A Tennis Missionary remembers

Late night doubles - Australian Open.

Five out of six nights of the last week, I stayed at the tournament site finishing matches from 1:30am to 5am.  Now, what was great about it was not staying up all night and getting up the next morning (not good!) to go back but sitting in the player guest box.  That works really well for personal relationship ministry as it creates a deep bond. 

One memorable moment stands out:

Two doubles teams had to play against each other in a quarterfinal match and I was given player guest box access for both teams at the same time.  I spoke to all four players before the match and they agreed that I could spend the first set in one teams box, the second set in the other teams box and if need be remain in the final box for the deciding tie-breaker.  Competitors agreeing in unity to a Godly aspect, Great!. 

When I sit in the box I do not clap or cheer, but I do pray and talk to the others in the box.  I do not pray for a players winning or losing, but lots of other things, such as health, healing, a Godly attitude, a clear mind and also sharing with other people in the player box.

After the match I spoke to the winning team and one member of the losing team (the other was under physical therapy) at 2:30am.  I was able to bring a Godly perspective to all.  What more could I do (except to be available for God's use) and I thank God for that.

Previous journal entry - How do you value your worth? - Australian Open

Last day of the Australian Open, Finals, Home Sweet Home.

I arrived home on Tuesday, January 29th at 6am after an overnight flight from Melbourne to Hong Kong.   My Monday was spent with friends that I have developed in Melbourne.  The temperature was a great 24C (75F) and before my midnight flight I had dinner at an outdoor cafe with my host family, The McKenzie's. This is my fourth year of staying with them and they minister to international university students from various nations by having the students stay in their home.

The last day of the tournament (Sunday) I attended the final of both mixed doubles and men's singles.  I knew the teams well in the mixed doubles and spent time with both teams before, during and after the match.  I did not know either player in the singles final with only the briefest of family contact with one of the players.  It reminds me that I have to keep reaching out to all the new comers as the younger players arrive on tennis tour.  Read how the last week of relationship building went at the tournament on the 'The Daily Verse blog'.

Arrived home back in Hong Kong and my family is great.  Thank you for all those who have been praying for my family.  I saw Ashley, my six year old, getting on the school bus.  Joshua, my 18 month old, kind of blinked, did not smile and then later came around wanting me to pick him up.  (yes, I do call home every night where ever I am in the world, but it is not the same as face to face)  Joshua has a cold and is on medication.  My wife arrived home from teaching school and we opened the gifts that I had brought from Australia for my family.  Fruit cakes, T-shirts, caps, the free Qantas Airline child goody bag and a tournament sponsor bag of health care products.  Thank God, for family!

Previous journal entry: Face to face - Australian Open

How do you value your worth? - Australian Open

Standing next to tennis players that for 14 days work made a million dollars is kind of interesting.   That is more than most; including past players of the tennis game from thirty or forty years ago;  will make in a lifetime, tens or even hundreds of lifetimes.  Or seeing a limousine and then another auto in front of it with guards is kind of interesting.  I will NOT use the word 'in awe' as some would use. I observe people standing around trying to be near a person who has money or fame, get an autograph or a photo.  I am not really sure what that will bring them.

Fame, money, power is only a part of where a person gets their worth.  Love, relationships, kindness are also part of it' these are intangibles and can not be measured by mankind but by God.  The world values no doubt the first more then the second.  God values what you do with who you are.   God values what you do with what you have.

1 Samuel 16:7 (Whole Chapter)
The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." -

I quick calculation shows that most workers who run this tournament such as guards, food workers, grounds crews, ect... would be paid around $800 for two weeks of work (1250 times less then a million).  I love being kind to the tennis players AND guards, food workers, ect.. as I understand that behind every person a heart and soul exists.  Asking about their life is really interesting, informative and on top of that just being kind.

Honesty in balls. - Australian Open

"Please return practice balls here after each practice session"  This is the sign on the Australian Open court scheduling desk. I really do not know what they intend to do with the used balls.  My understanding is not important, what is important is my obedience.  I am sure that they have a good reason to have three signs posted prominently on that desk. 

You are judged by all (adults, children, players, fans, administrators, staff) who observe you in not only on what you do in small matters but also the big matters.  For everyone, but especially for a Christian believer who desires to be a living witness to others you must have a conscious when you know that you have done something against any rule.  No doubt as stated Biblically, A person who is faithful in the small matters will be faithful in the large matters and God rewards those who are just.  (Matthew 25:21)

Do you take towels from the tournament when they have prohibited it?  Do you use a credential to access areas that you are not allowed?  If you know that a rule exists from the authorities; who are placed above you by God - obey them and ask in good conscious to allow what you intend to do.  God either opens or closes that door for His own purposes.

Seems like a great way to live life, knowing that you have done the right thing and being humble in your dealings with others.

Our Future is our youth. - Australian Open week 1

I met with many of the world top ten ranked junior boys at an tournament in combination with a men’s event in London in June, 2007 and now have an opportunity to follow this up again at the 2008 Australian Open.  A junior from a country where the people are predominately Buddhists, came up to me, was very friendly and obviously happy to see me. At the London event, he had been distant but willing to have conversation.

As we finished our conversation in Australia and I turned to leave, he stopped me and said, 'I have been getting your email daily verses, and I read every one of them.'   Then what I was able to take positively as encouragement through my week is when he said, 'thank you.'  I knew that my work with those future players on the tour, all who are receiving the daily verse via email, had not been without results.

The men’s and women’s pro tour issues that I deal with include life-threatening diseases and viruses, adulteries, cancers, divorce and housing players with local families for fellowship and support.  As the juniors grow into adulthood, these are the important and real issues that occur in adulthood.  It is vitally important that you support these youth with your prayers, gifts towards this effort and help as you are able.  Please do follow the junior events and pray for each player by name and nationality.  The juniors play commences on Monday, January 21.  Read more on the travel for the trip here.

The Vice of Gambling

A recent world number one in tennis doubles and I rode back in the car to the players hotel discussing the lottery.  That night the New York state lottery was paying over 130 million US dollars to a winner.  We debated the merits what it would be like to suddenly have that much money and the money that a player earned in a lifetime in comparison.  Amazingly enough, I have known this player since the mid-1990's and it the first time that we have had a deep discussion and it took a lottery to do it!

I have a found a taped message that you can listen to on this subject.  Often we think what does it hurt if I just do it.  It is my business and my money.  Listen to it and realize the impact that gambling has on all, including yourself, your children, sports and society.  Listen to the entire audio message "The vice of gambling" here or read more excerpts here

Here are partial excerpts from a sermon by Tom Streeter, a Pastor in Zionsville, Indiana. -What a man does to himself or his own property generally is his own business, when this harm extends beyond himself or his own into the wider community; it is deemed a crime...Aristotle taught that gambling had both a corrupting and distracting nature...As a vice it is addictive.  Destructive to individuals, families, takes advantage of the poor and ruins community.

The number of compulsive gamblers will increase to between 100 and 500% when gambling is brought into an area...Three years after casinos arrived Atlantic City went from 50th in the nation to 1st in crime.  But I think that if there are people who care and really do care about the morals and ethics or our country, maybe something can be done about it.  Our responsibility is more than private, it's public, it's about our country, it's about our towns, it's about our families.