Who's in Control?

Very superstitious, writings on the wall

Very superstitious, ladder ‘bout to fall

Thirteen month-old baby, broke the lookin’ glass

Seven years of bad luck, the good things in your past

When you believe in things you don't understand

Then you suffer

Superstition ain't the way

("Superstition" by Stevie Wonder)

Are you superstitious? Before you immediately say, "Of course not!" stop for a moment and think about your behavior. Do you have a lucky number? Do you carry an object like a rabbit's foot, or charm, or hang a medallion or a crucifix from the rearview mirror in your car? Do you feel a little uncomfortable if you walk under a ladder, break a mirror, or a black cat crosses your path? Would you rather not fly on Friday the 13th? When you play sports, do you want to wear your "lucky shirt?" Do you check your horoscope every day?

Superstitions are beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge. Primitive man often linked one event with another without understanding the process in the physical world that connected them. He would trust in magical thinking to protect him from things that he could not explain. For example a lightning bolt was thrown by an angry god and fertility was caused by a goddess. These gods and goddesses could be appeased or pleased by performing certain types of rituals or magic incantations.

As scientific explanations began to provide us with a more accurate understanding of how events occur in the natural world, superstitious behavior began to decrease in influence. With our current cultural emphasis on science and technology, we would expect that in modern society superstitions behaviors would disappear altogether, but they haven't. Superstitions continue to flourish.

Consider the fact that even today it is impossible to locate the 13th floor in a building. You can't pass by a fountain or a well that doesn't have a bunch of coins in it. We still cross our fingers for good luck and tell each other, "break a leg," before going on stage. Tourists visiting Ireland kiss the Blarney Stone and every baseball game we see the good luck ritual of each batter who comes to the plate. Many people believe they can get information about their future from tarot cards, palm reading or crystal balls, and carrying crystals to promote or avoid certain events has become popular.

Even though we have natural explanations for most things, we still have the desire to exert extra control to ensure that we avoid bad things and bring good things into our lives. I don't think this desire is based only on wishful thinking or superstition. We were originally created in God’s image for the purpose of having dominion in the earth. We were supposed to exert a positive influence over what happens here. We forfeited that power when we rebelled against God and chose our own way, but God did not give up on us.

When Jesus Christ came to earth, died on the cross and rose again from the dead, He actually paid the ransom to restore our dominion to us. Whether we realize it or not, God has placed the control of blessing and cursing back into our hands. He tells us, "See this day, I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing. Choose life that you and your descendents may live." (Deuteronomy 30:19) You're in control, what do you choose? Choose Jesus and live!

Come and join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Our current series is "The Great Exchange," and the topic will be, "No Longer Cursed."



You Gotta Have Heart

"Linsanity" "Lincredible" "Linternet Boom" "Linderella"

No matter how you phrase it, Jeremy Lin is a current basketball phenomenon. The 23-year-old NBA rookie is one of the few Asian-American players in NBA history and the first player of Chinese descent. As an avid basketball fan, and a Korean myself, I can't tell you how inspiring it is to watch Jeremy Lin on the court.

His meteoric rise to starting point guard on the New York Knicks is truly a rags to riches "Linderella" tale. He was an outstanding Ivy League player at Harvard setting League records in career points, rebounds, assists, and steals. But upon graduating he went overlooked and undrafted by the NBA. He was picked up in reserve positions but later cut from 2 other franchises, before being picked up as a reserve player for the New York Knicks.

Despite being largely ignored, former coaches remember Lin as an energetic player with an incredible work ethic. "He was always the first player to arrive at practice and the last one to leave. He put his whole heart into it every day relentlessly reviewing his films, identifying and attacking his weaknesses."

At the beginning of the 2012 NBA season, Lin was a backup player getting only a few minutes per game. After starting as point guard in early February, Lin has led the Knicks to 10 wins in the last 13 games, an incredible team rebound from their 8–15 season start. To date Lin is averaging 22.4 points, 8.8 assists and 2.5 steals per game.

New York has been taken over by "Linsanity." Knicks ticket prices and TV ratings have skyrocketed. Web traffic on the Knicks site is up 770% and Knicks paraphernalia sales are up 4000%. Jeremy Lin is also turning the team around with his aggressive, wholehearted, "can-do" attitude. Sports analysts describe him as "a great team player, a pass first player, not a limelight seeking chucker. He is clearly the dominant personality on the Knicks."

Lin's transforming effect on the Knicks is reminiscent of the classic Broadway musical comedy "Damn Yankees," in which an unknown long ball hitter suddenly appears playing for the Washington Senators and turns the baseball team's fortunes around. One of the most popular songs from that musical is "You've Gotta Have Heart." The lyrics seem to describe Lin: "All you really need is heart. You can open any door. There's nothing to it but to do it. You've gotta have heart, miles and miles and miles of heart."

When asked about his instant star status, and the pressure that it brings, Jeremy Lin, a devout Christian, replies, "I'm proud to be playing for the Nick's. I just thank God for the opportunity to play basketball. I've surrendered all the pressure to God, and I'm not in a battle with what everybody thinks about me anymore."

Jeremy Lin's wholehearted pursuit of basketball and complete trust in God remind me of a promise God gives to us. "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as working unto the Lord and not unto men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving." (Colossians 3:23–24)

God wholeheartedly gave us His all when He sent His son Christ Jesus here to redeem us from our sin. He wants our wholehearted dedication to Him in everything we do.

Please join us this Sunday at 9:00 AM or 11:00 AM. Pastor Karl Malouff will discuss having the right heart attitude, the last in our current series, "What's the H in HRock Church?")