May 25, 2020 - Memorializing Passion

What is “passion”? The word is used often and typically has the idea of an intense love or desire for something. In the sports world I think of the players that are driven to go the extra mile… those that push through discomfort/pain to achieve their goals.

The obvious thoughts are to think of the professionals we hear of that maintain insane workouts to get bigger, stronger, faster, better… I think of the quote I read years ago from Smokin’ Joe Frazier: “Champions aren’t made in the ring, they’re merely recognized there. What you cheat on in the early light of morning will show up in the ring under the bright lights.” Smokin’ Joe was talking about the willingness to sacrifice comfort in order to reach one’s goals…

Yet I also think of guys like Pukin’ Jon Sperling who would work so hard when running lines in our basketball practices that he would eventually just run on our the backdoor of the gym to “empty” his belly… and then run right back in for more. Jon wasn’t the best player on the team but believed his team deserved his best!

And of course, today, Memorial Day, we honor those that were willing to sacrifice their lives… not under bright lights and glamour… not for fame… but in the trenches… for honor… for duty… to present a better future.

I think of the Apostles that were willing to suffer hardships, even to the point of martyrdom because of their passion for the Savior! They believed serving Jesus was worth it… why?... because of the extent Jesus went to serve them!

As we honor those that go beyond the call… remember that Jesus went “to the point of death, even the death of the cross.” (Philippians 2:8) God is passionate about us, proved by becoming human and sacrificing for us!

I remind you of this basic Christian truth to remind each of you: Our salvation is because of what He has done for us… it is only “reasonable” that we “present our bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto Him!” (Romans 12:1) Let’s be passionate about serving Him!!!

May 18, 2020 - Dropping Gospel Dimes

Man do I love thinking back about my playing days… being out on the basketball court is what I think about most of the time. What is interesting is what I tend to think back on…

When I was still in high school, I was definitely more of a scorer… I’d like to think I was a well-rounded player and not a ball-hog, but I’m not sure my former teammates would see it that way. But as I grew a bit older, I found that the things I loved about the game changed; maybe it was just that I started maturing a little bit and understanding more about the game.

What I think most fondly about from when I was playing is not the scoring I did, but instead the “dimes I dropped.” If you are not into basketball that doesn’t make much sense to you, but a “dime” is slang for an assist…. so, to “drop a dime” meant to make a pass that led to one’s teammate actually scoring the bucket. I was pretty good at putting the ball in the basket but found that I was really good at putting the ball in the right place for my teammates to find success.

I guess I should get to the devotional point of this (even though I would love to reminisce more about the glory days.) This past week I was hosting a Zoom meeting with some youth leaders from around the country talking about the current state of ministry and how we will go about “re-igniting” ministry as the quarantine lifts. 

As I prepared my notes I came back to a message I have been sharing recently that simply states that grace is not only our hope for salvation, but also our motivation for sanctification. This fit in because I believe that grace is the best thing to not only ignite fires… but to re-ignite fires… and to maintain fires! And while I was preparing my notes, I wrote this: Grace is best served! (Figuratively and Literally)

My quick explanation of this is:

Grace (the Gospel) is a gift… a demonstration and extension of God’s love… to man while man is yet a sinner. Our presentation of the Gospel to the loss is “best served” in that we should offer it as a gift in love…

Grace is also most effective when it is “served” literally. Sharing food with a hungry man is not enough… a man can still go to Hell on a full stomach! But the reality is that it is easier to listen to the Gospel when one’s stomach isn’t growling! So literal serving is also a great way to share grace.

I want my life to characterized by putting (serving) the Gospel in the right place for the lost to find the success of faith in Christ… Dropping Gospel Dimes!

