Perspective Sunday

Yesterday afternoon, I witnessed a family saying farewell to their 7-year-old son who was tragically killed this past week. Yesterday evening, I witnessed my favorite football team saying farewell to their opportunity for a seventh Super Bowl championship. Typically, I really get into football games, especially one of this magnitude for my team. But last night? Last night was just not the same.

While my attitude about sports, and especially football, has tamed over the last decade or so, I still get pretty passionate watching games. But last night? Last night really put things into perspective for me.

I struggled with what words to share as I spoke at the funeral for a child. There is nothing you can say when you are looking into the eyes of a parent who is facing a lost of this magnitude. As the father of a ten-year-old, I can completely understand their love for their son, but I will never be able to comprehend the loss they are experiencing.

While I was gathered with several hundred people in a room filled with grief, tears, and memories, millions of people around the country were preparing to watch a game. In one tiny corner of the world, a family was experiencing a loss beyond words while parties were in full swing, probably just down the street from us.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not berating all of those who are celebrating. As a matter of fact, those are the very kinds of moments that will provide the memories in the days ahead for this family who will now have an empty seat at the kitchen table. The family gatherings, the trips, those are the things that will bring smiles to often sorrowful faces.

But, yesterday put things in perspective for me in a powerful way.

Contrary to what many athletes say - including many I cheer for - I really don't think God is all that concerned about who wins a game where millionaires entertain us with their athletic abilities.

On the other hand, I believe that God was intimately concerned about a family mourning the loss of a son. I know He was present in that room yesterday and His Spirit was moving among us.

And if that's what God deems more important, which I firmly believe He does, that is where my heart needs to be as well.

Does that mean I will never cheer again for a football team? No. I will continue to enjoy watching a sport that entertains me.

Does that mean I won't get emotional at times when my team wins, or loses? Probably not.

Does it mean that I think entertainment is a bad thing. Not really.

What it does mean is this. That on a Sunday when the world was wrapped up in a sporting event, I was with a family who was wrapped up in the arms of Jesus. And if I am going to be His hands, His feet, and His arms, that is where my heart and passion needs to be first and foremost.

Regardless of which team would have walked away with the Lombardi Trophy last night, I walked away with a refocused perspective on what really matters, and that no matter how "big" of a game it is, it's just a game. Life, on the other hand, is so much more.

shine!
Jason

Spending passion wisely

We all have it. We all exert it. It's passion.
For some, it goes into a hobby, sport, or talent.
Others spend it on an entertainer, sports team, or TV show.
Our culture today provides hundreds of options for using our passion.
I was reminded last night of how much work it takes to redirect our passion in a direction that is both healthy and helpful as a citizen of the Kingdom of God.
Last night, I went to Buffalo Wild Wings with family and friends to watch the Pittsburgh Steelers play against the Cleveland Browns. As a fan of the Steelers, it was a pretty frustrating game to watch. If you know the outcome of the game, you know that I was disappointed by the final score. But what happened after the game reminded me of how far I have come.
This morning would have been significantly different for me several years ago. I would have woken up in a bad mood, still bitter about the loss. I likely would have been in a bad mood for several days. Comments from my friends who are Browns fans would have gotten under my skin and fueled the anger and frustration lurking just under the surface.
Today is different. Am I disappointed that a football team I support and cheer for lost? Sure. But once the clock read 0:00 and I walked out of B-Dubs, it only took a few minutes to get past it. This game is not consuming my life.
That's right, it's just a game.
What I have learned over time is that it's just a game. It's a bunch of men playing a game and getting paid millions of dollars to do it. Is it entertaining? Sure. It is fun to watch. Sometimes. Is it worthy of a passion that consumes my life? Not really.
Before those of you who don't get into sports start shouting, "Amen," this doesn't just relate to sports.
I see friends who have that kind of passion about television shows, movies, or books. They talk about the characters throughout the week. They often quote those characters a lot more than they quote Jesus.
Others show that kind of passion for a sport or hobby. They will spend hours upon hours practicing and playing, while leaving little or no time to engage in activities of the Kingdom. It can even become their primary source of identity, rather than their identity as a child of God.
Others invest their passion in things such as the way they look, the labels on their clothing, the lifestyle they work to maintain, and their social status.
Most of the things I mention above aren't inherently evil or sinful. However, when they become the recipient of so much of our passion that we have little or none left for Jesus and His Kingdom, I believe that we have seriously misdirected our passion.
I will be the first to admit that I have not arrived when it comes to this. I still misappropriate my passion sometimes. I elevate some things to a level that is wrong. I am by no means perfect.
But I can tell you that last night's game was a reminder of how far I think I have come. Ten years ago, if I had witnessed this kind of loss, I would have likely ignored certain phone calls, avoided certain people, and been somewhat unpleasant for a few days.
Today?
Well, last night I slept peacefully. And this morning I woke up and my passion was focused on other things. Passion for my God. Passion for my wife. Passion for my son. And passion for people who need to see Jesus in me today.
There are people in the world who genuinely dislike each other simply because of the football jersey they wear. I watched a few of those people get into a fistfight a few months ago at a Steelers-Lions game I attended. Seriously? You're going to punch a guy because he likes the other team? How ridiculous is that?
That, my friends, is misspent passion.
Imagine if those of us in the church poured as much passion into worship, prayer, social justice, and spiritual growth, as we pour into our sports, hobbies, entertainment, and other pursuits. How different would our lives look and how different could the world around us look? Just a thought from a guy who's still on the journey of figuring out how to spend his passion wisely.

