Hiatus

Hello faithful readers. I'll be on hiatus for an indeterminate amount of time from Blessed Under Trial, as I feel for now I've come to a lack of material with God and Sports. I'll be updating my other blog, http://rebuildingseason.blogspot.com with fresh content which may or may not be related to God and/or Sports, and may still from time to time write a piece here, but for now the weekly updates are on hold. Have a great day!

Idleness and Offseasons

As primarily a baseball fan these days, the offseason can be pretty maddening. On one hand, I'm excited that I have time to look deeper into issues on my mind, like Minor Leaguers, trades, and salaries, but the lack of actual sport tends to lead to me over-analyzing everything. I can become overly critical of others too, since the lack of sport forces me to rely on other people for nourishment, and that always leads to disappointment.

For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living. -- 2nd Thessalonians 3:14

It's easy in times of idleness to fall into such traps; by nature we are self concerned and judgmental. Fortunately God gave us something to help us avoid this: work. Work doesn't necessarily have to be your day job; it can be anything done for a purpose that brings glory to God. If you have 3 months off in the summer because you're a teacher, then volunteering at a day camp could be work. Writing a blog post could be work (at least I tell myself it is.) Processing your way through a commentary on the book of Isaiah could be work.

The point is that idleness isn't of God. We all need rest; God commanded Elijah to go to sleep when the world became too much for him. That said, if you've come to the point that you're well rested enough to realize that the lack of work is affecting you negatively, then you need to get to work. God wants you to work, and through the experience rely on him so he can draw you closer to him. When we're idle, we're not relying on God at all, and we're not doing anything to change it. Remember that in everything we do, God should be glorified, and because of our selfish nature, they don't always come naturally. Strive for God, and you will find yourself doing great things solely on him carrying your works.

Dikembe Mutombo: Big; Nice Guy.

If you ever find a list of all around good guy athletes (especially good guy NBA players) Dikembe Mutombo will almost certainly be near the top of the list. He's well known in particular for his efforts to improve living conditions in The Republic of Congo, where he's originally from, going as far as donating more than 15 million dollars to building a hospital with modern facilities. That doesn't mean he's been without his controversy.

Mutombo has been known particularly for two strikes against him; taunting after blocking a shot, and dangerously flailing his elbows. With regards to the taunting, he would wave his finger in front of a player after blocking a shot, as if he was a parent that just took away a cookie from a mischievous child. It got bad enough that the league started calling a technical foul on him for Unsportsmanlike Conduct when he would do it. As for the arm waving, he's a big guy, and he plays aggressively, which causes him to push people away violently some times. In his own words, he doesn't mean to hurt anyone, but his position demands physical play, and the best he can do is to say Sorry, and move on.

I highlight Mutombo because he's a great example of how one can live their life in the world but still donate the fruits to God. Mutombo isn't a perfect man; he clearly has his faults, but he still makes great strides in giving the fruits of his labor to God. While it's good to try to strive for godliness in the work that you do, if you find joy in something and you're good at it, then you can use it for God. While I don't advocate sinking to obvious sin (don't become a mercenary assassin or anything) there's no reason secular work can't be used for God.

I once heard a speaker in college tell a shy Electrical Engineer, "If you're good at making money, go make money." God can use your pension for making money in extraordinary ways, and he did that with Dikembe Mutombo. He's used his basketball ability to build a hospital in the Congo, and he can use your difficult job to accomplish great things too. This isn't easy though; it requires incredible faith, diligence, and humility to keep relying on God. That said, God believes in you, else he wouldn't have put you where you are. Trust in God and give over the fruits of your labor, and be amazed at what he does with them.

"He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building." -- 1st Corinthians 3: 8-9

Playoffs and Pushing God Away

You've worked for so, so long to get to this point. You put in more practice than your opponents, worked harder, and wanted it more. All those days of twice daily practices and the special diets have paid off; you've made the playoffs. All you have to do is finish this up with your full, undivided effort, and then everything will be great. You'll have so much time to focus on God and you'll be able to get to everything you've been intending to the whole season. You'll finally read that book your parents gave you, catch up on the study you claim to have done already, and you'll pray more often for problems. If I just finish up this little thing here, then I'll give God all the attention he wants.

