So we've been reading this book for our SMT discussions, Crazy Love by Francis Chan. While everything that Chan writes about is straight from the Bible, there is something about how he puts things that make his words so convicting.
The God of the universe, does not need us, yet He still loves us so much He continues to pursue us. The reverse is what we most commonly see. We need God, but often times we act like we don't want Him or that we don't really love Him, we just love his stuff.
"Even though we could die at any moment and generally think our puny lives are pretty sweet compared to loving Him, He persists in loving us with unending, outrageous love."
-Francis Chan, Crazy Love
In Chan's fourth chapter he gives various examples that would categorize different profiles of the "Lukewarm", or people who have become useless to God's cause through their actions and lack of conviction. The problem (or the answer) with the profiles that Chan presents, is I fall into just about everyone of them at some point or another. I struggle with some more than others, but I still know that I am guilty of just about everyone of them. Now I hope it is not just me, and I am pretty confident that I am not alone in this, but so many of us struggle to understand Christ's love before we are able to show it.
Is this because we are unable to fully understand unconditional love, or that our God would give us a gift of grace that we often times knowingly reject? Francis Chan starts our one of his chapters by saying just that... "Most of us, to some degree, have a difficult time understanding, believing, or accepting God's absolute unlimited love for us."
How could something so great, be so easily forgotten?
My best guess, and personal understanding, is that we relate our experiences with "love" (from friends, family, and even the love of ourselves), to God's love. We have trouble separating conditional, from unconditional.
Still, we know it... but we don't always act on it. Do we change our thoughts and actions, or do we keep on doing what we are doing without God. While I wish I could say that I love God so much that I am always aware of His love for me and that I live my life in accordance with His will and not my own, I cannot. Like so many others I have fallen into all of these categories of Lukewarmness. Here's Chan's short list of what many Christians do, believe, or think on a regular basis. Just a warning, it may hurt.
LUKEWARM people may still...
attend Church fairly regularly (it is what they believe a "good Christian" does)
give to charity and to church (as long as it doesn't impinge on their standard of living)
LUKEWARM people...
Tend to chose what is popular over what is right (they care more about what people think of their actions more than what God thinks)
Don't really want to be saved from their sin (they just want to be saved from the penalty of sin, is this new life really better than my old sinful one?)
Gauge their morality or "goodness" by comparing their lives to others' (being better person does not make you a Christian)
Only allow Jesus in a section of their time, money, and thoughts... He isn't allowed to control their lives.
Love God, but not with all their heart, soul, strength, and mind.
tend to focus their love on others who will "love" them in return.
Do whatever is necessary to keep them from feeling to guilty.
Probably drink and swear less (but other than that they aren't much different from most other unbelievers)
Basically, we are all guilty of a lot of these things... but a life characterized by a pursuits of God and not a flee from punishment is the kind of love God wants from us. I had a hard time reading this chapter without trying to justify why I fell into some of these categories, And i kept thinking, "No way am I LUKEWARM."
The reality is, as Francis Chan puts it, none of us are immune to these actions and thoughts. The difference is a life that is characterized by these actions versus someone who consciously struggles to correct these issues of lukewarmness. I hope that I am struggling.
This leads me to my verse of the week.
James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Draw near to God, pursue Him wholeheartedly and you will realize how He is in constant pursuits of you.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
What defines me?
Back at it... while I am enjoying being back into a regular training schedule with a solid group of guys, it's a lot harder getting back into shape then I ever remember. But, I've learned where I am at physically has changed over the last few months. My time spent climbing, and backpacking doesn't really prepare me to be physically fit for a soccer season (not that I thought I was preparing for soccer by climbing). However, with not being as prepared as I thought I had been, it has shown in my performance on the field.
With my performance being below expectations, I have this crazy notion that I can no longer lead if I am not playing to the best of my ability. Instead, I've been challenged to remember that I am not defined by how I perform on the field. What will really show my true colors is how I react to my performance both in words and in actions.
The easy part is knowing that I have some ground to make up for as a player... but the hard part was conitnuing to lead new players as a player and as a sports minister. I found myself struck by silence, I felt that because I was not playing well I couldn't say things that needed to be said. With the encouragement of a teammate and some reflection, I was able to talk to the team and aplogizie for my unpreparedness as well as challenege everybody to pick up the slack in their own lives and training.
While the season is still early, we have 11 games left to come out of this 3 game losing streak and make a playoff run. Something that hasn't happened in 5 years. Still, whatever the end of the season has for me I have re-learned a valuable lesson. My identity is not in how I play, but how I reflect Jesus in my response to how I play. It is not how I perform at work, but how I glorify God while I at work. It is not from doing good things, it is from being loved by a God who is deserving of all my love and oftentimes doesn't recieve it.
