January 31 - GAMERS

Gamers

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful, stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” 1 Peter 4:10

Whether or not you are a Super Bowl or football fan, you are finding football information seeping through your doors, chimney and heating vents this week.  Everything from East Coast weather, Doritos’ commercials, blizzard watches, locker room chatter, Broncos and Seahawk strengths and weaknesses, and New York traffic, is fair game.  However, one topic that is generally put on the back page (if ever reaching it) is the spiritual life of both the Seattle Seahawk’s and Denver Broncos’ leaders.

Quarterbacks Russell Wilson and Peyton Manning’s leadership will be on display for  millions to see. But behind the helmets, pads, cleats, and athletic abilities, are men who truly are exemplary in life.  We will look at Russell Wilson today and Peyton Manning tomorrow.

In a recent interview with Mars Hill Pastor Mark Driscoll, four Seahawks players and an assistant coach discussed their faith in a video entitled, “The Making Of A Champion.” (You Tube).  The coach stated that "Jesus is better than anything... even better than the Super Bowl, better than an NFL career, any of that."  Quarterback Russell Wilson was one of the players nodding in agreement.

In a video many have viewed entitled, "The Making of a Champion," Wilson says, "I was kind of a bad kid," explaining that "I used to beat up kids and bite kids and do stuff all the time." What changed?  "I had a dream that my dad passed away, and that Jesus came into the room.  He was knocking on my door, saying, 'You need to find out more about me,'" Wilson said.  "So that Sunday morning I ended up going to church and that's when I got saved."

Did his salvation guarantee a life of success?  Not at all.  Wilson was part of a very athletic family—his father played professional football, his brother played in college, and his sister is one of the top high school basketball prospects in the country.  However, six years after his conversion, his father died at the age of 55 due to complications from diabetes.  Wilson grew to be only five-feet-eleven-inches in height, a fact that made him an unlikely professional prospect.

He was eventually drafted in the third round by the Seattle Seahawks.  Five quarterbacks and 69 other players were taken ahead of him.  Surprising everyone, he beat out veteran competition and became the starter as a rookie.  He led his team to the playoffs and played in the Pro Bowl.  This year his team went 13-3 and will play in the Super Bowl.

While some athletes get in trouble for comments, Wilson posts daily Bible verses on his Twitter feed.  During the NFL season, he visits the Seattle Children's Hospital weekly and has visited with soldiers at the local military base.  He is National Ambassador of the Charles Ray III Diabetes Association.  His explanation: "I realized that God had given me so many talents, and I wanted to give Him all the glory."

As we have mentioned, “No person has every talent…but every person has some talent.”  As we offer them to God, He is able to use them to bring glory to Himself.  While maybe we can’t throw a 70-yard bomb or make a game-saving tackle, using your gifts just might allow you to save someone… in the biggest game called “life.”

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   What gifts has God given you that others would see?

2)   How can you offer that talent to God for His glory?

Consider reading the Word today:

 

Copyright 2014 - Terry Risser

January 30 - Getting Out Of Our Ruts

Getting Out Of Our Ruts

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.”  1 Corinthians 2:9

Years ago, an old college professor threw out a zinger that continues to resonate to this day.   He said, “Young men and women, be careful of ruts.  They are graves with the ends knocked out.”  Wise words indeed.  Whether young or old, we are all susceptible to them, being the creatures of habit that we are.

Ruts are deadly temptations to fall into (the status quo or comfort zone) when God has an exhilarating and captivating plan that requires constant stretching.  There are emotional ruts…restaurant ruts…financial ruts…marriage ruts…and yes, even spiritual ruts.  The kind that cause our walk with God to grow more stale than three week bread.

The Denver Zoo had a difficult decision to make some time back.  They were offered the gift of a beautiful, large polar bear.  But there was no existing space for it.  They were in the middle of a fund-raising campaign to renovate the zoo and in their renovation plans, they changed the strategy to include a magnificent habitat for the polar bear.  In the meantime, the bear was put in a small, temporary cage. The cage was so small that he could only take three steps, turn around and walk three steps back.  Because of the unforeseen delays the construction took three years.  However, the enclosure was absolutely beautiful.  It had everything; a small waterfall, caves, and plenty space to move around.  The bear entered its new space.

 It took three steps. 

Turned around and took three steps.

Turned around and took three steps. 

The rut pattern had formed. We are prone to become conditioned to the fact that life is one way and that’s all that it will ever be.  Even polar bears aren’t exempt from such a mindset.

It is also a good picture of how Israel got into ruts.  In Judges 6, Gideon’s story reminds us of such a season.  They had been beaten, battered and barraged so many times, victorious living seemed like a pipe dream.  Enters God.  He starts with a “cowardly corporal” and turns him into a “gigantic general.”   In God’s victory through Gideon, over 138,000 Midianites with several hundred Israelites is a story for the ages.  They move from “rutters to routers” in a short few weeks.

A.W. Tozer said, “God is looking for those through whom He can do the        impossible-what a pity that we plan only the things we can do by ourselves.”

Today, God wants to break the ruts, self-imposed limits, and elongated graves that paralyze us.  It starts when we see what a great God He is, what great things He can do, and how limitless His work is through ordinary people like you and me.   It is a lot more exciting than what we can do on our own.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Name your biggest rut.

