The Place to Start

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.