Lessons Learned in the Orange Bowl
Yes I know - my beloved Miami Hurricanes have taken an early hit from a very decent group of Seminoles. They will be back! It better be this year if Coker is going to remain at the reigns of this team. We will find out what the season holds in 2 weeks against Louisville...
In between screaming at the players, talking with Justin and my dad, and talking to the strange individual who came to sit next to me I had a few thoughts while I was there...
1. The Greatest Mission field in the world would have to be the United States
If you want to put your finger on the pulse of America - go to a stadium filled with 75,000+ people and just watch and listen. It is unbelievable! I love the atmosphere of college sports but it is a little bit different than what our "head in the sand" churches like to envision.
2. People Matter to God
I don't have time to write a lot about this; however, I sat next to a pretty interesting 19 year old college student at the game. She was very nice, very vocal, and very eager to talk about ANY and EVERY subject. The conversation took an interesting turn when I told her that I wan't 21 (I am 27), that I am not single, that I have two daughters, and that of all things I work on staff at a church. At first she didn't know what to say - but then our very vocal friend started at it again...
She asked why I wasn't carrying a Bible, why I wasn't wearing a button down shirt, why my hat was on backwards, and why I didn't "look" like a minister. She asked me if I ever sinned, ever had crazy thoughts, and if Christians had "fun" sex or if we just had to have "boring" sex whenever we wanted to make another baby. (By the way - before I get an email from someone telling me not to talk to a girl like this - my dad and brother in law were right beside me). Throughout the conversation my heart just went out to her and the thousands of other people just like her standing in that stadium. It is for people like her that Jesus came to this earth. It is for people like her that the church should exist. Our churches are so consumed trying to keep the pathetic, whining, church member happy that we don't give a donkey's tail for the person like her who is crying out for something real. I could go on - but I think I better not.
3. When excellence is expected - Anything less will not satisfy.
Miami has won 5 National Championships in the past 23 years. We are accustomed to winning (not just games, not just conference titles 'like everyone in the SEC', but the National Championship). The past two years we have lost 6 games. For all you Conference USA fans that is 3 per year. Most schools (Memphis) would celebrate this accomplishment; however, at Miami it will cost you your job. I love Miami Football. Excellence is expected - and 2nd best (in the nation, in the conference, or in the State of Florida) will not be tolerated. With that in mind - let's not settle for anything less than the best in our personal lives or in our churches. Get out of this middle of the road junk and move on for the Glory of God.
In between screaming at the players, talking with Justin and my dad, and talking to the strange individual who came to sit next to me I had a few thoughts while I was there...
1. The Greatest Mission field in the world would have to be the United States
If you want to put your finger on the pulse of America - go to a stadium filled with 75,000+ people and just watch and listen. It is unbelievable! I love the atmosphere of college sports but it is a little bit different than what our "head in the sand" churches like to envision.
2. People Matter to God
I don't have time to write a lot about this; however, I sat next to a pretty interesting 19 year old college student at the game. She was very nice, very vocal, and very eager to talk about ANY and EVERY subject. The conversation took an interesting turn when I told her that I wan't 21 (I am 27), that I am not single, that I have two daughters, and that of all things I work on staff at a church. At first she didn't know what to say - but then our very vocal friend started at it again...
She asked why I wasn't carrying a Bible, why I wasn't wearing a button down shirt, why my hat was on backwards, and why I didn't "look" like a minister. She asked me if I ever sinned, ever had crazy thoughts, and if Christians had "fun" sex or if we just had to have "boring" sex whenever we wanted to make another baby. (By the way - before I get an email from someone telling me not to talk to a girl like this - my dad and brother in law were right beside me). Throughout the conversation my heart just went out to her and the thousands of other people just like her standing in that stadium. It is for people like her that Jesus came to this earth. It is for people like her that the church should exist. Our churches are so consumed trying to keep the pathetic, whining, church member happy that we don't give a donkey's tail for the person like her who is crying out for something real. I could go on - but I think I better not.
3. When excellence is expected - Anything less will not satisfy.
Miami has won 5 National Championships in the past 23 years. We are accustomed to winning (not just games, not just conference titles 'like everyone in the SEC', but the National Championship). The past two years we have lost 6 games. For all you Conference USA fans that is 3 per year. Most schools (Memphis) would celebrate this accomplishment; however, at Miami it will cost you your job. I love Miami Football. Excellence is expected - and 2nd best (in the nation, in the conference, or in the State of Florida) will not be tolerated. With that in mind - let's not settle for anything less than the best in our personal lives or in our churches. Get out of this middle of the road junk and move on for the Glory of God.
posted by J.R. at
10:34 AM
3 Comments:
I think it its funny some times how people think christans should "look" but at the same time its great that she saw that you don't have to look like she thought you do. It is obvious that Jesus was reaching out to her trough you. It is sad to think that there are poeple who think that about christans. That just makes me even more excited about telling poeple about him and showing them the truth.
I think it its funny some times how people think christans should "look" but at the same time its great that she saw that you don't have to look like she thought you do. It is obvious that Jesus was reaching out to her trough you. It is sad to think that there are poeple who think that about christans. That just makes me even more excited about telling poeple about him and showing them the truth.
well first i think you know how i stand with talking to that girl man, college folks are rough and its nice to get to dispell stereotypes and show some knowledge...at the same time its frustrating that the common church member lives the life that the girl expressed but good blog but for your information memphis the school you have ragged on and on has averaged 8 wins the last 3 seasons and has the number six rusher all time in college football history, say what you want but people say that you can't consider smaller schools competitors i think that's funny since colorado lost last week to a d-2 school but i guess its easy to like a team that did most of their winning when you were a child i would talk big if i were on the bandwagon too....when i was 10 years old my team was like 2-10 or something so just keep living in your dream sports world and watch out coker cuz your going down....
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