ThinkingInColor

David is one of the most beloved characters in the Bible because of the Psalms, the benevolence with which he ruled over Israel in its golden age and his place in the lineage of Jesus Christ. At the same time, he is viewed as a pathetic despot because of his sins of adultery, lying and murder.

We know that the human nature is flawed because of the sins of Adam. Romans 7 refers to the law of the flesh. Yet, we also understand that the flesh is imperfect and is loaded with character flaws. What should the sincere Christian do when he or she encounters these imperfections? Are they sins to repent of and overcome, or are they merely character flaws that should be accepted and overlooked?

Romans 7:4 Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5 For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. 6 But now we are delivered from the law, that being dead wherein we were held; that we should serve in newness of spirit, and not in the oldness of the letter. 7 What shall we say then? is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. 8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead. 9 For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died. 10 And the commandment, which was ordained to life, I found to be unto death. 11 For sin, taking occasion by the commandment, deceived me, and by it slew me.

How frustrated should we be over our idiosyncrasies, our faults and our personality quirks if they cannot be designated as sin? Does God intend for us to become perfect while we are still in the flesh? Here is what Paul wrote to the Galatians:

Galatians 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. 17 But if, while we seek to be justified by Christ, we ourselves also are found sinners, is therefore Christ the minister of sin? God forbid. 18 For if I build again the things which I destroyed, I make myself a transgressor. 19 For I through the law am dead to the law, that I might live unto God. 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

While this seems like a dilemma, there is a very important distinction between flaws and sins.  A flaw is a natural result of living in the flesh. A sin is a deliberate transgression against the knowledge of the scripture and against the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Not all flaws are sins, but all sins are flaws. People who want to rationalize away their sins often categorize them as mere flaws.

We should not be so dismissive of traits that we label as character flaws. Once those traits have been identified as a violation of the scripture, we must then admit that they are actually sins that need to be washed away by the blood of Christ.

1 John 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) 3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ. 4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. 5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

By examining a list of supposed character flaws, we can get a better grasp of the behaviors we call character flaws.

Character Flaws Character Assets

Proud

1 John 2:16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

Obadiah 1:2 1 The vision of Obadiah. Thus saith the Lord GOD concerning Edom; We have heard a rumour from the LORD, and an ambassador is sent among the heathen, Arise ye, and let us rise up against her in battle. Behold, I have made thee small among the heathen: thou art greatly despised. 3 The pride of thine heart hath deceived thee, thou that dwellest in the clefts of the rock, whose habitation is high; that saith in his heart, Who shall bring me down to the ground? 4 Though thou exalt thyself as the eagle, and though thou set thy nest among the stars, thence will I bring thee down, saith the LORD. 5 If thieves came to thee, if robbers by night, (how art thou cut off!) would they not have stolen till they had enough? if the grapegatherers came to thee, would they not leave some grapes? 6 How are the things of Esau searched out! how are his hidden things sought up!

Saul: 1 Samuel 17 And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

arrogant, insolent unassuming, humble

boastful modest, humble

conceited,self-important humble, modest

exaggerating honest, realistic

falsely prideful modest, humble

intolerant tolerant, understanding, patient

inflexible, stubborn open-minded, flexible

self-important humble, modest

superior, grandiose, pretentious humble

vain modest, humble

Contentious  Proverbs 15:18 A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife. Ephesians 4:26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Judas Mark 14:4; Peter John 18:10.

aggressive, belligerent good-natured, gentle 

angry forgiving, calm, generous

argumentative, quarrelsome agreeable

attacking, critical fair, self-restrained

competitive (socially) cooperative

contrary, intractable, pigheadedreasonable

contradictory, oppositional| reasonable, agreeable

gossiping closed-mouth, kind, praising

ill-tempered good-tempered, calm

rude, discourteous polite, courteous

Irresponsible Prodigal Son; Luke 15:13; Proverbs 14:7; Proverbs 13:4 The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.

apathetic interested, concerned, alert

careless careful, painstaking, concerned

irresponsible, reckless responsible

fantasizing, unrealistic practical, realistic

forgetful responsible

lack of purpose purposeful

lazy, indolent industrious, conscientious

procrastinates disciplined, acts promptly

undisciplined, self-indulgent disciplined

wasteful thrifty

Fearful 2 Timothy 1:7

apprehensive, afraid calm, courageous

avoidant faces problems and acts

cowardly brave

fearful confident, courageous

dependent accepts help but is self-reliant

indecisive,timid firm, decisive

shy outgoing

Dishonest

Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

2 Corinthians 11: 13 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Judas

blocking honest intuitive

cheating honest

deceitful guileless honest

denying honest accepting.

