CHARGER NATION: STATE SEMI-FINALS

 

 

Chargers,

             Well the time if finally here.  It is time for the #1 and #2 teams in the state to play each other.  As we head into this game tonight I want everyone to know that I have the upmost respect for the coaches at Prince Avenue.   In any classification, we are going up against one of the best coaching staffs in the country.  They have their great players as well.  As you watch tonight, #9, #72, #6, #77 are division 1 football players.  #43 and #44 are two of the best high school football players in the state. 

            Last week I heard a college coach who was going up against a great athlete say: “He is a great player, we have had fun watching him on film all week.”  I have never had fun watching great players on film that I am about to play.  In fact when you watch great players on film it is scary!  I don’t know what in the heck that coach was thinking saying he had FUN watching the film.  As we watched Prince this week we saw great players running a very confusing offense if we do not keep our eyes on our keys.  Our boys are going to have to DISCIPLINED tonight!  They have prepared like crazy—we are ready!

            A few weeks ago Uriah and I were racing around and I said: “the last one is the rotten egg.”  We started racing and I got in front of him and he dropped and broke down crying screaming: “But I want to be the rotten egg.”  He still doesn’t realize that being the rotten egg means he is the loser.  He also still hasn’t learned that you don’t break down and start screaming when you lose (working on it!)  So every night we race up the stairs to bed and I yell out:  “who is going to be the rotten egg?”   He runs as fast as he can cause he wants to be the rotten egg.  We just go with it cause it gets him to bed…the rotten egg has become the winner in our house.  BUT, what is funny is if he doesn’t win the race to bed or at anything he drops and starts crying.  He cried to me last night: “But dad I want to win.”  We all want to win and losing stinks.   I hate his whining but I sure am glad he doesn’t like to lose.  Part of growing up in life is learning how to respond in both winning and losing.  We want to win tonight and we know losing will hurt.  It’s what makes a semi-final game vs the #1 and #2 teams in the state so intriguing.  So using Gess house game rules, we want to be rotten egg tonight (that is winning)!   

            Once you enter into the playoffs the nerves, the worry and the anxiety is all tripled what it is in the regular season.  You know if you lose you are done and going home.  No competitive person ever wants to come in second.   Every step you go in the playoffs you can triple the nerves, the worry and the anxiety again.   I sit around and think, ok, this is our fifth time here in this situation—why do you still have all this anxiety about the game.  I have no clue.   But I just want kick off to get here!

            So at this point the worry, anxiety, and stress is x9 and it’s overwhelming sometimes.  As I was praying yesterday morning this verse came to my mind: “My times are in your hand.”  Psalm 31:15.  The comforting thing for Christians who live for Jesus Christ and in Jesus Christ is we worship and serve a Sovereign King.  God is in control of all things and orchestrates all things for his glory and our benefit (Romans 8:28).  My times are in God’s hands.  It is our responsibility to work our tails off and to prepare to the best of our ability.  But God is in ultimate control of all things.  I constantly pray that God will lead and guide my thought process, my work ethic and my daily actions:  I know He is the all-knowing Sovereign King (Psalm 32:8). 

            For me the stress does not come from being scared, it comes from wanting everything to be perfect.   When we draw it up on paper it looks perfect.  When we go to practice and people are actually moving it is not perfect.  We fight this struggle all week striving to have our boys perfectly prepared with the perfect gameplan.  By Wednesday or Thursday, right before my brain explodes, I find rest in Christ: My times are in his hands.  You see, we can work and work and work but we will never thwart the will of God.  This is why our work must be done for the glory of God.  Not for my glory God, but for your glory.  Not that I may be exalted Lord, but that you may be exalted.  When we work for the glory of ourselves we are striving against God and our will shall never prevail over the will of God.  I realize there are a lot more stressful things in life than being in a semifinal football game and I challenge us all to find peace and rest knowing: “My times are in your hand.” 

Psalm 31 ends with this verse: “Be strong and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the Lord.”  (Psalm 31:24)  As we head into this game tonight I have all the strength and courage as the Lord is my strength and courage.  The Lord is my Hope and my Trust.  Jesus Christ is my Savior: The greatest victor!  May he be yours as well!

I am excited about the game tonight and can’t wait for it to get here.  I love going into battle with this group of young men and these coaches. 

 

BEAT Prince Avenue

 

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory belongs to the Lord.”  Psalm 21:31

 

Wholly for Christ,

 

Coach Gess