CSUS Monday Morning Devo

Deuteronomy 24:17-18

2010-06-09T08:24:00.001-07:00

05.31.10

“Do not deprive the alien or the fatherless of justice, or take the cloak of the widow as a pledge. Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you from there. That is why I command you to do this.”

Do you ever get frustrated with beginners in the water? I don’t mean full on kooks, but people that are just new to surfing. It’s easy to forget that we were each once a newbie. It’s so easy to become prideful and be frustrated with others and how they act or surf. But, God says that before we came to Jesus we were His enemies. In fact, He says that we were really bad off, sometimes, even worse than the people we’re mad at. He had to remind Israel to treat people fairly because they had quickly forgotten how bad it was to be taken advantage of. We tend to forget pretty quickly, too. This week take time to remember that God has freed us from slavery to sin. In remembering, see if it doesn’t cause you to be a bit more patient with those around you that might not be free, yet.

CLICK HERE to download the June Prayer Calendar!

Pray for Workers

2010-06-09T08:23:00.001-07:00

05.24.10

When you look at the world, the first question is, what do you see? Is it a compassionate view of God’s creation stolen and marred (I am speaking of people)? Do you see the pains of rebellion among surfers, the brokenness of sin, the symptoms of a broken world in a little child’s face? When God looked down we are told, “For God so loved the world…” the start to the most famous verse in the Bible – John 3:16.

But, the second question is, what is your reaction? What is the solution? Do we activate for awareness? Do we mobilize to action? Do we rally others? Where do we begin – another 501(c)3, fund raising, grass roots work, what to do?

In Luke chapter 10 Jesus looked at the crowds, the wounded and hurting crowds. In light of their deep needs, both the needs they were aware of and the ones they had not yet realized, He said that the harvest was ready. There is work to be done and people are ready for that work. So He spoke these words, “PRAY the Lord of the harvest to send out workers.” His reaction was to Pray – to talk to the Father about something very specific. God, please send workers.

What is our reaction? Maybe we should adjust whatever it is and begin by addressing the Father and asking for HIM to raise workers. But, beware – HE may send YOU.

In June we will be publishing another monthly prayer calendar. Please consider participating in prayer with us for the month of June.

The Everyday Commission

2010-05-20T08:52:00.000-07:00

05.17.10

Last week we looked at living in light of eternity, but what does that mean? Should you quit your job and stand on the corner preaching? Should you shave your head and go live alone in the forest spending 24 hours a day in prayer? What does it mean to “Fix our minds on things above”?

Throughout the New Testament is a principle of living our ordinary everyday lives in the context of God’s Kingdom. So, what does that mean? Well, do you see the people in your lineup as Kooks and Rippers or do you see all people as creations of God, loved by God, hopelessly lost without God and deeply hungry to know God? Do you give 50% at your job because the boss is a jerk and no one really cares or do you give 110% because you believe that ultimately you don’t work for a person or a paycheck but for God and that your efforts show how much you value HIM? Do you, like Jason Bourne, see yourself as a secret agent placed in everyday circumstances for a greater purpose? Are you eagerly awaiting “assignments” from God Almighty for how to do life in a way that will matter forever? Do you rejoice in the hard times because you know that your loving heavenly Dad is in control?

When Jesus gave us the “Great Commission” it wasn’t really “Great”. It was for everyday people in everyday living. As Dann Spader says, maybe we should re-label it the “Everyday Commission”. In fact, the passage in Matt 28 begins (in a better translation) “Going, make disciples…” The idea was that in our everyday lives we are the connection between the temporal and the eternal.

I challenge you today to see the details of your day in the light of eternity. God is working an eternal plan in and through you today right there sitting on your surfboard

Emily Haager

2010-05-11T07:52:00.000-07:00

05.10.10

Emily Haager went home to be with the LORD on May 1st. May 8th we celebrated her life. She once told a friend that a lot of people live at 80% for the Lord and she wanted to strive for 100%. That’s how she invested her life. She allowed Jesus to shine thru her so much that everyone that met her loved her (see Transworld Surf’s tribute) I doubt that she has any regrets about that now. She reminded me what’s important, that life is short, each day a gift and I must be intentional how I INVEST it. At times like these we remember what is real.

2 Corinthians 4:18 NIV

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”

So, where are you investing your life today? Don’t feel guilty, don’t grumble, don’t start comparing how you’re doing better than so and so. Just fix your eyes – change your focus and then allow Jesus to change your life.

Emily was meditating on these verses this year.

Jeremiah 17:7-8

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."

Our June newsletter will be highlighting Em as a model of a CS leader.

Emily Haager

Noah's Ark

2010-05-11T07:47:00.000-07:00

05.03.10

Well, did you see the news this week? Noah’s Ark is back in the headlines. Let me say right off the bat – I have no idea if this is the Noah’s Ark. So, why does this matter? In a total oversimplification the logic goes like this; if it is Noah’s Ark than the Bible is true and everyone will turn to Jesus and the world will become utopia. Or, it isn’t the Ark hence proving that the story is ridiculous and proving that the Bible isn’t true and ridding the world of Christianity.

But that doesn’t match what Jesus taught us. In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells a story of a rich man that dies and goes to torment. Dialogue takes place and ends with the man asking that someone would go and tell his brothers so that they would not come to this place of torment. Then verse 31 happens: “If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.”

The reality is that people do not believe in Jesus or reject him based on facts. Don’t get me wrong, truth is very important. But, there are plenty of “facts” to support the Bible, Jesus and His resurrection. The fact is that God asks us to trust HIM. That is a decision. People choose to believe or not believe for reasons unrelated to the facts. Reasons like pain in life, disappointment, anger, pride and the list goes on. It’s the same with questions: People ask questions for two reasons, 1. They want answers 2. They want excuses to do as they please.

So, here’s a question to ask your friends, “If you get answers to your questions are you prepared to lay your life down at the feet of Jesus and follow Him?” The problem may not be intellect and a lack of information, it may have more to do with the will.

First Wave, First Love

2010-04-20T13:08:00.001-07:00

04.19.10

Do you remember your first wave? It felt like you stood there forever even though it was only 1.3 seconds. Remember how stoked you were on the ocean and surfing. It didn’t matter the size or wind direction. You were on it any chance you had. A couple years later, you may find yourself complaining about how bad the waves are. The wind always seems to be wrong or you wish there was a point-break nearby. Or worse, maybe you live in front of the spot we all dream of and yet you are still not satisfied.

Remember when you first met Jesus. You couldn’t believe that HE would love you. That HE paid so you could be forgiven. Too good to be true and yet you knew in your heart that it was. After time you may find yourself complaining because God didn’t do this or that. Mad because HE allowed something to happen. Maybe you ask questions like, “Doesn’t HE understand that this is all about me?”

Revelation 2:4 poses an interesting question: Have we left our first love? Have we become so enamored with ourselves that, like Narcissus, we starve ourselves of real life by staring at our own reflection? Have we forgotten the beauty and goodness of the Jesus we fell in love with? Has our world ceased to revolve around the Son and been pulled into the gravitational field of selfishness? Has grace ceased to be amazing and all that captures my heart is temporary?

It’s time for us to paddle back out with that innocent freshness and just enjoy the gift. It may also be time for us to fall back in love with the God that has never wavered on HIS passion for us. “Who do you surf for?”

Focus

2010-04-20T13:07:00.001-07:00

04.12.10

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this." - C. S. Lewis

I have a terrible habit of planning for surf trips. Dreaming every day. Doing Google Earth research. Looking at photos and videos of the spot. And then the day comes and I arrive and ... I'm just not that into it. I surf, but not the 8 hour noodle arm sessions that I do at home when it's good. Then I return home and kick myself with regret. I sit, in depression, and wonder why didn't I take advantage of my time? Why didn't we travel to that firing break the day it went flat at our spot?

The Christian life can be that way. We gather as the church and talk and dream and get fired up. But then, like the parable of the soils, life chokes it out. We get focused on money, stuff, surf, fun, etc. Instead of living every moment to it's fullest in light of eternity, we get distracted. On a surf trip we must never neglect what we can't do once it's over. Let's not neglect the things we can't do once this life is over either - the eternal things.

"Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." - Colossians 3:2

What is your mind SET on?

BTW, this shot wasn't staged. Casey just came over the dunes and found this CS member with his Bible, setting his mind on things above. Maybe we should each take some time today to do the same.

Drifting

2010-04-20T13:06:00.001-07:00

04.05.10

Cultures tend to drift from truth and become polluted by worldly perspectives. In ancient Israel the prophets cried out for people to return to God. The people struggled to understand because they thought they were following God. I mean, outwardly they were doing lots of religious stuff. And therein lies the problem – the drift occurs internally and once it has occurred one is incapable of seeing that they are drifting externally. So, in Malachi 1 people say, “Hey, we’re offering sacrifices.” But God says, “…you bring blind animals for sacrifice…you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor!”

Christians in the surfing world need to awaken to how much the sirens of the surf culture have drawn our hearts from Jesus. Once we repent of this God can begin to use us as a catalyst for His glory among surfers.

Who do you offer your best to – God or surfing?

PS. Correction about the Flickr photos, if you have photos you would like to see used in the devo, email news@christiansurfers.com and we will download them to Flickr. Thanks!

South Korea

2010-04-20T13:05:00.001-07:00

03.29.10

Not sure what you know about Christianity in South Korea but suffice it to say it’s a big deal. But, it wasn’t always that way. In 1905 it was estimated that there were 12,500 Christians in the country. By 1910, that number had grown to somewhere around 360,000. What happened?

Of course, the answer is – God showed up. Having said that, there are many people that have taken it upon themselves to study the details of movements of God like this and learn from them. When looking at the situation in Korea, there are several factors that stand out. When reading one paper on this I noticed a sentence buried deep in a paragraph. It stated that from the beginning new believers understood and were taught that the spreading of the Gospel was their responsibility not a missionary’s.

Two questions for you to meditate on:

Do you believe God could move like that among Surfers?

Who's responsibility is it to share the Gospel with Surfers?

Romans 10:14 How can they hear the Gospel without someone telling them?

Verses

2010-04-20T13:03:00.000-07:00

03.22.10

For all have sinned and fall short of the Glory of God. All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. For the wages of sin is death…The lake of fire is the second death.

BUT God demonstrates HIS own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in HIM shall not perish but have eternal life. For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring YOU to God. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according tot the Scriptures, that He was buried, that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.

JESUS answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

These are all verses taken straight from the Bible simply put together. See below for references in order of occurrence.

Romans 3:23, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 6:23A, Revelation 20:14B, Romans 5:8, Romans 6:23, John 3:16, 1 Peter 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, John 3:17, John 1:12, Romans 10:13, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 14:6

Balloons

2010-03-15T10:26:00.001-07:00

03.15.10

Be sure to go to www.christiansurfers.com to see the website's new look!

Our trip to Guatemala is coming to an end. The men placed a new roof on the meeting building for the Church and the women are running a medical clinic. Many people lined up to have their ailments addressed but the one that drew my attention was a small boy, maybe 5 years old, being carried by his mother. I watched when they were called. His problem was obvious – a thorn had buried itself deep in his foot and been left unattended. By this point infection had set in and the doctor was clear that if they didn’t get it out the child was in danger of losing his foot or worse. They had to lance it. I watched as several adults and the mother tried to hold the child down and the doctor began to cut on the swollen foot with no medicine. As they began the child looked, with piercing eyes, at his mother and screamed. I couldn’t imagine the pain of that mother as she watched her child suffer. I didn’t even know the kid and my eyes were filled with tears. Suddenly my attention was diverted to the other side of the building. Blue tarps had been suspended to separate the waiting area from the place where patients were treated. Many children were in this waiting area and one of the missionaries had given them balloons. Like all children they were hitting the balloons into the air and trying to keep them from touching the ground. I was amazed at how oblivious they were to the screams of that small child as they played with the different colored balloons. It was as if they couldn’t even hear his cries of pain. They were so preoccupied with laughter and joy as they entertained themselves.

Then I began to think about my life. I thought about the spiritual emptiness of the individuals that live across the street, the surfers with deep wounds in their lives, the painful brokenness that exists globally. Oblivious to their cries I am busy swatting at balloons of entertainment, comfort, and pleasure. Once King David had an opportunity to offer a sacrifice to God for free. His response, “I will not offer to God that which costs me nothing!” What will we offer to God, time between balloon games or will we run to those cries across the street and around the world?

-An excerpt from Dean Plumlee’s journal. February 1999

Getting Ready

2010-03-11T10:08:00.000-08:00

03.08.10

Is the surf flat today where you live? If so, you can still keep the surf stoke going: grab a paddleboard and stroke away, hit the pool for some laps, go for a workout at the gym, or go “ironman status” and run underwater hugging a boulder! In each and any of these, what are you doing? Getting ready. Getting ready for that day to come when all the conditions of swell, wind, and tide come together. As you get ready, you look forward to that day. When conditions finally get epic, you’ll be able to say “yes.” Yes to the long paddle, yes to clawing over the ledge, yes to those power turns that set you up for position in the pit, or launch you off that ramp.

Once again, the surfing life parallels our spiritual life. God has prepared for us many epic days of knowing him and serving him deeply. Days where eternity is altered, and miracles happen. But there are also many more days, where we simply get ready. We prepare...prepare for the moments ahead. So we lean into our Bible reading, we soak up teaching and worship as we gather in churches, we do the hard work of living clean relationally with others. We overcome addictions, we steward our resources wisely and we gain skill in ways to serve. Why? So that when conditions get epic, when eternity is on the line, when God calls us as his agents of change at our local break or around the world, our answer can always be “Yes!” Yes Lord! Yes, I’m ready! Yes, use me! Yes!

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?"
And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" --Isaiah 1:8

For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas and Timothy, was not "Yes" and "No," but in him it has always been "Yes." For no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. --I Corinthians 1:19-20

Love Me extravagantly

2010-03-11T10:07:00.000-08:00

02.22.10

In Luke 14 a large crowd is following Jesus. He stops and begins to talk to them. In short He says, you need to love me extravagantly. Love me more than anything. His comparisons revolve around family connections but end with our personal self-promoting nature, stating that we need to love Him more than ourselves.

A good question to meditate on today - Do you love Jesus more than surfing?

A good way to evaluate this is by taking a quick look at your checkbook and your calendar. They generally show what we are investing ourselves in.

BTW, the month of March lines up perfectly with our Feb Prayer Calendar – so, feel free to use it again.

