The Anointed

"I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord." - Jeremiah 23:4 (ESV) Some of the most influential people in my life have been coaches. It was a coach who instilled...

Values

 "For what does it benefit someone to gain the whole world and yet lose his life? What can anyone give in exchange for his life?" - Mark 8:36-37 Values are essential to effective leadership. Here's a simple definition: "Values are norms or principles which guide our...

Identity

"I am the gate. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I have come so that they may have life and have it in abundance. - John 10:9-10 One of the driving questions of...
Counting the Cost

Counting the Cost

“But don’t begin until you count the cost.  For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? – Luke 14:28 Everything costs something! How many times have we heard our athletes say...

Goals

Goals

“I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” – Philippians 3:14 As coaches, we go into every season with goals. There’s always a prize we’re chasing. It could be a state championship or...

Friendship

Friendship

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in a time of need.” – Proverbs 17:17 The value of true friendship is priceless. At the 1936 Berlin Olympic Games, Japanese pole vaulters Shuhei Nishida and Sueo Oe tied for second place. The teammates were...

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

Between a Rock and a Hard Place

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord….” – Exodus 14:10 As coaches, it’s not unusual to find ourselves in tight spots during competition. How we respond to those...

In the Trenches

In the Trenches

“But among you it will be different.  Whoeverwants to be a leader among you must be your servant and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave.  For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”– Matthew 20:26-28There is little mystery why the “lineman mentality” is part of my DNA.  The little hand-written sign in my dad’s office flashed like a neon sign when I walked i...

The King

The King

Pilate said, “So you are the king?”  Jesus responded, “You say I am a king.  Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth.  All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.”– John 18:37The man known as “The King” left us last week.

Our days are numbered

Our days are numbered

“Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."– Psalm 139:16 (NLT)Life is precious!  We have been reminded of that with news of the tragic death of Miami Marlins pitcher, Jose Fernandez.  So young, so full of life and a future filled with promise.

Who’s the Greatest

Who’s the Greatest

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one can come to the Father except through me.”– John 14:6Who’s the greatest?  Sports fans across the world have spent countless hours debating this question.  Was Mickey Mantle better than Willie Mays?

Team

Team

“Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed.  If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.  But someone who falls alone is in real trouble."– Ecclesiastes 4:9-10It’s not easy to build a team!  As coaches, we are asked to take a group of individuals and mold them into a single unit seeking a common goal.

It’s So Boring

It’s So Boring

“As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.”– Proverbs 27:17How can you run, it’s so boring!  As a long-time runner, I’ve heard that question asked many times. Now I can understand why running is not everyone’s idea of a good time.  Why run somewhere when a short ride would take you to the same place a lot quicker?

Imitators

Imitators

“Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ.– Ephesians 5:1-2aWhat players did you imitate as a kid?  Growing up a huge baseball fan and watching the New York Yankees on the Game of the Week each Saturday, two of my favorite players were Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford.  Living on a farm in rural South Carolina made it difficult to find enough players for a pick-up game, so it w...

AVAILABLE NOW!

New Devotion by Charles Gee

All coaches understand the call to “Huddle Up.” Though not everyone coaches on the field, court, or diamond, most of us gather to share ideas, address challenges, or plan strategies. In the corporate world, it’s a staff meeting. In the military, a briefing. When parents want to clear the air, it’s a family conference. We’re all coaching in some way, and there will always be a time to “Huddle Up.”

The Christ- centered principles in these studies help coaches and competitors reconnect, refocus, and reboot to meet daily challenges.

Charles Gee is Chaplain for the South Carolina Athletic Coaches Association and has served with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes for over 15 years. Drawing from personal coaching experiences, he writes weekly devotions encouraging coaches to use their platform to impact lives for Jesus Christ (scfcacoaches.org). A retired Master Sergeant from the U.S. Army Reserves, Charles lives in Mt. Pleasant, SC, with Kathy, his wife of 52 years. He has two sons, Jeff and Chris, two daughters- in-law, Kristin and Megan, and three amazing, competitive grandchildren.