Committing to a Dream
by Paul Michalski
Remember Coach Don Nava? For guys new to NCS, Coach Nava is a Christian life fitness coach from California who was up on stage at several NCS retreats inspiring us to get physically fit in some wacky but fun and memorable (I still have nightmares about the shoulder rubbing chains) ways. Don wrote the book “Fit After 40” and has a fitness program called “Totally Fit Life” (
http://www.totallyfitlife.com/pages/about_coach). Well, this is not about Don but about his son Daniel. An amazing story was shared today by David Lane (a brother of Jim Lane and one of the 23+ progeny of Jim Lane, Sr. who came up on stage at the 2009 Retreat).
Daniel Nava was called up on Saturday June 12 by the Red Sox from the Triple A Pawtucket Red Sox farm team for his first major league game. On the first pitch of his first at-bat, Nava hit a Grand Slam, putting the Red Sox ahead of the Phillies 5-2 (Red Sox eventually won 10-2). What makes the story even more amazing is Daniel’s path to the majors. (Here is a YouTube link to watch the hit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odZKBOXn0yc .)
He was a walk-on at the University of Santa Clara, and was soon cut. To stay with the team, Nava became the equipment manager, which meant doing the team's laundry at 3 a.m. Nava thought about becoming a coach or a scout, but instead transferred to College of San Mateo, a junior college, for two years. He returned to Santa Clara for his senior year, but was not selected in the 2006 draft. He landed with the Chico Outlaws of the independent Golden Baseball League. There he produced to the point where Baseball America named him the top prospect in independent baseball, which led the Sox to sign him in 2008 for $1
Rick Warren recently did a devotional series on the six phases of faith. Below is how he summarized them at the end. The second phase is “decision”. This was the focus of John Guest’s recent message to NCS New Canaan—it is only after you make a
commitment that
providence kicks into action (
click here to hear John's message). If you don’t see providence at work in Nava’s story, just consider this excerpt from a press report:
“Nava had received a tip from radio broadcaster Joe Castiglione during an interview for the pregame show. Castiglione sat Nava down in the clubhouse and shared a story he learned from Chuck Tanner of the Milwaukee Braves, who hit a home run in his first career at-bat on April 12, 1955. His message: "Swing at the first pitch,'' Castiglione said, "because you'll never get it back.''
What dream has God given to you?
[From Rick Warren’s May 30, 2010 Daily Hope devotional]
Phase 1—Dream: Do I have a dream planted in me by God? If you don't have a dream, start praying, "God give me your dream." If you can't write down the dream God has given you, you need to be praying. If you don't have a dream, you're not living, you're just existing. God placed you on this earth for a purpose.
Phase 2—Decision: Do I need to make a faith-decision that will help that dream become a reality? Some of you have a dream from God, but you haven't made a decision to follow it. You're still on the fence. God's word for you is "Go for it!" Some of you may need to make the decision to give your life to Christ. Some of you may need to make the decision to join a church. Some of you may need to make the decision to get involved in ministry.
Phase 3—Delay: What has caused my dream to be delayed? If your prayer hasn't been answered, that's okay. It just means you're in God's waiting room. Now is not the time to detour. When things don't happen on our timetable, we tend to run ahead of God and create detours to make it happen. You may end up making the wrong decision. Wait, wait, and wait for God to work his hand.
Phase 4—Difficulty: What difficulties have I faced waiting for the dream to be fulfilled? You are being tested, but it's not going to be the last time. You'll go through many, many tests in life. God says, "I know exactly what you're going through. I see it. I'm watching. Don't think I've forgotten you—I haven't."
Phase 5—Dead End: Have I come to a dead end yet? Some of you are there ready to give up. But the truth is—you're right where God wants you. You're getting prepared for deliverance. God's word for you is "Hang on! Keep on believing! Don't give up!"
Phase 6—Deliverance: Do I expect and trust God to deliver me? "According to your faith will it be done to you." (Matthew 9:29 NIV) God is faithful. What he tells us to do, he will do. But it doesn't happen overnight. You go through the faith-phases of Dream, Decision, Delay, Difficulty, and Dead End . . . and then comes Deliverance.
We Really Need Energy Groups
By Jim Lane
Many of you already know of the tragic death of our friend and NCS brother, Leo Stephens, who ended his life two weeks ago at the age of 46. Leo was a devoted husband and father and an active member of the NCS Manchester, Vermont chapter.
Please pray for his wife and their four children, ages 10-17. Leo truly loved the Lord, and we take comfort knowing that he now has found peace.
Before moving to Vermont a few years ago, the Stephens family lived in Charleston, SC where Richard Belser was their pastor. Rev. Belser gave the eulogy at Leo’s funeral on May 22
nd, entitled ‘The Way Through the Woods’. I attended the funeral and was so impacted by the eulogy and its relevance to NCS men generally that I wanted to share it with all of you.
I encourage you to read it as a powerful reminder that Jesus promises He will show us the way through our ‘woods’ - whatever darkness or troubles we are experiencing - if we wait for Him.
(Click here to download a PDF copy of the eulogy).
