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!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Why a Membership?
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.
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
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.
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
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!
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"
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!
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!
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