The soccer season is over...for me anyway.
Yesterday, I coached the last game of the season for our U4 soccer team. I'd love to tell you we scored the winning goal in the last few seconds and parents carried me off the field on their shoulders. I'd love to, but I can't. It didn't happen.
In fact, it, like almost all of our games this season, didn't go well at all. They don't keep score in our league (thank goodness), but if they did, it would have been a lot to a little. We didn't have the lot. Our kids tried hard, but we just didn't have the confidence to strike the ball and take on defenders. We were often short-handed. Short attention spans ruled the day.
To be honest, I spent most of the season frustrated. I talked and coached and demonstrated and talked some more. In practice the kids would do fine. In games, not so much. I spent more time yelling for kids to stop picking grass and stay out of the goal than I did high-fiving for big games and major accomplishments. And that was just my own kid.
I felt like a loser when all was said and done. We didn't have much success. I'm not sure the kids learned much. As much as I tried to teach them, I wonder how much really sunk in.
As I peeled my coach's shirt off for the last time, I wondered how often God feels the same way about us. On Sunday we look good. We have our Bible. We say all the right words. We do all the right things. On Monday, when we're actually competing, we shy away from defenders and lack the confidence to strike the ball. Often, he spends more time calling our name than beaming with pride at our choices.
Don't get me wrong. I don't think we earn salvation. Only through Jesus can we have a relationship with the triune God. However, we often play well on Sunday and not so well the rest of the week. I wonder how often God is frustrated over our performance.
Psalm 19:14 says may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart by pleasing to God. That's our everyday conversations at work or school. That's the thoughts in our heads when we're on the school bus or driving to work. Our words and our thoughts should be pleasing to God.
So often we say pleasing words in church. We watch our language. We're polite. We say the right things. We do the same thing with our thoughts. We think pleasant thoughts and dwell upon the Lord.
When we get home, we flip on the television, cell phone, iPod or computer and soon our thoughts and words aren't so wholesome. We often fail God when the game is afoot.
This isn't a post to make you feel bad. It is intended to make you think. If Sunday is our warm-up for Monday, how are you doing when the game is on the line?
Jesus calls us to go and make disciples. Are we? Or do we just do well in practice?
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
Time for an examination
For my seminary class on counseling, I had to read a book about anxiety and worry. In the book, the author, Archibald Hart, made the case that sometimes worry can be good.
He gave the example of worrying about an illness - in the case a spot on the skin that could be cancerous. Since skin cancer is a very real, and deadly, possibility, your worrying about it should spurn you to have it examined. In that case, it's a healthy form of worrying. It's more natural concern than worry, even when we dwell on it. It's our brain's mechanism to check out anomalous things.
For me, Matthew 7:21-23 is one of those "spots" you need to worry about. In the passage, Jesus says many people who drive out demons, preach, teach and do miracles will not gain access into the Kingdom of Heaven. They'll have all the outward signs of a believer but have no real, genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
That's a very scary proposition. It addresses those of us who call ourselves believers in Jesus. It calls us to an examination of our relationship and our salvation. Like the spot on the skin, we need to get it checked out because the consequences are deadly.
It really comes down to this simple concept: is Jesus Lord of your life? That's not just a saying. To be Lord, someone must exert control over your life. I have a landlord who controls the property and house that I rent. I have to seek his permission to make changes.
In the same way, Jesus calls us to be in submission to him. He is to be our Lord - in complete control over our lives. Our thoughts and words and deeds should go through the prism of Jesus. We can't claim to serve Jesus, and then seek after accomplishments for our personal fame and glory. Jesus must be Lord.
We can't count on outward appearances or deeds. Time and again, God has used non-believers to accomplish godly feats. Just look at Balaam, Cyrus and Judas as examples.
It comes down to a heart issue. Is Jesus Lord of my life? Am I accomplishing things in my name or his?
Too often, as believers, we either ignore this passage or we dismiss it as talking about someone else. Yet, it's hard to get past Christ's words that many who performed great service in the name of Jesus don't really know him.
Could that be me?
Could it be you?
It's time for an examination.
He gave the example of worrying about an illness - in the case a spot on the skin that could be cancerous. Since skin cancer is a very real, and deadly, possibility, your worrying about it should spurn you to have it examined. In that case, it's a healthy form of worrying. It's more natural concern than worry, even when we dwell on it. It's our brain's mechanism to check out anomalous things.
