The Coke Machine with Legs, Running down the Sidelines or up the Middle

   


      There is not much we can do when a coke machine with legs is two feet away at full speed, exept maybe call your our mom.

      In football there are so many different ways to get the ball from one end to the other. That is the main task. With different coaches come different plays. All leading to the end zone. The coaches have played the game and are working with the team to help them learn from his mistakes to get them to state.

      Now picture yourself as a running back. We have 5 lineman and a tight end to defend us from the oncoming defence of line. We have the quarter back and another running back with us. As well as two wide receivers. The coach calls the play, the ball will be pitched to us. He calls it to run up the middle next to the left guard and the center.

       As the ball is hiked we look at the defense and think that it would be so much easier to just run a sweep down the sideline. That way we can just get away from that coke machine with legs linebacker.

      The ball is pitched to us and we change our play to fit what we think is best for us. As we take off for the sideline, the defense catches us. our blockers aren't there because we aren't running the play the coach has set up for us. But we know we can do it on our own, we have been playing ball all our life.

     We hit the sideline and take off toward the endzone, no one ahead of us and we think we have it set. But little do we know that sneaky little safety caught us and blind sides us. he pushes us out of bounds. That little safety who is like 5 foot nothin knocks us out of bounds. Now the whole game is stopped and the paramedics are called in.
 

      The next play the coach calls us to run down the hole he asked us to before. Some of us choose to experience not listening to him to understand that he does know what he is talking about. we we decide to see if he is right. The ball is pitched to us, our blockers get the hole open and we are off. We have the other running back ahead of us to take out the linebacker, the receivers cross in and knock out the safety and another linebacker. Now the field is open...ish.

      That coke machine with legs gets up and comes at us. Because we ran down the middle of the field, we have enough room all around us to stiff-arm, spin, stumble, jump, or whatever. As that coke machine hits us, we have put enough room between us and the boundary line to make some mistakes. We stumble a bit but our blockers are right there to take him out and allow us to continue to run down to the end zone.

                                                            TOUCH DOWN!!!

     In the Book of Mormon, Lehi talks about the Iron Rod and the "straight and narrow path" which leads to eternal life or Heaven. Some say that it is to narrow to follow, some find it easy to follow. Next time you have a chance, watch a football game. Count how many times someone steps over the line. The field is 50 yards wide. That is not narrow at all. And yet people still constantly try to push their limit and run down the sideline.

      As we try to run down the sideline of the Iron Rod, we will get pushed by something as small as the little safety or maybe attending something we know we shouldn't justify ourselves in doing it. Our coach (Jesus Christ) has called the play, the commandments. He has provided us with our team mates and blockers (our family and church family). They know the plays and know what each one of us is to do.

      Some of the plays we may not agree with or understand, but it is the trust that we put in our Coach and team mates that will get us through it. The Coach has called the plays, our blockers are set, now its up to us to follow it and be guarded. Or run outside and take the risk of getting taken out 

Anyone can be a Father, But it takes Someone Special to be a Dad

    I can remember a time when I was little that my dad embraced me in his physical pain, when he felt my emotional pain. My dad had surgery on his shoulder. My mom took my sister, two brothers, and I into see him. He was in the hospital bed waiting for us. I climbed in the bed with him and laid by his side. A tear rolled down my cheek as I thought of the pain my dad was in. As my mom wiped it away, my dad felt my broken heart, and in his own pain from the surgery, he wrapped his arm around me and held me tight to let me know he is always there.

      Almost 15 years later I can still remember my dad's powerful arm lift and comfort me by his touch. All four of us kids climbed in bed and allowed ourselves to be wrapped in his arms.

     One of the most powerful acts of love between a father and son takes place in John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."

     Each one of us knows what it is like to watch a loved one struggle. I heard this saying many times throughout my life: "If I could, I would take that pain away from you." It is hard to go through tough times but its even harder to watch a friend or child go through it.

      To relate John 3:16 to myself I added "For my parents so loved God that they sent their daughter out to raise His children, a son to serve His children, a son to protect His creations, and are preparing another son to become who He desires. That whosoever follows, believes, trusts, and teaches them will not perish, but have everlasting life."
   
      My parents have watched their only daughter get married and move out to take care of her own family. They have sent a son on a mission to serve the Lord and bring his lost sheep back home. They have sent a son into the military to serve and defend our country. They are working with their youngest son to prepare him for what is to come.

     It takes a lot of strength to endure, but it takes a lot more love to watch and support. Heavenly Father had to watch and support His Son as He suffered for us. My parents and many others can understand a portion of what our Father in Heaven felt as Christ asked for the "cup" to be removed. But then said "not my will, but thine be done".

     Just as Heavenly Father sends His Son out in the world to defend, protect, teach, and be the example for us. Our parents have to let us go and learn, to do the things that Christ did. Even when we turn the other way, they are still there to wrap their arms around us each time. How heartbroken was Heavenly Father as He watched His Son suffer on that cross. But how proud was He when He was able to hold His Son in His arms again.

      I know this first hand with my family. When one of us slips and falls my parents are always there. For those of us who don't have parents, we ALL have that wonderful loving Father in Heaven who is there for us each time we have a tear run down our cheek. He wipes it away and holds us tight.

     Christ says in  John 14:7,9  "If ye had known me, ye have known my father also....he that hath seen me hath seen the father." I can only wish that when someone looks at me they can see either one of my parents.

     "Anyone can be a father, but it takes someone special to be a dad." What makes your father the one you call dad?