Round 1 - Game 3 Thoughts

Towards the end of the regular season watching my Lakers stubble into the post-season I had to endure all the articles being written about how they’re going to fail from repeating as champs this year. I hate to admit it but it’s looking more like that assertion is accurate.

After two close games with the up-and-coming Thunder I really wasn’t surprised at the outcome of last night’s game 3 lost (The Thunder were favored -3.5 and covered. Not that I notice these things.). I’ve watched basketball long enough to know when I “feel” a lose coming and game 3 certainly had that feel.

Yes it was a very winnable game. But Kobe, yes Kobe of all people, was the person who killed it for us. I had to watch Big Pappa (aka The father-in-law) grow increasingly frustrated with every stupid Kobe shot and throw his Starbucks cup across the room. The wives weren’t surprised at his reaction. What they were surprised by was how calm I was able to stay despite losing a very winnable game. As a long time Laker fan you have to know you simply live or die with Kobe and certainly last night we died. You just come to accept these things.

Here is a positive to take away. The last 5 times the Lakers have gone up 2-0 in a series they have lost game 3 all 5 times. They have also won all 5 series. That’s an encouraging fact. In addition, Phil Jackson is also 51-1 in series in which he has led at any point. So I like our chances against the Thunder who are playing their first playoff series (although in a couple of years when they get some experience I might not want to face them). If you remember last year in the opening round against Utah, Kobe had a bad game 3 and came back in game 4 and kicked butt. Repeat of history? I say, "Yes!"

Now I believe the Cavs will probably win the title this year. That doesn’t mean I won’t be routing for my Lakers with everything in me. But I’m trying to be objective and prepare myself emotionally if we come up short this year. If I don’t the wife will have a mess on her hands.

How the Lakers Could Win the Title:

Lebron looks like he’s at his peak. My buddy Bryan and I have conceded that he’s clearly the best player in the game despite being Laker fans. Kobe is banged up and it shows. Not a good sign because you’ll only go as far as your best player will take you.

After Kobe missed his 900th shot in a row last night, Phil Jackson finally called a time out. In the final two minutes, Kobe stopped settling for threes and started driving and kicking to open teammates. Guess what . . . they started scoring again. It’s easier to score when you have the ball. Kobe needs to change his game according to the context of the situation. Last night, he clearly wasn’t going to shot the Lakers back in it like he usually does. But can he change in a short time? Can he change from being “the guy” in those situations to simply one of the guys trying to win? I’m not sure. But if he does I like our chances much better because we have the best overall team talent-wise. With that, I’m already starting to feel good about game 4. I don’t have that “feeling” of a lost coming. Kobe will look to redeem himself. In what form, will be the interesting question. Will it be the mindless gunner? Or doing what the situation calls for? If it’s the latter, I think Big Pappa will hold on to his Starbucks this time.

Devotional – 041710

Isaiah 15:1-16:14

The thematic development of the oracles against the nations continues. Motyer states, “The Babylon oracle revealed that world history, even in its most threatening and climactic forms, is so organized that the people of God are cared for. The Philistia oracle confirmed this by insisting that the Davidic promises would be kept, and the Moab oracle corrects any impression that the hope expressed in the Davidic promises is exclusivist. Isaiah now says that the promises which will be fulfilled for David in Zion are for all who will take refuge there.” This section of Isaiah is also written as a chiasm:

A1 Moab’s certain ruin (15:1)

B1 Moab’s grief expressed (2-4)

C1 The Lord’s grief over Moab (5-9)

D1 Moab’s plea for shelter (16:1-4a)

E Security in Zion (4b-5)

D2 Moab’s pride (6)

B2 Moab’s grief explained (7-8)

C2 The Lord’s grief over Moab (9-12)

A2 Moab’s imminent ruin (13-14)

Although the chiasm isn’t perfect the emphasis in the “Security in Zion” in 16:4b-5 is clear. What I found interesting was the Lord’s grief over Moab in sections C1 and C2 (Ruth was a Moabite). The Lord does not take pleasure when the wicked perish. Often times we think of God being divided in the sense of either being wrathful or gracious. Our travels through the book of Isaiah thus far has showed the Lord using the nations to judge Israel and now judging the nations for their sin, corruption, and pride as well. Yet still, in the midst of judgment the Lord has compassion over Moab as He expresses His grief in verses 5-9.

A.W. Tozer highlights this doctrine of divine unity; “God exists in Himself and of Himself. His being He owes to no one. His substance is indivisible. He has no parts but is single in His unitary being.” Meaning, for our purposes, the Lord does not discontinue His promises and security for His people. He is the perfect heavenly Father who can discipline His children and lovingly restore them.

