Quote from Forum Archives on July 22, 2003, 3:23 pm

Posted by: masinick <masinick@...>

Dear friends,

Just as I often share with you Phil Ware's Weekly Verses at the
beginning of the week, I nearly always share my friend Larry
Davies' Sowing Seeds of Faith devotional series. Recently Larry
asked me to help him out in the preparation of the prayer lists
that he sends out 3 times a week. So not only do we see eye to
eye on many topics, we're now working together in one of the
Internet ministries.

Today, Larry shares with us from the winner of his annual prayer,
poetry, and devotion writing contest. The lesson is a humbling
one, a message about crushing personal pride and realizing our
deepest need.

My friends, I think we all want to feel good about ourselves. I
honestly believe that God wants us to feel good about ourselves,
too - but not necessarily in the way we may think, and certainly
not in the way that Marc felt before he came to his senses.

I believe that God views each of us with tremendous worth -
enough so that He sent His own Son to live among us and die a
painful death on a makeshift cross, where His flesh was pounded
and tortured. Would God have allowed that or even preordained it
if 1. it was not necessary and 2. We were not worth it? I think not.
God wanted to demonstrate, once and for all, that we ARE
worthwhile, each of us has great worth to Him. At the same time,
our worth is NOT in our stuck up pride, it's in our personal
relationship with Him - and in the way we share His character and
His nature with one another.

Marc learned these things the hard way. Perhaps his message is a
good reminder to each of us. Perhaps some of us can yet learn
from this message. Even if I know this message, it's still a
good reminder today.

Your Brother in Christ,
Brian

____________________________________________________________

Sowing Seeds of Faith...

Announcing the winners of our 2003 Writing Contest... We
received more entries than ever and the quality was excellent.
We thank everyone who participated. We pray you will be blessed.

Poetry -- "Heart's Desire" by Eveline MaedMaedelNipiNipigonnada
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/2003poetry.htm
htmPrayer -- "Walk With Me" by Jodi LewaLewandTacoma, Washington
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/2003prayer.htm
htmSermon -- "The Story of the Prodigal Son" by Susan Joyce of
FarmFarmvillerginia
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/2003sermon.htm
htmDevotion - "Blocked Shot & Salvation" by Marc D. Greenwood of
Akron, Ohio

"A Blocked Shot & Salvation"
Marc D. Greenwood

"Who's that guy?" someone asked pointing at me, "Why is he
shooting baskets by himself?"

Another whispered with a look of disdain, "That's Greenwood."

We all knew the selection routine at the YMCA. The first two
players to sink free throws earned the honor of alternately
selecting their team. Marginal talents dreaded the
humiliation-inducing ritual.

Bloated by my star status, I dribbled to another basket to
perfect my shot, confident I'd be chosen first. The mere mortals
could sweat out the selection process. Years later, a friend
confessed he'd grown weary of hearing about my basketball
prowess. "Everybody had to kiss your signet ring," he said.

Fueled by an insatiable desire to outperform others, I honed my
skills. Sequestering myself in a steaming, empty gymnasium,
flying from end line to end line, I refined my behind-the-back
dribble. My labored breathing and squeaking sneakers-- coupled
with the echo of ricocheting ball on hardwood and the swish of a
feathery jumper caressing the net -- created an intoxicating
symphony for me.

My labor generated three leading scorer awards, two league
championship crowns, and a Most Valuable Player award. The ball
and my hand became one as I transformed into a sleight-of-hand
artist. I unleashed an array of weapons: a jet-assisted first
step, a killer crossover, and an automatic pull-up jumper. I
fired no-look passes my teammates gobbled up like M&M candy and
converted into lay-ups. I attacked the game with a cold-eyed
fury, a relentless scoring machine, hungering for victory.

After the sweat and heartbreak of the selection process the
teams matched up. An unimpressive newcomer had been duped into
guarding me. "He's in for a long night." I thought full of
assurance.

But to my dismay, his quickness thwarted my drives to the
basket, and his mad hops forced me to rainbow my shot.
Bewildered, I fumed to myself, "This is my court. What's going
on? I'm supposed to be handing out the lessons." I struggled as
the game seesawed. Shots were contested, bodies banged in the
mid-air skirmish for rebounds and tempers flared as we struggled
for court supremacy.

Despite my inability to dominate the newcomer, I remained
confident. I always performed best under pressure, ever ready to
plunge a game-winning dagger. At crunch time, I demanded the
ball and waved my teammates away, forcing an isolation play.
This wasnwasnbout basketball anymore. My manhood and
self-identity were threatened. Scoring the winner over my
tormentor promised sweet vindication. I threw a series of head
fakes, jab steps, elevated, and launched the game winner.

Thwack. The sound reverberated throughout the gym. He'd blocked
my shot. Humiliated and infuriated, I screamed, "Foul."

The newcomer howled, "No way. That was a clean block."

Frustrated, I used the Lord's name in vain. Fear seized me as I
realized, I had dishonored God. A verse learned as a child left
me naked before my Creator: "You shall not misuse the name of
the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless
who misuses His name." Exodus 20:7 (NIV)NIV
Though I abstained from cigarettes, drugs, and drinking, my
righteousness now lay in a heap. Seared by the light, I saw
myself as a rebel, an unclean man. For a whole week my
conscience lashed and tormented me. Desperate for relief, I fled
to a small church where Joey Johnson served as Pastor.

I entered fearful and uncomfortable. For 12 years I was a
stranger here. I didndidnnow what to expect. Yet, under Pastor
Joey's patient ministration, I learned how Jesus Christ died,
was buried, resurrected and now sits at the right hand of God
interceding for me... despite my fierce pride. I responded to
the Holy Spirit and exchanged death for life and darkness for
light.

I had never seen my basketball tormentor before that eventful
day and haven't seen him since. But I'm so grateful he blocked
me to salvation.

------------------------

You can send emails of encouragement to Marc at
mailmailtocMarcD@aol.aol

Read Sowing Seeds of Faith... everyday! Click here:
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/Devotions.htm
htmAre you receiving prayer concerns from around the world? Join
our prayer team today. Check it out by clicking here:
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/sign-up.htm
htmHow can I regularly support your ministry? Become a Sowing Seeds
Ministry partner. Click here:
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/ministry_partner.htm
htmJesus said: "You are the light of the world--like a city on a
mountain, glowing in the night for all to see. Don't hide your
light under a basket! Instead, put it on a stand and let it
shine for all." (Matthew 5:14-15)

"Breaking the Peanut Butter Habit: Following God's Recipe for a
Better Life" now on sale only through our website.
httphttpww.wwwisowingseedsoffaith/peanpeanbutt
htm
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

This mailing proudly powered by Subscribe Me(TM) Professional -
Enterprise Edition httphttpww.wwwssubscribemepro

=====
--
Brian Masinick, mailto:masinick@yahoo.com
Home page: www.geocities.com/masinick/

__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Yahoo! SiteBuilder - Free, easy-to-use web site design software
sitebuilder.yahoo.com