That's what I'm talking about...

Beyond Treasuring to Pondering

2012-01-02T07:42:00.000-08:00

I've had a request to give the cliff notes version of a portion of the sermon I delivered yesterday called "Twas a week after Christmas." The main point of the sermon was how we should react to Christmas and what God allowed us to come into contact in all of 2011 with the purpose of living closer to Him in 2012.

There were four parts to the sermon but central to the message was verse 19 from Luke Chapter 2 that says, " But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."

The word treasure can mean many things but in this context of scripture I believe it to means to gather, make a pile or list of things that have been impacting in your life. Not necessarily doing anything with them, but for posterity sake, making sure they are in close proximity should there ever be a need to find them and remember a detail or fact that might easily be forgotten. In the Christmas story things that Mary would have treasured were the visit to see Zechariah and Elizabeth, the birth of their son John the Baptist, The angel Gabriel's visit and words to her, Joseph's reaction to her announcement that she was with child, Joseph's dream, the long hard journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, the birth of the Christ child, The surprising visit from the shepherds, the question of why God chose her? And last but not least, as she begins to ponder...what the future will be like for her son.

Pondering, again in this setting, and for our purposes, means connecting the dots of the things, people, places, experiences, and circumstances that up to this point have been collected or treasured with the purpose of trying to figure out what God may be trying to show us about ourselves and what kind of life He wants us to live in the future. No doubt as Mary pondered she put the independent variables together to better realize what God was up to and how she could be in one accord with His will as her son began his life and purpose here on earth.

The best word picture I can give for going beyond treasuring to pondering is a jigsaw puzzle. When you pour it out of the box on the table you've got many different independent pieces (Treasures) that if put together make a big picture. That's what the result of pondering the treasures God has brought into your life can reveal. But before you say to yourself, well "That was easy" you need to be reminded that it's easy to think about doing, but actually very hard work to do. How many jigsaw puzzles have you started and never got around to finishing? You probably didn't finish them because you weren't able to. You didn't finished them because it takes time, effort, commitment and focus to look at all the pieces closely, group them by color and shape, then begin to see which ones connect and which ones don't. I'm sure you know the routine.

God wants us to approach the things (Pieces of the puzzle) over Christmas and this past year with the mindset that we can connect them and see a clearer picture of what He's trying to show us or who He is trying to get us to become. Treasuring comes naturally to us, but pondering is hard work and only an exercise for those who really care to discern what God is trying to show them.

To help us get there I've come up with a simple but serious exercise that will help you treasure this past year and Ponder what if means when you add prayer to the equation for 2012.

1- Carve out one hour of uninterrupted time (Quiet zone, no people, phone, tv, music, or internet)
2- Begin with prayer
3- Tell God you are sorry that most of the time you are guilty of only treasuring the things He's brought to you in life and not pondered what it is that He's trying to show you with them.
4- Ask Him what good and bad things He wants you to remember from 2011?
5- List a top 10 of major happenings in your own life (Positive or negative impact) in the past year.
Hint: Writing down the names of the months helps me recall what happened when.
6- Continuing in prayer...ask Him to reveal to you re-ocuring patterns or lessons in your list
7- Reflect on a predominant characteristic about God you've been aware of in 2011
8- Ask how you can get to know Him better in 2012?
9- Ask Him where He might be leading you in 2012?

By the way... I don't believe in resolutions. We may change our ways for a short time based on guilt, but true and lasting life change will only happen when we grow in our relational intimacy with Christ. Here's to you and I living closer to God and His will than you eve have before in 2012.

Champions...GreyhoundNation's Football Heritage

2011-11-28T17:02:00.001-08:00

As the chaplain of the Carmel High School Football Team the past two years I have an insider's vantage point for seeing what motivates this football family to get to the state championship game five out of the last six years, two state championships in the last five years, and counting this year (2011), seven state championships overall.

It starts early in the season as Coach Wright begins reading letters at many team meetings and pre-game locker room pep talks. The letters are addressed to the current team from Greyhound gridiron heroes of the past who played in some of those big games since that first runner up team in 1975 and championship team in 1978 until now. Letter after letter is full of words that say " We know it's hard, but it was worth working hard for, we did it, here's how we did it, and you can do it too!" It's usually signed by a former player who went on to play in college or the pros, and if he didn't he is a successful and recognizable businessman or leader in the community where he lives. Speaking of the community where he lives.... because some of the greyhound heroes stay close by in the community an opportunity often presents itself to get them physically in front of the team to inspire them in person. A very supportive Greyhound Football Alumni Association is the main reason for the letters and personal appearances.

I had the great privilege of speaking to the team this weekend in our chapel program just a few hours before they were to play in the state championship game. Since Coach Wright and the alumni association had been so successful all season proving that present and future confidence can be gained from hearing from courageous players and teams from past Greyhound seasons it only seemed natural to take that line of thinking and actions to God's word where the same scenario plays itself out.

When any leader of the nation of Israel was trying to get their people back in touch with the power of the mighty God they were serving and following they would simply do what God did Himself and remind them of how He had provided in the past and been true to His promises to help them conquer adversity. Whether it was Abraham trusting God one more time when He asked Him to be prepared to sacrifice his only son, Joseph referring to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob while trying to protect the tribes of Israel in Egypt, or Moses doing the same as he pointed Israel towards it's past while convincing them to break away from the hundreds of years of slavery in Egypt. And finally Joshua who trained under his protege Moses and took the baton to lead the nation into the land God had promised them so generations before. Moses had been coaching Joshua as often as he could after he realized God intended to give Joshua the leader's role for the final stretch of the journey. Moses coached him time and time again to trust in the God who had provided in generations of the past for the victories like walking through the Red Sea on dry ground and now to claiming the land
God had promised to give them long ago. No doubt Joseph would have liked to have a letter or personal appearance from Abraham as he tried to pass the story along, and I'm sure Moses was thinking the same thing.

Just as Coach Wright brings relevance from the past to the presence to get the current crop of Greyhounds to realize their potential on the field it's up to you and I as believers to not let the mighty God of our past heritage be forgotten about as we live out our faith in a world that would like us to believe that He is not relevant anymore....

Joshua 1:1,3,5,6 and 9
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2 "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.... 5 No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.... 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

Moving on...

2011-09-26T08:40:00.000-07:00

Moving towards more can mean leaving less behind

Moving On...

Did you ever need to hear some news that you didn't want to hear but it allowed you to quit dwelling about a situation and move on?
I feel like that's finally what happened for so many in Indy this morning when the Colts announced that #18 was out for the season. News Article > http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/sports/colts_and_nfl/peyton-manning-out-for-the-season . I know that there are a lot better examples than the status of a football hero, but I thought this is one that is easy for most to relate to. I've told some friends in the past that one of the regrets I always have at the end of a long season of watching my favorite teams (Cubs, Colts and Purdue) is the many hours spent in an area of my life on people and teams (Winners or Losers) that I'll most likely never meet or have a chance to impact. I grew up in that kind of environment and sometimes I too easily get sucked back into it. I'm not saying it shouldn't be there at all...it just gets out of proportion to more important areas in my life, and I justify it by saying to myself that I watched it with family members, or that I'm a sports minister and this is good water-cooler conversation for many of the ministry situations I find myself in. I suppose I could say the same thing for other entertainment shows in my life like The Amazing Race, The Office, 30 Rock, Parenthood or America's Got Talent.

