Just A Glass Of Coke

IT'S JUST ONE GLASS OF COKE!

My mind was racing, I don't know why I was struggling with this so much! Here I was at the end of a long day, and all I wanted was to sit on the couch and watch a movie while sipping a glass of coke. But as I sit here, I can't help but think, is this glass of coke just a glass of coke?   

The conclusion I finally came to was both a YES and a NO! 

YES - it was a glass of coke in that it was a Branded, carbonated, liquid beverage that I would consume. It was dark, sweet, and had a little bite.  Yes, it was a simple glass of Coke, but it was also more than that! 

NO - It wasn't just a glass of Coke! It was more than that! It was a decision that was bigger than it appeared. I could have chosen a glass of water. It would have been healthier, more refreshing, and cheaper, while on the other hand the Coke was unhealthy, it would leave me thirsty, wanting more, and it was more expensive. 

The Coke represented a choice between laziness and discipline. I need to be thinking about my weight, I need to be thinking about my health, where I want to be in the future and what  I would like to do. I want to see my children's children, and live in good health. And this choice was presented to me tonight in a glass of Coke. 

I would like to tell you that I made the right choice, but I didn't. My laziness won out over my disciple, but as I sit here with heart burn from a single glass of Coca Cola, I realize that I am presented with these choices everyday, and I need to be more aware of them, and start making the better choice. Now I know I will fail from time to time, but with God's Grace, I want to start making better and better decisions, so that I can enjoy what the future has in store for me and my family. 

I know that I have been very contemplative in this entry, but the point I am trying to make is this - Everyday, every moment of everyday, we are presented with choices. Good and bad, easy or right, right or wrong, healthy or unhealthy, God's way or the Devil's. These choices are never easy, but with God's help we can make the right choice, and that is Wisdom! And as Solomon says in the book of Proverbs -Cling to Wisdom! Wisdom is the key! And tonight I found a little bit of wisdom in a glass of Coke!

Let's Talk Tongue Ban, Instead of Gun Ban

There is a problem in this world that seems to be getting worse and worse! Thousands, even millions of people around the world are affected by this everyday. People often don't realize the power this small tool possess, and if they are not careful, they can destroy lives, families, businesses, schools, churches, etc.

I am not talking about guns! Guns are in the news a lot recently! People in America blame the guns for the actions of several sick people, and they think the answer is a ban on the tool of destruction, but they fail to look for the source of the true problem.

The reason for this being that often times it is easier to blame the method, or the means. It is an easier out than really searching for the "meat" of the problem.

So we content ourselves with feelings of action, which in reality do more harm then good, and yet we feel that we have addressed the issue, because an action was taken.

And while this blog post is not about Guns or Gun Control, it is about a much more serious tool that causes destruction just as quickly as a bullet.

The Tongue is known as a serpent, a devouring fire, the well of life and death, and yet we seldom give attention to the tongues reach or affect in our lives, families, or societies! We instead choose to blame the method or the means - bullying, gossiping, or rumors. We wonder why our bosses at work don't trust us, why our churches seem stale or dead, or why our friendships lack true closeness and depth.

Taming the Tongue is considered impossible, but as the Psalmist writes in Psalm 141:3 he says, " O Lord place a guard on my mouth! Protect the opening of my lips!" We cannot control our mouths, but we can ask God for His Help in guarding out lips, and He will help us!

If we truly want to see our lives improved, families restored, and relationships mended, we need a Tongue Ban!  

True Confidence and my New Years Resolution!

“What is true Confidence and where does it come from?”

しかし、私はみなさんにこう問いかけたいのです、本当の自信とは何かそしてそれはどこからくるのか？

Well, Let me first tell you what it is not.

そうですね、では自信とはこういうものでないということを言わせてください。

True Confidence is not based on emotions, or the ideas, or dreams.

本当の自信とは感情にもとずくものでなく、考えや、夢でもないんですね。

True Confidence is not based in blind faith, or Luck.

本当の自信とはやみくもに盲目に信じる信仰や良い運に基づくことでもありません。

Have you ever observed a professional basketball player? They make it look so easy!

プロのバスケット選手を観察したことがありますか？彼らはすごく簡単プレーしてるようにみせますよね。

When I was in Junior High school, I made my school’s varsity basketball team.

私が中学校の時に学校の選抜チームに入ることができたんです。

This must mean I was awesome, right?

ということは、私はすごいかっこいい、ということですよね？

Now You are all probably thinking, “Mike must have been really good as a beginner!”

今みなさんは多分マイクは初心者としてすごくバスケが上手だったんだろうな！とみなさんは思っているかもしれません。

 No! In fact this was the first time I had ever played basketball!

