Pursue Righteousness

Theme: Pursue Righteousness

Verse: Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor (Proverbs 21:21).

The Olympics always bring a sense of excitement, especially when we witness some of the less familiar sports. One unusual event typically seen only in the Summer Games (or maybe on “The Ocho”) is called “Pursuit”—a bicycle race unlike the usual dash to the finish line. In this competition, racers start on opposite sides of a velodrome (a special cycling track) and chase each other until one catches the other.

This concept of pursuit mirrors the life God calls us to live. He wants us to actively pursue righteousness—a life defined by wisdom, humility, and devotion to His ways. It’s about living with a genuine desire to honor Him and submitting to His purpose for your life.

While this pursuit may sound straightforward, it’s undeniably challenging. Life often throws obstacles our way, and standing firm in righteousness takes resilience and faith. Yet, it’s this very pursuit that sets us apart. By staying steadfast in your walk with God, you become a radiant light, shining brightly in a world full of darkness.

Center your heart on God as you face life’s challenges. Pray for grace, strength, and wisdom, trusting that He is always with you and guiding your steps. With God at your side, no challenge is too big.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Be a Hall of Famer

Theme: Be a Hall of Famer

Verse: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." (Colossians 3:23)

I’m writing this just moments after Alex Ovechkin surpassed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time career goal scorer. This achievement places him alongside legends like Cal Ripken Jr., who broke Lou Gehrig’s record with 2,632 consecutive games played, and Pat Summitt, who coached 38 seasons without a single losing record. These are records that stand as towering accomplishments in sports history and are unlikely to be surpassed. Without a doubt, Ovechkin will join these icons in their respective Halls of Fame, cementing his legacy in the world of hockey.

Career or multi-season records hold greater importance to me than single season ones because while both required skill to achieve the marks, career records have the extra element of longevity, excellence over time.

In our faith walk we are looking to be career performers, not single game (or single season) flashes in the pan.

So, what does a career performer in a faith journey look like?

Consistently honor God. When we juggle our schedule that includes, friends, family, exercise, work, don’t forget to keep God first.

Stay healthy. The most important element of this is eating and exercising right. For our faith journey that means being fed by the Word of God and exercising His Word in all we say and do.

Be Ready for the call: You never know when or where God will work through you. On June 1, 1925, Lou Gehrig pinch-hit in the 8th inning of a 5-3 loss to the Washington Senators (he flew out to left, and yes, I feel obligated to note every Yankees loss). The very next day, he stepped in for Wally Pipp, who was sidelined with a headache. From that moment forward, Gehrig became the Yankees' starting first baseman, playing an astounding 2,130 consecutive games and solidifying his status as a baseball legend. Likewise, we must remain ready to respond to God's call and embrace opportunities to serve as His hands and feet.

Let’s not strive for temporary recognition, but for the eternal Hall of Fame—standing before our Heavenly Father and hearing, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23). Be consistent, stay spiritually fit, and remain ready to answer His call.

That’s the Hall of Fame that matters most!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

In case I don’t see you . . .

Theme: In case I don’t see you . . .

Verse: The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3)

The movie “The Truman Show” is an interesting story. Actor/Comedian Jim Carrey actually plays a fairly normal character in this one (for once). Instead, the premise of the story is whacky. For those that have not seen the movie, Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey) is “living” a life in a totally controlled environment created to present a television show. All the people around Truman are actors and in on the charade that is his life.

While whacky, the movie plot gives us something to ponder. What sort of charade do we present to the outside world? Are we authentic, living life as we present to those around us, or do we have a different life behind the safety of our closed doors?

It really comes down to integrity.

Integrity in its most literal definition means wholeness, blameless or without blemish. But since no one in history since Jesus has achieved this, that is not really the standard God expects.

What He does expect is for us to give it our best shot.

When we are training for a race, typically it is won (or goal achieved) based on the work we put in when others are not watching. The miles put in on a weekend long run, the extra set of reps lifting weights, or knocking down those ten straight free throws after the rest of the team has gone off to the showers.

