They Call You Coach- A Vision Realized- THURSDAY

As I continue the football metaphors to make my points, I ask you to think about the demand that is placed on a young man to become a successful football player.  We look at them on TV and see marvelous athletes who make everything look so easy.  In fact, we even get to the point where we evaluate them based on our theories about what they need to do to be better in their position such as greater muscle development, or what coaches need to do different.  But we have very little personal experience to understand what they go through to get those muscles, and what the coaching job requires.  I'll never forget a comment by Alex Karras to Howard Cosell in one of the football games on the old Monday Night Football Game night.  Alex was a defensive tackle in the NFL for 10 years.  He was also a very funny guy.  "Know it all Howard"had just completed his sentence expending a lot of words on his theory about the need for more muscle development with a certain player being discussed.  Alex said what we all wanted to say, "Howard what do you know about muscle development?  You don't have a single muscle in your whole body that is developed."  Man we loved that rebuke.  Why?  It is because we grow tired of theories about anything if the person doesn't truly know from his own experience what he is talking about.  It is the same way with an older man mentoring a younger man.  We have a lot of experiences, both good and bad.  That is the one thing that is true about older men.  We do not need to espouse a theory about life or about God to someone that is not backed up with experience from our own life.  A younger person will discredit our words if they sense what we are saying or doing is not real to us.  But they are all ears to those older men with true experience in the areas we are coaching them in.  Why is this?

The last two or three generations of men and women have been taught in school and by a godless effort in our society that there are no moral absolutes.  They have been lied to and taken advantage of by many of our government leaders, advertising, teachers and even pastors.  The younger generations have become cynical about what truth is and they doubt it can be expected, much less found.  For example, we have the current presidential race.  The majority of the American people do not trust both candidates.  You would think this would be an important consideration.  You would think they would vote for the one that they trust the most.  But that appears not to be happening.  There is a big reason to believe that Clinton will be elected president, and yet polls show that 66% of Americans don't trust her and 59% say she is dishonest.  Why is this not important?  The only way I can see this being a reason to not elect her is because honesty and trustworthiness is no longer expected in the American society for a president.  It appears that our culture has accepted this conclusion, and therefore they think honest and trustworthy people cannot be found.  But what is not polled with these younger people is if they would like to personally know a person who is honest, trustworthy, and authentic.  The answer is Yes!  Absolutely!  I believe from my own experience with responses that they are desperate to find such a person.  Therefore, this becomes a great opportunity for a person with these characteristics to step into a younger man's life and be an example of what this man longs to be himself.  Opportunity!!

Two weeks ago I was asked to speak at our national leadership conference.  I was given my subject.  People wanted me to share my thoughts on Gabe, from my book, The Journey to the Inner Chamber.  Before doing so, I did my own poll.  I wanted to discover what was so appealing about the old man.  I have heard the answer to this question from people from different nations, cultures and languages.  They were all consistent with what was appealing to them.  It wasn't his success, his wealth, or his celebrity.  It wasn't his profound knowledge or credentials, for he had none of those things.  It was his character.  They saw in him a representation of a man who walks with Jesus and his characteristics were like that of Jesus.  He is honest.  He is experienced with life.  He is concerned about the person who he is with.  He is helpful.  He has moral authority.  He is authentic.  He is the real deal.  When he tells you something you can bet it is true, for he is honest.  There were no negatives about his age, his color, his lack of a formal education, or his limited work experience.  Readers didn't care that he couldn't run a power-point presentation, or fly an airplane, or amass great wealth.  None of those things limited his influence to them for his assets of honesty, moral character and experience with life made him beloved.  Why is this?  I believe it is because we are all longing to have a man like this in our life.  You can be this to another man.

How can I become a man like Gabe?  There is only one way.  We must abide in Jesus so that His characteristics are transferred to us.  How can I impact another man like Gabe did?  There is only one way.  Like Gabe, we must partner with the Holy Spirit so that He has access to our life to encourage another man through us to abide in Christ.  We help him get there.  Pretty simple huh?   Well yes, that part is.  What Jesus can do through us is unimaginable.  But what is not simple is that it starts with our surrender to His coaching so that He can teach us how to coach the man He put in our life.  It starts with us leaving the stands and asking Him to put us in the game as a coach.  If we do this, then we will be part of the game shortly thereafter.  My question to you is, "Coach, are you ready to make a difference in the fourth quarter?"