He said to me,

 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

It was Wednesday July 22^nd, 2009 around 5:45 pm. I found myself with group of High School boys playing basketball in my driveway. Seeing them raise the rim to a height under 10 feet and watching them jump with such strength placing the ball in the cylinder (or dunking) and land ever so gracefully, brought me to a time and place of 10+ years and 60 pounds ago where I displayed the same athleticism but with pride I could boast that it was at regulation height.

While lost in my fond memories, one young man asked if I could dunk it. So humbly, mostly because I was not sure I could anymore, grabbed the ball and went on my approach. I leapt to the rim, dunked it, the whole hoop shaked and then began to topple. With this distraction and concern my landing became not so graceful and I twisted my ankle. I now have a nasty color to my foot that looks far worse than it feels.

If I was in High School I would have been embarrassed of my acceptance but instead I find myself with the realization that “I am not what I once was”. At first glance to this whole incident I am weakened by the thought of being “old” and start picturing myself with economy size Advil bottles, therapeutic shoe inserts, bifocals, ice packs and electric heating pads. (never mind that I have all these) I can’t help but wonder if it would have been different if I had an attitude that gave Christ the glory rather than “I can impress these guys”.

I have been so thankful for Christ to give me the strength to still have some athleticism left and the success I have had in my past with many sports. But I am not done yet because He is not done with me yet. This whole transition of being weak so He can be strong goes beyond my physical ability, and I am not here to brag about that. This goes to what Christ can do to use me, and you, to reach the heart of a person for His glory. I had a vulnerable moment with those young me, they laughed and they also felt a little sorry for me (I can hope right). But I can see that somehow with my weakness Christ will be shown as strong and mighty.

I will have plenty of moments that I trip and fall (not just physically) but Christ will be there to pick me up. What really shows Christ’s strength is that He is there to help me up when I am down and in the dirt, and even greater so, that He dusts me off and says

“I know you can beat this, lets try it again, but this time lets do it together”

In Today's Generation there is a great Zeal and Passion for education, service, community, prayer and worship.

But do you have the same Zeal and Passion for God's Word?

Is the Word of the Living God the root and foundation for your Zeal and Passion?

-Bob Boardman http://www.vimeo.com/5743331

what a great man of God and holds so much to the promises of His word.

(made a great impact on my relationship with Christ through Navigators.

He has just been diagnosed with stage4 Cancer. and about 6 months left.

Pray for God's will and peace for Bob, Family and Friends)