WATCH OUT FOR THE PLANK!

It is no secret that I bleed blue and love the University of Kentucky Wildcats. What many don't know is that while serving in Indiana in the early 1990's I came to respect coach Bob Knight as well. For one thing, he was the only Big Ten basketball coach who was still teaching in the classroom during that era. His outbursts of rage, crude language, and physical abuse of players were indefensible. But I could not help but appreciate his high standard of discipline on the basketball court.

Certainly a couple of Coach John Calipari's teams have had their issues with the NCAA. But since his arrival at UK he's been the epitomy of "class." He has embraced the Big Blue nation with humility and he unashamedly talks of worshiping Christ daily. I'm not saying the guy is a saint, just that from what we've seen so far he seems sincere about his faith and family, and is a class act.

Well, Calipari totally outclassed Knight this week! In response to Knight's cheap shot against him, citing him as the poster child for college's basketball's lack of integrity, Calipari once again show true class. Ukatletics.com quoted Calipari as saying that while on his way to morning mass he saw like 100 text messages and wondered what had happened. When he realized it was about Knight's remarks, Calipari said that he's a big Knight fan, that he respected him, and even went as far as crediting Bobby with helping him perfect the dribble drive offense. While Coach Cal said he disagreed with what Knight said about him and there being a lack of character in college basketball, he said it wouldn't change how he feels about Knight.

Keep up the humble, sincere, classy spirit Coach Cal! Your actions reveal your true character.

And Bobby, maybe you could take a cue from the One who is most qualified to speak about character - Jesus Christ. He said, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brothers eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? ...You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye" (Matthew 7:3,5).

"When the princes in Israel take the lead, when the people willingly offer themselves - praise the Lord!" (Judges 5:2)

So begins the song of Deborah and Barak, two bold Israelis who liberated their country from 20 cruel years of oppression. The book of Judges reminds us over and over again that God raises up leaders for His people when we call upon Him.

Today is a great day for a body of sincere followers of Jesus who comprise Heritage Christian Church in Fayetteville, GA. Because today is the day that God has raised up a new Pastor to lead this beloved congregation. And the exclamation point on God's providential care for Heritage is that they welcomed their new Pastor with a unanimous affirmation! God is praised indeed when His people willingly offer themselves to follow His will!

I believe this is "a match made in Heaven" and that Heritage along with their new Pastor and his family will be a great blessing to God and the community (and the continents) they serve. To find out more about this "match" check out Heritage's website: www.heritagechristian.org.

Having just visited that website and watched the introductory video for the new Pastor, that verse from Judges 5:2 really stood out to me. There have been some incredibly intense challenges that the Heritage Elder Team has had to navigate over the past 11-months during this transition in the lead Pastor role. And wow, did these guys ever rise to the ocassion! "When the princes in Isreal take the lead...God is praised!"

Men who serve as Elders in the Lord's church often serve with a great deal of devotion and very little appreciation. Having served with these men I can say with confidence that they are indeed "princes" of our Lord Jesus! They have shepherded God's people through unprecedented terrain with courage, commitment, and conviction. So here is a shout out to Biff, Bob, Ed, Mark, Mike, Michael, and Scott! You've led with genuine humility and faith in God!

That great song of Deborah and Barak in Judges 5 ends with this refrain: "may they who love you (Lord) be like the sun when it rises in its strength." May it be so of all our brothers and sisters at Heritage as well! And then the chapter ends, "Then the land had peace forty years." May God grant such peace, and even more, upon His shepherds and His church in Fayetteville, GA and around the world!