That same sort of discipline can be applied to other parts of our lives. A good gauge is to ask yourself if you are doing things that honor God or doing things that honor us in the world. When we move from honoring ourselves to honoring God we move toward integrity.

Unlike Truman, we don’t need hidden cameras to hold us accountable. God sees us—and more importantly, He loves us. Not for the performance we give, but for the heart that seeks Him.

So, ask yourself: Am I leading a life that honors God, or a façade that pleases others? If not, move toward honesty, toward wholeness, toward Him.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Expectations

Theme: Expectations

Verse: For by grace, you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8)

Coach Deion Sanders was asked what the most difficult things he has had to do as a football coach. He replied that it was managing expectations. In his context, he was talking about how he could not expect things out of his players or staff that he would not expect of himself.

Great Leadership advice!

That got me thinking about things we expect of ourselves.

There is life model that is depicted by a series of three concentric circles; the outer ring is the Circle of Concern (those things, like weather, that we have no control of whatsoever), the middle the Circle of Influence (those things we have input into, but others make the final decisions), and right at the core of the circle in the Circle of Control.

Unlike the outer two rings, the Circle of Control contains things you have direct power over. These would be things like:

- Your thoughts and attitudes

- Your words and actions

- How you spend your time

- Your reactions to events

God’s expectation of us is that we rock the things inside our Circle of Control. So, it would behoove us to spend most of our time and energy right there (50-60% of our time). He created each of us with a purpose and with the capacity to meet that expectation. The Circle of Influence is an OK place as well for a period of time (maybe 30-40%), but you need to gauge when your ability to influence has expired. The Circle of Concern should be visited sparingly (less than 10%), like seeing that a hurricane is coming your way, and it is time to either evacuate or board up the windows (both Circle of Control responses to a Circle of Concern event).

So, the next time things start to become overwhelming, instead of trying to control the uncontrollable, or spending extra time trying to control something that we can only influence, just take a deep breath and take the pressure off of yourself. Move back into your Circle of Control and let God take care of the rest.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

Are You My Mentor?

Theme: Are You My Mentor?

Verse: A wise man will hear and increase in learning, and a man of understanding will acquire wise counsel. (Proverbs 1:5)

I was reading the children’s book, “Are You my Mother?” with my grandson, Wyatt, the other day. It got me thinking of this topic. For those that don’t remember (or have never read) the book, a baby bird is about to hatch out of its egg, so the mother leaves the nest in search of food for the new arrival. Meanwhile, the baby bird is born (well, technically hatched) and discovers the mother not there. He goes off into the world asking whether everything he sees is his mother.

People’s lives can be very similar if they don’t have good role models to follow. They will wander around like the baby bird wondering who will guide them through life.

I have had hundreds of mentors in my life. (When you get to be Medicare age, the numbers accumulate.) Some have been better than others. The best of them showed me that all things we do prepare us for other aspects of our lives. For example, team sports help us cooperate and collaborate to achieve the goal and that gets us ready for working with teams at work or on community projects.

So, what makes a good mentor?

1. They are good listeners. Steven Covey talked about seeking first to understand, then to be understood. This requires active listening and being genuinely interested in the other person in the conversation (which is another characteristic of great mentors).

2. They give constructive feedback. Feedback that merely identifies a problem without providing a path to resolution is half baked. If you want to be a great mentor, always provide solution options when providing feedback.

3. They are enthusiastic! No Eeyores allowed. (More children book references. Are you detecting a trend?) Great Mentors are more like Tigger, bouncing around, clearly happy to be part of process. You can feel the energy in the room when they are around, and they tend to get the person (or group) as excited about the endeavor as they are.

4. R-E-S-P-E-C-T. The great Aretha Franklin gave us the concept in song. Even though they have superior knowledge and experience, great mentors know the other person has value and potential that can be molded into something great.

