Posted on March 18, 2006 by Jere Johnson
READY:
Teach a youth about the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
SET:
Coach Ray Meyer was a legend. He coached in an era that saw some of the greatest changes in basketball. He coached the great George Mikan and some tremendous athletes like Mark Aguire and Terry Cummings. He taught the game well, but he taught much more than that. Coach Meyer died this week and when former players remembered him it was not his coaching that made the difference.
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Posted on September 10, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“Many women are capable, but you surpass them all!”
-Proverbs 31:29
SET:
I was going to write this devotional back in May, but for some reason the word did not fit at the time. I recently celebrated my anniversary with my lovely wife of 14 years. She has been a friend, partner, wife and mother to my four children. The greatest struggle for her during these years was being a coach’s wife. During my coaching years, I was gone a lot, and she took care of everything at home. She continues to amaze me with her energy and strength.
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Posted on August 26, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“Commit your activities to the Lord and your plans will be achieved.”
-Proverbs 16:3
SET:
“Commitment” is a big buzz word in sports today. Coaches are asking for commitment, players want to be committed, and schools are looking for a four-year commitment. But commitment is a word that is used very loosely today. I personally believe we need more athletes who are committed to their academic success before their athletic careers, but I’m old school on that one.
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Posted on August 25, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a difficult time.”
-Proverbs 17:17
SET:
David was new to his school. He was a great athlete. Jonathan was the first teammate David connected with on his team. They became instant friends. For three years David and Jonathan grew very close. In the first game his senior year, David had an accident while driving. Many of his friends didn’t stick by his side, but Jonathan didn’t leave.
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Posted on August 24, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:“A man with many friends may be harmed, but there is a friend who stays closer than a brother.”
-Proverbs 18:24
SET:
I had to make a tough decision in my senior year of high school. Coming out of basketball season, I had to decide between playing baseball or running track. My junior year I played baseball. I was the lead-off hitter and played centerfield because we didn’t have enough boys to fill a track team. My senior year I was in a bind. If I ran track, there would be just enough to have team. If I didn’t, there wouldn’t be a track team that year. The baseball coach told me I would never do anything in track and that his baseball team would probably be going to the state finals. My decision was simple after that. I chose track.
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Posted on August 18, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“If you stop listening to instruction, my son, you will stray from the words of knowledge.”
-Proverbs 19:27
SET:
A wise man once said, “When you are through learning, you are through!” I don’t know who actually said that, but my father used to repeat it to me often. As he would patiently try to teach his sons how to play different sports he would catch us occasionally not paying attention. We would make simple mistakes that, if we had been listening, wouldn’t have been made.
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Posted on August 10, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“Differing weights and varying measures–both are detestable to the Lord.”
-Proverbs 20:10
SET:
Remember this line? “Do as I say, not as I do.” What a perfect recipe for disaster! The athletic world is full of double standards. Some athletes get treated better than others. Freshmen don’t usually get the same privileges as seniors. Coaches, at times, also have double standards for their athletes. Many times a coach will say that if players are late for practices they will be punished. How often is this punishment actually given if the late player is one of the best on the team?
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Posted on August 8, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“The one who guards his mouth and tongue keeps himself out of trouble.”
-Proverbs 21:23
SET:
In 1986, I was the youngest varsity basketball coach in the state of Indiana. I studied older coaches to learn gain knowledge and wisdom. One area I should have paid for attention to was how they knew when to talk and when to keep their mouths shut. Of course, as a young coach I had to learn the hard way. I think I got more than 10 technicals my second year of coaching. None of them were for bad language, but all were for failing to keep my mouth shut at the right times. After each “T,” I would ask myself, “When am I going to learn?”
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Posted on August 2, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“A good name is to be chosen over great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.”
-Proverbs 22:1
SET:
Susie and Sally were twins. Both were great athletes, both went to church and both had a choice to make. After one game, the girls went to a party where “everyone” was there. The party got pretty crazy, and throughout the night Susie and Sally were offered many things. They both had choices to make.
Many athletes today say they follow Christ, but don’t live a lifestyle that sets a believer’s example. Fame sets in, and Christ takes a backseat, or worse, gets stuffed in the trunk and is never taken out again. These athletes choose living in the world’s view of success rather than in God’s view. God asks us to choose “right” living and maintain a good reputation and good character. Whether we believe it or not, it is far better to be sanctified than sinful, righteous than rich, convicted (spiritually) than cool, and prayerful than popular.
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Posted on July 29, 2005 by Jere Johnson
READY:
“Apply yourself to instruction and listen to words of knowledge.”
-Proverbs 23:12
SET:
There is a special tree that is growing each year across this country. Every sport has this special tree. It is called the “coaching tree.” If you look back throughout the history of sports you will see a list of coaches who have been trained by other great coaches, continuing each legacy to form an incredible tree. For example, in basketball, Dean Smith’s coaching tree has many, many branches that stem out to the high school, college and professional ranks. And they all include coaches who have been and are following in his footsteps.
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