Serve in Your Sweet Spot

1 Corinthians 12:7 “A manifestation of the Spirit is given to each person to produce what is beneficial…”

The Rec Center at Cool Spring is a great facility. It offers recreation and leisure activities for all ages. From fitness rooms to sports leagues, there is an opportunity to remain active in physical fitness. But, with all these activities you have to have workers.

I am thankful for the many volunteers who work in the Recreation ministry. Our team is made up of Rec Desk workers, Fitness instructors, and League Directors. Each of these areas requires different people with different interest and passions while pursuing the same desire – to combine the gift of leisure with the companionship of Christ. Without these people our facility would not function as it does Monday through Friday 5:30 am to 9 pm.

The scripture speaks about each of us, followers of Christ, having a special and unique gift. God has given us a spiritual gift to be used for His glory and will be beneficial to others. Those gifts will vary for each individual: service, hospitality, apostleship, mercy, and others. I have often found in my own life that when I am serving in my spiritual gift, which is evangelism, apostleship and administration, I am living in my sweet spot.

While our team is a good one, there is still room for others. Currently we need Rec Center volunteers to fill mid-day slots, Upward Devotion speakers for game days, Upward basketball ref’s and soccer coaches. We have the opportunity to connect with an average of 800 people a week in the Rec Center and 600 Upward players a week in basketball. Today, I am asking you to consider your spiritual gift. And as you do, consider using it to serve in the Rec Center. Find your sweet spot and learn to live in it!

Some people know how to have FUN

Laughter is medicine for the soul! It is a true statement and the Bible has much to say about a joyful spirit.

I want to introduce you to Jill Buaghan, a friend of mine, and welcome her to the "recreatn" blogspot. Jill has several books (most recent - Born to be Wild) and tools out there to help you live that "Harley" life you've often dreamed of. She knows how to have fun and knows whats needed to do so. So, check out Jill and enjoy her new website at http://www.jillbaughan.com/ .

What's Up in Rec

Just thought I would share with you several things ahead of us in Recreation at Cool Spring. These are things that have grabbed my focus the past two days. And these are things you need to know are coming up so you can participate. So, what have I been working on ?

1. Upward Soccer Registration has started and we are signing coaches and players up
2. Summer Multi -Sports Camp is scheduled for Aug 2-5, 2010
3. Rec Center Volunteer Training is scheduled for Saturday Feb. 20
4. Hunter Education Course scheduled for March 5,6th at Rec Center
5. Upward Basketball games start at all four locations Saturday - all concessions are ready, refs in place, game day announcers ready to go - we have great volunteers!!
   
6. Sportsman's Expo is in the works to be held March 20, 2010
7. Upward Flag Football is underway for planning meeting with Directors (yes, Upward is a 360 day job)
8. Publishing a new Upward Hanover Director's Guide - for those interested in leading our Upward Sports League, we now have a tool for you!
9. Taught Sport Parent Survival Course - material available if you're interested

Take note of the items that interest you and get plugged in. It is our desire to combine the gift of leisure with the companionship of Christ.

Parent Survival Guide

This morning I was speaking with a community group on the topic of Recreation. While the topic of Recreation is generic and can cover a lot of material, I chose to speak on the Role of Parents to their Child in a sports program.

Over the last twenty years we have seen recreation sports change from backyard sandlots to high dollar sports complexes, kids paying all sports to now a focus sport year round, college coaches recruiting at the middle school level, and the cost of leagues and equipment has risen beyond the means of the average next door neighbor. And after all of these changes for the so-called "better" - 70 % of the twenty million kids playing sports in the US will quit by age 13.

Here are a few points to think about when parenting your child through their "Recreation " sports league:

• Ensure that a child's involvement is safe, beneficial, and enjoyable
• Learn what your child wants from participating in sports. Be careful not to force your child in sports based on your wants
• Provide a supportive atmosphere - there is a difference between supportive and nudging or pressuring a child
• Determine when your child is ready to begin playing a sport. There are different needs for different sports. Know the physical, mental, and social development of your child.
  
• Protect your child from abusive coaches - physically and verbally
• Help your child develop realistic expectations of their capabilities in sports. This means as a parent you need to have realistic expectations for them as well. Unrealistic expectations always equals frustration - for you and the child
• Help your child interpret the experiences associated with competitive sports - winning and losing

While there are others, I've listed these as a starting point to keep in mind. In today's Richmond Times, Cal Ripken was quoted as saying, "If you are in any doubt as to what to do, cheer your child on like a grandparent. When they do good, say "that was a good play." And when they do bad, say, "That wasn't so bad."