See why we’re able to pray

Now What?

2010-03-11T10:05:00.000-08:00

02.22.10

This year we are placing a greater emphasis on prayer. This month we have spent more time praying. But now what? What about the outcomes?

Allowing God to be in charge is a deep rooted struggle for humanity. Letting Him answer and respond to our conversations with Him as He wills is difficult. It requires us to trust Him to know and to do what is best. Often we are tempted to believe that He doesn’t grasp the intricacies of our situation and so His “advice” doesn’t apply. At other times we feel that He knows best but aren’t quite sure that He has our best interest in mind. The Bible is the authority on which our insecurities are propped up with clear answers to both these questions. So, how does God answer?

To over simplify, He gives three answers; yes, no and wait. In the mean time we are to continue spending time with Him believing that He is addressing the situation with an attentiveness that far exceeds our ability to understand.

So, watch for how He responds to what we’ve prayed about this month and continue to sit with Him – not to convince Him to do what you want. But, because, who wouldn’t want to sit with their loving Dad and just chat?

See why we’re able to pray

Get the calendar here.

Let's do It...

2010-02-16T15:35:00.000-08:00

02.15.10

Jesus modeled it… Luke 5:16 “Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”

Paul Practiced it… Phillipians 1:4 “…I always pray with joy.”

The Bible teaches it… 1 Thessalonians 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Let’s do it…PRAY

See why we’re able to pray

Get the calendar here.

Holiness and Prayer

2010-02-16T15:34:00.000-08:00

02.08.10

What hinders God from answering our prayers for Him to rescue lost surfers?

One clear item is SIN. In Psalm 66:18 we read, “If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.” This same idea is repeated elsewhere in Scripture. Sin interferes with our relationship with God. This is why God offers us the solution of confession. In 1 John 1:9 it states that, “If we confess our sins, HE is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us…”

The idea is simple: as long as we argue with God about our being right and HIM being wrong, prayer is silly. But, when we agree with God that we are wrong and of course have a change of mind about it, now God can resolve the problem. God cannot relationally forgive that which we deny as wrong, because we are not asking for forgiveness but rather arguing with God that we’re right.

So, in our prayer movement to see God do the unimaginable among surfers there is a need for holiness. If you are living in known sin I challenge you to stop arguing with God that what you have is better than what He wants to offer you. Admit you’re wrong and He is right. Let your actions align with this new thinking. And then run to your Heavenly Daddy and ask Him to move in the hearts of surfers to free them the same way He just freed you.

Get the calendar here.

What IF?

2010-02-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

02.01.10

What if God was capable of something miraculous, like transforming surfers?

Luke 2:37 “For nothing is impossible with God.”

What if God wanted to rescue surfer’s souls?

2 Peter 3:9 “…He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

What if God was waiting on you to ask Him to move among surfers?

Matthew 7:8 “For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

What if we stopped being so busy and started spending time with God talking about surfers?

Luke 10:42 “Martha, Martha,” the LORD answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed, Mary has chosen what is better…” –Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus’ feet.

What if we prayed everyday for the month of February about surfers? What would happen? There’s only one way to find out. Do it!

Get the calendar here.

Pray in February!

2010-01-25T08:33:00.000-08:00

01.25.10

“Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength… But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD…” - Jeremiah 17:5 & 7

The culture and individuals of surfing will not metamorphosis because we become members of CS, or plant a chapter or take action in our local lineups. All these things are wonderful but are rooted in simple obedience to God’s leading as He unfolds His plan. A plan where it is HE, thru His power and in the context of relationship with Him, that transforms surfer’s lives and hence the culture at large.

During the month of February we will express our dependence on God not by executing some great outreach plan but rather by sitting quietly, with no fanfare, and asking the creator of the universe to move in the hearts of His children and the lost that we have been sent to recover.

I would challenge you to two things today. One: commit to pray daily during February and use the prayer calendar. Two: challenge one other person to do the same two things.

I eagerly await the stories of what God does in the next month.

Click the Calendar image on the CS Website to dowload the Prayer Calendar

God specializes in the Impossible

2010-01-25T08:31:00.000-08:00

01.18.10

Let me begin by saying I am not discouraged, merely desperate.

CS just spent 3 days at a major surf tradeshow. On the evening of the second day I reflected on the conversations and experiences of the day. Suddenly I had an overwhelming sense that what we are attempting (bringing the Gospel to the surfing community) is IMPOSSIBLE. One guy’s tattoo summed things up – “My Life, My Way”. Spend some time meditating on all the ways that this is corrupted thinking.

Satan has pulled the wool over surfer’s eyes in so many ways. Surfer’s hearts have been so hardened by personal sin and collective sin as a people group. I left the show realizing in a new way that there is nothing we can do or say that would change this. We are truly facing an impossible task. BUT…

Moses, with the Egyptian army behind him and the Red Sea in front – faces an impossible situation.

Mary, a virgin about to give birth – the impossible.

The Christ, dead in a borrowed tomb and the disciples hopes just as dead – impossibility.

God seems to specialize in the impossible. He “shows up” at those times and we are at one of those times in the history of the world. We are attempting to present Jesus to a savage, pagan tribe that hates the exclusivity of Jesus.

This is why we are focusing on Prayer in 2010, because of deep need and desperation. We need GOD!

Please commit to pray with us everyday in February. Prayer calendars will be available next week.

This week pray that God would use the 1,000 Gospels of John, we distributed at the trade show, to draw people to HIMSELF.

Post the Good News on your facebook or Twitter, Blog or Web Page (Click Here for Link)

February Prayer Opportunity Pt. 2

2010-01-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

01.11.10

I send the text and within a minute I receive a text back, all the way from Australia (you know it’s tomorrow there…). How crazy is that? Sometimes I pause and think about all that is occurring with my cell and Bluetooth earpiece and WiFi and all the other stuff that I can’t see. Mind boggling.

One of the reasons that we don’t pray is because we forget about all the things that are occurring that we can’t see. The Devil really does exist.

“In its simplest meaning prayer has to do with a conflict. Rightly understood it is the deciding factor in a spirit conflict. The scene of the conflict is the earth. The purpose of the conflict is to decide the control of the earth and its inhabitants. The conflict runs back into the misty age of the creation time.” - S.D. Gordon

Recognizing the raging battle that is occurring in and over the souls of surfers CSUS is committing to remembering the unseen and to engaging in the battle through prayer. We are remembering that gnarly locals are not the enemy, they are merely held hostage by the enemy. Our prayers will play a part in their freedom. Will you commit to join with us in 2010 to greater discipline in prayer for surfers?

In February we will be making a daily calendar available to guide us in prayer.

See why Jesus was born!

February Prayer Opportunity

2010-01-04T10:32:00.002-08:00

01.04.10

Luke 5:16 (New International Version)

16But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

What can we gather from this verse and what’s that got to do with your life in 2010?

1. It’s Jesus we’re talking – Son of God, come to earth to model real life to us and rescue us.

2. Often – this is a habit. Something that is natural in the rhythm of His life.

3. Withdrew – Paintings of Jesus walking ever so calmly among his followers only further our thinking that He can’t relate to our busy lives. But this isn’t accurate. Other places we see the crowds, not gingerly listening but violently pressing in on Him. At least one occasion, along the waters edge, they crowd him off land and into the water. At other points we see him unable to stop and eat or even enter towns because of the crowds. So, He intentionally separates from the hectic life to sit with His Father.

4. Lonely Places – It’s hard to listen closely and have conversation in a crowd. So, He purposely isolated Himself in order to have uninterrupted conversation with the Father.

5. And Prayed – It is hyper critical that we not miss the point of it all. It wasn’t for rest that He got away (though there were times that He did this), it wasn’t to get important work done (though we see Him slip away for this as well) – It was because He was so aware of His need for our Father and so in love with our Father that it drove Him to get alone (very much like I find time for date nights with my wife).

In 2010 what role will Prayer play in your life? CSUS is excited about seeking to facilitate more prayer in and for this ministry. In fact, we are calling everyone to commit to daily prayer during the month of February. Please consider taking the challenge.

See why Jesus was born!

Micah Ramsey's Message

2010-01-04T10:32:00.001-08:00

12.28.09

Another New Year is around the corner. In 2010 what will be your focus? Where will your priorities lie? Take your lead from 15 year old Micah Ramsey (who takes his lead from Jesus). Micah has been battling Ewing’s Sarcoma – a rare and aggressive cancer. His words were published on the front page of his local paper and are repeated here.

“We as Human beings were created by God to worship and glorify HIM. It is what we are designed to do. God also has had a plan for us since before we were born. Apparently one of His plans for my life is that I am to fight cancer. This is so that I can glorify and serve Him in some way. I don’t know what this way is. What He is doing, I’m sure, my simple mind cannot fathom. God is all-knowing and I am not. He is going to be GREATLY glorified through me fighting cancer. Not because I’m some great person, but because He is a great, mighty, and totally awesome God. God has my life in His hands, and He can do whatever He thinks best. I know this sounds like the best “churchy” answer, but I want you to know that this came straight from my heart.

Yes, I am not comfortable, I hurt, I’m not sleeping very well, but God is doing what He needs to do through my life. People are being drawn closer to God through this; His will is being done. That is the most important thing right now. I will endure pain for Him; He has endured the ultimate for me. The Lord is working through all this and HE WILL BE GREATLY GLORIFIED!!!!”

-On Dec 10 Christian Surfers sent an email to Micah to encourage him that his story would be going around the world through CS and that it would bless and challenge many. His Dad said that it put a huge smile on his face and he said, "I told you God was going to use this cancer for His glory." That was the last email he read. On Dec 12 Micah went home to be with his Savior.

-Please consider sending an email to Micah’s family via his Youth Pastor to encourage them.

Make an end of year donation to Christian Surfers US!

Find a new life in the New Year!

Advent Devo Pt. 4 "Re-Capture Christmas!"

2010-01-04T10:31:00.000-08:00

12.24.09

**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.

Surfing is a “soulful” pursuit…or so we surfers claim. We all know the sheer joy of riding waves, so it offends us that people would ever dare to capitalize on the surfing experience: our waves, our offshore days, our naps on a sandy beach after a four hour super session, our fires on the beach after a winter go-out, and riding our bikes on the boardwalk to check the surf. All are acts that are so pure, and so ready to be blown into larger than life posters to be placed in the store windows at the mall or a “Surf and Sport” near you.

Christmas suffers the same in our culture. It’s become commercialized. And because it comes year after year, it’s become common. More “ho-hum” than “ho, ho, ho!” And as we surfers seek to return to our roots and recapture our ‘counter-cultural’ ways, so too, we re-capture Christmas anew. Though the Christmas story is as old and well-known as any, our hearts can follow Mary’s example. On that first Christmas night with all that happened there in Bethlehem—those explosions in the night sky, those unannounced visitors, those waves of contractions that brought Jesus into the world—Mary’s reflections are this: She “kept all these things in her heart and thought about them often” (Luke 2:19).

What greater and better example for us to follow, as we take today to ponder all that Christmas was and is? The birth of our Savior, Messiah, King and Hero may feel different year to year, person to person. Yet Jesus is there in it all, showing his salvation as sufficient for all people, at all times, in all places.”

“Therefore, holy brothers, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, the apostle and high priest whom we confess.”

--Hebrews 3:1

Jesus has come! Merry Christmas to you!

From all of us at Christian Surfers United States

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Advent Devo Pt. 3 "The Now"

2010-01-04T10:30:00.000-08:00

12.21.09

**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.

A huge part of our surfing experience is awaiting that next good session. Just moments after we exit the water, peel off that suit, load that board back in its bag, and lean over to get the surprise of a “post-nasal gushing”, our thoughts quickly rush to when we can do it all again. When will the next session be? What will the waves be like, and who can we get to join us out there in the line up? Will we catch better waves than this last session? Will we experience some sort of breakthrough in our surfing, increasing our skill-set by performing some yet to be mastered turn or maneuver?

Advent is this worship practice that tunes our heart to the “awaiting” part of our faith. Just as faithful God seekers were on the edge of their seats waiting for God to come to this earth and rescue us, so we also await Jesus. Jesus has come to earth and we say “Merry Christmas!” Jesus is coming again, and we say “Maranatha!” Lord Jesus, come! So we remember the past while we long for the future… and both of them? All about Jesus!

Between past and future, we find ourselves in the Now. This is where we do well to recognize that Jesus is here today. His body is very much around! Yes, the body of Christ—all around the world, everywhere two of three gather and seek Jesus! The now is the perfect time to remember Jesus who came to into our world long ago, and also the time to get really excited about the approaching Jesus, who is one day closer to His return!

“We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth, right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”

--Romans 8:22-25

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Advent Devo Pt. 2 "What is His Name?"

2010-01-04T10:29:00.000-08:00

12.14.09

**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.

It would seem that second only to the pleasure of riding waves is the pleasure surfers receive from naming things. We do this with our breaks: indicators, boneyard, bombora, inlet, bay, insides, outsides, leftovers, right-overs, and more. We do this with ourselves: Flea, Buffalo, Rabbit, Midget, Gidget, Simpo, Kong, Twiggy, Dingo, Kanga, Sea Bass, and the list goes on and on.

As we celebrate advent, as we wait for our King and Hero who is coming, who is approaching, at the top of our list of questions is ‘What is his name?” “What do we call him?” The prophet Isaiah informs…

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” --Isaiah 9:6-7

For all who have suffered from bad advice. For all who feel exhausted by the constant demands of life. For all who feel abandoned and unloved, even orphaned. For all who face frustration and turmoil for the better part of their days. For all of us…Christmas is coming! It has come. It is coming. And it is coming again.

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Advent Devo Pt. 1 "The Approach"

2010-01-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

12.07.09

**Christian Surfers would like to invite you to celebrate Christmas for not just a day or two, but for an entire month by entering into an ancient church worship season called advent.

“20 feet from the NW 295 degrees @ 17 second intervals”

In our present surfing era, the above statement pumps blood into a surfer’s veins. Through our high tech storm tracking tools, we’re able to know about storms generated thousands of miles from our home breaks. We can know about these storms speed and intensity, the size of the seas it kicks up, and then we can predict how many days from now that waves will hit our reefs, sandbars, and points. Knowing this, we begin to arrange our life obligations (school, work, family, etc.) not to interfere with the coming swell event. We also prep boards and use surf dvd’s to mentally prepare. In some cases, we’ll book a flight or arrange a road trip to that spot which we know will unfold the swell’s full potential. While all this is going on, we log onto websites that give us buoy readings, telling us of the event that is yet to be. Something is out there. It’s wave energy. And it’s coming.