For me, Matthew 7:21-23 is one of those "spots" you need to worry about. In the passage, Jesus says many people who drive out demons, preach, teach and do miracles will not gain access into the Kingdom of Heaven. They'll have all the outward signs of a believer but have no real, genuine relationship with Jesus Christ.
That's a very scary proposition. It addresses those of us who call ourselves believers in Jesus. It calls us to an examination of our relationship and our salvation. Like the spot on the skin, we need to get it checked out because the consequences are deadly.
It really comes down to this simple concept: is Jesus Lord of your life? That's not just a saying. To be Lord, someone must exert control over your life. I have a landlord who controls the property and house that I rent. I have to seek his permission to make changes.
In the same way, Jesus calls us to be in submission to him. He is to be our Lord - in complete control over our lives. Our thoughts and words and deeds should go through the prism of Jesus. We can't claim to serve Jesus, and then seek after accomplishments for our personal fame and glory. Jesus must be Lord.
We can't count on outward appearances or deeds. Time and again, God has used non-believers to accomplish godly feats. Just look at Balaam, Cyrus and Judas as examples.
It comes down to a heart issue. Is Jesus Lord of my life? Am I accomplishing things in my name or his?
Too often, as believers, we either ignore this passage or we dismiss it as talking about someone else. Yet, it's hard to get past Christ's words that many who performed great service in the name of Jesus don't really know him.
Could that be me?
Could it be you?
It's time for an examination.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Gay rights discourse angers me
Now, I’m starting to get angry.
Earlier this week, Jason Collins, an NBA journeyman, came out of the closet in a Sports Illustrated cover story. He was universally praised on every radio, television and talk show. He was overwhelming supported on Twitter and Facebook.
More and more, I grow concerned about the tone of our country. No one is allowed to disagree. No one is allowed to share their beliefs or faith. You’re either OK with gay rights, open relationships and sin or you’re out of touch and need to be shut up.
I find it ironic. We pay people like Broussard to give their opinions. We want to hear his thoughts on the NBA. When asked a personal question about faith, he responds honestly and truthfully – things he’s paid to be in his writing and analysis – and we crucify him for saying what he said.
Earlier this week, Jason Collins, an NBA journeyman, came out of the closet in a Sports Illustrated cover story. He was universally praised on every radio, television and talk show. He was overwhelming supported on Twitter and Facebook.
Chris Broussard, an ESPN NBA writer, when asked directly
about it on ESPN, said he believed homosexuality – any sex outside of marriage
between a man and a woman – was a sin.
Immediately, calls came in for his suspension. He’s been labeled a bigot, out of touch and
wrong.
Excuse me? It’s OK to
flaunt how great of a decision Jason Collins made but it’s not OK to
disagree? When did sharing your faith
and beliefs become a crime against humanity?More and more, I grow concerned about the tone of our country. No one is allowed to disagree. No one is allowed to share their beliefs or faith. You’re either OK with gay rights, open relationships and sin or you’re out of touch and need to be shut up.
I find it ironic. We pay people like Broussard to give their opinions. We want to hear his thoughts on the NBA. When asked a personal question about faith, he responds honestly and truthfully – things he’s paid to be in his writing and analysis – and we crucify him for saying what he said.
Personally, I support Broussard. I appreciate his honesty even though it might
be an unpopular opinion. I appreciate
that he didn’t back down or tow the company line. He may pay a heavy price, but I know he’s
gained a fan in me. It’s not just
because of what he said, but because he had the courage to say it.
Everyone is admiring Collins’ courage. I admire Broussard’s. In this day and age, it is more courageous to
say you disagree with homosexuality than it is to come out.
And it makes me angry.
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Follow the Fruitful Message
Jason Collins, a 34-year-old center who played in the NBA last season, came out as gay this week in a national spread in Sports Illustrated.
Supposedly, he's the first active athlete in a major US sport to be openly gay. (I say "supposedly" because right now he's unsigned. Until he actually plays for a team after the declaration, he's not an active gay athlete. But I digress.)
Jason Collins, a journeyman NBA center - a man two weeks ago would be fairly unrecognizable by the general public - was suddenly the face of the gay movement. His name and face showed up everywhere. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, all the major networks, and every national publication wrote or aired stories about this "momentous" day.
Following the article, pundits on ESPN, writers from Sports Illustrated, athletes in other sports and virtually any sports related Tweeter, jumped on the bandwagon. All offered their congratulations and adulation for his decision. Everyone who weighed in on the story had nothing but praise.
