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...
Punting into the Wind
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone.
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…
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
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
“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
“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
“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…
Team
“So God has put the body together such that extra honor and care are given to those parts that have less dignity. This makes for harmony among the members, so that all the members care for each other. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it, and if one part is honored, all the parts are glad.”– 1 Corinthians 12:24-26What more liberating experience is there than to feel whole, purposeful and in sync?
This is My Team
“Do unto others whatever you would like them to do unto you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.”– Matthew 7:12This is my team! It is composed of people like me—we make it what it is.
Responsibility
“Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creativebest you can with your own life.– Galatians 6:5 (The Message)As coaches, we are always talking to our players about responsibility. We demand that they be responsible for getting to practice on time. We expect them to be responsible for keeping up with their own equipment. We warn them to be responsible for their actions off the playing field or court.