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit" -- yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." As it is, you boast in your arrogance, All such boasting is evil. So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin. -- James 4:13-17

It's a weird dichotomy when we feel like God has propelled us into a certain situation, but we feel like we need to put him aside to accomplish the goals we've given us. We may feel God has called us to sport, work, or any other activity, but right now it's just too stressful and tough to pray, read the word, or commune with believers. It's fine; I'll just put it off for a little bit, get the work done, and then I'll have plenty of time to focus on God again. What sort of standard does this set for our future?

1. We're falling into a habit of the world now, God later. Everyone has their own personal way of communing with God. Some pray constantly, some fast for wisdom, some study the word for revelations, etc. That doesn't mean that when push comes to shove, it's OK to put God off for a bit. Our love for God should be so powerful that it shouldn't even be a choice, and every time we make that choice against God, we're letting sin take hold.
2. We're pushing God out of our world. In Acts, God says that his people did everything together in the Lord. God gave Adam work to do in order to glorify God. We should be confident that God has given us the work in front of us and we don't need to push him out. God doesn't just want the private time when we can afford it; he wants our lunch breaks, our 3:00 meeting, our family dinners, and our 4th quarters. Don't push God away; allow him to take the reins in the hard times and let him show you and everyone else his plan and power.
3. We're trying to accomplish goals in order to earn time with God. Deep down we feel like we have to get this work done so that we can be guilt and conscious free when we come to God. God does not call the proud, the accomplished, and the strong. God wants you to come to him weak, humble, and empty so that he can fill you with himself. He wants to take care of the hard times, not just the easy ones.

When you get to the playoffs of life, don't push God out. Don't just wait for tomorrow for God; you don't know what's going to happen today. Let God rule today and let him worry about what will happen tomorrow too.

Matt Murton's New Circumstances

Matt Murton has had an interesting year. After struggling through parts of 6 seasons up and down through the minor league system with the Cubs, A's, and Rockies, Murton's contract was sold to the Hanshin Tigers for the 2010 season. All of a sudden this red-haired Gaijin that knew nothing about Japan was headed off to join one of the most popular teams for a country that goes nuts over baseball, and he had no idea what to expect. It's safe to say though that he didn't expect to shatter the single season hits record. Even though the previous holder, Ichiro, did his 210 hits in 130 games, and Murton did his 214 in the newly lengthened season of 144 games, it's fine to say that he enjoyed a great season (even if it wasn't legendary) with a final line of 349/395/499 with 17 HRs. Now he's been using his new platform to talk about God!

Murton was never anything fancy stateside. After a good season in 2006, he had his 2007 shortened with the acquisition of Cliff Floyd, relegating Murton to a 4th outfielder role. He spent 2008 and 2009 up and down without ever receiving regular at-bats in the MLB. By his own admission, Murton struggled to figure out what was going on after 2007. He often prayed to God, wondering if God had other plans for him. It turned out that God did. A Christian since the age of 6 after praying with his mother one day, Murton was sent to a foreign land where he relied on God exclusively to take care of his family, who braved the journey with him. God came through in spades, to say the least, blessing Murton's endeavors in baseball and allowing him a platform to preach the gospel.

Behold, God is my salvation;

I will trust, and will not be afraid;

for the Lord God is my strength and my song,

and he has become my salvation. -- Isaiah 12:2

Often times we may wonder why things aren't going well. We pray for God to humble us and draw us closer to him, then question God as to why he seems to be cursing our efforts in the world. Trusting in God is just that; trust. God wants to use you, and he alone knows what it takes to bring you to a place where you can trust fully in him to follow him. When things go off of our plans, it's not because God has abandoned us, forgotten us, or is actively working against us. Rather, God is working through our circumstances in order to show us the better plans he has in store for us. Matt Murton probably would not have gone to Japan without this sort of strange path, but I don't think he'd argue the notion that he's happy he's there now. God will provide us strength, opportunity, and inspiration to accomplish his plan, and we only need to trust in his power and not work against it.

