Search

You Are Here > Popular content

Popular content

Archive | Alphabetical
Newest | Most Popular

The Right Race or the Rat Race?

Devotional

April 11, 2006

devotional
Set: 

The first race I ever ran was a marathon. Talk about starting with a bang! I always played team sports and raced until I ran the dreaded 26.2-miler. It was an incredible experience my body will never forget. I learned firsthand the four key aspects to every race, and they all can be related to our spiritual life.

The race is against the competition. There were thousands of competitors I wanted to beat and who wanted to beat me. In the same way, when we run the race for Christ, we have three main competitors: the world, the flesh, and the devil. Each one intends to prevent us from crossing the finish line.

The Lord's Way

Devotional

February 07, 2007

devotional
Set: 
Tony Dungy and Lovie Smith were the first African American coaches to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. Even before Dungy's Colts prevailed over Smith's Bears 29-17 in Super Bowl XLI, we knew that there was a connection between these two men beyond the color of their skin. "I'm proud to be the first African American coach to win this," Dungy said during the trophy ceremony. "But again, more than anything, Lovie Smith and I are not only African-American but also Christian coaches, showing you can do it the Lord's way. We're more proud of that."
 

High Expectations

Devotional

January 04, 2007

devotional
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.
 

Healthy Families - Food Choices

Podcast

October 17, 2008

podcast

In a busy world running at a hectic pace, can we make healthy food choices?

The Routine

Devotional

October 03, 2006

devotional
Set: 
The game of golf is one that requires patience, talent and time. Most golf teachers will teach a simplified approach to the game by getting the player into a pre-shot routine. Fundamental things such as proper grip, balanced stance and tempo are the building blocks for consistency. While it may not guarantee a frustration-free round, following the routine will produce more consistent play.
 

Trusting in God's Plan

Devotional

June 29, 2007

devotional
Set: 
A remarkable African American track and field athlete, Jesse Owens, overcame many difficult obstacles throughout his life in order to achieve all that he did. After a poor childhood and living during a time in which blacks received little respect, he persevered as he developed the talent that God gave him. Owens competed in the "Hitler Olympics," the Olympics in which Hitler planned on proving that the Aryan race was superior. However, after Jesse Owens became the first American to win four gold medals in a single Olympics, even German fans were complimenting his accomplishment. Because Jesse Owens was faced with challenges in his life, he became a great success.
 

We Give It All

Devotional

April 11, 2010

devotional
Set: 

I was listening to a song the other day. It's called "Give It All" by the band Rise Against. I usually listen to it for my warm-ups in sports. Everytime I listen to it, I get in my head, I'm going to give my all on this match, game, run, or whatever. But I got to thinking the other day, do we really give it OUR all?

Following the Rules

Devotional

April 10, 2010

devotional
Set: 

Each new season starts out with a team meeting. The coach gives the team rules and goes over the expectations for the upcoming season. The coach makes sure that there is no question about what will be expected out of the athletes.

God is the ultimate head coach. Just as a good earthly coach goes over the rules, so does He. God gave His “team rules” to the Israelites through Moses, and He expected them to be followed.

When our earthly head coaches expect us to follow the team rules, they generally set out a reward. The reward might be a letterman’s patch or pin, or it could be lessened conditioning in practice. Whatever it is, the head coach makes sure that we know the rewards for following the team rules.

Rejoice in Suffering

Devotional

October 09, 2006

devotional
Set: 
As players and coaches we all know that we will face various tribulations when dealing with athletics. They can be injuries, losses in key games, or other outside events that come unexpectedly. But how do we react when these tribulations occur?
 
Paul says he exults, rejoices, even boasts in them, instead of murmuring and complaining. As we look at the role of afflictions in the Christian life, lets keep in mind that they are tests of our faith. Anything that makes life harder and threatens our faith in the goodness, power and wisdom of God is a tribulation.
 

The Trail to Trust and Hope

Devotional

August 09, 2010

devotional
Set: 

To kick off the summer vacation, my youngest daughter and I went on a 20-mile, three-day back-packing trip. I have been on several trips, but this was her first. We were hiking a section of the Monadnock-Sunapee Trail and followed their guidebook and trail markers for the three days of hiking. By following their book, we found shelters or platforms on which to spend the night and we found plenty of water to pump into our water bottles.

Eternal Glory

Devotional

March 23, 2010

devotional
Set: 

I became a baseball fan during the magical season of 1961. I lived for the trek to the mailbox for the morning paper. Turning to the sports section, I would devour the scores, especially those of the New York Yankees, where the nation focused on the home run race between Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. These two players fascinated me. Though Maris won the home run race that year, Mickey Mantle was my hero. He moved with grace and hit with power, and his statistics were incredibly impressive.

As I grew older, however, I learned of many poor choices made by Mantle. His decadent lifestyle and forty-year abuse of alcohol had shortened his career, prevented him from reaching his full potential, and clouded his mind.

Pick-Me-Up

Devotional

October 25, 2009

devotional
Set: 

Everyone has a bad day once in awhile. Even the greatest athletes struggle from day to day. A common phrase in baseball is "pick-me-up." This is said when a particular player needs a boost in spirit. And, truth be told, we all need a "pick-me-up" occasionally.

Little Guys

Devotional

January 02, 2012

devotional
Set: 

We don’t often hear of Apelles or the Christians who lived in the household of Aristobulus. Most of us read quickly past these names and never give much thought to who they were or what their role was in the church at Rome. Yet, to Paul, they were important enough to be mentioned in his letter to the Romans. This tells us that in Christ’s service, the “little guys” are as important as the “all-stars.”

