Website Improvements -- Jesse February 18 2015

Well, after a long while, I am bringing this site out of retirement starting with a lot of back end code work that should make things move much more smoothly.

Along with that, there will be more graphical upgrades and added features along the way depending on how some upcoming projects go.

Devotions:

Who is your coach? -- Jesse November 2 2010

The other day, I was talking to my wife about daily struggles. We were discussing the topic of fear related to doing the things that God put into your heart.

So many times each of us have a passion or a dream that God has placed in our hearts to do something. Big or small, these pulls take us out of our comfort zone and often times remind us of past success or failure. As we were having this discussion, an analogy came to my heart that I felt the need to share with her and now I share with all of you reading this:

Imagine that one day, you were a young quarterback. All your life, you've had the worst coach in the world. You never questioned him, because he's very outspoken and flaunts his success. All week through practices, he tells you the same thing: don't make a mistake.

He hounds you and yells at you constantly for every misstep. No matter how good or bad your performance, his reaction is always filled with anger. He hammers into your head not to throw interceptions. If you do, the you've lost us the game.

You're so conditioned by his constant nagging that game day is a nightmare rather than a joy. You know that the game is on the line and it's all up to you. Then that moment comes when you take the field ball in hand.

You drop back and there is a receiver wide open in position to score. Your mind begins to race with thoughts and fears as he waits for the throw. All that goes through your mind don't throw an interception. You are so filled with fear that you seize up frozen until that moment passed. Moments later you lay on the ground sacked with the sound of your coach yelling and cursing that he told you not to mess up.

Years have passed and you stand broken and defeated ready to retire. Where those that called you young and hopeful now say washed up before hitting his prime. The coach has benched you for his next pride and joy. Then you receive some news. You've been traded away.

On this new team, you have the best coach in the world. Where your old coach nagged you, he tells you not to worry. He tells you that he has the whole game planned. All you have to do is trust in him and trust in the skills that you have. He says don't worry about messing up because he can make it all work together for the win.

His coaching is second to none. His team has the best receivers and defense in the world. He just needs a quarterback that trusts in his team. Just get it to the receivers and let them do the rest. The defense will stop the other team.

You're confused because that' not what you're used to hearing. Day in and day out, you take in all he has to say. Until you hit that big day. The ball is in your hand again.

First pass you drop back and your star receiver is wide open, bu you're so tense from all the negative things your old coach would say. You still hear the old coach's voice in your head. So much so that you tune out your new coach speaking through your headset. Telling you one thing just before the play. Trust me and throw.

Now which coach will you listen to?