St. Paul's Christian Messenger News Letter for May, 2005

St. Paul's and Pastor Rich's E-mail address has changed. The pages that are accessed through the button links below have been changed but most of the past sermon's pages, past "Thoughts for the Week" and past "Christian Monitor News Letter" pages have not. There are too many. Don't use the E-mail links on those pages. The new E-mail address is:

RichStPauls@optonline.net

The best way is to add this address to your address book.

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May 2005

Dear Family and Friends,

"Have we gone too far?"

The following article comes from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes’ daily newsletter for Friday April 22nd. It was written by Jere Johnson, staff member of FCA.

"Therefore I have reason to boast in Christ Jesus regarding what pertains to God."
-Romans 15:17

Have you read the sports news lately? It is filled with news that makes sports look pretty bad. Have we taken the competition in sports too far? Teenagers are killing each other with baseball bats, parents are shooting coaches, fans are taking swings at players on the field.

Have we taken competition and the pressure to win to a whole new level? Where do we turn for answers?

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes has put out a great guide for athletes, coaches and even parents. It is called the Competitor's Creed. It's made up of six verses that represent how we should compete and play for Christ.

Today's athletes and coaches are being pushed to win at all cost, but if we truly compete with Christ in mind, our desire will be to honor Him--not ourselves as athletes and coaches.

Athletes, compete, but compete for Christ alone. Coaches, coach as Jesus would coach, giving glory to the Father. Parents, support your children in ways that will bring God honor. In doing this, our focus will shift off of our own personal desires, and the glory will move to Christ.

Let the competition begin. Let the Glory be God's.

"Lord, as I compete for You today,
may I remember to give You all the glory,
honor and praise.
Help me to turn my eyes
off of my own sinful desires and
turn my eyes to the cross of Christ.
Lord, may I compete for You alone!"

Whether we are competing on the playing field of sports or life it would be wise if we daily prayed this prayer.

To God be the glory!

May 1st