Preparation

If you're nervous it means you're unprepared.

Eli Manning

The Super Bowl winning QB said a mouth full didn't he? Few of us will ever have the opportunity to play on a stage as large as the Super Bowl, but his words caught my eye. Just like Eli, I prepare for Sunday every week. He throws passes. I throw words. Sometimes people ask me about how I prepare, so here's a look at some other differences and similarities between Eli and me.

1. Unlike Eli, I love practice as much if not more so than the game - no , I don't stand in front of a mirror and go through my message. I am referring to my time studying the Bible and listening to God. That is something I cherish.

2. I have to know defensive schemes. Eli can call an audible at the line and adjust. A part of my prep is to recognize that people have many defensive mechanisms that oppose the transformation that comes from hearing, receiving and applying the Message of God's Word. Eli has an offensive line. I depend on prayer and the Holy Spirit to prepare the way.

3. Eli studies film. So do I. I watch and learn from gifted speakers. And I watch video of myself to learn from my mistakes and laugh at my frequent bloopers.

4. Eli is quick to give thanks to his teammates. My sermons do not stand alone. I am blessed with a great ministry team. We share a passionate desire to communicate God's love on Sunday.

Kindness

“Don’t be afraid,” David said to him, “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan." (2 Samuel 9:7 TNIV)

These are the words that David spoke to Mephibosheth, Jonathan's son. David was the king. Mephibosheth was the grandson of the previous king. During this time, it was common for the family of a previous ruler to be treated treacherously by the next ruler. That explains why David spoke the words, "Don't be afraid". Mephibosheth did not expect kindness from King David. In fact, he had reason to fear. These three words appear quite frequently in the Bible. Most of the time, “don’t be afraid” was spoken by God or a messenger for God. This opens our eyes to a significant description of David. He was described as “a man after God's own heart”. On this particular occasion, David’s actions reflected the heart of God. This week we will have multiple opportunities to extend the kindness of God toward people who may or may not expect to receive kindness. In fact, their lives may be filled with fear. Kindness can begin to dispel their fears and open the door for the love of Christ to enter in.

1 Samuel 16:17-18

So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.” One of the servants answered, “I have seen a son of Jesse of Bethlehem who knows how to play the lyre. He is a brave man and a warrior. He speaks well and is a fine-looking man. And the LORD is with him.”

1 Samuel 16 provides a magnificent picture of leadership development. The life of David is amazing. Often, in the business world we speak in terms of “transferable skills”. It is the ability to apply a set of skills learned in a previous job to a new situation. David’s development extends well beyond transferring skills and adapting to new challenges. The narrative material in 1 Samuel coupled with the Psalms that are attributed to David allow us to see his faith and trust in God develop. David exercised his faith and he used his skills to glorify God. Consider the last phrase, “The LORD was with David”. This week, God will give each of us opportunities to exercise our faith and apply the lessons we have learned through our life experiences. Certainly, we will face new challenges. But, God is never surprised by those challenges. We must cultivate our awareness of His presence in our lives and trust in Him. Wouldn’t it be great for others to take notice of the fact that the LORD is with us?

David

A few months ago I started a series of messages in Genesis. The plan is to move through the entire Bible by sharing 2 messages from each book. I knew it was going to be a challenge to limit myself to two messages in some of the books. For example, Genesis includes material about several major "events" such as creation, the flood and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Not to mention the fact that there are some interesting people such as Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel and Abraham and Sarah. Oh yeah, there's also Joseph. So, now I have come to 1 Samuel. In this book we meet Hannah, Samuel, Saul and David. Each of these provide some major lessons. David is my focus this week. He was a shepherd, musician/writer, warrior and king. How's that for a bio? Each of these descriptions carries some significant weight in our view of David. Also, they remind us that each responsibiliity or "station" in life provides some personal growth opportunities and significant temptions. David's successes and stumblings are well documented. Fortunately, we have his life story as a backdrop for learning how to become better stewards of the opportunities that God gives us. Too often we search for signficance based upon the outward symbols of importance rather than the inner virtues of faithfulness. It's easy to crave the taste of victory over Goliath without learning how to defend the sheep from lions and bears as David did. A fast track to character development is an illusion. The Psalms of David show us the pain and the beauty of God's grace in the process.

Self-Examination

Colossians 3:1-4

Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. (TNIV)

This passage has grabbed my heart for the last few days. The practical implications of this short passage are profound. Think about your day. Has your heart been attached to Christ today? By that, I mean to ask whether or not your love for Christ has had an impact on your day. How often has Christ entered or influenced your thoughts? It may require some reflection. But, I won't apologize for asking. Reflection helps prepares us for tomorrow. It is what St. Ignatius called the spiritual discipline of examen. Ignatius believed that we should develop an ongoing feedback loop of reflection and follow up. With God's help we can escape our selfishness and become more like Christ when we attach our heart and mind to Him. Paul’s terminology is graphic. We die and our life becomes defined by Christ.

Lombardi Quote

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5

Both before and after the Denver Broncos lost their bid to march toward the Lombardi Trophy for pro football's best team, a lot of attention has been given to the place of "faith" and "expressions about faith" in sports. Esther Fleece wrote an interesting piece in the Washington Post about Tim Tebow. Although not all of the press has been positive, some of the discussion has been fruitful. Here’s a bright spot. In the article, Fleece quotes Vince Lombardi who said this in a May 1964 speech to the First Friday Club of Los Angeles:

“When we place our dependence in God, we are unencumbered, and we have no worry. In fact, we may even be reckless, insofar as our part in the production is concerned. This confidence, this sureness of action, is both contagious and an aid to the perfect action.

The rest is in the hands of God -- and this is the same God, gentlemen, who has won all of His battles up to now.”

Although Lombardi was speaking to a club about football, his application to all "battles" in life is undeniable. Thanks coach, we needed that.

Wait Quietly

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him; it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. (Lamentations 3:25, 26 TNIV)

Lamentations is a gruesome description of the judgement of God. That's one reason why chapter three is so striking. In the midst of lament there is a beautiful message of hope. Ironically, Lamentations teaches us to "wait quietly" when the storms of life are raging. Difficult? Of course it is. Consider the following words from Leonard Sweet:

"When water is still, it becomes clear. So, too, the mind and soul"

It is very difficult for us to recognize the salvation of the Lord during painful times without quieting our mind and soul and turning our focus toward our Lord.