I was starting to write questions for Chapter 11, Learning to Live Without Judging Others, and the Lord gently nudged me a different direction. So those of you who are following faithfully in our book, please be patient, I will get that done next week. It's the heat of the season, and I want to share something the Lord reminded me of this past week. Something I have learned over the years as a kingdom coach, but that I forget, sometimes when i am in the intensity of the season, trying to win more games.

Recently I read "Wisdom Chaser" by Nathan Foster. He is Richard's son and it is an amazing book (highly recommend to you). This is an excerpt:

"It felt like the first day of spring. The gentle sloping mountains were a soft green hue, revealing the tree's winter labor. I sat outside talking to a student (he is a college professor). 'You know, Mr. Foster, I think you're the best professor I ever had.' I had apparently pulled off the scholar bit. I'm not sure if that's a compliment of me or a criticism of your education. 'No. No, my education was fine. You just brought something else. You seemed to care about us. You took an interest in our LIVES.' His words were shocking. I had worked so hard to be a COMPETENT PROFESSOR, and yet what mattered most, at least to him, was my TIME and INTEREST. His words opened up for me a whole new way of thinking about people, service, and even education." (Page 170)

I have, in my life as a coach, done the same thing. I study offenses, defenses, and try to run the best practice I can every time I step on the court. I have been fired because my teams didn't win enough, and i have worked harder and harder to prepare my teams so they can win. I think my team knows that I value preparation. Yet, when all is said and done, I really believe what Nathan wrote....TIME AND INTEREST.... that is the best gift I can give these precious young ladies who I coach. And it, unlike winning, is always in my control.

Tonight we face a team who has a vicious half-court trap. You better believe we worked yesterday on how to break it and score an easy bucket. So please don't read this as I am taking away the importance of knowing what you need to know in your sport. If you do not prepare your teams, they will not respect you as a coach. I just want to encourage you not to put all of your energy in this task of x's and o's. They need YOU much more than that. In fact, it's biblical. And it is what they want!

1 Corinthians 13

Keeping the Faith

Jane