Semper Fi - X

Rudy! Rudy!Rudy!

I heard Rudy Ruettiger speak today at an MDRT Conference in New Orleans, La.

I was really looking forward to hearing Rudy speak...I love his story of commitment, being the underdog, overachieving, fighting against all odds and how it worked out to be a true success story. One of my favorite films even if the acting was not so great. Kind of like Rocky...even though their accomplishments on the surface don't seem like much, when you consider where they came from...it is amazing. One difference however is that Rudy is a true story.

The first thing that struck me about Rudy is how short he was. But at the same time he is built like a tree trunk and I bet was as tough as nails...even though he was probably slow and not too nimble.

He wasn't that gifted of a public speaker...he is a "low talker" with his head down and I had a hard time understanding him. But what I did hear was often insightful and funny. He made a point of how building relationships is a key to success in any endeavor...that he never would have gotten into that last game without the help of his teammates.  Also that preparation, hard work, never giving up, being ready to get into the game ...were important as well.

One funny story he related was how he was asked to call a man on his deathbed and say a few words. When Rudy called...the man asked who he was...Rudy repeated himself several times ...and when the ill man finally understood that this was Rudy from Notre Dame who the movie was made after he exclaimed..."You got to be shittin me!" And then he died two days later.

All in all...Rudy seemed like the real deal and a hard working American dream come true. I am glad I heard him talk.

We all have a plan!

Mike Tyson is about as dumb as a rock with an equally hard head. No role model here that is for sure. But I did run across a quote of his that struck a nerve.

Mike Tyson is quoted as saying " Everybody has a plan...until they get punched in the mouth!"

I don't know how the quote developed but I could just see him responding to a sports writer that was asking him in effect " What were you thinking fighting your opponent that way...didn't you know better?" He might respond:

"Everybody has a plan until you get punched in the mouth!"

Wow! Isn't that true in our lives...in our careers..in our Walk with Christ! Everyone has a plan until they get laid off their jobs, get addicted to drugs, have an affair, have a teenage daughter get pregnant, get a bad report from the doctor about yourself or someone you love.

"Everyone has a plan until you get punched in the mouth!"

Lets help people see Gods plan for them ...that even as Satan takes his best shot...we already know we are victorious through the blood of Jesus on the Cross!

We win!

We often respond like Mike when we take a shot...forget the plans...we just need to defend ourselves and start punching back.

But with Christ we don't need to do that. He has already delivered the knockout blow on our behalf. We can stick with the game plan in the Bible.

B: Basic

I: Instruction

B: Before

L: Life

E: Ends

Jesus and Basketball

I was asked to give a devotional for the Upward Basketball players this Saturday. Ages are six to eight years old. This is what I came up with:

(ask) If you wanted to be known as a good sport in Basketball who would you try to act like? Micheal Jordan or one of the Dallas Mavericks?

Have you thought about being like Jesus? You might ask what does Jesus know about basketball or being a good sport?

Let me point out six things that being a good sport and being like Jesus have in common:

1) Be a Team player...Did you know that Jesus was on a Team? He had the twelve disciples back then and He wants you to be on His team today.

2) Play to win! Jesus played to win and He did...He won victory over our sins so we could go to Heaven with Him.

3) Do you know what being humble is? It means not acting like you are better then the other team even if you are. Jesus was humble...even though He is God He came to earth as a person just like us and even though He could have all the riches in the world He chose not to.

4) Help other players on your team play better if you are better then they are. Jesus spent His life teaching us how to live better lives.

5) When someone on the other team fouls you...don't get mad. Jesus taught us to forgive others when they do wrong things. Jesus forgives you when you mess up too. And when you are the one that commits a foul on the court...and I call a foul on you....don't get mad...try not to do it again and learn from your mistakes.

6) Have fun and be friends with, not only your team, but also the team you play with. Jesus wants you to enjoy life and He said the greatest thing you can do after loving God is to love your neighbor...and everyone in this gym is your neighbor.

Let me go over it again for you:

1) Be a Team player

2) Do your best

3) Be humble - don't act better then others

4) Help teach others that don't play as good as you do

5) Don't get mad when others foul you

6) Have fun and be a friend to everyone - even the other team.

When we do these things we honor Jesus and make Him happy.

Will you try to do this?

Let's pray: