Bow to the 'WOW'!

"Dr. J" was Da Man back in the day.

He was Michael Jordan before there was a Michael Jordan! The NBA Encyclopedia calls him the 'great and wondrous'. He was without question the most dominant pro basketball player of his era. As an on court innovator, Dr. J. was considered one of the first players to make 'extemporaneous' individual expression an integral part of the game. The man could whirl and spin in midair before slamming the ball with punctuated power over helpless defenders.

I saw Dr. J in action one night. Reunion Arena, Dallas, Texas, '80 or '81.

He dribbled to the foul line, left the floor with arm held directly above his head, cupping the 'rock'...and sailed to the hoop, jamming the ball on his decent back to planet earth. Along with the sold out crowd of Mavericks fans, I jumped to my feet and yelled in approving unison with the thousands of others...cheering on the Dr. even though he was scoring against our home boys in Big D. What he did was unheard of. It was physically impossible, (it seemed so anyway) to leap that far in s single bound without wearing a cape! The guy to my left lowered his head and placed his hands in front of him in a bowing motion...and there were plenty of others joining him in paying homage to the Doc.

That was a 'Wow' for sure! Many bowed to the 'Wow' quite a few times that night at Reunion Arena.

We love the 'Wow', don't we? Let's come clean on this. Let's 'keep it real' like Randy Jackson of American Idol renown says. We love to be 'wowed'. When she hits the high one singing the National Anthem at Arrowhead in the pre-game, you get the chills don't you? When you shoot a Class D Rapid on the Colorado, you get the willies, right? The affirming and proud look of a pleased parent rejoicing over your graduation from college stirs your heart, true? When she walks down the aisle looking right into your eyes, ready to vow herself to you forever...your heart melts, agreed?

Its an amazing thing to be startled into reality.

"Woe to you Korazin! woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes." Luke 10:13

Becoming a Christian is a stunning matter. To realize that the God of heaven knows your name and loves you deeply is beyond comprehension. Jesus performed miracles not to create the 'Wow', but to inspire realization as to His Messiahship. His touch made blind eyes see, and revealed something much deeper to those who watched it happen. His command made lame legs leap! The crowds could not but admit that Jesus was no mere man. If He could arrest natural laws by a touch or word, what He said about the heart, about eternity, about the Father, redemption, forgiveness of sin, about abundant living, and a secured future meant something that required attention and decision.

How could anyone reject such an invitation to life change and lasting hope? Yet, the 'Wow' turned into a 'Woe'. Some actually took issue with the obvious. It did not matter if a throng was fed from a lunch box. So what if an unclean spirit was expelled from a suicidal teenager. Jesus was rejected nonetheless, and His message of the Kingdom drawing near fell upon hard hearted unbelief.

Even more stunning than becoming a Christian (at times) is to be invited to participate with Him in declaring the message of redemption.

"The seventy-two returned with joy and said, 'Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name." Luke 10:17

That had to be a grand moment of celebration as these serious minded disciples went through the towns Jesus was soon to visit, declaring the Good News of deliverance substantiated with great power in the Holy Spirit. They were witness to a God Movement in the places that they had been assigned to visit. A promised 'person of peace' would open their home at every location, offering it as a ministry station for the Redemption Messengers.

"However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven." Luke 10:20

Reflect on that single statement from the lips of Jesus for a few moments. In a world where many bow to the 'Wow', Christians included...there is nothing more grandiose than remembering that you belong to Him and that one day soon all that He has will belong to you.

I really like Julius Erving. He deserves the honor as a premier Pro Basketball Hall of Famer.

I am especially 'wowed' by the Real Dr. J.

He healed and continues to heal...the broken hearted, the deeply wounded, the guilty offender, the bankrupt of soul and others you and I can identify with.

Take a moment to bow today. He is stunning, isn't He?