July 27, 2020 - NO WASTED DAYS!

Often in the sports world we build everything based upon future goals… what we want our team to accomplish at the end of the season… what accolades a player will receive after the end of the season… etc.

I am all for goals… and believe they can be good motivators. But, when future goals are primary motivator, it is easy to lose sight of today…

When things are not going well, looking to the future can be very ominous, or even hopeless… or when things are going well, it can cause false assurance. Either one can cause a lack of understanding the importance of TODAY! On the negative side it creates a “what’s the use?”-mentality; on the positive side it creates a “take a break today - get back to it tomorrow”-mentality.

As a coach, the goal is to ensure that the team understands the importance of TODAY in preparation for tomorrow… NO WASTED DAYS ENSURES THE BEST POSSIBLE TOMORROWS! I typically taught during camps or during seasons that the mirror each night was where one asks the question if the day was a success.

We are living in times where it is very easy to be focused on the future… wondering what things are going to look like? The Scriptures warn against living in the future…

In Matthew 6 Jesus tells us to “not worry about your life” (vs 25), remembering the God will take care of us! In Proverbs 27:1 we are told to “not boast about tomorrow” since the future involves unknown variables.

Again I am for goals… and in spite of an assurance that we win in the end (because of Christ’s performance/sacrifice)… let’s honor God with a “NO WASTED DAYS” mentality!

As a coach I’m just following Scripture… Hebrew 3:13 which says to “exhort one another daily, while it is called TODAY…”

July 20, 2020 - LET HIM DANCE!

One of the things I often told my players on defense was “Let him dance!” I’m sure that sounds strange coming from a basketball coach…

Yet what I found was that often times a player that wasn’t a great shooter (not a threat to score from outside), would rely on trying to bait or challenge his opponent into lunging at him on defense (out of the play) so he could get around him for a clear path to a lay-up or dunk. The bait was often in the form of fancy dribbling… maybe through the legs or behind the back… yet without real movement toward the goal… (The general rule of thumb is that you only have to get in tight on defense if the opponent is a threat to shoot from outside, or possibly is just a poor ball-handler that is not really a threat to get by the defender either.)

This is on my mind due to the cultural climate we are currently living in… one where I see a lot of “dancing” (arguing) issues that get us “out of position” to make a difference… I believe in having a strong defense… but remember the purpose of defense is to ultimately get the ball back to head to our “goal.”

Our goal is the Gospel! Everything we do should be to try to get there… when I taught apologetics, I would explain that the goal of giving a defense was to get to the Gospel, not to win an argument.

My good friend Roy Mason (of GEM [Global Evangelism Ministries]) shared a great sentiment in a recent vlog: You don’t have to attend every argument or fight you are invited to!

So much of what is going on today is the opponent dancing around hoping we will get out of position… yet the Scriptures tell us a different approach than “lunging on defense”: Romans 12

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore

“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”

21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

I’ve heard it said that the best defense is a good offense… our goal is always the Gospel as it is the power to transform; MAKE SURE THE WAY YOU ARE PLAYING DEFENSE IS WITH THE GOAL OF GETTING TO OUR GOAL… THE GOSPEL!!! And stop lunging… let them dance!