“Friendship … is born at the moment when one man says to another “What! You too? I thought that no one but myself . . .”

― C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

Transference occurs when we respond to a newspaper article by saying, “Wow, that could have been me.”  How can advertising be effective unless all humans basically think alike? Does the Bible address this phenomenon? Yes. That is why believers are instructed not to be thinking like the natural man.

Ephesians 4:22-24 

To put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Give it some thought.

Gary

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.

-Walt Disney

We are doing something every day, whether it is good or bad.  Some days we get ahead and some days we fall behind. Twenty-four hours can find us feeling happy, and the next twenty-four can find us feeling sad. We are, however, expending calories in all pursuits. Let’s burn them up with doing good.

Acts 10:38

How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good…

What an example for us to follow. It’s not rocket science. Just go out there and do good, not because you have to, but because you want to.

Think about it.

Gary

There was once a general, who lost two-thirds of all the battles he fought in the American Revolution. Think about that… in all of his battles… 66.6% of the time, HE LOST!!!  That general’s name… was George Washington. You know his name today because, ultimately, he won the war.

1 Peter 5:10 

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you.

James 1:2-4 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

The boxers who made it to the top had been knocked down many times.

Give it some thought.

Gary

High school varsity basketball games use 8-minute quarters. That is the timeframe when all effort has to be put forth, with players knowing that every second counts and none can be replayed for a do-over. When the buzzer sounds at the end of the fourth quarter, that’s it. Players are constantly checking the clock, especially in a close game.

That brings me to what Scripture has to say about time.

Psalm 90:12 

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Colossians 4:5 

Walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the best use of the time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

Play to win now, for time waits for no man. Think about it.

Gary

A foul in basketball is a rule-breaking action that results in a loss of possession and possible free throws for the other team. If a player commits five fouls during a game, he is put out of action for the remaining time. Sitting on the bench, watching others play, is horrible.

In life, we will commit fouls both intentionally and unintentionally. However, effort should be made to keep those to a minimum. We do hurt others at times and that can’t be avoided in such close action.

1 John 1:8 

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

Galatians 5:26 

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.

You can’t stay away from fouls, and the game organizers recognized that. It is the reason for a five-limit.

Careful out there and give it some thought.

Gary

Rebounding can have a lot of different meanings, depending on who receives the rebound. In basketball, it can be a missed shot that was recovered by the team who made the shot. That team has a second chance at making a successful shot.

It illustrates the fact that a missed shot is not the end of the game. Don’t give up but keep the ball in possession and move towards the goal.

Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

We all miss the mark at times, but we should never give up. Giving up can lead to such loss. Put every effort in getting possession of the rebound and make the best of it.

Give it some thought.

Gary

In basketball there are boundary lines. If you cross these lines, the ball is turned over to the other team. By crossing these boundaries, you give the other team an advantage. The game of life has many boundaries that must be constantly considered.

King David crossed a boundary when he should have been at war but stayed home and let others do the fighting. He crossed another boundary when he became a voyeur. That led to the crossing of another boundary which was adultery. This became a habit that resulted in the murder of one of his most loyal soldiers.

This is his confession after what resulted from his lack of focus.

Psalm 51:1-4
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your steadfast love;
according to Your abundant mercy
blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,
and cleanse me from my sin!

For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is ever before me.

Against You, You only, have I sinned
    and done what is evil in Your sight,
so that You may be justified in Your words
    and blameless in Your judgment.

You did it and have to suffer the consequences, but remember the game isn’t over. The error you made will only make winning harder.

Keep an eye on those boundaries.

Think about it.

Gary