Cling to the Sword

Eleazar is one of the most inspirational characters in the Bible.  His story is one that is rare and most people have never heard it.  You see, Eleazar was one of David's mighty men.  He was a brave and honorable soldier that fought in David's army and was most recognized for his part in Israel's victory over the Philistines.  To set up this amazing story it is necessary to read two passages first.  2 Samuel 23:9-10 & 1 Chronicles 11:12-14.

"And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi.  He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.  He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword.  And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain." - 2 Samuel 23:9-10 (ESV)

And we also get some more insight on this event in 1 Chronicles.

"And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite.  He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle.  There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines.  But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines.  And the LORD saved them by a great victory." - 1 Chronicles 11:12-14 (ESV)

The Philistines obviously posed a massive threat to the men of Israel because they all ran away!  They FLED!  But despite what the rest of the army did, David and Eleazar stood next to each other and defended against the Philistines.  It wasn't until after all the Philistines were dead that the rest of the men returned.  An amazing story for sure, but what was it about Eleazar that allowed him to accomplish this victory?

1. His WEAPON - Verse 10 of 2 Samuel 23 tells us that Eleazar fought with one weapon, a sword.  He was able to defeat an entire army with just one sword!  He was confident and familiar to this weapon and was able to use it to win a battle.  We have to assume that he practiced with this sword daily.  He knew everything about his sword - how much it weighed, how far he could reach with it, and how hard he needed to swing it to do damage.  He cared for his sword and made sure that he knew how to use it when the opportunity presented itself.

2. His GRIP - Eleazar was a man of perseverance!  Verse 10 also says, "He rose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand CLUNG to the sword."  He clung to it!  Even though his entire army, his brothers, his family, his team, abandoned him...he never gave up.  He gave everything he had and welded his hand to his sword.  He was tired and weak, but even still...he clung to the sword.  His sword became a part of who he was.  Wow.

3. His STRENGTH - I'm sure Eleazar was a strong man, but his strength didn't lie within himself.  Verse 10 finishes by telling us that, "The LORD brought about a great victory that day..."  God was able to take one soldier and use him in a mighty and powerful way.  Sure, Eleazar was trained to use his sword.  He practiced for hours upon hours throughout his life and was confident in his ability to use it.  Of course, he had the mindset to "never give up" and persevere through adversity.  But his true strength and the reason he was able to clinch a victory against the Philistines was because of God's power. 

What a powerful and inspiring story of a man who was confident in his ability and fought to the end.  A man who was abandoned by his team, yet still found the courage to RISE UP and fight the battle.  He gave every ounce of energy he had left and kept swinging his trusty sword.  In today's world, we can directly relate this story to our lives.  Just as Eleazar clung to his sword in the midst of battle, we can cling to the Word of God when we face adverse times.  We grow weary.  We get tired.  But when we read the Scriptures and hold fast to God's promises, He will show us his power and give us strength to overcome.  It's no coincidence that the name, Eleazar means, "God is my Helper."  

Survive & Advance

Today is the last day of February, which can only mean one thing: March is almost here!  I figured many people will write their March Madness stories beginning tomorrow, so I wanted to get a head start and do one today.  It's the most wonderful time of the year and you will begin to hear many sayings such as, "win or go home" & "do or die."  However, my favorite is "survive and advance."

Many of you know the story of Jim Valvano's 1983 NC State team that won the NCAA National Championship in an unlikely fashion.  They kept surviving game after game after game, winning 9 consecutive to win the title.  The bizarre thing about these wins was that in 7 out of the 9 games - they were losing in the final minute!  They upset teams like Michael Jordan's UNC Tar Heels and Virginia, whom had three-time National POY, Ralph Sampson.  In the National Championship they faced tournament favorite, Houston that featured players like Hakeem Olajuwon and Clyde Drexler.  Jim Valvano's Wolfpack won the game on the unlikeliest of plays - an air ball that was caught and dunked at the buzzer to finish one of the most amazing tournament runs in college basketball history.

But what was it that kept NC State in every fight?  It surely wasn't the abundance of superstars on their roster, but rather an undying love for each other and their team.  Odds couldn't have been more against the Wolfpack that season as they encountered adversity on several occasions.  At one point in the season they lost 6 of 8 games by large deficits to unranked teams.  They were also down by 6 points in the final 24 seconds of their first round tournament game vs. Pepperdine, but found a way to rally back and win in OT. To really stack the odds against them, the 17-10 Wolfpack knew that no team with 10 losses has ever won the NCAA National Championship.  Great teams find a way.  They survive and advance.

Truly great teams embrace qualities that enable them to work together as a collective group.  Here are four characteristics that I believe make a great team.

1. CULTURE - Jon Gordon writes in his book, Soup, "Culture drives behavior and behavior drives habits." The way that you do things as a team are important and no one should be allowed to come in and destroy your culture.  Setting up a system of core values will enable you to hold your team accountable for their behavior.  As the quote states, behavior will become permanent and eventually create great habits that establish a consistent, winning team.

2. ENGAGED RELATIONSHIPS - This is the foundation.  Without relationships there is no team.  You can't be only halfway committed or luke warm in your relationships.  A true team is fully engaged with each other and feels collectively responsible for the other persons actions.  If one person fails, we all fail.  If one person succeeds, we all succeed.  It's never about myself - I should always be looking out for others and building them up. 