For some the announcement by the Colts is going to mean giving up on the team and selling their tickets or changing plans for Sunday afternoons around the house, and for others it will finally allow them to start looking at the team (individuals and the unit) before them with different eyes and maybe expectations. And still for others it will mean finally being able to give time to the more important things in life (One on one time with God, people in need in their life, church responsibilities or other good causes that haven't been able to break thru the fringes in their lives) than whether we are going to make it to the Super Bowl this year!

I know as much as I dread hearing news that doesn't look like its good on the surface it often gives me the release I can't give myself to quit spending mental and emotional energy in places that I shouldn't anymore....or at least until God shows me that I can again. Isn't it interesting how success in almost anything begins to consume more and more of our time and energy to the point where we get myopic about it and lose focus on the balance in life? I think we all underestimate how much time and energy we forfeit on things that are in fact out of our control.
More and more I gravitate towards being thankful in all circumstances (1 Thes 5:18) or being content (Phil 4:12) with where I am in life. It's not a feeling of not caring about things or entertainment anymore, but that I am realizing in a better, more full way where to spend my time on things that really matter, and that God is in control so I don't have to be.

A Sure Sign...

2011-09-19T13:59:00.000-07:00

Our Scorekeeper, Kyle Marsh

A SURE SIGN.....

I am really enjoying coaching the 7th and 8th grade baseball team that my step-son Will plays on this Fall.

It's bringing back a lot of great memories of me playing ball as a kid and coaching my other kids when they were small.

One of the things I'm enjoying is giving signs (Steal, bunt, take, etc...) to the kids from the 3rd base coach's box to see how close they are paying attention and to see if we can execute some things and catch the other team off guard. What I'm finding is that some of the kids look down to the coach's box right away to make sure I don't have an assignment for them, and others...not so much =)

It really reminds me of how we are with our Heavenly Father. He's got a plan for what he wants us to do with each opportunity (Day or situation within a day). He's giving us signs and trying to get our attention so He can execute His game plan and we are oblivious that He's even got any plans that might be different from our own. His plans are about wanting to use us to carry out His plan and they often involve doing things that aren't just about us but about the good of the whole team. We are either forgetting to look for the signs before we get in the batter's box of life or we wouldn't recognize most of the signs He gives us because we haven't been paying attention. We step up to the plate so focused on our own agenda we aren't aware that He might be asking us to sacrifice our at bat to move another person forward. After all, how could getting a chance to take a swing be anything less than about how we do for ourselves?

When we live life oblivious to the fact that God is wanting to communicate with us in all situations I think it's sure sign that we don't know the signs. We don't know the signs for when God is wanting us to go or stay, to lead or follow, to pray or take physical action, to say something or to remain quiet, to bless or to allow ourselves to be blessed by another.

So what are the signs God is giving us? Just as they are similar but a little different for each team I think they are similar, but a little different for you and me. The signs in a relationship can only be picked up on by knowing the other person in the relationship very well. When you know the other person well you don't even have to think about looking for the signs and react with the appropriate action. It's an instinct that is born out of the closeness of that relationship. It's what you do when you love the other person. You care what they are thinking and feeling and doing and you want to be on the same page with them, even if the best reaction to the sign puts your agenda second.

Yeah, so God is giving you signs every day. Are you looking for them? When you get close enough to recognize them the next step is having an obedient -sacrificial heart to carry out whatever assignment He has for you. Knowing and believing it is the best thing for all involved.

"My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways," Proverbs 23:26

My Biggest Mistake in Ministry

2011-09-09T07:18:00.000-07:00

I'm sure when people who know me well saw the title to this blog they were thinking "Oh No, he didn't write about that did he?!" Yeah, there are definitely a lot of mistakes that I could write about, which hopefully means I'm a little wiser than I used to be =) , but today's offering is actually from a minister I like to follow online and hope to meet someday, Pastor Pete Wilson of Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. I could so relate to a recent post of his that I wanted to offer it as a guest post today. I hope it is helpful to you. I don't think you have to be a pastor at a church to relate to it.
Here it is... Thanks Pete.

My Biggest Mistake In Ministry...Pete Wilson

Probably the most asked question I get in interviews and by pastors I’m mentoring is, “If you could go back and change anything in your ministry, what would you change?”
Usually I’m thinking, You don’t have enough time for me to actually answer that question. I’d change tons of things.
However, at the very top of the list would be my driving desire to be “loved” at all costs.
I have a lot of friends in ministry that are addicted to this pride-swelling choice as well.
For most of my life and certainly all of my ministry, I’ve been addicted to pleasing everyone. It didn’t matter if it cost me my personality, my family, or even at times, my vow to speak truth. I just wanted to be “loved.”

I would ignore the sincere compliments of others to be obsessed with the few critics.

I would abandon my boundaries and go above and beyond to “help” someone while ignoring my family.

I would put off the tough leadership decisions trying to keep all sides content.

Why? Simple. I wanted to be “loved.”
But let me tell you something. Leading with a desire to be loved is dangerous. Parenting with a desire to be loved can be destructive. And if you spend your life trying to be loved instead of being loving, it’s going to lead you to all kinds of unhealthy extremes.
Part of learning humility for me is to understand I simply can’t please everyone. Not everyone is going to like me, love me, or think I’m great. They’re just not.
I feel like I’m growing in this area. I’m learning the freedom that comes along with seeking to love, instead of always desiring to be loved. The first leads to meaning and significance while the latter is an emotional black hole that can never be filled.
I pray you will learn to live in the Kingdom and be freed from the sheer stupidity and vanity of going through life trying to make sure other people think the right things about you. If you depend on other people loving everything you say or do, you will end up doing and saying nothing. I pray you’ll receive the fact that you are loved in the eyes of God in such a way that you can then go out to lead and live, seeking to truly love the people around you.

Doing the squeeze bunt before you have to.

2011-08-22T11:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I was coaching Will's (My stepson) 7th-8th grade baseball team We were batting and up by 9. Josh, the player in our on deck circle asks me if he can do a suicide squeeze play if Alex, the player in front of him, gets a triple. We are all riding the adrenaline of getting off to such a good start in our first game together and I'm looking to connect with the kids in positive ways so I say sure...of course thinking that the odds of Alex getting a triple were not that good. Well, Alex didn't get the triple, but he did get a single and with all the throwing errors he ends up on 3rd base. In all the excitement of getting Alex around to 3rd I had completely forgotten about my promise to Josh, who when I turned to encourage him at his at bat was smiling from ear to ear. Oh man, I thought to myself I've got to follow thru on this. So I told the runner on third and gave Josh the squeeze sign. Josh got the bunt down and the elation of our team grew to a fever pitch.