dishonest³ honest

defensive open to criticism

falsely modest honest, has self-esteem

evasive, deceitful candid, straightforward

disloyal, treacherous faithful, loyal

insincere, hypocritical sincere, honest

masked, closed honest, open, candid

lying honest

manipulative candid, honest, non-controlling

rationalizing candid, honest

stealing honest

treacherous trustworthy

untrustworthy, unreliable, trustworthy

Lack of Self-Control

2 Peter 2:10; 2:18; 3:3;

compulsive free

dirty, poor hygiene clean

impulsive, reckless consistent, considered actions

gluttonous, excessive moderate

Judgmental

Romans 2:1-6

controlling lets go, esp. of other’s lives

critical non-judgmental, praising, tolerant

cynical open-minded

judgmental broadminded, tolerant

justifying (own actions) honest, frank, candid

projecting (negative) clear sighted, optimistic

Rebellious Saul: 1 Samuel 15:23; Romans 1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

defiant, contemptuous respectful

disobedient obedient

Selfish Absolom 2 Samuel 14:25 But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. 2 Samuel 15:2 And Absalom rose up early, and stood beside the way of the gate: and it was so, that when any man that had a controversy came to the king for judgment, then Absalom called unto him, and said, Of what city art thou? And he said, Thy servant is of one of the tribes of Israel. 3 And Absalom said unto him, See, thy matters are good and right; but there is no man deputed of the king to hear thee. 4 Absalom said moreover, Oh that I were made judge in the land, that every man which hath any suit or cause might come unto me, and I would do him justice! 5 And it was so, that when any man came nigh to him to do him obeisance, he put forth his hand, and took him, and kissed him. 6 And on this manner did Absalom to all Israel that came to the king for judgment: so Absalom stole the hearts of the men of Israel.

faithless, disloyal reliable, faithful

disrespectful, insolent respectful, reverent

impatient patient

inconsiderate thoughtful, considerate

indifferent, apathetic, aloof caring

possessive open-minded

loud tasteful, quiet

self-centered caring of others

self-justifying admitting wrongs, humble

self-pitying grateful, realistic, accepting

self-righteous humble, understanding

self-seeking selfless, concerned for others

selfish altruistic, concerned with others

slothful (lazy) industrious, taking action

Hate

Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another. 1 John 2:9-11.

hateful forgiving loving, concerned for others

resentful, bitter, hateful forgiving

sarcastic praising, tolerant

spiteful, malicious forgiving

unkind, mean, malicious, spitefulkind

unfriendly, hostile friendly

vulgar polite

vindictive forgiving

Weak

Jude 1:10 But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves. 11 Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core. 12 These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots;

enabling setting boundaries, tough love

depressed, morose hopeful, optimistic, cheerful

hypersensitive tolerant, doesn’t personalize

insecure, anxious self-confident, secure

isolating, solitary sociable, outgoing

over emotional emotionally stable

superstitious realistic, no magical thinking

tense calm, serene

Envious

Romans 1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers

Ahab and Naboth’s vineyard

envying empathetic, generous, admiring

greedy moderate, generous, sharing

jealous trusting, generous, admiring

lustful healthy sexuality

Negative, Disbelieving

Hebrews 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Pessimistic realistic, hopeful, optimistic, trusting

resisting growing willing to grow

self-destructive, self-defeating self-fulfilling

self-hating self-accepting, loving

thinking negatively being positive

suspicious trusting

Various Flaws

nagging supportive

narrow minded open minded

obscene, crude modest, courteous

perfectionistic realistic goals

stubborn open-minded, willing

sullen cheerful

unfair fair

ungrateful thankful, grateful

unsupportive of others supportive

useless, destructive helpful

violent gentle

willful accepting of the inevitable

withdrawn outgoing

wordy, verbose frank, to the point, succinct

We are to go from glory to glory in living our life. God tries us as in the fire in order to bring out the best in us.

Here is the difference between worldly philosophy and psychology versus the purposes of God: The world seeks to identify our faults and failures so that we can understand ourselves and accept ourselves as we are. God reveals the flaws and faults in us so that we can address them and overcome them. Much, much more can be said about these imperfections in the Christian’s life, but it all comes down to this principle.

If you find that you are filled with character flaws, do not simply shrug your shoulders and excuse yourself. Apply the blood of Christ and the power of the Holy Ghost to your life so that you can grow into the image of Christ.

2 Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

A few weeks ago I told you that I was far more impoverished than I thought I was. The reason for this was that I surveyed my library and found very few books on love. How could this be? Love is the foundation of everything we believe about God, about salvation and about being a Christian.

