Article: Do-or-Die Pressure

Main | Archives | Contact Us

Site Search

Grasp who He is
Own up to my sin
Believe & repent
Accept His rule/obey
Read His Word/grow
Pray to Him/worship
Seek guidance/trust

About myself/success
Contentment
With eternal outlook
With Kingdom values
Manage my attitudes
Master my emotions
Guard my thought life

Resist temptation
Monitor my talk
Be totally honest
Control my actions
Submit my time/stuff
Cope with trouble
Take my stand
Be Faithful/Persevere

To my wife & family
To my children
Among ethnic groups
Accept & forgive
Befriend & encourage
Give account/disciple
Be an example & lead

By caring & serving
By witnessing
In my church
At my workplace
In my community
In my world

Poll

Which of these phrases from David's psalms mirror your feelings? (Select two)

• Why do you ignore my cries for help?
• Bring them to their knees
• Forgive my many, many sins
• Do not abandon me, Lord.
• Make them tremble in fear
• Declare me innocent
• Feel my pain and see my trouble
• Give them the punishment they so richly deserve
• Make me willing to obey you
• Don't let the wicked push me around
• Why have you forsaken me?
• Arrange for an evil person to turn on him
• Don't let me lust for evil things
• Keep me out of the traps they have set for me
• Let his position be given to someone else
• Grant me purity of heart
• Pull me out of the mud; don't let me sink any deeper!
• Let them be caught in their own traps
• Teach me your ways
• Send me a sign of your favor
• May creditors seize his entire estate
• Don't let those who trust in you stumble because of me
• Give me back my joy again
• Make their weapons useless in their hands

Take this poll



	HOLIDAYS & EVENTS • Clergy Appreciation Day/Month (U.S.A.) • Halloween/All Saints' Day

Featured
This Week

• Today's Devotion

• Prayer of the Week

• Group Discussion Question

• Familyman Weekly

Home > Men > Connect with God > Accept His rule/obey

Sign up for our free newsletter:

Men of Integrity, Nov/Dec 1999

Commitment to Christ
Tuesday, December 21

Do-or-Die Pressure

Key Bible Verse: For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 3:11). Bonus Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:18

After playing guard position at the University of Wisconsin—Green Bay, Tony Bennett participated in the NBA pre-draft camp in Chicago so scouts could see him, then attended the Orlando NBA camp. He devoted himself to preparing, knowing a player "can really make or break [himself] at those two camps as far as getting drafted."

During those tryouts, Tony "got convicted." "I said to myself, You've got guys here basically playing for their careers and possibly millions of dollars. You've got the general managers and coaches sitting around the court watching you …

"It made me realize that all these things we are doing are important but temporary. You've got to enjoy it and go after it, but there is something more important that lasts. And that's my faith in Christ, the relationship I have with my family."

Tony admits, "I was under strain. But it struck me that you have to have a foundation." Bennett's foundation allowed him to relax and work at the adjustments necessary to get to the next level. The Charlotte Hornets were impressed enough to nab him with their second pick in the 1992 NBA draft.

—Dave Branon in Slam Dunk

Personal Challenge:

Take a "time out" to rank the elements in your life.

Thought to Apply: Our duty as Christians is always to keep heaven in our eye and earth under our feet.

— MATTHEW HENRY (ENGLISH PASTOR AND BIBLE COMMENTATOR, 17TH CENTURY)

Credits: Adapted from— Tuesday: Slam Dunk (Moody, 1994)

Copyright © 1999 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity. For reprint information call 630-260-6200 or e-mail mail@menofintegrity.net.
To receive Men of Integrity at your home, contact Promise Keepers toll-free at 800-888-7595. To order multiple copies of Men of Integrity for your men's group, click here.
November/December 1999, Vol. 2, No. 6, December 21, 1999

Try an Issue of Men of Integrity
Free!

Name
Street Address

City/State/Zip
E-mail Address

No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders.

If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless.

Give Men of Integrity as a gift
Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

RSS Feed RSS Help

SUBSCRIBE!

5 minutes is all it takes …

• Free trial issue
• Manage My Subscription
• Give A Gift Subscription
• Churches—Order in bulk

Shopping Mall

ChristianBook.com
Music CDs|Downloads
Books|Videos|Gifts

Bible Studies
Christian History
Classifieds
Leadership Training
Small Group Resources