Archive for November, 2006

Pride Killer - November 14, 2006 -

I used to play in all sorts of tournaments and such growing up. Basketball tounaments, football tournaments, softball tournaments, little league baseball, soccer, intermural volleyball…I like to consider myself very well-rounded. I always tried to be good enough in as many sports (but that caused me to not really excel in any sport). the only problem was that even though I played all the time, I had never won a tournament. There were a few times where we would get close or whatnot, but any team that I played on never made it all the way.
About 2 years ago I played in a basketball tournament with a few random guys…these are guys who I’ve never really played consistently with, but we just decided to form a team and play. There were obvious alot stronger groups of guys there, but we still decided to take a chance. And as expected, we were far from dominating. In reality, nobody really worried to much about our team. Normally in those situations, I simply try to do my best to make sure that I don’t look like a fool…I know we’re not getting far, but I’ll still prove that I can at least keep up individually.
What this all boils down to is 1 game. There wasn’t too much riding on the game for my team. We would have to win by about 20-ish point to advance in the playoffs, and seeing as how we weren’t that amazing, that didn’t seem too likely. But, we did have the opportunity of playing the spoiler, because if we won, then the team we played against wouldn’t advance either (for some reason, things like that bring people joy). The game was pretty close the whole time, neither team really pulling away in amazing fashion. As the game went on, most of the other games in the gym were finishing up, and people were slowly being drawn to watch our game, since it was the closest one. Even though it didn’t have extreme implications on the rest of the tournament, it brought a lot of excitement because of the closeness and intesity of it. As more and more people started to watch, the pressure mounted. Even though we were simply playing for just a win and nothing more, I felt like there was a lot more personal respect that I was playing for. I had to prove to everyone that my bad luck in never winning a tournament is not because I’m not good, but I just never play on really good teams.
As time got under 2 minutes, the teams kept trading baskets, staying within a couple points of each. By this time, there were crowds on both endlines cheering and shouting, all eyes fixed on our game. All the tension built up to one final play. With about 8 seconds left, my team had the ball and we were down by 2. Our initial plan was to inbound to me, who would pass to our most consistent shooter to try to at least tie the game up. After I got it, though, the defense cloaked our shooter, which took that option away. It seems like only yesterday…I dribbled left, crossed right, then drove down the left side of the lane, tossed up a floater…the ball clanged off the rim, but I WAS FOULED! About one second left on the clock, and I had 2 free throws to tie the game and bring it to overtime. A hush grew over the crowd as I toed the line. After a bit of encouragement I stepped up, dribbled twice, spun the ball, and released. All you could hear was the swish of the net. Down by 1, I had no worries. The first one is the toughest…that’s when all the pressure is there. Now I’ve been through it before. With confidence I stepped up again…dribbled twice, spun the ball and released. All you could hear was the clang off the front of the rim, and then the gasp and shouts from the crowd as time expired.
Pride -> KILLED. With every eye on me, I failed. When the ball was put in my hands, I choked.
I haven’t played in a tournament since then (…but I thinking about getting back into it…anyone got a good team in need of a PG?). But I did learn a couple lessons from that point. For one, I recognize one of the biggest problems with complacency. My first free-throw was taken with a bit of fear, a bit of humility, and bit of knowledge that I’m not perfect. But because of success, I took too much confidence in my own ability. I forgot that I was still human, still imperfect, still able to fall. There’s nothing wrong with healthy fear. We need to be able to recognize our own inability. With too much confidence in our own talents, we’re going to fail. Our imperfection will get the best of us.
The other thing that failure brought me to do was practice my basic skills. I spent my whole life working on my handles, getting better ball control. I would work on deep shooting and no-look passing. But since then, I recognized the need to go back to the basics. Whenever I go to the gym to shoot around, I’ll take 50-100 free throws. I’ll do sets of layup drills and strengthen my mid-range jumper. It returned me to the foundations of the game. Again, failure helps us see where we lack in our discipline. It shows holes in ourselves where we thought we were strong. And the thing it should lead us to is not sulking, but rather change.
Sometimes we can become very proud spiritually. We feel that we’re perfect, or that we’re good enough. Sometimes we try to shine in ways that others will notice, but we don’t strengthen the basic foundations of the faith. And sometimes we need to be knocked off our pedestal and hit the ground hard in order for God to take His place back on the throne in our lives. There’s always purpose for our struggles. Many times its too help us not get too dependent on ourselves, and put true depenence on the one in control of everything. Learn from every situation…its the fastest way to grow.

natemathai | filed under: insight, personal

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Fair-Weather Fans - November 6, 2006 -