Christmas

Just a quick post this week as we all head into Christmas; take a moment sometime this week to think about how amazing it truly is that God sent his son in human form to save us. He was born from a woman as we are, and faced all the trials and tribulations we do, and yet still lived to become a perfect sacrifice for us. Sports these days (and society in general) are so focused on how much we can harness our own individual talents in order to better ourselves that we forget the model that we are supposed to follow; one of complete reliance on the Father and amazing selflessness. Jesus lived and died sinlessly in order to save us, and all we have to do is trust in his salvation. That should blow your mind.

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. -- John 1:4-5

Ted Barrett's Humble Strength

Being an umpire is rough. It's impossible to get every call right, and when you don't, everybody hates you. Even the people who respect you hate you. It's easy when taking up that call to put up a similar proud aura; you're running this show, and you demand respect. Ted Barrett, though, handles his business a little differently.

Do not be lead away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace... -- Hebrews 13:9a

As an umpire, Barrett knows he has to have confidence in there or he'll be eaten alive by fans, players, and coaches ready to jump anything close to a mistake. Berating the umpires is one of the great traditions of the game, and any umpire worth his salt knows how to ignore it and run the game the way he wants to. That said, it's possible to do this with humility and quietness. Common wisdom says that the great umpires are "seen, but not heard." They are able to command respect in the game based on their abilities, and keep the game going without making a show of their presence. In umpiring as well as the rest of life, taking direct insults without pushing back is extremely difficult; fortunately we lean on a God who has given an identity which he is responsible for, and he has justified our lives for us.

The vexation of a fool is known at once,

but the prudent ignores an insult. -- Proverbs 12:16

If you let them get under your skin, then they've won that battle. You have shown them that you are placing your worth, your justification, on something which needs your personal involvement to uphold. We don't need to do this. God is perfectly capable of justifying himself. When someone accuses the fatherless, the widow, and the poor, take up their cause. When accusations come from the ungodly, the Lord will defend our cause.

I will bear the indignation of the LORD

because I have sinned against him,

until he pleads my cause

and executes judgment for me.

He will bring me out to the light;

I shall look upon his vindication.

Then my enemy will see,

and shame will cover her who said to me,

"Where is the Lord your God?"

"My eyes will look upon her;

now she will be trampled down

like the mire of the streets. - Micah 7:9-10

God has come out and judged, and Jesus has born the punishment. He vindicates our cause against the baseless accusations of this world. Place your worth in Jesus' salvation and you'll be able to shrug off insults; they're not what you place your ultimate worth in. Be a little bit like Ted Barrett--confident, strong, and humble, but because the Lord has made him that way, not because he has worked for it.

We're talkin' 'bout Practice

As you may have realized by my incessant attempts to put words on a page, I'm the sort of person who enjoys forming arguments. I like to have my thoughts planned out ahead of time so that when the situation comes around to talk about it, I'm ready to do so. I think this stems at least partly from my competitive nature raised in sports. Only the incredibly elite and/or lucky can go into a high profile game unprepared and still excel; the rest of us have to practice in order to hone our skills.

The word "practice" has a nifty double meaning for Christians. In modern athletic terms, it means to drill and prepare beforehand so that our bodies and minds are ready to perform well when we are commanded to do so. In biblical terms, the word "practice" means to actively engage in activities so that they may have a profound impact on our lives. I don't think the two meanings are mutually exclusive in our lives.

Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you, by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. -- 1st Timothy 4:14-16

Practicing God's design is a lifestyle rather than an activity. By continually and diligently rooting out sin in our lives and instead working for God's favor, we facilitate a more godly mindset. People who are able to be humble in the good times are much more prepared to be confident in the bad times; the practice of devotion makes us more wholly devoted people. We still take cues from our Father and he still provides us with the commands to act, the tools to succeed, and the insurance of his fruit, but we can ready ourselves for such times. The practice of living for God inherently begets a more Godly lifestyle, and will allow us to be confident in God's plans when he presents them.

Glen Coffee's New Plans

It's not often you get players that up and leave a good career to follow Christ, but that's what Glen Coffee did. A backup runningback for the 49ers brought on to help Frank Gore out, Coffee was considered a fine NFL football player with a promising future. Back in August though, Coffee elected to quit football altogether because he said he felt like God had been calling him away from the game for a long time.