There is nothing wrong with cheering, supporting, and encouraging your child to be the best they can be. The key is to find the proper balance for the child and teach them and yourself to live in that balance. Remember, it's RECREATION!

Qualified or Disqualified

Over the last twenty years, it seems that our conversations of greatness among athletes has led us to great disappointments. From the taking away of gold medals in the Olympics, to the turn of the "steroid era" in baseball, gambling from players or ref's, and the trouble that athletes find themselves in when they carry handguns for practical jokes. All of these issues lead us to one question, "Have the great ones disqualified themselves?"

1 Corinthians 9 talks about the qualification and disqualification process. Paul speaks of the Christian faith and refers to it like a runner. A runner who runs in such a way that he wins and does not disqualify himself. Any competitive runner will tell you that they live a disciplined life in regards to their training and eating. If they don't, it will cost them - from cramps to dehydration and endurance. Paul tells us in everything we have to excercise self-control. Therefore, not running in such a way that is aimless, nor do we run / live our faith like one boxing in mid air. The christian life must remain focused on Christ and the goal of honoring Christ in all we do. Paul charges us to live a life that has a purpose, a goal, and a disciplined approach. While we can name great athletes who have found themselves in the debate of disqualification,what is it that you and I need to bring under discipline or self-control in our lives? What are the sins that so easily entangle us that could prevent us from finishing the race well and being disqualified? Disqualification is tough and humiliating. But, through Christ love and forgiveness of sin, we are given a daily opportunity to qualify for the race that is before us.

What kinds of discipline are required for you to ensure your not disqualified in serving Christ?

Challenger League

Tonight we are meeting with parents of the players who have signed up to play in our first year of Challenger basketball. This will be an exciting night as we welcome the parents and meet the players.

This league is an extension of our Upward basketball and Bridge Builder ministries of Cool Spring Church. Ed Berenson, along with Wendy Atkinson, Michael Curley, and Steve Vehorn have worked on the establishment of this league for over a year. And tonight we kick it off! The players participating will be children ages 6-13 that have special needs. Each player will receive a uniform, t-shirt, and end of season award. The league will have a six week game schedule on Friday nights in the Rec Center at Cool Spring. Come out and support the players of this exciting league.Concessions will be available as well.

See you in the stands!

Prayer WEBINAR

Just attended my first Webinar through Church Sports Outreach. A Webinar is a great tool. It involves a presentation and conference call through the computer with a group of people who are led by a facilitator or presenter for a certain topic or discussion. Webinars are a great way to provide connectivity between groups, people, and organizations without having to wait a full year to attend a "seminar."

Today's topic was "A Different Perspective on Prayer and Ministry" led by Bob Schindler of CSO. Many of us come into the office with our list of to do's for the day or the week and we never really find the time to pray as needed. While prayer is on our minds, it just seems to pass us by with the "to do" list before us.

Mark 9:14-29 was our main passage as we looked at the connection of prayer and faith and believing verses unbelieving. Like the disciples, we refer back to the accomplishes we have had and lean on them to guide us in the future. Therefore, we exhibit little faith and often, maybe unconsciously, place our faith in ourselves to accomplish the tasks before us. And when it doesn't work, like the disciples, we can not figure out what happened. We have to understand that without prayer, our motivations for the work around us comes from our perspective, not our beliefs. Prayer must be a part of our mindset and our pre-game preparation for the daily activities of our lives - whether that be leading your family, ministry positions, or going out into the work force.

As you think about your life and the list of tasks that is before you, take time to find God's perspective before you start working on your own. The disciples were puzzled when they failed to heal the boy from his disease. And, in private they went before Him and asked, Why? Jesus simply speaks to the heart of matter when he says, "Oh, you unbelieving generation." Could it be the fact that we trust ourselves more than we trust Christ? Could it be that we really don't believe Jesus and the power of who He is and what has been placed within us - the Holy Spirit?

Prayer is and should be our starting point (making our request known), our resting point (the place in which we reflect and restore ourselves with the truths of God), and our finishing point (the time we celebrate in worship of what God has done according to His will).