Friday, September 20, 2019

Pregame Chapel Talk - Excellence Mindset


During this season of college (American) football, we are following this set of characteristics for our team –
Saluki Football Players are:
Ø Consistent
Ø Disciplined
Ø Trusted
Ø Leaders
Ø Excellent
During the preseason I led teambuilding sessions on each characteristic and each week during the season my game day chapels will feature one of these character traits.

This past week the theme was: Saluki Football Players are Excellent.

After a very brief introduction to the theme, I asked for a volunteer to pray and a junior linebacker did so.

The outline of my talk follows.

1.   What does excellence look like in a football uniform? Look around the room and you will see several of your teammates we would say are excellent in what they do. Excellence is best defined as a mindset that leads directly to excellent performance. During the 1993-1995 seasons, the University of Nebraska had an excellent running back. Listen to these statistics. In those three seasons, he had 506 carries, 3,102 yards rushing, that’s 6.18 yards per carry, and he scored 33 touchdowns. A friend of mine was on the Cornhuskers’ coaching staff during that era and I asked him what made that back so special. He said, “Every day at practice when we would run full team plays, he would carry the ball all the way to the end zone. No matter how close or far that was, he always took it to the end zone. When we said we were losing time by his doing that, he replied, ‘Coach, I intend to score every time I touch the ball.’ We decided we could adjust to that.” That is an excellent mindset that led directly to excellent performance.

2.   In a similar way, the Apostle Paul wrote to his friends in Philippi from prison. In Philippians chapter 4, verse 8 we read, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.”

3.   The Apostle wrote to his friends about their mindset. He called them to dwell on a particular set of ideas.
·        Whatever is true – fill your mind with truth, not error. Look for what is true, rather than constantly searching for error.
·        Whatever is honorable – dwell on things worthy of honor.
·        Whatever is right – rather than all that is wrong, contemplate what is right to do.
·        Whatever is pure – corruption fills the minds of some. Our minds must seek purity.
·        Whatever is lovely – much of society is obsessed with the ugliest parts of human nature. Dwell on all things lovely.
·        Whatever is of good repute – think about the most respectable things in life.
·        Things worthy of praise – the matters of life that lead to praising God and others.
·        Dwell on these things to develop an excellence mindset.

4.   I challenged our coaches and players to fill their minds with these things.
·        Whatever is true – fill your mind with the things that are true about football and your teammates.
·        Whatever is honorable – dwell on the things in college football that are worthy of honor.
·        Whatever is right – rather than all that is wrong with the sport or our team, focus on what is right about them.
·        Whatever is pure – rather than contemplating perceived corruption in the sport, think about all that is pure in it.
·        Whatever is lovely – fill your minds with all that is lovely in your college football experience.
·        Whatever is of good repute – think about the most respectable things you experience in this sport.
·        Things worthy of praise – consider the things that would make you say, “Attaboy” to your teammates.

5.   Gentlemen, dwell on these things to develop an excellence mindset that will naturally lead to excellent performance.

6.   I wrapped up the chapel by having everyone to stand, taking the hands of those around their tables, and we prayed the Lord’s Prayer together.

This simple, brief, and direct chapel talk is emblematic of how I approach this grand privilege. I aim to inspire and to motivate, both. I want our coaches and players to love God with their whole hearts, and to play great football, both. My commitment to Christ demands that I speak from scripture. My commitment to the team demands that I speak directly and clearly. My commitment to the head coach demands that I speak briefly. For twenty-five years, now I have sought to fulfill all the demands and to both inspire and motivate.

Saturday, September 14, 2019

35 Videos on our YouTube Channel


We have loaded 35 videos onto our YouTube channel and will add many more in the coming weeks and months.


They are brief and direct with simple keys to effective service as a Character Coach or Sports Chaplain. Stop by and take a look. I hope they encourage and equip you.

Friday, September 6, 2019

2nd Global Congress on Sport and Christianity - register now!


Very seldom is there an event that fits both the academic community of ministry in sport and the practitioners of ministry in sport. One such event is the Second Global Congress on Sport and Christianity. https://calvin.edu/events/2GCSC/

Below is some information on the event. Please register right away. It will be well worth your time, effort, and dollars. I am thrilled to have the privilege of making three presentations during the congress.



SPORT AND FAITH
Set a course for Grand Rapids, Michigan and the 2nd Global Congress on Sport and Christianity, to be held October 23–27, 2019 on the campus of Calvin University.

This ecumenical gathering of sport administrators, coaches, athletes, pastors, theologians and anyone else who seeks to explore the mutual impact of belief and sport, and also wants to affect a cultural shift in modern sport and the role it plays in a life of faith.