For centuries (beginning at least by the middle of the sixth century), followers of Jesus have entered into a worship season called Advent. During advent, God’s people are encouraged to go back in time to what it would be like to wait in breathless anticipation for Messiah to finally appear onto the scene, and into our lives.

The word advent is derived for the Latin adventus, which means “the approach.” There’s something coming—rather, someone coming, who will be a mighty force. He is approaching. He is coming. Our King is coming. The one who will rescue us from all that is wrong with this world, and all that is wrong with us. Our Hero is coming--one who would perform the most daring of rescues—snatching us from the hell we deserved. Yes, He is coming! That one! Jesus.

And our hearts can thrill to that in ways that out-strip our thrill of that long awaiting swell. Because something greater that waves is on the approach. The creator of such waves is on the approach. He is master of these natural forces, and therefore more than able to rule over whatever challenge, whatever disappointment, or whatever failure you may face today.

“The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, the world and all who live in it; for He founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.

Lift up your heads, O you gates; be lifted up, you ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in.

Who is he, this King of glory? The Lord Almighty—he is the King of glory.”

--Psalm 24:1-2, 7, 10

Guest Author: Lyle Castellaw

See what's new on the CSUS website!

Hear the Good News and share it!

Not About Me, Pt. 4

2010-01-04T10:27:00.000-08:00

11.30.09

We’ve learned that my salvation is not solely about me but first about God’s glory and than about fellow believers. So is this week about me? – Nope.

Colossians 4:3 NIV “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.” Did you catch that last part – “I am in chains.” Paul is not in a comfortable situation. But, didn’t God save me so I could be comfortable and happy? Are there things more important than my comfort in this world?

What is at the forefront of Paul’s mind in this situation? There are people that are lost and God wants them to be found. Paul doesn’t ask for prayer that his chains be removed but something of greater importance – that the Good News of Jesus as the only Savior of the world be proclaimed.

Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

Paul was human and enjoyed comfort just as much as the next guy. But, he realizes that the spreading of the cure for sin is more important than our temporary comfort for two reasons:

1. Because we have a limited amount of time to spread the cure.

2. Because the celebration, in eternity, over the spreading of His cure will be exceedingly greater than any discomfort that we could experience in the spreading of it.

My salvation is so much deeper and richer than just how it affects me. It is about showing God’s majesty to the world. It is about me now being able to love other Christians. It is about awakening to the need for every human on earth to hear the great news that a rescuer has come for them in their disease of sin.

Go into the lineup this week with your eyes up on God and out on others and not simply on self and getting your waves. And pray for me to do the same.

See what's new on the CSUS website!

Hear the Good News and share it!

Not About Me? Pt. 3

2010-01-04T10:26:00.000-08:00

11.23.09

Not About Me? Pt. 3

Last week we saw that my salvation is not solely about me but is first about God being shown as great. So what else is it about?

Phillipians 2:3-4 NIV “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Often we are concerned about fellow Christians but preoccupied with ourselves. I’d love to sit and listen to you or give you a hand with that problem but the winds are offshore right now.

Paul is consumed with love for brothers and sisters in Christ and quickly sacrifices his own pleasures for their benefit. In Romans 14 and 15 Paul says radical things like if what he is doing causes a Christian to slip into sin he’ll stop, even if it isn’t wrong. In 15:1 he says to bear with others failings “and not to please ourselves.”

So, what does this say about statements like, “got to look out for number one” or “I have to be true to myself”?

Jesus modeled putting other’s needs before His own, loving them more than His own rest or pleasure, sacrificing self for what was best for others. You may be saying, “Wait a second, this is radical stuff. I mean where do you draw the line?” Good! Now you’re getting it.

Your salvation is not solely about you but about God’s glory and loving fellow believers.

Galatians 6:10 NIV “…let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.”

See what's new on the CSUS website!

Hear the Good News and share it!

Not About ME, Pt. 2

2010-01-04T10:25:00.000-08:00

11.16.09

Not About Me? Pt. 2

OK, if it’s not about me than what is it about? Let’s take a look at Jesus.

Matthew 26:39 –NIV - “Going a little farther, He fell with His face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will but as you will.”

This is the evening that Jesus is going to be betrayed. Through His study of the Word Jesus knew what was coming and it wasn’t about HIS earthly desires. He didn’t want to hang on a cross and be beaten. But it’s about God the Father’s will. It’s about God’s greatness being shown in providing salvation for all mankind. It’s about God and HIS Glory.

Isaiah 43:21 – NIV – “I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise.”

Why were we formed? For HIM in order to proclaim HIS praise. Did people experience joy as God provided their needs? Oh yeah! Because when God is glorified people find joy. So we should pursue our joy in glorifying God. The problem is, we make it about us and pursue our joy in glorifying ourselves and that doesn’t work.

My salvation is not solely about me. It is first about God and Him showing His greatness by saving me from His wrath. To Jesus, God’s glory was more important than His own agenda. How about you?

Who do you surf for?

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Hear the Good News and share it!

Not About Me?

2009-11-10T08:21:00.000-08:00

11.09.09

With phrases like, "being true to yourself" creeping into the church we need to remember that Self is not the center of our salvation.

I recently saw someone posting on Facebook what Christmas meant to them. What I found interesting is that there was no mention of celebrating Jesus (this person is a believer). That seems a lot like you coming to my birthday party and asking me to leave (actually, it's exactly like that).

We often look at Christianity simply thru the grid of how it effects me and how I benefit and on and on the list goes of me, me, me. In fact, just bringing up the subject causes many to ask in shock, "It's not about me?"

Repeatedly Jesus models for us that true joy comes not by having the world revolve around self but by focusing on God and others. Our struggle is that we're not sure we believe God when He tells us that through self denial we can have joy in eternity that is unfathomable. Here's how CS Lewis put it: "...if we consider the unblushing promises of reward and staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling around with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us (joy in eternity) , like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased." (italics added)

The next three weeks we will be looking at, "What is Christianity about, if it is not solely about me?"

See what's new on the CSUS website!

Hear the Good News and share it!

Why a Membership?

2009-11-10T08:20:00.000-08:00

11.02.09

Why does CSUS have a membership?

Ephesians 4:11 "It was HE who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be..." (NIV) Christ gives certain gifts to certain individuals - Why? Because He is forming a team. And on that team, are the ones with these gifts the "starters"? Nope! There is no division of starters and bench warmers. Everyone is a player. Look at why the gifts were given in verse 12 "to prepare God's people for works of service..." God doesn't give certain people gifts so they can do ministry better. He gifts people so they can equip everyone to do ministry. God's plan is for everyone to enjoy working in the ministry.

So, why does CSUS have a membership? Our desire is to see God shown as great to the surfing community and for you to gain joy as you are mobilized to participate in the mission. We formed a membership as an entry point to create an army of radical lovers. Lovers of God and lovers of surfers. So don't misunderstand me - I am not seeking to merely entertain or encourage you, but to challenge you to take action. I hope you will step out where it's not comfortable and where it requires you to trust God. Maybe that is daring to pray more earnestly for lost surfers. Maybe that is to stop being a spectator in your chapter and join in with the work. Maybe that is you personally sharing Jesus with a lost surfer (if you need help with this contact us ). Maybe it's you teaming up with some other Christians that surf and challenging them to become members or together to start a chapter. I don't know what this means for you but I do know that Jesus wants you active. So, what are you doing this week that will matter forever?

Make sure that at the end of your tunnel vision is the SON.

Check out what's happening on the CS webpage.

Gathered to Worship

2009-11-10T08:18:00.000-08:00

10.19.09

25 years ago a small group of people obeyed God and Christian Surfers United States was born. This week we will be celebrating that God and His work in the past while praying towards the future. Please pray for our hearts to be changed as we sit before Him and pray for each of us to "have ears to hear" as He speaks to us.

These are exciting days in our world and in Christian Surfers. There is no time for trivial ministry. We must get serious about loving God and others and see His glory as lost souls are found and radical disciples are made. Follow us this week on Twitter (CS United States) or stop by the Hope Chapel in Hermosa Beach, CA.

The Search

2009-11-10T08:14:00.000-08:00

10.12.09

As a surfer, you know the experience of that unplanned, unexpected surf mission. The swell came out of nowhere, you got off work expectedly early and the wind is laying down. As you load the car to blast down to your favorite surf spot you go through your mental checklist. Board? Check! Wetsuit? Check! Towel (to dry off-- but more important, to change modestly)? Check! Leash? Whoa, wait...where did it go? It's not on your board, is it? Some wise-guy surfer told you a while back that wrapping your leash around the board's tail creates undue wear and tear, so you keep it detached and it's...somewhere. And that "somewhere" is lost.

The clock is now ticking, the sun is setting, and you are sweating because the garage is getting turned upside down...in your desperate search. And it reminds you of something Jesus said, or rather a story Jesus told. You can find it in Luke 15.

When some disgruntled religionists needed to know what God is really REALLY like, Jesus tells a story (three stories in one actually) about who He is.

A God who is on a search. He does outrageous things, like leaving ninety nine sheep for a stray. Or ripping a house apart to find a single coin. Or patiently waiting as a Dad who would long for a wayward child to finally come home. The search is desperate and all encompassing but there's a celebration in the end, for sure!

And He's asking you to join Him in the search for those he loves. On the sand, in the lineup and anywhere a surfer like you might tend to go....

So when we go on the search, we reflect His heart.

Guest Author: Lyle Castellaw

http://www.ourterranova.com/

CSUS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION HERE!

"I hate Christian Surfers"

2009-11-10T08:13:00.001-08:00

09.28.09

I recently met a Pastor and he hates Christian Surfers. His reasoning was simple. in his experience, CS valued surfing ability and “coolness” over love for God and holiness. What he saw in CS was simply a club that justified UN-Christlike behavior for supposed Christ followers.

Often, Christians that surf find other surfers, surf mags, videos, pros, and the accepted norms of the surfing culture are the authority in our lives instead of the Bible, our local church, spiritual leaders and ultimately Jesus. We have forgotten that our allegiance is not to surfing but to Christ. We have missed the reality that Christianity is following Jesus, not a decision that will someday keep me out of Hell.

Following Jesus has very real day-to-day implications. It affects how we treat others in the lineup, how we talk to others, how we look in the lineup. Loving God and others, produces very real outcomes. What are the ways that following Jesus has made you different from the surfers around you? List a few. Unless, you aren’t following Jesus…

If you are unable to be different in the lineup, to control your temper, to first be a follower of Jesus and then a surfer – maybe you should take a break from surfing, even if it’s your career.

1 John 2:6 “Whoever claims to live in HIM must walk as Jesus did.”

“Who do you surf for?”

CSUS CONFERENCE REGISTRATION HERE!

Doing Good, good enough?

2009-09-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

09.21.09

Boy, has the surfing world changed. The selfishness of the past is now masked by an increasing movement of doing good. Every company seems to be investing in some organization that puts a smile on a face. Or the very company itself is a creator of joy. The traveling surfer that used to leave bad memories behind in the towns he visited now leaves the very shirt off his back. Is this a bad thing? Of course not. But is it enough?

This is similar to treating a cough in a cancer patient. We must address symptoms but we cannot ignore the deeper cause. In our world needs range from disease, poverty and abuse but there is a deeper cause that we must not forget.

This week in TIME magazine Alan Greenspan, former Federal Reserve Chairman, in speaking about the problems that caused the economic crisis and the fact that they are bound to recur, said this. “Unless somebody can find a way to change human nature, we will have more crises.” Did you catch that?

Good news!! There is a way! There is a solution to the deeper cancer that is causing all the gnarly symptoms in our world – The CROSS!

How rad that God didn’t just come into our world and make us happy for a day but made us whole for eternity.

A Surf Trip Parable

2009-09-21T08:14:00.000-07:00

09.14.09

Recently a group of selfish surfers went on a surf trip to Africa. In order to alleviate guilt they added in a couple days of do-gooding and called it a mission trip. Once they were noodle armed they headed into a poverty stricken area. Their guide took them on a tour and explained the situation. “This is where video teams come to get the heart wrenching shots of starving, fly covered children,” he explained. The surfer's emotions were devastated by the sites they saw. But emotions are far from compassion.

As the heat of the day drug on they found themselves glued to their water bottles while the children played in the dust and drank dirty liquids that had no doubt lain for days in the trenches by their hut. Before long the surfers grew overwhelmed by the stories and sights that they saw and began to wonder what their task in this village might be. Would they build a building or paint a wall or maybe dig a well? About that time a truck selling fruit pulled up. The surfers quickly waved it on, as they were not hungry. They continued to walk the streets and before long another vehicle, this one with clean water approached. “No thank you,” they said, as their water bottles were still full. Toward the end of the day a virtual “chuck wagon” of pre-made goodies drove up, but since dinner was not long off they sent the truck on its way.

That night, back at the surf camp the surfers talked on and on about their day and were eager to interact with their trip coordinator. It had been a riveting experience but they did have one question – what was their task in the village? Just then the Missions Coordinator arrived and entered the room with an air of excitement. He burst forth, “How did it go feeding the children today?”

Back to reality. Christian Surfers was planning an outreach event and decided to show a brand new Christian surf video. We were excited and praying that God would draw the lost to be found through our lives at this event. Several men, members of the team, were disappointed and didn’t want to attend. When asked why they said, “We’ve already seen that video.”

Get the point? It’s not about us! Where does it apply today?

Who do you surf for?

Superheroes

2009-09-21T08:10:00.000-07:00

09.07.09

I was trying to explain Hulk and other Superheroes to my four year old when I started thinking about real life superheroes.

In the late ‘60s there was a young hippy named “Slick”. He was all about peace and smoking and living in a commune. Slick used to party with a friend named Darwin that just happened to also be his boss. So, one day Slick gives his life to Jesus and starts showing up for work sober, with a Bible and talking about Jesus. All Darwin can think about is the fact that it seems he’s lost his party buddy. One day it really gets crazy when Slick, who in typical hippy fashion has hair down to his waist, shows up to work with all his hair cut off – because he said that his hair was getting in the way of making Jesus number one in his life. Darwin figures Slick has totally lost it.

Over time, through the faithful witness of Slick and several other Christians, Darwin gives his life to Jesus. Suddenly a metamorphosis begins where an alcoholic loser of a husband turns into a sober, God fearing, loving family man. That man was my Father. I grew up in a home filled with the love of Jesus instead of the dysfunctional, divorced situation that my family was destined for. All because a small time superhero introduced my Dad and Mom to the one true Super Hero.