How it was received by the opposing coach was an entirely different matter. He was not happy with me, but was classy and didn't yell anything across the field. I had mixed emotions. After we went through the high five line and I apologized to the coaches I had to two take-a-ways / reminders.

1) It is good to work on something before you really need it so you know you can do it if you ever do need to execute it. Honestly, that is what I was thinking, besides wanting to have a positive experience with our team on our first day. I'd much rather have a player (Who was asking for the opportunity) try to execute something when the pressure isn't on so he'll have the confidence to know he can do it when so much more is on the line later in the season. I view my quiet time and other acts of obedience the same way. I know if I start my day with the Lord I'm more apt to confidently call on Him when I'm in a difficult situation or praise situation later in the day. If I say yes to the little opportunities I'll feel more comfortable when bigger opportunities are thrust upon me without me asking for them, and you know those will be there. Then, there's the second take-a-way...

2) Even when you are working on your own good stuff you need to keep in mind how it will be received by others. It wasn't my intention to rub it in to the other coaches but I could understand why it could be perceived that way so I apologized to them, told them where my head was, and addressed it with our team afterwards.

"A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing."
~ Proverbs 20:4

It's a Jeep Thing !

2011-08-11T06:37:00.000-07:00

IT'S A JEEP THING...

I've got the top down on my Jeep today, getting ready to take a 2 hour drive to southern Indiana to pray over the area where our church staff will be on retreat next week. I'm looking forward to getting to the camp and seeing what The Lord has in mind, but to be honest I'm almost as excited just to be driving my jeep in the country on a beautiful day. I love my job =) So before I head down to the camp I thought I'd tell you about something that I found out about jeep owners after I bought mine...
I never really noticed it until I got my jeep, and even then it took a few times before I started catching on....
I'd be driving down the street or on the interstate and someone I didn't know coming at me from the opposite direction or stopping at an intersection, with out prompting, simply waves at me. The first couple of times I thought...
that person sure is friendly. But then it started happening more frequently and I got it. It's an unwritten code among owners of Jeeps to wave and acknowledge one another when they run across each other...whether they know each other or not. How cool is that?! I've also since realized that there is a similar code amongst Harley Motorcycle owners. Every once in a while someone will still wave at me and I won't see them until it's too late to wave back, and I feel like a JeepNation loser. Like I've failed the code. Not really that bad, but I do feel bad that I didn't see them coming but they were looking for me, uh, I mean my jeep. =)

What if ..... We took a lesson from JeepNation and people everywhere, regardless of what kind of vehicle you own, or even if you aren't in a vehicle, started looking for each other, just to say Hi.
I know this thought is by no means original, but I like how it feels when a stranger or a friend thinks I am worth a greeting, and I'll bet most of you do too. What do you say we take this JeepNation thing to a personal level and started looking for others to acknowledge. Up for the challenge? I know that ladies probably need to be more careful than us guys because their wave to a guy might be interpreted by a guy the wrong way, but that's another subject for another day.

A long time ago I attended seminary for about 6 months in the state of Tennessee and I know from first hand experience what it means and how it feels to have every person that walks by you on campus, in the parking lot, or at the gas station say "Hey." One of my best memories about being there. They are friendly people we could take some lessons from.

I like what Jesus had to say about the subject...

"But if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others?
Do not even pagans do that?" Matthew 5:47

100 Courts but no God

2011-06-29T13:40:00.000-07:00

100 Courts but no God

Recently my wife Becca and I attended Jr Volleyball Nationals in Orlando Florida with Kimber. I was so excited about the break in routine and the opportunity to support my daughter that it didn't occur to me until about half way through our second day there that something was missing at this action packed and fun-filled monster event. It was a feast for the eyes and hearts of real volleyball enthusiasts. There were over a 100 courts of volleyball games going on at one time from 8am to 8pm for 4 solid days!

Maybe it's the sports minister in me but when I attend athletic events like this one manifestations of God's presence in the lives of some of the athletes, coaches and spectators get my attention. It's an encouraging thing to experience and feel the boldness of His children to proclaim Him publicly in the midst of serious competition. While I believe God is everywhere, on this occasion, any visible evidence to me of His presence in the lives of those attending was nowhere to be found. I hadn't seen any T-shirts with scripture, witnessed anyone praying, either collectively as a team, or just a couple of players off to the side. There was no chapel anywhere where the athletes, coaches or parents could go to ask for prayer or help. It was all about winning volleyball games and we are on vacation...even from God!

I took this revelation as a prompting to do something to make a difference. Even if it was just in the lives of one or two people, or maybe just us. So on the morning of the 3rd day I wore a T-shirt with Isaiah 40:31 on the back from a Cross Country camp that we had just finished the week before at the church. By the end of the day, as we were heading back to our hotel room I remember realizing that I hadn't gotten one comment about the shirt. That was highly unusual since the shirt had an athletic theme and I was walking among 1,000's of athletes and parents who were athletic minded also. Being a sports minister I've worn similar shirts to baseball games, football games, running in half-marathons and always gotten comments from people saying how much they enjoyed the message on my back, or how it had encouraged them that day. A man recently even shared a word of prophecy about me at a little league baseball game. Many times people have come over when we have prayed together as a small group at an athletic event to say how it encouraged them to see another believer not pushing their faith on others, but at the same time being being public about it.
The message I got in my heart was..."You're planting seeds" so as discouraging as it was to get no response I took it as an opportunity to be obedient and moved on.

The last day we were there God let me see where the seed had been planted. One of the parents of a player on our team sat next to me for the first time the whole trip and it wasn't long before, in front of a few other parents, she asked me about a book I was reading during the 4 days. Keep in mind. This lady and I hadn't spoken a word to each other the whole previous 3 days. It was a book about Heaven and Hell sticking out of the pocket of my cargo shorts.
As I praised God internally I told her what the book was about and it spurred a brief but good conversation about Heaven and Hell and what she believed about it.

On the way home on the plane I reflected on how God wants to know that we care about spiritual deserts. He wants us to desire for it to change and let that desire lead to us stepping up when it seems like no one else is there to step up.

Love them like Jesus...everywhere you go!
Your friend in Christ,
Ray

Be it !!!

2011-04-29T08:53:00.000-07:00

Thanks to my amazing wife I got an opportunity to recently go listen to Butler University Basketball Coach Brad Stevens speak at a fundraiser for the Boy Scouts of America here in the Indianapolis area. This blog is some excerpts from his talk and a few comments about his life philosophy from me.

But before I share what he had to say I want you to digest a few coaching facts about a man who cares more about the journey than the end result. I personally think God blesses when your heart and will line up with His ...

