Now Playing.....Fall Soccer

I am excited about the events of this past weekend - Upward Fall Soccer started in Hanover. This fall season we will be hosting soccer at Broadus Memorial Church off Pole Green Road. With any new opportunity, you never know what it will be like. But this Saturday, it was awesome. Eighty three players participated, new families have joined the league, new fields have been set, and the soccer was fun to watch.

As our Upward Sports ministry continues to grow and develop, it's in our long term plans to give away that which God has provided for us. Over the past ten years we have had the opportunity to see basketball, flag football, soccer, cheer-leading, and challenger basketball develop and work among local church partners for space, volunteers, and building relationships with the people of Hanover County. And this fall is no exception. Broadus has a great team of volunteers who are committed to see recreation, soccer, be used as a resource for investing in the lives of people in our community. As you head out on Pole Green Road towards Rte 360, stop by and see what "new and exciting things" God is doing through recreation.

Coaching with the Intent to Develop Character

Had the opportunity to host a conference call yesterday with CSRM (Church Sports and Recreation Ministers Association, www.csrm.org). Part of our desire as an organization is to connect with others, both nationally and internationally, who are using sports as an avenue for sharing Christ's love with others. This year we are focusing on providing connecting moments through monthly meetings in area locations, to phone / web conferencing, and summits.

The topic for yesterday was Coaching with the Intent of Developing Character. Lately, I have felt overwhelmed with the negative press regarding universities, coaches, and players decisions and character issues. While issues are at the top level, be aware that on the local level they are happening as well. The "professional experience" is now making its way into our middle schools and recreation leagues. From contacts with college coaches to sneaker and uniform endorsements; are students are being hit with making character decisions everyday. The question we have to ask ourselves is this: What are we doing to help develop Godly Character?

Rolando Lamb, America's Character Coach, joined us on the conference and shared with us some insights regarding character. Romans 5:3 is a great passage of scripture that references the building of character and we also see a great example in 1 Kings 15:5 with reference to David doing right in the Lord's eyes. Character comes down to the choices you make and the actions you take. Character is values in action.

While working with recreation leagues and families who participate with you, here are some points to consider :

• Be above reproach / Be an example -Coaches, next to parents, have the opportunity to have the greatest impact on the young people they are working with. Model for them character that counts.
• Be intentional about developing character - You have to have a plan in place. Know what your end goal is and stay focused. You will need to provide a combination of explanation, demonstration, motivation, application, and repetition as you seek to teach character.
• Believe and invest in the kids you are working with - Kids have to much potential for us to let them fail in society. Get across to them that you genuinely care.
  
• Group players together with others on the team to help challenge them and create an atmosphere that draws the best out of them. Proverbs 20:5 makes reference to drawing out the potential of people.

As you work with your leagues, train coaches, and invest in local recreation programs; be intentional about providing Godly instruction and character.

Sunday Best

I love the potential influence I have with the kids participating in our sports leagues. There are a lot of great kids just waiting for the outside influence on their lives and I try to impart just a few of my passions on them. So, here's my last piece of influence....

The photo you see is a picture of me and the Hoppe (HOP-E) boys this past Sunday morning prior to worship. Each one was wearing their new 2011-12 NFL favorite team jersey. Gotta love it! Obviously they are passionate about their teams (they had the jersey on) and passionate about being at Cool Spring (they showed up for church).

While there is, has always been, and will continue to be a debate of "proper attire" to church on Sundays, I couldn't help but smile when they walked in. For I had seen the wrestle of a parent who loved the jerseys and loved the passions of their kids to wear them to church; but also had a heart of being respectful for others around them during worship. And I understand both aspects. However, as a Rec Minister (the guy on staff who plays everyday) I gently spoke with the voice of freedom regarding the celebration of church and the first day of the NFL season. Well, I guess it rubbed off. The boys beamed with smiles from their experience in Sunday School that morning and the freedom to express their excitement for the family's afternoon activity (in reality, the percentage was pretty high that day of adults who wish they could wear the same outfits).

While I really have no scripture to tag to this story and make it spiritual, I can sit back and see that and exciting day of worship at church combined with the passion of recreation activity brings out the kid in all of us. So go ahead, put your throw backs on from days past and join us at Cool Spring Church while we look forward to an exciting life with Christ together.

Darkness Was Upon Us

Ok, so I think I have about exhausted the weather sayings and this one will conclude them. But I needed to mention something about the darkness that we have experienced.

