“And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.” Mark 12:30 (ESV) Being fit is one thing; being an athlete is another entirely. Experts say thirty minutes of exercise at a comfortable...

“May the Lord give strength to his people! May the Lord bless his people with peace.” – Psalm 29:11 (ESV) In the arena of sport, pressure is our constant companion. The coach’s heart pounds as he sends in the play that will decide the outcome of the game. The athlete...

“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.” – Proverbs 17:17 (ESV) Friendships built through sport can last a lifetime. Athletes spend hours of practice time and game situations with their teammates. They compete for playing time, they sweat...

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14 (ESV) When we work together, common people can achieve uncommon results. There is a story about a man...

“O Lord, I know the way of man is not in himself; it is not in man who walks to direct his own steps.” – Jeremiah 10:23 (ESV)   In the game of baseball, the knuckleball is probably the hardest pitch to throw, hit, and catch. The pitcher doesn’t know where it’s...

“And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.” - Matthew 6:7 (ESV) As a junior varsity football coach, I quickly learned the importance of keeping things simple. One of my goals each...

“Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7 (ESV) “What does a leader look like?” That was the question I asked the team as we began our morning practice session....

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for...

“It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you, must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, even as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew...

“For I know the plan I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) Years ago I heard a newly appointed pastor announce to his congregation that he had a plan to make everyone happy. He...