Do my attitudes and actions match?

Do you ever wonder why that just at the moment when you feel that you are not doing so well in displaying Christ...God puts another opportunity in your journey to let you try? And sometimes you know that you blew it (at least in your heart)...but what God let other people see was His grace.

I spent Friday and Saturday with our basketball team in Columbia. Friday night, we played with 5 guys...at least for the firsts 3 minutes of the game. That is when 'The Rev' (Billy Graham) got hit in the face and was put out of the game because the blood in his eye may him unable to see. Of course there was no foul called. We played the last 29 min. of the game with 4 players (against the other team's 12)...and at times against 2 stripes and a score keeper who refused to count all of our baskets. But we finished the game (eventually with only 3 players)...losing only by 6.

Saturday morning...with 6 kids (one of whom still cannot see very well)...still battling a hostile environment against an older team...I honestly thought that I crossed the line of a good witness a few times. I felt really bad about it all afternoon. But then showed up for the 4:00 p.m. game to have a parent from another team compliment me and our team on how we displayed a great Christian witness. I still had to repent and thank God for allowing something good to be seen, even in my horrible attitude.

We played the 4:00 p.m. game...at one point down by 16 points. We had a lot of frustration. But because of what had been said earlier to me, I felt the need to challenge out team to display character (really challenging myself). There was visible animosity left from the morning game. But we ended the game with only 4 players on the court...a 7 point win...and what I thought was our first decent witness. And just when you think the story ends...there is more.

I drove the 2 hours home Saturday night in order to preach Sunday morning. I left immediately after the service to drive the nearly 2 hours back to the northeast side of Columbia to play for the championship against the team we had played on Friday night. Less than a mile from the gym, I received a call from one of our players saying that they were at the gym and the other team had forfeited...4 hours earlier (but without a call to me or anyone from our team who had paid for another night of hotel).

My wife who was traveling with me on this venture asked me if I need a few minutes to 'chill' in the van before going in to get a 'clarification'. Honestly, I was so ticked...(the time and gas of a 300 miles round trip...with meals for 4 people). But as I walked in, there was the coordinator holding out the championship plaque...greeting me with a sincere apology. Now what do I do? All my team are standing there with their parents...and grand parents. I simply asked why I had not received a call and calmly expressed my disappointment due to the expense and time invested by out team (and their families).

He again apologized...and one of the grand parents said that it was all right because they had a great time at the hotel the night before. And then the coordinator said that he (and a local college coach) had watched our team for two of our games. They were so impressed with our effort, play, and attitudes that the coach was planning to follow-up with some of our kids.

So what was I to do? Take a crazy picture on the playground outside with our team...holding up their championship plaque...then get back in the van for the 2 hour drive home...confess my bad attitude...repent...and then stand in amazement at how God could show Himself (protecting His name) even when...

Well, it really challenged me to think about how much glory God could get out of my life if I actually had the Christ-like attitude that I know He really desires from me (even in adversity).