VIDEO: Ken Sparks key note address

JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman head football coach Ken Sparks touted the importance of giving oneself to Christ during his keynote address at Carson-Newman's Athletic Gala Thursday evening at Stokely Memorial Cafeteria. 

"It's not about us trying to control the results, the wins, the money, the number of titles," Sparks said. "It's just a matter of total surrender to Christ and saying to Him to use me in whatever way He wants."

Sparks goes for his 323 career win when the Eagles return to the field Oct. 18 at Tusculum.  That win would tie him for fifth on the all-time wins list with legendary Alabama coach Bear Bryant. 

However, those wins are almost inconsequential to Sparks in the grand scheme of things. 

"There's a difference between saying you're for Jesus and for God," Sparks said, quoting Joshua. "But there's a difference between for and with.  And that's total surrender to Christ.  That's turning that taking up of the cross into something beautiful because you're following Jesus."

"All of us in our lives have a lot of questions, we have a lot of things we deal with on a daily basis and how we respond," Sparks said. "Do we respond in a way that says we surrender and leave the results up to the Lord? That's something we all have to deal honestly with to say, 'Lord I want to be with you and to make a difference with You saying You're for me against me.'" It's about total surrender to Christ and let Him do what He may with you."

The Carson-Newman Athletic Gala brings in thousands of dollars to benefit Carson-Newman's student athletes each year.  

-CN-