Now, all superheroes have special powers. For those that follow, yield and obey Jesus I guess it’s the magical feet to carry us not only across the waves but also into relationships where we can present the Greatest News ever – salvation has come in Jesus.

Romans 10:15 “As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Thank you Jesus and Don Slick.

Open our Mouths

2009-09-01T15:09:00.000-07:00

08.31.09

Four weeks ago we wrote down 3 to 5 names of friends that don’t yet know Jesus. You posted those names somewhere that you see them regularly and are now praying for them. An overwhelming number of you emailed those names to us and we are now praying with you and for your lost friends. BTW, if you didn’t write down those names or email them in – do it now. Just click here.

FYI, through this campaign we have been praying for one of our members – Richard “Smitty” Smith and for his friend Matt. Matt embraced Jesus on August 23!

We began praying the “Three Open Prayer”. We began with John 6:44 and asking God to Open our Friend's Hearts to a friendship with Jesus. Next we prayed that God would Open a Door for us to talk with our friend about Jesus. This week is number three in the Three Open Prayer.

When a person asks questions or shows an interest in spiritual truth it is evidence of God beginning to open their heart. Once a natural conversation has begun we have one last hurdle to overcome – ourselves.

In Ephesians 6:19 Paul says, “Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the Gospel.” There are a couple things we need to notice about the Great Apostle Paul. 1. He doesn’t always have the answer – we know that b/c he asks prayer for God to fill his mouth with words. 2. He is afraid and nervous when he speaks of Jesus – we know that b/c he asks prayer that he would speak “fearlessly”. Are you ever nervous or afraid to speak of Jesus? Do you ever feel like you don’t have all the answers? So did Paul.

The next thing that we need God to open is our mouth.

So, pray the three open prayer – Open Hearts, Open a Door, and Open our Mouths. Then open your eyes and begin to look for God to show up and when HE does – talk about Jesus.

If you are unsure about sharing the Gospel, email us and we’ll send you a simple pamphlet that you can use with a friend. Also, consider coming to one of our training experiences with CSUS. Click here for details on the next one.

Open the Door to Natural Conversation

2009-08-24T13:29:00.001-07:00

08.24.2009

Three weeks ago we wrote down 3 to 5 names of friends that don’t yet know Jesus. You are now praying for them regularly. Many of you emailed those names to us and we are now praying with you and for your lost friends. BTW, if you didn’t write down those names or email them in – do it now.

Just click here.

Last week we began praying the “Three Open Prayer”. We began with John 6:44 and asking God to Open our Friends Hearts to a friendship with Jesus.

In Colossians 4:3 Paul says, “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message…”

Do you ever wonder how you will ever get into a spiritual conversation with your friends? “Yea, that was a great barrel – speaking of Jesus…” I mean, come on, it’s not the average topic for most people. So, we begin by asking God to open hearts and prepare people for truth. Next, we ask HIM to Open a Door to Natural Conversation about HIM. That’s right we are looking for a chance to talk about Jesus. Our goal is not to talk about how the world was created or Noah’s Ark, but, all those topics can be a doorway to talking about Jesus.

So, start praying for these two “Opens” and begin watching to see what happens. Of course we are always stoked to receive emails telling us how it’s going – click here.

See ya next week for the last “Open” of the “Three Open Prayer”.

3 Open Prayer

2009-08-24T13:28:00.001-07:00

08.17.2009

Two weeks ago we wrote down 3 to 5 names of friends that don’t yet know Jesus. You are now praying for them regularly. Also, last week at Christian Surfers Prep School we prayed, name by name, for all the people that you emailed in. BTW, if you didn’t write down those names or email them in – do it now - Just click here.

God desires to see people saved from HIS wrath and adopted as HIS children. But, what should we pray? I want to teach you what Ron Hutchcraft calls the "Three Open Prayer"

In Romans 3:11 it tells us that people do not naturally think about God or seek Him out. In our sinfulness we are incapable of pursuing the very relationship we were created for. But, God loves us and HE begins working in people. In fact, in John 6:44 it says that no one comes to the Father unless the Father draws them. There is a process of God wooing a person, planting spiritual questions in their mind and turning their heart towards HIM.

So, the first thing that we are going to ask God to do is OPEN THEIR HEART. Along with that prayer we are going to be alert and watching for when our friends ask spiritual questions or enter into spiritual conversations. This is evidence of God at work.

This week, take a look at the list of names that you’ve written down and begin praying for God to OPEN THEIR HEARTS, recognizing that nothing we do can penetrate their heart if God has not prepared them by opening it.

Genesis 18:14 "Is anything too hard for the LORD?" Can the God who made this open your friend's heart?

God's Quiver

2009-08-24T13:27:00.001-07:00

08.10.09

If you are a surfer that is blessed to have a few different surfboards, then you will certainly understand the joy of describing your quiver. You may even enjoy examining the quiver of another fellow surfer. There is a certain inner exhilaration and excitement as one describes the performance and usefulness of each individual board. Each board is purchased, designed and ridden with specific uses in various conditions and size of waves.

The funny thing is, that this is not an unimportant matter. Surfers take their quiver seriously. Any board can make or break you. The proper choice of a board may give you intense enjoyment. On the other hand, a poor choice in boards can bum you out or even put your life in danger in larger surf. Our wife, girlfriend or non-surfing friend may think we are out of our mind. They may even think we are foolish, greedy or obsessed.

As I was evaluating my love for my quiver, I reflected on how much God loves me. As I stared at my quiver with a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment, I couldn’t help myself from thinking how God looks at us as His specifically designed hand crafted vessels. And how He purchased us by the blood of His Son Jesus Christ. This was a very costly purchase!

He designed each and every one of us to perform in various conditions and situations. He has given us our own unique spiritual gift and has shown us through the Word of God how to use that for His Glory.

I then had the convicting thought of “How is God evaluating me as part of His quiver of true believers? How useful am I to Him? Am I pearling up to my neck? Do I constantly dig rails? Am I a board that is always bogging down? Am I that board that just sits on the shelf with a couple of broken fins, not willing to get repaired? Or is God smiling and admiring me as part of His favorite quiver?” Is He thinking, “That’s My magic board!”? That thing works in any conditions and situations no matter what the size of the waves (of life) are throwing at me. Am I the type of board that God wants to always pull off the shelf because I’m prepared and useful? Am I teachable, holy, kind, loving, a servant, faithful, pure, daily turning away from sin, immersing myself always in the Word, and ready to share the hope and good news of Christ?

Timothy said it well, “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself of these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”

2 Tim. 2:21

~ Guest Author: Thomas A. Curran ~

Top Priority

2009-08-03T08:00:00.000-07:00

8.03.09

What do you wake up thinking about? What do you go to sleep thinking about? What is a major priority in your life?

Jesus often referred to what Paul reiterates in Romans 10:1 – that he is deeply concerned over people, “that they may be saved.”

Does it bother you that most of the people in your lineup are separated from a friendship with God? Are you aware that those without Jesus are enemies of God and His wrath over all the gnarly stuff in our world is being stored up against them? Even your friends, if they are spiritually lost, will suffer forever separated from God.

That bothered Jesus and it bothered Paul and it’s bothered Christians throughout the ages. The more you follow Jesus the more it will bother you. Over the next three weeks we will look at what we should do about this. But, for starters – this week, I want to ask you to pray and ask God who the 3 to 5 individuals are in your life that don’t know HIM that HE wants you to begin praying for. These are people that have not been born again. When you have those names, write them down on a piece of paper and post it somewhere that you can look at it everyday, so you’ll remember to pray for them.

Drop us an email with the name (first name only) of your friends and where you posted the paper. We’ll begin praying with you for your friends. Click here to email.

Pray For Surf-ers

Holding promise...

2009-07-27T10:09:00.001-07:00

07.27.09

Like some of you, I was glued to the US Open of Surfing webcast this weekend (largely because I was sick, argghhh, horrible timing!). It didn't disappoint, showcasing a pumping south swell, $100,000/biggest prize purse in competitive surfing history as well as an appearance by Mr. Slater himself. Local boy Brett Simpson won, disposing of all comers with precision, timing, an intimate knowledge of ever changing local conditions and a fitness and elastic flexibility that rivaled his finals sparring partner, Mick Fanning.

Mick won the world title in 2007, validating an approach that was largely foreign to competitive surfing up to that point. After a near career ending injury in Indonesia, Mick came back and won the title through intense strength, flexibility, diet regimentation and cardio training. He traveled with a surf coach, trainer and surrounded himself with a small group that kept him focused on one thing, winning.

As a result, he singlehandedly changed the ASP competitive landscape with many others adopting a regimented approach (current ratings leader Joel Parkinson among others!) including...Brett Simpson. Brett adopted a similar approach utilizing Ian Cairns as coach, using Mick's own training strategy to beat him yesterday at the US Open of Surfing.

I Timothy 4:8 says this: "For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

What you didn't see yesterday and what wasn't hyped was a large group of Christian Surfers, local church, industry people and Walking on Water volunteers manning a booth, shaping surfboards, donating money, sharing the gospel, loving the masses, handing out 30,000 evangelistic DVD's and many Surfer's Bibles. Like Brett's training, many hours were put in behind the scenes to prepare for this. Knees were worn, cheeks were turned, the unlikely became reality and results won't be broadcast live over the internet, have a dollar figure immediately placed on them or celebrated by hundreds of thousands here on earth. However, the audience of One in heaven applauds, the angels in heaven rejoice and surfers and non-surfers alike woke up this morning for the first time "holding promise for both the present life and the life to come."

Guest Author: CSUS National Manager Daniel Felton

Who do you surf for?

2009-07-22T13:12:00.000-07:00

07.20.09

I hope that question causes you to wonder, maybe even wrestle with the answer. When we ask that question many Christians quickly say, “I surf for Jesus.” What does that mean?

Have you ever seen a football team with armbands honoring a fallen team mate? They play to honor an individual. Ever notice that military soldiers wear their nation's flag on their uniform? They do this to signify who is in authority over them. What’s the big deal with gang colors? They show their colors to “represent” and show association to their gang. Why does a teen write someone’s name all over something? This is a common expression of devotion and love.

When we say we seek to surf for Jesus, we mean all these things. We are so stoked on Jesus that we want to “declare our love” for HIM. Because we love him, we submit ourselves to HIM as the boss in our life. Because we like our boss, we seek to honor HIM with our whole existence. And, of course, we count it an honor to be HIS representatives.

Saying we seek to surf for Jesus is so much more than how we ride a wave. It is a way of love both in and out of the water.

Saying I surf for Jesus is a big deal. Maybe we should be quicker to think about the question and slower to answer.

The pretension of human life

2009-07-16T06:20:00.000-07:00

07.13.09

The Devil wants to trick us! We’re not stupid, how do we keep getting fooled?

He plays to our old nature. As we’ve seen over the last couple of weeks he appeals to the cravings that already exist in us - hedonism. Then he capitalizes on all the cool stuff we see – materialism. According to 1 John 2:16 there’s a third area that he uses against us – pride.

1 John 2:16 NIV “For everything in the world – the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the father but from the world.”

Pride is birthed from self focus and quickly creates competition over who is in charge. The verse in the original Greek literally means, “the pretension of human life.” It is the guy making sure that everyone knows that trophy belongs to him. “Look at me and all I’ve accomplished.” It is only a partially accurate view of who I am. It doesn’t acknowledge all the other people that helped me succeed or the role that God played in my success. It also sadly, places much weight on things that don’t matter – look at verse 17.

“The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.” When we well up with pride over our accomplishments and acquisitions it’s like a kook bragging about a white-water ride.

Surfing is a beautiful thing. Don’t let Satan destroy it and you by your cravings, the lust of your eyes or the pride of life. Instead, see surfing and all you do in the context of eternity and do all unto the glory of God.

SPECIAL PRAYER - Please pray as CSUS will be serving the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation this week at Pipeline for a Cure. Also pray for God's grace to touch surfers that are battling Cystic Fibrosis. More details

twinkling, pretty STUFF

2009-07-11T14:48:00.001-07:00

07.06.09

How sick are those new boardshorts? Check out these sun glasses! Whoa, look at this new surfboard! How ‘bout those slippers?

The devil lies to us and says that if we only had the things we see, then we’d be happy.

1 John 2:16 NIV
“For everything in the world – the cravings of the sinful man, the lust of the eyes and the boasting of what he has and does – comes not from the Father but from the world.”

We said a couple weeks ago that the Bible teaches the Devil is trying to trick surfers. Last week we saw that through our natural cravings he tries to “derail” us from the plan God has for our lives. This week we see another one of his tricks: the lust of the eyes.

In the surfing world there are so many things to look at. Materialism abounds. We are continually fed the lie that stuff will bring happiness. Companies cry out, “Don’t conform, be an individual – buy our stuff and be different (just like everyone else).” Does a $5 pair of pants cover my behind any less adequately than an $80 pair? If I buy name brand surf stuff at a knock off store for pennies on the dollar is it less cool?

Recently a conversation took place where a member of CSUS tried to explain to a friend why he only had one watch and one pair of sunglasses. “How many can you wear at one time?” he asked. There are things that we can invest our lives in that will bring God glory, we gain joy and others are blessed for eternity – ten more pairs of board shorts probably aren’t those things.

Your eyes will never stop seeing things they want. Control them and don’t buy the lie. A trusting, obedient, love filled friendship with Jesus is what our souls are really longing for. Don’t let the devil distract you with all the twinkling, pretty STUFF.

Who do you surf for?

The World

2009-06-30T09:07:00.000-07:00

06.29.09

Last week we looked at how the Devil wants to trick you into wasting your life. As part of his plan to do that he has created a way of thinking and viewing the world around us, a perspective on life. The Bible refers to this system as “the World”.

1 John 2:15-16 NASB
“Do not love the world nor the things in the world, if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.”

In attacking surfers, the Devil capitalizes on three of our weaknesses by using this “World system”. The first is the “lust of the flesh”. Hedonism, the natural cravings of man, in other words – if it feels good do it. As a surfer this sounds strangely familiar. The Devil wants you to spend your life chasing waves and believing that ultimately surfing will fulfill you. I have one question that challenges that idea – have you ever had a wave so good that you were so deeply satisfied that you didn’t need to ever surf again?