shine!
Jason

Harwell, Albom, and faith

This is a great testimony by Ernie Harwell, the 91-year-old former Detroit Tigers broadcaster who was recently diagnosed with incurable cancer.

A true hero

I watched this and had to share it...

Penguin persecution, even from an elder

Yesterday, I made the decision to wear my Pittsburgh Penguins jersey. I realize this was a brave/foolish decision on my part. However, I wanted to rejoice in the Penguins' victory in game 6 the night before. First of all, it was a well played game and they deserved the win. Second, and more importantly, the Red Wings will more than likely win Friday night and skate around the Joe with Lord Stanley's Cup. Therefore, yesterday was my chance to revel in the moment.
Well, it started and never ended. The looks. The words. The general sense of unhappiness when anyone saw me.
"Why would you wear that?"
"Seriously?"
"What is THAT?"
And to top it all off, last night at the conclusion of our elder/staff meeting we were about to pray. One of our elders looked at me and said, "Say a special prayer for Jason." Wow, even dissed by an elder.
I realize that everyone (well at least the people at church) were saying all of this to me in love. It was kind of fun for the day to be the person almost everyone looked at with disgust. The real fun could be around the corner if the Penguins do find a way to pull off the upset.

shine!
Jason

Steelers Draft

And now something fun...

Role Models

Click on this link to read a great article about athletes and role models. This really touched me, so I wanted to share it with others.

shine!
Jason

Who gets the credit?

When Ronald Reagan was President, he had a sign on his desk that said, "There is no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn't mind who gets the credit." In 2004, when I visited the Reagan Presidential Museum and Library, I purchased a paperweight with this saying on it and I have had it on my desk ever since.
While I struggle to live out this motto at times, I strive to allow these words to echo in my mind.
Another man who I greatly admire has lived by this creed for much of his life. Church Noll coached the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1969 until 1991. He is the only head coach to win four Super Bowl titles. He is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. In spite of all of these accomplishments, he never looked for fame or fortune. He quietly headed into retirement.
This morning I read a great article about Noll that reminded me what kind of man he is and was.
As I think about men like Ronald Reagan and Chuck Noll, I think about the man who embodied this kind of humility and accomplished the greatest fete in the history of mankind. This man was no ordinary man. He was more than a man. He was God, in the flesh. Paul describes Him this way in the letter to the Philippian church:

Though he was God,
he did not think of equality with God
as something to cling to.
Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
he took the humble position of a slave
and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
he humbled himself in obedience to God
and died a criminal’s death on a cross.
Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
and gave him the name above all other names,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.

