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KEITH MADISON'S DEVOTIONAL
October 26, 2011
Worrying has been a constant battle in my life…family health issues, finances, recruiting, player injuries…etc. Some have even said that worrying is a sin. If so, I have surely been a sinful man! God has certainly helped me in this area in recent years. Through His Word and with recent devotional books that I have read, I have learned to trust God in all things. But, like any addict, I sometimes slip into this dark realm. When I regress and worry, at some point, I realize that peace is at my fingertips if I just open my Bible or fall on my knees and ask for peace. God is faithful. I am reminded of the words He spoke to Isaiah long ago: "For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, ‘Do not fear; I will help you.’" (Isaiah 41:13) This is a great promise.
Planning for tomorrow is time well spent; worrying about tomorrow is time wasted. According to my "NIV Study Notes," it is sometimes difficult to tell the difference. Careful planning is thinking ahead about goals, steps, schedules…and trusting in God’s guidance.
Author Sarah Young reminds us that "God divided time into days and nights so that we would have manageable portions of life to handle."
Jesus tells us in Matthew 5:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Yes, worrying has always been my "thorn in the flesh," but Jesus told Paul: "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (II Corinthians 12:9)
July 6, 2011
Be Still and Know That I Am God
Psalm 46:10
During my life as a coach, I would occasionally have teams or specific players on a team who would "sell" their philosophy to their teammates. Sometimes, they would even try to convince the coaching staff that their way was the best way. I always tried to be open to new ideas, but also thought that it was somewhat arrogant to think someone with no coaching experience would think his ideas were better than a coaching staff that would usually have a combined 50-years of coaching experience.
As children of God, we, too, are somewhat arrogant. God has a plan how we should play the "Game of Life." He wants us to love our neighbor and we say, "No, not that guy. He really doesn’t mean that I should love him!"
He wants us to pray for our enemies, but we think, "How can we pray for someone who wants to bring harm to us?"
I have finally learned that God doesn’t want us to pray for our enemy’s success, but to pray for their hearts and souls and for the way we see them as human beings.
There are dozens of things God wants us to do, but we rationalize and continue to do what is more comfortable for us.
To be perfectly honest, I cannot even come close to understanding the ways of God. God spoke through the prophet Isaiah and said this." For My thoughts are not your thoughts; neither are your ways My ways…As the heavens are higher than the earth so are My ways higher than your ways." (Isaiah 55:8-9)
So, children should let parents be parents; employees should let bosses be bosses; students (and their parents) should let teachers be teachers; athletes (and their parents) should let coaches be coaches. And, we all should acknowledge that God is God…and we are not.
April 11, 2011
The Final Game
After Elvis Presley reached "the top" and was known world-wide as "the King," a reporter asked him, "How does it feel to have fame, wealth and basically anything you want?" Elvis answered, "Alone."
After spending 25 years as the head baseball coach at the University of Kentucky , I had just finished coaching my last home game. We had won, but there was a sadness and loneliness I had never felt before. Most of my family was there, many friends were there. One friend, Emmett Carney, had driven all the way down from Indianapolis on a weeknight just to be with me as I coached my last home game. The media was certainly there. As always, I gathered my team together in the outfield before addressing the media; then I went to the dugout to field questions from the press.
Halfway through the interviews, I couldn’t help but think, "In a few minutes I’m going to pick up my clipboard and fungo bat and walk through the gate to the locker room for the last time." I thought, "Maybe my sons will walk out with me like they did when they were little boys. That would keep me from being alone and feeling sad."
The last question was asked, and as I took the final step out of the dugout, I looked down the right field line and saw my entire team and coaching staff waiting for me! It brought a smile to my face to think that someone thought enough of me to tell their teammates, "Let’s don’t let Coach walk of here for the last time, alone."
