Devotional
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January 09, 2007
Set:
Sean Payton's first head coaching job in the NFL didn't appear to be all that promising. After all, he inherited a New Orleans Saints team that went 3-13 in 2005 and that doesn't exactly have a rich tradition of being an NFL powerhouse. Regardless, Payton came in and implemented his system, and the players bought in to it, leading to an improbable 10-6 record in 2006 and a division title. "Players putting the team ahead of everything else," Payton said. "I think that's the biggest thing that we've been able to do to date. That's what's most important."
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January 05, 2007
Set:
Okay, here's a little peek at my life. . . It's 7:25 a.m. on Thursday, December 28, 2006, and it's "showtime" for the Alamo Bowl/Alamo Cafe FCA Breakfast. The head table is filled with head football coaches, athletes, bowl dignitaries and pastors. The bands are playing, and at 7:30, the University of Iowa Hawkeyes and the University of Texas Longhorns enter the ballroom to the delighted cheers of 600 local student athletes, coaches and bowl fans.
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January 04, 2007
Set:
Have you ever had a coach who always seemed to pick on you or yell at you more than your other teammates? I felt like this about my high school baseball coach, and I eventually asked him why he always yelled at me. His reply: "I get on you more than some of the other players because I see the talent you have, and I expect more out of you. If I didn't think you could do better, I wouldn't expect you to be better." This gave me a whole different perspective on his actions, and I learned to take his criticism not as anger, but as motivation to become a better athlete. I've carried his response with me and have seen it come up in my own coaching. I really appreciate my athletes who take my criticism and use it to make themselves better.
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January 03, 2007
Set:
I'm sure you've seen the commercial that states, "Amateurs work until they get it right. Professionals work until they can't get it wrong." I admire athletes like Troy Polamalu, who stays on the practice field perfecting his defensive moves long after the rest of the team has hit the showers. Instead of being satisfied with being "good enough," he tries to practice until he can't get it wrong.
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January 02, 2007
Set:
Last week I felt as if there was nothing God was doing in my life. I had felt Him so strongly in the weeks before--He had been doing great things in my life. But then it felt like these blessings came to a screeching halt.
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December 28, 2006
Set:
I dialed a number and got the following message: "I am not available right now, but thank you for caring enough to call. I am making some changes in my life. Please leave a message after the beep. If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes."
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December 27, 2006
Set:
It's two days after Christmas. What a day Monday was, full of wonderful gifts both given and received. But I learned a great lesson on Monday as I was getting ready for the day. That morning I looked into the mirror and took a good hard look at where I had been this past year. In sports, we all have to do the same thing. We have to look at what kind of athlete, coach or teammate we are becoming. For me, I realized, as I looked intently at my life, that I am celebrating two unique anniversaries this year. . .
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December 18, 2006
Set:
The game was tight, and the season was on the line. The Eagles, down one point, awaited the final free throw. With five seconds remaining on the clock and no timeouts left, the Eagles would need a basket to advance in the playoffs. Swish! Down by two now. The ball went into play for one last trip for the Eagles. The pass was made, but Ben did not have the time to find another teammate. He had enough time to make one move and let it go from half court. As time expired, the ball hits the mark, dead center, and the Eagles won by one point. Ben stood at half court, silent, with his feet together and arms open wide. The gym erupted with joy, and from the stands, you heard one voice over all the others. "That's my boy! That's MY boy!" It was Ben's father.
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December 15, 2006
Set:
This year's foot-brawl between Miami and FIU had the sports world buzzing for weeks. What took place on the field was an example of emotions that ran out of control, and it revealed the true character of certain members of both teams. It exposed what was in their hearts. From that fight, all athletes and coaches should be challenged to examine theirselves to see if they are hiding the same traits inside.
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December 13, 2006
Set:
Recently I have been listening to a radio program about the life of David. As I thought about it this week, I think God put a lesson on my heart. . .
