What makes you a better Christian?

This week's sermon was inspired by an article entitled--How the LA Clippers Made Me a Better Hindu? The Hindu idea of karma and Luke 13:1-9 have a connection for me. However, I thought that maybe I should save my thoughts on that subject for my sermon and take another approach in my first new blog entry. So you will have to wait till Sunday to hear about my ideas about karma, this blog will hopefully prompt you to think about being a better Christian.

The author of the Clipper and Hinduism article is a professor at USC. He does an excellent job of showing how his enthusiasm for the Clippers compliments his Hindu faith. What in this world compliments your Christian faith? Varun Soni writes about causality and non-attachment. He explains how victories for the hometown heroes "resemble mystical experiences."

Central to the Christian faith is the idea of redemption and sacrificial love. Sports has several examples of both. Announcers tell us that a player "sacrificed" his body to make a play. Baseball has the sacrificial bunt or fly ball. These may be rather trite examples to the sacrificial act of Christ but they are a start. You should try to think of your own that are more meaningful.

Redemption is found even more frequently in the sporting world. It is the process by which someone takes advantage of a second chance and uses the opportunity for the betterment of himself and/or to help others. Those of you who are fans of "LOST" know all about redemption. Every character in that series has had to undergo some form of redemption. Several years ago Pudge Rodriquez 'redeemed' himself by his contributions behind the plate and in the batters box. The Tigers would not have had that stellar year when they played the St Louis Cardinals in the World Series if not for Pudge. Several teams had given up on Pudge saying that he was too old to play. He redeemed himself.

However, there is a big difference between the world of sports and the spiritual world. In the former and in the real world we have to do the work of redemption. We have to turn the failures into success. We have to use our gifts to help others. In the spiritual world God does thine in and for us through the power of the Holy Spirit. We never have to prove ourselves to God. We never have to experience a probation period before he is willing to extend his love and grace.

Sports can help us become a better Hindu, Buddhist, and even Christian. I would hope that you will look around for other things in your world that strengthen your faith.