CHARGER NATION: GAME #11

Charger Nation,

                Today we have game #11.  It is our first playoff game and we play Savannah Christian.  Savannah won their first round playoff game last week 22-15 over Hebron Christian.  They have some very good players.  The ones that really stood out to me on film were the QB #2, the Center/DE #54, and the FB/Mike Linebacker #36.  They run GT’s offense and play an aggressive attacking style of defense.  We have worked hard this week and I feel like we are prepared.  The boys are ready to play.  The coaches are ready to play.  Kick off can’t get here fast enough!

                

        “A new commandment I give you, that you love one another: Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this people will know that you hare my disciples, if you have love for one another.”   John 13:34-35

               Over and over we have clearly stated our mission in ELCA Football: To use the game as a tool to build young men for Jesus Christ.  We want to win but we pray constantly that the pursuit of worldly glory would die and we would find joy in instilling biblical Christian manhood values in these young men.  Everyday is an opportunity to challenge the boys to die to their sinful selves and be a coachable player and a great teammate.   It is a war for us all. 

                As we strive to teach the boys Christ centered character, I find the great struggle in my own life with self-centeredness.   I see it among the players as well.  One of the greatest impacts of the fall is sin has caused man to go from being fully in pursuit of God to being fully in pursuit of self.  When we are in full pursuit of God we are in full pursuit of others because this is his command.  We are sinful naturally so naturally we defy God’s commands and we are in full pursuit of self.  But I see it: The danger of being in fully pursuit of self is in the end it leads to jealousy, bitterness, anger, division, and wrath. 

                If we are fully in pursuit of self then we naturally think everyone around us should be in full pursuit of me as well.  It becomes very frustrating that a certain person does not think that I am as great as I am or as smart as I think I am.  So, once again naturally, we hate that person that does not think I am as great as I think I am.  The self-centeredness, this love of self, creates division and separation.  There can be no unity in a group of people who are all self centered.  

                Have you ever seen two self-centered people arguing?  There is only yelling and speaking over each other.  There is no listening.  A self-centered person has no room to listen to another person’s point of view or perspective.  In the self loving person’s mind, only he or she should be speaking and the other person listening.  Once again, great division comes with self-centeredness. 

                Truth be told, we all struggle with this love of self.  We are enslaved to it.  It is sinful and it is wretched but it is who we are in our fallen state.  Most of us are blind to it unless God has opened up our eyes to our sinfulness.  Yes, it is disgusting and it destroys.   Yes, it divides.  There is nothing good about self love and no good fruit can come from it.  And this is why Jesus gave us a new commandment while he was on earth: To love one another.  

                So with this baseline of knowledge I can see what a great team should look like.  A great team is a group of individuals who are committed to personal excellence.  Each person desires to be the very best they can be; to maximize the talents and abilities that God has given them.   But here is the hard part: Within a great team these people who are striving to be their best are also desperately pulling for the person next to them.  Not only is the individual working his hardest to be his absolute best but he has a longing desire to see the men and women next to him be their best.  And if that means that person has more success in areas then them, they have joy for that person.  In fact, I believe life without sin would mean I could actually take great pride in the success of my teammate-more so than my personal success. 

                To me this is idea is a team concept in a sinless and pure form.  As our goal is to build men for Jesus Christ, we tell and show the boys the picture of this type of team.  We will never truly see it this side of heaven.  But we strive for it daily! 

We do have a great model and example.  The perfect example: Jesus Christ The Creator of the Universe came down from Heaven to die on the cross for our sins.  Jesus Christ died for me and you.  We rejected god and had no desire for god yet Jesus came and died for us so that we may have life.  His passion and His desire was to see us saved.  I can’t help but be thankful.  I also stand condemned.  I can’t help but ask myself, “What if my deepest desire was to see the success of those around me rather than myself?”  In this I believe I would find insurmountable joy.  Christ is the example.  Not only did he command it but he showed it.  May he grant us the ability to be faithful and to bear the everlasting and unifying fruit that comes from loving one another.  

Beat Savannah Christian!

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory comes from the Lord.” 

                                                                                                                Proverbs 21:31

Wholly for Christ,

Coach Gess