Fw: Impact Play: “Opening Day”

Team:

Today FCA talks about Opening Day Today in Baseball. A New Beginning. The Past is gone. The only thing to remember are the Victories.


With God you also can have a New Season Filled with Hope and Vision for the Future. Jer 29:11


" Brethren I count not myself to have apprehended:  but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."  Philippians 3:13-14

Jesus said, "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear My voice and open the door, I will come in and eat with you, and you with me." Rev 3:20

Right now he is Knocking at the door of your life. Today is Your Opening Day to a Brand New Life.

He won't come in though unless you ask Him.

Go For It! Ask Him into your Life today and Start your New Season.

"ALL GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED TWICE. FIRST IN YOUR MIND THEN IN REALITY!"

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!

Now Just Go! Win the Day!

Rick
Phil 4:13
http://huddle360.blogspot.com

------ Email ------
  Strength "Almighty Father, may our athletes and coaches be strong in You and in the strength of Your might..."
-- Ephesians 6:10
 

Opening Day Thursday, March 31st, 2011

READY:  "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" -2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

SET:  Every year, all across America, the coming of spring is heralded by a festive celebration extending from Denver to Baltimore, Los Angeles to Boston, New York to Seattle: MLB Opening Day. This day provides a fresh start for all major league baseball teams—a time when their records are even and their slates are wiped clean. It marks the beginning of a six-month season for the great American pastime, in which any team can begin a transformation from worst to first. As followers of Jesus, we have an even greater opportunity to live every day as if it is our own personal Opening Day. Each day, God gives us a new opportunity to live a life worthy of the calling He's given us. With each new sunrise, we as believers get to begin a new "season" and take another step toward closeness with our Father through prayer, Bible study, fellowship with other believers, outreach to those in need, and by sharing the love of Jesus with those who are lost.

Today, as the teams take the field for the first time, remember that you are experiencing your own Opening Day, as well. The old has gone, the new has come! Because of Christ's sacrifice, your record is 0-0, your slate is clean, and an eternal season of the Great Commission is beginning. What a great feeling!

Fw: Impact Play: “Get Smart”

Team:

Today's Coach is Jere Johnson out of FCA Chicago. He has a great message about Virginia Commonwealth Basketball.

Coach Smart of VCU Men's Basketball Team is in the Final Four. VCU was unknown a few weeks ago. Now Coach Smart is very Famous in the Basketball World as his Team Shocked Everyone.

Most "Experts" thought VCU shouldn't even be in the Tournament.

Has any so called "Experts" told you the same type of thing?

Prove them Wrong! Eph3:20

Phil 4:13 says: "I can do all things through Christ who Strengthens me."

It is Awesome when an Underdog Works Hard all year and does all the Right things to Prepare and has a shot to Win It all.

"My Enemy boasts and relies on Talent.
I will Pay the Price."
Prodigy Athletes

"We are always faced with different challenges, and circumstances necessitate bringing out the greatness God puts in all of us." Lou Holtz

"ALL GOALS ARE ACCOMPLISHED TWICE. FIRST IN YOUR MIND THEN IN REALITY!"

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!

Now Just Go! Win the Day!

Rick
Phil 4:13
http://huddle360.blogspot.com

- Email ------
 

Get Smart Wednesday, March 30th, 2011
READY:  "So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and paralytics, and he healed them."  -Matthew 4:24 (ESV)

SET:  Three weeks ago, the name Shaka Smart was not one most people would have recognized (outside of VCU nation, of course).

However, Coach Smart—the head coach of NCAA men's Final Four team Virginia Commonwealth University—is now a household name after their great run through the tournament.

After the season, it's a safe bet that Coach Smart will even be offered a number of coaching positions at larger schools. It's just part of the situation for a once little-known coach who is now one of the hottest names in the sport today. 

In all of his media interviews, Coach Smart has done a great job of staying humble and giving praise to his team. I'm sure that the staff at VCU will do everything in their power to keep him at their school for a long time. But, regardless of his career decisions, Shaka Smart now carries a name that is known across the country. 

