1-2-3 PREACH (A Spiritual Insight on our Season)
Mission Trip to Briggsdale, CO
After losing eight talented seniors from the no. 2 ranked team in the country a year ago, many doubted this season would amount to much, especially since we mostly recruited freshman. We began our journey on a mission trip to a small community in rural Colorado called Briggsdale. God connected me with their boys’ basketball Coach Cling Fiscus a few years back in an extraordinary manner and we have been as close as brothers ever since. We spent a week hosting a faith-based sports camp for the kids in the morning, while host church services for kids, youth, and adults in the evening. During our break times we did yard work and painted homes of widows and the elderly. God moved powerfully all week. We ended the amazing week of spiritual growth with a community carnival, an inspirational movie, and amazing Sunday Service. The next to last night of the services was one to remember. As we held the adult service in a big circus like tent, an evening thunder storm blew in that nearly blew the tent away with us in it. My coaching friend is a giant physically and spiritually and he stood in the door of the tent, getting pounded by a monsoon of rain and wind, holding down the tent while I continued to preach at the top of my lungs to the community. The louder the rain the more presence that seemed to enter the tent. A rainbow and many more blessings followed that evening! Our players grew so much spiritually and bonded so tight in that week. They led worship and boldly shared the gospel. That’s what happen when you let go of your fears and preach! Each player through emotional tears expressed the impact the week had on them in a final day round circle meeting. Many of them said it was one of the most memorable and powerful experiences of their lives. I will reconnect this Journey with Briggsdale at the end of my story!
Our last two days in Briggsdale were spent climbing a mountain and whitewater rafting. The boys earned the opportunity to experience two fun challenging journeys that would resemble our upcoming season. Fittingly we would climb a mountain to begin and end our season! This mountain trail is called Longs Peak, it is not for the soft at heart. For the ones that made the difficult hike up into rare air, the amazing beauty of Lake Chasm at the top will be a memory of a lifetime. Many took a splash in the ice-cold water. With snow still around in spots at over 13,000 ft, this was an exhilarating plunge. City boys like VAL had never seen God’s majestic creation like this. So proud of everyone who made this difficult climb! It was an exact picture of what was to come! They warned us to get up and down by mid-afternoon because they expected extremely dangerous lightning storms. Apparently, our bodies are targets for lightning from heaven when above the tree lines. Someone had died just the week before from being struck from lightning.
The next day we tackled whitewater river rafting. I have survived many challenging canoe trips, but they failed to compare to the exhilaration of whitewater rafting. It was an experience full of teamwork, facing fear, enduring the cold, and once again an uncommon preparation for the season that was to come.
As we returned to Briggsdale that evening we had one more surprise from Coach Fiscus waiting on us. Two giant limousines were waiting to take us to dinner and even more fun. There is zero doubt God had orchestrated our entire trip. God had moved, the wind of the Holy Spirit showed up and changed lives, and we became a team of unique destiny.
The Preseason
As school began and everyone once again came together for preseason workouts, it was evident early that we had a close knit, but very young and inexperienced family of young men. Our only senior and sole returning starter was Lance Tipton. We only had two other returning players that had received playing time off the bench. I am blessed with an amazing staff which includes Gene Hartman, Blake Zinck, and Ian Spaight. It was difficult to see our upside in preseason, but we were very pleased with the buy in and effort level of everyone. We just had to figure out how to put God’s puzzle together.
God taught me long ago that I must keep our program focused on Him. I call it the 51% Rule. The only way to keep our focus on God is to place Him first. If our focus ever drops below 51%, then we start relying on our strength and ability. I learned the hard way trying to reach goals on my own strength rarely succeeds. As a result, I spend time daily with my Heavenly Father listening, asking, and seeking His plan for that day. I love how He always shows up. Always on time and always bigger than I can imagine., but rarely how or when I expect.
I recently heard a message about tithing what we value. Time is definitely high on our everyone’s value list. 10% of our time in a day is 2.4 hours. I have attempted to give my best and first by getting up early to spend the beginning of each day with The King of Kings. I am not a morning person, but now I can’t wait to wake up and spend time in His Presence. God often wakes me up now and I have found these are some of the most powerful times and encounters with His Love. Sometimes when He wakes me up, He puts a song in my spirit, other times He gives me a Dreams. Sometimes Dad places someone on my heart to pray for. One thing is for certain, I have never regretted making the time to spend with my Savior, my Friend, my Lord, my All. As a night owl, I also spend the last of my day with Sweet Jesus. People often ask me how I have so much energy on so little sleep. When you are drinking from the cup of Life Himself, the math never adds up. He refreshes my soul and my strength! Sadly, so many are lazy spiritually and their longest amount of time in prayer or praise to Jesus is before they eat or in a pregame prayer. I was there once. I will never go back, I have found a river that never runs dry! It is a well that never runs dry.
Every preseason, I spend many hours praying and seeking the theme God has in store for His season. We put a theme on our warmup shirts. Our staff wears them during the season and we sell them to our fans so they can share in our focus on glorifying our Savior. This began in 2009 with “Foe His Glory” being our theme that season. It was one of my favorite moments ever as fans chanted “For His Glory” on CBS Sports during the final minutes of our Championship Game.
OUR THEME
This year’s theme was twofold. Our mascot is an Eagle, but God was asking me to focus on horses this season. As I began to study, I found that horses were arguably the greatest weapon in the history of warfare. Makes sense that Jesus is returning on a White Horse! Horses go all the way back to chariots. Horses are fearful in nature but can be taught and bred to be hot blooded war machines. Even a small fast horse called a Hobelar was used in the mountainous terrain to conquer the mighty English war horses in a stunning victory for William Wallace and Scotland! Advancements were made by Knights, bow and arrow warfare all the way through the wild west. World War One was specifically won with the help of horses. It amazed me how an animal that is normally skid-dish can become hungry for and charge into battle fearlessly. Completely numb to bullets, explosions, and the fear that comes with battle. I was still struggling to see how or why I was to use horses as our theme, that is until God showed me this verse. Zechariah 10:3: “He will make us like his majestic war horse in battle!” Only He could take a young small inexperienced group of young men and make the fearless and hungry to charge into battle!”
The second part of our theme was just as important for our shirt! It would state who we are and whose we are! We were to place the name of our Father in our shirt right where a players last name is normally positioned on the back. Our Father has many names, but the one we were to use was “I AM”. When people ask why we have “I Am” on our shirt, we would tell them, because “The Great I AM” is our father. He tells us who we are. No reason to listen to what the doubters were saying about us. As Sons of the Risen King, we have both access and authority to the blessings and favor of our Father! “I Am” able to do all things through Christ Jesus who gives me strength. All things are possible! John 15:5 is a powerful reminder that without Jesus we can do absolutely nothing of value!
