Champions Today

In our program at Bob Jones University, we have focused our attention on becoming #ChampionsToday.  This mindset comes from a talk that Adam Bradley of the Hardwood Hustle gave to our team this past January as we were visiting Washington DC.  By focusing on building championship habits in everything we do, we began to see positive change within our team both on and off the court.

Our motto is "Live Christ."  We are a Christian university and our main goal is to glorify Jesus Christ in everything we do.  We want people to see Jesus through our daily actions and words.  The mindset of being #ChampionsToday has given everyone in our program an opportunity to give praise to Jesus by the way we do everything.  The way we workout, pay attention, study, behave in the dorms/hotel room, behave on the bus, practice, take notes, etc. are all indications of us being champions and living the way Christ would live.  As we bring the summer to a close and begin focusing our attention on academics and basketball, we are striving to carry out the mindset of being #ChampionsToday and ultimately bringing glory to Jesus through the way we do everything!

Follow our program on Twitter & Instagram @BJUBruinsMBB

The Final Four: More Than Meets The Eye

No person can even argue that March Madness is the most wonderful time of the year.  If you disagree with that statement - stop reading right now.  I'm only joking - KEEP READING!  I promise you that this will be worth your time.

As a basketball coach and someone that is a member of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC), I have the privilege of attending the Final Four every year for their annual convention. Although this convention is intended for professional and personal development, the question that is most often asked to me is, "do you get to go to the games?!"  I understand that it is only natural for people to ask that question when they hear I will be at the Final Four, but I always count it a blessing when I get to inform them that there is more than meets the eye when it comes to the Final Four.

Despite the countless clinics, sessions, parties, dinners, and meetings that the NABC provides, there is also an emphasis on ministry with coaches.  Organizations such as Nations of Coaches, Athletes In Action, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes really do an outstanding job of providing coaches with the most important things that fit their needs.  Whether they know it or not, coaches need Jesus in their programs and they need biblical truths pumped through the hearts of their athletes.  These ministry groups spend countless hours mentoring and training people to help equip coaches with the necessary tools that will change their programs forever.  The sessions and panel discussions that are put on by these ministries are valuable resources for developing a biblical worldview in relation to coaching.

If you ever get a chance to come to a Final Four, or if you are a coach and have never heard of any of these events, I urge you to check them out sometime.  There's no greater experience than building relationships with other coaches that share the same heart beat as you.  They love basketball and everything that comes with it, but ultimately they love Jesus more and desire for their players to know Him.  Coaching is more than X's and O's and the time spent learning how to develop men of character will help make your program a TRUE success.

I am so thankful and appreciative of the people that have invested into my life as a young coach.  While some people view the Final Four as an opportunity to network, find a job, and party with their coaching buddies, I view it as an opportunity to grow in my walk with Jesus Christ and help develop me into a better husband and father.  No vocation influences as many lives as coaching does, and I am blessed to be a part of something that will impact lives forever through the game of basketball.

Some upcoming events to check out if you are in Dallas this weekend:

SATURDAY

FCA Coaches' Luncheon - 12:30 pm | Dallas Ballroom

It's Gametime! - 5:00 pm | Dallas Ballroom

SUNDAY

Coaches' Bible Study - 8:30 am | Press Club

Worship Service - 10:00 am | Dallas Ballroom

Cling to the Sword

Eleazar is one of the most inspirational characters in the Bible.  His story is one that is rare and most people have never heard it.  You see, Eleazar was one of David's mighty men.  He was a brave and honorable soldier that fought in David's army and was most recognized for his part in Israel's victory over the Philistines.  To set up this amazing story it is necessary to read two passages first.  2 Samuel 23:9-10 & 1 Chronicles 11:12-14.

"And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, son of Ahohi.  He was with David when they defied the Philistines who were gathered there for battle, and the men of Israel withdrew.  He rose and struck down the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand clung to the sword.  And the LORD brought about a great victory that day, and the men returned after him only to strip the slain." - 2 Samuel 23:9-10 (ESV)

And we also get some more insight on this event in 1 Chronicles.