When Jesus first started His ministry, He didn't have a household name, either. However, several events put His name on the radar rather quickly. After Jesus called His disciples to follow Him, He started speaking to the masses and healing the people. Soon, crowds started following Him wherever He went. News traveled fast about this man they called Jesus, and it wasn't long before everyone knew His name!

As Jesus' fame spread, He stayed above reproach in every way. He didn't compromise who He was or change how He reacted to the new onslaught of popularity. I don't know about Coach Smart's faith, but I pray that he won't compromise his character as his fame grows, either. If he does take a job at a different school, I'm sure he will do well. Whatever university gets Smart will get a solid coach.

But here's the thing. Whoever gets Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, will get something even greater: eternal life that will never end.

All earthly fame is fleeting. Coach Smart is famous now, and he will be for as long as he coaches and continues to do well on the court. But the fact remains that, just like others before him, his fame will one day fade.

It's the nature of our world that something or someone else always comes along in our footsteps and makes others forget what we accomplished.
That wasn't the case with Jesus, though. Because He did things that have never been and can never be surpassed, His fame is lasting—even growing to this day. As the only Son of the Living God, He remains the only sinless person who ever lived, and the only One who conquered sin and death for all mankind. His is a fame that can never and will never be equaled.

At the end of this basketball season, many schools will want to "get Smart." But, it's my desire that even more will want to get Jesus! Securing a great coach for a basketball team is a great move professionally, but locking in a Lord and Savior is the greatest move of all.

GO: 

1. In your opinion, who are some of the top young basketball coaches in college basketball today?

2. What does instant fame do to many young coaches? What did instant fame do to Jesus Christ? (Read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John to find out more.)

3. Why is earthly fame so fleeting?

4. Why has Jesus Christ remained famous?

5. If you gained instant notoriety, how would it affect your walk with Christ?

WORKOUT:  Mark 1:1-8 Acts 4:12 Hebrews 13:8

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Jere Johnson is a FCA staff member in the Chicago area and the author of the devotion book series One Day Better available at fcagear.com. If you would like to contact Jere, please e-mail him at jerejohnson@fca.org.

Fw: Impact Play: 'Hearing God'

Team:

Today's Coach is Steve Satake. He coaches high school football in Idaho, where he also is involved in FCA.

This is a Great Message on hearing God in the Middle of a Crowd.

"Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." J Wooden UCLA

"My Enemy attacks the Weak.
I will be my brother's keeper."
Champions Prayer - Prodigy Athletes

Carpe Diem - Seize the Day!

Now Just Go! Win the Day!

Rick
Phil 4:13
http://huddle360.blogspot.com

------ Email ------
 
Hearing God above It All Friday, March 25th, 2011

READY:  "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me." -John 10:27

SET:  The crowd is screaming. It's a big game: a rivalry, a championship or just a great contest with a frenzied crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. The gym is filled with so much noise from the crowd, the band and the PA announcer. The coach, who has almost lost his voice, yells out to his players to make an adjustment, and the players respond.

But how does the player even hear his coach among the chaos and the intense noise in his surroundings? Because he spends time with the coach in the weight room, at practice and maybe even in the classroom.

Thus, he hears the voice of his coach day after day and recognizes his voice in the intensity of the game.

Jesus says to us in John 10:27: "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me."

Do you hear God's voice during intense situations in life?

Do you hear Him coaching you in the big decisions you make? If you are not hearing God in the midst of life's big games or through the noise of the crowd, ask yourself:

Am I spending time listening to God in the quiet times? Do I do that each day so that I can recognize His voice when He does call to me?  

By spending time with God daily we can begin to understand His instructions in all situations of life: the peaceful times, the storms or just above the everyday crowd noise.

If you are one of God's children, learn to know your Father's voice so that He can direct you and guide you to make the right plays. By hearing His voice and responding to His instruction, we know we can get through our day in peace and in the right direction. 

GO:  Do you make time to listen to God? Do you recognize His voice? How does He speak to you? If you don't know how to hear God, talk to a trusted pastor or Christian friend.

God reveals Himself in many different ways, and you must learn how to hear and recognize His voice.

WORKOUT:  Deuteronomy 4:12, 36 Psalm 29 John 10
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Steve Satake coaches high school football in Idaho, where he also is involved in FCA.
Now it's your Turn.

