I confess, I had to use Google to find the song "I get knocked down, but I get up again" (Tubthumping) to check on who recorded it and when. I was a little surprised, am I that old? (No comments thank you!) It was a hit in 1997 for the band Chumbawamba. I would have put a link in for the video, but some of the lyrics are not what we would want to promote. The lyrics for the chorus are:
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
I get knocked down, but I get up again
You are never gonna keep me down
Hopefully, those of you old enough to remember the song will now have the chorus playing on a loop in your brains, while those of you who are too young to remember it, will have googled it and will now have had the joy of hearing it at least once in your life! So why am I going on about a minor hit record from an obscure band from over 20 years ago?
In the waiting period, I have been pondering on a number of verses that prompted the song to come to mind:
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, Proverbs 24:16
'Cause all I wanna do is go the distance. Nobody's ever gone the distance with Creed, and if I can go that distance, you see, and that bell rings and I'm still standin', I'm gonna know for the first time in my life, see, that I weren't just another bum from the neighborhood. Rocky Balboa (1976 - The original Rocky movie)
I know, we've all heard so many sermons over the years about running the race, persevering and being cheered on by a great multitude, but stick with me for a minute. The more discerning amongst you, may have noticed that the final quote is from that obscure New Testament book, the book of Rocky! In the world of professional boxing, the fights last for up to 15, 3 minutes rounds and the object is to beat your opponent by knocking them down so hard that they can't get up again, whilst avoiding as much as possible getting hit yourself. In the Rocky quote, he's talking about his forth coming fight against the champion, he's aiming to go the distance, to prove his worth as a man and as a boxer.
Thankfully, we're not all facing the heavy weight boxing world champion, but we are all still in a battle. One thing is certain, we'll all make mistakes in life and get knocked down, but we're not destroyed by the mistakes. The training that we've put in (reading/studying the bible, praying, worshipping, attending church etc.) will enable us to get back up when we're knocked down. In boxing, there are times of rest between rounds, when the boxer can get his/her breath back, take on water, have cuts and bruises attended to and receive words of encouragement and instruction from their support team. Ruth and I have a couple of people in our corner, who we are able to be totally honest with about the battles we're in, they are able to minister to us and provide words of wisdom. Since leaving ngm and starting on this journey of praying Time2 into being, we've faced many doubts that we're doing the right thing, we've been financially stretched and have had people question our sanity. Though we may have been winded, hurt and knocked down by some of these punches, we've got back to our feet and are still standing!
What we have learnt and continue to be reminded of is that we are not defined by what we've done, we're defined by what He's done for us. It's only by grace that we have the ability to get up, when we're knocked down. We are more convinced than ever, that God has called us to set up Time2 and that He will provide everything that we need, both personally and as Time2. We continue to hear more stories of ministers who are hurting and exhausted, who need to sit on the stool, take their gumshield out, be fanned by a towel and enjoy a place of peace, enabling them to rest and relax, where they can take time out between rounds, so that they are able to continue the fight and not be forced to throw in the towel.
If you'd like to financially support the creation of Time2, to help ministers/church leaders to get back up when they are knocked down, click here to contact us for more information.
Or click to spread the word by liking us on Facebook or Instagram.
Read our blog