People on Twitter were inundated with positive tweets for Collins and his decision on their time lines. We were bombarded with with messages telling us to praise and accept this decision.
Then, slowly, I began to notice dissenting, though often, unpopular opinions. Tony Nolan, an evangelist, tweeted his displeasure for the praised heaped on Collins. Chris Broussard, an ESPN NBA columnist, took heat for these remarks, even though they align with scriptural teaching. Some are calling for his suspension since he believes homosexuality is a sin.
In fact, Broussard quotes Matthew 7:15-20, in which Jesus warns us to judge the messages we hear and the messengers we hear them from. Too often we follow the wrong messages. We blindly follow along with the mass media message because it seems like the right thing to do.
Jesus says differently. He says judge a messenger by their fruit. Does what they say align with scripture? Does their life look like that of a follower of Jesus? If not, then the must not follow them. We must follow Christ.
Don't follow a wolf in sheep's clothing. Judge a message and the messenger by the life they lead, the words they say and the teachings they proclaim.
Supposedly, he's the first active athlete in a major US sport to be openly gay. (I say "supposedly" because right now he's unsigned. Until he actually plays for a team after the declaration, he's not an active gay athlete. But I digress.)
Jason Collins, a journeyman NBA center - a man two weeks ago would be fairly unrecognizable by the general public - was suddenly the face of the gay movement. His name and face showed up everywhere. ESPN, Sports Illustrated, all the major networks, and every national publication wrote or aired stories about this "momentous" day.
Following the article, pundits on ESPN, writers from Sports Illustrated, athletes in other sports and virtually any sports related Tweeter, jumped on the bandwagon. All offered their congratulations and adulation for his decision. Everyone who weighed in on the story had nothing but praise.
People on Twitter were inundated with positive tweets for Collins and his decision on their time lines. We were bombarded with with messages telling us to praise and accept this decision.
Then, slowly, I began to notice dissenting, though often, unpopular opinions. Tony Nolan, an evangelist, tweeted his displeasure for the praised heaped on Collins. Chris Broussard, an ESPN NBA columnist, took heat for these remarks, even though they align with scriptural teaching. Some are calling for his suspension since he believes homosexuality is a sin.
In fact, Broussard quotes Matthew 7:15-20, in which Jesus warns us to judge the messages we hear and the messengers we hear them from. Too often we follow the wrong messages. We blindly follow along with the mass media message because it seems like the right thing to do.
Jesus says differently. He says judge a messenger by their fruit. Does what they say align with scripture? Does their life look like that of a follower of Jesus? If not, then the must not follow them. We must follow Christ.
Don't follow a wolf in sheep's clothing. Judge a message and the messenger by the life they lead, the words they say and the teachings they proclaim.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Leaving the crowd behind
It's hard going against the crowd.
I remember in college, often my friends would meet to go to the cheap-o movies. A movie theater in town showed second-run movies (movies out of main theaters but not quite on DVD) for a discounted price (usually $2 a movie), so it was a cheap night out for a bunch of college students. We'd meet up at the theater and pick a movie to watch.
I have to tell you, I watched a lot of movies I had no desire to see. I even watched some of them more than once. I enjoyed the fellowship with friends more than I enjoyed the film I was watching. I saw some truly terrible films in the name of friendship.
There's nothing wrong with making sacrifices in the name of friendship. Seeing some bad movies in order to hang out with friends is a small price to pay. The conversations and late-night dinners afterwards always made it worthwhile.
But what if the choice was much harsher than seeing a movie. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus tells us that there are two paths on our journey of life. One path is broad and leads to destruction. Many people take that path. The other is narrow and leads to life. Very few people find it.
The narrow path is the one less travelled. Not many people will go that way. Some of your friends will chose to walk the broad path. It's fun. It's where the crowd is. It's full of noise and celebration and acceptance. It's what they're comfortable and familiar with.
"Come on," they'll say. "We're having so much fun. You can stay a while longer." They'll entice you to stay and join them on their path to destruction. If everyone else is headed there, it may seem like the place to be. It's not.
They won't want to join you on the narrow path. That path means following Jesus with everything that you've got. Not many people traverse that road. If not so many are going, it's hard to get others to join in. You may have to say "no" to certain choices. You will seek God's direction instead of your own. You will do things that others will say doesn't make sense. Not everyone can follow that path.
Can you leave your friends behind to follow Jesus? That's a tough question. It's also a real one. We don't always talk about this in Christianity, but often choosing to follow Jesus means choosing to leave others behind. Not everyone will join you on the path. The hard part is you can't make them join you either.
