Highways, Hedges and Basketball Courts

But Go ye into the highways and hedges and basketball courts and compel them to come! Actually the Bible encourages us in Luke 14:23 “to go into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled.”  Moreover, Acts 1:8 goes further to say that “ you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Hence our witness for God should go beyond the church walls, and extend further than church conferences to include our communities while doing various activities. So for the past 2 years, once a month, every 4^th Friday Night at 8:30pm, Excel Church hosts an event we call Friday Night Hoops at a local gymnasium in Bowie, Maryland. 

We started this ministry as an initiative for the youth of the church but it soon blossomed into an outreach to young men from around the city between the ages of 13 and 25 who for the most part- do not attend church.  Half way between our full court games, we stop playing basketball, and ask everyone to join us in a semi-circle and take a knee as we lead them in prayer and share an encouraging message from the Word of God.  Afterwards, we resume all basketball activities.  We also encourage these young men and provide godly advice on variety of subjects throughout the evening in- between games.

The participation has grown to a point that we no longer advertise.  It’s just word of mouth that they come to expect it every 4^th Friday night.  I can definitely notice a change in the young men that attend.  I love this ministry because it allows us to reach a segment of individuals that never attend church.  It has grown substantially since we first began and I expect God to continue to do great things. 

As a former high school and college basketball player, basketball remains a great passion of mine.  And I consider it a blessing to be able to use the game to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ. So as we endeavor to be witnesses for Jesus, let us remember to use our interests and the things we enjoy doing to go into the highways, hedges, and even basketball courts and beyond (depending on your passions) to  reach souls for Christ.

 

Watch Your Mouth

James 3:2 "We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check."

When I was a child, I was often corrected for the things I said. When I complained because I could not get my way, or if I said mean things about others, or if I appeared disrespectful in my tone, or if I was bold enough to talk back (before she spanked me), my mom would say with a stern voice- Watch Your Mouth. But as adults, it is very rare that we have someone actually tell us to watch our mouths.

So today I would like to make an exception and ask everyone to watch their mouths.  Be careful what you say, when you say it, how you say it, and to whom you say it.  Put simply, Watch your mouth.  Without question, the slip of the tongue can cause damaging effects. In the 1988 Republican primary for president, the Vice President at that time and candidate George Bush said these words “Read my lips, no new taxes.”  He won the 1988 election but the statement likely caused him the re-election in 1992 because he did raise taxes.  Indeed the slip of the tongue can erase a lifetime of preparation if we are not careful. 

Such was the case for Greek Tripper Jumper Voula Papachristou who was prepared to realize her life long dream of competing in the 2012 London Olympics.  But what halted her participation was not an injury or competitor.  It was her mouth through a negative tweet.  

So Not only must we watch what we say, we must be careful what we say in writing, by email, place on facebook, twitter and all other forms of social media.  If we heed the recommendations of the Bible, we can make better decisions about our words. The following scriptures give sound advice on what comes out of our mouths.

James 1:26  Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. (NIV)

Proverbs 6:2 you have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth. (NIV)

Psalm 34:13  keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. (NIV)

I Peter 3:10 “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

Proverbs 21:23 Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.

So think before you speak.  Even in situations where you are right, choose your words carefully.  And by all means:  Watch your mouth.

Get Out The Boat

Matthew 14:29-30  “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”

In the prior verses, Jesus comes walking on the sea at night to his disciples who were afraid of the waves and believed Jesus to be a ghost. Yet despite the comforting of Jesus, his disciples sat bound in fear inside the boat.  In this instance, the Boat was not simply a means of transportation- it also represented a source of fear and imprisonment to the possibilities of God.  With the exception of one, the disciples missed out on a super natural experience.  The boat symbolized status quo and a false level of security.

