Tag: Skills

Personal Musings

My Son the “Soccer Star”

I want to share something that’s kind-of-personal. I don’t think my son Hudson will ever be a soccer star like I hope. I mean maybe a miracle might happen, but it just doesn’t seem to be in Hudson. And here is why: he’s too compassionate.

Hudson doesn’t have that competitive edge that leads to real greatness in sport. Hudson is more likely to be found on the soccer field giving the ball to the opposing team (“here you have it – let’s share”), singing songs of encouragement while running around the players (“Go blue lighting!”), or upset that the team isn’t sharing back with the ball (“But daddy sharing is good!”).

So all of this leads me to believe that a future of soccer stardom may not be in his future.

But is this a bad thing? He might not have competiveness, but he has compassion. He might not have intensity, but he has generosity. He might not have that sports edge, but he loves to encourage.

All I mean by all of this is that kids are different, and each are shaped in a unique way. The point is to find ways for their uniqueness and special gifts to shine forth. For some that’s in competitive sports, and intense playing. For Hudson it’s not so much, at least right now.

But what Hudson is good at is coaching. Because that’s what he is doing right now.  He is teaching our second child Asher to play soccer. He is encouraging him, sharing with him, and playing great with him.

So he might not be a soccer star, but he might be a star coach. The point is we all have unique gifts; let’s not lament what’s not there, but encourage what is.

And on the plus side Asher has a competitive streak. He just tackled Hudson and took the ball, so who knows we still might have a soccer star in the family 🙂

 

Sermon Preview

What’s the Most Important Spiritual Gift?

1426291_47484317On Sunday that’s what we are talking about – the most important spiritual gift there is. In fact, I think the case is pretty easily made that this one gift is the gift that has transformed the world. I think both Biblically and historically the case is easily made that this one gift is the most important of all the spiritual gifts.

And no the gift I’m talking about isn’t any of the ones we normally think are important: preaching, prophesy, healing, or even evangelism. This gift is almost so “normal” that most people don’t even recognize it as a spiritual gift. This gift is so “everyday” that we forget how radical it is.

So any guesses what gift I’m talking about?

Well on Sunday we’ll find this all out. But here is a hint, I’m going to be preaching from this passage in Matthew 25 where Jesus says:

“I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me…” Then the righteous will answer, “Lord when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? And when did we see the a stranger and welcome thee? And the King will answer them, “Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me”

So as you think about it come ready to discover how we can change the world through one simple action. And it fits in nicely with thanksgiving and welcoming others, opening our lives to them, and most of all opening our homes.