5. They are skilled teachers. Without teachers where would the world be? It’s great to be able to accomplish things on our own, but the community is much better off when our skills can be duplicated. Great mentors know the value of sharing their information with others and have a unique ability to effectively do so.

6. They take responsibility for those in their trust. Great mentors literally feel the ups and downs of their mentees as they carve their own path.

7. This one is hard for me. Great mentors are non-judgmental. Human nature is such that we know the best way for something to get done and any deviation from that is, well, just wrong. Not holding those with differing views of the world in some sort of judgment is difficult (at least it is for me). But the great mentors seem to have mastered it.

8. Their expertise is well documented. They don’t have to have all the answers but should have some credibility in the field. They don’t have to have been a world champion but should have shown some success in that area. If you want to know something about flying an airplane you probably want to talk to someone that has flown a lot. But it’s better to talk to a pilot rather than a person that has accumulated a million frequent flyer miles sitting in Seat 14C.

Each of us will be on both sides of the mentor equation at some point in our lives (and maybe in the course of a given day). Embrace the fact that God created us to both GIVE and RECEIVE mentorship. Look for opportunities to do so and when you do, seek the qualities list above. The world will be a better place when you do.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Play Like a Champion Today

Theme: Play Like a Champion Today

Verse: “Run in such a way as to get the prize.” (1 Corinthians 9:24)

If my calculation is correct, the first round of March Madness starts today. The first of six steps to a National College Basketball championship (seven if you played in one of the “First Four” games in the last couple of days.)

All those playing in the tournament have worked hard getting to a very elite status in the game of basketball. Many of them won district and state championships in high school and a few will move on to the professional leagues to achieve more success at the higher level.

Unfortunately, most of us will never reach that level of success in sports.

But that does not mean we can’t be champions. If we focus and have determination in living our life for Christ we can claim the ultimate prize in heaven; everlasting life with Jesus and hearing God say, “Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant.”

The beauty of this effort is it does not require any particular physical skill or body type. God does not care if you can jump high enough to grab a dollar bill off the top of a backboard, are big and strong enough to run a football through a group of 300 pound defensive linemen, or have enough speed to lap the field on the 5,000 meter race in track and field. He only asks that you live a life of faith in His son Jesus in order to receive the prize.

So, let’s focus our competitive spirit on building our relationship with Christ and Play Like a Champion Today!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Marathon Fuel

Theme: Marathon Fuel

Verse: Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

If you want to run a marathon (or any other long race) well, you have to put the miles in. Runner World magazine says somewhere 30-60 miles per week is the amount one should run to be properly prepared for a full marathon.

But who has the time for that much running? Getting up early helps but still there are only 168 hours in a week and this week we lost one of those by going to daylight savings time. (Don’t worry, we get the hour back in November!)

What about the spiritual race we are running? What are the “miles” we need to put in to prepare to run that race?

That it would be PRAYER.

Like mileage for a marathon, we find it difficult to allot adequate time to immerse ourselves in the key activity that provides the fuel required to run the spiritual race well.

We can find time for both!

If we think of prayer as constant communication with God, we may find ourselves praying in some non-conventional fashions and that might make it easier to “squeeze” in our prayer time. We can pray when we wake up or take our morning shower. We can pray on our way to school or work (if driving in Tampa traffic, I would highly recommend that). We can also pray while we do our daily workout or before a race or game.

Figure out a way to put prayer into our allotted 168 hours each week and we will find more spiritual endurance to be ready for life’s marathon.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

When Opportunity Knocks . . .

Theme: When Opportunity Knocks . . .

Verse: Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)

We all have a set of talents. Many have extraordinary talents like being able to sing well, run fast, or stand up in front of a classroom and command the attention of the audience. Regardless of what our set of talents is, one common thing is true. We all are merely stewards of the talent(s) that God has given us to manage for HIS purpose.

