This Saturday, February 21st, is our first home basketball game, for our youth, in a decade. That’s pretty cool. I feel like playing basketball in North Carolina is like playing hockey in Minnesota or football in Ohio. It’s a testament to you, the members of Christ Lutheran, who have used your skills and passion to create something. 

My son is an athlete on one of these teams. We haven’t been able to play on our own home court, yet. We are hosted by the various other teams and their churches. This is actually a bit of a treat, because, as a parent, I travel around and get to snoop other churches every Saturday. I know that for some families the sports lives of their children is intense. I can’t handle that. As a family we like that our kids can play a sport but that the sport doesn’t have to take over their life. As a father and pastor I have watched them learn more than how to make a layup. 

One of the first matches the boys team that my son is on was getting beat, pretty badly. Near the end of the game, when it was clear who the winner was, a time out was called. The other team started acting like fools. The natural response was for our boys to follow them into such tom-foolery. After all that's what happens in the world. Someone cuts you off - hook! The bachelor you were going to hand your rose to admits he cheated on you - champagne to the face! I don’t know about that last one, I didn’t watch the Bachelorette. but you get my drift. Our everyday life looks too much like a reality show. There was a real life lesson in that game. Winning that day wasn’t about who had more points on the board; but rather, who could hold onto their dignity. We won that day, despite what the score board said. 

The basketball games bring the kids and their families together and we get to know each other. The kids get to know the parents. They begin to see that our church isn’t just made up of random people coming in to pick up their salvation, but families coming together to live a life in Christ. I was talking to the mother of a boy on the team and this was her exact experience. A connectedness that was facilitated by basketball. 

Being in each other's lives. Building relationships. Welcoming people into our church. These are the hallmarks of a ministry. Basketball at Christ Lutheran isn’t a pass time, it is a gift from God. Made possible by those who put the schedules together. Send out the emails. Give their time for practice and games. And show up. 

Maybe for you the first home game for Christ Lutheran in a decade is a blip on your radar. But from my perspective it is a glimpse from God.