Internationally Known

In the last couple of days i've been thinking about a great movie that i watched this past summer/fall... so great a movie that i've seen it 5 times in the cineplex... $50 later (not including popcorn/drinks)... and wow! I'd go see it again if it was in theatres still...alas it comes out on DVD on December 19th, so that'll be a Christmas gift to myself i guess... This movie obviously centers around football...it's called "INVINCIBLE"... it's about a man named "Vince Papale", who was a bar tender and layed-off school teacher in Philadelphia... His wife left him and things looked fairly bleak... Until his dreams came alive and eventually to pass... The NFL team the Philadelphia eagles decided to have "open" try-outs one summer, meaning anyone, literally ANYONE can have a tryout with the team... This was really a HYPE gimmick, but turned out real interesting when one man against the odds made the cut and was invited to camp... Mr.papale, went on to make the team, played well and the picture i posted was one of him running in his first touchdown (which nicole literally had to keep me on my chair in the theatre when he was running it in, i was little to excited)... He made Philadelphia which was going thru tough times proud, made his friends proud, in an emotional scence made his father proud, and this true story is inspiring people today.... the fact that Mark Wahlberg played his character was an added bonus... he's my favorite actor..
... I'll quit talking about the movie and recommend you go watch it... heck i'll watch it with you... Vince Papale had a dream that he never would've thought possible, but after hard work, determination and persistency...it became a reality... I'm a sucker for these types of stories and movies... the fact that it's about NFL Football, well that's icing to the cake!... I think the reason this movie affected me more though was because this guy attained his goal... That's a rare thing these days... not only did he attain his goal but he did in the toughest times of his life, with opposition and doubt all around, even within himself... If we even have goals, how determined are we to reach them???.... And for Christians, there are even greater questions... Are our goals in line with what God would have us accomplish?
... I've often wondered, and forgive me for being this honest, i know we don't normally talk like this in Christian circles, but the old saying, "God told me to do this"... Ive wondered, How do we determine what God really told us to do? How do we know it's His will and not our desires/logic? I know i have a set of principles when determining/gaeging this, but i just wonder if i've ever pulled out the "God told me to" card when in reality i just wanted my own way? I know God will lead and guide us, I just wonder how authentic it is all the time? If we want to be led by the Spirit, i guess we really have to be in step with the spirit... would you agree??? I wonder how many decisions/following the leading i've made, where i really just follow my own wishes and desires???
... Vince papale didn't have much to live for at the beginning of this movie, but he accomplished so much and especially what he lived for and that was football... I know that i'd just love to be that guy running that ball into the end zone... i can't even imagine the rush i'd feel when getting into the end zone on an NFL field... with the crowd cheering... that'd be so aweosme, and yet how awesome is that really in the full scope of life in it's full, meaning ETERNITY? Do i have my priorities in check and am i following the goals God has for me to accomplish? I guess i'm more just having some self-evaluation time, which is GOOD! I recommend you do it often as well... I'm so happy with where i live, where i'm pastoring, etc... But I need to keep my focus on the BIG PICTURE in life, so i too can run in that TOUCH DOWN one day and know that i did what had to be done to get there...
... Vince Papale you've inspired me... (and Josh too lol)... i just need to be channeling that inspiration into important things... and recognizing that i'm to follow God's direction and not my preferences to get there... Lord help me do this well! With all odds stacking against us at times, it's easy to quit or "take another path"... I hope to find out what the Real path is for me and follow it... and then maybe i'll know what that END ZONE really feels like... better get my dance prepared... anyways... just some random thoughts, from a guy who's been encouraged to dream and to dream dreams that are bigger than mine... Feeling a little "invincible" sounds good....