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

I don’t know if you have any top-secret documents in your house, but there sure are a lot of people who do. How would you fare if the FBI, CIA and IRS investigated you? How about if they went back over your goggle searches since you struck the first key, checked out every tax return, analyzed every Facebook posting, dug through your emails and asked Siri what you have been saying since you brought her home?

Bet your sweating now. I’m not trying to give you a hard time. I’m just trying to get you not to give others a hard time.

Titus 2:14

who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

Luke 6:37

“Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven;

Get on your knees and confess it all; then get up and do your taxes.

Think about it.

Gary

“In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: it goes on.”
― Robert Frost

I don’t know much about your experience on the planet, Bob, but you nailed this one. Our youth can only be seen in the review mirror. The doctors’ visits have taken on a more serious tone. There have been too many funerals with a piece of my heart also buried. Even if the anticipation of bedtime seems to be the highlight of the day, life goes on. It must go on and we must be a part of it.

I’m sure Joseph felt the same way as his torturous journey took him down into Egypt. However, the Scripture clearly teaches life has an eternal purpose and must go on.

Psalm 105:16-19

Moreover He called for a famine in the land;
He destroyed all the provision of bread.

He sent a man before them—
Joseph—who was sold as a slave.

They hurt his feet with fetters,
He was laid in irons.

Until the time that his word came to pass,
The word of the Lord tested him.

Let’s just keep on going until the results of life here will be read at the end of the line.

Think about it.

Gary