The Battle

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Originally uploaded by lemonjinky.

There is something in me that longs to fight for something. The times I feel most alive are when I'm crusading for a cause I believe in. I finally got around to reading Wild at Heart the other week and Eldredge talks a lot about this idea of every man needing a battle to fight. As I mentioned briefly in my last post there is a clear battle imbeded into a football match. The fans for one team pack in behind one goal with the opposing fans usually on the opposite side. Its like battle lines drawn. As the game begins there will frequently be chants or songs directed at the opposing fans or players. Some of the classic ones included "Who are ya? Who are ya?" or "Who ate all the pies, burgers,chips and fries, that fat b*stard, that fast b*stard". These songs can get quite clever, here's one that Tottenham sing whenever they play Liverpool or Everton to the tune of "You are my sunshine"

You are the scousers
the ugly scousers
your only happy on christmas day
your mums out dealing
your dads out stealing
please don't take our hub-caps away

There is a definte sense that the those in the crowd feel they are the 12th man on the team. The fans are not only there to enjoy the game but to push their team on to victory. Most people in Britain long to be involved in some kind of cause in which they are an integral part of achieving that goal. Supporting a specific team not only gives people a community to belong to but also an "army" to join. In fact, Scotland's fans are called the Tartan Army. The fight is another part of the appeal of football. There is a sense of accomplishment and self-worth that comes when the team wins.

Christianity offers a battle. In one of his letters Paul says, "our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens." I've noticed that often the church, in general, will try and suppess talking about "spiritual warfare" until a pre-christian or new christian is "ready". It is like we are afraid that if we introduce them to it to early they will get "freaked-out" and runaway. Part of my thinks this fear is justified and, in some situations, needed in order that people might understand the nature of the spiritual realm. Yet, there are also people longing for a battle, longing for someone and something to fight for. Surely we should offer people what they need to satisfy their longing in the way God intended for them to be satisfied.

Arriving at the Game

Arriving at any major event with lots of people always brings a sense of excitement. Whether its Disneyland, a big concert or a sports event the feeling of anticiption in undeniable as you head toward the entrance along with the throngs of people surrounding you. The game I went to last weekend was no different. People crossing the road, with no regard for the doughballs who decided to drive down the main street, pack into the stadium at a remarkable pace. There is a facinating feeling of communal purpose as people randomly cheer and sing about their team. It was snowing this night and Crewe are at the bottom of the division so their supporters were quite sparse. The communal purpose also relates to the unity the fans feel as they are joined by a flock of people, dressed the same as them, in red and white. (Sheffield Utd's colours) I think this communal purpose and unity is further emphasized by the seating arrangment at footy matches in the U.K. Most stadiums place the opposing fans behind one goal and the home fans at the other end. It seems to be almost drawn up as a battle. (But more will be said on that in the next post)

The appeal of sports, especially football, in the UK seems to relate somehow to this desire for community. I think everyone is longing for a place where they can belong, feel accepted, and be part of a team. It is a sad reality that most churches in the UK don't offer a community where you can come as you are and still be loved for who you are. If people are longing for community and the church isn't offering it how can we expect "successful" evangelism. For true community to arise there are a couple areas I feel are necessary. (I'll mention one of these areas in each of my posts on this subject but would greatly appreciated any further thoughts people have on the matter)

Effort is one of the first things that comes to mind. Most times I think most of us, certainly myself, settle for inviting people to meetings. In my humble opinion this is a cop-out. It says we're not really interested in spending quality time sharing life together but in having them join something that we are a part of. It's like we invite people to a football match and are happy to meet them there but we're not interested in having a meal with them before the match or going out to the pub with them afterwards. Part of the appeal of sports is not only the community at the match but the time before and after the match when people get together and talk about their opinions of the team. I know for me living this out requires a bit of dying to myself and what I want for the sake of being in community and bringing others to that place. Even though sometimes I don't feel like being in community I always enjoy it much more than the times I choose to do my own thing. I think, as well, it means inviting people into our lives, events and relationships. The more I analyze people who find Christ it seems they come to God through relationship with someone who is dedicated to both sharing their life with and devoted to praying consistantly for that person. Once this starts happening and people begin to join in our meetings that sense of exitement which we feel going to a major event will be felt at our gatherings. For it is in the Christian context of life together that we find the communal purpose of the Kingdom, joining with Christ and His body in bringing His Kingdom to earth for the sake of His glory.

Football

Last Friday I went to watch Sheffield United play Crewe. It was student night so the ticket was only 5 pounds and we had great seats, about three rows back to the right side of the goal in the Sheffield end. It was a great experience although the game was kinda rubbish and ended up 0-0. I've got some pictures from the game which I hope to post in the next couple days. I'm also thinking about commenting on British sports, their fans and what is says about their culture. Let me tell you there's not much like having thousands of people all singing in unison at the top of their lungs. I think it also begs a lot of questions about how we do church and why sports appeals to so many people in such passionate ways. Anyways that's just a little preview of what you might see here over the next week or so.

