AED vs Life

"Everything is possible for the one who believes." (Mark 9:23)

Herb Brooks ( the coach of the US Hockey team that won the gold and shocked the world...also known as the Miracle on Ice. ) said:

 “If I'd have went on the ice when this thing happened, someone would have speared me or something. It's a great feeling of accomplishment and pride. They had to do it; it was their moment.”

Game summary:


For Dakota Bear, a 16 year old basketball player, from Allen, Oklahoma...was this a miracle?


It was a normal day of basketball practice for the Allen High School Girl's Basketball team as they were preparing for their opening game.  The coach had just given Dakotah some pointers on shooting free throws. As the coach walked away Dakotah collapsed. A teammate yelled for the coach that Dakotah had fallen down for no apparent reason. Dakotah seemed life less.  Immediately the coaching staff performed CPR, until the ambulance arrived. The city had just purchased a special machine that performs CPR for those who had cardiac arrest. The ambulance emergency team used the machine on Dakotah because she was not showing a heartbeat. They rushed her to the hospital and paramedics said that the new machine keeps the blood flowing when the heart is not pumping blood. That it never gets tired like people do performing CPR, and that without this new machine, Dakotah may have not stayed alive long enough to get her to the hospital.  

Dakotah was put into a medically induced coma remaining on life support for three days until she came to. In less than three weeks Dakotah was back home and returned to school. Nobody knows what caused this, but since she had cardiac arrest they did not allow her return to basketball right away. Although, they felt she could very possibly return before the end of the season.

The medical team who took Dakotah to the hospital definitely planned to attend the next game she played in. She was special as they saw something very unusual happen to her. They and others felt it was a miracle that Dakotah survived and didn't have any physical impairments. Was this a miracle? Everyone who was praying for her knew so. To lose consciousness, be in a coma for three days, a person just doesn't come out of it and not have some brain damage, or need physical rehab therapy.

Amazingly, Dakotah had no limitations on what she could do... which is very rare! During this time, her teachers, classmates, family and friends were all praying for her. Knowing God answered their prayers. Dakota is a living miracle. Jesus in the Bible restored many who appeared to have died. Like in Luke 7, a boy seemed to have died. Jesus approached the funeral procession, touched the boy who had died, and he sat up and was perfectly normal. 


Could God have touched Dakotah in response to all who were praying? They think so.

The Scriptures say...

 “If you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, ‘May you be uprooted and be planted in the sea,’ and it would obey you! (Luke 17:6)

"Everything is possible for the one who believes." (Mark 9:23)


MVP: Dakota Bear (high school student athlete at Allen, Ok)

Cheap Shot vs. Prayer

The Matchup: Cheap Shot vs. Prayer

Location: Matthew 6:14-15 NLT
Jesus said, "If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. 

Headline: "Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them." - Bruce Lee

Game Summary:

If you have watched much football, you probably have seen a late hit out of bounds, or a roughing the quarterback. But this "cheap shot" was a little different and had all of college football team outraged. However, the situation flamed an unexpected turn of events.

The Wisconsin Badgers clawed their way to an upset victory over the 5th ranked LSU Tigers. The Tigers came into the Badgers stadium hoping to secure their status as a contender for the NCAA Football championship. It turned out to be a shocking victory for the Badgers, then ended with a bitter sweet flavor. Wisconsin made a late 4th quarter field goal to take the 16-14 lead. With a few minutes on the clock LSU was trying to move the ball quickly down the field. With just under one minute to play, Wisconsin safety D'Cota Dixon intercepted a hurried pass by LSU's quarterback. Dixon fell to the ground. The whistle blew the play dead. He immediately got up and ran jubilantly to his team's sidelines. The Badgers had won. Then a shocking thing happened. As Dixon ran with the ball over-joyed with one finger raised in the air, LSU's Josh Boutte, an offensive lineman, blind-sided Dixon with a vicious hit. Dixon flew off his feet, hit the ground and lay there, not moving. Flags flew everywhere. Boutte was ejected from the game for his flagrant hit on Dixon after his interception. Twitter went wild with people saying  Josh Boutte should never play football again. The interception gave Wisconsin a stunning upset victory. LSU's chances to stay highly ranked were gnawed away by the Badgers. As unexpected as Josh Boutte's hit on D'Cota Dixon was, what happened next was even more unexpected.

