Overcomers
This past weekend we hosted the inaugural Disco Dodgeball Tournament for St. Jude at Mars Hill Bible School. We had a whole host of people who made the event spectacular. Because of those helpers we raised $1,000 for Team Ben and Travis’ to run the St. Jude the first weekend in December in Memphis. We had people who made the livestream fantastic and people who worked the spotlight for team intros. We had awesome athletes who could hurl and catch dodgeballs like you’ve never seen. We were all united in a common goal to raise money so more people could be “overcomers”.
The real stars of Saturday were the people of all ages who have overcome difficult obstacles in their lives. We had Cole Kelley who had spent some time at St. Jude join a team, do “The Griddy” during team intros and participate in our only “Showdown” of the tournament. We had Cyprus Hayes, our reason for starting Team Ben and Travis for St. Jude, to be our grand marshal to blow the whistle to begin most of the dodgeball matchups. Bradley Dupree who has cerebral palsy, was in attendance cheering loudly for “Travis’ Minions”. They and so many others are strong reminders of how tough life can be but also how much fun you can have in spite of the pain life can bring.
This is one of the reasons the Gospel is so powerful in our lives. The Gospel because of the ultimate overcomer, Jesus Christ, is the power to raise us from the darkest depths to the highest spiritual mountain top. We all have things in our lives that we wish were better. God not only walk with us through those circumstances, he promises eternal victory over them. Paul the Apostle was acquainted with the struggles and pains of life, is bold in his challenge the finality of death’s sting (1 Corinthians 15). Death has been rendered powerless over the King of Kings. The LORD of Lords arose from death’s grip and instead of lording it over us, he gives us the opportunity to have the same comeback. Not only in the final moments of earthly life but throughout the hills and valleys of the journey. I’m thankful for the witnesses that surround me and especially the one who carries me to the finish line. Look for the “overcomers” in your life and let them point the way.
Travis