March 29, 2021 - Touch The Paint

The modern game of basketball is quite different than it was when I played… with the introduction of the 3-point line, the game has progressively moved outward… often with teams playing a “5-out” offense, which simply means no one is starting out posted in the lane. (For those that are not basketball-minded, the “lane” [also often referred to as “the paint”] is the free throw area that has traditionally been the place where most of the action was taking place… where bodies collide… because that is the area closest to the goal.)

The philosophy that was very common, was that even if you had good shooters, the ball should work from inside out… should “touch the paint” to make the defense have to honor the threat inside by dropping down; this in turn would free up the outside guys for better looks.

I heard that phrase again while watching a game recently, and I must admit, I am still a bit old-fashioned in that I like for the ball to find its way in closer to the goal. I want players to put a body on somebody. I realize there are guys like Steph or Dame that are a threat to shoot it as soon as they cross half court; but the percentages don’t lie, for the vast majority, shooting closer yields a higher success rate… and it does force the defense to shift and engage differently, creating a clearer look for the shooters.

Anyway, now that I have gone on a rant about style of play, let me tell you why the phrase “touch the paint” jumped out at me… I believe the church has fostered a 5-out mentality of ministry and relied on a few “players”, like Steph or Dame, to jack up long range shots at the goal. Yet, there are few of those “players” out there, and our “offense” becomes stagnant, just “passing the ball” around to each other and not engaging the other “team”! Unlike modern teams that use the “5-out” to take long shots… we tend to make it more like the old “4-Corners” stalling offenses… just hoping the other team will come out to engage us on Sundays.

I believe we are called to lives that actively engage others with the Gospel! We are commissioned to “touch the paint” in people’s lives. “Offensively” I like for us to get as close to “the goal” as possible… “Defensively” I like to make sure we “put a body” on folks to slow down their agenda…

These things can only be done if we ACTIVELY ENGAGE... It is Easter week and a great time to invite people to church (it is “Super Bowl Sunday” as far as church attendance goes) and that is a great start… BUT also start looking for ways to “touch the paint” in people’s lives… Let’s GO MAD (Make A Difference) by serving and sharing!

The Great Commission is intended to be the marching orders for how we conduct our every day living… The idea of “go” really carries a concept of “as you are going.” WE SHOULD ALWAYS BE LOOKING FOR WAYS TO SCORE!

“Touch the Paint” in someone’s life today!

March 22, 2021 - Find Somebody! (Intentionality and Intensity)

I have used this devo’s concept before in my weekly ponderings, but it is what is at the forefront of my thoughts tonight as I work on this week’s “game plan”… 

As we approach Easter Sunday in a couple weeks, I have been reminded over and over that Easter is a big day for churches… The unchurched are way more apt to attend on Easter than any other Sunday of the year… (most estimates are that churches will see from 50% to 100% increase in attendance on Easter.)

So, this week’s challenge (and into next week) is to “Find somebody!”

When it becomes crunch time in a basketball game you will often hear a coach scream this… he means for each player to find an opposing player to “cover.” There is intentionality and intensity…

Find somebody… to cover in prayer…

Find somebody… to serve…

Find somebody… to invite to Easter services…

Find somebody… to personally share the Gospel with… (it is not just the pastors that are supposed to take those shots…)

If you took a sales job, you would be encouraged to make a target list of who you could share with; what if you made a target list of friends, family, co-workers, schoolmates, etc?

And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” Mark 16:15

Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore, pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.” Matthew 9:37-38

FIND SOMEBODY!

March 15, 2021 - When In Doubt, Fill Out... AND FIND OUT!!!

A phrase I have used often in coaching is “when in doubt, fill out!” 

The phrase is in reference to basketball players ending up clogging up the lane when they don’t understand their roles or their “lanes” - therefore they all run to the middle and hinder the progression of the play... and the opportunity to score!

But the concept is not intended to have the player go outside of the lane and just stand there as a spectator... the goal is to “fill out” in order to find someone to set a screen for... or to find an open lane to cut looking to get a pass... or simply to pull extra defenders away from the ball because they have to worry about the player that filled out...

If the player in doubt fills out to a place of inactivity, he has lost focus of his responsibilities to help the team reach its goal!

Far too often I find that believers are unsure of their roles - the lanes they should be in... this often results in “filling out” and becoming just spectators. They are on the team and will sit on the bench/pews but fail to get in the game!

Believers, it is imperative that we work as a team!

We should each be finding our spiritual gifts and using them... (“Shooters shoot!”)

And when the “ball is not in our hands” we should be actively looking to free up our teammates (i.e. through prayer and financial support) AND actively searching for an “open lane to receive a pass and score...”

“For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, you are God’s building. According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.”

