With just about all of sports being cancelled these days, or at least delayed for a little while, the event I am missing the most is the NCAA tournament, also known as “March Madness.” And while I never participated in a college basketball tournament, I do have a basketball story to share with you. 

Several years ago, I was playing basketball at Princeton Seminary. It was just pick-up, not a league game, just 5-on-5, where no one ever gets hurt. You know what’s coming right, right? I was running up the court after a made basket, when my foot hit the heel of the guy running in front of me, and I completely rolled over my ankle. Down I went, like a sack of potatoes. Almost instantly, my ankle swelled up to 3 times its normal size. No more basketball that day. In fact, no more basketball for a while. 

I managed to get myself to the car, but by the time I got home, I literally could not walk. Well, I got out of the car, slung my knapsack over my shoulder and began the long, painful journey from the parking lot to the apartment. Just then, my friend, Rick, saw me, and ran over to me. I told him what had happened with my ankle. He said, “John, give me your knapsack, and put your arm around me. Lift your foot off the ground, and we’ll make it back that way.” Well, everything inside of me bristled at the thought of not being able to do this on my own. And I remember thinking, “Greater humiliation hath no man than to give up his knapsack.” Well, I let my knapsack fall to the ground, and Rick threw it over his shoulder. I put my arm over his other shoulder for support, and there we walked step-by-step back to my place.

My friends, are you someone who insists on carrying your own burdens? Even though you’re hobbling and stumbling, I want to tell you that there is someone who comes to you, who looks you in the eye and says, “I know this is going to be hard for you, but give me your stuff. It’s true, you got yourself into this mess, but I’m the only one who can get you through this.” Jesus says, Give it to me. It’s the only way you're going to make it.” This Sunday, we will once again worship at 10:00 A.M. via Zoom. The link for this Sunday is:

 https://zoom.us/j/757594635 

Meeting ID: 757 594 635 

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My apologies to those who tried to log in last week, and were shut out, because we had maxed out our amount of people watching. This has been rectified, so there is plenty of room for you this Sunday. And I pray that it will be a meaningful time for you to thank the Lord for His broad shoulders and loving heart as He comes to us in all of the circumstances of our lives.