I recently read in a book by Francis Chan, Crazy Love, that the ironic thing about God is that He doesn't need us... yet He still loves us. The reverse is that we need Him, and often times we do not give Him the love He deserves. Sometimes it has to start with remembering to love ourselves in our imperfections because God loves us in our imperfections. Shouldn't that be enough reason to love God and live a life free from sin?
Verse of the week:
Galations 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
With my performance being below expectations, I have this crazy notion that I can no longer lead if I am not playing to the best of my ability. Instead, I've been challenged to remember that I am not defined by how I perform on the field. What will really show my true colors is how I react to my performance both in words and in actions.
The easy part is knowing that I have some ground to make up for as a player... but the hard part was conitnuing to lead new players as a player and as a sports minister. I found myself struck by silence, I felt that because I was not playing well I couldn't say things that needed to be said. With the encouragement of a teammate and some reflection, I was able to talk to the team and aplogizie for my unpreparedness as well as challenege everybody to pick up the slack in their own lives and training.
While the season is still early, we have 11 games left to come out of this 3 game losing streak and make a playoff run. Something that hasn't happened in 5 years. Still, whatever the end of the season has for me I have re-learned a valuable lesson. My identity is not in how I play, but how I reflect Jesus in my response to how I play. It is not how I perform at work, but how I glorify God while I at work. It is not from doing good things, it is from being loved by a God who is deserving of all my love and oftentimes doesn't recieve it.
I recently read in a book by Francis Chan, Crazy Love, that the ironic thing about God is that He doesn't need us... yet He still loves us. The reverse is that we need Him, and often times we do not give Him the love He deserves. Sometimes it has to start with remembering to love ourselves in our imperfections because God loves us in our imperfections. Shouldn't that be enough reason to love God and live a life free from sin?
Verse of the week:
Galations 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Good 'ol Californ-i-a
As history will show I am not the best at updating my blog. With what feels like 3 months of my life has been lived in the last week and a half, I'll give myself a break on this one. For those who have supported me in my work this summer and want to keep tabs, forgive my lack of responses... I hope it won't happen again.
Starting a week ago from Thursday (8 days ago) I was still in the great state of Tennessee, since then I have driven through 10 different states, made a two day visit to Colorado, Listened to Tony Dungy's book Quiet Strength on CD... twice... moved into my summer California residence, got situated in the Seahorse office, made it to 3 days of training and played in our match this evening... No wonder it felt like 3 months
While I could go into details on a lot of these events, time is just now starting to catch up with me and hopefully I won't find myself nearly as busy to where I can't make a weekly post, if not more regular than that.
The most recent event, our road game against Ventura County Fusion, was a lesson in itself. I found myself back in the action, exactly where I left off from last season. Unfortunately, my season ended last summer with a Concussion on the same field with a run in with the keeper... I had almost wished I had been knocked out this game. We lost 3-0, and I can't say I was pleased with my performance. We'll just say I had a lot more kinks to work out than I thought, and I took home quite a few lessons from this game.
Coach had enough confidence to start me at left back, which I thought may happen because I had a decent week of practice... but I still wouldn't bet my house on it, or my lunch money. The team seems to be a lot different from last year, we appear stronger in some areas and may need to focus more on different areas from last year. Either way, today was not only a bad day for myself... it didn't seem to be anyone's day in general. The performance overall was tough to watch I am sure, but hopefully we can put this one behind us and look forward to our Sunday game against the O.C. Blue Stars.
It's always hard accepting not playing (or performing) to your potential... and not only in soccer, but in other aspects of life. I don't believe anything in life is guaranteed, and that often times the best things in life require a lot of work. I was definitely reminded how much more work other players have been putting into their soccer than myself. I was also reminded of a few things Coach Dungy said in his book, which I listened to twice on my way to Colorado and California. First, I have to take this loss just like any other loss, learn from it and move past it. Second, I can't blame anyone team member, the officials, or even myself for our loss (no excuses, no explanations). And lastly, if I want to get back to where I want to be as a soccer player, I need to start doing the easy things (simple things) better than anyone else... and that my friends, is where I am going to start- the basics.
Hopefully the overall attitude of the team recognizes the areas in which we need to change, but also understands that we have to cut our loss and move on to Sunday's game and try it again, but this time doing the simple things more consistently and with more energy.
That's it for now. Hope to update you all soon about my job duties and other cool things happening in the Seahorse office.
