The Get Back Coach

This video is a humorous look at a phenomena in American sports.  In American style football most teams have a coach who is assigned to act was the “get back coach” during games.

Sometimes, during the heat of a game, one of the team’s coaches or players will become so emotional that he will run out onto the field of play. This can result in a penalty being assessed on the coaches team. In the professional version of American football, the action may even result in monetary fines assessed against the team. Sometimes, players and coaches in unauthorized areas on the field can even be injured by accidentally colliding with 300 pound men running while wearing protective armor and hard helmets.

To prevent penalties and/or injuries, one of the other coaches is assigned the in-game duty of being the “get back coach.”  He continually reminds the other coaches and players to “get back” when they get too close to illegally entering the field of play by crossing over the sideline “out-of-bounds” strip of paint.  He will often resort to grabbing the momentarily insane coach and “escorting” him back off the field of play. 

 Sometimes, we as Christians can go off on tangents and have to be grabbed and restrained by a loyal friend until we return to our senses.

“Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted.” Galatians 6:1. 

"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)

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)

The Passing of a Witness

Sixteen year old Sid Ortis died on 31 October 2015 after a fifteen month battle with osteosarcoma. 

He has become known around the world for the brave way he lived his life after his diagnosis and for his devoted love of Louisiana State University (LSU) football. Most of the reports also mention his “faith.” The real focus of most of the news reports is actually about the intense relationship which developed between Sid and Les Miles, the coach of The LSU Bengal Tigers football team.

Coach Miles exchanged cell phone numbers with Sid, gave Sid’s family a set of box seat tickets to the football stadium, and told Sid, “Life is not how long you live, but how well you live it.”

The news reports for the most part mentioned Sid’s “faith” without elaborating on what that actually meant. Either they were uncomfortable with it or did not actually understand what “faith” meant. Sid’s parents understand.

Of course, not everyone is impressed. One commenter said that this kind of thing is what drove him to be an atheist. He sarcastically wanted to know what kind of God would seem to ignore prayers and allow such a kind and gentle young man to suffer so much. Sid’s mother responded that her son was transformed into a fearless person by the power of the Lord. 

Sid’s mother, Lynn Ortis, said, “We are so proud of our son for not getting bitter, living life, trusting Jesus until the end.”

Sid’s father, Scott Ortis, knows the effect of his son’s illness, “Dozens and dozens have come back to a spiritual belief because of Sid.” Scott said that Sid told him that he was lucky because, if he lived, he was able to stay with his family and, if he died, he would be with Jesus.

Here is a prayer, one of the last things Sid was able to say before he died, 

"Dear Lord, thank you for everything you've given me and these wonderful friends who have been there with me through the fight. And let them all live prosperous lives once I'm gone, and let everybody stay on the path of righteousness and not get away from You. Amen."

"His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your master.’ Matthew 25:23 

"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)

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Some of those listed may surprise you.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Bob Newhart: ((b. 1929, Illinois, USA; aka: George Robert Newhart) Stand-up comedian, television and film actor. Roman Catholic.

Virginia Quinn Newhart: Wife of Bob Newhart. Roman Catholic.

Chloe Grace Moretz: (b. 1997, Georgia, USA) Child film actress most known for her controversial roles in Kick-Ass (2010) and Carrie (2013).  She says that her family is “very Christian.”  I am not sure what she means by that and whether or not she, herself, is a Christian.. 

Reginald Howard White: (b. 1961, Tennessee, USA – d. 2004; aka: “the Minister of Defense”) College and professional football player and a member of the Hall of Fame at both levels. Ordained Baptist minister and evangelist.  His views on race and homosexuality became very controversial.  Late in his life, he learned Hebrew and studied under Nehemia Gordon, a Karaite Jew, who is based in Jerusalem.  White's profound interest in Torah led many to believe that he became a Jew, but he never renounced his Christian faith.

Daniel Meyer: (b. 1957) World’s only Christian sword swallower. Clown, juggler, stilt walker, fire eater, glass eater. 

