Love Your Enemy

I am a life long Dallas Cowboys fan. I was a fan of America's team even before the days of Troy, Emmitt, and the "Playmaker" Michael Irvin. When I was ten, I wore a Danny White #11 jersey (that was 10 times too big for me) to school once a week. I even vividly remember when the great coach Tom Landry was let go.

I also remember the infamous day in the 2000 season when the Star of Texas stadium was desecrated by none other than Terrell Owens. This incident is known as the first of his many more obnoxious self-exalting escapades. As the 49ers stomped the-boys that day, T.O. sought to rub it in. Twice he ran to the 50 yard line, opening his arms to the sky to celebrate a touchdown atop the Dallas Star. The second celebration was ended by Cowboys safety George Teague. Teague leveled Owens, protecting the greatest logo in all of sports, from such disgrace. Teague was tossed from the game and Owen's was penalized a game's pay which he compared to impeachment of the president: "It makes me feel like this was a classless act. Like President Clinton and MonicaLewinsky, that was a classless act, and he didn't even get impeached for it."

Dallas fans who are fierce in their loyalty (second maybe only to rival Steeler fans). So you can only imagine the sickness we felt when Dallas had signed the great nemace Terrell Owens. Many in Dallas were outraged. Shirts were made that say, "Defend the Star!" This move defintely proves that we live in a day where money matched by wins talks alot louder than team loyalties. (Remember Johnny Damon is now a Yankee. And I thought Emmitt being released to the Cardinals at the end of his career was distasteful!)

I am sure fans of America's team will soon calm down. I am sure we will begin to show T.O. the type of class that we are known for. We will soon forget all about the last six years of tasteless sportmanship. All of the boos will end before the regular season begins. I even think T.O. will have the descency to take his shoes off when he approaches the star from now on. In the end, Dallas fans will take full advantage of this opportunity to love and embrace our former enemy.

Right after he catches that first touchdown pass. At least, let's wait and see if he takes us to the playoffs.

GENUINE FELLOWSHIP

The following was written by Pastor David for this week's bulletin:

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples! Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!
Glory in His holy name; Let the hearts of those rejoice who seek the LORD! Seek the LORD and His strength; Seek His face evermore!”
1 Chronicles 16:8-11

God has summoned us together today to celebrate His character, His work, and His grace! We gather as Christian community, people who are called to live in fellowship with Christ and one another. In fact, the type of fellowship we are called to live out is a uniquely Christian experience. The word often translated “fellowship” in the New Testament means community, participation, and partnership. We are called to partner together in the life and truth made possible only by our union with Christ. We share in common a life that is in union with Jesus Christ and with all other believers and uniquely our brothers and sisters in a local church. This partnership goes far beyond warm relationships, hanging out, going to Bible studies together, or even sharing certain convictions.
The call to Christian fellowship we find in the New Testament is especially striking when we remember that this fellowship was supposed to occur even between Jew and Gentile, who were cultural and social opposites. All of the outer distinctions, personal preferences and cultural walls were broken down in Christ (Ephesians 2:11-18). Thus, Christian fellowship is not about gathering together around people who are like us: who share our preferences, who dress like us, talk like us, or act like us. Christian fellowship means being committed to sharing your life in service with people who apart from Jesus Christ are often nothing like us! True Christian fellowship is a constant reminder that the blood of Jesus Christ changes everything, including our relationships.
Evangelical theologian J.I. Packer listed four hindrances to genuine fellowship in the church in a perceptive article. Consider them a warning as we move ahead seeking to live with one another in genuine Christian community.
1. Perceived Self-sufficiency
2. Formalism
3. Bitterness
4. Elitism
It is easy to see how any one of these characteristics or a combination of any of them could severely hinder Christian fellowship.
Christian fellowship is not something we simply fall into or discover one day, it is something that we give our lives over to working at by laboring to live out the opposite characteristics of what Packer warns us about. We are to constantly recognize our dependency (our need of Christ and each other), genuinely step into the lives of others in a sacrificial way, show others the grace God has shown us, and interact with others in humility (knowing we deserve God’s judgment). If we live together like this we will taste the sweetness of union with Christ in the way He has intended for us.

Looking unto Jesus with you,
Pastor David

CJ Mahaney Sermon

Check out CJ Mahaney's last sermon at covenant life

Lost and Found pt 4: The Prositute

A great exposition on the importance of knowing your own sin.

Thompson @ the gathering

What a great gathering we had last night! Jason Thompson's message, "Has the church lost it's way to Zion?" was an excellent exposition on the importance of the church in redemption. In case you did not take notes, his texts were Psalm 87; Ezekiel 37:24-28; Ephesians 2:11-22. Let Jason know how much you appreciate the word by e-mailing him at jason@rykersridge.org

Also, if you want to continue to give to the Thompson's adoption fund contact him at this same address.

INTERNET ACCESS AGAIN

After a month and a half, the church offices now have interenet access again. During this parenthesis, I was only able to check email once a day on a friend's computer, with barely any net surfing. As miserable as I was in the beginning, this fast from the web helped show me how easy it is for me to be subtlely mastered by the mundane things of life. On one hand, I need the web to communicate with others. On the other hand, the internet had become addictive. I would try a week or two without coffee next, but I am not sure that would really do me or anyone else any spiritual good.

Hopefully, this will lead to regular posting from your 'fearless' leaders (Casey not included). In the mean time, let me encourage you to remain faithful to your I2 groups. We strongly believe that these groups are key in seeing the gospel mutilply among our college students.

Pastor Jeremy