Janet and I have been watching a new program on Fox Nation that is named, “God. Family. Football.” Generally speaking, I am impressed with the number of people and topics that promote a faith based lifestyle on the network. While I am already aware of the number of staff who pray and lead faith based lives, I was absolutely thrilled when we tuned in to see the inaugural episode of “God. Family. Football.”
The series follows the football team of a Shreveport, LA Christian academy named Evangel. The school was started a number of years ago as a woman’s vision and has become highly respected and boasts a powerhouse football team. One of the pastor-teachers is the football coach and I just love the way that he encourages his players.
Their motto is “To God be the Glory” and it isn’t just a bunch of words. It’s on their shirts, their caps and almost everywhere across campus. The athletic department sees themselves as teachers and fellow Christians who train the upcoming generation to be a model of behavior for Christ – full of worship and gratefulness.
So far, there have been four episodes and we can’t wait for each new week to be available. In fact, I can’t help but be reminded of my seminary experience even though this academy only goes through high school. There are huge similarities with the school I attended. As I drove on campus each day, it felt like I was leaving the world and entering an incredibly safe space where friendships and learning opportunities abounded. In fact, the old adage that “iron sharpens iron” was on display in full force. To this day, I am dear friends with a classmate of mine as well as the former Dean of the school. I think this is part of the appeal of “God. Family. Football” to me.
I remember Dr. Branine and Dr. Kendrick roaming the halls and helping students in any way they could. When Dr. Kendrick heard me in the administration building, he would run out of his office and give me a bear hug. He always affirmed his love for me and the other students. At lunch, we would discuss theology and current events.
In a recent episode of our program, the football coach was teaching his players that they had to be stronger to finish the second half of their games with the same passion and commitment they had exhibited during the first half. Toward that end, Coach taught them a phrase from the Hebrew – “Rak Chazak Amats” which translated means, “be strong and courageous” – and alludes to the idea that we must finish strong.
This phrase became the war cry of the Israelites and is most obvious in the book of Joshua. After the death of Moses, God tells Joshua, in Joshua 1:6-7, “Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go.” God tells Joshua three times to be strong and courageous. And, as a result of God’s affirmation, more than 2,000,000 people entered the Promised Land behind the priests who went on ahead. The water of the Jordan was stopped, much like the sea when the Israelites left Egypt, and this is the event that changed the course of Israel as they went in to inhabit the land that God had set aside for them.
Moses, in the last book of the Pentateuch, also referred to the same phrase when referring to Joshua. Moses tells us, in Deuteronomy 31:6-8, “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then Moses summoned Joshua and said to him in the presence of all Israel, “Be strong and courageous, for you must go with this people into the land that the LORD swore to their forefathers to give them, and you must divide it among them as their inheritance. The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
It is very important that we, as Christians, remain strong and courageous as well. This world is full of spiritual warfare all around us and the battles between people groups are becoming more heated and disrespectful. My encouragement this evening is that God wants us to finish strong, to have the energy and stamina to complete our mission. My prayer is that we will all utter the war cry that Joshua, as well as the students of Evangel Christian Academy, uttered when they became passionate about finishing strong. Rak Chazak Amats! Have a great day in the Lord, grace and peace…