Excellence

Nick Saban, the football coach at the University of Alabama, has coached two American college football teams (Alabama and the Louisiana State University) to national championships and is currently one win away from another national championship game.  Speaking about the fact that many of his former players have gone on to professional football careers and that many of his current players probably will do so, he gave his players this advice: “Don’t save yourself for something that won’t happen if you don’t spend yourself now.” This is very good advice.

Very good advice indeed. It can be applied to any endeavor. Never accept mediocrity when you can display excellence by the full application of your abilities.

Jesus said this exact thing in Revelation 3:16.  “So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.”

This is not expecting excellence. It is demanding excellence. It is disgust with half-hearted, nominal Christianity. Jesus is worthy and deserves our best.

"Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®,
Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973,
1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)

Whatever You Do ...

Nick Saban, the coach of the University of Alabama football team insists on only the best from his players.  Those players who do not play to their best level of ability are asked to sit down and others are brought forward to replace them.  Saban’s players almost unanimously credit him with teaching them how to be men and how to approach the rest of their lives after football.

One of the things which Saban teaches the young men is to approach each event as if it is the most important event ever.  He uses the example of the professional basketball player, Michael Jordan.  Saban has said of Jordan that “It doesn’t matter how many game-winning shots he’s made in the past.  The only one that matters is the one he’s about to take.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LAr6oAKieHk

I have spoken in the past that Christians should approach their lives as a quest for excellence for God. This is what the layman cook and shoe repairer, Brother Lawrence, did.  When he washed dishes, he washed the dishes for God.  When he repaired the sole of a shoe, he repaired the shoe for God.

“Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31

God Didn't Approve

We in the American South are often accused of making college football into a religion.  We laugh about it but know there is at least a hint of truth to the charge.  It was on display at the Southeastern Conference  (SEC) Media Days recently (Friday, 22 July 2011) at the Wynfrey Hotel in Hoover, Alaabama.

Each year the SEC football coaches, their staffs, some of their players, and innumerable newspaper, magazine, radio, television, and internet reporters gather to discuss the upcoming football season.  They talk about team strengths and weaknesses, up and coming players, and anything football related.

An Alabama fan, Eric Blackerby, of Columbiana, Alabama, was spotted wearing a tee-shirt with the logo "I HATE AUBURN ."  Asked about the shirt, NIck Saban , the coach of the University of Alabama football team responded, "I would tell him it's not personal, that it really isn't personal.  That is not really the way that we should respect the opponents that we have."

Asked later about Saban's comment, Blackerby responded, "It's like I went to church and God told me that he didn't approve."