Dixon did get up and was not seriously injured. After the game he got a phone call from Josh Boutte. He asked Dixon if he was alright. He apologized for hitting him. With the game in a frenzy, Josh didn’t realize the play was blown dead. Dixon accepted his apology. Then the unexpected unfolded. D'Cota suggested they pray together and Dixon prayed with Boutte. Boutte was a Believer in Christ and he quickly realized Dixon was too. What was a bad thing turned into two rivals becoming friends. Dixon said games can become very intense and our emotions may get the best of us. In that intensity we may do things we normally wouldn't do. It's part of the game. Dixon brought that into light. Now D'Cota and Josh have each others phone number and they stay in touch.

To forgive someone who has hurt you and then pray for them is a power principle in living God's way. The Scriptures say to forgive others who try to hurt you. Pray for others who seek to do you harm. If you forgive others you will be forgiven as well. When Josh asked D'Cota to forgive him, it opened the door for God's Spirit to heal what could have become a long, bitter relationship. Now they are friends.

MVP: 

D'Cota Dixon and Josh Boutte

These two young men showed a lot of class in how they handled the above play and it should remind us all about the true meaning of forgiveness.

Recap:

When has someone hurt you and you felt it was deliberate?

Has it ever happened to you in a game? What happened and what do you think would be the best way to handle it?

How has someone hurt you in your life, and what could you do to respond by doing "good to overcome evil" as the Scriptures say in Romans 12:21?

Some say it is not as hard to forgive as it is to forget. We may forgive but still hold a grudge. The Scriptures say to pray for your enemies. Do you see how praying for someone, and especially with them, can melt a grudge?

This is why it is so important to love your enemies. The Bible says… "Love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. (Luke 6:27, 28)

Practice:
The Hit
https://youtu.be/Q2jl-iwBagU

Interview after the hit:
https://youtu.be/ZWATXEmVPIM

The Matchup: Coach VS Kidney  

Location: Galatians 6:2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

Headline: "You have to do something in your life that is honorable and not cowardly if you are to live in peace with yourself."--Larry Brown

Game Summary:

    Ask yourself a question, what would I do as a person if somebody I had met one time needed a kidney transplant to live?  That is exactly the decision Coach Tom Walter of the Wake Forest baseball team was faced with in 2011. A player he had recruited to play baseball for him, Kevin Jordan, found out he needed a kidney transplant to live. Kevin became ill his senior year in high school and was unable to play ball for Coach Walter; in fact, they had only met once before Tom decided to be tested as a donor for Kevin.  God does mighty things through us as Christians when we allow Him to and because of his obedience Tom was a match! Coach not only gave Kevin a kidney, He gave him a chance to live.

    When Tom was asked “Why donate a kidney to somebody he barely knew?”, he said “There was no way I was going to sit on the sidelines and watch this kid fight for his life when I could help”.  Tom saw a man in need and took it upon himself to bear his burden, which just so happened to require a kidney donation.  Jesus took it upon himself to bear the burdens of our sin by sacrificing Himself on the cross so that we can have a place in heaven with God; despite our sins.

    Kevin made a full recovery following the surgery.  He had lost almost 40 pounds of muscle because of his illness but as soon as the doctors gave him permission he began working out two times a day.  A year after his kidney transplant surgery, Kevin took the field to play his first inning of baseball for Coach Walter.  Kevin struck out his first three at bats and on his 4th at bat after Coach Walter talked to him and told him to relax, Kevin hit a line drive to right field for his first base hit of his college career.  Coach Walter had done a great thing for Kevin, but don’t forget about what Kevin did.  Through the worst two years of his life, Kevin remained positive. He did not give up and when he was given a second chance he made the most of it through hard work.  He battled through adversity and succeeded.  

