Under new management

Photo credit: www.managingamericans.com

Louis Van Gaal in, Jose Mourinho out, the collective sigh of relief can be heard all over the globe after the noise of jubilant Manutd supporters has died down. A record equalling FA Cup triumph was not enough to save the Dutchman’s job and in truth, it never looked like being. The writing had been on the wall for sometime. Fans had grown tired of the sterile football, the failure to challenge for the league, the profligate use of the 200 million transfer kitty amongst others. LVG had to be shown the exit door.

Step in, Jose Mourinho and it remains to be seen if he will suffer the same fate as his predecessor.  A lot of Manutd fans have wondered why this decision took an eternity to arrive. The embarrassing defeats and the ponderous football had fans crying out for a change. A lot of players are playing nowhere near to their potential so they must share in the blame. However, these players play under the manager’s instructions, thus he is culpable.  Why did the United hierarchy hold on to Van Gaal for so long when it was obvious that he would not fulfill the lofty expectations set of him?

I think God asks me a similar question. Why do I hold on to the throne of my life and watch as another sterile performance in life pans out? Why I am content with my managing yet it only produces mediocre results when if I let go to the rightful manager, Jesus, the vibrant, swashbuckling and fruitful performance will be there for all to see.

Jesus is the rightful LORD, or in this case, Manager. He is the de facto boss, the gaffer. When I persist in assuming his role , all I succeed in doing is floundering, floundering greatly under the guise of doing ok.

Like the United under Van Gaal, having more possession of the ball was considered domination. Forget that most of that possession was mostly sideways passing, ineffective and downright boring to watch. It was considered domination. Almost no attacking thrust, or penetration, Mostly it was just playing safe, not wanting to lose. I see close similarities with my philosophy.

All I succeed in doing is dominating possession, being easy on the eye with my cute triangles that don't lead to goals. I’m not addicted to the brown bottle. I’m not sexually active before marriage. I read the bible, pray, go to church every Sunday. I’m content with being in the conveyor belt of life moving from uni to a job to a marriage to kids till eventual death. I'm ok. I’m dominating. My life isn’t spiraling out of control, no losing.

Where’s the attacking thrust? Where’s the taking risks for Jesus and witnessing Christ in my life to others? Shouldn't I be counter-cultural or I've just blended in till no-one sees Jesus in me? Where’s the Isaiah altitude? "Here I am LORD send me!" I play it safe and sit perched in the sanctuary, instead saying, “ Someone else will do it.”

I’ll use the someone else line again when I see injustice all around me. I see inequality with the chasm  between the rich and the poor widening but I do nothing. I do nothing to uplift the poor or to alleviate their suffering. I see a world crying out for help but instead I just look away, shrug my shoulders, feel the sympathy but never the empathy. I guess I’m  the reason for Isaiah 59:15- “The LORD looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no –one, he was appalled there was no -one to intervene; so his own arm worked salvation for him and his own righteousness sustained him.”

I pay no attention to Micah 6:8. Yes he has shown me what is good but do I act justly? Do I love mercy? Do I walk humbly with my God?

Sometimes I just take the route 1 long ball method of just going to church and doing nothing else, the route 1 way of keeping it simple,   refusing to take a stand for Jesus or the bible and just sit on the fence; not wanting to ruffle any feathers with my beliefs. Instead I keep it on the down low so that I don't hurt anybody.

This sterile way of living is not what God intended. “Attack...Attack...Attack, attack, attack is the cry of the united crowd, and it is also the cry of the saints who yearn for me to press on to get the ultimate prise of being like Jesus regardless of the cost. This requires me to let Jesus be the manger,  to follow his tactics which is his play book,  the bible. I ought to scrutinize scripture, read, re-read it, cover to cover, over and over; not just for inspiration or encouragement but for all round living for good times and bad.

I need to be the player who reflects my manager’s philosophy on the pitch because I have hidden his word in my heart like in Psalms 119: 11. I need to be a reflection of him on the pitch which is in the earth showcasing a loving heart for the lost, a desire to do God’s will above that of my own, a desire to reconcile others to God, and to make disciples, followers of Jesus.

I need to know my natural abilities like writing, my spiritual gifts like giving, my passions like for food, football, integrity and empowerment and avail them to the manager that he uses them in his formation of choice for his glory rather than just using them for myself and my glory.

“For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”(Philippians 2:21).That shouldn’t describe me, his interests should be my interests,  following his drills daily, I need to be praying, thanking him for who he is not just what he has done, confessing my faults to him and to others, praying not just for myself but for others sometimes even  fasting while doing it.

I need to be in fellowship with other believers in small groups so that we can encourage one another to do good as Hebrews 10:24-25 urges. Fellowship by not just going for a church service but beyond that, either in church, at a home, or another place where I congregate with believers and share testimonies of God’s goodness, scripture, my burdens or encouragement as I receive the same. Fellowship is what will bring me closer to God to reflect him to others.

I need to share him with others, share the gospel, and witness him to others that they may know him. Push will come to shove, and like Paul said in 1 Corinthians 9: 19-23, for the sake of the gospel, I will have to become many things. To the Jews, I become like a Jew, to those under the law, I become like one under the law, to those not having the law, I become like one not having the law, though I am under the law of Christ. To the weak, those struggling, I become weak and share my struggles of lust sometimes reaching bondage, domination masochism thoughts,  that through them they may see the power of the gospel, God’s gift of salvation and his sanctifying work fuelled by grace which rains down on me.

I know it has taken an eternity for me to give him control in my life but the only way to play well, attack with penetration so that I win is having him as my manager and essence my LORD. He teaches me what is best for me and directs me in the way I should go(Isaiah 48:17)I need to submit to him, lay down my crown, get off the hot seat and let him take his rightful place. Only then will I attack and not be content with playing safe, then will I win and live the abundant life that he desired for me.

