After a couple months of practicing in the cold weather, sometimes freezing weather, Turkey bowl tournament has finally come to an end. First of all, I would like to thank every player who represented our church teams well. I also thank the parents and supporters for their encouragement and cheers throughout the tournaments and for serving delicious food and warm drinks. And last but not least, the coaches and other leaders for their hard work put into the tournament. It was certainly a great time of witnessing a genuine love and unity within the body of New Covenant Fellowship Church. Regardless of the result of how each team did at the tournament, we were all able to get to know each other better through football and spending our weekends together. That to me was the most important thing I gained from participating in this year’s tournament.
This year was the very first time I got an opportunity to play in the Turkeybowl. It was my first time playing football in an organized manner. You can imagine how tough it was for me to learn all the rules, positions and the whole dynamic of a football game. I definitely appreciate the game of football a lot more as a result of this tournament. There were many times when I had no idea what I was doing on the field and when people were calling out plays or shouting out things like “option”, “weak side blitz”, “Shadow Run(?)” I felt like I was learning English all over again. And I didn’t want to look like a fool by asking so many questions that everyone seemed to know. However, I got better through the practice sessions. Thank God for amazing teammates for taking time and kindly explaining everything for me. Now that I invested so much time in learning the game of football, I hope to get better and continue to play in the Turkey Bowl as long as my health permits me to play competitively. After all, I have to make a full use of all the football gear that I purchased for this tournament for at least a couple more years.
One thing I love about playing team sports is that each person’s character comes out in the game setting. I especially love seeing the fine balance of people’s competitive spirit and the love of Christ being displayed in the game. It was very encouraging to see everyone trying to keep their mouth shut from complaining and uttering bad words. I know it was a bit of a struggle for many of us to keep our “cool” in certain instances but I am very proud of all of you for displaying such control and poise throughout the tournament. I am already looking forward to next year’s tournament!
From Pastor Brian’s Heart
December 1, 2013
Have you read the news recently? If you haven’t, I am a firm believer it’s good for all people to keep up with current events locally and globally. It’s quite remarkable the things that happen. As of late, it seems there’s tragedy after tragedy, death after death. This week I read about Philippines receiving only a small percentage of what was promised to them by the rest of the world. I read about the death of Paul Walker (thought I first saw it on a Facebook post!), actor in the Fast and Furious movie series. On Thursday, the world heard breaking news of the death of Nelson Mandela, inspirational leader and fighter for justice. Lot to take in at times, isn’t it? However, I’ve also been reading up on another man, who is very much alive, but is really challenging the scope of evangelical Christianity and Catholicism alike. His name is Pope Francis.
I personally have never been interested nor inclined to the office of the pope. To me it deifies a single man and the power this office holds at times does not sit well with me. Then Pope Francis comes into the picture. This past week, headlines stated “Pope Francis worked as nightclub bouncer!” Isn’t that awesome? I think so. For the first time, I found myself saying “wow, I’d sure like to meet and hang out with the pope.” It’s rare these days to find “celebrity” figures in Christianity so down to earth and humble. In an article on churchleaders.com, a staff writer quotes Pope Francis:
"I prefer a church which is bruised, hurting and dirty because it has been out on the streets, rather than a church which is unhealthy from being confined and from clinging to its own security," he wrote. "I do not want a church concerned with being at the center and then ends up by being caught up in a web of obsessions and procedures."
"More than by fear of going astray, my hope is that we will be moved by the fear of remaining shut up within structures which give us a false sense of security, within rules which make us harsh judges, within habits which make us feel safe, while at our door people are starving and Jesus does not tire of saying to us, 'Give them something to eat.'"
"The church, as the agent of evangelization, is more than an organic hierarchical institution; she is first and foremost a people advancing on its pilgrim way towards God," he wrote. "Excessive centralization, rather than proving helpful, complicates the church's life and her missionary outreach."
Pope Francis, in my opinion, is redefining church leadership and arguably church culture. For me as a pastor of a local church, I hear quotes like the ones above and ask myself “Do I encourage the people I serve to go out and love or to stay in and ‘grow’?” Friends, are your Christian peers the only people that know you are a believer and follower of Jesus? This should not be the case. Look at Jesus… this man got his “hands dirty” by surrounding Himself with the broken and the sinners. The lesson of the sheep and goats of Matthew 25 resonates in my heart, mind, and soul.
I am challenged to be more like and imitate Jesus; to go out into a hostile world and not stay inside the safe haven of a church, to have a pure heart but not be afraid to get my hands and feet dirty and love the people around me who need Jesus. I hope you are challenged to.
From Pastor Keeyoung’s Heart
December 8, 2013