Beating erstwhile undefeated UE is daunting enough but sweeping them in the finals is almost unbelievable! DLSU came out as heavy underdogs here but used their finals experience to the hilt to get the crown once more.
Congrats Archers!
See Updated List of UAAP Champions
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Showing posts with label articles. Show all posts
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
San Beda - Back -to-Back Champions!
We would ust like to congratulate San Beda on winning a back-to-back championship in the recently concluded NCAA. Last year you guys were just looking for just a single crown after 28 long years of waiting. But now here comes a second one.
Again congratulations!
See updated List of NCAA Champions
Again congratulations!
See updated List of NCAA Champions
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Drama In the Playoffs
Derek Fisher's day started out as not a very pleasant one. He flew to New York to attend to his daughter who had surgery then he flew back to Utah to get into the game in the 3rd. It was game that will bring tremendous pressure on him as their lead point guard was in trouble and the temporary backup got injured.
Utah in the meanwhile could have opted to put Fisher out of the lineup but they chose to wait for him and play 11 men in games 1 and 2. Both did not know that God was setting up something wonderful this night.
It will be a day Fisher and the Utah Jazz will never forget. Read this account of Derek Fisher's day.
Utah in the meanwhile could have opted to put Fisher out of the lineup but they chose to wait for him and play 11 men in games 1 and 2. Both did not know that God was setting up something wonderful this night.
It will be a day Fisher and the Utah Jazz will never forget. Read this account of Derek Fisher's day.
Friday, May 04, 2007
When David Slings The Stone
The NBA Playoffs are once again on and basketball fans and observers are viewing the games with great interest. However; you will observe that such interest is heightened to another level whenever the underdog teams make some noise. When Golden State, Denver and Chicago won their initial games against very powerful and championship caliber opponents everybody took a second glance and the media were all over them. Eventually, as we all know, Golden State and Chicago will advance beating both last year's divisional champions while Denver just came short in their series with the Spurs.
What is with us and cheering for the underdogs?
First of all we don't cheer for the underdog all the time, whenever it is our favorite team for the ages like our alma-mater school, a team we have since we are in diapers, we don't care for the hapless team. As much as possible we want them crushed.
But make no mistake about it, as long as it is not our guys we love a good underdog story. We cheer at every basket, we cringe at every mistake and we imagine what it would feel like if they do win. They become media darlings and put heaps of praise as another David like victory unfolded.
Could this heart for the underdog been implanted within our hearts by God? First of all it is because of God that we know how to love.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8)
God also told us to take care for the underdogs in life.
"'The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:40)
It seems that this cheering for the underdog has much more to it than the idea of preference,. It is a natural tendency to see something amazing. It is a tendency to see justice and lift people up. The problem is that in basketball it is enough to cheer but in life the underdogs really need our hands and hearts to lift them up. not just words but deeds.
In real life are we are either cheering and lifting the underdog or we are looking out for own team... ourselves.
What is with us and cheering for the underdogs?
First of all we don't cheer for the underdog all the time, whenever it is our favorite team for the ages like our alma-mater school, a team we have since we are in diapers, we don't care for the hapless team. As much as possible we want them crushed.
But make no mistake about it, as long as it is not our guys we love a good underdog story. We cheer at every basket, we cringe at every mistake and we imagine what it would feel like if they do win. They become media darlings and put heaps of praise as another David like victory unfolded.
Could this heart for the underdog been implanted within our hearts by God? First of all it is because of God that we know how to love.
"Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love" (1 John 4:8)
God also told us to take care for the underdogs in life.
"'The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" (Matthew 25:40)
It seems that this cheering for the underdog has much more to it than the idea of preference,. It is a natural tendency to see something amazing. It is a tendency to see justice and lift people up. The problem is that in basketball it is enough to cheer but in life the underdogs really need our hands and hearts to lift them up. not just words but deeds.
In real life are we are either cheering and lifting the underdog or we are looking out for own team... ourselves.
Monday, November 13, 2006
THE MASTER PLAN
Article from CCF
How many of you like rules? How many of you enjoy following rules?
What do you think would happen if I let you guys play basketball, but each one of you could make up your own rules?
I want each one of you to make your own rules while you play. Forget everything you know about basketball. What’s important is for you to be able to score as many points as possible so that your team will win. Did you enjoy playing the game? How did you feel? Why do think you felt that way?”
In basketball, as well as in life, we need rules to govern us, not to take the fun out of life, but to protect us and to make it more enjoyable! We usually think of rules as something that will limit our freedom or a killjoy, but rules are actually meant for our own good.
Basketball Trivia: When James Naismith invented the sport of basketball back in December 21, 1891, he wrote 13 rules which was enforced during the games. Surprisingly, with all the changes the sport has gone through, most of those original rules are still being enforced in today’s game!
And because people have accepted these rules and have played according to them, basketball has shaped up to be one of the, if not the most popular and fastest growing sport today!
What would happen if you decided you didn’t really like the rule on traveling and decided that dribbling the ball is not really important? Your personal preference to run with the ball will not change the rules one bit. We are the ones who have to adjust to the rules of the game and not vice versa. If we choose to violate the rules, then we can’t complain about being penalized, right?
It is the same in life. God has given us His Word, the Bible, which is not only a rulebook but also His personal love letter to us. His Word does not change, regardless of whether we believe in it or not, whether we follow it or not. But God created us and He knows how we are designed.
If you bought a new appliance or electronic equipment, what would be the first thing you would do? Of course to read the instruction manual right? Have you seen anyone discard the manual without reading it? I remember plugging a 110v appliance to a 220v socket when I was still a young boy, and I will never forget what happened after that blunder. The Bible is like the instruction manual on how to maximize life. The Ultimate Inventor has carefully, painstakingly and perfectly gifted us with the knowledge of how to live life to the fullest, and given us the privilege to read and study it each day of our lives. What will you do with this gift?
How many of you are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve? What happened to them? They violated the rule that
God had given them, (not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and so they were sent out of the Garden of Eden. However, we usually forget that the first commandment that
God had given Adam and Eve were commandments of freedom! For example,
God said “Be fruitful and multiply!” Adam could also name all the animals whatever he wished for their names to be!
God also said, “You MAY eat of ANY of the trees in the Garden except…”
God’s commandments were meant for our good and protection. He set boundaries to keep us safe and secure, not to antagonize us or make us bitter. God Himself said in His Word, “Choose to trust Me and My Word and your life will overflow with blessings… I will command blessings upon your home and everything you do will succeed.” (Deuteronomy 28:1,8)
Right now, let’s take a few minutes to see what the Bible says about knowing and obeying God’s Word.
Please Read:
Psalm 119: 9-16; Psalm 19:7-11, Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 1, Deuteronomy 28:1-8
In light of the things we have learned today about God’s Word, how many of you are willing to commit to start reading the Bible for just 5 minutes a day?
Reminder: There are 1440 minutes in 24 hours!
You are invited to Bible Studies and Worship Services at CCF:
CCF ST. FRANCIS SQUARE
4/F Saint Francis Square Tiangge Building
Julia Vargas Ave. cor Bank Drv.
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Tel: (63 2) 635-3410 to 17; (+632) 6333483; (+632) 6333484
Fax: (63 2) 635-3418
CCF St. Francis Website
CCF ALABANG
3F, CCF Bldg. Prime St.
Madrigal Business Park
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel: (63 2) 772-3035 to 39
Fax: (63 2) 772-3031
CCF Alabang Website
Other CCF Locations
How many of you like rules? How many of you enjoy following rules?
What do you think would happen if I let you guys play basketball, but each one of you could make up your own rules?
I want each one of you to make your own rules while you play. Forget everything you know about basketball. What’s important is for you to be able to score as many points as possible so that your team will win. Did you enjoy playing the game? How did you feel? Why do think you felt that way?”
In basketball, as well as in life, we need rules to govern us, not to take the fun out of life, but to protect us and to make it more enjoyable! We usually think of rules as something that will limit our freedom or a killjoy, but rules are actually meant for our own good.
Basketball Trivia: When James Naismith invented the sport of basketball back in December 21, 1891, he wrote 13 rules which was enforced during the games. Surprisingly, with all the changes the sport has gone through, most of those original rules are still being enforced in today’s game!
And because people have accepted these rules and have played according to them, basketball has shaped up to be one of the, if not the most popular and fastest growing sport today!