But Peter dared to be different and at the urging of Jesus, got out of the boat and began to walk on water. When Peter stepped out of the boat, he made a leap of faith by responding to God’s call.  Like Peter, many of us need to get out of the boat that restricts us from obtaining our dreams in God. Although we began life with accomplishing our goals of sailing to the other side of endless possibilities, far too often many are held back in the boat of do nothing and indecision caused by fear and unbelief.  Would have, should have, could have are phrases that we have come to embrace as opportunities have passed us by.

So get out the boat of underachievement and playing it safe.  Get out the boat of being like the crowd.  Get out the boat of fear and indecisiveness. Get out the boat of mediocrity. Get out the boat of settling for less than God's best for you. Respond to the Lord’s call to walk on water toward your blessing and keep your eyes on God.  Get out the boat like Peter, walk on water and take that step of faith.  The world is waiting on your invention, your book, your business, your production, your movie, or your promotion.  Don't be afraid.  Trust in God, and Get out of the boat.

I'll Take The Crumbs

Matthew 15:26-27 "He replied,  "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to the dogs." Yes it is, Lord," she said.  "Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table." (NIV)

As the Canaanite woman presses her way to obtain deliverance for her daughter, we are introduced to an important characteristic in accessing the blessings of God.  After her persistence and her worship, she was not too proud to take that which remained from the Lord.  This Canaanite woman recognized that something from the Lord is far greater than any alternative the world could provide.  And thus she concluded, I’ll take the crumbs. 

She had a mentality to take God’s best or God’s least. 

Perhaps she realized that the same flavor, and ingredients in the table dinner could also be found in the crumbs.  Indeed it would be a different story if we were referring to crumbs from the table of the poor.  But even the crumbs from the Lord’s Table bring bountiful blessings.  So she therefore resolved- I’ll take the crumbs.

And as such she sets a marvelous example.  So you may never acquire the wealth of Warren Buffet or the financial portfolio of Bill Gates, but if God blessed you with just ½ of 1 percent of their earnings- that’s more than anyone can ever want and I’ll take the crumbs.  You may not have the athleticism of Lebron James or the speed of Usain Bolt but if God just gives life, health and strength- that’s sufficient: I’ll take the crumbs.  And you may never possess the scientific and mathematical knowledge of Albert Einstein or the literary genius of William Shakespeare, but as long as you are in your right mind-that’s good enough:  I’ll take the crumbs.   

We are created for greatness.  As believers in Jesus, we are the seed of Abraham and joint heirs with Jesus Christ.  Nevertheless, anyway the Lord blesses me, I’ll be satisfied.  Even fragments from the Lord’s table are far better than anything the world can offer.  In fact, a sprinkling of the Lord's blessing will do; A dusting is just fine. And a touch from the Lord is more than enough. Truth is, all God has to do is blow upon your situation.  So when it’s all said and done: I’ll take- the crumbs. 

Launch Into the Deep

Luke 5:4 Now when he had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.

In this passage of scripture, two fishermen had been fishing all night without any results.  Jesus asked if he could borrow their boat to use as a platform to teach.  They consented.  And after Jesus concluded his message, he encouraged the fishermen to launch into the deep and let down their nets for a catch. Even though they had been fishing all night without results, they obeyed his word. 

This one encounter changed their lives.  They became disciples of Jesus Christ. The result was a boatload of fish so plentiful that the nets break causing them to call their fishing buddies on the other boat whose nets also began to break. The catch of fish was so large that both boats began to sink.  Allow me to make five observations about this passage:

      1.  Give Jesus your resources:  Give him your time, talent, and treasure.  Put God first in your life.  If you lend to Jesus and give him access to your stuff he will surely repay.

      2. Take a risk for God:  Come out of the shallow water down to the deep end where the risks are large but the rewards are even greater.  Some of us have been swimming in the kiddie pool for too long.  Dream big, and launch into the deep.

        3. Try Again: The scripture says that they toiled all night and had taken in nothing. Nevertheless at Jesus urging they tried again.  Sometimes we give up too easy.  As we walk with Jesus, we must never stop trying even when we fail at first attempt.  Your destiny is sometimes realized after the first unsuccessful pursuit.  So try again.

