remember why these great moments in their history occurred and focused on “their” strength (or weakness) instead of relying on God. Many Jews during Jesus' day thought they had everything figured out and wound up missing out on the Messiah, the cornerstone of our faith (Romans 9:33). Another example is Judas, one of the 12 disciples, who wound up selling out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver (Matthew 27:3-10).

Certainly, none of us are perfect and we all lose focus. Peter is a great example of this as he walked on water (Matthew 14:27-30), preached the sermon at Pentecost where 3,000 were saved (Acts 2:38-41), and was crucified upside down because he told the authorities that he was not worthy to die in the same fashion as Jesus. However, at times he lost focus chopping off a Roman soldier's ear (John 18:10), denying Christ 3 times before the crucifixion (John 18:25-27), and wanting to build altars to Moses and Elijah on the mountain instead of focusing on Christ (Mark 9:5-7).

We are told to live in “manner worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Fortunately, we are also given the truth that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). So, are you ready to live a life dedicated to Christ where others see the commitment to excellence you display?