Living in Illinois, I’ve seen my share of fair-weather fans. Going to U of I has my opened my eyes to it even more. The most obvious for people are seeing the “hard core” fans during the dynasty of the Bulls, who no longer can list even 3 people on the current team. Then you have those ‘Cubs fans’ during the run in the playoffs (Bartman-era), who now cannot find anything good to say about them. There were the people singing the praises of the Fighting Illini basketball 2 years ago, up until they lost to UNC in the championship game, and then those people started shouting “overrated.” I mean, seriously?
How many people saw/heard about the Miami Dolphins making the Chicago Bears look very inadequate as a team this past Sunday? Last week they scored 41 against the 49ers, and this week they let the ‘1-6′ Dolphins come into their stadium and make them look stupid. (not the best follow-up either, as the Chicago Bulls beat the Miami Heat by 42 last week, and then go on to lose the next 2 games). Am I the only one who saw ‘fans’ jumping off the bandwagon so quickly that there was fear someone might get hurt? I know of a good handful of people who had claimed Rex Grossman as the savior for the Bears this season because he’s finally healthy, but now want to cut him and even let Kyle Orten start after the two pitiful games against Arizona and Miami. How quickly people’s views change when things stop going their way.
The big issue most “real” fans with fair-weather fans is that these people attempt to gain the joys of success without facing the agony and pain of defeat. They want to experience the celebrations and victory cheers, but don’t want to toil in hard work and possible disgrace that might lead up to it. And although the NFL and NBA and MLB and everything else are all just games in the picture, there are many who try to live like this in their everyday lives.
There are those fair-weather Christians. The ones who will cheer for Jesus along with all the other believers, but don’t care too much in the privacy of their own room, or even in the company of those who don’t believe. There are those who lift hands in worship when all goes well, but at the first sight of trouble, those hands clench into fists challenging God. The selfish heart of many do not want to go through the storms of trouble and sacrifice, but they want to joy of salvation. The sad thing, however, is that this kind of living is not possible in the long-run.
Jesus told us to “deny [ourselves] take up [our] cross daily, follow [Him]” (luke9:23). He spoke that we need to “enter through the narrow gate…small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life…” (matthew7:13). He never promised us an easy life, but simply that He will help us with the burden. But there are many who simply do not see the need for these things. They would much rather live both for the comfort of the world, as well as the comfort of eternal life. They believe if they can say they love Jesus at least at some point in their lives, if they can at least be that “Sunday”-Christian, and if they can worship Him in the good times, then they’re guaranteed heaven. I’m sure many have quite an impressive resume of things they did “for the glory of God” - ways they’ve served their church, times they’ve said “praise God”, bible studies they’ve attended. But what did God say?

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’” (matthew7:21-23)

The truth of the matter is that heaven is not accepting fair-weather fans. It’s not about what you’ve been able to accomplish when you have had every reason to thank Jesus. Anyone can praise anything that gives them what they want. But the true test is recognizing where your heart stands when you face adversity, trials, and hardships. When you have to make the choice of shining the light of Christ in the dark world of sin, or if you simply join in on the darkness. We might be able to fool every person on this earth that we truly love God. We might be able to hide our sins from the “Christians” and hide Christ from our “other friends.” And we might be living in somewhat a comfortable life for the next 50-60 years. But when all is said and done, and we must answer to One person…what will He say? Will it be the final judgment of “I never knew you” or the comfort of “Well done, good and faithful servant”?
My God knows me, and knows my heart. And I daily strive to know Him more. In the good or the bad, I will continue to shout “blessed be His name.” There is no question where my loyalty stands. It lives and dies with the one who saves.

[In case you didn't know, there is a spiritual war going on. 2000 years ago Jesus died on the cross to win the entire thing. I'm sorry if I ruined the ending for you, but I just want you guys to know which side to fight for if you truly want a win.]

natemathai | filed under: insight, personal

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God Uses Facebook? - November 3, 2006 -

It seems like at least 2-3 times a week, there’s another article in the paper about the companies, employers, and police using social forums such as facebook and myspace to gain information about people. There had been a huge outcry among many students that it’s an invasion of privacy. Many other claim that its not fair - it doesn’t give a true representation of a person, and they shouldn’t be judged by the things they say online, or the pictures they are in, or the “groups” they are a part of. But many employers use it, knowing that it provides more insight into a potential employee that they cannot see on a resume, and hear about in an interview. People always attempt to let their lives shine under the best light during those moments, and also don’t feel it beneficial to share about their personal lives. But the people in charge desire to see a person’s character as a whole, not just when they feel the eyes of authority over them.
So many Christians live their lives the same way. Before God, they dress properly, say the right words, and do the right things. In certain settings they come off as being the perfect person. But then they turn and live out a completely different lifestyle, which they might feel as if God has no access to it. They’ll read Galatians 5 during the day, and at night go out and get drunk with their friends. Every has their issues and not everyone is perfect, obviously. But sometimes, it just seems like there is just deliberate disobedience because people don’t recognize the truth of judgment.
The question I ask is, ‘what if God checked your facebook?’ I mean, praise God that He doesn’t, right? In all serious, if you were simply judged by the photos of you posted, or the groups that you’re affiliated with, or the comments you leave for people, who He be proud to call you His own? I speak not as someone who has the power to judge or the knowledge of anything, really. But I do speak as one who occasionally gets burdened and ’stumbled’ in the things that I see. Being human, so much doubt runs through my mind of people’s foundation. I wonder what their real priorities are, what they truly value, who they ultimately are living for. And I wonder if some people are, for lack of a better word, hypocrites. I always try to view people under the best light, but sometimes it tough when all the signs point elsewhere. And I wonder, if this makes such an effect on my life, what message is it sending to others? What view of “Christianity” do they see?
If we desire for the name of Christ to be lifted high above the rest, and if our aim is that God receives maximum glory by having more and more people seeing the true light of Christ through His followers, then we need to live lives with wisdom and discernment. We need to be set apart. I can’t change the world to live perfect lives…I can barely change my own life to strive to daily be on that road to perfection. But I do have one request: If you feel a need to participate in things contrary to the Word of God, please do not allow there to be any connection to the name of Christ. For His Sake.
But hey, at least God doesn’t read AIM away messages, right? Then we’d all be pretty much screwed.

SIDE COMMENTARY: What’s with people and the things they write in away messages. I mean, seriously? People swear up a storm, or write some unblessing things, or post some disgusting lyrics, and then if you scroll down a little bit more they have a bible verse or reference. I mean, seriously? Am I the only one that sees that as just plain stupid? The two cannot coincide. Either preach the word or live for the world. I’m just saying.

natemathai | filed under: insight, personal

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