"LET'S PLAY BALL"!

Football season is about to began.  Let's take a moment and reflect what takes place in a football game.  Before the season ever starts there are,"Two-A-Days".  This is a when the team holds practice twice a day.  Once in the morning, and once in the afternoon or evening.  Two-A-Days is used primarily to get in shape for the season.  The players of the team are required to attend Two-A-Days if they are planning on playing during the game. 

On offence there are two wide receivers, one tight end, two tackle, two guards, one center, fullback/running back, halfback/running back and a quarterback. It takes all these players on the field to continue with the game.  If one player is ill or has an injury, the coach has him sit on the bench and he takes in one of the other team players to play in that person place.  

What do you think would happen if in the middle of the season there are four players injured and sitting on the bench and five players have decided to take vacation, three players on the field decided to just stand around and talk to each other instead of playing, and the quarterback and two guards and one tight in are on the field trying to play the game.  Everyone of us know that this team is going to loose.  Who's fault is it?  Is it the coaches fault or the quarterbacks fault.  Not necessarily.

The same is true in our churches.  We can keep the coach and quarterback in position most of the time but if they get ready to pass the ball and the running back is standing around talking to the tight end do you think we can win the game?  Yet so many times the pastor and deacons of the churches are having to play two or three positions.  They are playing quarterback and they throw the ball and try to run out and fill in for the receiver who is nowhere to be found or just standing around talking.  When he fumbles the ball who gets reprimanded.  We have had deacons in our ministry that played every position because the team players felt they were not necessary.  The team members sitting on the bench decided to leave because the coach didn't pay them enough attention.

What do you think happens to that player eventually that plays two or three positions?  We all know that one person trying to do it all will become dehydrated and ill, or what we call burned out.

If you are a team player be sure and attend church regularly for your training,  Show up for the games and don't expect for one or two players to be filling all eleven positions.  If they try, not only will they fumble the ball but others will wonder what is the matter with them that they couldn't throw the ball and catch it too.   We can plainly see they shouldn't be expected to pass the ball and catch it, but they are having to do it while others doodle.

Let's take the game of life seriously and not treat it as something that doesn't matter.  We need a strong offense and defense for our coach and quarterback in order for them to be able to complete the plays and the passes. 


You may ask, "where am I included in the team"?  I am in the middle.  My team is more likely to succeed if I am doing my part. My team is less likely to succeed if I am not doing my part.  look closely at the picture below and see where you are in the