Disagreement not Dishonor

(yes, yes I'm a fan... but really there is a good point here!) 

This past week the Ohio State Buckeyes surprised a great many people by winning the College Football Playoff National Championship.  In the end their power running game and stout defense made all the difference.  Luke Fickell, the coach in charge of that defense, stands as an important lesson to us all. After serving as defensive coordinator for six years under Jim Tressell, Fickell spent a season as the head coach of the Buckeyes. When current coach Urban Meyer was hired, he asked Fickell to serve once again as the defensive coordinator. Meyer expects hard work and loyalty from his assistants, and it would have been easy for Fickell to look for a smaller school where he could have remained the man in charge. To his credit though, he was willing to step back and be subject to the authority of another again.

“Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.”

Titus 3:1-2

Our nature is to believe that we know best, that we could run the team/company/committee better than anyone else if we just had the opportunity.  We magnify the shortcomings and faults of those around us and discount their strengths.  But clearly this is not what we are called to as followers of Christ.  We can disagree yes, but dishonor never. When we accept a position we also accept the structure that comes with it. And we ought to work hard and be loyal to those are in authority. It’s likely those folks are in place for very good reasons. And perhaps we will find ourselves “champions” as a result.

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 7, Number 47

the tebow effect

(be bold... or least don't be so afraid)

Perhaps the most fascinating story line of the 2011 NFL season was the rise of Tim Tebow. The big powerful quarterback throws the ball funny and doesn’t complete a ton of passes. What he does do is show an uncanny ability to approach the next play with confidence and optimism no matter how badly the last play went. Oh, and he wins too…which is, after all, why they play the games.

Tebow’s faith and his very public display of it became a hot topic as well. This constant talk show dialogue had an interesting effect. Person after person began to talk about and explain their own faith and how they lived it as compared to Tebow. The common theme was “I believe too… I just don’t wear it on my sleeve like he does.” We soon found out that even plenty of the sportswriters, commentators and other talking heads were Christians.

“…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16

We’re not all comfortable putting our faith out there. But we should be. God uses the things we do, the things we say and the people we interact with to advance his kingdom. Humans are the only created beings in the Bible who share the good news of Jesus to others. We have a role to play. Let your light shine with confidence and optimism!

Thanks for all you do.

Brian

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Volume 6, Number 33