 |
 |
| ATHLETE IN TRAINING |
| page 2 |
| blisters hardened into callouses. Then he began working on jumps and pivots. Incredibly, in August, less than one year after the amputation, Brad played his first game as a one-legged quarterback for Dimond High School. Some thought his appearance was a mere sentimental gesture. They were wrong: Brad ended the year leading the sate in passing! He completed 58 percent of his passes and racked up 662 yards in seven games as a parttime quarterback on the state championshp squad. After football season, he started on Dimond's basketball team. From there, he went on to major in physical education at Washington State University. When asked about his exploits, Brad shrugs and mentions two factors in his extraordinary achievement: gritty determination and long hours of often painful training. A Lesson From Athletes Paul uses the analogy of physical training in his letter to Timothy, urging him to train himself for godliness the same way disciplined athletes train for competition. Brad Lauwers had to overcome physical barriers; Timothy faced personality barriers. Several times Paul refers to Timothy's reserved, timid disposition, which probably contributed to his chronic stomach trouble. Given his shyness and his half-Jewish, half-Gentile ancestry, Timothy did not seem the ideal choice for a heresy fighter in a turbulent church. But Paul was convinced he could do the job. He encouraged Timothy with such motivational phrases as "I charge you" and "I urge you." He also reminded Timothy of his ordination, a commitment he had made long before. Harassed Christians need a model, an example of how they should live, perhaps even more than they need words of |