Professional basketball to me is not the same. Perhaps it is because I am getting older or the fact that since Michael, Magic & Bird retired the game isn’t as appealing to me. I must admit that this season (particularly the playoffs were fun to watch). I love to watch “MARCH MADNESS” because those collegiate athletes give 100% every night on the floor.
Entering this season “King James” made more news (imagine that) when he dropped the bomb and took his ball from Cleveland to Miami. I recall the press conference and nearly an hour later he finally gave us his “DECISION.” Cleveland banned him and Miami heralded him as if he were part of the “second coming.” Make no mistake – Lebron James is an amazing athlete! One of the most gifted in the world. Being from Maryland – I am a little “biased” but I grew up watching Coach “Lefty” Driesel lead Albert King, Buck Williams and the late Len Bias to some awesome ACC action! Lebron reminds me of Len Bias and both were built like Stallone with a basketball, could jump out of the gym like Jordan and run the floor like Magic Johnson. God only knows how good the Boston Celtics could have been had Bias not have died.
DISCLAIMER: I am not trying to throw Lebron under the bus but the next few paragraphs are observations that God gave me while watching the NBA Finals. 1) It is better to be low key and come out swinging and finish strong than “in your face” out the gate and run out of gas. I love how Dirk Niwotski immediately walked off the court after winning the NBA Championship with half the world watching. He let his game do the talking. The Triple Threat of Miami acted at the beginning of the season as if they won something and then blamed each other at the press conference when they lost it all. Like one friend pointed out the Miami Heat have a new cell phone out for sale – It vibrates but doesn’t RING!
2) In the lyrics of VAN HALEN – “Finish What You Started.” Yes, it is true that Lebron was in a tough position because of the way he ended his relationship with the team he swore would put them on the map. They felt betrayed and he was free to be traded. Hall of Famer Bill Walton tweeted the day after losing the Finals to Dallas: “I am not trying to be too hard on Lebron but anyone who intentionally bills themselves as “King James” must deal with the scrutiny.” Honestly, watching Lebron play in the Championship he seemed sluggish at times and borderline absent. Some suggest he was playing within the system or complimenting the team in his role but if you want to be Jordanesque you cannot score two points in the final quarter. MJ (not Jackson) would score 22 (in the final quarter) and then dunk on top of you with that billion dollar grin! Lebron’s ‘decison” at the beginning of the year resembled more of INDECISION when he needed to demonstrate no hesitation.
APPLICATION: In ministry, I have heard hundreds of sermons (no exaggeration) over the years. I trusted Christ 31 years ago next month. Across the globe we have many gifted preachers but what concerns me is that too often a preacher will pray, prepare and preach a wonderful message and when what should be heading into the invitation as Billy Graham would say “the moment of DECISION” too often something happens. The clergy either gets weak and omits the invitation or worse apologizes for giving one. Charles Spurgeon the powerful preacher of yesterday commented to his young mentees in ministry: “Notice my invitation is just as strong as my introduction of my sermon.” Hall of Famer, Super Bowl MVP John Riggins “The Diesel” was AWESOME! He wore 44 on the Washington Redskins and ran over defenders like they were lightweight dominos. That brother from another mother with each passing quarter was warming up. He got stronger as the defense got weaker. He seemed to get faster when linebackers were tiring and after he blew by them many considered re-TIREing! He dominated more fourth quarters in the 80’s as anyone I can recall. The Skins went to the Super Bowl four times and won THREE in less than ten years but everyone back in the day only wants to recall the 49ers or Dallas “Don’t Let Your Baby’s Grow Up to Be” Cowboys! LOL
Regardless of your profession, ponder today and recommit anew that you will finish strong and better FINISH FAITHFUL. You may not be first but sure can be faithful. My fellow preacher friend recently preached on the West Coast and over 3,000 were in attendance on a Sunday service. When he gave the invitation it seemed that 1/4 of the church came forward making various decisions for Christ and many gave their life to Jesus. The pastor was shocked, almost embarrassed and looked at the visiting evangelist and said: “What do I do?” The evangelist graciously led the way pointing them Home. The pastor of that church no doubt is a gifted teacher but never felt led to extend the invitation all the years he was on staff there. We are all called “to do the work of an evangelist” by our life and lips. Some preach, others teach but we must all be about REACHING others for God’s Glory.
Ask God to give you a holy boldness when extending the invitation. It has been said: “I would rather be a used car salesman than a preacher who doesn’t give an altar call. Why? At least the car salesman will ask for the sale before you walk off the lot!” Why preach a great message for 30 minutes and then strike out in the bottom of the ninth when souls are on the line? Billy Graham studied preachers and evangelists from the past and it is imperative that we don’t make the invitation lightly at the end of the sermon. When you proposed to your spouse – did you make light of it. Was it a joke? Were you ill prepared?Was it a flippant moment in the history of your time together? Of course not! We must be INTENTIONAL with the INVITATION in the ministry God called us. Below is a brief clip of an UPWARD event I did last year at a Baptist Church and we had over 100 professions of faith. The night before we had 112 saved in West Virginia. Most of the time, I have folks come forward. Sometimes I ask them to make a commitment in their seat but I also feel it is important to extend the invitation at all times. One never knows when it will be their last time to respond.