Tonight, I am going to confirm my poverty even more. The few books I do have say very little about love, especially about the love of God. In fact, some of them find fault with the concept of love. Here are two titles: Can Christians Love Too Much?  Love Is Not Enough

Other books focus mainly on love in the context of marriage or of romantic relationships. “The Five Languages of Love”, by Gary Chapman deals with marital love. “Essays on Love” is a series of articles on romance and marriage. “I Loved A Girl” devotes its pages to a Christian response to an immoral relationship.

The only other book I have on the theme of love is Eric Fromm’s classic, “The Art of Loving.” He writes it from a philosophical and psychological perspective and distances himself from a theistic view. While he makes many good statements about love, he only deals with it in a secular, humanist sense. To treat the all-important concept of love without an understanding of God lacks credibility for a Bible believer. In fact, all research into everything we believe—not only about love, but all subjects—must begin with God and flow outward. Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God—.” That defines our starting point for life.

Where To Begin? Definitions.

Charles C. Ryrie, in his book, A Survey of Bible Doctrine, says the following:

“God is love (1 John 4:8). What is love? This is one of the words used the most and defined the least in our vocabulary today. Here is one way of arriving at a proper concept of what love is. When young people think of love they think first and quite naturally of a pleasant emotional experience. And this is love, but it is not the whole concept. When those same young people grow up, marry, and have children, they soon learn that they have to discipline those children. The couple that first cuddles a baby and then soon after corrects that baby who, for instance, reaches out to touch a hot stove, is expressing two aspects of love.

So any definition of love must be broad enough to include both the cuddling and correcting aspects of love. Therefore, we might tentatively propose the definition that love is that which seeks good for the object loved.”

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary says,

LOVE; (1):strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties <maternallovefor a child>(2):attraction based on sexual desire:affection and tenderness felt by lovers(3):affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests<lovefor his old schoolmates>.

A teenage girl writes this: “What is the real definition of love? Love has many different meanings to all different types of people. There are many stages of love at different ages and different types of love. My definition of love is caring about someone so deeply that your life would be very different with out them there would always be a little piece of yourself missing if they pass away or leave you. Your life is incomplete when they are away and you would do anything to protect them or to make them happy. When I think of love I think of a couple sitting by the ocean holding hands and kissing. The feeling of love is “that I can’t eat, I can’tsleep, reach for the stars, world series kind of stuff”. But this definition and the way that I portray and believe in love differs from yours, the classrooms, and probably many other people. “Love is an incredibly powerful word. When you’re in love, you always want to be together, and when you’re not, you’re thinking about being together because you need that person and without them your life is incomplete” (Sophocles).

“My definition of love is what I personally think of it. The definition that I gave is what I think of when thinking of a couple (being in a relationship with another person.) This is my interpretation of love as an 18-year-old female. But when I was a little kid I thought of love in a completely different way, and when I am older and wiser I will probably think of love differently also. As an a teenager I realize that I have not experienced the real meaning of life yet and that I have not seen all there is to see in the world so how could I understand the “real” definition of love? How can anyone really know the real definition of love? I believe that love is one of the hardest words in thedictionaryto actually understand and know the true definition.”

Why is this so important? We must begin with what the Bible says about love. The first place love is mentioned is Genesis 22:2.

And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou LOVEst, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.

Most of the uses of the word love refer to relationships between husband and wife, parents and children, brothers and sisters and friends. Sometimes it is used to show affection for food (as when Isaac is said to love venison).

The first time we see love in connection with God is Exodus 20 when the ten commandments were listed.

1 And God spake all these words, saying, 2 I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3 Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 6 And showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

This scripture does not offer much analysis as to the nature of this love. Next, we read about the love of bondservant to his master.

Exodus 21:5 And if the servant shall plainly say, I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free: 6 Then his master shall bring him unto the judges; he shall also bring him to the door, or unto the door post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him for ever.

Then, we read of neighborly love.

Leviticus 19:17-18 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. 18 Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD.

Reading further, we are taught to love strangers as well as neighbors.

Leviticus 19:33-34 And if a stranger sojourn with thee in your land, ye shall not vex him.

34 But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Finally, we come to a full definition of what it means to love God. It is remarkable that we find the fullest definition of the love of God in the same setting as our fullest revelation of the essence of God.

