At Nevada, we refer to our program values as the "right STUPH" -- Servanthood, Thankfulness, Unity, Passion, and HUMILITY. Once, a freshmen said to me, "I really don't understand why the humility thing is a value of ours. I have always been taught to have PRIDE in the way I played and in what I did." Hmmmmm.

Vainglory. When Jim taught me about this word, it was a new word and concept, but I quickly recognized it in myself a lot more than I wanted to. In fact, in reality, it seemed to be a principle I lived my life by. In athletics, this is easy to do. I believe our profession is a breeding ground for us to determine our worth by what others think of us. What other profession has a total page in the newspaper dedicated to it daily -- Sports! You gotta love them and the opportunity they present us daily to go against the grain of the culture and become like Jesus. Yes, with His help, we can actually prevent these desires from ruling our hearts. But it is hard.

1. On page 39, Jim writes, "do great things and your value increases; fail and your value decreases." He continues on the same page, "the world measures our worth on the basis of our appearance, production and performance - which seem to be the only things that count." Do you sometimes feel only as good as your last game/performance? What feeds that feeling?
2. Do you see, how if we don't fight as much with the "carnal sins", that this actually feeds the vainglory in us? Think about the statement, "this is the only vice that actually needs a virtue in order to exist." Have you experienced this first hand?
3. Read Matthew 6:1-8 , 16-18. Do you understand the concept that the Father is saying when our heart does these things for human praise, that this becomes our only reward? He will not reward us, but if we do them in secret, He will? What is that reward?
4. Pharisees were the perfect example of vainglory. Jesus is the perfect example of humility. Who do you want to represent? Why is this so hard in athletics?
5. See page 148, " No matter how many worldly trophies we acquire, we won't be able to lay our head down in peace because we are only as good as our last success. But our loving Father- the ONLY ONE who matters- tells us that we are loved, that we are of immeasurable worth". Read 1John 4:16-17. Meditate on that love and the contrast of how that true love lasts forever.
6. The soul training exercise this week is challenging. Were you able to perform those acts/services and not tell a soul? Can you continue this discipline?

Coaching in His kingdom -- the audience of ONE. I am praying that this is a week that you feel a strong desire to live above the ways of the world, and coach for Him.

P.S. The photo this week was taken at Coach Wooden's home.  The calendar was on the table in his kitchen.  Nellie turned to this page the day she left to go to the hospital the last time.  He left it there for the rest of his life.

Keep the faith

Jane