TV Discussion Guide: God, Life, Sport - Friday Night Lights

TC533. Theology and Television

Rubén Fernández Morales

TV Discussion Guide: God, Life, Sport

“Friday Night Lights” 

Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t loose!

   If you had been introduced to the critically-acclaimed “Friday Night Lights” [1] by watching its 2011 Emmy Awards intro clip (see below) you would easily have judged it as merely another show about Texan pride, more football and dysfunctional teenagers. Quite not just the case, and the failure to satisfy the industry assumption of audiences eagerness of more violence in sport and hyper sexualized teenagers actually threatened the continuity of the series after the end of the first season. [2] 

Friday Night Lights 2011 Emmy® Awards trailer:

   Kyle Chandler won the “Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama TV Series” in competition with Michael C Hall (Dexter), Timothy Elephant (Justified), Steve Buscemi (Boardwalk Empire) and Hugh Lowrie (House) and John Hamm (Mad Men).

   What is this show then about? (content summary below, #6)) What does the Panthers HS Football Team and the people of Dillon’s vision need to be clear of and for what? What kind of self-emptiness and new filling can offer them uncontested victory? Coach Taylor says it loud and clear from the outset, “we are vulnerable, we will fall, we will all fall, we will all now fall”, “we must carry this in our hearts, that what we  have  is special, and it  can be taken from us”, “we will be tested to our very souls”, “it is this pain, it is these  times that allow us to look inside ourselves.” 

An excellent "thesis" of FNL series can be found on its “Farewell Promo”:

   From first to last frame, each of the characters face the transitoriness of this life—all it is “chasing after wind”; they search for purpose and value just to experience unsatisfying knowledge and foolishness at its best. All they find proves to be ephemeral and meaningless. But as Kohelet does in Ecclesiastes, some of our Dilloners are uplifted by beauty “one that both corrects and recanters the dominant wisdom of his day”. [3] Life is God’s gift, and even given the paradox—life sucks with misery, injustice and death). Matt Saracen acts out this “rebirth and baptism” brilliantly in  the memorable scene (below), “Everybody leaves me, what is  wrong with me”. We are to enjoy our relationships, food,  wine,  talents, and works in worshipful attitude and in appreciation for God's generosity and care for His (already-but not yet) restored creation. 

“Everybody leaves me”:

   The pervasive theology of FNL is not one of individual superheroes, not even antiheroes. Instead of subversive “Jesulogies”, we are compelled to experience God’s self-revelation and wider presence in an overarching and dynamic theology of Deification (Theosis) [4], [5] God here is not the Wholly One, but the Missio Dei instead the transcendent, and the resurrected and glorified Christ acts as New Adam in whose incarnation, death, resurrection, ascension, and Triune deity, by the Spirit, we are on  a journey to become like God (deified). In his perfect freedom and pure delight, the Triune God created us in His  image (Imago Dei), he made us little gods. In the Garden, we will  walk with God as friends and in a mutual relationsip. Theosis is not enacted as soteriology in terms of penal-substitution but more as a movement from imperfection to perfection. 

   FNL seeks to make meaning engaging while moving its viewers with the profound consequences of self-absorption and pursue of disordered desires, including self-righteousness. And maybe another reason some have criticized the series is that all the brokenness, injustice, despair, disappointment and betrayal in life is not merely an opportunity for fatalism, stoicism or self-blame  but rather it is encountered and embraced through friendship and fidelity with forgiving grace, as well as by the prophetic, redemptive and transformational impact such faithful and covenant-keeping relations have on community life and hopeful future.

Life is beautiful. The Taylor’s:

   As we watch the pilot episode, the conviction, ownership and praxis of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t loose” in all FNL protagonists is still raw, myopic, self-centered, but nevertheless partaking in a dynamic and shared journey of transformation. Every human life at Dillon matters, the outcasts and the self-righteous, God makes the sun raise up over all of them. So, in the hopeful journey from useless beauty to restored full and abundant life, God’s presence and kingdom not so much in an individual redemptive figure of a hero, but in the shadow of the perfect relations in the Triune God, the Taylor’s family shines as a beacon of grace, love and justice, in God’s incomplete but thriving likeness.

   It’s not that they do not experience their own parenting problems…or that they do not experience their own marital valleys, says Olson [7], “rather, when these problems threaten to collapse their commitments, they have an anchor to remain steady.”

Eric & Tami Taylor:

Episodes and questions

“Pilot”. E1, S1.

   New coach, Eric Taylor and his family start to experience Dillon and its community, home of the Panthers, best American football HS team in Texas.This episode sets the tone for the whole series. The righteous order of some and the messiness of others can mislead you. You will be surprised, just stay on. Pay attention to Tim Riggins comment, “I am the caretaker” and follow him through the series. At Dillon clear vision and wholeheartedness seems to be lacking. 

Discussion questions:

• Did watching this episode with theological lens and attentiveness help you embrace the revealed experience of God in life and relations? How?
• How did you feel with Jason Street’s accident and injury? Have you ever been or have you cared for someone in a critical situation?
• Does God like football? How does God relate to our love and relation for sport and play?
• What do you see in the different dating and marital relations in the episode?
• How does the absence or the abuse of parents affect their teenagers in FNL?
• Is it possible to love anybody or anything else more than football? Are you attentive to love as they those that matter in your live as you should?
• How does the pressure to perform affect the coach? How does it affect the Taylors? How does pressure in sport affect our most important relations?
• How did the expectations of coach Taylor, the team, the officials and sponsors… make you feel? What are some of the performance expectations you struggle with?
• The meaning of “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t loose” matures with its characters and story along the series, but how did it resonate with you on this occasion? What heart and motivation seems to embody at this early stage? 

