Facing the Giants

Please pray for the Columbus Crusaders Football team as they leave on a bus at 2 PM today to travel to Lynchburg, Virginia to play the Liberty Christian Bulldogs at 7:30 PM, tomorrow night October 28, 2006 at Liberty University. This opponent apparently has some Division I college prospects on the team, including a 6-3, 300 lb lineman with which the Crusaders must contend.

The Bulldogs are a regional powerhouse who has amassed an impressive 30-0 record over the past three seasons. No team has even been close, score-wise, to conquering these "giants."

As you may recall, this year has been very intense for the Crusader family, as the team has been dealing with the tragic loss of Jered Pyles, who would have been their 3rd year senior starter at quarterback this season. They have responded remarkably well, posting a 6-3 record by beating some pretty stiff competition that they were not expected to beat. I know that in their hearts, Jered is right there with them, encouraging them every step of the way.

Ironically, three of the teams which the Crusaders not only beat, but dominated this season were teams that Jered had targeted after disappointing losses to them last year. Western Reserve, Lockland and Frontier were in Jered's sights, with him proclaiming that he was determined to beat them in the upcoming season!

Little did he know that he is participating as the "12th man", carried on the backs and in the hearts and minds of his teammates on every snap.

Achieving that goal and posting a 6-3 record is not good enough for this great bunch of young men. They do not want to stop there. They want to achieve the seemingly "impossible." That would be to depart Virginia with a 7-3 record, stopping the winning streak at 30 for their worthy opponent.

Coach Stanley, during last night's Senior Tackle and Blessings revealed that he had prayed specifically that if it was His will, that God would grant the Crusaders the ability to be the team to end the Liberty Bulldogs long winning streak. There is no doubt that the players are going to be leaving all on the field tomorrow night, leaving the outcome in God's hands.

What an amazing story it would be to go from sorrow at the loss of a brother in Christ, to the jubilation of upending a foe that by all calculations, seems invincible. But yet, as I write this note, it just feels like something amazing is going to happen.

Wouldn't that just be the capstone to a season to remember?

We are "Facing the Giants" over 450 miles away from home tomorrow night. As God leads, please join us in prayer for safe travel and good, clean football. But most of all, please pray that win or lose, our witness, walk and character will be the sterling example of what it is to be followers of Christ.

Please also pray for Rick and Kerry and their family, as they continue to rejoice and celebrate their young man's witness in this life. Last night, Rick specifically shared with me that 4 years ago, he watched as a young boy entered the Crusader Varsity Program...but that just a few months ago, he buried a young man, whose witness is still impacting any who hear his life story today.

I still believe in miracles. Please join us in seeking God's will as we travel this weekend. With God, all things are possible!

Regardless of the outcome tomorrow night, may God be glorified every step along this way, and may we be ambassadors of His name to all those we encounter.

Photos and a game report will be available Sunday night on my website, linked below.

Go Crusaders!!!

www.bulldogstudios.smugmug.com