So the Superbowl is today, the biggest sporting event in the U.S. by far. A billion sports fanatics and casual sports fans all over the world will watch not only for the game itself but also for the funny commercials and the entertaining halftime show. I’m not necessarily a huge sports fan but I am loyal to Seattle teams having grown up with the Seahawks, Mariners and the Sonics (I don’t want to talk about it until Seattle gets another NBA team). This season I realized I was getting a tad obsessed with the Seahawks’ bid to repeat as champions when I found myself yelling at the TV during their games. Go Hawks!
The constant Superbowl media coverage is massive to say the least and the players are fully aware every little thing they say and do will be heard round the world. Some of them choose to share their Christian faith, which certainly seems to be the admirable thing to do and a pleasant contrast to the blatant corporate commercialism swirling around the event. Seattle’s quarterback had a terrible game in the NFC championship two weeks ago until he pulled out a win at the end to get to the Superbowl. Exhausted and emotional, his immediate post-game comments were the familiar “God is so great, all the time.” He went on to comment that God had “orchestrated all of this to bring him to this point.” Hmm, now don’t get me wrong I have no issue with someone sharing their Faith on the big stage and I think this person has a sincere love for the Lord. However, his comments seemed to imply that this sports contest victory was a result of divine intervention. The various public reactions to this were amusing if not predictable. The opposing quarterback for the Packers remarked “I really don’t think God cares about football.” Sports radio ran with it: “So did God lay the 7.5 points or did he just go with Seattle winning straight up?” Another prominent media person commented he had a serious issue with a god that has a rooting interest in a football game. There’s a fine line between one witnessing his/her genuine Faith and coming across as self-righteous entitlement. If the Seattle QB is saying God is allowing him to be the best darn person he can be even in his athletic vocation and he gives all praise to God regardless of the outcome then so be it. But to assert beyond that invites skepticism and ridicule from Christians and non-Christians alike making wise-cracks about God and the point spread, which is an impression of the Gospel he certainly did not intend, and one God most certainly did not intend.
This kind of proselytizing draws unwanted attention and I dare say even spiritual battle. I recall years ago, a former high-profile Seattle player was playing in the Superbowl and he made the foolish prediction that his team would win because of his superior Christian faith. The night before the big game he was arrested by undercover police for soliciting “dates.” His team lost the game and no one ever wanted to hear from that guy again. The current Seattle QB holds out his Christian faith for all to see but will also draw scrutiny for having filed to end his 2-year marriage last year coincidentally right after he became famous. Even solid character guys like this one will be subject to forces of this world that want to see him stumble. It’s a dangerous game to attach God’s goodness with wins or losses. What I would love to see is that players on both sides of the final score and in life proclaim “God is good, all the time!”

From Pastor Mark’s Heart
February 1, 2015

These days, because I have very limited free time, I’m very selective about the movies I watch.  I don’t want to waste 2-3 hours of my life on a bad movie!  I could use that time for sweet precious sleep!  My wife and I usually disagree on which movies to watch though – she likes the serious, introspective dramas while I just want to zone out and laugh at crude jokes.  You can tell how different we are by our favorite movies: hers are “Braveheart” and “Forrest Gump” while mine are “My Sassy Girl” and “You’ve Got Mail.”  Don’t cry, Shopgirl, don’t cry.  (You can tell which side of the generation gap you stand on if you hear “you’ve got mail” and think of the sound of a modem.  Also, if you know what a modem is.)
This is why when I watch a movie that’s not particularly good or too long, I get really annoyed.  I just wasted 3 hours of my life that I will never get back just to watch a bunch of hobbits in awful British accents run around like a bunch of ninnies!  Don’t waste my time with this stuff, Peter Jackson!  And why do all elves look the same?  Racist!
We all have similar attitudes with our time.  Maybe it’s because we’re living in an age of instant gratification where the speed of 4G LTE brings us anything we want in seconds.  Maybe it’s because our schedules are so full nowadays that it’s always just gogogogogo.  Or maybe we’re just spoiled.  But this attitude is often reflected towards church as well.
It seems like we have the same sort of consumeristic approach towards church as we do with movie choices or plans for Saturday night.  If it can entertain me for a few hours and is a better option than anything else going on at the same time, then fine.  Otherwise, don’t bother.  And believe me, I understand this very well.  Even as a pastor, sometimes I wish I didn’t have to go to another church function and just go home and hang out with my family or watch “Tangled” with my wife (a movie we can both agree on).  But honestly?  That attitude shows just how much we really are in need of more Jesus in our lives.
Now, let me caveat that church does not equal Jesus.  Going to a retreat every month, coming out to early morning prayer every day, participating in a weekly small group meeting 3x a week WILL NOT get you into heaven and WILL NOT help you know Jesus more.  These are just “things to do.”  They do not equate to God.
However, it is specifically at “things” like these where we have opportunities to encounter God with our church community in ways that we do not throughout the rest of our days.  Let’s be honest – how many of us are truly encountering Christ on the regular?  How many of us feel like there’s not a single area of our lives where we need the Lord?  (And not in a “God, give me more money” kind of way).  Yet despite the fact that we know in our heart of hearts that we do need more Jesus, we still go out of our way to make excuses or prioritize tons of other things over church.
I challenge you, church.  When you see an announcement for the fasting retreat, do you inwardly groan?  When you hear about a praise and prayer event, do you automatically pretend like you’re busy?  When you are invited to receive prayer, do you start inching towards the doorway?  Again, I get the sentiment.  But that feeling comes from our attitude towards “things.”  If we can channel our focus on Jesus instead, I think our hearts will change.  And frankly, there’s nothing that can change our hearts other than more Jesus.
So please sign up for the fasting retreat.  There are no good movies out anyway.

From Pastor David’s Heart
January 25, 2015