Doing what we enjoy, whether surfing, sex, drugs or helping old ladies across the street will not ultimately fulfill. We were not first and foremost made for that. We were created to know God, to live in friendship with Him and only through Jesus is that possible. What are you investing your life into? Having fun or loving God?

Who do you surf for?

Life's Currency Trade

2009-06-30T09:05:00.000-07:00

06.22.09

2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.”

The Devil is a liar, a deceiver. He comes at surfers trying to trick them.

Life is like a man with a pocket full of money. He goes about spending it however he desires. Sadly, it isn’t until his pocket is almost empty that he begins to consider whether his purchases were wise.

Every day surfers trade the currency of their lives. How many times have we traded it for waves over family, work or responsibilities. Sadly, many an old surfer has come to the realization that they’ve been tricked and invested their life in something that wasn’t that important. One famous old icon was overheard saying, as he watched a husband play with his children, “I have wasted my life.”

Over the next few weeks we’ll look at three ways that Satan desires to deceive surfers. Be on guard and spend your life in a way that you won’t regret.

MAKE Disciples

2009-06-30T08:56:00.000-07:00

06.15.09

In Matthew 28, Jesus is wrapping up one stage of HIS ministry and transitioning to another. HE looks at HIS disciples and basically says, I’ve got unfathomable power and I’m going to be with you and work through you so wherever you go from here on out – MAKE DISCIPLES. When HE ascended to Heaven they stood staring and I get the impression that they were thinking, “make disciples, what? HE makes disciples. We are disciples. This is about us – me and Jesus – HE guides me and teaches me and helps me and heals me. I’m confused.”

As surfers we understand selfishness. It’s about me getting my wave. But sadly, as Christians I’m not sure that our perspective is all that different. I mean church is about messages that connect with me, music I like, services that minister to and encourage me. Right? Christian Surfers is no different. It’s a “cool” movement that I can plug into and really fit.

What if Christianity isn’t primarily about me and God serving me and ministering to me? What if it is primarily about God and the mystery of HIM living HIS life and ministry through me in order to bring the Father glory?

In the United States alone there are over 3 million surfers, a majority of which are separated from God by their sin. How will they ever hear the Good News if someone doesn’t tell them? Who will tell them? It would take an army…YOU ARE THAT ARMY.

Today I am calling each of us to take action. CS doesn’t primarily exist to minister to you but to help you get active so Jesus can minister through you. One rallying event is the CSUS National Conference in Oct. Register today and begin focusing on others by making a list of whom you will invite to go to the conference with you. At the conference you will be equipped to carry out the mission.

Enjoy Jesus and your personal walk with HIM but remember, the ride really gets good when we yield ourselves and let HIM work in others through us.

We must mobilize to action! God’s glory and surfer’s souls are on the line.

You may have noticed the devo's new look, CLICK HERE to view our website's makeover!

Getting out of the water...and into Church!

2009-06-08T10:28:00.001-07:00

06.08.09

“I’m not into church or even other Christians. God and I have something worked out and we’re OK.”

Is that acceptable?

Is God simply saving individuals or building a family? Christianity, as they say, is a team sport. If I’ve truly embraced Jesus than I will choose to love my fellow Christians and may even find joy in their friendships.

1John 4:20 “If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” - NIV

Are local churches perfect? Nope. Do local churches have problems? Yep. Have I ever been burned in the local church? Yep. Is the church about me and my needs? Nope. Is church about placing value on God? Yep. And one of the ways we do that is by loving all the dysfunctional people in churches who, because of Jesus, happen to be our eternal brothers and sisters. And, in return, they put up with and love us (not an easy task).

This weekend why not show how much you value God by getting out of the water and going to church and listening to the teaching of HIS Word.

Who do you surf for?

Persecuted Church

2009-06-03T14:16:00.000-07:00

06.01.09

We have learned that suffering is not the worst thing in the world --- disobedience to God is the worst.

A Vietnamese Christian imprisoned for his faith

Find out more about the suffering Christians around the world at The Voice of the Martyrs.

www.persecution.com

Who do you surf for – today?

Soul Thirst

2009-06-03T14:14:00.002-07:00

05.25.09

The saddest thing is not that our hearts grow restless or that we find our souls thirsting. No, the great tragedy is that we embrace a settlement and become content with this sub-par existence.

I recently observed a man in a public place picking thru ashtrays to gather butts that had not been fully smoked. It struck me as a picture of how I allow my soul to be satisfied with the refuse of this broken world.

We delight in material wealth as if it matters and will last. We lie and convince ourselves that the silly act of riding waves is transcendent. All the while, we ignore the wooing of a transcendent Christ who is truly able to satisfy our deepest hungers. Make Jesus your treasure and shun the “fools gold” of this world. A billion years from now you will not regret the decision.

John 4:14

Email us at info@christiansurfers.com and tell us how you are letting Jesus satisfy your soul thirst (click here)

The Plan

2009-06-03T14:14:00.001-07:00

05.18.09

"God's will is what you would want if you knew what God knew." - Anonymous

We spend way too much time trying to scheme and manipulate situations that God has already given us clear direction on. We often do this because we desire what is best for us and are unsure whether God is as committed to that same outcome as we are. The basic problem is that, as broken creatures, we don’t know what’s best for us. But God does and He desires what will bring Him glory and will be the best for you. History bares this out. Just look at the cross. It may not make sense to the “world” but it does make sense in God’s economy. So trust and don’t second guess Him. Just obey.

Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding…”

Testing with Scripture

2009-05-11T12:58:00.000-07:00

05.11.09

How will the Devil work in your life?

In Job he worked through nature. Galatians 1 warns that he will use angelic beings. In Matthew 16:23 he spoke through a follower of Jesus. In Luke 4 he quoted Scripture. Satan is a deceiver, a player with an agenda and you are a target. In James we are warned that if something looks good but God says it isn’t good – beware! Satan will come with proposals that make sense and seem good. But his goal is your pain.

How do we guard against this? The Bible teaches us that we should “test” teaching, advice, counsel, prophecies, spirits etc. against SCRIPTURE. It doesn’t matter who it is or how great they are. Even Paul commended one group for running his teaching past the Bible. But that assumes you know, study, are in the Word regularly and most importantly that the Word is in you. Dig into the Bible as if it holds the answer to your very life – it does.

Just because someone says, “God told me” doesn’t mean we should listen. Counterfeit prophets have always existed. And often they were nice guys.

2 Timothy 2:15
Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Seeking Him

2009-05-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

05.04.09

As surfers we love to seek out waves. I know at times I’ve spent hours seeking out the best waves. Sometimes I will be so intent at finding a better wave just around the next corner that I will spend an hour or two driving around before I even surf. We have all done it. Driving from spot to spot, beach to beach. All in hope of finding that little bit better spot. Surfers are so diligent in seeking out waves that this desire has taken them all around the world. Sometimes we are rewarded with great waves with no one out. Other times we end up surfing at the first spot we checked. Other times returning home disappointed not having surfed at all.

But not so with Jesus. Jesus promises that if we really seek him we will find. Recently I had a very important decision to make in my life. Which way should I go? I wasn’t sure. How much time was I spending praying and seeking God’s will about this? Definitely not the same hours I have spent seeking out good waves. Jesus challenges us to really seek him, to really spend time pouring out our hearts to him. (Psalm 62:8) It says in Matt 7:7 “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened .” The Lord loves us and wants us to come to him to seek him to learn what’s on his heart and hear what’s on our heart. The challenge for me was how much time do I spend really seeking God? In the end after seeking him, I didn’t come home disappointed but found the answer to the direction that I needed to go.

Further reading on seeking and pouring out our hearts to God check out the following. 1Sam 1:12-20, Lam 2:19, Jer 29:11-14, Matt 7:7-12.

Guest Author: David Levey, CS Japan National Director

http://www.christian-surfers-japan.com/english/index.html

2:45 in the morning

2009-04-27T08:06:00.001-07:00

04.27.09

I closed the door ever so carefully. The last thing I needed was my wife’s wrath for waking our children at 2:45am! The plan was to meet at the freeway at 3. Paul drove the whole way and just as the sun slipped up over the Florida peninsula we paddled into the Gulf of Mexico. Later that night we stumbled into small group for church; sunburnt, exhausted, surfed out and smiling. What a great day!

8 hours in the truck with four guys, sleep deprived, needing food, wore out and we’d do it again in a heartbeat!

Matthew 13:44 (NIV)
“The kingdom of Heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his JOY went and sold all he had and bought that field.”

Sometimes we focus on the sacrifices that come with following Christ. We get bummed about the hurts and struggles that come with the territory. Yes, following Jesus is not the easy road but the point is – WE GET TO FOLLOW JESUS!

The guy sold everything with JOY because he got the treasure. I awake in the middle of the night STOKED because I get to surf.

WE GET TO BE WITH JESUS!

…sacrifices, what sacrifices?

Is good enough, Enough?

2009-04-27T08:04:00.000-07:00

04.20.09

Recently, a man in our area ran a 9 mile race in 43 minutes. As we all know, top athletes, Olympians and some surfers train with intense focus. In life there are things that hold us back, things that push us ahead and the gray, middle of the road things that don’t hurt or help us. Many great people got where they are by not only avoiding the things that hold them back (that’s a no-brainer), but by committing to only the things that catapult them ahead. This is the idea of, “Good being the enemy of Great”.

In our Christian lives are we content to just avoid the things that pull us away from the Lord or are we compelled to ONLY allow into our lives the things that catapult us toward Jesus? Are we radically committed to pursue glorifying God thru intimacy with HIM at any cost?

Hebrews 12:1-2
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off EVERYTHING that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. 2) Let us fix our eyes on JESUS…

Who do you surf for?

Fellowship of the Believers

2009-04-13T11:44:00.000-07:00

04.13.09

They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favour of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Acts 2:42-47 (NIV)

Rich's paraphrase

The Christian Surfers deeply committed themselves to the Bible's teachings and to loving and supporting one another. They also deeply committed themselves to worshiping God and prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many amazing things occurred among these Christian Surfers. All the Christian Surfers were together and had everything in common. They sold off all the excess things they had and even made sacrifices to give to anyone in need. They also got together and gave their time to serve at local board riding events. Every Sunday they committed to going to church and they regularly met together in each other's homes to eat together and worship God with rejoicing and thankfulness, praising God and enjoying the good reputation they had amongst their local board riding community. And God used them powerfully every day to be a part of surfers getting saved and entering into a relationship with Him!!!

Every day surfers getting saved and entering into a relationship with Him!!!

Is this just something that happened in the early church a long time ago or can it really happen today?

Who do you surf for?

Richard Leonard, National Director of CS South Africa

http://www.sonsurf.co.za/

Making Christians out of Surfers

2009-04-06T14:12:00.001-07:00

04.06.09

We were headed south towards Sebastian Inlet unsure what the winds would do. We stopped at the first place that looked good. When it got blown out we made the call to head home because we knew it was at least as good as everywhere else. We never made it to Sebastian. We stopped 20 minutes shy of being there. That night we read the quotes about how the Inlet was the best it had been in ten years, maybe ever! The photos confirmed it.

We must not let the good things distract us from the mission.

In Christian Surfers there are a few realities that drive us.

1. GOD is so great that HE deserves to be worshipped everywhere.
2. Man was made to worship
3. The vast majority of surfers worship something other than God and will spend eternity separated from HIM.

In Mark 1:35-39 Jesus teaches this idea. There is a crowd of people, wanting to be healed, wanting to hear HIS teaching, just wanting to be near HIM. But, HE walks away. Not that it wasn’t a good thing, but it wasn’t the mission.

In Christian Surfers we often get distracted and seek to make Surfers out of Christians rather than making Christians out of Surfers. One is good and if it occurs that’s great, but one is essential and if it doesn’t occur people’s eternal destinies are lost and God’s glory is missed.

Who do you surf for?

Coffee Without Lipstick

2009-04-06T14:11:00.001-07:00

03.30.09

I was sitting at a table on the sidewalk outside McDonald’s in Honolulu. The homeless man walked up and began taking cups of coffee out of the trash can next to me and pouring the remnants into one cup until he had a full cup of coffee. On the bench next to the trashcan sat a middle aged business man with a tube of masquera and a mirror touching up the gray on the corners of his hair. Our world has gone mad.

Of course, I ask the man to allow me to buy him a fresh, hot cup of coffee. His eyes were filled with fear as he rejected my offer and asked me to leave him alone.

Standing on the North Shore yesterday I spoke with a man that refuses to give the Lord the opportunity to give him an abundant life. Instead he very carefully fills his cup of sin (avoiding the “big” ones) and then slurps it down. Afraid that God might hold out on him and convinced that what he has is good or good enough.

Oh, how we have settled for this world and pushed away the offers of God. We have bought the lies of the surfing world that say by focusing on my needs I will find joy, while God says DYING to self leads to joy. In Eternity we will see who is correct. I just pray that at that moment, we don’t look back with the sad realization that we have followed a lie and wasted our lives on surfing and fun and self. Let Jesus get you a fresh cup with no lipstick on the rim. Live for Jesus today.

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” -1 John 2:15

Who do you surf for?

Prayer

2009-03-25T09:20:00.000-07:00

03.23.09

"We learn prayer's deepest depths in prayer, not from books. We reach prayer's highest heights in prayer, not from sermons. The only place to learn prayer, is in prayer, bent and broken on our knees." - Dick Eastman

Rather than write about prayer, I simply challenge you to spent 5 minutes extra in prayer today.

Pray for Surf-ers.

Sin Blind

2009-03-16T13:50:00.000-07:00

03.16.09

“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” Romans 3:10-12

For years the man argued with people about what color objects were. “It’s brown, I tell you” he would say. “I’m not blind, you know!” “No, it’s red” folks would reply. Great frustration filled his life b/c of the continual battle over colors. One day, in a visit to the doctor, he discovered he was colorblind. This truth reconciled the struggle in his life and replaced his tension with peace.

When God says this will bring you joy or that won’t bring you joy, do you argue with HIM? When God says your ultimate purpose is to glorify HIM by knowing HIM, not to surf, do you disagree? The solution is found in the diagnoses of our situation. We are sin blind – we don’t really know what it’s all about. And so, I can be comfortable when what God says doesn’t match what I feel or think or what seems so obvious to everyone. I can be quite confident that God is right and everyone is wrong. Now, the wise man takes action guided by what God says. So, where do you need to adjust your sight today?

Who do you surf for?