Someday, I will make a much greater transition and a longer journey. I will cross the chasm from this temporary life to eternal life. Once again, I will not be alone. If we have trusted Christ as our Savior, He will take us by our right hand and lead us. It reminds me of an old song we use to sing at our little country church when I was a boy called "I Won’t Have to Cross Jordan Alone." Moses brings this comfort and assurance to us in Deuteronomy 31:6b: "The Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."
March 14, 2011
A couple of weeks ago, while speaking in Georgia, I had the opportunity to visit with a
cherished friend, Harold Morris, in a small town in the mountains of northeast Georgia. Former
Yankee great Bobby Richardson introduced me to Harold in the late 80’s. I had heard an audio tape of Harold’s
testimony and was intrigued. Bobby called to see if I wanted to join him in hearing Harold speak at the Major League
All-Star Game Chapel. It took about one second for me to say, "Yes!"
So, on a very warm July afternoon at Riverfront Stadium, I walked into a meeting room and watched Orel Hershiser,
Gary Carter, Harold Reynolds and several other All-Stars walk in and take their seats. I was in awe being in the same
room with so many great baseball players; but when Harold began to speak, tears began to well up in the eyes of these
famous athletes and suddenly an ex-convict was THE star. His account of being sentenced to a double life sentence
and then surrendering his heart to Christ on his knees in a dirty, lonely prison cell was even more moving in person than
it was on the audio tape that I had heard. (Harold served 9 years in the Georgia State Penitentiary for a crime he did
not commit. Through an incredible set of circumstances, he was later pardoned and became an internationally known
speaker and author.)
After the "chapel," Bobby invited me to have lunch with them. Over a bowl of chili, I felt compelled to ask Harold
if he would be willing to come to the University of Kentucky and speak to our athletes. Initially, he said "no" since his
speaking schedule was so full all across the U.S. But within a few minutes, Harold looked at the former Yankee second
baseman and said, "Hey Bobby, if you will go with me, I will go to Lexington and speak to the Wildcats." Bobby agreed
and within days we were making plans.
Later that summer as I was talking to Harold on the telephone, he said, "You know, this year I have spoken to
thousands. Since I am going to make the trip to Kentucky, why not invite some campus leaders, pastors and civic
leaders to join the coaches and athletes and use this event to spearhead a city wide rally where perhaps several
thousand can hear my message?" I agreed and then began to think, "What am I doing? I have never organized events
before. I’m just a baseball coach!" I put a committee together and we began to pray. I secured the Student Center
Ballroom and was told that it would seat 900. We sent out the invitations….I really don’t know how many we
sent…..and 900 hundred people showed up! Not one seat was empty! Harold was dynamic as he shared his message
of hope, redemption, the affects of negative peer pressure and his faith in Christ.
We were all thrilled that Harold’s message was so well received. At least 90% of the people attending had never
heard of Harold Morris, yet they came. Our committee immediately began to explore possibilities for a larger area-wide
rally. Each time we met, state FCA Director Steele Harmon would urge us to pray. We decided to go forward in faith
and secure Memorial Coliseum on UK’s campus as our venue. But, I was concerned that the Coliseum seated over
10,000 and that if even 5,000 people showed up, the place would look empty. During one committee meeting, another
committee member, Lee Eaton, said he had been fervently praying for the event and he believed God wanted us to
have the event in Rupp Arena! My faith wasn’t as strong as Lee’s and I began to worry about cost and how bad it would
look if only a few thousand people showed up in a building that seats 24,000! Only the Wildcat basketball team could
fill up Rupp Arena! Lee, a successful horseman in Kentucky said, "Coach, if you will agree to pursue Rupp Arena, I will
pay the rental fee." Steele encouraged us to pray as a group and before the night was over we had unanimously
agreed on Rupp Arena. None of us knew anything about marketing or promoting events. We did contact Focus on the
Family and they agreed to help us with some radio promotions on the local Christian radio station. Other than that, we
were on our own.
