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MAG where sports and faith connect
“Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us” From the Bible Hebrews 12:1
Ever yone Is Watching
As a captain of my soccer team, everyone looks to me for guidance, especially when tough situations arise. Playing against a strong team in a Cup competition provided me with an opportunity to lead by example. After going down to nine men in overtime, all eyes turned to me. I knew that all of my teammates and even our fans were watching to see if I would stand up to the challenge or fail under the pressure. This would be an opportunity for me to lead by example. Just as in a game of soccer, we are faced with challenges every day of our lives. In Acts 7 we can read about Stephen, a member of the early church. When faced with the pressure of taking a stand for his faith in Christ, Stephen gave a testimony that glorified God and ended in Stephen losing his life. As believers, God holds us to a higher standard. “You are the light of the world...let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven.” (Matthew5:14,16) People are constantly watching to see how we will respond when bad situations arise. How will you respond? When people are watching, will you fall under the pressure or rise to the challenge?
“My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.” From the Bible Psalm 84:2
Feelings of Anticipation
One of my favorite things in sports is listening to my country’s National Anthem played or sung before games. This may sound odd, but when I hear it, I can only associate it with the start of games. From a young age, watching my uncles play professional soccer, the anthem marked a spark of emotions and the anticipation of what was to come—the exhilaration of the stadium noise, the fans, the goals, and the excitement of the spectacle of sports. As I matured and reached professional levels, it was my turn to stand at midfield and listen to the National Anthem; sparking many emotions. It was and always will be special. The feeling that rushed through me was still that of anticipation, but it was also different. Now it was anticipation of the task at hand, the motivation that would drive me for 90 minutes; I developed a routine that is still with me; my body instinctively moves to certain bars of the song in a certain way. It was how I prepared for games; it was the final few minutes of preparation that moved my emotions to a point of high anticipation. Though my playing days are done, the routine is the same. Anytime I hear the national anthem, those feelings of anticipation come back. Yet, that anticipation for the start of a game is nothing compared to my anticipation for the return of Christ. Let yourself be filled today with the emotions of anticipation and watch what happens. Feel the coming of Christ. Feel the power of redemption. Feel His love, and feel His grace.
“Each one test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” From the Bible Galatians 6:4-5
Accountability
As a professional soccer player for six years I made some bad decisions as I navigated my way through my career. As athletes we often measure ourselves by comparing ourselves to others. And measuring sports success is no different because sometimes we measure one athlete to another by comparing records, statistics, salaries, etc. Early in my career, I compared myself to teammates, during my first and second professional seasons I measured against men more than six years older. Every time I looked at the comparisons, I kept falling short. Even though it motivated me to succeed and push myself to get better, but the comparisons never allowed me to be joyful in whom I was or where I was; I was always unsatisfied. I couldn’t find joy. One day, though, I shared this with a teammate and he simply said, “comparison smothers joy.” He explained that I only need to look at myself and measure my growth against where I started, not against anyone else. The more I learned to do this, the more joy I experienced, and the more success I experienced in my career. As followers of Christ, it is very easy to find ourselves comparing who we are to those we see at church and others in our lives; this often leaves us unsatisfied and joyless in Christ. Paul teaches us that we must only look and measure who we are and who we are becoming against who we were and where we started. Don’t let your joy in Christ be smothered by comparison.
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“The laborer’s appetite works for him; his hunger drives him on.” From the Bible Proverbs 16:26
What Motivates
The regular season ended, and my future professional soccer team did well winning the regular season title and through the first two rounds of the playoffs. In the final, played at home, they fell short when the match came down to penalty kicks. After the season, they won all of the awards—Coach of the Year, Most Valuable Player, Scoring Champion, Goalkeeper of the Year, and Defender of the Year; yet, were without a championship. I joined the team the next season and immediately saw a team with purpose—to finish better. The desire for that championship was contagious. All throughout the preseason, energy was high, competition was strong, and the drive for success and winning a title was everywhere. As the season progressed, we hit some hard spots; we had injuries, bad losses, and even some locker room disputes. But no one ever quit and our hunger to hold the championship trophy pushed us forward. At season’s end, we were in a familiar spot; we were in the championship and it came down to penalty kicks once again, but this time the final match was away from home. This time, our result was different. We won and the championship trophy was ours and our joy was temporarily satisfied. When you find yourself starving, you work for food. Do you starve for Christ? If you do, do you work for it? Let your desire to share His love be the force that motivates your faith and works.