MVP:    Coach Tom Walter, Wake Forest Baseball Team

Recap:    Have you had any instances in your life where you could have helped somebody and chose not to?  Do you think after hearing this story that you will make a different choice next time?

Practice:        Tobymac’s song: “Til the Day I Die”

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWLZ_MrPplk

The Matchup:   

Juvi vs Roundball   

Location:

Hebrews 13:3

Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison , and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

Headline:

"One man practicing sportsmanship is far better than 50 preaching it."

                                    Knute Rockne

Game Summary:

To play basketball for Gainesville Tornadoes in Texas is considered a privilege. Only those who show a record of good behavior can play. The only thing is no one comes to their games. Gainesville is a juvenile correction facility in Texas for felony offenders. The rewards for their behavior is a chance to go out to play basketball against other schools, mostly private Schools.

One school they play is Vanguard College Prep School. But something unusual happened. The players for Vanguard didn’t want to play them. Why? Gainesville had no fans. The players for Vanguard didn’t feel it was right for any team to play another team without fans.

So the players pulled off something no one did before. They had half of their fans to cheer for Gainesville,

sit in their section. Half of the cheerleaders cheered for them and  make a tunnel for Gainesville to run through when they entered the court.  The excitement in rooting for Gainesville got contagious. Every time Gainesville scored, all the fans cheered for them.

The Gainesville players said they never felt like they felt during that game. To have the whole gym yelling

and screaming for them--when they never had fans before--was something they said they would never forget.

We all want someone to believe in us. We all need someone to forgive our mistakes and give us another chance. Jesus said, “what you do for the least of these you do to me” (Matthew 25:40).  It also says in Matthew 23: 11-12,“The greatest among you will be your servant. He who humbles himself will be exalted.”

The Gainesville players said they can’t thank Vanguard players enough for what they did.

When it was over, who won the game.

A TV station who covered the game didn’t give the score. They said, obviously they didn’t care, so why should we.

You really need to watch the featured video of this story to experience the feeling of what happened; to feel the spirit of the story.

MVP:  All players and fans of the Gainesville Tornadoes and the Vanguard College.

Recap:  

Do you think it was hard to do this? For any team to do this, to give up praise so someone else could feel what it is like to have someone cheering for them.  How does it make you feel when someone is cheering for you?

Sports today is so much about winning. Where could you be a winner, giving someone else a chance to win …  to make someone else feel important?

Practice:

Checkout the video story for more about Juvi vs Roundball

http://www.liftable.com/cbatorski/basketball-team-refuses-play-another-team-incredible-reason/

Collarbone VS. Friend

The Matchup:   

Collarbone vs Friend

Location:

Romans 12:19

Don't take revenge, dear friends. Instead, let God's anger take care of it. After all, Scripture says, "I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says the Lord."

Headline:

"You'll never get ahead of anyone as long as you try to get even with him."

                                                             LOU HOLTZ

Game Summary:

REVENGE is a interesting word.  There's even a TV show by this name.  Some people think it is acceptable in certain situations, but the Bible says differently. Raised in the church,(knowing who Jesus was), I knew God, Jesus, and Holy Spirit. I knew right from wrong. I knew "Church"/Religion. I just didn't have a personal relationship. I wasn't a full follower of Jesus. In high school I was really focused on sports… played football, track, powerlifter, and played basketball. I received a scholarship to East Central University in Ada, Oklahoma to play football. There I found myself living a sinful life… getting in fights, parting, damaging my body and getting in trouble with the police and the school.

