Our society’s sports mentality is harmful to kids. At least that is the thinking of Upward, a youth sports league who is providing a healthy alternative to “win at all costs” sport leagues. Instead of promoting trash talking, on field fights and other disruptive behavior, Upward provides a healthy sporting experience for kids from K5 through sixth grade.

Process and Outcome

Children learn sporting skills through Upward, a Christian based league that teaches flag football, soccer, basketball and cheerleading to participants.

“Upward teaches both athletic skills and values for success on and off the playing field-including sportsmanship, teamwork, integrity and respect for authority,” said Upward President Caz McCaslin.  “Offering a “frazzle-free” sports experience for families by minimizing the weekly time commitment, Upward creates a convenient, family-friendly atmosphere.”

Healthy Competition, Positive Sports Environment

Upward believes in focusing on healthy competition and a positive sports environment that builds strong self-confidence by equipping churches with everything needed to run a competitive, yet fun sports program for children K5 – sixth grade.  Each year, more than one million people from 46 states and four countries play, coach, referee or volunteer in Upward sports league.

Upward does its part to help participants avoid player and parent burnout, by limiting time commitments to one practice and one game per week.  Other distinctive aspects of Upward sports leagues include:

• Unique substitution systems that guarantee every child equal playing time

• Skills evaluations for players-prior to team selection-that ensure balanced, competitive teams

• Supportive coaches that bring out the “winner” in every child, regardless of the game’s score

Is your church interested in finding out more about Upward? Click here.

Photo courtesy of Upward

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So the king said to him, “Where is he?” And Ziba said to the king, “Behold, he is in the house of Machir the son of Ammiel in Lo-debar — 2 Samuel 9:4

Lo-debar was a desolate place, a town in Gilead devoid of pasture. By the sound of it, Lo-debar had nothing much going for it, but it was home of Mephibosheth, son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.

Leaving Lo-debar

Yesterday, our Pastor — Rodney Finch — preached a message titled, “Come Out of Lo Debar” where he compared the life of Mephibosheth to our own lives before we came to faith in Jesus Christ: barren, empty and desperately needing a blessing.

Are you still living in Lo-Debar?

In 2 Samuel 4 we first learn of Mephibosheth who was at that time just five years old and being cared for my a nurse. Frightened because both Saul and Jonathan were dead and fearing that a similar fate awaited the boy, the nurse fled the scene, carrying him in her arms. But, in the process of running away she dropped the boy which caused him to become permanently lame in both feet.

For Jonathan’s Sake

A generation later David is found inquiring if anyone in the House of Saul is still alive, wanting to show them kindness for Jonathan’s sake. Though Saul showed David much evil, Jonathan showed David extraordinary kindness, something that David wanted to extend to Saul’s survivors.

Mephibosheth was found living in Lo-debar with his young son and was immediately brought to his household to dine at David’s table, a place of honor befitting a family member. David also restored Mephibosheth’s inheritance to him, appointing Saul’s servant, Ziba, to minister to him. With fifteen sons and twenty servants, the retinue of people assigned to Mephibosheth was quite large.

6 Points About Mephibosheth

Interestingly, there are six things about Mephibosheth which should be noted:

1. Mephibosheth’s name means “shameful one.”
2. By living in Lo-debar, Mephibosheth was missing out on the best. That city’s name is translated as desolate, barrenness, etc.
3. Mephibosheth would have perished without David’s help.
4. David made no mention to Mephibosheth about his lame feet, rather he wanted Jonathan’s son to receive the blessing due him.
5. Mephibosheth said nothing about his own feet although in verse 8 he did refer to himself as a “dead dog” perhaps fearing that David wished him harm.
6. No one else in David’s household made issue of Mephibosheth’s handicap.

Perhaps the most important lesson in the life of Mephibosheth is that he accepted David’s grace graciously. Which brings me to an important point: do we accept God’s grace graciously or do we continue to focus on our past life and the sins which separated us from fellowship with God?

Your Inheritance Awaits

The Bible doesn’t indicate whether Mephibosheth was ever healed of his lameness, but 2 Samuel 9 certainly shows that the grandson of Saul received his inheritance. We may go through this life with our own set of physical and emotional problems, but our inheritance can be restored too provided we put our trust in Jesus Christ.

Remember grace is: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Think about it!

Photo Credit: Ali Taylor

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