American Pride

proud to be an American, but the PRIDE that's running rampant... My favorite movie is Jurassic Park. But a close second is the movie Miracle; the one about the 1980 USA men's olympic hockey team. That movie brings bunch of college athletes (most of which are rivals from Boston and Minnesota), and unites them to take on the world. They play hockey teams whose players have been playing longer than most of team USA have been alive. If you haven't seen it, they bring in Herb Brooks from Minnesota to coach the team. The board, Herb, and some others have their picks and "ones to watch" among all the pro players who are trying out for the team; a process likely going to take all day. Well after a short time (a few hours at best), Herb chooses the team. The board was not happy He came to this decision not only on his own; but so quickly. To sum it up, pro players were cut, college kids were in. Herb got a lot of kick back, but he knew it would be good. After a bunch of brawls and more brawls, they stopped playing as players from their respective colleges, and played like they were from the United States of America. Once they got united and started to play as a team, everything changed. They ended up beating the Soviet Union (reigning champs and fear-mongering-powerhouse) and went on to win the gold in those Olympics. It's an amazing movie. Seriously- go watch it on Disney+. Their strength when united was amazing; it always brings me to tears. They saw past their past: past hurts, old feelings, they let surrendered, and moved forward. I think the USA could go for a uniting like that, too. 

But in all seriousness, what if the Church could unite like that 1980 USA men's hockey team? What if we stopped categorizing ourselves like these players did in the beginning? What if we overlooked political affiliations, sports team loyalties, race, color, location, status, employment....? What if we just united as followers of Jesus?

What if we sought and asked the LORD for guidance and comfort more than we consult the TikTok? What if we viewed our, and others' roles in the body equally important and crucial to living out The Great Commission? I ask these questions because I, myself, need this reminder. Are we loving like Jesus? Even if we are, we're human- so there's an opportunity to increase the frequency. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Pride in oneself is destructive, but if the pride we have is actually confidence and love of Christ shining through, I think that's something we could all get behind. As I said earlier, go watch Miracle, I think it's a good movie and an inspiring and uniting message. I also think that if you watch this and see it as Jesus talking to you in a parable, we could really make some miracles happen! We are the hands and feet, the eyes and ears. But we are also the muscle and the bones, we're the lungs and heart... we are all so different and represent different parts of the body. We cannot do this effectively without working together, and we ABSOLUTELY can not be effective without first fixing our eyes on Jesus. 

As another election season approaches, this is our opportunity to exercise our freedoms as Americans to vote. This is also the PERFECT season to exercise the freedoms, grace and love we have as believers to rise up and show the world what true freedom actually looks like. If you're not sure how or where you fit into the Body, I encourage you to really spend time in prayer and ask God. Reach out to some trusted people at your Church, or your Pastor to ask some questions you may have. No shame in asking! I'm confident those questions and prayers are welcomed!

John 17 is a great chapter to read to fully grasp how much Jesus wanted us to unite to glorify God. John 17:20-21 ESV says "I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one, just as You, Father, are in me, and I in You, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me."

As we enter each new day, each season of life, may this chapter and these verses be with you. Lord, help us all strive to love like Jesus; uniting with fellow believers to glorify God and lead others to the Truth. 

YOU are the 1 He left the 99 for. Uniting for Christ can lead to miracles, and He's asking you to go!