Devotional
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November 01, 2006
Set:
Recently, I was making an early morning drive to speak at a Huddle meeting. As I was driving along I realized that I was the only car going in my direction. Hundreds of cars were going the other way. Why was I the only one going my way? I knew the route, so I knew I was on the right road, so I couldn't help but wonder why no one else was traveling my direction.
In God's Word, we read many references to "the way." Isaiah wrote of such a road that is less traveled. It was the highway to holiness. Many were headed down the wrong path or way -- not so uncommon to our society today. In John 14, Thomas asked Jesus about the way to go with Him, but Christ answered simply, "I AM the way. . ."
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October 31, 2006
Set:
Things did not appear to be going in the right direction for the St. Louis Cardinals at the end of the 2006 regular season. They had lost nine of their last 12 games and had squeaked past the Astros to make the playoffs. "We might have limped a little," said infielder Aaron Miles, "but once we got into the playoffs we started sprinting." When no one gave them a chance, they turned things around at just the right time and "sprinted" past the Padres, Mets and Tigers to win their first World Series championship in 24 years.
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October 26, 2006
Set:
As we stood at the starting line for this year's Chicago Marathon, every runner knew that the day would be vastly different than other autumn days. Not only did we need to run the 26.2 miles ahead of us, but we would need to do so while the temperature was expected to be in the 80's with high humidity. It would truly be a test of endurance.
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October 20, 2006
Set:
As a track coach, I've gone to many coaching clinics. At once such clinic, I heard an old coach say that there were three laws of running. Now, that got my attention. I wanted to know the basics of good running and share them with my athletes. He shared these as his laws:
1. Keep your eye on the finish line. Don't get distracted, stay focused.
2. Don't worry about the other runners. Don't look around to see where they are or what they're doing.
3. Don't give up, keep running. Finish the race and finish strong.
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October 17, 2006
Set:
Many of my friends find their identity in sports. Others, like myself, find their identity in how well they do in school. I know others who base who they are in what they do, how they look, or who likes them and who doesn't. The point is, we all build our lives on something. We all have something that matters to us more than anything else and defines who we are. And while God intends for friends, hobbies, possessions and abilities to provide us with enjoyment, we should not let them become the foundation of our identity and happiness.
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October 16, 2006
Set:
Have you ever been entrusted with something of great value? Maybe you have had to take a large amount of money to the bank. Maybe you had to keep track of a friend's wedding ring until the day of his wedding. Whatever you may have been entrusted with, it is safe to say that all of us know what it feels like to have something of great value committed unto us.
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October 11, 2006
Set:
Not long ago, Mike Tyson resurfaced in the news. He had begun fighting and training once again, and large crowds were gathering just to see him practice. Tyson has been out of the ring for some time, and reporters were airing past clips and interviews with him. One thing he said in a past interview that had been filmed after a loss really struck me. With sweat dripping off his face, Tyson responded to a reporter's question about what would happen to him next, "I don't know, maybe fade into oblivion."
Tyson, the one-time world champion, whose name is known all over the world, stated after a defeat that he would just fade away.
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October 10, 2006
Set:
At the start of the 2004-2005 NBA season, Latrell Sprewell made a complaint about not having a contract for the next year. He stirred up controversy by claiming that the Timberwolves' offer of $21 million over the next three years was "insulting." He went on to say, "I have a lot at risk here. I've got my family to feed. Anything could happen."
It appeared that Latrell Sprewell was putting hope in his wealth, but in reality even the $14.6 million he was making that year could have been gone in the blink of an eye. "Cast but a glance at riches, and they are gone, for they will surely sprout wings and fly off to the sky like an eagle" (Proverbs 23:5, NIV).
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October 09, 2006
Set:
As players and coaches we all know that we will face various tribulations when dealing with athletics. They can be injuries, losses in key games, or other outside events that come unexpectedly. But how do we react when these tribulations occur?
Paul says he exults, rejoices, even boasts in them, instead of murmuring and complaining. As we look at the role of afflictions in the Christian life, lets keep in mind that they are tests of our faith. Anything that makes life harder and threatens our faith in the goodness, power and wisdom of God is a tribulation.
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October 06, 2006
Set:
In the athletic world, motivation is an often-overlooked ingredient to winning. Games have been won by teams with less ability but with more motivation to go all-out. There is nothing more upsetting than to know you should have won a game, yet you didn't give it your all. Had you done so, the final score could have been different.
Why is this so upsetting? Because effort is something we all control, whether we give it all or just show up, happy to be there. The best motivation is always to play each game as if it were our last. Just as in life, we as athletes and coaches are not guaranteed another game tomorrow.
