URC Weekly 2/19/2012: Why We Love Jeremy Lin
Linsanity has been sweeping America. Jeremy Lin is a professional basketball player for the New York Knicks who has stolen the hearts of our country. He is the most talked about topic nationally at the moment. He has been given many catchy nicknames: Legend In Newyork, To Linfinity and beyond, Super Lintendo, All I do is Lin, Lincredible, Lin on me when you’re not strong….you get the point.
In midst of hearing all about Lin (being mesmerized, really), I thought about why. Why? Why do we like this guy so much? Why is the whole country going crazy about him? I here by break it down for you.
1. Jeremy Lin is one of a kind.
Let’s face it. We love him because he’s Asian. He’s the only one in the NBA! If Lin was black, which 75% of the NBA is, half of us won’t care about him. Affirmative action goes the other way when it comes to professional sports.
2. Jeremy Lin struggled but beat the odds.
We love rags-to-riches story. We love unlikely heroes. We love to root for underdogs. Jeremy Lin was offered zero scholarship out of high school to play college basketball. After Harvard, a school that gives no athletic scholarship, Lin was undrafted. Barely making it into the NBA, Lin was cut from two teams, getting playtime at New York only because other players got hurt. And then, BAM! He burst into the scene scoring above 200 points and 80 assists in 9 games. That’s the most in history.
3. Jeremy Lin credits others and blames himself.
In other words, this guy is humble. When good things happen, he gives honor to his teammates. When bad things happen, he takes up the responsibility. Sounds pretty Christian, which he is. You would want a guy like this to marry your daughter. Or perhaps you would want to marry him yourself.
4. Jeremy Lin is simply a good player.
Like I said above, his performance is historically best that the NBA has ever seen in his position. Jeremy Lin can ball. Period. Here at America, it’s all about what you have done for me lately. And as of late, Jeremy Lin is balling you up.
I actually know another one-of-a-kind unlikely hero who is humble yet good. His name is Jesus. Jesus is fully human, fully God. That would make him one of a kind. Jesus struggled throughout his life with persecution and suffering. He died a painful death on the cross, but only to defeat death by resurrecting. This is his rags-to-riches story. And let’s not talk about how humble Jesus is. We all know that humility is his thing. Yet Jesus is a good player. I mean he is God! Jesus is just good at everything he does.
So there you go America. If you are in love with Jeremy Lin, you ought to be in love with Jesus Christ.
• Ash Wednesday Prayer Service: 2/22 (Wed) 8pm at our Room…Lent begins on this day, so please participate this season by fasting something until Easter!
• Church Clean-up Day: 2/25 (Sat) 9am. We will be digging through all the unused corners of our church to organize ourselves better. Please come help!
• Small Group Leaders Meeting: 2/26 (Sun) 2pm.
• Worship Prayer This Week: James Hyonroh Lee
• Please keep praying for your February MPRs…We are always looking for your testimonies!