What would happen if you decided you didn’t really like the rule on traveling and decided that dribbling the ball is not really important? Your personal preference to run with the ball will not change the rules one bit. We are the ones who have to adjust to the rules of the game and not vice versa. If we choose to violate the rules, then we can’t complain about being penalized, right?
It is the same in life. God has given us His Word, the Bible, which is not only a rulebook but also His personal love letter to us. His Word does not change, regardless of whether we believe in it or not, whether we follow it or not. But God created us and He knows how we are designed.
If you bought a new appliance or electronic equipment, what would be the first thing you would do? Of course to read the instruction manual right? Have you seen anyone discard the manual without reading it? I remember plugging a 110v appliance to a 220v socket when I was still a young boy, and I will never forget what happened after that blunder. The Bible is like the instruction manual on how to maximize life. The Ultimate Inventor has carefully, painstakingly and perfectly gifted us with the knowledge of how to live life to the fullest, and given us the privilege to read and study it each day of our lives. What will you do with this gift?
How many of you are familiar with the story of Adam and Eve? What happened to them? They violated the rule that
God had given them, (not to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil) and so they were sent out of the Garden of Eden. However, we usually forget that the first commandment that
God had given Adam and Eve were commandments of freedom! For example,
God said “Be fruitful and multiply!” Adam could also name all the animals whatever he wished for their names to be!
God also said, “You MAY eat of ANY of the trees in the Garden except…”
God’s commandments were meant for our good and protection. He set boundaries to keep us safe and secure, not to antagonize us or make us bitter. God Himself said in His Word, “Choose to trust Me and My Word and your life will overflow with blessings… I will command blessings upon your home and everything you do will succeed.” (Deuteronomy 28:1,8)
Right now, let’s take a few minutes to see what the Bible says about knowing and obeying God’s Word.
Please Read:
Psalm 119: 9-16; Psalm 19:7-11, Joshua 1:7-8; Psalm 1, Deuteronomy 28:1-8
In light of the things we have learned today about God’s Word, how many of you are willing to commit to start reading the Bible for just 5 minutes a day?
Reminder: There are 1440 minutes in 24 hours!
You are invited to Bible Studies and Worship Services at CCF:
CCF ST. FRANCIS SQUARE
4/F Saint Francis Square Tiangge Building
Julia Vargas Ave. cor Bank Drv.
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Tel: (63 2) 635-3410 to 17; (+632) 6333483; (+632) 6333484
Fax: (63 2) 635-3418
CCF St. Francis Website
CCF ALABANG
3F, CCF Bldg. Prime St.
Madrigal Business Park
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel: (63 2) 772-3035 to 39
Fax: (63 2) 772-3031
CCF Alabang Website
Other CCF Locations
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
STRENGTH AND CONDITIONING
Article from CCF
Is there a relationship between strength and conditioning to the performance of an athlete? Does it play a key role in an athlete or team’s quest for success in competition? Has it been a factor for YOU and your team, so far while you have been playing in this league?
The Olympic games is the most spectacular international sports spectacle which is held every four years. Only the best and brightest qualify, set foot, and compete in this most prestigious sports competition. Athletes who wish to represent the country must be willing to pay the price. They have to subject themselves to the most rigorous training regimen, which will enable them to be in the best shape of their lives and have the advantage against their competitors.
What are some of the factors does an athlete have to take into consideration if he wants to be in the best competitive shape possible? In other words, what must he do and not do to be ready for competition? (Wait for reply or ask certain members of the team. Below are some suggested answers you should look out for:)
1) PROPER PRACTICE- Improper practice makes PERMANENT but PROPER PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
2) WORKING OUT- Toning the muscle and eliminating the fat will make one better, faster and stronger for competition. (A probable exception might be Sumo wrestling).
3) HEALTHY DIET- An athlete needs to be watchful of the composition of his food intake because it will inevitably affect his body, whether for good or bad. That’s why teams and coaches nowadays hire dieticians that advise players of the amount of proteins and carbohydrates and vitamins that will complement the training regimen and strengthen the athlete and enhance his physical condition.
4) GOOD SLEEPING HABITS- No matter how strong or gifted an athlete is, his body needs to have the proper amount of rest so that it can recover, both physically and mentally. Sleep is vital in enabling the body to function at its peak performance. In fact, poor performance and many severe injuries can be avoided if the athlete is responsible to give proper care to his body through the right amount of rest.
5) MENTAL CONDITIONING- An athlete must have the right mindset, the passion, commitment and the drive necessary to accomplish his goals. He must be prepared and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the goals that he sets for himself.
The Bible says in the book of Hebrews. “…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out before us…”(Hebrews 12:1)
108 years after the very first Olympic games started in Greece, the international sporting event is back where it all began. But did you know what runners wore in ancient Greece when they competed for the prize? . They wore absolutely NOTHING! Not only were they barefoot, but they ran around naked, literally! That’s because the competitors wanted to be as light and unhindered as possible realizing that it was a grueling path that lay before them and that they had to be free of any encumbrance in order to emerge victorious in the race.
During our generation, swimmers shave all facial and body hairs because they found out that it could slow them down when they compete. And in competitions such as theirs, every 1/100th of a second matters! Some of them even wear body suits that have been authorized, probably designed to have the water slide off their bodies and enabling them to glide through the water with the least amount of resistance as possible. Here, we get a glimpse of what the author of Hebrews means when he says: … throw off everything that hinders…”
But not only are we to “throw off” that which hinders us, but we are to “put on the new self created to be like Christ Jesus.” Paul uses the metaphor of a race when he talks about the Christian life because he knows that in order for us to run the race of life well, we have to be in good spiritual condition. Unless we prepare ourselves well, we will inevitably stumble and fall or simply end up quitting the race.
And so it is in the Race of Life. The Apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race, the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”(1 Corinthians 9: 24)
Today, we will learn 4 very simple yet profound principles that will get you in shape and ready to run the Race of Life and finish it with a flourish! These Four principles are summed up in what we call CROSS TRAINING. We have coined the phrase Cross training because this will help us remember the 4 simple principles: 4 arrows that go in four different directions, which form a CROSS.
As we talk about these 4 principles, the Bible itself puts it all in perspective when it declares, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”(1 Timothy 4:8)
NORTHBOUND ARROW ^ —This symbolizes us communicating to God through PRAYER. Prayer is the backbone of a Christian’s life. A prayerless life is a powerless life, and if we fail to pray, we are telling God that we don’t need Him and can make it on our own. In fact, the bible commands us to “pray without ceasing (continually)”, and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6.). God wants to bless us more than we want to bless ourselves, but sometimes because we forget to pray, we are not able to receive all the blessings God has available for us. If we fail to pray, we are like hi-tech electrical appliance that is not plugged in to the electrical outlet.
SOUTHBOUND ARROW—This symbolizes how God communicates to us—through His Word, the Bible. Every player needs a coach who will tell him what to do to maximize his potential and what the game plan is. What would happen if a player refuses to listen to his coach, or is just plain ignorant of what the coach wants him to do? He will mess up the team and end up humiliating himself and others. He will also end up sitting on the bench until he learns to follow the coach’s instructions. Do you want to be usable for God in building His eternal kingdom or a benchwarmer watching from the sidelines? Paul reminded his young apprentice Timothy that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16,17).
EASTBOUND ARROW-------> Symbolizes us communicating and growing together in the faith with other Christians. This is called FELLOWSHIP. This is actually a crucial component of our strength and conditioning as a Christian. When we see more mature believers living out the Bible right before us, it encourages us to live for God. When we hear stories or testimonies of how God worked in the life of another person, we are motivated to follow in his or her footsteps because we realize that we are serving a living God who is involved in each one of our lives. And when more people are gathered together for fellowship, the impact is even more dynamic! This phenomenon is called Synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The bible says “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). As a practical application, many members of this basketball team actually meet together within the week to fellowship and study the bible together. You are most welcome and encouraged to join us as we seek to grow in the Lord together and help each other run the Race of Life ‘til the end. King David himself exclaimed in one of his songs, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
WESTBOUND ARROW <-------------- Symbolizes how we should be communicating our faith and relationship with God to those people who may not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord. This is called WITNESSING. A witness is one who talks about what he has personally seen, heard and experienced. This is often the most neglected part of Cross-training but it is just as vital as the other components. God has not yet taken us into heaven after we came to know Him in a personal way because He wants us to stay here for a mission—and that is to talk to others about the forgiveness and salvation that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ. And when we do this, God honors it by causing the growth in our lives. Listen to what one of the New Testament writers says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you may have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon 6). As an athlete, we may not be getting all the vitamins and nourishment vital to our strength and conditioning if we fail to share our faith to other people through witnessing. Just like taking the game winning free throws can be frightening, doing this can really be scary, but imagine the rejoicing that will take place after you are able to do your part because you have practiced well. After all, all God asks is for your availability!