Deuteronomy 6:1 Now these are the commandments, the statutes, and the judgments, which the LORD your God commanded to teach you, that ye might do them in the land whither ye go to possess it: 2 That thou mightest fear the LORD thy God, to keep all his statutes and his commandments, which I command thee, thou, and thy son, and thy son’s son, all the days of thy life; and that thy days may be prolonged. 3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and observe to do it; that it may be well with thee, and that ye may increase mightily, as the LORD God of thy fathers hath promised thee, in the land that floweth with milk and honey. 4 Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD:5 And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.

We cannot extrapolate or isolate the concept of love outside of the context of God. True love is so integrated with and reflexive of the nature of God, that it cannot be considered as a stand-alone virtue. This is precisely what the secular humanist has tried to do. When love is divorced from its relationship with God, it becomes a mutant. Without God, love has no justice, righteousness, holiness or true meaning do define it.

This definition in Deuteronomy 6:5 was expanded a little in Joshua 22.

Joshua 22:5 But take diligent heed to do the commandment and the law, which Moses the servant of the LORD charged you, to LOVE the LORD your God, and to walk in all his ways, and to keep his commandments, and to cleave unto him, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul. 

On basis of these scriptures, we can begin to understand the nature of love:

• Love does not exist in the abstract. It must be understood in concrete ways and in context with reality.
• Love is not an involuntary feeling. You have control over your impulse to love.
• We are commanded to love God.
• We are commanded how to love God.
• We are to love God emotionally (heart), intellectually (soul/mind), and willfully (might).

These scriptures do not square with a number of ideas in modern society.

• I fell in love.
• I fell out of love.
• I cannot love anyone.
• I cannot love you.
• I cannot stop loving.
• I can love one person but not another.
• I don’t know if I love you or not.
• I love you but I can’t commit to you.
• You are too complicated to love.
• You are too demanding to love.

You can even find steps to take in order to fall out of love.

These statements come from selfish, secular, humanistic sources. Since they are so ingrained in our culture, Apostolic believers may unwittingly subscribe to them even though they have no basis in the scriptures.

The meaning God assigns to love is best illustrated in the stories of the Bible.

Each scenario presents a problem, shows the solution and then gives the results. From the human standpoint, the problem always seems insurmountable, the solution always seems unworkable and the results always seem disastrous. The truth is always the opposite of what it appears to human wisdom.

• Abraham’s love for God in sacrifice of Isaac.  Genesis 22:12 (Love overcomes rivalry.)
• Joseph’s love for his brethren. Genesis 45:1-15 (Love overcomes hurt.)
• Ruth’s love for Naomi. Ruth 1:14-17 (Love overcomes insecurity.)
• Esther’s love for her people. Esther 4:13-16 (Love overcomes fear.)
• Hosea’s love for Gomer. Hosea 1:1-3; 3:1-4 (Love overcomes shame.)
• Jesus’ love for Peter. John 21:1-17 (Love overcomes disappointment.)
• Paul’s love for Onesimus. Philemon 1 (Love overcomes complications.)
• Barnabas’ love for John Mark. Acts 15:36-40. (Love overcomes inadequacy.)
• The greatest story of all time: Christ’s love for the sinner.

John 3:16, Romans 5:1-7

Here are things we know about love:

• Love must have an object.
  • It cannot exist as an abstract thought.
    • 1John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
  • Love acts within a relationship.
    • 1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
    • 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
    • 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
• Love obeys a set of behavioral laws.
  • It respects the wishes of its object.
  • It always acts in the best interest of its object.
  • It always chooses to please its object.
• Love will be tested.
  • “Wherefore show ye to them, and before the churches, the PROOF of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf.” 2 Cor. 8:24.
  • Romans 8:35-39.
• Love can be misapplied.
  • For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy. 1 Tim. 3:2.
  • 2 Tim. 4:10
  • 1 Tim. 6:10
  • 1 John 2:15-17.

1 John 4:6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. 10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

• Love is the only way we can ultimately embrace God. Without loving God, we cannot have a relationship with God.

(A little Bible study for men and boys in the Family Life Center gymnasium. Demonstrations by players and novices alike.)

The Ball 1 Corinthians 15:45

• The ball is dead without air. God breathed life into you.
• The ball is resilient. It bounces. You are built to take life’s challenges.
• The ball represents your life. It is in your hands. You make the decisions.
• Handling the ball carelessly or making bad decisions will hurt your game.

The Goal Philippians 3:13-14

· The goal is ten feet off the floor. High enough to be a challenge, but low enough to be doable.

· Most people can’t touch the rim. It takes work. Learn to jump. The higher you jump, the closer you can get to the rim. (See Lucky Break)

The Court Revelation 20:12

• The court has boundaries. You must play within the lines.
• You cannot move the lines according to your size, shape or speed.
• You are judged by the lines, regardless of how you feel about them.