Horizon League Coach of the Year, 2008
Horizon League Coach of the Year, 2009
NCAA basketball record for the most wins by a first-time coach in his first three years
Season / Overall Record / Conference Record
2007–2008 / 30-4 / 16-2
2008–2009 / 26-6 / 15-3
2009–2010 / 26-4 / 18-0

If you aren't blown away by those kinds of accolades because they are numbers, put his heart and philosophy behind them and you realize this 34 yr old coach is wise, and more importantly, a difference maker beyond his years. Many of us were cheering out loud as we listened to this laid back coach address the crowd in a way that made everyone in the place say "Please God, let my children be able to spend some time with him?!"

You can tell that he wishes that the Bull Dawgs would have won the championship game the last couple of years, but you can tell even more that he is sold out on the fact that the greater purpose for each season is not winning the prize but becoming better prepared for the next season by improving and appreciating throughout the season you are currently in. It is a fresh freedom to hear from a coach in a very competitive environment that values nothing less than winning it all, and compromises his or her approach to the kids on the team to achieve it. It's a message that every young athlete needs to hear and be exposed to on a personal level.... Oh yeah, did I fail to mention that the evening he was speaking to us was the final hours of "National signing day" for high school basketball players across the country? I don't know if he realized that or not when he committed to speak many months prior to the engagement, but it sure speaks to his faithfulness.

"Success is having something, but excellence is being something."
Trophies, plaques and applause are proof that for a moment in time you accomplished something, but being something talks to who you are today and everyday because of the pursuit of trying to become the best team, person, athlete, and citizen in the community.

"If we've really got the athletes best in mind we'll expect them to live and focus on daily standards and not so much the end result."
Self Discipline and carpe diem!

"Be it !!!"
This is the battle cry of "The Butler Way." He didn't draw the parallel and dichotomy to the popular Nike phrase "Just Do it", but he didn't have to. Everything he talked about pointed away from temporary (One game) accomplishments and towards doing your best in every situation life puts you in... on and off the court. "Just do it" is one time, while "Be It" implies all the time... everywhere! The regular season of life really matters to this guy!
If this is on a T-shirt anywhere, and it should be, I'm buying it!

"There's no lesson like learning to get through an adverse situation together."
Reference here to the lackluster start the team got off to in the 10-11 season after going to the national championship game in 09-10. Coaching adjustments and player leadership sprouting it's wings led them to a 14 game winning streak heading into the championship game.

"Matt Howard might be the best example of servant leadership I've ever been associated with."
Coach couldn't say enough about Matt. It sounds like they are very close. He jokes about Matt "Having the worst first workout I've ever seen for a college basketball program, but could turn out to be the best player ever to wear a Butler uniform."

"Where do you want to be on your worst day?"
This quote comes out of a story he was telling about recruiting a high school player with the player's coach by his side. When the player said that it was between Butler and one or two other schools the coach looked the boy in eyes then looked at Coach Stevens and said "Where do you want to be on your worst day?" Coach Stevens said it was the best advise he'd ever heard a coach give a player who was deciding where to spend the next four years of his life. Actually, I think it is great advise for any of us. All too often because we are so results, success, money, title, position, status driven in life we tend to misplace growth and maturity along the way. With the reality of life being that all of us are going to fail from time to time, and it's healthy balance to do so, we need the right people around us to rightly process how we'll respond when life happens. Once again, pointing back to coach's emphasis on journey rather than results.

So whether you are an athlete, coach, parent, older sibling, friend or leader in any environment of life I urge you to digest the thoughts expressed on this page and make them your own as you have an impact on the lives of the people God has crossed your path with.

Just BE IT!
Coach Ray

PS....and yes dear, you did score major "good wife points" with the ticket to this event. Thanks for knowing what my passions are and leading me to them. I love you!

4WD "Fearless Confidence"

2011-02-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

If you live here in Indiana, or anywhere in the midwest, you've just come through a couple of weeks that literally paralyzed schedules because of snow and freezing rain. While I dislike this time of year with a passion (Other than sledding once or twice) I've grown up in this state so I know what it takes to live victoriously in the midst of it. If you want to be able to leave the house with any kind of confidence that you aren't going to fail and get stuck in a snowbank or slide off the road into a ditch, a must have is a vehicle with 4 Wheel Drive. Because I have it I cannot tell you the last time I even hesitated about going outside in the middle of a storm. I haven't been in any situation I couldn't get through or even thought twice about not being able to get through. It's a kind of confidence and mindset that encourages you do things you know you couldn't do in a vehicle without it.
If you've driven your vehicle in a storm without 4WD and then shifted it into 4WD you say to yourself...."I'll never get another vehicle without it."

Well it hit me (Or God did) this past Sunday morning as I headed out to church that God's word has been trying to tell me for years that if you have ever believed enough in the Holy Spirit to call upon Him in your life to do something you know you can't begin to do on your own.... it's the same feeling. Why would any believer in Christ have this set of gears in their life and not utilize them every chance they get? The only thing I can think of is that we don't understand it so we don't give it a chance or we don't even know we have it. Both of those scenarios are sad. The cliches that come to mind are..."You can lead a horse to water but you can't make them drink, or you can buy them books and buy them books, but until they read them...."

Father, I'm sorry for the many times I struggled and fretted about doing anything in your name because I didn't believe enough in the Holy Spirit you left behind for me. Believe enough to call on it to do more than I could ever do, and do it better. I'm vowing anew to you today Father to call on you Holy Spirit for strength and power to be the confident Christian you want me to be.

"While they were praying, the place where they were meeting trembled and shook. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak God's Word with fearless confidence."
Acts 4:31

Pre-Sunday Tailgating!

2011-01-03T07:43:00.000-08:00

Are you a tailgater? I mean do you look forward to the atmosphere of the pre-game in the parking lot as much as you do walking through the gates and watching the game? Even if you aren't physically at the game doesn't it make for a better experience if you meet at someone's home or in a local wing joint to anticipate or share feelings about what you all think the game is going to be like? Real tailgaters know that on any given day the weather conditions may challenge their commitment to this pre-game activity but the real fans usually just fight through the circumstances, put on some extra layers or bring the rain gear and show up, because going into the game just isn't the same unless you've started things off together outside of it. Later when they recall the game to friends they tell as many stories about the tailgating circumstances as they do about the game itself.