I remember back in my junior year of high school I had just been interviewed by The Daily Oklahoman. The season started great. We were 2-0. I was leading the 5-A division with 20 tackles. I was very prideful, thinking nothing could stop me. Once, while doing tackling drills, one of my teammates (actually my best friend) lit me up hard in practice. It embarrassed me- made me mad. I was the big shot, you know.  So I waited in the line perfectly just so I would match up with him to get revenge on him. I was running the ball, dropped the ball purposely just to hurt him. We collided viciously. Well, when determined to get my revenge I was the one who got hurt. I ended up breaking my collarbone. I had to have surgery. Now, after finding a true relationship with the Lord, later on in college I looked back on that moment. I learned two things.
1. God before football. If I am putting more time into football instead of seeking God first through Scripture and prayer, something is wrong
2. Do not seek revenge. It's okay to compete, and football is a physical sport. But the way I approached the situation was wrong
Most of us grow up carrying our parents’ Faith. We have to make the decision somewhere to have our own. We will be judged alone at the gates of Heaven. I decided to live for Jesus Christ, my savior... Completely. I was born again! I do everything to glorify God on and off the field. I honor God by competing at a high level all of the time and showing the love of Jesus to teammates, coaches, etc.


MVP:
Gumaro Murphy (East Central University Tigers Defensive End)

Recap:

Have you ever taken revenge on someone?  If so, how did it turn out and how did it make you feel?

A popular phrase when we feel someone wrongs us is “even the score.”  Has anything ever happened to you that made you want to "even the score”?  In Gumaro’s case it was being embarrassed by his teammate. When you think of Jesus in the Bible, what did he say to do when someone does something to hurt you? Do you see that being applied in our lives today? In sports, school, or home?

Practice:

Checkout Lecrae’s song “Good, Bad, Ugly”

Foul Ball VS Rapper



 

The Matchup:  

Foul Ball vs Rapper

 

Location:

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. ...nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. For those who love Him, His mighty power in us will do greater things than what we think or can even imagine.

(Romans 8:28, 38, Ephesians 3:20)

 

Headline:

"Injury in general teaches you to appreciate every moment. I've had my share of injuries throughout my career. It's humbling. It gives you perspective. No matter how many times I've been hurt, I've learned from that injury and come back even more humble."

Troy Polamalu (Pittsburgh Steelers 8 time Pro Bowl Strong Safety)

 

 

Game Summary:

Injuries in sports are so common; what's even more exciting is a great comeback.  Athletes over the years have made miraculous recoveries to come back to their sport.  Sometimes they come back even better than before. Troy Polamalu’s quote above gives us a glimpse into one man’s attitude about his injuries and how he has handled them. He mentions humble twice in his quote and that is a powerful word used all over the Bible.  James 4:10 “Humble yourself before the Lord and he will lift you up”

 

In 2004 Chris A Conway, a junior in high school, played baseball for Seminole high school. During a game, while talking to his brother in the dugout, he was distracted and looked in the stands. When he looked back a line drive foul ball was hit straight at him, and boom, hit him in the temple. He was rushed to the hospital with a severe concussion. This freak accident left him with a blood clot in his brain. The doctors attempted to get him to spell simple words, but he was unable to even spell “dog”. The only friends or family he recognized were his mom and brother. Chris said “I thought I was going to die”. The outcome looked grim, but God’s hand was on Chris. He had another plan for him.

 

 

Recovery was slow, and he had to learn how to spell all over again, but he miraculously recovered. In the summer of 2005, he felt called into the ministry while at Turner Falls Youth Camp. A new perspective and mission for living now came over him. He saw himself as God’s tool to lift his generation up out of troubled times, to show them the truth and God’s light, and to begin to introduce the power and Word of God to many.

 

Known as C-Phresh originally, Chris began rapping at the age of 15. Chris’s mission in the world began expanding. Several years since the brain injury, He remains totally recovered and is doing better than ever.

 

Chris is now grinding like never before! He has performed in New Mexico, California, Arizona, Texas, Arkansas, and all over Oklahoma. He has been blessed to be on stage with amazing artists such as Dillon Chase, Kadence, Fight The Fade, Rapture Ruckus, Stars go Dim, Von Won and many others. He currently has two albums, Rephreshed and Killing Lions.