Ruth & I refinanced our home last year. We went through a couple individuals because we were entrusting our biggest investment (our home) in their hands. A couple of them got squirmish, weak and even nervous when we were getting ready to sign the paper work. We had to cancel with them and go with someone else because its hard to trust someone who isn’t confident in what their doing. As clergy, our confidence is in God. Its not our job to make folks walk the aisle, trust Christ or demand folks automatically become commited in the local church. However, we are called to share with them that God loves them and allow the Holy Spirit to do the rest. More than a mortgage we are trusted with the Greatest Message the world will ever have and we cannot act INDECISIVE in what should be decision time.
Should the Lord tarry, I pray Lebron will do just fine in his basketball career. Some chase rings we need to introduce people to The King! King James is good but King Jesus is God. My prayer is that all of us (regardless of our profession) will finish strong for God’s Glory. I can hear the Referee now and He is still saying: “PLAY BALL!”
Great post Frank! So dissapointed you didn’t come back and speak at our graduation this year. You were PHENOMENAL last year! Thanks for your ministry and I love how you always brag on Jesus and give an invitation
frank you were steve nash before steve nash. For a white dude you could play back in the day. I remember when you dropped 31 in a game against us. you could definitly shoot hoops. god bless you
It has been a delight to follow you on Facebook and we really enjoyed your sermon recently in North Carolina. God has given you a real gift to write and preach. I pray you come back soon
I loved LEN BIAS!!! He was the man!!
Wow!!
Frank – I pulled this off your website – this guy is providing the lecture (and co-wrote the textbook) in my APOLOGETICS class!
“NO ONE, should have that much energy in the morning! Frank is the MAN!! I know that doesn’t look too fancy on a poster, brochure, or book cover, but it is true. Frank Shelton is AMAZING – great speaker, and awesome man of God!”
Dr Ergun Caner – Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
Incredible Frank:
I am always amazed to see all the places you are going. You are indeed a “man on the go” and I sure am glad I can call you my friend. It is a source of great delight that I can tell folks that I ate lunch with you in Indian Trail, NC and actually sat close enough to you to TOUCH YOU. Now that is something to really be proud about!!
I hope all your meetings will be greatly blessed.
junior Hill
Frank here is a joke for you that fits your blog – “LeBron walks into a store and a customer asked him for change for a dollar bill. He digs in his pocket and hands the lady three quarters. The woman said: “You owe me another 25 cents!” The guy behind the register says “Lady – live with it he doesn’t have a FOURTH QUARTER!”
Hope to see you in Georgia sometime bro. Keep preaching Jesus!!
Hello Frank,
It’s been some time, but you may remember me from the Christian Chamber of
Southwest Florida in Ft. Myers that you spoke at. I am a friend of Paul Lodato and had the opportunity to drive you down to the Naples meeting. I don’t recall hearing how
your mission trip to Jamaica went or if it went. I was curious because my wife
and I have a ministry to the public schools here and we really want to hear of
your experience inside the Jamaican schools.
Look forward to hearing from you in how you are continuing to build a Kingdom
Legacy.
Sincerely,
John
As a Miami Heat fan for the past six years (since before I moved to south Florida), I was delighted a year ago to hear LeBron’s announcement that he was coming to Miami. He and Chris Bosh exercised their free agency to play with their friend Dwayne Wade at a loss in salary in hopes of playing on a championship team. This was not a financial decision but a decision almost any competitive athlete would make if given the opportunity. The idea of Cavalier fans that LeBron should play for them forever is simply without basis in reality. I had no expectation that the Heat would go all the way their first year and I am very impressed by how far they made it. They have to learn how to meld their talents and play as a team and that takes time. As a former Lakers fan, I’ve seen several super teams put together overnight and none of them did as well their first year as this Miami team has done. Now, I appreciate the spiritual lessons drawn Frank, but let’s be fair. If LeBron really called himself “King James’ (the source is anonymous) we don’t know if this was an egotistical self-designation or meant to be humorous. He has never sounded egotistical in interviews I’ve heard. Did the players really blame one another after the final game? Somehow I missed that in the post-game interviews. In my hearing they’ve always been extremely supportive of one another. I trust all the criticisms about not coming through when it counted will burn into their souls and I predict they will not repeat this pattern in future years. After they’ve won several championships, this first season of the Big Three playing together will be seen by everyone in proper perspective.