Category: Dallas Mavericks (Page 6 of 8)

Get These Out Of Here!

June 8, 2011 / Allan / 0 Comments

“Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” ~John 2:16

If Jesus were to walk into your church building tonight would he praise God for what is happening there or would he start flipping over pews? If Jesus walked into my church building on Sunday would he see empty ritual and dead tradition or would he recognize a living and vibrant people being transformed by a genuine relationship with God? What if he wandered into your elders’ meeting? What if he showed up to watch you prepare a sermon? Would Jesus be pleased to go through all the church policies in the secretary’s file cabinet? Or would that cause him to wince in pain?

When Jesus disturbs things in the Jerusalem temple, he is acting out his prophetic message. It’s not the power of the whip that makes his message succeed. It is his moral power, the power of the truth, that strikes the hearts of the people and so captures Christian readers today. Those who confront Jesus after the episode appear to know that Jesus is right and that the temple has become something other than what God had always intended. The purpose of the holy temple has been compromised. Maybe they sense something of God’s divine and righteous anger at work in Jesus.

Jesus is pointing out the problems with the institution of the temple. He is confronting its misdirection and its brokenness. In the process, he points out very clearly that the real activity of God, the real temple, is Christ Jesus himself. In other words, the focal point of the people’s religion has to be replaced by something — no, someone! — new.

The local church — my local church, your local church — is a fallen institution. It’s filled with sinners, filled with people just like you and me. Yes, the church aspires to goodness. But, admittedly, sometimes we succomb to programs and agendas that have very little to do with the Kingdom of God. Sometimes life in our churches can be driven by petty financial interests or social comforts and desires. We sometimes play religious politics, church leaders acting as representatives of their particular constituents, when deciding church policy. We may give in to pressures to be more modern and contemporary. We may bow to petitions to defend empty traditions and dead habits.

If Jesus walked in for a visit would he be outraged over the things we argue about? Would he be appalled at the ways we sing? Or don’t sing? Would he question some of the lines we draw or challenge some of the rules we keep? Honestly, we have plenty of religious customs and practices — even doctrines — that have everything to do with tradition and habit but may have little to do with our risen Lord. We must be willing to allow Jesus to step into our church worlds and openly critique the things we do and the ways we do them. Could the things we cherish and defend stand up to Jesus’ prophetic viewpoint?

I truly believe that everything we do in our churches and in our individual lives as disciples of Christ must have as its foundation the very Gospel we preach and teach. The root of our words and deeds must be connected to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Our traditions and rituals must be born out of and give expression to the Lord who welcomes and forgives and loves and sacrifices. The One who invites all to his wedding feast, the One who gives in abundance the riches of heaven must be the informing and driving force behind every single thing that happens in church.

It’s OK to review and evaluate our habits. It’s allright to challenge our traditions. If they stand up to Christ’s critique, then affirm them. Teach them and practice them in all holiness and sincerity. But by all means be able to explain to your people and your community the hows and whys. If they can’t meet the Gospel standard, then discard them. Destroy them and abolish them in faith and trust in God. And be able to explain the hows and whys based on a true understanding of what Jesus came to this earth to do. And what he came to this earth to change.

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You’ve got to watch this 90-second video they’re showing at American Airlines Center to pump up the Mavs fans during these NBA Finals. The video features the most accomplished athletes in the history of DFW talking to Mavericks fans about what it means to win it all. An intense Emmitt Smith. A relaxed Daryl Johnston sitting in front of a couple of Super Bowl trophies. A no-nonsense Troy Aikman. An overly-animated Tony Dorsett with his Heisman Trophy. A blank-stare, monotone, can-we-just-get-this-over-with Nolan Ryan with the A.L. Championship hardware. Mike Modano. Gary Patterson with TCU’s Rose Bowl trophy. Roger Staubach in front of a portrait of downtown Dallas. And Ron Washington from the Rangers dugout in Arlington.

You must watch the video all the way through, all the way to the end.

Classic.

Peace,

Allan

The Joy of One

June 2, 2011 / Allan / 0 Comments

The apostle Paul changed his travel plans in order to spare the Corinthian Christians a great deal of pain. “For if I grieve you,” he writes, “who is left to make me glad?” Paul says he didn’t want to be distressed by the very people who are supposed to make him rejoice (2 Corinthians 1:23-2:4).

Paul really loved these people.

Despite their problems and spiritual immaturity, Paul really had a deep affection for this group. And he didn’t want to hurt them. Not only that, he wanted to do everything he could to please them. He was willing and eager to inconvenience himself for their sake.

He longed to “work with them for their joy” because his own joy was so tightly wound up in theirs. Paul understood that, in the Body of Christ, the joy of one is the joy of the other. Their happiness made Paul happy. Their gladness led directly to Paul’s rejoicing. He wouldn’t have it any other way.

