Let The Games Begin!

There's a myriad of things running through my head this morning, as I awoke in the mountains of Tennessee. Let's see if I can form a coherent thought....

The beginning of a new football season is weighing heavy on my mind. My son's senior season of college football is about to come to fruition, and it brings to mind the challenges we are faced with everyday. Every one's metal is tested daily, whether you opponent is an addiction, a vice, your marriage, or people you work with. Sometime throughout the day your going to be called upon to reveal the level of your convictions. Your going to have to rely upon your faith, or your integrity, or your character. Perhaps the little challenges are practice for when the "big one" hits.

Football teams prepare all week for "game day." They run every possible scenario so they are prepared for anything. Yet somehow the opponent finds that little thing that was overlooked, and it comes down to how prepared they were as to the result. Same thing applies in life, you practice your faith, character, and integrity, yet somehow you get thrown a curve ball. Only then do we understand how important practice is!

Now on the upside, when we falter, the Lord above understands. That's why He left us the lesson of forgiveness. Not only that He forgives us, but we follow His example and forgive other's as well. Check out the Lord's Prayer...

...And forgive us our trespasses, so we can forgive those who trespass against us.

Then there was His gift of His son. Who left us the ultimate example of forgiveness as they nailed Him to the cross.

...Forgive them Father, for they know not what they've done.

I find it interesting with all the challenges we have living a life of faith, character, and integrity, we invent contests to challenge ourselves even more. All across the country today college football begins. 350 pound linemen with the attitude of a bull stung by a bee will stand between the opponents and their goals. This is when the preparation has paid off! They don't know the script you've been practicing, and will behave completely differently than you imagined. Your metal will be tested today, have you done your homework?

God Bless!
Capt. Bill