True Friendship:Taking one for the Team

Magic Johnson and Larry Bird have a book coming out in November titled "When the Game was Ours." In the excerpts released Magic shares some interesting details about how his close friendship with Isiah Thomas has deteriorated over the years. Magic accused Isiah of spreading rumors he was gay/bisexual when he was diagnosed with HIV back in 1991. Johnson also admitted he played a role in keeping Isiah off the dream team in 1992.

It is very surprising to me that Magic would air his dirty laundry so to speak in such a public forum. In the book Johnson said the failed relationship with Thomas is the biggest personal disappointment of my life.....nothing else is even close. Those are some strong words. However, true friendships are based on love and the Bible says love never fails. (I Corinthians 13:8)

Colossians 3:13-14 says, Forbearing one another and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any:even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.

Friends may say things about you or do things to you that hurt deeply. But as Christians we are commanded to forgive just as Christ has forgiven us. That is what love is all about. Magic is writing a book and bringing up incidents that happened nearly 20 years ago. The motivation behind this all seems to be selling books and making money. It's ironic, Magic always had great vision on the court, I guess he doesn't see making amends would be the best play in this situation. Regardless of who is right or wrong we should do what's best for the team or in this case friendship.

Staying on Track

Alabama moved up to number two in the latest college football poll. However, Head Coach Nick Saban wants to make sure his team isn't drinking the kool-aid in other words getting caught up in the hype. Whether you like him or not Saban realizes if the Tide does not put in the work that it took to become the second ranked team in the country they will not stay the second ranked team in the country for long.

Likewise as Christians as we begin to develop in our walk and become mature in the faith we can't forget the foundational principles we have learned. Hebrews 2:1 says, Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard lest at any time we should let them slip. We should never forget the basics. Jesus showed his love for us by dying on the cross, in turn we show our love for him by dying to self. It's not our will but his will.

As Alabama climbs in the college football poll they can't forget the fundamentals and the hard work it took to get to that point. As God promotes us let us not forget the fundamentals (reading the Bible, praying, and going to church). As long as we work hard on those three things we are sure to stay on track.

Changing the way you think

http://www.truthaboutit.net/2009/09/deshawn-stevensons-new-tattoos-and-abe-lincoln.html

Just when you thought you had seen it all DeShawn Stevenson proves you have not. Getting tattoos has become part of the NBA culture. But getting a tattoo across your neck, come on that is way over the top. Stevenson's latest tattoo is of a five dollar bill with Abe Lincoln smack dab on his adams apple accompanied by a 5 on both sides. Wow, what was he thinking? It doesn't stop there. He also has the backwards P logo for the Pittsburgh Pirates on his cheek and to top it all off he has a little crack at the top of his forehead symbolizing people try to break him but he never cracks.

I don't have any tattoos and the focus of this article is not whether having one is right or wrong. However the Bible does address the topic in Lev. 19:28. Ye shall not make any cutting in your flesh for the dead nor print any marks upon you. I am the Lord. You can also refer to Deut. 14:1. You can interpret those scriptures however the Spirit leads you.

Stevenson's tattoo goes well beyond the images imprinted on his neck to what is going on inside his mind. Ephesians 4:18 refers to the mindset of the Gentiles. Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of the heart.

As Christians we are called to live in the world but not to be of the world. Though we live here we are called to be a light not to blend in with the ways and cultures of the world. That can only happen when you are renewed in the Spirit of your mind. (Ephesians 4:23) Don't get caught up, ask the Lord to renew your mind today.