September 28, 2016 - The Method to Our MADness!

Every once in a while I pull the weekly devotion from things I had already written for other venues; as a coach you sometimes pull from the old playbook... This is one of those weeks; as I am thinking about time tonight in the gymnasium with a new group of our MAD Hoops outreach. You see even for them I plan a weekly devotion and with this being a new venue for our outreach I thought I would explain to them our rules... doesn't sound very devotional does it? But the reality is that we have set up this outreach to teach life skills via a basketball setting;and not just any old skills but ones that truly help us honor the Lord! So here is "The Method of Our MADness!"

Welcome to MAD Hoops! We are so glad you are here! We have some rules of play that help us keep things flowing smoothly... designed to help Make A Difference on the court and are good life lessons off the court… The method to our MADness!

 

·        Player that commits the foul calls the foul… players are encouraged to own up to the things they have done wrong! Defense call it if you hack someone! Offense call it if you charge or clear out illegally!
 

-           James 5:16 Confess your trespasses to one another…

·        Player that has been fouled should play through the contact… do your job without expecting to be bailed out by a call!

 

-          Philippians 2:14 Do all things without complaining and disputing

·        Player is not a coach… there is no need to point out when someone else makes a dumb play (that player already realizes it)… but it goes a long way to admit when you make a bad pass or dumb play!

-          Matthew 7:3 And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?

·        Player is not a referee… there is no need for you to point out someone else’s travel, double dribble, etc… but own up to your mistakes…

-          Proverbs 28:13 He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

·        Player is expected to play under control… not just physically but also emotionally; it is expected that players try to control their tongues by avoiding the use of profane language… There is a zero-tolerance policy for the use of God’s name is vain!

-          Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

·        Player that commits an intentional foul (physically or verbally) will be asked to leave the gym… staff will determine this and then escort the player out, pray with player, and invite the player to return to the next MAD Hoops session.

-          Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted.

 
Player’s Prayer: Lord, as I lace them up today I pray that you will be honored through my attitude and actions. I pray that others will see a difference in me. I commit that no one will work harder than I do, because you deserve my best in all I do. I commit that I will respect others – teammates, coaches, opponents. Lord, help me Go MAD (Make A Difference) on and off the court! In Jesus’ name I play and pray, Amen!