Skills

• Shooting
  • There are proper techniques in shooting the basketball.
  • Your entire body is involved in the act of shooting.
  • Hand-eye coordination is critical to shooting. Keep your eyes on the goal.
  • How you shoot depends on how far you are from the goal. Heb. 12:2
• Dribbling
  • Keep it going.
  • Learn to dribble with both hands.
• Rebounding
  • Anticipate where the ball is going.
  • Rebounding is important on both offense and defense.
  • Remember, you have to rebound from adversity in life.
    • • (Rick Patino: Lost infant son, lost bro-inlaw to traffic acc., lost 2^nd bro-inlaw in 9/11 WTC, 3 seasons of losses as coach of Boston Celtics.)
• Passing
  • If you don’t pass, you will get trapped.
  • Learn to pass correctly.
  • Learn to pass safely. Poor passing results in most steals.
  • Passing is sharing and communication.

Rules

• Double-dribble, walking, carrying the ball, stepping out of bounds, etc.
• Without rules, the game becomes a free-for-all.
• Rules accents a player’s skills and understanding of how the game is played.
• Referees are on hand to call and enforce infractions.
• Never resent correction. It makes the game possible to play. (A T story)

Fouls and Penalties

• Bumping, reaching in, blocking, charging, unsportsmanlike conduct, etc.
• God will not overlook bad behavior.
• Fouls hurt the team.

Plays and Strategy

• You have to have a play in mind when you have possession of the ball.
• Designing plays depends upon who is on the floor, your opponent, and the status of the game.
• Your strategy is mainly determined by the score and the time remaining.
• Free throws enter into a winning strategy. (See A. C. Green, “Stepping Out.”)

Your Team

• Cooperation/Coordination. You have to learn to work with your teammates.
• Assists. You may be more effective by passing the ball then by shooting.
• Ball Hogging. You are not the only player on the team. Learn to share.

Your Opponent

• If you had no opponent, there would be little challenge to the game.
• Satan will always be between you and your goal.
• Defending. You must defend against the actions of your opponent.
• Out-smarting. You must learn to think ahead and around your opponent.

Illustrations:

Lucky Break
Theme of the Week: Look for That Silver Lining
Monday, July 9, 2007

Key Bible Verse: We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they are good for us (Romans 5:3).Bonus Reading: Romans 5:2-5

In high school I’d tried for years to dunk a basketball. It was my holy grail. Ironically, it took a broken ankle for me to first achieve that goal.

As a sophomore, I was just running down the court in one of our drills, and tripped over a line on the floor. I spent the next month in a cast, and remember questioning God. After all, He could have kept it from happening.

Here’s what did happen. That semester my classes seemed to alternate between the top and bottom floors of our three-floor high school. So after every period I was hopping up and down flights of stairs like a human pogo stick. When you’re injured in one place, you’ve got to draw more strength from somewhere else. In a process called remodeling, my right leg grew stronger to compensate for my broken left ankle. The brokenness actually increased my capacity. I dunked my first basketball while wearing a cast!

Like a broken bone that needs to be reset, God breaks us where we need to be broken. He fractures the pride and lust and anger in our lives, but He does it to remodel us into His image. And once we heal, we end up stronger than we were to begin with.

Stepping Out
Goal to Go
Wednesday, April 26, 2000

Key Bible Verse: Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). Bonus Reading: Hebrews 5:12-14; 6:1-2

Confidence only comes through tasting victory. To get confident, you have to set some kind of goal. My goal at OSU [Oregon State University] the day I got to campus was just to have the courage to play with those guys. When I reached that goal, my confidence grew. Then I could set another goal: to play them and actually score one time.

Maybe a goal for a young basketball player is to make 10 free throws in a row. When you try and you make eight, that gives you a sense that you can eventually accomplish what you set out to do. Maybe a goal for a new Christian isn’t to win 10 people to Christ in one day, but to admit to just one person that you’ve become a Christian.

If you don’t set goals, you can’t possible reach them, because even if you get there, you won’t know it. So set goals. Take practical steps to reach them, little steps of faith, courage and boldness. Face the challenge head-on. If you want to memorize a Scripture verse or a series of verses, go at it. It’s a step, and that builds confidence.

—A. C. Green in Victory

A T for the Tongue
Theme of the Week: Down with Putdowns
Monday, March 12, 2007

Key Bible Verse: Those who control their tongue will have a long life; a quick retort can ruin everything (Proverbs 13:3). Bonus Reading: Proverbs 15:28 21:23; 29:20; Psalm 141:3

As a young basketball coach I had a short fuse, especially when it came to dealing with men in stripes. It was hard keeping my mouth shut, and I often said things that got me in trouble. One game in particular, I thought my team was being treated unfairly and was quick to point it out. Late in the game, I stood up and yelled, “What?!” It was only one word, but the officials had heard enough. I got a technical foul that cost my team the game.

