How's Your Jump Shot?

The 2008 NBA Finals is in full effect right now. I think its so amazing to watch the best of the best battle it out in such a fierce rivalry. Of course, I'm a die hard Chicago Bulls fan since the days of Michael Jordan, buut our team is in the process of rebuilding its new dynasty; say watcha' like, we'll be back!

But all the commotion, emotion and sheer thrill of the game somehow got me into a state of meditation-yeah, not sure how that happen, blame God.

I think what I'm recognizing more and more, is that there are messages in EVERYTHING.

He's not my favorite, but I think Kobe Bryant is a very talented basketball player, so is Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. However, it's Kobe I wanna use for my illustration because out of them all, he most closely resembles MJ, and hate him or love him, MJ took basketball to another level.

In a few of the past games I watched, I have just been amazed by some of the jump shots Kobe has gotten off! I mean, some tough shots! Defenders right in his face, all over him, double teaming, slapping his arm, the ball, I mean, just alot to be up against and still sink the basket.

I love the game of basketball and played some high school ball so I have some understanding of the training involved in maintaining such a high percentage jump shot-it's not as easy as it looks, but it is easier than you think. Here's what I mean. When Kobe shoots the ball, everyone watches the ball being released from his hands, and follows it into the hoop. Then, we say, "wow, what a great shot!" The thing is, that "great shot" wouldn't be possible without strength in his legs. The jump shot is unique because there are a few dynamics working all at the same time to get off the perfect shot. Momentum, release and the jump. Momentum and release is what we tend to focus on, but the true test of a great jump shot is in the legs.

What does this have to with anything, and why am I looking at Kobe's legs? lol.

Ok, smart guy. The observation is this: The success behind Kobe's jump shot is like the success behind our lives. We tend to focus on the things that will get us the most recognition, when in fact we have weak legs.

I can practice good momentum all day; catch and shoot drills, off-the-pick shooting drills, wide open shots. I can practice good release all day too; lining up the basket with my elbows, snapping the wrist after the shot to follow through; there are tons of drills. But, if I don't have any strength in my legs, my shot wont have proper elevation. And also, what happens when I get tired? Obviously my jump shot percentage goes down because I have no strength to draw from when I need it most.

What are you drawing from when you get tired, stressed, and worn out? If you have tired legs, like I've been having lately, then there's a good change you might just collapse! Collapsing in life is only a bad thing when you stay down; the key is to get up again, and again and again, and exercise the muscles in your legs which will give you more stamina, agility, and a better jump shot.

How do we build strength in our legs? Lifting weights of course. However, the only weights you need to lift in life are the ones in your mind. Psalms 55:22 says, "Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken." Meditation is strength for your legs. Make it habitual to continuously cast any burdens on the Lord, it does wonders for your spiritual legs, trust me. Just like athletes make it mandatory to exercise, we have to make it mandatory to exercise our consciousness. The Bible even makes it pretty easy by telling us where NOT to focus, and there where we are to focus. Matthew 6:25-34 says:

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?

26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?

28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.

29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.

30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?

31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.

33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

These instructions can appear impossible at first, but remember, you dont start off lifting 200 lbs in the weight room the first go around, you start small and as you get stronger, you can handle more. The important thing is to not try to do it on your own, ask God to sustain you.

So, today, take one issue that has been bothering you and tell God it's now in His hands to sort out because you're too busy thanking Him for everything He has done for you so far-that means you actually have to spend the time thanking Him. Watch and see that your issue is taken care of. I'm speaking from experience.

I will tell you though, the biggest road block I've found with living this way is my own inconsistency. I would give these issues over to God, spend time thanking Him and watch the miracle happen, but then I go right back to worrying about some other problem as if I forgot how many times God has come through for me-that is the real killer. It's like an athlete saying, "Well, I won the last game/match so I don't need to keep exercising." Right. Let me know how that works out for you. It wont.

We have to keep the focus on what's most important, and strong legs is the foundation for a great jump shot, just ask Kobe.

Who Wants to be a Trillionaire?

The temporal things that money can accomplish wont last, only the endeavors with eternal life built into them will stand the test of fire. With that said, as a trillionaire, what will you accomplish for the kingdom of God that you couldn’t accomplish with $500 per week? This is an important question because alot of us think that if we just had more money we could do so much more for God, when in actuality, we don’t have the slightest idea what we would do for God with even a million dollars if it just dropped in our laps. Furthermore, God doesn’t need us to do anything for Him. But He does need us to make ourselves available for His Holy Spirit to accomplish things for His kingdom through us.

The thing is, anyone can make alot of money, because its based on a set of universal biblical principals. If you give, you will receive. If you sow, you will reap. Possess qualities like diligence, consistency, and discipline and pretty much anything you set your mind to, you can accomplish.

The simplistically profound thing is this: Money isn’t everything! And, money doesn’t equal success in life! So really, you don’t have to beg God for more money, just go out and create it. It’s not the most significant thing in life whereby you have to spend a lifetime trying to find it; it’s just simple principles.

What we should spend our time doing however, is seeking God’s kingdom. To seek His kingdom is to seek after that which will bring it about. The primary enabler of God’s kingdom being manifested is our individual purposes being revealed to us; this is what a successful life looks like.

A successful life constitutes doing that which you were created to do. Just like money, the fact that you were created, means you are here for a purpose. And, it is knowing this purpose that will determine just how much you will accomplish for the kingdom; not how much money you have.

The purpose of money is to help you relate a message. This is true in all aspects of life. We live in nice homes, drive nice cars, and eat gourmet foods because of the message it sends; the message it sends to our own consciousness, and the consciousness of others. Money sends a message through rap music, money sends a message in political campaigning and it also sends a message through charity. Money is a means to an end; a way in which we can communicate what’s inside us to the world around us. It possess the functionality of your own personal courier service.

