Put me in, Coach..I'm ready to play

Of all the teams, of all the entities that I want to be a part of...the cause of Christ is the one I'd die for.

When I think of lives being changed, hearts being altered, relationships being healed, I don't think of a diet or a dating service or a counselor, I think of Christ. I think of the magnitude that belief in Him can change one person. The ripples of change effect people so much farther than immediate range of a believer. I dedicate a lot of my time to leadership at my church but what good will that do in the long run?

Honestly, I can't see it not being beneficial. Our motto--our heart's desire--is to make LA the greatest city for Christ in the world. And I'm surrounded by people who don't just believe that but LIVE that. To be in a team of leaders under a pastor who lives what he believes and makes daily decisions by his convictions is so radical. In a city plagued by "networking" or political-correctness, to be led in closeness to Christ by men who fervently seek His will is not popular. It's not a popular thing at all to live your life--to GIVE your life to one purpose. In a world where we place our eggs in multiple baskets, dedicating everything I have to Christ isn't a wise investment. But you know what, it's an investment I'm banking on. Christ is an investment that returns endlessly--and not in dividends but in heaps. Heaps of blessings, heaps of faithfulness, heaps of grace, heaps of mercy. I'd like to see AT&T stock pay out in that.

But in order for this Christ thing to pan out, we have to be on board. We have to be team players--we have to be willing to risk it all. We have to train, practice, exert extraordinary effort...but He plays us. Our coach puts us in. And sometimes He puts us in to pinch hit a runner home--to walk along side someone and lift them up, get them that little extra bit they couldn't do themselves. Sometimes He puts us in to catch a pop fly and end the inning--to make swift decisions that will benefit the team out of precision and faithfulness. Sometimes he puts us in to be the relief...however He puts us in, we have to be ready to play.

And I think to start 2008, the best way to put into words how I feel is I'm ready to play. I'm ready to see what happens. Use me, use me.

"Jesus is still alright with me..." dcTalk