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January 30, 2007
Set:
Super Bowl week is finally here. After waiting for months to see who would make it we have two good teams…Da Bears and the Colts. Being in Chicago, all I hear is about the Bears, and very little about the Colts other than Peyton Manning. But this year's game takes on another interesting turn for fans and coaches across the country. I am not referring to having both coaches being African American (though I think that is long overdue and fantastic), but rather about having two Christian men coaching the big game. The men are truly "Super" men of God and have not been trying to hide it in any way. Football is not their god; it is simply what they do. I think that is super just for them to verbalize it publicly and to live it out.
October 07, 2005
Set:
Many of us learned the “Jesus Loves Me” song as children, but the last part always bothered me: ”Jesus loves me! This I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong; They are weak but He is strong.” To me, displaying weakness seemed to contradict the very goal of competition.
As I was learning to compete in athletics, the idea of embracing weakness seemed ridiculous. I thought that I had to renounce all that I had learned in the gym in order to become weak. I mean, who has ever been chosen for a team for being the weakest player? Who breaks into a starting lineup because she is weaker than her teammates? I wanted to be strong and display that power for anyone who cared to watch.
February 22, 2012
Set:
How many of us have ever started a practice, game or even a season without a plan? To me, that idea doesn’t make any sense whatsoever. As coaches, we have plans coming out our ears! As a coach, I started working on next season just as soon as the current one was over. After all, I had to recruit in-coming freshman and encourage the returning athletes to come back. The last thing I wanted was for them to lose interest in being part of the team.
I’m such a pack rat. Over the years I’ve saved so many coaching plans, even ones for sports I’ve never coached. You never know when you’ll be the head coach of a new sport someday, right? You just have to be ready at a moment’s notice.
October 07, 2005
Set:
One of my favorite Bible stories is David versus Goliath. David was small, weaker than most his age and, by the world’s standards, not prepared to play in the “big game” against the Philistines. If we had read the pregame report for this battle, David would not have been on the roster. But David surprised everyone. He was empowered by his belief in a God who could overcome any obstacle or challenge—even a Philistine giant!
October 07, 2005
Set:
Many times on the Christian journey, we sense God calling us to do something. Sometimes, though, the task seems too great or our resources seem too small. Other times, God’s call can feel overwhelming and cause us to doubt whether we really heard Him at all. Thankfully, He has given us His Scriptures to speak directly to our fears and doubts when it comes to matters related to His call.
October 07, 2005
Set:
At the beginning of every football season, Coach Tom Landry would give his players his priorities: God, family and football, in that order. By keeping these priorities, he avoided the madness and chaos that often consume a coach’s life.
June 13, 2009
Set:
Pain gets our attention. When our bodies get injured, infected, or hurt, pain forces us to take action toward healing. If there were no pain, we would not take steps to mend the injury, resulting in further damage. Pain forces us to respond to emotional ailments as well. How we respond determines what kind of change we will see. Often we try to numb the pain and feel better for a while; but eventually the problems return. However, if we take action, we can find healing and restoration. The pain is difficult, but in it can be found blessings.
August 16, 2011
Set:
Larry, at only 13 years old, impacted my life.
At the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, we have a tradition that has occurred at every camp for more than 55 years. On the last night, we have open mic session when athletes come forward and share how camp has impacted their lives. It is always the highlight of the entire week of camp.
I will never forget an FCA Leadership Camp I was directing several years ago when Larry got up to share at the open mic night. After a terrific week of training middle school and high school students on how to impact their campus for Christ, it was now time to hear how God had worked in their hearts towards leadership. Service projects, leadership workshops, hands-on training, inspiring speakers and powerful worship had marked the week.
February 26, 2010
Set:
Last season, I was watching the NBA playoffs and the finals. I saw some miraculous shots (like LeBron's 3-pointer) throughout each series. These moments make it onto ESPN's top 10 plays.
One of the top miracles Jesus performed was the feeding of the 5,000 with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. I noticed that the same pattern appeared in each Gospel. Jesus blessed the bread, broke the bread, then kept giving the bread until everyone was fed. After the meal, 12 baskets of leftovers were filled. That's a miracle by anyone's standards.
July 21, 2006
Set:
Summer is flying by so fast! This revelation hit my oldest son the other day when he realized that he hadn't spent much time with his father in the past few months. So, I took him to lunch. He was full of information and wanted to tell me everything at once. During the conversation, however, he got quiet and thoughtful for a second and his normal sports questions stopped. "Daddy," he asked, "who is your role model?" I didn't have to think long. That was an easy one.
October 28, 2010
Set:
Over the past two weeks, I have been listening to the guys on ESPN and the NFL shows give their two cents on the rules they’re going to enforce involving vicious hitting in pro football. The argument seems to be that violent collisions are occurring way too often and are being done with the intent to hurt a player, not just separate the man from the ball.
October 07, 2005
Set:
Homecoming week can strike fear into the heart of a coach. There’s the dance, the pep assembly, the class competitions and, of course, the game, which is often the last to be mentioned. Although our players know better, all the festivities can distract them. It’s a challenge to help them stay focused and arrive at the game ready to play. I admit, some seasons it causes me not to see straight.
February 23, 2011
Set:
One thing I've learned is that there are many ways of handling tough situations. I've gone the route of "putting off" in hopes that the Lord would miraculously take a tough situation away. But since that usually doesn't work, here's what I've learned: God expects us to take the first step in the right direction--the step of faith.
