Men’s Breakfast — Sports Fan-atics

Sports Fan-atics
The word “fan” is a shortened form of “fanatic.” A fanatic is “one who is unreasonably enthusiastic or overly zealous, going beyond what is reasonable”

The principle athletic events of the New Testament time period included the Olympic Games in Olympia & the Isthmian Games near Corinth.
While the Apostle Paul in particular often used athletic examples to illustrate spiritual truths, the Scriptures themselves neither endorse nor condemn participation in sports.
Their frequent mention in the New Testament confirms that athletics were a major part of the culture during the days of the writing of the inspired text.
Acts 13:25 “…while John was completing his course”
Acts 20:24 “…so that I may finish my course”
Romans 9:16 “…the man who runs”
I Corinthians 9:25 “…compete in the games”
I Corinthians 9:26 “…run in such a way…box in such a way”
I Corinthians 9:27 “…discipline my body”
Galatians 2:2 “…I might be running or had run in vain”
Galatians 5:7 “…you were running well”
Philippians 2:16 “…I did not run in vain nor toil in vain”
Philippians 3:14 “…I press on toward the goal for the prize”
I Timothy 1:18 “…fight the good fight”
I Timothy 6:12 “…fight the good fight of faith”
II Timothy 4:7 “…fought the good fight, I have finished the course”
Hebrews 12:1 “…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us”

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As a Loyalist
Our Identity
“Many individuals tie their sense of self-worth, their happiness and sometimes their pocketbooks to the success of their favorite sports franchise.
Being let down by our favorite team is not only a blow to our self-esteem — it can also be deadly for our hearts. Several years ago, a prominent medical journal chronicled a dramatic increase in heart attacks in Germany when that country was playing the elimination contest for the World Cup. Studies have also demonstrated a dramatic increase in deaths in Los Angeles County when the Rams lost the Super Bowl — and a decrease in heart attacks when the Raiders won the Super Bowl four years later.
Ample medical evidence shows that during times of profound stress — whether it is brief, or a joy or a disappointment — there can be a surge in chemicals that can short circuit the heart’s functions. This can result in a fatal heart condition. We are well-advised to remember that after all it is a game, and regardless of the outcome the sun will rise tomorrow.” By Edward T. Creagan, M.D.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
I Corinthians 10:31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
How have you been affected to an extreme by a team’s win or loss?
Where is the balance between following a team and being obsessed with a team?

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As an Observer
Our Priorities
Rick Reilly of Sports Illustrated hits a home run when he says, “…Sports [are] becoming this country’s main religion. Priests and pastors across the country have noticed something lately; God is competing more and more with Sunday sports—and losing. Especially with youth sports.” Whereas in years past Sundays seemed to be off limits for sports teams to practice or play, today it is an accepted and cherished day, just like the other six days of the week. All because the world really does agree with coaching legend Vince Lombardi who once said, “Winning isn’t everything, it is the only thing.”
-29.9 million people now actively playing in the fantasy sports industry in the U.S. and Canada
-$800 million spent directly on fantasy sports products
-Estimated Size of the Entire Sports Industry in the US alone is $441.1 billion
I Corinthians 6:12 “Everything is permissible for me”—but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is permissible for me”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
Matthew 6:33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
On what sports related area have you spent too much time or money on?
How do you find the proper priorities for your sports or leisure? =====================================================================================
As a Competitor
Our Attitude
“The win-at-all-cost mentality has subsequently produced scandal at all levels of sport. We read of parents punching umpires after Little League games because their kid “got cheated.” We read of professional athletes taking illegal steroids and other drugs to gain a competitive advantage. We read of college athletes being indicted for intentionally affecting the outcome of a game for personal financial gain. We read of coaches who have intentionally broken recruiting rules in hopes of landing the “big one.” All of these actions are a direct result of ungodly, sinful, win-at-all-cost pursuits, motivated ultimately by money, pride, prestige and greed.” Author Mark Hyman
I Corinthians 9:24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
James 4:6 …”God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Share a situation by which you lost control of yourself due to over competitiveness.
How do you strike a balance between playing to win and glorifying God.