“Always”. E13, S5. 
   A good choice if you have seen the series already or do not plan to watch it. 

Discussion questions:

• What do you see as the conducting thread in this finale?
• How is God’s kingdom and newness pictured over the episode, in individuals, marriages, friends, parents and children, the team?
• What impressed you and why from Tyra and Tim’s picnic conversation?
• How is a dynamic journey into faithfulness, truthfulness, equality, mutuality, happiness in the joy of the other painted in the Taylors’?
• What does the final scene tell you theologically?

Biblical texts in conversation with FNL:

   Since you are sportspeople who's identity and destiny sets in relevant and regular conversation performance and achievement with grace and hope and this series not being (just) about sports but certainly full of context and meaning for the needs, the challenges, the opportunities for those whose lives exist exist in a world of striving and thriving, we will watch and discuss not only considering the overarching theme of God's self-revelatory presence but how does that makes meaning in our lives and dedication to sport. Here's some passages and possible themes for our dialogue:

• Eccles.: 1:2-18; 3:l2-14: God’s revelatory presence and life paradoxical meaning 
• Gen. 2:18-25; 1 Peter 1:13-21; Col. 3:17-4: Relations, marriage, family.
• Matt. 26:39-46; Phil. 4: 1-19; Lk. 4:1-14: Pressure.
• Phil. 2:1-7; 1 Peter 5:1-3; I Timothy 4:7-8: The role of a coach.

FNL, God, Life and Sport in conversation:

God’s wider Presence:

• How do we learn to gaze on the useless beauty of this world and our lives with our whole selves? How do we humbly, acquire knowledge and love, and serve others conscious and content with our ephemerality? 
• How do we enjoy the gifts, great and small, that God sends our way in awe of Him? How do we see this perspective making sense in our worship and participation with God in mission?

Relations, marriage, family:

• Why does Paul say a man must “leave his father and mother and be united to his wife?” What else do we have to leave to have a good marriage? 
• The Ephesians passage is in the context of being filled with the Holy Spirit, which is allowing the Spirit of God to teach you, mediate for you, and convict you. This requires being open to Him. What prevents you from being open to God’s Spirit in your life?
• If a husband and wife endure in love for each other and respect  each other, what effect will that have on family, community, team? What does it mean that husbands should love their wives as they love their own bodies? 
• Find more questions and Bible studies on Conflict Resolution, Marriage, Team Unity and LGTB teammates, and a related theological framework on Relations at SportLIFE.

Pressure:

• What pressures do you think Jesus felt as He headed to the cross? What outside pressures that caused of this internal turmoil? 
• How would you rephrase verse 42 in your own words? What does this say about Jesus’ relationship with His Father? 
• When Jesus felt the weight of the world on His shoulders and His disciples did not support Him, where did He get his strength and perspective? 
• Find more questions and Bible studies on Self Talk, Anger, Grief and Loss, Dealing with Pressure, Fear of Failure, and a related theological framework on Emotions at SportLIFE

The role of a coach:

• What in this passage speaks to us the most?
• Describe the characteristics found in Jesus that we are to imitate.
• 3. In what ways can coaching be selfish? How could being a servant and other-centered help you become a more transformational coach?
• Jesus was God in the flesh and still He did not hold onto His power for Himself. List three ideas where you might serve your athletes physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually?
• Do you know other coaches you could lead toward this type of coaching philosophy? Or others who could help us to become a transformational coach?
• Find more questions and Bible studies on Conflict Resolution, Marriage, Team Unity and LGTB teammates, and a related theological framework on Relations at SportLIFE.

FNL Content Summary:

   If you are interested, Nick Olson offers a good summary of characters and narrative of the series along with an insight theological perspective in his article at the blog Christ and Pop Culture. [8]

Bonus clips and music montages:

Friday Night Lights | What Are You Waiting For | Series Tribute

Holding on & letting go:

If you are not bothered by spoilers, you will love this summary

To build a home:

Friday Night Lights truly seeks to take us “Home”

This is love:

Kings and Queens:

___________________________________________________________

[1] www.imdb.com/title/tt0758745/, accessed on May 16, 2017.

[2]  Olson, Nick. Friday Night Lights Will Guide You Home. https://christandpopculture.com/friday-night-lights-will-guide-you-home/. Accessed on May 16, 2017.

[3]  Johnston, Robert K.Useless Beauty: Ecclesiastes Through the Lens of Contemporary Film (Grand Rapids, Mi: Baker Academics, 2004), 175.

[4]  Robert K. Johnston, ‘God’s Wider Presence’. Reconsidering General Revelation (Grand Rapids MI: Baker Academics, 2014), 214.

[5]  Karkkainen, Veli-Matti. Trinity and Revelation (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 2014).

[6]  Ireland, M.Y., HT501. The Church's Understanding of God and Christ in its Theological Reflection: Theosis (Lecture, 2017).

[7]  https://christandpopculture.com/friday-night-lights-will-guide-you-home/. Accessed on May 16, 2017.

[8]  Ibid.

OYK September 2016

Dear warriors on your knees,

We are thrilled to be back home in Malaga. Ruben boosted engines to take these many classes last year at Pasadena and has seven classes to go to finish the Masters in Theology. This Fall he'll be taking Practice of Mission and Old testament.

