It is valuable to note that the idea of equipping others to succeed through mentoring is as old as the Scriptures—and not limited to the young. We see Moses mentoring Joshua, Naomi mentoring Ruth, Peter mentoring Mark, Paul mentoring Timothy and a host of others, and, of course, Jesus and His band of disciples. This kind of mentoring, however, is not merely about character—valuable as that is. No, this kind of mentoring is about seeing the character of Christ reproduced in others so that their lives may know the kind of spiritual success that honors the Master. That is why Jesus, in the ultimate expression of the process of spiritual mentoring, told His men: “Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:29).

In this area of mentoring, we are not just interested in character qualities, we are interested in the life and heart of Christ—and seeing His character reproduced. This was certainly what Christ was about in His mentoring, and it paid off. When confronted by the religious leaders of their day and holding firm to the convictions of their Lord, they were marked as those who had been under Jesus’ influence: “They took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus” (Acts 4:13 KJV).

That is the key element. Mentoring can’t be done unless there is the personal investment of a life into a life. By God’s grace, help, and wisdom, it can be an investment that sets people on a path of spiritual living that likewise marks them as those who have “been with Jesus”—and that is success indeed.

Join us tomorrow on Sports Spectrum radio as we discuss what it takes to help others succeed.

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

In life, there is no off-season at all. Every day is “go time.” Every day is a day that our Lord has made—and one that may bear opportunities to impact someone for eternity. The apostle Peter spoke of this when he wrote: “Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

The challenge here is twofold. First, we are to live a life of confident hope in our God and His care so that the world can see the difference He has made in our lives. Then, second, we are to be ready to share that hope whenever the opportunity arises. For the follower of Christ, every day is “go time”—the question is, will we be ready when the opportunity to speak for Christ arises?

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

In a similar way, many times the church can become a place where “What’s in it for me?” is the cry of the throngs. Only caring what I like or what I want or what I prefer will never help the church to be the true spiritual body it is designed and intended to be. Only as each of us realize that there is more to the church than just our personal interests can the mission of the church go forward at full strength. That is why the New Testament letters continually call  us to seek the benefit of our brothers and sisters in Christ. This call is captured in more than 20 “one another” statements in which we are challenged to seek the best of the other first and foremost. For example . . .

• “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another” (Rom. 12:5).
• “Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another” (Rom. 12:10).
• “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom. 12:16).
• “Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).

That is just a small sample of the “one another” statements, but the point is clear. The ability of the church to function as a team—members together of the body of Christ—is directly related to our willingness to seek the best of others within the church. That is at the very core of a team effort.

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

How do we respond to failure, reversals, or loss? The easiest thing to do is to give up and quit, maybe getting angry with God in the process. But, as the writer of the Hebrews reminds us, it is always too soon to quit. He said:

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God (Hebrew 12:1-2).

The key word is endurance. We don’t have to endure in the face of success, but we must in the face of failure, for as we endure by faith, we can find joy and satisfaction. The vital factor is this: Where do we turn in our moment of disappointment? Hebrews 12 reminds us that as we keep our eyes on Christ, His endurance for us becomes the model by which we endure—and the joy that He knew becomes a foretaste of the joy we may find as well.

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

In life, we face myriads of challenges, hardships, and struggles. We can’t predict them, anticipate them, or fully prepare for them, but they come nonetheless. And when they come, they often surprise us greatly—but should they? The ancient patriarch Job, writing from his own pain, said, “Yet man is born to trouble, as the sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7).

Indeed. That is the reality that comes along with living in a fallen world. Arguably, the only really surprising thing about life’s difficulties is that we are so often surprised by them. We expect what we do not get and get what we do not expect, in spite of the fact that life, experience, and the Scriptures point us to the realities of a world of struggle. But, more importantly, the Scriptures do more than warn us. In the Word of God, we find hope and help in those seasons of disappointment. Peter wrote, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

When life happens, handing us pain or grief or loss, we have someplace to turn and Someone to turn to. We have a God who understands our frame and is strong enough to carry the loads too great for us. When life happens, we don’t have to merely endure it, helpless and hopeless. We embrace the God who embraces us
. . . in all our pain and struggle.

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

The Bible says we can. And, at the appropriate times and with the appropriate spirit, we must. Writing to church families (at Galatia) who had boatloads of issues, the apostle Paul challenged them:

Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ (Gal. 6:1-2).

Clearly, this means that we have a responsibility to hold one another accountable. All of us have blind spots and all of us have shortcomings—and all of us need one another to help us grow and mature in Christ. The application of this kind of “critical” insight must never be given in a self-righteous, critical spirit. That is why Paul continued:

For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself (Gal. 6:3).

The challenge to assist one another in facing such inadequacies and shortcomings also requires us to be honest about our own failings and willing to accept counsel on them. Real love as fellow-followers of Christ requires nothing less than seeking to help one another and being willing to be helped by others. This is part of the genius of the body of Christ.

Join us tomorrow on Sports Spectrum radio as we discuss the dangers of a critical spirit.

Bill Crowder, Sports Spectrum Chaplain

For life outside the PGA Tour, pressure is an everyday occurrence. The pressures of expectations, work, relationships, finances, and dozens more can leave us drained of the very energy we need in order to stand firm against those very pressures, turning our once-strong confidence and commitment into a confused lump of fear and doubt. Under pressure, however, it is good to know that we have a promise from our God that Paul shared with Timothy, a young pastor facing the pressure of ministry in a difficult place:

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” (2 Timothy 1:7)

Instead of the pressures of life driving us to fearful despair, we have in God the resources we need in order to endure. The strength of power, the comfort of love, and the clarity of a sound mind are God’s provision when we face the pressures of life.

Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum Chaplain

As followers of Christ, we can also be vulnerable to losing sight of the basics that can help us to most effectively walk with the Savior. To remind me of those basics, I turn to the words of the Bible, including where the apostle Paul wrote, “Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31). It seems so simple, but I can easily forget this foundational reality—in everything I do, my goal should be to bring honor to my God. When distracted by other goals, or other priorities, or other values, I can forget the fact that how I engage life reflects on Him. The basics of spiritual living remind me that concern for my God’s honor needs to lead my thinking as I live, and that I can only do that consistently with His help and the guidance of His Word and Spirit. It’s just a matter of covering this foundational basic of the life of faith—my life is to be lived to give Him glory.

Bill Crowder, Sport Spectrum Chaplain