Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Expectations

I’ve had more people ask me about UNC football lately. You see, I’m a UNC grad and a sports fan, so I tend to keep up with college football and basketball. Over the last several years, UNC football hasn’t been doing too well. They haven’t had a winning season since 2004 and hadn’t won a bowl game since 2001.

So, why were people asking me about UNC football? Expectations were higher this year. In fact, they were predicted to finish near or at the top of their division. When UNC lost to State this year, just about every State fan made sure that I knew about it. Last year when State won no one said much. So, what’s the big deal about State winning this year? Expectations. UNC was predicted to win. They lost 41-10. In fact, a lot of people (including State fans) thought that might be the score with UNC winning.

Expectations are exactly what you think they are – what you expect to happen. Sometimes our expectations are too high, or not high enough. We do this in all aspects of life. For example, you expect to pay too much for very average food at Busch Gardens or Kings Dominion amusement parks. You expect to pay more for gasoline in Hertford that in Elizabeth City. Unfortunately, when calling customer service we have come to expect to talk to a computer rather than a human.

However, when our losing team wins - we get good food cheap – gas is cheaper close to home – and we get to talk to a human – we are pleasantly surprised and we take notice.

As Christians, what are the world’s expectations of us? Hypocrite . . . judgmental . . . exclusive . . . think they’re better . . . etc. What would happen if the world found us to be different (better) than that? What would happen if the world found us to be like . . . Jesus?

What are the world’s expectations about church? Boring . . . irrelevant . . . out for your money . . . etc. I know I don’t want to be about those things. Let’s be innovative and exceed expectations so people will be drawn to Jesus!

May we connect people with God . . . and each other.

1 comment:

Matt Guthrie said...

I haven't said much about that game, but, "Go Pack!" I can't believe the way they turned around the season. And of course there is always that all important, "Sponsor your own Bowl" bid that everyone seems to receive.