About six months later on February 19, 1989, Harold and my family arrived early and stood on the floor at Rupp
Arena watching thousands of people pour in to the huge arena. Every one of the 24,000 seats was taken and over
2,000 stood outside listening to Harold’s message through the speaker system! Over 20 years later, people come up to
me and say, "I will never forget the Harold Morris event at Rupp Arena. It
changed my life!"
I tell you this story not to say, "Look what we accomplished." But to say
"Look what God can accomplish!" I say this to encourage you to be available,
obedient and to pray. Harold Morris and Bobby Richardson have been faithful
and obedient servants for many years. God can use even "normal" people like
you and me to accomplish wonderful acts that honor Him.
You know, that’s not even the end of the story. People from Louisville,
Knoxville and other cities with large arenas were in attendance and within a
couple of years thousands of people were streaming in to Freedom Hall,
Thompson-Boling Arena and other venues all across America to hear an exconvict,
with a great gift, share Christ’s message of forgiveness and
reconciliation.
January 24, 2011
God Has Your Back
In the baseball world you are identified in many ways; but more so than in any other sport, a baseball player is identified as either a "right-hander" or "left-hander." Perhaps that is the reason a particular verse in Isaiah sort of jumped off the page as I read it last week. More importantly, it impacted me because of a particular trial I was going through at the time. Notice the confidence, assurance and power of Isaiah 41:13,
"For I am the Lord, your God,
who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
I will help you."
Notice that God didn't say that He would eliminate the problem, although He has the power to do so if He chooses. He did promise that He would help. I truly believe that He wants to help us and He wants us to ask Him to help us. I heard Andy Stanley once say, "God is a 'big God' and He wants us to pray 'big prayers.'"
God knows that we grow when we go through trials, but that doesn't mean we have to go through them alone. He has our back, and our right hand.
December 9, 2010
The Christmas Haircut
My sister was in the 6th grade, my brother in the 4th and I was in the 2nd grade—all of seven years old. I am 59 now, and many Christmases have come and gone, but I still remember what happened to my brother after the Christmas break in 1959.
It was the first day back at school after Christmas; and my 9-year old brother was very quiet as we walked home from the bus stop. My mother immediately noticed his sad countenance and asked him, "What went wrong today at school?"
Tom replied that his teacher had asked each student what they had received as Christmas presents and all of them were excited to share about new bicycles, basketballs, winter coats and various types of toys. Dropping his head, Tom said, "One boy answered, ‘I got a haircut.’"
My mother almost cried and my sister and I became as sad as my brother. We were a relatively poor Kentucky family during the late 50’s, but my mother knew exactly what to do. She immediately began searching through our clothes and toys looking for something to give. After working it out with the fourth grade teacher, the boy with only a haircut for Christmas received some slightly used clothes and toys for a belated Christmas.
At age seven, I learned that it is "more blessed to give than to receive." As a child and an adult, I must admit it is exciting to receive gifts; but when you give from your heart, there is a quiet warmth and joy from deep within.
Two thousand years ago, the world had a problem, and we still have it. It’s called sin. God knew that the only way to solve this problem of sin was to give. And give He did. He gave us Jesus. The little boy with the new Christmas haircut gladly received the gifts we gave, but because of pride and sometimes intellectual arrogance, many people refuse to acknowledge the need to receive; so, the greatest Gift of all, forgiveness and eternal life, is refused. Receiving the Gift is not about being good enough or smart enough. It’s about recognizing the need for forgiveness and having the faith to receive it.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
November 12, 2010
Tomorrow morning, Sharon and I will leave for the Dominican Republic . We are helping lead almost 240 American coaches, professional players and businessmen on a short term mission trip call the "November Baseball Outreach." We will conduct free clinics for over 6,000 boys. We will also distribute food, work in orphanages and simply attempt to serve. We are excited that Mariano Rivera and Andy Pettitte will join us! This is a huge undertaking. We can not do it alone.
