"For Him"

Psalm 115:1

Our youngest son, Jake, is the baby of our family and a senior in high school. 
It doesn't seem possible that next fall he will be off to college.

Jake plays high school soccer for Freedom Baptist High School in Hudsonville.  The season began with high expectations, but with a firm commitment to play the game "For Him".  The team selected Psalm 115:1 as their theme verse: "Not to us, O Lord, but to your name be the glory".

Each time the team took the field to the shout "For Him", it reminded them who they were playing for.  I couldn't help but think of Paul's words in Colossians 3:23, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, serving the Lord..."  These young men and their coaches were more concerned with showing Christ through their play than on the outcome fo the game.

As soccer tournament time came, the team won their districts and won their regional final game
 2-1 in overtime on one of the worst "weather" nights for a sporting event I can remember.  As if they had not had enough, they won their semi-final game 2-1 in overtime also.

The team had qualified for the MHSAA Soccer Finals and would be facing the team that had been ranked number 1 all season, a team that had beaten Freedom early in the season.  The opponent started quickly and was up 2-0 after just 10 minutes of play.  Freedom tied it up early in the second half and went ahead as Jake scored to make it 3-2.  Hold on!  With just over a minute in regulation, the Gryphons scored the tying goal.  

OVERTIME!!  Again?

And so we kicked off our third consecutive overtime game.  Play was outstanding and with 57 seconds left Jake took a pass from a teammate, Shane Barthuly, and kicked it home for the state title.  

As a father, I couldn't have written a script that would be more exciting or fulfilling.  As a follower of Christ, I was even more excited as I heard the cry "For Him" coming from team members, coaches, and fans.  Ultimately, the State Title, with it's championship trophy and medals was secondary to the testimony of a group of athletes and coaches.

The goal of every believer should be the same as these young men, to bring glory to GOD!