Our Value Part I- The Prodigal Son

Well, as of today, I am unemployed, my contract with Bethany College ended as the month ended, so I started thinking about what God has taught me this year... it is hard for me to really pin point exactly how I have grown and matured. I think I have just been stretched in many ways this year. Many of the ways were ways that I had not expected to be stretched in. I think I grew and better learned where my passions, strengths and weaknesses are. Just like our muscles need to be stretched and broken to grow stronger, there were times this year where I was broken and at the time it felt awful, but looking back I can see that I am stronger now, and am more of a man of God than I would be otherwise.

But, I think one thing that was reinforced to me and that if I could share one thing with the students at Bethany it was the following, that even when I messed up or just didn't do as good of a job as I thought I should have done that my value in Christ had not depleted. This is something I had to come back to several times this year, when I felt like a failure, lonely, rejected, or like I had just not accomplished something to the quality that I had hoped. The next couple blogs that I will be doing are based on what Christ taught me this year... I spoke in chapel and I think I would like to share what I said on my blog the next couple times.

I have been thinking about the truths that God has spoken into and about our lives a lot lately. I think we should praise God for these truths that are found in the Bible! I want to talk about one of these truths that has really been on my heart a lot the last while.

I find it amazing how God confirms things in our lives, a passage that has been going through my mind since I started thinking about speaking in chapel was the story of the Prodigal son. Then the Sunday before I spoke I went to a church in Saskatoon (West Portal) and saw our drama ministry team (Players) do a really neat depiction of the parable and then Bethany College's President, Rick Schellenberg, mentioned the same parable on the Monday before I spoke. It seems like God has really been trying to speak to me through this lately. Rick speaks often using this parable, it never loses its power.

When I was asked to speak in chapel back in January I started to think about what to say, and God kept saying the same thing to me. It seems so elementary on so many levels. I am sure many of you have heard the basics of what I am going to say on several occasions. But, I feel like it is something that we all need to be reminded of.

For background on the story of the prodigal son read Luke 15:11-32. The son requests his half of his fathers inheritance and turns his back on his family. After the son had squandered all of his money and was left desolate he came back to his father, to beg to become one of his father's servants. The father ran to his son and raised him to a place of honour, back to where he was before he turned his back on his father! Just think about how the father took the son back as if nothing happened and raised him back to where he was before he left. This is what God does with us. Keep that in mind as I share.

I want to key in on a few verses, 20 and 31.

20So he got up and went to his father.
"But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

31" 'My son,' the father said, 'you are always with me, and everything I have is yours.

These verses show that God pursues us- there is no one in this world like God; He will accept us and run to us, no matter what we have done!

God Kisses you with the kiss of love- How do we let God do this? I think in my own life when I think of letting God kiss me I tend to feel dirty and won't let Him. I can imagine this is quite similar to how the son must have felt. The son had been working with pigs, they wouldn't even let him eat the pigs slop, I am sure they wouldn't have let him wash up either. God Loves us no matter what, through our filthiness and all!

God Gives to you- We don’t earn it. He just gives to us because we are His children. His love sets us free.

Loving your neighbour in the heat of the battle

Love your neighbour as yourself. Matthew 22:39

In writing up his interview with Jason Robinson, (England rugby player and Christian) a sports journalist, Paul Kimmage, imagined the team talk before the game: “Put your bodies on the line. Put your mind on the line! There’s nothing else after this. When that whistle is gone at the end, there is nothing else! They’re arrogant. They think they’re going to win. We’ll take them down.” The writer then imagines Jason thinking “What about ‘Love thy neighbour as thyself’? What about ‘Do unto others as you would have others do unto you’?”

The irony is that Kimmage in his light-hearted, tongue in cheek, article has expressed the dilemma exactly. The Christian player must put his body on the line and be as competitive as the rest of the team but, at the same time, love his neighbour. That is the essence of being a Christian in the cauldron of competitive sport.

