20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
By now, you are probably somewhat familiar with the story of Coach Joe Kennedy, the man who for years walked to midfield after football games to pray and give glory to God. Ultimately, that practice cost him his job. He went to court and fought school officials' decision. Finally, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in his favor, and in so doing, opened up a new front for religious freedom, abolishing old interpretations of the so-called "Establishment Clause" of the First Amendment and establishing new standards that are more friendly toward religious expression.
Coach Joe told me at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention last year that he was inspired by the film, Facing the Giants. His life story has actually been portrayed in a movie called, Average Joe, which had a limited engagement in theaters last month. It is now available to watch at home.
A recent CBN.com story highlighted the actor who played Coach Joe Kennedy. His name is Eric Close. The story noted that Close...
... said the movie tells the former coach’s story of persisting, never giving up, and “ultimately finding faith.” Close said perseverance is a key fixture of Kennedy’s story, as the coach faced a plethora of adversarial moments in his life before finding Christianity.
“I admired his conviction — the willingness to fight for his convictions and for what he felt was right,” Close said. “Regardless of the negative fallout that would come his way, the threats, the loss of work.”
The article includes these words:
“One of the aspects … that I loved about this film is that every person matters — everybody matters,” he said. “God loves; His love is so far and wide and reaches to everybody.”
And that love — and faith — can inspire people to take a stand and do the right thing, even when it’s difficult or seems insurmountable, Close said.
“Through faith, nothing is impossible; you can overcome these challenges,” he said. “You never know when that moment might happen when we’re called to step up and stand for something and make a difference.”
Like Coach Kennedy, Close has shared about the transformative work that God has done in his life. Rewinding to a Faithwire story from two years ago, the article states:
“I had graduated from college and I was sitting in my apartment,” Close said. “I felt kind of empty, just kind of lost. I just remember saying, ‘God, I don’t know if you want anything to do with me, but I miss you.'”
Despite committing his life to Christ as a teen, the actor had fallen away and wasn’t living for the Lord.
“God wasn’t a priority in my life,” Close said. “I knew He was there, but I wasn’t making Him No. 1.”
That simple prayer became a clarion moment for the actor and the starting point of a deeper and more fulfilling faith journey — one he has never looked back from.
“From there, my life just transformed,” Close said. “It was just supernatural.”
Certainly, Close's personal faith brings that spiritual dynamic to the role of Coach Joe Kennedy. And, we can be reminded that in whatever "role" or "call" that God has appointed us to, He will provide His power and direction. Because whether or not you're an actor, a football coach, a customer service representative, a cashier, or the CEO of a large corporation, we need God and have His presence available to us.
We can develop a sense of reliance on Him, no matter what difficult seasons we may encounter. And as the Coach has told me, he experienced difficult days after losing his job and pursuing a lengthy court challenge. But, we, like him, can rely on the sustaining hand of God. He brings His best to every situation, and by surrendering to Him, we can find that He is able to do magnificent things in and through us.
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