Don't Quit

"Ok, line up" were some of the worst words that heard during football practice. What it meant was that we were going to run some 40-yard sprints. Part of what I didn't care for when hearing this phrase was that I didn't know how many we were going to run. That unknown number was part of what I didn't like. If I know we were going to run ten of them, I could pace myself. However, I am guessing that our coach wanted us to put out effort throughout them all and not "pace" ourselves.

That training time had its enjoyable moments, but then there were times it definitely was not enjoyable. Though I didn't ever become something of a "champion" in sports, many people have and that brings us to this week's quote...

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." ~ Muhammad Ali

Ali was one of the greatest boxers of his time. He was able to accomplish a lot and he is still known today as a great boxer. He worked hard and the work paid off.

Whether we are training for a long race or a short one, we must be ready to not quit and look forward to any rewards that may be coming our way, as a result of perseverance.

As you go through life, I want you to think about what you may hate in life or even dislike, but if you will continue to press on, you too, can become a "champion" of sorts.

Now, it's your turn...what have you had to endure in life...of which you didn't quit?

Suffering to Become a Champion

I can remember when Muhammad Ali was on an episode "Diff'rent Strokes." The character Arnold looked up to "The Champ" so much and was mesmerized by his presence. Ali took the time to encourage Arnold and it made a huge impact.

To have Ali make it to the success he aspired to achieve, took some great effort and sacrifice. That brings us to this week's quote...

I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion." ~Muhammad Ali

I can only imagine all the hours and hard work that Cassius Clay (aka Muhammad Ali) went through in his life to become the "Champ." To be able to shoot off his mouth with phrases like "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George (Foreman) thinks he will, but I know he won't."

Some things in life I have tried but not completed. Other things, I won't quit on. May we continue to pursue things in life by seeing that there may be suffering now, but we can live the rest of our life as a champion!

Now it's your turn...What areas have you seen your hard work pay off?

Champions Are Not Made In the Ring

Who will be the winner of the 2015 Cy Young award(major league baseball pitching award)? What about 2018 NCAA Wrestling National Champion in the 150 weight range? 2022 Women's Wimbledon Champion?

All those are hardly even predictable because they are so far off. I will guarantee that those people are working hard in their field to try to achieve that goal. It is probably not just one person that is preparing for those events but several are looking forward to that day, whether they realize it or not.

These individuals are going to have an understanding that they will be crowned on those dates, not before. This brings us to this week's quote...

Grind! Practice! Grind! Practice! Champions are not made in the ring they are merely recognized there." ~ Joe Frazier

I don't believe that the only players that are successful stay after practice. There are several successful ones that have practiced those traits and it payed off for them. However, I think that a person who is dedicated to their field, putting in the time to improve their skills, will do well in the long run.

This week's quote has a lot of truth woven in it. At game time, it demonstrates how well you've been putting in work prior to the game. It is like a comparison of the results of a test, which are going to be reflective of how well you studied.

As you go through life, may you put in the time and effort outside "the ring" so that you will be recognized once you're inside "the ring."

We're Champions!

If you were nearing the end of your life, you would have one thing on your radar...heaven.  So many things that happened in life would seem      meaningless.  You’d probably wonder why you became worked up over  certain things, which ended up being a waste of time.

At that time, you be thinking something like this...I’ve paid my dues, time after time.  You’ve done your sentence, but committed no crime.  Bad mistakes? Yeah, you’ve made a few.  You’ve had your share of sand kicked in your face, but you’ve come through.

Friends, we are champions.  Because of that we’ll keep on fighting, till the end.  We are the champions and there’s no time for losers.  Because, as Christians, we ARE the champions of the world.

For most of us when we get to the end, we know that life has been no bed of roses, or pleasure cruise.  Life is a challenge is for the whole human race, and at the end, my friends, we are not going to lose.  Why?

Because we are the champions.  We keep on fighting till the end.  We are the champions.  We ARE the champions.  There’s no time for losers.  Because we ARE THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD.

The other day when I was driving to work this song, “We Are the Champions”, came on (most of you probably recognized where I was writing from).  I’ve heard it many times before but as I was listening to the lyrics I thought about how true it holds to the Christian life.  How much we need to be reminded that we are champions.  We’re going to make mistakes, both in our theological errors and in moral errors, but we can still look forward to heaven.  As the song "Grace Greater Than Our Sin" points out, we have a “grace that is greater than all our [errors]!“  Friends, take that to heart and glory in the fact that we are the champions!  

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