Unfortunately, that is not exactly the prevailing sentiment in today’s culture. We tend to forget that we do not create our talents. Gog did! So, it is refreshing when we hear athletes give direct praise to their Creator in post-game interviews before they answer the question asked of them. It shows an element of humbleness while the showers of human accolades pour in after the race was won or the winning hit was stroked perfectly into the right center gap allowing the runner to come all the way around from 1st base to score (The latter was to get you ready for baseball season.).

Ok, now it’s time for a movie reference.

Forrest Gump (Tom Hanks) epitomizes gratefulness for opportunities. He described his life as his mother taught him, like a box of chocolates. “You never know what you are going to get!” While a simple-minded man, he was wise enough to know who he was and where he was spending eternity. That’s why it seemed such an easy task to do all the remarkable things he accomplished in his fictitious life; Football All-American, save his platoon in Vietnam (and win the Medal of Honor), build a shrimping empire, and run coast to coast several times.

He was genuinely grateful for each experience in a way so uncommon that it took on a comedic tone. But instead of seeing his life story as absurd, what if we were more like Forrest and considered the simplest of things gifts from God. What if we had the attitude each morning that by the grace of God, we wake to a new dawn with an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s life.

So, there is your challenge. As you go about your week, look for occasions to be grateful for the opportunities and talents God has gifted you and share how good our God truly is.

You may find the next dip into that box of chocolates is you being in the right place at the right time for someone!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Words Matter

Theme: Words Matter

Verse: Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin. (Proverbs 13:3)

A couple of weeks ago the opening 0:09 of the Group Stage USA-Canada hockey game was quite remarkable. Three separate (not simultaneous) fights broke out in less time than it takes to count a fighter out in an actual boxing match.

Now these were professional players playing for their national teams. And though my wife hates it, fighting is part of the game of hockey. By all accounts the fights were pre-arranged as a way to settle the national squabbles over hockey and other recent events. But like professional wrestling, the fights were set up, so no one was going to get hurt. It got the crowd energized, so it was a really good TV moment. (For the record, the fight sequence ended USA 1 - Canada 1 with one draw and Team USA won the game 3-1.)

But you and I don’t live for TV moments. In the real world when engaging in trash talk, especially when it leads to bigger things, people can really get hurt and not just by a punch in the face.

The problem with trash talking is that you’re never quite sure what the receiver is going to hear. He or she could be having a really bad day, and your words could trigger something dark in their life.

I don’t recall God or Jesus using trash talk in the Bible. If someone can show me an instance, I’ll stand corrected.

God wants us to use acceptable and empowering speech that edifies others. True leaders are usually pretty good at it. They use the gifts that God has given them to uplift and encourage those around them. So, think before you speak, use your words to uplift people.

The following has been attributed to several famous people. Regardless of who coined the saying, it has relevance to how to act when an opportunity for trash talking presents itself.

“It’s Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt.”

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

If at first you don’t succeed …

Theme: If at first you don’t succeed …

Verse: And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Last week marked the 20th anniversary of the movie “Hitch”. It has nothing to do with sports (unless you consider jet-skiing a sport), so yes, I can use movie examples that are NOT sports related. The scene from the movie that applies today is when Hitch says, “Do you know the definition of "perseverance,", Miss Melas? Continuing in a course of action... without regard to discouragement, opposition, or previous failure.”

For those unfamiliar with the story, Alex (Hitch) Hitchens (Will Smith) is a dating coach with Albert Brennaman (Kevin James) as a client. Hitch is helping Albert attract a celebrity client that is kind of “out of his league.” Meanwhile Hitch has his own dating drama. There are lots of ups and downs in the pursuit of their respective goals, but my takeaway was both gentlemen knew their objective and were determined to reach it even if it meant resorting to unorthodox methods.

So, what are we chasing? It doesn’t matter if it is a personal best in running a race or a better relationship with our Lord, there are going to be some hiccups. What happens when the path isn’t a smooth one? Do we give up or do we persevere?

Don’t worry if you are not a perfect Christian. God is molding us into being more like Jesus every day through each of our experiences. Along the way think about Hitch’s definition of perseverance. Continue on that course of action, without regard to whatever roadblock(s) the world puts in front of you.

