"Pathway To Victory!"

Last week was one of those tough weeks when you don't have enough hours in the day to get accomplished all that tasks you have to do. I found myself struggling trying to make sure the luncheon for Sellersburg Celebrates! was in order (I was the chairperson for it) and that I had my offensive and defensive line ready for the big game that took place on Monday, August 25. It was so bad that I could not get going on my sermon for last Sunday...but then something happened. I shut the door of my office and took time out to listen to God. It worked the sermon and service just started to flow.

What happened when I became silent is that God was able to give me the sermon he wanted me to share with his people...and the sermon title "Pathway To Victory" was on the cover of a New Testament book. The New Testament edition has former Green Bay Packer defensive end Reggie White on the cover. The New Testament has sports figures throughout it giving their own personal testimonies.

The pathway to victory is really an easy one. It starts by accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior and reading your Bible. It then requires that we stop beating ourselves up, because Christ gave us worthiness when he died for us on a cross.

I found it amazing how the football players I coach (see my "Overwhelmed" blog) have discovered Christ. The are excited about this discovery and they are also amazed they can have fun and be a Christian. Of course they will all tell you that as crazy and fun loving as I am proves that God does have a sense of humor.

Start your own pathway to victory...all paths start out with just one step and this case the step is Jesus Christ!

"Overwhelmed!"

Every once in awhile something happens on a Sunday morning that actually overwhelms me...such was the case last Sunday, August 17, 2008. I started out the morning like I do every Sunday morning making sure everything is ready for the morning service. I went over the quotes I was using for my sermon entitled "Are There Bugs in Your Light?" Then, about 15 minutes before the service was to start I was surprised who walked into the sanctuary...it was two of my football players of the team I serve as assistant football coach (offensive and defensive line coach).

Before the service started there were 20 players plus the head football coach. I was asked by Mike Flores (head football coach) to help with the Silver Creek High School football team. This is the first year for football at the high school since 1942. The players and Coach Flores came to show their support for me and to thank me for all I do for them. To say the least I was overwhelmed by their attendance.

People ask me all the time why a minister would coach football and Sunday was a prime example of why. I do it because I want to help the players become better young men by the end of the season then when they initially walked onto the football field. What made their attendance at the service even more special is five of the players asked at Monday's practice if they could attend church every Sunday...boy there is definitely a God!

After church I had the players go into my office. They were amazed at all of the football "stuff" as they call it in my office. They said they are starting to realize how you can be a true Christian and still enjoy life...now if that is not a profound statement I don't know what is! That is the problem with a lot of churches they make young people feel that to be a Christian you can not be "goofy" or fun loving and nothing can be further from the truth.

I also explained to them how a church is really like a football team. God is the head coach; the pastor is the assistant coach and the congregation is the team. The players said they all get it now. That is what makes it all worth it to coach. When young men finally "get it" and become excited for Christ. All I can say is that I am truly blessed to be able to impact the lives of young men through the sport of football. THANK YOU LORD!