My Newest Thought

I am tired of hearing the analogy: “if your on the bench in your “Christian” walk, you are wrong.”  This is the dumbest thing I have ever heard.  In any sporting event or game in which one would sit on a bench, no one player plays every minute of every game with zero breaks.  It NEVER happens, even the great Cal Ripkin Jr took a game off, Michael Jordan, arguably the greatest basketball player of all time, took  a seat on the bench to allow Steve Kerr some time.  Here is my new take on this old saying: If you aren’t in the game, dont’ worry about it, study the play book, pay attention and getting ready, so that when your number is called, YOU can not only be in the game, but you can succeed!

I have been thinking and a lot of the times it seems that we are constantly being told, get involved in your local church, if you aren’t ministering to someone seek out a group that needs help and help them.  I believe that their are times and places for all of that.  But let’s look at what Christ was about on this earth: 1- Christ was baptized (we can liken this to us choosing to serve God), 2- he went out to the desert to fast and be tempted (preparing to be in the game) 3- He called his disciples (started his ministry) 4- Went alone into the garden to pray (was still before God-preparing to re-enter the game) 5- Died and rose again for us (fulfilled what he was called to do) 6- Re-connected with his disciples (trained others to help them get ready to be in the game) 7-Gave his final commands (was in the game).  Christ, whom we are to be like, took time to sit on the bench and seek God’s heart.  He was not constantly bombarded with ministry.

“Be still and know that I am God.”

That ring a bell?  Beuller, Beuller? I guess all this to say, If your not in the Game, prepare, so that when your number is called you are equipped to do what is asked of you.

An athlete is known, not by his actions on the field, but rather, by his daily preparation. The greats of our time (Jerry Rice, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, King James…) these guys where known to have the hardest work ethic, and to have spent more time in mental preparation then other players in the sports.

One last Analogy, For those of you who don’t know I am a HUGE MMA fan.  I think that there are few things better then a couple of guys getting into the cage and attempting to impose their will on the other.  The person who usually wins, 99% of the time has spent more time in the gym, more time on the mat and more time studying his opponents weaknesses then the person he beats.  When the fight is over, they do not go climb into another cage, ring or octagon, they grab their closest friends go back to their Camp, rest, heal and begin training for the next challenge.  If they lose, and they all do at some point, they go back, rest, heal and train again.

We need to be like those fighters, win or lose, we pick ourselves up go back to our camp, rest (be still), Heal (find the wounds and emotional damage and begin working it out) and train (meet with our fellow believers, meet with God, get into the word) and prepare for the call that sends us back into the Cage.  We have the greatest corner man in the world, for who better to give you by the second changes then God himself.

Dogs more important then… …Humans?!

I was watching my shows two of which are on ESPN, Pardon the Interruption and Around the Horn, when I heard something that I just had to post.  Dante Stallworth, a wide receiver for the New Orleans Saints, was sentenced to 30 days in jail for hitting a pedestrian while driving drunk.  Now under normal circumstances I would not think twice about this, but then I remembered one Michael Vick who just spent 19 months in prison for fighting dogs.  Now I am not saying that dogs, animals for that matter, have no place in our hearts.  They are great pets, they are great companions and I have really enjoyed the ones I have had, as i am sure you have.  However, I can not think that for one minute that someone acting irresponsible and killing someone should in any way garner less of a sentence then killing an Animal!  My beautiful fiancee completely disagree, she argues (and it does make sense) that Vick intentionally fought animals, thus intentionally hurt them and therefore deserves a longer punishment over Dante who merely got drunk and accidentally killed someone.  I get the difference and I still think that killing a PERSON, a HUMAN should grab you a longer sentence.  The moment you step into that vehicle impaired you are intentionally doing it, and therefore your actions should be judged as such.  I will not lie to you and tell you that I have never driven impaired, because I have, but I have decided that it will never happen again because I don’t ever want to cause someone their life. My Fiancee has the biggest, sweetest heart I know and believes 100% that Animals have souls and feelings, as for me, I am still unsure at this point.

I posed this question to her, “You are told you MUST shoot either the Animal or the Human in front of you, which one do you shoot.” to which she replied, “the person asking me to make the choice.”  Well played sly woman you, But now I ask you, my reader:

You have an animal and a human in front of you, both are great beings, the person feeds the homeless gives money to the poor is the perfect saint and the dog is a seeing eye dog, great with children.  You must shoot one of them, not the person asking, not fire your round into the air, you must point and shoot either the Human or the Animal, the fate of the world depends on you doing it, which is it?

I for one will shoot the dog without a second thought for me, the choice is simple: Animals are great, but humans are far more important.

Post your answers and any comments you have on the situation!