Be confident during the trials because, though it may take a while, as we pursue Kingdom work, we will be rewarded with victory at the end!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Anger is but one letter removed from Danger

Theme: Anger is but one letter removed from Danger

Thought: “In any argument, anger never solves a problem nor wins a debate! If you are right, then there is no need to get angry. If you are wrong, then you don’t have the right to get angry.”

Jackie Robinson’s birthday was at the end of last month (January 31, 1919). We often celebrate his life in April on the anniversary of his breaking the MLB color barrier in 1947. But his journey fits along with the theme of the week so I thought why not take some time profile him.

It seems on a daily basis we face situations that call for confrontation. A customer service experience that goes south, a workplace incident where we feel we were “wronged”, or possibly a family misunderstanding that has gotten out of control.

Our natural human instinct is to fight back. And that certainly is the cultural norm. Our sports tend to reinforce that. In baseball, the custom is that if one player violates an unwritten rule (stealing a base when your team has a large lead, showboating after hitting a home run (see last week’s devotional), or crossing the pitcher’s mound when returning to the dugout) you can predict the next time that player comes to the plate, there will be some fireworks.

These responses are always done out of anger in an effort to send a “message.” In our regular lives we have no such outlet to send messages when we feel wronged, so we just display our anger in different ways. Often it is not pretty.

Robinson’s rookie season was filled with opportunities for him to fight back against injustice. My beloved St. Louis Cardinals allegedly threatened to strike if Robinson played, and the Philadelphia Phillies manager verbally abused him from the opposing dugout in an early season game. Instead of creating a confrontation Robinson merely went along his way doing the job the Dodgers hired him to do, that is play a pretty good first base (not his natural position), hit .297 (97 points higher than Bob Uecker’s career average), and help the Dodgers get to the World Series.

God does not want us to be Hotheads. The next time an opportunity arises that seems to call for lashing out at someone, reflect on Jackie Robinson’s rookie year experience. If you want to be a leader, to truly influence your community, it is better to remain calm, cool and collected just like Robinson did in 1947.

Have an AWESOME week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Be like Barry and Skip the Dance

Theme: Be like Barry and Skip the Dance

Verse: Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. (Proverbs 27:2)

It’s Super Bowl week, so we have to talk about football. Ironically, we are going to profile a person who played for a team that has never made it to the Big Game.

Those of you who are old enough might remember one of the all-time great NFL running backs, Barry Sanders of the Detroit Lions. He stands at #4 on the list of career rushing yards in the NFL and he did it in only ten seasons.

But to me what stands out about him is not the prolific stats, but how he conducted himself on the field. He scored 109 touchdowns in his illustrious, but all too short, career. And do you know what he did after each one of them?

He found the nearest official and without any fanfare, flipped or handed the ball to him.

Are you kidding me? No dance in the end zone? No chest bump with his teammates? No “discussion” with an opposing player?

Nope. He simply went to the Detroit sideline and waited for the next offensive series so he and the Lions could try again.

How do we act on our playing field? Do we spend time “over-celebrating” our victories? Or do we keep everything in focus, reflecting on how fortunate we are that God has given of the talent and opportunity to be in position to do whatever it is we do and, in that moment, have done it well?

Our God gives us the ability to succeed AND to fail. But He does not want us to put too much value on either of those extremes. God put you on this earth and gave you whatever platform you have as a way to impact others. How you react to success and failure goes a long way in determining what that impact will be. Your demeanor in those moments speaks volumes about your attitude and who is in control of your life.

So, the next time you reach the “end zone” during your life’s journey (fixing a plumbing problem in record time, knocking a presentation out of the park, acing a test, or achieving a Personal Record (PR) in a running/biking/swimming race), remember Barry Sanders. Just metaphorically flip the football to the official and get ready for the next play.

