Pastor's Post 7/12/2024
Dear Shiloh Family,
The air was electric, temps were in the high 30’s, and the fans were in full “football in the South” mode. We were in the first round of the GHSA playoffs which magnified the intensity on the sidelines. Players, coaches, and officials teetered between hugs and hollers, loving and loathing, repulse and respect. As a chaplain/coach, I stood poised for ministry or mayhem.
The team devotion had been delivered earlier in the week, and I performed the pregame prayers with great spiritual rah-rah. However, at some point in the game, coach overrode chaplain and I lost it. I will forego the instigating circumstances, but I found myself 15 yards on the field screaming like some deranged person on a Spielberg sci-fi movie. Memory or self-preservation will not permit me to recollect what I said or to whom the torrent was directed, but a gracious side judge reminded me of the illegality of a coach being on the field and offered me a yellow flag if I didn’t retreat. I did!
The remainder of the game is a bit blurry. I do remember that coaching became difficult because I spent most of it devising a plan to crawl out of the humility pit. Before the postgame benediction, I apologized to the team for losing my cool and later, in the coaches’ office, I presented a plea of forgiveness to my peers.
“Guys, I’m sorry for losing it tonight. Ya’ll know that wasn’t me and I don’t normally act like that. I just got caught up in the moment.” (That’s the best I could come up with at the time)
Everyone just stared at one another until one of the newest staff members replied. “Well, coach, you didn’t even cuss. I didn’t think anything about it.” To which the entire entourage burst into laughter.
Psalm 19:14:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. NKJV
It eased the moment, and temporarily appeased my embarrassment, but it sure made me think. They noticed that profanity wasn’t my normal vernacular. It also made me realize that if I had added foul language to my already unacceptable antics, my testimony would have been compromised even more. More importantly, my humanity and lack of control introduced question as to my love and devotion to the Savior who had changed my life. I had brought reproach to my Lord. People are watching.
1 Corinthians 8:9-13: 9 But beware lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block to those who are weak. 10 For if anyone sees you who have knowledge eating in an idol’s temple, will not the conscience of him who is weak be emboldened to eat those things offered to idols? 11 And because of your knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died? 12 But when you thus sin against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.
Shiloh, we have a responsibility to those around us. We claim to have something special here on this hill. If that is the case, we must truly be lighthouses in and around our community. The apostle Paul said we have liberty to do most anything, but we don’t do certain things because it might adversely affect a weaker brother of sister. We can, but we don’t. It’s not legalism…it’s love.
There are certain things we did before we were cleansed by the Blood of the Lamb. Continuing to do those things won’t send us to Hell. However, will it show complete love and devotion to the one true God, and will it bring our loved ones to a saving knowledge of the Savior of the world? Can the world see through us how Jesus can change their lives?
1 Corinthians 6:11: 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God. NKJV
1 Corinthians 6:20: 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's. NKJV
Actions are pathways to the words of influence.
God bless you all,
Pastor Derrell