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Never, Never Quit
Set:
This year, the world of baseball gave us a very good example of perseverance. The Boston Red Sox, down three games to none against the New York Yankees, did not quit. They defied the odds and made something happen — something their organization had been incapable of doing for 86 years. They won the World Series. The Red Sox dug in and won eight straight games against probably the two best teams in baseball, the Yankees and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Identity Crisis
Set:
Athletes are trained to be a certain way. They are created to be tough, invincible and strong. Coaches work hard to create an identity for their players, but for many of these finely tuned athletes, once their playing days are over, they struggle to find who they are. They've only ever seen themselves as athletes.
The opening line of the FCA Competitor's Creed makes a bold statement. "I am a Christian first and last." The identity is stated clearly. I do not read where it says I am an athlete first and last. No, it says Christian -- a Christ-follower. Our identity should be found in Christ, not in our sport.
Sweet Sugar
Set:
As a competitor at heart, I love sports video games. I used to play one that involved boxing, and there was one fighter whose nickname was "Sweet Sugar." In this particular game, the system would remind me every time my opponent would knock me out. Truthfully, I didn’t think there was anything “sweet” about that!
I was thinking about Sweet Sugar the other day and thought about a personal dilemma. Sometimes in life I find myself confusing love and grace with the act of “sugar-coating.” What that means is that I gloss over a situation and refuse to deal with the truth about what is going on.
#41 - StVRP - John Dutton, David Thompson, Albert Long Jr. and Danny Lotz
John Dutton of the Colorado Crush, NBA Hall-of-Famer David Thompson, Albert Long, Jr. and Danny Lotz, FCA President Les Steckel
Home Stretch: Justin Masterson
My story begins in Kingston, Jamaica. That's where I was born and where my dad served as a pastor and the dean of students at the Jamaican Theological Seminary. We lived there for two years until we moved to Indiana.
Growing up as a pastor's son was a huge blessing. It helped me understand from an early age what it meant to have a relationship with God. That relationship has been so important to me in my baseball career as I have worked my way up through the Boston Red Sox farm system, and it is evident in the way I play every day.
Conference Call Training #5
Best Practices with Roger Lipe and FCA's Rick Horton in St. Louis.
SCTCC5a.mp3 Part 1
SCTCCb.mp3 Part 2
Reckless Abandonment
Set:
Following God even when you are in doubt is difficult. Oftentimes we get caught up in the uncertainty of our future forgetting who is ultimately in charge. After Moses died Joshua was immediately made Commander in Chief of all the Israelites. A responsibility that required leading God's chosen people to the Promised Land.
When Joshua takes his new position God immediately instructs him three times to "Be strong and courageous," as he leads God's people into battle. Joshua must blindly follow God despite the uncertainty of his future. Not only must Joshua remain unwavering in his faith as the Israelites fight their adversaries, but also he must stay diligent in conquering the temptations that come along the way--after-all he is looked upon as their leader.
Fit 4 Ever: Christmas Food Survival Guide
I absolutely love the Christmas season! There’s nothing better than celebrating the birth of our Lord in the presence of family and friends.
For many of us, however, this time of year means we abandon our healthy routines, throw off our restraint, and overindulge in huge quantities of food. There is just something about a huge turkey dinner with stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, dinner rolls and green bean casserole. Finish that with a slice or two of pecan pie, and it’s time for an afternoon nap!
Staying True
It might sound crazy, but tearing my ACL in January 2001 was a good thing. At the time, however, I wouldn’t have agreed.
The timing was horrible. My dream was to play in the WNBA, and, with just five months until the draft, I knew the injury would cost me my dream. But God was faithful, and, despite the doctor’s report that I would sit out an entire season, the Indiana Fever took a chance on me with the third overall pick.
It might sound crazy, but tearing my ACL in January 2001 was a good thing. At the time, however, I wouldn’t have agreed.
Total Commitment
Set:
This November, thousands of college wrestlers throughout the country begin a four-month journey that will culminate with the 2005 NCAA Championships in St. Louis. Come March, more than 300 will make the trip to wrestle at the NCAA finals, and only 10 will go home with a gold medal. What does it take to be one of the 10? It starts with a denial of selfish wants, a willingness to endure hardships and a relentless, total commitment to the cause.
