Holding promise...

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?

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

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

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?