Devotional
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September 16, 2010
Set:
New coaches are often brought to a team in hopes of resurrecting a hurting or weak program. The coach will likely implement a new approach to whatever has been the source of the team’s problems, and the rebuilding process gets underway. After a while the team may regain hope for a better season and the hope of brighter days. However, no matter how good our team becomes, we will be disappointed if set our eyes on a successful season. That’s because life itself on this earth is often more characterized by “losing seasons” than by great victories. Therefore, Christians learn to put their hope in brighter days that transcend life here and now.
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September 15, 2010
Set:
This week, Reggie Bush became the first Heisman Trophy winner to forfeit his trophy. Amid a world of controversy surrounding reports that he had taken money from sports marketers while at USC, Bush made a move that no one had ever done before by giving his trophy—which he won in 2005—back to the Heisman Trust.
This devotion isn’t going to side one way or the other with Reggie Bush’s actions. Instead, we’re going to use the situation as an opportunity to evaluate the awards we’ve been given as athletes and coaches, and to, perhaps, think about them in ways we’ve never considered.
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September 14, 2010
Set:
How do you feel when someone wrongly criticizes you or says something false about you to another? In Nehemiah 6 we read how the rumor mill got started by a group of people who wanted to slander and intimidate Nehemiah. A man named Tobiah wrote a public letter stating that the reason Nehemiah was rebuilding the wall was for his own benefit, so that he could become king and lead Israel into a revolt against the reigning powers of the day. However, Nehemiah had received God-given guidance for his actions, so when he was confronted by adversaries, he trusted God for further wisdom. God will give us wisdom if we seek Him when we are faced with slanderous attacks and false accusations.
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September 11, 2010
Set:
Every year I look at my team’s schedule of games during preseason and start to calculate wins and losses. One game I’m certain we’ll win, another we probably won’t, and still another will be a toss-up. Though each season is filled with uncertainty and challenges, the majority of coaches still dream about championships and most valuable player awards. What’s exciting to me is that God can do immeasurably more than all of those expectations combined.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: The game of hockey takes both aggressive work and smooth moves. To be too aggressive all the time will get you in the penalty box. Trying to be too smooth and passive all the time will just plain land you on your backside when you get into a battle. There are plays that call for the moves and plays that take extra hustle. It’s important to be ready for both.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: There are many players who are great in there own mind. They lead the team in ice time because they won’t line change. They lead the team in goals but have zero assists. They don’t have any penalty minutes because they never bother to play defense.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: Broadcasting your pass is looking at the guy you are passing to in such a way that is so apparent that it’s where you’re going to pass to. Not only has your receiver seen your pass, but the opponents defense has as well and they have a good chance to read the play and pick it off. Quick passes and drop passes are a swift way to dish the puck off without getting picked off because your foes didn’t see it coming.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: Part of being on a NHL team is meeting up to high standards of play. Those who do not perform up to that level are separated from the major league team and sent away. Part of being a great team is maintaining a great group of players. Those that are not, are gone.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: You’ve seen hockey players try to argue there way out of penalties saying that it was just a little hook or they just slashed at the puck not the opponent. They try to minimize the offense. Fact is, when they are called for penalty, it’s a penalty. If they say they just barely hit the guy with their stick, they still are called for slashing. If plead that they just nudged the guy head first into the boards, they still get called for boarding just as if they slammed him. When the ref sees a penalty, regardless of the degree, he calls it.
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September 10, 2010
Set:
Hockey Chat: One of the greatest things about winning the Stanley Cup is that each member of the winning team gets to spend a day with the cup. They get to have all their friends over to show it off personally. They get to share the great reward they have with everyone.