The Christian race is not a difficult one—it is impossible! Only Jesus Christ can live it, but we can persevere in His power and strength by making sure we are in the best spiritual condition possible. As we end, let’s read what the Apostle Paul said: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
You are invited to Bible Studies and Worship Services at CCF:
CCF ST. FRANCIS SQUARE
4/F Saint Francis Square Tiangge Building
Julia Vargas Ave. cor Bank Drv.
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Tel: (63 2) 635-3410 to 17; (+632) 6333483; (+632) 6333484
Fax: (63 2) 635-3418
CCF St. Francis Website
CCF ALABANG
3F, CCF Bldg. Prime St.
Madrigal Business Park
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel: (63 2) 772-3035 to 39
Fax: (63 2) 772-3031
CCF Alabang Website
Other CCF Locations
Is there a relationship between strength and conditioning to the performance of an athlete? Does it play a key role in an athlete or team’s quest for success in competition? Has it been a factor for YOU and your team, so far while you have been playing in this league?
The Olympic games is the most spectacular international sports spectacle which is held every four years. Only the best and brightest qualify, set foot, and compete in this most prestigious sports competition. Athletes who wish to represent the country must be willing to pay the price. They have to subject themselves to the most rigorous training regimen, which will enable them to be in the best shape of their lives and have the advantage against their competitors.
What are some of the factors does an athlete have to take into consideration if he wants to be in the best competitive shape possible? In other words, what must he do and not do to be ready for competition? (Wait for reply or ask certain members of the team. Below are some suggested answers you should look out for:)
1) PROPER PRACTICE- Improper practice makes PERMANENT but PROPER PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
2) WORKING OUT- Toning the muscle and eliminating the fat will make one better, faster and stronger for competition. (A probable exception might be Sumo wrestling).
3) HEALTHY DIET- An athlete needs to be watchful of the composition of his food intake because it will inevitably affect his body, whether for good or bad. That’s why teams and coaches nowadays hire dieticians that advise players of the amount of proteins and carbohydrates and vitamins that will complement the training regimen and strengthen the athlete and enhance his physical condition.
4) GOOD SLEEPING HABITS- No matter how strong or gifted an athlete is, his body needs to have the proper amount of rest so that it can recover, both physically and mentally. Sleep is vital in enabling the body to function at its peak performance. In fact, poor performance and many severe injuries can be avoided if the athlete is responsible to give proper care to his body through the right amount of rest.
5) MENTAL CONDITIONING- An athlete must have the right mindset, the passion, commitment and the drive necessary to accomplish his goals. He must be prepared and willing to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve the goals that he sets for himself.
The Bible says in the book of Hebrews. “…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race that is marked out before us…”(Hebrews 12:1)
108 years after the very first Olympic games started in Greece, the international sporting event is back where it all began. But did you know what runners wore in ancient Greece when they competed for the prize? . They wore absolutely NOTHING! Not only were they barefoot, but they ran around naked, literally! That’s because the competitors wanted to be as light and unhindered as possible realizing that it was a grueling path that lay before them and that they had to be free of any encumbrance in order to emerge victorious in the race.
During our generation, swimmers shave all facial and body hairs because they found out that it could slow them down when they compete. And in competitions such as theirs, every 1/100th of a second matters! Some of them even wear body suits that have been authorized, probably designed to have the water slide off their bodies and enabling them to glide through the water with the least amount of resistance as possible. Here, we get a glimpse of what the author of Hebrews means when he says: … throw off everything that hinders…”
But not only are we to “throw off” that which hinders us, but we are to “put on the new self created to be like Christ Jesus.” Paul uses the metaphor of a race when he talks about the Christian life because he knows that in order for us to run the race of life well, we have to be in good spiritual condition. Unless we prepare ourselves well, we will inevitably stumble and fall or simply end up quitting the race.
And so it is in the Race of Life. The Apostle Paul says, “Do you not know that in a race, the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”(1 Corinthians 9: 24)
Today, we will learn 4 very simple yet profound principles that will get you in shape and ready to run the Race of Life and finish it with a flourish! These Four principles are summed up in what we call CROSS TRAINING. We have coined the phrase Cross training because this will help us remember the 4 simple principles: 4 arrows that go in four different directions, which form a CROSS.
As we talk about these 4 principles, the Bible itself puts it all in perspective when it declares, “Physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.”(1 Timothy 4:8)
NORTHBOUND ARROW ^ —This symbolizes us communicating to God through PRAYER. Prayer is the backbone of a Christian’s life. A prayerless life is a powerless life, and if we fail to pray, we are telling God that we don’t need Him and can make it on our own. In fact, the bible commands us to “pray without ceasing (continually)”, and “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving present your requests to God.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17; Philippians 4:6.). God wants to bless us more than we want to bless ourselves, but sometimes because we forget to pray, we are not able to receive all the blessings God has available for us. If we fail to pray, we are like hi-tech electrical appliance that is not plugged in to the electrical outlet.
SOUTHBOUND ARROW—This symbolizes how God communicates to us—through His Word, the Bible. Every player needs a coach who will tell him what to do to maximize his potential and what the game plan is. What would happen if a player refuses to listen to his coach, or is just plain ignorant of what the coach wants him to do? He will mess up the team and end up humiliating himself and others. He will also end up sitting on the bench until he learns to follow the coach’s instructions. Do you want to be usable for God in building His eternal kingdom or a benchwarmer watching from the sidelines? Paul reminded his young apprentice Timothy that, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16,17).
EASTBOUND ARROW-------> Symbolizes us communicating and growing together in the faith with other Christians. This is called FELLOWSHIP. This is actually a crucial component of our strength and conditioning as a Christian. When we see more mature believers living out the Bible right before us, it encourages us to live for God. When we hear stories or testimonies of how God worked in the life of another person, we are motivated to follow in his or her footsteps because we realize that we are serving a living God who is involved in each one of our lives. And when more people are gathered together for fellowship, the impact is even more dynamic! This phenomenon is called Synergy, where the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. The bible says “Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshipping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25). As a practical application, many members of this basketball team actually meet together within the week to fellowship and study the bible together. You are most welcome and encouraged to join us as we seek to grow in the Lord together and help each other run the Race of Life ‘til the end. King David himself exclaimed in one of his songs, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” (Psalm 133:1)
WESTBOUND ARROW <-------------- Symbolizes how we should be communicating our faith and relationship with God to those people who may not yet have a personal relationship with the Lord. This is called WITNESSING. A witness is one who talks about what he has personally seen, heard and experienced. This is often the most neglected part of Cross-training but it is just as vital as the other components. God has not yet taken us into heaven after we came to know Him in a personal way because He wants us to stay here for a mission—and that is to talk to others about the forgiveness and salvation that God offers through His Son Jesus Christ. And when we do this, God honors it by causing the growth in our lives. Listen to what one of the New Testament writers says, “I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you may have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.” (Philemon 6). As an athlete, we may not be getting all the vitamins and nourishment vital to our strength and conditioning if we fail to share our faith to other people through witnessing. Just like taking the game winning free throws can be frightening, doing this can really be scary, but imagine the rejoicing that will take place after you are able to do your part because you have practiced well. After all, all God asks is for your availability!
The Christian race is not a difficult one—it is impossible! Only Jesus Christ can live it, but we can persevere in His power and strength by making sure we are in the best spiritual condition possible. As we end, let’s read what the Apostle Paul said: “Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24-27)
You are invited to Bible Studies and Worship Services at CCF:
CCF ST. FRANCIS SQUARE
4/F Saint Francis Square Tiangge Building
Julia Vargas Ave. cor Bank Drv.
Ortigas Center, Mandaluyong City
Tel: (63 2) 635-3410 to 17; (+632) 6333483; (+632) 6333484
Fax: (63 2) 635-3418
CCF St. Francis Website
CCF ALABANG
3F, CCF Bldg. Prime St.
