Blog Archives

THE WAR WITHIN

4/27/2012

Sport teams sometimes experience a war within. Team members may become at odds with each other disagreeing about the where, when, why and what of the game causing factions to develop. “Taking sides” ensues and the battle is on. Early identification and recognition of this WAR WITHIN is a serious challenge for the coach and eradicating it is a non-negotiable must. The coach provides a mutual focus and identified procedures to follow which ends the internal battle allowing the team to function at an optimal level.

Evidence of this WAR WITHIN can easily be seen in these personal quotes:

"Many people might have attained wisdom had they not assumed they already had it." Anonymous

“I once was full of self, and proud, just like a Pharisee. Until one day, quite by surprise, I caught a glimpse of me.” Hawthorne

“I see my biggest problem every day in the mirror.” Albert Lee

I find myself in similar places from time to time needing to identify the war within before it becomes a battlefield. Eradication must occur soon or the results I hope for will be compromised. THE WAR WITHIN dilemma is a troublesome human issue that we all must recognize and deal with from time to time. John Maxwell put it all on the table when he boldly said…

“If you are going to follow Christ, you must wake up to your problems.”

Waking up to the inner battles of pride, assumptions and self-absorption can be painful. However, we are not alone. The apostle Paul wrote a short dissertation about this menacing war:

“I do not do the good things I want to do, but I do the bad things I do not want to do. It is sin living in me that does those things…I see another law working in my body, which makes war against the law that my mind accepts… it makes me its prisoner."
Romans 7:19-24 NCV (portions)

Then Paul agonizingly poses this question: “How can I be delivered from this divisionary war within…isn’t there anyone who can do anything for me?

“The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions…” (vs. 25 TM)

Following our life-coach, Jesus Christ, with our whole heart, soul, mind and strength is what brings oYYur humanness into alignment with God’s purpose. This focus ends the war within – misleading assumptions and blinding pride will disappear. By staring into the spiritual mirror of the Word we "wake up to our problems" and reflect Christ more clearly - optimal results!

FOCUS ON JESUS CONTINUALLY ... FOLLOW AFTER HIM CONSISTENTLY

Blessings…as you win THE WAR WITHIN.

CLICK ON my BEHIND THE BENCH BLOG tab above for another perspective titled "ANOTHER WAR WITHIN".

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

WHO'S THERE?

4/24/2012

A game we play with our grandchildren are the KNOCK-KNOCK jokes which require the question: Who’s there? The answer is always short and sweet like “boo”. The person answering the knock then asks: “boo” who? In this version the person who knocked then asks: what are you crying about? Asking the “who’s there?” question sets the stage for the spoof on words for knock-knock jokes.

Asking “who’s there?” is a necessary question before many types of doors are opened. Whether a dorm room door, an office door, or a bedroom door, knowing who wants to enter is important before we swing the door wide open and invite them in.

Sports also require an answer to the question “who’s there?”. Knowing our competition and how they will attack our best game is vital. Unexpected maneuvers can wipe out any hope for a good game, let alone the possibility of a win.

Knowing who is knocking at the doors of our lives is not only vital to our game but necessary in order to finish strong.

           THE FIRST STEP ON THE WAY TO VICTORY IS TO RECOGNIZE THE ENEMY

When something or someone seeks to enter the door our life, here is the routine as outlined God's Word:

ASK THE QUESTION: Who’s there? The devil will not reveal his name – he may just ride along with someone whose name we recognize.

                                Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls
                           around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.
                                                                          1 Peter 5:8 NLT

IDENTIFY THE VISITOR: Is it a roaring lion positioned to destroy - someone who brings wrong   attitudes, actions or outcomes into our life? Evil disguises itself.

IF EVIL IS SUSPECTED: DENY ENTRY

                                                  Resist him, standing firm in the faith.
                                                                         I Peter 5:9 NLT

CLOSE THE DOOR: When we re-establish “Whose” we are the door is closed and locked preventing re-entry.

             Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
                                                                        James 4:7 NIV

Blessings…as you investigate the knocks at your life's door.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

TO KNOW

4/20/2012

ALL MEN BY NATURE DESIRE TO KNOW. Aristotle

When asked the question, do you know a certain person, we often give qualifying answers like: “They are an acquaintance.” “They are a good friend.” “They are an old friend.” “They were a neighbor.” “They are a co-worker.”

These answers clarify how we know them or what the relationship is based on. From that information we gain our perspective of who they are and we then say that we know them. There is a song from my childhood radio-listening days that says:

♪♫To know- know- know you, Is to love-love-love you, and I do… and I do…and I do! ♪♫

After 45 years of knowing and loving Coach, I am still learning about him. Even though he is a creature of habit, I am still caught off-guard by an off-the-wall response or surprised by a an unexpected action. To really know someone is not only a life-long process, but it is a life-long commitment.

Coach must know his players before he can plan game strategies. The players, in turn, must be committed to knowing one another so that beyond a friendship, an instinct develops. The patterns of play and responses to play are all part of both the team members and the coach knowing one another. This makes it possible to anticipate one another’s moves bringing confidence to the team effort and resulting in successful team play.

Our Creator knows us…

“I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Jeremiah 1:5 NLT

This message from our LORD to Jeremiah, the prophet, expresses the depth at which we are known by God himself. He knows us at the core of our being and the purpose for which we are created. He knows-knows-knows us, and He loves-loves-loves us.

Our Creator wants us to know Him…

"…come to know and trust me, understand both that I am and who I am." Isaiah 43:10 TM

This message is recorded from our CREATOR to Isaiah encouraging him to move ahead in his relationship with the one who had hand-picked him as His spokesman.

We can know our Creator…

"I want to know Christ - yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death…" Philippians 3:10 NIV

This is an intimate and eternal knowing that Paul expressed. It wasn’t just an acquaintance, or one who was nearby in case he was needed, or one who he called on to get something done when he couldn’t do it, or one he had an encounter with once, or one he shared a few minutes with every so often. It was beyond a friendship, it was a oneness with Christ…and Christ is one with our Creator.

Blessings…as you seek to know and love your Creator more and more each day.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

COMPUTER THEOLOGY

4/17/2012

We find computers running our lives these days… our phones, our cars, our correspondence, our personal files, and our schedules. There are a couple of messages that regularly pop up on my screen. Today I want to share how they remind me of what God is up to.

THE “WAIT” MESSAGE:

While my computer chugs along loading a program, unloading a program, scanning for a virus or doing other tedious and beyond-my-understanding work a “working” message will often appear on the screen reminding me to wait a little longer.

This is a gentle reminder that God is present and in charge keeps my frustration level down and my patience level up. God sent a message to us about this…

There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish… Phil 1:6 The Message

THE “FRIEND REQUEST” MESSAGE:

Facebook’s FRIEND REQUEST message always peaks my curiosity. Usually it brings a childhood acquaintance, a friend from pre-facebook days or someone I recently met onto my friend list.

Friendship completes ourselves. Sport teams who have friendship between the players have a true advantage. Coaches are very aware that players who are also friends enjoy much more successful seasons of play. These team friends share joy in their wins and comfort in their losses together. Someone once said...

“Friends don’t let friends do life alone.”

Jesus talked about friendship with his followers indicating that sharing life together is what constitutes true friendship. Here is what He said:

Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. John 15:15 NLT

The “FRIEND REQUEST” always reminds me of the one we each receive from Jesus on the facebook of our life. To “confirm” it we only have to let Him know that we choose to be His friend

Blessings…as you consider today’s computer theology.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

NOT LACKING

4/13/2012

Lack: the fact or state of not having enough or not having any – to be deficient in or entirely without. (Webster’s New World Dictionary)

Lack of adequate equipment or facilities, lack of talent, lack of practice time, lack of intensity, lack of will, lack of enough players…these are some of the lacks that coaches fear. But it is the lack of a coach’s willingness to give themselves away for a team that hinders the future success of a team.

