A few months ago, I started using the service Twitter (I’ll write more about that some other time). I discovered that Fabricio Oberto, an NBA player that is from the province of Córdoba in Argentina, publishes on Twitter. I started reading what he writes. (following him, as they say on Twitter)
Not soon after, Fabricio wrote something that wasn’t right. I sent him a message with the right info, and he wrote back, thanking me. “Wow!” I thought, “This NBA player actually wrote to me.”
The Argentine soccer team had a game on Saturday against Colombia. On Saturday morning, Fabricio posted a comment about the game. I sent him a message saying “Go Argentina!” He wrote back saying, “It should be a good game.” Again, I was thrilled. But I was also trying to find the game on TV and couldn’t find it anywhere. So I decided to ask Fabricio. “Channel 457,” he wrote back, “Pay per view.” I was pleased that he was corresponding, but also knew that I couldn’t pay $30 to watch a game. I tried to find the right way to say that to a guy that earns millions playing basketball. He immediately wrote back to tell me the website where I could see the game. Really nice of him. “Wow!” I thought, “This NBA player took the time to help me.”
Yesterday I saw that Fabricio had a heart treatment last week. I knew he’d had heart problems ever since a collision in a game a couple of years ago. I remembered what I wrote a few weeks ago, that celebrities are people too, so I wrote him and said that we would pray for him. He wrote back to say thank you.
If you get a chance, offer a prayer for Fabricio. He seems like a nice guy from a small town in the Córdoba hills. (His dad sells tractor equipment, if I remember right) Interestingly enough, one of his relatives that lives in the city of Córdoba was contacted through Let’s Start Talking and continues to study with Jacquie Mitchell at the church in Córdoba. Go ahead and pray for the whole family. Famous people need Jesus too.
“Famous people need Jesus too.” Tim, I am pleased that you are excited about being recognized by a famous person, although I can’t remember ever having heard that name, we all need Jesus. and I doubt he is any more famous with Jesus than you are. “non famous people make people famous”. In my opinion the youth of the world would be better off if they were taught to look up to Jesus, instead of sports figures, singers, actors etc. Jesus will never let you down, they will, almost always. I love watching sports and am amazed at what some of these young people can physically do, and they may be famous in this world, but not in the world to come.
Laymond,
I knew I could count on you to totally miss the point of this post. Thanks for not letting me down!
If you get a chance, you might try reading what I wrote.
Grace and peace,
Tim Archer
Tim said “If you get a chance, you might try reading what I wrote.”
“Wow!” I thought, “This NBA player actually wrote to me.”
“He wrote back saying, “It should be a good game.” Again, I was thrilled.”
“Wow!” I thought, “This NBA player took the time to help me.”
Tim, maybe you should read what you wrote. sounds like some kind of worship to me.
Laymond,
I’m sorry. I guess you did read… the first part of the post. I’m sorry you couldn’t understand it.
Grace and peace,
Tim
I liked it Tim.
tim, is true that you have sacrificed a pig to a shrine of fabricio oberto and that you confided in a friend that you love him more than Jesus??
Good reminder! (Strange conversation going on in your comments section, though)
Yeah, sorry Terry. Maybe I should go back and delete my first few comments. Laymond likes to get under my skin on occasion, as I do his.
Tim, please go back to my first comment, and tell me which part you disagree with that got under your skin. was it the part where I was glad you got to talk to a famous person, or was it where I said Jesus did not prefer famous people over you, maybe it was where I said I would prefer that the youth of the world follow Jesus rather than famous figures of this world. I know ! it was where I said I like sports too, but I don’t place these people on a pedestal. Unless it is one or all of the above, it would have to be where I said these famous people will let you down, they will disappoint, and Jesus never will.
I have even seen the time when “The Admiral ” let me down with sub par performances. And I was not lying when I said I never heard of this man, If I haven’t ever heard of him, how famous can he be? :)
I think you were just looking for a skirmish, and as you said you know where to come for one. we love you and we do enjoy the contest.
OK, fine… I’ll try.
The first part of the post described my enjoying exchanging messages with an NBA player that is from the area of Argentina that I used to live in. To be honest, that’s not the sort of thing I would blog about. The last part of the blog explains that this man had a heart procedure and I realized that he is just like any other human being. As I would with anyone else that told me that, I offered to pray for him. And have.
I then commented that famous people need Jesus, too. (You somehow seemed to disagree with that… ???)
Based on that you felt a need to lecture me on not depending too much on famous people, on Jesus not favoring famous people, etc. Beats me why you came up with that.
But when I saw that you had commented, I thought to myself, “I’m sure Laymond somehow found a way to be negative about this.” And I was right. Again. Sadly.
Tim said; I then commented that famous people need Jesus, too. (You somehow seemed to disagree with that… ???)
I said, “we all need Jesus”
Tim said; ” Based on that you felt a need to lecture me on not depending too much on famous people, on Jesus not favoring famous people, etc. Beats me why you came up with that.”
I was simply saying just because some one is well known, they don’t deserve a pedestal, and when the younger people see the older people (especially church leaders) in awe of ” famous people ” what will they do.?
Tim said “The last part of the blog explains that this man had a heart procedure and I realized that he is just like any other human being.”
I say; If anyone is sympathetic to those who have heart problems, it would be me, I have suffered three heart attacks, and triple bypass surgery by the age of 57. we have to make the best of what we have. I too pray this young man, nor any other person should need to suffer what I have (and my family) “God forbid”
Tim said; “But when I saw that YOU had commented, I thought to myself, “I’m sure Laymond somehow found a way to be negative about this.”
Seems my comment was prejudged, you saw what you expected to see.
Fear not, I will refrain from commenting on anything except religious subjects from now on. may God bless.
I liked this story and did not think that Tim worships Fabricio Oberto, nor do I think the story was telling me that I should idolize sports figures. Any heart condition is a pretty serious matter, so we should pray for Fabricio. I think the Lord may open up an opportunity for Tim to witness to Fabricio. Even though Fabricio is no more famous with Jesus than Tim or Laymond, I think that’s pretty exciting.
I came over from TWV2….love this post! Our culture will never not look up to the people they consider Superstars. More often than not, we think that people who are in the spotlight have everything they could ever want, the best life ever. Your post was a great reminder to me, and I think they probably need Jesus more than most. We have no idea what they deal with on a moment by moment basis. Thanks for a fun post and it’s great that he took time out his schedule to use twitter in the way it was intended, to build relationships and engage in conversation.
Thanks Audra. Welcome to the Kitchen.