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Dear Shiloh Family,

It was a new rule, and it was only in effect for one or two years. No one knows why it was implemented or the reasoning behind it. All we know is that some self-imposed guru of track-and-field in the GHSA administration decided that for one day, one moment, high school sprinters needed to be perfect and flawless. Some brain-child behind a desk received a divine epiphany that competitors in high school running events were disqualified after only one false start. Think about it; a teenage walking hormone, juiced up with adrenalin, in one of the biggest moments of his or her life, had no room for error, no grace.

Tim was one of he most unathletic people in the school. He couldn't hit a baseball, catch a football, or dribble a basketball, but for some reason, he thought he could be a track star. When he told everyone, he would win the state championship in the 100yrd and 220yrd sprints, we laughed and snickered. However, during the winter months, Tim spent countless hours in the gym sprinting from wall to wall. When it was above freezing, the guy was on the track or in the parking lot timing himself. We called him "The Goose" because his nose was a bit on the long side and he extended his neck forward when he ran. He read books on proper starting, striding, and breathing techniques and checked out motivational books from the library. We couldn't believe our eyes in tryouts when the dude bested our Quarterback, who until then was the fastest guy in the school. By late February, Goose had posted some of the best times in the state, and by mid track season, he had won several meets in both races.

In order to get to the state championship, one had to place 1st or 2nd in the region meet. Our guy was a shoe-in because there wasn't another runner in the area who had better times than his. However, he was nervous about the new one-time-out rule, because in years past, you were given a freebee on the first jump, and he had a tendency to anticipate the starting gun on the first try. The participants were in the blocks for the start of the 220 and the unthinkable happened - The Goose false-started and was disqualified in the first heat. Discouragement set in, but all was not lost; there was still his best race - the 100-yard-dash.

As you can imagine, chatter spread like wildfire around the field, and teams were lined down the entire span of the track. Fans were glued to the starting blocks, and timers positioned themselves at the finish line. The starter signaled, "Runners, take your mark, get set..." You guessed it, The Goose was a split second early, and his hopes for a region or state championship crumbled like a house of cards. I'll never forget the feeling of hopelessness as the broken young man wept bitterly and unashamedly on the infield.

Do you ever feel like that in your everyday walk of life? You work and work, toil and toil, strive and strive, and you even pray and pray. It seems like you have followed the directions of devotionals, studies, and the Bible. It appears like you are listening to the right preachers and teachers, and attending all the correct worship services. Then it happens - you mess up, make a mistake, commit and error, and yes, you SIN! Your life begins to melt like cotton candy in a summer rain.

Romans 5:20-21: 20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, 21 so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. NKJV

2 Corinthians 9:8-9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work. NKJV

Do not fear! Do not fret! Jesus has overcome the one-time-out law. His grace is sufficient for all sin. God is a God of the second chance. All of us have sinned and will continue to make mistakes, but the grace of our Lord covers us and his blood cleanses us from all sin. We are beginning a new year, a new year to serve Him. Put the past behind you, ask forgiveness and believe that he forgives and cleanses. Set your mind on him because he is the God of all grace, and He will make you stronger with every victory over sin. 

1 Peter 5:8-10:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. NKJV

One can't truly appreciate the arms of Jesus until they lift you from despair.

God bless you all, 
Pastor Derrell