FOR love of the game
Find a church, get out on the field
3. Some people believe they are never meant to By Dale Erickson be “players.” They believe that they lack the talent Most of us enjoy some kind of hobby, sporting or some other missing element to “play.” The truth event or pastime. For some it’s football, soccer, is that God has given each of us a special ability so running, skiing or some other athletic challenge. that we can be an active and vital part of the team. For others it could be music, playing card games, be4. Many Christians really want to be a player. coming a master gardener, scrapbooking, or any of They desperately wish they could participate more, a great variety of other enjoyable pursuits. Whatever but the pressures of life present a great challenge. your personal preference, we all find gratification in If you’re ready to step onto the playing field, pursuing our passions. One of my passions has been one of the very first steps will be connecting with participating in and watching many different kinds a coach. They will likely place you into some kind of sports. of training regimen. They may ask you to come to There may have been times when you have some practice sessions. You will have to trust them. cheered for or against the Broncos in the Fiesta You will have to believe that their input (and your Bowl or the Vandals in the Idaho Potato Bowl. The effort) will actually bring out the best in you. truth is, there is something in our hearts that is I encourage you this Sunday to find a church that drawn towards identifying ourselves with a team or will let you get on to the field of play, or at least help a local hero. We gain some satisfaction in celebratDale Erickson you with the spiritual conditioning, training and ing “our” victories or mourning “our” losses. It’s practice time needed to prepare you to get in the easy enough to “join the team” by buying a T-shirt, game. watching on the television, or buying a season ticket; but there is a A vital element of not being a “spectator Christian” would be huge difference between cheering from the stands and playing on the field. In my lifetime I have cheered from the stands, sat on the bench, connecting with God through prayer. The disciples understood that when they asked Jesus to teach them to pray. He was more than and been in the game. Without a doubt, being in the game was far willing and it started with a template prayer that we now call “The more fulfilling. Lord’s Prayer.” Wouldn’t it be great if our next generation could The Christian life can be a little like “Bronco Nation.” Coach discover some contemporary answers to the disciple’s request in Luke Bryan Harsin is quick to tell us that “Bronco Nation” (i.e., the fan base) is critical to the team’s success, but we all know that the game is 11:1-2? My hope is that every young person and everyone who is ultimately won or lost on the field. Gallup polls reveal that only 1 out young at heart says: “Lord, teach us to pray.” It was a great thing for them to ask back then and it still is today. I encourage you to do it of 3 Christians attends church every week and that only 1 out of 10 because it will enrich your life. Do it for the love of the game! n attends more than one church-related activity in a week. This means that only a small percentage of Christians make active participation Pastor Dale Roy Erickson understands and lives out the importance of prayer in their church a priority. I believe there are several possible reasons in his individual life and in the corporate life of the church. He is established for this. 1. There are only a few Christians who have known the intense joys as a gifted and creative teacher who carefully studies and presents the truth of God’s Word. He is the president of Prayerful Publishing, Inc., publishers of the and sorrows of being a “player” on the team. 2. Church leadership has accepted a culture that creates fans rather Teach Us To Pray curriculum, Heaven Help Us books, and the Prayer Prompts Calendar, which has been downloaded for free in over 80 countries. He may be than players. Preparing players involves conditioning, training, and practice time. Being in the game involves more than just sitting in the reached at dale@prayerfulpublishing.com, or visit www.prayerfulpublishing.com for more information. stands and cheering.
(RJ) Ronald Jeleniewski • Veteran & Relocation Specialist
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28 July / August 2020 | Christian Living
www.christianlivingmag.com