“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but with humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests. But also to the interests of others” From the Bible Philippians 2:3-4
Go And Ser ve
Playing on a team provides athletes a role in a bigger picture. For years in my professional career as a defender, my role was to come off the bench and help my team retain the lead late in games. While my role was vital to the team, very seldom did I get any credit for a job well done. At all times I was forced to be prepared to go into a game and make a difference. There were many times after a victory that I wished the media would interview me, or that I would receive big bonus checks, or praise from teammates, fans, or journalists. I wanted the attention and gratitude that I deserved, but it rarely ever came. As followers of the Lord, we all have a tremendous role to play on God’s team. We must put aside our interests of hearing the “praise of men” and follow the example of Jesus Christ. “Who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made Himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant being made in human likeness.”(Philippians 2:6-7) Let us remember to play our role so that we may bring God glory. Now is the time. Get off the bench. Go serve.
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“The Lord gave and the lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.” From the Bible Job 1:21
It’s Not Yours
We deceive ourselves when it comes to our abilities. There is no doubt that we train, practice, and condition in such a way to make ourselves better. However, the fact remains that we have been given certain talents and abilities in the realm of sports. I think we struggle with the recognition of our abilities as being “gifts” from God. The truth is they aren’t really ours. To think otherwise is way too easy. The world tells us that we deserve something for the work we have put into mastering our profession; and we are the ones buying into that philosophy. I believed this lie, as well, until I was reminded that this is not true. For the first four years of my pro soccer career, I was injury-free until I tore my Achilles tendon. Before the injury I believed that the Lord had kept me injury-free because I was such a strong witness for Him on the field. It wasn’t until I tore my Achilles tendon that I heard Him whisper, “What kind of witness will you be for me now?” That was the last thing I wanted to hear, but what we want and need are often different things. He knew that I took for granted the ability to play, yet it took this injury for me to realize it! What has He been trying to tell you?
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb” From the Bible Job 1:21
Honoring Encouragement
It is the father, not the mother who receives much of the credit for a child’s sporting successes. For instance, my father truly taught me most of what I know about soccer and it helped me to succeed and play professionally for six years, and play in other countries. But when I think about my growth as a player and athlete, it is hard to neglect my mother’s impact. She wasn’t just there to take me to practice and games, but she was there to challenge me when I played terribly, and she was there to cheer me on when I was successful. She was also there to mend my injuries and force me to think in different ways. Her love, care, consistency, and faith in me built up my confidence that it allowed me to achieve almost anything I wanted. Does this sound like any other woman you know? I am sure it does, but specifically I was thinking of Mary, who had a strong faith. She was there caring for Jesus and the disciples at the beginning and end. She was with Jesus in His best and toughest moments. I obviously can’t say Jesus would be nothing without His mother, because that isn’t true. But undoubtedly Jesus was thankful for Mary. Honor your mom, or someone in your life who has encouraged you. Honor that person the way Christ would, with love.
“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” From the Bible Romans 15:5-6
Attitude and Commitment
Most of them were not soccer players. Of the 20 girls who showed up for tryouts, only eight had ever played prior to stepping onto the field that day. They were basketball stars, former softball players, actresses and musicians. They were not soccer players. The girls’ soccer team at this small school represented something much bigger than a simple game. They were the first girls’ soccer team in school history. No one expected much. The challenge of starting a new program at the competitive level, in a highly competitive league, was a tough task. They never complained about the extreme conditioning workouts, the high expectations, the cold temperatures or the muddy field. They were committed, not just to soccer, but more importantly to the team and mission. They didn’t offer excuses, but rather solutions and banded together when things got tough. Despite losing many games in the beginning of the season, they were already champions. Off the field I watched them serve the community through various service projects, including one project where they served significantly ill patients. On the field they played with determination. That’s why it was no surprise when the team won its first game by the middle of the season. Nobody expected it - except us. As believers, God calls us to serve a higher purpose than that of self-centeredness. He is looking for team players, not individual superstars who seek personal awards and recognition. He doesn’t want our excuses as to why we can’t. God is looking for those who have the right attitude and commitment to overcome the odds of bringing Him glory. What areas in your life need a change in attitude or commitment?