OUR PREGAME PRAISE
The next order of business is setting the worship music that God wants us to come out to. Two big reasons this is so important. Praise always led God’s people to battle. Satan was the worship leader in heaven and people do not understand the power of praise and music. I am amazed at the music that is allowed in warmups at some gyms. Bad enough with adults, but even with children present. We were reminded of this at National Tournament when watching an NBA-G League practice as they turned music on at the end of practice which was laced with trash. We got up and left. Once you have had the good stuff. Trash no longer taste good.
Secondly, the songs we listen to when entering the gym and warming up for battle should make an impact on both our fans and our opposition. Hopefully they see God’s love and see something different. Something both powerful, touching, and still full of life and beat! I can’t tell you how many times people ask me for the names of our warmup songs. If sometimes takes weeks of praying for God to reveal these songs. He often adds a song as the season progresses.
This year the first song that God dropped was by Tasha Cobb. Tasha was someone that God had shown me last year as we included one of her songs in our warmups. The first song God have me his year was “I’m Getting Ready”. Check it out. You will see why. Funny thing is, the songs God has given me are rarely on main stream Christian radio. They seem to come out of nowhere. It also helps that we come out for warm-ups to the lights out, a spotlight, and following a Harley Davidson motorcycle!
God took things to another level when He dropped One of the best praise jams I have ever heard called “Every Praise” by Hezekiah Walker on me. I listen to worship 24/7. Not sure how I missed hearing this one. I had a guy text me and say that his wife wanted to know the song as she was pretty sure we would be signing it in Heaven. We changed this praise to say “Every Play, Is For Our God”! God filled in our playlist, but He had one more major move that shifted the trajectory of our team midway through the season. In January, He gave me the artist name Steven Malcolm, through my daughter. Paige was blessed to be an MC at a huge New Years Celebration in Cincinnati. She mentioned that I should check out his music. I had no idea that he had been in so many good songs with other artist. Two of his songs though dropped on me like manna from heaven. “Even Louder” and “Not to Us/Even Louder”. You can listen for yourself! What are the chances that God would bring Steven Malcolm to Bartlesville and we worshipped with him on the night before our Conference Tournament Championship game? Yes, the game that clinched our trip to the NAIA National Tournament. In my eyes, the odds were zero, coincidence not even close, God no Doubt! There will be more to come with Steven Malcolm!
SERVING OTHERS IS THE PATH TO A TRUE BLESSING
There is not a more powerful way to build a winning team than through serving others throughout the season. After our mission trip, the first opportunity to serve was a community outreach by Spirit Church called “Day of Hope”. This year it was expanded to be a part of Convoy of Hope. It was a powerful day of outreach. Our second service opportunity came from close friends of our program, Mike and Sherri Smith, who are founders of Agape Mission. On numerous occasions we were blessed to be able to help serve at Agape! Right before Christmas break we take part in a service we call “Make A Miracle Happen”. To “Make a Miracle Happen” this year, we teamed with a ministry called Samaritan’s Feet. We collect kids shoes to give less fortunate kids new shoes at Christmas. As part of this ministry, they ask coaches to go barefoot during the game to bring attention to the less fortunate. I loved the idea. Funny thing though, few read about the event in our local paper and even my own kids even thought I was randomly going barefoot as something God had told me to do. A referee even asked if I was ok when I took my shoes off at the beginning of the game. Too funny. John the Baptist and evening Jesus never fit into the world or religious circles either. Dare to me different. Rebel with a Cause!
Our next service opportunity has become a FAVORITE of our team. We have taken part in the Tim Tebow Night to Shine for three years now. It is a special needs prom. Nothing more joyful all season than this one! True story. The event was the night before a tough road game at Friends University. We lost in OT. On paper it made no sense to keep guys out late the night before a huge game. The loss really hurt our chances at a conference championship and post season. We missed two easy layups late or we would have won. If there was ever a time for doubt and skepticism of why would we go the second mile by serving the special needy instead of getting extra rest, it was this one. Truth is we didn’t hesitate and never will when asked to serve.
We have chapel twice a week at OKWU, plus we ask our guys to find a church family to get fed at on Sunday’s. With three services already required, why would we need any more of Jesus? What a sad thought process! We are so blessed at this critical stage in life, to grow as a man of God. Before becoming a father, husband, and rock for your family, what a great opportunity to be fed the Gospel. The greatest mission we have is teaching young athletes how to start feeding themselves and helping them learn the importance of seeking deeper for the secrets and favor of God. We have a weekly team Devotion on Wednesday Nights as well as requiring our players to attend Tuesday Night FCA. These two incredible nights training for battle give us an unfair advantage on many teams. God supplies powerful and timely speakers and messages for our team during these two critically important opportunities.
THE WEEK BY WEEK SPIRITUAL WALK OUR TEAM ENJOYED THIS SEASON
There is no way I can share every detail, but I am asking God to help me remember the details that He wants me to share with you. I hope you enjoy and are blessed.
1- Nevertheless
Definition
A. In the Old Testament, the original Hebrew means, strangely enough, “a ceasing, an end, a finality”
B. In the New Testament Greek, in Luke’s writing, the word “nevertheless” is used (and I quote from Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, Abridged): “after negative sentences”, and “serves to mark a transition to something new”.
C. In Mark’s writing, however, “NEVERTHELESS” is used as “an opposition to concession” 1. This simply means that, although the speaker does not want to yield, or concede, to circumstances, they have submitted their own will through the power of ‘nevertheless’.
D. Finally, from the American Heritage Dictionary, 4th Edition, in today’s English grammar, the word simply means, “In spite of all that…”
Winners, leaders, and followers of Jesus don’t choose the easy path. They still see fear, but have the discipline and faith not to react to it. They let the Holy Spirit desensitize themselves to fear.
They flip the enemies plan. They choose a different path to success. They do what Jesus did and quote the Word of God!
Jesus used this same word many times to transition Himself to the right decisions! Let’s take a look.
Matthew 26:39 – And he went a little farther, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Mark 14:36 – And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
Luke 22:42 – Saying, Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done
Luke 5:5 – And Simon answering said unto him, Master, we have toiled all the night, and have taken nothing: nevertheless at thy word I will let down the net. V-4-6
John 16:7 – Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.
Numbers 13:27-28 KJV – “And they told him, and said, We came unto the land whither thou sentest us, and surely it floweth with milk and honey; and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless the people be strong that dwell in the land, and the cities are walled, and very great: and moreover we saw the children of Anak there.”
Numbers 13:32 Caleb : We must Certainly Take! (2 saying can, 10 saying can’t)
Spies got caught, not by enemy, by a thought from enemy. We are too small.
