I learned that if you want to make it bad enough, no matter how bad it is, you can make it. Gayle Sayers

What Quarter are you in?

If life were like football and therefore divided into Quarters then some of us would be in the 1st Quarter (0-25), some would be entering the 2nd Quarter (25-50), others would be starting the 3rd quarter (50-75), while a smaller group would be somewhere in the 4th Quarter (75-100) of our lives.  Parents, teachers and peers most likely dominated the 1st quarter of your life. By the time you entered the 2nd quarter… employers, spouses, career choices and children influenced many of your decisions. Now that the 3rd quarter is beginning for many Baby Boomer’s it is time to stop playing defense exclusively and instead dominate the game of life on offense. It is time to get offensive!

1st and Ten

Seventy-six million American babies were born between 1946 and 1960, representing cohorts that would be significant on account of its size alone. These so called Boomer’s grew up at a time of dramatic social change and political upheaval. In the United States, that social change marked the generation with a strong cultural cleavage, between the proponents of social change and the more conservative. Some experts believe this partitioning of the American Sociopsychological consciousness has played out politically since the time of the Vietnam War, to some extent defining the current political landscape and division in the country. This generation witnessed the political assassinations of JFK, Malcolm X, Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy. This was also the generation that experienced the proliferation of nuclear armament, Woodstock, Hippies, flower and black power, the Beatles, the Jackson Five, black and white television, Civil Rights as well as equal rights for Women, People of Color and Gays. They have stood on the shoulders of Giant’s and have hidden in the shadows of Me’ism and indifference. They have straddled the two worlds — the world of yesterday (post-industrial age) and the world of today (technological and information age)!

1st and Goal

The fact is the generation that is [living in] or [fast approaching] the 3rd Quarter is poised to change the world. This is why it is so important to master the language of the new world order so historical definition and context can be shared particularly with the young generation (those who are still in the 1st Quarter) yet are struggling to keep the opponent (Satan) from running up the score.  Let it be said… There has never been a generation quite like the 3rd Quarter generation. I understand America’s infatuation and idolatrous worship of youth which is actually the worship of the Greek Goddess Hebe. I’m keenly aware that unlike most cultures throughout the world America is unique in its proclivity to throw its elderly away. But I also know that Joshua  would have never made it to the Promised Land without the wisdom and leadership of the elder statesman Moses.

The Player Coach

The world can’t afford to wait for you to “make it” before you start giving back some of those things that have been passed on to you by previous generations. God is not going to wait either. He is not going to postpone His plans to expand His Kingdom another thirty, forty, fifty or sixty years while you decide whether or not you want to get your life together.  You are going to have to become a Player coach. In other words…while on your way to climbing the proverbial ladder of success, you are going to have to coach others on how to beat the opponent, how to remain healthy enough to play all four quarters, and how to win when you don’t have home-field advantage. This is what others have done for you. They’ve won at home and on the road. So prepare yourself for success and victory. Listen to what thus saith the Lord in this your appointed season: You may have to call all the plays from the sideline plus score the winning touchdown in order to have your victory.