Today's Athletes Just Don't Get It

The news out of the University of Louisville basketball office wasn't good. Derrick Caracter has been suspended from the team indefinitely for missing curfew. That in itself doesn't seem too bad. Yet, if you know Caracter's story, you'll understand he has a pattern of trouble.

He has been suspended numerous times and missed curfew last Saturday night. Even more disturbing -- after showing up an hour late for curfew, he left to go out again later that night.

The encouraging part of this story is that Caracter's teammates decided he should be suspended. Obviously, they are weary of his act.

Rick Bozich, the nationally-acclaimed columnist from The Courier-Journal, wrote a great piece on this story. Check it out here.

God At Work At Final Four

God is at work in the lives of college basketball coaches around the country. The National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC) has stepped up its ministry to coaches under the leadership of Executive Director Jim Haney. Each year at the NABC Coaches Convention during the Final Four, ministries such as the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Athletes in Action, Champions for Christ and America's Family Coaches unite to encourage coaches spiritually.

At this year's Final Four in Atlanta, Washington head coach Lorenzo Romar shared his testimony during the FCA Luncheon on Saturday and gave the 800+ people in attendance an opportunity to accept Christ. Lorenzo is an exceptional communicator and story teller.

A Coaches Forum on Friday was moderated by TNT's Ernie Johnson, who had a opportunity to share about his faith during his recent battle with cancer. This year's forum guests included National Coach of the Year Tony Bennett (Washington State), Jim Kessler (Grace College), Dave Leitao (Virginia) and Mike Jarvis.

Saturday morning's Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast featured Ernie Johnson and Clark Kellogg of CBS, who shared his testimony.

John Maxwell, a former pastor who is now a best-selling author and speaker to Fortune 500 companies, shared on Saturday morning that Talent Is Never Enough, and gave 13 crucial things you can do to maximize your natural talents and become a "Talent-plus" person.

Sunday morning we had the privelege of worshipping together in an inter-denominational service with a great message by Brett Fuller, pastor at Morningstar Church in Washington, D.C., and NABC Chaplain.

Free Eric Volz

Please pray for Eric. Check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YChhOHrFA4

Carl Cartee Blog Entry

My good buddy Carl Cartee, who happens to be one of the greatest singers, guitarists, worship leaders, in the country, recently posted the following on his blog. We all need friends who challenge us like this.

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Challenge
Cracker Barrel. What a place. Good pancakes, of course, but since yesterday it will hold a different meaning for me. It will now be a reminder of something quite bigger than gift shops and pinto bean plates. It’s now the place where I was challenged to a fight. Called right out and asked to put up my dukes.While having dinner with a friend, he told me that God had given him some words for me. He wanted to ask me about some things. This guy is one of my closest friends in the world and I trust him completely. If he has something to say to me, I listen. I invited him to speak freely, so he began. Challenging me, he asked questions that were hard to hear and even harder to answer. He asked questions about my life and where it was heading. How I planned to live the next few years and what were my God sized visions? Did I have objectives inspired by pure and uncorrupted faith, was I willing to stop making excuses and do what ever it takes to see them realized? Was I going to remain the same, or stretch toward greatness for the glory of God?Boom...right upside the head. I won’t ever forget that moment. It’s one of the first times in my life someone has asked permission to say something to me and then deconstructed everything that I have been feeling for the last 10 months. It was unexpected, threatening, but so refreshing. “Don’t waste your life. Your anointing is too great and your ministry to valuable for you to rest on talent and personality alone. Get help and equip yourself to win. Fight against mediocrity. Fight against apathy, laziness and insincerity. Push yourself in faith, passion and purity. God is worthy of your best!” Hebrews encourages us to spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Have you ever been spurred? It’s not meant to tickle. It hurts. It cuts. It’s uncomfortable. It sends a message that makes you want to jump into action so you don’t have to get it twice. But thank God for someone who obeys the Spirit and says the hard things to a dear friend. Thank God for one who sees potential greatness and calls it out of you.Needless to say, I am accepting the challenge. I have let disappointment and fear hit me enough. I throw my hat in the ring. Bring on the destiny. Best shots welcome. Please pray for me. Cheer for me. I’m all inIf I see you at Cracker Barrel, watch out. I’ll be in a mood to fight. More to come.(Thanks buddy...)