But 85% of the spies used THE POWER OF ‘NEVERTHELESS’ to change a positive “we saw” into a negative “we can’t”.
1. Their attitude was “Yes, there’s plenty of promise in the land that we spied out, but in spite of all that…”
• It was this “Nevertheless” that became “an end, a ceasing, a finality”, because it stopped what GOD wanted to do for Israel.
The most difficult thing you will ever let go of is YOUR WILL. God will put a “Nevertheless Moment” in your life to give you this opportunity. Embracing rather than resisting the moment will usher you into God’s plan for you!
2- Crazy Faith
This message was sparked by Pastor Michael Todd of Transformation Church where many of our players attend regularly. Pastor Todd impacted the world with this message. It really freed our players to go all in. No matter how crazy something sounded, this group was willing to jump. Example: I asked them to fast something privately and replace that with time spent with Jesus. The results of this sacrifice never stop amazing me. What you do in private before only Him, He honors you publicly before men! Whether it is your time, your video games, or your food, the power of fasting and sacrifice is unlimited.
I will mention something God revealed to me at Nationals. I asked God to send Fire down once again, to set us on fire and empower us with His Spirit. Let the world see us burn for Him. Make us contagious. God revealed to me that He brings his Fire from heaven on sacrifices. In the OT there was always a sacrifice. Jesus became our sacrifice. We go about asking for so much from God, but do we truly sacrifice anything?
Look at Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice Isaak. God gave us His Best. Jesus! God has everything and needs nothing from us. The only thing God could sacrifice of value is His One and only Son! How much does He love You and Me? We can’t even fathom His Love! Crazy Faith for Crazy Love!
3 – Awe and Wonder
Through divine actions, the God of wonders reveals His character, His purposes, and His power on earth. In response, people who witness His miracles are filled with awe and wonder: “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told” (Habakkuk 1:5, ESV).
The pagan King Nebuchadnezzar witnessed the miraculous power of the Lord Most High. The wondrous deeds he experienced included a dream that was revealed and interpreted, three Hebrews being delivered from a fiery furnace, and the loss and restoration of Nebuchadnezzar’s sanity and kingdom. In response, Nebuchadnezzar enthusiastically praised the God of wonders: “It is my pleasure to tell you about the miraculous signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me. How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation” (Daniel 4:2–3).
Through extraordinary signs, the God of wonders demonstrates His limitless power, His inescapable presence, His divine protection, and His sovereign purposes. In each instance, God’s wondrous works are designed to draw people to Himself. Through His most stunning of all miracles, the God of wonders revealed Himself in Jesus Christ, overcame the power of sin and death, and redeemed His people for all eternity.
The Word God has given me in 2020 is Wonder! Joshua 3:5 says it all, “then Joshua told the people, “Purify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do great wonders among you.” Purify is also translated consecrate, sanctify, or make yourselves acceptable. When we do that, then we will see our God do great wonders in each of our lives!
I believe God is going to show me and many of us His mighty wonder working power both in 2020 and in the decade to come!
4- OAKS and OARS
There’s a beautiful line in Isaiah 61:3 where the prophet says that the broken-hearted, the prisoners, the mourners will be vindicated, crowned and comforted. It’s part of the passage Jesus quotes in the synagogue at Nazareth (Luke 4:18) which begins, ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me.’
And in a curious image, he says: ‘They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.’
OAK – His Mighty Oaks – Rim Protectors – Defending the Faith
OAR – Oaks A Righteousness – definition – flat blade used to row or steer a boat through the water.
Ezekiel 27:6 Of the oaks of Bashan have they made thine oars! To row the ships with; for their ships probably were no other than galleys, which were rowed with oars, as were the ships of first invention. Bashan was a country in Judea where oaks grew; The country of Judea in general was famous for oaks; it abounded with them in the times of Homer F20, who speaks of Typho being buried in a country abounding with oaks.
The Oak tree is one of the most loved trees in the world, and with good reason. It’s a symbol of strength, morale, resistance and knowledge.
Jeremiah 17:8 He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.
Psalm 1:3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers.
Why ‘Oaks of Righteousness’?
Oaks are said to take 300 years to grow, 300 years to live and 300 years to die. They are majestic trees. The picture of an oak tree British readers might have is the one that stands on its own in a field. Its branches spread widely. Cows and sheep shelter under it from the sun and rain. It’s full of birds.
But the field oak is not as useful to the carpenter and builder as the woodland oak. The woodland oak grows with other trees. Consequently, it doesn’t spread, like its cousin in the field. It grows straighter and higher, because it reaches towards the light.
The oaks of righteousness are plural. They are woodland oaks, growing together.
God crowns the defeated, broken-hearted captives with glory and makes them oaks of righteousness – woodland oaks, growing strong and taller together.
5- Pass the Praise
Steven Malcolm’s song “Not to Us” sparked a very important theme that really was critical in our team’s success. We were very good when we shared the basketball and made sure to make the extra pass. Staying in attack mode, but always looking to Pass the Praise. Not only on the court but more importantly off the floor! This was something we focused on daily once God revealed it to us.
6- Raising Your Hands and Praising Leads to Favor
Psalm 134 – It is time to raise your hands and praise. It is then that God’s Blessing and Favor will fall on His House!
He does not call us to do hard stuff, he calls us to do impossible stuff! Your best is not good enough, but His is always good enough. Do our best so he can do the rest! You need to get a better view of what God can do in your life! Change your view of God. See with your Spiritual Eyes!
Hebrews 11:1 Greater than we can Imagine – the evidence of things not seen (when you have been given a dream/vision), confirmation is when others begin to see it!
Luke 7:46 Why do you call me Lord Lord but don’t do what I say? Go Deep to Set the Foundation of My House! A place of my Presence! Anxiety and Depression cannot attend. Our House is A Revival House
1 – Make Faith in Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit our Priority (As for me and my House. Must not quench (speaks to flow like pinching a water hose). Must not grief (speaks to character and righteousness)
2- Possess a faith that is worth replicating.
3- Intentionally Share, testify to the Great things God has done. Must see and hear Gods Wonder (not ashamed)
Joshua 4:14 get a stone from the river for each tribe. Get a stone from the dry ground. So when they ask what do these stones mean. They represent what mighty things God has done!
4- increase your faith through Expectation! Must be desperate for more of Jesus.
Always expecting God for more than you can imagination, must trusting God, what could possibly be standing in our way! We must Pray Impossible Prayers! 2020 vision – God Vision comes into focus for us.
Are you desperate for Jesus? Mediocracy – MediumCrazy – Full Crazy – Full of Faith
We boldly started raising our hand when we prayed as a team at all times, even on the court before games. It was awesome to look up into the crowd and seeing young boys raising their hands. You never know who you are impacting.
