A good guy makes good

3:29 p.m. Today's project was to enjoy a fun party after church with his mom Kathy and friends of Robert Malone, a brand-new NFL punter playing his first professional game, for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He is a very close friend of our youngest son Steven, having played football together at King High School. They were roommates for Malone's last year as a Fresno State Bulldog, and Steven's junior year at Fresno Pacific. Robert has the distinction of being the strongest rookie in the NFL Combine, as the picture shows him at a bench press.

After a false start with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Robert came back to Riverside, humbly accepting God's will for his career, and working meanwhile as a trainer at Fitness 19 in Moreno Valley. He tried out for a team in the Euro league, but that didn't go well. But this week, after a Canadian punter was let go, the Bucs called him and he flew to Florida for a tryout weakened by jet lag. The special teams coach then looked at his film, told him to try out again, but upon re-examination, said, "Never mind another tryout, we want you to sign with us!" Praise the Lord, a godly young man is added to a pro football roster!

We believers can all learn something from the dreams, faith and patience of Robert and of Steven as well this week, when it looked like Steven wouldn't be able to return to his Christian university [post of 10/15], and Robert would be coming back after another disappointment.

Where else could either of them go, than where it was clear God was leading?

When I begin to question God's direction for me or my husband and children, I am reminded of Peter's discussion with Jesus in John 6:67-69, when Jesus' teachings became too difficult for the many disciples who (v.66) "went back and followed Him no more":

Then Jesus said to the twelve, "Do you also want to go away?" But Simon Peter answered Him, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also, we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God."

Indeed, to whom shall we go? No one has ever lost by following Christ, even into dark, scary, uncertain places. When there is precious little in this physical existence to hold onto, the vision the Lord has given us for our life and ministry is the most solid of all ground. "On Christ the solid rock I stand; all other ground is sinking sand," the old hymn declares. Amen!

When the dream appears shattered and the vision clouds, a Christian has two choices: stand up with arms uplifted to the Father in prayer, or sink down in unbelief and fear. Habakkuk 2:3 says,

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

Believe, pray, wait, and be blessed by God's faithfulness every time!