Madrigal Business Park
Alabang, Muntinlupa City
Tel: (63 2) 772-3035 to 39
Fax: (63 2) 772-3031
CCF Alabang Website
Other CCF Locations
Thursday, October 26, 2006
THE ULTIMATE COACH
Article from Christ Commission Fellowship
Who in your opinion is the greatest coach ever and why? Red Auerbach, legendary coach of the fabled Boston Celtics was untouchable with 9 NBA rings. It was only in the past years that Phil Jackson who has coached both the Bulls and Lakers, has managed to tie his record and was on the verge of breaking it until he was derailed by the upstart Detroit Pistons. Larry Brown who eventually won the title, ranks as one of coaches who owns the best winning percentage of a coach who has never won an NBA title, until this year.
What are some of the qualities of a great coach? (Brings out the best in his players, is able to unite his team, can be respected by his players, disciplines his players well, relates well to players and understands them, good motivator).
What do you think would happen if a player suddenly decides that he knows better than his coach and does his own thing on the court? For example, the coach designs his offense in a way where he wants to minimize dribbling and wants sharp and crisp passes to elude the defense and hit the person with the open shot. What if a player decides that he wants to put on a dribbling display to impress the audience and takes the shot in the last 2 seconds of the shot clock without even letting his teammates touch the ball?
Or have you heard of Latrell Sprewell who decided his coach was expendable and started choking him?! Of course, all earthly coaches are fallible and imperfect and we can sometimes struggle to obey them.
However, the Bible talks about a different kind of Coach… More than a coach, He is called the Counselor, the One whom Jesus sent after He ascended into heaven. The Lord said that He, the Holy Spirit was the One who would grant us supernatural power from on high, and would lead us into all Truth.
But there is a big difference-- unlike earthly coaches who are imperfect, and simply formulates strategies and give instructions from the sidelines, the Spirit's presence is WITH US and EMPOWERS US as we step into our earthly hardcourt and play our part in the game of life.
How many of you wished you had more POWER in your life? All of us, I'm sure, but more often than not, it's sad to say, our lives are characterized by this (show a deflated basketball). What can you say about this basketball? What was this basketball meant to do? Would any of you want to practice with this ball? What would happen if you used this ball to practice, or in a game? Notice that no matter how expensive the material you use to produce this basketball, WITHOUT air, it will be of no use at all. So it is with our lives. Jesus Christ himself says, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. Apart from Me, you can do nothing."(John 15:5).
The Bible further commands us not to be drunk with wine but to "be filled with the Spirit."(Ephesians 5:18). Do you sometimes feel frustrated when you want to do something that you know is right, but oftentimes, end up doing the opposite? Do you lose your temper, abandon self-control, or sometimes are overcome by your own lustful desires? Do you sometimes feel enslaved by habitual sins or struggle with bitterness? As the saying goes, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
It has been said that "The Christian life is not difficult to live-- it is impossible." But frustration and defeat need not characterize our lives. We can actually draw upon the infinite resources that God has for us to live the Christian life.
A few years ago, a hurricane hit a certain part of the United States, which left the town devastated. Homes were destroyed, cars flew away from the force of the winds, trees were uprooted and telephone poles went down. After the calamity had left, investigators searched the rubble and wreckage, and they were surprised to find a very curious sight. A strand of hay was found to have pierced and was lodged inside a rugged and seemingly impenetrable telephone pole. Investigators were clueless and awe-struck as they sought to figure out this mystery. It was only later when they realized what had truly happened-- the incredible force of the hurricane's howling winds propelled the small, insignificant piece of limp hay right into the solid trunk of the telephone pole.
This is a picture of what our lives can be, if fully submitted to the strength and influence of the Holy Spirit. Though we may sometimes feel weak and insignificant, when controlled by the power of God's Holy Spirit, we can "do even greater things" than what Jesus said He Himself has done.
If you want to learn to live the abundant and fruitful life that God designed you to live, it's as simple as breathing: What are the two components of spiritual breathing? Exhale and Inhale.
When we EXHALE, we let out the impure. What we are actually doing is confessing our sins-- remember our last lesson? Deal with sin in your life because God cannot fill a dirty vessel. If the cup of your life is filled with mud, God won't be able to fill it with sparkling clean and refreshing water.
What does INHALING involve? When we inhale, we are asking the Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean that you have "this much" of the Holy Spirit. In reality, it means how much of the Holy Spirit has of YOU!!!
Right now, if you are tired of living this kind of a powerless life (show deflated basketball), and wish to live this kind of a life (bounce an inflated basketball), and you want to be useful for the Lord and His kingdom, I want to invite you to surrender the control of your life to the Holy Spirit. You can do that by expressing something like this:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have been in control of my own life, and as a result, I have sinned against you. But I am tired of my powerless and aimless life. I realize that apart from You, I can do nothing, and I am nothing. I want to surrender the control of my life to you, and ask you to be my Head Coach. I trust that you have the best plans for me, and that only you can enable me to live the life that you have designed for me to live. I ask your Holy Spirit to fill and empower me, just as you commanded me to be filled, and promised to fill me if I asked in faith. I pray all these things in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
If you asked the Holy Spirit to fill your life today, you will experience more and more of His presence and power in your life. The Bible says that "God has given us a Spirit of love, of power and of a sound mind"(2 Tim 1:7), and "the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."(Galatians 5:22-23). This kind of genuine power will manifest itself in your life more and more as you learn to walk with God daily in your life!
Who in your opinion is the greatest coach ever and why? Red Auerbach, legendary coach of the fabled Boston Celtics was untouchable with 9 NBA rings. It was only in the past years that Phil Jackson who has coached both the Bulls and Lakers, has managed to tie his record and was on the verge of breaking it until he was derailed by the upstart Detroit Pistons. Larry Brown who eventually won the title, ranks as one of coaches who owns the best winning percentage of a coach who has never won an NBA title, until this year.
What are some of the qualities of a great coach? (Brings out the best in his players, is able to unite his team, can be respected by his players, disciplines his players well, relates well to players and understands them, good motivator).
What do you think would happen if a player suddenly decides that he knows better than his coach and does his own thing on the court? For example, the coach designs his offense in a way where he wants to minimize dribbling and wants sharp and crisp passes to elude the defense and hit the person with the open shot. What if a player decides that he wants to put on a dribbling display to impress the audience and takes the shot in the last 2 seconds of the shot clock without even letting his teammates touch the ball?
Or have you heard of Latrell Sprewell who decided his coach was expendable and started choking him?! Of course, all earthly coaches are fallible and imperfect and we can sometimes struggle to obey them.
However, the Bible talks about a different kind of Coach… More than a coach, He is called the Counselor, the One whom Jesus sent after He ascended into heaven. The Lord said that He, the Holy Spirit was the One who would grant us supernatural power from on high, and would lead us into all Truth.
But there is a big difference-- unlike earthly coaches who are imperfect, and simply formulates strategies and give instructions from the sidelines, the Spirit's presence is WITH US and EMPOWERS US as we step into our earthly hardcourt and play our part in the game of life.
How many of you wished you had more POWER in your life? All of us, I'm sure, but more often than not, it's sad to say, our lives are characterized by this (show a deflated basketball). What can you say about this basketball? What was this basketball meant to do? Would any of you want to practice with this ball? What would happen if you used this ball to practice, or in a game? Notice that no matter how expensive the material you use to produce this basketball, WITHOUT air, it will be of no use at all. So it is with our lives. Jesus Christ himself says, "I am the Vine, you are the branches. Apart from Me, you can do nothing."(John 15:5).
The Bible further commands us not to be drunk with wine but to "be filled with the Spirit."(Ephesians 5:18). Do you sometimes feel frustrated when you want to do something that you know is right, but oftentimes, end up doing the opposite? Do you lose your temper, abandon self-control, or sometimes are overcome by your own lustful desires? Do you sometimes feel enslaved by habitual sins or struggle with bitterness? As the saying goes, "the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak."
It has been said that "The Christian life is not difficult to live-- it is impossible." But frustration and defeat need not characterize our lives. We can actually draw upon the infinite resources that God has for us to live the Christian life.