This incredibly sad situation is compelling NCS Chapters across the country to get the word out about the importance of Energy Groups. God never designed us to go through life alone. Energy Groups provide a place where you can show up and find safe, transparent and real friendships as we live life together. Even if you are not struggling right now, there may be a brother who God has uniquely qualified you to help find the way through a difficult time. If you are not already connected with an Energy Group, please contact your Chapter leadership to find out how to join a group.
Although Energy Groups have been around for several years (one of my NCS New Canaan groups started in June 2004 and is still going strong), three Chapters have arranged for Energy Groups to meet in the same location as Chapter meetings.
NCS Manhattan began in 2009 opening up their meeting spot on alternate Thursdays for Energy Groups. NCS Bergen County kicked off Energy Groups on alternate Friday mornings at their meeting venue earlier in 2010, and beginning April 30 NCS New Canaan arranged to have the restaurant where they meet open on alternate Fridays at 7:00 AM. If you are not in an NCS Energy Group, get plugged in.
What is an Energy Group and why is it an important part of being an NCS "brudder"?
At the 2010 NCS Retreat last month, NCS Founder Jim Lane shared his vision of the importance of Energy Groups to the mission of NCS. At its most foundational level, NCS is about friendship, and Energy Groups (groups of 12 or less men--ideally 4-8--who commit to meet regularly and to live authentically and transparently with each other) are where lasting and transparent NCS friendships develop—just like at those early meetings in Jim’s home. It’s not a Bible study (and being in a Bible study is no substitute)—it’s about getting real and “showing up” for each other.
I made my first visit to NCS Orlando/The Parks Society last week--my wife Lisa and I were invited down to tell "our story" (must have been an off-week). Although Orlando was cold and overcast, the Parks Society meeting was warm and bright!
The Parks Society was one of the first NCS chapters--even before we thought of non-CT groups as "chapters". Dave Robinson and Michael Tremain have been gathering brudders in the Winter Park area of Orlando since a long time ago. They outgrew Michael's house a few years ago and, based on attendance last week, they are outgrowing their current home (standing room only, and I am confident it had nothing to do with the speakers).
Here are some of the highlights:
--Brudders "showing up"--at least 12 guys were there cheerfully setting the place up at 6:00 am
--Dunkin Donuts arrived on the back of a Harley (honest)
--Coffee that was "home roasted" by two of the brudders
--Terrific space that feels like a big home (it used to be a private home)
--Awesome and irreverantly funny worship band in true NCS style
--Tremendous energy and fellowship
In short, if you find yourself in Orlando on a Friday, be sure to see if the Parks Society is meeting, and if it is, get your butt over to Winter Park to visit--you will be blessed.
I attended a funeral service today for an NCS brudder, Ed Wheeler. I don’t like funerals, because they remind me that my days are numbered. I particularly dislike funerals of people who are not really old, because they remind me that my number is unpredictable. Ed was only 55. I am approaching 49. But Ed’s funeral made me think about “showing up”—what we say NCS is about at its core (I thought about it so much that I sent myself an e-mail that said “showing up” just so I wouldn’t forget). It also made me think about what it means to be a “faithful presence”—what the 2010 Retreat is all about.
Ed’s life, illness with cancer and death held many examples of NCS men “showing up” as a “faithful presence”:
- Ed gave up a financial career to show up as a faithful presence in broken lives as a family counselor because he believed God had called him to help heal marriages
- When Ed was healthy, he would come to NCS and show up as a faithful presence by volunteering to run the book/CD table.
- When Ed was very sick, he still showed up at NCS meetings whenever he had the energy, regardless of whether the speaker was famous or not, because Ed knew NCS is about the fellowship—it is about showing up in the lives of your brudders. His faithful presence taught hope and faith by example.
- When Ed was hospitalized, two NCS brudders with very busy lives, Dave Swanson and Wiley Mullins, showed up as a faithful presence at the hospital day after day to pray with Ed and support Ed’s wife Karen.
- When Ed went home to the Lord, his NCS brudders showed up at the visitation and the funeral (in fact, Dave Swanson gave one of the eulogies and ask all NCS men in church to stand up—it was nearly 50% of the men in the room)—faithful presence.
At an NCS New Canaan meeting earlier this month, Paul Young, author of
The Shack, told about the seven men who stood by his side while he watched his home get auctioned in a foreclosure
(CLICK HERE to hear Young's powerful message about finding God's love). Before getting involved with NCS, I sometimes wondered who, other than my family, would
show up to my funeral—I no longer wonder, because I have brudders.
If you only “
show up” at NCS meetings just to hear a speaker (or only show up when the speaker is someone “famous”) or if you only “
show up” in the lives of brudders at NCS meetings, then you are missing something really, really important. I don’t know what my number is, but I am thankful to Ed, Dave, Wiley and many others for reminding me to make the most of every day I have by connecting with and loving those God has put in my path—reminding me to be a “
faithful presence”. I know it's not something I am good at, but I know it is something I need to get better at. That was part of the powerful message of last week’s NCS New Canaan speaker, Dr. John Seel (one of our Retreat speakers). If you weren’t there, I strongly encourage you to listen
(CLICK HERE to hear Seel's message).
CLICK HERE to register for the 2010 Annual Retreat