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Post by Brother Randy on Jan 10, 2006 23:45:49 GMT -5
Today as I was listening to a program , I every interesting thought cameback to me. In a world where competition is encouraged very strongly in all areas of life. After all go for the gold ring , be number one no matter who get hurt doing it. Even the business world is like this. All that is important is to reach the top. Is this thought a by product of being taught evolution , where the ideal is the same only the fittest will be the best and live on? Are we not as believers to lift or esteem others better then ourselves? Are we not to help the down trodden , those in need. Has anyone ever tried to play Monopoly from a Christians view point, It would be an interesting game to say the least, not say that it is a bad game and should not play it. But think of the principles that are taught in competition. self importance, pride{ we are number one] thinking more of ones self then we ought{self esteem} lack of humility. Am sure there is more , but mind is kind of slow tonight In competition where is the ideal of coming a long side of someone and helping them along in the road of life. And as I think of those of us with children is that the road we want them to be going down being very competitive. Now I don't see a problems with playing games or some sports just for the fun of it , doesn't matter if I win or you do or if we even keep score. I believe competition goes against a plain and simple life. Keeping our eyes on Jesus and helping the brotherhood is important. Then we will reach the top. I have had these thoughts for quite some time, and being reminded again tonight of them made me want to share. Pray they are of some blessing. Bro Randy
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Post by Andrea on Jan 11, 2006 7:52:58 GMT -5
Bro. Randy, Thank you for this post. I've been doing a great deal of thinking and praying about this issue. I played basketball as well as several other sports in high school. I was saved, but came from a home that was not. While I loved playing and had a great time doing so, it did not help me to grow spiritually ... matter of fact, I believe just the opposite happened to me. I had not given this much thought until now because my daughter is playing basketball with the homeschool group that we are a part of. Lately, I have been taking "spiritual inventory" in my life and the lives of my children. We've eliminated a lot of things from our lives, and have stopped spending time with people that weren't good influences on us. The next thing the Lord has convicted me about is the issue of playing sports. It seems that there is always so much "drama" with the basketball team. It's supposed to be a "christian" team, but you wouldn't be able to tell it. There is so much gossip and talelbearing and arguing going on, and that's just between the coach and the assissant coach!! .. I finally told both of them that they were to be examples for the girls and they were failing miserably. I also told them a few other things and they don't talk much to me anymore.. ... but I couldn't just sit there and watch them act like children. Now, I have been able to use this to do a great deal of instructing where my daughter is concerned and she sees it. She has told me that she can't believe that adults would act like that. But besides all of that, there are several other things that I have been convicted of concerning playing sports. The first thing is what you mentioned, Bro. Randy. The ultimate goal in playing is winning, the desire to be the best... to be able to say, "Look at what I have done."... "look at me, see me".. the pattern of Me, me, me.. This is in direct violation of the Word of God. Then, as I have been watching the girls play, it's really not a lady like thing to do. I won't be very detailed here, but I don't like it. Another thing is the time involved. Now this doesn't take away from church time at all, but it does take away from time at home.. I have had to rearrange some things here at home in order to make the practices and games. If I had more than two children, it would be impossible to do. And for some reason, the coach decided to schedule games with teams that are mostly an hour away.. .. We didn't go to the game on Saturday because it was in a town that is over two hours from here!! We would have gotten home late Saturday night and we don't do anything that will make us get in bed late the night before church. There are a couple of more that we won't be attending just for this reason. I know there were a couple of other things that I had thought about concerning this subject, but they aren't coming to mind right now. I'll add later if I think of them. My son is supposed to play basketball as well, but I don't believe that will happen. I think we will stop with this "adventure" and not participate anymore. As I read back over this post and ponder the things that have happened just since basketball has started, this really is not God honoring at all. I don't even know why we are still a part of this mess.
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 11, 2006 12:46:12 GMT -5
Thank you sister, for your post. It sounds so familiar. We use to have Benjamin in the IFB church basketball program in our church. It was awful! Always something wrong. We were always going to the coaches, they thought we were crazy. Benjamin was not good at sports ( we also had him in the church baseball program, ungodly to say the least! ) The competition spirit was awful! If you didn't add up you sat on the bench and had unkind statements made, jokes, and jesting. Poor Benjamin, I wish we would have never put him through all that. Thank you Bro. Randy for this post. I really appreciate this post on competition. Great message. I sure needed to be reminded of this godly truth. I see negative behavior come out of a few of my children while playing board games. I have to deal with that quite often. I am going to sit the children down and read them your post, before anymore board games are played.