Controlling the tongue is a problem for many coaches and athletes. Many times, we create more problems with our mouths than with our actions. Why? In my case, it was because I wouldn’t think before I spoke.

Why does God want us to keep our tongues in check? When we speak before thinking, we usually do not honor Him with our speech. He would much rather we say nothing at all than speak too quickly.

It’s the most difficult thing in the world to tame the tongue, but God’s Spirit living in us through the work of Jesus can help us think before we speak—even in the midst of challenging situations!

—Jere Johnson in Heart of a Coach

Hebrews 11:25-27

Moses was born during a nation-wide command by Pharaoh to slaughter all Jewish boys two years of age and younger. As a desperate attempt to preserve his life, his mother placed him in a small boat-like cradle and set him to float in the shallow waters of the Nile so that Pharaoh’s daughter would see him when she came down to bathe. The hopes were that she would be so overwhelmed with sympathy for the baby that she would take him and raise him as her own.

Moses’ mother’s hopes came true. In fact, in a twist of irony, the king’s daughter asked Moses’ sister (conveniently standing nearby) if she would be the nurse to take care of the baby. Throughout his childhood, Moses was raised by his own mother, and was protected by the authority of Pharaoh through his own daughter. This meant that Moses would be taught all the precepts and customs of the Hebrews even while he was officially recognized as an Egyptian.

When Moses was of age, his Egyptian mother brought him into the palace and he became her son. We can only assume that he was afforded the privilege of an Egyptian education, lifestyle and access to the treasures amassed by the Pharaoh. His life as an adult Egyptian, however, was cut short by two incidents:

11 And it came to pass in those days, when Moses was grown, that he went out unto his brethren, and looked on their burdens: and he spied an Egyptian smiting an Hebrew, one of his brethren.

12 And he looked this way and that way, and when he saw that there was no man, he slew the Egyptian, and hid him in the sand.

13 And when he went out the second day, behold, two men of the Hebrews strove together: and he said to him that did the wrong, Wherefore smitest thou thy fellow?

14 And he said, Who made thee a prince and a judge over us? intendest thou to kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian? And Moses feared, and said, Surely this thing is known.

15 Now when Pharaoh heard this thing, he sought to slay Moses. But Moses fled from the face of Pharaoh, and dwelt in the land of Midian: and he sat down by a well.

Evidently, Moses’ teaching by his real mother had taken hold. He identified more with his Hebrew brethren than the Egyptian citizens. His values were also shaped more by his Hebrew heritage than by the influence of the Pharaoh or the wealth of Egypt. We must carefully analyze his actions because they show the kind of character he had and provided an example for anyone who lives in a pagan society.

The passage in Hebrews do not come to us in the words of Moses or of a record-keeper in Jewish history. This is an analysis, written centuries later, of Moses behavior. Let us take note that it is important for us to do more than read the Bible. We must also make a proper analysis of what happened and how it is to be understood. Then, we must apply the lessons to our lives.

1 Corinthians 10:6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

James 5:10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

Jude 7 Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.

Five Actions of Moses

24 By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter;

Moses refused. When do we refuse to do something?

When we sense that it represents a threat to us.

When we understand that we have a better alternative.

Learn how to say no.

· Saying yes, doing yes
This is authentic. If you say yes, do yes. People will know that you keep your word.

· Saying yes, doing no
This is deception. You try to keep the relationship good at first, but don’t keep your word and end up damaging it in the end.

· Saying nothing, doing yes
This is vague, but mostly if you do not answer people assume that you will say yes.

· Saying nothing, doing no
This is vague and deceptive. People assume that you say yes, but you do the opposite. Plenty of room for an argument.

· Saying no, doing yes
This is confusing to say the least. People will not know what your word is worth, saying no clearly does not mean no.

· Saying no, doing no
This is authentic. If you say no, do no. You might disappoint someone, but you are clear and people will know that you keep your word.

Joseph knew how to say no. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master’s wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

Old Testament saints refused deliverance. Hebrews 11:35 Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Refuse to let the devil gain the upper hand in your life.

Refuse your own carnal impulses to rule your life.

Refuse to listen to ungodly speech or to watch ungodly scenes.

Refuse to accept the garbage of the world. But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ. 8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

Moses chose. 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

Moses saw two main choices before him: suffer the affliction with the people of God or enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season.

