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“And he did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, but not with a whole heart.” — 2 Chronicles 25:2 Few verses in Scripture should make us more uncomfortable than 2 Chronicles 25:2. Amaziah wasn’t described as one of Judah’s most wicked kings. He hadn’t completely rejected God, and the verse actually begins with something we’d probably consider a compliment: “He did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.” If the verse ended there, we’d assume Amaziah was doing pretty well.

One of the biggest lies we tell ourselves is that we don't have enough time. We tell ourselves we'll start lifting after vacation, update our recruiting profile after the next tournament, send those emails when life settles down, or spend more time with God once our schedule opens up. The problem is that life never really slows down. There will always be another practice, another assignment, another work shift, another family obligation, and another distraction competing for

If you’ve been around athletics long enough, you know what it looks like when a team starts believing the game is already over before the final whistle ever blows. It is not always loud or dramatic. Sometimes it shows up in the way players stop communicating, the way a team quits pursuing every ball, the way an athlete walks back to the huddle already defeated, or the way the bench slowly loses the energy it had at the beginning of the match. That same thing can happen in our

The conversion of Saul on the road to Damascus is one of the greatest transformation stories in Scripture. Saul of Tarsus wasn’t simply opposed to Christianity; he was convinced he was defending God. As a Pharisee trained in Jewish law, he believed followers of Jesus were undermining the faith of Israel. With authority from the religious leaders, he pursued, imprisoned, and persecuted Christians, believing his actions were righteous. As Saul traveled toward Damascus, a blindi

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and that matters to me in a very personal way. This is not just an awareness campaign or something I repost because it generates clicks or because it’s trending. It’s personal. In the prologue of Saved to Serve, I shared that on August 31, 2006, I was drugged and raped by someone I thought was a friend. This August 31 will mark 20 years since that night. Twenty years is a long time to carry something that violent, and it is also a remi

Pastor Steve LeBlanc of Sherman Bible Church in Sherman, TX, said, “A verse without context is a pretext.” It’s a simple statement, but it packs a punch. When Scripture is taken out of context, it can be used to justify almost anything we already choose to believe. At that point, we’re no longer submitting to God’s Word—we’re just using it. We turn the Bible into a tool for self-confirmation rather than a source of transformation. Context matters because God didn’t give us a

There’s something alluring and exciting about an underdog story. You know… when the smaller, slower, overlooked player rises against a giant. Or when the team with no budget and virtually zero chance of pulling off the impossible does. This is the kind of stuff sport dramas are made of—and if you think about it, it’s the essence of the Gospel. Traditionally, God has done some of His best work through the people no one expected anything from. Scripture is full of “dramatic ups

I give thanks with a whole heart, remembering the wonders You have done (Psalm 9:1). Your steadfast love endures forever, even in the quiet places of my life (Psalm 136:1). With thanksgiving I enter Your courts, choosing praise over worry (Psalm 100:4). This is the day You have made, and I rejoice because You are near (Psalm 118:24). In all circumstances, I give thanks, for this is Your will for me (1 Thessalonians 5:18). With gratefulness I lift my prayers, knowing You hear

When you think about leadership in sports, names like John Wooden or Tony Dungy may come to mind. But some of the greatest lessons for leaders—coaches, captains, and athletes—are found in Scripture. When most people think of heroes in the Bible, they might name Moses, Joshua, Samson, Esther, or Judas Maccabeus (Catholic and Orthodox). I just finished the Book of Nehemiah in my Bible in a Year podcast (Fr. Mike Schmidt). Nehemiah is the Old Testament leader who rallied God’s p

*Heads up— I was hanging out in left field with this one. It has nothing to do with athletics. A few weekends ago, I visited Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall, Texas, where Pastor Josh Howerton preached a message from the Song of Solomon on building lasting relationships. His teaching blended biblical truth, practical advice, and humor—reminding us that love and marriage are both sacred gifts and daily responsibilities. He began with the call to “date your wife.” Not candlelight

Obadiah is the shortest book in the Bible, wedged between Amos and Jonah. His message was directed towards the Edomites—Esau’s descendants—because when Jerusalem was destroyed, they didn’t just idly stand by; they actually took pleasure in it. They laughed, gloated, and even took part in the looting. Their disdain was rooted in the rivalry of Jacob and Esau (though the brothers made peace with one another). Instead of showing any sense of decency or grief, they made their bro

I take issue with how casually some pastors and teachers present the gospel, especially when it comes to the topic of salvation. The book of James tells us clearly: “Not many of you should become teachers… because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (James 3:1). That’s a serious warning—and yet, we live in a time when misleading soundbites are shared from the pulpit with little regard for their eternal consequences. It was a pastor, no less, who made the

I still remember the sting of her words like it was yesterday. “You’re like having five players on the court instead of six.” That’s what my freshman high school coach told me. Loud enough for the gym to hear, but quiet enough to make it personal. She didn’t yell or throw clipboards—but somehow, her brand of coaching still found a way to break players down instead of building them up. She wasn’t even a volleyball coach. She was a cross-country coach who took the stipend to “

This post is longer than usual, but please—stick with me. I’ve recently been reflecting on my adult baptism and how vastly different it is from Catholicism or other Orthodox faiths. I understand the reasoning behind their belief that infant baptism is a necessary sacrament. I was raised Catholic and was baptized as an infant myself. In Mark chapter 2, the faith of four friends bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus—lowering him through the roof of a home—demonstrates that t

Today’s post will be a little different. I wanted to approach this article from a very practical and inclusive point of view. Yes, there will be a biblical reference, but we’ll also draw from sports and political figures to highlight the theme. The phrase “Wisdom and Will: A Marriage That Often Ends in Divorce” might sound dramatic, but it reflects a fundamental tension we see play out every day. What do I mean by that title? Simple. Wisdom and will are two of the most powerf

Sports love a plan. We set goals, build training schedules, study film, visualize outcomes, track progress, and convince ourselves that if we work hard enough, eventually everything will fall into place. Planning matters, but Christians need to be careful about confusing a well-designed plan with God's promise. Proverbs 19:21 (ESV) says, “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.” We can prepare relentlessly and pursue somethi

As we find ourselves just a week away from Christmas, the spirit of the holiday fills the air with joy, hope, and a sense of togetherness. For athletes, this time of year offers a unique opportunity to reflect on the journey of the past year and to cultivate an attitude of gratitude. Embracing gratitude not only enhances our performance on the field but also deepens our faith and strengthens our connections with others. This Christmas, let us explore the profound impact an at

In the schwang and bang of life, specifically in the sports world, it's easy to lose sight of what truly matters. Proverbs 4:23 tells us, "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it." This verse teaches that our emotional and spiritual well-being is foundational to our performance and relationships, both on and off the court. As athletes (and coaches), we often focus on physical training and skill development, but we must also prioritize nurturing o

Jesus is in the business of healing people, and He has never required us to get every part of ourselves cleaned up before we come to Him. He is not standing at a distance with a checklist of character flaws, bad decisions, sinful habits, and past mistakes waiting for us to fix ourselves first. Throughout Scripture, Jesus repeatedly moves toward people carrying shame, regret, grief, rejection, sin, and pain. He sees all of it, including the parts we would rather hide, but He d

In pop culture, the intersection of faith and sports has been a recurring theme in movies, books, and media. The narrative often revolves around athletes who not only strive for physical excellence but also grapple with their spiritual beliefs, showcasing how faith can influence their journeys. Films like "Facing the Giants" and "Miracle" display this relationship, portraying characters who lean on their faith during pivotal moments in their athletic careers. These stories re