"And next to him among the three mighty men was Eleazar the son of Dodo, the Ahohite.  He was with David at Pas-dammim when the Philistines were gathered there for battle.  There was a plot of ground full of barley, and the men fled from the Philistines.  But he took his stand in the midst of the plot and defended it and killed the Philistines.  And the LORD saved them by a great victory." - 1 Chronicles 11:12-14 (ESV)

The Philistines obviously posed a massive threat to the men of Israel because they all ran away!  They FLED!  But despite what the rest of the army did, David and Eleazar stood next to each other and defended against the Philistines.  It wasn't until after all the Philistines were dead that the rest of the men returned.  An amazing story for sure, but what was it about Eleazar that allowed him to accomplish this victory?

1. His WEAPON - Verse 10 of 2 Samuel 23 tells us that Eleazar fought with one weapon, a sword.  He was able to defeat an entire army with just one sword!  He was confident and familiar to this weapon and was able to use it to win a battle.  We have to assume that he practiced with this sword daily.  He knew everything about his sword - how much it weighed, how far he could reach with it, and how hard he needed to swing it to do damage.  He cared for his sword and made sure that he knew how to use it when the opportunity presented itself.

2. His GRIP - Eleazar was a man of perseverance!  Verse 10 also says, "He rose and struck the Philistines until his hand was weary, and his hand CLUNG to the sword."  He clung to it!  Even though his entire army, his brothers, his family, his team, abandoned him...he never gave up.  He gave everything he had and welded his hand to his sword.  He was tired and weak, but even still...he clung to the sword.  His sword became a part of who he was.  Wow.

3. His STRENGTH - I'm sure Eleazar was a strong man, but his strength didn't lie within himself.  Verse 10 finishes by telling us that, "The LORD brought about a great victory that day..."  God was able to take one soldier and use him in a mighty and powerful way.  Sure, Eleazar was trained to use his sword.  He practiced for hours upon hours throughout his life and was confident in his ability to use it.  Of course, he had the mindset to "never give up" and persevere through adversity.  But his true strength and the reason he was able to clinch a victory against the Philistines was because of God's power. 

What a powerful and inspiring story of a man who was confident in his ability and fought to the end.  A man who was abandoned by his team, yet still found the courage to RISE UP and fight the battle.  He gave every ounce of energy he had left and kept swinging his trusty sword.  In today's world, we can directly relate this story to our lives.  Just as Eleazar clung to his sword in the midst of battle, we can cling to the Word of God when we face adverse times.  We grow weary.  We get tired.  But when we read the Scriptures and hold fast to God's promises, He will show us his power and give us strength to overcome.  It's no coincidence that the name, Eleazar means, "God is my Helper."  

Running Down A Dream

Opportunities present themselves to us each and everyday.

But often we fail to cease them with everything we have.

They come and go as often as we blink our tempted eyes.

We many times forget that we’re running down a dream.

We lay in bed each day and night, just thinking to ourselves,

How sweet the future will be when we get to where we’re going.

People’s influence in our everyday lives is so very important,

They may have significant impact while we’re running down a dream.

Connections often are broken, but many times are a seekers best friend.

We need to be go-getters in this race that we run so swiftly,

Because if we only sit back and wait for wants to fall into our lap,

We will fail in every attempt of running down a dream.

Thinking to the future that lies so mysteriously ahead of us,

We often get views of things that we tell our mind it’s impossible.

But go out and pursue, and cease every moment of everyday,

And you will see that you are closer than you think to running down a dream.

For every door that closes, they say that another door always opens.

We need to believe that truth, and know that God will also open windows,

For multiple choices of hunting down that thrilling passion,

That will benefit in your endeavor of running down a dream.

Don’t be afraid to start a conversation with a well-known famous stranger,

For he or she is excited to share what they have learned in their life also.

They’ve traveled down the same paths that you are trudging this present day,

And they realize the desire in your heart of the same passion of running down a dream.

The journey that you set your feet on is going to be full of ups and it’s share of downs,

But always find the positives in every fault that opens up in your way.

Find a way around it, over it, or even better yet, through it,

And set your eyes straight forward on the ultimate goal of running down a dream.

Victory will taste so sweet when at the end of your path you reach the inn.

The triumph over the enemies and haters will feel so sensational.

Stay focused on the prize and keep the ever burning passion alive inside your soul,

And you will enjoy success in accomplishing the task of running down a dream!