If Christian sportspeople see opponents, not as the enemy but as neighbours, and moreover a neighbour whom Jesus tells them to love as themselves, it certainly affects the attitude to the opponent. It is about treating the opponent in the way that we want to be treated: with respect. It is about wanting a fair game, a good contest. It is about wanting the opponent to push us to perform at our best. People often think that being loving and being competitive is an “either or” but, in this setting, love means being competitive!

With that understanding perhaps the way to love one’s neighbour is to give them the hardest tackle one’s body can produce – fairly and within the rules. By doing that one is forcing them to be the best player they can be. Similarly I need the opponent to nail me when I get the ball and to play the most brilliant tactical game they can so that I have to take my gifts and use them to the best of my ability against them. That is to love my opponent in the heat of the competition. It is wanting the best for your opponent, in order to get the best out of yourself. It is playing hard but not seeking an unfair advantage.

Donuts

This story made me think:

There was a certain Professor of Religion named Dr. Christianson, a studious man who taught at a small college in the western United States .

Dr. Christianson taught the required survey course in Christianity at this particular institution. Every student was required to take this course his freshman year, regardless of his or her major.

Although Dr. Christianson tried hard to communicate the essence of the gospel in his class, he found that most of his students looked upon the course as nothing but required drudgery.

Despite his best efforts, most students refused to take Christianity seriously.

This year, Dr. Christianson had a special student named Steve. Steve was only a freshman, but was studying with the intent of going on to seminary for the ministry. Steve was popular, he was well liked, and he was an imposing physical specimen. He was now the starting center on the school football team, and was the best student in the professor's class.

One day, Dr. Christianson asked Steve to stay after class so he could talk with him. 'How many push-ups can you do?'

Steve said, 'I do about 200 every night.' '200?

That's pretty good, Steve, ' Dr. Christianson said.
'Do you think you could do 300?'

Steve replied, 'I don't know.... I've never done 300 at a time.'

'Do you think you could?' again asked Dr. Christianson.

'Well, I can try,' said Steve.

'Can you do 300 in sets of 10? I have a class project in mind and I need you to do about 300 push-ups in sets of ten for this to work. Can you do it? I need you to tell me you can do it,' said the professor.

Steve said, 'Well... I think I can...yeah, I can do it.'
Dr. Christianson said, 'Good! I need you to do this on Friday. Let me explain what I have in mind.'

Friday came and Steve got to class early and sat in the front of the room. When class started, the professor pulled out a big box of donuts. No, these weren't the normal kinds of donuts, they were the extra fancy BIG kind, with cream centers and frosting swirls. Everyone was pretty excited it was Friday, the last class of the day, and they were going to get an early start on the weekend with a party in Dr. Christianson's class.

Dr. Christianson went to the first girl in the first row and asked, 'Cynthia, do you want to have one of these donuts?'

Cynthia said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Cynthia can have a donut?'

'Sure!' Steve jumped down from his desk to do a quick ten. Then Steve again sat in his desk. Dr. Christianson put a donut on Cynthia's desk.

Dr. Christianson then went to Joe, the next person, and asked, 'Joe, do you want a donut?'

Joe said, 'Yes.'

Dr. Christianson asked, 'Steve would you do ten push-ups so Joe can have a donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups, Joe got a donut. And so it went, down the first aisle, Steve did ten push-ups for every person before they got their donut.

Walking down the second aisle, Dr. Christianson came to Scott. Scott was on the basketball team, and in as good condition as Steve. He was very popular and never lacking for female companionship.

When the professor asked, 'Scott do you want a donut?'

Scott's reply was, 'Well, can I do my own push-ups?'

Dr. Christianson said, 'No, Steve has to do them.'

Then Scott said, 'Well, I don't want one then.'

Dr. Christianson shrugged and then turned to Steve and asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Scott can have a donut he doesn't want?'

With perfect obedience Steve started to do ten push-ups.

Sc ott said, 'HEY! I said I didn't want one!'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Look!, this is my classroom, my class, my desks, and these are my donuts. Just leave it on the desk if you don't want it.' And he put a donut on Scott's desk.

