31 Dec, 2010

Looking Back, Looking Forward

UConn's win streak ends at 90 in loss to Stanford
AP – 9 mins ago
STANFORD, Calif. – Stanford really does have UConn's number.

Top-ranked Connecticut's record 90-game winning streak in women's basketball ended Thursday night when No. 9 Stanford outplayed the Huskies from the start in a 71-59 victory at Maples Pavilion — where the Cardinal have their own streak going.

Stanford hasn't lost in 52 games at home. The Cardinal took an early 13-point lead, never trailed and didn't let the mighty Huskies back in it after halftime in this one. They kept pounding the ball inside and banging the boards.

UConn fans accustomed to watching coach Geno Auriemma's team blow past opponents hadn't seen a loss since the 2008 NCAA semifinals — Stanford got the Huskies that time, too, 82-73 in the Final Four at Tampa, Fla.

"At some point reality had to set in, and today reality set in," Auriemma said. "I'm not destroyed about it. Winning that many games in a row, it's unheard of."

Read the Full Story.

Story and Photo courtesy of news.yahoo.com.

Philippians 3:12-16 (ESV)
Straining Toward the Goal
 12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained.

What does God's Story teach us about looking back?
The year 2010 has been quite a year in the sports world, and it's not quite over.  Last night, the longest streak in college sports came to an end as Stanford beat UCONN in Women's College Basketball.  It's pretty amazing that Stanford was the last team to beat UCONN in 2008.  It is also ironic that the team who previously held the streak of 88 games, the UCLA Mens Basketball team in the early 70s, lost to Notre Dame on both ends of their streak.  In both cases, Stanford and Notre Dame, went into the games with confidence.

In today's God's Story scripture, Paul reminds us to keep our eyes on the goal.  It's very easy to hang our heads when we feel defeated. But we have to look up and move on.  Whether it's in a game like basketball, or it's in life. 

As we come to the end of another year, many of us will look back on the year and convince ourselves we either lost or won.  That it was either a bad year or a good one. BUT THE GAME'S NOT OVER!  We must continue in the confidence that we are victors because of what Jesus has done for us and in us.

How can I connect God's Story to My Life?
Was 2010 a good year for you, or are you looking forward to a fresh start in 2011?  Regardless of the successes or failures of 2010, thank God for the experiences He has brought you through and ask Him to guide and direct your steps through 2011.

How can I connect Today's Story, My Story, and God's Story to Others?
Get together with your closest friends and talk with one another about the successes and failures of 2010.  Pray with and for one another sometime this weekend as the new year begins.

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