Who Is Lighting The Fire?
Hey Friends,
The legendary and winning coach, Knute Rockne, said of his team: “An automobile goes nowhere efficiently unless it has a quick, hot spark to ignite things, to set the cogs of the machine in motion. So I try to make every player on the team feel like he’s the spark, keeping our machine in motion.”
No wonder he was such a winner and produced such winning teams. How would you like a coach like that? We all would!
We are all born with a certain amount of wattage. Some bulbs just burn brighter than others. Each player on your team has a part to play. I agree with the Coach – each player can add some fire. Are you a fire lighter and igniter or are you a fire fighter?
We have some igniters on our team and we would be lost without them. Let me introduce you to two:
- “Coach” Chuck Carringer is our Pastor of Family Ministries and he brings the fire. He lights up everyone around him. He brings passion and he wants to win the game.
- Michele Stephens, our Worship Leader, is the weekend coach. She pushes everyone and tries to create events where people can hook up with God. She has a fire burning in her.
I could keep going but for brevity’s sake I will stop here. Let me ask you a few questions:
When your name is called on the team what do people think? How do they see you? Are they glad to see you?
Do you encourage others and are you excited when someone else on the team scores? It takes a team to win and if we are only concerned with our personal stats then we might look good, but the team will lose the game.
Are you concerned with the win? How are you helping others on the team to stay fired up and in the game? What are you saying as you sit on the bench waiting on your turn to play? It may determine if, when, and how long you get to play.
Our teams winning means souls out of hell and captives are set free. The stakes are high.
Love ya,
Pastor Chris





5 Comments
When I’m doing well spiritually, cheerleading (or in church-ese “exhortation”) is one of my favorite things. It’s awesome to cheerlead someone who wants to move spiritually. A big change in my marriage that I love is that my wife and I spiritually cheerlead for each other to go after what God wants us to do. My small group has also cheerleaded us and sacrificed money, time, work, babysitting, etc to enable us to do what God wants us to do. It makes me smile to think about it.
Andy Kercher.
Great inspirational thoughts today. Occasionally we all need a little fire lighting and small group is a weekly necessity around the flame, I agree. How blessed those of us are to have Godly spouses to lean on and fan the blazes when the home fires threaten to smother out! On another note, has anyone out there ever fasted for an entire week? Just wondering what it was like as I ponder the possibility the week before Sacred Storm. It’s a serious thought and I know others must be thinking of it also. A day of fasting is common I would think, but an entire week kinda boggles my mind, though I know nothing is impossible with God, but I am almost sure my body will rebel violently! Any suggestions?
Cathey,
The most I’ve fasted is three days straight. I drink water when I fast; I don’t know if that’s common. I pray or meditate or do Christian study when I usually eat. On Day 3, I was worn down, weak, and headachy. But the cool thing to me is that God empowers us to fast. On typical days, if I’m late for lunch (or miss a snack), I’m miserable and my stomach is growling. During a fast for God, my empty stomach is a constant reminder of God, but it’s not the same hunger pains as a normal hunger.
Don’t get me wrong; I think a week of fasting is a bold move. I haven’t even considered fasting for a week; even three days was draining.
Andy Kercher.
Thanks for the info, Andy! You know, I may have misunderstood what Pastor Chris said, I thought he was asking the church as a whole to fast the entire week before Sacred Storm, maybe he meant only a day or so. I also get growly when I miss a meal, being diabetic takes its toll, so I guess I will rethink it. Have a great weekend, everyone!
Cathey,
I looked back at his blog from a week or so ago “Have you done all you can to stand?” (or something like that). I missed the sermon a couple weeks ago when I guess he mentioned fasting for Sacred Storm. Anyway, from the blog, it does seem to say that he asks us to fast seven days “leading up to Sacred Storm,” but I think he means pick any seven days between now and Sacred Storm to fast.
Andy Kercher.