If we want to see the Rainbow, we must learn to Dance in the Rain

                         Knute Rockne Inspires his Team

“It has been in the headrest storms that have ever blown into my life, that I have forced myself to put on my dancing shoes, and walk out side to give my greatest waltz in the pouring down rain” ~ Donnie Bolena

 

This is not the “win one for the Gipper speech”. Instead, this is Knute Rockne’s pep talk that was immortalized by the movie “Rudy”. “And don’t forget, men — today is the day we’re gonna win. They can’t lick us — and that’s how it goes… The first platoon men — go in there and fight, fight, fight, fight, fight! What do you say, men!”

 

                          Rudy Inspires us all

Our journey is our on real life personal story, we are writing a New Your Times best seller, a box office smash on Broadway, and a major motion picture each and every day. We are strong; we have learned how to dance in the rain after we have faced the most horrible of circumstances that we could imagine, to only live to fight another day. Those of us who have survived these life storms are battle tested and strong. This is who we are; we are winners, with the heart of a Lion.

FIVE QUALITIES OF A LEADER/SOLIDER - 2 Tim. 2:3-4; 4:7-8 as Paul neared the end of his life; he languished in a Roman prison. But, from that cell, the great Apostle took steps to ensure that he would be remembered as a good solider of the cross. He took the time to write to young Timothy and give him the secret for becoming a good soldier. Perhaps this will encourage and challenge each of us to become the best LEADERS that we can be BETTER FOLLOWERS for the glory of the Lord.



I. A LEADER IS FIRST A FOLLOWER – 2 Tim. 2:3 Implies Relationship the first step is to join the army. No one can be a soldier for the Lord until they first get into the army. This is accomplished only through receiving Jesus as one's Savior, John 3:3; Eph. 2:8-9; Acts 16:31. Implies Rank There is always someone higher than you. The same is true in the Lord's army. Every child of God is under ranked under Jesus and is responsible for following Him and His will for their lives, 1 Cor. 6:19-20. God always has a way of cutting down to size - Gideon, Judges 7:1-9 - From a General to a Sergeant to a Private! Implies Rule to refuse to follow orders is treason! When we are in the Lord's Army, we have the obligation of obeying His orders even unto the death! Notice the call of Christ that has not changed, Matt. 16:24. When we refuse to live as the Lord desires, then we have crossed the line from follower to traitor - James 4:17. I. He is first a Follower.

 

                               Rudys try out speech to paly football for the Irish

2. A LEADER IS FAITHFUL

A. His Patience - Endures hardship and does not quit. The good soldier realizes that there will be troubles along the way and is not detoured by them. He understands that pain is often part of the Christian experience, John 16:33. Please remember that the Christian is called upon to face life with extreme patience - Heb. 12:1. In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings.

B. His Priorities - Seeks to please the Commander. Notice that the good soldier has no higher goal in life than pleasing His Superior. The good soldier knows that anything which interferes with his performance in the military must be done away with. The good soldier wants to please his Superior and does whatever he has to do to get that job done!  Who comes first in your life? Whatever or whoever it is, that is your god! Pleasing Jesus ought to be the first priority of every child of God - 1 Cor. 10:31; 1 Cor. 6:20. 4:7

C. His Practice - Guards the truths of the faith. The good soldier takes care of the things delivered unto him. He is determined to do a good job, and he refuses to do anything to bring disgrace and dishonor upon his Superior. So it is with the Christian soldier. He wants to live his life in a manner that brings honor to the Lord and not dishonor. Are you keeping the faith this morning?

3. A LEADER IS FAMILIAR - There are some things that the good soldier knows. He is familiar with: with the Sound of The Commanders’ Voice - John 10:3-5 the way to get more familiar with the Lord's voice is to spend more time listening to it. You do this by getting in the Word. Do you know Him when He speaks? With the Skill of Using His Weapons - Eph. 6:10-18 the good soldier knows that he is engaged in mortal warfare and he knows that the only way to succeed in the fight is to be proficient in the use of spiritual weaponry. You and I would do well to learn the art of spiritual warfare if we intend to succeed for the glory of the Lord. With the Strategy of the Enemy.  2 Cor. 11:14; 1 Pet. 5:8 the good soldier knows that the enemy is ever active and never rests. The good soldier knows that the enemy is shrewd and ever attacking, but he also knows the Lord is there to help him, Heb 13:5. He knows that regardless of the trap, God will make a way of escape for him, 1 Cor 10:13. The good soldier studies the methods of his enemy and they learn his weaknesses and these exploits to the fullest extent of his ability. The good Christian soldier needs to be wise to the ways of the devil and he needs to know that the Lord Jesus is greater than any enemy we will ever face, 1 John 4:4.  With the Shadows of His Friends - Heb. 11:25 the good soldier not only cares about his own welfare, but he also looks out for the welfare of his fellow soldiers, Gal. 6:2. He learns about them by being around them. There is a need for the soldiers of the Lord to train together.


