Team Jesus!

At last week's New York Jets v. Miami Dolphins football game, I witnessed two very passionate groups who were both incredibly loyal to their team and both diametrically opposed to those with differing views, or as one Dolfan put it, "beware of those rude ones in the ugly green shirts from the dark side."  It didn't matter if they were your friends or not, if a group had a different color jersey you didn't like them, you treated them poorly, and felt an overall disdain for them.

While this seems fun at sporting events, it is unfortunately a poor practice of how Christians are supposed to treat their neighbors. We want our team to win yes, and it's alright to cheer for your team, but to taunt and belittle the opposing fans lacks spiritual maturity.  Be passionate, but remember those Jets fans or Patriot fans or Seminole fans may be on the same team as you... Team Jesus.

Jesus prayed for the believers to behave as one in John 17:22-23.  Jesus prays to God, "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as we are one; I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

The message Bible says "The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind - Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, So they might be one heart and mind with us.  Then the world might believe that you, in fact, sent me.

What's that?  Jesus is praying to the Father that we need to show the world we're on the same team.  Regardless of our team, our school, or the church we go to, Christians are all on Team Jesus.  Again, this doesn't mean we can't cheer for our country or hometown team or favorite university, but it does there is a bigger team we belong to and we are to behave like it.

Childish ways vs. The Way of Love

I'm sorry, please forgive me... five words that can restore a friendship, save a relationship, and promote discipleship.  Jesus did not have to utter these words, but His Spirit within us cries out when we've acted in a childish way and leads us to repent, to say, "I'm sorry", and to work to reconcile the situation.  The question is, "do we respond when the Holy Spirit prompts us to apologize or do we continue to harbor that resentment?"

Let me confess to you today that I have been slow to respond and allowed myself to harbor some bitterness towards another school that has caused tension and created division.  The Bible says, "we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body" - 1 Cor. 12:13.  As Christians, we are all on the same team.  Sure we can compete against other schools in sports and maintain a friendly rivalry, but our hearts and minds and faith should be, "As One!"

The apostle Paul says in Philippians 4:5, "Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near."  No matter what school we represent, regardless of the color jersey we wear, those who are watching should   have trouble telling Christians apart because how we act towards one another.  Remember the song, "They will know we are Christians by our love, by our love, yes they'll know we are Christians by our love."  Easy to sing, yet hard to live out.  But, that's why Christ died, so we could, through the power of His resurrection, live a life of love.

And, love doesn't mean we always act like perfect angels, but it does mean we put God first, we serve others before ourselves, we are patient and kind and forgiving, and we apologize when we act childish...why, because we are one in Him and that's what our heavenly Father wants us to do.

Dominick Pierre...committed to God's call

This week's blog was written by Anitra Parmele, Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale Communications Team

As a fifth grader at Calvary Christian Academy (CCA), Dominick demonstrated his incredible athletic abilities on the football field, basketball court and the track. Anxious to do it all, Dominick was intrigued when JV Basketball Coach Tom Crenshaw suggested he try out for wrestling, although it meant his talents would be lost to the team halfway through the season. Dominick remembers, “Coach Tom thought I could excel as a wrestler so he encouraged me to attend one of the practices. I had fun and wrestling is a sport that helps you with football, so I stuck with it.”

By Dominick’s 8th grade year, Coach Tom’s insight was confirmed as Dominick barely missed out on districts because of an injury. Freshman year Dominick was one match away from going to states. By his sophomore year, Dominick was ready. “I was wrestling at 171 (pounds) and won the district tournament. A couple days before the regionals, I went to the ER with a strained chest muscle. I wasn’t sure what was going on. I really started digging into the Bible and praying. A group of pastors from Calvary laid hands on me and prayed for my healing. When I weighed in at regionals, I was still stiff- I tried to play it off but I didn’t know if I could wrestle. As soon as I shook my opponent’s hand for my first match, I stopped feeling any pain and I ended up making it to states. The guy who made it to the state finals had a similar problem with his knee. I was able to talk to him about God and to pray with him.”

Dominick has gone on to achieve success on and off the football field at Dartmouth, where he starts for the Big Green as a junior. “I’m not the most vocal person but athletics have forced me into a leadership role. I wouldn’t be where I am without the faculty and coaches at CCA shaping, molding and guiding me as an athlete, a Christian and a man. Having an impact at a secular school like Dartmouth is difficult but my athletic success gives me the opportunity to lead people to God. I am committed to pursuing what God wants me to do.”