Write your own FCA Devotional. . . Go to www.fca.org and click the  "Submit your own FCA devo! " link on the right side.

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Reminder about your invitation from Rick Ponder

LinkedIn This is a reminder that on March 23, Rick Ponder sent you an invitation to become part of his or her professional network at LinkedIn. Follow this link to accept Rick Ponder's invitation. https://www.linkedin.com/e/lmume1-glui2g76-39/doi/2558082293/fUAeE9AE/gir_459841374_0/EML-inv_17_rem/ Signing up is free and takes less than a minute. On March 23, Rick Ponder wrote: > To: [rpponder.huddle@blogger.com] > From: Rick Ponder [rpponder@aol.com] > Subject: Invitation to connect on LinkedIn > I'd like to add you to my professional network on LinkedIn. > > - Rick The only way to get access to Rick Ponder's professional network on LinkedIn is through the following link: https://www.linkedin.com/e/lmume1-glui2g76-39/doi/2558082293/fUAeE9AE/gir_459841374_0/EML-inv_17_rem/ You can remove yourself from Rick Ponder's network at any time. -------------- © 2011, LinkedIn Corporation Monday, March 28, 2011 Fw: The Offensive Playbook Team: Today's Coach is Pastor Adrian Rogers. Coach Rogers talks about a great offensive game plan. He says we need to be on the attack instead of just playing defense. The Word of God is our offensive Weapon. Hebrews 4:12 When Jesus was being tempted in the Wilderness after 40 days of fasting He was very weak but Filled with the Holy Spirit. "Filled with the Holy Spirit." "So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature." Galatians 5:16 The enemy tried to tempt Jesus with Power, Riches and an Alternative Game Plan other than going to the Cross. Instead of being conservative Jesus used His Playbook and went on the Offensive. Luke 4 Jesus realized He was weak from no food but He Trusted His Father, relied on His Playbook and The Holy Spirit to get Him the Victory. "My Enemy hates my Leadership. I will Always Do What's Right." Champions Prayer - Prodigy Athletes "The enemy loves idleness. Idleness is when the enemy tempts us. Students don't be Idle during Spring Break. Be on the Offensive and Make some Great Plays for God. Be ahead of the Game by being in the Playbook. Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! Now Just Go! Win the Day! Rick Phil 4:13 http://huddle360.blogspot.com ------ Email ------ MARCH 23 Playing on the Offense "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 Do you know what's wrong with many of us? We're trying to get out of trouble rather than get into righteousness. We're so focused on the defensive side of Christianity that we forget about the offensive, positive approach. Wouldn't you like to get up and stay up? Wouldn't you like to experience the abundant life our Lord talks about? Jesus came to give us the eternal life. He came to give us the abundant life. We need to do like the old song says, "Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative." Why don't you determine today that you are going to get right with God and stay right with God? That you're going to take steps to lead a life of obedience. For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. Saturday, March 26, 2011 Fw: Impact Play: 'Hearing God' Team: Today's Coach is Steve Satake. He coaches high school football in Idaho, where he also is involved in FCA. This is a Great Message on hearing God in the Middle of a Crowd. "Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming." J Wooden UCLA "My Enemy hates my Leadership. I will Always Do What's Right." Champions Prayer - Prodigy Athletes Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! Now Just Go! Win the Day! Rick Phil 4:13 http://huddle360.blogspot.com ------ Email ------   Hearing God above It All Friday, March 25th, 2011 READY:  "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me." -John 10:27 SET:  The crowd is screaming. It's a big game: a rivalry, a championship or just a great contest with a frenzied crowd cheering at the top of their lungs. The gym is filled with so much noise from the crowd, the band and the PA announcer. The coach, who has almost lost his voice, yells out to his players to make an adjustment, and the players respond. But how does the player even hear his coach among the chaos and the intense noise in his surroundings? Because he spends time with the coach in the weight room, at practice and maybe even in the classroom. Thus, he hears the voice of his coach day after day and recognizes his voice in the intensity of the game. Jesus says to us in John 10:27: "My sheep hear My voice, I know them, and they follow Me." Do you hear God's voice during intense situations in life? Do you hear Him coaching you in the big decisions you make? If you are not hearing God in the midst of life's big games or through the noise of the crowd, ask yourself: Am I spending time listening to God in the quiet times? Do I do that each day so that I can recognize His voice when He does call to me?   