My Epic Journey

Colts/Browns Lesson #2

The excitement leading up the game was almost unbearable.  The boys and I (with MUCH help from Mom) put together what we would wear for the game.  We tried to find as much blue and white we could get our hands on.  Face Painting wasn’t out of the question, for that matter, not even BODY paint was tossed out.  We discussed what we were going to see, hear and smell (after all it IS Cleveland!!).  We fought our way through a SEA of like-minded people into the stadium.  We were excited to see the players, especially Peyton Manning, storm the field and displayed that excitement by cheering at the top of our lungs and acting like fools

Of course, none of this was abnormal because we are, after all, HUGE Colts fans and that is what a fan does, right?

And then I found myself on the way home struck with all the effort I had put into ONE football game.  And not only for my own sake but for my children as well, I had spent many hours dreaming of what it would be like to see the game “in person.”  I had even taking some time to convert those around me into Colts’ fans.  Why?  Because I LOVE the Colts!!!!

And then the question popped into my head, “Do I love God as much”?

Of course I do!!!!  That is an absurd question to ask!!!!

But I began to mull over this in my head all the way home (4 hours thanks to traffic), and became overwhelmed with how much effort I put into the Colts and how LITTLE I put into being a FAN of God’s.

Now I know it would be strange if I showed up on Sunday morning with J-E-S-U-S painted on my body or if I whooped and hollered when Pastor Terry took the stage.  But I am not talking about that.  Am I an OBVIOUS fan of God throughout the entire week and entire day?  Is it event when people see me that NO DOUBT I am a God’s fan?  Do I look, act, sound, and smell the part?

Even more telling, do I invest as much interest in God than the Colts to my own kids?  Do I talk about God’s stats to them and paste posters and memorabilia around their room that’s not just blue and white?

The answer is alarming to me–NO I don’t!!!  I like to think I do, but if I am honest, I am not putting the focus on God to others, especially my family, and to myself.  I would have to say that the average person on the street WOULDN’T know I am a fan of God by how I look or act.

So how do I change that?  How do I become God’s #1 fan?

1. I must read up on His Bio and stats.  Simply meaning, I must be reading the Bible.  If I don’t know who He is then I can I be truly excited about Him?
2. I must show my COLORS.  I am not afraid to wear blue and white to display my love for Colts but I am a little more hesitant to wear a “God” shirt or carry my Bible around.  I think others might see me as a freak so I just look like everyone else.
3. I must talk the talk.  Are the words coming out of my mouth different from everyone else?  Am I just as critical, negative and sarcastic?  Or do my words bring hope, love and grace like the words of Christ?
4. Last, am I passing this passion on to my children?  Are they just as excited to talk about God as they are football because they know God is a favorite topic of Dad’s?

I have a lot to change, but my goal is that other may see that I am God’s #1 fan and in turn “jump on the bandwagon.”

“Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”  –Matthew 5.16

Colts/Browns Lesson #1

I learned some lessons while at the Colts/Browns game this past weekend.  The first lesson I want to share came in the fourth quarter of the game.  The Brown’s 2nd string quarterback, Derek Anderson, had to be carried off the field due to a torn MCL–a season-ending injury.  This is a scary moment for any football player or any one in athletics for that matter.  But what the matter worse was, as Derek lay on the ground in pain, the Browns’ fans crescendoed into one of the loudest cheers of the entire day.  They were exuberant over the fact that Derek Anderson was hurt and couldn’t play!!!!  A man’s season, career and livelihood are in question and people are cheering!!

My boys were completely bothered by this, along with many commentators later in the day.  What group of people CHEER when their own man goes down?  Can you imagine U.S. Marines giving each other high-fives when one of their comrades is shot?  Of course not!!!  It’s UNHEARD of!!!

Unless you are part of Church.  (I use the BIG “C” Church to refer to many of us who claim to be Christ-followers and pride ourselves in our “church” attendance.)  I say this because I have seen, too many times, people go through hard times our struggle with a debilitating sin and instead of helping each other, we usually:

1. Gossip about the “fall” to other church people.  Usually in the form of a “prayer request.”
2. Distance ourselves from that person because we don’t want people to think we are a part of their problem.
3. We “spiritually” glare, stare and/or point our fingers, with disgust, at the person who is spiritually wounded.

I once heard a pastor explain it well.  He said, “the Church is the only group of people who shoot their wounded!”  I haven’t forgotten that quote and the Browns’ fans reminded me of this even more just yesterday.

Here is what we can do, as followers of Christ, in helping our own who are wounded:

1. Come alongside of them–quickly!!  The more we wait the worse it is going to hurt.
2. Instead of a criticizing attitude, approach the situation with a heart of compassion.  It is the same attitude Christ had as he looked at the multitude.
3. Pray, genuinely, pray for those who are hurting.
4. Find practical ways you can help.  Maybe it is researching help or even accompanying them through the recovery phases.
5. Mainly, LOVE.  We have all seen it in the movies and in the news.  A soldier goes down and because of the LOVE they have for one another, they fight to get that fallen soldier to safety.

As a Church, it is not bad for us to share the same mantra as our soldiers–NEVER leave a soldier behind!!!!!

Anna gave me an early Christmas present–4 tickets to the Colts/Browns game in Cleveland this past weekend.

So Sunday afternoon, with Carharts, snow pants, and many other layers of clothes, Isaac, Noah, myself and Anna’s brother, James braved the cold, rain and snow to see the Colts beat the Browns 10-6.

What surprised me was there were just as many Colts fans there as Browns fans.

Tickets to the game–$180

Nachos, Pizza and Pop–$40

Seeing the Colts beat the Browns with my boys–PRICELESS!!!

Thanks Swheets for the amazing Christmas gift!!!  IT will be a memory I will never forget!

NOTE:  I will be posting more later about some lessons we learned while at Cleveland Browns Stadium.  You don’t want to miss that!!