I Corinthians 3:9-15 NKJV

I love that the passage tells us we are “God’s fellow workers”! And we are warned that we should “each one take heed how he builds on it.”

We are not called to inactivity! So, I will add to my usual “when in doubt, fill out...”, with this... “and find out!” Find ways you can help the team reach its goal!!!

March 8, 2021 - The Game Plan Requires Teamwork!

As I sat Sunday morning listening to the sermon at church, I must confess that my notetaking wasn’t lending itself to it usual athletic theme… (after doing these devos for 1000 consecutive weeks, my mind typically jumps straight to a sports analogy!) This time it went to a music-theme… which later gave way to the sports thoughts… 

The message was about dealing with conflict… looking for a Biblical approach to handling opposing views or  expectations. The verse that got the wheel turning in my head was 1 Peter 3:8:

To sum up, all of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit… (NASB)

The job of a coaching staff… or a CEO / management team… is to orchestrate a game plan or business plan. It is to determine the goal… the desired outcome… the mission statement. And it is the job of not only those in charge, but also all the team to play within that game plan.

As a coach, I was always open to having input from my assistant coaches or even my players, and has to evaluate them based upon if I thought those ideas were within the goals of the team, or just born out of a selfish player’s desire for stats…

Let’s break down a few words from the verse…

Harmonious: To be in harmony has the idea of being of one mind… having the same game plan, even if you have different thoughts or roles. When two sides are not in harmony, in conflict, it is usually because one or both is “out of tune” and need adjusted back to the goal. (ie The desire to be right or seek selfish gain becomes more important than the game plan.) When “in tune” one, or both, are going to be willing to adjust… it’s called teamwork… which leads to the next words…

Sympathetic: has the idea of being concerned with the other’s needs… how can you help your teammate fulfill his/her role? When listening attentively to one another we create a beautiful symphony… it’s called teamwork…

Botherly / Kindhearted: the other person matters… it’s called teamwork…

Humble: simply put, it is not about you and your stats! It is about the game plan… the goal… the mission… it’s called teamwork!

If we take the time to truly care about the other’s needs, even when we have differing opinions we can get back to the game plan… and even when we have differing opinions, we will not be offensive…

Conflict does not have to be combative! Always look to the goals and consider the other as more important than self (Philippians 2:3)!

And ultimately remember to let God and His Game Plan (The Word) be the Coach/Conductor… that will bring harmony to the symphony (or harmonious sympathy.)

The Game Plan requires teamwork!

March 1, 2021 - That's How I Roll!

As I write this devotion, it is the 1000^th consecutive weekly internet devotion we have put online (the first being the first Monday of 2002)! The internet has afforded us incredible opportunities to share God’s Playbook (The Word) and His message of the Substitute (Savior) He sent into the game of life for us! During that first year I was given an opportunity to write the text for a Gospel tract being shared at the World Cup soccer tournament that was being held that year in Korea/Japan… later I was privileged to correspond/collaborate with a missionary that utilizes basketball in Ireland… we’ve developed a partnership with an outreach in the Dominican Republic… and I could go on and on; not to mention the awesome opportunities stateside to encourage and equip others to play the game of life in a way that glorifies God!

There are times I want to quit… times when I wonder if I am doing any good… times I was maybe overseas and had to figure out a way to get something posted… times I’m simply tired… even a week that I was laid up in a hospital bed and had to have a “sub” write for me that week…

And now being at the 1000-mark, I am going to use this week to tell you why I keep going…

As I thought about what things are the mark of a good athlete, I wrote down commitment… perseverance… hard work. I thought about the strongest man I know (Brian Creel of AthElite Nation) who has stayed consistent with his workouts since he was in 7^th grade (he’s now in his 40’s.) He doesn’t skip workouts because he is “having a bad day”… he doesn’t try to find shortcuts to getting stronger (is a CLEAN athlete)… he trusts the process… etc.

I think about what “could have been” if I were that committed to any of my sports endeavors? I think about a devotion I wrote on here many years ago about wanting God to see me “play my best.”

And bottom line is this… I do what I do simply because “that’s how I roll!”

Psalm 37 is a great challenge of what someone committed should look like… for time sake, I’ll jump straight to the key verse…

verse 5: COMMIT your WAY to the Lord, TRUST also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass.

WAY: means your course of life… your character… the road you are traveling

TRUST: to be confident in, to the point you don’t need to supplement it with something else

COMMIT: I know this is a commonly used descriptor of athletes, or anyone that is finding success; yet as I researched the Hebrew word used in this verse (Galal) and was blown away by its definition… it literally means to roll or to roll together…

The Psalmist is challenging us to TRUST God’s WAY for the road we are traveling… to “roll with God!”

So, if you want to know why I’ve done this for 1000 consecutive weeks, “That’s how I roll!”