I did not write my blog last week because I was on a sports mission trip in the Dominican Republic with Northland's Women's basketball team. It was a great trip and God taught us many things. You can see some pictures and read about the trip by clicking on the following link.
Dominican Mission Team
Here are a few of my thoughts about the trip and the eternal value of taking trips like this.
Sports missions works in multiple ways. We often think of trips like this as an evangelistic outreach. Presenting the gospel to athletes in a foreign country is a great privilege. Seeing some of them respond to trust Christ is thrilling. This trip was especially memorable for me as I had the privilege of leading a young man to the Lord during our last game. He is a student at the University of Santo Domingo (the oldest university in the Americas – founded in 1538). When the gospel was clearly presented at halftime he raised his hand indicating that he was interested in finding out more. During the third quarter of the game he trusted Christ as Saviour. There were numerous others who raised their hands and we continue to pray that the Lord would cause the seed that was planted to be watered, take root and grow.
While giving out the gospel was a definite goal of this trip, the process of discipleship was also a large part. There were two aspects of discipleship that were obvious to me on this trip. They were: time spent in the Word of God and time spent in a different culture. Each of these aspects gave us a fresh dose of perspective.
The first discipleship impact was our time in the Word. This time was led by Coach Whitt as we studied parts of the book of Nehemiah. These studies were a personal challenge to all of us and it is obvious that they had an impact on each team member. The testimonies that the girls shared in our team meetings were evidence of that.
A second discipleship impact was the time spent in a different culture. It makes us reflect on all that we have to be thankful for in our own country and helps us to focus on a more eternal perspective. While on a trip like this it is amazing how unimportant some things become. I personally didn’t care how the NBA playoffs were going. The news of the day wasn’t that important. Things we take for granted at home didn’t really seem to matter as much. We heard no complaints from the team about things like, not having air conditioning, access to the internet, hot showers, or even water pressure. Flexibility was a must, which is a refreshing change from the demanding schedules we usually keep at home. The focus was on more eternal things and pursuing the purpose for which we came to the Dominican Republic.
This trip was amazing in what God did both through us and in us. I would encourage you to take a sports team on a mission trip, if at all possible. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about how to plan such a trip. You will never regret spending the time, energy, money, etc. to go on such a trip because of the evangelistic and discipleship opportunities they provide.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
God's Hall of Fame
Being selected into a Hall of Fame is probably the highest honor that an individual athlete or coach can be awarded here on this earth. The screening process through which a Hall of Fame nominee is approved for enshrinement is very meticulous. Some inductees have had very convincing resumes and were approved by the committee on the very first vote. Others may have been on the ballot multiple times and still have not been voted in. It is a very exacting process because the Hall of Fame is reserved for only those who have accomplished something unique, amazing, or great.
This stands in contrast to the criterion for entrance into what some would call “God’s Hall of Fame”. Entrance into God’s Hall is not based on great talent, abilities or accomplishments. There is only one criterion for entrance into God’s Hall. That criterion is faith. You don’t have to be talented or gifted to exercise faith. However, the important thing is not simply that you have faith, but that you have a worthy object in which your faith is placed. Faith derives its value from its object. The most deserving objects of your faith are the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Over the past few months at our church, we have been studying through the book of Hebrews. We have recently reached the eleventh chapter which includes the list of the great characters of faith. This chapter is often an inspiration to me personally as I am challenged by their examples. These people were great believers in God and they evidenced their faith by their actions. It didn’t matter how they felt. To them, faith was “believing the Word of God and acting upon it no matter how they felt, knowing that God promised a good result in His time”. How about you? Would this describe your faith?
Coaches need to be men and women of faith who act in obedience to the truth regardless of feelings. A coach’s emotions can run the gamut from the “thrill of victory” to the “agony of defeat”, but there should be a steady confidence in following God’s plan. The eternal plan is to make a difference in lives. To make a difference that will last for eternity. While making that difference may not land you in a Hall of Fame here, you are making an impact that will reap eternal rewards. Stay faithful.
I hope the following poem is an encouragement to you as you may labor in obscurity, coaching a small group of young people that no one ever notices. Your faithfulness to make an eternal difference will one day be rewarded.
God’s Hall of Fame
To have your name inscribed up there is greater yet by far,
Than all the “halls of fame” down here and every man-made star.
