Pete Rose

Since we're on the subject of baseball in Cincinnati, let's talk about Pete Rose today.

Pete Rose was one of baseball's greatest players and he is the game's all-time hit king. A gambling addiction got him banned from the game and from the Baseball Hall of Fame, but it's difficult to think of anyone who played the game with more intensity than Charlie Hustle.

Pete Rose was once asked by a reporter about his hitting philosophy.

Rose replied, "Every time I step up to the plate, I expect to get a hit! If I don't expect to get a hit, I have no right to step in the batter's box in the first place! If I go up only just hoping to get a hit, then I probably don't have a prayer to get a hit."

Shouldn't we as Christ followers have the same positive, can-do attitude?

Philippians 4:13 (TNIV) says, "I can do all this through Him who gives me strength."

"All this."

Every bit of it.

If you truly are a Christ follower, then it's time for you to step in the batter's box, expecting a lot of hits for your church or ministry.

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

The Red Stockings Of Cincinnati

I once wrote a book called "The Red Stockings Of Cincinnati: Base Ball's First All-Professional Team." The book details the story of the 1869-1870 Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first team in baseball (or "base ball", as the sport was called in 1869-1870) to pay all of its players a salary. The Red Stockings were a powerhouse, going undefeated for 1-1/2 seasons, and they gave rise to professionalism in sports as we know it today (for better or worse).

Signed copies of "The Red Stockings Of Cincinnati" are now available, and 100% of the proceeds go to the international ministry and mission of Celebration Champions Church. To order your signed copy of "The Red Stockings Of Cincinnati", please send a check or money order in the amount of $20 to Celebration Champions Church, 660 Celebration Avenue, Suite 170-210, Celebration, FL 34747.

http://www.celebrationchampions.com/

www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov

Facebook: Celebration Champions Church

Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Second Chances

I once wrote a book called "Second Chances: How God Uses Imperfect People For His Great Glory." The book is full of stories of how some of the greatest heroes of the faith also messed up big-time, and how God gave each of them a second chance, just as He does with you and me, too.

Signed copies of "Second Chances" are now available, and 100% of the proceeds will go to support the ministry and mission of Celebration Champions Church. If you'd like a signed copy of "Second Chances", then please mail a check or money order in the amount of $20 to Celebration Champions Church, 660 Celebration Avenue, Suite 170-210, Celebration, FL 34747.

http://www.celebrationchampions.com/

www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov

Facebook: Celebration Champions Church

Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Dwight Howard

Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic is one of the top superstars in the National Basketball Association. Recently he was baptized in the Atlantic Ocean. The story of Howard's baptism, along with photos, is located at the following link:

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/sports/orlando-magic/os-magic-dwight-howard-baptized-1024120101024,0,1225249.story

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Contemporvant

Is your church a "contemporvant" church?

Check out this YouTube video and find out!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlyvLzIcTBc


www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Temptation Teaching Video

We just filmed a new Celebration Champions Church teaching video about temptation. We have posted the video on both Vimeo and YouTube.

Here are the links:

http://www.vimeo.com/16000106

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Q43uTA-A10

Check it out!

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Cesar Chavez

Mexican-American farm labor leader Cesar Chavez once was asked what the Church should do in order to help out struggling migrant farm workers.

Cesar Chavez responded:

"What do we want the Church to do? We don't ask for more cathedrals. We don't ask for bigger churches or fine gifts. We ask for its presence with us, beside us, as Christ among us. We ask the Church to sacrifice with the people for social change, for justice, and for love of brother. We don't ask for words. We ask for deeds. We don't ask for paternalism. We ask for servanthood."

It's all about servanthood.

Always.

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Museums & Hospitals

A church should not be a museum for saints.

A church should be a hospital for sinners.

Is your church a museum? Or a hospital?

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

The Coming Evangelical Collapse

I've attached a link for a fascinating article about the potential for a coming evangelical collapse in the USA.