These are hard choices. Who wants to choose affliction? Who wants to deny pleasure?

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The power of choice places the option back in our hands.

But the power of choice also brings with it the responsibility of choice.

There was a woman screaming on Park Avenue yesterday morning, flecks of furious saliva spraying from her twisted mouth as she raged into her cell phone, “It’s not my fault.” Over and over, like the high-pitched squeal of a power saw cutting brick: It’s not my fault and a run of foul names, then It’s not my fault and another run of names. It’s not my fault, you (blank). It’s not my fault, you (blank)ing (blank). It’s…not…my…fault.

…I heard the phrase again yesterday, in the bank’s vestibule after work, among the automatic teller machines. … There in the bank, while I checked my balance, a man was talking on his cell phone, one foot up on the window sill, as the Christmas shoppers hurried past outside, their arms full of packages. “It’s not my fault,” he said. “I’m just the kind of person who has to keep after things.” What is it about self-justification that always makes it seem so false? About that phrase “I’m the kind of person…” that always makes it sound like a lie?

…It’s not my fault — the cry we’ve made every day since Cain was born. Down somewhere in the heart, there’s always an awareness of just how wrong the world is, how fallen and broken and incomplete. This is the guilty knowledge, the failure of innocence, against which we snarl and fight: It’s just the way things are; it’s not my fault. What would genuine innocence look like, if it ever came into the world? I know the answer I am called to believe: like a child born in a cattle shed. But to understand why that is an answer, to see it clearly, we are also compelled to know our guilt for the world, to feel it all the way to the bottom.

Smoking is a choice. So is drinking, using drugs, immoral behavior, keeping wrong company, getting an education, getting a job, spending money, eating certain types of food, etc. Anyone who makes a choice out of all the options must also accept responsibility for the problems that the choice brings.

Following Christ is a choice. It can be a hard choice from certain perspectives. It means affliction and deprivation of pleasure. But the end result makes the difficulties worth it.

Moses esteemed. 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.

The word esteem comes from the same word as estimate. To estimate means to determine the value or worth of something. For example, we estimate the public debt to be at ten trillion dollars! We estimate that it will take us two or more years to get out of Iraq.

Moses estimated that the reproach of Christ—not the glory or wealth—was worth more than the treasures of Egypt.

According to the Museum of Ancient Art in Switzerland there was given a replacement value at nearly a staggering three-quarters of a billion dollars: Insurers have valued the display of opulence from ancient Egypt’s ruler called Tutankhamun at about $680 million.

Stringent security precautions have been taken to protect the dazzling array of the mostly golden or gilded objects, which are insured for $650 million. They were shipped to Basel on two special Egypt Air flights to guard against the loss of the whole collection in

an air crash. $3.86 million for loaning the exhibits. His coffin was the most magnificent. It was made from solid gold, and weighed 2,500 pounds. Today (2009) it is worth $36.4 million.

If I were to offer you $10 billion to deny Christ, would you accept it? No, you say. Yet, that’s what Moses did.

If not $10 billion, how about $1 billion?

$100 million?

$10 million?

$1 million?

$100,000?

$10,000?

$1,000?

$100?

You ask why am I doing this? Because some bargain away Christ for much less than $100. They do it for a drink. A cigarette. A curse word. An admiring look by the world.

Moses had respect unto the recompense of reward. In other words, he knew that the reproach of Christ was a far greater bargain than the treasures of Egypt.

Moses forsook. 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king:

Forsaking means cutting all ties. Renouncing any ownership, partnership or remuneration. Not even the fear of Pharaoh was enough to make him change his mind.

You cannot follow Christ without forsaking the world. The modern idea is to bring the world along with you. How much of Egypt did Moses take with him to Midian or to the wilderness? Not their gods. Not their customs. Not their values.

Moses endured. “…for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.”

After he refused, chose, esteemed and forsook, he had to endure. Enduring is hardest when you are not sure you made the right decision. When you know you did the right thing, you embrace the affliction with hope. It only hurts for a little while.

Sister Lucas told she had days to live. She said she was not afraid. She had lived all of her life for this moment.

Messianic Prophecies of the Bible

Bible prophecies represent more than just a forecast of the future. If the only thing involved would the linear progression of successive events, then nothing would really be accomplished. When God tells the world what he is going to do, he opens himself for failure, for challenge, for Satan to thwart the purposes of God, and for doubt to enter into the heart of man.

