A Dose Of Perspective - Fall 2007

We live as Christians today in an instant gratification society that fervently proclaims: “if there is anything you desire, not only should you be able to have it, but you should expect to have it, and have it right now!” Don’t believe me? Just turn on the T.V. for five minutes and I think you will. This dangerous teaching leads us to further believe the lie that says life is only about three very important people…me, myself, and I. We can easily see the trickle down effects that this mindset has had in many aspects of life, none more clearly however, than in the area of athletics. I’d be hard pressed to find a quote that better typifies this mindset than the one from Dallas Cowboys star wide receiver Terrell Owens, who foolishly stated “I love me some me.” Sadly we can’t even talk about sports now a days without mentioning words like steroids, H.G.H, arrogance, arrests, pride, and how could I forget the newly popular “making it rain.”

Never in my life have I seen so many scandals and negative headlines at one time, from Barry Bonds, and Packman Jones, to Michael Vick and Tank Johnson, and that’s just naming a few; don’t get me started about the Tour De France, or the University of Northern Colorado backup kicker who stabbed his starting teammate in the leg… Huh? Wow things seem pretty dark don’t they, but don’t lose heart because that’s where you “The Christian Athlete” come in. Every time you step onto your respective field, track, course, or court you need to be focused, alert, and determined to make sure that you will always emerge victorious, even in defeat. I’m sure your thinking to yourself what is he talking about? How in the world can I lose and still be victorious? You see it’s all about living with the proper perspective; a heavenly perspective. 1st Corinthians 10:31 states “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” We are to be the salt of the earth and the light of this dark world; that my friends should be our main objective and focus. Never forget that you are a Christian who just happens to be an athlete and not an Athlete who just happens to be a Christian.

Your relationship with Jesus Christ must always define who you are and what you desire to accomplish; and what we should desire the most is to bring God Glory through the gifts and grace that He has provided. Jesus instructs us on the importance of this very thing in His sermon on the mount when He stated “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” So if you win, win with hard work, integrity, and humility, and if you lose do so with a good attitude, without complaining, making excuses, or passing the blame off on someone else, and in God’s eyes you will always have emerged victorious. I want to leave you with the words of the Apostle Paul who admonishes you to “run the race in a manner that you might obtain the prize.” Not a shiny trophy made by mere men, but rather the everlasting prize of pleasing our heavenly father and bringing Him Glory through your lives! Hey, it’s all about perspective. —HSI

Overcoming Adversity - Winter 2008

e will all experience during the course of our lives seasons of adversity. It’s not a matter of if these times will come but rather when. So the questions we must ask ourselves are, will we be ready when heat is turned up and the pressure is turned on, how will we respond, and will we be strong enough to overcome? Sadly most people when faced with trials, tribulations, and adverse circumstance look either inward or outward to find their help, while God is desperately longing for us to look upward, to Him.

Only when we humbly seek and wait upon the LORD will we truly find the wisdom, peace, and strength that we so desperately need in order to properly and safely navigate through those times. His way is the best way, and always leads to lasting solutions, as well as personal development, refinement and growth.

While writing this I can’t help but think about Senator Mitchell’s report on the wide scope of steroid abuse recently uncovered within Major League Baseball. Pushed by the pressure to perform and allured by the rewards of fame many M.LB. Players compromised their integrity and betrayed people’s trust, as they turned to the quick fix of performance enhancing drugs for their strength rather than God.

Looking within ourselves or to the world for our answers might be easier on our pride and yes even provide a brief period of escape, relief and success, but in the end these options will eventually lead to more problems because they are flawed, simply because man himself is flawed. They are incapable of ever providing or matching God’s productive, perfect, and lasting solutions to life’s many challenges that we so desperately need. Looking to man for advice is not bad in and of it self but when we make that our first option and demote God to a secondary position or in most cases remove Him completely out of the picture we are then dangerously flirting with idolatry, and are blurring the line between the Creator and the created.

Many of us would probably never come right out and admit that we think we are higher or know better than God. But deception can be very subtle and always starts in the simplest of thoughts, that when meditated on long enough produce carnal choices, and thus ungodly, and harmful actions. In many cases this often happens without us ever fully realizing it until it’s too late and the damage already done. It just makes to much sense to me that when we are faced with life’s adverse and grueling problems that we turn to none other than the Author of life for our answers.

God the “Creator of the Universe” doesn’t just allow us to turn to Him for help in times of trouble, but rather graciously wants us to come to Him in every season, and trust Him with every aspect and area of our lives. He desires for us to have an intimate, personal, and perpetual relationship with Him, and direct access to His thrown.

These promises are truly some of the most beautiful, awesome, and important aspects of Gods’ Character that we can ever know! He made this all possible by asking His only begotten son to die for our sins on the cross and by obediently doing so Jesus purchased freedom from the power of sin, defeated death, and restored the relationship to God that man through sin had severed if we will only surrender and put our faith in Him. Who are we to reject such a great gift that was purchased at such a great price? “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)