The Basics

“The stuff on the football field will take care of itself. It's everything else that leads up to that. Accountability. Discipline. Unselfish attitude, guys looking out for each other, the team first. That wasn't here (last year).”

Bo Pelini, University of Nebraska, Head Football Coach, quoted in August 5, 2008, USA Today.

This sounds like a good formula for all of us to apply to our lives. I’ve heard coaches say if you take care of the little things then the big things will take care of themselves.

Vince Lombardi, who coached the Green Bay Packers, was reported to have walked into the Packer’s Locker Room early in his tenure and held up a football. He said to the team, ‘Gentleman, this is a football’.

The message was we are starting with the basics and we are going to do them well, in fact better than anyone else. Lombardi’s teams won six divisional and 5 NFL Championships and two Super Bowls.

Both Pelini and Lombardi emphasize the basics. By concentrating on the basics we can become better Christians.

If you don't have the discipline or you have trouble doing the basics an accountability partner can help you.