Are You Unashamed?

 This week on ESPN's "Outside the Lines," Denver Broncos quarterback, Tim Tebow, was the center of attention (again).   Broncos fans are crying out for Tebow to be their starting quarterback, although he is only worthy of the 3rd string spot on the depth chart.  I encourage you to watch the video that aired on OTL before reading the rest of this post.  Here is the link: OTL: Polarized QB (Tim Tebow)

Wow.  Quite a story, huh?  I want to start out by saying that I have the utmost respect for Tim Tebow.  Obviously I don't know the guy personally, but his willingness to stand up for the gospel is unreal.  He truly is unashamed.  "For I am unashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."" - Romans 1:16-17.  In the face of ridicule and adversity everyday, Tebow somehow manages to keep his powerful testimony.  How does he do it?  I mean, he has everything at his fingertips that the world says should make him satisfied.  Women, money, fame, all of it.  But amidst the scoffers and haters he still holds fast to his faith in Jesus Christ.  This is a pure example of bearing fruit and living out the life of a believer.  So many athletes talk a good talk and say that they love Jesus and want to serve Him, but how many are truly sincere?  Tim Tebow is one of a few athletes that I have seen who truly walk the walk of a follower of Jesus Christ and isn't afraid to proclaim His name.  Every young athlete out there should look up to Tebow and take a lesson from his walking testimony.  We as coaches need to take a page out of Tebow's book and live a life according to the gospel.  If your coaching buddies want to go out and get drunk, be unashamed of the gospel and say no.  "But coach, I need to go out drinking with other coaches so I can network and get a job."  No you don't.  "But coach, if talk about Jesus all the time with coaches who don't believe the same things I do I will get laughed at and lose my opportunity of coaching college basketball."   Maybe.  But in the big picture does it really matter?  The only thing that matters is eternity and in the big scheme of things following Jesus is the only thing that matters.  Your coaching career is not what matters.  The championships you win don't matter.  Being unashamed of the gospel is what matters.  Tim Tebow is unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ and he has to take persecution on the biggest of all stages.  So coaches, man up, humble yourself, and follow Jesus Christ.  Live your life so God will say, "well done my good and faithful servant."  I feel burdened for men such as the the comedian in the video, John Oliver, who are destined for an eternity in Hell and don't even realize it.  Let's continue to pray for lost souls and keep bearing fruit everyday!  Live a life worthy of the gospel and proclaim the name of Jesus every chance you get.  I challenge you to coach with integrity and follow Jesus Christ.  Are you unashamed?

"All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever." - 1 Peter 1:24-25

Remember to Die

Remember to die.  This isn't a phrase that we usually say to someone, but it should be the first thing to cross our minds each day.  The apostle Paul is a great example of this discipline every day.  In 1 Corinthians 15:31, Paul makes it known to the church at Corinth that, "I die every day!"  Before you navigate away from this blog because you think its creepy, hear me out.  Remembering to die may be the most important things you ever do and it could be very essential in a successful life.  Jesus calls us to die to self so we can be alive in Him.  "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." - Philippians 1:21.  We need to die to ourselves, to sin, everyday.  Jesus Christ bore our sin in his body on the tree so we can do that (1 Peter 2:24).  The world is alive in sin and alive in themselves, but that is the recipe for disaster.  We need to make a conscious effort to avoid sin at all costs.  We need to be dead to it. As coaches, it is vital that we wake up every morning and remember to die.  Having a spirit of humility is the secret to success in any profession.  Humble yourself and be willing to die to yourself.  Be excited to die to your sin.  Fight it.  It's not an easy task to fulfill, but it is the direct calling from God to believers.  Remember to die every day so that we can obtain the Kingdom and live a life worthy of the gospel.  Wake up!  Be an example! Next time you roll out of bed have one thing on your mind.  REMEMBER TO DIE!

"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.  For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may win Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends of faith - and that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." - Philippians 3:8-11