Introduction a la Teología

Practices of Vocational Formation

Introduction to New Testament

Theology and Film

Interpretative Practices

Sexuality and Ethics

El Evangelio Según Mateo

Iglesias Misionales y Liderazgo

The Church's Understanding of the Church, Humanity and Life in it's Historical Development

Teología y Literatura Latinoamericana

Theology of Sport and Fitness

Prácticas de la Adoración

The Theology of C. S. Lewis

Reader's Course on Culture and Theology

Ruben is trying to be wise on reengaging with balance into his role supervising West Europe AIA since he'll have to do so combined with part time on distance Fuller studies until next late Spring but he is already communicating, planning and doing some traveling on the different commitments with AIA regional and global, ECSU, etc. The Global Congress on Sport and Christianity was a great initiative. Academics, theologians and practitioners met together and was a fruitful and inspiring and well profited time. Looking forward to be part of what develops in this area.

As much as Ruben missed the action of serving in Rio we believe it was a right decision to stay focused in advancing studies and help the family with transition to Malaga. Nevertheless both for Olympics and Paralympics we had tremendous opportunities to serve athletes, coaches, officials and engage with numerous global strategies using media, mainly with struggleandtriumph.com. Through a teammate in the Village we found about Maria Bernabeu, world class Judo fighter who's from Spain and our AIA Spain team has started to work with her. Tim, Tiidrek and a few other friends, disciples and teammates like Ellen, from AIA NL have competed and honoured Christ well.

Lidia and the kiddos are now trying to find their rhythm with school, english classes, sport, family, church. They love it here, but we all miss people, Pasadena Covenant Church, Jefferson school, Providence Mission Homes and all the friends and adventures we had there last year. Lidia has had great opportunities to reconnect with basketball teammates and freinds and most provably will play the 35+ Federated League again next season.

Ruben will travel to Vienna, Austria to meet with the Facilitation & Strategy Teams of the European Christian Sports Union October 12-15. Thanks for your prayers as over 30 european leaders plan, pray and lay the next 3 years ahead for working together on sport mission in Europe.

Thanks so much for your faithful support, prayers and friendship. Keep knocking on heaven's doors for many European sportspeople to become faithful and multiplying Christ followers,

Ruben, Lidia, Samuel, Josue. Lucia and David Azarías

On your knees September 2016

Passing the equator here at Pasadena, Los Angeles

Dear friend and mission teammate,

Second quarter reaches its count down here at Fuller. It's been very intense and blessed for us since last August here at Pasadena, Los Angeles. 

Fuller has over 4,000 students from numerous ethnic groups and nationalities, although predominantly North-American, Asian and Latino ones. We feel thankful and privilege to study in this interdenominational, open and biblically and academically sound school. Very thankful as well to each and everyone of you helping make all this learning and equipping possible so we can serve better the Lord and his kingdom purposes. If you are interested on hearing more details on what am I studying, writing, please don't hesitate to ask.

As you know we are only devoting a full school year to in campus studies. In difference to most of my classmates whom are here to stay longer and take 1 or 2 classes per quarter (lucky friends! ;-), I am taking 4 classes per quarter. This translates as 600 pages of weekly academic, thick readings and almost daily writing of papers (from 120 to 3,000 words, with high academic demand). Except for a 16 credits, the remaining 64 credits are classes I'm taking in English, mostly Theology units. Barely above water, but  joyful and thankful. 

Lidia is well. You know the silent tuff warrior in her. Sacrificing more than usual (the support of family and friends back home) guarding the fort in a cross cultural experience with four little "hearthquakes". The kiddos are well. Lucia, Josue and Samuel fully integrated in a public school and with friends at neighborhood and church. Lucia will be speaking and reading in English before she does Spanish. Even Azarías uses words in English, specially if there's a cookie around. They will return to Spain June 22, and I will stay to complete a couple summer intensive classes. July 15, God willing, and if we gather enough funds I will have completed 50 of the 80 credits of the Master of Theology. Our hope and purpose is to take one class per quarter from Fall 2016 combined with returning back to battle field with AIA West Europe so I can complete it in the next 2 years.

Thanks so much for your trust, engagement, prayers and generous and faithful care. Every day we are more assured this venture is a great investment in our family and our capacity to love and serve you and alongside you the coming years. How exciting! Please, pray with us to be good stewards to make the most of every day and opportunity, and for the resources we need to complete this formation journey well. 

Outrageously grateful yours in Christ and until the nets are full,

Rubén, Lidia, Samuel, Josué, Lucía y Azarías

With our dear beloved Ross & Karen Fitchner. At new years I went to watch the movie Concussion. Ross, who has an NFL champion ring (Browns, 1966) has a son, Randy (QB coach) who's played 2 and win one NFL Superbowl with the Steelers). Ross's health is speeding down out of all the injuries and concussions from his playing days. Pray for them. We will see them again in June, before the family returns 

RSG website and European Plans going forward

After a fantastic global gathering in Orlando last month with near 1,000 international participants which got train the trainer formation, ReadySetGo is up and kicking.