I think I'm going to make a set of godly rules up myself and if they break a rule they will be talked to and given a second chance if they break the rule again...their out of the game. I think this will be a good teaching tool for board games.I like what you said: Are we not as believers to lift or esteem others better then ourselves? Are we not to help the down trodden , those in need. Has anyone ever tried to play Monopoly from a Christians view point, It would be an interesting game to say the least,andIn competition where is the ideal of coming a long side of someone and helping them along in the road of life.
I believe competition goes against a plain and simple life.
Keeping our eyes on Jesus and helping the brotherhood is important. Then we will reach the top. This competition spirit is not of God. This is one of the lovely truths we have learned from the humble plain people. We are to prefer one another, putting the other person before ourself. Giving them first place so to speak. If there is one piece of pie left and you both make it to the table at the same time, you are to humble yourself and let them have it, with a smile on your face and a song in your heart. amen. Truly getting joy from letting someone else have the nice thing and being able to buffet your flesh and be truly happy even over joyed that your brother or sister got a blessing. Not allowing yourself to think, that you have missed out on a blessing. Now that's not an easy thing to learn, it's a discepline and a grace that every christian should learn. Try standing aside while all the brethren go through the fellowship meal line, and when all go through then you go through. I know, your favorite casserole, or fried chicken might be gone, but this is a good lession for our flesh. We must crucify our flesh ( spiritually speaking ), if we are to grow to be like Christ. While waiting for everyone to go through the line, do not stand there with a sour expression thinking of how hard this is, and how much you are missing out, or how hungry you are. Think about how blessed you are to live in the land of plenty where you have such a spread of food set before you, think of the brethren going through the line filling there plates and how much you love them ( even the grumpy and hard to live with ones. ;D ) and how thankful you are that you live in a country where you can all come together and worship the Lord together and eat a wonderful meal together and fellowship together undisturbed. Thank the Lord for all you have thank the Lord for these families, thank the Lord you can meet together undisturbed, pray for each family. Be thankful for the blessings of God in your life. Rejoice! Before you know it , it will be your turn! I have done this and found it to be good for me. I do not always do this when at a church meal, but every now and then it is good for me to do, to remind me to prefer others before myself. With the Pie example this is a good thing to always practice. It is called good manners. One sister once said when she wants a new dress she will sometimes sit down and sew a new dress for another sister and do without the new dress herself because it is good for her to practice this kind of restraint and love. I haven't tried this one yet, we are just learning to sew for our own needs. We can't seem to get caught up with our need to have right length dresses that do not have tares and repaired places. ;D It's times like these we sure do need a church family, where the sisters could help us sew. We have 7 of us to sew for. But one day I would love to be a blessing and sew for others. We know the blessing of getting help with sewing. May the Lord teach us to humble ourselves and prefer one another, and to buffet our flesh. Learning these truths, ~ sister Darlene ~ so much to learn yet.
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Post by Andrea on Jan 11, 2006 13:16:32 GMT -5
Good post Sister Darlene. Would you be willing to share those rules once you get them written? ;D
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 11, 2006 13:38:38 GMT -5
Yes, I would be glad to. I'll post them here when I finish them. I am going to print them out and put a copy in each of our board games. We only have a few.
A few educational homeschool games
Chess / Checkers
Scrabble
Farmopoly ( it is like Monopoly except it is all about farm life )
There are so many areas, as a parent that we have the opportunity and responsibility to teach Gods principles. ( our children often play board games and have bad attitudes and we never know it because we are in another room of the house. ) Too often parents miss teachable moments, because we are too busy with other things.
May we be aware of our surroundings and the lessons to be taught.
I'm so glad Bro. Randy posted on this important topic.
May the Lord bless your day sister!