A few years ago, a hurricane hit a certain part of the United States, which left the town devastated. Homes were destroyed, cars flew away from the force of the winds, trees were uprooted and telephone poles went down. After the calamity had left, investigators searched the rubble and wreckage, and they were surprised to find a very curious sight. A strand of hay was found to have pierced and was lodged inside a rugged and seemingly impenetrable telephone pole. Investigators were clueless and awe-struck as they sought to figure out this mystery. It was only later when they realized what had truly happened-- the incredible force of the hurricane's howling winds propelled the small, insignificant piece of limp hay right into the solid trunk of the telephone pole.
This is a picture of what our lives can be, if fully submitted to the strength and influence of the Holy Spirit. Though we may sometimes feel weak and insignificant, when controlled by the power of God's Holy Spirit, we can "do even greater things" than what Jesus said He Himself has done.
If you want to learn to live the abundant and fruitful life that God designed you to live, it's as simple as breathing: What are the two components of spiritual breathing? Exhale and Inhale.
When we EXHALE, we let out the impure. What we are actually doing is confessing our sins-- remember our last lesson? Deal with sin in your life because God cannot fill a dirty vessel. If the cup of your life is filled with mud, God won't be able to fill it with sparkling clean and refreshing water.
What does INHALING involve? When we inhale, we are asking the Holy Spirit to fill our lives. Being filled with the Holy Spirit does not mean that you have "this much" of the Holy Spirit. In reality, it means how much of the Holy Spirit has of YOU!!!
Right now, if you are tired of living this kind of a powerless life (show deflated basketball), and wish to live this kind of a life (bounce an inflated basketball), and you want to be useful for the Lord and His kingdom, I want to invite you to surrender the control of your life to the Holy Spirit. You can do that by expressing something like this:
Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have been in control of my own life, and as a result, I have sinned against you. But I am tired of my powerless and aimless life. I realize that apart from You, I can do nothing, and I am nothing. I want to surrender the control of my life to you, and ask you to be my Head Coach. I trust that you have the best plans for me, and that only you can enable me to live the life that you have designed for me to live. I ask your Holy Spirit to fill and empower me, just as you commanded me to be filled, and promised to fill me if I asked in faith. I pray all these things in the Name of Jesus, Amen.
If you asked the Holy Spirit to fill your life today, you will experience more and more of His presence and power in your life. The Bible says that "God has given us a Spirit of love, of power and of a sound mind"(2 Tim 1:7), and "the fruit of the Holy Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."(Galatians 5:22-23). This kind of genuine power will manifest itself in your life more and more as you learn to walk with God daily in your life!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
CONFESSION
Article from Christ Commission Fellowship
In the movie Troy, one of the main characters in the movie is Achilles, reputed to be the greatest warrior in the world. Achilles, played by Brad Pitt was a legend in his time. He defeated ominous giants with a single blow and could single-handedly slay an army of Trojan soldiers with impunity. Just the mere mention of his name struck fear in the hearts of his enemies. He seemed invincible, but Achilles had one weakness. Legend has it that when his mother dipped him in the River of Immortality as an infant, she held him by the heel, which left it vulnerable. And as you saw in the movie, the arrow that pierced his heel was what eventually caused his unlikely death. Hence we have the term, "Achilles' heel."
What about you? How many of you have weaknesses in your life? Well, welcome to the club! Obviously, none of us have achieved perfection, and we fall flat in our face many times, and for most of us, we fail over and over again. Weakness is not an option, it's a given.
So the more important question we need to ask is not if we have a weakness, but how do we deal with it? What do you suppose would happen to a good player if after his coach corrects him and shows him areas he needs to improve, still refuses to work on his game. He will start becoming less and less effective as a player for the team. The opponents will take advantage of his weaknesses. His coach will give him less and less playing time, because he has become a liability to the team, until someone takes his place on the court, and he starts riding the bench. Eventually, he may be cut from the team completely.
How many of us want to be either benchwarmers of losers? Obviously no one, and in the game we call life, we must also deal with weaknesses or imperfections in our life. The bible calls it a 3-letter word-- SIN. Sin literally means, "missing the mark."
Remember what we discussed last week, about how we can have CONFIDENCE because of what Christ has done for us on the cross? That our security and permanent relationship depends on the victory He won for us when we accepted His payment for our sins? But sometimes, even though we are sincerely seeking to walk with the Lord and please Him, we can be tempted and end up sinning. When this happens, our relationship with God is unaffected, but our fellowship with God is broken.
For example, a son decides one day to disobey his father, to leaves the safety of their home. Would he still be his father's son? (Yes, of course). The relationship of the father and son remains, no matter what happens. But what would happen to their fellowship? (It would be strained, broken, hindered). What would be the consequences for the son? (Even though the father still loves him, the son won't be able to experience the benefits of the father's love. He can't live in the father's home nor enjoy his provision and protection, even though the father may want to make it available to him.)
So it is with our relationship with God! The moment we received Jesus Christ into our hearts, we are adopted into God's family, not because of any good thing we have done but because of the Name of Jesus.
But we need to deal with sin in our lives, or we may become like the player who becomes ineffective and unproductive for his team and coach, or like Achilles who met his downfall because of his vulnerability.
The Bible says: " He who conceals his sin will not prosper."
Its also says, "If we confess our sins, He is just and faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(1 John 1:9)
Confession involves 3 things:
1) Agree 2) Thank 3) Repent
Agree with God that what He has revealed to you as sin IS SIN. Don' rationalize or justify but acknowledge. (The Greek translation of the word confess means "to say the same thing.")
Thank God that He has forgiven all your sins, past, present and future because of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross-- His blood is the only currency God accepts as payment for your sin.
Repent- A change of attitude about the sin, which results in a change of action. It's a 180-degree turn and a sincere desire to turn away from that sin because it displeases God.
Right now, I'd like to give a chance to all of you who want to take some time to confess and acknowledge sin in your life to God. Maybe the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart and you want to surrender areas of your life or secret sins that you may be harboring. Now is the time to make it right. Humble yourself and ask for the Lord's cleansing in your life. Experience the depth of His love by asking for His forgiveness.
----------------
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
-----------------
Psalm 103:8-13
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
In the movie Troy, one of the main characters in the movie is Achilles, reputed to be the greatest warrior in the world. Achilles, played by Brad Pitt was a legend in his time. He defeated ominous giants with a single blow and could single-handedly slay an army of Trojan soldiers with impunity. Just the mere mention of his name struck fear in the hearts of his enemies. He seemed invincible, but Achilles had one weakness. Legend has it that when his mother dipped him in the River of Immortality as an infant, she held him by the heel, which left it vulnerable. And as you saw in the movie, the arrow that pierced his heel was what eventually caused his unlikely death. Hence we have the term, "Achilles' heel."
What about you? How many of you have weaknesses in your life? Well, welcome to the club! Obviously, none of us have achieved perfection, and we fall flat in our face many times, and for most of us, we fail over and over again. Weakness is not an option, it's a given.
So the more important question we need to ask is not if we have a weakness, but how do we deal with it? What do you suppose would happen to a good player if after his coach corrects him and shows him areas he needs to improve, still refuses to work on his game. He will start becoming less and less effective as a player for the team. The opponents will take advantage of his weaknesses. His coach will give him less and less playing time, because he has become a liability to the team, until someone takes his place on the court, and he starts riding the bench. Eventually, he may be cut from the team completely.
How many of us want to be either benchwarmers of losers? Obviously no one, and in the game we call life, we must also deal with weaknesses or imperfections in our life. The bible calls it a 3-letter word-- SIN. Sin literally means, "missing the mark."
Remember what we discussed last week, about how we can have CONFIDENCE because of what Christ has done for us on the cross? That our security and permanent relationship depends on the victory He won for us when we accepted His payment for our sins? But sometimes, even though we are sincerely seeking to walk with the Lord and please Him, we can be tempted and end up sinning. When this happens, our relationship with God is unaffected, but our fellowship with God is broken.
For example, a son decides one day to disobey his father, to leaves the safety of their home. Would he still be his father's son? (Yes, of course). The relationship of the father and son remains, no matter what happens. But what would happen to their fellowship? (It would be strained, broken, hindered). What would be the consequences for the son? (Even though the father still loves him, the son won't be able to experience the benefits of the father's love. He can't live in the father's home nor enjoy his provision and protection, even though the father may want to make it available to him.)
So it is with our relationship with God! The moment we received Jesus Christ into our hearts, we are adopted into God's family, not because of any good thing we have done but because of the Name of Jesus.