Sewing Machine

Before their annual “meeting” this year with the Auburn University football team, the University of Alabama football team was an overwhelming favorite to win the 2013 American college football championship.  Auburn did the unthinkable, going in one year from a hapless, and even embarrassing, season to being a legitimate national championship caliber team.  At least partly because of their defeat of Alabama, the Auburn University team will be competing in the national championship game against the team from the Florida State University.  This post is not about that.

On the national television broadcast of the Alabama – Auburn football game there was what to many was a very humorous moment.  An Auburn player, Ladarius Owens, had a tear in his uniform.   Rather than having Owens put on another jersey (shirt), the team brought out a portable sewing machine to repair the one he was wearing.

Many people laughed at this.  I would say that, rather than being silly, this showed an extreme attention to detail.  The team was prepared for any eventuality, even a torn shirt.  Are those of us in the Church, prepared for anything which might happen?  Are we prepared for a power outage?  Are we prepared for the abrupt resignation of our pastor?  Are we prepared for the sudden illness of a church member during a church service?  Are we prepared to respond to a natural disaster?  Are we prepared for an armed intruder in our church?

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

Super Bowl Controversy

Today is Super Bowl Sunday during which about 117,000,000 people are expected to watch the annual professional American football game on television.  There are numerous storylines around the story of the current game: the two head coaches are brothers; one of the prominent players (who once was charged with murder) is playing in his last game and is openly talking about his relationship with God; the two teams were both unlikely participants in the championship game; one of the quarterbacks is playing in his second season of professional football and did not get his first starting assignment until the middle of this season; the sport itself is embroiled in controversies over player injuries and the use of performance enhancing drugs; etc., etc., etc.  But another controversy has grabbed the headlines.

In one of the innumerable pre-game player interview, ahe San Francisco 49ers player, Chris Culliver, answered a question about homosexuals in the game of football.  "No, we don't got no gay people on the team, they gotta get up out of here if they do.... Can't be with that sweet stuff. Nah…can't be…in the locker room man. Nah."  A firestorm erupted, as would be expected.

Brendon Ayanbadejo, a player for the Baltimore Ravens team, said he thinks about half of the league’s players agree with Culliver.  Of the 50%, he says, 25% think like him and 25% “are religious – they don’t necessarily agree with all of the things I agree with, but they’re accepting.”

As a conservative Christian, I believe that the Bible does condemn homosexual acts and I also believe as do most conservative Christians that homosexuality is a chosen lifestyle. I know about some scientific studies which suggest subtle differences in brain anatomy between homosexuals and heterosexuals but I am also aware of fmri (functional magnetic resonance imaging) research which seems to suggest that brain anatomy may be functional rather than rigidly fixed and that behavior may influence which portions of the brain perform which tasks.  Behavior may determine anatomy.  I am not a neurobiologist and that controversy will not be resolved here.

I work with several homosexuals who know what I believe and who have no problem with me because they understand that I treat them with respect as individuals.  The workplace is not a sexual situation and one’s sexuality should be left at home.  There are laws in the United States against sexual harassment of any sort and most companies will immediately dismiss employees who engage in sexual activity (heterosexual or homosexual) with another employee, even if it is totally consensual.

Various perspectives on homosexuality and the Bible.  Never be afraid to examine views other than your own.

http://bible.org/article/homosexuality-christian-perspective

http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/gay/long.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bible_and_homosexuality

http://christianteens.about.com/od/whatthebiblesaysabout/a/wbsaHomosexual.htm

http://www.bible.ca/s-homo=sin.htm

http://www.gaychurch.org/gay_and_christian_yes/gay_and_christian_yes.htm

A Dream About Jesus and the National Championship Game

When I heard this, at first I thought that JJ was having a Michael Jr. moment but, then, about halfway into his story, I realized that he had veered off into a totally different direction.  As long time readers of this blog already know, Michael Jr. is my favorite comedian.  Michael tells funny stories and then, suddenly, the story becomes a sermon or a twist of the Holy Spirit’s sword, exposing our failings or hypocrisies.

