“I’ll Have Another” Win

Posted by Brian Hill on May 22, 2012
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“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the Lord.” – Proverbs 21:31

After winning the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness, I’ll Have Another is one race away from becoming only the fourth Triple Crown winner in history.  If he can win the Belmont in a few weeks he will be the first horse to win the award since 1978.

“It’s not me, it’s him. It’s all about the horse,” the 25-year-old jockey from Mexico said. “He just keeps proving people wrong. I’m so happy for him because he’s such a great horse. He has a tremendous kick in the end.”

It is one of the toughest accomplishments in sports and the jockey isn’t taking credit for it.  The trainer and owner have surely helped significantly but they aren’t on the track running the race.  The great thing about the horse is he when he wins he acts like he was meant to win, and that’s exactly what he was made to do.  The victory belongs to the one that created him, God, and the horse acts like it.  We can take a lesson from I’ll Have Another or whichever horse wins the final race at Belmont.  We have all been made to win our own race and when we do, we can act like we were supposed to because we know who the victory belongs to – God.

ESPN

Immovable Leader

Posted by Brian Hill on May 14, 2012
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“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” – 1 Corinthians 15:58

Tim Duncan has won four NBA championships, two MVP awards and three NBA Finals MVP awards.  When we think of leadership in the NBA it is hard not to name off only the guys that get the most media attention.  The NBA especially, seems to attract media coverage based on who is making the most noise or who is in the middle of the biggest controversy.  In all that noise, it is easy to lose sight of a guy like Tim Duncan.  At 31, he has been the opposite of the standard NBA coverage throughout his career.  He has remained quiet, he puts his teammates before himself and he has won a lot of basketball games.  Duncan and his San Antonio Spurs teammates are competing in the NBA playoffs for another championship.  If the face of all the other commotion going on during the playoffs, remember to keep an eye on Duncan, whose leadership style may not lead to a great deal of news coverage but has led to rare success on the basketball court.

Sports Illustrated

Record Setting Night

Posted by Brian Hill on May 10, 2012
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“If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.  By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.” – John 15:7-8

“I think about what God’s done in my life, everything I did to mess it up,” he said. “To finally surrender everything and pursue that relationship with Christ on a daily basis and understanding when I don’t pursue it, I end up messing up. Understanding that what I’m doing and what God’s allowed me to do, coming back from everything I went through and allowing me to play the game at the level I play it, it’s pretty amazing to think about.” – Josh Hamilton (ABC, ESPN) after hitting four home runs and a double in one game.

Josh Hamilton’s story is well documented (Josh Hamilton “I Am Second”).  His rise from a struggling drug and alcohol addict is something that is well known by many.  There a many examples and stories from Hamilton’s life that point to the work that God can do in our lives when we allow Him.  This week, Hamilton added another great example when he became the 16th player in MLB history to hit four home runs in one game against the Orioles.  After a night like that, it would be easy for anyone to gloat in their accomplishment but Hamilton is quick to give away the credit.  When we take into account Hamilton’s story as a whole, nights like the one he had this week give us a glimpse into the kind of glory God can create in our lives when we humble ourselves to Him.

Jamie Moyer Oldest Winning Pitcher

Posted by Brian Hill on May 8, 2012
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“for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self control. ” – 2 Timothy 1:7

A few weeks ago Jamie Moyer became the oldest pitcher to ever win a game.  He probably has the slowest fastball of any pitcher in baseball. The average starting pitcher in the MLB throws anywhere from 85 to 95 miles per hour. Moyer throws consistently at 79 miles per hour.  There is nothing incredible about Jamie Moyer’s physical ability.  In fact, this record setting year he is coming back from elbow surgery at age 49. He is simply a guy who makes the most out of what he has been given.  He has a far below average major league fastball and is the oldest pitcher in baseball, but he has pitched with the power to win for longer than any other pitcher in baseball history by doing what he loves and having the self control to do what he has to do, to be the best he is capable of being.

Fatherly Love

Posted by Brian Hill on May 6, 2012
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“So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us.  God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” – 1 John 4:16

This week, the Miami Heat beat the New York Knicks in game three of the NBA divisional playoffs.  The Heat have been under a lot of pressure to win a championship and now they are in the playoffs working to make that happen.  Forty five minutes before game three, one of the Heat’s star players, Chris Bosh, wasn’t in the locker room or warming up.  He was on his way back to New York from Miami, where he flew to be with his wife for the birth of their son.  All the pressure and expectations placed on Bosh suddenly became very minor in comparison to the love he had for his wife and soon to be son.  Only after his son was alright, his wife was alright, and his wife told him to go play basketball did he return to New York to help his teammates.