Go home to your friends and tell them how much the LORD has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you. -- Acts 5:19

Though we may have talents in sports, God does not always work through the things we find fun. Yes, I believe often that God does, but God will use you the way he wants. If he knows you'll do amazing things by going out of your element, then he'll have you do it. If he wants you to do what you have been doing your whole life, he'll make that clear too. The glory of God living in us is that he gives us the power to do everything he wants us to do. God does not delegate tasks and leave us to fulfill them; he empowers us to do them. God works this way so that the world will see him working, loving, living, and breathing in such a way that the events that transpire are wholly divine in nature.

Glen Coffee saw this. He saw that God used football to take him to college, where he would learn about Jesus' death and resurrection. Now that he has come to know God, Glen believes that God is using his life in new, more adventurous. It's almost certainly more difficult to abandon a life of fortune, fame, skill, and worldly prize for one of service, but God wants his people where he wants them. Whatever God's reasons are, we know that they are more amazing than anything we could think of. Continue to pray that God shows you what he wants you to do, and you too may find yourself somehow, by known of your own merit, accomplishing spectacular tasks you never thought you'd embark on.

God's house

Yet the most high does not dwell in houses made by hands, as the prophet says,

Heaven is my throne,

and the earth is my footstool.

What kind of house will you build for me, says the Lord,

or what is the place of my rest?

Did not my hand make all these things? -- Acts 7:48-50

It's a good thing that the Lord doesn't rely on the crafts of my hands, because that house at this point would be shoddy, ugly, and nowhere close to finished. Still, there is work to be done on the earth.

As an athlete takes the field, sometimes they may wonder if this is the work they should be doing. I imagine often that sports are thought of as a distraction from the real goal, and at times we may even hope that God is averting his gaze for a short time while we have a little fun, but it doesn't have to be this way. If we go into sport (as with all daily activities) with the mindset to give it to God, then it can become a joyful, godly activity. How can we do this?

1) Remember that the Lord is above all the earth. The Lord doesn't want to just control the spiritual part of your life; he wants it all. The Lord created us the way we are so that we can be beacons for him in our daily lives. Jesus encourages people many times (Mark 2:11, 5:19) to take the healing given and go into the world and proclaim it. This does mean our purpose has changed; it does not mean our activities need to change. While we should pursue God in everything we do, and some harmful activities need to be plucked out, sports can be done with the idea that we are growing close to other people in order to show them God's love. God is with you in sports just as much as everything else.

2) We can create God's house within sports. If you frequent this blog at all, you may know that this can be done either overtly (Josh Hamilton) or subtly (Brad Ziegler.) There's no reason to think of sports as outside God's realm. We need to remember the community that grows through sports, and we can use that to propel God's word into the kingdom at large. Make sure everyone knows how much of God's glory you take in when you finish a long run, or take the field in the bottom of the ninth, or nail your 5th free throw in a row, and people will eventually notice that you're getting something out of it that they're missing out on, and they'll gravitate toward it.

3) Remember that God made sports and wants them included as a material for his house. God made you the person you are, he made you the witness you've become, and he gave you the activities you enjoy for the purpose of glorifying him. If we think of sports as God's personal ministry he's entrusted to us, then it gives us that sense of purpose we may have been dodging or seeking for a long time.

Manny Pacquiao's Prayer

Pac-Man is pretty much at the height of his game right now. He's still winning fights against much larger opponents, he is appearing on nighttime talk shows, and he is a congressman in his home country of the Philippines. Regardless, Pacquiao still finds time to pray to the Lord, thanking him for all the blessings in his life. As you can see by the picture, he does this with incredible sincerity and quietness despite everything going on around him. Pacquiao's life right now is clearly one of incredible turmoil, chaos, change, and pressure; yet he still finds time to go directly to the Lord in silence.

