Who’s the Fan?

            A video clip has been going around showing a fan at a Miami Heat basketball game making a half court shot to win $75,000. The fun part, though, is to watch what happens afterward. Lebron James immediately runs onto the court and tackles him out of sheer joy. It was an unusual reversal: the fan acted like the superstar; the superstar acted like the fan.

            I’m reminded of Paul’s words in Rom. 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn” (NIV 1984.) If ever anyone modeled rejoicing with those who rejoice, it was Lebron.

            Some of us, I think, struggle more with rejoicing with those who rejoice than weeping with those who weep. We should take a page out of Lebron’s book: even though God has blessed him greatly, he did not obsess over those blessings or himself. Otherwise, he would have missed the chance to truly forget about himself and focus on someone else.

            I’m sure the fan, Michael Drysch, will remember winning $75,000 with satisfaction. I dare say he will look back upon Lebron’s spontaneous hug with even more joy and pleasure.

(Here’s a link to the video: http://mashable.com/2013/01/26/lebron-tackles-fan/ )

Who Wants a $300,000 Home for $16?

         Kenneth Robinson is smart. He knows how to navigate his way through a very chaotic economy. Recently, he did an extensive amount of study on obscure Texas real estate laws.

         In Flower Mound, Texas, owners of a home valued at over $300,000 abandoned it in early 2010. They could not pay the mortgage and simply walked away.

         The company that possessed the mortgage went out of business while they were in the process of foreclosing. Robinson, seeing an opportunity, moved into the abandoned home on June 17 of this year.

         His study had revealed to him a legal concept known as “adverse possession.” Filing the paperwork and paying the $16.00 fee to Denton County, he now awaits ownership. Chances are, it will be his in a couple of years.

         The original owners could force him out, but not before paying off the entire mortgage. The bank that currently has custody of the property could insist that Robinson leave; however, they would first have to file a convoluted lawsuit that could take years to resolve.

         If Robinson remains in the house for three years without receiving a legal challenge, the house will be his.

         Jesus said his followers should be as wise as serpents and innocent as doves. No, he was not talking about exploiting loopholes in the law; nevertheless, we should possess a knowledge of the world no one else has--just like Kenneth showed us regarding real estate law. Our knowledge is born upon the wisdom of God. This allows us to see the world as it is, and as it will be.

         Consequently, we are able to navigate this life in a way that is magnificent – better than anyone else. We carry with us insider knowledge of the abundant life. Therefore, we—with humility and confidence—approach life with joy.

Source: WORLD MAGAZINE  August 13, 2011 issue