2008-10-17T06:59:00.000-07:00

Bob Richards, the former pole-vault champion, shares a moving story about a skinny young boy who loved football with all his heart. Practice after practice, he eagerly gave everything he had. But being half the size of the other boys, he got absolutely nowhere. At all the games, this hopeful athlete sat on the bench and hardly ever played.

This teenager lived alone with his father, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.

This young man was still the smallest of the class when he entered high school. But his father continued to encourage him but also made it very clear that he did not have to play football if he didn't want to.

But the young man loved football and decided to hang in there He was determined to try his best at every practice, and perhaps he'd get to play when he became a senior. All through high school he never missed a practice nor a game but remained a bench-warmer all four years.

His faithful father was always in the stands, always with words of encouragement for him.

When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a "walk-on." Everyone was sure he could never make the cut, but he did. The coach admitted that he kept him on the roster because he always puts his heart and soul to every practice, and at the same time, provided the other members with the spirit and

hustle they badly needed.

The news that he had survived the cut thrilled him so much that he rushed to the nearest phone and called his father. His father shared his excitement and was sent season tickets for all the college games.

This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got to play in a game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big playoff game, the coach met him with a

telegram.

The young man read the telegram and he became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, "My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?" The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, "Take the rest of the week off, son. And don't even plan to come back to the game on Saturday."

Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. "Coach, please let me play. I've just got to play today," said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game. But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. "All right," he said. "You can go in."

Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. He ran, he passed, blocked, and tackled like a star. His team began to triumph. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, this kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way for the winning touchdown.

The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you never heard. Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that this young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone The coach came to him and said,"Kid, I can't believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?"

He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said, "Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?" The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, "Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!"

Like the athlete's father, God is always there cheering for us. He's always reminding us to go on. He's even offering us His hand for He knows what is best, and is willing to give us what we need and not simply what we want. God has never missed a single game. What a joy to know that life is meaningful if lived for the Highest. Live for HIM for He's watching us in the game of life!

2008-09-30T18:48:00.000-07:00

In a Time of Struggle

by Laura Campbell

I am so confused I don't know what to do
From what I've learned I'm supposed to turn to you
Lord please help me just lead me in your way
This is what I am asking to you from me today
You know my situation I know that you care
Right now it seems my burden is too hard for me to bear
But you will help me through it i know that this is true
Please help my eyes focus soley on you
I need to figure this out
Dear God help me not to doubt
I need you here beside me
Without you life can't be
I have a lot to think about
There's a lot on my mind
Where is the answer that I am trying to find?
I'm searching my head
I'm searching my heart
All I know is that this is tearing me apart
Apart from friends
Apart from life
Help me remove this pain that stings like a knife
Lord I give it to you, my life in your hands
I know I can trust everything in your plans
Whatever you do
I'll always believe in you

The Book

2008-09-30T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Book
by Emilie Lenhart Robertson

I've been sitting here thinking
Of my life up to now
The many roads I've traveled
As I was searching how
I could make it into heaven
And really what it took
And it came to me quite suddenly
The way is in THE BOOK.

Yes, I've stumbled quite a lot
As I've wandered through this life
There were times I didn't care
If what I did was wrong' or right.
Somehow God was patient
Each time His plan I forsook
And I didn't pay attention
To what was written in THE BOOK.

Now I thank God for His mercy,
For watching over me each day
For sending His son, Jesus
To show us all the way.
I thank Him most of all, though
For causing me to look
For I always knew the answer
Would be written in THE BOOK.

mystuffs

In a Time of Struggle

The Book