Have a SUPER (Bowl) week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

Don’t make me use your middle name

Theme: Don’t make me use your middle name

Verse: If God be for us, who can be against us (Romans 8:31)

How many of you got the lecture at home when you did something that embarrassed your parents? At my house such a lecture started something like this,

“David Bernard Schapiro, whatever possessed you to do such a thing?”

These lectures usually include some semblance of this phrase.

“That was really embarrassing. Don’t you know who you represent (typically implying our family)?”

Over the years, hopefully I have gotten a little less embarrassing to my family. (I guess my sister Beth will have to be the ultimate judge of that since she’s one of the only a few people on the planet that has known me since birth.)

All that aside, there is one family we all share in representing. That is the family of God. It may sound like a great responsibility (which it is), but what if we choose to look at it as an opportunity?

Yes, an opportunity!

It does not matter where we are, we are always representing who (and whose) we are. And people are always going judge how us by how we react to the good and the bad through the lens of our Judeo-Christian faith.

Not always the easiest of tasks, I will grant you.

But in Deuteronomy there is a great verse for these situations. “For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” (Deuteronomy 20:4)

There is plenty in this world that can cause us to seek battle over collaboration. But when the feeling strikes to doing something that will embarrass our family like fighting back out of revenge, remember who gives you the strength in battle and let Him guide you.

And don’t make God have to use your middle name!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Being There for Others

Theme: Being There for Others

Verse: A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another." (John 13:34-35)

A few noteworthy events happened this last week.

We inaugurated a “new” President.

We celebrated the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. and

My first granddaughter, Hazel Ann Janssen, was born consequently making my first grandson, Wyatt, a big brother.

Hazel’s arrival also happened to coincide with the loss of a sports “legend,” Bob Uecker (aka Mr. Baseball). Most of you know him from his TV commercials for Miller Lite or as the fictional baseball broadcaster Harry (“Juuuuuust a Bit Outside”) Doyle from the movie “Major League.” Prior to all of that Uecker actually was an MLB player and World Series champion with the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals. (And yes, I have to get this in. The Cards beat the Evil Empire, the New York Yankees, that year!)

Uecker made a second career centered around telling self-deprecating jokes about his time as a baseball player. Here are a few of my favorites:

- “I had a great shoe contract and glove contract with a company who paid me a lot of money never to be seen using their stuff.”

- “I led the league in go get 'em next time.”

- “I signed a very modest $3,000 bonus with the Braves in Milwaukee. And my old man didn't have that kinda money to put out.”

The thing I liked about Uecker was he never took himself too seriously. Even though he was quite successful in his post playing days, he made time for those around him and generally made the world a better place for baseball fans everywhere.

In our sermon this week Pastor Vicki cited one of Paul’s letters to Corinth that told them to get with it and stop being a “baby (immature) church.” The sermon described the characteristics of being a baby (immature) in our faith and being mature in our faith. What struck me on the mature side was that maturity is exemplified by, among other things, being there for others.

So, as Hazel’s arrival starts the clock ticking on another life in this world, let’s look back on Bob Uecker’s life and always remember that we are never too big or important to look out for others. Let’s strive to help the people around us and create a better world for Hazel, Wyatt, and their generation.

Have a GREAT week!

Injury Time

Theme: Injury Time

Verse: But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Injuries are part of all sports. If you participate long enough, you will personally experience one somewhere along the line. Personally, I’ve dealt with a broken femur in high school, a ruptured Achilles tendon in my 30s, and most recently, two knee replacement surgeries.

When those inevitable injuries occur, it is very easy to play the “What-If” game.

- What-If I don’t recover fast enough?

- What-If I’m not the same athlete I was before the injury?

- What-If I’m more prone to injury?

- What-If I lose my position on the team?

- What-If I can never play the sport again?

You can combat the “What-If” game by knowing God has a plan for you in your injury time. Trust that He has your best interest in mind and that He will use your story to be a Kingdom moment to reach someone you never imagined through your recovery story.

