Sponsors
Quote of the Week
Concept of the Week from Heath Howington
The Four Phases of Offense
We again want to thank Coach Howington for his organization of the fall clinic and wanted to share this link to his information on the Four Phases of Offense.
A Word from DistinXion
Weekly Devotional
Athletes and coaches understand, perhaps better than most, the need for persistence when it comes to competition. Can the same be said of us concerning prayer? Have we talked with God regularly and honestly? Have we persisted in prayer even during times when God seems far off? Jesus said, “Keep searching, and you will find.” We are to continue to come to God with our requests even when it feels like nothing is happening.“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” - Ephesians 6:18
Question 1
Have you ever given up on praying for something? Why did you give up?
Question 2
Are you willing to resume a particular prayer that you once gave up on? Do you think it can create
a change?
a change?
Message from Coach Thompson
Better When Your Kids Do it
Watching my daughter experience success was something that I will never forget. Having success and watching your players enjoy success is very rewarding as a coach, but when you get the chance to see your own daughter experience winning a championship, it is thrilling. It truly is better when your kids succeed than anything you could accomplish as a coach.
As I watched many of the girls come to the microphone during the pep session and immediately thank God for the opportunity to play volleyball, for their teammates, and their coaches, I thought of how important that approach truly is. Matthew 18:3 says, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” These kids really get it. They have so much fun playing together. They have so much energy and emotion on the court. Their love for the game and their desire to put team success above anything individual is what sports is truly all about.
As the scripture says, we should become more like children. We need to remember the joys of sport and how fun the game is truly meant to be. We need to thank Him for that opportunity!
.
Message from Jason Brand & Billy Holder, SW Indiana FCA
How to Keep Going When Life is Full
If you're like me, you know more good people than you have time to meet with. You also want to succeed at work and in life. Add to that little kids at home, deadlines at work, a small group from church and those three are enough to push any of us to the point of exhaustion.
If you're also trying to live out your calling as a Gospel Patron, then you're not only involved and invested in your own pursuits, but you're in partnership with people who are carrying the gospel torch to other dark places in this world. And partnerships take time and energy.
We all have need of endurance, but the way to keep going is not what we normally think.
In the book of Hebrews we find that God's people were not only exhausted, they were opposed. Their faith wavered in the winds of difficulty and the writer of Hebrews said, "You have need of endurance." (10:36)
Can you relate? Life is busy. Work is tiring. Ministry is difficult and the thought of sitting on a beach permanently sounds like a good idea.
The answer in the book of Hebrews is more than a self-help strategy, more than tips and tricks for a stronger you. Instead, it's a call to fix your eyes on something greater than your weariness and difficulty. Hebrews says the path of endurance is seeing, or perhaps re-seeing the one we lose sight of amidst our winds and waves.
In my Bible I've highlighted in yellow everything the book Hebrews says about Jesus. And there's a lot of yellow! One major theme is that Jesus is our great high priest. On the surface that may not mean much to us in the 21st century, but when we press in deeper we find at least ten reasons this is good news for those of us who need endurance.
First, we find that Jesus is able to help in our temptation. "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (2:18)
Second, we see that Jesus is able to sympathize with our struggles. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (4:15)
Third, we find that Jesus gives us access to God for mercy and grace. "Since then we have a great high priest... let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (4:14, 16)
Fourth, Jesus offers us eternal salvation. "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest." (5:9-10)
Fifth, we can have tremendous hope because Jesus is our high priest forever. "He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (7:24-25)
Sixth, we can have confidence in Jesus because he is exalted to the highest place. "We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven." (8:1)
Seventh, we can rest securely in Jesus' sacrifice for us. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." (9:11-12)
Eighth, we have an advocate in heaven who cares about us. "For Christ has entered... into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." (9:24)
Ninth, difficulty is not the end of our story. We are given a great expectation that Jesus is coming back for us. "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (9:28)
Tenth, God has purpose in the pain. "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (12:7, 10)
Do you see him? Do you see what he offers you?
Help in your temptation. Sympathy with your struggles. Access to God's mercy and grace. Eternal salvation. Hope. Confidence. Security. An advocate in heaven. A great expectation for your future. Purpose in the pain.
Your endurance is not dependent on your strength, but on your sight. Keep looking to Jesus and you can keep going.
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." (12:1-2)
This is from Gospel Patrons: Gospelpatrons.org
Grace,
Jason Brand
FCA - Southwest Indiana
If you're also trying to live out your calling as a Gospel Patron, then you're not only involved and invested in your own pursuits, but you're in partnership with people who are carrying the gospel torch to other dark places in this world. And partnerships take time and energy.
We all have need of endurance, but the way to keep going is not what we normally think.
HOW TO KEEP GOING
In the book of Hebrews we find that God's people were not only exhausted, they were opposed. Their faith wavered in the winds of difficulty and the writer of Hebrews said, "You have need of endurance." (10:36)
Can you relate? Life is busy. Work is tiring. Ministry is difficult and the thought of sitting on a beach permanently sounds like a good idea.
The answer in the book of Hebrews is more than a self-help strategy, more than tips and tricks for a stronger you. Instead, it's a call to fix your eyes on something greater than your weariness and difficulty. Hebrews says the path of endurance is seeing, or perhaps re-seeing the one we lose sight of amidst our winds and waves.
SEE THE SAVIOR
In my Bible I've highlighted in yellow everything the book Hebrews says about Jesus. And there's a lot of yellow! One major theme is that Jesus is our great high priest. On the surface that may not mean much to us in the 21st century, but when we press in deeper we find at least ten reasons this is good news for those of us who need endurance.
First, we find that Jesus is able to help in our temptation. "For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted." (2:18)
Second, we see that Jesus is able to sympathize with our struggles. "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin." (4:15)
Third, we find that Jesus gives us access to God for mercy and grace. "Since then we have a great high priest... let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (4:14, 16)
Fourth, Jesus offers us eternal salvation. "And being made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation to all who obey him, being designated by God a high priest." (5:9-10)
Fifth, we can have tremendous hope because Jesus is our high priest forever. "He holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." (7:24-25)
Sixth, we can have confidence in Jesus because he is exalted to the highest place. "We have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven." (8:1)
Seventh, we can rest securely in Jesus' sacrifice for us. "But when Christ appeared as a high priest...he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption." (9:11-12)
Eighth, we have an advocate in heaven who cares about us. "For Christ has entered... into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf." (9:24)
Ninth, difficulty is not the end of our story. We are given a great expectation that Jesus is coming back for us. "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him." (9:28)
Tenth, God has purpose in the pain. "It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline? He disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness. (12:7, 10)
SIGHT NOT STRENGTH
Do you see him? Do you see what he offers you?
Help in your temptation. Sympathy with your struggles. Access to God's mercy and grace. Eternal salvation. Hope. Confidence. Security. An advocate in heaven. A great expectation for your future. Purpose in the pain.
Your endurance is not dependent on your strength, but on your sight. Keep looking to Jesus and you can keep going.
"Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith." (12:1-2)
This is from Gospel Patrons: Gospelpatrons.org
Grace,
Jason Brand
FCA - Southwest Indiana
All-Pro Dad
Are you a Workaholic?
A great article here from All-Pro Dad about focusing on what is most important and understanding when you need to pull back on the reins if you are exhibiting any of these characteristics. CLICK HERE...
Contact Us
Coach Thompson - coachthompson44@gmail.com - @coachthompson44Luke Zeller - lukezeller@distinxion.org - @lukezeller40 and @distinxion
Nick Bartlett - nick@drdishbasketball.com
Dave Hudson - dhudson@fca.org
Jason Brand - jbrand@fca.org
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