Tips From The Top - 2 I’s

Podcast

September 08, 2008

podcast

If you are pursuing excellence, identifying and implementing best practices from the best performers will help get you there!

Weakness

Devotional

December 29, 2010

devotional
Set: 

We were in the regional finals of the Virginia high school golf tournament. I was a first year golf coach. My player, Gabe, was tied for the individual championship and was playing in the final round against the defending champion. He had just birdied the thirteenth hole to take a one shot lead with five holes to play.

I suddenly realized that I wasn’t sure what to say or do. Even though I had coached and officiated over a twenty-year period, I had never been a golf coach. Basketball and soccer were my forte. What strategy do you offer in a solitary sport like golf to a young man who must perform alone under pressure? Coaches are supposed to know everything and be ready in any situation. I felt I had little to offer.

Stay in the Huddle

Devotional

August 17, 2009

devotional
Set: 

FCA Camp was awesome again this year. If you’ve never been to one, I highly encourage you to check one out in the future!

What makes FCA Camp so great? What is it about camp that we miss when we leave? Why do we want camp to last longer than a week? Think about it: FCA Camp offers an environment in which we are encouraged to be in God’s Word, to freely Worship Him, to enjoy fellowship with His people and to spend time with Him in Prayer. For one short week it seems that we can push away the things of this world and focus entirely on Him. We are truly abiding in Him. And when we abide in Him the things of this world fade away. Relationships are sweeter, worship is more focused and prayer seems richer.

PRAYer Poser

Devotional

February 28, 2007

devotional
Set: 
In today's devotion, I intentionally capitalized PRAY in the title. I want to emphasize that I am not talking about the act of praying, but about one who prays. Are you a pray-er? I often talk to coaches and athletes who feel limited by the public school system in regards to what they can do with their faith. The school system can regulate what you say and do, but they cannot touch your prayers. Do you want to have an eternal impact on your players and teammates? Pray for them, often and by name.
 
I recently came across a verse I have read many times: Colossians 4:12-13. Sometimes it takes a different Bible translation to bring it to life. Since FCA is now using the Holman Christian Standard Bible, I was struck by a few things in the passage:

Pushing Through (Excellence - Chapter 5)

Devotional

December 01, 2008

devotional
Set: 

When Jean Driscoll was a teenager, she had all of the same negative ideas about wheelchairs as everyone else. They were cumbersome and limiting, and using one meant the end of any shot at a normal life. And that’s exactly how she felt when, as a high school sophomore, she was forced to use one herself.

“I thought my life was over,” Driscoll candidly says.

Running in the Faith

Devotional

February 29, 2008

devotional

“I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”
-Philippians 3:14 (NIV)

Is there more?

Devotional

February 04, 2008

devotional
Set: 

Despite losing yesterday’s Super Bowl to the New York Giants, Patriots’ quarterback Tom Brady seems—from the outside looking in—to have everything: money, fame, a high-profile girlfriend, a winning team and Super Bowl rings. But what about on the inside? 

Mythbusters - As long as it’s fat free!

Podcast

January 20, 2009

podcast

Is Fat really all you have to worry about? Or are other ingredients just as important?

1 Peter 15:3

Devotional

September 03, 2010

devotional
Set: 

Hockey Chat:  Have you ever listen to an interview with a hockey player when they are questioned about their opponent.  It could be the last place team but they always find a way to say something nice and honorable about them.  They give the respect to them even though they are the adversary.  Then of course they add their strategy on how they are going to beat them.  They are courteous but confident.

Troubled Waters

Devotional

November 21, 2010

devotional
Set: 

Jeff Hart, a retired offensive tackle for the Baltimore Colts, knew that in order to be able to handle the opposing linemen, he needed to concentrate on every play. After breaking from the huddle, Jeff would look at the goalpost in the end zone, which symbolized for him the cross of Christ and reminded him of who he was really serving. He would then commit the next play to an audience of One. This focus and devotion allowed Jeff to play at his best and helped him to keep perspective. Whether professional or not, every athlete and coach faces a variety of challenges. Adversity comes to all of us at some point in life and requires that we focus on what is most important. Whether it’s a difficult situation with a player or a series of losses, we will have struggles.

God's Team

Devotional

September 22, 2006

devotional
Set: 
Great teams are made of players who make contributions on more than just game days. You may not be a starter, but with the right perspective, you can make an impact on your team's performance.
 
In this passage, the older brother displayed the wrong perspective. He viewed himself as a servant rather than as a son. He got his self-worth from what he did rather than from who he was. Do you know that as a Christian God views all of us as sons and daughters? He loves us regardless of our role on the team, how small our bank account might be or what our title is at work. In fact, He sent His only Son to die for us even though He knew we would deny Him (Romans 5:8).
 

BIG Challenge

Devotional

April 06, 2010

devotional
Set: 

Paul writes in Romans and Jesus says in John that we are not to be of "this world" and in effort to doing so University of Mary FCA is taking on the BIG Challenge.  I know what most of you are thinking... what is this BIG Challenge?

One of the highest viewed tv shows in America is called "Biggest Loser" which if you didn't know deals with people losing the most weight. Doctors have been telling us time and time again that being BIG is not a good thing, but here at UMary we think the opposite. BIG stands for Bring Incredible Glory, and that we what we are striving to do... not alone, but together in Christ. Which is where our verse of the year comes into play, "

Newest Unknown node types

No featured resources found

Browse by Type

Featured Resources

Browse By

Ministry

Sport

Book of the Bible

FCA Bible Topic