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As an Example:
Our kids
Titus 2:7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good
II Timothy 2:5 Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules.
Sports Illustrated columnist Rick Reilly refers to this parental obsession as “upping.” He says, “For some reason over-caffeinated parents feel they have to keep up with the Joneses. They used to do it with their cars. Now they do it with their kids.” It’s no wonder that many kids aren’t playing sports for the same reason they once did because their parents are working their own agendas.
Many youth traveling teams now even have a general manager and a business manager so that the coaches can concentrate solely on winning.
Describe a situation where you were an overzealous parent or how you were pressured by a parent.
How does a Christian father deal with the unbalanced child sports craze?

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As a Christian
Our Life
Ultimately God wants us to become, in the eyes of those outside of Christ, a fanatic for Christ.
I believe many Christians stop short of full surrender to God because of “what people might say.” After all, we don’t want to be fanatics, do we?
In Acts 26, the great Apostle Paul addresses King Agrippa and Festus the governor at the Caesarian judgment seat. As Paul expounded and preached Christ the two leaders had totally opposite reactions. Agrippa said in 24At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”
25″I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable.
The word Luke used for “insane” meant “excessive excitability, a persistent, obsessive enthusiasm”
Festus was saying, “Paul, you are a fanatic! You are excessive about this “Jesus.”

Sports are a part of our culture: In a recent column in Sports Spectrum, it was reported that more than 96% of the people in the world play sports, are sports fans, or have a close family member or friend interested in sports
In his book, They Call Me Coach, John Wooden does an excellent job giving us perspective:
“I always tried to make it clear that basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of a life that truly succeeds, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere. Material possessions, winning scores, and great reputations are meaningless in the eyes of the Lord, because He knows what we really are and what we really can be, and that is all that really matters.”
The bottom line is, while the world is fanatically obsessed with sports, we as God’s people are to be passionately and singularly obsessed with God.
Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Bridges Facilities…God Provides

It never ceases to amaze me how God provides for his people. I’ve read it in the Scriptures, I’ve heard stories from other countries, and I’ve seen it first hand in my life. But somehow it is always amazing when God shows Himself to be faithful to meet our needs and to surpass our expectations. This has been the case in our recent search for a Sunday gathering facility.

Let me rewind a little bit and give you a bit of the back-story. In late January we heard through the grapevine that because of the passing of Measure K in Los Alamitos, we would have to discontinue our use of McAuliffe Middle School June 1 of 2009, so that they could begin initial construction on their facilities. We began to investigate this and when we finally got clarity by the beginning of February on what was going on we were told that our use of McAuliffe would end March 29, 2009 (obviously a much shorter that we anticipated). The quick response of the Board of Directors (who are over the areas of facilities, finance and function) was to assemble a team to begin looking for possible solutions to our Sunday dilemma. The purpose of our team was two-fold: first, to see if there was any way to extend our time at McAuliffe back to the original June 1, 2009 date and second, to explore all available options for places to gather on Sunday mornings. On Sunday February 8^th we presented the current situation to you the Bridges Church body and urged you to send us suggestions of possible places to meet as well as to pray earnestly that God would go before us and provide a place for us to gather. Thank you for your awesome suggestions and your prayers, God honored us as a body for seeking Him in prayer and provided beyond what we could have expected.

Early this Tuesday morning (February 17) we got some amazing news. At our request the school district looked at their construction plan and decided that they would allow us to continue using McAuliffe for our Sunday Gathering through June 30, 2010 a full 13 months beyond what we had hoped for and a full 15 months more than we believed we had just two weeks ago!!! We truly serve an amazing God who was very gracious in His dealings with us in this situation.