Firm Foundation
It all started in the fall of 2000 when Todd Knutson began to settle into his new role as an FCA area representative in Sioux Falls, S.D. Like most new staff, Knutson sought means to raise funds for his ministry through the usual support letters and individual visits. But he knew there had to be another way.
One Sunday afternoon he attended an open house where he picked up the brochure of Dan Lemme, owner of C-Lemme Custom Homes, LLC. What he read surprised him.
#73 - StVRP - Kyle Korver, Jerry Moore, Wes Neal & Les Steckel
Utah Jazz forward Kyle Korver, Appalachian State head football coach Jerry Moore, author and speaker Wes Neal & FCA President Les Steckel.
Too Comfortable
Set:
Recently, I made a pretty significant change in my life. After working for the same company for more than 11 years, I changed jobs. It was a really hard decision—one I agonized over for weeks. I wasn’t unhappy in my job, and I worked for and with some amazing people. I hadn’t even thought about leaving, but another opportunity came along and I really started thinking about possibly making a change. The old line “It’s not you; it’s me” was really true in this case.
But I realized that I’d become comfortable. Too comfortable. And not just in my job. I was too comfortable in my prayer life, in my faith walk, and in my daily Scripture study. I wasn’t challenging myself to have a deeper, closer relationship with Christ.
Whose Glory?
Set:
If you are a subscriber to ESPN the Magazine, you are undoubtedly familiar with their annual “body issue” in which professional athletes from various sports pose unclothed to highlight specific parts of their bodies. After seeing their latest body issue, I was taken aback and was admittedly a little appalled that these athletes—some of whom are the best in their sports—were sending what I thought was a very self-focused message.
The bar in sports continues to be set higher and higher. Athletes, whether on the professional, college, or high school level, are constantly looking for new ways to get an advantage, especially physically. And just like with ESPN the Magazine, the media has become an influential part of this and can often be used in a negative manner.
God Sighting
Set:
When I read the story of Moses, most of the time I think to myself, “Why are these Israelites so whiny and doubting toward God? I mean, come on! He brings plagues; He parts the Red Sea; He feeds them for 40 years…What is their problem?" Almost every time I read a new verse, I see God doing something miraculous for them that causes them to believe again for about a millisecond before they turn away again.
The Hunter's Hope
Very few people know what it’s like to play in the NFL. Even fewer know what it’s like to play in a Super Bowl. Only one knows what it is like to be the starting quarterback in four consecutive.
His name is Jim Kelly, and he is a football legend. From 1986 to 1996, as the quarterback of the Buffalo Bills, Kelly led his team to four consecutive Super Bowls, was selected to five Pro Bowls and passed for more than 35,000 career yards. Years before he was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002, his poster graced the bedroom walls of kids nationwide, and his football cards were placed carefully into thousands of collectors’ albums.
Fit 4 Ever: Is Creatine Safe?
In last month’s article we opened up a discussion about the safety of over-the-counter (OTC) supplements. This month we will focus on one of the most popular and high-profile supplements: creatine.
The use of creatine by athletes at the professional and amateur levels has skyrocketed in the last 10 years. Sales of creatine products have grown from $30 million in 1995 to nearly $500 million in 2005.
The Right Place
Set:
Every Wednesday night at about 6 p.m. I hear these words: "We need to get in the right place before Saturday!" This is the charge given to his team by Coach Randy Walker, head football coach at Northwestern University. He challenges his team, staff and everyone present to get in the right mindset mentally, physically and spiritually before they play on Saturday. He is constantly encouraging his team to get in the right place.
Chaplains Roundtable 2009
If you’re in the USA, please give this series of events some consideration. The Chaplains Roundtables are good events for learning, networking and encouragement in our ministries with coaches and competitors. Please contact Bill Houston for more information. His contact info is below.
Chaplains Roundtable 2009
Charlotte October 7th…Indianapolis November 10th…Lansing December 1st
Chaplains Roundtable 2009
Charlotte October 7th…Indianapolis November 10th…Lansing December 1st
No Hurry
Set:
When NASCAR drivers head to Bristol Motor Speedway in Tennessee, they know that they will need an extra dose of patience. Going into the 2004 Food City 500, Kurt Busch, looking to win his third consecutive race at Bristol, said, "There's no real reason to get in a hurry at all." Easy to say until you find yourself going 140 mph on the short half-mile track with forty-two other cars. Busch seems to know a little about winning there, holding off Rusty Wallace for his third win in a row and fourth of the last five races at Bristol.
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