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Decide First

October 26, 2009

Anticipate the situations you may face and decide in advance.

Over the last few weeks I have walked through some of the darkest days of a friend’s career in sport. She had never failed at anything, but the last two seasons of her coaching career had been a constant nightmare.

My friend’s coaching staff had disintegrated, several key players had left the program and still others had been actively seeking her dismissal. All these factors led to great frustration and more than a little discouragement.

Out of Bounds

October 30, 2009

Will a life without limits result in excellence?

God and the Apple

October 07, 2005

Set:

While I was eating lunch one day in the teacher’s lounge, I overheard an office aide talking with her friend. The office aide could not understand how God could be God and Jesus at the same time—how He could be in heaven and on Earth at the same time! Her friend didn’t know how to respond.

I asked God to give me the words to help them understand this difficult concept, and the Lord, being gracious, brought an idea to my mind. So, feeling confident, I got up from my table and went to tell them about God and an apple.

All IN

June 12, 2009

When it comes to following Jesus - are you ALL IN?

Priorities

February 02, 2010

The Trade

December 14, 2011

Set:

I play fantasy football with my friends. Although it’s not technically a sport, it is fun. Recently, a person offered to trade me two of his players for one of mine. His players were good, but I didn’t see them as great, so I battled about this trade, I looked at player stats, future projections and schedules to analyze this trade. In the end, I didn’t make it. Why? Because I was afraid! I was afraid that the players were not going to be as good as the one I had and that the two players would let me down. I had fear that my team wouldn’t be as good, and that if I traded that player I would lose the championship.

The next week the players he offered me scored a combined 40 points. My player scored 7. In hindsight it would have been a good trade.

#65 - StVRP - Josh Bidwell, Roy Williams, Jay Schroeder, Les Steckel

November 22, 2008

Tampa Bay Bucaneers punter Josh Bidwell, Dallas Cowboys safety Roy Williams, former NFL quarterback Jay Schroeder and FCA President Les Steckel.

Focus

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.

Gearing up for Battle

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.

Focus

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.

The Million-Dollar Question

December 20, 2004

Set:

Former Heisman trophy winner Ricky Williams pulled the plug on his football career at age 27 after only five years in the NFL. Williams failed a drug test for the third time, at which it becomes public knowledge, and he said he couldn't deal with people knowing he smokes marijuana. So he went to Australia and lived in a tent community. "In my tent, I had about 30 books. And every morning, I'd wake up at about 5 a.m., and I'd take my flashlight and read for a couple of hours," said Williams. "Everything from nutrition to Buddhism to Jesus, to try to figure out, you know, what am I? What am I? So, I just kept reading and reading. And couldn't figure out what I was. But I learned a lot."

Space for God

September 03, 2009

From Times Online
August 21, 2009
Space for God
Stuart Weir

“It is good and right that our churches are setting a clear Christian emphasis during this World Championship. We are opening up space for God. It is necessary that sportsmen and women have the opportunity…to turn to God in prayer and share about their faith”.

Glass Slipper

March 31, 2005

Set:

The Madness is here for sure. This year's NCAA Tournament had its share of upsets and surprises, one of which was West Virginia's advancement to the Elite Eight. They earned it, though. Cinderella team or not, they played their way in and deserve to be on the dance floor. But let's think about that term "Cinderella team." Do you find it interesting that basketball teams are compared to a lowly girl who got an amazing, some may say, undeserved gift? I'm sure West Virginia didn't mind the term this year. I say if the shoe fits, wear it. Make the most of it!

Begin to Possess

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.

Purpose

May 20, 2005

Set:

As athletes we must know what our purpose is on our team. An offensive lineman's purpose is to protect the quarterback and make places for the running back to run. A pitcher's purpose is to not allow the opposing team to get a hit. A setter's purpose on the volleyball court is to set the ball so that another player can spike it.

Just as athletes need to know their purpose, each coach has a specific purpose as well. An assistant coach may be in charge of one aspect of the team (i.e. an offensive coordinator). Or perhaps their job is to lead the team in pre-practice stretches. Head coaches also have a purpose. In FCA, our prayer should be that the head coach would see their purpose as molding and shaping the lives of young people.