Pastor Craig - September 2018

 “Coach Darrell Royal who was a former coach of Texas tells of one of
those great football battles between Texas and Oklahoma. Oklahoma had
Texas down on their own 2-yard line. Texas had 98 yards to go to score.
As the situation was hopeless, and to be safe the Texas coach called his
quarterback over and gave him these instructions. He said, “Listen, when
you get back out there, first, I want you to run a quarterback sneak. I want
you to really hold on to that ball. Then second, I want you to have another
quarterback sneak. I want you to hold onto that ball. Then third, I want
you to have another quarterback sneak. I want you to hold onto that ball.
Now lastly, now get this, I want you to punt. Now let’s review it. I want
you to do it exactly the way I told you. What do you do first?
“Quarterback sneak.” That’s right! What do you do second?
“Quarterback sneak.” “That’s right! What do you do third? “Quarterback
sneak.” What do you do last? “Punt”. The coach said, “You’ve got it!
Now son, I want you to get out there and play as you’ve never played
before.”

 The quarterback went running out, kicking up the turf. They had their first
play. He held onto the ball, and he went clear down to the middle of the
field. They did their second play and went to 20 more yards down the
field. They did their third play and made it to the two-yard line. Only two
yards to go to score the touchdown. They were only one point behind.
The quarterback lined the guys up and “punted”. Coach Royal called him
over and said, “What were you thinking?” The quarterback replied, “I was
thinking what a crazy coach to have me punt on the two-yard line!”
“But that is what you told me to do!!!” Have you ever heard this and your
response might have been something like, “but that is not what I meant”.
All one has to do is go through the Bible and hear God, the prophets, the
disciples and yes even Jesus correct the hearers and say, “You didn’t
understand what I was trying to say to you.” The Gospel of John is
probably the gospel that points this out the most. Remember it is difficult
for us, who know that Jesus is the Son of God, to try and figure out what
Jesus is showing and teaching us. Think of those who are hearing it for
the first time.

 I have learned over the years not to take the Spirit of God for granted.
There is a reason that the Holy Spirit is represented by the flames. Like a
campfire, the flames are continually moving. That is the Spirit. For us,
like the football player, we need to know the basics and the purpose of the
game which is the foundational belief in God’s loving, caring, presence in
our life. Once we know that, we can allow ourselves the freedom to see
the wonder that God has done and is doing in our lives. Not as a set of
laws and rules to obey, but a deeper understanding that we are able to
reflect with confidence and mirror our actions to those that the Holy Spirit
has called us to do.

 Soon, we will be starting again the Bible Studies, confirmation, Sunday
School etc. All for the purpose of hearing and learning and trying figure
out what this means in our own lives.

 It is a privilege to try and determine God’s message to us all.


In Christ,

Pr. Craig