Stop for a minute and think about the messages your money is sending.

Now back to the original question. As a trillionaire, what will you accomplish for the kingdom of God that you couldn’t accomplish with $500 per week?

The simplicity of it is this: If you cant find a reason to dispose of millions, billions, or trillions of dollars, then you wont ever have it. This is true in the kingdom, but it is also true even if you don’t believe in God. I mean, even lotto winners have a reason for playing lotto. “Then, why should I believe in God if I can make lots of money otherwise?” Well, the obvious answer is because money isn’t everything. You don’t stay home from school everyday just because you can read the same text books at home; obviously there is more to school than just reading text books. In the same way, there is much more to life than making money. More importantly, a life void of a relationship with Jesus Christ is a life without purpose. And, a life not lived on purpose is an abusive and destructive life. It’s the difference between using a kitchen knife to cut a piece of birthday cake, and using it to stab someone. Using your car to take a friend out to dinner, or to take him out! Using your speech to encourage or to tear down.

Extreme examples? Sure. But this is what happens when purpose is aborted.

The kitchen knife was designed to cut cake, not to stab someone. Your car was designed to carry passengers from one point to the next, not run them over! And our speech is to encourage, not cast curses on people. Our lives have purpose as well, and just like the manufacturer tells us the purpose of a knife and a car, so the Manufacturer of life will impart to us our reason for being.

So here are some bottom line principles:
Money is a powerful communicator.
Money is a means to an end.
True Purpose equals success in life.
The person with lots of money and no purpose is like a teenager with a case of beer and a Corvette.

Answering our original question in detail takes more than perspective; it takes divine impartation from God. It’s not a question everyone is asking themselves, but for those of us who are, we should ponder and really understand the reason for financial wealth if we find ourselves on such a path. Not understanding will most certainly lead to our own destruction. To whom much is given, much is truly required.

I am aware of something though: If I’m certain about building God’s kingdom, and communicating its message, then I’ve found a reason to have a trillion dollars at my disposal.

A New Normal

I used to think subconscious faith was a stretch; a far reach, but worth the effort. Now, I realize it's not some lofty ideal, instead, it's a prerequisite to seeing the results of the Kingdom of God manifested in my life. Before I can experience God's purpose for my life, my outlook on life MUST change, or in other words, I have to start seeing through a different set of eyes. Why? Simply because God's purpose has already been revealed in the spiritual realm, so its up to me to start looking there. But before I can see out, I have to look within and cultivate the soil of my heart with joy, prayer and gratitude. When this soil receives the seed of the Word of God, something starts to happen-yes, a subconscious faith is being developed.

See, the consistency of the soil is important and greatly determines the speed and nurture of the seed. No matter the outward conditions, the soil must be consistent otherwise, the seed is affected negatively. This is why 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us that in all circumstances we are to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful, for this is God's will for us in Christ Jesus. Not because its the lofty thing to do, but because its a requirement for Seed to grow healthy seed! When you read the Bible (the Seed) do you feel like you get nothing from it alot of the time? Meaning your faith isn't strengthened, and you are seeing no miracles when you believe on the Word? No, that doesnt make you a heathen, it simply means the soil of your heart isnt as nourished and cultivated (with joy, prayer and gratitude) as it should be. Here is why. It is the Holy Spirit that gives us insight into the Word, right? Right. Well, we know that the presence of God, His Holy Spirit ministers to those that follow His will. And we just read earlier that 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says that it's the will of God to have joy, be prayerful and thankful no matter what. So, the point is that good seed must fall on good soil for there to be good results.

But thats not the end, it's really the beginning in fact. Now that we are developing this subconscious faith (the continuous process of good seed falling on consistently fertile soil), what do we do with it? How do we capitalize on subconscious faith and make the plans and purpose of God real in our lives!? The same way a farmer capitalizes on his crop; take it to market.

We have to take our subconscious faith, not primarily inside the four walls of a church building, but out into the world system. We take what we have cultivated on the inside and change the world around us; we can even change our circumstances! So, thats where we take it, but here's how we use it. Speak.

When the farmer knows his crop is top grade produce, his words are saturated by a confidence born out of subconscious faith that sends off vibrations straight into the consciousness of his customer, causing him to not only buy 10 bushels, but to silently think to himself, "Wow! I want what that guy has!"

Our words are more powerful than we think they are. More importantly, because we were made in the image of God, our words are creative. So now do you see why we can change our circumstances by having subconscious faith? Because speaking out of this kind of faith brings favorable results.

Some readers may not like my next statement, but really, that never stopped me before. Conscious faith is quite elementary; its uncultivated. Don't get me wrong, seed can grow in uncultivated soil, but what kind of crop will it produce? Clearly not the kind that causes you to easily sell 10 bushels of course. Here, let me try to explain what I mean. Conscious faith is reactive, because it goes out to meet our circumstances. Subconscious faith is proactive, because it's there before our circumstances arrive. So it's like this:

Let's say you own a jewelry store but you don't have an armed officer present; you just have his phone number in the event of an emergency. Of course you are uneasy about this, but your store is in a good area and you want to save as much money as you can. So, a robber notices your vulnerability and sees opportunity to steal from you, and so he robs you. Then, you call that emergency number, the officer shows up, takes a report and goes after the robber.

Wouldn't it be easier to just have an armed officer present, so that if a robber still decides to rob you, he meets the barrel of a shotgun?

We've lost so much in life simply because we thought reactive faith was enough. I know I have. With subconscious faith, we worry less about being robbed, and focus more on kingdom revenue.

And, like I've asked in many other blogs, where is your focus?