Like Marcus Dupree

Something has been on my mind since this afternoon. I watched the ESPN 30/30 about Marcus Dupree, and it struck me that my life has been a lot like his, and that a lot of Christians Spiritual lives are like his football career. A man among boys, and let me tell you of every player I have ever seen play the running back position, there was something about him. MAN!!!! He was special, something about him man words just don't describe the way he ran, that once in a millennium or entire existence of the universe blend of just pure speed and strength and size. Now don't get me wrong, I LOVE Adrian Peterson, and he is the best back that I have ever had the privilege of watching live, and on TV in my era, but Marcus made him look like a silly little boy. 6'3" 235lbs ran a 9.45 100 meter and man he ways strong, bench pressing 400lbs+, honestly words do not describe this guy. I was speechless for an hour after watching the film, and that's hard to imagine, me being speechless. But to see his life story, it was amazing, and saddening at the same time. With all the potential that he had, and the raw ability that he had, he just have been all world, he should have been the best that there ever was, but injuries, and just lack of I'll say discipline ruined what could have been a career for a lifetime, just look at the Fiesta Bowl the first year and only full year he had at the University of Oklahoma. Playing the best rush defense in the nation he goes out there and is limping, and I mean visibly in pain for the whole first half, and he STILL rushes for 245 yards. Man if he had run and not gained those 10lbs over break, he could have easily rushed for 400 yards, and it would have been a record NEVER broken. Then after that game he goes home, and he feels hurt because for once he has been told that he needed to work on something. He then returns the next year plays one half verse Texas and never comes back to OU. This is where I see my life, and other Christians lives fitting in. We get saved. WE feel amazing unstoppable, and we get out there and we are fitting for Christ ripping the enemy a new one, and then just like that we get hurt. Someone confronts us with a sin that is just to big to deal with. Something that we don't want to face, so we just give up, we go home. Here is what my wish is, just like with Marcus Dupree, he tried again to play pro, he took a short cut to being good, and then the worst is yet to come. You get out there and you are playing, you start to feel good again. Then the world comes crashing down, you are in the middle of a fight, when the enemy takes it to you and tears the crap out of your knee. That's it that's the end of your story, we give up the fight,, because people tell you you will never play again. That you are done for. Here is where I want my life to imitate. At the age of 24 he realizes that he still has fight left in him, that he still has work left to do, and that he still wants to play, because it's what he loves. He then proceeds in the garage of his little home in Philadelphia Mississippi to work out everyday, to work as hard as he can, he is in there in 120 degree temps working, he gets back into shape, and he pushes hard. And it pays off, he may not be the best that he could be, because he gave up when it got hard, and he missed all that he could have had. Like this I think so many times we sit around, and miss what God had for us... the BEST. MAN do we have potential as Christians to light up the enemies defenses and run like crazy for the best team there is ( that ones for all the Sooners out there!) and then we get hurt, give up and quit when the going gets tough. Well I'm here telling you I am not gonna quit and lie down will the enemy wins the fight any more. I want to be the best. I want to "run in such a way, as not without aim" and take the fight right back to the enemy!

So I ask you this....
-Have you lost your fighting edge?
-Are you willing to do what it takes to win the fight?
-Are you willing to workout in 120 degree weather to get back into fighting shape?
-Are you willing to realize that we have flaws, and that we have to work on them to win this fight that we are always fighting?

Starting Something New

How many times a week do you watch Sports Center? How much time do you spend daily talking about sports with your friends? I realize that for many girls this is not an issue, but for us guys in out there, alot of us spend a massive amount of time consumed, controlled, and driven by the sports world. What would your life be like if you didn't have sports? How much time would you say you would have without sports in your life? This last Sunday ended a 40 day fast from all but college football for me. That's right I said it 40 days! IT was tough!!!! Let me tell you I spent hours sitting in my room reading, or doing anything I could to distract myself from the fact I could not tunr on the TV and watch Sport Center. But something that I came to realize in this time, was that it was something that controlled me. It was an idol I had put before God.

How often do we do this to God? How many more times will you do it before you realize that your prayers are useless in these times when you put these thigns like football and food, and any other number of things first? Don't think you are alone in this fight, there are some many things that we put before God, and it shouldn't be. So I pose this question to all you fellow sports fans, and fellow Christian men, and women... will you serve God or will you serve your selfish desires, and evil desires and put God off? Galatians 3:27 says this: "For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ." This idea of baptism means that we have died to ourselves, and in this the verse says we have "put on Christ." When you wake in the morning and get dressed, how many of us go to the closet and see our favorite Oklahoma shirt, or whatever sports team you rout for, and "put on" that shirt? I know that on Saturdays I make it my goal to wear as much OU gear as I can find, I go out and buy new OU shirts, and hats, and I wear the jerseys, and go to the games. But how many times a week do I get up and "put on Christ?" This is a challenge that I pose to all of you sports fans: everyday get up, and instead of putting on your favorite sports team, get up and "put on Christ." So this is the actual challenge in this... what are you willing to sacrafice to "put on Christ?"

Comments?
Things God laid on your heart to sacrafice?