We will hear from Tim Tebow, professional athlete, ESPN analyst and author; Loretta Claiborne, recipient of the 1996 Arthur Ashe Award for Courage; Miroslav Volf, renowned theologian; and other noted names in the world of sport and faith.

Join us as we create space for meaningful dialogue regarding what it means to live faithfully in all areas of work and play.

BACKGROUND
In 2016, the Inaugural Congress on Sport and Christianity took place in York, England, hosted by York St. John University. The event drew nearly 200 participants from 24 different nations. Best-selling author, activist, and scholar Tony Campolo delivered the opening address, setting the tone for posing questions and seeking answers in sport through the lens of authentic Christian faith. Other keynotes lectures and more than 80 additional presentations were given by scholars and practitioners, each providing new insights and reflections on the culture of sport as it relates Christian thought and life.

In 2019, we’ll continue the energetic conversation. The 2nd Global Congress, hosted by Calvin University and Hope College, will take place at the Prince Conference Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Co-Directors Brian Bolt (Calvin University) and Chad Carlson (Hope College) invite you to join the conversation.

Monday, September 2, 2019

Volleyball Character Coach and Sports Chaplain Podcast

This excellent podcast featuring three outstanding FCA Character Coaches who serve Volleyball teams is posted at -


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Here's a link to the #NoFilter study referenced in the recording - nofilterheartstudy.com/bible-study


Video of Scripture for Bible Study

We have started a new academic year at the university and with it a new year of Fellowship of Christian Athletes meetings for collegiate student-athletes. As our group said they would like to do a verse by verse study of the Gospel of John, I decided to try using video of the scriptures again. Below is a note originally posted here in 2012. Many of my observations are the same, but the access to quality videos for presentation is much greater. Here’s a link to the one we’re using on Monday evenings - https://www.bible.com/videos/2000/series.

I download the video onto my laptop, connect it to my large screen television, and simply play the video when I would normally read a section of scripture aloud.

Last night was session four in a series of discussions with student-athletes here at Southern Illinois University related to Jesus’ relationships as described in the Gospel of Mark. I have been experimenting with a couple of things in these discussions and I’m now ready to share some of my observations.

1 – I’ve been using an on-line video of the Gospel of Mark, shown on my living room’s large screen television in place of a person reading it. Here’s the link to that video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3h7s19G_-w&feature=related The video has been remarkably effective and I believe it is so for a few reasons. First, this generation has grown up with video and they gather much of their information via video on-line. Second, this form shows the text on the screen, it is read aloud and it has images and music behind it which enhance the reading.

2 – The intentionally relational focus of this study helps these sportspeople to connect personally with the narrative and to see the human elements in each story. They don’t see these as “Bible stories” as much as examples of how Jesus interacted with people as a model for how they can wisely and redemptively relate to those around them.

3 – I have printed out my outline (as seen below and as attached), handed them out at the beginning of the session and included questions for contemplation and application at the end for them to use throughout the week. I had no idea if this would work, but not a single page is left behind when they go home. It seems they’re willing to do the contemplation and application after our meeting is over. I’m very happy with that.

Here is last night’s simple outline. Please note the focus on relationships and the simplicity of the questions. Please feel free to use the study if you like and to experiment with videos of Scripture, printed outlines to carry home and other means to help your sportspeople to engage the truth of Scripture and each other toward the goal of life transformation.

Session 4

1. Read Mark chapter 6 aloud (or use the video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w3h7s19G_-w&feature=related) and pray together.

2. In verses 1-6, Jesus and His disciples return to His hometown.

a. How do the home folk respond to Jesus’ message?

b. Why would they act this way?

c. How does Jesus respond to their unbelief?

3. In verses 7-13 and 30-52 Jesus teaches and then tests His disciples.

a. What seems to be the big idea in His teaching in verses 7-13?

b. What did the disciples do after receiving the instructions?

c. How did Jesus test the disciples in verses 35-52 and how well did they do on the test?

d. How much did they learn from the process?

4. In verses 14-29 we hear about King Herod’s response to Jesus’ growing popularity.

a. How would you characterize Herod’s actions?

b. Why would he act this way?

5. Jesus deals wisely with a hungry crowd in a remote location in verses 35-44.

a. How did He demonstrate wisdom, authority and power?

6. In verses 45-52 Jesus again deals with the forces of nature.

a. How is this occasion different from the one in chapter 5 and how similar?

b. What preceded His stroll on the sea?

c. How are the two connected?

7. How did the crowds in Genessaret respond to Jesus’ presence in their area?

a. What happened to them?

8. Thoughts for contemplation and application: How would you benefit from a similar approach to relationships as Jesus demonstrates in chapter 6 in your relationships with;

a. Your teammates?

b. People from your hometown?

c. A jealous authority figure?

d. Mother Nature?

e. Desperately hungry people?