We continue to see this divine unity of judgment paired with faithfulness and compassion as Isaiah reiterates the promise of future hope (ultimately Christ) in 16:4b-5, “For the extortioner has come to an end, destruction has ceased, oppressors have completely disappeared from the land. (5) A throne will even be established in lovingkindness, and a judge will sit on it in faithfulness in the tent of David; moreover, he will seek justice and be prompt in righteousness” (NASB).

In summary, as Isaiah continues the oracles against the nations started in chapters 13-14, we continue to see that to trust in worldly power and the temporal is beyond foolish. For when we pursue security outside of the Lord it is no different than the sin and pride of Moab who found their might in military strength, ignoring the God who has proven Himself to be King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Devotional – 041010

This week my church is preaching through Isaiah 13-14. I took the liberty of jumping ahead and read the text myself. The more I study the book of Isaiah the more I’m amazed at its astonishing structure. As it turns out, chapters 13-23 continue the “Lessons in Trust” the Lord has been trying to teach the nation of Israel. During the reign of Ahaz, Israel was tempted to trust in other nations when threatened by war. Chapter 13-14 is an oracle against the nation of Babylon. Although the Lord will use Babylon to judge Israel, the Lord Himself will also judge Babylon further emphasizing that no other nation, not even mighty Babylon, compares to God’s sovereignty.

Regarding the text itself, chapters 13-14 are written as a chiasm. Duvall and Hays says, “Chiasm is a fascinating literary feature that is seldom used in English but is employed frequently by the biblical authors, especially in the Old Testament. In a chiasm a list of items, ideas, or events is structured in such a manner that the first item parallels the last item, the second item parallels the next to the last item, and so forth.” For an illustration lets look at the actual text, which Motyer has outlined:

A1 The day of the Lord: the beckoning hand, a universal purpose declared (13:2-16)

B1 The overthrow of Babylon: the end of the kingdom, the fact of divine overthrow (13:17-22)

C The security and future of the Lord’s people: a contrasting universal purpose (14:1-2)

B2 The overthrow of Babylon: the end of the king, the explanation of divine overthrow (14:3-23)

A2 The end of Assyrian power: the outstretched hand, a universal purpose exemplified and validated (14:24-27)

Motyer goes on to explain that A1 and A2 raise the question of the locus of power in history. The appearance of things is the exercise of power by human will; the reality is the exercise of sovereign rule by the will of God. B1 and B2 stress the moral dimension in the purposes of God. They contrast the appearance of human glory with the reality of human emptiness and expose the worm in the bud: the pride which invites and merits divine judgment. To all this there is a common hub (C): consideration of the care of the people of God. The power that gathers nations (13:2-5), overthrows kingdoms (13:17-19), breaks kings (14:5) and ends empires (14:24) is a power of compassion towards church. It is allied to a divine world-view whereby aliens become Israelites (14:1b), Gentile peoples co-operate in the Lord’s purposes (14:1b, 2a) and the captor-captive roles are reversed (14:2b).

Yet, despite all the power and glory our heavenly Father displays; we, like the nation of Israel, persist in trusting everything else before God. We give our allegiance to the things of this world as though they can give us significance and worth. I know my personal battles with this daily. But I am wonderfully reminded that it was God who breathed life into our nostrils. This temporal world is only the veil and as John Oswalt states, “Why trust the veil when we may trust Him who is behind the veil and will assuredly one day pull that veil to the ground?” Christ said, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock” (Matt. 7:24). Nations indeed rise and fall, but we can stand because His kingdom is forever.

No Non-Sense In The Weight Room Part II of II

Click here for part I

HOW TO DO IT CORRECTLY:

I usually start my workout before the wife arrives to the gym. By the time the wife does arrive I’ve finished my run and I’m in the weight room. She gives a brief acknowledgement when she sees me knowing that I’m in “Beast-mode.” Not to mention she has her own ten-mile run to worry about herself.

Here’s what goes on behind the scenes. The wife and I know we have our socializing time later in the evening so why interrupt each other during “Beast-mode?” We need to get work done so we do it. That doesn’t mean we don’t talk to each other at all but its short and brief.

I find this much more effective for the following reasons. First, the wife is secure enough that she doesn’t need immediate attention from me just because we see each other at the gym. Second, we both allow each other the room to switch to “Beast-mode” and get work done. Finally, after a full day of work and a good workout we have plenty to talk about when we get home, which leads to connecting better on an emotional level. It’s a commitment to living a healthy life-style emotionally and physically.

