The Playbook

Being connected on social media continues to bring blessings. Recently, Thomas, our middle son, moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, seeking warmer weather so that he would have more time to work on his golf game. He knew very few people there, especially those his own age. Because of the “connect” of social media we were able to contact Skip, one of Bill’s friends and former teammates while he was at USC.

The weekend we moved Thomas to Florida Skip met us for breakfast and also told us about his church. After breakfast, I was able to google his church and watch some sermons online! I found that one of my all time favorite authors and speakers, John Maxwell, is a teaching pastor in that church and teaches often. He had just finished a series in December.

I also discovered who was speaking that weekend–the founding pastor, Tom Mullins, a former NFL player and football coach…who has a Doctorate in ministry from Liberty University. Even though Thomas could not go at the time Skip was going, the church offers several service times so Thomas went to another service…alone! I absolutely loved it. While Thomas was at church, I was able to watch the live stream. It was awesome. Tom used football analogies to convey great biblical principles.

I want to share something Dr. Mullins taught that I find to be so true. Recently, I posted about playing offense in life instead of defense. Tom preached on the same topic. He basically said that in order to “score” in life, you have to play offense, being in possession of the ball. He noted that you can’t score unless you have the “ball!”

He continued with saying we should not live life under pressure–“playing defense”. Instead, we need to allow our lives to be guided by the principles found in God’s Word as in Colossians 2:6-7, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”

He encouraged everyone “To get into God’s Word and allow it to get into YOU!” He noted that when he was interviewed he often would indicate to journalists that his “playbook” was ancient. When asked if they could see it, he gladly pulled out his Bible, the source of abundant life from where he gleaned all of his life principles and guidance in the way he played and coached.

Yes, I agree with Dr. Mullins. The Bible is the best playbook for life. If you want to advance your life, you have to advance your thinking. He also pointed out the scripture found in 2 Corinthians 10:4-5, “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.”

He noted the weapons with which we play offense are “supernatural”. The divine power of the Holy Spirit will DEMOLISH strongholds. We take CAPTIVE every thought. We are proactive in our actions. That is how we play “offense” in life. Abiding in Christ gives us the power to “win” in our created purpose.

His single point, and also the one I want to encourage you in, is simple–playing offense in life. In order to not cave into the pressure the “world” brings….you need to play offense. The best strategy for life, and offense, that will give you the wisdom, plays, direction and protection is God’s Word, the Bible.

I encourage you in 2015, “GET into the WORD…AND allow the WORD TO GET INTO YOU!” Touchdowns for life will be in your future.

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