I am in hog heaven, football season is in full swing. The season could be a little better for me because I am a die hard Cowboys fan. I am not going to go down that road right now.  I love watching football and all the football movies that have been made over the years like “Rudy” and “Any Given Sunday”. I would have to say that “Rudy” is my favorite. I guess I love it so much because it is based on a true story of Rudy Ruettiger a man who never gave up. For those who don’t know the story I urge you to see the movie but here is the short version of his story. Rudy applied for entrance to Notre Dame, but had to do his early college work at Holy Cross College. After two years at Holy Cross, and three rejections to transfer to the Notre Dame, Ruettiger was accepted as a student in the fall of 1974. Ruettiger had a dream of playing football of the mighty Notre Dame Fighting Irish despite his size. He was as one of the characters in the movie put it “your five foot nothing and you weigh one hundred nothing”.  Rudy had it in his heart that he was going to play for Notre Dame. Ruettiger earned a place on the Notre Dame scout team, a practice squad that helps the varsity team practice for games. Ruettiger’s last opportunity to play for Notre Dame at home, but the coach put him into a game as defensive end against Georgia Tech on November 8, 1975.

In the final play of Ruettiger’s senior season with the Fighting Irish, he recorded a sack , which is all his Notre Dame stat line has ever shown. Ruettiger actually played for two plays. The first time he was unable to get to the quarterback, but on the second play he sacked the Georgia Tech quarterback, Rudy Allen.Ruettiger was carried off the field by his teammates following the game.

Ruettiger was the first of only two players in Notre Dame history ever to be carried off the field by his teammates.

Giving up is not an option. There are so many more who have not given up and here are just a few more men who played or coached football that never gave up despite the odds.

Johnny Unitas’s first pass in the NFL was intercepted and returned for a touchdown.

Joe Montana’s first pass was also intercepted. And while we’re on quarterbacks, during his first season.

Tom Landry, Chuck Noll, Bill Walsh, and Jimmy Johnson accounted for 11 of the 19 Super Bowl victories from 1974 to 1993. They also share the distinction of having the worst records of first-season head coaches in NFL history – they didn’t win a single game.

and with a Packers win last night I cannot leave this one out..

An expert said of Vince Lombardi: “He possesses minimal football knowledge and lacks motivation.” Lombardi would later write, “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.”

These stories are encouragement about never giving up. I know that there are a lot of you working hard to beat your addiction to porn/sex. This is not an easy road to go down. I want to encourage you through this story to keep on keeping on. Don’t give up no matter how tough things may get. When you think that you can’t do it any more just take it one step at a time. It says in

Galatians 6:9 (The Message)

9-10 So let’s not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don’t give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

It also says in Hebrews that

Since God assured us, “I’ll never let you down, never walk off and leave you,” we can boldly quote,God is there, ready to help; I’m fearless no matter what.
Who or what can get to me?

I want you to take the above verse make a copy of it and place it in places where you tend to have the most temptation. I will be praying for all of you.

 

Steve Oh

LoveJesus.LovePeople