How You Are Described

    One of the ways I like to get to know people better is by having times where I meet with them one on one. I do this with the players I coach. One time I had a meeting with a player toward the end of the season. 

   At the end of the meeting, she told me that she would have avoided having a meeting with me had I asked at the beginning of the season. I asked why? She said because she was intimated by me because I seemed very serious. I then asked what changed? She said she got to know me more and saw how I interacted with her and the other members of the team. She realized that I was a very caring person.

   Then, because I like questions, I asked her how she would describe me. She said in one word she would say caring. The next word she would say strict, but about soccer; and that's a good thing for a soccer coach. 

   This got me thinking about how other people would describe me to someone if they had to. The next day I asked a co-worker how she would describe me. She said caring, comedic, sarcastic, and generous. Some of the ways she described me I would have not used to describe myself. It's not that they were bad things, it's just that I didn't think of myself in that way.

   It is interesting to find out what adjectives people would use to describe us. The thing is it is important to think about how they would describe us. We, who call ourselves Christians, are labeled. People who know that about us will be watching to see how we act. Are we loving? Are we loyal? Are we generous? Are we a reflection of Jesus? 

   Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." We are to be a light, not a hindrance to the gospel. There's a saying that goes, "you may be the only Bible someone will ever read." That should make us think about our actions. We can say we love Jesus but if our actions don't show it, why would anyone want to follow Jesus if we are the example? That's why we must walk our talk. We must reflect on our actions and be a light for Christ.

   So, how would people describe you? Are you being a light for Christ? If not, what can you do to change that?

 

Stranded but Still Good

    We were victorious! After a hard-fought battle, we beat Penn State Abington 1-0. We watched the men's soccer team play their game, which they won, then went to feast at Chick-fil-A. Getting on the bus at 7:40 pm, we expected to be home in about an hour and 30 minutes. 

   People were doing many things on the way back: homework, games, talking, quizzes, etc. Suddenly, the bus driver stopped and pulled over. The door to the bus had opened abruptly. Our bus driver got out to fix the problem and we were on our way again, but at a bit of a slower pace. 

   The bus had just gotten off the turnpike when the bus driver pulled over again. As soon as he did, we smelled something at the back of the bus. The driver and coaches got out because the check engine light was on. Low and behold we had lost a band we needed for the bus to go. The engine had turned off and we were left in darkness other than the lights of cell phones and streetlights.

   Now, being 20 minutes from home with no way of getting back on that bus could have caused us to panic or complain. Instead, people continued having conversations and playing games. We were able to turn a bad situation to good because we chose to be positive about it. We knew it happened for a reason. And we used that time to build bonds with one another and have a good time.

   Eventually, we were picked up by two LBC coaches and returned home unscathed. It was not an ideal situation but in life we will face those. When they happen, we have a choice. We can choose to complain about it or use it for good.

   So, when inconveniences happen what do you do? Will you choose to use it for God and good? 

 

Marriage At Easter

 There is so much symbolism surrounding the Easter story. Jesus entered the world and was placed in a tree (manger) and he left the world on a tree (the cross). Jesus was the perfect lamb sacrifice for our sins and we don't have to sacrifice animals ever again (praise the Lord)! But one symbol you may not know is about the cup at the Lord's supper. 

Matthew 26:27-28 gives us context for what I'm talking about. It says, "Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, 'Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.'" Of course, there is the obvious symbolism here of that not really being Jesus' blood. But there's another picture here. According to Ann Voskamp in her book The Broken Way when an engagement was happening back in Bible times, a Jewish Rabbi "said that when a man decided he wanted to marry a woman, his father would pour a cup of wine and pass it down to his son" Next the son would look at the woman, hold the cup out, and say:"this cup is a new covenant in my blood, which I offer to you." 

When I read this, it was a mind blowing moment for me. Jesus didn't just offer us his body as the perfect sacrifice, he also offered us a marriage covenant. He offered to take on the role of protector for all of us. Then he died on the cross for our sins. Jesus is an example of a good husband. He made his covenant with us and then he took action to show us that he meant that covenant. 

As Jesus is the ultimate example of whom we should try to emulate, I have a question for all of us: are we taking action as well? We have a calling while we are on this earth. If we don't know Jesus as our personal savior, then our calling is to accept him as that. Then we grow in him. If we do know him as our personal savior, then our mission is to grow in him and tell others about what he's done for them. These are our action steps as the bride of Christ. The church is his bride and he showed that through the symbol of the cup and his blood. A bride doesn't just sit around waiting for the groom to arrive. She takes action steps and prepares for his coming. That's what we are called to do as well.

So, do you know Jesus as your personal savior? Are you spreading the good news of the gospel? How can you grow closer to him?

