Don't Waste Your Sports

What will keep us from turning sports... into something ugly rather than beautiful?

I was sent this link from my home group leader a few weeks ago, in which it immediately caught my attention because sports are an interest of mine, and have been a big part of my life growing up. I typed out my notes below but you can listen to C.J. Mahaney give the sermon at this link:

Don't Waste Your Sports sermon by C.J. Mahaney

We must not allow our participation in sports or the viewing of sports to become idolatry, to become a false and functional God, to become a substitute for God, to become something we love in place of God, worship in place of God, and serve in place of God. Sports, is a gift from God, but when you add the human heart to the game itself, its all to easy for the gift to become an idol.

Principal 1

Participation in sports must be informed by the knowledge of God. We have a tendency, when considering the topic of glorifying God in sports, to proceed immediately to practical application and to prematurely consider specific ways we are called to glorify God in sports. But any practical consideration must first proceed from a theologically informed understanding of the character of God as revealed in Scripture and the person and work of Christ. We must begin our consideration of this topic, as well as of every topic, with God. Until we behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ we cannot accurately or authentically glorify God (2 Corinthians 4:6). Before we play sports for the glory of God we must behold the glory of God.

Principal 2

Participation in sports must be done as worship to God. Before we step onto the field or court, the Christian must realize this isn't just simply or solely a field or court but, a context for worship. Scripture is clear in that we are to worship and glorify God in all in life, which obviously includes sports. This perspective transforms the playing field into a context to worship and to glorify God, not impress others or draw attention to myself. This perspective transforms the game into an opportunity to honor God, express ones love for God, reflect the character of God, and to bring glory to God.

Practice 1

We glorify God in sports, by giving thanks to God for sports. If we fail to give thanks to God, we do not glorify God, and instead we cultivate a God ignoring, man centered, idolatress heart and attitude.

Practice 2

We glorify God in sports, by displaying Godly character in sports. We glorify God when we play sports, with humility. The humble athlete is modest when he wins and gracious in defeat.


- Nick
My Blog

Worst Poem Ever...

Down, straight down  to the dark murky depths

To avoid the eye that never sleeps

I sit and wait, watch and listen

Hoping, wishing 'please don't find me'

Stupid, dumb, obtuse, thick-witted

Didn't you read the second line?

-Kyle

Haiti

-Kyle-

The Ladder: Part IV

This ladder was like no other.

Its facade extended upwards, eventually fading from sight. All the others had a top. An end. you climbed up only to fall short and crawl back down... down.

But not this one.

Anticipation and excitement welled up within him as he realized what this ladder brought with it. Access.

It was the ladder to heaven.

Laughing and weeping uncontrollably, he placed his foot upon the first rung and began to ascend...

(Genesis 28:12, John 1: 43-51)
These verses gave me the idea for this story. I absolutely love it how the New Testament fulfills the Old!

-Kyle-

Where Is Your Boast?

Jeremiah 9:23-24-“Thus says the Lord: ‘Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I DELIGHT, declares the Lord.’”

Recently I was reading the passage of scripture above and was convicted. There have been many occasions in my life that I haven’t boasted in the Lord with all my might, especially when talking to others. I loved Him very much so but, there have been times I let my circumstances rule more than the Lord in my life. How kind of Him to show me this! I should be so excited to tell others about what the Lord has accomplished for me, not what I have accomplished. The passage says that I am to boast in the Lord! I need to realize that more than anyone else in the world, He “understands and knows ME”, that “the Lord is a God who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the ALL the earth.” You know what else? It says that “He delights in doing this!” As John Piper says, “our call in life is to glorify God by enjoying Him FOREVER.” How foolish of me not to do this at ALL times! Christ sent His son to die for me so that I can enjoy this everlasting freedom in Him!

Jeremiah 10:6, 10-"There is NONE like You, O Lord; You are GREAT, and Your name is GREAT in might. But the Lord is the TRUE God; He is the living God and the EVERLASTING King."

There is nothing in this world that I should be boasting in besides our glorious and mighty Father who is in Heaven. The One who sent His son to die showing us His never ending steadfast love. Oh what hope this brings!

The words from the hymn below, “How Deep the Father’s Love” help to remind me of what it is that I should be boasting in:

I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from His reward?
I cannot give an answer
But this I know with all my heart
His wounds have paid my ransom

Here are some questions that I needed to ask myself…maybe they apply to your life as well:

1. Is there a thing or situation in my life that I’m more focused on than glorifying God?

2. If someone were to look into my life right now would they see a person that boasts in the ways of the Lord? Or someone that boasts in the ways of the world?

3. If the answers to questions one and two where yes, than what am I going to do to change this?

-Candace

The Ladder: Part III

He was close enough to touch it now.  

Reaching out, he allowed his hand to lightly brush its frame.

Sturdy.

Suppressing small waves of anticipation, this time he placed his hand on a rung and let it remain there a moment.  The singing earlier had not been his imagination... he could hear it clearly now.  

Could this be it?  Had he finally found it? Or, more accurately, had it found him?

He felt a small smile creep onto his lips as he placed both hands on the ladder and peered upward.  His breath caught in his throat as his eyes adjusted to the dim light and took in what he saw...

-Kyle-

The Ladder: Part II

He stopped.

His own breathing echoed in his ears along with the memories of his past... He had spent much of his life looking for this ladder and now to find it in such an unremarkable place it seemed, well... dissapointing.

But they had told him him "come and see", and he had followed. After all, he had not waited this long to turn back now.

Once agian he began to carefully pick his way through the room drawing closer and closer to the ladder... Was that singing he heard?...

-Kyle-

The Ladder: Part I

"Thats it?"  he thought.  

The dim light in the room coupled with the dusty haze made actually seeing the ladder quite difficult.  Even breathing gave one a smothering sensation.

They had told him it was unimpressive but he had not anticipated this... Surely, something representing such greatness would be accompanied by a little grandeur should it not?

"What good can come of this?" he whispered to himself as he slowly moved deeper into the room, brushing away the dust and cobwebs all around him...

-Kyle-

Dear Mr. Obama

My mom sent this to me in an e-mail.  Check it out:

-Kyle-

ahem...

"Zeal for truth must be balanced by love for people.  Truth without love has no decency; it's just brutality.  On the other hand, love without truth has no character; it's just hypocrisy."

- John MacArthur -

God is really using this statement to open my eyes to new areas of sin in my life... thought I would share

-Kyle-