But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying 'God, be merciful to me, a sinner!' I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. -- Luke 18:13-14

Too often we neglect this time of prayer. It's hard enough for most of us to get prayer in during a public meal; how are we supposed to pray during sports? The fact is that we need heartfelt prayer for everything we do, and sports are no exception. Pacquiao's way of praying shows his incredible gratitude for the Lord, and his humility in being able to express his faith so quietly. Ironically, this quiet display becomes very loud in the public's eye. In a world that is encouraging Pacquiao to revel in his accomplishment and be proud of his amazing athletic prowess, he refuses and goes back to the Lord for guidance. When we go to the Lord for prayer while in public, even when we're scared and confused of what form it should take we can remember this example. Just be thankful for everything the Lord has given you, and faithfully request his guidance henceforth; no grand public displays needed. The Lord will provide everything else you need if you have this attitude.

God's Design: Where We Fit In

A young man asked me recently how one is supposed to deal with insulting situations. He told me that when somebody confronts him and tries to put him down, he feels obligated to defend himself in whatever manner the situation warrants; physically or verbally. As humans most of us boil down to one of two impulses in these situations: fight or flight. As Christians though, and new people in God, we are given a third option; trust.

I think its fair to say that some people involved in sports practice as a way to justify themselves to other people. They want to let their actions speak for themselves so that everyone knows what sort of person they are, and if confronted, they can point out their accomplishments. If somebody called me slow in High School, I could prove them wrong with medals and ribbons, and doing so filled me with an intense, albeit shallow, sense of pride. To borrow a metaphor from a comedian I heard a long time ago, this sort of pride is a lot like Fruit Stripe gum: extremely gratifying for a few seconds, although quickly replaced by boredom and staleness unless constantly refreshed.

You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. -- Ephesians 4:20-24

As Christians, we don't need to justify our identities anymore. We give our lives to God precisely because our actions without him are meaningless, and we desperately desire him to come and save us from ourselves. When we give our lives to God, we recognize the fickleness of our accomplishments, and finally let God define what we are. Since God is defining us, we don't need to prove anything to anyone. When people around us question what it is that's defining us as people, we can simply tell them that Jesus died on the cross for us, loves us eternally, and we live our lives trying to help him in whatever way he wants. We let God's actions speak for us; and we delight in the fact that his actions are infinitely more worthwhile and amazing than anything we could ever do.

God's Design: Ben Zobrist

I'll go ahead and reveal a startling revelation to you all: Not everyone is called to full-time ministry. While everyone is called to give their life to God, not everyone is meant to be a Priest, Pastor, or other such jobs that require extraordinary charisma and articulation. On a related note, Ben Zobrist is not Grant Desme. In addition to being a Major League Baseball player instead of a prospect turned Priest, Ben is a man who felt God's call was for him to pursue baseball.

Coming out of High School, Ben didn't receive any calls from scouts. As the son of a pastor, while a very talented athlete, he had planned to go to college to begin his path as a youth minister. He felt God nudging him a little bit, so he decided to use his leftover birthday money and attend a college scouting camp despite his parents' misgivings. Ben received an offer from a school, but told his parents he would submit to their will if they believed God's call for him was in ministry. His parents asked him what he thought God was telling him, and he told them he felt like God wanted him to play a little more, and his parents let him play having showed such maturity earlier. He took the scholarship, was drafted a few years later, and broke into the MLB soon afterwards.

Unlike Grant Desme, he struggled a little coming through the Minors. Despite the gaudy numbers he put up in 2009, Zobrist was always seen as a super-utility player--A great piece on a winning team, but not a cornerstone to build on. Whereas Desme experienced the thrill of being at the top and felt God tug him away, Zobrist felt the dredge of mediocrity and felt God push him on towards greater success.

Now concerning spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be uninformed...Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same spirit, and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. -- 1st Corinthians, 12:1,4-6

If we see God calling some of us away from our mediocre jobs, and others on to greater glory in our current fields, does this mean God is inconsistent? No. This means God has personal plans for each of us, and we need to leave our hearts open for that plan to take hold of our actual lives. Both Ben and Grant's choices were huge leaps of faith; Zobrist risked angering his family and losing out on valuable schooling to pursue a pipe dream, and Grant gave up a possibly highly lucrative career to pursue a lifetime of service. We need to trust God that he gave us the gifts he wanted us to have, has put us in a place to either use them or prepare to use them, and will move us to where he wants his glory to be seen. Let's just hope that we're smart enough to realize his voice instead of shutting him out in favor of our own machinations.

