So You Think Jesus Doesn’t Understand?

Today many find themselves suffering in ways they never expected to be just 2 years ago. Think about the spring of 2008 and how great things were, the economy was rolling, many companies were experiencing record sales.

It was hard to believe then that things were going to turn so bad, and so quickly.

Two years later many find themselves without jobs or little work if they do have a job. Many families have lost their homes, cars, the things that they had worked so hard for. Many find themselves today without hope.

Over two thousand years ago today, Jesus body lay in a tomb and the world was without hope. Easter Sunday celebrates the risen Savior and the hope that comes through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that Jesus suffered as well. By all accounts, Jesus death involved extreme suffering. I think many look at his death and miss the fact that he did it all for them. For me, for you, for everyone who’s ever drawn breath.
I think because of the brutality of his death, some lose sight of the suffering Jesus went through and miss the connection Jesus has with us.

Some might say, well, Jesus never had problems with money. Jesus can’t identify with my fear of losing my home and having no place for my family to stay!! Really? In Matthew 8:20, Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus can fully appreciate not having a home. This was the same guy who was born in a cave, a cold, dark, damp, cave.

Well, Jesus had lots of followers, he had lots of friends. He can’t identify with my feelings of loneliness. Really? In Matthew 26:56, we read that after Jesus was arrested, his friends all left him. At the time he probably felt the need for them the most, they were nowhere to be found. Matthew 26:56 says “then all the disciples deserted him and fled”. Have you ever felt like you were all alone? I believe at that moment, Jesus did.

Have you ever felt betrayed? Jesus was betrayed by two men, one betrayed him for money. Judas betrayed Jesus for his own personal gain, 30 pieces of silver. Peter betrayed Jesus not once, not twice, but three times. Peter swore he had never met Jesus, this from the same man who only hours earlier had promised he was willing to die for Jesus.

Jesus was tempted, just like we are. Satan made Jesus different offers, at a time when Jesus would have been physically weak. He hadn’t eaten for 40 days. Yet, Jesus was able to resist temptation. When was the last time you were able to resist temptation?

Jesus experienced hunger. He went without food for 40 days. He experienced thirst, while on the cross he said, “I thirst”. Jesus experienced anger. Twice he found the temple being used to sell animals for sacrifice. Animals sold at exorbitant prices, which angered Jesus.

Jesus even wept. John 11:35 records it with two words, “Jesus wept”.

You may be experiencing awful things in your life right now. You may not believe it, but Jesus understands your feelings. The writer of Hebrews calls Jesus the Great High Priest. But, the writer also tells us that Jesus can sympathize with us.
Hebrews 4:15-16 “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”

He is able to sympathize with our weaknesses, with our struggles. He was tempted, just as we are. Yet, he rose above the temptation.

We can confidently approach Jesus then. Jesus went through all he went through, for us. Because he loves us and he desires a personal encounter with each and every one of us.

Jesus experienced one more thing. He experienced something that as long as you’re drawing breath, you don’t have to experience.

The coming experience caused him to sweat blood in the Garden of Eden as he prayed before his arrest. And he cried out in anguish as he experienced it on the cross.

Jesus experienced separation from God the father. God cannot look at sin. For those who’ve never asked Jesus to be their Savior, you’re separated from God. If you don’t take Jesus as your Savior, someday that separation becomes permanent.
For Jesus, the thought of the separation caused him great pain. The pain he experienced is the pain he knows you’re experiencing now, or will experience at some point.

Jesus died on a cross for your sin, so that he could bridge the gap and end the separation. The question is, will you take that offer? Will you end the separation today?

I can’t promise you that your problems will go away by asking Jesus to be your Savior. What I can promise is that Jesus will go with you and through all the things you have to face, you’ll always be able to find him, right there beside you.

Day One

Day one, rather evening one, is in the books and the 2009 All-Stars Baseball season is underway!! It was exciting to see the players, I love when the uniforms are new and crisp and the colors as you look out on the fields.

