This morning I ate breakfast with Bob Dyar, sports chaplain (SC) for Joe Gibbs Racing. (He paid, great breakfast!) We were talking about the need to help men move from a basic understanding of the gospel to truly be discerning. To help them take one more step in the right direction on a consistent basis.
Watch this scene from the Lord of the Rings
We want men to lead their families spiritually as a growing leader themselves. How do we help them on that journey?
Bob works with a large race team (450 employees), grown men in their 20’s to 60’s, all stages of life. You might work with a high school, college or professional team. Whatever the stage, they are on a journey. They will not be in their 20’s long and God has put you there to help! How’s it going?
In 1492 Christopher Columbus set out for the Orient and ended up in the Caribbean. Some people have said that Columbus set a pattern that’s continued for the last 500 years… men still won’t stop and ask for directions.
For many of us guys, being someplace we’ve never been before is a challenge, an adventure, an obstacle to be conquered. Asking for directions spoils the whole fun of the journey. Then again if Columbus hadn’t gotten lost we wouldn’t be here. Wandering without directions can be fun if you don’t care where you will end up. But it can be hell for those God has put in our lives to lead. We need directions. Not all guys fail to ask for directions, but it sure seems like it. We as Sports Chaplains have the privilege helping them ask the right questions. Do you realize that when you you’re your meeting with the team you are ordained to be there? God has place you there for a divine reason. What you say and even how you say it, could be used of God to completely change their lives. I like to think that Ephesians 2:10 (link to this verse) applies to our appointments and hanging out conversations! That is a part of our journey!
In many ways our spiritual lives are much like being on a trip. In fact the dominant word picture of the spiritual life in every world religion is the image of “a journey.”
In future posts to this blog, we are going to talk about this journey and get advice from a chaplain, a Biblical chaplain. He was the last living Apostle with the responsibility to guide all the churches of Asia Minor away from false teachers. Churches were splitting, people were discouraged, feelings were hurt, emotions were high and the very gospel was confused in many people’s minds. And like today, some were simply not thinking.
So check out the blog tomorrow as we continue this “Journey Worth Taking”.
And, like Sam, keep taking the next step!
Our friends over at Church Sports Outreach had a great post last week on an article by David Brooks in the New York Times. Below is an excerpt:
Inspired by the Jeremy Lin story, David Brooks wrote this piece. Below are some excerpts:
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The moral ethos of sport is in tension with the moral ethos of faith, whether Jewish, Christian or Muslim.
The moral universe of modern sport is oriented around victory and supremacy. The sports hero tries to perform great deeds in order to win glory and fame. It doesn’t really matter whether he has good intentions. His job is to beat his opponents and avoid the oblivion that goes with defeat.
The modern sports hero is competitive and ambitious. (Let’s say he’s a man, though these traits apply to female athletes as well). He is theatrical. He puts himself on display.
He is assertive, proud and intimidating. He makes himself the center of attention when the game is on the line. His identity is built around his prowess. His achievement is measured by how much he can elicit the admiration of other people — the roar of the crowd and the respect of ESPN.
His primary virtue is courage — the ability to withstand pain, remain calm under pressure and rise from nowhere to topple the greats.
This is what we go to sporting events to see. This sporting ethos pervades modern life and shapes how we think about business, academic and political competition.
But there’s no use denying — though many do deny it — that this ethos violates the religious ethos on many levels. The religious ethos is about redemption, self-abnegation and surrender to God.
Ascent in the sports universe is a straight shot. You set your goal, and you climb toward greatness. But ascent in the religious universe often proceeds by a series of inversions: You have to be willing to lose yourself in order to find yourself; to gain everything you have to be willing to give up everything; the last shall be first; it’s not about you.
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I think Mr. Brooks describes the tension well–and I use that word carefully and purposefully. This is the tension that every Christian athlete feels. In fact, if we’re honest, it’s the tension that every Christian spectator, coach, volunteer, etc. feels as well.
I would agree with Mr. Brooks when he says much about sports is about supremacy and domination and I agree this is in conflict with Christian tenets. As you read his piece though, there is no hope offered. There is no solution brought forth. Is this because he believes there isn’t one? Perhaps.
I’m here to say though that there is hope. There is a solution and that is to offer your sports to God as an act of worship. Make your playing, spectating, and coaching for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and not for the glory of yourself. Is this difficult? Absolutely! Will you fail occasionally? Undoubtedly. But you will change (by God’s grace) and it will revolutionize the way you interact with sports.
