The Truth About Competition

I love this time of year - the weather and fall football and finishing baseball!  If you don't like sports, you could be miserable if your spouse does!  I'm glad I like sports - even though Jim is a much bigger fan.

Unfortunately,  I think that competition can cause problems though.  I'm a victim.  Well, not really a victim.  But in the past I have allowed competition to get out of hand, so that I was overcome by my ugly nature.  Yes, I do have an ugly nature - because I'm human.  Thankfully, over the years the Lord has been teaching this slow learner that the only way to avoid this is to keep my focus on glorifying Him so that I can exercise self-control.

The basis of competition is doing your best to win a game. But sometimes it becomes more than a game.  Games are just that - games.  They are meant to entertain.  They are not meant to change life.  They are not life and death.  But sometimes people forget that.  They get so caught up in the game, that it seems like life and death.

Another problem is that for some participants, they want to win so badly that the game is no longer fun.  If the game is not fun, why play?  Motives of the heart are important.  Desires to exalt oneself are never blessed by the Lord.  "For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly..." Romans 12:3

But probably the biggest problem is that for some people - whether participants or observers - the importance of the game is to exalt themselves or their team over other participants or teams.  It's more than just doing their best.  It's putting someone else down.  Their feelings toward their opponents are so negative as to be destructive.  And for Christians, this would be a huge problem - and not acceptable.  "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.  Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."  Philippians 2:3-4

Probably the best example I've seen of good competition was a couple of years ago when the Maryville, Missouri High School football team had a sizable lead over an opponent.  The other team had a special needs player who had not played and at the end of the game, when they put in him for a play, the Maryville players held back in their pursuit while he ran for a touchdown.  Now that is class, in the best sense of the word.  And it put a smile on God's face, as well as most people who saw it.

So I hope and pray that I can always exercise such class in competition - and have a great time while doing it!

The Truth About Politics

I emailed some of these thoughts about an email I forwarded, but thought I would blog them as well, because I think it's time that some Christian truth needs to be spoken about the world of politics.

There is a lot wrong with our country right now and I think the only way you could think we're not in trouble is if you don't read the newpaper.  BUT...

Truth #1:  We're still the greatest nation in the world.  That's why people flock here and the gripers and complainers won't go anywhere else!

Truth #2:  Born again believers in Jesus Christ are to stand up for what's right, but we are held to a different standard.  We are to love - not an emotion, but a choice to want the best for the other person - and pray for our "enemies" - that God would open their hearts & minds to the truth and the Truth.  "But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust." Matthew 5:44-45  There is absolutely NO Biblical justification for burning the holy books of another religion.  It accomplishes nothing, ruins their testimony and closes the minds of nonbelievers to listening to anything relating to the Lord. This is a man's idea, not God's.

Truth #3: Believers need to remember that Almighty God is totally sovereign over the entire universe and that includes all nations, including ours.  Nothing escapes his notice and He knows everything about everything.  He's not surprised by anything that happens.  Nothing takes Him by surprise.  "Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 'Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.'  He Who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure"  Psalm 2:1-5

Truth #4: God will not be mocked!  Don't think for one minute that anyone gets away with anything - ever.  No matter what our eyes may see,  God sees and judgment IS coming for all those who have mocked God by their sinful behavior, unbelief, and worship of idols. Their only hope is repentance & trusting Jesus Christ.  "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.  For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life."  Galatians 6:7-8

I personally believe that what our nation is going through is part of God's judgment on us for turning out backs on Him and ignoring His commands and worshipping everything and everyone else except God.  Unless we turn back to Him, just as Israel did time after time in the Old Testament, God will continue to remove His hand of blessing and let us reap what we and our leaders have sown.  BUT, never fear, fellow believers, look up, for your Redemption draws nigh - Keep believing, keep trusting, and keep your eyes on Jesus!  Read 1 Thessalonians 4:15 - 5:11 and rejoice!