      4.  Expect The Overflow:  Because of their obedience, God blessed them with an abundant amount of fish that led to incredible overflow.  Psalms 23:5 puts it best as it states “…my cup runs over.”  As we lend God our resources, not only will God meet our needs, he will bless us with overflow.  Learn to expect the overflow. 

      5. Follow Jesus: Despite the blessing of overflow, it still does not compare to the joy of following Jesus. After the fisherman witnessed the great miracle of the abundance of fish, they left all behind, followed Jesus and became disciples. Our main calling as Christians is to follow Christ.

So take a risk in God.  Dream Again.  Don't stop believing.  Hang on in there and give it your best shot.  God has great things in store if we trust him, serve him and follow him.  So get back on your boat.  Grap your net and launch into the deep.

Stop Drop and Roll

Daniel 3:24-25 if you find yourself in the midst of a fiery furnace through trials and tribulation, remember to Stop, Drop, and Roll. 

(1) Stop accepting the World’s standard of what’s right.  The Three Hebrew Boys refused to bow down to the Golden image of King Nebuchadnezzar. The Bible is our standard. 

(2) Drop down on your knees in prayer and Worship to God.  The Three Hebrew Boys fell down in the midst of the fire bound hand and foot.  I believe that while they were down, they worshiped. We must learn to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness in the midst of our situation.

(3 )Roll with Jesus.  Jesus commands that we come unto him all who labor and are heavy laden.  How is your walk with the Lord?  When the King looked into the midst of the fire, he said, I thought we threw in three men, but I see four men loose, and walking and they have no hurt and the fourth looks like the Son of God.  Despair, heartache, disappointment, persecution, whatever the fire, don’t panic.  Just remember these three simple rules:  Stop, Drop, and Roll.

Gather the Leftovers

John 6:12-13 "When the people had eaten their fill, he said to his disciples, Gather the leftovers so nothing is wasted. They went to work and filled twelve large baskets with leftovers from the five barley loaves."

One of the best things about eating a good home cooked meal is the leftovers.  But to get the leftovers, one must ensure that the food is properly put away and stored.  It will be a great waste to leave all that good food sitting out all night to go bad.  In fact, the quickest way to frustrate a cook or dinner host is to squander the leftovers of the meal they provided.

In the prior passage, Jesus fed five thousand men (not including women and children) with 2 fish and five loaves of bread.  The disciples, despite seeing Jesus perform many miracles doubted that it could be done.  But Jesus multiplied a meal of 2 sardines and five biscuits (remember it was a little boy’s lunch) into a great dinner for a stadium full of people.

And after all of them ate as much as they wanted, he made the disciples gather the leftovers so that none is wasted.  Perhaps the disciples were lackadaisical toward the food that was left. Maybe they were moving slow.  Or maybe they did not believe in eating leftovers.  But I can hear the Lord saying don’t take my blessings for granted.  Go get my leftovers.  

Leftovers are a big deal to the person who shopped, paid for the food, cooked the meal, or in the case of Jesus multiplied the food.  No one wants their food wasted. And Jesus does not want his people to take the miracles of God for granted. Jesus told them to gather the leftovers as a testimony of what God had done, as a lesson of not to doubt God, and as provision for each disciple to participate in the overflow.

In the spiritual realm, leftovers are overflow blessings that go beyond the initial provision.  Leftovers are the miracles that remain after the first wave.  As we walk with Christ, let us be thankful and yet careful not to waste the blessings that God has provided and gather the leftovers.

God leaves leftovers or remnants of his miracles to remind you of what he has done.  Be a blessing to somebody else and know that God can make a way.  And appreciate the opportunities that you know were only from God. So as you put away leftovers from tonight's dinner, remember to handle all of God’s blessings with care.  And Gather the Leftovers.