Rupp Arena

Growing up in "football" states (AL, FL, GA), I was not much of a basketball fan. Until I moved to Paris. I attended my first UK game a couple weeks ago (versus TN!). As you may know, the Tennessee team we played January 14th (which we barely won) did not show up on January 31st. We walked away with a win, 69-44.             Sitting in the arena, I could imagine how difficult it would be to visit here. The crowd was loud as it was supportive. That is part of the reason why UK has such a win streak (48) at home. It's the so-called home court advantage. The UK players knew the crowd was on their side. We cheered when the players blocked. We cheered when the players scored. We cheered when the players blinked. That's home court advantage.             In Hebrews 11, the writer gives us a list of numerous Old Testament heroes as he briefly runs through OT history.  Then he begins chapter 12 by writing:             "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us."             What the Hebrew writer is saying is that Christians have the home court advantage. We have our own arena of fans, cheering us on - a cloud of witnesses. In contrast to basketball, however, our cloud of witnesses has already participated in the same game and won it.             Our greatest supporter, though, the Hebrew writer mentions, is Jesus Christ. As you "play on the court", fix your eyes on Him (Hebrews 12:2).   --Paul Holland