Daily Devotions for Die-Hard Fans: Alabama Crimson Tide

by Ed McMinn

Overview

Daily Devotions for Die-Hard Fans: Alabama Crimson Tide combines the great passion of the Crimson Tide fan with the grand passion of the fan of Christ in one set of devotions. The result is a book that is fun while it provides a time of reflection about God and your faith.

Mykal Riley's basket that sent the SEC Tournament game into overtime is known as "the shot that saved lives."

With the 2017 national title on the line, Nick Saban made perhaps the boldest move of his Alabama tenure.

Tide gymnastics head coach Sarah Patterson, who won six national titles, never interviewed for the job.

No matter how hard he tried, Don McNeal just couldn't kill Kate.

A trick play the team had never run before in a game propelled the Tide to the 2015 national championship.

These stories and more are recounted here. Also appearing are Bear Bryant, Joe Namath, A.J. McCarron, Derrick Henry, Ken Stabler, Mark Ingram, and many others. Their stories - along with legendary games, improbable victories, and historical events - are told with a twist: They are all tied to God's story.

Have fun! Have faith! Roll Tide! Go God!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780984084739
Publisher:	Extra Point Publishers
Publication date:	01/01/2010
Pages:	209
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.50(h) x 0.37(d)

About the Author

Ed McMinn is an author and a retired pastor living in Georgia who entered the ministry after a career as a journalist and a college teacher of English and journalism. He has written more than 45 books in the collegiate devotional series titled Daily Devotions for Die-Hard Fans and Daily Devotions for Die-Hard Kids. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia and served as an officer in the United States Army. He spent more than 20 years in a journalism career. He received his first master's degree in English from Valdosta State University and has taught journalism and English at two universities. After being called into the ministry, Ed graduated from Emory University's Candler School of Theology with a Master of Divinity. While he was in seminary, Ed served as the pastor of two local United Methodist churches. He was the founding pastor of Grace Church of Perry, serving from December 2003 until he retired. His wife, Slynn, and he were married in 1984.

Read an Excerpt

CONQUERING HEROES
Read John 16:19-33.

"In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world" (v. 33b).

Two blocked kicks, three turnovers, a spate of penalties, a wild dog, and an inflatable Elvis. The Tide overcame them all to win the 1995 Citrus Bowl.

On Jan. 2, Alabama defeated Ohio State 24-17 with a surprising offensive show that rolled up a season-high 521 yards. Senior quarterback Jay Barker completed 18 of 37 passes for 317 yards and no interceptions. Game MVP Sherman Williams set an Alabama bowl record with 166 yards rushing. He scored two touchdowns and accounted for 359 yards with his rushing, receiving, and kickoff returns.

All of this sounds like the Tide pulled off the win like a well-oiled machine. The game was, in fact, pretty much a mess with sluggish play, penalties, blocked kicks, and fumbles. A dog ran onto the field and delayed the game for five minutes, giving quite a good chase to some harried security guards. A 30-foot inflatable Elvis used for the halftime extravaganza likewise refused to leave the field. The second-half kickoff was delayed while the hunk of burning love was deflated.

Late in the game, the Tide had one more obstacle to overcome: a 17-14 Ohio State lead. At this point, the game suddenly turned crisp. Michael Proctor's field goal with 4:27 left tied the game. Then Williams took a short Barker pass and turned it into a game-winning 50-yard touchdown with only 42 seconds left.

When cornerback Tommy Johnson intercepted a Buckeye pass in the end zone on the game's last play, the Tide had overcome the opposition, its own mistakes, Elvis, and the dog to do what Alabama does best: win.

We each have a choice to make about how we live. We can merely survive or we can overcome as the Crimson Tide does.

We often hear inspiring stories of people who triumph by overcoming especially daunting obstacles. Those barriers may be physical or mental disabilities or great personal tragedies or injustice. When we hear of them, we may well respond with a little prayer of thanksgiving that life has been kinder to us.

But all people of faith, no matter how drastic the obstacles they face, must ultimately overcome the same opponent: the Satan-infested world. Some do have it tougher than others, but we all must fight daily to remain confident and optimistic.

To survive from day to day is to give up by surrendering our trust in God's involvement in our daily life. To overcome, however, is to stand up to the world and fight its temptations that would erode the armor of our faith in Jesus Christ.

Today is a day to overcome by remaining faithful. The very hosts of Heaven wait to hail the conquering hero.

A good team finds a way to win games, and that's what Alabama did. — Ohio State Coach John Cooper after the Citrus Bowl

Life's difficulties provide us a chance to experience the true joy of victory in Jesus.