In Search of Greatness, a documentary about athletic genius and creativity, features Wayne Gretzky for his love of hockey. Even as a four-year-old, he watched hockey games on TV with pen and paper in hand. “I didn’t feel like, as a kid, I was missing anything by, you know, not going to movies or not going on a two-week family holiday,” Gretzky said. “My passion was being on the ice—and more times than not, I was on the ice by myself, in the backyard, for hours.” Walter Gretzky, Wayne’s father, flooded the grass behind the family’s home in Brantford, Ontario. “And like my dad always says, ‘I don’t know why the Lord blessed you, but you’ve got a love for this thing like he’s never seen.’ And I think that’s sort of carried me through my whole memory of the game.”

Philippians 1 – Ultimate Pursuit

There is an obsession or passion that has driven Gretzky to excellence. In a sense, hockey was in him, and he was in hockey. That’s a similar description Paul uses to explain the believer living in union with Christ. When Paul wrote to the Philippians, he mentions his obsession with the gospel: “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21). Although Paul endured hundreds of lashes and thousands of insults, he maintained a joyful attitude. This was a direct result of placing Christ at the center of his life (1:12-20). Later in this letter, he says, “whether by life or by death,” Christ would be exalted through him (1:20).

The Kingdom Coach and Athlete keep Christ at the forefront of everything. They compete by depending on a Christ-centered, Christ-powered, and Christ-exalting perspective in sports.

Bible Memory Verse – “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12  (LSB)

Click HERE for the Kingdom Sports Minute: To Live Is Christ

Our featured book this week is Ecclesiastes – The Forward-Looking Coach. (A  10-Week Bible Study For Coaches Who Want To Lead With The End In Mind), written by Joshua Thiessen.

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