@CoachWingreen

Core Values

Core values are essential in any group or organization and they play a crucial role in accomplishing the overall vision and mission.  Often times when you think of a successful company or team there are specific words that come to mind that portray that specific group.  Our men's basketball program at Bob Jones University has made the effort to promote certain core values to build our foundation upon.  Coach Neal Ring and our staff spent a lengthy amount of time praying and talking through these values and came up with a "wheel" that provides a visual illustration to our players of how we expect them to become successful.  There are three parts to this "wheel" and they are our mission, our core values, and our vision.  Everything we do begins with a single heartbeat, one that every member of our program must buy into in order to attain our overall vision. 

MISSION STATEMENT

Our mission statement is at the center of the "wheel" and it reads,

"Bruins' men's basketball exists to develop student athletes who glorify God and to prepare them to always LIVE CHRIST." 

 

We believe that no matter what we are trying to accomplish from a basketball perspective, it will have no effect unless we are doing it for a bigger purpose.  What is our bigger purpose?  It is to glorify God and live Christ.  If we are simply coming to the gym every day in hopes to win games and get the ladies we have missed our true calling.  Our purpose is so much greater that the excitement, the wins/losses, and the cool gear.  We want to be used of God to impact lives for eternity through the game of basketball.  This sounds well and good, but simply stating this is not enough.  We need to have a plan of action and that is found in our core values.

 

CORE VALUES

 

Our core values are the pieces of the puzzle that we must live out if we hope to accomplish our vision.  There are four main values that we stress to our program.

 

1. Passion - First and foremost we need to have a passion.  We need a passion for Jesus Christ and we need a passion for the game of basketball.  We need to be willing to put the required work into both of those aspects and be committed to growing consistently in them.  A passion for Jesus can be cultivated through reading his Word and seeking him in every area of your life.   When you read the Scriptures, God opens your heart to amazing things and ignites a passion to know Him.  You will be amazed how God can use you when you are actively and consistently searching for him!  A passion for basketball will be stirred when you see the fruits of your hard work.  Early mornings in the weight room, boot camp conditioning, and grueling workouts sometimes are difficult, but once you step on the court in front of thousands of screaming fans, it all becomes worth it!  Galatians 2:20

 

2. Integrity - We expect our members to be honest and trustworthy in every relationship they have.  These values need to be mutual and we will treat everyone the same way we wish to be treated.  It's the Golden Rule!  If you want to be treated well, then treat others well!  Most people do not like being lied to and they hate when someone doesn't follow through, so make sure to value everyone in all things.  The world says that the 'cool' thing to do is lie, cheat and steal, but that is totally opposite of what the Bible says.  Instead, God calls us to live a life saturated with high character.  We are born sinners and sin is a daily struggle, so please don't think it's easy to do the right thing.  But do know that with God's grace all things are possible and he will give you the strength and the desire to do what is honorable!  Luke 6:31; Philippians 4:8

 

3. Humility - Athletes are glorified in this world and sometimes they expect to be treated in such a way.  However, we have a platform to make an impact and we must display humility.  We do this by being selfless, having a grateful spirit, and acting out with servant-leadership.  When I was a camp coach at the University of Minnesota, Tubby Smith left a lasting impression of humility on me.  We were in the cafeteria when one of the campers spilled his food tray all over the floor.  From a distance I noticed all of the campers and coaches staring at this kid and some were even laughing and pointing at him.  Nobody stopped to help him.  What I didn't see was that Coach Smith had immediately gone to get paper towels and he was the first one to help.  He smiled at this kid and told him it was OK, got down on his hands and knees and began to clean up this camper's mess.  As a young coach I was in awe that a man such as Coach Smith would humble himself to serve others.  The same goes for Jesus.  He came to this world not to be served, but to serve others.  There are so many examples in the Bible about Jesus providing food, healing the sick, and just being there to share the gospel with anyone he possibly could.  He was always on the lookout to serve others and he called us to do the same.  True leadership is done through serving others.  Mark 10:45

 

4. Collective Responsibility - We are always holding each other accountable.  There is a mutual support among coaches, players, managers, and support staff.  There is no whining, complaining, and no making excuses.  The Bible says we sharpen each other just as iron sharpens iron.  A team is a powerful force and when every person is looking out for the best interest of the others, amazing things can happen.  We can cultivate this by holding players accountable for their class attendance, grades, and relationships.  If you see your teammate sleeping in class or texting during a lecture, call him out in a biblical way!  More importantly keep each other focused on reading the Word.  The most important thing we can do as a coach is to disciple our players and make sure they are doing what needs to be done to know God.  Teammates need to watch out for each other and make sure others are not doing something they shouldn't be doing such as drinking alcohol, being involved in a immoral relationship, or rebelling against authority.  When a team comes together and supports one another, there is no telling what they can accomplish!  We want our players to graduate and become godly husbands and fathers, not just good basketball players.  Proverbs 27:17

 

When these four values are lived out on a daily basis, success becomes a bi-product of the process.  If we can live out these values each and every day, we believe that they will ultimately allow us to carry out our overall vision.