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a SERVANT to all, that I might win the more. (1 Corinthians 9:19)

May 11, 2020 - Be A Student Of The Game (Diligence)

Typically in the sports world, the best players turn out to be not only the ones that are naturally gifted/athletic, but the ones that are committed to practice/training… ones that are students of the game, understanding the ins and outs, the whys…

The strongest man I know (and has competed many times in World’s Strongest Man competitions) was asked how he got so strong… and yes, he has some genetic advantages to strength, but his answer revealed why he was elite. He answered that he had not missed a day of working out since 7^th grade! And on top of that he studies techniques, nutrition, etc.

The best basketball trainer I know is similar in his incredible work ethic; on top of that he has a degree in kinesiology… so he not only has a great work ethic but also understands how to train efficiently… a smart work ethic!

I love the old phrase: Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard!

When I think about our walk with the Lord… the race that we run… the consistent calls we have to a life of substance and making a difference… to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing our labor is not in vain…” (1 Corinthians 15:58), I am also reminded of another truth in Scripture that calls us to commitment.

2 Timothy 2:15 tells us: Be DILIGENT to present yourself APPROVED (pleasing) to God, a WORKER who does not need to be ashamed.

Bottom line: If you want to be pleasing to God, get after it! In the past I have shared it this way, DO WORTHY WORK!

Side note: some versions of the Bible state that verse saying “Study to show yourself approved…” Study is one avenue of diligence that breeds success… in these crazy times of quarantine, one can be in the Word more… one can listen to/watch many worship services… in other words, champions are made in the off-season… take advantage of time “off the court” of life to grow. I watched a couple services this past Sunday… watched an incredible 5-hour conference online with the Free Grace Alliance… have been watching an awesome Bible study in Revelation… and when talking about the Christian life, studying of the Word (transformation of the mind) is the key! (Romans 12:1-2)

May 4, 2020 - Press Breaker

In this world we run into a lot of obstacles… yesterday my friend Todd Oldham was teaching on that at LifePoint Church… the staff there is going through the “Best Sermon Ever” in Matthew 5-7… often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount… and have recently been focusing on the template the Lord gave on how we should pray… the Lord’s Prayer. Todd was sharing from chapter 6, verse 13:

And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one…

Todd talked of the temptation (the obstacles) we face from the world… the flesh… and the enemy; and he came to a conclusion that this verse is (and our prayer should be) a “declaration of dependence” upon the Lord… that He is the way to avoid those obstacles. I believe that this is what it means to walk by faith… to trust the Lord with our steps!

But what does it mean to trust God… to walk by faith? And how do you do it?

If we are in agreement that there are temptations/obstacles that lie ahead, we need to have a plan… when coaching basketball I had to often times direct my team in how to break the other team’s full court press… how to get through those obstacles. I would design plays in the huddle that showed where the openings should be… how to get around them… sometimes it required redirection, maybe even going backwards in order to free up space to go forward… BUT what it always required was clear instructions to be followed…

I like watching old westerns (in fact watching old episodes of The Rifleman as I type this); as I thought about a declaration of dependence I pictured the old movies when someone would hire a guide to get them across the dessert… a guide that would know where the water holes were… a guide that knows where the quicksand is… a guide that would know where the enemy might be lurking… a guide that wasn’t as concerned with the shortest route but instead the one that is best… one with instructions that need to be followed daily (as any avoidance of that could take one way off course.)

In these times of uncertainty, I often hear people talk of walking by faith… stepping out in faith… Yet I believe it is important to have the right idea of walk walking by faith actually means. Often, we hear the story of Abraham and his willingness to go “not knowing where he was going.” (Romans 11:8) Because of that tag on that verse, folks often equate faith to talking blind steps. But I don’t believe that to be the case… Abraham was stepping out blindly… true that he didn’t know where his end destination would be, but he did have clear direction… “Abraham departed as the Lord had spoken to him…” (Genesis 12:4)

We, like Abraham, should walk by faith… that means according to what God has said! We need to huddle up around The Bible, which gives clear direction to be followed. Faith is not always knowing the destination; it is trusting for the journey… it is a declaration of dependence upon the Lord to lead us away from the temptation… to deliver us…

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

Coach’s version: God I’m in the huddle listening to Your instructions to break life’s press!