2)   What area of trust and risk might God be inviting you to experience this week.

Consider reading the word of God today:

 

Copyright 2014 - Terry Risser

January 29 - Supernatural Living In A Superficial World

Supernatural Living In A Superficial World

“Yes, all the things I once thought were so important are gone from my life. Compared to the high privilege of knowing Christ Jesus as my Master, firsthand, everything I once thought I had going for me is insignificant.”  Philippians 3:8

C.S. Lewis, Chronicles Of Narnia author, once talked about our willingness to pursue second best, behind God’s best.  He said, “We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about the world’s ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.”

With the Super Bowl a few days away, Kurt Warner’s Championship season with the St. Louis Rams defeating the Tennessee Titans comes to mind.  The former NFL and Super Bowl MVP’s unlikely rise to success came from serving as a shelf stocker at the local Hy-Vee grocery store to becoming a Super Bowl Champ. 

With the score tied at 16 -16, the game came down to the final two minutes where the Rams got the ball after the kickoff. The Rams had the game in their hands to win or lose, with one of the most exciting Super Bowl finishes in history.  Having studied the defensive backs coverage, they knew that the D.B.’s would press coverage to the outside.  Needless to say, they decided to throw a bomb on the first play.  Warner was hit by Jevon Kearse (The Freak) while Isaac Bruce came back and caught the pass.  They scored a touchdown. Their defense was able to hold on with the last play on the one yard line. 

            

In his book, “All Things Possible,”  Warner shared about the post-game conversations.  Mike Tirico, the sportscaster, interviewed him.  He said, “Kurt, first things first- tell me about the final touchdown pass to Isaac.” Kurt responded, “First things first, I’ve got to thank my Lord and Savior up above-thank you, Jesus!”  After the game, Warner was being mobbed by everyone.  He wanted to call his kids.  He has three children…11, 8, and 1 years old. 

He called his 8-year old daughter Jesse who had been watching the game.  He said, “Jesse, what did you think of the game.” She said, “Congratulations, Daddy, you won! (She had better things to do so she passed the phone off to her eleven year old brother). Zachary came to the phone (He took his time).  He said, “Hi, Daddy!  I’m watching Veggie Tales!” Kurt said, “Hey Zack Man.  Did you see the game?” He said, “Uh-huh.  Hey, Dad.  I’m watching Veggie Tales!” Kurt said, “Great. I love you.”He said, “I love you too.  Gotta go watch the movie.”   Kurt said, “I’m going to Disney World, and he’s watching Veggie Tales.  Now that’s a commercial I’d like to see.”

Sometimes, God invites us to join in on something great and we’re satisfied with our own interests.   Like Zachary, we are caught up on veggie-tales when we could be preparing for Disney World.  He calls us to participate into something great and we sometimes settled for an water-down version.  Mud Pies, if you will. 

John Piper said, “If a relationship with God is the only all-satisfying reality in the universe, then to try to find it without it being in a relationship with God and an ignited delight in God, would be like treating fever with cold packs when you have penicillin.” 

It makes me realize how often I settle for a superficial version when God calls me to supernatural living.  Not a bad things to remember during this Super Bowl Week.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Can you articulate what God might be want to do in and through you?

2)   Think of a time you did something your way and ended up empty

Consider reading the word

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser

January 28 - Bailed Out

Bailed Out

“For by grace are you save through faith: it is a gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

 In Transforming Grace, Jerry Bridges describes a bank principle that applies to us as believers.  In the business world, financially troubled companies forced into bankruptcy have two options, known as Chapter 7 and Chapter 11. 

Chapter 11 has to do with what could be called “temporary bankruptcy.” This option is chosen by a basically healthy company that, given time, can work through its financial problems. But the business does not necessarily end.

Chapter 7 is for a company that has reached the end of its financial rope. It is not only deeply in debt, it has no future as a viable business. It is forced to liquidate its assets and pay off its creditors. Often it only receives as little as 10 cents on the dollar.  The company is finished and the owners and investors lose everything. When it comes to our relationship with God, we come to the place where we realize that this applies to us

                      

The idea is that we are bankrupt or DOA (Dead On Arrival).  Then and only then, we find mercy.  We cannot be saved until we find that we have nothing to offer God.  But this also applies to our changing or sanctification.  While we get saved under Chapter 7…we operate like we’re Chapter 11. 

       

In the healing of the paralytic in John 5, we find his encounter with Christ pressing Him to a recognition of limitations.  He realized he was completely incapable of walking.  Yet, he soon finds Himself briskly moving toward the temple.  In essence, when he does what Jesus tells him…he gets healed.

Essentially, as Paul would say in many of His salutations, “Since Christ bailed us out, He owns us.” In Matthew 5, Jesus says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The idea of “poor” meaning destitute or without any means.  But we can’t see that in a negative sense but we have to see it as our passport to new life bringing health and wholeness to us.  Let Him make all the decisions and follow Him. 

An encounter with Christ brings a partnership.  True change only occurs when realize how little we can offer and how much He truly offers. While we know that Christ gives the power, we are obligated to hold up our own…simply by leaning on Him.  Its amazing how capable we become when we realize how incapable we are. 

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   Why do we struggle to admit our spiritual bankruptcy?

2)   How does it make us feel?

Consider reading the word today:

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser