Kickin It For Jesus.

I have never been a fan of organize sports for youth. I could type for a considerable length of time about the evils of the sports culture. I could type sternly about the overbearing midget football coaches who yell, scream, and otherwise berate and intimidate the dozens of once carefree kids who have their practice in the field behind my house. Instead I will type for you of an altogether different experience I had this morning.

I was contacted yesterday evening by one Tyler J. concerning his desire that I take photos at the first gathering of the DIBC All Stars soccer league. I determined to do my best to make the event which was taking place from 8:45am - 10:00am. I did in fact make it with camera in hand and this is an account of the proceedings as Mr. Billy found them.

I arrived as the organizers were setting up various nets, cones, and flags and was delighted by the enthusiasm of everyone involved. As I began to take pictures the little people began to arrive with their parents, sporadically at first and then steadily for the next 30 minutes. One after another I was greeted by so many people I knew and I realized that this was much more than a soccer meet. So many times we forget that the church has very little to do with buildings and everything to do with the people that meet together to worship and fellowship as children of God. It took no time at all to see that we were having church service complete with soccer balls and shin guards. By far the most profound aspect of this gathering centered on the focus. This assembly was all about the kids. Our resident soccer expert Shea made it quite clear to all in attendance that this was about having fun.

Every where you look smiling faces and Christ like character is in evidence. Today Christian families are creating a Christian setting for their children and the world to see. Differences make the difference and Jesus has called His children to be in the world but not of the world.

John 17

1After Jesus said this, he looked toward heaven and prayed: 2"Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you. For you granted him authority over all people that he might give eternal life to all those you have given him. 3Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent. 4I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. 5And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.
6"I have revealed you[] to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. 8For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me. 9I pray for them. I am not praying for the world, but for those you have given me, for they are yours. 10All I have is yours, and all you have is mine. And glory has come to me through them. 11I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your
name--the name you gave me--so that they may be one as we are one. 12While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled. 13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. 16They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. 17Sanctify[] them by the truth; your word is truth. 18As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. 19For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
20"My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: 23I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. 24"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. 25"Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. 26I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

To put your faith in Jesus is to find freedom and joy and peace. This is what I see in the images I took today. This is what the a dying world needs and this ministry will bring many children and parents into life changing relationships with the children of God where they will lovingly and affectively hear the truth of God's word.