When I think about men like Reagan and Noll, I believe that while none of us are perfect, we can strive to have the attitude of Christ. And while both of them had plenty of faults - don't we all - they exhibited a humility that I wish could be a bigger part of who I am.
I am convinced that what often holds me back from accomplishing greater things is me. If I could set down my pride, stop worrying about what people will think about me, and focus on carrying out Kingdom work and considering others more, I am sure that God could use me to do much more than I can ask or imagine.

shine!
Jason

God appears in a football stadium

God showed up at a football game...this is a great article for this time of year.
Click HERE to read it:

Bad call

This past Sunday, I was watching the end of the football game between the Denver Broncos and the San Diego Chargers. As the Broncos were driving down to score a game-tying touchdown, this weird play happened. (If you follow the NFL at all, I am sure you have heard about this already.)

As the Broncos quarterback went to throw the football, it slipped from his hand as he was pulling his hand back. The referee, Ed Hochuli, blew his whistle and signaled incomplete pass. The problem is that it was never a pass; it was a fumble.

The play was reviewed and instant replay determined that it was a fumble. But according to the rule, once the whistle is blown, the play is dead. Therefore, the Broncos kept the ball at the place of the "incomplete pass." They went on to score a touchdown, followed by a two-point conversion. This gave them a one-point victory.

Following the game, the San Diego coach went on to chide Hochuli for his mistake. I am not excusing the referee's mistake, but coach Norv Turner's attitude was poor. Sure, Hochuli's mistake likely cost his team the game. But has Turner ever made a mistake? Called the wrong play? Put in the wrong players?

I cannot dispute the bad call. I understand Norv's frustration. But to act the way he did was a bit extreme. Maybe the fans need to remember his attitude the next time Turner makes a call that costs his team the game.

It's amazing how often we want to point out someone else's mistake, while we fail to admit - and sometimes even realize - our own shortcomings. Jesus said:

“Do not judge others, and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treat others. The standard you use in judging is the standard by which you will be judged.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying to your friend, ‘Let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye." (Matthew 7:1-5)

We are so good at finding that speck in someone else's eye. But the reality is that we often point out the faults of others so we can ignore our own. If we really want to make things better at work, at school, at home, and even at church, maybe we should start looking at our own logs before pointing our finger at the other person's speck.

shine!
Jason

Are you ready for some football?

Finally! The regular season is here.

After a summer of baseball, a decent sport, it's time for America's game. Instead of five minutes of chewing, spitting, and standing, followed by 20 seconds of excitement, it's time for an action-filled sport.

Don't get me wrong. I enjoy baseball. I went to two games this summer - one in Cincinnati and one in Detroit. But football is different.

Every game really counts. One loss can mean you are in or out of the playoffs. When you only play sixteen times in a season, it makes every Sunday special.

While I am sitting here watching the last game of the first weekend of football, there has already been intrigue. Most of all, the loss of Tom Brady for the season. With one tackle, the landscape of the NFL has changed.

I am ready for some football! In this season of cooling temperatures, colorful leaves, and touchdowns, it's the most wonderful time of the year.

shine!
Jason

Olympics, Democrats, golf, and the pursuit of sleep

Last night, the Olympics came to a conclusion. Phelps, Bolt, questionable documentation, censorship, and a variety of other events that provided great theater, the Games of the 29th Olympiad are over. Beijing can go back to normal, whatever that is.

Tonight the circus arrives in town (via TV). The Democratic National Convention kicks off tonight. I must confess I am a bit of a political junkie. (Little-known trivial fact: I have a minor in Political Science) I will do my best to take in the convention. For some reason, no one wanted to plan an event in the Eastern Time Zone, so I will have to continue my sleep deprivation for the next couple of weeks.

I am fascinated by this year's presidential election. For the first time since I was born, the incumbent POTUS (President of the United States) or his VP are not on the ticket. In fairness, I haven't followed politics as closely as I used to. Honestly, I don't have the time or desire to dig into all the details like I used to. But I at least try to be informed. I look forward to seeing how each party will sell it's candidate and platform to the American people.

