Mary, Martha, and Basketball

I love sports! Ok, there's an understatement. I really, really love sports! I love the thrill of competition. I love the nervous anxiety before the game. I love the constant ebb and flow of the game. In the past, I loved playing the game, now I love coaching the game.

God reminded me this weekend of something that he taught me through sports...how to concentrate when someone is trying to distract you. I remember playing football in a stadium that held 20,000 people or so. I remember Mesquite vs. North Mesquite games when the stadium would be full with screaming fans. I noticed the crowd when I was on the sidelines. But a remarkable thing happened when I entered the game. I became so focused that I didn't hear the crowd noise. That is why it makes me laugh when I watch basketball games with crowds of people waving things behind the basket to distract the freethrow shooter. NEWSFLASH: They don't see it! Never have I heard a player interviewed after the game and say, "I would've made those freethrows if it weren't for all of those people waving those pool noodles and noise makers behind the basket." The reason it has no effect is because of FOCUS.

Luke 10:38-42 and the story of Mary and Martha is a great example of focus, or lack of it. Mary and Martha have Jesus, yes that Jesus, at their home. Mary was "focused" on Jesus. Verse 39 says that she "was listening to the Lord's word, seated at His feet." Notice what verse 40 says about Mary's sister Martha. It says, "...Martha was distracted with all her preparations." Mary was focused. Martha was distracted.

Recently, I attended a youth basketball tournament. You learn a lot about people by watching youth sports. When one of the games was over, I realized that Martha was parenting some of the players. Some of the parents were distracted by the fact that the team did not win the game. They were distacted by the referees that didn't call a fair game (although I thought they called a fair game). They were distracted by how stupid the coach was(although I didn't think he was that bad). NEWSFLASH: Sometimes, Goliath wins!

My point is that they were so distracted by the coach's terrible coaching and the referees bad calls that they missed the joy of seeing their daughter's face light up as her name was called out by the announcer during pregame introductions. They missed seeing the smile on the girls' faces and the cheers from the sidelines when one of the smallest girls on the team rebounded the ball in the midst of girls more than twice her size. They should have left the tournament with joy, being FOCUSED on the gift God gave them of being able to watch their daughter compete in a game that she loves playing. Instead, they were distracted...and they missed God's blessing. Other parents saw the same games and yet focused on the positive things that happened.

Friends, please understand the fact that there are always things out there to distact us. The past few weeks, Satan has tried to attack me with things like Doctor bills we thought insurance had paid, taxes that had to be paid, school payments that are coming due, and other things. But in the midst of all of this God reminded me to focus. Focus on the fact that I had a hand in 9 kids being led to Jesus recently. Focus on the fact that God has given me a wonderful son who loves his daddy, a beautiful daughter who is excited about going to the Baptism Service at the church because her friend, that she at the age of 8 recently led to the Lord, was being baptized...and a wonderful wife who got to sing and preach (teach) during two services at another church yesterday.

And oh by the way...the young girl that my daughter led to Christ, I got to baptize her last night. And she is the sister of one of the basketball players on the team that I coached last year, who I also got to baptize. Did I mention how much I love coaching?

Friends, may we not be distracted! May we stay focused on Jesus!

And if you ever go to a sporting event, be a Mary and not a Martha.

A MESSAGE FOR CHRISTIANS

Chris Horton is wondering when Christians are going to take a stand that the Bible is God's Word, the truth in it is truth, and that Jesus is THE way. If that makes us intolerant so be it! While it may be true that we are NOT a Christian Nation, we should be.

This was my post on Facebook yesterday. I was out of the office but will use this blog to clarify my point. Feel free to comment.

First let me begin by giving you two presuppositions that guide my viewpoint: #1 The Bible is God's Word and #2 Jesus is THE ONLY way to heaven, and therefore anyone who accepts Him as Lord and Savior is what I consider a "Christian".

First, while it is of concern to me that false religions run other countries, it is irrelevant to this discussion. Second, for the purpose of this discussion, I am not concerned with politicians who have not accepted Christ. I expect lost people to act, think, and even govern in a way that is different from Christians. To put it another way, and thus make my point, I expect Christian leaders to govern and make decisions differently than non-Christian ones, and sadly many are not doing so.

We need politicians, including President Obama, who is a Christian, to make decisions based on what the Bible says... not his opinion, not focus groups, not political advisers...but the Holy Writ of God!

For the lost to make decisions and govern contrary to the Word of God is expected. For Christian leaders to do the same is inexcusable.

But there is hope. "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, pray, and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). Verse 19-20 continues, "However, if you turn away and abandon My statutes and My commands that I have set before you and if you go and serve other gods and worship them, then I will uproot Israel from the soil that I gave them, and this temple that I have sanctified for My name I will banish from My presence; I will make it and object of scorn and ridicule among all the peoples."

Friends, we have put our trust in horses and chariots (military might) and been attacked with our own planes. We have trusted in our wealth and are currently reaping the consequences of that.

It is time that the people of God speak and live as the people of God are called to live, making no apology for our belief in Jesus Christ and in the Word of God, allowing the Word of God and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our thoughts and our actions. It is time that we return to Him so that He will return to us as a nation. I pray that that starts with you and I, and includes our President and government leaders. Then we will truly be "ONE NATION UNDER GOD."