I find this video to be troublesome.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6W6QAy9dR78

I am not going to tell you what to think, or why.  Make up your own mind.

Unredeemed Human Nature

“People will go to any length to take what you have or harm you in some way just because they don’t have what you have.”  Thomas Jones, former running back for the National Football League team, The Kansas City Chiefs.

I am convinced that Thomas is correct.  Below the thin layer of civilization which we maintain, the animal still lives.  The horrors portrayed in the films, No Blade of Grass  (1970) and Time of the Wolf (2003), represent the truth.  Our only hope is in transformation of our selves into new creations in The Lord.

Roll Tide! War Eagle!

I have spoken before about how football is almost a religion in Alabama.  People are born into Alabama or Auburn families and sons of players at one school almost invariably play at the same school.  Most approach this in a rational fashion and take good natured pokes at one another.  As with anything, a few become obsessive to absurd levels.

Today is the first game day of the 2012 season.  Auburn is playing the Clemson Tigers in Atlanta, Georgia and the currently second-ranked Alabama is visiting the Michigan Wolverines in Dallas, Texas. 

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Roll tide

War Eagle flight

The origin of Crimson Tide and Roll Tide:

The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California is where the Alabama team won their first four national titles (a total of fourteen.)  The national sports writers spoke of the team looking like a tide of red, a Crimson Tide, pouring onto the field.

The association with an elephant (the mascot: Big Al) began because the sports writers noticed a picture of a red elephant on the personal storage trunks the players brought with them.  The trunks were supplied to the team by a local Birmingham luggage company, Rosenberger's Birmingham Trunk, whose business logo is a red elephant.  The elephant logo refers to the strength of the trunks which they sell.

The origin of War Eagle:

The Auburn Tigers mascot is Aubie the Tiger.  The eagle, also, became associated with the team very early in Auburn history. In 1892, an eagle circled over the football field during a football game and the fans pointed into the air and yelled “War Eagle!”  

National Championship Football Game

Please forgive me this indulgence.  I am excited about the University of Alabama football team playing tonight against the Louisiana State University team for the national championship of college football.  Both teams are in the same football conference, The Southeastern Conference, and amazingly, in the same division of the conference.

The videos below are of Sara Evans, an outspoken Christian, singing the United States national anthem at an Alabama football game and of her husband, Jay Barker, also an outspoken Christian, who is now a radio talk show host but was formerly a collegiate (University of Alabama, of course) and professional football player.

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)

Update: The University of Alabama football team defeated the Louisiana State University team 21-0 to win the national collegiate championship.

Tim Tebow

(Some videos will not play properly when you click on the triangle.  Instead,  click on the title line in the picture and the video will begin .  When the video is completed, close the You Tube pop-up window to return to this blog.)


Tim Tebow (Timothy Richard Tebow) was born in the Philippines in 1987 to Baptist missionary parents. He has been the “star” on the football field since he was a boy; through high school, college, and a budding professional career.  Unlike so many “stars,” Tim Tebow’s main point of conversation is not himself.  Every conversation with Tim Tebow becomes a conversation about Jesus!  Not everyone is happy about that.

Here is a video of Tim Tebow in action. He is number 15 in blue.

In this video, he is number 15 in white, running as well as a professional running back.

Against the Dallas Cowboys.

Here is blasphemous “comedic” skit  on the American television program, Saturday Night Live, poking fun at the fact that Tebow’s team, the Denver Broncos, has been winning games even though his own personal game statistics are not particularly impressive overall.  The skit is saying he must have had “help.”

Tebow has never said his team is winning because of his faith. What he has said is that he plays hard and to the best of his ability at all times because he dedicates what he does on the field to the Lord. He does what he does for the glory of Jesus.