Meanwhile on a personal level, while physical therapy is obviously a key component to the recovery, injury time is an opportunity for you to dig deeper into God’s Word and strengthen your faith. If you surround yourself with positive people (and I have had many of them surround me in my injury time over the years), you will find that is a vital part of the healing process as well.

So, when an injury befalls you, don’t become a recluse and a “Woe is me, Wally”. Trust that the injury is simply a part of God’ plan for your life. Embrace the challenge and know that He is preparing you for an AMAZING comeback!

Have a GREAT (and hopefully injury free) week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Rituals

Theme: Rituals

Verse: The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. (2 Corinthians 10:4)

Wade Boggs (a Tampa native) had a remarkable baseball career. He is in the exclusive 3,000 hit club and one of only three players to have his 3,000th be a home run.

Boggs was famous for his pre-game ritual of eating chicken before each game. While there is no evidence that chicken provides any superpower for baseball (or anything else), there is some evidence that rituals help players focus on the task upcoming and perform better in the game.

The power of rituals is not confined to sports. How well our day goes seems to depend on how we start it. Perhaps you start with morning exercise, eat a certain food for breakfast, or wear specific clothing based on what day of the week it is. (Yes, I rotate my shirts through the colors of the rainbow each week and my closet is organized by Roy G. Biv.)

There is another ritual that can give us all great power. That is reading the Lord’s word and prayer. In Ephesians, Paul describes the word of God as a spiritual weapon to be used to combat forces that we struggle against each day. Having this weapon gives us the power of Jesus alongside us to combat problems such as destructive thoughts, anger, pride, and conceit.

So, as we start our days let’s ask God for His insight, protection, direction, and strength. That’s a ritual we can all share and in the end we will all be able to join God’s 3,000 hit club!

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from Lead with Faith, Play with Purpose by Andy Doole

Want Unity? Get an Alignment!

Theme: Want Unity? Get an Alignment!

Verse:

The University of Washington 8-man crew of 1936 was a special group. Their journey to an unlikely gold medal in the Berlin Olympics is featured in the movie “The Boys in the Boat.” Despite a number of setbacks along the way the team had a level of cohesion that transcended all the advantages held by their competitors from more experienced schools and the European national teams.

The 8-man crew competition is all about teamwork and unity, more so than most other Olympic sports. Even the strongest rower can be a detriment if he/she is not in synch with the rest of the team. Unity is paramount.

But unity in life is a difficult thing to achieve. We all have differences and disagreements. After all, we are not robots. The world around us makes that clear every day. Unity needs to be something we are constantly striving to achieve.

So, Dave, how do we do that?

It starts with having a common goal or focus. As Christians a good place to start with Jesus. Let Him be the filter we use to determine our actions and decisions. With that filter we gain alignment with Him. Just like our cars run smoother when the wheels are in good alignment, our ability to be good teammates, friends, spouses, parents and children goes smoother when we are in alignment with Jesus. We become more coachable in all aspects of our lives.

So, as we enter 2025 focus on Jesus and allow him to be the filter for all our decisions, especially when we are tempted to be disagreeable with others. Get in alignment with Him and the unity that provides will lead to a better and probably and less stressful life.

Have a GREAT week and Welcome to 2025.

Adapted from Lead with Faith Play with Purpose by Andy Dooley

Finish 2024 Strong

Theme: Finish 2024 Strong

Verse: I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7)

The 2006 St. Louis Cardinals were one of the most unlikely World Series champions. They endured a bumpy ride that included a 31-16 start, then two 8-game losing streaks and a losing record in the months of June, August, and September. Despite that, they found themselves qualified for the playoffs with an 83-78 record.

When it counted (playoff time), the Cardinals were ready. They were underdogs against the Padres, Mets, and Tigers, but won all three series to be crowned the champions!

Finishing Strong is what champions do! There are plenty of examples in the Bible! Paul started as a persecutor of Christ followers but finished as probably the quintessential Christian leader of his time. David and Peter were much like the 2006 Cardinals. Each started strong, stumbled along the way, but recovered to finish well.