Newness of Life

2009-03-09T10:50:00.001-07:00

03.09.09

"So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions." Romans 6:11-12

Last weekend our pastor, David, told a story of his recent trip to Africa. He and a few of the guys on his team had a few hours to spare so they decided to paddle out in Cape Town, South Africa, which is known for its shark-infested waters.

He explained that after they were done surfing, it turned out that one of his buddies, fairly new to surfing, had seen a Great White in the water, but had actually paddled back out, apparently not realizing the danger. David then told this story while teaching and had one of the locals, a guy named Greg from Port Elizabeth near J-Bay, tell him about a time when he himself was surfing with some friends at a local reserve area, a beach teeming with wildlife.

Greg explained how that day, he actually witnessed a friend get attacked by a Great White shark. After his friend, amazingly, beat the shark until it left him, Greg and his two other friends, had to drag his now-unconscious friend to the shore. Thankfully, Greg's friend survived, with his arm intact.

After hearing his story, David asked Greg, "So, do you ever surf there anymore?" Greg replied emphatically, "Absolutely not!"

And so it is with our own walks with the Lord. Once we've experienced the grace and forgiveness that comes with our Salvation in Jesus, we become a new creation, and our new identity is in Him, not in our past sins.

If we have died to sin, why would we want to go back to that sinful life? Why would we get back in the shark-infested waters once we know about the danger? We should stay away from that sinful place, not living on the edge, but rather, let's turn 180 degrees in repentance and embrace our newness of life.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come." 2 Corinthians 5:17

Guest Author: Nicole Bennett, www.thefieldschurch.org

Founder of www.sandiegomommyspot.com and surfmamas.ning.com

The Place to Start

2009-03-05T08:44:00.000-08:00

03.02.09

“Knowing what we should do often begins with knowing what we should not do.”
Eric Arakawa

In Exodus 2 we find that a decree has been issued that every boy born to the Israelites is to be killed. Moses’ mother seems to be unsure what to do with her new born son but she is confident that letting him be killed is not an option.

In your life today, are you facing decisions about what you should do? Why not back up and make sure that you’re squared away on the things you know you shouldn’t be doing. That may be the place to start.

Who do you surf for?

The Ultimate Outrage

2009-03-05T08:43:00.000-08:00

02.23.09

“What makes sin sin is not first that it hurts people, but that it blasphemes God. This is the ultimate evil and the ultimate outrage in the universe.

The glory of God is not honored.
The holiness of God is not reverenced.
The greatness of God is not admired.
The power of God is not praised.
The truth of God is not sought.
The wisdom of God is not esteemed.
The beauty of God is not treasured.
The goodness of God is not savored.
The faithfulness of God is not trusted.
The promises of God are not relied upon.
The commandments of God are not obeyed.
The justice of God is not respected.
The wrath of God is not feared.
The grace of God is not cherished.
The presence of God is not prized.
The person of God is not loved.

The infinite, all-glorious Creator of the universe, by whom and for whom all things exist (Romans 11:36) – who holds every person’s life in being at every moment (Acts 17:25) – is disregarded, disbelieved, disobeyed, and dishonored by everybody in the world. That is the ultimate outrage of the universe.

Why is it that people can become emotionally and morally indignant over poverty and exploitation and prejudice and the injustice of man against man and yet feel little or no remorse or indignation that God is so belittled? It’s because of sin. That is what sin is. Sin is esteeming and valuing and honoring and enjoying man and his creations above God. So even our man-centered anger at the hurt of sin is part of sin. God is marginal in human life. That is our sin, our condition.”

-John Piper – Message: “The Greatest Thing on the World” – www.desiringgod.org

Which are you?

2009-03-05T08:40:00.000-08:00

02.16.09

Are you a physical being that has a Spirit or a Spiritual being that has a body?

2 Cor. 4:18

So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Which statement does your life illustrate?

Who do you surf for?

Priority: Intentional Relationships

2009-03-05T08:38:00.002-08:00

02.09.09

In John 1:37–39 a couple disciples of John the Baptist (probably John and Andrew) are hanging out in the country. John the Baptist points out that Jesus is the Savior of the world. So they ask Jesus, “Where are you staying?” Now the right answer is to point in some direction or say, “I’m camped out over there by that tree, next to the family with the barking dog.” But what He says is, “Come and see.” That’s not an answer to the question. In fact, it appears that answering the question and dispersing information isn’t even important. What was important was beginning a relationship. So He invites them to spend time with Him.

What’s the priority: Intentional Relationships. Whether it was leaving Heaven, becoming a man, choosing the disciples, reconciling with Peter, talking with Nicodemus or coming down from the mountain and His privacy to be with the crowd – when it comes to relationships Jesus is intentional. He doesn’t wait for people to come to HIM – HE goes to them.

Here are some suggestions for making this a priority in your life:
Begin to pray – as a member of CSUS you are ask to pray every Monday at lunch for surfers – do that.
Write out a list of specific surfers and pray for them regularly
Begin to surf on purpose – what I mean by that is living for Jesus in the water. Give a wave to a guy, talk to people in the lineup, etc.
Begin to intentionally spend time with surfers – grab coffee with one of the guys in the lineup that you know or surf with someone regularly for the purpose of encouraging them in following Jesus
This is a tough one but, rather than surf your secret spot alone, surf where the crowd is for the reason of meeting people

Jesus didn’t say, “I know I’m supposed to love my neighbor, but...” Instead, he turned most conversations to an opportunity to build friendships. Let’s do the same in 2009.

Who do you surf for?

Priority: Eternal Focus

2009-03-05T08:38:00.001-08:00

02.02.09

What are you known for? Are you a ripper, soul surfer, kook…

As people looked at Jesus they came to expect Him to point them to an eternal perspective rather than a focus on the here and now. It was one of the things He was known for. When questioned on taxes He was kind of like, “no biggie, just make sure you’re giving God what belongs to Him.” A father comes to Jesus (John 4) with extreme urgency as his son, whom he loves, is sick to the point of death. Jesus responds – "You need to believe." He regularly pointed to that eternal focus.

Jesus’ eternal focus brought hope. So no matter how bad things were, there was always hope that this is temporary and it will be better in eternity. Remember the paralyzed man who was lowered through someone’s roof (Luke 5)? We always recall that Jesus healed him. But when you read the story, the healing wasn’t the focus. It was “your sins are forgiven.” See Him pointing to that bigger, eternal perspective?

Because Jesus brought hope as He pointed people to eternity, it also began to create expectancy. People expected to hear Jesus say something totally bizarre compared to the norm of the day. They expected to see Him love someone that no one else would normally look at twice.

What about in your life? Maybe a priority for 2009 should be a focus on eternity and not just the next contest or session or what this day holds. With that focus you may find that people around you begin to have hope and expect God to do something in their lives.

How does your surfing fit into a bigger picture, like eternity?

Priority: Loving Atmosphere

2009-03-05T08:36:00.000-08:00

01.26.09

The first three priorities that we’ve looked at in Jesus’ life have all related to loving God. The next three will relate to loving others. Interesting how Jesus said that all God’s commands hung on loving God and loving others, then He prioritized His life around them. Oh, that we would do the same!

Have you ever noticed how people that stay in the shadows come into the light when Jesus is around? Those that aren’t even comfortable in their own skin are comfortable enough to come to Jesus. Jesus sought to create an atmosphere of love. Look at the Woman at the well (Jn 4), Zacchaeus (Lk 19), the cheating woman (Jn 8), the demon possessed duo (Mt 8) and the list goes on. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Jesus felt in every instance but it does tell us that He acted in love (doing what was best for others) on a consistent basis. So consistent in fact, that it created an atmosphere where people started to think, “maybe He’d even love me.”

What kind of atmosphere is there around your life? Often we just flow through life and what will be will be. In 2009 reject that kind of passivity and begin to make it a priority in your life to create an atmosphere of love around you. Choose to act in love to the people around you at school, work, home, in the lineup or wherever you are.

Who do you surf for? Your love shows the answer.

Proper Concept of Christ

2009-03-05T08:35:00.000-08:00

01.19.09

Who is Jesus? People have wrestled with that question for 2,000 years.

On top of Prayerful Dependence and a Priority on the Word Jesus felt that conveying a proper concept of who He was is critical. This continued to be a priority throughout His ministry as people tried to use Him rather than embrace Him. Repeatedly Jesus challenged people to follow Him for who He was and not for who they wanted Him to be.

A while back I was surfing this secret spot in New England. As I sped down line there were VW Bug size boulders that would pop out of the face of the wave. Now I had two options: one, ask them to move so I could have the ride I wanted or two, alter my ride.
As you cruise down the line in life are you looking for a Jesus that fits nicely into your life or are you altering your life to fit HIM?

Today you can turn on the TV, radio or go to the church on the corner and hear about several different versions of Jesus. Some of them fit nicely into our lives and some of them are brutal. But the question is, “Who is the real Jesus?” The answer is found in the Bible.

Why not make it a priority this year to get to know the real Jesus. When someone quotes a verse about Jesus this year why not go back and read the whole passage and see if it’s an accurate view of Him or a verse ripped out of context to fit someone’s agenda.

Priority on the WORD

2009-03-05T08:34:00.000-08:00

01.12.09

Matthew 7:24-27 – The house with a solid foundation

I remember a few years ago looking at pictures of North Carolina after a hurricane passed. It’s heartbreaking to see the foundations of homes washed away. Oh, the devastation that a storm can bring to a foundation.

I’ve experienced that same feeling looking into the eyes of a person after life has shattered them. Whether an unexpected tragedy or the end of a long battle with a disease, oh the devastation that a storm can bring to the foundation of a life.

So what are you building your life on: advice from friends, following your heart or the wisdom of Rick Cain?

When we look at the life of Jesus and His priorities we see that the Bible held a high place in His life. He studied it, memorized it, quoted it and taught it. He built His life on it.

Why not begin the New Year with a renewed expression of love for God by getting into His love letter to you.

Take some time each day to look into the Bible and read. Start with one chapter a day – remember, something is better than nothing. Ask these three questions:
What does this passage say?
What does it mean?
What does that mean to me today?

Peace in a hurricane comes when we know our foundation is secure. Jesus said that when it comes to the Bible, not even a letter would slip.

Prayerful Dependence

2009-03-05T08:33:00.002-08:00

01.05.09

Do you need God? Jesus said in John 5:19 that He could do NOTHING without the Father. In John 15 Jesus says He is a vine and we are branches and that without Him we can do NOTHING. Those statements should change our perspective on how much we need God. We don’t just need Him for Heaven but for everyday life.

One of the key ways that our need for God is expressed is through prayer. Simply put, people that believe they need God call out to Him. Prayer was a top priority in Jesus’ life. In fact, in Luke 5:16 it says, “But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Billy Graham once said, “True prayer is a way of life, not just for use in cases of emergency. Make it a habit, and when the need arises you will be in practice.”

As an expression of your love for God why not make Prayerful Dependence a priority in 2008. Here are a few ideas on how to weave it into your life:

Pray before you paddle out.
In the car, turn off the radio and pray.
Get a couple friends and begin praying together once a week.
Use memory triggers. Whenever you see a certain car, person, tree – whatever – pray.
Get an egg timer and set it for 5 minutes each morning and talk to God until it goes off.
Try to pray at the same time or place everyday.
Place names or photos of people in spots that you look at daily. Pray when you see them.
If you are part of a CS chapter, brainstorm ways to “cover” your chapter in prayer.
As a member of CS we ask you to pray every Monday at lunch for surfers and for this ministry.

Glued on Him

2009-03-05T08:33:00.001-08:00

12.29.08

There is a rising movement, of which I hope my voice is joining in the chorus, calling for Jesus to be returned to the center of our celebrations of HIS birthday. I hope that you were able to worship fully during this Christmas season. But, I have a question: Where is Jesus every other day?

What I mean is, Christmas is over and we are on to the New Year. The tradition of gift giving is done and now we move to the tradition of resolutions. Planning for the year to come. So, how do we choose our New Year’s resolutions? Well, it’s based on what we see as important or a priority in our lives. Where does Jesus play into the establishment of those priorities?

Romans 12:2 says that we should no longer let the philosophies of this world squeeze us into its mold but we should let God reshape our perspectives and priorities. Who is telling you what’s important in life? Surf mags, friends, television, the media…? Or are you looking at Jesus with your eyes glued on Him, like the book of Hebrews says, noticing what HIS priorities were?

Over the next six weeks we will look at the six priorities of Jesus’ life and I would challenge you to lay your life down next to the template of HIS life and see what priorities need to be changed for 2009.

Make it about Him

2009-03-05T08:32:00.001-08:00

12.22.08

Christmas. Oh yea – stable, manger, baby Jesus… Sometimes it becomes so common place that our attitude is almost irreverent. The problem is that we dive into the story at the birth of Jesus. To get it you have to roll back the clock a couple thousand years.

There sits GOD, enthroned as the KING OF KINGS. With a word HE speaks creation into existence. In a stroke of brilliance HE creates colors and sounds and fills the earth with smells.

HE’S that creative.

Abraham sees God’s faithfulness to HIS promises.

HE’S that good.

In Love, God refuses to show HIS full glory to Moses because it would destroy him.

HE’S that powerful.

Isaiah trembles in fear of death at the sight of God.

HE’S that terrifying.

God asks, “Who will you compare Me to?” There is no one and nothing as great and powerful, tender and kind, righteous and loving, just and merciful. There’s none like our God.

HE’S that unique.

THAT GOD, sets aside HIS Godness and puts on a man suit and is born to a peasant girl in a stinking filthy stall full of animals.

HE’S that crazy about ransoming man out of slavery to sin.

WORSHIP - It is the act of estimating the value of something or someone. This Christmas meditate on what God has done and value HIM by setting aside time to be with HIM. Worship HIM fully for who HE is and what HE’S done. It’s HIS birthday we’re celebrating – not ours. Make it about HIM.

Love All

2009-03-05T08:30:00.000-08:00

12.15.08

It blows my mind that God came to man. Kings don’t normally come to their servants. Every Christmas we celebrate this phenomenon. Why not follow that example and take HIS love to all. I’ve challenged you to “SPEND LESS”, “GIVE MORE” and now I’m challenging you to “LOVE ALL”.

