Author: Wick

And so it begins. We’ve kicked off the last bit of off-season dust, and have begun the journey toward awarding the 2011 Stanley Cup. Maybe you’re new to this fanatical experience of the NHL. Perhaps you’re a long-time fan with records of every Gordie Howe Hat Trick ever made. And possibly, you think a “hat trick” is probably something the goalie does involving taking off his protective head gear.

But what you all may have in common? Fantasy Hockey.

Personally, I’ve grown up watching hockey as far back as I can remember. I love it. So did most of the people I grew up around. But then I moved to the middle of Illinois. Now I find myself surrounded by basketball, football, and even a few baseball fans, many of whom have never watched a full NHL game, unless you count Chicago’s win last season.

So what do I do? I trick as many local guys as I can to put their ego’s to the test in the realm of Fantasy Hockey. Sure, sometimes I do alright. But overall, my “win” comes in the form of having a group of guys I can talk hockey with…both online, and in person.

And what a season it’s already turning out to be.

In the West, the 2010 Stanley Cup winning Chicago Blackhawks are fighting to make a statement. What statement? “Even though we lost some great players due to salary cap issues, we are still as much a team to be reckoned with.” Watch for Marian Hossa to continue gaining productivity as the season moves forward. He may have finally won a Stanley Cup after an emotional chase, but now he’s tasted victory and has more time on the ice than last season.

But that’s not all the West has to offer. This week saw the match up between the “Old” and “New” regimes of hockey, and it was VERY close. The Detroit Redwings took on the Colorado Avelanche in Detroit. The team captains age at 40 and 39, respectively, but only one truly represents the age of the men behind him. Nicklas Lidstrom, backed by a Detroit team aged mainly 25-40, and isn’t available in your fantasy league for a reason. He’s solid.

Adam Foote on the other hand, is surrounded by so many young whipper snappers starting at age 19, you wonder if Colorado will keep him around for another season? Yet even with much less experience, the Colorado Kids gave Detroit a pummeling on Tuesday night, tallying 38 shots to the Wings total of 28.

Any team that can give a performance like that in Hockeytown USA, is worth checking into.  You might take a chance on David Jones if you’ve got a deeper league, with an open RW position. Ousted by an injury mid-season last year, it’s hard to know what he would have accomplished. But the 20 minutes a game he’s playing right now says Colorado has confidence in his ability to produce, and they were rewarded for that confidence Tuesday night.

Whether due to a busy summer, a large amount of books I’ve taken on all at once, or simply wanting to spend more time working through it….I’ve finally completed “After You Believe” by NT Wright.  I don’t think I’ll surprise my 2 readers by saying…..I enjoyed just about every page of it.

As a quick side note, I found myself wondering if people around me (because the world revolves around me, right?) notice the title of my book, and think perhaps I’ve just recently become a “believer” in whatever the topic is.  Sometimes I’d purposefully flash the book, in hopes that an energetic evangelical would strike up a conversation about how great Jesus is.  No such luck, this time at least.

I’ve already posted some thoughts while reading the book, and it’s important call to reclaim the activity of Jesus in our world as the Church.  So much of what Wright has said, is painted wonderfully in such a context that to remove it from, would be like taking a single star from “Starry Night”, and wanting you to see how beautiful it is.  I encourage you…if you’ve ever found, or find yourself in a place where you want “more” from Christianity, and church shopping isn’t quite filling what you thought it would…..or whatever method you’ve explored to bring personal revival…..allow God to use this book in your journey.

God is doing some pretty incredible things, and I want the language, song, and dance of my life to be something that I’ve practiced so often when it felt unnatural – that when moments requiring the response of someone genuinely following Jesus to bear God’s presence into the world in a transforming way….I am able, by the Spirit’s presence in my life.   That my very mind would be transformed/renewed, so that Faith, Hope, and Love would be virtues I’ve not only practiced in the grace of God…but are also becoming my very “New” nature.  That the fruit of the Spirit (all 9 aspects of it) would be obvious both as difficult decisions, as reflex actions, and as truly supernatural gifting as my life seeks the coming together of heaven and earth.

I’m thankful for Wright’s words on the work of humanity that has begun, and will continue into New Creation.  The gathering of creations’ praises to present before God, and the bearing God’s image and nature into that same creation.  I pray that God will be with me, as I desire these things not only for myself, but for my marriage, my family/children, and the church community I’ve been blessed to be called to serve God among.

Yes…it’s a bit dense at parts.  The fact that he talks about Aristotelian themes of virtue, etc…can be intimidating and discouraging to some of us who would prefer an easier-to-swallow pill.  But just as the spiritual “disciplines” can lead to some pretty amazing transformations toward New Life…..taking the time to invest in the words on these pages…can open the Word and Life that Jesus Christ has inaugurated…may you be blessed as well….and if you wanna borrow my copy – just let me know. 🙂

The 2nd primary speaker mentioned in yesterdays’ post was Mark Van Valin, from Spring Arbor, Michigan.  Whereas Barna talked to us mainly as ministers and churches, VanValin spoke to us as children of God; and offered new insight in our conversations on “Holiness”.

He began by offering 3 main “traditions” of salvation:
 – Proposition – we believe the right things
 – Behavioral – we do the right things
 – Relational – we know the right person.

Obviously, his desire for us was the third understanding.  That we might come to know an intimate experience of Jesus Christ.  From John 17:3 “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”  We see the trinity relating to each other in places like Jesus’ baptism, exhibiting Love and Joy and Family.

Many of us have been asked the question “If God is complete, in need of nothing, why did he make us?”  Mark reminded us it was out of His fullness, not loneliness, that God created.  A fullness that He desires to share with us.

Van Valin compared our approach to our lives in regard to holiness like an island with overgrown plant life.  That holiness is not simply “weed-wacking” around our island, taking care of the small manifestations of outward sin.  Sin generally comes from some sort of “self” focus:

 – Self-promotion – “what about me?” mentality
 – Self-protection – “always being safe”, “not me!” mentality, disguised as humility
 – Self-indulgence – “please me” mentality, easier to spot this one, seeking pleasure/avoiding pain, addictions
 – Self-sufficiency – shies away from mystery, “let me” mentality, not willing to be broken/vulnerable

 These fear-based “larger issues”, destroy relationships and our ability to relate well…to God, or others.  All of this pointing to the real enemy often not being satan, but ultimately myself.  Van Valin offered reminders to yield ourselves to Christ for each of these areas, in order:

 – Humility
 – Obedience
 – Suffering/Intimacy/Self-control
 – Trust

These 4 things not only deepen, enrich, and help build relationships…they also REQUIRE community.  Church is much more than an hour on the weekend that you can choose whether or not you’re interested in attending this week.  It’s a community experiencing life-transformation together, and transforming their world as those lives are lived out together in mission and God’s presence. 

May we invite those around us to participate in the intimacy of genuine life together in the same way we’ve been invited to participate in what the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are actively doing…