April 20, 2009 - The Flow of the Game

I just returned from a ROCK’em Road Trip to southern Florida – 10 days with 10 boys. It was a tiring trip where we kept them moving. The boys woke up each morning 15 minutes before the sun, took a prayer walk, a morning jog, and quiet time – all before breakfast. Throughout the week we tried to provide opportunities to develop discipline in their lives and to make the idea of ministry/serving others become natural.

As a coach I have always noticed that the great players are ones that make the game look easy. There is an obvious flow to what they are doing. For instance a ball-handler that appears to have the ball on a string – or even an athlete that seems to defy gravity with his graceful flight. But even beyond the physical skill set is the almost innate ability to see the game – to see the opportunities.

Some years I have coached teams where I would have the guys scrimmage more than usual – just because there was a lack of feel for the game. There needs to be a flow in order to see and take advantage of opportunities.

In the church I think too many are sitting on their rumps instead of getting into the game. As a result we miss seeing opportunities for ministry – there is not a natural flow to our game – or should I say a super-natural flow. We need to intentionally get in positions of service and allow the Lord to use us. Serving others should not be awkward to us. Sharing the love of Christ should not be awkward to us.

This road trip had the theme of “No Benchwarmers!” The boys were challenged: “Don’t just stand there, do something!” The theme verse was 1 Corinthians 15:58. In The Message it is paraphrased this way:

58With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.