Europe

• 19 European countries were represented in Orlando. The plan is for each country to go back to look to hold 5 RSG trainings this year with an average of 20 people if possible.
• - In May, we want 50 new teams to come and be trained. The plan for them is to have 3 RSG trainings during the rest of the year.
• This would mean we might have 345 trainings this year, training 6,900 leaders with a potential of 240 new city teams.
• If each of these 240 teams did 3 GO strategy trainings, 108,000 people could be impacted across Europe this year.
• 6 RSG trainings have already happened (2 Germany, Austria, 2 UK, Serbia) 16 already planned for January onwards (Moldova, Albania, Austria, Croatia, Hungary, France, Finland, and Macedonia). 

readysetgo.ec
The website is already at your disposition with a miriad of resources in multiple languages. ReadySetGO is a library of sports resources. Everything is free and ready to use! It is as simple as Ready, Set and GO! Ready is the process of gathering and envisioning people to make disciples for Christ in sport and play. Setprepares everyone to be a disciple-maker. GO gives us strategies to make disciples in the world of sport and play. Check it out and pass the news around: http://readysetgo.ec

Save the Dates!, 
and pass the word around 

ReadySetGo MULTIPLY Europe
Launching ReadySetGO Across Our Region
18th-22nd May 2016
Bobbio Pellice, Italy

Registrations/info: caroline@christiansinsport.org.uk

ReadySetGo PLUS Europe
ReadySetGOPlus is a four week summer school for young leaders from across Europe taking place in July.The programme includes:

• 2 weeks of in depth ReadySetGO training focussing on the Heart Values and GOstrategies.
• 2 weeks of mission activity serving on sports camps or community projects around Europe.

WHEN: 3rd-31st July 2016.
WHERE: Bobbio Pellice, Italy.
WHO FOR: Young leaders aged between 18-25.
COST: 200€ per person.

Registrations/info: caroline@christiansinsport.org.uk

AIA Sports Performance Tour 2015 to Madrid, Spain

Lisa Martin, from AIA Sport Performance, will be leading a team of 7 traveling from Indiana, Ohio, Virginia, to Spain arriving next Monday June 8.

The exact dates of some of these events may change. Pray that they can serve well in Madrid at Escuela Medicina Deportiva and with the physicians, professors, and students they interact with.

Pray for Kenny & Joyce, which are helping coordinate locally and have been game changers for this project. Pray they grow and get great life and Gospel share opportunities and follow up work. Pray for Abraham, Amy and the rest of the volunteers and AIA Spain staff involved.

Meet Lisa Martin, Tour Director

Meet the team

Valdensian Valley getting ready

The Valdensian Valley, near Torino at The Italian feet of the Alps is getting ready for 200 participants from 26 European nations at the ECSU GATHERING 2015 (ECSU.eu/encourage) next week!

Pray for the facilitation team and OM/FCA team working hard locally to host us there.

Ray for a great time of encouragement and vision for what's ahead for Sport Missions at our continent in the coming years.

A number of our AIA European leaders and staff will be there. Lidia and the kids are coming with us and they are anticipating it as you can imagine with great enthusiasm.

Here's the info on our meeting location. If you haven't visited this valleys and the historic sites of the XIII century Valdensian reformation you need to do it sooner than later.

Le Casermette

Esercito Della Salvezza

Via Pellice, 4, 10060 Bobbio Pellice TO, Italia

http://www.lecasermette.org

http://goo.gl/maps/z5vle

Golden Land & More Than Gold

Hola,

Ready for the last lap of my return home in a train Madrid-Malaga. It’s been an exciting 16 days. I feel very honored and thankful for the privilege of working alongside each of you, the team that has worked in the SportLife material we have been testing and our prayer warriors.

In a good “faena” (labor), a torero (matador) gets offered the bull’s two ears and the tail and he walks off the arena through the main gate over the shoulders of his cheering fans*. 

All that goes to Jesus! May those ears and tail be a good picture of an abundant sowing and reaping harvest!

*Read below Reid's last post and the Bullfighting analogy will make sense :-).

Praying with you for Jessie, NiHoi and Luke, still there at Gold Camp and for Reid, Se Yu, Luke and the Thai and Singaporean teams going to the SEA Games.

Olé! 

Rubén

El 19/5/2015, a las 8:04, Reid Lamphere <aialamphere@aol.com> escribió:

Greetings from Atlanta!

Carolyn and I are home - and mostly in our right minds.  So far we’ve eaten one steak, two Mexican meals (without rice), a couple bratwurst and one Chic-Fil-A.  I turn my head away when I drive by Asian restaurants.  

Our four-month project will be wrapping up in 36 hours.  I could fill pages with the faithfulness of God in bringing this about.  But the first page would have to be about the faithful prayers of so many of God’s people.  Thank YOU for walking with us for nearly a half year and praying open the doors that let the Holy Spirit move among the souls of hundreds of the best athletes in the country of Myanmar.  

When I was in Myanmar in January, with Brad and Adrienne, I once made a comment to Brad that I was seeing our project in the Gold Camp kind of like a bullfight.  I’m not sure why, but this image kept playing in my mind throughout the four months.  I don’t know if you’ve ever seen a bullfight.  The fight takes place in three stages.  In the beginning the bull is let into the ring and he kind of goes crazy - smashing into the walls, trying to knock the padded horse over.  During this phase the “Picador” uses a long lance to weaken the muscles in the bull’s neck.  Not only does this make him weaker, but it causes the bull to focus on what’s happening.  He’s no longer disengaged and charging at everything that moves.  He begins to focus on just one thing.  And this is what we did in the beginning when we introduced a very new concept to the athletes - their SOUL.  Suddenly they were confronted with something they had never thought about before - an eternal spirit within them.  