Now by this time, Steve had begun to slow down a little. He just stayed on the floor between sets because it took too much effort to be getting up and down. You could start to see a little perspiration coming out around his
brow.

Dr. Christianson started down the third row. Now the students were beginning to get a little angry.

Dr. Christianson asked Jenny, 'Jenny, do you want a donut?'

Sternly, Jenny said, 'No.'

Then Dr. Christianson asked Steve, 'Steve, would you do ten more push-ups so Jenny can have a donut that she doesn't want?'

Steve did ten....Jenny got a donut.

By now, a growing sense of uneasiness filled the room. The students were beginning to say, 'No!' and there were all these uneaten donuts on the desks.

Steve also had to really put forth a lot of extra effort to get these push-ups done for each donut. There began to be a small pool of sweat on the floor beneath his face, his arms and brow were beginning to get red because of the physical effort involved.

Dr. Christianson asked Robert, who was the most vocal unbeliever in the class, to watch Steve do each push up to make sure he did the full ten push-ups in a set because he couldn't bear to watch all of Steve's work for all of those uneaten donuts. He sent Robert over to where Steve was so Robert could count the set and watch Steve closely.

Dr. Christianson started down the fourth row. During his class, however, some students from other classes had wandered in and sat down on the steps along the radiators that ran down the sides of the room. When the professor realized this, he did a quick count and saw that now there were 34 students in the room. He started to worry if Steve would be able to make it.

Dr. Christianson went on to the next person and the next and the next. Near the end of that row, Steve was really having a rough time. He was taking a lot more time to complete each set.

Steve asked Dr. Christianson, 'Do I have to make my nose touch on each one?'


Dr. Christianson thought for a moment, 'Well, they're your pushups. You are in charge now. You can do them any way that you want.' And Dr. Christianson went on.

A few moments later, Jason, a recent transfer student, came to the room and was about to come in when all the students yelled in one voice, 'NO! Don't come in! Stay out!' Jason didn't know what was going on.

Steve picked up his head and said, 'No, let him come.'

Professor Christianson said, 'You realize that if Jason comes in you will have to do ten push-ups for him?'

Steve said, 'Yes, let him come in. Give him a donut.'

Dr. Christianson said, 'Okay, Steve, I'll let you get Jason's out of the way right now. Jason, do you want a donut?'

Jason, new to the room, hardly knew what was going on. 'Yes,' he said, 'give me a donut.' 'Steve, will you do ten push-ups so that Jason can have a
donut?'

Steve did ten push-ups very slowly and with great effort. Jason, bewildered, was hande d a donut and sat down.

Dr. Christianson finished the fourth row, and then started on those visitors seated by the heaters. Steve's arms were now shaking with each push-up in a struggle to lift himself against the force of gravity. By this time sweat was profusely dropping off of his face, there was no sound except his heavy breathing; there was not a dry eye in the room.

The very last two students in the room were two young women, both cheerleaders, and very popular.

Dr. Christianson went to Linda, the second to last, and asked, 'Linda, do you want a donut?'

Linda said, very sadly, 'No, thank you.'

Professor Christianson quietly asked, 'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so that Linda can have a donut she doesn't want?'

Grunting from the effort, Steve did ten very slow push-ups for Linda.

Then Dr. Christianson turned to the last girl, Susan. 'Susan, do you want a donut?'

Susan, with tears flowing down her face, began to cry. 'Dr. Christianson,why can't I help him?'

Dr. Christianson, with tears of his own, said, 'No, Steve has to do it alone; I have given him this task and he is in charge of seeing that everyone has an opportunity for a donut whether they want it or not. When I decided to have a party this last day of class, I looked at my grade book.
Steve here is the only student with a perfect grade. Everyone else has failed a test, skipped class, or offered me inferior work. Steve told me that in football practice, when a player messes up he must do push-ups. I told Steve that none of you could come to my party unless he paid the price by doing your push ups. He and I made a deal for your sakes.'

'Steve, would you do ten push-ups so Susan can have a donut?'

As Steve very slowly finished his last push-up, with the understanding that he had accomplished all that was required of him, having done 350 push-ups, his arms buckled beneath him and he fell to the floor.

