Author: Wick

Where else can you see an octopus being thrown onto a giant slab of ice in the middle of the Arizona desert?

Tonight marks Game 2 of the “Best of 7” series between the Phoenix Coyotes, and the Detroit Redwings.  Game one was this past Wednesday, and it revealed a series that will be incredible to watch.  And I’m not saying that just because I’m a Wings fan.

Both teams had not been seen as playoff contention material before the Olympic break. But with the return to NHL, both turned up their level of play with incredible speed, winning almost every game they played.  Climbing to the number 4 (PHX) and number 5 (DET) spots, they ended up being nearly perfectly matched for the first round of playoffs.

Heading into Game One, there was a lot of pressure on Detroit’s goalie, Jimmy Howard.  Howard was intended to be the backup goalie to veteran Chris Osgood this season.  But especially in the second half of the season, Howard came out strong and earned his position as starting for the playoffs.  But here we are, the heat turned up a notch in a place where Ozzie’s played many many times, and Howard seems a little nervous.  Will the Wings continue to start him?  I suppose that depends on his play tonight.

Game one was a physical game right out of the gates.  Phoenix definitely seemed like the over-enthused 7th grader feeling like he has something to prove to the much more seasoned Detroit team.  Dirty hits seemed to be the norm, until the Officials finally had to call several PHX penalties in a row.  Fortunately for them, Bryzgalov (Goalie) was solid during those penalty minutes.  Just wish the same could be said of Howard during ours.  But no doubt he’s spent a few of these past 48 hours working on stopping screened shots.

Tonight looks to be another goalie match up, although I’m sure Detroit has been told to increase the physicality of their presence a bit more, but hopefully safely avoiding the penalty box.  They’re bringing in Justin Abdelkader from the Griffins to replace Jason Williams, which will certainly help the checking on that line a bit.  Watch for Shane Doan to bring some more hitting power, leading his team and screening pucks.

But this time, we know how they intend to score.  Howard will be ready…game on.  9pm CST

In the message this past Sunday, we received a reminder that “I” am not the focus of what God is doing.  That’s a simple, but powerful message that we must be chewing on more often than we do. 

Our church family is spending the next couple months at least, focusing specifically on Jesus being the focus/center.  Looking at the characteristics and attributes of this Center, and His Father/Spirit.  Especially in times of such a consumerist mindset in the Church, and found even in beautiful moments of salvation – we NEED this sort of re-orienting revival.

The moment where many of us “accepted Jesus in our hearts” may be a good place to start.  Foundational to so much that has gone wrong in our pursuit of Jesus, is why and how this pursuit began.  Churches and Pastors who held strongly to the motto of “get ’em to sign this paper”, or “get ’em to come back next week”…assuming the rest would simply work itself out….has led us to churches filled with people completely willing to be a part of what God is doing – but who assume God simply wants to save them and others from hell. 

Check please.

Because that was never, isn’t, and won’t ever be the primary goal of what God is up to.  Why was the blind man given sight again?  So that he could SEE.  Why was the lame man healed?  So that he could WALK.  Why was Lazarus raised from the grave?  So that he could LIVE.  Why was the early Church given the Spirit of God?  So that they could BE HIS ACTIVE PRESENCE.

God’s goal is not simply to make sure we don’t end up apart from Him.  God has brought you freedom from sins, offers redemption of what’s happened in your past, NEW LIFE for you today, HIS SPIRIT to empower your living, and has begun making ALL THINGS NEW….

..SO THAT….(may our lives fill in this blank)

And may we be inviting others into such living.  As we do this together, we are the Church.  The bride of Christ.  The disorientingly beautiful and infinitely loving force in a world being transformed as the Kingdom of God comes.  May we be found there…