The second phase of the bullfight is carried out by three “Banderillas”.  They each plant two barbed sticks in the shoulders of the bull - designed to both agitate the bull and yet further weaken him.  The majority of our time in the Gold Camp was centered around challenging the values and life philosophies of the athletes.  Our talks were designed to “agitate” their thinking and at the same time “weaken” the distance and barriers that existed between us (the teachers) and them (the learners).  

In the third phase…enter the “Matador”.  We all know what this guy is about.  The bull has been prepared to such a point that the Matador can finally draw his sword from behind the cape and make the final thrust.  And this is what we were waiting to do for several months.  A total of 24 of our staff and associates from 6 countries worked diligently to prepare the “bull” for the right moment.  In the last few weeks we started introducing deeper and deeper spiritual challenges.  I watched the faces of the athletes as our staff taught and shared about spiritual life.  I actually saw heads nodding at the mention of a personal God and Creator.  They continued to nod when the name of Jesus was brought in.  

   And then we came to the final week - last week.  It was time to draw the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  It was time to present the gospel of Christ to the athletes.  Our last two staff, Ruben and Jessie, gave the final message to the teams and shared, through their testimonies, basically the whole gospel message.  And check this out - Ruben is from Spain - the land of bullfights.  Jessie is Dutch, but has been living several years and serving on our staff team in Spain.   

Please pray that this sword will pierce as far as the division of soul and spirit into the hearts of many of these athletes.  

Ruben leaves in 36 hours, which will officially end the project.  Jessie stays another 3 days and will just wrap up relationships.  One of our project members (Luke) returned for a second “tour” at the camp.  The Myanmar basketball team asked Luke to return to be their coach for the last weeks before the Southeast Asia Games take place.  You can hold Luke up in prayer through June 16 - the end of the Southeast Asia Games.  

It’s not the end…….

Blessings,

Reid

Training Total Athletes at South East Asia

This morning I start a long journey (this trips make me always think of what took to the ancient adventurers who travelled by foot or whatever they had handy). Ahead I have 1 train, 3 long flights, car, long and bumpy bus in the jungle for near 2 days.

As you know, I'm part with Jessie Starrenburg (from our team in Barcelona), of a 4 month Sport Project teaching 15 Critical Issues in Sport to the top 25 national teams of an SEA country, who are training at the GC Academy in preparation for the South East Asia Games in Singapore this summer. In addition to AIA USA, Canada and Spain, the project brought together other sport ministry leaders from Thailand and East Asia. 

During the next 2 weeks (3 for Jessie) in Camp we will teach on the issue of Life after Sport, and we will recap on the concept of Total Athlete, and Issues on Identity, Anger, Unity, Winning, Fear of Failure, Conflict...

We would appreciate your prayers for Se Yu and Ni Ho, our translators who have been there the entire time.  Please pray also for the small but growing group of our Master's followers who have being gathering and growing with the Book. Pray that we can grow on intentional addressing of who can truly and lastly help them address these Critical Issues. Pray for abundant reaping fruit, with more or less medals at the Asian Games for this country. Pray for Reid, our team coordinator whom has a great opportunity to tour the country with the Minister of Sports and for wisdom and direction for next steps there and hopefully in other global locations in coming years.

Please, pray for Lidia and the kids to be fully surrounded by His grace and protection.   

Yours always thankful. Until the nets are full,

Ruben, Lidia

Samuel, Josue, Lucia & David Azarias

"If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast." Psalm 139:9-10

Parenting in the Valley of Dry Bones

"Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lᴏʀᴅ. Thus says the Lord Gᴏᴅ to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lᴏʀᴅ." (Ezekiel 37:4–6)

Our Father knows I needed this. Thank you Jesus (the article is excellent and worth the reading).

Yesterday was one of those days of parenting in the Valley of Dry Bones. It was particularly very difficult as I have been very little at home with so much traveling, and you wish it was more happy-clapping and celebrating life with those you love the most and will have to kiss "hasta la vista" for 2 long weeks the next morning.

On top, both Lidia and I had warfare and dreams during last night as well, as the enemy was obviously trying to get through our tiredness and weakness.

"He Knows What to Do

Jesus has gone into the barren field, to the place where death once reigned, and he emerged victorious. He is the Resurrection and the Life. He is the one who makes alive. God didn’t tell Ezekiel to first bring life and then speak. It is the speaking of the words of God that brought the life, and that is the only way we can move toward the hearts of our children with hope-filled steps.

We can face the areas of sinfulness in them we once feared, convinced that the God who speaks life is able to breathe life into them. He is able to make them know him and live for him forever. He is the one who said the harvest of his people is plentiful, greater than the number of stars in the sky. He is the one who sent his only Son that your son or daughter might proclaim the wonders of his grace.

Teach the truths of the gospel to your children, “seventy-seven times” (Matthew 18:21–22). Go into the chaotic, death-filled valley of your kids’ sins and walk amongst it all because you know that every raindrop that falls on the earth today shows his mercy toward those who’ve rejected him (Matthew 5:45). Serve them with peace and humility because you can smell the breakfast cooking on the beach for a man who, three times, denied even knowing Jesus (John 21:9–19). Speak confidently of God’s power over every competing rule, including your child’s heart."

Do not fear the death you see in their lives. God knows what to do with it. After all, dry bones are all he’s ever had to work with in his people*."

*That includes me Emoticono smile

Thanks for your love, care and prayers

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/parenting-in-the-valley-of-dry-bones

Always on our knees

Personal prayer requests

• Protection and direction for us as family. With 4 little children, it’s a time of blessing, opportunity for disciple-making 24/7, and character testing :-).
• Our support development. $400

The year we will be living as a family at Pasadena as I start Master in Theology at Fuller starting next September.

