Pass The Rock: Real Talk

7/40- By Faith: Shooters Shoot

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” 
-Hebrews 11:1

Before you shoot- you should believe that jumper is going in... Swish.

-Even if you missed the one before....

Ray Allen after going 0-11, Seattle SuperSonics: “Nothing’s wrong. I shot the ball the right way, they just didn’t go in.” Ultimate confidence!!!

Steph Curry... running back on defense after releasing the Ball....

Before you swing the bat- believe it’s gonna connect.

Before kicking against a goal- believing it’s gonna go in.

Before punching... believing it’s gonna land.

Before going into the water for a Triathlon... better believe your gonna make the time.

Before passing FB- believe WR is gonna catch it.

Faith is essential to success in any sport.

Faith is essential to success following Jesus... in fact-

“... without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6 NIV

Believe he exists.

Believe he rewards those that earnestly seek him.

***Faith into Action:

1)Do you believe Jesus exists? Believe what He said? Believe He’s the Truth? Believe he hears you when you pray.

2)Do you believe He rewards those that earnestly seek Him?

Lie from satan... you can’t thoroughly follow Him. You CAN.

Before faith in yourself, start with Faith in Him... before you step foot onto floor in the morning...

Remember to be sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see...

It takes faith in following Jesus... trusting in Him- we don’t see where we are going!

Ex) disciples... wondered often.

You can live life faithfully follow Jesus!

Pray- this inspires you as you compete by faith at practice, you think of living by faith the entire day!

God bless & Go Cougs!

6/40- Trophies v. The Crown

Q: What you do for a trophy? Apple Cup? Conference chip? Natty championship???

Ex) Coach Mike Vrabel... of the Titans, just beat Ravens over weekend on a radio show:

Said he would cut off his 'private' for a SB trophy!

Love a Coach like that, but I probably wouldn’t go that far.

Q: What would you cut out of your life to get the trophy?

Q: What would you do that your not doing? Habits? Discipline?

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 NIV

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? 

Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.”

-Compete to win... don’t play to play... play to win!

-Training... physical and mental training- body obeys brain!

-this means cut things out that don't help you and add things that do help you.

One reward is earthly: stays on earth.... garland with flowers- ‘Crown wilted’

One reward is eternal... the Crown of life with Jesus forever.

Q: What qualities, skills, and habits have you built in pursuit of your earthly trophy?

Q: How can you apply that to you faith and heavenly crown?

1)Get up early to practice? Get up early to get time with Jesus

2)Discipline to leave hostile situations when it’s best for program... for Jesus?

3)Learn your playbook with intensity... God’s playbook- his word with intensity!

***Faith in Action:

***write down 1 (thing) you can add

***write down 1 thing you can eliminate or cut off

These things won’t EARN you the Crown of eternal life, however the Crown of eternal life is MORE THAN WORTH the same efforts we use for earthly trophies!!!

God bless & Go Cougs-

5/40- DIE HARD DREAMERS

When did you fall in love with the game?!

Q: What are your dreams now?

God is a dreamer:

“The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. “I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.””

Genesis 12:1-3 NIV

-Time to go and be an instrument to make my name great!

“He took him outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be.” Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Genesis 15:5-6 NIV

(22 & 26... same dream)

Jesus’ dream:

“Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””

Matthew 28:16-20 NIV

Hoop Dreams: William Gates AND Arthur Agee.

-Impact reached millions of viewers... inspired people around globe. 

-Dealt with adversity: injuries, kicked out of school... Arthur end up in CBA.

-Not about result of dream... journey of pursuing the dream!!!

Faith into Action:

Dream often... daily, weekly, monthly, yearly... Sport AND spiritual!!

Read the entire New Testament, Bible... inner peace, break addiction to substance... 

“I made covenant to not look at a woman lustfully.” -Job

Q: What can God do with your dream???

A: More than you can imagine.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

-Ephesians 3:20-21 NIV

Q: What are your dreams? What can God do with your dream?

Dr. Samuel Thomas Martin IV from University City, STL. MO. 

Quote about DREAM.

On today's episode:

George Kittle
Heart of the San Francisco 49ers…. 

In 2018 he broke the NFL single season record for TE receiving yards in one season with 1,377 yards. He did it with a 43 yard catch and run against the Rams...

When asked about his pre game routine:

He gets a letter from his father (started soph year at Iowa) and reads it before each game to get in the zone. Each letter contains words of inspiration, thoughts, from the previous game, notes on opponent- NEVER MISSES IT.

“I read that, I know, ‘Hey, it’s game day, lock in!” then He head butts a wall in the tunnel before the field.

"Sacred Time”

“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: ‘Everyone is looking for you!’

Jesus replied, ‘Let us go somewhere else- to the nearby villages- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” So he traveled throughout the Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.’ -Mark 1:35-38

Q: What’s your pre-game ritual? Your sacred time???

***Choose a passage, a place to pray and get after it! LOCK IN!
Recite it in the game… make the way you play and act of worship!

Hear Leke Lewu speak about winning, Jesus and some well placed rhymes, as he shares experiences while playing college basketball.

"...The most important one... is this: 'Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these." -Mark 12:28-31 NIV

This was Jesus' eternal WHY.
This was Jesus' eternal WHY for US.

'Achieving your goals becomes much easier when you know WHY you want to achieve them'

Dr. James Naismith, the inventor of Basketball: 'My life work is to do good to men and serve God and wherever I can do this best I want to go. My inclination and talent lies in that direction.'

Q: Will you make Jesus' greatest commandments your WHY for your sport?
Read, speak or yell Jesus' greatest commandments(Mark 12:28-31) each morning to start your day! 

'As Iron Sharpens Iron, so one man sharpens another." -Proverbs 27:17

In athletics, finding iron means competing against someone that makes you better and helps your game grow.

'I win or I learn' -George Raveling

Bible Drills: Choose one passage of scripture and set a timer for 7minutes. Free write all your thoughts, ideas, questions regarding the passage and then share it with someone else.

Grow your spiritual game by learning from others around you worthy of imitating (Hebrews 13:7).

A pre-workout for the spiritual life.
"As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another." -Proverbs 27:17
Be Iron.
Who has been iron in your athletic life?  What did that look like?
What's one way you can be iron today?

Coach Daniels shares about practicals from his experiences coaching basketball at Montevallo, Valdasto State, University of Alabama-Birmingham, University of Missouri, and University of Arkansas.

While wrestling at the University of Virginia, Benjamin herniated his c5 c6 disc in his neck and suffered nerve damage. He talks about searching for answers and what he learned along the way!