“David had just said, “I guarded everything that belonged to this man in the wilderness for nothing. He was not missing anything, yet he paid me back evil for good. May God punish me, and even more if I let any of his men survive until morning.” – 1 Samuel 25:21-22 What causes you to get angry?

“We have found the Messiah!” – John 1:41 Most successful coaches have learned the art of effective communication. Coaches are teachers in the truest sense, but our classrooms look a little different. We teach on grassy fields, hardwood courts and synthetic tracks instead of rooms lined with desks, tables and chairs.

“More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of Him, I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them filth, so that I may gain Christ.” – Philippians 3:8 Coaches desire great things for themselves and the athletes they teach. This desire drives them to compete, pursue, and strive toward their ultimate goal for the season.

“All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.

“No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.” – Philippians 3:13  As a recreational runner for over forty years, I have learned a great deal about myself. My early motivation for running was weight control. I had lost twenty-five pounds during Army Basic Training and liked the way I felt and looked.

“I will praise God’s name with song and exalt Him with thanksgiving.” – Psalm 69:30 We see it so often now that we don’t even give it a second thought. Following a touchdown, the jubilant football player goes into his own private victory celebration. Just when we think we have seen all the dances and stunts that could possibly be performed, someone takes it to a new level.

“My goal is to know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” – Philippians 3:10 To compete in the world of athletics takes motivation and drive. As coaches, we invest countless hours training our athletes to perform at the highest level possible. What is our payoff?

“Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained….” – Proverbs 29:18 Longtime Alabama head football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant knew what vision was all about. In his book, Bear Bryant on Leadership, Pat Williams says, “Bryant saw the future before it arrived. He saw over the horizon before others even opened their eyes.

“Take on an entirely new way of life—a  God fashioned life, a life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.” – Ephesians 4:23-24 (The Message) There is an ongoing debate in our nation today about the issue of leadership and character. In the realm of politics, it sometimes appears that if polls and the economy are good, then character doesn’t really matter. As coaches however, most of us adhere to the idea that good char…

“So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” – 2 Corinthians 4:18 One of the great problems in leadership is becoming distracted. How often as coaches do we find ourselves getting off the main road and meandering down rabbit trails?

“So we must not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.” – Galatians 6:9 It’s common practice for me to go to the sports section on Friday mornings to check out the high school football matchups for the evening. Normally, I’m looking for the best games involving undefeated teams or contests that involve a great offense going against a great defense. While going through this process recently, my attention was diverted to an article highlighting a game bet…

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” – Mark 12:30 Being fit is one thing, being an athlete is another. Experts say that thirty minutes of exercise at a comfortable pace four times a week will make us fit. So two hours a week of running, walking, biking or swimming will allow an individual to maintain a basic level of fitness.