Jesus Strikes Again

2025 has been an amazing year. I have seen Jesus strike time and time again. We played on the last day of the season, my daughters are both getting married, and on top of all of that my son and daughter in law had our first Grandbaby, Sunny Lux Bostwick! 

Just listened to an inspiring interview of the University of Louisville Head Baseball Coach Dan McDonnell. He described how making a commitment to reading his Bible since January 1st had resulted in a life changing experience that has played a huge role in his baseball team just qualifying for the College Baseball World Series in Omaha. 

Just a few week earlier Liberty University Softball upset no 1 ranked Alabama as they gave all the Glory to Jesus Christ as well. How many times does Jesus have to show up big before people finally open their eyes and believe? 

Sometimes I think people believe in the almighty God, but they just don’t want to give in and give up what the world has to offer. Foolishly they hang on to that lie, instead of seeking greater things!

The phrase “lightning never strikes twice in the same place” is actually a lie as well. It isn’t true scientifically or Biblically. God actually loves proving himself faithful over and over again.

In 2007, I came to OKWU on what was an impossible mission. I took over a program that had sunk to the bottom of college basketball. The secret was that I was called on the mission by the only One capable of anything. Four years later, God had taken us to the top of NAIA Division II Basketball going 120-20 over that time period winning the 2009 National Championship. It was all God and everyone knew it! 

After an amazing and miraculous six year journey in Texas, God brought our family back to OKWU. Our first four years back were successful going 103-28 while qualifying for four more National Tournaments, but the goal of playing for a National Championship kept coming up short. 

From my experience, the solution is always tied to two Biblical Principles: Your level of faith and Your willingness to seek!

In 2021 the challenge doubled as NAIA Basketball went from two divisions to one division. Now in order to compete for a National Championship you must overcome twice as many teams and also overcome an extra round in the playoffs, which includes playing on an opponent’s home court the first two rounds.

It was time to press in and seek the presence of the Almighty! Let’s give you a couple examples. A couple years ago we were struggling shooting. I felt led to use some anointing oil to anoint my players hands prior to a game. I believe it helped, but I also felt we needed more. So when talking to God about it, I felt He told me to put His anointing in my players. I asked how. I was reminded that Christ means anointed one! In order to do this, I felt led to take communion with the team before the game. I went down to the grocery store before a big game and bought some Hawaiian sweet rolls and grape juice. We took communion that day and let’s just say the results were amazing and we have continued the tradition ever since! 

On another instance, prior to a big road game, I was studying Psalms 23 which talks about God preparing a table for us right in the middle of a battle. I felt led to pick up some fruit and gatorades. No matter the score at halftime, I was to take the ice chest in and share the table of food with the team while reading Psalms 23. The story didn’t stop there! I also read Psalms 24 which is a Psalm David wrote about entering the presence of God. You might remember the verse “Swing wide ye heavenly gates!” I told the guys that all we had to do was press in and seek His presence and God would do the rest. We went from down 10 at half to over a 20 point victory. Only God! 

These are only a couple examples of what we have done to seek God boldly the last four seasons. By increasing our faith and seeking God’s presence at a higher level, the last four years have been nothing less than miraculous. We have won four straight conference championships, three Sweet 16’s, two Elite 8’s, and this year against all odds as a no. 7 Seed, We once again returned to the National Championship Game! There was much prayer and much adversity. The journey even required fasting, but it was all worth it as in the end Jesus received all the Glory! 

In the last four years, we did not equal our 2007 to 2011 record of 120-20. God did one better as God went 120-19. 

Jesus struck again! 

We had two sons and two daughters after being told we couldn’t have children. Both my sons were born on August 31st. Both were born with Blond Hair, Blue Eyes, Left Handed, and with big Chubby Cheeks. (We wrote down these four details when sharing with God the desires of our hearts!) In 1996 when my first son Gunter was born and we played for the Class 4A State Championship. In 2005, when my second son Kade was born, we won the NAIA National Championship as the no. 31 seed! 

Yes, Lightning does strike twice in the same place! Nothing is impossible when you believe and seek Jesus Christ with ALL Your Heart!