discipleship

Pickleball Drills

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I signed up to take another pickleball class. Call me crazy. This class was for intermediate players. Some people in the class had taken it multiple times, which tells me that they’re serious about their pickleball. I enjoy playing as a hobby, but I don’t see it overtaking my life. It’s a fun way to stay active. But some people I’ve met take this game way too seriously. And now I’m in a class with them. Talk about intimidating. Fortunately, the instructor assigns a group of four or five people to each court. Then we stay with our same group that day. So I haven’t had to play against the “good” players. Oh. Some of the ones I played against were good and had a bent toward being serious about their game. Then there were people like me. We’re just there to learn more, improve our game and have fun.

There are six indoor courts with a different drill set up on each court. The participants are assigned a specific court to start on and then rotate to the next court and so on every fifteen minutes. After the sixth drill, each group plays a short game. It’s a good set up. The time goes quickly, and some drills are more complicated than others. Everyone has an opportunity to practice each drill multiple times in their allotted fifteen minutes. Each instructor gives individual feedback along the way, as needed. It’s still intimidating, but it’s good to gain more in depth knowledge of the game.

As I’ve regularly played pickleball and taken classes throughout the past few months, I can say I’ve seen a bit of improvement in my playing. I’m still not great. I even hesitate to say I’m at an intermediate level, but who’s asking. I enjoy playing and getting some exercise. I need to stay active as I progress through these older years of life.

Here’s what I’ve noticed about other players. They come in all ages and sizes. Some choose to play every day. Others take one class and then don’t play very often. There’s an old saying that goes something like this. You get out of something what you put into it. And it’s true. I talked to one player last week who said she was embarrassed to say that she learned to play well over a year ago. But she hasn’t played regularly after that initial class. I could tell that her playing skill was similar to mine, whereas the woman who has been playing regularly for two years and has taken multiple classes plays at a much more advanced level.

During these classes, I’ve realized I had developed some bad habits in my game. The drills I was practicing were an attempt to break me of those poor moves I had adopted. It was painful to have to relearn new methods of play and to unlearn the old, easy and incorrect moves. It would have been much easier to continue to play poorly and complain about my bad pickleball moves than to unlearn them and relearn the correct moves. But I’m persevering and seeing improvement.

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. 2 Peter 3:18

I’ve noticed that just as in the effort someone puts into their pickleball skills, the same type of growth spurts and struggles also appear in a person’s spiritual life. Once a person becomes a Christian, they need to take steps to grow their faith and their relationship with God. We can’t just confess our sins and then do nothing else with our faith for the remainder of our days. We’ve just started the most important relationship of our lives, and there is work to do. Oh. Works won’t get us into heaven. I’m not saying that. I’m saying that we need to spend time getting to know God, and there are actions we need to take to do that.

The same steps that go into building a relationship with someone else applies to deepening our walk with God. These steps are rather simple, but we seem to avoid or ignore them. They may take a little bit of our time, which we deem so important. And time is valuable. But so are our souls. Some say marriage seems like an eternity, with all the ups and downs of a marital relationship. But true eternity is forever. And once we cross over the divide between our earthly life and death, we’re in eternity forever. So, we must choose today to strengthen our relationship with God to the best of our ability so we can have an amazing eternity with him.

Here are some simple steps to drawing closer to God. Read and study the Bible. Pray. Attend church. Build friendships with godly people. Memorize Bible verses. Join a small group to study the Bible, pray and fellowship together. Find a mentor who has walked their faith journey for years. And we should also share our faith with others.

The thing is. The pickleball instructors were once beginner players, just as I am. Along the way, they committed themselves to practice and drills over and over again. They played the game on a regular basis and didn’t quit when things got tough. And now they’re seasoned players and are coaching newbies like me.

The same goes for my spiritual life. I need to see improvement in my words and actions and thoughts. I need to see a renewing in the way I view the world. I must align all of my beliefs with biblical standards. If I’m going to say that God is the ultimate authority in my life, then I must bow my will to him and submit my all ways to him. I must run my desires through a biblical sieve. Do they pass the test of holy living or not? Oh. It won’t be easy, and I must be willing to bend and break. My will must not be above God’s will in anything I do or say. It’s all about submission to my heavenly Father.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

And then, once we’ve walked the baby steps and our faith has matured, it’s time for us to share the wealth. We can mentor and disciple other believers in their own faith journey. We can walk with other believers in their path of growth in Jesus Christ. We don’t need to walk this walk of faith alone. We need to come alongside others, just as our mentors walked with us through our journey. We must do the journey of faith with fellow believers. We’re not in this alone.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7

Pickleball Clinic

~ mercyfortheday ~ Leave a comment

I took a pickleball class earlier this year, and I’ve been playing once a week since then. I’m inconsistent in my playing, and I’d like to improve. I enjoy the sport and I want to feel, at some point, that I’m not a beginner. So. I did the only thing I knew to do besides continuing to play. I signed up for a pickleball clinic.

