Tag: examples

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Snowboarding for Jesus

Yesterday while I was trapped in the imaginary world of all day conference calls, I found a little relief from the drumming sound in my ear to surf the web and check out a few searches.  While doing that I stumbled upon a story about a Kelly Clark, an Olympic snowboarder, and how she stumbled into God one day on the half pipe, and how that has completely changed her life.

(watch the video here.)

In this story she tells of how finding out about the Christ has changed her perspective on life and she says this:

But I’ll tell you, I’ve never had more fun snowboarding, and I’ve never been more free.

What a incredible story of a changed life – changed by the power of Christ to free us up and provide us with forgiveness and purpose.  And check out her snowboard:

Nice!

So, I checked out this entire site called Beyond the Ultimate.  Today or this weekend, take a little time and check it out.  It has  great stories about the lives  -the changed lives -of many Olympic Athletes.  Seeing these high performance athletes confirming where their strength comes from is really amazing.

So, take some motivation not only from their exceptional athletic abilities, but also from their personal stories. And be free – even in the imaginary land of conference calls.

15Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17And 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. –Colossians 3:15-17 (New International Version)

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Busy Busy Busy

When the alarm sounded at 6am this morning, I was immediately filled with dread.  I had already peeked at my schedule for the day, and I knew what lie in front of me, and the how long the day would be.   It’s not just that a day of work was on the horizon, but a day of rushing.  From the moment I opened my eyes, until I lay in the bed tonight, even as I write this post, its rush.  Its hurry, its multitask, its push as much into each moment as possible. And that stinks.  I am not talking living and getting as much out of each moment in life, I am talking about getting through it as fast as you can so you can get to something else.  Thats just not right.   Then there’s two sad things to be said about this, first tomorrow will be the same and second my life is probably not much different from yours.  My days call to my attention the sower and the seed

…but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. Matt 13:22

So the challenge today is this – and its more of question to you then an answer – how do we deal with this crazy life.  It seems we have to either radically change our  lives or figure out how to maintain this riducilous lifestyle and not be choked.   So yesterday I heard someone mentioned 2 Peter 1. So in the midst of this busy pushed composition, a took a look over there. Somehow we have to continue to add to our life these elements:

5For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.

And look just above this in 2 Peter.  He tells us that to get out of the trappings of the world, those are the things that you need.

3His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 4Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.

and then after that list of traits he tells us this

8For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9But if anyone does not have them, he is nearsighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins.

So today, I am going to try to not focus on the busyness of the day, and somehow try to “make every effort to add” the things that Peter listed to my life.    I hope that bring some calmness and control to a schedule that feels insane.  What do you think?

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Pushing Through the Falls

Last night, once I finally got home from late night basketball, I sat down and watched a little bit of the Fall-a-lympics.  Did you notice?  In the women’s snowboard, fall after fall.  Men’s skating – fall, fall, fall.  So many falls, that I eventually “fell” asleep, kicked back in my favorite chair and missed the great victory last night in men’s skating (disappointing ).

Anyway, while I was still awake, I was asking my lovely and multi-talented wife why she thought there were so many falls.    We both through out several theories, including that they tired ( like us), they didn’t get enough practice, or that is was Bush’s fault. (ok just kidding on the last one).   But ultimately we settled, and I think this is true, on that fact that they are having to push so hard because there is such a small separation between Gold and last.  They push so hard, and when you push yourself, sometimes  you make mistakes.   All of these athletes are capable of pretty incredible athletic accomplishments, but on the world’s stage we see them falter. They could pull back just a little and finish their event without a fall, but would fall would be any chance at a medal.  So, they go for it, they push themselves a little past what they can comfortable do, and when it works – its awesome!

So it is with our lives – physical and spiritual.  We can live in our comfort zone and never make a mistake, and never reap the reward.  Live it out on the edge.  Push yourself in your life.  Accept that you will not be perfect, but at times, things will work out in a way that you just can’t even imagine how awesome the reward will be.

This is why I love the Olympics.  It so inspiring, its so motivating, its such a microcosm of life.

So, lets take some risks, lets live a little bit crazy, step out of the place of comfort and lets impact others by pushing on the edges.

And then find your safety in God.

New International Version (NIV)Psalm 4:7-8

7 You have filled my heart with greater joy
than when their grain and new wine abound.

8 I will lie down and sleep in peace,
for you alone, O LORD,
make me dwell in safety.

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Getting Air

Robert Beck/SI

Wow, did you see Shaun White last night absolutely shred the half pipe, and get like a million miles in the air?  Absolutely phenomenal.   That after watching Lindsey Vonn tear 2 miles down a mountain at speeds that would make my sports car look slow.

The consistency of their performances, the focus, the energy, the ability to just get out and do it is just incredible.

Incredible is right, so as you are about to drop in to the half pipe call TODAY, draw some inspiration and motivation from these athletes.  Go at the day with joy, with reckless abandon, with boldness and get some air.

Hebrews 13:1-7

1-4Stay on good terms with each other, held together by love. Be ready with a meal or a bed when it’s needed. Why, some have extended hospitality to angels without ever knowing it! Regard prisoners as if you were in prison with them. Look on victims of abuse as if what happened to them had happened to you. Honor marriage, and guard the sacredness of sexual intimacy between wife and husband. God draws a firm line against casual and illicit sex.

5-6Don’t be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,

God is there, ready to help;
I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

7-8Appreciate your pastoral leaders who gave you the Word of God. Take a good look at the way they live, and let their faithfulness instruct you, as well as their truthfulness. There should be a consistency that runs through us all. For Jesus doesn’t change—yesterday, today, tomorrow, he’s always totally himself.  The Message (MSG)

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Motivation for Gold

I like to watch the Olympics.  Unfortunately, I had to DVR the Opening Ceremony and have not returned to watch it yet.  Last night, I was digging the Snowboard Cross -that’s pretty cool stuff.  However, there’s the crazy part of the coverage.  As my youngest came into the room last night and said “Dad, the Olympics are the Talklympics.”  We all know it.  NBC likes to talk talk talk talk and talk some more when the Olympics are on.  And then there’s that part that I know I should enjoy watching, but for some reason cringe every time they start – the special interest pieces.   So last night as I was getting ready for bed, there was a piece of Alexandre Bilodeau.

You know him right? Well, if you are Canadian you do.  He’s the first Canadian Gold Medal winner on Canadian soil, and last night they had a special interest story on him, and afterward I was glad I watched it.  Alexandre has a older brother with cerebral palsy.  His brother Frederic, who is 28, was supposed to stop walking at 10.   He’s still walking.   Alexandre mentioned that makes him wonder how far he can push himself – what are the real limits – if his brother can push himself to still be walking 18 years after he was told he would not be able to.   He also credits his brother as his motivation for his success in skiing.  Read this quote, and think about these words

“as an athlete you always have good days and bad days, there’s so many days you just don’t want to go train. I realize that I have the opportunity [to train] and that I need to use that opportunity because my brother does not have that chance.”

That’s pretty powerful stuff.   How many times do we complain and not do things, because we don’t want to, but we are fully capable of it.    This is a good thought to consider today.  Take advantage of opportunities.  Look for ways to push yourself, and to impact others.  You have the ability, don’t let the rain slow you down.

Hebrews 3:12-14 (New International Version)

12See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. 13But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness. 14We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first.

Galatians 6:9 (New International Version)

9Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.