I love this time of year getting to watch exciting basketball games… games where it is “win move on… lose go home!” From the underdogs surprising people to the powerhouses that get hot and put on incredible displays of skill and teamwork… it makes March Madness, in my opinion, the greatest of sports entertainment.
And it also is typically the time of year for InBounds Ministries to have our March MADness, trying to squeeze in as many ministry engagements as possible, while also making folks aware of the needs of the ministry. (To give an example of the MADness, I have been behind the wheel for over 8000 miles over the past 5 weeks…)
As I watch close games it is intriguing to watch the strategies that take place as the clock is winding down… On offense does the team that is behind start jacking 3-pointers to attempt to make up the difference more quickly, or do they drive to the hole to chip away with 2’s? And that is often dictated by the team’s personnel… it is hard to utilize the 3-point line if the team doesn’t have good shooters! But in spite of the type of shooters, the clock plays a role as well. If you are down and the clock is about to hit “zeroes” then the shot must fly from wherever is possible… and man do people go crazy when a desperation heave goes in!
And sometimes “clock management” decisions are made that baffle me… I was watching one game this weekend where the team was behind by 6 points (2 possessions) with less than 10 seconds to go and the guy with the ball drove to the basket for a layup… sure he got 2 points but, in the process, still left them needing 2 possessions to score enough points. That young man lacked the understanding of the urgency and the importance of each possession.
I don’t typically use these weekly devotions as a fundraiser for our ministry, nor do I intend this one to be solely for that purpose; yet I do hope it serves in that regard. We (InBounds), like many ministries, have felt the effects of the past couple of years in a great way on our funding. We have stayed the course and maintain on a fastbreak to get the Gospel and the teaching of God’s Playbook to as many people as possible! And amazingly God has continued to see us through via the use of our teammates! Now we face the upcoming spring and summer schedule which is slammed with opportunities… and to be honest, when it comes to the financial side of things, we are behind on the scoreboard. I wouldn’t necessarily say we are needing a desperation heave, but it could get there very easily… and I am for sure open to chipping away at the scoreboard with 1’s and 2’s, or making up the difference more quickly with the 3’s…
Seriously speaking on behalf of our ministry and many others: evaluate each situation… by that I mean determine if you should be taking a shot at all… should it be a lay-up or a three… is there a desperation need? As I have been teaching this month, I have been encouraging folks to “Give on Purpose!” in the time, talents, treasures, etc. And as I have told each audience I have stood before, I cannot tell people where they should give, but I can tell people that God has called us to be givers!
When Jesus talked about “clock management” with the Gospel, He said it this way:
John 4:35 “Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest?’ Behold I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are ripe unto harvest!”
My twisted translation: Don’t say there is plenty of time
left on the clock! Look up, you need to take the shot now!
Again, I truly cannot tell you that you should give to
InBounds… but I do ask you to pray about if God is asking you to take a shot
for us… and I will ask you to pray for us as we are trying to raise an
additional $25000 for the year, beyond what we are bringing in monthly. I will
be sharing a detailed list of needs soon, but in short this is to cover not
only our set expenses but also helping us cover a brand new summer apprenticeship
program we are starting (i.e. food needs… furnishings for our lodging areas…
etc.)
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