Listen to Tim

Read about Tim

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tebow 

What They Think of Us: Jake Plummer on Tim Tebow

Tim Tebow, a professional quarterback (American style football) is an outspoken Christian who talks about Jesus any time anyone sticks a microphone in his face.  Jake Plummer, a former professional player, had this to say, "I wish he'd just shut up after a game and go hug his teammates."  Tebow responded .

Request For Prayers and Get-Well Cards

Vince Sutton was not a star on the University of Alabama football team during the years 1984 to 1988.  He was the back-up quarterback, a substitute, the player who goes into the game if the primary player is injured or if the game has long-ago been won (or lost).  He played sparingly in 21 of the 56 games played during his time at the university.  His shining moment was when he was put into a game in 1988 and led his team to a come-from-behind win against the University of Kentucky.

Sutton has said that he loved every moment of his time at the university and, like most college athletes, he declares that his experience was positive, teaching him the values of hard work, discipline, personal responsibility, and how to deal with adversity.

Sutton, now the head football coach at Dawson Street Christian School in LaGrange, Georgia (USA), is now facing adversity of a sort he never encountered in college.  His kidneys have failed and he is on a waiting list to receive a kidney transplant.

Former teammates and coaches have pitched in to help Sutton.  What he is asking for from the public are prayers and get-well cards.  This blog has readers from eighty-seven countries.  If many of the readers would pray for Vince Sutton and/or send him get well wishes it might really boost his spirits as he waits.

Vince Sutton
110 Old Airport Rd., Apt. 713
LaGrange, Georgia, USA 30240

Christians

At some time during their lives, the following people have publicly identified themselves as Christian.   Inclusion in this list does not indicate approval or disapproval of the person, of their orthodoxy or lack of it, or of their actions.  Readers are encouraged to suggest persons who should be included on this list.  This is a recurring segment in this blog.

Clemente Vismana: (b. 1897, Italy – d. 1988, Myanmar)  WWI soldier, Roman Catholic priest, missionary to Burma.  He founded churches, orphanages, schools, and taught carpentry and mechanics.  He is creited with converting over 100 villages to Christianity and was the founder of the Christian towns of Monglin and Mongping.

Eugene Chizik: (b. 1961, Florida, USA) College football coach.  National championship in 2010 at Auburn University.  Raised as a Roman Catholic, now is a non-denominational Evangelical.

Theodore Anthony Nugent: (b. 1948, Michigan, USA, aka: Uncle Ted, the Nuge, the Motor City Madman) Rock music guitarist, vocalist, hunter, conservationist, political activist.  He has sold over 30,000,000 records. Roman Catholic.

Bernard Kincaid: (b. 1945, USA) Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama 1999-2007. Methodist.

Albert Burton Boutwell: (b. 1904, Alabama, USA) Attorney, politician.  Alabama State Senator 1946-1959, Lt. Governor of Alabama 1959-1963, Mayor of Birmingham, Alabama 1963-1967.  Methodist.

Apologetics

"I apologize."  We often say this when we realize that we have committed an offense, hurt someone's feelings, or sometimes, we say it, more sorry for being caught than for what we did.  This is a modern usage but it has little to do with the ancient meaning of the word.  The connection is that both senses of the word carry the idea of offering a defense,


"Apology" comes from the Greek word απολογία, ("speaking in defense").  The root words are "logos" ("λόγος"; "word," "reason") and "apo" (απο) a prefix which carries the idea of "separation from" and "of the place where something originates."  So, apologetics means reasoning from the origins of an idea.  Aπολογία was a legal term. The prosecution delivered the kategoria (κατηγορία), and the defendant replied with an apologia (απολογία), a formal legal response to a charge.  The intent was to reply to and to refute the charges.  The modern discipline of Christian Apologetics comes from this background.  Other religions also have their apologists .

