A Special Moment.....A Great Example

Last night our high school girls' basketball team played in their first game of the Regional Tournament.  We played Ryan (OK).  The Ryan girls set a great example....probably a tradition they've had for the whole season, if not for years.

As the two teams gathered in a circle right before the game, one of the girls prayed for the teams and the game.  The words were not clear to us in the stands, but the message to each of us was certainly clear!

Thank you, Ryan Cowgirls, for the example you are setting for others!  May we have the courage to use our lives in a way that sets an example to others, as well.  To God be the glory in all that we do and in all that we say!

Trust in the LORD with all your heart    

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge him, 

and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6

There's No "I" in TEAM, But There is "U" in CHURCH

One of the best things to see when it comes to team sports, is when individual players learn and decide to play as a team, instead of trying to do things all on their own.  Sometimes it happens naturally.  Sometimes it must be stressed by a coach.  Sometimes it comes quickly.  Sometimes it takes months or even years.

Teammates who learn to work together as a team have much, much greater success in their respective sports' seasons.  They also may find that their records become greater in the win column as they begin to work together to achieve a common.  Success comes from working together.  That's a fact.

Each individual player is important in a team, of course, but there is no way that one individual can do everything on their own.  They must have teammates to help them accomplish their goals as individuals and also as a team.  There is no other way to accomplish those goals, than by working together to accomplish the task.  No other way.

The team also needs a coach.  Someone has to be in charge.   There has to be someone to make the plays, call the plays, and someone who can guide/teach when needed. They coach must also encourage and inspire his or her players.  A coach without encouragement won't get a lot out of his/her players.

Now let's look at this whole "team" thing in a spiritual sense.  All of us, both Christians and non-Christians are going to be judged individually by God on judgement day.  Our parent's faith will not be a ticket into heaven.  Our spouses faith will not be your ticket into heaven.  Our friends' faith won't. Our children's faith won't.  No one elses faith but YOUR own and MY own will matter on that day.

There is a common misconception throughout the world today that the church is not important to God.  Sadly, many in the world, and even many who claim to be Christians, believe that the church is not important to God.  They want to take "U" (YOU) out of church and say it doesn't matter.  If that is so, why would God have sent His Son on the cross for His church???

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27

The problem is not the church.  Not at all.  People are rejecting organized religion because people have gotten in the way of the relationship Christians are supposed to have with their Lord and Savior!  The problem is that men and women have taken their thoughts and ideas of what they believe the church should be and turned it (in many cases) into something that doesn't resemble the church of the New Testament at all.  That is the church Jesus died for.  He didn't die for a man-made religion!  Christ died for His church, and when God's people turn away from His church and make some sort of man-made religion, then God's will is certainly not being done. 

So, just what did the New Testament church look like?  What did that first "team" look like over 2,000 years ago?? Well, first of all, if you read all of the book of Acts in the New Testament part of the Holy Bible, you will see that the word church is never talking about the building.  It is always the people.  A group of people.  The believers.  The followers.  There wasn't just one single person.  It was PEOPLE.  The church is plural every time it is used in the Bible.

And, those people...the church...work together to be the body of Christ.  Each person within the body is important, just as each player on a team is important.  Without the "U" in church, something is missing:  CH_RCH.  See!!??

The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.

1 Corinthians 12:12-14

Jesus is the head of the church.  He's the coach of a team!  And, He wants U on His team.  What do you say?  Are you ready to suit up?  Are you ready to be a part of the team?

And he is the head of the body, the church....

Colossians 1:18

There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. Ephesians 4:4-6

It Takes Teamwork

I've read this story twice recently, in a little inspirational booklet that came in the mail.  I'm not sure of the author, but wanted to share it with you. It's such as great story about teamwork!

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A man was lost while driving through the country. As he tried to reach for the map, he accidentally drove off the road into a ditch. Though he wasn’t injured, his car was stuck deep into the mud. So the man walked to a nearby farm to ask for help.

“Warwick can get you out of that ditch,” said the farmer, pointing to an old mule standing in a field. The man looked at the decrepit old mule and looked at the farmer who just stood there repeating, “Yep, old Warwick can do the job.” the man figured he had nothing to lose. The two men and the mule made their way back to the ditch. The farmer hitched the mule to the car. With a snap of the reins, he shouted, “Pull, Fred! Pull, Jack! Pull, Ted! Pull Warwick!” And the mule pulled that car right out of the ditch.

The man was amazed. He thanked the farmer, patted the mule, and asked, “Why did you call all of those names before you called Warwick?” The farmer grinned and said, “Old Warwick is just about blind. As long as he believes he’s part of a team, he doesn’t mind pulling.”

Think of those people with whom you are most effective. I mean the people that, when you work together, you accomplish more than you would have if both of you had worked alone. Take some time to tell us about them, and, most importantly, take some time to thank them for what they help you do in life.
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It really does take teamwork!