Using the example of Bosh, we can get an idea of the kind of love God has for us.  The same way that Bosh’s only concern became the well being of his child, God’s only concern is the well being of us.  Similar to the new born baby, we are surrounded by things that we don’t understand and that cause us stress.  But also like Bosh’s baby could only accept the love of his parents and allow them to take care of his life, we can only accept the love God has for us and believe He will take care of our life.

“I Am Second” Who is First

Posted by Brian Hill on May 3, 2012
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“But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”  - Isaiah 40:31

There is a growing organization in our country called, “I Am Second” and they have the answer to the question, who is first?  The mission of I Am Second is to inspire people to live a life for God and for others.  The I Am Second website is full with stories of all different people from all different backgrounds with many different stories. Many of the stories we encounter are from people we have heard about or see often in the news. The I Am Second organization provides insight into the driving force of these people’s lives regardless of their mistakes, accomplishments and upbringing. The I Am Second website is a great place to hear stories from people that we can relate to that have found hope and peace through a relationship with God.

Million Dollar Mentor

Posted by Brian Hill on April 29, 2012
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“And have mercy on those who doubt; save others by snatching them out of the fire…” – Jude 1:22-23

Bruce Irvin was a high school drop out.  He had spent time in jail, and with his rough background it is hard to imagine him going any other direction on his own.  Who would put themselves out there for a troubled kid heading towards more trouble? One man named Chad Allen, a football coach in the Atlanta area was willing to snatch Irvin out of the fire that appeared to be his life and guide him down the path to success.  This weekend, Irvin was selected by the Seattle Seahawks as the 15th overall pick in the NFL draft.  This was a surprise pick for many of the experts, given Irvin’s background and path through college.  The next chapter in Bruce Irvin’s story is only beginning now that he has made it to the NFL. There are still plenty of doubters willing to write him off, but if one man’s mercy and belief can lead Irvin from jail to the NFL, what could an entire NFL organization’s mercy and belief create? God is always willing to show His glory and grace through forgiveness.  Bruce Irvin’s story shows the power and glory that can come through the mercy and belief of just one.

ESPN Bruce Irvin

A Hall of Fame Leader

Posted by Brian Hill on April 26, 2012
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” …let the greatest among you become as the youngest, and the leader as one who serves.”

Among NFL safeties Brian Dawkins is one of the greatest to ever play the position.  He retired from the NFL this week with a career worthy of the NFL Hall of Fame. His numbers and accomplishments speak for themselves but what he will probably be most remembered for by his coaches, teammates and colleagues is his leadership. When we hear the word leadership it is easy to get carried away trying account for every detail that defines a leader and figure out if we fit the accepted description or not.  The example of Brian Dawkins gives a simple explanation for what leadership means.  Whether it is with his family (four kids and wife of 18 years), his community, or his team, he is an icon and somebody everybody looks up to.   He is the leader who simply has made himself available to serve the people around him. We don’t have to be an icon or somebody everyone looks up to, in order to be available to help others.  This is the kind of leader we are all capable of being and the kind of leader God has called us to be.

By committing to this way of life, Dawkin’s individual success took care of its self.  His accomplishments on the field are well recognized and something to be admired. While this is true, it is his legacy of faith and servant leadership that will continue to impact the NFL, communities around the country, and his family.  His career in the NFL has come to an end, but the success he has created for others as a servant leader has no limit.

Anthony Robles the Champ

Posted by Brian Hill on April 24, 2012
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“Have faith in God.  Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him.”  - Mark 11:22-23

Anthony Robles, you only get one leg.  Your dad will walk out on you and your mom when you are born.  You will be the NCAA National Champion wrestler at Arizona State University when you grow up.

How many of us would believe that combination of life events if presented to us? Anthony Robles believed it, he worked at it and he persevered until it was a reality.  This is what God calls all of us to do.  It is so easy to get caught up in thinking about everything we don’t have and everything that stands in the way of becoming the person we imagine.  God created us to be everything we dream about and to accomplish everything we envision.   Continue Reading

Philip Humber Perfect Game

Posted by Brian Hill on April 22, 2012
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“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4

Yesterday Philip Humber became the 21st pitcher in Major League Baseball history to throw a perfect game.  This was maybe something to be expected when he was the third overall pick in 2004 to the New York Mets, but after Tommy John surgery on his elbow and several years of bouncing back to establish himself as a major league starter, he had only 11 major league wins heading into Saturday’s perfect game.  There had to be many opportunities for Humber to question if he could make it, or if he was meant to be in baseball.  It was only through his faith to persevere that he was able to arrive at Saturday’s victory.  His steadfastness, through his various trials, proved to “have its full effect.”  His victory was “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Philip Humber Perfect Game