Two days a week. Two hours each day. For three weeks. That’s a total of twelve hours trying to improve my pickleball skills.  There were eight of us in the class, and we were drilled by our instructor on specific moves and positions and serves.  We were a sweaty bunch in motion.  We didn’t move in coordination or unison, but move we did.  Some were experienced beginners and others were very much beginners.  To say the least, the difference was obvious. I was happy to be in the more experienced group of the lot of us, but I was still far from perfect.

We learned.  We practiced.  We drilled. We failed.  We tried again.  And again. We were coached on how to improve our game.  To be honest. By the end of the clinic, I saw minimal improvement in my playing, but the instructor and his helpers told us they had seen definite improvement in all of us. Do they just say that to everyone?  Would I say the effort was a failure on my part? No way. It was an eye opener. It was a reminder of how far I’ve come and how far I have to go. I’m not trying to become a professional. I’ve just found a hobby that I enjoy.

Some may wonder why I play.  As I’m growing older, my body needs to remember how to move and maneuver. I need to be agile and be able to twist and turn and get up and down comfortably, sometimes on short notice. And pickleball keeps me moving. It’s good for me. It’s fun, and it challenges and humbles me all at the same time. It’s a worthwhile effort.

I had an injury last week while playing. Oh. It hasn’t stopped me, but I’m cautious about my moves. I was told to ice my leg, so that’s what I’m doing. I try not to overdo it when I feel the muscle tighten. I’m not an athlete, so I’m not really sure what’s the right or wrong thing to do. But I’ll keep moving as long as I can.

Then he said to the crowd, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross daily, and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Here are some definitions of discipleship that I found this week. Groundwork Bible Study says that discipleship is the process of learning to love and follow Jesus and becoming more like him in our attitudes and actions. Got Questions defines Christian discipleship as one who puts Jesus first, obeys the Lord, produces good fruit, loves others, and makes more disciples. Navigators tells us that discipleship is basically a journey of spiritual growth. Regardless of how we define it, when we accept Jesus Christ as our personal Lord and Savior, we begin a lifelong journey of learning and becoming more like him everyday. That doesn’t mean that we don’t need guidance and mentoring from believers who have been on this path of Christianity for many years and have weathered the storms of life through the lens of the Bible. We need all the help and discipleship we can get.

Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32

Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Matthew 28:19-20

Just as I can’t become a better pickleball player unless I discipline myself to learn the game and practice it, I can’t become a more mature Christian disciple unless I grow in my relationship with Christ. I do that by reading my Bible, spending time in prayer, attending church, and fellowshipping with and studying the Bible with fellow believers. Discipleship is the transforming process of becoming more like Christ in everything I do and say. My worldview which can be shaped by my social and cultural experiences must be converted into a biblical worldview. This only happens by choosing to process the world and everything in it from a biblical lens. We must undo any learning that tells us the gospel must somehow support cultural preferences. Our preferences and beliefs must be shaped by the Word of God alone.

Discipleship and mentoring is an important part of our Christian walk. We must surround ourselves with mature believers who can guide us and instruct us biblically when we have doubts or questions about our faith.

So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us. We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ. That’s why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ’s mighty power that works within me. Colossians 1:28-29

Have you ever seen the changing of the guard ceremony at the tomb of the unknown soldier? It is very solemn and moving. Those soldiers move in precision. No mistake in their gait. Their attention to detail is impressive. Their uniforms are immaculate. They are a well trained lot of the finest men and women in the military. Their job is highly regarded and coveted. Oh. These soldiers weren’t randomly selected. They are handpicked. And then they train rigorously. Many who begin the training program do not complete it.

If you’ve studied this fine group of soldiers, you will learn there are six distinct roles. There are six different levels of responsibility at the tomb. Oh. I’ve seen the changing of the guard in person, but I didn’t notice those specifics. But I’ve since read those details about the platoon.