But we need to deal with sin in our lives, or we may become like the player who becomes ineffective and unproductive for his team and coach, or like Achilles who met his downfall because of his vulnerability.
The Bible says: " He who conceals his sin will not prosper."
Its also says, "If we confess our sins, He is just and faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."(1 John 1:9)
Confession involves 3 things:
1) Agree 2) Thank 3) Repent
Agree with God that what He has revealed to you as sin IS SIN. Don' rationalize or justify but acknowledge. (The Greek translation of the word confess means "to say the same thing.")
Thank God that He has forgiven all your sins, past, present and future because of what Jesus Christ has done on the cross-- His blood is the only currency God accepts as payment for your sin.
Repent- A change of attitude about the sin, which results in a change of action. It's a 180-degree turn and a sincere desire to turn away from that sin because it displeases God.
Right now, I'd like to give a chance to all of you who want to take some time to confess and acknowledge sin in your life to God. Maybe the Holy Spirit has spoken to your heart and you want to surrender areas of your life or secret sins that you may be harboring. Now is the time to make it right. Humble yourself and ask for the Lord's cleansing in your life. Experience the depth of His love by asking for His forgiveness.
----------------
Psalm 103:1-5
Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
-----------------
Psalm 103:8-13
The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
CONFIDENCE ON THE COURT
Article from Christ Commission FellowshipWho is the most confident player you know? Many of us know about Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, but in the 80’s, an incredible player named Larry Bird from a small town in Indiana overcame the odds to become one of the greatest players in the NBA ever. Magic Johnson called him “the only player I really fear.” He was a white player who dominated the game with his confident and almost even cocky attitude. During down the wire games, he always wanted the ball in his hands for the game winning shot, and he would even describe to the player guarding him how he would score over him and actually do it! He also won the first three All-star 3 point shoot out and was known to have commented about his opponents; “I don’t know why they bother showing up, I’m going to win this contest anyway.”
How important do you think confidence is for a player?
What are the consequences of not having confidence when you are playing the game? (Is it enjoyable? Are you able to perform to your fullest potential?)
How do you develop confidence as a player?
Confidence plays a key role in basketball and sports in general. It is an element that is important in every facet of the game. For example, can your teammates have confidence in you? If they lose their man in a pick and roll, can they have confidence that you will switch for them? Can they trust you that you will pass the ball if they are open and in better scoring position? How about your coach, can they have confidence that you will do your best with what is expected of you when he puts you in the game?
Just as confidence plays a major role in your excellence as a player and team, it is also vital in your relationship with God. If you don’t have confidence in your relationship with God and know that He fully loves and accepts you as you are, you wont be able to live the abundant Christian life. Last week, we talked about the 4 Quarters of Life.
Have you made that decision to sign the contract and be part of God’s winning team? If you’ve done that, then you can be confident that when your time is up and final buzzer of your life sounds, you will spend eternity with God in heaven!
Let me ask you, what should be the basis of our confidence? Is it our good works? Most of us think that at the end of our life, if our good works outweigh our bad works, then God will let us into heaven. If the opposite is true then we will go to Hell. right? The Bible never says anything like this! Because our good works do not deserve a reward, they are our OBLIGATION! If a player attends practice for his team, does the coach pay him every time he attends practice? Does he pay for his dinner because he dives for the loose ball? No, that’s his job!
In the same way, confidence of our eternal destiny should not depend on our good works, because that is not the basis of our security. In fact, the bible says that “All our righteous acts are like filthy rags.”(Isaiah 64:6). It further declares what should be the basis of our forgiveness. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, “For it is by GRACE you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves. It is a gift of God, not as a result of works so that no one can boast.” Grace literally means undeserved gift or unmerited favor. It is because of God’s mercy and love that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to die on the cross in our place.
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
THE FOUR QUARTERS OF LIFE
Note: The following is an article from Christ Commission Fellowship.
Every head coach plans to win games and championships with his team. He wants to bring out the best in his players, both individually and as a single unit. In life, God is our Great Head Coach and He wants you to be the best that you can be and win in the Game of Life!
Today, I want to share with you 4 very simple principles that will enable you to make the most out of life and be a winner on and off the court. This is the Four Quarters of Life.
The First Quarter talks about GOD’S GAME PLAN. The Bible says that His plan for you is not to perish but have eternal life. In fact, the Bible says that He made the ultimate sacrifice by sending His Son, Jesus Christ so you could have this everlasting life. Jesus Himself echoed the Father’s game plan when He said, “ I came that you might have life, and might have it more abundantly (that it might be full and meaningful). John 10:10. But the Bible also says, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy…”. Just like your opponent wants to steal the ball from you to prevent you from scoring, the devil wants to stop you from experiencing God’s wonderful game plan—and to some extent, he has already succeeded.
The Second Quarter tells us that YOU AND I HAVE FOULED OUT IN THE GAME OF LIFE. How many of you have fouled out even before halftime? Coaches will tell us that the best way to play defense is by moving your feet and constantly staying in front of your man. But inexperienced players will almost always be unable to resist the temptation to go for the ball with their hands and end up hacking their opponents arm and be called for one foul after another.
You and I have fouled out in the Game of Life because of SIN—the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards…(Rom. 3:23).Do you know where the word sin originally comes from? It was a term coined through the sport of archery. Every time the archer fails to hit the bulls-eye, that is considered SIN. Now, how many of us have hit the bulls-eye every time with every single thing we have done in life? Welcome to the club! All of us have sinned and fouled out of the game of life, and the Bible further states that “the wages of sin is death.(or separation from God)”(Rom. 6:23). Not only have we fouled out from the game, we have been ejected from the playing court, just like Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden after they had sinned against God.
What usually happens at the halftime dugout of the coach who has fallen behind in the game? The head coach uses this time to regroup. And one of the signs of a great coach is one who can regroup in the middle of a game and work out a surprise strategy that will catch the other team off guard so as to pull of the unlikely victory.
The Third Quarter says that God has sent in JESUS CHRIST AS OUR PERFECT SUBSTITUTE in the game of Life, and through Him, we can again experience God’s Game plan for our lives. Whenever a player is called by his coach to enter the game and replace a teammate, what sign does he use to communicate it to the table officials? He crosses his arms and says he wants to take the place of his teammate, right? This symbol is done by all athletes everywhere in the world, but we often don’t realize that when we do this, it is the real SIGN OF THE CROSS. This is to remind us that Jesus Christ is our PERFECT SUBSITUTE because He died on the cross for our sins—in our place! Just like in basketball where we receive a penalty for 5 fouls—disqualification, Jesus Christ came into the game for us in a most unexpected move by the wisest Head Coach-- and went to the cross to pay the penalty of our sin as OUR SUBSTITUTE.
Jesus Himself said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6). And Jesus further emphasizes that He is our SOLE or ONLY SUBSTITUTE.
Any team that wants to win knows that they cannot play well for 3 quarters and stop playing in the fourth quarter. That is why they call it “the payoff period,” because this is where one wins or loses the game. In the same way, it would be useless for us to know about the first 3 quarters of life and ignore the 4th quarter, which is probably the most important quarter of all.
The Fourth Quarter says that we must make the decision to ACCEPT GOD’S TERMS AND SIGN THE CONTRACT to be part of God’s winning team. Unless we do this, we will never be able to experience God’s game plan for our lives.
All of us have heard about young athletes of today, many of them untested, and yet, are offered multi-million dollar contracts and endorsement deals even before they get to play a single game in the NBA! We are all witness to how families celebrate and shed tears of joy, because once their child signs the contract, they are set for life! More money that you can spend, dream cars, houses, vacations, clothes and everything their heart may desire. If an NBA scout were to visit our league and saw you playing and thought you’d be good enough to play in the NBA and offered you a fat multi-million dollar contract with perks and bonuses you never dreamed of, would you take it? Or would you say, “let me think about it first,” or “I’m busy, why don’t you come back next year?”
I can imagine you would be willing to use even your own blood to sign that contract if you had to! In the same way, God is offering you a contract of accepting Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross as final payment for your sins, and through this, you will receive every spiritual blessing imaginable that will far outweigh any earthly contract can offer you. He is offering to sign you up for His Winning Team, but the decision is yours. Will you do it? Even the best passer in the world like Jason Kidd will not be credited for an assist if his teammates refuse to catch the ball and shoot it. In other words, the ball is in YOUR COURT. Unless you make that move and sign the contract, everything that He offers you will be useless—you won’t be able to experience its benefits.