 

VISION STATEMENT

 

Our vision statement is our end goal.  It is where we want to be what we want to accomplish.  We can do this by carrying out our core values and staying focused on our mission.  Our vision statement reads,

 

"We view basketball as a potent platform for ministry in this present age.  To maximize this platform, we must prepare to compete against each opponent to earn their respect; with this respect we earn the opportunity for testimony of Christ."

 

God calls us to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ and to disciple others to become more like him and do the same.  Basketball is only a tool that God has given us to carry out the great commission (Matthew 28:16-20).  As a program, we want others to come to know Jesus Christ and seek to glorify him.  Of course we want to compete at the highest levels and win championships, but ultimately we are only doing that so that Jesus Christ will become famous!  Here is a look at what our "wheel" looks like:

 

 

Follow the BJU Bruins Men's Basketball team at the following:

 

Twitter - @BJUBruins

Instagram - @BJUBruins

Facebook - Bob Jones University Bruins

Online - www.BJUBruins.com

 

 

 

 



 

Broken-Down House (Chapters 1-2)

It has been a very long time since I have been on here writing!  Our basketball team at BJU is going to be using the book, "Broken-Down House: Living Productively in a World Gone Bad" by Paul Tripp for our discipleship series this season.  I am extremely excited to begin going through this book with our players and I am praying hard that our staff and players will grow in a mighty way!

Personally, I began reading the book tonight by studying chapters 1 & 2.  I want to dig deep into the thoughts of this book, so in order to help me with that process, I am going to post what I learned, here!  I hope throughout this season, you will be encouraged by the work that God is doing in my heart and in the lives of our players.

The imagery of a broken-down house is used by Paul Tripp to describe the fallen nature of our modern day world.  I was challenged to acknowledge my chosen state, to be a tool in God's restoring hand.  So often we want to "demolish" the world around us with complaints and bad attitudes.  2 Timothy 2:20-21 calls us to do just the opposite.

"Now in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver but also of wood and clay, some for honorable use, some for dishonorable.  Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work." - 2 Timothy 2:20-21

God clearly calls us to be "restorers" of this fallen world, not "demolishers."   Tripp goes on to write, "He calls you and me to live in this broken-down house with hearts of patience and eyes of promise."  Typically, our sinful nature brings us to complain and go through life with a "survival" mentality instead of having a mindset to "thrive."  James 5:7-11 is a great passage that calls us to live in this world with "hearts of patience and eyes of promise."  We need to keep our hearts focused on the call to restore this world.  We need to disciple and make disciples.

I pray that Jesus will give me a heart of patience so that I can keep my eyes focused on the promises that God has made.  I am excited to keep learning what God has for me in these next few months as I go through this book with our team!

Live Christ.

Follow @CoachWingreen on Twitter

The Victory Is His

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 reads, "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Both riches and honor come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might, and in your hand it is to make great and to give strength to all. And now we thank you, our God, and praise your glorious name." (ESV)

Dictionary.com defines "Victory" as, 

vic·to·ry [vik-tuh-ree, vik-tree]

1. a success or triumph over an enemy in battle or war.

2. an engagement ending in such triumph.

3. the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest.

Although we often associate the term 'victory' with the sports arena, the true victory was won at the cross of Jesus Christ.  I have been assessing myself as a coach and asking myself the question, "why do you coach?"  Obviously there is a passion and desire to win championships, develop the skills of my players, and to reach the highest level of success that is possible.  But if the wins, success, and reputation among my peers is the only place I'm finding victory, then I have truly lost.  When I break it down to the fundamentals, there really are only three reasons I coach and they are the only things that will make an impact for eternity.

