Controlled By Circumstances

Last week, a friend of mine called me to ask if I would be interested in taking his tickets to the Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers game in Detroit (which was in the afternoon on Sunday, prior to the Super Bowl). I said, “Absolutely!” My son was out of town at camp with his youth group from church, so I went with a good friend of mine.

Needless to say, we had a blast. The Cavaliers won the game and Lebron James put on quite a show, but the thing that made the game more interesting and more fun were the 10 or so Cavalier fans who sat a few rows behind us. In talking with them at halftime I discovered that some of them went to high school with Lebron.

Anyway, what made them stick out was the fact that they were over the top in their passion for their team. They were actually downright obnoxious…but hilarious. They were chanting some funny things and they were also drinking pretty heavily.

At one point, we saw one of the guys spill his beer on a guy in front of him. Amazingly, the one who was now wet, took it very well and was actually laughing about it.

In contrast, another man was sitting with his wife and two children in front of these fans. He looked like he was having absolutely no fun whatsoever. He was obviously so furious that these “hooligans” were seated behind him that it looked like he would rather be anywhere but there. Here he had spent tons of money to take his family to this event and he was having a miserable time.

Two people sitting next to each other, basically experiencing the same thing, yet two very different responses. The first man was not going to let circumstances dictate how much fun he was going to have. The second one was letting these guys get under his skin. As I sat there I thought about how sad that was. I thought that I certainly wouldn’t let that happen to me.

Then, wouldn’t you know it, yesterday I had a very tough day (and was taught a great lesson). My planning and calendar software was totally freezing up (which it had been doing since last Friday) and I spent a good part of the day chatting with their customer support department. I was so frustrated and I was not dealing with it well. It was impacting my entire day!

Wow, did God put me in my place quickly. I realized last night that I was acting exactly the same way as the second man above. I was letting my circumstances dictate how I was feeling. I guess the Bible is right when it says, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” (Proverbs 16:18)

Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. (emphasis mine)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Pride Before The Fall

I was watching American Idol last night with some of my family. This was the second show this season, and if you have ever watched it, you know that in the early shows they will showcase both people with talent and others who clearly do not have musical ability.

It was easy to spot when someone would do well or when they would flop. The people who would flop were typically the ones who would sound cocky and say that they would be the next American Idol.

Last night, one girl said that she thought the judges would be very surprised that such a powerful voice would come from a cute little girl. Well, Simon Cowell (one of the judges) actually said that her singing reminded him of a cat falling off the Empire State Building. Ouch!

Anyway, this shouldn't be surprising. The Bible warns us of this thing called pride quite frequently.

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride Before The Fall

Many of you know that I am a huge Ohio State football fan. I was born in Columbus while my Dad was in dental school there and I think I was dropped on my head, so I'm a little brain damaged about the Buckeyes.

Tomorrow they will play Michigan for the 105th time. It is the greatest rivalry in sports. This year is a little strange because Michigan is struggling and has the most losses (8) they have ever had in program history. The Buckeyes have also under-achieved this year but at nine wins and two losses, they are heavy favorites (20 1/2 points).

I have talked to many Michigan fans and a few Ohio State fans who think this is going to be a blowout and that Ohio State is going to win big. I don't feel this way. I hope they are right, but I believe it is going to be much closer than everyone says. In this rivalry game, anything can happen.

I remember in 1996, Ohio State was beating everyone by an average of something like 30 points a game. They appeared unstoppable. That year they were an 18 point favorite over Michigan. Michigan won.

In the mid to late 80s, Earle Bruce was coaching his last game for the Buckeyes and they were heavy underdogs playing in Ann Arbor. Ohio State won.

In 1969, Bo Schembechler was coaching the Wolverines in his first Ohio State, Michigan game and his team was a huge underdog. This was perhaps Woody Hayes' best Buckeye team he had ever coached. Michigan won.

In this game, the record books can be thrown out. Anyone can win. That's one of the reasons this is such a great rivalry. I hope the Buckeyes aren't too sure of themselves!

The Bible even weighs in on this topic in Proverbs 16:18:

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Go Bucks!

Pride Before The Fall

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.

Proverbs 16:18

Pride. It is something that I admit I have an issue with.

Others seem to as well.

I am a Detroit Tigers fan. I have been since I was very young. My grampa would pick me up several times each summer to head up to Tiger Stadium to watch the "boys of summer." It was great fun.

That was in the early '70s and they were pretty good back then. From that point on I was hooked. Then I lived through some very tough years. Until their great year in 1984, it seemed like we weren't out of April and I would already be saying, "Wait till next year!"

So when the Tigers are contenders that is exciting.

This past off-season, the Tigers' front office made some brilliant moves and acquired some all-star players to bolster their already talented team. Most experts were predicting them to contend for the World Series and some were even saying they were the best team in baseball.

I, along with other Tigers' fans, was excited.

We are now 7 games into the season. The Tigers still have a very talented lineup, in fact they have the second highest payroll in all of baseball behind the Yankees. However, the Tigers are the only team in baseball without a win.

0-7. Pitiful.

I think the Tigers may have been reading their press clippings. Once again, another example of the pride before the fall which is a great example for all of us.