June 23, 2005
Set:
Coaches want to be able to tell athletes exactly what they want done, and they want to have the confidence in their players that the job will get done. Coaches want to know that they can tell an athlete to do something and then know that it will be done.
Athletes want coaches to be direct. They want to know what play to run. Athletes want to know what the coach wants, they don't want surprises. Knowing exactly what is expected of them is how an athlete is able to focus on what they have to do.
David gave Solomon this kind of direction in 1 Kings. David knew his time on earth was almost up. He knew that Solomon would need to focus in order to prepare for what was coming. David gave Solomon very direct expectations for his life.
February 08, 2005
Set:
He may not have been the biggest, fastest or strongest man in the NFL, but that didn't keep Warrick Dunn from being selected as the 2004 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year. The award, which recognizes a player who excels on the field and in community service, couldn't have a more worthy recipient than Dunn. Inspired by his mother, who never got to realize her dream of owning a home, he has helped 52 single moms become first-time home owners through his "Home for the Holidays" program. Said Dunn, "People say I'm giving back, but I think I'm getting a lot more than what I put in."
September 13, 2006
Set:
"Tell me something good!" he would say when I saw him. "I'm doing great!" he would say when I would ask him how he was doing. The late Coach Randy Walker had an infectious attitude in life. He was one of the most positive men I have ever been around. This attitude is something I now refer to as a "walkitude." A walkitude is an overwhelming positive view of life that is lived out in everyday actions and attitudes. He lived his life just that way.
June 21, 2005
Set:
All coaches want to make that perfect play call. That play that will be a guaranteed score. The play that there is just no stopping. And every athlete wants to be the one who runs the perfect play.
As athletes, your coach may tell you to visualize running every play perfectly. You might spend those pre-game moments alone in a quiet area just watching the game play out in your mind. And every one of us sees the same game play through our heads. . . The game is tied, and it is up to us to make the winning shot. We have the ball at the end of the game, and only the perfect play will win it all. Well, we all know that there is no perfect play. Things come up. Things usually don't go exactly how we planned.
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).
May 02, 2013
Set:
My father, Edward T. Britton, who was also my best friend, passed away at 7:52 a.m. on May 2, 2008. Eight days later, on May 10, more than 1,100 people attended his Celebration Service to honor a life well lived. It was an incredible evening of laughing and crying as we not only lifted up a man who impacted thousands during his lifetime, but also celebrated the Lord Jesus Christ. Throughout his journey with leukemia, he always talked about God’s goodness, God’s greatness and God’s graciousness. One of my dad’s favorite verses he quoted often was Psalm 116:12: “How can I repay the Lord for His goodness to me?” He was so thankful for his life and God’s rich blessings.
October 07, 2005
Set:
One of my favorite things about John Wooden’s coaching was that he taught his players each year to put on their socks and tie their shoes properly. You’d think college-aged athletes could already do this, but Wooden took nothing for granted. He paid attention to the little things, which made the big things come more easily for his teams over the years.
Of course, Coach Wooden wanted to teach his players a lesson: If they were going to play in his program, they had to put aside what they wanted to do and follow his plans for the team. That discipline in the small things gave his teams great results, as they won 10 national championships and set an example for the rest of us how the little things make the biggest difference.
March 29, 2012
Set:
I am always amazed at how disciplined wrestlers are. They say no to the goodies brought to class for birthdays and only eat a small portion of huge holiday meals. Wrestlers watch every item that goes into their mouth and weigh the pros and cons of each bite when cutting weight to qualify for their weight class. Then, after the season ends, they go back to a less regimented lifestyle.
November 14, 2006
Set:
All competitors face pressure-packed situations, but often the difference between the good and the great is displayed in how one handles the pressure. University of Tennessee women's basketball star Candace Parker was voted the ESPN.com preseason player of the year partly because of her ability to thrive under pressure. "What impresses me is how well Parker handles pressure, seems unfazed by what's happening around her and wants the ball in key situations," said ESPN analyst Beth Mowins. Adds Parker's coach, the great Pat Summitt, "Candace Parker has a chance to be the best to ever play this game. And if she isn't, I'll be very disappointed." How's that for pressure?
April 11, 2012
Set:
In our daily lives and our athletic venues we face many giants. Maybe it is an opposing team that you are playing, and the critics give you no chance of competing with the “giants,” much less beating them. Or maybe it is your job, your finances, your past or even raising your kids. Regardless, the giants in our lives are there to do one thing: intimidate us and steal the hope that God has given us through His Son, Jesus Christ.
David told Saul in 1 Samuel 17:32 (NIV), “Let no one lose heart on account of this Philistine…” but still, many people ran from the giant, Goliath. It says in 1 Samuel 17:24, “When the Israelites saw the man, they all ran from him in great fear.”
October 07, 2005
Set:
The Boston Red Sox saw little potential in their 24-year-old pitcher. He’d had a couple of decent years, but he had showed little sign of improvement. Eventually, the team traded him to the New York Yankees, who decided to move him to the outfield to utilize his strong arm. The Yankees also believed that he could become a good hitter. They were right. Years later, few people remember that Babe Ruth began his career as a mediocre pitcher in Boston!
March 31, 2011
Set:
Every year, in the early part of April, all across America the coming of spring is heralded by a festive celebration extending from Denver to Baltimore, Los Angeles to Boston, Tampa to Seattle, and especially in Cincinnati: MLB Opening Day. This day, which was just over a week ago, marks a fresh start for all Major League Baseball teams—a time when their record is 0-0 and their slate is wiped clean. It marks the beginning of a six-month season for the great American pastime, in which any team can begin a transformation from worst to first.