Please pray for us! Hopefully, the short devotional below will be an encouragement.
Win Can Win
It was disappointing to read in the paper about some professional baseball scouts who were caught giving into greed. They accepted kickbacks from signing bonuses targeting players from impoverished Latin American countries. One scout, if convicted, could face up to 20 years in prison.
It’s easy to justify. Most professional baseball scouts do not make six figure incomes like major league managers. They don’t even come close to earning the mega bucks that most of the players they sign eventually earn.
Professional baseball scouts, coaches, athletes, students, executives and CEOs all face the temptation and hear a voice saying, "If you don’t cheat, your competition will, and you will lose..."
Or that voice from the enemy says, "You deserve a better car, better house, the first class life style..."
The bottom line is that when you cheat, you always loose; and if you get caught cheating, you face shame and humiliation.
Through faith in Christ and trust in Him, we don’t have to fight the battle of temptation alone. Listen to this Great News from II Peter 1:3-4:
(3) His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our
knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.
(4) Through these, He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through
them you may partake in this divine nature and escape the corruption in the world
caused by evil desires.
Peter tells us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness; and we (yes, even you and I) may participate in the divine nature and escape corruption! We have forgiveness through Christ for the mistakes we have already made (I John 1:19). We also have access to strength and power from God’s throne to escape corruption.
The bottom line... if we keep God on our team every hour of the day, we win.
September 23, 2010
Cathedral of Trees
This "e-devotion" (click here) is not really a devotional. It is a story about a recent trip with a group of college baseball players in a very remote area of the Dominican Republic. I recently told this story at a golf tournament, of all places, and the response was such that I thought I would share it with you.
I must tell you something that I didn’t share with the golfers….when we first arrived, one of our missionaries, Giovanny Valdez, decided to play a joke on the American baseball players. He asked them to sing a song to the people of this remote village. The players did not know that Giovanny was kidding, got their heads together and came up with the only song all of them knew…."Jesus Loves Me." What started as a joke became a sacred moment as these college athletes (not singers!) sang to this poor and hungry group from their hearts. I will never forget it.
I hope that you enjoy the short story - click here.
"Work as if everything depends upon you; yet pray, knowing that everything depends upon God." (Ignatius)
August 4, 2010
Ask for Wisdom
Recently I spent an entire week with the founder of SCORE International, Ron Bishop. He started the ministry back in 1985 after a very successful career as a college basketball coach. Since Ron is a former coach, we speak the same language. I’m always motivated and encouraged after spending time with Ron. One of the things I always take away from my time with him is a little more wisdom. He can be very honest and very direct; but like any good coach, he almost always uses the "sandwich theory." If he wants me to make an adjustment, he starts off with a positive statement, throws in some constructive criticism in the middle and then finishes with a positive. As a result, I always leave feeling better about myself while at the same time knowing exactly what I need to do to be more effective in my role with SCORE International.
We should always attempt to surround ourselves with people possessing wisdom. If you don’t have a person with wisdom in your life, find one. And, when you find that person make it a priority to hone your listening skills and soak in all that you can. Knowledge and education are important; I don’t want to minimize their significance, but we all have seen educated fools! Seek wisdom over all things and you will be blessed.
King David taught his son, Solomon, the importance of wisdom. You may recall the story given to us in Kings 3:5-12:
At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said,
‘Ask for whatever you want me to give you.’ Solomon answered, ‘You have shown great
kindness to your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to you and righteous
and upright in heart. You have continued this great kindness to him and have given him
a son to sit on his throne this very day. Now, O Lord my God, you have made your
servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know
how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen,
a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning
heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who
is able to govern this great people of yours?’ The Lord was pleased that Solomon
asked for this. So God said to him, ‘Since you asked for this and not for a long life
or wealth for yourself, nor have you asked for the death of your enemies but for
discernment in administering justice, I will do for you what you asked. I will give
to you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you,
nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for—both
riches and honor so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if
you walk in my ways and obey my commands as David your father did, I will give
you a long life.’