At Christmas we enjoy traditions that our family has held for years. We also enjoy creating new traditions for years to come. Why not add the tradition of Loving All to the list of what you do each December. I heard an easy definition of love is: see a need, meet a need. Build a family memory by meeting a need together. Here are some ideas:

Give someone in another place clean water to drink.
Donate to a ministry that is giving the living water of Christ to thirsty people.
Did you know there are still people that don’t have the Bible in their language? You can help.
Give a child the nutritional supplement that they need to save their eyesight – for only $1
Change a poverty stricken family’s life by giving them animals they can use.
Help Prostitutes get set free, literally and spiritually
Give a tribe of people that have never heard the name of Jesus an opportunity to hear the Gospel.
Serve as a family at a local mission or soup kitchen.

Sit and talk as a family about what you are burdened for and find a group that can give you an outlet for that burden.

This season let’s SPEND LESS, GIVE MORE, LOVE ALL and next week WORSHIP FULLY.

Give More

2009-03-05T08:28:00.002-08:00

12.08.08

Tis’ the season for giving. Every Christmas we exchange gifts, remembering that it was at the birth of Jesus that God gave us the greatest gift of all. But what was that gift, a new game system, a tie and underwear, a wetsuit? Ultimately what it is that God gave us is relationships – with Him and others through Jesus.

What if Christmas 2008 we focused more on investing in each other in memory making ways. Last week I challenged you to “SPEND LESS”. This week I’m challenging you to “GIVE MORE”. Give more to the people you love. Rather than hours of shopping why not spend hours with friends and family? Why not get creative in your gift giving this year? Give more of yourself. Some examples:

Offer to help someone put their photos into albums and give a coupon for your time.
Clean up someone’s basement or garage.
Bake Christmas cookies for your neighbors. The key, bake them as a family – not fighting the whole time, because the cookies don’t matter. But just enjoying each other.
Make a gift that will become the next family heirloom.
Help your younger children make homemade gifts.
Take your wife on a date, just like old times – hold hands, talk, maybe even a little smooching.
Take the time to write a well thought through letter telling someone what you appreciate about them.
Sit with your children and ask them thought provoking questions. Click Here and Here

This Christmas why not invest in the people that God invested in rather than the stuff that this world clamors for.

http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com/

Spend Less

2009-03-05T08:28:00.001-08:00

12.01.08

This Christmas season I am going to unapologetically challenge you to go outside of your comfort zone and traditions and do some true soul searching about Christmas. In the next four weeks I am going to challenge you with five things: Spend Less, Give More, Love All, Worship Fully, and forward December’s Devos to at least 2 people.

Spend Less… Do you realize that America spends an average of $450 billion a year every Christmas? Don’t misread this – I don’t want people to feel guilty for being blessed nor do I want to take all our children’s gifts away, but what about moderation? What if this year you cut back on the gifts, not because of the economy but because of the meaning of the holiday? In fact, let me be specific – I am putting forth this challenge: Give up one gift this year. That could be one gift as a family or one gift per person – you decide.

Christmas celebrates God giving His only Son – a gift of love. Not a commercialized, obligatory, nicely wrapped “thing” that will be buried in a closet within the month. So, why not begin to rethink Christmas this year by starting with “Spend Less”.

Click here to take a look.

Giving Thanks

2009-03-05T08:27:00.001-08:00

11.24.08

1 Thessalonian 5:18 “…give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God’s will…”

What’s the big deal about being thankful?

You know how different lenses in sunglasses cause you to see everything in a different hue? Gratitude casts a different light on all of life. Being thankful brings out the deep colors of the real beauty of this life. More importantly, it reveals WHO we are to be thankful. Being thankful is an acknowledgment that God is good and right in how He is running the universe today. Thankfulness allows me to hold my baby boy a little longer before running off to type a devo. Thankfulness allows me to finish my surf session content and not needing one more wave. Thankfulness lets me enjoy where I live rather than planning my next upgrade. Thankfulness values God and lets Him be God rather than me correcting His sovereignty. Why not fast one day this week from grumbling, complaining, and negative speech and only be thankful? Try to say Thank You to God at least ten times today.

The saddest thing in life for an atheist is that ultimately they have no one to thank. But, a more grievous thing is for those of us who say we believe to not be thankful people.

PRAY Continually

2009-03-05T08:26:00.001-08:00

11.17.08

1 Thessalonians 5:17 “pray continually”

Last month a famous surfer was interviewed. It was heart breaking. As the individual shared their struggles and depression, they spoke of the hopelessness that they felt. What they expressed about accomplishing their life goals sounded a lot like how my little boy seems to feel when he finally catches a soap bubble and discovers that it is empty.

The question this raises for you and me is…When we look through a surf mag – Do we just think these guys are cool? Wow, what a life? or do we recognize that God has created us each for HIMSELF and life has no ultimate meaning apart from a relationship with HIM. The big question: Do we pray for these surfers?

I want to challenge you for the next month, every time you read a magazine, watch a video or see a poster – pray for that person. Pray for them to enjoy surfing, pray for them to be safe, pray for their health, for their friendships, for their business deals, but – above all – pray for them to experience the joy of knowing JESUS. Why not plaster those posters around as a huge prayer list instead just decorations. Remember, God doesn’t need any superstars but we all need HIM.

The MAIN thing

2009-03-05T08:25:00.001-08:00

11.10.08

It may surprise you that last week I was fasting and praying, but not for the election. Now don’t misunderstand me, I prayed for the candidates and the election. But, my prayer and fasting were reserved for individuals I know who have been broken by sin. God is recycling their pain, giving it purpose and repairing their hearts. And I was battling for them before the throne of grace. There are things that are more important than the election.

Sunday I was reminded, through a great sermon, that it is a government’s job to restrain human nature and it is the church’s job to redeem mankind.

1Timothy 2:1-4 talks about praying for our government so that we can live peaceful lives. And why do we need to live peaceful lives? So we can surf more, sit in front of a TV or cater to our desires? NO!

1 Timothy 2:3-4 - “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”

We should desire peaceful lives so we can spread the Gospel. In Phillipians 1:12 Paul basically says, Yeah, I’m in jail and life is tough but what really matters is that the Gospel has advanced because of my hardships. In Mark 13:9 Jesus tells His disciples that they’re going to get arrested, beaten and drug into court but it’s OK because this will be their opportunity to tell people about HIM.

It’s easy to get distracted from keeping the main thing the main thing. The main thing isn’t my comfort, happiness, security, safety, etc. The main thing is telling the world that Jesus is the answer.

Be in prayer for and submit to our leaders. But, as you pray and as you take action remember there are things more important than the earthly. Now, go tell someone about Jesus!

Loving Obedience

2009-03-05T08:24:00.000-08:00

11.03.08

In Matthew 22, Jesus was put to the test with the question, “What’s the most important law?” Most of us are aware of HIS response – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and soul and mind.” Today, that’s a pretty vague statement. Everyone loves God, don’t they?

When I was 18 I was confronted with the fact that I didn’t. Jesus said in 1 John that if we love HIM we will obey HIM. An old NO FEAR ad says, “commitment isn’t time spent but a line crossed.”

In Acts 19 a group of pretty gnarly folks believed on Jesus. Because of the line that was crossed, they brought all their scrolls on sorcery together and burned them. This is one of those things in the Bible that it’s easy to just read over and not think about. But then it says that someone added up the value of what was burned. Translated into dollars, at $20 an hour and 8 hour days this would be 8 million dollars. Is there any question who they now love? As you look at your life today is it obvious, by your actions, that you love God?

Who do you surf for?

"Foolish" Advice

2009-03-05T08:23:00.000-08:00

10.27.08

Dread creeps in as the laughter and joy from an economic boom draws to a close. Very real and evil enemies abroad have stretched the militaries thin. Even brothers from within have become a threat. Children are being murdered. Internal strife continues to rise. What is the political answer?

It must have seemed really weird when the prophets Isaiah and Micah said that the solution was to “trust God”. This scenario is taken from 1Kings 16 and 2 Chronicles 28. Like any political figure I’m sure that Ahaz was grappling for a “real” answer to all these problems and found the prophets to be “foolish” with their advice. “Honestly, trust God, what kind of political advice is that?” must have been Ahaz’s thinking.

Have things really changed all that much? Our hope is not in a leader or a policy or a party but in the LORD. Of course we should seek to vote and be guided by scripture in whom it is we vote for. We have a responsibility and privilege to be active. But the president is not our savior – Jesus is. God is in control, not the government.

Where are you pinning your hopes? I pray that it is the same answer as you would give to the question, “Who do you surf for?”

Ministries and Ministering

2009-03-05T08:22:00.000-08:00

10.20.08

I had a great lunch appointment with a friend. Our conversation led into some interesting territory. As a leader in Christian Surfers I get calls regularly from people wanting to "start a ministry". It seems that we are eager to start ministries but are we as eager to minister? There is a slight difference.

Jesus said in Matthew 5 that we are salt and light. This wasn't a command to do anything, rather it was a declaration of our identity. Light is light and it shines - unless we hide it. Salt is salt and it's salty - unless another chemical attaches to it. Christians reflect Christ's light unless we hide it. Christians are salty unless we allow sin into our lives. Many Christians that surf mask their light in the lineup. Many others have so much of the world in them that they are far less salty than the water, but we'll talk about that in a different Devo. I believe that "Ministries" will be birthed. I pray that new chapters of CSUS will begin. But they should be the outgrowth of individuals doing ministry, not starting ministries.

GREAT News

2009-03-05T08:21:00.000-08:00

10.13.08

Rules are funny. There are rules of science – gravity. Rules to surfing – wax goes on the top. Spiritual rules –The Bible in Hebrews 9:22 says, “…without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

Over the last couple weeks we saw that life works best when it is lived in order to bring attention to God, because that’s why we were created. But, life is out of sorts because humans have chosen to make the focus of this world ourselves rather than God. The consequences of this choice are huge – worse than paddling into the world’s worst closeout. In fact, the book of Romans (6:23) tells us that the price tag of our “Sin” is death – eternal death. So our biggest need isn’t better waves or a nicer board – our greatest need is forgiveness, because we have committed crimes against an awesome God.

Our problem gets worse. The verse above that says forgiveness requires the shedding of blood refers to a sacrificial system that God instituted. The problem – there was no one or no thing that was pure enough that its blood could pay for man’s sin.

The Solution: God Himself, the Perfect One, the Almighty, Most Powerful, all Holy GOD took on a flesh suit and paddled into the pollution of this world. He lived in such a way as to show us what life could be. He lived perfectly, hence not deserving death and yet willingly laid His life down at the cross. Three days later HE rose from the dead and declared that forgiveness had been obtained and was being offered freely to all that would stop trying to make up for their sins and trust HIM to forgive them.

The BIG question: Have you accepted HIS forgiveness believing that Jesus and only Jesus can pay that debt? Or are you still holding on to a belief that you can try to be good enough or that a religion will get you to God. Jesus is super clear – John 14:6, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Why not turn to Jesus as the FORGIVER and BOSS of your life and feel the freedom of no longer having to figure it out alone. For more info click HERE

If you have questions please email.

Who do you surf for?

What's going wrong

2009-03-05T08:20:00.000-08:00

10.06.08

How angry does it make you when someone drops in on your wave? I mean they are basically stealing, aren’t they? How furious do you get when YOU drop in on someone else’s wave? Maybe you thought they wouldn’t make the section on maybe you didn’t see them or maybe you just wanted the wave and figured you deserved it – do you get as upset about you breaking the code as you do about someone else breaking the code?

Last week we looked at how God does everything in order to display how awesome HE is. We also said that life works best when it functions along the lines it was created for. But, when we look around the world we quickly realize something has gone terribly wrong. In fact, as we watch the news or read the paper, we grow angry at what is going one.

The problem: Mankind has chosen rather than seeking to display God’s greatness, to seek his/her own. This is called sin. Notice the middle letter – i – that’s what it’s all about – everyone looking out for number one. This is why we aren’t near as upset about our personal choices to “break the code” as we are about others. We justify that the circumstances warrant or we deserve or whatever reason makes it OK for us to “bend the rules”. But, it’s not OK. In fact, sin not only causes humans to hurt each other but more importantly it has broken the relationship with God that HE created us to have.

The reality: Romans 3:23 says, “For ALL have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.”

The solution: come back next week and we’ll look at it or click here.

Become a member.

Ownership

2009-03-04T08:55:00.000-08:00

09.22.08

Have you ever met or are you one of those surfers that when the waves are good you forget that you have a job, a wife, kids or even that you have to eat? I don’t mean that you just get focused. But the kind of friend that you want to say, “Bro, don’t you know that you have kids at home that need you?” I mean, that kind of situation that’s over the line.

Many Christians seem to approach life this way. You probably wouldn’t borrow someone’s board to take on a trip without first consulting the owner. Yet, we make decisions all the time and often don’t even stop to realize that we no longer hold ownership over our lives. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, “…do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.”

As this week unfolds think about the fact that you are not your own but first do some thinking on this –What was the price that you were bought at?

Who do you surf for?

It's not too late to register for Ministry is Relationships

Get Some Rest

2009-03-04T08:53:00.000-08:00

09.15.08

It's 10:38 PM and I just arrived home from a trade show. Every major surf brand was there. Christian Surfers always has a booth at these type of events. We seek to encourage believers and share Christ's love with everyone.

For three days I've watched beautiful women wonder if they were beautiful enough, I've observed strong men questioning their strength, "cool" people feeling insecure. Watching not just seeing for three days. People, afraid that someone will see through the exterior, see into the real person on the inside - and that if that happens, they will somehow come up short in the evaluation they are undergoing. Restless is one way to describe it. Chasing, seeking, pursuing. Whether it's beauty or strength or coolness or wealth or fun. Souls with skin on, running after something to meet that craving but not finding it. A wise man once said that the soul of man is restless until it finds rest in God.

I'm thankful that after I shower off and lay down to sleep tonight I will do so in total peace. Not because I've obtained all those things that others are striving for and I'm OK with that. I'm at peace because I've been taken into the family of my creator. Adopted as a son. Not accepted because I did the right thing but accepted in spite of me doing the wrong thing. In fact I've been accepted, not because of what "I've" done at all but because of what God has done. Yea, tonight I'm right on with God and OK with who He made me to be. How about you? Are you finding your place in Jesus or still looking? The Good News is that you can stop running and turn around and Jesus is right there waiting to tell you how He feels about you. Here's a hint - you are a work of art that HE created.

Gotta get some sleep - have a great week. Oh, and it's time to register for the Saturday training in OCT. - 10am until 4:30pm in a town near you.

Me, Wrong?

2009-03-04T08:52:00.000-08:00

09.08.08

So, it’s hurricane swell, steep beach and my 3 year old is offended that I insist on being near him in the edge of the water. Of course, I’m aware of the rips, I just saw a shark, blah, blah, blah…He doesn’t care. He doesn’t want to be told he’s wrong.

