Not sure if this is widely known or not but Jesus is a huge fan of college football and he has been watching the developments of the potential playoff very closely. Now that it has been decided he felt he should say something.
Now, just in case you aren't up to speed with everything that has happened over the past few weeks (or years) let me bring you up to speed. For years the National Champion (AKA the best college football team that year) was decided by how a certain team performed over the entire season. There were a couple of polls and the team that finished at the top of that list won the national championship. It wasn't how you performed in one final game, but over the entire season that determined who was the best.
Well a few years later the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) was developed. This approach used polls as well as a computer system to determine the two best teams and those two teams played against each other and the winner was dubbed #1. What made this unique was #2 had a chance to win even if they might not have been the better team (over the entire season).
Enter the first ever college football playoff. This new approach plans to bring the top 4 teams into a playoff system where, after two games, a national champion is crowned. Obviously, now the #4 team had a chance to be #1.
As excited as Jesus is about more college football he wants us to remember how different this approach is from salvation. How do we win our national-championship-of-salvation? Are we judged by how we have lived over our entire lives and if we have done a good enough job and finish at the top of the list are we allowed into heaven? Or is it more based on that one moment where we shine and rise to the top, possibly against all odds, that allows us to win salvation?
Hopefully your answer is an immediate and resounding no. We don't win because of what we have done over our entire lives, or that one moment where we shine, but we win because Jesus one. We win salvation because it is something that Jesus has given to us, not because of something we have done but because of what he has done. We all win because Christ won. End of story. Now that you have been given this incredible and undeserved gift what are you going to do with it? How are you going to live in response to it?
Some college football purists hate this new format while others are incredibly excited for it. No matter how you think we should determine who is #1, remember we have already won because of Christ. Lets live in that.
See you in church,
Chris
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Monday, June 25, 2012
Harumba!
While most churches shut down during the summer months, Christ Lutheran continues with its full and vibrant programs. From VBS to the Experience Tour to MADD Camp, you will find the hallways teeming with youth and adult leaders throughout the week during these summer months. But one expanding ministry that will occupy most of the rooms for June and July is Freedom School.
Christ Lutheran partners with Freedom School to provide field trips and academic enrichment activities for students from McClintock Middle School and their families. As you know, for most students, summer is a time for brain drain. In the fall, most teachers need to spend the first couple of months reviewing what students have already learned but forgotten during those weeks of hanging by the pool, sleeping in and watching TV. However, for 80 elementary and middle school students from our McClintock families, they will stay ahead of the curve. The Ministry Center has been transformed to a learning academy with a “hands on” learning environment lead by several interns under the direction of Mr. Willie Pinson.
The day begins at 8:00 with a high energy, full body dance called Harumba. It is open to anyone to either watch or join in. Come to the Fellowship Hall for a great taste of this dynamic ministry and get to meet some of the scholars and their mentors. It’s a good thing.
I remember once working for a church that prided itself in perfectly painted walls and stain free carpet. Whenever you walked the hallways, the doors of the classroom were usually locked because they wanted to keep them in good order. In fact, you even had to get a key from the office and sign in and out to use the kitchen if your small group wanted to make coffee. (I think they wanted to find out who to blame for a couple of crumbs on the floor.)
When I left that church, I wanted to find a church with an open door policy. I wanted a church that would actually risk using the facilities instead of worrying about preserving them. I wanted a church that needed a high maintenance budget each year to clean stained carpets and repaint marked walls. Because that meant that the church was being used as a tool for the community.
At Christ Lutheran, we will not win any award for the cleanest carpets or the perfect walls. I hope we never aspire to that. This is a place where the facilities are used and ministry expands and people are served.
Just come by any morning at 8:00 for Harumba and you will see for yourself first hand.
Just don’t look too closely at the carpet! Pastor Scott
Christ Lutheran partners with Freedom School to provide field trips and academic enrichment activities for students from McClintock Middle School and their families. As you know, for most students, summer is a time for brain drain. In the fall, most teachers need to spend the first couple of months reviewing what students have already learned but forgotten during those weeks of hanging by the pool, sleeping in and watching TV. However, for 80 elementary and middle school students from our McClintock families, they will stay ahead of the curve. The Ministry Center has been transformed to a learning academy with a “hands on” learning environment lead by several interns under the direction of Mr. Willie Pinson.
The day begins at 8:00 with a high energy, full body dance called Harumba. It is open to anyone to either watch or join in. Come to the Fellowship Hall for a great taste of this dynamic ministry and get to meet some of the scholars and their mentors. It’s a good thing.
I remember once working for a church that prided itself in perfectly painted walls and stain free carpet. Whenever you walked the hallways, the doors of the classroom were usually locked because they wanted to keep them in good order. In fact, you even had to get a key from the office and sign in and out to use the kitchen if your small group wanted to make coffee. (I think they wanted to find out who to blame for a couple of crumbs on the floor.)
When I left that church, I wanted to find a church with an open door policy. I wanted a church that would actually risk using the facilities instead of worrying about preserving them. I wanted a church that needed a high maintenance budget each year to clean stained carpets and repaint marked walls. Because that meant that the church was being used as a tool for the community.
At Christ Lutheran, we will not win any award for the cleanest carpets or the perfect walls. I hope we never aspire to that. This is a place where the facilities are used and ministry expands and people are served.
Just come by any morning at 8:00 for Harumba and you will see for yourself first hand.
Just don’t look too closely at the carpet! Pastor Scott
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Jesus and Sandusky
I am not sure if this blog will be a statement or more of an invitation to dialogue.
I have been following the Sandusky trial, (it is hard not to, it is on the news constantly) and I feel a certain level of conflict. From what I have heard this man sounds like a monster who preyed on young boys. Who took advantage of them and robbed them of their childhood. I hope justice is served and he receives the punishment that he has coming to him.
But, (you knew that was coming) how does this jive with the Christian faith? Should there be grace for a man like Sandusky? How would Jesus have treated him? Is he just sick and in need of treatment? Is rehabilitation a possibility for someone like him?
But then again what about the victims? Even if he is sick and able to be treated that doesn't take away from their pain. How he violated them and severely wounded their psyche? How do we care for them? How do we give them back their childhood?
This situation doesn't come up in the Gospels. We never hear about Jesus interacting with a convicted sex offender and healing him or somehow brining him back into the community. And as a father of three young children I don't know if I would ever want that individual back in my community, healed by Jesus or not. But, is that individual still a child of God?
So, what do you think?
Chris
I have been following the Sandusky trial, (it is hard not to, it is on the news constantly) and I feel a certain level of conflict. From what I have heard this man sounds like a monster who preyed on young boys. Who took advantage of them and robbed them of their childhood. I hope justice is served and he receives the punishment that he has coming to him.
But, (you knew that was coming) how does this jive with the Christian faith? Should there be grace for a man like Sandusky? How would Jesus have treated him? Is he just sick and in need of treatment? Is rehabilitation a possibility for someone like him?
But then again what about the victims? Even if he is sick and able to be treated that doesn't take away from their pain. How he violated them and severely wounded their psyche? How do we care for them? How do we give them back their childhood?
This situation doesn't come up in the Gospels. We never hear about Jesus interacting with a convicted sex offender and healing him or somehow brining him back into the community. And as a father of three young children I don't know if I would ever want that individual back in my community, healed by Jesus or not. But, is that individual still a child of God?
So, what do you think?
Chris
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