02/04/2026
A SPORTS ANALOGY THAT WORKS:
A long time ago, when I was playing, I was a participant in a game in which one of our coaches got thrown out. What he did was clearly a violation. It was clearly uncalled-for. It came unexpectedly and was a shocking embarrassment for the whole team. It killed our drive, and we had to give up the ball and play defense.
But even though our coach's ejection killed the drive, it did NOT end the game. Soon we had the ball back, empowered to play offense with a purposeful aggression. Furthermore, the loathsome act failed to end the program, and the overall mission withheld.
We have been knocked onto our heels (as we have been before, and surely will again) and we will receive strength (as we have before, and will again), because we know our God if faithful in all His promises. He will sustain us as He ALWAYS has and ALWAYS will. Take heart, as Jesus said, "I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” [John 16:33]