Lantern and Compass Project

Clarity and Direction

unleashed

Superpower Unleashed

It’s a bird, it’s a plane. No, it’s superman! We’re all familiar with this superhero’s powers yet even he was vulnerable to kryptonite. The Kryptonite “pushes” out Superman’s stored energy and replaces it with poisonous radiation he cannot process! Even Superman has a weakness that renders him powerless.

Aren’t you glad that you have a power that nothing can render useless. Paul writes to the believers in Ephesus and encourages them as he shares the magnitude of God’s plan and the power He gives us through Holy Spirit.

“Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.”

Through Superpower Unleashed, the third in our Unleashed series, our team shared how God’s power works through ordinary people and how each person can receive the power that will help them understand, love and accomplish God’s plan for their lives.

Eric Valentine, founder and owner of Team Works, shared each week how God has empowered him through his business and how the skills and gifts that God has given him, enables him to do more than he would ever dare to ask or hope.

Each one of us have access to that power. The power that enables us to do far more than we could ever imagine through Holy Spirits power living within us as followers of Jesus Christ.

Unleashed Road Trip

PLANKS AND SLEDS AND BEARS, OH MY!

No, we were not heading to the Emerald City where we might have met the Great Wizard of Oz, instead we were heading to Crucible Performance gym where we met the man behind the business, Ryan Morse. 

Come on team! 15 more seconds. Last set, best set!

For five weeks Coach Ryan has been training and coaching a group of kids physically, socially and spiritually through the use of fitness and his love for Christ. 

Just like Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow were transformed through their journey to Oz with Dorothy these kids are being transformed in mind and body as they journey through Underdogs Unleashed with Ryan. Through the use of his gifts and talents, Ryan is sharing his knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus to help these kids discover how God created them and how they can have that same relationship with Jesus.

Ryan’s path to their hearts and minds might not be by following a yellow brick road although we did see a lot of yellow when we arrived at Crucible Performance. Ryan took the kids through high knees, planks, sleds, bear crawls and endless ropes with the hopes that they would be worn out for the trip home. Sadly for me they weren’t worn out and instead were famished on the return trip. Good thing we had a picnic basket that would have rivaled Dorothy’s. And no, we did not have a dog inside but we did have some healthy snacks.

There are many journeys that lead to a personal relationship with Jesus and each person’s journey is going to be different. Each will have its own set of trials, challenges, successes and questions. The important thing about every journey is that you keep putting one foot in front of the other and know that the journey brings growth that will help you be ready for anything.

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

James 1:2-4

Underdogs Unleashed

Lightning and Leslie, two characters from the Alps of Chicago, kicked off the evening by getting the students pumped up and ready to face some physical and spiritual challenges. I’m not sure how you can turn mowing the grass into a workout routine but these two had all the moves. Luckily for the students, Ryan showed up just as they were finishing a workout that could only be described as questionable and quite odd .

Ryan Morse, Christian and Crucible Performance owner

Ryan, our guest professional and owner of Crucible Performance, was invited to come and share with the students what he does in his business and share how Jesus is part of his fitness center.

This first session of an 8-week course called “Underdogs Unleashed” focused on being prepared for what God has planned for our lives. Ryan was an underdog growing up and could relate to David, a true underdog in scripture. Both learned to see the challenges in their lives as opportunities to grow in their faith, which prepared them for something bigger. James 1:2 says “Let it be all joy to you, my brothers, when you undergo tests of every sort.” Ryan encouraged the students to ‘Cherish the Challenge’ that they face each and every day.

David faced some incredibly big challenges in his life. Did he always get it right? No, but he learned to trust God through them and became known as a man after God’s own heart. What are some of the biggest challenges that you’re facing right now? Why do you think you’re going through those challenges? What bigger purpose do you think these challenges could be preparing you for?

You can find the joy in those challenges when you look to the one who is preparing you for something greater. Don’t give up. Keep preparing. Persevere. God will give you the courage and the strength you need to prepare and have the confidence to be everything God has made you to be.