The weather was perfect, the atmosphere was perfect, God blessed us with an awesome start to the 2009 season. It was good to see the smiles on the faces and one team that has real team spirit. The White Sox (T-Ball) came with fans and pennants, their fans cheered hard for the team as they played. It was exactly what we like to see as the teams play.

The Machine Pitch (AA) teams did well too. I love the Diamondbacks uniforms and I’ve really liked the white Giants jerseys too. One of the most colorful teams is the Rockies with the black shirts and purple socks. The play was great and the season is underway.

If you have pictures to upload from All-Stars Baseball, go to our Facebook page and upload them there. Then all of us can enjoy your pictures!!

Change

For many, it’s a four letter word, change. People don’t like change. It’s new, it’s uncomfortable, it means not knowing what might be next, or maybe for some a feeling of being out of control.

All-Stars Baseball has underwent some serious changes since last season. We have more players than ever before, more teams that ever before and an awkward schedule with some divisions having 5 teams and others only 3. For the first time, we’ll play double-headers, we’ll routinely schedule games on Wednesday and if it rains, we’ll find ourselves possibly playing on Friday or Sunday for the first time ever. It’s change.

This season I hope you can find words of hope in the messages that will be delivered. We live in a world that is in more turmoil than it has been in for many years, perhaps in some ways it’s in more turmoil than it’s ever been in. Unemployment is nearing 10%, home foreclosures are at all time highs, income is shrinking while taxes are going up. The changes are constantly happening around us.

But, in the midst of all the change there is one constant. There is one thing that doesn’t change, one thing that has never changed, and never will. God. His word shows us a steady hand, one who always loves us, always has mercy for us, but hates all sin and who is always holy. In Malachi 3:6 God says that “I the Lord do not change…” God doesn’t change, even though he wants us to be constantly changing.

God wants us to constantly change to be more like Jesus, to be more holy and righteous. But, God Himself, never changes. The Bible tells us in James 1:17 that “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Shifting shadows, as the day wears on, the sun moves and the shadows change. They change size and shape and location. God doesn’t change though. He’s not a shifting shadow.

Have you trusted Him? Are you looking for something steady in a world full of chaotic change? Give all you have to God, and let him show you stability. Let Him love you unconditionally, let Him lead you, let Him show you that He will be the same tomorrow, as he is today.

Baseball

Spring is here!! At least the calendar says it is, even if the weather hasn’t fully cooperated yet. With April comes rain, a few nice days and baseball!! Baseball has long been my favorite game, I was a pretty good baseball player as a kid and maybe missed out on college ball only because of an injured shoulder in junior high. The new season starts and fans of every team have a week or two, or month or two, to fantasize about how their team might do in the new season. You see the season starts over. The winter was spent honing skills, getting injuries healed, adding new players to the club and an overall makeover of the team for many. And after spring training has ended, the season starts. It’s fresh, it’s new, it’s exciting!! You know, Jesus has a desire to work some newness into your life as well. He would like to heal injuries, you know, those deep wounds that have affected you for your entire life. He would like to add a couple of new players to your roster. One, is named Jesus Christ. Jesus is perfect, He loves you, promises to never leave you, nor forsake you and will fill that hole in your life that nothing else fills. He brings along another player, the Holy Spirit. His spirit guides you into truth, prays for you and the Bible even says groans to the Father for the things you don’t even know to pray about. Have you asked Jesus to be the Lord of your life? He’ll start you over, no score, a new season. It’s fresh, it’s new and it’s exciting and He promises it won’t last for just a couple of weeks. He’ll be with you, forever.

Super Bowl XLIII (43 for the rest of us)

It’s in the books and final, Super Bowl XLIII. And what an exciting game it was. I watched with several of my friends from our fantasy football league. We had a great time, most of the room was rooting for the Arizona Cardinals, but there were a small faithful group of Pittsburgh Steeler fans present. I was impressed with the Cardinals and their resiliency. I thought after the interception for a touchdown to end the first half that it was over for the Cards. I feared a second half blow out that would make the game no fun to watch.