Have you ever wondered why sometimes when you head to another event on Sundays there isn't the enthusiasm you experience with football and tailgating before and after the game?
Church might be one of those places. You get to the parking lot running a little behind to find one of the last spots and run in after the service greeting has happened (1-2 songs into the service) and you walk out afterwards, not too long after the service is over wondering, why it isn't the WOW you experience at the game? You know that being in church on a Sunday is the right place to be but something's missing and you can't figure it out. While I don't want to mislead anybody to believe that attending church or having a relationship with God is primarily about feeling and emotions I'm not ignorant to the fact that we are created with them and they do come into play when we determine whether we will enthusiastically return to any activity physically or in our minds.
Have you ever considered the impact that spiritual tailgating might have on your Sunday morning?
I'm going to boldly suggest that you aren't giving Sunday at church half the chance to be the pinnacle of the day that you desire for it to be as you are a football game. I'm saying that most of us aren't spiritually tailgating during the week as we think about Sunday morning at church. We let ourselves believe that we don't need to...or that we can just show up on Sunday mornings and flip a switch because we are a fan. After all, what more could God be wanting us to know or do than just show up? We watch sportscenter religiously to get the latest stats and injury reports about our teams so we will be a tuned in fan when we get to the tailgate and the stadium on Sunday, but we haven't asked God what should be on our hearts when we walk through the doors at church Sunday morning. We haven't asked the pastor what they'll be preaching about next week so we can read for ourselves some of the scriptures they might be using and so God can be working on our hearts before we get there. We haven't stopped to pray for the pastor, sound technicians or the other leaders in any of the services (Childrens, youth or primary) so they can be used by God's power to deliver inspiration that they don't have on their own. We haven't prioritized our schedule to join a small group that we can meet with in the middle of the week to pray, study and support each other in, so when you see each other on Sunday morning we don't feel so disconnected and don't have anything to say.
In the same way tailgating makes the football game itself a total experience, meeting with God in prayer, reading His love letter to you and doing it with other fans of His during the week, makes Sunday morning all He intended it to be in our hearts.

In closing I want to ask you if knowing ________ (Insert your favorite player....for Indy's sake I'll say Peyton Manning) said he was going to be at your tailgate before the game next week would you be sure you showed up? How cool would it be to meet him in person and hear him tell you how he and the team were preparing for their next opponent, or better yet have Him reveal to you how you can make a difference on the team by giving you an assignment?. I know I'd be stoked! One on one time with Peyton! Wow! How much more interesting would that make watching the game from the stands on Sunday? Our Heavenly Father tells us that whenever and wherever we call out to Him He is ready to listen and help us prepare for whatever life brings us to Monday - Saturday...not just Sunday. In His playbook (Rev 3:20) he tells us "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me."
The God of eternity wants to meet with us and others to tailgate before Sunday morning. Are you in? I've heard and know that His tailgates are the total experience when it comes to a relationship with Him and His church.

Huddle up!

"It is Finished"

2010-11-04T06:48:00.000-07:00

Near the end of October and the beginning of November each year there are a group of high school guys who will have more time on their hands than they thought they would have, especially on Friday nights, and especially if they are seniors. If you've ever played the game, or have a son that has played the game, you are in touch with how intoxicating and addicting Friday night football games can be. They are the reason for running in the mornings and lifting weights in the evenings during the off-season, the two a day practices beginning in August, the film sessions on Saturday mornings, and the tremendous sacrifice of time for many other passions that call to a teenagers heart. They are for the family the social connection with the rest of the community at the end of a long week.
So when it ends, for most sooner than they thought it would, it hits you like a ton of bricks when you don't know what to do with yourself after school, or what to do on a Friday night. The hardest part for guys that probably won't play in college is knowing you just had the pads on for the last time. The group that you took so much pride in belonging to is only something you'll talk about from now on instead of participating in.
It's the beginning of a harsh reality in life that seasons in our lives come to an end, and we have to look and plan for ways for new seasons to begin. The void has to be filled with something, and if the athlete and the family aren't careful about filling it with healthy thoughts and activities the world will fill it with negative ones. It's important to pick yourself up off the ground and get back up on the horse....even though it may be a different one than you're used to riding.

I'm thankful that when Jesus said with his last breath on the cross "It is finished" (John 19:30) that He wasn't finished.

Certainly that particular part of his mission was finished, but He was in fact just beginning. So it is with any person that has some era or season coming to an end in their life. It's important to convince yourself and your heart that your grateful for the experience but God has purposed earthly finishes in all of our lives, and He expects us to move on to the next season with the confidence and experience we've gained from the one that just ended.
Psalm 23:6 says "Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." And Jeremiah 29:11 says "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Lastly, to the athlete....always know in your heart how rich you are for playing the game together. You may never play it together again as a unit, but no one can take away the friendships you'll share for the rest of your life. Most older athletes will tell you that if they are still in touch with anybody from high school it is the athletes they went to practice with so many days after school and the ones they fought hard beside on game day. God has used sport to prepare you for the future. Don't waste or foolishly throw away with immature actions the thing He has started in you. He's put it there for a purpose even greater than football. Knowing how He will redeem the experiences He's allowed you to have at such a young age is hard to fathom when the sting of something being finished is still fresh, but take it from an old football player...the work ethic and life lessons he's given you through football will be something you will fall back on more times than you can even imagine in the life He is planning and preparing for you.
Boys of Fall .......
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlXDo5WhQXI&ob=av3e

Ray Marsh
Chaplain for Carmel HS Boys Football and Basketball

Being your child's primary spiritual guide ...Part II

2010-10-25T08:24:00.000-07:00

Deuteronomy 6:6-9..."These commandments that I give you today are to be upon YOUR HEARTS. Impress them on YOUR CHILDREN. Talk about them when you sit AT HOME and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the door frames of YOUR HOUSES and on YOUR GATES." Emphasis added

In my last blog I wrote about God's call on believing parents to be their children's primary spiritual teacher, mentor, and example in life so if you want to know more about why I think it's important please read that post first then this one.
If Kristen (My first born) was the child that started the process in my heart and mind, an experience with my second daughter Kaiti, pushed me to take action on it. She was in the 4th or 5th grade when we were sitting in a church service listening to a sermon being delivered by a very well known and accomplished pastor. He had published several books and started many churches all over the world. I can't recall what he was preaching about that day or what the statement was that caused Kaiti to react, but she poked my arm with her finger to let me know she had something to say. I leaned down and the 6 words that came from my Lord through my little girl that day confirmed for me that it was time to quit thinking good thoughts about having family devotions and take an action step to make it happen. She asked "Is what he saying true Dad?" Those words may not seem like much on the surface, but because the Holy Spirit had been working on my heart they were translated..."Dad, you are her finally authority when she hears things she questions, thinks she understands or doesn't understand. She could just assume that anybody in the pulpit is saying the truth and never question it, but she doesn't. She asks you if it's the truth? You are her standard for accurate truth Dad. She trusts your word more than any one else at this age. That might change some day, but for this time in her life don't miss your call!"

I was more than inspired to follow through this time and after giving thanks to The Father for continuing to chase me on this issue I located the resources I mentioned in part I of this blog.