Cold Weather

Winter was cool for the first couple months, both literally and figuratively, but now after being sick for a week then recovering then getting sick again I'm kind of tired of it. Admittedly it’s not been absolutely freezing like some places but we've been hanging around zero for a bit to long for my liking. I mean I'm not asking for much, a bit of sunshine maybe temperature in double digits, is that too much to ask? I guess this will make me appreciate spring and summer all the more. Anyway things could be worse, I could live in Elsa, Germany which underwent some dramatic flooding recently.(See German village flooded) Yeah I guess things aren't as bad as I thought. If the cold is the worst problem I have to deal with then I can deal with that...but if the big man could hook the middle of England up with an early spring it would be much appreciated.

Sheffield on Wikipedia

Wikipedia's featured article of the day just happens to be the city of Sheffield, (ie. where I am at the moment). I thought I'd post the link just in case anyone is really bored or likes reading random facts about cities. Who knows it might even entice some of you to come and visit me.

Zathura: A Space Adventure...Yippee!!!

So last week my friend Ben and I went to see Zathura: a Space Adventure. I'd seen the trailer and saw it was from the "world of Jumanji". Now I quite liked Jumanji but the trailer for this film didn't exactly make me want to go out and spend five quid to see it. Still it was one of the only decent movies on at the time so I thought I thought "What the heck, why not." Perhaps it was my low expectations or just the mood I was in that evening but I really enjoyed it. In fact I would say apart for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe its probably the most enjoyable movie I've seen in the last 3 or 4 months. I mean the story wasn't exactly riviting, the acting just above decent and Tim Robins is only in the film for about 5 minutes. But there is something about the relationship between the two brothers in the film that I really enjoyed. I'm not quite sure what that thing is exactly but when I figure it out I'll let you know. I think the humor is really what made me like it so much. The kids do a great job of saying great quotes that had me just about in tears.(Uh that would be because they were funny not because they made me sad like another film I saw recently...Munich) I think it is destined to be a cult classic..at least I'm thinking of starting cult about it. Following that thought, what exactly makes a "cult film" a cult film. Am I allowed to have a cult film of which I am the only participating member? How exaclty to you enter a film cult and what do you do when your in it? Anyway I highly recommend Zathura even though most of you who see it will think its crap and mock me for my poor taste in movies. I'm cool with that and I can take all your mockery like a man...sitting in front of my computer, looking up the release date for the dvd.

Ecstasy at Taco Bell and other thoughts on retuning to America

It might be hard to believe for some of you but one of the biggest highlights of my trip was getting to go to Taco Bell...twice!! I know it isn't classified as "real" mexican food but I still like it...I like it a lot. I mean the Mexican pizza deserves an award of some kind, it's pure tasty goodness. Returning to the U.S. but to somewhere I had never been before was a remarkably wierd experience. A couple of times I had to remind myself I was travelling to Waco, TX and not Santa Barbara, CA. On the drive to Waco from Dallas we passed many symbols of American consumerism which are also found on the drive from LA to Santa Barbara. So as we passed the Best Buy I would think about what I was going to do when I got to my old room, then I'd snap myself out of it. A few miles latter we'd pass a Home Depot and I'd wonder if my parents would need me to do any DIY when at the house. Of course the Texas scenery, or lack thereof, soon brought clarity to my wandering mind.

Getting to hang out with my friends from Sheffield was great, everyone seemed to get on really well together which always helps. It was really funny to watch their reactions to American culture. Of course the size of everything took them by suprise even though they were expecting things to be a bit bigger. The first night we arrived we went to a place called Whataburger whose sizes were "obscene" in the word of one my friends. I must admit the bucket-sized milkshake might have been a bit excessive. Even I found it strange to see an SUV every other car, they make English cars look like toys. One friend remark that this was the likely cause for the lovely warm weather we had. Seriously though, the weather was amazing;70 degrees and sunny almost everyday. The experience of actually being able to walk outside in a t-shirt was brilliant. Another cultural difference pointed out by my English friends was the fact that American's drive everywhere. The sheer shock of disbelief which came upon their faces as we went through a drive through ATM was worth the cost of the trip alone.

As for the main reason we went, the conference, it was also excellent. I must confess I'm a bit of a conference junkie. I really like being able to scream at the top of my lungs, lose my voice, and join thousands of other believers in praising God. The worship was really good and the band did a great job of getting out the way. As it was a missions conference the focus was on..wait for it...missions. It was cool to be able to see the roots from which the church I'm a part of in Sheffield comes from. I don't know about you but often I can feel as though the western church is floundering in its mission to reach the world but it was encouraging to see that this group is out there on the frontlines planting churches all over the world. Overall it was a great trip and I'm excited to see the things which will come out of the deeper friendships and new revelations which occured in Waco, Texas. And don't worry I'm not drinking funny tasting fruit punch...yet :)