If you follow Jesus, some of your friends may not understand. Some of them - not all but some - may choose to end the friendship.
Jesus says narrow is the path to life. Not everyone will follow you to salvation. Some may not want to give up the crowds or the lifestyle or the direction of their life.
Jesus says few will find it. Some of your friends won't even look.
So, are you willing to follow Jesus at all cost? Will you take the path less chosen? Can you leave behind those who try to bring you back to the broad path?
Narrow is the path of life. Few will find it. Be one of the few.
I remember in college, often my friends would meet to go to the cheap-o movies. A movie theater in town showed second-run movies (movies out of main theaters but not quite on DVD) for a discounted price (usually $2 a movie), so it was a cheap night out for a bunch of college students. We'd meet up at the theater and pick a movie to watch.
I have to tell you, I watched a lot of movies I had no desire to see. I even watched some of them more than once. I enjoyed the fellowship with friends more than I enjoyed the film I was watching. I saw some truly terrible films in the name of friendship.
There's nothing wrong with making sacrifices in the name of friendship. Seeing some bad movies in order to hang out with friends is a small price to pay. The conversations and late-night dinners afterwards always made it worthwhile.
But what if the choice was much harsher than seeing a movie. In Matthew 7:13-14, Jesus tells us that there are two paths on our journey of life. One path is broad and leads to destruction. Many people take that path. The other is narrow and leads to life. Very few people find it.
The narrow path is the one less travelled. Not many people will go that way. Some of your friends will chose to walk the broad path. It's fun. It's where the crowd is. It's full of noise and celebration and acceptance. It's what they're comfortable and familiar with.
"Come on," they'll say. "We're having so much fun. You can stay a while longer." They'll entice you to stay and join them on their path to destruction. If everyone else is headed there, it may seem like the place to be. It's not.
They won't want to join you on the narrow path. That path means following Jesus with everything that you've got. Not many people traverse that road. If not so many are going, it's hard to get others to join in. You may have to say "no" to certain choices. You will seek God's direction instead of your own. You will do things that others will say doesn't make sense. Not everyone can follow that path.
Can you leave your friends behind to follow Jesus? That's a tough question. It's also a real one. We don't always talk about this in Christianity, but often choosing to follow Jesus means choosing to leave others behind. Not everyone will join you on the path. The hard part is you can't make them join you either.
If you follow Jesus, some of your friends may not understand. Some of them - not all but some - may choose to end the friendship.
Jesus says narrow is the path to life. Not everyone will follow you to salvation. Some may not want to give up the crowds or the lifestyle or the direction of their life.
Jesus says few will find it. Some of your friends won't even look.
So, are you willing to follow Jesus at all cost? Will you take the path less chosen? Can you leave behind those who try to bring you back to the broad path?
Narrow is the path of life. Few will find it. Be one of the few.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
God is in control of tragedy
What happened in Boston on Monday is beyond words.
Children were maimed and killed. Innocent people - some with their families enjoying a pleasant day together - were grievously injured by an evil person or people for no good reason.
Several emotions stem from this senseless violence. Anger, frustration, sympathy. But not fear. I am not afraid. Here's why:
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
I believe that God is in control of all things. Why else would I pray for people? Why else would I seek God's direction for my life? I do it because I believe God is in control of all things. He's in control of the weather. He's in control of illness. Yes, God is even in control of terrorist activities.
Am I saying God caused it? No. But he allowed it to happen. Why? I don't know. Here is what I do know.
Nothing happens that surprises God. God knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew the names of the people hurt and killed. He felt compassion for their families long before that bomb exploded. He was already working to place emergency workers in just the right place to save lives.
God is in control.
That, to me, brings comfort. You see, God is good. What he provides and allows is ultimately for our good, even if we can't see it. God sees what we can't. He knows what we don't. He is unique in that he sees and knows everything, including the future.
That means I trust him, even when I don't understand his purpose or plan or the senseless violence I read about or see. I trust God because I know he is in control. I know the end of the story. I know good does win over evil
How do I know this? God is in control.
Children were maimed and killed. Innocent people - some with their families enjoying a pleasant day together - were grievously injured by an evil person or people for no good reason.
Several emotions stem from this senseless violence. Anger, frustration, sympathy. But not fear. I am not afraid. Here's why:
GOD IS IN CONTROL.
I believe that God is in control of all things. Why else would I pray for people? Why else would I seek God's direction for my life? I do it because I believe God is in control of all things. He's in control of the weather. He's in control of illness. Yes, God is even in control of terrorist activities.