Lack of opportunity, lack of ability, lack of acceptance, lack of family support, lack of enough height or weight … these are some of the lacks that players may fear. But it is the lack of willingness to give their all to the team effort that keeps them from experiencing fulfillment

One day a young man asked Jesus, “What do I still lack?” He wanted to know what “good” things a person must do to get eternal life. He had kept the commandments Jesus listed:

                                    DON’T murder, commit adultery, steal, give false testimony.

                                    DO honor your parents, love your neighbor as yourself

Having fulfilled this requirement, the young man still felt a great emptiness – without assurance of eternal life – so he had posed the question. Jesus’ answer was challenging for him…

If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.  Matthew 19:21 NIV

The young man went away sad choosing to live in his lack… why? ... because he had great wealth. This was a trial of the young man’s faith ... he could not persevere through it.

Like the young man in this story, we may have great things that we own or possess great abilities. We may have met all the requirements of the commandments. His question may be ours… WHAT LACK I YET? Jesus’ answer to the young man is the same for us today…

                      WHEN LACK IS FELT… IT’S TIME TO GIVE OURSELVES AWAY

Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4 NIV

Blessings...as you lack nothing as you keep the eternal in sight.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

PAIN-GAIN

4/10/2012

As sportmoms most of us have given birth or have witnessed the painful yet gratifying process. From conception to reception there are points of pain that we must endure to reach the goal of motherhood! Most of us would probably say the pain of it all is neutralized and sometimes even erased by the unbridled joy we feel at the birth of our child.

As Coach and I processed through the nine months of our first pregnancy, we experienced two major pains.  First was the pain of adjustment! This included finding new living quarters (needed room for baby!), a change in eating habits (Coach’s midnight trips to get the fudgesicles I craved), a revamped budget (babies don't come cheap!), added wardrobe to fit, carefully choosing the places we went (no smoking areas only), the number of stops for food and "rest" when we traveled, and on.

The second major pain was, of course, the ultimate birthing process! Despite the discomfort, the final outcome (our beautiful gift, Stephanie) overshadowed all physical "pains" replacing them with an ecstatic joy that was beyond compare. It boiled down to this ... through the pain we gained!

A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.
John 16:21

Like childbirth, the pains of life bring with them beautiful gifts that mold us into strong and balanced individuals.  Consider these…

           - The pain of loss brings greater value to what we have

           - The pain of consequences results in better choices next time

           - The pain of delayed gratification teaches patience

           - The pain of disappointment in others fosters a desire to be reliable

           - The pain of rejection stirs compassion in our hearts

           - The pain of physical suffering causes endurance

           - The pain of being wronged teaches forgiveness

"When pain ends, gain ends too." Robert Browning

This past weekend we were once again reminded of the ultimate pain-gain process: The pain of Christ's brutal death on the cross resulting in the gain of bringing all mankind into the possibility of eternal life with Him. Through His pain, we gained…His heavenly purpose completed.

But he was wounded for the wrong we did; he was crushed for the evil we did. The punishment, which made us well, was given to him, and we are healed because of his wounds. Isaiah 53:5

                                  OH THE ECSTASY OF GAIN WHEN PAIN IS ENDURED!

Blessings . . . as this life's pain brings you to eternal gain!

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

ANOTHER FRIDAY

4/6/2012

Friday…the end of a work week for many. It usually marks the beginning of a pleasure-filled week-end or a time to invest in a favorite (or not-so-favorite) project . Whatever the case, Fridays mark an end and a beginning.

Fridays are nearly a national holiday. Opportunities for our TGIF offers can be seen everywhere in an effort to lighten up our weekend. Friday after Friday people make their way to places where friends gather and happiness is felt… at least that is the goal.

Many families have Friday family night. It is a time to be together doing something they enjoy. Whether bonding in an activity or visiting over a homemade dinner it is an opportunity to celebrate one another.