So how can you FINISH WELL?

Self-Talk: Our words are very powerful. How we speak to ourselves can be the difference in finishing or not. To quote John Blutarsky (Bluto) in the movie Animal House, “When the going gets tough, (pregnant pause as he attempts to remember the rest), the tough get going”! Filling your mind with positive thinking, optimism and belief will help you finish well.

Encouragement: Having people in your corner will help you overcome obstacles and setbacks. These can be members of your small group, or your team at work. Think about the last time your fans carried you to the finish line and know that you can be on the other side of that for someone else.

Clear Vision: Finishers keep the goal in sight. When the WHY is big enough, distractions tend to melt away.

So, as we conclude 2024, analyze the journey you have been on. Maybe it has been a rocky road. If it has, just think about those 2006 Cardinals who hung in there. Like them, you too can finish the season strong to become the champions!

Have a GREAT week and Finish 2024 Strong.

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Making the Impossible, Possible!

Theme: Making the Impossible, Possible!

Quote of the Week: “The only thing worse than being blind is having sight but no vision.” (Helen Keller)

Jake Olson was a college football player for the University of Southern California Trojans. He played in only two games in 2017, as the long snapper. You know, the guy you hear about only when the punt or field goal attempt doesn’t go off as expected. Although Jake played only two games, his story is one of the most compelling in school history.

You see, by the age of 12 Jake had lost both his eyes to cancer of the retina.

Despite his lack of sight, Jake had vision. He loved the game of football, so he taught himself to excel at the only position he could play without sight — long snapper. He was so good at the skill he made the Trojan football team as a walk-on.

His impact has gone well beyond being responsible for the points the Trojans got on plays he snapped the ball for. To this day, he continues to be an inspiration for everyone who needs a vision in their lives.

Having a vision is more than being able to see. It means creating a picture of the world you want for yourself and those around you. Without vision, life becomes mundane, and we will not be living up to the potential that God has for each one of us.

Our church has the vision to be the church of “Three Rs.” That means

We seek to be ROOTED in God’s Word. Being rooted in God’s Word means to be established firmly and deeply in Jesus Christ; He is one voice that we seek to direct our paths.

We seek to be RENEWED by the Holy Spirit. God can change us from the inside out! This means getting rid of the old, unhealthy, and worldly parts of our lives and allowing God to do something new within us.

We seek to REACH the world for Jesus Christ. Keeping the joy of knowing a very real Jesus is not something to be kept to ourselves. We need to share His love with others.

As we approach Christmas and the New Year, it’s a good time to examine our lives and ask what our vision is.

Are you up for it?

Have a GREAT week and Merry Christmas!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page

Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Theme: Don’t Believe Everything You Think

Thought of the Week: If you think you can OR you think you can’t, you’re right!

Have you ever listened to a postgame interview after a team seemed to grasp victory from the jaws of defeat? After the reporter asks the obligatory, “How do you feel after leading the game-winning drive?” or “Can you take us through that final sequence?” the player(s) usually come back with something like

“We believed in ourselves and knew all we had to do was execute.”

That, my friends, is powerful!

The winning team (or person), especially at the higher levels, is usually the one that operates better on the six-inch playing field that exists between their ears, not the one covered with grass, hardwood, asphalt, or ice. They have trained their brains to have mental toughness. They reject negative, self-defeating, discouraging thinking.

Instead, they have belief and faith. Instead of focusing on what can’t be done, they focus on what is possible. Adversity and problems are replaced with solutions.

This is called transformative thinking! Romans 12:2 tells us we can be transformed by the renewing of our minds. Colossians 3 and Philippians 4 have some things to say about retraining our minds as well.

The game of life is won or lost above one’s shoulders, in our minds. If you want to win you need to train your brain to know it can be done. Until that transformation takes place don’t believe everything you think.

Have a GREAT week!

Adapted from True Competitor by Dan Britton and Jimmy Page