1. Discipleship within a basketball program is key.  I want to disciple my players to the best of my ability to ensure that they are growing in their walks with Jesus and that they are winning off the court as well as on the court.  It is also very important that I am being a disciple to the coaching staff around me.  One area that is often forgotten though, is the fact that I need to be discipled as well.  If no one is coaching the coaches, then we are in trouble. (Matthew 28:19)

2. Proclaiming the gospel to the nations is essential.  Throughout the season it is vital to not only be visible in the community, but also to have a presence in the world.  As coaches, we ought to make it a priority to get our teams overseas to the mission field where the gospel is scarce.  If we aren't telling non-believers about Jesus, then we are failing in our call as coaches and as human beings. (Matthew 5:16)

3. Glorifying Jesus Christ in all we do is the umbrella over it all.  We were put here on this earth by a marvelous Creator and he deserves all the praise we have to offer.  God the Father sent his only son, Jesus Christ, to die on a cross for our sin, rise up from the grave, and give us victory.  He gave us victory because he won the battle over sin.  He gave us victory because he sits triumphantly at the right hand of God the Father.  (1 Corinthians 10:31)

It was the ultimate sacrifice and according to the Bible and the definition given to us by Dictionary.com, we really do have victory in Jesus!  We can worship Jesus by the way we coach, the way we live, and by the legacy we leave.  Next time you think about victory and winning a championship, check your intentions and make sure that you are doing everything for the glory of God!

Follow @CoachWingreen on Twitter!

Becoming a Bruin

Well, it feels like the past few months have been a roller coaster ride, as I've been trying to find a coaching position for this upcoming season.  I'm very excited to announce that God has opened a door for me to coach at NCCAA DI, Bob Jones University in Greenville, SC.  My young coaching career has been filled with mostly part-time and volunteer positions, so I am extremely thankful for my first "full-time" position where my job is to get paid to coach basketball!  How cool is that?!

My wife and I have spent numerous hours praying that the right position would open up, and it has.  I am looking forward to working with a great head coach in Neal Ring and being part of BJU's inaugural season of intercollegiate athletics.  I didn't think that when Coach Ring first talked to me about coming to BJU it would actually happen.  I had a lot of skepticism and was doubtful about the whole situation, but I guess good things happen when you talk to coaches at the Final Four!

I look forward to being part of a program where Jesus Christ is lifted high and lives will be impacted for the Kingdom of God.  Anyone who knows me understands my passion for basketball and my desire to use the game to proclaim the gospel message of Jesus.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to coach at an institution where I can do that.  I am also grateful for my mentors who have discipled me along the way and continue to make huge impacts in my life.  Coach Peter Wehry, Coach Paul Whitt, and Wayne Simien (there are many more coaches, too!) have been some of my greatest coaching role models and I appreciate everything they do.  I am pumped up to begin work as a Bruin and I am ecstatic to see the awesome things God does with our basketball team!

Wear Red

Friday, February 3rd is National Wear Red Day^®.  The American Heart Association and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services have asked everyone to wear Red in support of heart health awareness.  I am privileged to have the opportunity to speak to a group of high school students Friday night at a basketball game in Burlington, WI.  It happens to be my old high school, so it should be fun.  My topic is, "The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart."  I am excited to share my story and how heart disease has influenced my life.  From an early age, basketball was my "true love."  I was one of those kids that was always in the driveway working on my game.  It didn't matter whether it was 20 degrees and snowing, or if it was midnight and the neighbors (or my parents) were sleeping.  If the basketball got icy and flat, I would have two more in the rotation...waiting in the warm water of the bathtub.  I always had to be getting better.  Unfortunately, heart disease took away my ability to play basketball competitively.  Adversity came, and bitterness settled in.  It took many years before I was truly able to embrace the situation and turn it into a positive blessing.  Once I realized this setback was all a part of God's sovereign plan, I began to see ways in which I could use it to impact others.  My love and passion for coaching is that avenue, and I want to use it all to glorify Jesus.  If having a heart disease allows me to share the gospel message of what Jesus Christ did on the cross for me, then it is all worth it.  "The heart of the matter is always the matter of the heart." Wear Red this Friday!