This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past,
They cheer like made until you fall and that’s how long you last.
I tell you, friend, I would not trade my name however small,
If written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall.
For any famous name on earth or glory that they share,
I’d rather be an unknown here and have my name up there.
-Anonymous
This stands in contrast to the criterion for entrance into what some would call “God’s Hall of Fame”. Entrance into God’s Hall is not based on great talent, abilities or accomplishments. There is only one criterion for entrance into God’s Hall. That criterion is faith. You don’t have to be talented or gifted to exercise faith. However, the important thing is not simply that you have faith, but that you have a worthy object in which your faith is placed. Faith derives its value from its object. The most deserving objects of your faith are the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Over the past few months at our church, we have been studying through the book of Hebrews. We have recently reached the eleventh chapter which includes the list of the great characters of faith. This chapter is often an inspiration to me personally as I am challenged by their examples. These people were great believers in God and they evidenced their faith by their actions. It didn’t matter how they felt. To them, faith was “believing the Word of God and acting upon it no matter how they felt, knowing that God promised a good result in His time”. How about you? Would this describe your faith?
Coaches need to be men and women of faith who act in obedience to the truth regardless of feelings. A coach’s emotions can run the gamut from the “thrill of victory” to the “agony of defeat”, but there should be a steady confidence in following God’s plan. The eternal plan is to make a difference in lives. To make a difference that will last for eternity. While making that difference may not land you in a Hall of Fame here, you are making an impact that will reap eternal rewards. Stay faithful.
I hope the following poem is an encouragement to you as you may labor in obscurity, coaching a small group of young people that no one ever notices. Your faithfulness to make an eternal difference will one day be rewarded.
God’s Hall of Fame
To have your name inscribed up there is greater yet by far,
Than all the “halls of fame” down here and every man-made star.
This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past,
They cheer like made until you fall and that’s how long you last.
I tell you, friend, I would not trade my name however small,
If written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall.
For any famous name on earth or glory that they share,
I’d rather be an unknown here and have my name up there.
-Anonymous
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Dreams and Eternity
You may have heard the news this past week about the tragic death of a young baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim named Nick Adenhart. He was killed late one evening in a hit-and-run accident on the same night in which he had fulfilled a lifelong dream of pitching in the “major leagues”. Adenhart was only 22 years old. Shortly before his season debut, Nick had called his dad and said, “You’d better come. Something special is going to happen”. Something special did. The rookie pitcher shut-out the Oakland Athletics for six innings in his first “big league start”. Although the Angels eventually lost the game (after it was turned over to their bullpen), Nick’s teammates, managers, and the media all spoke of the great game he had pitched and the hard work he had done this past year to reach his goal. The news of the accident came as a shock to everyone. No one expects that to happen to a young person who is on the verge of living the dream of a lifetime. However, death is no respecter of persons.
While you may have heard about Adenhart’s death, you may not have heard about the death of a former major league baseball pitcher who had lived out a dream similar to Adenhart’s. Former Detroit Tiger pitcher, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was found dead this week in an apparent accident involving a truck used in his hauling business. He was 54. Fidrych was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. Mark was tall and gangly with long, curly, blonde hair. He had a gregarious personality as well as many endearing eccentricities.
I had the privilege of attending the very first game that Fidrych pitched at Tiger Stadium. What a memorable experience for a teenager! It was the summer of 1976 and just happened to be the once-a-summer trip I made to Tiger Stadium back then. The young pitcher on the mound that day seemed very different than the Mickey Lolichs, Denny McClains, and John Hillers that had dominated from that “holy hill” before.
In between innings, Fidrych was down on his hands and knees patting the dirt on the mound. In the middle of an inning, you might see him running around the infield high-fiving his teammates when they made good defensive plays. I found out later that he was actually “talking to the baseball” before he pitched it. “The Corner” (Tiger Stadium was at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull streets) was electric that day as “The Bird” had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. He ended up throwing a complete game, two-hitter defeating the Cleveland Indians, 2 - 1. What excitement he brought to “the old ballpark” that day and for the rest of the summer. He won seven of his first eight decisions including a complete-game win on “ABC-TV’s “Monday Night Baseball” against the Yankees. He sold out stadiums wherever the Tigers played and was voted to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game as a rookie. He pitched 24 complete games that season and won 19. He was the American League Rookie-of-the-Year and runner-up to the Baltimore Orioles', Jim Palmer for the Cy Young Award. He too, like Nick Adenhart, was living a childhood dream.