On a different note, I hit the golf course this morning before 7:00am with one of my teenagers. We had a blast! It was the first time I had walked 18 holes in a long time. And I didn't shoot all that bad considering my lack of recent play. Regardless of the score, it was great to get out and just walk around the course. It was pretty quiet, there were no crowds, and we just enjoyed playing and talking.

I hope Michelle Obama isn't too long-winded tonight. I would like to hear her speech, but I also have to meet my men's group tomorrow morning at 6:00am followed by a day full of appointments, meetings, and ministry. But I get to go home this weekend! :-)

shine!
Jason

Fore!

Yesterday I did something I haven't done in about three years. I played golf.

Yes, I have played putt-putt more recently, but that doesn't really count.

I was invited to join three friends to play 18 holes.

So yesterday morning I wiped the dust off my clubs, dug out my golf shoes, and headed out to the course. Since I received the invitation the evening before, there was no time to hit the driving range or warm up. I went out to the course and my first swing was on the first tee.

I ended up hitting a 102. Not bad for not having picked up my clubs - other than to move them around the garage - in a few years. I even had one birdie and one par. That tells you how bad the rest of my game must have looked at times.

As I was towards the end of my round, something hit me. Some Christians "play" following Jesus like I play golf. They occasionally clean off their gifts and abilities and decide to put them to use for the Kingdom.

And it shows. Like my golf game yesterday, they spend a lot of time dealing with missing the mark. If they haven't really been following Jesus consistently for a while, they spend time in the "rough" and "traps." Their inconsistency creates bad situations and poor choices.

This doesn't mean that consistently following Jesus will make everything perfect. In golf, even Tiger Woods has his poor shots. He is not perfect. But his endless hours of practice and preparation have served him well on the golf course.

I am no Tiger Woods, but I would venture to guess that if I played several times a week every week, I would become a better golfer.

How much better would many Christians be at following Jesus if they made it more than a weekend hobby?

shine!
Jason

Going for 19

After an entire season, two teams will meet to determine who is the NFL champion. The New England Patriots are going for a record-breaking, perfect 19-0 season.

As I have listened to "experts" talk about the Super Bowl and New England’s historic feat, so many of them say it won’t be nearly as impressive if they lose the Super Bowl. Many have said that a loss during the regular season would have been less damaging than going undefeated to this point and losing the "big game."

Can you imagine the pressure those players must feel? Sure, in interview after interview they say it's just another game. But let's be honest, these players must feel immense pressure.

Christians often face similar pressure. Often we feel like we need to be perfect and any mistake makes our life seem less valuable, less worthy.

The difference between the New England Patriots and you and me, is that through our imperfections and "losses," God can often do His best work.

Should we strive to follow God? Yes!

Should we seek to avoid sin? Absolutely!

But when we make mistakes and fall short of what God created us to be, remember that through the blood of Jesus we can continue to play on like we never lost a game. It’s the grace of God that gives us the ability to be true champions in the Kingdom of God.

shine!
Jason

Keep it in perspective

I just watched the New England Patriots make pro football history. Undefeated. 16-0.

I came to my computer to check the news and the "Breaking News" story was about the Patriots.

Let me preface that I am a big football fan. NFL. College. High school. I like it all.

But while many of the citizens of New England celebrate an undefeated season, they will drive by defeated people sitting on street corners, living in cardboard boxes, and struggling to survive. People, often defeated by situations beyond their control, will spend tonight in the cold. They will go without a meal.

There are people who probably paid more for a seat at this "historic" game than many people in the world earn in a year. All to watch a sporting event.

Like I said, I really enjoy football. But when entertainment consumes us and the justice of God becomes a footnote to our lives, have we lost our way?

Tonight and in the days ahead, sports analysts and armchair quarterbacks will spend hours and hours talking about where this 16-0 season stands among other sports accomplishments. Meanwhile, there is a good chance someone will sit outside of a sports bar wondering why no one is paying attention to him. While multi-million dollar athletes celebrate winning a game, someone will likely lose their life due to the effects of poverty.

I am not saying we should never enjoy entertainment. I am not saying that the New England Patriots' accomplishment should go unnoticed. But in the grand scheme of Creation, let's keep it in perspective.

shine!
Jason