by Dave Griffiths

Briefly addressing those in our midst who are not sports fans, this message is relevant WELL beyond the scope of athletics, so be patient and keep reading.

My allegiance to Philadelphia sports teams has certainly brought me some pain over the years. A few of my least favorite moments: Joe Carter's home run to eliminate the Phillies in the 1993 World Series, and four-straight NFC Championships for the Eagles without a Super Bowl title from 2002 through 2005. These last few weeks have been particularly rough for me sports-wise with the best-all-time-franchise-win-mark Phillies losing to St. Louis in the MLB postseason and the poorly-coached-NOT-a-dream-team Eagles losing four games in a row in the final minutes of the 4th quarter. What makes these results so tough to handle is the high expectations associated with each team in these losing situations.

(I'll pause as Florida State football fans nod their heads in agreement... Then shake their heads in disgust).

I've recently been thinking about how I invest myself in my sports teams, not only monetarily, but even more so with my time and emotions. I'm invested because the POSSIBILITY for a joyful return on that investment exists. The more you invest, the greater the joy is with a big win. Conversely, the greater the disappointment is with an empty loss.

Here's where we go beyond sports: What are you invested in with such high expectations that can swing your emotions so easily? Your job? Your portfolio? Your reputation? A relationship? These are all good pursuits, but when they define our emotional state more so than our relationship with Jesus Christ does, there's a problem.

I'm so thankful that investments of time, money and emotion in my relationship with Jesus never return empty or disappointing. The more we devote our complete selves to Him, the more we recognize His grace at work in and around us.  "Those who know your name will trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you" (Psalm 9:10).

If you're receiving this email, it probably means you think Jesus is actively working here in Tallahassee and with City Church specifically. Why then, if you believe that, are you waiting to take part in His plans involving this church? Invest your time -- maybe in students, some of whom their own parents have neglected, through our Godby High School tutoring program. Invest your money to help support our "Tear Down This Wall" campaign, adding 200 seats to the warehouse auditorium. Invest yourself emotionally in a community group where we can grow in Christ together, celebrate His successes in our lives and fight alongside one another in times of trials and persecution.

I challenge you to invest MORE than you have already in City Church to bring about a GREATER return for the Gospel and for the city.

"You will keep in perfect peace those whose mind is steadfast, because they trust in You." - Isaiah 26:3.

(Dave Griffiths is the Weekend Sports Anchor at WTXL, ABC27 HD in Tallahassee. Here at City Church, he is one of the faces of the Need To Know, co-leads the 22-25 year old men's community group, and tutors at Godby. In case you're wondering, the picture above was taken during his ghetto-fab sophomore year at Syracuse University in 2004).