Kaiti is 22 today but God still uses her in my life to remind me that the choices I made to get more serious about God were right ones. While the world tries to make me feel extreme about my faith she says and does things that confirm for me that she's comfortable with the way she was raised, and the values that are in her life. She expects me to still be a leader today , even though both of our lives have changed more than we ever thought they would. She's not perfect and neither am I, but her love and respect for me show me that she expects me to talk and pray about my relationship with God out aloud, to have opinions that aren't popular ones, and to make sure God is a priority in all the Marshes lives. Recently she told me that even though it's not intentional, she realizes she finds herself attracted to and respects guys that value the kinds of things I value, and have a similar kind of personality. What better compliment to a Dad could there ever be? I love you KaitiBop
She's blogging about life on her own page now. If you'd like to keep up with her check out....
http://kaitibop.blogspot.com/

Being your child's primary spiritual guide - Part 1

2010-05-17T08:05:00.000-07:00

Being your child's primary spiritual guide -Part 1
A.K. A. Happy Birthday Kristen, Love Dad

For a long time as a parent I struggled with the fact that I could tell God was calling my heart and telling me that believing parents are meant to be their children's primary spiritual guide as they are growing up, but one thing or another delayed my answering this call until my oldest daughter Kristen was in Middle School. I tried a few different approaches to family devotions with her and her younger sister by two years (Kaiti) until I stumbled across a tape series that encouraged me to have a theme for each month and scripture to memorize that fit the theme. We finally found a comfortable consistency with about 2-3 mornings a week at about 6:10 in the morning, right before breakfast and getting ready for school. When I say comfortable I know that many adults aren't comfortable with listening or interacting with each other at that time of the morning, let alone children. So we didn't always greet each other with smiles, but it felt right and we pushed through until it became an expectation or we all realized it probably wasn't going away =).
At that age no parent gets the affirmation from their kids to keep planning a semi-organized spiritual activity when the sun hasn't come up yet, so there were many days I wondered if what I was exposing us to was going to bring the results I had hoped for, but God kept affirming me by putting people and resources into my life that continued to fuel the fire of not depending on Sunday School teachers, the Church or worse yet their peers be their primary spiritual guides. It's not that they weren't good enough, it's just that they needed to be the supplement to what the parents are called to do for God.

Through hard mornings and easier mornings we took the devotions all the way through Kristen's senior year of HS and it was her freshman year of college at Taylor University when God chose to show me what He had in mind.
It was her first tennis match of her freshman year and her mother and I had come up to take her shopping, get the oil changed in her car, grab a bite to eat and watch the match. Guess who got the job of getting the oil changed? =) So I'm cleaning out the interior of her car so the guys can get in with the vacuums and I come across a poster in her back seat. It was obviously a poster of favorite or valued things that her tennis coach had her and the other players write down on their poster so they could get to know each other better. Like every young girl her age she had written down fun activities and friends, lyrics to songs, movies she had watched, groups that she belonged to (Formally and informally), and books she had read. Then I saw it...written in the corner of the poster were the words "6:10 Dad." Could it be I wondered to myself? That when it came time to tell her teammates about favorite and treasured things in her life that she told them about our morning devotions? I was hoping so and figured I'd ask her about it later in private. Later that day we arrived at the match and I went to shake the coach's hand and re-introduce myself from a quick meeting we had when she recruited Kristen to play on the team during HS, and her reply was...."You're 6:10 Dad aren't you." I was stunned that those words would be the first thing out of her mouth as we greeted. I'm sure my smile was from ear to ear. She went on to tell me that Kristen had shared our devotion time with her and the team as something she was proud of when it came to spiritual things in her life. I held my composure just long enough to finish talking to the coach then gave an excuse to go back to the car because I had forgotten my sunglasses. I really went back to the car to cry.... like a baby. To physically cry, and to cry out to God for affirming my obedience to Him and recognizing my love for my children. My daughter couldn't have blessed me more by telling her coach and teammates about our worship time together on those mornings. It has given me the fuel to continue those kinds of faithful actions with my younger children (One of which you'll hear bout in part II of this blog) and to encourage other parents to do the same with their children. God has given me lots of opportunities to talk about Christian parenting to small group Bible Studies, Sunday School Classes and even from the pulpit occasionally. It is one of my favorite subjects to talk about and favorite stories to tell because I think Parents do struggle with having the energy and guts to be the primary spiritual teacher of their children. We put too much pressure on ourselves to do it perfectly so we keep putting off getting it started or we quit too quickly if our kids aren't telling us they are really getting a lot out of it. God just wants us to be obedient to Him about moving the right direction with our kids, teaching them His ways and Word, to be responsible about the role we play in their spiritual lives and not be depending on others to teach them when we are supposed to. When you are family you all know the worst about each other and sometimes under-appreciate or don't encourage each other enough to do the right things. Much of that pressure is often put on ourselves because we know we have sometimes missed the mark in front of them as a parent in the very areas of life we are trying to teach them to be Godly. God has shown grace to us in those times, and when we can accept it we'll get up, brush off the dirt and try again because we know He wants us to.

Today is Kristen's 24th birthday. She's married now to my awesome son-in-law Ryan, and has grown to become a beautiful woman who I am just as proud of today as I was her freshman year at Taylor.
I love you K-10....more than you'll ever know
Happy Birthday!
Dad

Deuteronomy 6:6-9..."These commandments that I give you today are to be upon YOUR HEARTS. Impress them on YOUR CHILDREN. Talk about them when you sit AT HOME and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the doorframes of YOUR HOUSES and on YOUR GATES." Emphasis added =)

Middle C is Always Middle C

2010-05-03T04:58:00.001-07:00

Recently I preached a sermon at Carmel United Methodist church entitled "Middle C is always Middle C." My favorite choir, the Purdue Glee Club blessed us with their presence and music that Sunday and it only seemed fitting that I talk about the fact that some things in music can never change if we are to reproduce songs and recognize them generation after generation. I also used the text Hebrews 13:8 "Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever", drawing the parallel that who He said He was yesterday, is who He still is today, and His description of himself does not change over time, despite what a changing world would want us to believe.
I hope you enjoy it and God is glorified....

http://carmelumc.org/images/trad_worship/audio/Middle%20C.mp3

Women are from Nordstroms, Men are from Sears

2010-04-26T06:17:00.000-07:00

The link below is a sermon I preached a couple of weeks ago at Carmel United Methodist Church in the Stream service. It is actually the second part of a series. The first sermon (Not linked here) was what our female Pastor Patti Payntor thought that men would want women to know about them. My part was to let men know what I thought females would want men to know about them. The link might be a little shaky at the beginning but hang in there. It gets much better....not necessarily the preaching, but the link =) Guys, I hope you'll especially pay attention to a couple of parts in here about being a better listener of the special women in your life, and what they are looking for in a spiritual leader from you.
Enjoy...

http://carmelumc.org/images/non_trad_worship/audio/A%20Man%27s%20View.mp3

Engaged at a company Christmas party in the middle of a white elephant gift exchange

2010-02-25T07:36:00.001-08:00

It's true!
Pretty cool story if I do say so myself =)

While I am excited about how it happened, who it happened with, and what that means for our future together, I don't think I could tell the story better than Becca does on her blog. So, from the future brides perspective here's how the story/with video goes...

www.genesisunit.blogspot.com/ <<< Link to her blog and the story/video

I love you Becca!