Fortunately the Cards got it going in the fourth quarter and Larry Fitzgerald put the Cards ahead with just over 2 minutes left. Those rooting for the Cardinals turned a little nervous realizing that the Cards D had to hold the Steelers for 2 1/2 minutes. As the Steelers lined up to start the drive, I said, “this is the type of situation that builds legends”.

Rooting for the Cardinals, little did I know that that’s exactly what was about to happen. What a drive!! And what a game winning Super Bowl TD!! As the play was slow mo replayed over and over it became painfully clear that it was a TD, the Steelers had indeed come back.

I was rooting for the Cardinals for two reasons. 1) they had never been, or won the Super Bowl and 2) Kurt Warner. I know the Steelers have some Christian players, but, I can’t name any of them. Add to that the possibility that this was Warner’s last game and I like to see guys like him go out on top, I had to root for the Cardinals.

Am I disappointed? No, it was a great game, Kurt Warner handled himself with the class of a winner despite losing (in fact all of the Cardinals I saw interviewed were very classy), and I know people who live in Pittsburgh and local Steeler fans, so no I wasn’t disappointed in the least. I was concerned after the 2008 Super Bowl that it would be a while before it was topped. It only took 1 year to better it, so now I wonder how long it will be before we see another Super Bowl that is this good?

Rooting for the Chiefs Again

I was born and raised in Kansas City. It’s a wonderful town, great place to visit, great place to live. Growing up I liked football. As a teenager I fell in love with the NFL and desperately wanted to be able to root for my home team, the Kansas City Chiefs.

I was too young to remember the Super Bowl win, the only Chiefs I had ever known were a laughingstock bunch in the NFL. I’m still scarred over my first trip to an NFL game. November 7, 1976 versus the Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers. Coldest I’ve ever been, final score, Steelers 45, Chiefs 0.

Then the clouds parted. 1989, Carl Peterson came to town and he hired Marty Schottenheimer (I still can’t believe he hasn’t won a Super Bowl). Derrick Thomas was drafted and the Chiefs became relavant. And stayed that way until the dark clouds rolled in with Dick Vermeil’s resignation at the end of the 2005 season. Enter, Herm Edwards.

This is the same guy who took a playoff Jets team and crash landed them. Finishing up with a 4-12 clunker in 2005. We not only hand him keys to the empire, but draft picks to the Jets. I’m on record (my son can back me up) as saying the Chiefs were in for a mamoth collapse and I think 9-7, 4-12, 2-14 qualifies.

But, at last the clouds part again. Scott Pioli is the new GM. It remains to be seen who he will hire as the new Chiefs head coach. Mike Shanahan’s name has come up, Todd Haley (Arizona OC) has been mentioned. Shanahan is a guy you love to hate, you hate him on the other sideline, love him on yours. I would welcome him, or Haley. Please, no one from college, no one we’ve never heard of before. Please, no Chan Gailey, let’s move forward now. My favorite would be Bill Cowher, not sure if he would want to only coach, or if he wants full control?

So, here’s my list in order of preference;

1) Bill Cowher
2) Mike Shanahan
3) Todd Haley
4) John Gruden

We’ll see who the Chiefs hire, but at least they’re going the right direction again.

Committed to Finish

I was first drawn to the First Baptist Church of Channahon by their vision. The purchase of the land was one of the issues presented at one of the first business meetings I attended. I listened that day as the vision for the property was laid out, a vision that included a school, ball fields and gymnasiums. I watched as the church membership voted to move forward.