Unfortunately, injuries cut short Fidrych’s baseball career and certainly, this recent accident cut short his life. It reminds us again that death is no respecter of persons. As coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the dreams and the thrill of the moment and forget about the seriousness of life and death issues. These two deaths give us a sobering reminder of what is most important to prepare for – not the next game, but eternity.
Where will you spend eternity? Click on this link and scroll down to the "What about you?" section.
While you may have heard about Adenhart’s death, you may not have heard about the death of a former major league baseball pitcher who had lived out a dream similar to Adenhart’s. Former Detroit Tiger pitcher, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was found dead this week in an apparent accident involving a truck used in his hauling business. He was 54. Fidrych was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. Mark was tall and gangly with long, curly, blonde hair. He had a gregarious personality as well as many endearing eccentricities.
I had the privilege of attending the very first game that Fidrych pitched at Tiger Stadium. What a memorable experience for a teenager! It was the summer of 1976 and just happened to be the once-a-summer trip I made to Tiger Stadium back then. The young pitcher on the mound that day seemed very different than the Mickey Lolichs, Denny McClains, and John Hillers that had dominated from that “holy hill” before.
In between innings, Fidrych was down on his hands and knees patting the dirt on the mound. In the middle of an inning, you might see him running around the infield high-fiving his teammates when they made good defensive plays. I found out later that he was actually “talking to the baseball” before he pitched it. “The Corner” (Tiger Stadium was at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull streets) was electric that day as “The Bird” had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. He ended up throwing a complete game, two-hitter defeating the Cleveland Indians, 2 - 1. What excitement he brought to “the old ballpark” that day and for the rest of the summer. He won seven of his first eight decisions including a complete-game win on “ABC-TV’s “Monday Night Baseball” against the Yankees. He sold out stadiums wherever the Tigers played and was voted to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game as a rookie. He pitched 24 complete games that season and won 19. He was the American League Rookie-of-the-Year and runner-up to the Baltimore Orioles', Jim Palmer for the Cy Young Award. He too, like Nick Adenhart, was living a childhood dream.
Unfortunately, injuries cut short Fidrych’s baseball career and certainly, this recent accident cut short his life. It reminds us again that death is no respecter of persons. As coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the dreams and the thrill of the moment and forget about the seriousness of life and death issues. These two deaths give us a sobering reminder of what is most important to prepare for – not the next game, but eternity.
Where will you spend eternity? Click on this link and scroll down to the "What about you?" section.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The "Ought", the "Is", and the "Absolute"
Last weekend at the NABC Convention I had the opportunity again to attend a clinic held by Michael Josephson of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. I have had the privilege of attending quite a few of his sessions over the past five years or so and he always challenges my thinking and causes me to reflect on my philosophy of sports. His thoughts also drive me to the absolute truth of God’s Word.
Mr. Josephson’s organization (Josephson Institute of Ethics) has partnered with the NABC to promote sportsmanship and character development as well as to encourage coaches to have high ethical standards. You can check out his website at www.josephsoninstitute.org . He does tremendous work with businesses, schools, and with public servants such as police officers. The results of his work have been featured on national television programs and he is a well-respected consultant on ethical issues and challenges we face in our culture today. The sports related arm of the ethics institute is Character Counts which emphasizes a program called Pursuing Victory with Honor. His “six pillars of character” are certainly worth promoting in any endeavor that works with young people. Check it out at www.charactercounts.org.
In one session I attended entitled, "The Toughest Decisions Coaches Make", Mr. Josephson dealt with lying and deception specifically related to the recruitment of athletes. There were many coaches in the session who agreed with him regarding what he called the "Ought". We ought to be truthful with the athletes we recruit. We ought to be "up front" with both the athletes and their parents. We ought not to lie. We ought not to deceive. We ought not to make promises that we cannot fulfill. While many coaches believed and agreed with the "ought" that he was presenting, you could tell by the reaction of most of them, that they didn’t believe that they could maintain job security in that kind of environment. The "Is" environment that most coaches lived in contrasted significantly with the "Ought" environment that they all agreed was right. They justified what "Is" because they felt that they could not live by the "Ought" and survive in a work environment that depended on winning for job security. In short, the end justified the means and the end seemed to be self-preservation for many coaches. The only way to accomplish that was to win, and to win often. A necessary ingredient to consistently winning is to have superior athletes. Whatever it takes to get them is justified as long as the outcome is winning.