When we were planning a bi-lingual worship assembly a couple of years ago, I was confronted by a well-meaning brother who couldn’t comprehend how singing songs in Spanish would be an encouragement to us Anglos. If our worship time is to be a time of edification, he reasoned, how is singing some of our songs in Spanish going to edify the English speakers? How does that lift me up? My response went this way: Do you think that hearing 900 white brothers and sisters in Christ sing a song of praise and encouragement in their native language will give a lift to the 40 or so Spanish-speakers in our assembly that day? Will it make them feel good? Will it make them feel valued and appreciated? Will they experience acceptance in our efforts to sing in their language? Will they feel joy?

If the answer is ‘yes’ — and it is — then doesn’t that give you great joy, too? Doesn’t it make your heart happy to know that a group of your brothers and sisters is encouraged and gladened by something you did? Does that not edify you at all? Of course it does. In the Body of Christ, the joy of one is the joy of the other.

Yes, we are called to sacrifice for others. Yes, we are commanded to put the needs of others ahead of our own. Absolutely, we are directed by Scripture and the way of our Lord to serve our brothers and sisters. But that never means one of the things we have to sacrifice is our own happiness. Our joy is never compromised just because we’re taking care of somebody else. In Christ, our mature understanding is that our happiness results from making others happy. Our greatest needs are truly met, more deeply met, when we work to meet the needs of others.

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Peja and Terry got their looks in Game One. Dirk got the ball on the blocks. And J. J. penetrated the lane as always. It’s just that the shots didn’t fall. The threes were too strong off the back of the rim. Dirk seemed like he was rushing things. And Barea’s little running teardrops didn’t…well…drop. I hate to think that it was unfamiliarity with the Eastern Conference arena they only visit once a year. I hate to imagine it was a matter of not being comfortable with the Heat’s gym. That just sounds weak.

But that’s really the only hope we have, right?

Hopefully it’s just as simple as the Mavs’ shots didn’t fall. It was an off shooting night. Everybody regains their touch tonight. It has to be that way. Because if it’s something more than that — LeBron’s defense, Chandler’s shaky confidence, Jet choking in another big series, Dirk’s finger, a soft Mavs’ interior, Miami’s fresher and faster legs — Big D is in big trouble.

Peace,

Allan

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

May 26, 2011 / Allan / 0 Comments

Jesus prays to our Father, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” Jesus preaches the Kingdom of God. Jesus declares the coming of the Kingdom of God. He proclaims, “It is at hand!” It’s here! The Kingdom! Look at it!

Jesus brings the Kingdom to earth. He does God’s will on earth just as it is in heaven.

Jesus casts out demons because there are no demons in heaven.
Jesus heals because there is no sickness in heaven.
Jesus feeds because there is no hunger in heaven.
Jesus raises the dead because there is no death in heaven.

“Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”

Are you praying this prayer? Jesus said it was a good idea to pray this prayer, to ask God to please do his will on earth just like it’s done in heaven. Are you bringing the Kingdom of God to your part of the earth? Are you obeying his will like the rocks and the trees and the oceans and the animals obey his will?

There is no revenge in heaven. There is no hate in heaven. There are no arguments in heaven. There are no disagreements in heaven. No suspicion. No politics. No war. No division of any kind. No violence, verbal or physical. No mistrust. No gossip. No complaining. You won’t find any of those things in heaven.

Is the will of God being obeyed in your church just like it is in heaven? In your elders’ meetings? In your congregational committees? In your marriage? In your family around your dinner table at night? Are you bringing the Kingdom of God to your workplace? To your school? To the Little League team you’re coaching or the civic club to which you belong?

If God has completely eradicated selfish behavior and gamesmanship and competition in heaven, if that is his holy will, why would you insist on bringing any of that into his Church? Or putting up with it?

The rivers and the trees and the squirrels and the fish all obey God’s will on earth just as it is in heaven. What’s wrong with us?

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Rodney Ashlock had just begun his Sermon Seminar session on the book of Esther Tuesday evening when the WeatherBug app on my laptop started chirping. I opened it up to learn that a tornado warning had been issued for parts of Tarrant County that included my home in North Richland Hills. A quick check of the radar revealed an ominous red and purple blob heading right for my neighborhood and a pretty impressive hook echo bearing down on my house.

I dashed outside the lecture hall there on the Austin Grad campus to check in by phone with Carrie-Anne and the girls. She answered her cell phone and her voice was almost drowned out by the sound of the sirens. Before I could get more than a couple of sentences out, I heard our house phone ring. She kept me on line as she answered it. It was the city, calling to warn residents of the coming tornado and to urge them to seek immediate shelter. I asked if she and our daughters were OK.