4. A LEADER IS A FIGHTER - Paul makes 3 statements in this verse that describe the good leader or a good soldier. He Is Determined - The good soldier does not retreat in the face of the enemy, he does not run from a fight. Instead, he stands his ground and fights the battle until the battle is over!  Many Christian soldiers have dropped out of the battle! I challenge you not be among that number! 1 Tim. 1:19-20 He Is Driven - The good soldier realizes that the battle does not run according to his time frame. He knows that another is in charge of the duration of the battle, but the good soldier is driven to finish. The good soldier is in the battle to the finish. Are you? What would it take to make you quit this morning? Many Christians are about one disaster and one service away from quitting on the Lord. Does that describe you? I challenge you to keep serving and keep fighting! He Is Dedicated - The good soldier dedicates himself to keeping his oath. He is determined to live for the Lord regardless of the personal cost. The good soldier keeps the faith, do you? He keeps it by living it, sharing it and defending it all the time. The faith is precious to the good soldier and he does everything in his power to keep it pure and undefiled.


5. A LEADER IS A FINISHER - He Has Resolve -The good soldier is in it for the long haul. He does not quit at the first hint of trouble. He is a finisher. God give us Christians with the attitude of finishers. We need some who will stay by the stuff in these days! He Has A Reason - Why does the good soldier endure hardship, stay in the fight, and follow the Leader selflessly? The good soldier knows the price that was paid by his Superior to make a place for him in the army. The good soldier knows his lord loves him and that Jesus died to make a way of salvation for him. Therefore, he loves the Lord and no price becomes too high for the good soldier to pay. He Has His Reward - The good soldier finishes his course because he knows that at the end of the war, every deed will be rewarded by the Commander in chief. For those who stay in the battle, there will come a glad day of blessing. They will here the Lord say, "Well done thou good and faithful servant...” Matt. 25:21, 23. What will be waiting you when you meet Jesus? Would you classify yourself as a good soldier of the Lord? If you are like me, you probably recognize areas where you could be a better soldier. If so, then I challenge you to come to the Lord right now and let Him make things as they should be. If you have never joined the army of the Lord, then today would be a good time to make that a reality. When you pass from the scene, will it be said that you were a good soldier of the Lord? It can be! But, that is up to you! Our life is all about “Learning to Dance in the Rain” you can change your attitude about facing adversity. It's not the adversity, but how we react to it that determines the joy and happiness in our lives. Learning to Dance in the Rain shows us that while we all face challenges, embracing the power of gratitude can change your life forever. During tough times, do we spend too much time feeling sorry for ourselves, or can we, with gratitude...learn how to dance in the rain?

 

                                  Rudy never gave up

Overcoming Adversity

Do you ever think that there is no end to the problems you face? Do you feel that with each step forward, adverse circumstances pull you two steps back? If so, then welcome to the majority. Most people feel the same way. A wise person rightly said that pain is inevitable but suffering is optional. You have to decide how much suffering your pain is going to inflict upon yourself and those around you. Here are a few ways of thinking that will help you turn adversity into a positive experience.

Adversity is a Symptom, Not a Cause

Frequently adversity is a symptom of some other, deeper problem. You just lost your job, and you may think this is a devastating turn of events. But do you try to figure out why you lost a job? What made you so dispensable? Was it the right career for you? Similarly, if you are sick or your loved one is sick, try to figure out why the sickness has happened. Is it your lifestyle? Is it the environment around you? Is it simply your attitude? As physical pain is a symptom of some malady, your adversity is a symptom of another problem. Although your first priority is to handle the current situation, you should make a mental note of the source of the problem. Unless you solve it, you’ll keep getting into similar situations.

Adversity is a Lesson

The busyness of our lives doesn’t allow us time to pause and appreciate the people we have around us. Adversity often awakens us to the treasures that are far more important than money and material possession: our health, our family and our friends. Sudden financial losses teach us that we shouldn’t base our happiness on money. An illness teaches us to be humble and lead a healthy life. A sudden loss in the family makes us appreciate the cycle of birth, life and death. Such things may seem superficial, but you should learn from adversities if you don’t want them to control your life.

Adversity is Guidance

Sometimes adversity comes to your life to suggest that it’s time to change course. For example, when someone leaves you there is no use sulking and blaming yourself and even the other person, frankly. Instead you should take it as a sign that a newer and more enlightened relationship should be sought that is more meaningful or constructive. Or maybe you should invest your time in other pursuits for the time being. ”I was complaining that I had no shoes till I met a man who had no feet,” Confucius said, and this is so true. Rather than getting bogged down with our own problems we should pay attention to people who happily survive, and even prosper, despite all odds. When you open your eyes and have a look at the larger world, you’ll be happy to know how well life has treated you.

