CHARGER NATION: GAME #5
ChargersNation,
Just like that we are at game
#5. We managed a way through the storm
and now it’s game day. Tonight we go and
play Holy Innocents in North Atlanta.
They are good football team that runs the triple option (Georgia Tech’s
offense). We must play great
defense. Great defenses play fast and
play with great discipline. Tonight that
will even be more important. The offense
tries and tricks you on who has the ball.
Each man has a job tonight and it is vital each man does there job. This requires discipline. Discipline is the key tonight!
One of our core character principles
is steadfast. It is a word not many
people use to describe anyone but I believe it is of the upmost
importance. The Bible uses it a lot and
mostly in the Old Testament to describe God.
Steadfast means to be unchanging or unwavering. I like to think it means to be consistent
with an intense focus on excellence. One
of the most valuable traits a young man can show me is that he is
steadfast. If I describe a young man
this way it means he shows up every single day with a resolve to get better and
improve. He is a hard worker day in and
day out and we can depend him to show up with a winning work ethic daily. We trust the steadfast person. We want to put the steadfast person in
leadership positions because they are dependable and trustworthy. It is an important characteristic in any
person.
This week was chaotic as we all had
to deal with the tropical storm Monday and Tuesday. Not having practice on Monday and asking the
kids to come in Tuesday afternoon when there was no school was different for
them. They were off there routine which
messes with a young man’s mind. On top
of this the boys have been 100 percent football since July 29th with
no breaks during the week. The key word
we talked about Tuesday: Steadfast.
I could sense many variables that could
be affecting our boys on Tuesday: 1.)
The tropical storm and being off schedule; 2.) The boys are now in the 8th
week of practice and they could be becoming complacent because they are
mentally exhausted; 3.) The boys are 4-0 and they might just start thinking
they don’t need to work hard because they are arrogant; 4.) There is always some other variable I know
exists but I don’t know what it is. So
what is the message? Young man: remain steadfast.
The steadfast man is
unwavering. External circumstances do
not affect him. The creeping softness
thought of being mentally exhausted is squashed by the steadfast man. For he knows he must push through and get
better every single day. The wayward
thought: “I am good and I do not need to work hard”is squashed by the steadfast
man. For he knows every single day is an
opportunity to improve. The steadfast
man understands that pride comes before the fall. And in any other situation or circumstance
that might be impacting us, we know to remain steadfast in adversity. The steadfast man trusts in Romans 8:28 and
draws strength from what God tells us: “And we know that for those who love God
all things work together for Good, for those who are called according to his
purpose.”
“And you, who were once alienated and hostile
in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his
death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before
him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable
and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard,
which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul,
became a minister.” Colossians 1: 21-23
As we diligently try and teach our
young men to be steadfast, we are equipping them with a character trait that is
essential in our walk with Jesus Christ.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, or let me say it
better: when Jesus opens up our eyes to the truth of the Gospel, we have
started a life long journey of growing to become than man or woman God has
created us to be. When God calls us he
begins to equip us to become men and women who will shine as lights in a
twisted and crooked generation. This
pursuit of Christ and growing in Christ in a sin stained world requires a
person to be steadfast. You will find
yourself in success and in failure. You
will be happy sometimes and often times frustrated and sad. You will wake up feeling good some days but
often times you won’t feel good. People
will help you and hurt you. No matter
what: remain steadfast by keeping our eyes focused on Jesus Christ. Do not waiver to external circumstances and
to your feelings. Put on Christ and
remain steadfast.
Steadfast is a great word:
unchanging, unwavering, faithful to the end.
It is something for which we should all strive. In our quest to raise up young men who will
be great husbands, fathers, and men who will impact the community for good,
being steadfast is a character attribute that is essential to their calling.
Beat
Holy Innocents!
“The
horse is made ready for battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” Proverbs
21:31
Wholly
for Christ,
Coach
Gess
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