My FRiend, you are firing on all cylinders this morning on this topic. Great, great points (even though etc. etc.). I wish more of the kids I work with had parents, relatives, friends and mentors with this ethic, but it’s amazing how many people DO have it. I’ve shocked by kids who at first sight might be dismissed as punks or thugs who are very articulate about this topic. Of course there are many who talk about money and trash talk, but it is encouraging to hear how sincere so many are about HOW you play the game.
And I’m not at all ashamed to present the gospel this way to an “atheist” (and some atheists are much closer than they think to agreeing with God). The Bible uses the Roman races (agon) of old as one metaphor for living in faith the way God wants a person to live. Run as though to win, “beat” your “body” (persevere through difficulty and never give up the struggle when human weakness might tempt you to), do it with “fear and trembling” (not running scared with the idea that God is threatening to toss you into hell, but knowing that God means business and He is going to brook no nonsense) because it is “God that works in you.” Jesus Christ is God’s explanation of “how” and it is an amazing explanation. God suffered what no man could, and gave power that no man had. In an amazing transaction, God takes the guilt of sin, and you get the blessing. All you have to do is ask God for it and accept it. It just beats man’s philosophy all hollow.
I'd start every year by gathering the team and challenging them to get better daily, to give their full effort all the time, to learn how to stretch themselves to be their best. I told them if they did that in practice, and did that in the games, they would always be winners, even if the score didn't show that at the end of the game.
It's a funny thing, the teams that followed those precepts were the ones that always ended doing very well in the win column.
Tebow embodies the right attitude, he was amazing in the press conference. He may never be a great NFL quarterback, but he is already a great man.