Today we look at a story that has bugged me for a good while!
Mark 5:1-20
The Healing of a Demon-possessed Man
1 They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him any more, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? Swear to God that you won’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you evil spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the evil spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your family and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
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When I read this a month or so ago, my first response was, “Even Jesus is asked to leave sometimes. He is not always successful.” I was having a “pity party” day and it was influencing my Bible reading and interpretation.
I knew there was more that God wanted to teach me about this story. So day after day I would reread this passage. Then wait a week and read it again. Today I read it again and gained much more than my “pity party” analysis.
Why did they ask Jesus to leave? My wife said it was because their money went down the drain with the pigs. Why didn’t they see that their fellow citizen was more important than the loss of their cash crop? Why didn’t they bring the sick and lame, blind and other demon-possessed friends to Jesus like the other communities had done? Who wouldn’t want Jesus to stay around?
They were scared of Jesus! They resented him. Had he not deprived them of their property? He was, like Gandolf, a disturber of the peace. They were more comfortable with demons that Jesus. More comfortable with sin that holiness, such is the nature of depravity.
Notice: Jesus says yes to the demons. Jesus says yes to the people, he will leave their district. But he says no to the man, formerly demon possessed, who sincerely want to follow him. Why?
Because God has grace for those sending him away, he leaves this man as a constant reminder of that day of deliverance, a missionary with one day of training. He was a man with a testimony to God’s victory over the minions of Satan and a powerful story of mercy for trapped men and women. Christ commissioned this dear man to be his evangelist and he obeyed. Jesus did not leave these stupid people without a witness. He loved them by saying no the only one in the community that wanted to follow him.
20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.
He was the first missionary Jesus ever sent out. And we do not know his name. We do know the name he talked about!
And he was faithful to not just tell his city but the ten cities of the Decapolis.
I think Jesus has left us behind too. What a calling!
Next week I will start a series of blog entries from a portion of Scripture that depicts a Biblical chaplain who has the responsibility of guiding others away from error and into grace and truth. I think you will find it challenging.
Question for today: Do you remember with any detail, your life without Jesus Christ?
I do. It motivates me to be more evangelistic. I remember to deep isolation I felt in my soul. Looking back now, I see God’s hand orchestrating my life. He was what the old theologians call, wooing me. Another way of saying that is that he was bringing me to the place of frustration and despair, so that I would be willing to listen.
My Dad died when I was six. I still remember going as a little guy to my Dad’s funeral. Somehow I slipped out to the old white church and wandered around back. A man was straightening white chairs out in the backyard near the gravestones. I walked up to him and asked him if I could sit on the front row. He said yes. He knew who I was, but I didn’t know who he was.
A few weeks later during my first grade recess it hit me – my Dad was never coming home. I understood death. I cried. The teacher came out and asked what was wrong and I told her my Dad was dead. She left me to cry.
There is more to the story and sometime I will share more – but the point of the story is – I understood death. Dad was dead.
When I was saved by God, I was then fully aware of the death I was living. A living Jesus offered me life. I still understand death. I smell it when I choose to disobey the living Jesus inside me or when I deliberately return for a while to the gravestones of sin. But God is faithful. He draws me back. He prompts me to repent, ask forgiveness, and pray. You see, he is living inside of me and I have life that will never die.
I do not call people to become better people. Jesus never did. Doesn’t work. I call people from death to true life.
Don’t forget the smell of death – rejoice in life – the eternal life that starts as soon as you demonstrate repentance and faith in the living Jesus. Share Him today!
It is my intention to write original material on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. On Tuesday we will have an interesting sports story and Thursday to highlight a talk or study from another Sports Chaplain. So check out Thursdays and see what other chaplains are sharing with you!
This entry of from a seasoned Sports Chaplain, Mike Echstenkamper. Mike is affiliated with Athletes in Action and serves the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. He grew up in Ohio, attended Ohio University. Played baseball there, signed with New York Yankees as outfielder. Married to Kim, and they have four children. If you would like his contact information go to either Chaplains Connect or the Sports Chaplains Network website.
He provided this illustration. If you are a Sports Chaplain, please send us illustrations of notes from your talks to share with others. Send them to Kencross@sportschaplains.org.