Moving forward the current plan is to remain at McAuliffe through June 2010 as we actively pursue Sunday gathering location options beyond that date in conjunction with exploring options for the renewal of our lease for the ministry center which comes up November of this year.

A special thank you is due to the awesome members of the search team for their selfless efforts in exploring Sunday gathering options (those efforts will not go to waste as they will serve as the foundation of the search for future sites). Also it is so important that we recognize the role of the Board of Directors in setting up this process and providing support for the team along the way as well as their ongoing role in looking at the future of facilities for Bridges Church. Thank you as a church body for your suggestions and most of all for your prayers, it is clear from Scripture and now as a tangible example that our whole community can see, that God does work through prayer. Lastly, and most importantly, all thanks be to God for his great provision for the people that make up Bridges Church.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Jason Erselius

January “Man Up” Topic: Maintaining Sexual Purity

We had a great turnout this morning. Thanks to everyone who got up early and made it possible to start on time. I’ve posted some of the points we covered as well as some additional comments that I didn’t give this morning. Resources we referenced are at the end of the comments. Your contributions to the discussion this morning added an important dimension to our time together. Continue to pray for each other this week as we implement the things we learned. I hope you will share what you’ve learned with other men who are willing to “man up” in this area.

A spiritual sniper has you in his sites. His objective is to destroy or incapacitate you effectiveness as a man, whose desire is to serve the Lord.  Matt. 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8

He is the tempter 1 Thess. 3:5 and must be resisted James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:9. This “shooter” is baiting men, teasing and taunting them to try it just one time. Repeated resistance to his overtures brings even more subtle and deceitful temptations. This life-long struggle, to live above this “sexually-saturated” culture, is worthy of a deeper discussion.

Is there a difference between temptation and lust?

Temptation isn’t sin.

Jesus was tempted. He resisted and didn’t sin. Matthew 4:11

All men are tempted.

God enables men to bear up under the temptation

and He provides a way of escape. 1 Cor 10:13

Lust is connected with the flesh and with the eye 1 John 2:16

The flesh lusts – So we must constantly present our bodies as living sacrifices to God. The mind must also be transformed in its thinking. Romans 12:1-2.

Paul addresses sexual immorality and its relationship to one’s body.

Conclusion: Glorify God in your body. 1 Cor 6:12-20

Combat and conflict in this area if a believing man’s life necessitates a proactive positioning of thinking and practice. A moving target is always more difficult to hit than one which is stationary. Having a “wing man” gives you a much-needed, second set of eyes.

Lines must be drawn and fortifications must be built.

Married men, how do you guard yourself from having an emotional or physical affair?

Single men, what convictions do you have in the area of sexual self-control?

The line may look like internet accountability software (see resources).

That click of a mouse on the wrong site could be the click of the spiritual sniper’s trigger.

Consequential cost?

Your wife, your kids, your job, your integrity.    Was it worth the cost?

Pursue Righteous & Right Thinking

• Regular study of God’s Word
• Regular prayer
• Regular accountability to godly men
• Regular service and ministry
• Regular financial giving
• Regular spiritual growth

There was that night at your friend’s bachelor party. Alcohol diminished your judgment and what happened in Vegas didn’t stay in Vegas. Word got back to your girlfriend of two years. She’s now your ex-girlfriend and you reputation has taken a hit “below the waterline”.   The good news is that she had enough sense to break off the relationship rather than accept it as “acceptable guy behavior”.

How much would you pay to get your wife/ fiancé’ back?

How about your kids?

Your reputation?

Your health?

Your job?

One million dollars? Ten million dollars?  One hundred million dollars?

It’s a slippery slope   Fast Forward five years. You’re married with 2 young kids. The passion and affection you once had with your wife has diminished due to your “extra curricular activities”.  The lust that started so innocently has conceived its child: false pleasure, fictitious intimacy, and a life of lies.

Lust always wants more. That is why it ends with addiction.

So set the spiritual soldiers at your moral checkpoints. Guard the gate of your eyes. Reinforce the bunkers of your thinking and convictions.