Blessings,
Cyrus
Starting a week ago from Thursday (8 days ago) I was still in the great state of Tennessee, since then I have driven through 10 different states, made a two day visit to Colorado, Listened to Tony Dungy's book Quiet Strength on CD... twice... moved into my summer California residence, got situated in the Seahorse office, made it to 3 days of training and played in our match this evening... No wonder it felt like 3 months
While I could go into details on a lot of these events, time is just now starting to catch up with me and hopefully I won't find myself nearly as busy to where I can't make a weekly post, if not more regular than that.
The most recent event, our road game against Ventura County Fusion, was a lesson in itself. I found myself back in the action, exactly where I left off from last season. Unfortunately, my season ended last summer with a Concussion on the same field with a run in with the keeper... I had almost wished I had been knocked out this game. We lost 3-0, and I can't say I was pleased with my performance. We'll just say I had a lot more kinks to work out than I thought, and I took home quite a few lessons from this game.
Coach had enough confidence to start me at left back, which I thought may happen because I had a decent week of practice... but I still wouldn't bet my house on it, or my lunch money. The team seems to be a lot different from last year, we appear stronger in some areas and may need to focus more on different areas from last year. Either way, today was not only a bad day for myself... it didn't seem to be anyone's day in general. The performance overall was tough to watch I am sure, but hopefully we can put this one behind us and look forward to our Sunday game against the O.C. Blue Stars.
It's always hard accepting not playing (or performing) to your potential... and not only in soccer, but in other aspects of life. I don't believe anything in life is guaranteed, and that often times the best things in life require a lot of work. I was definitely reminded how much more work other players have been putting into their soccer than myself. I was also reminded of a few things Coach Dungy said in his book, which I listened to twice on my way to Colorado and California. First, I have to take this loss just like any other loss, learn from it and move past it. Second, I can't blame anyone team member, the officials, or even myself for our loss (no excuses, no explanations). And lastly, if I want to get back to where I want to be as a soccer player, I need to start doing the easy things (simple things) better than anyone else... and that my friends, is where I am going to start- the basics.
Hopefully the overall attitude of the team recognizes the areas in which we need to change, but also understands that we have to cut our loss and move on to Sunday's game and try it again, but this time doing the simple things more consistently and with more energy.
That's it for now. Hope to update you all soon about my job duties and other cool things happening in the Seahorse office.
Blessings,
Cyrus
Sunday, May 9, 2010
Count your blessings...
"Count Your Blessings"
The words I found on a mud-covered sign at the first home we had worked at while helping flood victims here in Nashville. The sign seemed to have been left hanging for a reason. As home owners threw out nearly all of their possessions and gutted the inside of the first floor to just rafters and wires, this sign was still displayed on the front gate right inside the carport.
The whole time we were helping these people, I couldn't keep from thinking how terrible the whole ordeal must have been. So many families have lost hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of dollars in possessions... countless items of sentimental value... and some lost family members... Even in spite of all these losses, the overall attitude did not seem to be beyond hope, despairing, or even portray the slightest bit of "oh poor me". The general attitude truly seemed to be- "Count Your Blessings".
The volunteer efforts from the Nashville community has been incredible, and those affected by the flood have noticed... and they've taken this whole ordeal as an opportunity to focus on the love and generosity that complete strangers have shown to them. For some unknown reason these people know that they have lost a lot, if not everything, and they show confidence that they will recover from this. The countless volunteers that have gone into affected communities has helped, but in the end the Nashville flood victims have shown much more livelihood than I could ever imagine anyone could even "put on" in their position.
Cheers to you Nashville, thanks for the simple reminder to keep counting my blessings...
Verse of the week-
II Peter 1:3,4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
The words I found on a mud-covered sign at the first home we had worked at while helping flood victims here in Nashville. The sign seemed to have been left hanging for a reason. As home owners threw out nearly all of their possessions and gutted the inside of the first floor to just rafters and wires, this sign was still displayed on the front gate right inside the carport.
The whole time we were helping these people, I couldn't keep from thinking how terrible the whole ordeal must have been. So many families have lost hundreds of thousands, possibly millions, of dollars in possessions... countless items of sentimental value... and some lost family members... Even in spite of all these losses, the overall attitude did not seem to be beyond hope, despairing, or even portray the slightest bit of "oh poor me". The general attitude truly seemed to be- "Count Your Blessings".
The volunteer efforts from the Nashville community has been incredible, and those affected by the flood have noticed... and they've taken this whole ordeal as an opportunity to focus on the love and generosity that complete strangers have shown to them. For some unknown reason these people know that they have lost a lot, if not everything, and they show confidence that they will recover from this. The countless volunteers that have gone into affected communities has helped, but in the end the Nashville flood victims have shown much more livelihood than I could ever imagine anyone could even "put on" in their position.
Cheers to you Nashville, thanks for the simple reminder to keep counting my blessings...
Verse of the week-
II Peter 1:3,4
His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
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