What about you? When God says, thru His people, His Word, or just your conscience, that you’re wrong – how do you react? Are you offended that He (or they) would “judge” you? Or, do you trust HIM that maybe HE really is bigger than you and knows things you don’t. At the heart of Christianity is trust. Not blind trust, but trust in a Heavenly Father that knows best.

Are there any things that HE is telling you that you’re wrong about today? Why not trust HIM and give HIS way a go?

Who do you surf for?

We still need help for ESA Easterns

Worship & Work

2009-03-04T08:51:00.000-08:00

09.01.08

Who do you surf for? We’ve asked that question a lot this year. Many people quickly say Jesus. But, what does that mean?

When some people think of worship they automatically think of groups of people in a church building singing. Others think of quiet moments in creation, a walk in the woods or sitting in the lineup. Instead of asking, “what we think of in regards to worship” we should be asking, “what is worship?” The definition of worship has to do with placing value on something or someone. Some people call it “worth-ship”.

Since it’s Labor Day, I thought it would be good to think about our work and how it relates to worship. In the Bible in Colossians 3:22-23 it addresses this idea. My paraphrase is, “Employees, obey your bosses in everything, not only when they’re watching so they’ll be impressed but when they’re not – with a sincere heart and out of respect for your real boss – the LORD. Whatever you do, work at it with all you’ve got – working for the LORD not human bosses.”

But, since Labor Day is celebrated by not working, most of us will probably be in the water. So, “Who Do You Surf For?”

And tomorrow – Who do you work for?

Learn how to WORSHIP in your daily relationships

Have you joined the CS membership yet?

Are You Missing Out?

2009-03-04T08:50:00.000-08:00

08.25.08

Have you had one of those days where you look at the gnarly local ripper and wonder if you're the one missing out? I mean all this time reading the Bible and following Jesus while this guy lives a wicked life and now he’s skipping out to head for Indo, again. Sometimes the world makes sin look so glamorous and fun. If you've ever struggled with this, be encouraged, so have tons of others. In fact, the LORD knew that we would be tempted in these ways and gave us advice to deal with it.

James 1:16-18 says, "So, my very dear friends, don't get thrown off course. Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light. There is nothing deceitful in God, nothing two-faced, nothing fickle. He brought us to life using the true Word, showing us off as the crown of all his creatures." -The Message

In other words, if it is truly good - God will bring it into our lives. If God says it’s off limits, than it doesn’t matter how good it looks - we can know that it’s not good for us.

Proverbs 23:17-18 puts it this way, “Don't for a minute envy careless rebels; soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—That's where your future lies. Then you won't be left with an armload of nothing.” - The Message

So, Who Do You Surf For?

Check out this life "Shaping" experience

Don't miss out on this opportunity

No one is "Missing Out" on this view. Seen recently on a CS members mission trip.

Work With the Wave

2009-03-04T08:48:00.002-08:00

08.18.08

I was going down line and Tom Curren dropped in on me. It was cool though, partly b/c it was Curren and partly b/c I dropped in on the 6 friends that dropped in on the guy that was on the peak. In a 30 yard stretch 7 people got cut off and everyone was smiling and saying, “Tom Curren just dropped in on my wave.”
Since I had the privilege of riding a few feet behind him I thought I should watch closely and try to learn something. This is what I observed; Tom works with what the wave gives him. I don’t mean he floats a section because it’s closing out. I mean, he works with the wave – the way he pumped changed each time depending on what that section was doing. When he floated a section, it wasn’t just like the last floater he did because that wave wasn’t just like the last wave. Often my surfing is UGLY – me trying to force the wave to work with me and me receiving the same consequences.

Surfing is a culture that values rebellion. The founding fathers of surfing were rebels, many innovations in surfing were made by rebels and it goes on and on. But, rebellion isn’t a good thing. In fact, the best surfing is submitting to and working with a wave - not fighting against it. This is where terminology is important. There is a difference between rebellion and a pioneering spirit . Ultimately rebellion is against God because HE establishes authorities. God has set up the universe in a certain way – like gravity for example. You can refuse to accept it and you can fight against it but you cannot overcome the fact that you are subject to gravity. There are moral laws that are just as binding. Jesus said He is offering us LIFE. Often in our actions, words and thoughts we run contrary to what God tells us in the Bible, b/c we think that God might not be looking out for our best interest. So, we shine Him and do it our way – that’s rebellion.

Tom showed me that it’s a beautiful thing when you stop fighting the wave and work within the parameters of what it gives you. Jesus shows me that it’s an amazing thing when I submit to God’s plan and live within it.
1 Samuel 15:23 “Rebellion is like the sin of withcraft…”

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To Hope or to Know

2009-03-04T08:48:00.001-08:00

8.11.08

I’m in Florida and the waves have left the building. Boy, I HOPE we get some swell soon. Some people are smart enough to travel so they check Surfline and plan and set up a trip. They HOPE that the forecasts are right and they don’t get skunked. Other people are fortunate enough to wake up, look out and check it. They see the perfect, morning glass rolling in and they don’t HOPE for some surf – they KNOW!

In the Bible in the book of 1 John chapter 5 and verse 13 it talks about this concept. There are a lot of people out there that HOPE they will have eternal life. They might HOPE that going to church or being a good person or praying or whatever was enough for them to deserve it. They HOPE. But, the Bible has bad news for that person. Just like there aren’t gonna be waves tomorrow no matter how much I HOPE, the Bible says that we can’t do anything that would make us deserve eternal life. In fact, the Bible says we are HOPELESS. So, we need someone else to fix our situation. That someone is JESUS! Back to 1John – it doesn’t talk about HOPE , it says, “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God (Jesus) so that you may KNOW that you have eternal life.” There it is. We can KNOW we have eternal life. It’s as easy as verse 12 of the same chapter, “He who has the Son has life he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

So, here’s the question, “Do you have good deeds, prayer, church, etc. OR do you have Jesus?” The answer is the difference between KNOWING and MISGUIDED HOPE.

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Super Christians?

2009-03-04T08:47:00.001-08:00

08.04.08

Do you ever hear the cool stories of “Super Christians”? Do you ever think, “Man, I wish I was a real ripper so that I could speak on God’s behalf”? I know, I get tricked into thinking like that sometimes. I want to remind you of a well-known story, it’s found in the Bible in the book of John chapter 6.

In the story there are thousands of people and they’ve all come to hear Jesus teach but they don’t have enough food for everyone to eat. The story ends with Jesus miraculously supplying enough food for thousands of people, but look at the middle section. Jesus is questioning the disciples about how they are going to feed all these people when one of the disciples puts forth a statement. It’s not even a suggestion because there’s no solution in the statement.

Change viewpoints for a second
There’s this little grom watching Jesus talk with the disciples. He’s got his lunch, that his Mom gave him, and he’s standing in the middle of a sea of people. The kid doesn’t come off as dumb enough to think he’s going to feed everyone (over 5,000 people) on his lunch. But something in him says that Jesus can fix this. So he just offers his lunch to Jesus.

Back to the viewpoint of the disciples
Andrew says, “Here is a boy with five small pieces of bread and two small fish…” Then, just so the other disciples won’t smack him in the back of the head as if to say, “what are you thinking” – he adds, “but how far will they go among so many?” We’ve already stated how it ends. The point: It’s not how great the gift you have to offer. It’s that you are giving it to the all-powerful Creator of the universe to do with whatever He wants. So don’t worry if you’re not the coolest or if you are. Either way, are you willing to give whatever you have to Jesus and let Him use it? Are you willing to let the light of Jesus shine through you in your lineup? Offer what you have today to Jesus and see what He does.

Who do you surf for?

Practical Love

2009-03-04T08:45:00.001-08:00

07.28.08

We’ve all met those guys/girls that are totally “Bro”ed” out. They look more like a pro surfer than the pro surfers, but when the waves are good they are nowhere to be found. The problem isn’t their lack of ability in the water or their fear. The problem is their posing.

1 John 3:18 says, “…let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” Christians that surf need to go beyond merely talking about Christianity and start taking action in the lineup. What was the last practical expression of Jesus’ love you showed to a surfer? When will the next one be? How about today?

Remember it’s not the greatness of the act but the greatness of the love.

Who do you surf for?

Romans 8:28-3

2009-03-04T08:42:00.000-08:00

07.21.08

28And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

29For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

30and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

32He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?

Sometimes it is good to remember just whose corner we are in. God has called us, foreknown us, predestined us, justified us and glorified us. There remains nothing more that God could have given us, He has poured out upon us all things, including His only Son! Proverbs 28:1b says “the righteous are bold as a lion.” Knowing the Ruler of the Universe should give us boldness and confidence to face any obstacles or resistance.

Guest Author: Daniel Felton

Who do you surf for?

Luke 5:16

2009-03-04T08:41:00.000-08:00

07.14.08

“But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.”
Ever notice how often Jesus slips away to be with the Father? Take a look at His life and notice when He prays, why He prays, where He prays and the results after He prays. It’s a great study.

Have you ever dreamed of being a “Prayer Warrior”? Maybe you have been stirred by a story or a sermon and you think – “I want my instincts to be prayer.” But then you try to pray and it’s a major wipeout. There are books, sermons and advice on it but I think this quote sums it up nicely.

Remember, as a member of Christian Surfers United States we are asking you to spend some time on Mondays in prayer for surfers and this ministry.

Who do you surf for?

Isaiah 30:18

2009-03-04T08:40:00.002-08:00

07.07.08

I was surfing “Major’s Bay” on Kauai in the late 90’s. A large Hawaiian man sat on a board with hot pink rails and it was obvious he ruled the peak. As one set rolled in a strange thing happened. I had worked my way into the pack and was waiting my turn when the guy looks at me and says, “you go bra.” I was so shocked I didn’t know what to do. He gave me the head nod and off I went. It was odd because it went against the rules of the jungle.

In ancient times a king sat on his throne and people stood before him. He didn’t rise for others and his priority was often himself. God is a God worthy of honor and respect. In all His greatness He deserves to sit on the throne of Heaven but check out Isaiah 30:18, “Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; HE rises to show you compassion.” How rad is that?! The verse ends by saying, “For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait on HIM!” In this world where kings look out for themselves and we all bow to them, the one King of Kings that deserves our bowing - rises to show us compassion. Wow!

Who do you surf for?

Do People Matter to You?

2009-03-04T08:40:00.001-08:00

06.30.08

Do people matter to you, people in general?

In Luke 4:38-44 Jesus is at a friend's house and people start showing up in need of help. Throughout His ministry Jesus heals people in a variety of ways; some close up, some at a distance, some just by telling them they are healed, and some by doing weird stuff like putting spit on them. The point is that He can choose to heal however He wants. That’s what makes this so wild! It says in verse 40, “and laying His hands on each one, he healed them.” There was a big crowd and it went late into the night and I’m sure Jesus got tired (people wear you out). So, why didn’t He just heal them all in one shot? Jesus showed over and over again that He cared for each person as an individual.

What about you? I ask you again, do people matter to you? What about that guy that hangs out in the parking lot where you surf and is always hitting everyone up for money? I’m not saying he shouldn’t get a job but do you recognize that you and he have the same Creator? What about that dude in the lineup that annoys everyone or that girl that thinks she’s all that and flirts with every guy? What about that quiet person that no one even notices? God notices them, do you? Jesus loved people so much that He gave up the entire night (and much more) in order to express love to each person. Why not show love for God today by loving the people He made.

Who do you surf for?

True Joy

2009-03-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

06.23.08

What do you believe will bring you joy? The answer to that question will dictate your life.

Check out Mark 1:32. At sunset, people start showing up at the house where Jesus is and He begins healing. The next morning people show up for the sequel but He’s gone. How cool must it have been to be in His presence and hear His compassion filled teaching and see His gentle healing touch? It must have been like the first time Rick Kane watched the North Shore really break. The people must have thought, “Oh, I wish we could have spent more time with Him.” Which brings up a good point – Why didn’t they come sooner, why did they wait until sunset?

Well, it was the Sabbath – which begins at sunset on Friday and ends at sunset on Saturday. I’m sure you’ve heard of all the rules and such that pertained to the Sabbath back then. So here’s the deal – people wanted to come see Jesus but they believed deep in their hearts that following the rules of their religion would ultimately bring them joy. So, they waited until the Sabbath ended. People make decisions based on what they think will bring them joy. When you check the surf you decide whether to go out or not based on whether you think that you’ll have fun. Are people ever wrong – sure. Just think of the crackhead that says, I’ve gotta have this, it makes me happy. No, it doesn’t!

The Bible teaches us that what will ultimately bring us joy is God being glorified, this includes sitting in the presence of Jesus and seeing the awesomeness of God. What about in our lives? Do you think that keeping the rules or surfing or going to church or serving in a ministry will ultimately bring you joy? If so, you are wrong. Those things can all bring a measure of joy but ultimately experiencing intimacy with God is what will bring true joy. Remember Job? At the end of his story he says knowing God is better than all the rad stuff the Devil stole from him. Don’t be like the people in Mark 1 who were kicking themselves and saying, “Man, if we knew it was gonna be this great we would have come sooner.” Make time to be with Jesus today – even if it means blowing off a little time in the water.

Who do you surf for?

Jesus brings Life

2009-03-04T08:37:00.002-08:00

06.16.08

I used to have a friend that worked at a Christian college. Like all schools they had struggles with rebellion and recruiting. He decided the solution was a new marketing campaign with a catchy slogan. The winner, “We have everything the world has and Jesus too.”

Sadly this is what many people think they want. Jesus, so my bases are covered and living like the world so I can enjoy life.

Often people think that Jesus is trying to ruin us, calm us down. God didn’t come to earth because we were having too MUCH fun but because we weren’t having enough. Jesus came to show us how to really live. In fact, in John 10 Jesus says, I didn’t come to ruin your life – that’s what thieves do, they steal, kill and destroy. I came so you could have real life – life lived to the fullest. James 1 says it even more strongly. If you think that there are good things out there that don’t come from God, you’re getting played!

Once in the book of John, the crowds of people left Jesus because His teaching just got too tough. Jesus’ response was to ask the disciples if they wanted to leave as well. Their response was basically – where are we gonna go, this worlds got nothing and you’ve got it all.

If you think that you’re going to miss out on something because you want to follow Jesus, you’re being tricked. Jesus offers real life, not temporary fun with long term consequences.

So, who do you surf for?