いいえ！実際は全然ちがって私はこの時初めてバスケをしたんです。

The Varsity Team was so good that no one had wanted to join the team, because they knew they wouldn’t get a chance to play.

バーシティーティームは学校全体の選抜された選手のティームでとてもレベルがたかいので普通の生徒は試合でプレーできるチャンスがないことを知っているのでチームにはいる事をトライしないんです。

The coach just needed a 12^th man to fill the bench, and he got me!

コーチは１２人のメンバーをみたしたいだけの理由で僕は入れたんです。

Now I had watched NBA Basketball games, and I knew what cool players were supposed to do!

その頃私NBAの試合をテレビで観ていたのでクールな選手がなにをしているのかを知っているつもりでした。

Step 1 Buy cool shoes

カッコイイ靴をはく

Step 2 Accessories (Arm band – Check, Knee high socks – check, Michael Jordan cologne- Check)

アクセサリー　アームバンド、ニーハイソックス、マイケルジョーダンの香水

Step 3 Stick out my tongue like Michael Jordan and  yell c’mon every couple minutes.

マイケルジョーダンみたいに舌をだして　come on と何度も叫ぶ。

I was confident that if I had these down basketball would come easy!

私はこれらのことを全部すればバスケは簡単だという自信がありました。

I  participated in practice, and in my mind I was unstoppable!

私は練習に参加していました、そして、誰も自分をとめられないと思っていました。

In reality, I only played 30 seconds all season.

現実にはオールシーズンで私は３０秒間しかプレーしなかったのです。

In the state championship game, my team was up by 10 points with 2 minutes left on the clock.

州のチャンピョンシップのゲームで私のチームは10ポイントで勝っていて２分のこっていました。

We were playing on an actual NBA court, and the coach decided to give me a try, I was at half court, and someone threw me the ball.

私たちは本当のNBAのコートでプレーしていました、コーチが私にプレーするチャンス、トライをくれました、私はハーフコートにいて、誰かがボールを私に投げました。

This was my moment and I was confident I had checked off all the essential things necessary to be a superstar.

これは僕の時だったのです、私はスパースターになることができるすべての基本的なことはしたという自信がありました。

So with complete confidence I turned and with my tongue out, cool shoes on, socks pulled up to my knees, and wearing the Michael Jordan Cologne, I shot the ball from half court.

それで、自信満々で舌をだして、クールな靴を履いて、靴下は膝したまであげ、ハーフコートからボールをシュートしました。

My first shot in a game all season long!

シーズン中で私のはじめてのショット。

The championship game!

チャンピョンシップゲーム！

Can you guess what happened?

どうなったかわかります？

The ball shot toward the basket, and then to my complete surprise, sailed ten feet over the basket and all the way back into the 8^th row of the bleachers.

？？？

The coach quickly called a time out and had me resume my seat on the bench!

コーチはすぐにタイムアウトして、わたしをベンチに戻しました。

I was so surprised, I had had the confidence that I had done everything I had seen the NBA players on TV doing .

私はとても驚きました、テレビでみたNBA選手のようにすべてやったという自信があったのに。

This really bugged me! The more and more I thought about it the more I realized I had missed something.

私は理解できなくて納得できませんでした。考えれば考えるほど私はなにかを見落としているかもということに気づきました。

I started to do some research and found out that the NBA players were confident in their skills, shots, and abilities, not because of their clothing, shoes, or accessories, but rather because of the hundred of thousands of hours they spent practicing the fundamentals of Basketball.

もっとよく調べてみるとNBA選手は着ている服や、履いている靴、そしてアクセサリーをつけているからではなくて何百、何千もの時間をバスケの基礎てきな練習にあてているので、技術やシュート、自分たちの能力に自信がもてているということがわかりました。

Every NBA player shoots hundreds of thousands of shots a year, perfecting their touch and technique, and all this hard work and  practice is what gave them the confidence when it came to competing in games.  

NBA選手はみんな何百何千という回数のシュートをします。手の感覚とテクニックを完全にしようとしています。それが試合をして戦っている時にもてる自信なのです。

Their confidence came from their familiarity and practice over thousands of hours.

その自信はものすごい時間を費やして練習をして、体に刷り込まれているということからくるのです。

My confidence had come from my emotions, and misguided dreams that I was an NBA basketball worthy player.

私の自信は感情や、NBAでプレーできる価値があると勘違いして夢みているところからきていました。

My skill was not based in practice but rather blind faith that I was better than I was because of what I had.

私の技術は練習をたくさんすることからくるものではなくて自分が持っているもので自分がうまくなるのだという思い込みの信仰でした。

I had been confident, but it was in all the wrong things, and when a true test came along, I failed miserably!

