3rd Down and 8 Players
3rd and 8 Player
In the sporting world - specifically the game of football, football is played on “downs” (tries / attempts). When a team has the ball, they've got four downs to get 10 yards - and that's called a first down. So if you move the chains, as they say, on first down and second down and third down, you “move the chains” (advance down the field toward the goal). Eventually you move the chains enough, you're going to get the ball in the end zone and score a touchdown! You want points...you want touchdowns... you want a lot of touchdowns for your team!
In the game of football, it's back and forth. It's the battle on the “Gridiron” (field) and many times “pivot point” moments in a game happen on what is called third down. On third down and two yards to go, you might be able to run the ball and get the first down.
“Third and Long”
On third down and eight yards to go, also known as “Third and Long”.
That's kinda challenging. The data says in the game of football that third down and eight or more, is a kind of tough down to move the chains.
I like to get those eight or nine yards that you need to get the first down.
It’s not as easy as when it's third and one or third and two or third and three.
So what does that mean? Today I want to encourage you and encourage me.
Let's be a “third down and eight” kind of player so that when our business, our organization, our team that we work with, our coworkers, maybe our family, maybe our children... whatever it is that we're striving to be great at - when it's third down and eight (so to speak), and the game's on the line - people can count on us!
Be dependable when it's “third down and eight”.
You're the person that the quarterback wants to throw the ball to
You’re the person that coach says “Yeah, get the ball to them because they're going to get the first down!”
In business when things are going wrong in your company...be the kind of person that on third and eight you're like, you can count on me.
“Third and Eight” Players are the kind of people that “make a difference” and impact lives. People that change organizations, change businesses, churches, and take them to the next level. Be dependable, be flexible, and be ready to make the big play when the opportunity comes your way!
No Fear →
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No Fear
How many of you know that that fear, for many people, is a real, raw emotion?
Fear
A fear of what's coming next
A fear of whether or not I am going to get that job promotion
A fear of what's going to happen with my family?
A fear of what's going on with the health of someone I love and care about
A fear of maybe myself...anxious thoughts...can trap the heart of man inside the four walls.
Sometimes a few of the thoughts that come our way can almost paralyze us. And I want to encourage each of us today to, to put one foot in front of the other and make a decision that we're NOT going to have fear. I'm not talking about a healthy respect for things that we probably should have some concern about.
I'm not gonna go play with rattlesnakes.
I'm not gonna go wrestle a bear.
I'm personally not going to jump out of an airplane (although some of you might with a parachute by the way).
“No Fear”
Many years ago there was a slogan “No Fear”. A brand was created, a t-shirt company and all of these things labele “No Fear”. It's amazing when you look at things that people are afraid of. Some studies have shown that the number one fear that most people have is a fear of public speaking. Whatever your fear might be, I want to encourage you to identify it and start to surround your thoughts and your actions to not allow those things to paralyze you.
You can take those thoughts captive.
You capture those fears and you combat those negative, fearful thoughts.
Find someone in your circle group, your friends that can encourage you.
Replace them with Faith filled thoughts.
Maybe you're going to have to seek out some additional help or counseling...if you’re struggling - find someone who has walked the path you're walking, had to face some of the trials trials that you might be facing and find out what they did. Take them out to lunch and say, Hey, what did you do that helped you walk through that valley, through that anxiety, or through that thing that you fear?
We're not meant to walk this alone. So if there's something you fear I want to encourage you to lean into it and face it.
Face your giants
Face your fears
On the other side of that step of faith...when we face it, there's growth.
And while those concerns may not ever completely go away, they don't have to paralyze you and they don't have to paralyze me. So whether your fear is public speaking or jumping out of an airplane with a parachute, or a high dive or whatever your fear might be...let's not let those things paralyze us from living the life that we were intended to live. I hope that encourages you today.