“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.

“People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy.” – Ecclesiastes 9:12 Coaches and their families are not immune to tragedy. Life can change in a moment.

“My people have been lost sheep.  Their shepherds have led them astray and turned them loose in the mountains.  They have lost their way and can’t remember how to get back to the sheepfold.” – Jeremiah 50:6 Yogi Berra was a Hall of Fame baseball player with a Hall of Fame wit.  He had a gift for saying the smartest things in the funniest ways.  As a result, Yogi became one of America’s most beloved philosophers.  Berra played for a true dynasty in baseball history, the N...

“But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind.” – James 1:6 My faith was wavering. As I watched my unpredictable punter jog onto the field, doubt washed over me with every step.

“I am losing all hope; I am paralyzed with fear.” – Psalm 143:4 Spiders, flying, heights, storms and snakes are only a few of the fears that paralyze us. Others include loneliness, rejection, fear of the unknown and fear of failure. We all face fears of some kind.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and truth." – 1 John 3:18 Before Arnold Palmer won The Masters in 1960, he agreed to play in an exhibition the week following The Masters. After winning the tournament, Palmer’s agent received a call from the organizers of the event. They assumed that Palmer would either not be coming or his fee would be significantly more.