He has made everything beautiful in its time

Photo credit: www.itv.com

There is nothing quite as joyful as salvaging a draw from the jaws of defeat, or snatching victory right at the death. The raw emotion that gushes out from players, fans and coaching staff as they celebrate tells you all you need to know. Football has had its fair share of late drama, with fate unravelling in such a way that even the best directors in Hollywood would struggle to script it any better.

Re-living the late twists through YouTube makes for compelling viewing. The hairs at the back of my neck always stand up whenever I watch Sergio Aguero sink that late winner against QPR to win the premier league title for Manchester City.  Even as a Manutd fan, Martin’s Tyler commentary of “Aguuerrrrooooo!!!” and subsequently seeing the diminutive Argentine wheel away in delight, being mobbed by fellow Mancity players is one of those moments that takes your breath away.

Manutd, were forced to settle for second place despite winning at Sunderland. Only a few minutes earlier and for much of the second half they were champions; then a Dzeko header, followed by Aguero's late intervention meant the trophy went to Mancity at United’s expense. It was painful and you could see the disappointment on the faces of the United players like Rooney and Jones as they trudged off the pitch in the realization that they had just lost the league in spectacular fashion.

This is not to say that Manutd haven’t dished out the same punishment to other teams leave alone Mancity. Solskjaer’s outstretched leg, which put the ball in the back of the net to land United the European cup against Bayern Munich is yet another moment of unparalleled drama. Sammy Kuffour beating the ground in frustration spoke volumes of Bayern Munich's anguish. Then there was Michael Owen’s late toe-poke against Manchester City in that enthralling 4-3 win or what of Robin Van Persie’s free-kick against the same opponents for a 3-2 victory.

Many people have been celebrating Leicester’s shocking premier league win but to get there, they first had to endure untold heartbreak in the play-offs for promotion. Awarded a late penalty in their decisive 2^nd  leg semi-final play-off against Watford, they missed it, plus the follow-up, only for Watford to break away on a counter attack, and score through Troy Deeney to reach the finals of the play-off at Leicester’s expense. A few weeks ago at the Emirates, Danny Welbeck sent the stadium into ruptures along with millions of Arsenal fans across the globe, when he headed in an injury time winner to condemn Leicester to a 2-1 defeat. Perharps then it was poetic justice that Leicester won the premier league after those two late heartbreaks.

These are just a few of the many dramatic games, many have ended in similar fashion. As much as people may claim the earlier the better, a victory that comes in the 90^th minute or 92^nd is just as sweet if not sweeter than one that was all but assured by half-time. The celebrations of the fans, players removing their jerseys are testament to that. However long or late it took to get it, it’s a victory nonetheless, a beautiful one, that is celebrated with much jubilation.

I often see life as a football game, goals being likened to goals or dreams I desire to achieve. When I hit a stalemate and don’t achieve them by my timeline, worry starts to creep in. When I see others all around me scoring their goals, making their dreams come true, it spells defeat for me. Things start to get desperate as it appears I'm running out of time to score those goals.

When will I get a job? When will I move out? It should have happened by now, my 10 year plan is in no way going according to plan! Another young couple post pictures of their engagement on Facebook , I like their pics, congratulate them,  then inadvertently bring my failings into sharp focus. When will I find my significant other? Will I find my significant other? Maybe I already did and let them go? Did I do enough to try have a relationship? The barrage of questions sends me into panic mode. Worry and anxiety sets in as my life is locked in a drab stalemate whereas friends and family seem to be hitting their goals with ease.

As a child of God, you turn to scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him  and he will make your paths straight.” Your remember Jeremiah 29:11- “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD. plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

The verses encourage but slowly fade away from memory the longer you fail to hit your targets. It gets harder when try as you might, you cannot score your goal. It’s as if life has parked the bus like Chelsea, Atléltico Madrid and Leicester City combined. You just can’t score.

You get that delay is not denial, but it seems hard to believe it. The clock ticks away to the 90 with no change in fortunes. Denial seems the more likely option. Then I stumbled upon a nugget of wisdom in Ecclesiastes 3:11, “He has made everything beautiful in its time.”

It’s not only beautiful for a team that wins at the last minute but for you as well. God makes the graduation beautiful even if it comes 2 years after your class graduated. God makes the wedding beautiful for those marrying in their later thirties or forties or even fifties. He makes the thriving business beautiful after it had failed on numerous attempts. He makes the baby beautiful after that long  period of childlessness with the false dawns of miscarriages.

You may be forced to wait, endure agony and moments of despair but when God’s timing comes into play, the bitterness, all the waiting is forgotten and the beauty of the goal scored is celebrated.

Did David whine to God that he should have been king earlier? Did Abraham blast God for not giving him Isaac sooner? Did Joseph miss out on a high position or a wife because he was wasting away in Prison missing out on invaluable job experience?

The answer is no. God made David king the time he did, and despite having to wait for long to ascend to the throne, the waiting didn’t reduce David’s capacity to lead. Matter of fact, he led very well and left a legacy for other kings of Israel or Judah to follow. God gave Isaac to Abraham at 100 years and not 75 or 76, it didn’t change the fact that Abraham had descendants as numerous as the stars. God eventually got Joseph out of jail and he was soon second in command in Egypt with a wife and children in the form of Manasseh and Ephraim whom Jacob blessed.

It can seem frustrating when you’re trusting God to help you score goals but try as you might, the net refuses to bulge. Like the jubilation witnessed when a team scores late in the 90, God makes everything beautiful in its time whether it comes in the 70^th, 83^rd or 94^th minute of your life. It may seem that you are stagnating while others get ahead but in time, you will score and it will be beautiful because God made it so.