Biblia

CHAMPIONSHIP RING

Topics: Cross; Grace; New Life; Rebirth; Redemption; Salvation References: Job 19:25; Romans 3:24; 8:3–4; 1 Corinthians 1:30; 2 Corinthians 5:16–21; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14 Lou Johnson, a 1965 World Series hero for the Los Angeles Dodgers, tried for thirty years to recover the championship ring he had lost to drug dealers in 1971. Drug and … Continue reading “CHAMPIONSHIP
RING”

WOODEN’S WINNING WAYS

Topics: Example; Integrity; Leadership; Priorities; Success; Teaching; Values; Winning and Losing Reference: Hebrews 13:7 John Wooden’s UCLA teams won ten NCAA championships in twelve years. Still, the 1960s were a turbulent time when Bill Walton played for UCLA under Wooden, and young people were asking hard questions of anyone in authority. Wooden’s answers to such … Continue reading “WOODEN’S
WINNING WAYS”

MY NAME’S NOT FOR SALE

Topics: Character; Christians; Compromise; Convictions; Glorifying God; Identity in Christ; Integrity; Money; Name Reference: 1 Peter 4:14–16 Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks, recently offered WGN Chicago Radio sports-talk host David Kaplan $50,000 to change his name legally to “Dallas Maverick.” When Kaplan declined, Cuban sweetened the offer. Cuban would pay Kaplan $100,000 … Continue reading “MY
NAME’S NOT FOR SALE”

WINNING AS A TEAM

Topics: Church; Community; Ego; Pride; Self-centeredness; Sports; Teamwork; Unity; Unselfishness References: Ephesians 4:11–16; Philippians 2:3–4 Men often talk about their glory years in high school, says A. C. Green, an NBA player. “At Benson High School, in Portland, Oregon, I was a sports-minded, egotistical maniac. I was the tallest guy on the team and could … Continue reading “WINNING
AS A TEAM”

PITCHER ON HOLD

Topics: Commitment; Humility; Regret; Sacrifice; Service References: Philippians 2:5–8; 3:7–8 Bob Feller, a pitcher for the Cleveland Indians, had already thrown a no-hitter and won 107 games in the major leagues when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor. Feller volunteered to fight for his country at the age of twenty-three. After the war Bob returned to … Continue reading “PITCHER
ON HOLD”

TALKING OUT TEAMWORK

Topics: Communication; Community; Listening; Problems; Relationships; Teamwork; Unity References: Psalm 133:1; Romans 15:5; Philippians 2:1–4 In 1997, the Washington Capitals were hot, skating their way into the Stanley Cup finals. By the fall of 1999, they had slipped to one of the worst records in the NHL. Coach Ron Wilson decided drastic measures were necessary … Continue reading “TALKING
OUT TEAMWORK”

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Topics: Assumptions; Behavior; Character; Dignity; Dishonor; Gossip; Identity; Injustice; Integrity; Name; Reputation; Respect; Responsibility; Virtue References: Proverbs 10:18–19; 11:13; 16:28; 22:1; 2 Corinthians 12:20; Ephesians 4:29–32; 1 Timothy 5:13; Titus 3:1–2; James 3:1–12; 1 Peter 3:10 It may take former NBA star and current Phoenix TV commentator Edward Arnett Johnson a long time to get … Continue reading “MISTAKEN
IDENTITY”

PASS THE BATON!

Topics: Discipleship; Generations; Growth; Guidance; Leadership; Maturity; Parenting; Practice; Teachers; Training References: Deuteronomy 6:1–9, 20–25; Proverbs 22:6; Ephesians 6:4; 2 Timothy 1:5 The American women’s relay race team was favored to win the gold medal in the 4-by-100 relay race in the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece. The team featured Marion Jones, a … Continue reading “PASS
THE BATON!”

LOYALTY WINS GOLD

Topics: Assurance; Faith; Guidance; Loyalty; Providence; Trials References: Proverbs 3:5–6; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 4:6–7 Vonetta Flowers was the first person of African descent to win a gold medal for the United States in the Olympic Winter Games. She did that in 2002 after she and teammate Jill Bakken jumped into a speeding bobsled and hurled … Continue reading “LOYALTY
WINS GOLD”