7 Days of Super Bowl Stuff -SBXLIV- Day 5 “Discipline”

“You need to be that much more disciplined with what you’re doing and execution becomes that much more critical.”  – Drew Brees.

In this clip, Saint Head Coach Sean Payton, Quarterback Drew Brees and Running Back Reggie Bush demonstrate their knowledge of their formidable opponent, the Colts.  We see from their words their understanding of how good the other team is and especially in Brees’ section (:24-:44), he brings up an incredibly important topic of discipline.  Discipline for these men on the football field is essential.  Each player has a role, an assignment, a task.  On each and every play, if each player doesn’t perform their task, the rest of the team suffers.  It takes discipline, on every play, from everyone player, in order for their goal of the play to be successful.  The players may need to remain disciplined when it comes to their foot work, to their hand placement, to their form, to their route, to their fake, to their block, to their gap assignment, to their zone, to their man, etc. and so on.  Prior to each game, they must be disciplined with their workouts, their knowledge of the playbook, training, learning and taking care of their bodies.  Each player plays a pivotal role in the success of each play.

Click HERE for the YouTube link.

The same goes for us, in the spiritual life.  We must become and remain disciplined in regards to our spiritual practices.  We each have a specific role to play on our spiritual team, and when members of the team don’t perform, the rest of the team suffers.  This is why we are referred to as the body of Christ.  “…all the parts of the body, though many, are one body, so also Christ.” [Read: 1 Corinthians 12.] The discipline that we must have starts at the beginning of each day.  Discipline involves our actions, words and thoughts.  If we remain disciplined, our prayer lives are strong.  We fight temptations.  We make virtuous decisions.  We live as Christ demonstrated for us.  Discipline in the little things makes us disciplined in the big things.

If you’re struggling with discipline of a daily prayer life, I recommend that you focus on that.  I share in your struggle, because prayer can be tough some days.  Becoming disciplined in your prayer means that you spend time, daily, speaking to God.  If you’re a married man, imagine not speaking to your wife for a month, and see how good the relationship is at the end of the month.  Probably not very good.  God is the same way.  Open your heart to Him and speak.  However, God gave us two ears and only one mouth… listen twice as much as you speak.

Man up!

7 Days of Super Bowl Stuff -SBXLIV- Day 1

Super Bowl XLIV is nearly upon us.  The potentially epic battle between two of the National Football League’s biggest “gunslingers” will commence next Sunday February 7th, and the game proves to be one of the most exciting Super Bowls in recent history.  (It’s unlikely that this year’s game will top last year’s, especially the finish, by my team, the 6-Time World Champion Pittsburgh Steelers!)  Peyton Manning from the Indianapolis Colts and Drew Brees from the New Orleans Saints plan to take their teams to victory, but there can be only one winner.

I hear lots of discussion about these two quarterbacks, who also captain their teams.  On the one hand, you’ve got the likable character of Peyton Manning, the face of the Colts for the past 12 years and a common face in mainstream advertising.  Manning’s intensity and incredible vision on the field make him one of the elite at the position.  He’s been league MVP four times, including this season.  He won the Super Bowl in 2006.  He’s going to be hard to beat.

On the other hand, you’ve got the unlikely story of the New Orleans Saints, and their quarterback Drew Brees.  In 2005, Hurricane Katrina nearly destroyed the Louisiana Superdome, but after a nearly-$200 million dollar renovation, the team made it back to their home and worked their way to an almost perfect season in 2009.  Starting out 13-0 this season, the Saints were highly favored in the NFC to make it to the Super Bowl, and they did just that.  They did it behind the leadership and incredible ability of Brees.  Personally, I think both players are likable men.  I think they show incredible leadership and striking ability on the field.  I don’t have a preferred team in this case, but I’m predicting that Manning and the Colts will end up winning in a high-scoring, (poorly defensed) game.  Colts will win Super Bowl XLIV 38-31.

Ponder this for a moment…

Imagine if, when it came down to eternity, only one “team” was given the prize of salvation.  Only the winning team was awarded everlasting life with God the Father and the losing team, went to hell.  If you were on one of those teams, wouldn’t you put all your heart and soul into doing everything you could to be the winning team?  Well, the fact of the matter is that instead of it being a football game, it’s an actual war.  The battle is taking place, as we speak, for souls.  There is a winning side, and there is a losing side.  The winners receive uncontrollable joy, peace and love with God in Heaven.  The losers receive the exact opposite – the absence of love.  Knowing this, why is it that we allow ourselves to play on the losing team?  We have the ability to play on the winning team and the game has already been played.  Jesus Christ already died on the cross for us, and won us the victory.  You have the choice, today and everyday, to play on Christ’s winning team.  His team is playing for something more important than the Vince Lombardi Trophy.  There’s no time to lose.  Suit up, and play on the winning team today!

Man up!