Friday’s often bring sporting events whether it be our athlete or taking in another competition. During basketball season we have 3 or 4 months of Friday games that test our team’s strength and bring clarity to what the rest of the season holds.

Then there was that other Friday…the one we remember today. The one that brings clarity to Christ's purpose and the one most celebrated. It happened more that 2000 years ago and we call it “Good Friday”. It is the time we take pause to reflect on the day our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ - the only Son of God – was cruelly nailed to a cross for the sins of this world. That Friday included taunting shouts of disdain…

Bystanders shouted: “Come down from the cross if you are the Son of God!”

Religious leaders insisted: “He saved others but he can’t save himself.”

Soldiers jeered: “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.”

Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus...it turns us to that cross and to his eyes and we hear these words,"Father forgive them for they know not what they do". Robert G. Trache

Today we whisper grateful prayers of thankfulness for that Friday. For it was this sacrificial event that paid the way for a personal relationship with our Creator. Now we can unswervingly say along with those who walked this earth with Jesus ….

“Surely this man was the Son of God.” Matthew 27:54 NIV

“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

HIS PERCEIVED END BROUGHT OUR PAID-IN-FULL BEGINNING

Because I believe, He has taken away the separating sin in my life replacing it with his Holy Spirit and an eternal promise of life with Him forever. It is my hope that you have done the same.

"Jesus’ final act on earth was intended to win your trust." Max Lucado

May today be more than just ANOTHER FRIDAY as you trust Him…blessings.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

APRIL "DELIGHTS"

4/3/2012

The “delight” of income tax season is upon us and what do we all want? A hefty amount of dollars back or at least no more taxes to pay! The amount returned to us may already be spent or it may go toward a special vacation that we are planning. Whatever the case, our minds are on our investment in this land and what we pay for it.

Any successful venture requires investment with the intention of a solid and delight-filled return. The same goes for our time and energy (and dollar) investment in our children. As sportmoms we look forward to a solid return on our investment believing that our child will be much better at whatever they do than we ever did. We support them and we praise them in every new venture they embark upon.

“He who praises another enriches himself far more than he does the one praised. To praise is an investment in happiness.” George Matthew Adams, inspirational newspaper columnist

It was with great delight that God invested himself in us providing His Son as a sacrifice for our sin and His Word as a handbook for living - the way for us to know and follow Him. In response, the time and energy we invest into doing things His way will be not only enough for this world, but bring the ultimate payback - returning us to Himself for eternity!

“…so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11 NIV

We may have difficulty experiencing “delight” as we in file our income tax returns. We may be very "delighted” with our investment in a new venture. The investment in our children may be offering "delightful" returns.

CHALLENGE: Today let’s take God at His Word and invest in it…He delights in offering a heavenly return that will be amazing!

Blessings…as you delightfully invest in Heavenly Returns.

©2012 SPORTMOMS & MORE | 11964 Elemar - Portland, OR 97224

About the Author...
JANET BROWN

As a veteran coach's wife, Janet invites you to join her in "Changing the world for Christ...one athlete at a time".Through the language of sports and life experiences, Janet uniquely exposes the character of God and His desire for "sportmoms" to WIN BIG in life. Her behind-the-bench view invites us into a world of triumphant wins and tragic personal loss.

LIFE EXPERIENCE

From being a mother of 2 to a spiritual mom to many, the road of life for Janet includes these hallmarks:

- Gave her "heart to Jesus" at 6 years old
.
- Studied Education/ Psychology at a Christian College

- Enjoyed earning her wings and flying as a Flight Attendant

- Is the wife of Coach Dave Brown since 1967.

- Involved in ministry to women for 30+ years including: Retreat Facilitator and speaker, Bible Study leader, National Women's Ministry Leader

- Held an executive position in the corporate world for 35 years.

- Developed and taught Pre-married and Marriage classes with her husband for 12 years.

Currently is a writer, grandmother to 4 and a coach's wife.

About the Author... JANET BROWN

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