Stand Out

    For those of you who know me you know I enjoy Disney movies. One movie many people forget about is A Goofy Movie. In the movie Max Goof is in school and feels like he is invisible and ridiculed. He wants to stand out so a girl at school will notice him. To do this, he took over the last school assembly and lip sang to a song by a famous artist in that world.

   The song he sang was called "Stand Out." Most of the song is about how a boy wants to be noticed by a girl. But there are some lyrics that apply to our Christian walk. They are: "To stand out above the crowd, Even if I gotta shout out loud." As Christians, we are not to blend in. We are born again to stand out.

   Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." We are not to be like the world. We are not to blend in. As Christians we are to stand out and be transformed in God. We are to reflect his glory and light each day, so others are led to Christ.

   So, are you standing out as we are called to do? How do you reflect God's glory each day?

What is True Luck?

   Do you know anyone who just seems to have all the luck? You know, that person who seems to always be picked, who wins all the things, and who finds the lucky penny? Okay, maybe that last one is a stretch but you get my gist. I'm talking about the person who gets the promotion. The person who just seems to have everything. You have someone in mind?

   New questions: that person that you are picturing, do they have joy? Are they following God? These questions may not seem connected but they are. I've talked in the past about how happiness is fleeting. It is temporary. Joy is something we can have at all times because God gives us joy and we can have joy in him. If we are following God, we have access to that joy. 

   Did that person you were thinking of strike you as someone who has joy and is following God? Maybe they are and maybe they are not. If they are following God, then that will show in their life through their actions. They will not follow the way of the world and be selfish. Instead, they will show attributes of God. They will be giving and kind. They will have joy because they are following God. 

   Whether or not you have luck or wealth, we will all be judged one day. Matthew 16:26-27 says, "What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." If you had all the wealth in the world but didn't know Jesus as our personal savior, none of that wealth would matter. All things in this world will pass away. The only thing that matters in eternity is our souls.

   You probably know this. But now I want to ask you a question, and I'm asking myself this question just as much as I'm asking you. What are you doing with the things you have been given? Are you using your possessions and gifts for yourself or others. Look back at those verses in Matthew 16. It says Jesus will reward each person according to what they have done. What have you done with the things you've been given? Have you told others how "lucky," and I say lucky to go along with the St. Patrick Day theme, you are to know Christ as your personal savior. Have you shown his love to others through gifts and actions as we are called to do? See, in the end, we are all blessed to have the opportunity to join God's family. We get to spend eternity with God. While here on earth we need to show God's love to others, tell others about what Jesus did for them, and grow in God. That's what true, eternal wealth is.

The Straight Path

    One time I was at camp and my siblings, and I were walking back from a campfire in the woods. We could have kept going on the path or we could have cut across the ballfield which was a shorter distance between where we were and our dorm. 

   We chose to walk across the ballfield. As we were walking across the ballfield I said, "the straightest distance between two points is a straight line." My siblings and I began to laugh when we realized what I said. What I meant to say was "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line."

   While that fact is true, sometimes we are not asked to walk the shortest route in our lives. Sometimes God leads us down paths that seem difficult or curvy in our lives. During those times we need to remember that God has a plan for our lives. He knows where we need to grow and loves us enough to walk with us on our paths. 

   Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Many times, we wonder why God isn't opening the doors we want him to open. God knows what we need. He makes our paths straight even if they don't seem straight. 

   So, are you walking with the Lord today? How can you trust God on this journey of life? 

 

Hidden Sin

    I have a question for you and it's one of my favorite kinds of questions: it's a would you rather question. You ready? Would you rather have a rash that wasn't itchy, didn't hurt, and wasn't permanent in a noticeable place (like on your face), or a rash that hurt, itched, and was permanent in an unnoticeable place (like your upper leg or back)?

   It's not really an easy question, is it? I think we would all say we would rather not have the rash at all. But as annoying as it may be for a few days you would probably take the noticeable not permanent mark, right? 

   Well, what if we equated this to sin? If you are a Christian and sin in the open, you should have Christians who hold you accountable. They should see your sin and, in love, correct you. The sin wouldn't last long, hopefully. But what about when we sin in private?

   Hidden sin is dangerous. The longer it goes on the more ingrained in your life it becomes. Then it's hard to let go or let others in to help you get rid of it. How do you get rid of the itch of hidden sin?

   You have to bring it into the light. You need to tell others what is going on and ask for help. You need to ask God for help and forgiveness. Then take steps to remove the sin. In the itch illusion you need to put the medicine on to cure it. In this case, the medicine is prayer, reading the Bible, bringing others in to help you stay accountable, and getting rid of the things that would encourage you to continue in that sin. That's how we get rid of hidden sin.

   So, do you have any sin you need to bring into the light? How can you grow in God?