Football and a Movie
Tonight I had a wonderful evening with my son, Michael, but it almost didn't end up that way. You see, I have a message to prepare for Sunday night and Sunday afternoon (Sunday School Sunday morning is done), and I was on a roll when he came home at 3:40. We needed to leave at 3:30 to get there for kickoff at 4:00. Michael came down and pushed me to get going, and I'm afraid that I didn't respond in a Christ-like way. Oh, I was patient, gently correcting him for rolling his eyes at me instead of simply saying he was disappointed and walking away. I went back to my message. Shari came in and gently (and patiently herself) reminded me: I gave my word to Michael that we would go to the game. I didn't make any exceptions to saying we would go to the game when I made the commitment, and I was essentially going back on my word by putting him off until I had finished up my project at that moment. It wasn't so much that she was right, but the frustration of screwing up again in how I loved - or didn't - my son that made me angry with myself. I went right up to his room and apologized, making sure he understood that this wasn't how Christ would act... then went and finished my sermon. No, just kidding. We left right away (around 4:00 by then), and only missed the first quarter. But the lesson was well made, and I hope that my story can be an encouragement and reminder to other dads.
Not that the first quarter - or second or third - were much to watch. It was the Sentinel Spartans of Missoula vs. the Flathead Braves of Kalispell, (you can read pregame stuff here)and Sentinel spent most of the game getting pushed around the field. None-the-less, it was only 21-0 going into the fourth quarter. Then it got fun. The Spartans marched down the field and scored a touchdown, but missed the extra point. So much for fire? No, they kicked an on-sides kick, and recovered it after it bounced off a Brave. They then proceeded to take about 2 minutes to march down the field again and make another touch down. This time they made the 2-point conversion, making it 21-14. The Braves were ready for an on-side, but instead the kicker kicked it out of the end-zone. After going back and forth in the middle of the field - penalties, long runs, sacks, a fantastic catch - the Spartans were able to stop the Braves on 4th-down, and got the ball back with a little over 2 minutes to go. They proceeded to march down field almost flawlessly, only making it to third down once (I think). After an offsides call against the braves, it was 1st and goal on the 4 yard line. Unfortunately, the Spartans, who haven't won a game in 27 games, died right there. They went from 1st and 4 to 4th and 1/2, with about 20 seconds left, and the clock running. The quarterback got them to the line, but confusion reigned. My opinion, based on what I saw: The coach and quarterback forgot it was fourth down. They were going to spike the ball and stop the clock (I saw the coach make hand motions like spiking it, but I'm only guessing from across the field that's what he meant). The quarterback got under center for about the only time I can recall, and tried to snap the ball... and fumbled... on fourth down... on the 1/2 yard line. The Spartans tried to tell the ref they had recovered, but the ref had to explain that it didn't matter - it was fourth down. The Braves could have handed them the ball, as long as they didn't cross the goal line. The game was over. It reminded me a lot of the Seahawks final 2 minutes against the Steelers in the SuperBowl. Anyway, it was heartbreaking for many reasons, not the least of which was that this was their homecoming game, and they had played their fourth quarter so well. Michael and I enjoyed our time together, anyway.
Afterwards, we stopped by the Davies and borrowed "The Two Towers." I came home, put the other three boys to bed, and Michael and I watched the second in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It was a wonderful evening together, and I was reminded of several spiritual lessons from that movie about being a man of God. May God help me to find and make those kinds of times with my other three, especially the middle two.
Not that the first quarter - or second or third - were much to watch. It was the Sentinel Spartans of Missoula vs. the Flathead Braves of Kalispell, (you can read pregame stuff here)and Sentinel spent most of the game getting pushed around the field. None-the-less, it was only 21-0 going into the fourth quarter. Then it got fun. The Spartans marched down the field and scored a touchdown, but missed the extra point. So much for fire? No, they kicked an on-sides kick, and recovered it after it bounced off a Brave. They then proceeded to take about 2 minutes to march down the field again and make another touch down. This time they made the 2-point conversion, making it 21-14. The Braves were ready for an on-side, but instead the kicker kicked it out of the end-zone. After going back and forth in the middle of the field - penalties, long runs, sacks, a fantastic catch - the Spartans were able to stop the Braves on 4th-down, and got the ball back with a little over 2 minutes to go. They proceeded to march down field almost flawlessly, only making it to third down once (I think). After an offsides call against the braves, it was 1st and goal on the 4 yard line. Unfortunately, the Spartans, who haven't won a game in 27 games, died right there. They went from 1st and 4 to 4th and 1/2, with about 20 seconds left, and the clock running. The quarterback got them to the line, but confusion reigned. My opinion, based on what I saw: The coach and quarterback forgot it was fourth down. They were going to spike the ball and stop the clock (I saw the coach make hand motions like spiking it, but I'm only guessing from across the field that's what he meant). The quarterback got under center for about the only time I can recall, and tried to snap the ball... and fumbled... on fourth down... on the 1/2 yard line. The Spartans tried to tell the ref they had recovered, but the ref had to explain that it didn't matter - it was fourth down. The Braves could have handed them the ball, as long as they didn't cross the goal line. The game was over. It reminded me a lot of the Seahawks final 2 minutes against the Steelers in the SuperBowl. Anyway, it was heartbreaking for many reasons, not the least of which was that this was their homecoming game, and they had played their fourth quarter so well. Michael and I enjoyed our time together, anyway.
Afterwards, we stopped by the Davies and borrowed "The Two Towers." I came home, put the other three boys to bed, and Michael and I watched the second in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It was a wonderful evening together, and I was reminded of several spiritual lessons from that movie about being a man of God. May God help me to find and make those kinds of times with my other three, especially the middle two.
Labels: Family, High School Ministry, Videos
posted by Pastor Paul at
9:50 PM
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