 

The rapper continues rapping with a mission and is now known as simply “Chris A.” because he doesn’t want to hide behind a stage name. The foul ball brought out a Refreshed message. No matter how bad, or devastating something is that happens to you, God can still use it for an even greater purpose in your life. God can always work a miracle in your life to make it happen, and make it happen beyond what you ever imagined. Ephesians 3:20 says that God’s Spirit in our lives can do something greater than what we can think of, or even imagine. Chris is an example of this verse and you can be too! 

 

MVP:

Chris Conway AKA music artist Chris A.

 

Recap:

What has started out bad in your life, but ended up a blessing?

 

As a Christian we know life won't always be easy, but with Faith in Jesus anything is possible. Do you know someone whose Faith really shines? Do you know someone who had a devastating accident, but had an amazing recovery?

 

Sometimes your worst circumstances may be God’s place for His Greatest Blessing. The Apostle Paul wrote some of his most Inspiring letters in the Bible, such as Ephesians and Philippians, while in prison. The prisons in his day were cold, damp, dark, and many were rat infested.  Do you know anyone who God brought out of the worst of circumstances to do some very remarkable things?

 

Practice

 

Checkout Chris A's new music album titled Killing Lions on Apple or Android.

 

 

 

 

Combine vs Kickoff

 

 

 

COMBINE VS KICKOFF

 

Location:

Psalm 31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all you that hope in the LORD

Headline:

"It is not the size of a man but the size of his heart that matters."
5 time heavyweight champion Boxer, Evander Holyfield

 

Game Summary:

What Evander Holyfield said above is basically not to judge others by what you see on the outside, but rather what you see on the inside.

Hayden Schaumburg loved to farm. At Watseka High School, he was in the National Honor Society and chapter president of the Future Farmers of America. At 16 he was already working the 2,000 acres of land owned by his dad 90 miles due South of Chicago. Hayden could drive the combine 

and managed a sweet corn crop. 

Football was his other love. His teammates said he was the hardest working player on the field, both the football field and the fields he farmed. After finishing High School Hayden knew where he was going to be… getting a degree in agriculture at the University of Illinois and then back to the farm. Friday nights he was on the football field, and then on the farm fields early Saturday morning.

Then tragedy struck. While running full force down field on a kickoff, Hayden had a violent collision with another player. Hayden laid on the field lifeless. Everyone knew this was serious. The game was delayed almost an hour until emergency transportation could arrive. They wanted to airlift him to the hospital, but it was too windy. 

Into November Hayden’s parents stayed close by his bed. Hayden suffered a broken neck. Every procedure was critical. Meanwhile, the farm was left unattended. The 1000 acres of sweet corn, if not harvested, would go to waste. Hayden worked hard to have this premium crop of corn. 

Then one Saturday morning combines, trucks and over 100 people showed up to the corn fields. By late morning, there were 16 combines and 30 trucks ready to haul the harvest to the grain elevators in town. In one day, more than 125,000 bushels of corn left the farm in less than 10 hours.Hayden put his heart in everything he did, had won the love and admiration of his school and teammates. That morning everyone put their hearts into who Hayden was.

Watseka High has University of Alabama-styled helmets, with the numbers on the right side, so the players decided to tear off their own numbers and stick on Hayden's – 66. They all played as No. 66 that night. They all played for No. 66, Hayden. "If I had his heart in my other players' bodies," coach Steve Lucas said, "we'd never lose a game."

Hayden has several months of rehab ahead of him. There is a football field, a cornfield, and an entire town of fields, waiting for a Friday night or a Saturday morning when that boy comes home.

See a video story about Hayden here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19gvK5RSDwc

 MVP:

Hayden Schaumburg #66 for the Watseka Warriors

Recap:

Do you know someone whose hard work really shows their heart at work? How has that inspired you?

Do you see how people are moved by our hearts and how hard we play? No matter how talented we are, we can inspire others by how much heart we put into it. How do you see yourself doing that? Where do you see a lot of heart in your fellow players?
 

Practice:

Listen to Little Ol’ Me by Jamie Grace

Pictured above: Jamie Grace