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“But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.” From the Bible John 1:12-13
From Father to Son
For me it is simple, I have two true loves: Christ and the woman who I married. But when it comes to sports, I have one for each category: soccer, basketball, cricket etc. My true loves were gifts from God, but my love of sports and each of my favorite teams are what my father showed me to love. I fell in love with soccer and sports-related things because I wanted to be like my father and I wanted to share in his loves. Within sports, soccer is my father’s and my first love. It will always be our greatest and deepest connection. Because of my desire to share my father’s love, I was able to experience so much and discover my own love for soccer. What is our Heavenly Father’s love? His children - you and I. Jesus tells us the greatest commandment is to love one another. How wonderful would it be to share in our Heavenly Father’s love? What would it do for our relationship with Him and for each other? Seek to love what the Father loves, His children. See what experiences unfold and the kind of love you develop on your own for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” From the Bible Jeremiah 33:3
Something We Can’t See
The school that I coached played its first season of boys’ soccer. The school, only a few years old at the time, was trying to field competitive sports teams. That year, the team consisted of 12-14 year olds, and played games against other local schools. There were only three 12 year olds on the team, and we counted on their leadership during what would be a very difficult season. Despite scoring only a few goals, the team was able to win three games. However, the goal of “winning” for many of the players had negative results, and by late-season there were numerous conflicts between players, fighting among the coaching staff, and low morale. The end of the season could not have come soon enough. In the offseason we committed to a new level of training and conditioning, focused on smaller and more attainable goals, and placed a great deal of emphasis on building a program, not just a team. Additionally, we began to commit more time to our spiritual development, and we made many correlations between sports and “running the race” of life to which God has called us. Over the next three years, those young men devoted countless hours to perfecting their skills on the field and to their leadership and Christ like example off the field. The very same 12-14 year olds became 1518 year olds who won the first conference title for the school in any sport. We took a Number 3 ranking into the playoffs and advanced to the quarterfinals before losing in overtime to the eventual champion. Sometimes God has bigger plans for our lives than we can see in the turmoil of today. However, be patient and allow God to unwrap something great and mighty for you in His own time. It will be well worth the wait.
Fabrice Coffrini / AFP / Getty Images
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“The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” From the Bible Zephaniah 3:17
Where Do You Tur n
I knew the incredible stories of the Bible about David killing Goliath, Jesus walking on water, and the walls of Jericho turning to rubble. I knew them and loved them. I loved hearing about this God who defied all odds and chose the least likely of people to spread the Gospel. I knew all these things, and yet I chose to live a life that was not glorifying to God. I made soccer my idol and I worshiped it. I only cared about being the best soccer player, and I wanted others to talk about me when they watched my team play. When I was 18 years old, my entire life changed. I was diagnosed with diabetes. For the first time in my life, I realized I wasn’t in control. I was scared. I didn’t know who or where to turn. Soccer didn’t take my fears away. Soccer didn’t comfort me when I was lying in my hospital bed. Soccer wasn’t able to reassure me that things would work out. Knowing that God loves me, no matter what I had done, did. Christ’s love was the only thing that helped me through the hardest time of my life. The truth that comes from knowing Jesus as our Lord and Savior were the only things that brought me true peace. Those truths I learned growing up began to come alive in my heart. It is because of those truths that I now play for a greater purpose – Jesus!
“Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, it shall be given...” From the Bible James 1:4-5
Making You Stronger
When I was in school from 16 to 18, I was involved in five sports: soccer, basketball, baseball, and track. During the school vacation I added swimming. Throughout all of my athletic activities one thing that stands out is the first day of soccer practice for the team. At that practice I was introduced to a new kind of pain and suffering. I remember the climax of the practice and thinking it was nearly over, when the coach lined us up at the bottom of “the hill.” I wasn’t prepared for what came next. We ran up the hill, then down it. We ran up backwards, then down the hill. We hopped up on one foot, then back down. We hopped up on both feet, then back down. Then, at a point when I knew that I might become sick from the pain, I heard my coach yell, “Don’t quit, it will make you stronger.” Now many years later and many “hills” in my life, I have come to understand that what my coach meant is also what James was saying in his letter to the believers who were scattered all over the world. In James 1:1-4, he used different words, but he expresses the same idea as my soccer coach did. He told them to “count it all joy” when you face trials and suffering because it will make you complete or “stronger.” Whatever you may be facing today that seems like it’s more than you can manage, take time to read James 1:1-4 and ask God to show you His purpose for it. He promised He would in James 1:5. Let it make you stronger.
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“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men.” From the Bible Colossians 3:23
Honoring God
The above verse has been my most Important Bible verse for many years. Those few words became significant to me at the end of my career as a soccer player. Then early in my coaching career as God began regularly bringing them into my mind. Three things stand out to me when thinking about this verse: 1) God expects us to work hard at everything, not just Bible reading and prayer. In every area of our lives we are supposed to work hard - studying, working, relationships, sports and loving God. 2) Not only do we have to work at everything; we must do it with all our heart. God tells us to give maximum effort always, not 15 percent or even 99 percent, but 100 percent effort in all we do. I think of this as God’s desire for us to be excellent - all the time. 3) The last thing this Bible verse says to me is when you do everything well, do it for God and not for others or ourselves. Our desire in everything we do should be to lift up the name of Jesus and lift His name above everything. God wants us to do everything to the best of our ability to honor Him!
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” From the Bible in I Corinthians 10:31
The Me Problem
Since I was about 12, I have wanted to be a professional soccer player and everything I did growing up was a step toward this goal. My team won a national championship, I became a nationally known player, and I signed a contract with a professional team. My lifelong dream had been accomplished, but after only one season I was released and my life was a struggle. I felt embarrassed, depressed and insignificant. My identity was a professional soccer player, and now that I wasn’t one I was confused. I got all my personal self-worth from how I played and what others thought of me. I played for my own glory, fame and money. I played for me. I felt that the “me” mentality was common to every team. Players would hope for teammates to make mistakes or get injured. Gossip was everywhere as players talked to build up their Image and tear others down. Although players might show a humble outward appearance, inside they possessed a sense of superiority. It wasn’t until I arrived on my next team that I saw a unified group of players who worked for each other. I saw joy that radiated from them because their lives had a purpose bigger than a game. I experienced a love for Christ that transformed them into players who played for God’s glory and not their own. I still struggle to keep my identity in Christ, but the verse that has always helped is I Corinthians 10:31. God wants us to have a “we” not a “me” mentality.
“Then Job answered the LORD and said, I know that You can do all things, and that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.’ Who is this that hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have declared that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.” From the Bible Job 42:1-3
Why Me?
As I was reading a story about former Brazilian star Jose Edmilson, I was struck by a quote of his: “A lot of times we ask God ‘Why?’ but we don’t ask Him ‘What for?’ We have to trust in God.” He spoke from experience. Days after being selected for Brazil’s World Cup team, he was injured and wasn’t able to play in the world’s largest sporting event. How often do we stop and ask God “What for?” when it seems like bad things happen to us? I say “it seems” because we assume anything that prevents our goals or doesn’t benefit us is bad. But look at Job’s life and you’ll see that thinking is wrong. Job understood that God was in control all of that time (Job 42:1-3). Or how about Joseph’s life? He forgave his brothers for selling him into slavery, telling them in the end that though they meant it for evil, God meant it for good. Next time we have something we perceive as “bad” happen to us, let’s ask God “What for?” and rest in the fact that God has a plan that is too wonderful for us to know. Trust and rest in that fact.
