Tuesday, January 7, 2014
Day 8
One God-idea is better than 100 good ideas
Job 12:8
"Our biggest problem is a small view of God. That is the cause of all lesser evils. And a high view of God is the solution to all other problems. Until we come to the conviction that God’s grace and God’s power know no limits, we will draw small prayer circles. But once we embrace the omnipotence of God, we’ll draw ever- enlarging circles around our God-given, God sized dreams. How big is your God?
Get into God’s presence. That is the solution to every problem. That is the answer to every question. We don’t get a vision from God by going to conferences. We might get some good ideas, but God-ideas are only revealed in the presence of God.”
Mark Batterson-Draw the Circle
This is post is a little bit longer than previous posts but I think it helps paint a picture that is needed for this team. This was written by a teammate of mine at Wheaton College. His name is Dave Wolf. The title for the article is, The Daily Habits of the Best Small College Players.
Just a little bio on Dave before the article:
“To say that Dave Wolf is the winningest coach in Westmont men’s soccer history is no small statement of accomplishment. Not only has Westmont won 590 games – second most among NAIA schools – but in the Warriors’ 48 year history, there have been only four coaches, all of whom have produced a win-loss percentage of at least .625. In 2008, Wolf surpassed legendary Russ Carr (202-106-31) for longest tenure as Westmont’s head coach. In 22 years, Wolf has produced a record of 269-124-43 (.666).
A graduate of Wheaton (Ill.), where he is a member of the Athletic Hall of Honor, Wolf helped lead the Thunder to a NCAA Division III National Championship in 1984 and was named an NCAA All-American in 1985. Following his graduation, he played one year in the Major Indoor Soccer League with the Chicago Sting and five years in the National Professional Soccer League with the Detroit Rockets, Indiana Kick and Memphis Storm. He also competed abroad with Missionary Athletes International and Lay Witness for Christ.
Wolf began his coaching career at Westmont in 1991 and has twice been named GSAC Coach of the Year. He has twice received NSCAA Far West Region Coach of the Year honors, most recently in 2008. His coaching accomplishments include back-to-back 20 win seasons (1994-95), advancement to the NAIA National Tournament seven times, eight Golden State Athletic Conferences championships and 17 players named as NAIA All-Americans.
The Daily Habits of the Best Small College Soccer Player
“As a player I loved the attention I got from my coach during the academic year; a training period within which he would encourage, challenge, correct, and motivate me to become all I was capable of. There’s something to be said for that kind of training. But unlike professionals, we can’t do it this way year-‘round, and you’re now faced with three months of training by yourself, without your coach to push you.
On the one hand, the prospect is daunting; on the other, it’s a (from a coach’s perspective, anyway) wonderful opportunity that can change you as a player and person. The hot, lonely, tough, and grinding work of you and the road, or the ball and a kickboard – even 30 minutes a day, which, believe it or not, is rare from a college player – can add a determination and commitment level you’ve never had before.
My college coach, the legendary Joe Bean, said that this kind of work is what will make the difference in us if we’ll just embrace it. The game you so love can present some deep physical and mental challenges; sometimes in training or in matches, sometimes at key moments in your career. So when you inevitably find yourself up against the really significant challenges, it will be these lonely, disciplined, ‘my-buddies-are-doing-that-but-I’m-going-to-do-this’ times that will help you navigate them.
I can remember some of the worst, nasty, hot, muggy Chicago summer days during my time at Wheaton that I wouldn’t trade for anything, because they produced in me the qualities that I could draw on when those moments of – again, inevitable! – challenge presented themselves.
So yeah, I get that the summer’s a tough time, but I’m looking for players who will embrace it knowing it’s a one-of-a-kind opportunity to prepare for something special. Lots of college players talk about doing it, very few do. What are you going to do this summer?”
Dave Wolf-Men's Soccer Coach at Westmont College
Take the term “summer” out of Dave's article and replace it with "2014 off-season". What is your vision as we come in to this off-season? Are you the guy willing to embrace the kind of work that will make a difference? Are you the guy who will "get into God’s presence"? (No need to send me your responses.) I want to see for myself!