The 15 Book Challenge

In 2010, I was inspired by Alan Stein and I made it my goal to read 50 books in one year.  I was proud to accomplish that goal, but it wasn't easy to do.  I was reading on average 1 book per week and that wasn't including the Bible everyday and all the school books I had to read also.  As I sat down to read tonight, I realized that so far in 2011 I haven't been reading nearly as much as I did last year.  I think I have only finished about 15 or so books in 8 1/2 months this year, and that is not something I'm proud of.  Although one book a week isn't an easy task, I remember how good it made me feel and I want to start that again.  So, for the rest of 2011, my personal goal and challenge to you is to read 15 books.  15 weeks, 15 books.  I really believe that as a Christian coach, it is important for me to be educating myself and growing each day.  Stepping up responsibility and setting aside an hour a day to read my Bible and other books is crucial.  There is so much out there that I don't know and if I want to ever succeed as a Christian, a husband, a father, or a coach, I really need to commit time and effort into quality books.  Especially with basketball season approaching quickly, I feel an even greater responsibility to get in the Word and hit the books.  I know that we are all busy, but the busier you are, the more I want to challenge you to read 15 books.  For all you student managers, graduate assistants, and coaches out there who are serious about success and growth, do this.  I promise you that it will encourage you and enlighten you.  John Wooden is quoted as saying, "When I am through learning, I am through."  Don't ever be through learning, and what better way to gain knowledge and grow than to really dig in books and the Bible.  I would love to hear from you if you know of any good books out there that are "must reads" or have really impacted your life.  Encourage one another and keep me updated on your progress!  Happy reading.

Confidence and Courage

I've been reading a book by the NBA's Orlando Magic Sr. Vice President, Pat Williams entitled, Extreme Focus.  A lot of great insight and especially on confidence and courage.  In one of his chapters, Williams gives us 7 ways to increase our confidence and courage and I just wanted to share those with you real quick. Here they are:

1. Give yourself permission to fail.

2. Don't listen to your doubts and fears.

3. Be prepared; preparation builds confidence.

4. Be boldly decisive.

5. When you crash, get right back into the cockpit.

6. Be boldly who you are.

7. Have the courage to do good.

I think these are great points and can be done in a way that glorifies God through coaching and living.

Control Freak

If you have ever been in a leadership role and been dubbed the name of "control freak," you know that is not a good thing.  The definition in the picture to the left sums it up perfectly.  Control freaks live by the saying, "If I don't control the world, the world will control me."  Obviously, it is crucial to be in control of your life and know the One who is in control of your life, but it becomes detrimental when you begin to try and control the lives of everyone that you come in contact with.  Relationships are damaged, families are torn apart, and people are driven crazy by you.  The worst part of all of this is while a control freak is so focused on others and what they are doing, they are undermining their own life, dreams and successes.  To avoid the name tag of "Control Freak,"  make sure that you are focused on the things that you CAN control.  When you focus on the things you can control, you will find that your dreams will become reality and you will accomplish more.  Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian, published a prayer many years ago about allowing a sovereign God to rule our lives.  The prayer goes as follows:

God, grand me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
The courage to change the things I can;
And the wisdom to know the difference.

Allow yourself to ponder on that prayer daily and let God grant you the wisdom to control the things you can control.  Take it upon yourself to seek out the things of God and avoid becoming a "control freak."

The Power of Encouragement

As coaches, we know that in order to achieve success on any team, there needs to be an element of encouragement amongst our players.  In fact, encouragement is so important that it should never cease to be done at any point in our lives.  Positive talk was something that Coach John Wooden stressed with his team and exemplified in his everyday character.  One of my favorite Wooden maxims is, "Nothing can give you greater joy than doing something for another."  As I was working at Walt Disney World today, I witnessed this first hand.  A football team from Lakewood High School, Colorado was in Orlando for a game at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  I first encountered them in the queue line for Tower of Terror where there just so happened to be a crying little girl who didn't want to get on the ride.  She was trying everything in her power to talk her parents out of taking her on the ride, but it just wasn't working.  The parents dragged the crying girl into the elevator and buckled her in with no turning back.  All of a sudden from the queue line I hear loud clapping begin, and shouts of, "Go Emma! You can do it!" start up.  It was the group of football players from Lakewood High School.  They just kept clapping and the more they clapped, the happier Emma became!  What happened next was the coolest thing.  This little girl, Emma, brightened up and put the biggest smile on her face.  Not only did Lakewood's encouragement impact Emma, but it impacted me and many others just standing around. The clapping and cheering from these high school football players encouraged her to go on the ride and have a great time.    Now, I don't know if the coach of this football team stressed things like that within his program, but any coach would've been proud of those players for their positive encouragement to Emma and her family.  Even if those guys were just trying to be funny or if they were just goofing around, they turned a horrifying moment into a lifetime magical memory for this girl just by lifting her spirits up.  I hope that moment will impact those football players for the rest of their lives and I hope that they realize what a little positive encouragement can do for someone else.  Keep that up and it will change your season, or more importantly your life.  "Nothing can give you greater joy that doing something for another."