Monday, April 18, 2022

April 18, 2022 - Build A Super Team

The modern-day narrative concerning “super teams” is that guys are not loyal and just run to where they know they can win… this especially happens when old-timers are slamming the young studs. The issue, they claim, is that in the old days, players didn’t want to team up with their rivals… they wanted to beat them! 

First let me counter that thought a bit… yes, it is true that players tend to move around more now, in fact even in the college ranks teams are faced with new transfer rules. But that is how they were raised, especially in the travel ball world where the goal is typically to try to put together a “super team.” Yet, if we are being honest, the vast majority of times when a team wins at the pro level, they are a “super team” that was pieced together to be such. Maybe in the “old days” we would see a guy stay as the centerpiece of a team, but typically that same team made trades o0f players and/or draft picks to put the right guys around him… (but for some reason it was ok back then for team owners to trade guys but now it is not ok for players to initiate it???)

But I am not writing about this topic to discuss that issue in particular, but instead the reality that winning typically involves being teamed up with the right people…

I thought about this over the weekend as Pastor Matt Brooks shared the story of when Mary and Mary went to the grave of Jesus… and it found an empty tomb… here is part of the passage:

And behold there was a great earthquake; for an angle of the Lord descended from Heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothes as white as snow. (Matthew 28:2-3)

The story goes on to share that the guards were terrified and “became like dead men,” and the angel told the ladies to not be afraid… then pronouncing that Jesus was risen!

Matt pointed out a truth that I have often shared also, that the resurrected Jesus empowered and emboldened the disciples and early church to turn the world upside down with the Gospel! As Matt pointed out, the apostles were not at all afraid of death, most facing martyrs; deaths, because they “teamed up” with the guy that walked out of a grave!


But Matt also made a point I had not thought of before… he stated that he fully expected to see at least one of the Roman guards in Heaven… after what they had witnessed, surely at least one decided “I’m with Earthquake Angel!” and “turned in his helmet with a feather…”

In honor of Easter can I remind you that you need to be “teamed up” with Jesus for salvation… believing in His finished work (the cross and resurrection) as payment for your sin… and eternal life!

And since many that read this blog have done that, can I remind you of another truth… I don’t care what you think about sports figures getting on “super teams” but I can tell you that you need to be seeking to be a part of one! All of my life I’ve heard preachers warning about being “unequally yoked” (partnering with someone not heading in the same direction as you); but if that is true (and it is since 2 Corinthians 6:14 says “don’t team up with those who are unbelievers” NLT), then the adverse must be true also TEAM UP WITH BELIEVERS THAT ARE “EQUAL”!)

So, if you want to do great things, then find great teammates… build a super team!

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