Make sure your wife has access to your e-mail and credit card statements.

Talk with your girlfriend or fiancé about where the line must be drawn to preserve your sexual purity as well as hers.

Living in the forgiveness of God’s grace in Christ’s sacrifice doesn’t preclude our responsibility in this fight. The stakes are high and the consequences are far-reaching.

Often, we are compelled to clean up our lives, even after coming to Christ. When that doesn’t work, we often blame someone or something rather than admitting that we tried to do it in our strength and our wisdom.

As men, we must respond to God’s call on our lives in the area of sexual purity.

I’ve seen God transform ruined relationships from infidelity.

I’ve seem love and forgiveness emerge from the pain and distrust of a rejected spouse.   I’ve seen new perspective replace shattered hope. I’ve seen new desire replace old ones..

Here is the good news. We have a sympathetic advocate in Christ. Hebrews 4:14-16

Man Up next month on February 21^st. Touch Topic #2

Resources:

“Every Man’s Battle: Winning the War on Sexual Temptation One Victory at a Time” by Steven Arterburn

“Not Even a Hint” by Joshua Harris

“When Men Think Private Thoughts” by Gordon MacDonald

“False Intimacy: Understanding the Struggle of Sexual Addiction” by Harry Schaumburg

Internet Filter for Accountability:

www.covenanteyes.com

COMMUNITY EVENT TURNED OUT A BIT CLOSER THAN WE MAY HAVE WANTED

As we approach this new series: “Community, a Place for You,” we elders wanted to launch our new blog that will allow us to weekly communicate vision and concepts to our Bridges body. This week’s post more than hints of irony. We were blessed by a wonderful evening during the “Night in Bethlehem” event. It was a blessing to see so many people pull together to accomplish so much. The planning was long and thorough and the amount of involvement was staggering, but the result was wonderful. These strong teams transformed a middle school into an ancient village. The atmosphere, service, food, and entertainment was both professional and personal. What a talented bunch of people we have here.
The ironic part is that we more than reached our goal of closeness as a church community. The concept of “shared community” came with consequences. It appears that someone brought in a flu virus that certainly allowed me to lose weight over the holidays. This irony opens up several different avenues of discussion I can allow us to travel down like; closeness with so many may not work, or inviting others into our activities could backfire, or too many close practices with so many kids may spread more than Christmas cheer…
The approach on my mind is the ways by which we communicate as a church body. It appears as if we all share even bad news quite quickly. This technologically based culture allows information to flow rather quickly, but this rapid movement doesn’t guarantee information to be correct. This flu bug although always labeled a sickness, certainly morphed into several different types of illnesses over the span of less than one week.
The concern of the elders is always the spiritual health of our community. There were many that sacrificed time and resources to put on such an amazing evening. It is always natural for those most invested in an event to take any problems personal. Awareness of this ahead of time allows a group of Christians to be careful how, who and when to communicate. If it had come from some type of negligence (although it was not in any manner), then care should be taken in communication protecting those most closely involved. Romans 12:10 Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. (NLT)
In this case there was a fair amount of pre-mature conclusions made of the source and type of the illness. It is always best to wait until we know enough of the facts before we discuss assumptions, therefore avoiding people taking these discussions personal. Proverbs 18:13 Spouting off before listening to the facts is both shameful and foolish. (NLT)
Truth should always be the goal and even inadvertent gossip still has the same effect as such. Proverbs 18:8 says, What dainty morsels rumors are–but they sink deep into one’s heart. (NLT)
Something to think through next time any of us are faced with some information that we are tempted to share. I suggest that all of us go through similar steps like the following prior to sharing both verbally, electronically or in writing:
A) Is all of my information true and validated?
B) Who will this impact?
C) How might this information be taken by those most closely related to what is shared?
D) Does the content of what I am discussing build up others in the church or have the possibility of tearing down?

Coming soon…

Lots of good content from the elders of Bridges Church!