Heart to Heart
Are you up for the Big Game? The weeks leading up to February have been filled with plenty of NFL action NFL, as teams fought hard to advance to the Super Bowl. I know the upcoming game between the Chiefs and the 49ers isn’t what many hoped for (I’m still saying the Vikings should be there), but that’s who we get to watch in Super Bowl LVIII.
Last weekend, I enjoyed a quick conversation with one of our teens. He asked who I was cheering for in the conference championship games. I admitted that I liked the way Patrick was leading the Chiefs. He was all about the Detroit Lions. I let Eric know that when we get to Jersey Sunday, I will let my true colors be seen – and he might be surprised at what he sees.
In case you didn’t know, the Super Bowl isn’t the only football game in town...
All week long, I’ve been seeing pictures from another championship series on my social media feeds. The Lions and the Eagles have all been part of the playoffs. But we’re not talking Philadelphia or Detroit. Because Les Elephants have also been playing, along with the Wild Dogs & Black Mambas, in football stadiums across Cote d’Ivoire. Welcome to the other big football championship series: the Africa Cup. By the way, the Cote d’Ivoire Elephants beat last year’s champions (the Senegal Lions), 5-4 on penalty shots. A fitting nail-biter end for such a high profile game. We will see if they can win the Cup!
While the competition was fierce, and the athletes played with great passion for their country, what I enjoyed the most, was seeing the friendly rivalry between fans. Across Senegal, students and parents dressed in their favorite team colors, and hosted watch parties. Some of our IW’s wore the colors of the Senegal Lions, while others secretly cheered for the Elephants.
I love that kind of friendly rivalry, because at the end of the day, we’re still all family. As believers, we may have favorites sports teams, but we recognize that ultimately we all play for the same team – Team Jesus. In fact, we bear the mark of the Lion on our souls, and we serve the Lion of Judah (our Player-Coach who won the ultimate come-from-behind victory on the Cross). It’s our privilege to not only play for Him, but to invite others to join us on His team.
If you’re tracking with the 40 Days of Prayer, Week 5 focuses on the importance of Family. When we follow Jesus, He makes us part of the Church, His forever family. Last week, Steve from Communio, reminded a number of us that being made in the image of God, means that we are wired by our Creator, to be relational. The Godhead – Father, Son & Holy Spirit – distinct in three Persons and yet entirely One, is all about relationships.
That revelation of the nature of God, helps us map out the game plan Jesus wants His players to follow as we reach our neighbors here in Billings and to the far reaches of the planet, with the Gospel. The key to reaching the next Generation, and especially those who claim to have no interest in “organized religion” is to build genuine, redemptive relationships.
Jesus showed us how – love God with all of who you are (heart, soul, mind and strength), and then let the overflow of that relationship pour the life-giving water of God’s love, into those around us. Would you join Diana and I, as we ask the LORD, to fill us by His Spirit and continue to challenge us to love & serve people in this way. May we not grow wearing of doing good (1 Cor.15:58), but instead lean even more into building meaningful relationships with people that God wants playing for His Team.
Go LIONS!!
Pastor Adriaan & Diana <><