As Christian coaches we should function beyond even the "Ought" that Michael Josephson presented. We have absolutes. We have the truth of God’s Word. The reason why we don’t lie, deceive, or cheat is not because it’s just a good idea to help us maintain a civil society. It is because it is God’s law. Admittedly, none of us is capable of keeping God’s law, but that’s not why He gave it – to see if we could keep it. He gave it so that it would point out how far we fall short of His absolute holy standard. Then, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to perfectly fulfill the law by living a sinless life and becoming a sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He paid the death penalty for our transgression of the law, but he didn’t just die. He rose again and became victorious over death. We especially celebrate His resurrection this weekend with the Easter holiday.
So, what goes beyond the "Ought"? The absolute truth does! The truth is that none of us deserves to stand in the presence a Holy God, but He made a way by sacrificing His Son to clothe us in His righteousness. The truth is that Jesus paid the penalty of death, was in the grave for three days, and then conquered death for every man. The truth is that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. (John 14:6) The evidence of his death and subsequent resurrection is overwhelming – the empty tomb, the testimony of the soldiers guarding the tomb, the eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior, the changed lives of not only the followers of Christ after His resurrection, but of those today who have accepted Christ as their Lord. In the book of Acts, Luke writes that Jesus showed himself alive after His death by "many infallible proofs", a phrase that indicates the strongest possible legal evidence.
I heard it said once that "facts don't cease to exist simply because they are ignored". In a similar way I believe that "the truth doesn't cease to exist simply because it is rejected". God’s word is absolute truth. We need to obey it and live it in every aspect of our lives, even when coaching and/or recruiting athletes. Let’s maintain honesty, integrity, character and sportsmanship in our coaching not just because we "ought to", but because it is absolutely right to.
Mr. Josephson’s organization (Josephson Institute of Ethics) has partnered with the NABC to promote sportsmanship and character development as well as to encourage coaches to have high ethical standards. You can check out his website at www.josephsoninstitute.org . He does tremendous work with businesses, schools, and with public servants such as police officers. The results of his work have been featured on national television programs and he is a well-respected consultant on ethical issues and challenges we face in our culture today. The sports related arm of the ethics institute is Character Counts which emphasizes a program called Pursuing Victory with Honor. His “six pillars of character” are certainly worth promoting in any endeavor that works with young people. Check it out at www.charactercounts.org.
In one session I attended entitled, "The Toughest Decisions Coaches Make", Mr. Josephson dealt with lying and deception specifically related to the recruitment of athletes. There were many coaches in the session who agreed with him regarding what he called the "Ought". We ought to be truthful with the athletes we recruit. We ought to be "up front" with both the athletes and their parents. We ought not to lie. We ought not to deceive. We ought not to make promises that we cannot fulfill. While many coaches believed and agreed with the "ought" that he was presenting, you could tell by the reaction of most of them, that they didn’t believe that they could maintain job security in that kind of environment. The "Is" environment that most coaches lived in contrasted significantly with the "Ought" environment that they all agreed was right. They justified what "Is" because they felt that they could not live by the "Ought" and survive in a work environment that depended on winning for job security. In short, the end justified the means and the end seemed to be self-preservation for many coaches. The only way to accomplish that was to win, and to win often. A necessary ingredient to consistently winning is to have superior athletes. Whatever it takes to get them is justified as long as the outcome is winning.
As Christian coaches we should function beyond even the "Ought" that Michael Josephson presented. We have absolutes. We have the truth of God’s Word. The reason why we don’t lie, deceive, or cheat is not because it’s just a good idea to help us maintain a civil society. It is because it is God’s law. Admittedly, none of us is capable of keeping God’s law, but that’s not why He gave it – to see if we could keep it. He gave it so that it would point out how far we fall short of His absolute holy standard. Then, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to perfectly fulfill the law by living a sinless life and becoming a sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He paid the death penalty for our transgression of the law, but he didn’t just die. He rose again and became victorious over death. We especially celebrate His resurrection this weekend with the Easter holiday.