God's design: Grant Desme

The plans of the heart belong to man,

but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. -- Proverbs 16:1

Grant Desme has more physical talent than most of us could ever dream of. God gave him excellent speed, strength, and willpower to harness it in sports. Grant Desme could go back to baseball today and be ranked among the league's top 100 prospects. For those of you who don't know, Grant Desme is the former As prospect who quit baseball after an amazing 2009 minor league season to join the priesthood.

All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,

but the LORD weighs the spirit. -- Proverbs 16:2

Many people who read about this are simply confounded; why would such an amazing athlete simply walk away to become a priest? Why would anyone want to abandon such fame and money to live a life of subservience? Why can't he stay in baseball and still be a man of God? Why doesn't he try to find a way to use his abilities in conjunction with his faith? The answer for Grant came down to God's design. Grant said, among other things, that he "aspires to higher things." He says he has no regrets, and that having such an amazing season as he did only strengthened his desire to follow God in the priesthood. He felt that the rush of exceeding at such a high level, yet still feeling God tugging him to work elsewhere, finally made him realize that God had other plans for him.

Commit your work to the LORD,

and your plans will be established. -- Proverbs 16:3

What this comes down to for Grant and us is that we have to pray relentlessly and earnestly for God to show us what he wants for us. While it may seem convenient to try and find a way to serve God in baseball, that may not be what God has for us. Only he who has given us life can explain what he wants us to do with it. We weren't saved because we are amazing people who God needs to use; we were saved because we were desperate for God's hand to save us from ourselves. If God is telling you to re-evaluate your life's course and follow him in a drastic manner, then the only answer you can give is "Yes."

The heart of man plans his way,

but the LORD establishes his steps. -- Proverbs 16:9

Team Unity

And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the LORD added to their number day by day those who were being saved. -- Acts 2:44-47

Sports are naturally social events. We train with, are coached by, interact with, and compete against other people at all times. Even the most solitary of athletes has coaches overseeing them and other theoretical athletes putting up records that become goals to reach. The spirit of competition breeds fierce individualism in some, but nearly every athlete has memories of great communities in which they've seen a lot of growth. Just as the Bible commands us to work towards furthering a community, we should work towards building greater community with others involved in their sports.

The above quote comes from Acts, just after Jesus ascended into heaven and commisioned the disciples to spread the gospel. Jesus had trained them for this, and sent them out in pairs to learn how to do this (Mark 6:7) The Lord encourages us to participate in community, for he knows that others can compensate for our weaknesses and embolden our spirits in the difficult times. We can apply this mentality to sports. God has placed us in the lives of our team members to strengthen them, help them, and compliment them (and they for us.)

If you're on a team, get to know the other members of the team. Learn what drives them, entertains them, and helps them so that you can establish commonalities and a relationship with them. Through teamwork not only can we accomplish our athletic goals, but we can accomplish our spiritual goals. The above passage tells us that the members of the Church had all things in common--not just a love for Jesus, Baseball, or whatever. The more we establish community with people that enjoy the same things as we do and find delight in the same earthly activities as well, the more we can find tangible ways to evangelize in the world.

Start today. Find someone whom you work with, practice with, compete with, and try to find something new about them which you can relate to. Reach out to them and try to figure out a way to grow in your friendship with them through that activity, and then pray for God to guide you through this time as you grow in community. Most of all, pray that God can use the time for his glory, and that you can eventually show your faith to your friend. For when people meet in community and are passionate for the Lord, then their numbers multiply by the grace of God, and we can happily begin the same process anew.

Dwight Howard's Plan

Its not always an easy thing to try to use the situations one is in to exalt the name of God. Sometimes we feel like we're just random people who happen to be playing sports, and that we don't really have a proper medium for any sort of life-changing evangelism. We can look at Dwight Howard for inspiration in these times. Howard came into the league with a set plan, picks his battles, and uses action to prove the reality of God's love in his life.

