Tuesday, March 1, 2016

plays not called in the huddle







Although it is very common today for a quarterback to change the play at the line of scrimmage, when Joe Namath ran the New York Jet offense it wasn’t.  Except for Joe, who would call the play in the huddle, then after seeing the defense, would change it at the line of scrimmage if needed.  Unheard of at the time, back when football players were considered not so bright, and linemen Neanderthals, Joe had a smart and aggressive line that not only protected him, but was willing and able to change as the situation changed.  What was then a novelty, today is SOP for any NFL offense, and has led to many a delay of game penalty, as they try to get too creative, now that the offense changes plays, so does the defense.  The defense has plays?  Notice a defensive huddle, and guys running off and on the field between plays.  They are trying to outwit the offense, and becomes a game within a game.  So much has changed, if only the viewer even thought he knew what was going on....
Baseball for perpetuity has had the third base coach sending signals to the batter, the catcher sending signals to the pitcher, and even defensive shifts per the batter are common.  Much study and prep time goes into each game....which has progressed far away from just throwing, hitting, and catching.  Hockey still looks like to much skating and body checking to me, and basketball has progressed, or degressed to street ball as we used to call it.  Years ago a friend coached a high school woman’s team, who was very good.  It was tough at first boxing out women, if only for certain anatomical reasons, but once the game got going, they played rough and tough, so we would respond.  We were a practice team for them, made up of some friends, and although much older, in our thirties, we kept them at bay, and even won once in a while.  But something happened while we scrimmaged against them, crowds drew, and soon the stands were filling up to see us scrimmage the girl’s varsity.  They cut us old guys no slack, and one close knit game it came down to old age and experience. 
The game tied with only seconds left, and we got the ball out of bounds under our basket.  As David stood out of bounds looking for someone to pass to, I calmly walked up to him, said “here David, I’ll take it out,” he passed it to me, untouched, I did any easy layup, and the girls stood there dumbfounded.  They thought I was going to change positions with David, but it was a  play you can only run once a game, and it worked.  As they complained, the coach stood and smiled, and stored it into his memory for a time in the future when he could use it.  As for the girls, they thought we had cheated, and were caught off guard.  Sometimes the easiest plays are the most effective.
Have you ever prayed and didn’t get an immediate answer?  And wonder what was going on?  Did God hear you, did he understand your request, and why hadn’t he sprung to action on it?  Not an unusual situation, as we find in scripture the apostles acting the same way.  those who would do greater things than Jesus, yet once he was crucified and resurrected, they were on their own.  Or at least would act like it.  Peter had been imprisoned, and they missed him.  Having spent time fervently praying and asking God to have him released, they missed their unofficial leader, and possibly could have been fearing for their own lives.  Remember them hiding out the night Jesus appeared, passing through a wall, you would think that after all the miracles they had seen, they would have more faith.  But patience battles faith, and in my cases, like theirs usually wins.  So we find them talking amongst themselves, praying, asking, and wondering where is God in the situation.  When a knock comes on the door, and they are too self absorbed to answer it.  Funny a little girl recognized his voice, shades of in the Garden, and here tells the others of his escape, and his appearance at the door, yet they rebuff her.  The very prayer God had been called upon to answer, he did, yet they were looking for something else.  The play they had called was changed by God at the line of scrimmage, and it worked.  For all, and as an example to us of trusting God to do things his way and is his own time.  For our benefit. 
It is funny how they reacted, they thought it to be his angel, but not Peter.  As if his angel would abandon him, to show up without him.  But once again the apostles, other than Peter were taken in by a little girl, who recognized Peter’s voice, and ran to find out or to tell others.  Just like our basketball play had caught a team off guard, Peter’s appearance caught his friends off guard.  All were surprised, except the little girl who had seen him, and God.  Nothing takes him by surprise, and while they were praying his plan of action was in action.  Just like the prayers we offer up today, for our situations, God already has them in progress.  And may be knocking on your door with the answer, and you are too busy to answer.  Or don’t like his answer, or wish for something easier, and you wonder “what was God thinking?”  He was thinking of you, and I.
That same God in the form of Jesus knocks at the door of your heart, and wants to be let in.  Are you too busy, or are you expecting someone else?  Are your plans different than God’s and is Jesus a part of them?  Maybe you feel out manned, and it is as simple as taking a ball in under the basket when it is asked for, for in asking I received, and scored.  Right in front of our opponent, who was caught by surprise.  Is it possible Jesus has the same answer, and wants to show your enemy his love while blessing you?  What signals are the holy spirit sending you?  Paul tells us we run the race to win, are you even in the race, or has life taken you out of it?  Or do you just not like the signals God is sending? 
When they finally opened the door, they were astonished, and even more astonished when he told of how the chains had fallen off, and an angel had led him to safety.  Peter who was afraid of a teen age girl, but who could trust an angel in the midst of those who were to take his life.  But he didn’t hang around, and left for another place, as Herod was after him.  So mad he put his own troops who were guarding Peter to death.  “Go tell James and the others,” he commanded, and then left.  Leaving the apostles mystified, but also the soldiers mystified too, and put to death for their failure to contain Peter.  If God is for us, who can be against us?  And who has ever fought God and won?  Even at the cross when all seemed hopeless, it was really a victory for us in the making.  So be patient with God, wait on the Lord, he is not slow, but has a plan in action for us as we speak.  And will unfold it for us as we need to know.  But for now, be patient and wait, maybe the hardest of all things to do.
Professional quarterbacks know what to look for as they come to the line.  Us in the same situation would be blinded, we wouldn’t know.  So God gave us the spirit to guide us at the line, in the huddle, and knocking at the door with the answers.  If only we can get up and exercise our faith, no matter how small.  We won’t win every play, but in every play we will learn something from God.  In the huddle, our prayer time, be still and listen.  God has called a play for our lives, for just this occasion.  He knows the defense, and your enemies, so go with what he calls.  Don’t change it....it may be Peter at the door as the answer, or just someone asking for the ball.  Either way when you listen to God you win.  Believing is seeing, or is it the other way around?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com