This report is extremely interesting and, sadly, has a lot of truth to it.

Remember, though, that with each collapse also comes a rebuilding.

Here's the link to the article:

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2009/0310/p09s01-coop.html?sms_ss=email&at_xt=4cb5c1d01918baa4,0

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Vimeo & YouTube

A great way to get the word out about your church or ministry is to film and post videos on Vimeo and YouTube. Check out a couple of examples of our Celebration Champions Church promo videos which we have posted on Vimeo and YouTube:

http://www.vimeo.com/15826446

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmd--itJ4O4

Give it a try and boost your church or ministry!

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Like & Unlike

Mahatma Gandhi once was asked for his opinion about Christianity.

Gandhi paused for a moment, and then he responded:

"I like your Christ. I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ."

I'm afraid he was right.

What are you doing today to change this widely-held perception of Christians?

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Temptation Promo Video

We just uploaded a promo video for this Sunday's teaching about temptation at Celebration Champions Church.

You can watch the CCC temptation promo video at:

http://vimeo.com/15784478

What tempts you? Sex? Drugs? Booze? Money? Power? Fame? Cookies-n-Cream ice cream? All of the above?

If you're in Florida, then join us this Sunday at Celebration Champions Church as we learn how to defeat temptation!

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Preach

St. Francis of Assisi once said:

"Preach the Gospel at all times. When necessary, use words."

If someone put a strip of duct tape over your mouth, would the world still be able to know that you are a Christ follower?

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

TR & Wisdom

As I was preparing for my Wisdom Part 2 teaching this Sunday at Celebration Champions Church, I found the following quote from former U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt:

"9/10 of wisdom consists in being wise in time."

There is a direct correlation between wisdom and timeliness. TR was right on target on this one.

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Image

American writer and humorist Mark Twain once observed:

"God created man in his own image, and man returned the favor."

What image do others see when they look at you? Do they see God's image - or only your own?

Remember that God created you in his image - and not the other way around.

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Wisdom

Please check out our new Celebration Champions Church video on Vimeo about wisdom:

http://www.vimeo.com/15598009

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church
Facebook: Stephen Guschov

Prayer

Every Wednesday night we have a time of prayer at Celebration Champions Church. We believe that it is important not just to meet together on Sunday mornings, but also to set aside a time during the week for community prayer. We believe that God blesses a church that prays together.

We want to pray for all of you who read this blog. Please leave your prayer requests in the "Comments" section of this blog, and know that we will be praying over your requests every week.

Psalm 34:15 (TNIV) - "The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their cry."

Psalm 34:17 (TNIV) - "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."

Jeremiah 33:3 (TNIV) - "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

James 5:16 (TNIV) - "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective."

1 Peter 3:12 (TNIV) - "For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer ...."

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church

Yogi Berra

Yogi Berra, the legendary Hall of Fame catcher for the New York Yankees, is famous for his collection of quotes and life observations that can be downright head-scratching and deeply philosophical - at the same time!

For instance, Yogi Berra has said:

1. "You can observe a lot just by watching."

2. "It's like deja-vu all over again."

3. "When you come to the fork in the road, take it."

4. "The future ain't what it used to be."

5. "It ain't over 'til it's over."

Yogi Berra also made one other observation that seems a little bit head-scratching, and a little bit philosophical, and also quite a bit biblical in its own way.

Berra once observed:

"In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is."

Wow. Yogi Berra just summed up James 1:22 quite well. I'm sure that he never intended to do so.

James 1:22 (TNIV) says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."

The Yogi Berra Version (the "YBV") of James 1:22 might read, "Don't just theorize. Practice."

Mere theorizing and listening can lead to nothing of impact.

Practicing and doing, however, leads to accomplishment and achievement.

Don't just listen. Do.

Don't just theorize. Practice.

The YBV tells me so.

www.celebrationchampions.com
www.twitter.com/StephenGuschov
Facebook: Celebration Champions Church