Friday, July 12, 2013

Free to Compete - Reflections on Sport from a Christian Perspective

This week I sent the manuscript for a new book titled, Free to Compete – Reflections on Sport from a Christian Perspective, to my publisher, Cross Training Publishing. I am excited about this project and I hope it is of value to you and to others who serve men and women of sport around the globe. (ISBN: 978-1-938254-15-4 paperback 176 pages)

This is an excerpt from the Introduction:
“In these weekly emails, now numbering over two hundred fifty, I have sought to take a Biblical and objective approach to sport, to sports culture, to ministry in sport, and to ministry with the men and women of sport. Some of it reads like social commentary as I write about the culture of sport. Some of it reads like analysis as I make observations about trends in sports ministry around the world. Some of it reads like instruction as I reflect upon the most important values in serving the people of sport. “
“I aim to write with as broad a perspective as I am able. I am conscious of my audience’s global nature, but confess that I am quite limited by my central USA background and limited travel. I always seek to reflect the Lord Jesus’ view of sport and the people who live, work, and experience life in it.”

Free to Compete will soon be available directly from Cross Training Publishing (308) 293-3891 (www.crosstrainingpublishing.com) in paperback and via Kindle ebook. (FCA staff may buy at a 40% discount and pay via org transfer.) It will also be available through FCA Gear and retailers like Barnes and Noble and Amazon as well.

Comments on Free to Compete
“Roger Lipe has a unique ability to comment on sport with
a Christian frame of reference. He takes Christ seriously and takes
sport seriously, helping the readers to process their sports experience
in the light of the Bible.”
J Stuart Weir
Executive Director - Verite Sport (United Kingdom)

“Roger Lipe has an exceptional gift for navigating the issues
commonly found in the world of sport and skillfully connecting them
to the truth of scripture in a clear, compelling way. His decades of
experience as a minister to athletes and coaches has provided him
with the wisdom to speak with authority into a sports culture that
desperately needs the truth found in God’s unchanging word.”
Jeff Martin
Exec. Vice President of Ministry Programs and Resources
Fellowship of Christian Athletes (USA)

“Aussie athletes and chaplains love Roger’s approach to personal
development in sport! He nails it culturally when it comes to
God’s Word speaking to the heart of real issues in Sports on identity,
character and life. He’s a kind of Muhammad Ali of sports writers.
Graceful as a butterfly, stings like a… His bold, honest and gracefilled
reflections help sharpen anyone’s pursuit of excellence in faith
and sport – drawing them closer to Jesus.”
Cameron Butler - National Director
Sports Chaplaincy Australia

Section I-Reflections on Life in Sport -
You are Free! 11
Sports Liars 13
“O Lord, Help Us Win Today.” 17
Fear of Failure 21
Integrated or Compartmentalized? 23
Notes on Team Travel 25
The Field of Competition is Holy Ground 27
Reality Check 33
For Whom Are You Playing? 35
Resignation 39
Developing Emerging Sports Leaders 41
What is the Measure of a Coach? 43
High Profile / High Peril 47
Lessons From Tragedy 49
Taming the Tongue 51
Hyper-Average 55
True Identity 57
Which Culture is Holier? 61
Amateurism vs. Professionalism 65
Jesus as Good Luck Charm 67
“I got fired yesterday.” 69
What the Heart Loves, the Will Chooses & the Mind Justifies
Introduction 71
Performance Enhancing Drugs 73
The Win At All Costs Ethic in Sport 77
Racism in Sport 81
Abuse of Players 85
How Faith Becomes Divisive in a Sport Team 89
Integrity Related to Coaches’ and Competitors’ Contracts 93

Section II-Reflections on Ministry in Sport-
A Biblical View of Participation in Sport 99
Highly Committed, But Irreligious 105
The Sport Chaplains’ Dirty Little Secret 107
Don’t Act Like a Fan 109
Through What Lens Do You View Sport? 111
Ministry To or Through Sportspeople? 113
Prominent or Obscure 117
Loyalty 119
Intuition 121
Time Management 123
Extravagant Love vs. Benign Tolerance 125
Mentoring People in Sport 127
What Can We Learn From a Tattoo? 131
Coaching Staff Transitions 133
Game Day Devotions 135
Economy of Opportunity 137
Sports Ministry and Celebrity Culture 139
The Richest Man I Know 141
The Significance of Sport Chaplains & Character Coaches 145
Service vs. Superiority 147
Sport as Worship 149
Celebrity vs. Obscurity 153
Guidelines for Interaction with Coaches & Competitors 155
Misapplication of Scripture in Sports Ministry 157
Sport Culture-Live in It 161
Present vs. Prominent 163
Foolish Comparisons 165
Dynamic Ministry 167
Dan Callahan vs. Cancer 169

More comments:
“Roger Lipe is an excellent communicator. He shares a heart of
compassion and truth in such a way that you will be drawn to learn
more about the Savior he serves and the Kingdom goals he inspires.
Each article is worth the time to not only read for yourself, but to
share with others!”
Bill Houston
Director, Chaplains Roundtable Ministry & Co-Host of Sports Spectrum Radio
Grand Rapids, Michigan (USA)

“Roger Lipe’s vast experience in sports ministry and his passion for
mentoring others makes this compilation of articles invaluable to
men and women serving Christ in the world of sport. Each entry will
cause you to rethink and reevaluate your daily walk with Jesus and
how you minister to others. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from
a seasoned leader in sports ministry!”
Stephanie Zonars
Team Building Coach (USA)

"To regularly sit in a place of worship centered on the teachings of
Christ will produce a quiet self-confidence to handle any and all pressures
of life, whether as an athlete or in any other of life’s walks.”
Carl Erskine

Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers 1948–1959 (USA)

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