There are multitudes of books available in the field of Christian Apologetics.  Two of my personal favorites are Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis, and Simply Christian. Why Christianity Makes Sense, by N.T. Wright.  Both men exhibit intellects of the first order. Bishop Wright comes across like a beloved pastor, or like your grandfather.  Lewis was an academic (he occupied the Chair of Medieval and Renaissance English at Cambridge University) and he might have come across to others as a little bit cranky.  Personally, I think he's hilarious with his ultra-dry British humor.  I'll talk about both of these books at a later time.


A modern apologetics group, The Fixed Point Foundation, attempted to place an advertisement during the recent National Football League Super Bowl but were rejected because the advertisement was "offensive."  This is just the sort of charge which Christian Apologetics attempts to refute.
  

Super Bowl Advertisement Rejected for "Religious Content"

Watch this You Tube clip.  An Alabama based group,  Fixed-Point,org, attempted to place this as a national advertisement during the recent broadcast of Super Bowl XLV.  They intend to try again to place the advertisement in 2012. As it now stands, they may have to to as they did this year and place the piece with local television stations.  This year the ad appeared in Alabama and Washington, DC.

The advertisement is not asking you to buy anything or to send any money to the organization.  The Fox Television Network rejected the advertisement as "offensive" because of its "religious content."  Obviously, the network feared that non-Christians might take offense at the simple, non-threatening presentation. We truly live in a wimpy, whiney world!

In truth, this borders on censorship of thought and free expression.  Sexual innuendos and vulgarities are permissible in television broadcasts, but anything of a religious nature is rejected.  The attitude is that religion is outdated, old-fashioned, divisive, offensive, closed-minded, and any number of other negative stereotypes.

By rejecting this advertisement, Fox placed it among a list of other advertisements which have been rejected, some very deservingly.


Below is a message from Fixed-Point,org, filmed at Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sweaty Football Player on a Bench

My wife was having surgery the other day (a total knee replacement!).  As I sat waiting to hear that her surgery was completed and that she was heading to her room, I saw a man walking down the hall.  He had on a red sweatshirt (crimson, actually. Roll Tide!).  On the front of the shirt was a picture of a lone football player sitting on a bench, his helmet by his feet, head bowed in fatigue, with sweat dripping. 

Hmmmm!???

On the back of the shirt was the slogan: "The true image of a champion is one of a man, sitting on a bench, dripping sweat, with no else around."

This is the attitude Christians need to take in their Bible study and prayer life.  We need to be champions.

 

Touchdown Jesus

I read the news reports on the destruction of Touchdown Jesus and immediately thought of Notre Dame University football. This isn't that Touchdown Jesus. The Notre Dame one is a mural visible from Notre Dame Football Stadium in which Jesus has upraised arms. The "legend" is that Jesus cheers every touchdown by the football team.

The destroyed statue is actually the "King of Kings," a 62 foot tall upper torso of Jesus with His arms upraised to Heaven. The locally popular name comes from the fact that the positioning of His arms is the same as that of a football referee signalling a touchdown by a football team.

The plastic foam and fiberglass statue was built over a steel frame and placed on an island at the head of the baptismal pond of the Solid Rock Church, a 4000 member non-denominational congregation in Monroe, Ohio. The statue was struck by lightning on 14 June 2010 and erupted into flames down to its base. To see a picture of the former statue go to http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/9786

The Glory for Christ Football League

Tim Tebow is the most well known home-schooled football player. He grew up in Florida which is one of the twenty-four US states to allow home schooled kids to play with public or private school teams. Georgia is one state which does not.

The eight team Glory for Christ Football League is made up of homeschoolers and students from small private Christian academies which don't have teams of their own. One coach has told his team to "block as if you're blocking for God," which of course, they are. Any activity performed for the glory of God is holy. We often forget that.

Football can be holy. Being a lawyer can be holy. Acting can be holy. Brother Lawrence, a 17th century lay Carmelite brother, in his book, The Practice of the Presence of God, showed that even cooking, cleaning pots and pans, and repairing shoes can be holy.

To see a slideshow on The New York Times website about The Glory for Christ Football League, go to http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/06/25/sports/0626-FOOTBALL_index.html