“Yeah, we’re hiding in the laundry room with the radio and the phone. We’ve got a couple of mattresses in here. The girls are a little nervous. And I’m putting clothes in the dryer.”

Now THAT is a wife of noble character! Protecting the children and doing the wash! Who can find a woman like that? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing.

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Too much Dirk last night for the Thunder. Too much Dirk. Here’s hoping Chicago can somehow force a couple of more games in the Eastern Conference series to wear out that unholy trio in Miami and buy the senior Mavs some much-needed down time.

Peace,

Allan

A Work Of Art

May 18, 2011 / Allan / 3 Comments

When one is confronted with a masterpiece, with a truly beautiful work of art, it’s never the work that is on trial. It’s the one who would dare to comment on the art. He’s on trial. If you’re standing in front of one of nature’s most glorious wonders or one of man’s most beautiful creations, it’s not the object of your attention that’s on trial. It’s you. Some things are so truly settled, so set in stone, so beyond debate, that to open our mouths and talk about them is not to bring some new revelation to light about the thing, but to make a commentary on ourselves.

Only an idiot would stand at the jaws of the Grand Canyon and shrug his shoulders and say, “Yeah, it’s allright.”

Only the musically ignorant would listen to Handel’s Messiah and say, “It’s not quite catchy enough.”

Only the artistically blind could witness the Sistine Chapel and say, “It’s a little too involved.”

Some things are so well established and so universally recognized as greatness that to stand before them immediately puts one on trial.

Dirk Nowitzki’s performance in last night’s Western Conference Finals opener against Oklahoma City is like that. After last night, Dirk is no longer on trial. It’s those who would dare to discuss him who are being judged.

Dirk was incredible last night, eh? His game-high 48-points came in deadly efficient fashion. Fade away Js over double-teams. High-arcing one-legged fall-away Js. Off the glass. Nothing but net. Around the rim and in. Backing down defenders. Driving through defenders. Spinning moves to the baseline for a sick dunk. Dirk missed only three shots from the field. And I can’t remember any of them.

OKC tried at least six different defenders on Dirk. And he destroyed them. Ate ’em up. They tried to front him, back him, double-team him; they went big, they went small; they tried everything. Dirk drew 16 fouls from those defenders. They put their lesser version of Dirk, Kevin Durant, on the Big German in the second half and he picked up two fouls in four seconds.

Nowitzki made an NBA playoff record two dozen straight free throws. He went twelve or fifteen from the floor. Six rebounds. Four assists. Four blocked shots.

And did you notice his postgame performance? Did you recognize that it was almost as incredible as what he did for those 41 minutes on the court? Did you see the way Dirk walked off the floor just like it was another day at the office? He acted in the locker room and at the podium like he had just gone 8-24 for 19 points in a January win over the Wizards.

Don’t say anything about Dirk anymore. Don’t say anything unless it’s about his greatness. Your criticism would tell us nothing about Nowitzki. But it would reveal a whole lot about you.

Peace,

Allan

Oligopistos

May 17, 2011 / Allan / 0 Comments

Our youngest daughter, Carley, is quite the artist. She’s always drawing, always creating on the computer, always painting and coloring. And she loves to read. She’s insatiable. Voracious. She’s the kid who won’t put her book down while she walks from the couch to the kitchen to get a glass of water. She walks and reads. She packs a book for every four-minute trip to Wal-Mart or seven-minute ride to church.

And, she’s very talented. Of course. Duh.

Now I’ve been blown away by a poem Carley wrote for a 5th grade contest at Green Valley Elementary. She read it last night at their poetry recital in front of over a hundred students and parents. And, yeah, it’s very good.

Faith will spread through hearts and minds;
Oh, a feeling so divine.
It lifts you up to higher ground,
saving you from yourself.
Though hope is gone and love is dead,
faith still lives on strong.
So walk with pride, but do not test;
come from the shadows and from the dark;
let this feeling fill your heart.
Come with me; keep your eyes on the prize;
walk on water; fly above.
But come with me, oligopistos,
ye of little faith.

That’s right. My eleven-year-old daughter incorporating some New Testament greek into her fifth grade poem. What could possibly make her preacher daddy more proud? If she ever finds a word that rhymes with homothumadon, look out!

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The trash-talking started long before the Mavericks had completed their historic sweep of the Lakers. My sister, Rhonda, who lives in OKC with her basketball freak husband and kids, began texting Whitney and me with predictions of doom for Dallas if they were to meet their beloved Thunder in the conference finals. Once the Mavs beat LA, I started it back up again with, “Would you rather your Thunder beat Memphis in seven games and get swept by Dallas, or lose to the Grizzlies and avoid the humiliation?”

