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 Why Sports Matter
HJ SPORTS NEWS EXCLUSIVE
Jacob Sahms, Sports Editor
People ask all the time how people of faith should act
during sporting events, or, more importantly, how Jesus would behave if he were
participating in the sport in question. All of those are fine questions, but
they beg the bigger one: what should people of faith, specifically Christians,
think about sports at all?
When considering sports, the angle from which you view things affects the question you ask. Sports, in general, are both games and exercise.
We're told that Jesus lived a life like ours but was without sin. Now, most of us
would agree that children play games and, at the very least, run to and from their
engagements, racing each other and themselves. So, at the very basic level, we
have sport: the thrill of participation.
At the next stage, we find ourselves faced with the
development of sport to the point we find it today: sometimes a way
of measuring one's self-worth, an avenue of discovering teamwork, a means to
paying for college (or at least broadening the resume and application), and,
finally, potentially an opportunity lending itself to a profession for
a select few.
At each stage, we find ourselves faced with the same
questions we might find facing a musician who is also a Christian. Can the
musician play well? They feel better about themselves. Can the musician
integrate his/her skills into the life of a band or orchestra? They work better
with others. Can the musician develop his/her skills to the degree that their
skills are one of their best attributes, and others desire to train them and
train with them? They can further their education and/or their checkbook by
continuing to progress.
At each step of life, people of faith should ask
themselves: Am I doing the best I can with the talents and gifts that God has
given me? Do I use my ability to sing, paint, teach, play, or cook to show
others how much God loves me and them? Am I using those gifts to God's glory or
mine? Can people see God's light shining through my life?
Those are the questions I ask of athletes and sports. Can people
see God through the one playing the game whether they are on TV or at the local
rec league softball field? Are they caring for their body in a way that propels
their life forward to be as long and fulfilled as God has ordained, rather than
wasting it on sloth, addiction, and misuse? Are their actions when they aren't
playing lending themselves to the overall message, that they are children of
God?
Regardless of what talents and gifts a person has, the
choice to engage life and share faith is reflected, one way or another;
but one way is better than the others. In sports vernacular, we call that
"getting in the game."
Are you ready to play?
Do you like Jacob's way of thinking? Then browse through the rest of the links in this newsletter to see what Jacob is up to in sports... and everything else! And let us know if you'd like this newsletter to go weekly...
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 The Hit List
Jacob's Top 10 Winter Olympics Memories
So many classic moments.
Follow along as HJ Sports Editor Jacob
Sahms tours through the Winter Olympics events that made a lasting
impression... and take a look at some great sports memorabilia that's
now up for auction on eBay!Click through for the list... |
 Click through for full coverage of the 2010 Winter Olympics at HJ
With God As Her Pilot
02/21/10 | Comment Here
Elana Meyers found Jesus in college, discovered bobsled after softball, and now competes with a greater goal in mind.
For The Love Of The Games: Winter Games Special Edition
02/15/10 | Comment Here
Rising and falling, the Olympians inspire us to consider our lives
and strive for something higher, faster, stronger. But have we counted
the cost? You Never Have To Race Alone
02/10/10 | 3 Comments
Chad Hedrick walked alone, but now a husband and a father, he's found he doesn't skate alone. Chad Hedrick skates for God.
The Winter Games, Live From Vancouver, B.C.
02/08/10 | 1 Comment
The Olympics return, but this time, it's the cold ones, live from
Vancouver, B.C. What can we learn about sports and faith as we watch?
What will we hope for and wish could be true? |
 Click through for full coverage of Sports at HJ
...and Tiger, and Mark, and...
02/19/10 | Click to Comment
From scandals to success, from redemption to ridiculous, our world in sports arrives thanks to the Weekend Recap.
Stars Go Dim
02/12/10 | Click to Comment
What does it mean for the stars to be aligned? It seems like lately the stars are more maligned than anything else.
All About Our Role Models
02/05/10 | Click to Comment
It's Super Bowl weekend, and our first-ever
Friday Night Fix finds plenty of important stories about faith, and
what it means to be a good citizen, in the NFL, with a few glitches
along the way.
For the Love of the Game
02/02/10 | 2 Comments
Everything I learned about sports, I learned from Coach. How to be a good teammate, a leader, a hard worker, a winner. |
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Other News
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Glad to be here,
The Staff
HollywoodJesus.com |
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