Youth Sport - Update

NEWS AND VIEWS 40 members of the Christians in Sport team ran the Rome Marathon on Sunday, raising money for Christians in Sport and Game of 2 Halves. Look out for pictures on the website soon... The one day Sports Plus Camps in Perthshire and Belfast are less than 2 weeks away Book your place now! Also coming up is the Oxfordshire one day camp on the 28th April. Check out the latest availability for the summer Sports Plus Camps here	PLAYER PROFILE
BIBLE BIT The story so far: 1) Created identity – we are God’s creative possessions 2) Different identity – called to be different from the world 3) This week – *physical identity* Radio 1 released a survey a few weeks ago in which they asked 25,000 people, mostly aged 17 to 34, how they felt about their bodies – 51% of young women would have surgery to improve their looks and 20% of men in their early 20s said that they have taken protein supplements in a bid to help themselves bulk up. There is real pressure to look the ‘right’ way today and nowhere more will we experience this than in the world of sport. How do we, as Christians, find our true *physical identity* within the world which is constantly telling us to look a certain way? Have you ever seen Maurice Green at the start of the 100m as he prepares for the race? His eyes are completely fixed on the finish line and are not distracted by anything else around him. This is the picture of what we need to do too – focus completely on God. The more we focus on him and care about what he thinks, the less we will be concerned about the world around us. Listen to what Paul says in Colossians 3 v 1-2: ‘Since then you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above…set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.’ What is he saying here? 1) Set your hearts on God – our heart’s desire should be to please God above everyone else. 2) Set your mind on things above not on earthly things – fill our minds and thoughts with the truths and promises of God rather than those of the world. How then do we do this? How do we stop ourselves from comparing our physical appearance with others? How can we use our bodies for God’s glory and not our own? Every time you find yourself comparing your physical appearance with others or using your body to glorify yourself this week, dismiss the thoughts and replace them with the truths found in God’s word about all he has done for us through the cross. How about leaning this verse from Colossians (3 v 1-2) and using it to keep our eyes focused on God this week?	Name: Jon Hilsden Nicknames: Hilsden, Jonny, Hils, JP Sport: Football mainly, but a bit of Tennis and Rugby as well. Sport Status: I play for Glenwood Church in the South Wales United Churches League Division 1, also play for my school 6th form in rugby and for my tennis club. Story: I play in a churches league but it is still very competitive. I'd like to think I play to the rules all the time, but I have some moments of madness where I shout at the referee or argue with another player, but still have never been booked. So I have to try and remember why I am playing, because God has given me the health and ability to play, so I need to focus on honouring God when I play whatever the situation. Also I have two very good friends that are really into sport, but do not play for my team, that I try to invite to church events, but they want nothing to do with it. I am praying that God would open their minds to trying church just once, and then see where we go.
	PRAYER POINTS Pray that we would keep our hearts and minds focused on God this week. Pray for Jon Hilsden as he represents Jesus. Pray for your sports friends who don't know Jesus.
	Missed an issue? Want to refresh your memory? - back copies of Youth Sport now online You are currently subscribed to Youth Sport email. To unsubscribe click here