Sunday, February 17, 2013

The Uncertain Sound


The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 14:8, "For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?"  What a great question - and one that deserves our study of God's word.

The verse indicates the importance of understanding what a trumpet call sounds like and what it means when we hear it - just like our military did for so many years.  Did you know that a game does not stop because a horn goes off in the middle of play?  That's an uncertain sound.  Only a whistle stops the game - that's a rule.  Satan is always looking to distract us with uncertain sounds and the only way we can know that a sound is uncertain is to know what the correct sound actually sounds like!

Coach’s – Here is something that you can do with your team.  When you have them run a set of sprints, tell them they are to go only upon the right sound.  For instance, try a command like "whistle-whistle-go".  You then can check their responses by doing a couple of things.  Blow the whistle 3 times in a row.  Did they go?  They shouldn't have gone because that was not the right sound.  Blow the whistle once and then say go-go.  Did they move?  I hope not because that wasn't the command.  The command was a whistle-whistle-go!  You get the idea.

It’s important for our young men and young ladies to learn to listen for the right things.  They should play ball until a whistle sounds - not the horn.  They should only move when you tell them to move.  They should do as mom and dad tell them to do.  And they should do exactly what God has commanded them to do - no more and no less - knowing precisely what His voice sounds like!

Coach P
CHSM Basketball

Charlie Pomeroy is an assistant basketball coach and CHSM leadership team member.  He has over 20 years of coaching experience and is an active member at his church in Spring, TX.

www.chsmhouston.com

Follow CHSM on Twitter (@chsmhouston)
Follow Coach CJ on Twitter (@CJPomeroy1)

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

What is on your Boarding Pass?


On my last business trip I flew on a different airline to my destination.  My co-worker and I purchased standard tickets, but upon arrival to the airport we were upgraded to first class – without paying for it!  I have only flown first-class 1 or 2 times and am somewhat unfamiliar with all the added benefits that come with first-class flying.  I was also unaware with the terminology this particular airline used to identify people with priority boarding.  I assumed that my ticket was standard and stood in the standard security line where I waited for 20 minutes to go through security.  I ended up going to the wrong security point and went through the wrong security line.  I completely bypassed the priority boarding line where no one was standing all because I wouldn’t pay attention!

This is how most people view salvation.  They believe that they haven’t done enough good, or that they have done too much bad to deserve Heaven.  However, that is simply not the case.  2 Peter 3:9 tells us “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”  In John 3:16 we are told “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  Some people assume that Heaven is there destination, but they haven’t checked their boarding pass to ensure they are headed in the right direction.  And some people assume that they it simply cannot be that easy.  They end up going to the wrong side of the terminal and stand in the wrong line. 

Friend, life guarantees us one thing only – that we will all die.  However, our death does not need to be permanent.  God is offering “priority boarding passes” to those who have faith in His redemptive work on the cross and His saving grace.  He has a security line that few take, and guarantees you an eternal comfort in His presence.

What does your boarding pass say?

Coach CJ
Director – CHSM

Follow CHSM on Twitter (@chsmhouston)
Follow Coach CJ on Twitter (@CJPomeroy1)

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Why?


During the first few weeks of 2013, a very close friend of mine lost his 3 month old daughter.  It is normal for us to hear of someone passing away each and every day, almost to the point that we become desensitized to the news.  However, it is never the same when it is someone you are close to.  My friend & I go back many years and both of us have young children.  My heart has ached for him all week.  There are no words for me to tell my friend, save for “I’m sorry.  I love you, and I am praying for you.”  I can’t imagine his pain, and in times like this I begin to wonder “Why Lord?”  This is a question that I do not know the answer too, but a question that we all ask at some point in our life.  And, it is in times like this that I turn to the Bible for comfort and guidance.

One of my life verses, and one that I retreat to often in times of uncertainty and confusion, is Jeremiah 29:11 – “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.” (NKJV) I then turn to Isaiah 55:8-9 – “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” (KJV) Finally, Paul reminds us in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 9 – “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (KJV)

Although I don’t know the “Why”, I know that God has a plan through all of this, that He loves me, and that He only has my best, for His glory, in mind. I just have to take Him at His word and walk by faith. 

The same is true for players, coaches, and parents.  Sometimes, even though we might be working hard, we don’t get what we think should get, or lose what we don’t think we should lose.  It could be a player believing he deserves an award, a parent believing their child should play more, or maybe a coach not getting the authority he believes he should have.  It is in these times that most people begin to ask the question “Why” rather than simply trusting God to take care of the details.  God knows human-nature, and He knows that we are going to ask these questions, which is why I believe He gave us these wonderful verses.  The Bible is our reminder that God knows what is going on and He does have a plan.  God simply wants us to take Him at His word, and trust Him implicitly.

In life, we will only go backwards if we let the “Why” dominate our thoughts and actions.  However, if we take God at His word, trust in His love, and walk by faith, then we will find that the mountain-top view is more than we could ever imagine.


Have faith, move forward, and experience the love and goodness that God wants to bring into your life.

Coach CJ

Director – CHSM

Follow CHSM on Twitter (@chsmhouston)
Follow Coach CJ on Twitter (@CJPomeroy1)