Rhonda and Geoff were in the arena up there in January when the Mavs beat the Thunder in a regular season game in OKC. And they took exception to the way Jason Terry celebrated and, in their words, taunted the crowd. So I get this picture from Geoff on Sunday:

Oh, yeah. It’s on. I’m a little concerned about Kidd and J. J. Barea because the Mavs are facing a young athletic set of guards for the first time all postseason. And there’s no way Dallas will have the same open looks at three-pointers that they got against the older, worn-out, slow to rotate Lakers’ front court. In the end, though, OKC doesn’t have an answer for Dirk. And Tyson Chandler ought to get about five blocks per game. Kevin Durant may average 30-points in this series. And this may very well be his coming out party. But the Mavs will prevail. It just won’t be easy. Dallas in six.

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We hauled the girls out to the Dallas Arboretum on Saturday to take in the beauty of White Rock Lake and all the blooms of spring. We also wanted to check out my great friend Kevin Henrichson’s Little Mermaid castle. Kevin’s architectural firm, GHA, designed and constructed the grand-prize winning castle last February as part of the Dallas Blooms exhibits. And it’ll remain on display there with the other fairy tale castles at the Arboretum through the remainder of 2011.

The castle was nice and all, Kevin, but, honestly, I’m much more interested in your other major design and construction project. Please hurry up and get that In-N-Out location built on Precinct Line!

Peace,

Allan

Truly Belonging

May 3, 2010 / Allan / 1 Comment

“In Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.” ~Romans 12:5

We belong to each other because we belong to Christ!

This was our theme here at Legacy last night. These are the words we said together during our call to worship. We repeated the words together a couple of times during our lesson from Romans 12. And we said the words to one another as we shared the communion meal of our risen Lord.

We belong to each other because we belong to Christ!

What if we really did belong to each other? What would that look like? What if we really functioned, not as a group of individual Christians with individual ministries but together as a whole? What if we thought in terms of the whole? Not what’s best for my age group or what’s going to benefit my kids or how this is going to meet my needs. What if we thought and acted like members of something bigger than ourselves? What if our thinking was community-oriented? What if the whole really were greater than the individual? What if we took the inspired apostle Paul seriously? What if we really belonged to each other? What would that look like?

We belong to each other because we belong to Christ!

What if we were truly community? Not just community like the people in your neighborhood or the guy across the street. Not like the people you see two or three times a week and say ‘hello’ to when you run into them at Wal-Mart. What if were community, a body, belonging to one another like, maybe, an army platoon?

Now that’s a community! An army platoon! United by a shared purpose and goal. Working together to achieve something great. A community formed under pressure, shaped by great difficulty. Not just church membership, but a sacred covenant with one another in order to serve the Kingdom for which Christ died. A community of faith inseparably bonded in order to do something together that eternally matters.

We belong to each other because we belong to Christ!

What would that look like?

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Two Saturdays ago we went to the Rangers game with 20 of our Legacy brothers and sisters and wound up in the big middle of 175 Austin Jackson fans in the left field bleachers. Austin Jackson is the Detroit Tigers’ rookie centerfielder who grew up and played his High School ball at Denton Ryan. And when Jim Knox did his man-in-the-stands interview on Fox Sports Southwest in the bottom of the fourth inning, Carrie-Anne, Valerie, Carley, and Carley’s friend, Victoria all got in the pictures. They actually helped this “A.J.” fan club hold up their big banner for the interview.

We had a great time at the Third Day concert before the game, hanging with the Ashlock boys who ate for the cycle during the game, and rooting the home team to an 8-4 loss. Base-running and fielding errors are killing this team, huh? Hopefully Kinsler’s return will spark some offense and shore up that middle part of the defense. And while the Rangers are technically in first place today, I’m worried about this team.

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I’ve been convinced for ten years now that the Mavericks will never win a title as long as Dirk is their best player. I hope he’s not finished as a Mav. I can’t stand the thought of our DFW sports scene losing Mike Modano and Nowitski, two wonderful human beings and pillars of the community, two Hall of Famers (and media friendly to boot!), in the same year. Cuban just needs to find a way to pair Dirk up with a transcendent LeBron-esque superstar to cover his weaknesses on both ends of the floor. Somebody the other 12 guys on the roster will respond to in a crisis. I love Dirk. But he’s never been enough.

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The Legacy Prime-Timers held their annual Hobo Stew this past Saturday night. Valerie and Sarah and Maddie (The Three Amigas) were on hand to entertain and inspire with their beautiful voices. Kent drew the catcalls and hoots everytime he drew his own number for door prizes. Vic did Elvis. And Mack and Shirley blew us all away with their costumes. What a great night. Carrie-Anne and I were honored to be a part of it.

Peace,

Allan

Category: Dallas Mavericks (Page 6 of 8)

Get These Out Of Here!

The Joy of One

On Earth As It Is In Heaven

A Work Of Art

Oligopistos

Truly Belonging

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