Ever since that day, God has been at work. Sometimes God has blessed the church directly, sometimes, he’s blessed those who’ve supported the vision God has for this community. For example, when the sisters who owned the property we purchased decided to sell the property to us, they cut more than $100,000 dollars off the purchase price. As a result, they actually made more money than they would have at the full price due to the savings in capital gains taxes they realized. God blessed First Baptist Church, and at the same time He blessed these sisters.

It’s not been an easy journey either. The forces of evil have mobilized an effort to work against God’s plan. Those forces have presented themselves in many different forms, including Satan worshipers who were so bold as to approach Pastor Randy as he stepped down from the stage following the dedication ceremony.

He was told that our new property had been the place of their worship and sacrifice and that they weren’t going to stop. To which Pastor Randy basically replied, “I’m not going to stop you from doing anything, but my God will”.

We had work days and the whole church it seemed came out to help clear trees, cut grass and clean things up. Drawings were developed that laid out where we would build the building, the pavilion and the ball fields.

Then Landmark Landscape came in and began building the baseball fields. I can still remember the first afternoon our church went out and played softball. We were so excited; we couldn’t wait to play on those new fields. So out we went to play, no fences, nothing set up, just a November afternoon playing softball on our new fields. What an exciting time that was!!

But the plans were never to build facilities for just our purposes. From the beginning the plan was to provide a place for our community and the communities around us to worship and play together.

As the Sports Ministry Director for First Baptist Channahon I’ve enjoyed a front row seat as we’ve watched God open all sorts of opportunities and I’ve watched as God has changed people’s lives.

I could share my thoughts for a long time, but I thought it might mean more to hear the words from one of the parents in our baseball league. Quote;

“For many years I longed for the opportunity to see my twin boys, now age 11, to be able to play baseball and perhaps flag football in a league that was “different” from the ones I usually hear about. I never wanted them to have to participate in leagues that had coaches who stressed winning as the most important thing, or that had parents screaming at their kids, or those of the opposing team, whenever they made a mistake. My prayers were answered last year when I saw information about a new league that would be starting under the direction of FBC. My first conversation with the leadership of this new league was truly an answer to prayer as their vision for the new baseball league sounded exactly like what my wife and sons and I have been waiting for. Specifically, it was to be an instructional league that stressed teaching the fundamentals and good sportsmanship and to build the confidence of kids who thought they were not good enough to play organized sports in spring leagues. It was and still is called All-Stars Baseball. The goal was to see each player build skills and confidence that would not only make them better players, but better citizens too. We were told at the first practice that a short devotional lesson from the Bible would be presented at each game and that it would be a mandatory part of participation in the league as this league wasn’t simply about the sports, but also was about emphasizing the Christian faith in action. “ End Quote

There have been many times that we’ve had to practice faith in action. As a ministry we’ve stood behind Paul’s words in 2 Timothy 4:7 as our motivating force. In 2 Timothy 4:7 the Apostle Paul tells Peter that “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I kept the faith”. Our faithfulness has paid off many times over.

The property God has blessed us with has already blessed many people and has already changed the lives of families. And the facilities aren’t even done yet. Imagine the possibilities once the building is complete!!

So tonight, as we stand on the threshold of our promised land, let me ask you something. Do you hear what I hear? Listen closely; I think you can hear it.

There it is, I hear the sound of basketballs being dribbled in our gym. I hear cheerleaders leading cheers as FOFCA players compete. I hear the thump of a strong overhand volleyball serve.

I hear the crack of baseball and softball bats as boys and girls play baseball and softball. I hear the footsteps of young men running around bases playing in an adult softball league and I hear the “hut hut” call of a quarterback playing in a flag football league. Don’t you hear it?

I hear the crackle of shoulder pads and helmets as FOFCA kicks off the first home game of their first football season. I hear the drum cadence of the FOFCA marching band as they march onto the football field for their first halftime performance. Don’t you hear it too?

Do you see what I see? Look closer.

