Dawg fans worst nightmare

A columnist in the AJC here in Atlanta has written an article that I am sure is going to ignite the Dawg nation.  As a Tech fan, I am not saying whether I agree or disagree…..just enjoying the question!

Lesson: There is nothing like a coach that believes in you!

I have played for tons of different personalities through the years.  I had coaches that were:  soft spoken, some that were firm, some that yelled, some that withdrew when angry, some that smiled constantly no matter the situation……I have seen it all!  Really dismissing the personality, there was one trait that always seemed to bring out the best in me and that was when I found a coach who really believed in me.  I am talking the one that believes in you more than you even believe in yourself!  There is nothing like a coach like that!  When the situation is grim and your thoughts seem to turn from positive to negative, they are always there to tell you what you need to hear to get you going!  You know your teammates & crowd at times may turn on you, but not your coach, he is in your corner fighting for you!  Coaches like this are rare but when you find one, it is a special thing!!

We need coaches like this in life don’t we?  We all need someone that believes in us when the stakes are high and life seems to be turning against us.  The reality is that we do have someone that believes this way about us.  The interesting part is that He is the one that knows everything about us and loves us anyway!  Believe it or not, your Heavenly Father, is on your side and in your corner and He is cheering you on even when it seems as if everyone else has walked away!  Turn toward your coach, catch His confidence in you, and walk back into the game and know, “That if He is on your side, you can’t lose”!

Rearview Mirror

• Another great weekend in the “Flash Forward” series at NorthStar!  Talked about the difference we can make in others lives and how God rewards that faithfulness in the future!
• Worship was outstanding as usual…..Daniel & his team blow me away!!  They can program 3 separate bands & services and blow everyone of them out!
• Great energy on Sunday AM – both 9:30 & 11 were solid!!
• Brad spoke for me on Sunday PM and I heard he did a great job!  It was nice to have a week to not speak 3 times….I needed the break!
• Got to go to the birthday party for my nephew & niece (they are 2 & twins)….it was fun just being with our family for a little while and not being in a hurry while we were there!!
• Allatoona football wrapped up on Friday – I have loved being chaplain again…..the Coaches do such a great job with the boys and it is great to come alongside them!  It is going to be nice to get my friday nights back again!
• Pumped about December series coming at NStar “The Journey”….will be a fun one!!
• We mapped out our sermon series for 2010 and are ready to roll through August…..some good stuff coming!!!  Can’t wait!!!
• After a tough few months financially – things have been super solid lately!  So proud of our people for stepping up in a huge way!
• Got my  leadership tank filled up last week spending time with Bill Purvis from Cascade Hills and Dan Reiland from Twelve Stone Church.  These guys have been in it a long time and it was so great to sit & learn from their wisdom & experience!  I am honored for the time they gave me!
• You can follow both of them on twitter at:  @billpurvis and @danreiland  They share some great stuff throughout the days!!
• So proud of my Jackets!!!  Big W over Wake….Coach Johnson is one of the bravest coaches I have ever watched!!  Proud to be a “Yellow Jacket”!
• Back to my lessons tomorrow!!!

Lesson: Breaks are needed!

Every great athlete finds that they all need down time!  You cannot stay at your best all of the time, there are times you have to come down from your ultimate “game edge” and pull back a little!  There are times that you have to do that during the game and there are times that you have to take off between seasons. You can’t stay at your best all of the time!

Nothing changes in life professionally, there are times that you have to unwind and get away from what you do!  These times of being away, can refuel & refresh you for the next leg of the journey!  To stay “on” all of the time will lead you to not being fresh and to eventually crashing.

When I first began in ministry, I would feel so guilty getting down time , but after 18+ years in ministry…..I can’t live without it!  My family and our family @ NStar need me to be my best…breaks are needed!!

If we don’t take a “break” – we will “break”!

 

Lesson: Never stop learning!

Whether in sports or in life, you never reach a point where you know everything that there is to know!  I have been around the game of baseball for a long time, but there are certain guys that you get around that make you feel like you know nothing!

Today, our staff got to listen to Bill Purvis, pastor of Cascade Hills in Columbus, GA.  Bill has pastored there for 26 years and has led the church to grow from 32 members to over 8,000 currently.  Bill shared some lessons he has learned in his years in ministry and things that he thought would help us as we grow in our lives & ministries!  I have been in fulltime ministry over 18 years and have learned a ton but sat there today listening to him and then sitting with him at lunch and feeling like “I am just a beginner in this deal”……Lesson – to keep growing & getting better, you can never stop learning!!  Find someone around you to learn from and soak it up!