7- Just Do it
Just Do It Just Do it
Nothing Is Impossible Nothing is Impossible
Luke 7:46 – Why do you call me Lord Lord but don’t do what I say?
John 15:5 – Without me you can do nothing. Jesus
John chapter two records the first miracle of Jesus. Jesus and his boys are hanging out at a wedding they were invited to. Jesus and his boys are chilling and having a good time at the wedding, when all the sudden Jesus’ mom approaches her beloved son.
Let us begin in John 2:3 When the wine was all gone, the mother of Jesus said to Him, “They don’t have any wine.” Jesus replied, “Woman, what does that have to do with me?” First of all, Jesus calling his mom “Woman”, I am surprised Mary didn’t ground Jesus for a couple weeks. The amplified is kind and adds (Dear) before He says, “Woman”.
My mom still at the least gives me the death stare if I choose to call her woman instead of mother. Then Jesus tries to smooth it out with the next line. “My time hasn’t come yet.” Since nobody except Mary had a clue what Jesus was talking about, Mary let that little comment go in one ear and out the other. Mary’s next line was not to Jesus, but to His boys and it was the first time I believe the inspirational “JUST DO IT” quote was spoken. In verse five Mary boldly proclaims, “Whatever He says to you, do it.”
If there was a Nike version of the Bible, John 2:5 would definitely read, “Whatever He says, JUST DO IT.”
Inspiration is a heart thing. It is a winner thing. It is a powerful thing. I heard the quote. “Act enthusiastic and you will become enthusiastic.” When I first heard the quote, I thought the man said, “Half enthusiastic is never enthusiastic.” Well, both quotes are true. Inspiration is something you have to apply and it is never a half way thing!
8- Finish with your Torch Lit
1 Thes 5:19 Don’t quench the Fire (The Holy Spirit)
Prior to the season I brought out a box of matches. I lit one on fire and let it burn until it burned my finger. I told my players if you play with Fire you often get burned. Don’t let that happen this season. I then said the only way you do not get burned is to become fire. Like the three Hebrew boys that were thrown into the fire, they could not be consumed because the Fire of the Holy Spirit has consumed them. Jesus was waiting for them in the fire and a whole nation came to serve God as a result of the bold faith of these three young men. I handed every one of my players a match and challenged them to protect this match, so at the end of the season our fire would still be lit. My guys did just that!
Moses saw bushes burning in the Desert all the time, so what was different and special about the burning bush that got his attention? It was the fact that it never burnt out! It remained burning day after day! What a perfect example of what we are to look like when the Spirit of God consumes us!
One of our FCA speakers named Pastor Tony then shared another story about keeping our fire burning hot. In ancient Olympics the most prestigious event was the long-distance race. The unique part of the race was the winner was the runner who finished first with the torch he carried still lit!
We broke huddle for a number of weeks with “Fire”! Constantly reminding them to not let their fire burn out!
9 – OWL
One of the most interesting things God showed me was to be like Solomon and ask for Wisdom. You may not be stupid, but doing something stupid over and over will get you beat. We studied owls and were amazed at what we learned from God’s creation!
After researching facts about owls, I was completely surprised by the results. Found on every continent except Antarctica, Owls are well known for its sharp vision and keen observation, but did you know:
1- Wisdom is a result of Uncommon Vision
Owls don’t have eyeballs. Rather, they’re more like eye tubes. They’re elongated and held in place by “sclerotic rings,” a bony structure in the skull. Because of this, owls can’t really move or roll their eyes. That’s why they have heightened mobility in their necks.
Because the eyes are forward-facing, owls have binocular vision similar to humans, meaning they can see an object with both eyes at the same time. This gives owls a great ability to judge height, weight and distance.
Owls only have a 110-degree field of view with about 70 degrees of binocular vision. But what they lack in binocular vision they make up for in extraordinary night vision and far-sightedness. However, because they are far-sighted, they can’t see objects up close. When they catch prey, they use filoplumes — small hair-like feathers on their beaks and feet — to feel out their food.
Finally, owls have not one, not two, but three eyelids: one is for blinking, one is for sleeping, and one is for keeping those precious peepers clean.
2- Wisdom allows you to see the enemy at all times
Imagine having the ability to see behind you. On Defense we always tell our players to keep their head on a swivel to see both the ball and their man. Owls take this gift to a whole new level!
Okay so let’s clear one thing up right away. Owls can’t turn their necks 360 degrees. It looks like they can, but it’s actually only 135 degrees in either direction from facing forward. This gives them an amazing total of 270 degrees of movement.
It’s not easy to turn your head all the way to see over your shoulders, so owls have some special adaptations. First, instead of seven vertebrae in their necks like the average bird, owls have double that number! But their adaptations go well beyond that. They have extra upgrades that help them survive while they turn their heads so dramatically and quickly. They have alternative blood vessels routing blood to the head, blood pooling systems to keep blood circulating to and from the brain when their neck movement cuts off circulation, and air-cushioned vessel casings so they don’t rupture a blood vessel when snapping their neck around 135 degrees to look over their left shoulder.
3- Wisdom comes from the ability to listen!
Many species of owls have ears that are not only placed asymmetrically on their head but are also different sizes. The two differently sized and placed ears receive sound at slightly different times, providing the birds with an exceptional ability to pinpoint the location of sound; when a sound is equally loud in both ears, the owl knows it has zeroed in on the source and distance.
Meanwhile, their flattened faces funnel sound to the ears, magnifying it so that they can detect even the slightest sound from tiny prey.
4- Wisdom is often a result of being unnoticed!
Owls have the ability to be completely quiet if they want to swoop in on fast-moving prey. To accomplish this, they have broad wings that allow them to glide and minimize flapping, which is what creates most of the noise from a flying bird. Also, many species of owls have special flight feathers that minimize sound when flapping their wings.
Along the leading edges of the primary flight feathers are stiff fringes, reminiscent of the teeth of a comb, that act to reduce turbulence. Then on the trailing edges of the same feathers are soft fringes, sort of like the frayed edges of a torn piece of cloth, which further reduces remaining turbulence. The wings are also covered in downy feathers to dampen sound even more.
With these specially designed feathers, instead of the woosh-woosh-woosh sound we hear from the wing beats of large birds like ravens, it’s difficult to hear owls at all. This gives them the ability to sneak up on unsuspecting prey.
5 – Wisdom is the ability to lock in effortlessly on your goal and desires!
Owls have a foot structure called zygodactyl. Owls have four toes, three of which face forward and one backward when flying. However, when perched or grasping prey, the outer front toe can swivel back so that two toes face forward and two face backward. This allows an owl a better grip on prey or a branch.
But for a truly exceptional grip, owls have the ability to lock their toes around an object so that they don’t need to continually contract their muscles. Maximum grip with minimal effort.
