Saturday, October 20, 2012

James Naismith, Basketball, and God

I've been reading many good books lately, but one of my favorites so far has been, "The Good Life" by Trip Lee.  It has spoken to me in a real way and I'm really excited to see the impact it has on culture. 

Since basketball season is just beginning, I wanted to share a snipet of Trip's book where he talks about James Naismith, the creator of the game of basketball.  Many people struggle with the reality of who God is as creator, but I thought it was interesting how Trip used this illustration of James Naismith to paint a picture for us.  I know in my life, I sometimes try to figure things out on my own and I think that I am in control.  Instead of having the mindset that my success, and the blessings I receive are God's and were created by Him, I often take the credit, lacking humility.  The following is a section taken from "The Good Life."

"For one, He is God.  That statement in itself says more about Him than anything else could.  He is the all-powerful Creator, Sustainer, and Owner of all things, including you and me.  All of the universe belongs to Him.  And the fact that He made every inch of creation makes Him the authority on how it should operate.

In 1891 James Naismith was asked to create an indoor game for the students at a unviersity.  He racked his brain and came up with a new, unique game he called "basket ball."  He grabbed a soccer ball, hung up two peach basketbs, and posted thirteen rules on the wall for the young men to see.  They were ready to play their first game.

Now can you imagine one of the students arguing with him about what the rules were?  It would be arrogant and downright silly.  How could they tell Mr. Naismith how to play the game he created?  Similarly, God is our creator, He has given us life, and He knows how it's supposed to work.  How arrogant of us to think for a moment that we know better.

I imagine that if the students were left to themselves to figure out the game, they would have come up with a much less glorious version - throwing the ball at one another and pulling the peach baskets down.  Left to our sinful imaginations, human beings will not come up with the right way to live.  We'll spend our energies chasing fantasies and masquerades, blinded to the true realities of life.  God's way is not only right, it's better.  Using your life for hedonism is like using a Ferrari for target practice.  Not only do you rob that life of its higher calling, but you destroy it in the process.  God the Father knows best.

In addition to that, God's identity gives Him ownership over His creation.  Psalm 24 says, "The Earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it; for he founded it on the seas and established it on the waters" (NIV).  That includes us.

Most of us live under the illusion that our lives belong to us, and us alone.  But the truth is, you belong to your Creator.  He made us, therefore we're His.  It's that simple.  That doesn't mean we're just objects, lacking any kind of freedom.  But it does mean that rejecting God's leadership is robbing Him of something that is rightfully His.

Not to mention, He is the highest authority.  There is no one He has to answer to.  He did not have to be elected and He cannot be impeached.  His judgements cannot be appealed and His decrees don't have to be approved by any council.  He will never lose power and His term will never come to an end.  He is God!

You can purchase Trip Lee's new book, "The Good Life" by clicking here.

Follow Trip Lee on Twitter @TripLee116
Follow Coach Wingreen on Twitter @CoachWingreen

Monday, October 8, 2012

Broken-Down House (Chapters 1-2)

It has been a very long time since I have been on here writing!  Our basketball team at BJU is going to be using the book, "Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad" by Paul Tripp for our discipleship series this season.  I am extremely excited to begin going through this book with our players and I am praying hard that our staff and players will grow in a mighty way!

Personally, I began reading the book tonight by studying chapters 1 & 2.  I want to dig deep into the thoughts of this book, so in order to help me with that process, I am going to post what I learned, here!  I hope throughout this season, you will be encouraged by the work that God is doing in my heart and in the lives of our players.

The imagery of a broken-down house is used by Paul Tripp to describe the fallen nature of our modern day world.  I was challenged to acknowledge my chosen state, to be a tool in God's restoring hand.  So often we want to "demolish" the world around us with complaints and bad attitudes.  2 Timothy 2:20-21 calls us to do just the opposite.

"Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." - 2 Timothy 2:20-21

God clearly calls us to be "restorers" of this fallen world, not "demolishers."   Tripp goes on to write, "He calls you and me to live in this broken-down house with hearts of patience and eyes of promise."  Typically, our sinful nature brings us to complain and go through life with a "survival" mentality instead of having a mindset to "thrive."  James 5:7-11 is a great passage that calls us to live in this world with "hearts of patience and eyes of promise."  We need to keep our hearts focused on the call to restore this world.  We need to disciple and make disciples.

I pray that Jesus will give me a heart of patience so that I can keep my eyes focused on the promises that God has made.  I am excited to keep learning what God has for me in these next few months as I go through this book with our team!

Live Christ.

Follow @CoachWingreen on Twitter