Butler Visit

Great trip to Indy this past week. Opportunity to share personal spiritual journey with Butler Coaches at their 10am Bible Study. Was an advocate for "the righteousness challenge," imperfect Christians committed to live out the righteousness of God in the environment of competitive sports. Shared my personal journey in this area as an athlete, coach, parent and sports minister. Lots of challenges faced, lessons learned, and character revealed. Learning to ABIDE IN HIM daily is how athletes can genuinely glorify God, grow in the sanctification process and give of themselves totally to the cause of Christ with their God given gifts. Coaches will only become maximum life influencers and parents will only develop a kingdom perspective in sports, thus becoming faithful to training up their kids in the way to go rather than living vicariously through their sports involvement, when they commit to ABIDING in HIM daily. Heart and Mind must be focused on what matters most to God when one enters the environment of competitive sports.

Thursday night a good group of students gathered and I was able to share the difference between being highly successful in life from the world's viewpoint and significant in the sight of God from an eternal perspective. Shared the story of Andrea Buehital and her family who were pioneers in opening up the Camp Langano mission station. Andrea lost her life at a young age for the cause of Christ in that region. The blood of her flesh has become the seed for 5 churches being planted in the region along with hundreds of people's lives being transformed forever in the name of Jesus. A wasted life? I think not! Many americans search for success while all Christians should seek to be obedient and faithful to the call of God, using one's God given gifts for what matters most to God, wherever, despite the cost, locally and to the ends of the earth, for this is a significant life well lived.

In between these times I spent time with Kelly Findley, a former Charlotte Eagle player, and his family. Kelly now coaches the Butler bulldogs soccer team and is currently 15-0-1. More importantly, Kelly loves the Lord and seeks to make a name for God through his coaching efforts rather than himself. Pray for him towards this end along with finding the right balance between family, fellowship/ministry, coaching a D1 program, and life in general.

Next speaking engagement is Briarwood Church in Alabama Nov. 23rd.