Dwight Howard was, like most professional athletes, gifted from youth with sporting prowess. Both of his parents were/are athletes, and he was sent to schools his entire life which allowed him to harness his gifts in a competitive environment. When he was drafted in 2004, he famously proclaimed that he wanted to use his status as an NBA athlete to "raise the name of God within the league and throughout the world." Howard has a plan here; he'll use his status to try and be an influence on the inner circle in which he takes a part, and spreads that influence to those looking on as well.

Isn't this an apt looking glass through which we may view our own mission? We can translate Howard's mission to ourselves: Use the position God has put us in to influence those around us, and live a godly life for those looking onwards in curiosity. Howard isn't the most in your face Christian ever either. He does have moments in which he boldly proclaims the gospel (slamming Phillippians 4:13 on the backboard during the Dunk Contest comes to mind) but for the most part he goes about his life confidently and with quiet action. He was nominated in 2009 for the Jefferson Award for Charitable Athletes. His blog gushes about how much Haiti needs help, and he's done his part. Furthermore, he still finds time to help out with the youth programs at his home church.

We don't need to have amazing skills or influence to serve God. We need to follow God where he leads us and do our best to help those around us know God better. The opportunities may come infrequently and perhaps at inopportune times, but if we are confident in God's plan, then he will reward us with great chance for ministry.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. -- Philippians 4:13

The Value of a Good Teacher

Think about the athlete you like the least. If the person is anything like mine, the person is arrogant, self-centered and egotistical. The person isn't grounded and assumes that their talent and skill can carry them regardless of whatever competition may come. I think it goes without saying that, in a vacuum, we don't want to be arrogant, but in sports we can forget that at times. Some teachers may teach us to be ruthless, fearless, and even careless at times. Often the winner's mentality is based on the assumption that you are the best and there is no room for doubt. When someone grows up with this mentality its easy to see why they may crash and burn when they fall. This mentality needs to be remedied early on with the choice of a solid mentor.

Unless you truly are the greatest athlete ever, there's slim to nil chance you're going to get anywhere without the guidance of those who know better than you. These people can help you hone your craft and allow you to learn from experience. Whether its a coach, a supervisor, an advisor, or a parent, these people can profoundly shape your world view in addition to your athletic ability. As responsible people, we need to examine our teachers with a broad spyglass so that we can ensure that when we allow ourselves to be molded that we come out as better people. I've definitely seen coaches who are respected for their knowledge but I couldn't dream of working under because their goals simply don't align with mine. If you allow yourself to be changed by the wrong mentor, you may end up similarly to the person we thought of earlier. This mentality doesn't stop with sports. In our spiritual lives there's no sense in attempting to live and learn by ourselves--we need accountability, coaching, and help from those who know better than us. That said, coaching does nothing if we're not ready to be molded, and we need to be sure that our coaches will lead us where it is we want to go.

And Jesus said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men." -- Mark 1:17

Jesus called his men with direction, purpose, and confidence. These men made a choice to follow Jesus based on these actions. When we go through our spiritual and athletic endeavors we need to be confident in our teachers designs so that when we take a leap of faith we can land in the right place. The disciples were never perfect--they often quarreled amongst themselves, questioned their master's abilities, and avoided work when it was difficult, but they had chosen a master who had also made a promise to them. As long as they would follow Jesus, Jesus would continue to work them in his amazing fashions. Discipleship isn't always a process of perfection; we have teachers because we recognize our need to improve.

The right teacher is right because they have the qualities we're willing to sacrifice ourselves in order to gain. Do not choose a teacher because you want to improve yourself; choose a teacher because you need to change what you're doing wrong. Jesus has a teacher in mind for you so that he can work to fix that which you've clung to in vain. Discipleship is a two way street to be sure; teachers choose us because they see potential in us. That said, the choice to follow is on us. Pray, search, and be intelligent in your choice so that you can be pleased with where you end up.

The Activism of Kaká

American fans may not know too much about Kaká--I sure didn't. My friend George tipped me off about him, and I've been engrossed ever since. Kaká is a midfielder for Real Madrid, the cover athlete for the popular video game FIFA 11, and a former member of Time's 100 Most Influential People. The picture you see on the left is him after Brazil won the World Cup in 2002, and Kaká is known for such displays after other championship victories.