The more detailed the prophecy, the greater the odds are that it will not happen. In fact, the addition of just one condition onto a previous prophecy creates an exponential growth of odds against it. Thus, when a detailed prophecy comes true, it takes a great deal of purposeful denial to continue on as an unbeliever. This is exactly why the Bible is under such great attack in our time. From the secular standpoint, the Bible must be destroyed. Even if a shred of the Bible record remains, it condemns the unbelief of the world.

Hebrews 3:12-19 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. 13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. 14 For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence stedfast unto the end; 15 While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. 16 For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses. 17 But with whom was he grieved forty years? was it not with them that had sinned, whose carcases fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not? 19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Unbelief is one of the scariest states of the human heart. Revelation 21:8 says “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Unbelief is so unnecessary. Ample evidence is provided in the Bible for even the most skeptical of people to accept and believe. Therefore, anyone who is an unbeliever, has as a reason a moral, not a cognitive problem. Thus, the scripture denotes such a person as having an “evil heart of unbelief.”

John 20:26-31 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. 30 And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

1. The Seed of the Woman

• Forecast: Genesis 3:15
• Fulfillment: Matthew 1:18; Galatians 3:16, 19.
• Forecast: Genesis 12:7
• Fulfillment: Galatians 3:16
• Forecast: 2 Samuel 7:8, 12
• Fulfillment: Romans 1:1,3

This prophecy was tested from the very beginning. Genesis 2:17; 3:3-4.

This is called the Highway of the Seed. It represents the embryonic history of the Bible. Everything about Christ is contained in seed form. Sufferings, Death, complete Dominion over Satan. Hebrews 2:9-15.

Why is this important? Not only because it verifies the prophecies of the Bible as they were fulfilled in Jesus, but because there were times when grave doubts appeared that the survival of the prophecies would be possible.

• The Flood.
• The intended massacre of the Jews by Haman.
• The massacre of innocent babies by Herod.

The fact that the seed exists gives regenerative life to every prophecy. The seed of the plant is in the fruit. The blood of the martyrs contains the seeds of the church.

2. The Virgin Birth.

• Forecast: Isaiah 7:14
• Fulfillment: Luke 1:31, 34, 35.

The phrase “seed of the woman” is found only in Genesis 3:15 and Revelation 12:17. In Revelation, it is speaking of a symbolic character. Her seed then, refers to the concept of the virgin birth. Otherwise, the scripture would have referred to Adam’s seed, or “his seed.” John 14:30, however, says that the prince of the world has nothing in Christ. Sinful seed never made an investment or a deposit into the Messiah. Sinful seed has nothing to reap, no return, no identity in Christ.

The reason for this is the virgin birth. Mary was with child by the Holy Spirit, not by Joseph or any other man of this world.

Matthew 1:18, 23.

Most births in the Scripture highlight the father. It is remarkable that the birth of Jesus is in reference to the mother. Isaiah 49:1, 5. Jeremiah 31:22. Psalm 22:9. Micah 5:3. Also, the use of the word virgin meant not only the womb yet unopened, but also the consummation of the marriage had not yet occurred. Cruden says that the word used for virgin, parthenos, represented a young unmarried woman who had preserved the purity of her body.

Psalm 51:5 teaches us how all of us were born after Adam’s transgression. Jesus, in order to be the sinless sacrifice, had to be born without sin. Romans 5:12-17 reverses the curse of Adam. Had he been born naturally, he could not have affirmed one of these claims. 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5.

3. The Time of his Birth

• Forecast: Daniel 9:25-26.
• Fulfillment: Luke 2:1, 7, 11; Galatians 4:4.

At the time of her conception and much of her pregnancy, Mary was actually in the wrong place for Jesus to be born. Something had to be done to move her from Nazareth to Bethlehem in a narrow window of time for Jesus to be born. The tax assessment done by Caesar Augustus was not on a regular cycle. There was a tax time four years before Christ was born and another several years afterwards. This, however, was a special taxation that involved the Jews of Judea and forced them out of the north into the province just south of Jerusalem into Bethlehem.

Also, according to Daniel’s prophecy, the Messiah had to come 483 years after a specific date given to Daniel, five hundred years before Jesus came to the temple for his week of passion. Everything had to be precise, in terms of the prophecy.

4. The Place of his Birth

• Forecast: Isaiah 9:1-2; Isaiah 11:1; Hosea 11:1; Micah 5:2.
• Fulfillment: Matthew 2:23 (Branch=Nazarene); Matthew 2:14-15; Matthew 2:1, 5, 6; John 7:42; Matthew 2:2.

5. The Forerunner of his Birth

• Forecast: Isaiah 40:3; Malachi 4:5.
• Fulfillment: Matthew 3:1, 3; Luke 3:3-6; John 1:23.