RayRay

A New Start...Between you and God in 2010

2009-12-28T10:33:00.000-08:00

Listen to this truth as the beginning of a new year and a new start comes around... " God never created us to live separately and independently of each other. He likes it when His children care for and nurture each other. He is frustrated when we sulk and feel sorry for ourselves, making everyone else responsible for our happiness. He wants us to be active members of the family. He wants us to get our life from Him. An isolated person seeks only his own desire, not God's. He receives no counsel and sets himself up for deception." John Bevere

I KNOW you've been offended by church leadership. I KNOW the church let you down in a time of need. I KNOW they haven't recognized your gifts the way you hoped they would. I KNOW you feel justified to not commit because you have friends you respect that have been offended too, and they don't go. Why do I know? I KNOW, because I've felt the same way more than once over the years. It hasn't been easy for the church to have me in it and it hasn't been easy for me to stay committed to the church. It's been very painful at times. Yes it's true that I am and have been on staff at a church, but believe me when I tell you I have been on both sides of this issue. I've felt justified to feel like I've been kicked when I've been down by the church and it's leadership and it was a deep hurt, and I've also felt some of the deepest love for me when catastrophe has hit me on a personal level, but God is calling you and me to believe and remember that all the people in the church who have let you down or built you up in the past are His servants and not yours. He wants you to trust that He is capable of dealing with them on His own and doesn't need you to act on His behalf. Consider with me when I suggest that God is putting situations and people in your life to test how you will respond?! Will you react to man's in-perfect ways and run by not committing your life and resources to the church because of them, or will you, in spite of their offenses, become stronger and deeper by turning to God for your strength and identity. The latter reaction chooses to love Him and His Bride more than how much you've been offended by all of us less than perfect people?!

I think we erroneously put being committed to the church on the same level as we do our joining a rotary club, our child's travel sports team or a group of friends we run with socially...if somebody does something we don't like we take our ball and go home. We don't participate anymore unless somebody else changes their way of doing things. That same logic doesn't apply to what God expectations are of us in committing to and taking care of His children and His Bride....both of which He is coming back for regardless of how mistreated you think you've been. Woe to those who think that they have the option of disowning the in-perfect church and doing their own thing independent of it because the people, and even the leaders in it didn't do things the way we wanted them to. I hope you haven't fallen into that trap. It is one of Satan's biggest tactics to get us separated from one another so we don't have the power together the way God intended when He built it through his Apostles. Woe to young people in their 20's and 30's who have reduced their logic to a generational gap way of thinking so they don't attend church, and even a bigger woe to the more mature folks who have not respected younger leadership and worship ideas for the same reasons. I think you will be held even more accountable because you should be the wise mature ones who have had more time to interact with our God and realize that it is possible to learn and grow in your relationship to God when being led by younger folks in the church.

If you choose to come back this Sunday or at the beginning of 2010 with a fresh start don't be misled again by Satan into believing that now you are above being offended or the new church you choose to attend won't have some of the same less than perfect people in it because IT WILL! They are all still there. In every church you might consider joining. It hasn't changed because of something I'm writing here. You are the one that will have to change. You'll have to filter injustices and offenses with a different heart. One that let's God do the judging so you can focus on the SERVING of his people and His Bride unconditionally. When you attend and commit to church with this mind and heart set you'll be doing so with joy and not disappointment. You'll be obeying Him because you are in relationship with Him, and in love with Him and the fruit will be that you'll be satisfied with Him while you love His fallen children. He'll use you to make a difference in other people's lives whether anybody pats you on the back or not, and suddenly, that reason, and that reason alone..... will be ENOUGH for you to stay involved when people in the church don't handle you and other circumstances the way you would.

So what do you say friend...Is this the new beginning you've been looking for to be all you and God have wanted you to be in the church He has placed near you? I hope it is. Even if earth doesn't rejoice, I know heaven will! Like the story of the Prodigal son, God is waiting and watching for you. He hasn't given up because He knows you've had to deal with some things in your life (correctly or incorrectly). He's just glad you are coming back, and when he sees you coming down the road he will run to meet you. He's missed you there. He's not promising that your kin and friends and other peers will always see you the way He sees you. This is between you and Him...

Have a blessed 2010! May it be the first year of the best years of your life because finally, you've decided to live it for Him and not for others !

Ray Marsh

How's your F. A. C. ???

2009-12-15T11:35:00.000-08:00

In the sport of football there is a statistic that fans don't always find in the program or even on websites, but you better believe that scouts, coaches, general managers and owners are very aware of it. It's called "Yards After Contact" or Y.A.C. This statistic is valuable because it is a telling sign that separates the average players from the tough ones after they have gotten the hand off from the QB or caught the pass from him.
What do you do with the ball after you have it on your possession?

You see, almost anybody can run towards a goal line when nobody is challenging them or catch a pass when they aren't afraid that somebody is going to pop them as soon as the ball gets to them. The really good ones are the ones that aren't easy to bring down. You won't find them running out of bounds when the ball is in their hands. As a matter of fact many of them look forward to contact so they can be the one dishing out the hard hit (See pic of Sweetness...A.K.A. Walter Payton, and Earl Campbell of the Houston Oilers is another guy that comes to mind).

Recently I ran across a quote that drives this point home to us in life..." Opposition is a natural part of life. Just as we develop our physical muscles through overcoming opposition - such as lifting weights - we develop our character muscles by overcoming challenges and adversity." -Stephen R. Covey

How silly would it be for us to step onto any competitive field or court and not expect some strong opposition from our opponent? Will we ever get stronger or better at what we are trying to accomplish in life if we don't anticipate opposition or avoid contact with it? Playing it safe because we don't want to work or think harder eventually stunts any growth potential you do have (And God has put that potential in all of us). The people that grow are the people that anticipate, and yes even embrace adversity and challenges in life. It doesn't catch them by surprise. When it comes they don't look at it as an obstacle that can stop them but an opportunity to get better by overcoming it. They don't back down, quit or run out of bounds to avoid it.

How about your faith? When things get tough and the adversity comes, does your faith rise up in you because you know and believe that it's just a test to help you get stronger in your relationship with God or are you looking for the sideline? Like the runner in the open field, or the receiver with no one guarding him, it's easy to just go to church on Sunday and avoid applying your faith in the world Monday - Saturday. Are you running out of bounds during the week or do you believe that God and the Holy Spirit in you is strong enough to allow you to endure the hits and keep moving forward? Anybody can call themselves a Christian, just like anybody can call themselves a running back or a receiver. You're still on the team, but what do you do with the ball (Your faith) when the opposition (Satan and this world) sees you are trying to make progress for the Christian team and attempts to bring you down, discourage you and render you ineffective for the Kingdom? So a better question might be... How's your F.A.C. ??? That's Faith After Contact?

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

It's never just a "______________."

2009-11-14T06:29:00.000-08:00

At the end of a night of basketball or volleyball in the gym it's easy to just take for granted that everybody will be back next week. Because we think that way, many affirming words are left unsaid, and hugs and high-fives are not given.