Dr. Christianson turned to the room and said, 'And so it was, that our Savior, Jesus Christ, on the cross, plead to the Father, 'Into thy hands I commend my spirit.' With the understanding that He had done everything that was required of Him, He yielded up His life. And like some of those in this room, many of us leave the gift on the desk, uneaten.'

Two students helped Steve up off the floor and to a seat, physically exhausted, but wearing a thin smile.

'Well done, good and faithful servant,' said the professor, adding, 'Not all sermons are preached in words.'

Turning to his class, the professor said, 'My wish is that you might understand and fully comprehend all the riches of grace and mercy that have been given to you through the sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He spared not His only Begotten Son, but gave Him up for us all, for the whole Church, now and forever. Whether or not we choose to accept His gift to us, the price has been paid.'

'Wouldn't you be foolish and ungrateful to leave it lying on the desk?'

All good things come to an end... starting my reflections

It has been a while since I have done a real blog, and I do have a few thoughts.
Life has been busy the last month or so, so I have really neglected writing in my journal and blogging my thoughts the last while. I do not know if I had much wisdom anyway! And I am feeling pretty tired today... so, not sure how much I will say.
But, today saw the last few students from Bethany off and I really do feel like my year is done and that this stage of my life is over. Wow, did this year ever go fast! I know that I grew and learned a ton this year in my role as Athletic Director. I am still not sure where God is taking me next... hopefully I will get some direction on a few of my options in the next couple of days!
I will say more on my reflections of my year in the next couple of days, and tell the story of the weekend... we went from beautiful short weather to a snow storm in like 24 hours! Saskatchewan in April... I should have taken pictures!
But, today I want to just talk about a frustration I have with myself and I want to grow in.
The two ministry teams (our musical group "Point of Impact" are doing a tour of Ontario, and a few Manitoba stops and our drama group "Players" are doing a tour of Manitoba and some Saskatchewan and Alberta) left Bethany this morning at 5:30am. I did not say goodbye to these students on Sunday when everyone else left because I figured I had another day to say goodbye. Well, Monday night I was busy until later in the evening, so I decided that I would wake up at 5:00 am to see them off at 5:30 am. When my alarm went off at 5:00 am I kind of questioned myself. My thinking is kind of strange sometimes, and I wondered if I would be the only non-ministry team staff member there and if the students would think I am the creepy staff member who got up early to see them off!
But, I decided I would go, and I was so encouraged to say goodbye to all of them. It brought some real closure to my year in many ways... some great men and women who I have grown to appreciate so much. I came as they were praying before hitting the road, and I could see on their faces that they were happy and surprised to see me. It made my whole year seem worthwhile to see that I had a positive impact even a little bit on their lives!
And to think that I almost didn't go to see them off!
But, my weird mind kept being silly and when they thanked me for coming out I said that I was up to go to the bathroom already anyway! This was partly true because when I woke up I did go to the bathroom before walking to the school, but why did I have to downplay my coming to see them off?
I have enjoyed supporting the teams all year when they did their Sunday deputations, why couldn't I just make them feel special by admitting that I had woken up early to see them off?
Why do we downplay stuff like this? Maybe other people don't do that, but I do anyway... and it drives me nuts! Why can't I just support people and try to bring joy into people's lives without making excuses or downplaying it? What could it have hurt to just say, "Yeah, I appreciate you guys and got up early to show that I care about you!"
I need to work on this area of my life I guess... just love people and not care if they misunderstand where I am coming from! I just want to encourage and love people, and pray that they see my heart and don't second guess my motives!
OK, I will write more in the coming week... as I reflect on my year, figure out where my future is leading me (at least for the summer) and talk about a few verses that have been brewing in my mind for the last month or so!

Matthais replaces Judas

I know that Easter was last weekend, but this past weekend was still Orthodox Easter I believe. Anyway, I came across this song by Showbread featuring Reese Roper. It is such a passionate song that I can't help but be moved. And then I saw these video clips from "The Passion of the Christ" and it made it all the more moving.