I see children getting a chance to compete athletically, a chance they would not get anywhere else. I see the smile of a child who just got their first hit in baseball, or who just re-discovered how much they love to play sports. I see people with disabilities competing, smiling, their families having fun together. Can you see it now?

Maybe you can see children and their parents huddled around as a speaker shares the love of Jesus Christ with them before a ball game. Maybe you can see the man, or woman, or child who on bended knee is asking Jesus to be their savior in a dusty dugout.

I see families who have come to our property hundreds of times for ball practices and games, pulling in on a Sunday morning, coming to worship. Can’t you see those cars?

I see families who will never be the same because God had a chance to change their lives. Families whose lives will never be the same, because of people like you.

People like you who saw the vision, bought into the vision, gave to the vision and committed to see the vision come to life. People who committed to finish!!

The vision God laid out before us years ago has begun to spring to life. Would you join me tonight in promising to come to the end of this journey and to be able to say; “I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith, I stayed committed to finish.”

Can you see it?! Can you hear it?! Will you join us in committing to finish it!?

http://www.fbcchannahon.org

November 17, 2007

I submitted this and imagine my surprise when it was used!!

November 15

FCA Impact Play: ” 17 Inches”

 

Brokenness
“Blessed are You, God, who comforts them in their brokenness so that they may comfort others…”

– 2 corinthians 1:3-5

17 Inches
Tuesday, August 21st, 2007
READY: “But He will say, ‘I tell you, I don’t know you or where you’re from. Get away from Me, all you workers of unrighteousness!’” -Luke 13:27
SET: As a baseball pitcher and later as a coach, I would find that there would be times when I thought a pitch was close enough to be a strike. When I would question the call, I would always hate to hear the response, “It was just a bit outside.”
A baseball homeplate is 17 inches wide. Sometimes, as a pitcher, that 17-inch piece of rubber seems to be more like 6 or 7 instead.
You know what else is 17 inches? It’s roughly the distance from your head to your heart. It’s interesting. . .From a spiritual standpoint, many people know about Jesus in their heads. Many can quote Scripture and know all of the Bible stories. Some might even know more about the Bible than their Christian friends. But has all of that knowledge made its way from their head to their heart?
The Bible tells us that someday we are going to stand before a holy God and be judged for what we did with our lives. And when that time comes, the last words you are going to want to hear are, “You were just a bit outside.”
If you’ve never taken Christ from your head to your heart, stop waiting. Time is precious and there are no guarantees about tomorrow. Don’t let 17 inches separate you from an eternal life with Jesus. When it comes to entry into Heaven, you’re either going to be in or you’re going to be out.
GO:
1. Have you ever wanted to be “in”?
2. Where will you spend eternity?
3. Are you ready to walk the narrow road into Heaven? Will you accept Christ as your Savior and surrender your life to Him?
WORKOUT:
Matthew 7:13-14
Matthew 7:21-23
Romans 10:9-10
(If you did accept Christ today, please morethanwinning.org to find out what to do next!)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Kenton Ayers is the Sports Ministry Director for the First Baptist Church in Channahon, Ill.
Now it’s your Turn. Write your own FCA Devotional. . . Go to www.fca.org and click the “Submit your own FCA devo!” link on the right side.
For more information about FCA please visit FCA.org.

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March 5, 2007

We talked about the betrayal of Jesus by Judas yesterday. Some thoughts that came to mind as we discussed it;

1) in Matthew 26:52-54 we see Jesus scold Peter for cutting off Malchus’ ear. Then in Matthew 26:56 we see the disciples desert Jesus. At first glance we may think of them as running from what was about to happen, but maybe;

a) they realized that all Jesus had told them about was coming true, for the first time

b) they understood that Jesus was really going to die and wasn’t going to fight it

How incredible it is. Jesus willingly died, for me, for you, for your friends, your neighbors. And He did it knowing all that had happened and was going to happen. Selfless love? That’s the definition of it. Webster should just put Jesus’ picture in the dictionary for selfless.

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