Rise Up - Part II

RISE UP!  This is truly a calling from God.  And don’t be fooled, this isn’t some insignificant calling.  This is big time.  As we embrace the titles of husband/father to our families, leaders in the church, and coach/mentor to our players, RISING UP needs to carry a significant meaning to us.  The fact of the matter is that the greatest coach of all-time, Jesus Christ, knew the true definition of RISING UP.  He was sent to this earth, fully God and fully man, for one reason and one reason only.   His purpose: to take our punishment for our sin.  “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” – John 3:16-17.  The love Jesus had for us put him on the cross to take the punishment that we deserved.  Three days later, there was an empty tomb.  Jesus literally and physically fulfilled the calling of his Father to RISE UP!  And by doing so, we were made alive in Christ!

We are now called to live in the image of God, but how do we do that?  What do we need to focus on every day in order to RISE UP?  Ephesians 5:13-14 says, “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light.  Therefore it says, ‘Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”  Because Jesus shined his light on us, the ability to RISE UP was made possible.  

There are three aims that we need to focus on in order to RISE UP successfully.  

First, we commit to MAKE THE BEST USE OF OUR TIME (Ephesians 5:15-17).  Legendary coach, Jim Valvano once said, “There are 86,400 seconds in a day.  It’s up to you to decide what to do with them.”  Scripture commands us to not be fools, but instead “…understand what the will of the Lord is.”  God has called us to RISE UP, and we cannot accomplish that if we waste our lives by giving in to our flesh.  We are called to greatness and we need to spend our time doing things that will last for eternity. Instead of turning on the TV when you get home, talk to your wife and play with your kids.  In place of your free time on the internet, take that time to invest in the lives of your family or players.  “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1

Secondly, we commit to HAVE A CLEAR MIND, FILLED BY THE SPIRIT (Ephesians 5:18-19).  Keep a clear head.  Do not give in to the pressure.  This verse specifically condemns drunkenness and the effects it has on our minds, but there are many more things that can mess with our clearness of mind.  Adversity will present itself, but how you respond to that adversity will determine what you’re made of.  Make prayer a daily routine and ask the Lord for guidance and direction with every decision you will have to make throughout the day.  You never know when you will have to draw up that last second play in crunch time.  Keep a clear head, give all your heart to Jesus, and the opportunity to RISE UP will be right there waiting for you.

Lastly, we commit to GIVE ALL THE GLORY TO JESUS CHRIST (Ephesians 5:20-21).  I firmly believe that God wants us to RISE UP in everything we do.  He is our biggest fan.  What is your response when someone is cheering for you?  You want to please them!  As God gives us multiple opportunities to RISE UP, all he wants from us is a thankful heart and a motivation to direct all the glory to him.  Remember that victorious display Jesus put on when he conquered death at the cross?  There was urgency for mankind’s need of a Savior.  Jesus gave us that saving grace on the cross.  Because of the life Christ has given us, we can RISE UP to anything we are called to do!  I am so thankful for all the blessings God has placed in my life and my only desire is to live for His glory!  When your only purpose is to give God the ultimate glory in everything you do, there is no other option than to answer the call, RISE UP!  

“Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

“Rise up and let your light shine.  A city on a hill cannot hide!”

 This is a follow up post to the original post "Rise Up"

Winning the Battle

This morning, my pastor at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rockford, preached an outstanding message entitled, "Winning the Battle Over Sin".  I instantly knew that I wanted to share this on my blog not only because it is so convicting and powerful, but also because he relates it so strongly to the sports arena.  His whole point was to encourage us and inform us of the necessity it is to "make war" with our sin on a daily basis.  So many times we find ourselves just doing the typical "Christian" thing and making sure we are just doing OK.  But I was really challenged in this message to take initiative and really take a "Holy violence" against my sin. He had 3 things we need from Colossians 3:1-7 that he used to make that point to us.  The three points were:

1. You must have a good OFFENSE

2. You must have a good DEFENSE

3. You must have good TEAMMATES

The entire passage talks about our utter dependence on God and how me must put on a "New Self."  I thought it was so awesome how he related sports analogies to our walk with Christ.  I was extremely convicted of my walk with Jesus and how I am playing "defense" too often.  I just want to fight sin and stay out of trouble.  But Jesus really encouraged me to take the "offensive" in winning the battle over sin.  I was also struck back by how important it is to have the right 'teammates' on your side to encourage you in your walk.  Instead of summarizing the entire sermon in this blog post, I would rather allow you to listen to it yourself.  I STRONGLY ENCOURAGE you to listen to this sermon while your working out in the morning or while your driving your daily commute to/from work.  I feel like this idea  of "making war" or "winning the battle over sin" really needs to be strengthened in my walk as a Christian and I believe that it can be directly translated to the way I coach a basketball team.  I hope you are as encouraged by this message as I am and I would love to hear your feedback!