Don’t be like circus elephants: When elephants are just babies, the trainer puts a shackle around one of their legs, with a chain attached to a stake. These 300 to 400 lb babies will try and try to get away from that chain, but they can’t. The strange thing is that when the elephant is an adult, it can still be held by the very same shackle as the one used on the youngsters. How is that possible?
Elephants really do have great memories, but they aren’t that bright. The adult remembers how he was staked up as a baby and couldn’t get away from the stake. And at a certain point, as a baby, he became convinced that he could never get away. So now as an adult, he doesn’t even try. The elephant is not chained to the stake; he’s chained to the idea that he can never get away. That’s how a ten-pound stake can hold down a two-ton elephant.
Some of us have found ourselves tied to our past just like a circus elephant chained to a stake. This is one of the primary tools and schemes of the enemy to defeat Christians and to keep us from finishing strong. The enemy, Satan, will throw our past back at us and make us feel unworthy, undeserving, trapped, etc.
Jesus said He came to destroy the works of the devil. If you have truly turned to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, He wipes them away. Read Psalm 103 to get a taste of what freedom feels like. Jesus does not “remind” us of our sins, He forgets them. When He was dying on the cross He said, “It is finished.” Your sins have been paid in full. And that is good news!! Jesus Christ is like “the jaws of life” that cuts through the chains that can hold us. And what He starts, He finishes. —
“Sin messes us up, but God can clean us up!!” Praise the Lord!!
Do you remember when someone you respected gave you a good word, a kind word, an apt word that changed you? By a good word, I mean that that person told you something about yourself that changed the way you viewed the world and your place in it.
I can distinctly remember someone shocking me and telling me I was “not a quitter”. My three brothers grew tired of playing board games with me because I wanted to play and keep playing until I won. Then I wanted to keep playing until I dominated.
I can also remember a lady who told me that I was bright – it shocked me. I had never thought of myself that way. It didn’t make me prideful, it encouraged me to not waste whatever confidence or insight she had about me.
Both of these instances changed my life – a timely word.
Proverbs 15 1 A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger.
23 A man finds joy in giving an apt reply—
and how good is a timely word!
Timely words can change the direction of a conversation or of a life, for eternity.
One more memory from my life, DJ asked me, “Ken, who is better able to run your life, you or someone who is perfect?”
This question haunted me until I found the answer in a living Jesus.
My challenge for you today is to realize that as a Sports Chaplain the people around you have given you the freedom to ask them about their souls, to ask about their spiritual walk, to speak into their lives. Few others have that opening. Ask God for the wisdom and boldness to use the freedom and enjoy giving an apt reply!
Our friends over at Church Sports Outreach have posted this short blog on Jeremy Lin. Jeremy has a great perspective on how to integrate his faith into basketball:
Lin then adds the following commentary about his coming to treasure Jesus more than basketball success:
When Paul wrote in Philippians to press on for an upward prize, he was living for that, and it made his life meaningful (Philippians 3:15). And I realized I had to learn to do the same. I had to learn to stop chasing the perishable prizes of this earth, I had to stop chasing personal glory, I had to learn how to give my best effort to God and trust him with the results. I have to learn to have enough faith to trust in his grace and to trust in his sovereign and perfect plan. I had to submit my will, my desires, my dreams — give it all up to God and say, “Look, I am going to give my best effort, go on the court and play every day for you, and I’m going to let you take care of the rest.” This is something I struggle with every day. . . . Playing for great stats is nice, but that satisfaction — that happiness — is only from game to game. It’s temporary.
Welcome to my new blog! I am Ken Cross, the new vice president of the Sports Chaplains Network (SCN).
Why would there be the need for a Sports Chaplains Network? Because as Sports Chaplains we have a unique opportunity to be used of God to change lives with a relational, gospel centered ministry through sports.
A couple of days ago I was watching ESPN and saw this video. A great human interest story about a seemingly all powerful Super bowl winning Justin Tuck and a brave young fan with leukemia. But it was more than that for me.
Watch it and then I will tell you why.
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Did you notice that all of this happened as a result of an unnamed chaplain putting a “bug/suggestion” into the ear of Justin Tuck? As Justin said, it was more that a player/fan relationship – it was a true friendship that changed both of them.
We have an opportunity to change lives that will last forever. We need to be encouraged, and be reminded that “every word” is important when we are with athletes and coaches. You have a high calling.
I think God wanted me to remind you.
Romans 10:14 How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? 15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