Many of us, and still others, are experiencing darkness without power due to Hurricane Irene. The kind of darkness that you cannot see your hand in front of your face. Without the local neighborhood lights, the sky glitters with all the stars and it's just dark in some places of Hanover county. Same is true for darkness that occurs in the South Pole for several months of the year. While it's ok early on, it then gets discouraging and depressing for those living in it daily. Darkness can bring about disorientation and isolation.

Recently I have been going through the book of Mark with the assistance of Timothy Keller's book King's Cross. Mark gives us a picture of darkness that occurs at the point of Christ's death (Mark 15:33-34). The Bible speaks volumes about light and darkness (Isaiah 13, Amos 8). Often darkness will occur in our lives when we place our trust and dependency on ourselves and the world around us. When we begin to orbit around everything else - career, relationships, family, money - as the source of our hope, the result will be spiritual darkness. In the Bible we see the picture of the sun as compared to God. The sun is the source of visual truth because we see by it and it is also our source of biological life because without it nothing could live. God is the source of all truth and life.

As you seek direction and guidance in this world, orbit your life around the love that Christ has for you. Avoid the traps of disorientation and isolationism. The darkness of our lives was dealt with on the cross and the curtain was torn. It was a profound event in the history of our world. So profound that the Roman Centurion was the first to recognize and publicly proclaim that this "man" was the Messiah and the divine one. May we come to trust and proclaim the same.

And the Wind Blew....

This has been an interesting week for those of us on the east coast and particularly in the Richmond, VA area. We have had an earthquake and now Irene, the hurricane that knocked out power for 2 million people in Va.

Having grown up near the beach, I can remember several hurricanes that rolled into the coast and we would ride them out proudly. No way was my father leaving his domain and therefore the rest of us were staying put also. And that mentality has been instilled in me. But this week I learned something: either I am getting older and realizing the potential disaster I never saw my dad worry about or Irene was more than we could handle. I think it's a combination of both.

Through it all this week, I am thankful for:

• safety and protection
• power being back on, but also thankful for power being off and putting away the "electronic-al" burdens of our culture.
• the beautiful weather that follows the storm (same for us in our spiritual lives)

This week was a reminder of God's mighty power and creation that no man can control. And even in the midst of the storms and quakes, He loves us deeply and has a plan for each of us. Check out Romans 8:35-39 and reflect on that truth. Brad Hoffmann, our new Pastor at Cool Spring did a great job expounding on this Sunday as we gathered with no electricity.

The Ground Shook

Just experienced my first earthquake - 5.8 on the scale right here in central Virginia. It was an awkward forty seconds of concern. Growing up on the coast I was used to hurricanes and decisions that come with them. Being trained in emergency preparedness, I think I am ready for a tornado. But an earthquake...really?

The Rec Center held its ground and all using the facility remained safe!

The only thing that I didn't hear during this event were the trumpets blowing..............

Excited

Back from a week that was half "stay-cation" and half "va-cation." But none the less, it was time where I didn't have to make daily decisions, process leagues, and oversee facility issues. There were times within the week that I did day-dream about what potential opportunities are ahead for us at Cool Spring, particularly through recreation, and the arrival of Brad Hoffman as my new partner in ministry and Pastor of Cool Spring Church.

I am excited to be part of a team. The great thing about sports is there is always a new beginning for each season. And I am excited about the new season of Cool Spring. I am excited about the passions that my colleagues have for learning and moving forward with ministry dreams. I am excited about the families who are attending and becoming part of our Cool Spring family. I am excited about the leadership skills and passion for people that Brad Hoffman brings to Cool Spring. I am excited about developing a new missions partner for recreation and expanding our sports leagues to other areas. I am excited about the recreation team meeting to seek God's vision and working that out together over the next six to eight months. I am excited about the new classes through Jazzercise for senior adults. I am excited about the new fall Upward Soccer league with the purpose of targeting a new community with another church. I am excited.

Like any start of the season; players, coaches, and fans typically are excited about the potential. And while I have named just a few things I am excited about in recreation and Cool Spring, I have no idea how all will turn out. But I do know this, God has a direction and heart for his people. He often brings about possibilities for us that we can either sit on or give it a go. As a follower of Christ, I have decided to give it a go. Go out there and test the waters of the new exciting possibilities. Asking God to show me where and how He is working so that we can continue to be a part of something exciting - following Him and being a part of His working in our community and world.

The unknown can be exciting from God's perspective. What are you excited about?