This Is a Football

Legendary Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi started every season
with a team meeting. Surrounded by veterans and rookies alike, he
would hold a football high above his head so that each player could
see it. With all eyes on him, he simply said: "Gentlemen, this is a
football." This was Coach Lombardi's way of reminding all of his
players that success begins with a clear understanding of the basics.
Everything began with: "This is a football."
When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, He replied:
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel,
the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with
all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with
all your strength.
For me, this is the Lord's "football" speech. For many of us, "love
the Lord your God…" has been reduced to external activity; to a weekly event
where we depend on professionals to "play" for us, as we learned to
safely cheer from our stadium seats. We have emphasized performance,
technique, and other "soulish" activity. We have lost sight of the
fundamental truth worship is not just for those who "qualify" with
refined voices, posses exceptional instrumental ability, or amassed a
large worship CD collection. Actually, the Lord is inviting all of us
to join the game.
But how do you get in the game?
Perhaps you meet with a few people and you may have struggled with:
"There's no one here who can play an instrument"….or
"We can't sing …or we're never in tune….or
"I'm intimidated by other's ability…I have lost confidence…how do we
get started…?
As one who has been a "professional" in church music and worship for
almost 3 decades, I admit I am "unlearning" much of my accumulated
knowledge. But as Coach Lombardi's men heard at the beginning of each
season, I am learning to discern a clear understanding
of the basics. And they don't have much to do with musical ability or
a CD collection. They are matters of the heart. Really, I've been
learning the truth of Matt Redman's song: "I'm coming back to the
Heart of Worship….and it's all about …Jesus." That truth is clear and
fundamental and basic. True football…first commandment stuff.
We believe people are moving from spectators to players, and the
unique contribution the Lord created in each is a reflection of the
nature of God, which is an essential part of "being in the game."