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One of my favorite Bible stories is David versus Goliath. David was smaller than the others, weaker than most his age, and by the world’s standards, not prepared to play in the “big game” against the Philistines. If we were to read the pregame report for this battle, he would not have been on the roster. David surprised everyone, though. He was empowered by his belief in a God who could overcome any obstacle or challenge . . . even a Philistine giant!
I knew nothing but pain. My legs burned as I strode faster. My lungs felt the fire rage inside of them as I lost control of my breathing. I closed my eyes looking for relief. I found none. My arms burned from the strain of trying to go faster, trying to finish sooner. The pulse of my heart continued to pound in my head, each beat shaking me down, trying to lower me. The doubts tried forcing me to slow, but I did not. It grabbed my heart and told me that I’m done! I did not listen. This race was no longer about me, no longer about my team or my family. I ran to prove to God that I had the strength to continue on. No one knew where I found it. This stronghold. This bedrock. The iron will in my heart that kept me going.
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Reading: Psalm 139
Music: "Acoustic Instrumental Haunting" by Josh Garrels joshgarrels.com
You shouldn't need to consult an atlas to know that Las Vegas and Harrisonburg, Va., are pretty far apart. Not only are they separated by miles — 1,989 to be exact — but also by climate, terrain and, most notably, lifestyle.
But God's power is not restricted by earthly distances. He gives each of us the ability to touch lives no matter what our location, especially in today's connected society. In the case of James Madison University basketball player Heiden Ratner, who hails from Vegas and attends college in Harrisonburg, there is one athlete influencing lives for Christ on both sides of the country. It is a calling he received neither in Vegas nor Virginia, but in a small town in northern Georgia called Lookout Mountain.
The reality that I’m a senior in college is finally starting to hit me. It’s a clear reminder that, in life, God takes us through times of transition. We all go through seasons that are no different than those we see in nature.
In Ecclesiastes, Solomon tells us that there is a time for everything. This includes transitions. And, while it can be easy to feel overwhelmed and fearful about an unknown future, we can have peace in knowing that God is in control. Thank God! I know I wouldn’t be able to handle this all on my own.
Often, before those transitions take place, God prepares us through times when we think we’re just “sitting the bench” or not “doing anything for God.” In those still times, He is changing and molding our hearts for what is to come.
Jake was at a crossroads in his sport. He didn’t know what to do. Should he continue to strive every day and work hard only to sit the bench? Was it worth it? He was at a point in his career in which he needed to make a decision.
Does this sound familiar? Many athletes face similar situations in their careers, and they wrestle with what to do.
Pride. In my second year at the Kansas City Bike MS, an annual fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society, I had confidence going into the race knowing that I’d completed it the year before. “One hundred and eighty six miles in two days….no problem,” I thought. “I’ve been training all spring and summer with over 2,000 miles already accumulated on my bike. What’s another 186?”
When Tamika Catchings was in the third grade, she played on her first basketball team alongside sister Tauja. Her father, Harvey Catchings—an 11-year NBA player—was the coach of the squad that, other than his daughters, consisted of boys. The fact that Catchings and her sister were the only girls on the team is an interesting fact, but it’s not nearly as telling as the principles they learned from their dad’s coaching style. “We had to learn how to play as a group,” Catchings recalls. “My dad always preached about how it was a team effort. We got that drilled in our head.”
Luke Ridnour credits his father for providing the earliest lessons about teamwork. Rob Ridnour coached high school basketball (including his son's team) before taking over as the head coach of the International Basketball League's Bellingham Slam. It was the elder Ridnour who instilled in his son some of those fundamental concepts about teamwork, such as sharing the ball and looking out for one another.
The song “Overcomer” by Mandisa is one of my favorite songs. But it’s more than just an emotional and spiritual pep-rally. As believers in Christ, the attitude of an overcomer is the one we are to walk in every day regardless of circumstances. Romans 8:37 (NIV) says that we are “more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
It’s easy to feel this way when it seems like everything is under control. Our relationships are great, we have good health, we’re doing well in school or at work, we’re excelling in our sport, etc. However, circumstances will change. And what we do when that happens makes all the difference.
As athletes what we put into our bodies is very important. The pre-game meal may be the most important meal we eat. We have to make sure we get enough energy to last through the entire competition. This is our last chance to get the fuel we need.
In John, Jesus tells us of work that will actually GIVE us energy instead of using it. Doing God's work will give us the fuel we need to in order to succeed in the game of life. So what is the work that we should be doing? In Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus tells us very plainly what our "work" should be. We are to go out among the nations and build His Kingdom.
Rhett Rakhshani, in the process of working his way up to the NHL, gives us the inside scoop on what it's like to be a professional hockey player.
Most of us have heard a coach tell an athlete to “take a knee.” When this happens, we can usually count on two things: all physical activities will cease and communication is about to start. Any good coach needs to spend some time giving his team a game plan, and any good team has to take a knee to receive that plan.
Jesus modeled how to properly “take a knee” while He walked the earth. He prayed daily and would often withdraw from everyone, even His disciples, to be alone with God. He understood the value of communicating with the Father. He understood that prayer was necessary to receive God’s game plan. Jesus knew exactly what He was doing and how to be at His best when the game was on the line.
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While David and four hundred of his men set out to defeat the Amalekites (1 Sm 30:1–26), two hundred men stayed behind to watch the supplies because they were too exhausted to fight. I call these men the “taxi squad” They were not the frontline players, but they were nonetheless absolutely essential to the team. After his victory, David returned to the camp to greet the men who had stayed behind, even though some of the selfish frontliners did not want to share the plunder with the taxi squad. However, David knew that everyone had a role to play and that the victory had come from God. Therefore, David issued a statute for all of Israel—that while he was in charge all would share in the plunder, including the taxi squad.
Back when I was in college, I would always get excited about Thanksgiving break and getting to go home and be with family. I would be excited for turkey, football, and, of course, sleeping. What I found, however, was that I tended to rely on those activities to refuel me over the break. I would find myself thinking that if I could just get through the week before, then I would have rest and fun with my family.
Can be used in a large or small group.
Have everyone in your group pair off into twos.
Make sure pairs are evenly spread out around the room.
To start, each person needs to face their partner and place their left foot behind their right foot, 3-5 inches apart.
Then at the same time all groups play rock-paper-scissors. The winner of each pair has to say one fact about him/herself. The loser of the pair takes one step back with his/her left foot. Their right foot does NOT move.
During the next round the winner still says a fact about him/herself. If the winner lost the previous round, he/she has a chance to move his/her left foot forward a step. The loser still moves one step back with his/her left foot.
This Tryout Training session and all additional sessions require the Tryout Training Playbook. This printed book is a companion to the online sessions. You will also need 2 other books that serve as supplementary reading.
Please contact the FCA staff person you are working with to obtain the Tryout Training Playbook if you do not have a copy. The following questions and sessions will not "make sense" without it.
As athletes and coaches we are, by nature, very competitive. We strive for perfection and are driven by the desire to succeed. Applying that same attitude to our walk with Christ can be extremely frustrating. No matter how hard we try, we will daily fall short of God’s expectations.
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