So here is my thought, when we face the storms in our life we grow, because I personally believe that God will not send anything our way that we can not weather. However I recently sat through a great sermon by my pastor on how to become a great Soldier. A solider, at least a dedicated solider will endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs – he wants to please his commanding officer. 2 Timothy 2:3‐4 A solider is Competent Luke 6:46 He is Combat‐Ready 1 Tim 1:18; 6:12; Eph 6:10‐18 with both Offensive warfare and Defensive stance he is Compliant Matt 8:5‐10; Matt 28:19; Heb 13:17) He is Cohesive 1 Cor 1:10; Ecc 4:9‐10 He is Commended 2 Tim 4:7‐8 and he is Committed Luke 9:23; Phil 1:21 Soldiers are battle tested and they are experts at dancing in the rain and dealing with adversity.For me this leads to one defined answer, and that is to never ever quit.

                               Rudy is all Heart

To end this we will take a clear look at the movie Rudy, because Rudy learned how to dance in the rain. Rudy is a 1993 American sports film directed by David Anspaugh. It is an account of the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger, who harbored dreams of playing football at the University of Notre Dame despite significant obstacles. It was the first movie that the Notre Dame administration allowed to be shot on campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1940. In 2005, Rudy was named one of the best 25 sports movies of the previous 25 years in two polls by ESPN (#24 by a panel of sports experts, and #4 by espn.com users) It was ranked the 54th-most inspiring film of all time in the "AFI 100 Years" series. The film was released on October 13, 1993, by TriStar Pictures. It stars Sean Astin as the title character, along with Ned Beatty, Jason Miller and Charles S. Dutton. The script was written by Angelo Pizzo, who created Hoosiers (1986). The film was shot in Illinois and Indiana.

Daniel Eugene "Rudy" Ruettiger grows up in Joliet, Illinois dreaming of playing college football at the University of Notre Dame. Though he is achieving some success with his local high school team (Joliet Catholic), he lacks the grades and money necessary to attend Notre Dame, as well as talent and physical stature. Ruettiger takes a job at a local steel mill like his father Daniel Sr., who is also a Notre Dame fan. He prepares to settle down, but when his best friend Pete is killed in an explosion at the mill, Rudy decides to follow his dream of attending Notre Dame and playing for the Fighting Irish. He perseveres to do everything he can to get into the football powerhouse. He leaves for the campus, but fails to get admitted to Notre Dame. With the help and sponsorship of a local priest, Rudy starts at a small junior college nearby named Holy Cross, hoping to get good enough grades to qualify for a transfer. He also manages to get a part-time job on Notre Dame's grounds-keeping staff and befriends D-Bob, a graduate student at Notre Dame and a teaching assistant at his junior college. The socially-awkward D-Bob offers to tutor Rudy if he helps him meet girls. Suspecting an underlying cause to Ruettiger's previous academic problems, D-Bob has Rudy tested, and Rudy learns that he has dyslexia. Rudy learns how to overcome his disability and becomes a better student. At Christmas vacation, Rudy returns home to his family's appreciation of his report card, but is still mocked for his attempts at playing football and also dumped by his fiance, who starts seeing one of his brothers.

                                  Rudys Finishes Strong

After numerous rejections, Rudy is finally admitted to Notre Dame during his final semester of transfer eligibility. He rushes home to tell his family, and his father announces the news to his steel mill workers over the loudspeaker. After "walking on" as a non-scholarship player for the football team, Ruettiger convinces coach Ara Parseghian to give him a spot on the practice squad. An assistant coach warns the players that 35 scholarship players won't make the roster, but notices that Ruettiger exhibits more drive than many of his scholarship teammates. Coach Parseghian agrees to Rudy's request to suit up for one home game in his senior year so his family and friends can see him as a member of the team. However, Parseghian steps down as coach following the 1974 season. Dan Devine succeeds him in 1975 and honors the Parseghian's promise. Led by team captain and All-American Roland Steele, the other seniors rise to his defense and lay their jerseys on Devine's desk, each requesting that Rudy be allowed to dress in their place. In response, Devine lets Ruettiger appear for the final home game, against Georgia Tech. At the final home game, Steele invites Ruettiger to lead the team out of the tunnel onto the playing field. As the game comes to an end, and Notre Dame is ahead, Devine sends all the seniors to the field, but refuses to let Rudy play, despite the pleas from Steele and the assistant coaches. As a "Rudy!" chant spreads from the Notre Dame bench into the stadium, and the offensive team, led by tailback Jamie O'Hare, overrules Devine's call for victory formation and they score another touchdown instead. Devine finally lets Rudy enter the field with the defensive team on the final kickoff. He stays in for the final play of the game, sacks the Georgia Tech quarterback, and to cheers from the stadium, is carried off the field on the shoulders of his teammates. Rudy was someone who made even the darkest nights shine with the brightest stars. He mended broken hearts, and made possible new beginnings. He took what has been shattered and lovingly and he puts all the pieces together again. He is tender, sweet, adoring, gentle, and kind- but he was tough and most of all he loved with a full and open heart. He was the very air that fills the lungs, and the pulse that makes a heartbeat possible. Rudy set a great example for us all, as he proved for us all, in order to see the rainbow; we all must learn to dance in the rain ~ Donnie Bolena