Love ~ sister Darlene ~
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Post by nightingale on Jan 11, 2006 23:57:21 GMT -5
Dear Sister Ruth...I too also played sports growing up in highschool...when I think back on it, I wasn't lady like at all..kinda like a jock girl...you had to act tough to fit in...my sisters played basketball for college for awhile, and most of the team were lesbians including my sisters, I just think the ideal of girls playing sports is not very lady like...I know that there is some who will disagree with me on this, but just watch women play sports and the majority is jock like...and Darlene I know how it is for a child to sit on the bench and be made fun of, oh how I wish I could re-do some of my own mistakes with my children, but my little Zoe will be taught differently... Love Sis Debbie
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Post by Sister Penny on Jan 12, 2006 5:18:35 GMT -5
Brother Randy and Sisters, This is a very good topic! Thank you Randy for posting it..I too, was very convicted to search about what we do with the board games, we enjoy playing games very much...when time permits..
We are not "sports" people as far as competitive sports, I never liked it when my children played competitively, however, my oldest daughter is team Captain for her Lacrosse Team, and has spent a great deal of time and her energy to achieve her goal..she is not prideful, but she is a very skilled player and it gave her the confidence she needed in life, (prior to that we had something terribly happen..a long story) but she is such an encouragement for the entire team, and motivates the teamplayers.
We, as Christians, need to differentiate between pride, competitiveness and where we fit in as being a Believer and how we conduct ourselves..
God bless and thank you for this interesting post! Sister Penny
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Post by Andrea on Jan 12, 2006 7:58:40 GMT -5
Sister Debbie, Same here.. many of the girls on the team I played on are now living with their girlfriends.. .. I had no idea.. I really didn't.. and come to find out, our coach (which was a woman) like the ladies too.. I am so thankful God sheltered me from all of that.. Nowadays it's not a secret.. they are openly admitting that they are an abomination to the Lord. One of the things I wanted to do when I was a teenager was go to college on a basketball scholarship. I'm so thankful that God had other plans for me.. AMEN!!! ;D
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 12, 2006 15:53:34 GMT -5
OK..... Here is my set of Rules I made up for all our games we play here at the Smith house. It teaches the children to be aware of there attitude and response. There will be a set of these rules, put in all our games.
Before playing a game these rules will be read aloud to the players.
If a rule is broken the player who broke the rule will have to read out loud the rule they have broken.
They will be given a second chance.
If they break a rule ( any rule ) again they will be dismissed from the game. Rules for Playing Games1. While playing this game, do not become offended at the other person when they score a point, get ahead, or when you owe them money or other recompense.
Psalm 119:165 Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
2. No unkind or grumpy words, or actions. Remember this is just a game. It doesn't matter whether you win or loose, but how you play the game.
Philippians 2:14 Do all things without murmurings and disputing:
3. Do not take pleasure in someone else's misfortune.
Romans 12:15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
3 John 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.
4.Do not be partial to one player over the other. ( No ganging up or taking sides.)
Philippians 2:3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Philippians 2:4 Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Ephesians 4:32 a And be ye kind one to another,...
5.Practice the Golden rule. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.Matthew 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Make sure you obey these rules, and have a sweet and loving attitude.
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Post by Brother Randy on Jan 12, 2006 22:47:55 GMT -5
Sister Darlene , I think those rules are just great. Maybe some of us need to apply those rules to our every day walk in life. Would not the world be a better place.
Bro Randy
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Post by Andrea on Jan 12, 2006 23:05:05 GMT -5
AMEN!!!! Sister Darlene...
THANK YOU SO MUCH.. ;D
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Post by freebygodsgift on Jan 13, 2006 15:10:20 GMT -5
What a wonderful thread. I have thought of this competition thing for so long and am so pleased that someone has "talked" about it here. I printed off the rules to read to my children. Frances
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Post by benshelpmeet on Jan 16, 2006 15:41:05 GMT -5
I am glad you all liked the rules. Bro. Ben and I had alot of fun putting them together. Too bad we did not think of it years ago.
Thank you Bro. Randy for bringing this most needed topic up. You are right, we should apply these rules to our everyday life ( the real game of life)
In life we are presented with rules found in the bible, in our everyday life we are presented with many situations some desirable and some undesirable and hard to handle. We are given a choice, we make our choices, our choices determine the direction we will be traveling. It is important that we handle every situation that comes our way, with a godly response, the response God would have us make, and the choices we make should be according to scripture and bible principles. These choices, and responses, should bring honor and glory to God. Just a few observations and thoughts.
I hope you all are having a nice day!
~ sister Darlene ~
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