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“However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace.” From the Bible Acts 20:24
The Joy Inside
PWhy am I playing soccer? I believe soccer has created an opportunity to experience the verse from Acts 20:24. One practical way for this scripture to be meaningful is how you play the game, working for your teammates and considering them better than yourself just as Christ shows us in Philippians. Can you play in such a way that your entire performance and character will show God’s grace? Aside from playing soccer, God has placed two passions and visions inside me: children and ministry in other countries. I use soccer as a way to invest in and love kids in the community. Through spending time with them, I learned that it was important to remember the race we are running and to finish strong. Remembering our goal is to show that the Gospel of God’s grace is sharing what Jesus has done in our life. Because soccer is a universal language that instantly brings together different cultures, religions, and people, I can further this goal by taking this verse to other countries. Because of a small ball, I am able to share the joy that is inside me! What allows you to share the joy inside you?
“You can do all things through Him who gives you strength.” From the Bible Philippians 4:13
Preparing Properly
Life is a series of challenges and can be an up and down journey. Just as you overcome one challenge, the next one awaits. And sometimes the struggle seems endless, but you will always get through it because He, who guides your steps, will see you through it. This game of soccer is much more like life than any other sport. There are no timeouts and no play books that can foresee the opponents’ strategy or help guide your next decision. You have to think quickly while on your feet, adjust to new situations quickly, and when necessary, change to new strategies. The decisions we make on the field impact the outcome. We spend hours in daily training for a game that lasts only 90 minutes. Do we spend as much time preparing for life through our walk with Christ? If not, let’s adjust our life to glorify God.
“And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.” From the Bible Ecclesiastes 4:12
No Person Is Alone
Life, like soccer, is not a one person event. You have teammates to help you, some working harder than others and some more knowledgeable and skillful than others. That is why it is important, as followers of Christ, to be involved with other believers, each part contributing different talents for the greater good. Each part, like each team player, is important and significant; working together as a team, respecting, loving and serving each other. I have learned in soccer that no one person can make a team; the team makes you. In life, no person stands alone, and the decisions you make for yourself will have an impact on others. Are you prepared to make the correct decisions daily, knowing their significant impact on others? Have you prepared enough? Are you willing to lean on others?
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“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” From the Bible John 10:10
A Full Life
What does a satisfying life look like? This question is something I asked for a long time. It was something that I wanted; to live a life that satisfied my heart but also made a difference in the lives of others. It was not until I was in my early 20’s that I came to see that God created me to be in a relationship with Him, but that He also gave me gifts that could be used to honor Him and serve others. I always loved playing soccer and competing, but for most of my life I did it for the wrong reasons. I only started to understand the life that God intended for me when I learned how to use my talents to build relationships, bridge cultural gaps, and share the message of hope. For 14 years, I have had the chance to play soccer professionally, but more than that I have had the chance to tell others the story of the Lord who changed my life. Christ desires to give us a life that satisfies our hearts and impacts the world. My hope is that you first enter the most important relationship with Christ, and then secondly, see how God desires to use you. When these two things happen, I believe you will have the “full life” that Christ offers.
“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always hopes, always perseveres.” From the Bible in I Corinthians 13:4-7
Ways Of Ser ving
Several years ago I lived with a lifestyle that didn’t make God happy. I played on good teams and was paid good money, but I wasn’t happy. It was a bad world with many fake friendships; people who liked me for what I had. When I met my future wife, she helped me know the true love of God. In the moment that I accepted Jesus and gave my life to Him, everything changed. I received a new beginning for my life with trusted friends, and in my job as a soccer player I had more respect from and for my teammates. In return, God touched my heart to share Him with my teammates. In feeling called to do this, I started to find creative ways to minister to my teammates, and there were many opportunities to speak to them about Jesus. I noticed that God changed my life using soccer as a way to talk more about His Kingdom and glory. What ways has God given you to use?
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