So, what goes beyond the "Ought"? The absolute truth does! The truth is that none of us deserves to stand in the presence a Holy God, but He made a way by sacrificing His Son to clothe us in His righteousness. The truth is that Jesus paid the penalty of death, was in the grave for three days, and then conquered death for every man. The truth is that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. (John 14:6) The evidence of his death and subsequent resurrection is overwhelming – the empty tomb, the testimony of the soldiers guarding the tomb, the eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior, the changed lives of not only the followers of Christ after His resurrection, but of those today who have accepted Christ as their Lord. In the book of Acts, Luke writes that Jesus showed himself alive after His death by "many infallible proofs", a phrase that indicates the strongest possible legal evidence.
I heard it said once that "facts don't cease to exist simply because they are ignored". In a similar way I believe that "the truth doesn't cease to exist simply because it is rejected". God’s word is absolute truth. We need to obey it and live it in every aspect of our lives, even when coaching and/or recruiting athletes. Let’s maintain honesty, integrity, character and sportsmanship in our coaching not just because we "ought to", but because it is absolutely right to.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Final Four
Well, the Final Four is set and it looks like it’s shaping up to be an exciting one. For me, the Final Four weekend, which includes the NABC Convention, has been something I really look forward to each year. I have been a member of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) for 18 years and have attended the annual convention that is held in conjunction with the Final Four many times. Over the years, I have appreciated the leadership in the NABC that makes a strong effort to include ministry events in the Final Four weekend. These events have included coaches Bible studies, worship services, seminars for coaches and wives, workshops for coaches as fathers, testimonies from Christian coaches and athletes, discussion panels, question and answer sessions, fellowship luncheons and award banquets. I have often returned from the NABC convention spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated. The excitement surrounding the basketball games is just an added bonus. I also enjoy attending various coaching clinic sessions, watching the teams practice, and taking in the NABC All-Star game.
When talking strictly basketball, I think the Final Four is most exciting when you have a “hot team”, a “home team”, a “historical team” and a “happy-to-be-there team”. It seems like we have that this year for sure.
This year’s “hot team” is probably Connecticut. They have gone through some ups and downs and it took a while to adjust without Jerome Dyson, but now they are firing on all cylinders.
This year’s “home team” is obviously Michigan State. This is the Spartans fifth appearance at the Final Four since 1999. How they handled Louisville was so typical of a Tom Izzo coached team. Having a “home team” creates an exciting atmosphere surrounding the weekend.
The “historical team” is North Carolina. Few colleges have more tradition than the Tar Heels. This is their eighteenth appearance at the Final Four. They are certainly on a mission after being embarrassed by Kansas in last year’s Final Four semi-final game.
The “happy to be there” team is Villanova, but I wouldn’t count them out of having a chance to win it all. Jay Wright has done a great job building that program and they are more than capable of knocking anyone off. They could also be considered the “hot team” coming in.
If you are a college basketball fan it doesn’t get any better than the Final Four. As far as who I think will win, my heart says Michigan State, but my head says North Carolina. It should be another classic.
When talking strictly basketball, I think the Final Four is most exciting when you have a “hot team”, a “home team”, a “historical team” and a “happy-to-be-there team”. It seems like we have that this year for sure.
This year’s “hot team” is probably Connecticut. They have gone through some ups and downs and it took a while to adjust without Jerome Dyson, but now they are firing on all cylinders.
This year’s “home team” is obviously Michigan State. This is the Spartans fifth appearance at the Final Four since 1999. How they handled Louisville was so typical of a Tom Izzo coached team. Having a “home team” creates an exciting atmosphere surrounding the weekend.
The “historical team” is North Carolina. Few colleges have more tradition than the Tar Heels. This is their eighteenth appearance at the Final Four. They are certainly on a mission after being embarrassed by Kansas in last year’s Final Four semi-final game.
The “happy to be there” team is Villanova, but I wouldn’t count them out of having a chance to win it all. Jay Wright has done a great job building that program and they are more than capable of knocking anyone off. They could also be considered the “hot team” coming in.
