Who’s up for a challenge?
As 2009 draws to a close I can’t help but marvel at God’s goodness. He has granted us the privilege to be His ambassadors throughout the year. The year included:
· Outreach clinics/camps conducted by Coach Torzewski and Coach Burden
· Multiple speaking engagements for Coach Burden
· An awesome 10-day road trip with 10 players – training them on and off the court! This trip included a great service project as well.
· Trips to the foreign field (Dominican Republic, London)
· Continued internet outreach via our weekly devotions (closing in on 8 years)
· Over 100 people accepted Christ as Substitute at InBounds events
It has truly been an awesome year and we are eagerly anticipating 2010. There are already many things on the agenda and many more pending. Yet as with any outreach it requires funding to meet the needs.
This is where you come in. I have devised a relatively simple and painless way in which you could help us out. It will help us finish strong in the 2009 “game.”
I need you to simply find 10 people to give $10 to our cause. (If you give $10 you only have 9 more to find.)
This “Finish Strong” challenge will help us enter 2010 ready to serve. We simply need each team member to do his or her part.
If you are accepting the challenge please do me a favor and shoot me an email to let me know. It is always encouraging to know people are on our side. That way I can also send you some helpful pointers and info for sharing the need. Thank you in advance for at least praying about being a part.
[On a side note: I have challenged our board and coaching staff to find 10 people to give $100. Please pray for them as they help us meet these needs.]
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
November 30, 2009 - Short Memory
With my son playing high school ball now we get in a lot of philosophical discussions about the game. He is a talented young player and has experienced a bit of success. The night before his first varsity game he was in a scrimmage. He couldn’t throw it in the ocean that night. He was quite frustrated and downcast.
Going into the first game is when we had one of our “discussions.” I reminded him that “shooters shoot” and need to have a very short memory. I mentioned guys like Stephen Curry that played a Davidson. Stephen is a kid that could miss 15 straight shots and still not blink an eye at taking the game winner. That is because he chose to not remember the previous shots. The only instruction I gave him concerned being in rhythm and getting his feet set before receiving the pass.
Clay went into that game ready and totally oblivious to the failure of the night before. As a result he had a great shooting night. He listened, learned, and moved on.
The great coach Dean Smith said it this way: “What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.”
Isn’t that kind of what the Scriptures call for us to do? Obviously we all make mistakes in life. (These are called sin.) We teach that Christ paid for sin. We teach that we are forgiven. Yet we tend to still live in guilt and defeat.
It is time to listen, learn, and move on. It is time be victorious in our Christian lives.
Psalm 103: 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Going into the first game is when we had one of our “discussions.” I reminded him that “shooters shoot” and need to have a very short memory. I mentioned guys like Stephen Curry that played a Davidson. Stephen is a kid that could miss 15 straight shots and still not blink an eye at taking the game winner. That is because he chose to not remember the previous shots. The only instruction I gave him concerned being in rhythm and getting his feet set before receiving the pass.
Clay went into that game ready and totally oblivious to the failure of the night before. As a result he had a great shooting night. He listened, learned, and moved on.
The great coach Dean Smith said it this way: “What to do with a mistake: recognize it, admit it, learn from it, forget it.”
Isn’t that kind of what the Scriptures call for us to do? Obviously we all make mistakes in life. (These are called sin.) We teach that Christ paid for sin. We teach that we are forgiven. Yet we tend to still live in guilt and defeat.
It is time to listen, learn, and move on. It is time be victorious in our Christian lives.
Psalm 103: 11 For as the heavens are high above the earth, So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; 12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Monday, November 23, 2009
November 23, 2009 - Value Every Possession
As a coach I always try to teach my players to play smart. This involves making the easy pass; not dribbling into traffic; taking good shots; playing together as a team; etc. This involves making sure the players are fundamentally sound and know the game plan. It means making sure they value every possession and protect the ball.
This is vital because the defense is trying to set traps and force you out of what you want to do. The opponent will switch defenses; run junk defenses; run full-court presses; run half-court presses; even study you to know your weaknesses. The goal of the opponent is to take you out of your comfort zone; to take you out of your game plan.
Do you realize we have an enemy in life that is trying to do the same thing? The goal of the enemy is to distract us; to get us off course; to get us to “dribble into traps” and to “take bad shots.”
A very simple reminder this week: we need to regularly be studying God’s “game plan” and applying it on the “court” of life.
Proverbs 22: 5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Life is a gift – value each day (“every possession”) by honoring the Lord! Play smart!
This is vital because the defense is trying to set traps and force you out of what you want to do. The opponent will switch defenses; run junk defenses; run full-court presses; run half-court presses; even study you to know your weaknesses. The goal of the opponent is to take you out of your comfort zone; to take you out of your game plan.
Do you realize we have an enemy in life that is trying to do the same thing? The goal of the enemy is to distract us; to get us off course; to get us to “dribble into traps” and to “take bad shots.”
A very simple reminder this week: we need to regularly be studying God’s “game plan” and applying it on the “court” of life.
Proverbs 22: 5 In the paths of the wicked lie thorns and snares, but he who guards his soul stays far from them.
Life is a gift – value each day (“every possession”) by honoring the Lord! Play smart!
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