10 – Radical Place Called Wonderland
In order to free yourself from the cozy comfort of where you are at and have always been, you must leave all you know and start a journey to a radical place you have never seen and only can imagine! You must trust and believe that you can experience the WonderLand God has Promised.
Because of Josephs’ favor and rise to leadership, God’s people were not slaves for the first 400 years in Egypt. I had never realized this. They coexisted and lived somewhat prosperous lives, learned the ways and were educated and thrived on an Egyptian level of success. That is all they knew. So even though they became slaves in Egypt after an evil pharaoh came to power, it was very difficult for the children of God to leave their comfort zone of all they knew for a radical place called the promised land that they had never and could not see.
You will never reach Wonderland, the place of miracles and favor God has promised for you, without taking a leap of faith and leaving what you know.
Let’s put this in basketball terminology. What you have been taught and become comfortable with when it comes to effort level and your current skill set, will net take you to the next level. You must choose to leave where you are at become stronger, learn to play harder, stop living off of your strengths and develop your skills that are weak, and understand that the pain called the wilderness of pushing yourself past the effort level you are comfortable with is the only way you will ever reach the Promised Wonderland!
I am talking about a level you have never seen with your natural eyes. Whether that is a championship or reaching the next level of going from a successful high school played to reaching the destination of arriving at becoming a successful college athlete.
God chose to take his people through the Red Sea and the wilderness to test them to see if they trusted Him and had a heart focused on relying on Him and a true desire to bring Him Glory other than seeking their own selfish desires. Why would God choose any other path for us today?
The great news is, we don’t have to stay in Egypt or die in the wilderness. We do however have to accept the Radical Truth that the road to the Wonderland we all desire will take uncommon focus on the impossible. To believe in something you have never seen, you must ask for God to place a dream and/or vision inside you. You must then chase with all your heart the person in the Holy Spirit who God sent to guide and give you the strength necessary to leave where you are at and make the mountainous journey full of valleys, giants, and pits.
Why would you choose this Radical Path when life with the Egyptians or Romans at times seems lavish? Even though you are a slave to sin, it feels good at times and it takes zero effort to change. Why fast and pray, lower yourself or even dive on your knees, raise your hands until you win a battle, or worship with all you have inside you, when you can recline and continue being a slave to sin. It is actually very comfortable.
The only way, and yes there is only one way, is to become radically in love with Jesus. The Savior of the world is so radically in love with you that He endured the journey to earth, overcame temptation, letting them spit and beat on Him, taking the nails in His hands, journeying all the way down the Via Dolorosa to the cross, just for you!
What does He ask of you? Pick up your cross and follow Him! See the Wonderland or Promise that waits for you when you go from James 1:1 to James 1:12! It is often called the Roman Road, the path less travelled, the journey of radical uncommon crazy faith that few will choose to take. I can promise you this! Fewer will take this journey if we are not powerful examples of following Jesus for them to see. When God’s Wonder is seen in His children, then they will be drawn to our Father. We are to be a spitting image of our big brother Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, and only doing what we know our Father does. The scouting report was written by Jesus and His inspired team. The game plan is clear if you focus and learn to hear only the voice of our Coach! He will lead us to Wonderland, also called the Promised Land!
11- Dream Bigger – No Way / Way
Dream Bigger – Way Bigger – The Lord will win a victory!
1-Tell someone who will be an encourager
2-Pray
3-Praise God for it
4- God has bigger dreams for you
5- God is not done with you
If you want something you have never had, you must do something you have never done!
Without God, a Genius is worthless
John 14:12-14 Dream Bigger
Truly, Truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works i do. AND GREATER works than these will he do, because I am going to the father! Whatever you ask in my Name, this I will do, that the Father May be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it!
Jesus gives you help!
15 if you love me, you will keep my commandments 16 And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with me forever. Even the Spirit of Truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
I am making a Way where there is supposed to be No Way! This is what i saw when going to KW and I felt God tell me not yet. We would not punch our ticket yet. I said but God I have never led my team to a National Tournament by having to win the Conf Tournament. This team struggles winning three in a row. God said then watch me do this!
I pave beautiful roads right through the Wilderness. Right where nobody expects or believes they will appear. I will do it so, everyone will know it’s me!
Forget Natural Process. Think Supernatural process. I will make streams in the desert!
12- Cauz A God / What is Worship
Center of the Word – Worthship
Hebrew
1- to Esteem with Worth
2- to give Honor
3- to place Highest Value on
4-to Bend yourself towards something – Bow or lower even lay down prostrate
5- Acknowledge in all things
6- perpetual nonstop gratitude/praise/fire
51% rule – Minimum – Cause a God
Focus everything we did on doing it as worship to God.
A new commitment – I have Decided to Follow Jesus! No turning Back, no Turning Back.
We broke huddle “CAUZ A GOD” for a number of games successfully!
13- Set your Vision not your Sight.
You see only what is in front of you with your sight. You see the unseen, the impossible with Vision! It is only impossible because you have not done it yet. Everything was impossible until it was accomplished.
Mountain Climb -2020 – We have a mountain to climb. God is not waiting for us at the top. He is waiting to ask us for help in getting there!
Jesus sent a helper to Guide us, Empower us, and Give us Vision!
14- Becoming a Team of Leaders
Ten
1- Purpose – revealed piece by piece as you walk. You couldn’t handle seeing process and the pain beforehand.
2- Capture Vision – Purpose is source of vision. Vision is photos of purpose. Vision is when you see Purpose
3- Must share your inspiration. Talk about it. Tell people, fearlessly and don’t care about the response. Start distributing it! People who are supposed to help you fulfill it don’t even know about it yet. Show it to everyone you can! Nobody gone steal it! There are people who have the resources to share your vision, but they don’t know. Cause you ain’t sharing. Dust the dust off and go to next house! They will come later.
4- Commit to principles and values. Standards you will never break.
5- Express your passion! Let people know your passions! Proof of passion is repetition! Passion is like a pregnancy. It will birth a dream! What is growing on the inside of you? What are you pregnant with? Folks around you are baron, they aren’t like you. Be around Elizabeth’s! Make your baby leap, because she was carrying a miracle baby as well.
6- Empower Others! Goal make other people great. Let the weak believe they are strong, give hope.
7- Discipline themselves to a purposed life. Got to be narrow pathed! Self-discipline is the mark of a true leader. Not in club at 2 am. Avoid the short circuit. Greatest enemy of leadership is lack of discipline. No lust nor passion steals their purpose. Great leaders know they are held to a higher standard. Code of ethics are on their sleeves. Must wear your values.
8- Coordinate their resources (time, money, relationships) Don’t waste time doing things that take away from your dream, inventory your friends, which ones will help you reach your dream. When you Choose your friends, you choose your destiny. If you are smartest in your group, time to leave group. Be pushed, expanded, grow! Who in your life can stretch you and believe you can do things beyond you!