By spending time with God daily we can begin to understand His instructions in all situations of life: the peaceful times, the storms or just above the everyday crowd noise. If you are one of God's children, learn to know your Father's voice so that He can direct you and guide you to make the right plays. By hearing His voice and responding to His instruction, we know we can get through our day in peace and in the right direction.  GO:  Do you make time to listen to God? Do you recognize His voice? How does He speak to you? If you don't know how to hear God, talk to a trusted pastor or Christian friend. God reveals Himself in many different ways, and you must learn how to hear and recognize His voice. WORKOUT:  Deuteronomy 4:12, 36 Psalm 29 John 10 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Steve Satake coaches high school football in Idaho, where he also is involved in FCA. Now it's your Turn. Write your own FCA Devotional. . . Go to www.fca.org and click the  "Submit your own FCA devo! " link on the right side. Friday, March 25, 2011 Fw: The Offensive Playbook Team: "My Enemy hates my Leadership. I will Always Do What's Right." Champions Prayer - Prodigy Athletics Today's Coach is Adrian Rogers. Coach Rogers talks about a great offensive game plan. He says we need to be on the attack instead of just playing defense. The Word of God is our offensive Weapon. When Jesus was being tempted in the Wilderness after 40 days of fasting He was very weak but Filled with the Holy Spirit. The enemy tried to tempt Jesus with Power, Riches and an Alternative Game Plan other than going to the Cross. Instead of being conservative and defensive Jesus used the Playbook and went on the offensive. Luke 4 When I grew up the church said, "No you can't do that. Watch out for that. Don't make a mistake." I walked around paranoid. I asked myself, "What can I do?". Then God spoke to my heart and said go on the Offensive. I saw 3-4000 Hippies going on the Offensive with the Word of God at Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa. These Hippies were strung out on Pot, LSD and Heroin. They had no future and no hope. Their Lives were Empty, Lonely, Paranoid and Ashamed. The only out for them was Drugs. Drugs tried to fill the emptiness but it created an even bigger hole in the soul. Until God used Kay and Chuck Smith to reach them with His Offensive Playbook. The First Play was to Receive Christ into their Lives and allow God to Transform them and the Next Generation. They went from "Make Love and not War" (Vietnam) to "They will know you are my disciples by your love for one another." They served communities and worked for the Lord helping to re-build the 70's - 80's Generation giving people a future and a hope in God. They were the Nehemiah Generation. Today those Hippies are very successful business leaders and Pastors serving the Lord and Communities throughout the World. What was the Key? They put Faith into Action. They got in the Game. Get the Book Harvest by Chuck Smith and read their Stories. Now we say, "What can we Do for the Lord and our fellow man - TEAMMATES?" Go on the Offensive. Open His Playbook and Use it. Let's Put our Faith into Action. If you are depressed and down get a Purpose and a Plan of Action. Get in the Game and watch how your Life will now be a Miracle for Others. What an Incredible Feeling it is knowing you allowed God to use you to help Transform someone's life for Him. Do you want to beat depression? Get in the Game and Put Faith into Action. Have a Purpose to Lift others out of a Black Hole and into God's Loving Hands. What a great Purpose! Go on the Offensive! Carpe Diem - Seize the Day! Now Just Go! Own the Day! Rick Phil 4:13 http://huddle360.blogspot.com ------ Email ------ MARCH 23 Playing on the Offense "I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly." John 10:10 Do you know what's wrong with many of us? We're trying to get out of trouble rather than get into righteousness. We're so focused on the defensive side of Christianity that we forget about the offensive, positive approach. Wouldn't you like to get up and stay up? Wouldn't you like to experience the abundant life our Lord talks about? Jesus came to give us the eternal life. He came to give us the abundant life. We need to do like the old song says, "Accentuate the positive. Eliminate the negative." Why don't you determine today that you are going to get right with God and stay right with God? That you're going to take steps to lead a life of obedience. For more from Love Worth Finding and Pastor Adrian Rogers, please visit www.lwf.org. 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