Boxing

Today was a pretty epic work day for Daddy, as most Wednesdays tend to be.  Madison did make a cameo at work with Mommy - and cameo is probably the best word to use for this reason:  she had an appearance in another video filmed at church.  This video is actually not going to be used in children's church though - it's for the main sanctuary.  It's something about a "shield of faith,"and Pastor wanted to have a video of two kids playing with swords and shields.  So the media department called us up to get swords, shields and Madison.  They asked for her, and for another young boy we all know.  Together, they played with their swords and shields - and did some posing too - all in front of a camera for about fifteen minutes or so.  Hopefully you'll see that video on this blog sometime soon, whenever we see it ourselves!

The fighting theme didn't stop though, as today we were talking about Olympic Boxing in our message.  It was a pretty good message we developed, comparing a certain boxer from the late eighties/early nineties to Samson, the warrior who had it all together in the ring - but no discipline outside the ring.

No, we're not talking about Balrog (above).  But the boxer does sort of look like him.  Speaking of Balrog, Madison and Daddy played a little "Street Fighter II" today on the cabinet in the basement.  I love that thing.  So does Madison:  she beat Daddy again.  Running upstairs to Mommy, she proudly announced, "I beat Daddy two times.  He beat me once!"

Speaking of "boxing," we've tried out the Kinect Boxing again.  This is a great split-screen activity that surprisingly can tire you out pretty quickly!  No controllers - just hands.  You duck, weave, bob - and then you jab and give great big hooks.  Madison and Daddy faced the television, and went head to head against each other with Kinect Boxing.  Yes, Madison wins at this too.  It might be her formidable size, or lightning fast south paw.  Whatever it is, she jumps up and down gleefully when Daddy gets floored.

Tonight's message went pretty well, actually.  Before closing down here for the night, here's a quick description of what it was we spoke on:

     Getting the gold medal in boxing is no easy task.  It requires quite a bit of endurance, stamina and the eye of the tiger!  Winners stand on the podium, hands raised high in a well-deserved victory. 
      It takes discipline to go out and win that battle, but the key to a winning life goes well beyond the ring.  That’s where you need discipline the most!

      In our Bibles, a guy named Samson was a champion.  He had unbelievable talent and skill – a fighter unlike any other in history.  Our Bibles tell us how he defeated countless opponents time and again, the super punch-out king.  But this heavyweight champ was no prizefighter when he was off the battlefield.  All it took was a woman named Delilah to do what none of those other knockout kings could do.  She slipped in with a Philistine counterpunch that Samson couldn’t block!  She dazzled him with fancy footwork, jabbed here and there, and finally took him down with one big hook.  Pretty soon, Samson was a TKO, a technical knockout! 

      In today’s headlines, the story hasn’t changed much, has it?  Inside the ring, our heroes are victorious!  But outside the ring, the greatest heavyweights can fall flat on their faces as the crowd gasps.  If only these athletes had just as much discipline outside the ring as they do inside. 

      If only they listened to their manager!  Before you become a ringside judge, take a look at yourself, and your own life.  Are you listening to your manager, your Heavenly Father?  If you are, you can duck and weave temptation.  If not, you’re no doubt heading for a major fall.

      Life lasts more than nine rounds – are you a champion in and out of the ring?   Listen to your manager, and keep that discipline in all areas of your life.  Or, better said by one of the greatest fighters of all time:  “Fight the good fight.”

“I do not fight like a boxer who hits nothing but air.” 
1 Corinthians 9:26 NIrV