9- Leaders must manage priorities, very clear on what’s important, not urgent. Keep importance at top! God, Family, Vision, then you! Clear priorities from Word. Nothing is more important than family!
10- Leaders mentor their successors. Who do you leave beyond that is greater than you? You must preserve what you built.
You are your own Raw material. It’s already in you! Whatever God calls for, he already put in you. He gives you a dream, he already finished it. Don’t need others assessment. What does God think?
You have the ability to achieve what God told you to do. Whatever God told you is equal to your ability!
Knowing your designed, equipped, able. Won’t ever be completely happy until you are fulfilling Gods purpose. It will frustrate you successfully! Until you do it!
The cage! When the door opens. What happens. Some leave. Some return. Some create a new path.
Leader doesn’t need outside self-discipline or motivation. Self-motivated. They self-imposed on themselves.
Prov 29:18 No vision – People perish (throw off self-control)
Find vision that you are willing to discipline yourself to accomplish. It is this the source of Vision!
Your Destiny determines your Discipline. What it takes to get there.
Difference in laws compared to rules. To succeed you must break rules. Failure or lack of success is related to not Breaking the rules. Creativity will win championships when you allow discipline to help you.
15- Omnipotent
OMNI – All, Always All, Entire, Complete, Total
POTENT – Power, Energy Source, Strength, Source
All Mighty – All Powerful – OUR KING
“El Shaddai” “God Almighty” “God of the mountains”
Whatever you have done is no longer your potential. Potential is what you have not done yet but can still do! Once you have done something it ceases to be your potential.
God always goes after what you haven’t done yet! God is always motivated by potential. It invades the impossible, it is the dance floor of God! Walking or dancing on water!
The greatest enemy of progress is your last success. Nothing can stop me from growing like success.
So proud of what you have done, that you stop striving for what you could do!
The greatest enemy of your potential is your last success.
God is just getting started, he is the endless creator who wants you to not get stuck in yesterday, not worry about tomorrow. He wants you to have joy and peace in creating with him on the dance floor, gym floor right now. Freedom to worship is the most powerful freedom of all.
Never trust what you have achieved. It will trap you. Don’t Ever get caught were God used to be.
God is too creative to repeat himself unless it is to prove His power, but even then He will multiply it!
He never duplicated a miracle in the Bible. Too creative! God never stops creating. What you need he can produce it! God’s not Dead, Nor is He Done!
He is Omnipotent. He is ready to do more! He never stops creating. Just looking for a willing vessel, desiring to be set on fire, bold enough to have the courage to believe that He can and will use them if they Jump!
16- Chosen or Called
Passionate or Motivated, Inspired or Anointed
Ehud – The least likely left-handed chosen man of God! He walked right in to the presence of the fat king. They likely didn’t check his right thigh, as left-handed people were seen as less. Nobody sends the weak left-handed warrior into see a King. Ehud lost his six-inch knife in the Kings belly then snuck out to get his men and take victory. God loves using the least expected, because their exploits always point to Him!
17- No More Walking in Circles
After Kansas Wesleyan loss, we realized that we had to focus better on staying on the [ath God had for us and quit tripping over the same stones. If your tripping over the same stones, then you are walking in circles!
As March approaches, basketball coaches across the country focus on preparing their teams to make a final unified charge toward the prize. James 1:12
This speaks to this same goal as a follower of Christ. Blessed is the man who endures the test and temptations for they will receive the crown, the promise, to those who love Him. This principle of hope and perseverance is magnified once more in Romans 5 as the powerless, through the Holy Spirit, become powerful and endure to the prize.
You will never reach the promised land until you learn to do two things! You must use the sword of the Word of God and walk in stride with your guide and power, The Holy Spirit. After years of falling short and ending up in the same location, I gave in to the fact that without God’s help, I would never arrive at a worthy destiny. Walking in circles.
God is the only One who can make a way when there is none. The Holy Spirit is the only One who can take you through the wilderness, through the valley, through the desert, through a giant, and ultimately overcome your biggest weakness, you. Sure, there are teams that are talented enough to win games and championships without the help of God and there are coaches who are capable of coaching well enough that they win championships without the help of God. So why read any further?
I doubt those coaches are reading this post in the first place. This post is for those of us who know that even if we win multiple championships, we have accomplished nothing without bringing God Glory in the process. When you sell your soul to winning a championship, many times you sacrifice everything of true value. You wind up walking in an even emptier circle that rarely includes your family, character, or faith. This is a circular path that will guarantee you nothing except burning in hell. Jesus said in John 15:15, “without Me you can do nothing.” Walking in circles.
The Bible is full of examples of people who chose to walk in circles. God’s people throughout the Old Testament would start a journey, wander away from God, then become captive to their enemies. God would call a man like Moses or a Judge like Deborah to rescue them and set them free. Sadly, just like today, they would plan on staying on the right path only to return to walking in circles.
Let’s look at Moses’ Championship Path! Moses led God’s chosen people out of Egypt. He even led them out of captivity with an angel and a cloud of Fire (The Holy Spirit). They left Egypt loaded with their owner’s gold as God gave them the desires of their heart. As soon as things got difficult, their faith disappeared and fear came right back into their hearts. For protection, the angel and fire moved behind the Israelites when they reached the Red Sea, but the Israelites still chose fear over faith. God chose to show them His power by parting the Red Sea and killing the mighty Egyptian Army, their former slave masters.
Moses then takes them to Mount Sinai, which was a two-month trip. God provided manna and water, but they started complaining. They were then attacked by the Amalekites, and as long as Moses raised his arms, God gave them a great victory. Yet they still chose to complain. Walking in Circles.
At Mount Sinai the people were organized in tribes. For a year Moses attempted to sanctify the people and teach them of God’s ways. Moses went to Mount Sinai to get God’s commandments, but by the time he returned to the people they were already back to their old ways. They chose again to walk the circled path.
Leaving Sinai to Canaan some decided to complain, they were consumed with fire in Numbers 11:1-3. God provided more quail, but because of their lust, God allowed a plague to remove that group as well. Walking in circles.
At Kadesh, God told Moses to choose twelve spies to go see what God was going to do in order for them to reach their final destiny, the promised land. Out of the ten spies, only two understood how to avoid walking in circles. Those two were the only two that ever reached the promised land. Sadly, it was 40 years later as the multitude of others followed the wrong spies, as God let them walk in circles until they died.
If you want to avoid this circular path, there is only one way! God finally had to send His one and only Son to save us all. To reach the destiny God planned for us, we must simply choose to follow Jesus! God has given us an all-powerful weapon to fight the enemies that come against us on our path. It is not just a sword, it is THE SWORD – the Word of God. It includes the commands of Jesus, who through the path to the Cross, created a bridge for all of us to reach our final destination, Heaven.