Am I saying God caused it? No. But he allowed it to happen. Why? I don't know. Here is what I do know.
Nothing happens that surprises God. God knew exactly what was going to happen. He knew the names of the people hurt and killed. He felt compassion for their families long before that bomb exploded. He was already working to place emergency workers in just the right place to save lives.
God is in control.
That, to me, brings comfort. You see, God is good. What he provides and allows is ultimately for our good, even if we can't see it. God sees what we can't. He knows what we don't. He is unique in that he sees and knows everything, including the future.
That means I trust him, even when I don't understand his purpose or plan or the senseless violence I read about or see. I trust God because I know he is in control. I know the end of the story. I know good does win over evil
How do I know this? God is in control.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
God wants to provide
When I was in the newspaper business, I had big aspirations. I dreamed of writing for a big, daily newspaper, perhaps covering Major League Baseball or the NFL. A headhunter even approached me once about moving on to a small daily after I won some writing words. I didn't take him up on the offer.
One day, though, I did build up the courage to apply for the Cincinnati Enquirer. The sports department was seeking a new reporter handling some college and pro sports assignments. That's what I wanted to do, so I applied.
In Hollywood, this story would end with me getting the job and becoming a major newspaper reporter, perhaps breaking a big story. This isn't Hollywood. I didn't get the job. I'm not even sure if I got a polite rejection letter.
I never moved on to another newspaper, though several of my colleagues did. To be honest, I never really applied. By the end of my run, I knew God had called me to ministry, not reporting, and my resumes went out to churches not major metropolitan daily newspapers.
I have never regretted that decision.
God always has a plan. Part of the plan is to provide for us and bless us. To do that, he tells us to ask, seek and knock. Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Those are not just words found in Matthew 7:7-8, but are a road map to Godly success.
Jesus isn't saying you'll get whatever you ask for. He's saying God wants to provide for you on life's journey. If you ask his will, he'll provide it. If you seek his direction, he'll give it. If you knock on the door of his opportunities, he will let you in. God wants what's best for you and he delights in giving it to you.
The truth is what's best for us is not always what we want. That's why God sometimes chooses to answer our prayer with a "No." He wants us to ask, seek and knock according to his will and his direction so he can provide us good things.
You see, God is good. That means he only gives good things. He's not going to give you something evil or harmful. Everything he gives you serves a purpose in bringing you closer to him, if you ask in his will and follow his commands.
So ask, seek, knock and thank God that he only gives good things.
Yes, I could have been a major sports writing superstar. That wasn't his will. Instead, I get to minister to teenagers and parents and people in need. I think that's much better.
God not giving me my dream job was a blessing and it was good. Praise God.
One day, though, I did build up the courage to apply for the Cincinnati Enquirer. The sports department was seeking a new reporter handling some college and pro sports assignments. That's what I wanted to do, so I applied.
In Hollywood, this story would end with me getting the job and becoming a major newspaper reporter, perhaps breaking a big story. This isn't Hollywood. I didn't get the job. I'm not even sure if I got a polite rejection letter.
I never moved on to another newspaper, though several of my colleagues did. To be honest, I never really applied. By the end of my run, I knew God had called me to ministry, not reporting, and my resumes went out to churches not major metropolitan daily newspapers.
I have never regretted that decision.
God always has a plan. Part of the plan is to provide for us and bless us. To do that, he tells us to ask, seek and knock. Ask and it will be given. Seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you. Those are not just words found in Matthew 7:7-8, but are a road map to Godly success.
Jesus isn't saying you'll get whatever you ask for. He's saying God wants to provide for you on life's journey. If you ask his will, he'll provide it. If you seek his direction, he'll give it. If you knock on the door of his opportunities, he will let you in. God wants what's best for you and he delights in giving it to you.
The truth is what's best for us is not always what we want. That's why God sometimes chooses to answer our prayer with a "No." He wants us to ask, seek and knock according to his will and his direction so he can provide us good things.
You see, God is good. That means he only gives good things. He's not going to give you something evil or harmful. Everything he gives you serves a purpose in bringing you closer to him, if you ask in his will and follow his commands.
So ask, seek, knock and thank God that he only gives good things.
Yes, I could have been a major sports writing superstar. That wasn't his will. Instead, I get to minister to teenagers and parents and people in need. I think that's much better.
God not giving me my dream job was a blessing and it was good. Praise God.
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