Ministry requests

• Pray for Wouter & Nadine leading AIA NL. Just married, baby, transition of leadership at AIA and at Agape NL, and a full summer ahead as you can imagine if you know our duchess a bit.
• Pray for Sandrine & Jean Pierre in Paris leading Sport et Foi France. Our french team has gone through tuff journey. Pray for them to come up strengthened and vigorous.
• Pray for Abraham and Amy as they have just taken the baton from Ruben and Lidia for AIA Spain.
• Pray for AIA Swiss leadership with Vinci and Regula and team expanded. Pray for multiplication out of great program this year. 

Country leader in your area but would like you to add any additional requests for the country.

• Pray for leader/s to help consolidate AIA UK, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Italy, Malta.
• Pray for wisdom and direction and Christ followers in sport to start new AIA ministries in Northern Europe, Greece, Portugal...

Major area events in the next 6 months

• Praise for the UTC 2015 in Gran Canaria, the Euro Cycling Camp in Tenerife and the different L1&2 ESLT trainings around Europe these past months.
• Pray for the ECSU Gathering next May 28-31st in Italy, where 140 leaders (West and East Europe), many of our AIA teams will be there will gather to encourage, engage and equip.
• Pray for a Global Church Resourcing training in the Netherlands this summer, and key european leaders attending.
• Pray for the key leaders from 26 European teams countries we are selecting to be equipped in Orlando next November to be trainers of ReadySetGo.

IR's or STINTS in our area

• Praise and pray for the (once stints) long term internationals from USA (In Germany) and Netherlands (In Spain). 
• Pray for many more coming in the future.

Urgent needs

• Pray for the year Ruben and family will be in California to be a great opportunity for the shared ownership from AIA existing leaders and teams at the different countries over the reaching and building mission in Europe. Pray for a stretched focus and scope.
• Pray for the Think Tank & Design Team which will have to plan and develop next steps for UTC Europe 2016-2018.

Greetings from The Gold Camp!

This is a note from Reid Lamphere, our SEA project coordinator. I hope is encouraging for you and takes you to stay tuned on your knees:

"I’m back in SEA - for the 3rd time in 6 months.  It’s exciting to be here to see what the Lord has been building upon the shoulders of those who have been here at the GC over the last three months.      

Great Welcome!

The memory of the miserable journey disappeared when I saw the faces of my teammates waiting at the bus station.  Carl and Noreen, Ni Hoi (girl translator), Mang-Mang (our key guy in the country to help with logistics) and even Hnin was there (works for the Ministry of Sport in the area of “Mental Training”.  She has become everyone’s best friend - amazingly helpful to us.)  

The Countdown Begins!

We’ve had staff here at the Camp for the last 12 weeks.  This morning we started the countdown for our last month.  We went to visit the Judo teams (men’s and women’s).  They sat on the judo mats for at least an hour while Carl led a discussion on “The Fear of Failure”.  He introduced me to the teams and I told a story about my fears during competition and how I dealt with them .  This is Carl and Noreen’s last week.  I’ll pick up where they leave off with each of the teams.  Carolyn will join me this coming weekend.  She needed one more week to finish up the bible study she leads with the women on her tennis team.  

Please bring to the Lord our need for direction in our messages during these last weeks.  What to say - when to say it - how to say it.  

One other request is for a 7:30 am appointment with one of the Olympic Committee officials regarding a “Friends and Family Homestay” program for the SEA athletes who are going to Singapore for the Southeast Asia Games in June.  We’re going to extend to them the opportunity to bring their family members to the Games in Singapore and provide them with free housing.  More later….

Blessings,

Reid"

On Your Knees | April 2015

Dear fellow teammates on your knees,

My time in Portugal with Greg Morgan was a blast. We drove between Lisbon and Porto and met with coaches, pastors, amateur and pro athletes, Christian leaders... All whom love and follow Jesus and reach out and disciple in and through sport. 

Pedro Mateus, and Antonio, Ricardo, Joel and Joao have what it takes as guardians and forefront of advancing mission in and through sport there. Pray with us that they find models to consolidate leadership for their vision and they move forward with boldness. It'd be great to see AIA develop there as well.

The week in Detroit and Indianapolis around MCAA Men Basketball Final 4 was a blessing as well. I had the privilege of doing all this trip with Saul Ares, basketball agent and former coach, who's one of the best "volunteers" you'd Love to serve Jesus alongside your team. 

Cesar Fornos, President of the Nicaragua Basketball Federation joined us for the days at Indi. Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast event was one of the highlights. AIA produces this evangelistic event where over 1,300 coaches and sport authorities hear and respond to a relevant and clear expression of the Gospel as a famous player or coach is honoured with John Wooden's 7 Keys to Life Award.

Networking and reaching out with hundreds of coaches, visiting friends and partners, introducing Saul to the USA life and some of our favorite friends like Ross and Karen Fitchner filled a full week.

Last Thursday I had a great time and chance to listen, pray and encourage basketball players, AIA staff and ministry partners in a quick day in Barcelona.

Today I travel to the Netherlands. Amsterdam, Groningen, Amersfoort until Monday. Co-journeying with Greg Morgan ((CIS) and Wouter, Marcel, Jan and the Dutch AIA troops, Donar vs. Leiden basketball game tonight at Groningen tonight. 

TA Day event tomorrow with God willing over hundred athletes from the Netherlands, Sport Film Festival on Amsterdam, fun and strategic praying, thinking and planning at new Agape and AIA offices at Amersfoort. 