Jesus then returned to the Father’s right hand at the throne. He left us THE SWORD, but that is not all He provided us. He returned so that He could send us the same power that He walked in. Our Guide, Our Helper, Our Power, Our Strength, Our Courage, and Our Way to Jesus and the Father. We are worthless if we do not realize the power of the Holy Spirit that gives us Christ’s nature, guidance, boldness, and the understanding of how to use our Sword. The Holy Spirit is how we avoid walking in circles.
Do you want to go down as another Moses generation, who chose to stay in bondage refusing to be set completely free, or do you want to be another Joshua generation who walked forward mightily in power reaching their destiny!
Take your weapon, no more talk, no more trembling! Add the power source who replaces fear with faith, doubt with courage, weakness with strength, and anxiety/panic with peace! This is a vital moment in your destiny! This is the will of God! Not your way! His way, the only way! Make yourself usable fearless, full of the Word, abiding in the Holy Spirit, so God can use you!
IN Judges 14 Samson is on his way to see his gal when he walks directly into the path of a young powerful Lion. The enemy! As the lion attacked, the Spirit if the Lord came mightily upon Samson! Through the power of the Holy Spirit, Samson ripped it apart! The Spirit made him fearless! Samson kept moving forward!
If you want to keep walking in circles then look down and follow the feet of the large crowd, because when you look down you will see the enemy as he is under your feet. To find the path that crosses the bridge Jesus provided through his death and resurrection, look up and see the One True King, for He is far above all principalities and darkness. Jesus is THE WAY, no more walking in circles!
18 – Freedom Fire
There is nothing like true Freedom. Can you be free and in prison at the same time? We learned this lesson after our disappointing loss to Kansas Wesleyan. I felt the only way we were going to change was to be completely broken and let God build us back new.
I succeeded in completely breaking our team down the next two practices. We were going into the conference tournament and I knew the team that ended the season was not going to advance to a National Championship. By day two, we could not beat the gray squad, our redshirts that form the practice squad. After succeeding in doing what I heard God tell me to do, I asked Him what He was going to do. I found the answer in my next FCA speaker on Tuesday night. On Sunday I ran into a young man by the name of Bobby Wade. He had tried out for my team in 2010. He was not ready yet, and 6 months later, he made a decision that caused him to live the next nine years in prison.
I had met another young man a few weeks earlier named David that God asked me to give a ride to church. I fought God for a moment on this, but knew better so I gave him a ride and the true blessing ended up being mine. I felt God was telling me to invite both Bobby and David to speak in FCA. So, on Tuesday night I invited David and Bobby. They agreed and Bobby also brought a friend who goes by Twish Floaves. They gave short testimonies of how God had set them free and how even locked up in prison cells they were completely free! They pointed out that my players were still bound and still hesitant to praise freely or raise their hands, shout or preach how great God is! Then Bobby blessed us with a gift that God has given him. As Bobby rapped His testimony the Spirit and powerful Presence of God came into the room like water let go at a flood gate. It was like a mighty rushing wind came into the room changing everything. In that brief five minutes, God had built my players back up and stronger. We won our first game in the playoffs against Friends, who beat us twice, by 40 pts.
19- The Giant was cocky, David was Confident
The giant called David a dog and told him he would break him like a stick and feed him to the dogs.
David’s confidence was in God who had empowered Him to defeat a lion and a bear already.
Goliath was cocky. David was confident.
Similar appearances of strength, but David’s strength was in God not his own! He still had to charge the Giant, so God could show up in Him!
Own the Meek Line (We have the most powerful spirit in the universe living in us! Release it!)
• It is full of Love, Joy, Peace and undefeatable Power, Courage and Strength!
He has so much more for us! All you can eat and more! Just have to play powerful and free of fear, anxiety, panic and frustration!
20- Going into Conference Tournament Championship, God Gave me the following!
Mark 6:42 – All they wanted… and more! Nobody ever has or ever will match what Jesus did and is gonna do! Let me borrow a line from an old Gospel song, “Soon and very soon, we are gonna see the King”! Let me make it clear and expound on that fact! Every knee will bow! Let me repeat a verse from my last post! John 15:5 – “without Me you can do nothing!” – Jesus!
I have been to Capernaum, where Jesus fed the 5000, not counting the women and children, and it is the equivalent perfect example of a small town. Can see the scene as it unfolds. Jesus coming in with his boys from the Sea of Galilee, which ain’t no sea at all really. It is a very big lake though! Someone tipped off the multitudes that Jesus was on his way and they all were waiting for Jesus and His disciples as they rowed in to shore. Jesus never was surprised, timid, anxious, fearful, panicked, or depressed when a situation arose. That would be the disciples who were a lot like you and me! Jesus did what Jesus always did, He took over the game! He calls a quick timeout to draw up the game plan, which led everyone to get organized in groups of 50 and 100. Jesus then starts cooking!
His twelve cooks and waiters are in a frenzy as they know the crowd will get a little restless as they get hungry. Who knows how long they had been there waiting for the GOAT to show up! Oh, Jesus never underdelivers! He went Large as usual!
Here is where I want to make my point. As I read this miracle, the only miracle recorded in all four Gospels, I absolutely love how Jesus plays this out!
Let’s look at Mark’s version in chapter 6.
“That evening the disciples came to Jesus and said, “This place is like a desert, and it’s already late. Let the crowds leave, so they can go to the farms and villages near here and buy something to eat.” Jesus replied, “You give them something to eat.” But they asked him, “Don’t you know it would take almost a year’s wages to buy all of these people something to eat?” Then Jesus said, “How much bread do you have? Go and see!” They found out and answered, “We have five small loaves of bread and two fish.” Jesus told his disciples to tell the people to sit down on the green grass. They sat down in groups of 100 and groups of 50. Jesus took the five loaves and the two fish. He looked up toward heaven and blessed the food. Then he broke the bread and handed it to his disciples to give to the people. He also divided the two fish, so everyone could have some.
After everyone had eaten ALL THEY WANTED! Jesus’ disciples picked up twelve LARGE baskets of leftover bread and fish.”
In 2015 the fad in the NBA, made popular by James Harden, was stirring the pot. It appeared Harden was letting everyone know he planned on eating all he wanted and more!
Harden has turned into a prolific scorer who backs that gesture up pretty well, but ‘fear the beard’ does not make Demons tremble at the mention of His Name! Only Jesus! Truth is that all great and mighty things always points to Jesus Christ! The Five Loaves and Two Fish turn into “All the Food they wanted and more!” I love how All they wanted to eat wasn’t enough for Mark when writing this! He had to add “With a Large amount of leftovers!” He had to add the “More”.