3. OPTIMISM - We stress the power of positivity in our program daily. We truly believe that our positive attitudes will create a competitive advantage in all aspects of life.  We believe in each other.  We love each other.  We do things with energy and effort.  Being optimistic is truly a quality of a great team and we need to be continually filling our voids with positivity. 

4. TRUST - We build trust one day at a time.  Sometimes it takes years to build trust, but there is no doubt that it can only take 2 seconds to destroy it.  What trust does is that it generates commitment and ultimately enables ordinary people to become a great team.  People unite and become one unit working for the betterment of the other person.  There is a love that will never be broken.  True teams understand that anything worth achieving only matters if it is done together with love. 

Our regular season has concluded and our team has turned its attention to our tournament.  Just like NC State did in 1983, we have encountered a significant amount of adversity this season.  We have grown closer through all of it and have become stronger as individuals and as a team.  In our minds there is only one game left this season, and it's the next one.  Every practice leading up to that game will require us to embrace these four qualities of a great team.  Rise up.  Survive & Advance.

Sources:
ESPN - http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/ncaatourney03/story?id=1525209 
Soup by Jon Gordon - www.jongordon.com 

Rise Up - Part II

RISE UP!  This is truly a calling from God.  And don’t be fooled, this isn’t some insignificant calling.  This is big time.  As we embrace the titles of husband/father to our families, leaders in the church, and coach/mentor to our players, RISING UP needs to carry a significant meaning to us.  The fact of the matter is that the greatest coach of all-time, Jesus Christ, knew the true definition of RISING UP.  He was sent to this earth, fully God and fully man, for one reason and one reason only.   His purpose: to take our punishment for our sin.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17.  The love Jesus had for us put him on the cross to take the punishment that we deserved.  Three days later, there was an empty tomb.  Jesus literally and physically fulfilled the calling of his Father to RISE UP!  And by doing so, we were made alive in Christ!

We are now called to live in the image of God, but how do we do that?  What do we need to focus on every day in order to RISE UP?  Ephesians 5:13-14 says, “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.  Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”  Because Jesus shined his light on us, the ability to RISE UP was made possible.  

There are three aims that we need to focus on in order to RISE UP successfully.  

First, we commit to MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME (Ephesians 5:15-17).  Legendary coach, Jim Valvano once said, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  It’s up to you to decide what to do with them.”  Scripture commands us to not be fools, but instead “…understand what the will of the Lord is.”  God has called us to RISE UP, and we cannot accomplish that if we waste our lives by giving in to our flesh.  We are called to greatness and we need to spend our time doing things that will last for eternity. Instead of turning on the TV when you get home, talk to your wife and play with your kids.  In place of your free time on the internet, take that time to invest in the lives of your family or players.  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1

Secondly, we commit to HAVE A CLEAR MIND, FILLED BY THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18-19).  Keep a clear head.  Do not give in to the pressure.  This verse specifically condemns drunkenness and the effects it has on our minds, but there are many more things that can mess with our clearness of mind.  Adversity will present itself, but how you respond to that adversity will determine what you’re made of.  Make prayer a daily routine and ask the Lord for guidance and direction with every decision you will have to make throughout the day.  You never know when you will have to draw up that last second play in crunch time.  Keep a clear head, give all your heart to Jesus, and the opportunity to RISE UP will be right there waiting for you.

Lastly, we commit to GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST (Ephesians 5:20-21).  I firmly believe that God wants us to RISE UP in everything we do.  He is our biggest fan.  What is your response when someone is cheering for you?  You want to please them!  As God gives us multiple opportunities to RISE UP, all he wants from us is a thankful heart and a motivation to direct all the glory to him.  Remember that victorious display Jesus put on when he conquered death at the cross?  There was urgency for mankind’s need of a Savior.  Jesus gave us that saving grace on the cross.  Because of the life Christ has given us, we can RISE UP to anything we are called to do!  I am so thankful for all the blessings God has placed in my life and my only desire is to live for His glory!  When your only purpose is to give God the ultimate glory in everything you do, there is no other option than to answer the call, RISE UP!  

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

“Rise up and let your light shine.  A city on a hill cannot hide!”

 This is a follow up post to the original post "Rise Up"

Rise Up

Rise up.  A powerful statement that can light a fire inside of you instantly.  You're down 1 with 2.2 seconds left on the clock and the ball is in your hands...what will you do?  Rise up.  Bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, and you're up to bat...what will you do?  Rise up.  It's finals week and you've been up all night studying for tough exams, but you are desperate for sleep...what will you do?  Give up and fail your test?  Heck no.  Rise up!  Shine!  If you are a competitor, it's in your blood.  The circumstances will not always be comfortable, but you find a way to make it happen.  No matter what your role is on the team, or what your mindset is at the moment, we all have the opportunity to get into the game and rise up.  So let's start rising up in the game that really counts and fulfill our calling to rise up.  Proclaim the kingdom of God!  Are we rising up to tell the nations about Jesus?  Do we confess to the world that Jesus is alive?  Is it our primary objective to let our light shine, regardless of the criticism and mockery we will receive?  Don't back down.  A city on a hill cannot hide.  Be bold. Be faithful. Rise up. Acts 28