A Year's Journey

"An excellent wife who can find?  She is far more precious than jewels." - Proverbs 31:10

One year ago, I married my best friend.  Our first year's journey has been filled with its share of adventure and craziness, but I wouldn't have it any other way!  The most amazing blessing of all is an amazing wife, and I am so thankful to God for bringing me the best one! 

What do the Northwoods of Wisconsin, the Sunshine State of Florida, and the beautiful city of Rockford all have in common?  Absolutely nothing except for the fact that we were lucky enough to call each of those places home in 12 short months!  I'm not sure what we were thinking, but it all worked out.  Even though my wife LOVED living in Dunbar, WI, we opted to move to Florida for a summer, after the school year was finished.  So many memories involving pianos in our living room/kitchen, sleeping on an air mattress for a week, and cockroaches giving us mid-night visits.  Needless to say, it has been a wonderful year!  I love my wife and I am so thankful for her sticking by me through it all, good times and hard times.  I know this post has nothing to do with coaching or basketball, but I just had to let everyone know how lucky I am.  One year down, so many more to go! 

Rise Up

Rise up.  A powerful statement that can light a fire inside of you instantly.  You're down 1 with 2.2 seconds left on the clock and the ball is in your hands...what will you do?  Rise up.  Bases loaded, bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, and you're up to bat...what will you do?  Rise up.  It's finals week and you've been up all night studying for tough exams, but you are desperate for sleep...what will you do?  Give up and fail your test?  Heck no.  Rise up!  Shine!  If you are a competitor, it's in your blood.  The circumstances will not always be comfortable, but you find a way to make it happen.  No matter what your role is on the team, or what your mindset is at the moment, we all have the opportunity to get into the game and rise up.  So let's start rising up in the game that really counts and fulfill our calling to rise up.  Proclaim the kingdom of God!  Are we rising up to tell the nations about Jesus?  Do we confess to the world that Jesus is alive?  Is it our primary objective to let our light shine, regardless of the criticism and mockery we will receive?  Don't back down.  A city on a hill cannot hide.  Be bold. Be faithful. Rise up. Acts 28

A Post Inspired By Jimmy Fallon, The NBA Lockout, and Jesus Christ

"With no scheduled games, players don't have to travel to 30 different cities, unless they want to visit their kids."  I heard this tonight during Jimmy Fallon's 'Pros and Cons' segment on NBC's Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.  It really made me think of the sad reality, that this is probably true for a good amount of NBA players.  With so much temptation on the road there is no doubt in my mind that many NBA players struggle with purity.  I was reminded of the testimony of former NBA player, Wayne Simien, who experienced this temptation first hand.  During his rookie season, as soon as he walked in the locker room, his teammates were taking cash money bets that he would fall to temptation.  Once they found out he was a Christian, they immediately tried to make him fall into sin.  How soon would he cheat on his wife?  How long would it be before he was in a club getting wasted?  How many women would he get with that night?  These are only a few of the temptations that were out there for Wayne.  Praise the Lord that he had a great mentor and friend in another former NBA player, A.C. Green.  On road trips out west, A.C. would stay with Wayne in the hotel room to keep him accountable.  There would be other close people to Wayne that would always stay with him on road trips no matter where they were playing.  My point is that Wayne was wise and knew that he needed people to hold him accountable or else the chances would be greater that he would fall to Satan's lies.  The lies that say sin satisfies.  All glory to Jesus that Wayne's teammates never won any of those bets they placed on him!  People that don't know Jesus do not understand this.  They chase an ambition that doesn't satisfy.  We need to realize that only JESUS CHRIST can satisfy.  As Christian coaches, we need to pray for other coaches and our players as we are on road trips that we can all stay pure and holy before a righteous God.  I wish I could expound on this more, but I just had to get it off my chest.  I hope players at all levels, especially the NBA, realize that they will never be satisfied by earthly pleasures.  I hope and pray that the quote from Jimmy Fallon penetrates the hearts of coaches and athletes, because it's really not funny.  It's a reality and it's sad.  Coaches: Stand up for Jesus.

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."