Jesus always has more! Let me share a line from one of my favorite praise songs, “I need you more, more than the air I breath, more than the songs I sing, more than anything, I need you more!” I can never get enough of Jesus and He never fails to deliver!
The OG Board Man is none other than Jesus Christ as He used Two Boards to form a cross to save us all! No bigger sacrifice in history is more important!
Splash Brothers all started with Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist! Which brought the Power of the Holy Spirit without measure into our Savior and began the unprecedented 3 year run of victorious miracles leading to the biggest victory of all-time – Jesus Christ conquering Death, Hell, and the Grave!
We can take this back a few years to a faith filled player called Mark Jackson who in his attempt to glorify Jesus, by making a Cross with his arms after lighting up his old team the Knicks, created a stir that others mimicked!
How about KG’s line “I guess anything is possible” after him, Paul “The Truth” Pierce, and Ray Allen turn the 24-58 Celtics into a Champion. We all know there is only one “Truth”, only one “Answer”, and only one “King” that really matters and that is Jesus Christ of Nazareth! That is not a knock on Paul, A.I., or Lebron, but all of their nicknames are copycats of Jesus!
I guess we can end this by saying Jesus is both the OG and the Lamb of God! He is both the Lion and the Lamb! He gave us the biggest assist ever, dunked in the Jordan, had the big 3 in Peter, James and John, and nobody ever will match the cross he put on the devil! The unmatched, undefeated, perfect in every way, Champion of All Time!
Not only will they Chosen One light you up with the Fire of the Holy Spirit that He sent back to empower and guide you, but He is also the Lord, The Way, and greatest Defender to Ever Walk on Earth! When we marvel at someone jumping from the Free Throw Line, Jesus walked on water, walked through walls, and raised the dead! The Miracle, The I AM, and the Almighty One! Nobody close to His Glory!
What about the future of the NBA, players like Luka “Wonder Boy” Doncic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, or Zion Williamson? I can promise you who holds the future and He is Awe and Wonder. I can speak to the fact that His best-selling book of all-time book was written in Greek and had a mega popular song written about his followers called “Jesus Freak! Yes, even Zion is another word for God’s chosen people of Israel the birthplace of the Savior! Nobody escapes the impact of Jesus!
So, what you need to realize is, there is not a worthy nickname or celebration that doesn’t point to Jesus! He is the Only One who can truly supply All We Want and More! The coolest thing is! All we have to do is Ask!
Two more interesting things we felt led to do was to show our blue collar by our coaching staff proudly wearing jeans along with our dress jackets in the KCAC Championship that was being aired on ESPN3. Our players loved it. The night before the game where were our players? They were worshiping together getting undignified at a Steven Malcolm Concert praising our King. How cool is that?
21- THE DANCE
Now that we had an official invitation to the dance. What did God have next? We were headed to Sioux Falls and we facing the Defending National Champions. Seemed like another impossible situation. Just what we desired. Something that required God! Their strength was our weakness. Not a good combo. Experience is rarely beaten by lack of, but when you are walking in stride with the Spirit, everything goes out the door! What God told me to tell the boys was to “Go & Preach”!
Let basketball be their voice to preach the gospel by displaying His Awe and Wonder. Spring Arbor has done exactly that in 2019 on their way to the National Championship. Now we had to defeat not Spring Arbor, but the fear, panic, anxiety, and discourage that the evil enemy had been using to hold us back all season. Our opponent Spring Arbor was just an opportunity to compete fearlessly.
Matt 10:7 – You go and Preach!
You want to attract the Fire and Wind of Heaven. You want to get God’s attention so He will breath and increase your fire and make it last longer! Then become preachers of the Gospel. Be living apologetics! Let them see the power of the Holy Spirit Rise Up in a group of young David’s! Let them see what God can do! Preach with a basketball in your hands, Preach on Defense, let them see a mighty work being done in and through you. Let them see you burn! Your Fire Still lit? You gonna play through contact? You gonna form a wall and work together to protect what God has done in us so we can stay and shine to the end. Only one way to complete the Race with your fire still lit! Go and Preach! All You can Eat and More! Burn!
When Jesus preached. Why did he also do miracles? So, we would know that we could do miracles as well! Jesus repeated this over and over. All things are possible through me! Without me you can do nothing! Demonstrate my power! Let them see! Preach!
He gave us a mission that is impossible for us to do ourselves! We must become a target. Just like we were in Colorado on top of the mountain. Instead of running away from the lightning bolt, we raise our hands asking God to strike us and set us on fire. God eyes are roaming all the earth looking for hearts that are fully sold out on doing his will! When he sees them. He breaths and a moving wind comes like a mighty rushing wind and miracles begin to happen as the Spirit brings life!
Go into all the world and Preach the Gospel! Biggest stage of your life to preach on. Basketball is your ministry boys! It is a game to some. It has become more for you. But Jesus added. STOP Seize the opportunity please! Wait until You receive Power upon high, cause when the Holy Spirit comes to you then you will be unstoppable! We need the Holy Ghost presence and his power! Use us Spirit of God! Work through us! If we try this without him, we don’t have a chance! But if we follow the footsteps of Moses, David, and Jesus, then we become a target for his power! Anything can happen!
Lord fill us with the Holy Spirit! We need your presence! Your Glory! For your Glory!
This is not my idea. It is His idea. He wants to move in you and through you more than you want him to. The promise of the father! The gift of the Holy Ghost. You SHALL Receive. It is the will of the father! You shall receive Power when the Holy Spirit rest in you!
Out of your inner most being will flow rivers of living water straight from Heaven.
One of the most amazing huddle-breaks I have ever experienced was in our last game of the season. We all in unison cried out “1-2-3 Preach”. In a tremendous battle that came down to the final play, my young warriors preached!
Yes the next day we were informed the tournament was being cancelled and our opportunity to continue up the mountain was being pulled out from under our feet. It was a difficult to deal with, but we chose to not let satan steal our joy! 26 wins, Conf Tournament Champions, reaching the Sweet 16, and only the second OKWU team in history to win our last game!
God smiled and let me know he was not surprised by Carona. The next day my good friend Coach Fiscus, who had led his team to the State Tournament for the first time in school history, defeated the defending State Champions before their tournament was cancelled.
What are the odds? Both of our teams were given favor to reach the big dance and both knock off the defending champions? Did i mention due to bus shortage our bus we took was basically a limousine with all the fancy benefits of ESPN, sleeper beds, etc.. Twice this year, we climbed a mountain, flowed in the river, and saw God bless us beyond our ability.
Just a year of Crazy Vision, Crazy Faith, Crazy Boldness, Crazy Focus, and Crazy Favor!