Take Your Best Shot

I just finished the book entitled Take Your Best Shot by Austin Gutwen. In 2004 Austin was nine years old and set out on a journey that would touch the lives of children throughout the world. His passionate desire to raise funds for AIDS victims living in Africa was achieved through 2,057 free throw shots on a local basketball court. Austin took one simple video, a round ball, and turned it into what is now known as "Hoops of Hope" with events held in over seventeen countries and over one million dollars raised to impact kids through basketball each year on World AIDS Awareness Day.

Austin's message to the reader: "God wants to use you."

Throughout each chapter, Austin lays out some great truths of God and God's desire to use each person for His kingdom while on earth. This book is not only applicable to the teenager who may be struggling with a purpose and passion, but it is a great reminder to adults that God desires us to be challenged and stretched in our Christian work.

A couple of key points I picked up:
* A passion for someone always begins with a broken heart. It was a broken heart and a sacrificed son that provided us salvation through Christ. It was a broken heart for kids living in Africa with AIDS that led to the dream and vision of "Hoops of Hope."
* Maggie Moments are critical. For Austin, Maggie was the first person introduced to him that created a moment of concern and passion. Can we see a face in need? Are we experiencing Maggie Moments in our lives for people or places in desperation?
*Everybody lives for something and dies someday. What are we living for? What if we would give to others as much as we give to ourselves.
*It's all a matter of focus. If we focus on what we do, it becomes all about us. If we focus on who we are, then it suddenly becomes about God.
*It depends how available we are if we make a difference or not. Choosing to be available will allow for God to work through you in greater ways.
*Key to Life: Loving God, ourselves, and others will open the door to life as God intends (Matthew 22:37-38).
*Discover your passion and live in it.
*Making a difference in contagious.

Check out www.hoopsofhope.org for more info.

Thanks to a good friend and fellow laborer in recreation ministry Ed Berenson for giving me this book to read and explore. Ed lives in passion for making a difference. If you don't know him..watch out..his contagious.