Pray for abundant sowing and reaping. AIA NL hopes to see TOTALATHLETE Hurdles multiply and serve for multiplication all over the Netherlands in the coming year and tomorrow we hope to witness how Jesus meets, commands and empowers.

Please, pray for Lidia and the troops at home. Some still sick, but over all, pray for protection and His fullness and presence. The next 35 days I will only be 4 days at home. 

Next school year @Fuller

Would you join us in prayer and support?

We wanted to share some great news and its pledge related with you. I have wanted to affirm and expand my Biblical and Theological formation for years. You know some, and many of the people who do as well encourage me to consolidate what could strengthen my gifts and in the meantime affirm and credit so I add value to what can help others understand and welcome our labour and service.

There is a brilliant opportunity to do this without a major challenge to our call and role today. Friends of us and Doctors at Fuller Seminary are guiding and supporting us for the possibility of taken a Masters of Arts in Theology and Ministry there at Pasadena. The idea is to do this as a growth opportunity for the family as well. 

Main part of this venture is to help our family grow. Lidia is fully on board of this, and if you know her a bit, certainly you'll understand how much that means. Larry Thompson (AIA Intl.), Javier García & Agape Europe Leadership and Nacho Marques (Agape Spain) are up to speed with this and highly encouraging about it.

We would have to take just one school year there starting next August, and then, back home I'd just need one full day a week to focus on finishing the Master on Theology & Ministry back home on a second year.

You know our leadership for AIA Europe has been and will be focused on empowering the national leaders and local teams to own beyond their scope and journey together. I don't run an office or a stint/interns team, and I empower, engage, connect, support, plan, communicate with AIA troops as much as we are allowed and welcomed by local Agape/AIA, and most of that wouldn't stop even as we would be allowed to take this opportunity.

Major projects like Baku European Games, UTC, ESLT trainings, ECSU... Are all led by European leaders and backed up with intl. AIA leaders as well. No fire we have started should be extinguished (if The Lord confirms we need to stay doing it of course). You know  that from last month, AIA Spain in under Abraham Crespo and an awesome new team we belong too as well.

Some classes of Sport Chaplaincy studies from Baylor on distance, Urban L.A. PROJECT From AIA in Los Angeles and volunteer internship coaching for NBA or NCAA team are opportunities, which if possible would add thrilling mission and experience value (always if I could do that as practices or in free time from Fuller studies.

Rob and Cathy Johnstone, Doctors in Fuller and dear friends are fully behind us and they say there's a good chance we would only have to cover 25% of tuition with help of scholarship and foundation support. There's a residence near the campus where we would pay less than $1000 per month (a third of most hosting solutions in the area) for house and utilities. This place would allow me to go to classes with a bike and avoid a second car.

We will certainly need a push and boost to sort finances out. Trusting the Lord with peace of mind and heart about it and all the related questions around it. There’s a foundation which has offered to help us with $15,000 if we raise another equal amount. Would you please consider contributing to our need in this?

Looking forward to hearing from you asap. Let us know any questions this email may have not clarified. Below you have details on how to send your support directly for this need (it would count 100% this way). If you need or rather prefer to send it through CRU, that’s ok as well (cru.org/give. Our account: #2394818).

Thanks a lot,

Ruben, Lidia, Samuel, Josué, Lucía y David Azarías

Transfers:

Bank of the West

180 Montgomery St.

San Francisco, CA

Swift Code: BWSTU566

Phone: +1 (800) 767 8442

Routing No: 121100782

Account No: 673025730

Reference: Fund 2940 for Ruben Fernández.

Checks or 

https://www.peertransfer.com/:

Fuller Theological Seminary

135 N. Oakland Ave.

Pasadena, CA 91182

Reference: Fund 2940 for Ruben Fernández.

March OYK

Dear prayer warriors,

Pray for Lidia and the kids I left again home for a full week. Thanks the Lord they are coming out from being sick and really down Lucia and Azarias suffered the worst. They have school holiday this week and it will be triple work for Lidia with me away and them home.

Pray for Zoe, Emi and Alexander. For them to be protected and fully restored in Jesus individually and as a family.

Praise the Lord for a great week visiting 7 cities of England in 6 days. Pray for wisdom and good follow through of the potential collaboration we are discussing.

Praise the Lord for great projects in Tenerife with a first Cycling Camp organized by Total Athlete AIA NL with riders from Belgium and Netherlands, and a new European Ultimate Training Camp at Gran Canaria with Dave Johns from Canada and participants from Germany, Latvia and Spain.

Pray for great groups and L1 and L2 participants at ESLT trainings in Tenerife and then Malaga coming next in March.

Pray for my trip with Greg Morgan to Portugal as part of the ECSU board next March. We will visit pastors and key leaders to cast vision and build trust and network to see Sport  ministry more developed.

Pray for Spanish and Polish coaches going to NCAA Final 4 events with Ruben and Papi, as they will be exposed to networking with other Christian coaches and great outreaches like Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast and our Coaches Forum.

Pray for the churches training in Madrid for churches from all over Spain in April. we hope to serve well and see many more churches reaching and serving in and through sport at their communities as we have seen happen in Barcelona.

Pray for the recruitment and preparations for our camps and tours this summer all over Europe and beyond.

Pray for me and Jessie Starrenburg, the 2 Europeans part of an international team who is coaching and training invited by government hundreds of the best athletes of one of the most closed countries in South East Asia. 