God has reminded me on more than one occasion over the past 4-5 years that some guys don't come back next week. In fact some guys don't even leave the gym that very night. When that happens there is a wake of people left behind who wished they had been more faithful with the time God had given them to be in each others lives.

In a basketball game in a church league four years ago I was guarding a man (Mark) who seemed to be in great shape. He certainly ran me all over the gym in the first half of our game. At halftime of our games we would sit on the bleachers and listen to one of the coaches share a devotion or testimony of God's presence in our lives. Mark was sitting on the row directly behind me on the bleachers. About half way through the talk he put his hand on my shoulder, said "wait a minute" as his eyes rolled back he fell onto me and then down to the gym floor. We tried CPR and shocked him four times with a defibrillator, but it was his time and he was gone in a matter of seconds. Have you ever had to meet a spouse at an emergency room to tell them the love of their life is gone? Then to watch and listen to her struggle with how she was going to tell the kids when she got home that they'd never see Daddy again? I know the guys in the league (myself included) wondered for many months after it was over if we had done all we were supposed to do for Mark. Not do all that we could to save him from this physical life, but to make sure he was included in the eternal one we knew about. To this day nobody but God knows for sure.

Just two years after that I was coaching a young boy named Jake in our church youth basketball league on a Saturday morning. His Dad was my assistant on the bench. We enjoyed the game and afterwards talked about when our next practice was and what we would work on to improve our team . Jake and his brother were killed in a tragic train crossing accident just hours later and at the end of the day I was once again in a hospital room with grieving parents who assumed, like we all would, that their boys would be coming back home after spending some time with some friends after our game. We showed up at practice that next week but I don't remember bouncing the first ball. We had six other boys on the team that were wishing they had more time with their friend and needed to be counseled.

And as recently as two months ago I had just given a devotion to a group of young men at our church who play pick up basketball every Tuesday night. At the end of the devotion I asked if there were any prayer requests. Since most of these guys don't attend church they are usually pretty tight lipped so it should have been a clue for me when a young man in his late 20's slowly raised his hand and just asked for prayer for himself and his family. I said the prayer for him and rushed out of the gym to attend to something else that evening. Three days later D'Angelo was murdered and 20-25 guys that he had been playing ball with for a few years came back to the gym the following Tuesday wondering why they hadn't tried to get to know him better, encouraged him each Tuesday, made sure of his eternal destination or like me ...didn't take the time after the prayer to see if there was anything more I could do for him.

I left the last part of the title of this blog blank because the truth is we could put any event or action in the blank. Saying a prayer for a young man who asks for one is NEVER JUST A PRAYER. God had a reason for him asking for it. God knew what was going to happen in just a few days and He had me be one one the last pastors he would ever come into contact with. God knew it would be young Jake's last time in the church, even if it was for a basketball game. He had a reason for him being on my team. It's NEVER JUST A COINCIDENCE that I was his coach that day and maybe one of the last ones to pray with him after his game. For Mark, who like every other guy that night playing in his game, expected to walk out of the gym doors and drive home to his family....NEVER JUST A BASKETBALL LEAGUE. God knew when Mark signed up for the league that we was putting him in our care every Thursday night for the last 8 weeks of his life. God wants to use us in the situations he places us in on a daily basis. We are too busy looking for the flashing lightening and the booming thunder that we believe comes with his missions for us, when most of the time He is just looking for us to be faithful to reach out in love and kindness to the people we work with everyday. To the people we play sports with. To the people who live on either side of us. To the people we go to church with and especially to the people under the same roof we live under.

If my blog does anything for you today I hope it reminds you that all of our days are numbered and that we need to take advantage of, or not take for granted, the time we have with each other in any situation. And lastly that he wants to use you right where you are to love and make a difference in the lives of people around you.

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom"
Psalms 90:12

Life's Stowaways

2009-08-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

Recently I returned from a 4 day backpacking trip in the mountains of Tennessee and as I came home and thought about unpacking and a previous trip I had been on I threw all my bags on my backporch...here's why =>

In the Spring of 2005 I went with the rest of our church staff on a short, but enjoyable, mid-week retreat to a camp about an hour from our community. We stayed in dorms on site and for the most part the camp looked well kept and clean. On the morning of the day that we were going to depart to come back home I noticed a couple of small insects on the floor in the shower room and mentioned it to my bunk mates as I was organizing my things back in the room to head to our next group meeting. Another older and wiser staffer said to me that he was going to examine his stuff before he left to make sure he didn't take anybody home with him that he wasn't intending on taking home. The action sounded wise, but I never got around to doing it...Afterall, I didn't see the critters in our sleeping area, just in the shower.

Shortly after I am home, and haven't had time to unpack my bag yet, I realize I need my planner out of my bag to check on the date of an event. I open my planner to find what I'm looking for, and see more than what I'm looking for. Mind you it was only one bug, and it wasn't even big, but I HATE BUGS....especially in my house! What do you think I did next? Finish what I was doing? Heck no! I IMMEDIATELY took my bag and every thing that was in it outside and examined every little pocket or crevice to make sure he (the bug) was a solo. My neighbors probably thought I was nuts, or more nuts than they already think I am. What kind of individual takes his travel bag out in the yard and shakes it vigorously? =)

Do you remember hearing the song when you were a kid...Be careful little eyes what you see? Be careful little feet where you go? Sometimes intentionally and sometimes unintentionally our hearts, eyes and ears go places that have things that, like it or not, come back home with us. They are like stowaways. We can't see them on the surface, and neither can our friends, but don't kid yourself, they are there, and they come out when we least expect them too. We want them to stay in the bag and deny they are there...some wise person has told us to be careful and inspect our hearts and lives to make sure nothing is there that we don't want there, but we didn't see anything near our life that looked threatening so we don't take the time to check it.

Where have you been lately? What have you been exposing your heart to with your eyes? What do you allow your mind to listen to, and convince yourself that no part of it is going to stowaway in your life? We all have stowaways...whether we choose them or not...they choose us. The key is being proactive to avoid them and reactive if we do make contact with them ....Doing an honest, thorough search of your heart to make sure that you are QUICKLY getting rid of anything you or your Lord doesn't want there. When was the last time you had a heart to heart with the Father and told Him how sorry you are for all the crud that you've stumbled upon there recently that doesn't glorify Him or reflect the life you want to live for Him. It is so healthy for our connectedness to Him to go through our bags more frequently than we do to separate ourselves from anything that would keep us further away from him than we want to be. If I was casual about the bug and didn't react, but let him crawl away to a corner of my house, you and I both know how many I would have been seeing later...why should you treat impure thoughts or actions any differently. Separate yourself from your stowaways TODAY!

"Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said I will confess my transgressions to the Lord, and you forgave the guilt of my sin." Psalm 32:5

Welcome

2009-04-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new Blog page. I pray as I share what the Lord places on my heart, it will be a blessing to you.

To return to my Sports Ministry website, click here.