Thanks Bill for sharing your life with us!!!

Lesson: Go until the final play!

I have grown up here in the city of Atlanta and have loved the Falcons since I was little!  I still remember the times my dad took me to Atlanta Fulton County Stadium to watch them play back in the late 70’s & early 80’s.  Some of the years were great years with (Bartkowski, Andrews, Jenkins & Jackson) but some of the years were super lean and there was not much to cheer for!  Typically, the games I remember most that defined them as a team were the games they won not the games where they came up short.  Usually, when you are on the losing side of the contest, your effort stops about the point you realize you cannot catch up on the scoreboard.

Last night, the Falcons came up short on the scoreboard against the Saints but their effort until the final whistle, I will never forget!  They played with a passion and a tenacity that I have never seen in all of my years watching the team.  They showed heart that had nothing to do with the score but rather had to with a passion deep down within them that was burning until the final play!  I have never been more proud to be a fan and their effort long term will translate into them being “winners” on & off the field!

 

Lesson: Never take your head out of the game!

You never know when your chance might come, if you take your head out of the game, when your chance does come…..you won’t be ready!  It is really easy to pout and sulk when someone else is in your spot and you feel you should be playing.  You can spend your time griping & complaining to others rather than cheering on your teammates and being ready for your chance to shine!  I watched this happen just this past weekend in a game, and when a players number was called on the sideline to go in for the injured starter, he was not even close by the coaches or the field!  After he was found, it was obvious he was not game ready and did not know the situations that were happening on the field.

It is really easy to do the same things in life.  Someone has some limelight we want and rather than cheer them on for getting it, we take the opportunity to talk about we “didn’t get it” and how they “don’t deserve it”.  Then an opportunity comes with our chance to shine and we miss it…..because we weren’t ready!

My challenge to you is to stay focused on the game no matter the circumstances!  Encourage those around you and keep your head in the game at all times……..if you do that, your time will come to stand & be counted.  I promise you, if you have handled yourself correctly to this point, you will be ready to shine!

 

Final lesson of the week: Love the game!

It does not matter what sport a person plays or participates in, they will all require hard work and tons of effort!  What typically drives you to keep going and to do whatever is necessary to be the best is a huge “love for the game!”  If you do not love what you do,  you will be drained by the time put in, however, if you love what you – you will be driven by it!  I have seen lots of talented athletes through the years never reach their full potential because the game was never a “love” for them, it was something that they had to do not wanted to do!

I have met tons of people in ministry that “hate” what they do everyday and are drained by the profession that they are in.  It breaks my heart to see people stuck in life and not able to “love” getting up and going to work every day!  So many times, it not only effects their performance at work but also their outlook on life.

You may find yourself in that spot today, begin to pray that God will give you a joy for what you do and if there is ever a point He wants you out, He will open a way!  Until then, pour yourself in to what you do and give Him your very best daily and do not let your disdain for what you do hurt your “love for life”!!

Col 3:23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, 24since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Lesson: Run it all the way out……

In baseball, it is really easy for a hitter to hit a ball straight at the pitcher and know that he is going to be out by 70 feet and stop running to first base.  On every team I have ever coached, one rule we always have is, no matter where the ball is hit or how hard the ball is hit, finish the play…..run it out!  Hustle down the line every time,  you really never know what is going to happen…..(a ball gets thrown away, a ball gets dropped, your hustle causes them to make a mistake, etc)  Nothing bad happens when a play is “finished” but a lot bad happens when players stop running and peal off to early.  It looks bad for them and it sure looks bad for the team!  In coaching, it is a pet peeve of mine and one that we made sure our guys got before they my squads!

However, there are many times in life we do not want to finish the play.  We feel like we are going to make an out and we want to quit early!  We don’t run long enough or far enough to see if there might be a different outcome.  In lfe, as in baseball, nothing good happens when we pull out before the play is over.  One bit advice I would give to anyone, no matter you do professionally or where you are relationally, “run it all the way out”……Finish it…give your best & hustle down the line…see,  if  by you staying in the play, you can get something started!!

Paul, who did “run it all the way out” said it this way, ” 2 Tim 4:6For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing”  NIV

The game of Catch!

A great friend at NorthStar sent me the link to a Time Magazine article on the game of catch!  One of the greatest memories I have growing up was playing “catch” with my dad in our yard in Fayetteville!  I don’t remember anything specific we talked about but we talked!  Now as a dad, playing catch with Casey & MM are times I cherish and hate to think about going away!!  Great article to file away!  Hope you enjoy!