私は自信があったのですがしかしすべて間違っていたものに基ずく自信で本当のテストが来た時に私は惨めに失敗しました。

Often Times, I fear that my responses to the issues of life, my family, and my spiritual life are approached through this false sense of confidence that says I can handle anything that comes my way, when in truth, my response needs to be my practice of living my life in constant prayer and reliance on God in everything and for everything. This is my New Years Resolution for 2013!

Hello Everyone!! I know it has been a long time. I had a lot of personal, emotional, and spiritual growing to do this past year, and blogging was a little too much for me to handle with everything else going on, but starting from January 1st, I am going to be bringing 2-3 new blogs a week. I hope you find them refreshing, encouraging, and enlightening. Wishing you all the Best for this coming year, and and I am looking forward to the great things God is going to do this year! Lord Bless!

The Dichotomy of Superheroes

So here I am writing again after a long absence, and I find myself contemplating superheroes and life. Before you dismiss me as a loony, understand that I have just come off a five day vacation where I didn't have much to do but watch movies like the X-men trilogy, Iron Man, all the Supermans, all the Lethal Weapons, Batman (The ones with Christian Bale), and Wanted. I know, I know - Sounds like a big waste of time and it was but...it was an enjoyable waste of time. But as I am sitting drying out my cerebral cortex in front of the boob tube, I am suddenly struck with a ridiculuos thought which captured my fascination almost as much as seeing Angelina Jolie unload a clip while sitting on the hood of a viper during a high speed chase. The thought was simple yet the more I pondered it the more interesting it became and the thought was this: EVERY SUPERHERO NEEDS A NEMESIS!

There are several interesting characteristics which make up a superhero: First, the individual must seperate himself from common, ordinary people through his actions. Then, the individual is seen as being locked into a constant epic battle between the forces of good and evil, and right and wrong both physically and mentally. Psychologically there is a constant struggle between who they really are versus who they pretend to be. The hero will experience hardships, struggles, turmoil, and will usually lose someone or something dear to them. They are not all powerful and usually have a secret weakness. And finally, they will all offer in some way hope and a way of escape from situations and predicaments, and this is opposed to the villian who is only bent on destruction and domination.
Every Superhero has this particular character make-up, but if all the hero posses are these traits and he doesn't have a nemesis then he is simple a good samaritan instead of a superhero for the defining mark of a true superhero is the presence of a nemesis. This is the dichotomy of a true superhero. Light versus Darkeness, Good versus Evil, Superhero versus Villian.

Now for the interesting thought: There will always be superheroes and not just in comic books. There have been many superheroes throughout history. For example the superhero dichotomy can be seen in David versus Goliath, Martin Luther versus the Catholic Church, Schindler versus the Nazis, the apostle Paul versus Nero, King Richard versus the Moors, Jesus versus Satan.

And here is the jest of the rump - As Christians we are called to come out of the world - to be seperate - TO BE SUPERHEROES - we are given a higher calling which doesn't negate our personal struggles, tragedies, trials, but instead magnifies our position as bringers of hope and if we are truly living up to our calling should result in the revelation of our nemesis. As christians we are called to be superheroes to a lost and dying world struggling to cope without hope. And you know what - we make experience heartache and loss in occupying this position, and one day we may even be discriminated against and persecuted but we are assured of one thing and that is we are already more than victorious because of the completed work of Christ.

SO ARE YOU LIVING UP TO YOUR TRUE CALLING OR ARE YOU STILL PRETENDING TO BE LIKE EVERYONE ELSE?

An Apologetic Update

Sorry for all the inconsistencey lately, Work has been crazy, but I wanted to say God is Amazing! Everyday is a new miracle and every corner, pothole, bump, and hiccup are just new exciting ways God allows us to see him at work in our lives! God is good all the time through the good and the bad, he works his plan and his way is PERFECT - ALWAYS!!! Well in the next couple days I will be having some new and exciting blogs coming out, so check back soon!

A revolutionary thought!

Too many times in the Christian life we often fall into the rut of looking for the things that Christians are supposed to do, they try to define things as right and wrong and then they condemn the wrong as sin. This is a missed perception to say the least. The Christian Life should instead be shaped by this question "Is my life and the things I do bringing Glory to Christ?" When this question is asked, my life and our lives don't become something of performance, but rather of something far greater, our lives become significant, and become defined by purpose. And in the words of the Matrix Reloaded Agent Smith "It is this Purpose that drives us, that binds us, that unites us." The purpose that now drives my life is an insane desire to bring glory to Christ, all while enjoying everything He has made.