Upward Devotional for January 25, 2014

Saturdays this time of year find me working the floor of the gymnasiums at our church in Midland, and at the high school across the street, offering halftime devotionals during Upward Basketball games.

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Saturday, January 25, 2014

Good afternoon, everyone, and thank you so much for being here today, rooting for your kiddos, and all the youngsters on the court  ... another good day of Upward Sports here in Midland.

Sports ... a lot of sports stories in the news lately ... did anybody see Carmelo Anthony score SIXTY-TWO points for the Knicks last night? WHEW!

And the Olympics ... In less than two weeks, the finest young athletes in the world arrive in the Russian city of Sochi for the 2014 Winter Olympics. Lots of headlines devoted to the local and national competitions, determining who will - and will NOT - be representing their country in Sochi.

Unfortunately, there are a LOT of other headlines about the Olympics devoted to security, and threats of terrorism, and the fear generated by those threats ... sometimes, that's the first thing we hear on the evening news, when their focus shifts to the Olympics.

And there is cause for concern ... threats have been made. And it wouldn't be the first time something like this happened ... I'm old enough, and some of you are old enough - to remember the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich.

And, really, you don't have to go to the other side of the world for troubling news. Is it me, or is the local news filling more and more with stories of crime, and auto accidents, and fires, and hardship?

It's not a bad world we live in ... it's a good world ... BUT, it's a good world where bad things happen, and who can blame people for being afraid? I know this ... and you know what? God knows this. When our minds and our hearts are troubled by the bad things going on around us, when we're afraid, God has our back ...

In the Book of Isaiah, we read "Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous hand.’"

And remember ... GOOD things happen, too. There are a lot of good people, and a lot of good things happening under this roof, right here, right now. Let us all look for ways to do good, and to encourage others to do good, around the world and right here at home.

(prayer)

Thank you everyone ... enjoy the game!

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Upward Sports, by the way, is one of the the world’s largest Christian sports program for children, and was created with a vision to provide the best sports experience possible for every child. An estimated 1-million people around the world play, coach, referee or volunteer in some way to support Upward sports activities, hosted by more than 2,600 churches - there are four churches here, in Midland, including my own First Presbyterian. 

The organization notes that, "anyone – children and volunteers of any faith or no faith – can participate in Upward Sports. Specifically designed for children in K5- sixth grade, Upward aims to bring out 'the winner' in every child – regardless of the game’s score."