Character Coach / Sports Chaplain Blog

 From July 31 - August 2 of 2025, Truett Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas USA hosted the Fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity.  Congress on Sport and Christianity This was a tremendous gathering of 250+ people from all over the world and from both the sports ministry practitioner community and academia. There were over 170 presentations and panels delivered by the very diverse group of participants. Dr. Paul Putz and his team were fantastic hosts. The keynote talks and panel discussions were outstanding. The book table featured numerous titles from many of the presenters, even yours truly. Many of us treasure this event because it's the only time we get to see some of our colleagues and friends from around the globe.  The event wrapped up on Saturday evening with a banquet hosted by Brian Bolt and Chad Carlson of Faith. Sport. Life. The program included a fun Q and A with a panel and the presentation of the inaugural Faith. Spor...

  Week Seven as a Widower – August 2025 At my son’s suggestion, more like prodding, I began listening to a podcast by a man whose wife had died of cancer a few years ago. There were dozens of episodes, and I began listening at episode one. I was soon fast forwarding through the introduction and repetitive segments. I found it a little psychobabblish and heavily laden with clichés. I will still listen, but with one eye on the fast forward button. Jason also suggested I attend the GriefShare Loss of Spouse group at our church. I registered and attended the first session on a Tuesday afternoon. I found the information solid, the facilitators friendly, but the process was very slow and tedious. When the session started late, we were off to a poor start. I was happy to engage in the group discussion that followed the video and a short break, but after the meeting wrapped up and I was asked if I would be joining the group for the thirteen weeks of meetings to follow, I made no commitmen...

A month after Sharon’s passing - late July and early August 2025 The financial adjustments are less urgent, and a bit clearer now. Some things are still pending, but the sale of our home has closed, and the proceeds are in the bank. I am trudging through the paperwork of life insurance forms, changing car insurance and such. The process is tedious but necessary. I have begun to schedule some travels to spend time with some seldom seen friends and colleagues around the USA. I have about one trip per month in the works through December. My son and his family continue to welcome me into their active lives, and I usually go along. Being with them is very rewarding and invigorating. Jason is already anticipating the pain of upcoming family events that will be significantly diminished because of his mother’s absence. Sharon’s birthday in September. The first Thanksgiving and Christmas without her and her elaborate decoration of our home for each. We know these and similar events will have ...

Please pray for the 250+ men and women from around the world at the Fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity at Truett Seminary of Baylor University in Waco, Texas, USA. It began on Thursday evening, July 31 and will continue through August 2. Over 170 presentations and panel discussions, plus several plenary sessions will challenge and encourage those in attendance. https://truettseminary.baylor.edu/programs-centers/faith-sports-institute/global-congress-sport-and-christianity There are remarkable things happening around the world at the intersection of Christian faith and sport. I will report on the event after it is concluded. Please plan to join us at the Fifth Congress in 2028. More details to follow soon.

Week Four as a Widower. Formerly, I had to work hard, schedule well, and plan wisely to achieve some solitude. Now, retired and widowed, solitude surrounds me, all day and all night. I, the incurable and unapologetic extrovert, find myself alone…. a lot. In crowds, alone. At church, alone. Waking up in my bed, absolutely alone. I am not as emotional about my loss as I was a few weeks ago. I am more emotionally numb than anything at this point. I have enough tasks to keep me busy presently, but I know after the sale of the house is closed, the banking is completed, and I return from the Congress in Texas, a lot of open space and unoccupied time awaits me. That is worrisome. I have a number of people with whom I correspond daily. I send one set of folks battling disease scripture and prayer. Another few receive a daily prompt for devotional reading. Dozens of sports chaplains across Latin America receive a link to each day’s post of my devotional book in Spanish, which they in turn share...

My wife’s cancer battle consumed the first six months of 2025. It ultimately ended her life on earth, much too soon, and much too painfully. Throughout those months, I was alternately locked in the battle and trying to maintain an equilibrium to our lifestyle. As the weeks, appointments with doctors, treatments, emergency room visits, surgeries, and sleepless nights mounted, I became reflective and tried to make sense of what I was experiencing. Writing reflections in the notes app of my mobile phone became a helpful way of processing all my heart and mind were experiencing. Below are a few of those reflections. They are raw, vulnerable, and gut-level honest. I certainly have a long way to go in my grieving and mourning process. Inadequate and Distracted   – April 2025 How can I, a man who prides himself on self-reliance, achievement, and strength, be so utterly inadequate and easily distracted?  Walking with my wife through cancer treatments, weakness, and incapacity,...

The past six months have been among the most challenging of my lifetime. My wife, Sharon's illness and its accompanying complications have made us deal with hard issues, but have also deepened our commitment to and love for each other. I see my calling and responsibilities more clearly than ever. I remain committed to the completion of God’s purposes in my life. I see retirement, no longer on the horizon, but as a present day reality. I see it not as a cessation from work, but as a new gear for productive engagement of God’s purposes. Six months ago, I had no real interest in retiring. I was always prepared to travel and to serve, anywhere at any time. Sharon’s health challenges led me to understand she needs me more than I need to work. This is a responsibility in which I must not fail. I see my son approaching fifty years of age with sheer delight in his maturity, his marriage, in his parenthood, and his personal devotion to Christ. I see the rapid, amazing development of my belo...