These soldiers weren’t assigned to their positions by chance. They studied and drilled and worked hard to achieve this lifetime assignment. It’s a role few can add to their resume, and it is impressive. Just as they have had to work hard for this superior assignment, so too must we believers work hard on our faith to develop a close relationship with our Lord. Oh. It isn’t the same type of work. It isn’t the same responsibility. But there is a rigorous training in order to prove oneself fit for the Lord’s service. We can’t shirk the responsibilities of discipleship once we’ve made the commitment to serve Christ. We can’t repent of our sins and then do nothing to strengthen our faith. There is a price to pay and a sacrifice to make. We must take up our cross daily and follow the Savior of the world. Who knows. We may be in a position someday to mentor the next generation of new believers. Let’s prepare for that important task while we still have time.

Lawn Mowing 101

~ mercyfortheday ~ 1 Comment

I grew up on a farm where I was expected to help mow the lawn. And it was a huge lawn. No. It wasn’t a lawn. It was a yard. Nothing fancy. No landscaping. Just grass. All grass with a few trees thrown in. My siblings and I took turns mowing this big green space. We would set the timer on the oven for fifteen minutes and trade places when the timer when off. As far as I know, no one cheated and let someone mow longer than fifteen minutes. But what do I know? And not all of us seven kids actually took turns mowing. I guess some were privileged and never had to mow. They know who they are. For those of us who did, some years we used a push mower and other years we drove a tractor mower. So I have mowed my fair share of grass in my day.

Now that I’m living two states over from where I’ve lived for over forty years, it has once again become my responsibility to mow. The gentleman of the house is still employed in the other state, so he’s only home every now and then. So the task has fallen to me to do the yardwork. The lawn is bigger than comfortable for a push mower, so we purchased a new tractor mower.

I had my first experience at mowing the entire lawn this week. Now I must say. I haven’t mowed in almost 50 years. It’s not that lawns have changed. Or that mowers have changed. But the person driving the mower has changed. The gentleman of the house trained me on the use of the new mower, so I felt somewhat comfortable with it. But the maneuvering and plotting of the mowing path were almost foreign to me. Oh to be sure. I waited until late enough in the morning that my perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor had left for work. I didn’t need an audience for this first solo trip.

I wasn’t sure how low to set the blade, so I’ll just say that I set it low. Really low. And as I looked back at the path I was mowing, I realized that was a problem. Too low is not good. So I raised the blade a bit. Much better. But the first trip around the yard was lower than the rest. And it’s obvious. And to top it all off, the low row is right next to the perfectionist lawn mowing neighbor’s yard. There’s no way he can’t spot it. It’s a good thing that grass grows.

I finished mowing the lawn, and it turned out fine. All except that first pass. And of course. When the neighbor got home, he went out and started mowing his lawn. I’m sure he was rolling his eyes at my work, but I’ll never know for sure.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

All this lawn mowing got me to thinking. Mowing a lawn is much like the life of a believer. Even though we may have been raised in church, and even though we know how to be a Christian, it’s not complex but it’s also not all that simple. There’s much to learn and experience as we grow in our faith. Oh for sure. I had to text my husband to see what setting I should use for the height of the mower. And when he didn’t respond instantly, I made my own decision which turned out to be incorrect. Just as we need guidance on performing new or unfamiliar tasks, we too need guidance and mentors when we face new hurdles as a Christian. We can’t do this life alone.

Oh. The longer we’re following Christ, it should become natural to lean on him for guidance and wisdom and strength. But we’re human, and we humans have a mind and a will of our own. We think we can make the right decisions in any and every situation, but we can’t. We get distracted by circumstances and desires that aren’t godly. We become dissatisfied with life and search for something better.

We need godly mentors to disciple new believers in the way of walking the path of Christianity. We need seasoned Christians to walk alongside newbies to guide them in growing in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior. We need people willing to speak truth to fellow Christians on the disciplines of Bible reading and study, praying, attending church and fellowshipping with other believers. Some things aren’t second nature to us, so we need help. We need mentors to share their up and down experiences and how to maneuver through this tricky thing we call life.

Oh. I’m sure the man of the house chuckled to himself at my explanation about this job mowing. And that’s ok. But he also gave me pointers on how to handle the situation the next time. That’s what we need in our spiritual walk. Not necessarily someone to laugh at us, but someone to give us pointers on how we can keep our walk consistent with the teachings of Jesus.

Yesterday the neighbor asked how the lawn mowing was going. I knew he could see my mistake, so I explained it to him He just shrugged it off. He said that grass will grow. He was kind. He’s always been kind to me. So maybe he isn’t standing back judging me for the poor decision making when it comes to mowing the lawn. We need those kind of neighbors and followers of Christ to stand beside us as we follow the path of life.