At this point, some of you are saying, hey, this really makes sense to me. I’m not sure if I have already made that personal decision to sign that contract and acknowledge Jesus as the Perfect Substitute for my sins. For those of you who want to do that, I will say a short and simple prayer right now and you can follow with me, talking to God from your heart. Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I acknowledge that you are my perfect Substitute who died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sins. I ask you to come into my life. I want you to be my Head coach, and turn over the control of my life to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Thank you for making me part of Your Winning Team. Grant me the strength to live the kind of life you want me to live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, then I have good news for you! Not only have you been drafted into God’s Victorious team, but you are also the MVP! Something is worth only as much as somebody is willing to pay for it, right? How much did it cost God to pay for your sins and redeem your soul from Satan? It cost Him the life of His Son. It cost Him the Blood of Jesus! That is what YOU are worth to God, His MOST VALUED POSSESSION. You are worth to God the very life of His Son, Jesus Christ, and this should be your main motivation to live for Him, whether it is on or off the court. Do everything for God’s honor and glory! LET’S PLAY BASKETBALL!!!!!!
Read Previous Articles
Every head coach plans to win games and championships with his team. He wants to bring out the best in his players, both individually and as a single unit. In life, God is our Great Head Coach and He wants you to be the best that you can be and win in the Game of Life!
Today, I want to share with you 4 very simple principles that will enable you to make the most out of life and be a winner on and off the court. This is the Four Quarters of Life.
The First Quarter talks about GOD’S GAME PLAN. The Bible says that His plan for you is not to perish but have eternal life. In fact, the Bible says that He made the ultimate sacrifice by sending His Son, Jesus Christ so you could have this everlasting life. Jesus Himself echoed the Father’s game plan when He said, “ I came that you might have life, and might have it more abundantly (that it might be full and meaningful). John 10:10. But the Bible also says, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy…”. Just like your opponent wants to steal the ball from you to prevent you from scoring, the devil wants to stop you from experiencing God’s wonderful game plan—and to some extent, he has already succeeded.
The Second Quarter tells us that YOU AND I HAVE FOULED OUT IN THE GAME OF LIFE. How many of you have fouled out even before halftime? Coaches will tell us that the best way to play defense is by moving your feet and constantly staying in front of your man. But inexperienced players will almost always be unable to resist the temptation to go for the ball with their hands and end up hacking their opponents arm and be called for one foul after another.
You and I have fouled out in the Game of Life because of SIN—the Bible tells us that all have sinned and fallen short of God’s standards…(Rom. 3:23).Do you know where the word sin originally comes from? It was a term coined through the sport of archery. Every time the archer fails to hit the bulls-eye, that is considered SIN. Now, how many of us have hit the bulls-eye every time with every single thing we have done in life? Welcome to the club! All of us have sinned and fouled out of the game of life, and the Bible further states that “the wages of sin is death.(or separation from God)”(Rom. 6:23). Not only have we fouled out from the game, we have been ejected from the playing court, just like Adam and Eve were sent out of the Garden of Eden after they had sinned against God.
What usually happens at the halftime dugout of the coach who has fallen behind in the game? The head coach uses this time to regroup. And one of the signs of a great coach is one who can regroup in the middle of a game and work out a surprise strategy that will catch the other team off guard so as to pull of the unlikely victory.
The Third Quarter says that God has sent in JESUS CHRIST AS OUR PERFECT SUBSTITUTE in the game of Life, and through Him, we can again experience God’s Game plan for our lives. Whenever a player is called by his coach to enter the game and replace a teammate, what sign does he use to communicate it to the table officials? He crosses his arms and says he wants to take the place of his teammate, right? This symbol is done by all athletes everywhere in the world, but we often don’t realize that when we do this, it is the real SIGN OF THE CROSS. This is to remind us that Jesus Christ is our PERFECT SUBSITUTE because He died on the cross for our sins—in our place! Just like in basketball where we receive a penalty for 5 fouls—disqualification, Jesus Christ came into the game for us in a most unexpected move by the wisest Head Coach-- and went to the cross to pay the penalty of our sin as OUR SUBSTITUTE.
Jesus Himself said, “I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, no one comes to the Father except through Me.”(John 14:6). And Jesus further emphasizes that He is our SOLE or ONLY SUBSTITUTE.
Any team that wants to win knows that they cannot play well for 3 quarters and stop playing in the fourth quarter. That is why they call it “the payoff period,” because this is where one wins or loses the game. In the same way, it would be useless for us to know about the first 3 quarters of life and ignore the 4th quarter, which is probably the most important quarter of all.
The Fourth Quarter says that we must make the decision to ACCEPT GOD’S TERMS AND SIGN THE CONTRACT to be part of God’s winning team. Unless we do this, we will never be able to experience God’s game plan for our lives.
All of us have heard about young athletes of today, many of them untested, and yet, are offered multi-million dollar contracts and endorsement deals even before they get to play a single game in the NBA! We are all witness to how families celebrate and shed tears of joy, because once their child signs the contract, they are set for life! More money that you can spend, dream cars, houses, vacations, clothes and everything their heart may desire. If an NBA scout were to visit our league and saw you playing and thought you’d be good enough to play in the NBA and offered you a fat multi-million dollar contract with perks and bonuses you never dreamed of, would you take it? Or would you say, “let me think about it first,” or “I’m busy, why don’t you come back next year?”
I can imagine you would be willing to use even your own blood to sign that contract if you had to! In the same way, God is offering you a contract of accepting Jesus Christ’s substitutionary death on the cross as final payment for your sins, and through this, you will receive every spiritual blessing imaginable that will far outweigh any earthly contract can offer you. He is offering to sign you up for His Winning Team, but the decision is yours. Will you do it? Even the best passer in the world like Jason Kidd will not be credited for an assist if his teammates refuse to catch the ball and shoot it. In other words, the ball is in YOUR COURT. Unless you make that move and sign the contract, everything that He offers you will be useless—you won’t be able to experience its benefits.
At this point, some of you are saying, hey, this really makes sense to me. I’m not sure if I have already made that personal decision to sign that contract and acknowledge Jesus as the Perfect Substitute for my sins. For those of you who want to do that, I will say a short and simple prayer right now and you can follow with me, talking to God from your heart. Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus, I need you. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I acknowledge that you are my perfect Substitute who died on the cross and paid the penalty for my sins. I ask you to come into my life. I want you to be my Head coach, and turn over the control of my life to you. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Thank you for making me part of Your Winning Team. Grant me the strength to live the kind of life you want me to live. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, then I have good news for you! Not only have you been drafted into God’s Victorious team, but you are also the MVP! Something is worth only as much as somebody is willing to pay for it, right? How much did it cost God to pay for your sins and redeem your soul from Satan? It cost Him the life of His Son. It cost Him the Blood of Jesus! That is what YOU are worth to God, His MOST VALUED POSSESSION. You are worth to God the very life of His Son, Jesus Christ, and this should be your main motivation to live for Him, whether it is on or off the court. Do everything for God’s honor and glory! LET’S PLAY BASKETBALL!!!!!!
Read Previous Articles
Monday, September 18, 2006
The Man with the Whistle
The most vilified character on a basketball court is undoubtedly the referee. A referee has no fans but most of all nobody really likes him. Coaches and players berate him while the spectators shout sweet nothings into his ear. In fact an indication when the referee is doing a great job is when nobody is minding him or if he is not noticed by the fans since he makes the correct call and there are no arguments whatsoever, such a lonesome profession indeed. It is funny when you think about it since fans like us can hate a referee so much that we don't stop and think that without him, there will be no game or it would be in chaos.Referees are humans and they make mistakes.
When things aren't going right for a team or player, they usually try to find someone to blame and rightly or wrongly, the focus shifts on the referees. Sometimes in our lives, it is so messed up that we wonder what is making such things happen. We begin to be like those players and coaches that turn to the referee. We think that God is some kind of incompetent referee making bad decisions or even ruining our lives and always picking on us!
God however isn't a basketball referee... He is much more in greater control than we could ever know. God loves you and He wants to give you a wonderful life. How does God love you?
How about the times when you are in a crisis and fear grips you? Does God have an answer for that?
"I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?"
"My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth." (Psalm 121:1-2)
In the swirling and trembling facets of your life, has God seemingly abandoned or just plain forgot about you?