Pray for Abraham Crespo and Dan Fernandez as they will be the same month of May and country, initiating a partnership with a local football project and community.

Pray for our prep and support development to go to Fuller next school year. A foundation offered $15,000 if we raised another equal amount. Praised the Lord, thanks to God and a number of you we are half way though the goal. Pray for us to complete the goal. If you want to contribute some for this, as you hear, your support will be doubled. Let us know and we will send you details on how to send your support.

Thanks for your faithful engagement, prayers and work in Europe for Jesus' followers in every team, sport, city and nation,

Ruben, Lidia, Samuel, Josue, Lucia and Azarias

February OYK

Dear Prayer warriors,

This week we have experienced as a family, and it’s far from being over yet, hopefully the beginning of break through and deliverance for a family from our church. One parent is in jail and the other and 2 kids have stayed at home with us several days. They are now hosted in a different place but we are still helping the church leadership with their support and care.

From next Sunday 8 to Saturday 14 I will be in England, traveling with our AIA Global Director Larry Thompson to different cities and events. WE are discussing and considering a potential partnership with another agency. Please, pray for safety and wisdom. Pray for Lidia as she guards the fort here (Lucia is with fewer today, Samuel with a cold). Even in good health is already a militar maneuver to deal with our 4 musketeers as you can imagine.

These coming weeks are named after Canary Islands this 2015 for us. Feb 19-22 our AIA Netherlands Total Athlete team are holding a new European Cycling Camp in Tenerife with riders from several countries, where they’ll train on wheels and our Principles for Life and Competition. Thursday 26 through Monday 1st, we have Ultimate Training Camp Europe 2015 at Gran Canaria with Dave Johns from Canada and participants from all over Europe and beyond. And then, the next weekend we’ll have a new European Sport Leadership Training (ESLT) at Tenerife again. Don’t worry we are not moving to the Fortuned Islands (unfortunately ;-). I will be a whole week there for UTC, but Abraham Crespo and other partners and local volunteers are doing an excellent work for all this. Please, keep us in your prayers.

Talking about moves. Our family will be in California from next September for a full school season. Surprised? I am starting a Masters on Theology and Ministry at Fuller Seminary and the family will be finally living as true overseas missionary family :-). There’s lots to share with you about this, and we truly need and count with your prayers and support as this is indeed a faith leap we’ll need you for. More in our next communication.

We love you and are very thankful for your friendship and kind support. In Jesus and until the nets are full,

Rubén, Lidia, Samuel, Josué, Lucía & David Azarías 

44

Next monday (28), i'll celebrate 44 Springs. Life flyes and even when we know it, it's son hard to see it happen, isn't it?

I'm on a train starting the journey once again. This time to meet tonight with AIA Global Council teammates. It's been a whole since we met and worked together  and look forward to it. We'll be at AIA USA HQ at Xenia, OH, so I'll get to see dearly fellow partners and life friends an mentors like Tom and Mary Rapp.

I'm missing Lidia and our children already. Please hold and lift then dearly in your prayers. For strenght and protection.

Abraham Crespo, has been already there for a week, as ambassador of AIA Spain and West Europe at the Spring Confenrece that gathers all AIA US staff.

Thanks for your prayers for preparations and participants for UTC EUROPE next June in Malaga.

...for the final leg of the Sports Coaching course at University of Malaga and great partnership and mission opportunities God is slowing as we do practices, presentations, networking,

...for the Pray Play Say small groups that are consolidating led by sport students in Malaga.

...for the indoor football team from Netherlands touring in Barcelona and for the different churches that keep growing sport ministries there with support of our team.

Love and best wises in Christ to you all,

Ruben

Birmingham here we go!

Changing warm and sunny Malaga with Birmingham, UK today for he while week but with a great reason.

I'll be wrestling, playing, sharing, strategically planning for ab right future of AIA UK with Agape and Athletes in Action UK leaders.

Pray for Lidia guarding the fort and the troops (she has strong stomach ache today), and for me. I hit a finger last week an doesn't look good and I have a strong eyes infection.

We know what and whom is our warfare, isn't it? Pray for deliver emcee, health, wisdom and fullness in Him and His Victory.

Have a great week in Jesus!

Malta

Dear On Your Knees partners,

Yesterday, along with Greg Morgan (CIS) and David Guering (OM), I was in Malta representing ECSU and AIA in meetings and seminars with sport leaders to vision cast and support sport ministry development. Julian (member of a national comission for sport), Vince (business man and founder of a mushrooming football nursery -academy-), David (Olympic Committe Treasurer) did an outstanding work to align meetings, presentations, seminars, board discussions...

The walls of Mdina are so wide and invincible that even restaurants are built inside them, but I go back today with the impression we helped torpeed the island from within :-).

Thanks for your prayers for wise and insightful follow through and eternal fruit out of each potential iniciative. Pray for clear next steps and model pilot projects in the coming months/years. Chaplaincy & outreach to the U17 European Football Championships next May there, ESLT L1 training, Maltese participants to our next UTC, a Sport & Life weekend to federation and Olympic coaches & leaders...

Looking forward to serving Jesus and each of them with you,

Ruben 

Malta

On a journey to Valeta (Malta) today. 

Tomorrow, along with Greg Morgan (CIS) and David Guehring (OM), i will be representing ECSU and AIA in meetings and seminars with sport leaders from Malta. Athletes, coaches, Education Leaders, priests in charge of Sport Education...

Looking forward to serve Jesus and each of then. Thanks for your prayers