To help solve this issue (you didn’t even you it was an issue, right?), I propose we apply some “man-rules” to the weight room.

1. The weight room is a SNUGGLE FREE ZONE – If your woman is having a bad day and you feel like canning your work out to show her some affection, fine, just do it somewhere else.

2. Chatter is only allowed as a filler – If you’re in the weight room treating it like a fellowship hall then you need to go to the fellowship hall. The only exceptions are (A) seeing a good friend for the first time in a long time (B) sharing the gospel to someone and (C) seeing an opportunity to encourage someone who is clearly having a rough time (but make it brief).

3. No Country Music – this has nothing to do with PDA, I just don’t like Country Music. Especially while I’m in Beast-mode.

4. Re-rack your d*** weights!!! Every gym I’ve been to has a sign like this (maybe without “d***” in it) and no one seems to listen. Once I told a guy twice my size to put his weights back where he got them and he gave me a look like “I can’t believe you’re making me put back the weights I just used in their original place so that others will have easy access to them instead of just leaving it all over the ground!” Yes, I’m a jerk like that.

5. When women are in Beast-mode it’s attractive. Well, this isn’t a rule but I thought you might want to know that. When a girl has that “I’m here to workout” mentality it shows that she’s focus and has some purpose while she’s there. Now there is a difference between Beast-mode and bee-otch mode but I don’t have time to tell you the difference right now.

You might be thinking I’m over critical about this issue. I’ll concede a ‘maybe.’ But you can’t argue about the perception of PDA and lollygagging in the weight room brings, namely, you’re not serious about working out. If you’re not serious about then get out of the way because the few of us who have “Beast-mode” need plenty of room.

No Non-Sense In The Weight Room Part I of II

When I was single I was always annoyed at couples showing an extraordinary amount of affection in public (PDA). It was more upsetting depending on the location of the PDA (e.g., church, college campus, etc.). I used to have a saying for this, “You don’t eat filet mignon in front of the homeless.” There are certain social sensibilities, which need to be adhered to by all people- much like not counting your money in front of the poor or eating your filet mignon in front of the homeless- and PDA is one of them.

But on this particular day, there was some PDA at a place where PDA should never be allowed, the weight room. Here’s the scene: a guy while working out was stopped abruptly by his girlfriend in order to “talk.” You know that look girls give when they need to talk. That’s right, she gave it to him. The dude stops and they proceeded to talk in the hallway right between the weight room and the cardio room. My personal workout consisted of me having to go back on forth between rooms in order to keep my motivation constant. Passing the couple by several times I almost lost my lunch a few times.

You might be thinking at this point, “Why do you have a problem with this since you’re married now?” First let me begin by saying that just because you’re married doesn’t mean you stop being sensitive to your surroundings. Second, I didn’t like watching other couples act like horny teenagers in front of me when I was single, so I’m not going to do it to other people. Finally, just because you can eat filet mignon doesn’t mean you should eat it in front of homeless people.

There’s another layer of disapproval I have with this situation and it’s on two fronts. The first being, “Dude, you’re in a weight room! Hit the d*** weights!” When a guy stops in the middle of his work out just to snuggle with his girl in the hallway, what does that say about him? Some people may think it was sensitive of him to be attentive to his girl. I say it’s enabling her (more on this in a minute). The dude looked like a total sap. The situation wasn’t urgent. As far as I could tell, there wasn’t a death in the family, a dog wasn’t killed, and no terrorist attack on the campus. Apparently, she just needed to “talk” and then snuggle.

If I were his friend I would call him out and let him know he looked like a total sap. Affection and weights don’t mix. Also, consider your surroundings. There might be single people struggling with their singleness who don’t need to see that stuff (I wanted to use another S-word but my editor [wife] wouldn’t let me). I certainly don’t want to see that stuff and I’M MARRIED. What a tool! As a man, you need to know when to handle your business in the weight room.

The second front goes to the girl. Ladies, if you ever feel the need to stop your man from working out only because you need to cuddle just know that you come across extremely needy and insecure. Couldn’t it wait until after he finishes working out? Why the immediate need?

Let me make it clear that I’m all for conversations within the weight room as long as it remains secondary. If people go there for the purpose of socializing then there is something wrong with that. Do people go to the library to clubbing? No. Then why go to the weight room with your girlfriend to snuggle or to be a social butterfly and get no work done? Do people show up to a business meeting in shorts and a T-shirt? Do people have AA meetings in a bar? This makes zero sense to me but sadly I see it all too often. In addition, it is perfectly fine to show your woman some affection in public (within reason) just as long as it's not in the weight room.

Click here for part II.