Purpose in the Fourth Quarter: Finishing the Game of Life Victoriously

By Bernie Brown

Life can be perceived as a game very much like football, with four quarters and a break in the middle. In Purpose in the Fourth Quarter, author Bernie Brown describes how life is often difficult and challenging but can still be the most rewarding, satisfying, and wonderful game played on the face of the earth.

As in the game of football, each quarter has a distinct purpose; in life, the fourth has some unique characteristics. Health and wealth can weigh heavily. In some cases there is a two minute warning or a sudden death overtime. One thing is certain, however the completion of the fourth quarter marks the end of the game.

It is crucial that we understand the game, its rules and score-keeping, its progression and delays, and, most importantly, its true purpose. And, although we face new challenges as we age, the fourth quarter can be filled with just as much joy and purpose as the previous three. Like football, the goal of the game of life is to be victorious. What do you need to do to win? The answer may surprise you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Inspiring Voices
• Release date: Sep 5, 2012
• ISBN: 9781462402854

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Copyright © 2012 Bernie Brown

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

Scripture passages taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version (NIV), copyright 1973, 1978, 1986, by Zondervan Bible Publishers, unless otherwise noted. All rights reserved.

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ISBN: 978-1-4624-0286-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4624-0285-4 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012946691

Inspiring Voices rev. date: 09/13/2012

CONTENTS

Foreword

Preface

Introduction

Chapter 1  The Game Of Football

Chapter 2  The Game Of Life

Chapter 3  The First Quarter

Chapter 4  The Second Quarter

Chapter 5  Halftime

Chapter 6  The Third Quarter

Chapter 7  The Fourth Quarter

Fourth-Quarter Experiences

Chapter 8  The Purpose Of The Game Of Life

Chapter 9  Winning: The Replay

Acknowledgments

Epilogue

Endnotes

This book is dedicated to one of the most beloved women that I have ever known. She demonstrated purpose in every quarter, but especially in the fourth. She was my role model and encouraged me in this effort. She claimed victory two weeks after the completion of this work.

To my mom, Elizabeth Brown, 1919–2012.

FOREWORD

Football has played a very significant role in my life. As a player and coach, I have always felt that many lessons in life can be learned on the football field. In fact, I believed that my coaching job was not only to help develop athletic skills, but more importantly, to instill principles and values in our players that will serve them well for a lifetime.

Even though I played and coached for many years, I did not make the connection that is conveyed in this interesting and thought-provoking book. It points out how the game of life has so many similarities to the game of football…four quarters, a half-time and sometimes even overtime. And, there is little doubt that the fourth quarter in a football game is the most demanding, intense and exciting period; its conclusion ends the game in either victory or defeat.

Despite the fact that Bernie Brown played very little football, he has grasped the essence of these two games – football and life. Being a Christian, he also accurately identifies the true purpose of each – winning. By using a conversational style, he allows you to participate and gain understanding of the game of life’s progression, interruptions, score-keeping and ultimate purpose - victory.

For you fourth quarterers (like me) who read this, special insight and renewed enthusiasm can be gained from pondering its offerings. In my opinion, Purpose in the Fourth Quarter needs to be in your hands and not on your shelf! As Bernie says, It can at least start you thinking and at best have a positive influence on you at this point in your life.

We all could be well served by adding this little volume to our playbooks.

Raymond Berry

All-NFL Wide Receiver – Baltimore Colts

Head Coach - New England Patriots (Super Bowl XX)

Pro Football Hall of Fame

PREFACE

To me, a preface is a little different from an introduction. The preface sets forth the purpose of the work whereas the introduction introduces the ideas that are to follow. I like to think of it as the pre-face. Pre means something that is coming before the main thing, and face means looking directly toward something. Therefore, my purpose here is to get you ready to look at something. And I believe that this particular something can at least start you thinking and at best have a positive influence on you at this point in your life.

As I write this, my mother is ninety-three years old and living in a skilled nursing facility. She is deep in the fourth quarter. While I was visiting with her one day, I began thinking about the tremendous impact that she has had on my life. Then my mind became focused on the influence that her entire generation had on my generation. In addition to my mom, I thought of my dad, father-in-law, mother-in-law, aunts, uncles, and even older friends—both deceased and still with us. I just wanted to thank them but didn’t know how. For some reason, the following verses came to me, even though I’m certainly not a poet. I offer this as my preface and in appreciation to that