Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics & Student Ministry

My wife and I have been watching the NBA Playoffs religiously, almost every game, since the first round. In fact, we’ve been so into the Playoffs that we treated ourselves to a game. We purchased tickets and deemed them our Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Anniversary and Birthday gifts to each other. Seriously we did, don’t laugh. If you’re thinking Dave Ramsey… you guessed it; we’re students of the Financial Peace University. Anyhow, she and I went to Amway Arena and saw the Orlando Magic beat up on the Atlanta Hawks in the Conference Semifinals. It was bananas! For a few moments I felt like a ruthless, obnoxious teen or in this case it’s probably more fitting to say I acted much like that crazy adult CEO guy caught on TV throwing the basketball back at the referee. I was going nuts yelling at the players, heckling the referees and giving high fives to everyone with their hands up. I was even handing out beer… well, truth be told, I was just passing the beer that the dude next to us bought. I had to mention beer, it’s always controversial. We had an amazing time!

Since then, there has been some serious tension in my house. See, I must confess I am actually a Celtics fan. It was all good when my wife and I cheered for each other’s favorite teams but now that they’re facing each other, oh… it’s a totally different story. The tension is building too; my wife called me a traitor and threatened not to cook dinner if the Celtics won. I threatened not to shower until the series was over. Needless to say we’ve been having lots of fun bagging on each other.

Something happened in the last minute of the fourth quarter in game two after the Orlando Magic came back and even took the lead momentarily that I can relate to. With 31.9 seconds on the clock, the Celtics were up by three and Vince Carter was on the foul line ready to shoot two free throws. He’s focused, staring at the rim; the room is still, almost slow motion like. Everything is on the line, these two shots can—will determine the outcome of the game. Vince Carter is an incredible talent, a proven veteran and a force to be reckoned with but has never been to the Conference Semifinals. I would even go as far as saying that perhaps those two shots would even legitimize his NBA career. All these years, all the hard work, and now it all comes down to these two free throws. Constraining every nerve in his body Carters shoots and misses not only the first but also the second shot. You can just see the disappointment in Carter face. I am sure he felt like a complete failure. His coach, team, the fans at Amway and even those in TV land were also disappointed. The Celtics end up winning; what a letdown! Even this Celtics fan was rooting for Carter, I too was disappointed, even discouraged.

Have you ever felt disappointed, even discouraged—of course you have? Recently I have particularly with youth ministry. I am in a waiting place in my life. Waiting patiently, somewhat patiently, for God to reveal what’s next and honestly the process has been somewhat frustrating. In the mean time, I’ve been working wholeheartedly with my Family Pastor and a team of volunteers to impact the lives of our young people while juggling school and work fulltime. We’ve labored enthusiastically in planning and delivering the truth of God and the amazing things God has for our students. It’s totally thrilling when you see their eyes light up as they discover such truths and equally discouraging when they choose to ignore such reality. It is incredibly disappointing when you think you are gaining traction yet students are slipping away. Lately, there have been many students slipping away, or slipping up in our student ministry. And it has been super disappointing.

In times like these I am reminded of 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

Did you read that? My work is not in vain; your work is not in vain. Put your head up, raise your shoulders, stick your chest out and let’s continue marching forward! Let nothing move you! And continue getting your grind on for the Lord… let’s finish this race like Paul.