If you are a college basketball fan it doesn’t get any better than the Final Four. As far as who I think will win, my heart says Michigan State, but my head says North Carolina. It should be another classic.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
A Real Champion
In my 27 years of coaching basketball, one of my all-time favorite coaches to compete against and fellowship with was Keith Champion. Champion, what a great name for a coach! Keith is certainly a champion in more ways than one. He has led many of his teams to conference, state and regional championships, but has developed young men to be champions off the court as much as on the court.
Coach Champion has coached in Christian schools and colleges for over 30 years. Most recently, Keith has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN. You may have been aware that the board of directors at Pillsbury voted to close the school this past December. Tough economic times and declining enrollment forced the board to make a very difficult decision and it abruptly left Coach Champion without a place to coach half way through the season. After 30 years in coaching, finding another place to coach posed a serious challenge. Keith’s resume is outstanding, but starting over again is never very easy. Most coaching vacancies would probably be filled with coaches half his age.
Through this transition, Coach Champion and his wife Judy have consistently trusted the Lord to lead and open doors. I remember having a conversation with Keith shortly after Pillsbury announced they were closing. I asked him what possibilities the future held. He mentioned the possibilities of teaching or administrating at some Christian schools, but then shared with me a question that he had asked his wife, “Judy, I’m a coach, aren’t I?” I’m sure that Judy’s reply was much the same as mine would have been, “Yes, Keith, you’re a coach”. The longer I thought about Keith’s question, the more I realized that he is more than just a coach. He is a coach’s coach. He is a godly leader and well-respected humble servant. Anyone who has ever played for him or coached against him has certainly realized this. Keith understands the real purpose of coaching. He knows that it’s not about building a resume, a program or a reputation. With Keith, coaching is about building young lives. Thankfully, Keith will continue to do this now at Clearwater Christian College. About a week ago, Clearwater announced that Coach Champion has agreed to coach their men’s basketball team and serve as assistant athletic director.
At CSPN we are thrilled that Coach Champion will continue to coach and impact young lives. We are also are grateful that he has agreed to serve on the CSPN Advisory Board. He has already contributed some articles to the Coach’s Corner. These articles are reprints from a weekly article called “From the Sidelines” that he used to write for the Owatonna People Press. Coach Champion always communicates a Biblical philosophy and ministry focus through his coaching and writing. We look forward to his valuable input in an advisory role for us at CSPN. We also look forward to seeing how God is going to continue using Coach Champion at Clearwater Christian College.
Coach Champion has coached in Christian schools and colleges for over 30 years. Most recently, Keith has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN. You may have been aware that the board of directors at Pillsbury voted to close the school this past December. Tough economic times and declining enrollment forced the board to make a very difficult decision and it abruptly left Coach Champion without a place to coach half way through the season. After 30 years in coaching, finding another place to coach posed a serious challenge. Keith’s resume is outstanding, but starting over again is never very easy. Most coaching vacancies would probably be filled with coaches half his age.
Through this transition, Coach Champion and his wife Judy have consistently trusted the Lord to lead and open doors. I remember having a conversation with Keith shortly after Pillsbury announced they were closing. I asked him what possibilities the future held. He mentioned the possibilities of teaching or administrating at some Christian schools, but then shared with me a question that he had asked his wife, “Judy, I’m a coach, aren’t I?” I’m sure that Judy’s reply was much the same as mine would have been, “Yes, Keith, you’re a coach”. The longer I thought about Keith’s question, the more I realized that he is more than just a coach. He is a coach’s coach. He is a godly leader and well-respected humble servant. Anyone who has ever played for him or coached against him has certainly realized this. Keith understands the real purpose of coaching. He knows that it’s not about building a resume, a program or a reputation. With Keith, coaching is about building young lives. Thankfully, Keith will continue to do this now at Clearwater Christian College. About a week ago, Clearwater announced that Coach Champion has agreed to coach their men’s basketball team and serve as assistant athletic director.
At CSPN we are thrilled that Coach Champion will continue to coach and impact young lives. We are also are grateful that he has agreed to serve on the CSPN Advisory Board. He has already contributed some articles to the Coach’s Corner. These articles are reprints from a weekly article called “From the Sidelines” that he used to write for the Owatonna People Press. Coach Champion always communicates a Biblical philosophy and ministry focus through his coaching and writing. We look forward to his valuable input in an advisory role for us at CSPN. We also look forward to seeing how God is going to continue using Coach Champion at Clearwater Christian College.
