There is an old bowling joke....one man heard another say...."I know a man who bowled a 300 and one!" He challenged how that could happen but heard in response...."Well....did you ever hear of anyone who bowled a 300 and lost?
I know a man who has played a lot of cards over his lifetime....a bid game but not Bridge....and who is very good and wins his share of the time. Well he recently was invited to join a large group of similarly retired men to play on occasion....and this man I know wins more often than not!
Why is this? Well....those who he has played with most of his life....are high bidders....and take risks....and they all want to win. This new group of men do lot like to take risks....as they simply play the cards they are dealt.
The topic here is risk taking....and I guess....winning. There is that Scripture verse in Philippians....3:8...."and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do not count them but dung, that I may win Christ." (KJV)
Paul didn't care if he lost....all things....that he might win....Christ. He would be whatever it takes to see men saved....to win as it were....men for Christ....to be a fisher of men.
I hope that I am a risk taker in these posts. I do not care about a reputation....or what others might think of me. For every one hundred people who might stumble upon these posts....if God would but send one in the direction that I am pointing....if He might cause ten to at least consider the warnings that I have learned through experience of many years....then I would consider that a win.
Paul lost everything....but he won! I never won a trophy in my life....other than maybe in league bowling....no blue ribbons or scholarships or special awards....not even a letter in high school to put on a sweater! I entered a short story contest once in a local Pittsburgh paper. There were a number of prizes. I was sure that I would win some kind of recognition....but I was wrong. I mentioned before in a humor post how I came in second to the last in a marathon of thousands of runners.
I want to finish this race. I want a crown to throw at the feet of the King of Kings! I want to see others win Christ. I want you to win Christ! I know that this win is mine.....because this is His to win! I could not even finish on my own merit. The victory is His....and all praise and honor and thanksgiving to Him for this....forever and ever!