"He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm." (Matthew 8:26)
How about that time when you feel defeated and nothing is going right? God says something about that too...
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" (Romans 8:31-32)
What is man's darkest moment? When he or she feels that they don't deserve the love of God because of all the mistakes and sins they've done in their lives. The verse above shows how glorious God is and how great is His love that in our defeated moment, God sent Jesus so that when we accept Him we can go to heaven.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
Referees make mistakes but God does not. How about trying God for a change…
NOW TRY GOD! (Please use Internet Explorer for this link)
Sunday, September 10, 2006
The Impossible
Whenever we hear the words… “He throws up a prayer”, “a desperation heave”, or “He beats the buzzer” in a game broadcast, we can’t help but pay attention. For what we would really want to see is someone do the impossible like someone making • a last second shot
• a half court (or even beyond half court) shot
• rally from a 20+ point lead and eventually win the game
• an underdog team beating a powerhouse squad
• in recent times an improbable or creative jam in a dunking contest
That is why I love watching a basketball game… you’ll never know when the element of surprise will sprung upon you. Desperate times call for desperate measures. If a half court shot is the only option to win a game then you better take it.
In our lives we have seemingly insurmountable problems as well that throws us in a fit of desperation. Problems in our finances, relationships, etc drives us sometimes to desperation. Sometimes we see the worst of ourselves in these situations and compromise our values.
But just like a basketball player we can also throw up a prayer. We can pray to God to help us in our situation and see God work wonderful things into our lives. The Bible shows us stories of men who took a “desperation shot” in the face of his insurmountable problems. In order to rise to the occasion, they trust in God to deliver them from these challenges. These are two very different stories, one trusted God immediately while the other had some doubts but in the end success was achieved by their faith.
David: The Shepherd Boy
Naaman’s Story
Have faith and hope. You might just get that buzzer beater!
Sunday, September 03, 2006
The Coach’s Playbook
Think about the Coach’s basketball playbook. For sure you will see a bunch of X and O’s there. One set for defense and then another for offense. I once read that one NBA team had 100 plays for offense and the same number for defense. Two hundred plays… imagine that!But maybe for those who understand basketball much deeper than the ordinary fan, like me, you can see much more. You’ll see the coach’s basketball philosophy, his values on the court, his goals and his vision for the team. How will the team develop in the future if they can just do these sets of plays on a consistent basis? How will they implement variations once their opponents adjust? In a sense you are viewing a part of a coach’s character.
I would like to see and understand the playbooks of great coaches like Phil Jackson, Red Auerbach, Pat Riley, Don Nelson and the others. Do they emphasize more defense or offense? Experts say Don Nelson is a more offensive oriented coach and sometimes do not have much strategy on defense. But how can you argue with his success? Pat Riley had an offensive onslaught during the 80s Showtime Lakers but formed dramatically different teams for the Knicks and the 2006 NBA Champions, Miami Heat. How about Phil Jackson? He quietly sits there and win 9 NBA titles.
In our life the greatest coach, God also gave us a playbook… the Bible. You can find His strategy there plus the things He likes and His dislikes. Scholars have studied his words for generations. His basic strategy is to show His love for man. First He created man and gave him the freedom to think for himself. When man sinned and felt that they don’t need a God, the latter continued to pursue the former. He showed man the Ten Commandments, sent prophets to remind them of His love and also warn them of the pertinent danger ahead if man continues with his lifestyle. The rule in the playbook says that if man continues on He will be merited a punishment. This punishment was more than just a jog around the gymnasium. But God had another play in His sleeve. God sent his Son Jesus to be punished in our place. God became man so that the latter could understand how much He loves man.
Want to know all of these and understand God? Read His playbook… read the Bible. You can find the best plays for your life in His playbook
Suggested links:
How do we know the Bible is true?
How to Study the Bible by Max Lucado
Bible Gateway: Online Bible
Sunday, August 27, 2006
From the Clutches of Defeat
Just like a basketball game, life is a series of ups and downs. Sometimes when we feel that we were at rock bottom we look for somebody to help us get out of this rut we find ourselves into. The helping hand could come in the form of assistance from a person, a new job or even an event. It’s when we can’t get out of a tough situation that we look for somebody, anybody to throw us a lifeline.In basketball we have seen players occasionally defy the agony of losing. What makes the likes of Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson or Reggie Miller standout in our minds whenever we talk about the greats of NBA basketball? Curiously, during NBA highlight programs we are rarely shown the number of trophies these players have won and even the number of championships they got are just mentioned as an afterthought. The more striking and dramatic parts of such programs come when we see these players do unbelievable things to win a ballgame. Games in which their teams had already one foot or even 90% of their bodies in the grave only to walk off the court jubilant and leave a crowd in disbelief of what they saw.
Do you remember when Bird stole the game against the Pistons? Of course you do. How about when Magic hit what he called as a “junior hook” to seal Game 4 of the NBA Finals? Just like you Bird didn’t expect Magic to take that shot. He knew that Kareem could beat them with one skyhook but not Magic. In Game 5 of the NBA Finals a visibly sick Michael Jordan scored 38 points and made the winning shot to lead the Bulls over the Jazz 90-88. In one of the most mind-boggling finishes in NBA history, Reggie Miller scored 8 straight points in 8.9 seconds to beat the Knicks by two 107-105 in the NBA playoffs. Tracy McGrady will top that off a few years later when he scored 13 points in the last 35 seconds to give Houston a buzzer beating win against San Antonio. These guys literally grabbed victory from the clutches of defeat.
Two thousand years ago a man saved his fellowmen not only from the grasp of defeat but death as well. He changed how the game of life shall be played.
I am talking about Jesus Christ.
Two thousand years ago man’s idea of saving his soul was to follow the law, do the traditions. It doesn’t matter what he does for others, it doesn’t matter what’s in his heart. As long as he follows the law like sacrificing animals for payment of his sins then he is ok. If you compare this to a basketball game, man was like going through the motions of the game, putting up jump shots, fancy dribbles because the game was almost over since either they are winning by a blowout or about to lose in the same fashion. However, by this time man was going through the motions not only in the final seconds but their whole lives. They felt that that their usual animal sacrifices would be enough to pay for their sins. Eternal defeat was certain until Jesus came to the picture.
You see God is a good and just God. In order for him to be just, God must punish the sinners like the faithless, degenerates, murderers, sex peddlers, sorcerers, idolaters and ALL LIARS. Liars? That means everybody right?
Like the great coach that He is God had a plan. He loves us so much that he won’t just let us go to hell. God sent in Jesus. The Son of God became man. Instead of punishing man Jesus absorbed the punishment. Instead of animals for sacrifice, it was Jesus who died for our sins. Jesus was there hanging and dying on the cross for us. Then the winning moment came in. Three days later Jesus was gone from His tomb and came back to life, while man’s sins are washed away. What a victory!
It was the greatest win in human history! Do you want to be a part of this ultimate victory? Do you want to receive that eternal life? It is simple as asking for forgiveness and accepting Jesus Christ into your heart. Read the links below…
Am I good enough to go to Heaven? The Ten Commandments and you
Is Jesus the Answer to Your Questions?
Friday, August 25, 2006
The Law of Respect
I am currently reading John Maxwell's "The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership" and in this book he cites some basketball examples to demonstrate some leadership principles. In chapter four of this book he contends that people follow leaders stronger than themselves.
When Bill Walton joined coach John Wooden at UCLA he was wearing a beard. John Wooden has this one rule in the team prohibiting facial hair. Bill Walton though was strong willed as well and said that he wouldn't shave. John Wooden had just one answer "We'll miss you, Bill". Bill Walton eventually took off the beard and he and Wooden would win games together after that.
Bill Walton was a leader and yet he was just a young man and he needed a coach who was a stronger leader than he was so that he wouuld learn discipline at a most crucial stage in his young career.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
When Bill Walton joined coach John Wooden at UCLA he was wearing a beard. John Wooden has this one rule in the team prohibiting facial hair. Bill Walton though was strong willed as well and said that he wouldn't shave. John Wooden had just one answer "We'll miss you, Bill". Bill Walton eventually took off the beard and he and Wooden would win games together after that.
Bill Walton was a leader and yet he was just a young man and he needed a coach who was a stronger leader than he was so that he wouuld learn discipline at a most crucial stage in his young career.
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
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