Monday, March 16, 2009
"Mercy Rule" shows no mercy
Did you hear that Team USA was beaten by Puerto Rico in the second round of the World Baseball Classic? The interesting thing about the game was not that Puerto Rico won - they are a team full of major-leaguers and are very talented. The amazing thing was that the final score was 11-1 in seven innings. No, the final two innings weren’t rained out. It was a “mercy rule” game. You know, when a team has a 10-run lead late in the game. Our best American professional baseball players were “mercy ruled”? How embarrassing is that!
I think the term “mercy rule” is a bit of a misnomer. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have a rule like this for certain competitions, but is it really necessary at the highest levels and should it really be called a “mercy rule”? I think our USA baseball team is talented enough that they could have come up with a couple of good rallies in the final two innings had they been given a chance. They do have some pride and I think some of them might have been humiliated by the seven-inning loss (in some cases, that may not be a bad thing).
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that I had heard of the “mercy rule” being used. I remember it back when I was playing Little League baseball and church league softball 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, I think the primary reason for the rule was for the sake of time. In community recreation leagues there was a time limit on games and the “mercy rule” helped keep things on schedule. I understand the need to have such a guideline, but should it really be called “mercy rule”? It really doesn’t show mercy at all. It seems to be just a more obvious way to highlight an embarrassing defeat.
When it really comes down to it, showing mercy means that one shows compassionate leniency toward an enemy or a wrongdoer. According to Webster, it is a discretionary power to punish or to spare. It is a withholding of some form of punishment or judgment that was rightly deserved. God showed mercy to us in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. He withheld judgment for our sins and refrained from issuing the penalty of death that we all rightly deserved. He provided life for us through His Son when we deserved death and hell. I love the verses in Lamentations 3:22, 23 that say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”. Showing mercy to others is commanded in Luke 6:36 when the Bible says, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”. How have you done recently at showing mercy to others that may have “deserved” your wrath?
While I think that our current sports culture has no idea of the true meaning of mercy, maybe we can use a sports situation when the “mercy rule” is applied to share the message of God’s mercy to us. Also, let’s be careful about running up the score. Obviously, you don’t want your players to give less than their best and there are some lopsided competitive situations that might be unavoidable, but we need to be careful about embarrassing an opponent. While I believe that there is an appropriate use of the “mercy rule”, let’s be sensitive to the feelings of the ones who may be on the receiving end of that “mercy”.
I think the term “mercy rule” is a bit of a misnomer. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have a rule like this for certain competitions, but is it really necessary at the highest levels and should it really be called a “mercy rule”? I think our USA baseball team is talented enough that they could have come up with a couple of good rallies in the final two innings had they been given a chance. They do have some pride and I think some of them might have been humiliated by the seven-inning loss (in some cases, that may not be a bad thing).
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that I had heard of the “mercy rule” being used. I remember it back when I was playing Little League baseball and church league softball 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, I think the primary reason for the rule was for the sake of time. In community recreation leagues there was a time limit on games and the “mercy rule” helped keep things on schedule. I understand the need to have such a guideline, but should it really be called “mercy rule”? It really doesn’t show mercy at all. It seems to be just a more obvious way to highlight an embarrassing defeat.
When it really comes down to it, showing mercy means that one shows compassionate leniency toward an enemy or a wrongdoer. According to Webster, it is a discretionary power to punish or to spare. It is a withholding of some form of punishment or judgment that was rightly deserved. God showed mercy to us in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. He withheld judgment for our sins and refrained from issuing the penalty of death that we all rightly deserved. He provided life for us through His Son when we deserved death and hell. I love the verses in Lamentations 3:22, 23 that say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”. Showing mercy to others is commanded in Luke 6:36 when the Bible says, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”. How have you done recently at showing mercy to others that may have “deserved” your wrath?
While I think that our current sports culture has no idea of the true meaning of mercy, maybe we can use a sports situation when the “mercy rule” is applied to share the message of God’s mercy to us. Also, let’s be careful about running up the score. Obviously, you don’t want your players to give less than their best and there are some lopsided competitive situations that might be unavoidable, but we need to be careful about embarrassing an opponent. While I believe that there is an appropriate use of the “mercy rule”, let’s be sensitive to the feelings of the ones who may be on the receiving end of that “mercy”.
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