First Baptist Church

Noted devotional writer Oswald Chambers wrote, “We have to go the ‘second mile’ with God. Some of us get played out in the first ten yards, because God compels us to go where we cannot see the way, and we say ‘I will wait till I get nearer the big crisis.’ If we do not do the running steadily in the little ways, we shall do nothing in the crisis.” There are those days when all of us want to throw in the proverbial towel. There are times we are through with our marriages, friendships, and are ready as the song says to tell our boss to “Take this job and shove it!” Several things prevent us from actually doing what we would like to do, among these are the reality of how our decision would effect those we love, the loss of financial means, and the loss of people we care deeply about inside – even though they may make us mad.

Maybe we look at things wrong. Maybe we are not always to continue down the same path doing the very same thing. Maybe, at times, we have to reinvent ourselves. Author Alexander Whyte wrote in regards to Christianity, “The victorious Christian life is a series of new beginnings.” The worst thing we can do is fail to start over again. Churches and Christians do not reinvent God’s Word or Church itself, but sometimes the way they do it must change.

As a college football fan, I have been deeply impressed with Penn State coach Joe Paterno (age 83) who is now in his 43rd season as the head coach of that club! Paterno has spent most of this season coaching from the press box due to an injury but said in a recent interview to count on him being back next year and that he hoped to coach the team for another 6, 7, or 8 years! Paterno clearly loves the game and influencing the live of young men. Over his long tenure, Paterno has coached 24 father-son pairs! His influence is undeniable. For many years now his age has been used against him in recruiting. Critics charge he is too old. More than 10 years ago many sports writers were resounding, “go home Joe, the game has passed you by.” This year Penn State is ranked in the top 10 and has only one loss, by one point, on their record. Along with Paterno is 79 year old Bobby Bowden, head coach at Florida State who also has his team in the top 25 this season. These men demonstrate several things to the onlooker. Chief among them is an unflinching zeal to keep on going in the realm of football and life in general.

The modern trend in football, and some other sports, is to take early retirement. After all, one who coaches only a few years is financially prepared to live comfortably from then on in most cases. It is not uncommon to see retirement from coaching by some who are not much more than 50 years of age. Pittsburg Steelers Coach Bill Cowher serves as a prime example. After 16 seasons with the club and 1 Superbowl victory under his belt, he was ready for the easy life at barely 50 years of age!

I fear too many Christians have taken early retirement rather than staying the course. Every church has a few who keep on going like the energizer bunny, but many opt for the easy course. We need a few more Christian Joe Paternos and Bobby Bowdens in our churches who keep right on going and get angry when their age and/or health is made an issue.

We all make mistakes and fail at some of the things we set out to do, but that is by no means a cause to give up. Famed auto pioneer Henry Ford said, “A mistake is an opportunity to begin again.” Maybe that is what you need – just to start again. Maybe you are working hard and just need to be reminded in a fresh way that what you are doing is making a difference. Nothing excites a pastor more than to see his congregation working with great zeal to serve the Lord, even when they could find plenty of excuses to rest!

In Christ,

Pastor Allen Raynor