Kaká was born in Brazil to a reasonably well off family that allowed him to pursue soccer without too much distraction. As a child he was set apart early for his skill and talent. For most of his early years he focused on soccer, but he had a devastating injury when he was 18. Much like other great Christian athletes (see: Barton, Daric; Patrick, Andy), he dove into a pool and didn't quite find the deep end. He found out later he had broken a vertebra, was temporarily paralyzed in parts of his body, and wasn't sure he'd ever be able to play soccer again. Fortunately, as Kaká puts it, "the doctors said I was lucky; I am certain that it was God's will." Kaká recovered, and pursued his career with a newfound zeal for showing God how much he appreciated his healing hand.

Among other amazing things in his career, he was named an ambassador of the United Nations World Food Programme, and was the youngest person ever to be named as since its inception in 1960. Despite his status as a successful athlete, Kaka remained a virgin until he was married in 2005. He has claimed that when he was young, he “learnt that it is faith that decides whether something will happen or not." We can learn from Kaká that prayer is not simply another drop in the bucket of hope; rather it is a guarantee from God that he will take care of the situation in his glorious and magnificent plan.

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. -- 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

We should all be so blessed as to live our lives with Kaká's faith; attributing all success and glory to God, praying nonstop for everything in our lives, and rejoicing in every time God blesses our endeavors and answers our prayers.

The time for God

Often times people feel like they need to take time out to focus on God. Most Christians feel guilty at times and feel like they've been focusing so much on their daily lives that they need to separate time out of their busy schedules and focus on God. Many very strong Christians may encourage you to do this, and I wouldn't argue against any time one takes to focus on God, but perhaps the problem here is perspective.

Let's look at the example of the competing athlete. She's in the stretch run, trying hard to make the playoffs, and it seems like every waking hour she spends is devoted to finding whatever edge it takes to get to the postseason goal. When she gets home at the end of the day, opening the Bible and reading is so hard that she finds herself looking at the words but not comprehending them due to exhaustion. She resolves to take 15 minutes at the beginning of the day to read her Bible, and focus on God. This works for a while, but after a while it becomes 12 minutes before she rushes out the door. Then 10 minutes over breakfast. Then 5 minutes while brushing her teeth. Then every other day she fits it in. It's obvious every day that it's just a chore she puts herself through, but she feels justified by the routine, and so she sticks with it.

If you're anything like the above gal, then maybe you need to focus on living out God in a broad scale. Your prayers should be focused on God giving you direction, mission, and clarity. If your goals in life that you work towards are for the benefit of God, then you won't have the need to set aside time for God simply out of necessity. By all means, continue waking up in the morning and reading, praying before sleep, and praying before every meal, but don't let that be your daily God fix. Live God in your actions, job, work, competitions, practices, and relationships and he'll give you all the fulfillment you'll need.

for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. -- Philippians 2:13

Let's face it--we stink. Trying to schedule God into our lives is backwards and mostly ineffective. God didn't save us in order to have the portion of our lives that it's convenient to allow him. God saved us so that he could use our whole lives for him, and so that we can delight and rejoice in his plans for us.

Dan O'Dowd and the Rockies' Mission

An article was published a few years ago about the tight bond between the Rockies, and the high concentration of Christians on the team. Lead by general Manager Dan O'Dowd, the Rockies organization sought to put a higher emphasis on player development and team chemistry built through finding and acquiring players of high moral character. O'Dowd acknowledges the high ratio of Christians compared to non other teams, but he asserts that he simply tries to find men of good ability and good moral character. No player was ever questioned about their faith, and the players attest to an accepting atmosphere regardless of religion.

We can take a good lesson here. Everybody in baseball knows that the Rockies tend to have a lot of Christians--the players attending Chapel, the general manager, former manager Clint Hurdle, and even the chairman of the team claim faith in God. This doesn't stop them from trying their best to remain accessible to the places they were called and live as examples to those around them. When I heard Heath Bell speak at Giants Fellowship day some months ago, he spoke of how when things turned sour in his life, he was embraced by the Christian guys on the Padres and how he felt the love of God through those men. We can only try to live like such men; where our faith in Christ guides us with such a strong moral compass that when it comes that people need a rock to lean on, they find Christ using us to help them out.

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. -- Colossians 3:12-14