Becoming Undone Podcast

I was recently a guest on the Becoming Undone podcast with my friend and colleague, Dr. Toby Brooks of Baylor University.

Here's a link to our candid discussion of the changes I've experienced across the last fourteen months.

https://undonepodcast.com/ep152/?fbclid=IwY2xjawQsBt5leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFqVm9saFQ2MFNJdmVTbFozc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHpiX8xPVx4nCYTxb0gCNK8Akj4TPxDfapZqH-bou55jCZqqwjxigQwFkf5ae_aem_DUtxiA-_aXB9zmyB61nAQQ

By the way, this is an excellent podcast to which one can subscribe.

"Coach Said..."

I was recently privileged to be a guest on this show with the Coaches Ministry Director in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.

We both strongly believe in the influence of coaches with those they coach, with whom they coach, and with all those surrounding teams.

https://dailynewsnetwork.com/2026/shows/making-difference/making-a-difference-with-roger-lipe/?sessionId=37c6fed4-a05b-431d-8391-1dbd5788a01c&trigger_link=kMc2cIMbIdr1LkKPKFUs&fbclid=IwY2xjawQsCQ1leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEed8J8NtP_EAqkIAfToAjm5msSGWZHMgQ6zN7yvEEDH0sTw5AJc8WZjtWGAy4_aem_l1IM3dzVWenx5y9q8-kg8w

Reflections from the Front Lines of a Cancer Battle

 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 those reflections. They are often raw, vulnerable, and gut-level honest. Later in the process, after the urgency of things had subsided, I began sitting with my laptop to write the narrative of our experience. I certainly have a long way to go in my grieving and mourning process.

Below, please find the link to a pdf of these reflections. I hope they are of some value to you, or to others who are experiencing disease, loss, grief, or mourning.  

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2jzmx9t7d4xea03cshcrl/Reflections-from-the-Front-Lines-of-a-Cancer-Battle.pdf?rlkey=hf1a6if0k725d9qh0pzrjxyor&dl=0

Reflections, Issue Discussions, and Bible Studies for People of Sport.

For the last thirty years or so, I have been writing Bible studies, reflections, and topical discussions for people in sport. All along the way, I have made them available at no cost to people on social media. I have been very pleased to provide them for my friends and colleagues. 

Recently, I gathered all that material, 221 pages of it, into one pdf file. It is available and you are free to use it as you will in your ministry. Simply email me at lipe6956@gmail.com to request a copy.

It is titled, Reflections, Issue Discussions, and Bible Studies for People of Sport.

Reflections, Issue Discussions, and Bible Studies 

for People of Sport

Reflections with Questions for Contemplation and Discussion

Page 3 - How Would Jesus Coach? Reflections on Coaching from the Gospel of John

Page 28 - Christian Ministry in Sport - Reflections from the Psalms

Page 44 - Christian Reflections on U2 Songs & Scripture

Topical Discussions with Questions for Contemplation and Discussion

Page 65 - Christian Faith Development Devotional Series - 8 Weeks of Reading, Contemplation, and Exercises

Page 74 - Transformed Lives Sports Discussions

Page 84 - Winners - 12 discussions on characteristics of winners

Page 90 - Pursuing Our Life’s Purpose as Sportspeople

Page 95 - Coaching Wisdom from Solomon - The Proverbs Applied to Coaching

Page 112 - Eight Ways to Worship On the Field of Competition

Page 121 - Powerful Strides in Christian Living - 14 discussions and daily exercises for knowing your position.

Bible Studies with Questions for Contemplation and Discussion

Page 135 - Redemptive Relationships - An inductive study of Jesus’ relationships with individuals and groups from the Gospel of Mark.

Page 150 - A Mentor’s Advice for Team Leaders - 25 Bible Studies for Team Leaders from First and Second Timothy

Page 165 - Wisdom for a Young Head Coach - 25 Bible Studies for Coaches from First and Second Timothy

Page 180 - The Battle for Freedom – 13 Discussions for People of Sport from the book of Galatians

Page 186 - Extraordinary Living - Sport Discussions from James

Page 195 - Coaching Points - 11 Sports discussions from the book of Titus

Page 201 – God’s Team at Ephesus – An inductive study of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians through the lens of sport teams.

Page 211 – Transformed Attitudes – Sport Discussions from Philippians

Appendix:

Page 219 - Leadership of Small Group Discussions with People of Sport​​​

Zoominar - Ministry in the NCAA Transfer Portal Era

The first in a series of Zoominars for sports chaplains and character coaches is now posted on YouTube (link below). 

My guest was Scott Brewer - Nations of Coaches Character Coach for Men's Basketball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas (USA).

The discussion contains vital insight for effective ministry in the NCAA Transfer Portal Era.

https://youtu.be/RE_P1dhAP7M?si=tfoPEUaZmQ8hFYKD

A Reflection on College Football

For twenty-seven years, I lived in the sport for eight months at a time. Sharon and I shared that life for nineteen of our fifty years of marriage. It was a constantly spinning carousel of coaches, players, and support staff. 

Each year we would build relationships, commit deeply, and serve faithfully. Each year we would lose some, graduate more, and send others on to new teams. The steady rhythm of coaches and players moving into and out of the program was both joyful and grievous. 

Hours were invested on practice sidelines, recruiting dinners each winter, long bus rides each fall, exciting victories, and soul crushing defeats on alternating Saturdays. We were in it with the team, all day, every day. Now, thirty-one years after beginning, I am an occasional visitor, more a memory than a real presence. I am well connected with a few coaches, but barely know a handful of players by name. 

The pregame meal and chapel have an air of familiarity, but I am clearly a guest. My presence on the sideline was once deeply engaging and valuable, but now I am more like a relic, mostly invisible when I am not just in the way. I find myself chatting up players from the past, also visitors now, and telling stories from ten years ago. It’s like I’m in a parallel dimension, here in reality but mostly an observer. 

I am forever grateful for my years of service in college football. The relationships built and the lessons learned have been invaluable. My relationships with countless individuals continue, but my relationship with the sport has dramatically changed. The momentary pain of the latter is easily overcome by the enduring joy of the former.

Fourth Global Congress on Sport and Christianity

 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. Sport. Life. Character Award. Some old guy from the USA was the recipient. 

Mark your calendar for October of 2028, the fifth congress will be hosted in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Below, please find a few photos from the congress.