The foolish decisions I have made in my life are a direct result of not seeking wisdom from God and godly friends with discernment. It is amazing what we have access to and yet do not take advantage of. The gift of wisdom (James 1:5) is one of God’s great promises to us. Who would not want the wisdom of God?
June 24, 2010
Hall of Fame Tools
In baseball, professional scouts talk about "tools." Tools are gifts that players have been blessed with. The ultimate gifted player is considered a "Five Tool Player." This means that he can run, hit, hit with power, field and throw—all exceptionally well. A player doesn’t need all of these "tools" in order to make it to the major leagues, but if he possesses all five tools, practices and competes to win, he will not only make it to the majors, he will also have a chance to be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame!
I am reminded of the "tools" the Apostle Paul informs us that we can all have as believers in Christ. Paul calls these tools the "Fruit of the Spirit." In Galatians 5:22, we learn that "the fruit of the Spirit" is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control." I know very few people who take advantage of all the "Fruits" God has made available to us through His Spirit.
More often than not, I do not exude love or joy. I don’t always have peace and I am not normally a patient person. Sometimes, I’m not even kind to the people closest to me, much less strangers. I’m not always as faithful to God as I should be. But, I have improved my self-control since I am no longer coaching! The truth of the matter is: I could be excellent in all of these areas. I could be a "Nine Tool Player" for God!
As believers in Christ, we all have access to the "Fruit of the Spirit." As we pray each day, we can ask God to help us to be more loving, patient, kind and gentle, good and faithful, and, to have more self-control…then the joy will come. We can’t do this on our own, but God will help, if we only ask.
May 11, 2010
Disappointment
During the spring of 1972, I suffered one of the longest nights of my life. I had just been released from the Montreal Expos Baseball Club and was forced to take an early exit from spring training. That night, trying to sleep in my own bed in my parent’s house, I tossed and turned feeling the heartbreak, rejection and humiliation of being told that at age 20, I was damaged goods—no longer needed.
I loved baseball. I had dreamed all my life about pitching in the major leagues and making my family and my friends back home proud. Instead, I would be explaining to everyone who knew me why I didn’t "make it" to the Big Leagues.
Of course, hind sight is 20-20. Now, I can see that God had a better plan for my life: a wife, two sons, two grandsons, a 25-year career as a major college coach and a second career in sports ministry. But, during that long night over 30 years ago, I was heartbroken, my spirit was crushed and my confidence was shattered.
At 2:00 that morning, I finally left my bed feeling miserable and alone. I saw the guest bedroom light shining under the closed door; obviously, my mother was having a restless night as well and was up late reading. I felt compelled to knock on her door and complain to her how miserable I felt, but as soon as I opened the door, no words came out of my mouth—only tears escaped from my eyes. After a few minutes, I was able to speak and I said, "I have failed, I’m a nobody." I don’t remember a word she said, perhaps she didn’t say anything, but she was there. She understood. She shared my disappointment.
No matter where you are or what circumstance you face, you are not alone. No matter how painful the heartbreak or how deep the loss, there is Someone who will be there to give you strength, healing and comfort. His name is Jesus. In Psalm 34:18, David speaks this truth: "The Lord is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
April 1, 2010
Cathedrals and Locker Rooms
As a college baseball coach for so many years, I would spend many Good Fridays and Easter Sundays in hotel rooms, locker rooms and on baseball fields. Thousands of coaches and athletes will be doing the same this weekend.
Although many Easter Sundays were spent away from family and church because of competition, there were many meaningful chapels held in home and visiting locker rooms. Occasionally, we would even invite the visiting team and the families of both teams to join us for a special Easter morning celebration.
This morning, I was thinking of many different ways Christians around the world—including coaches and athletes---will celebrate Easter.
Millions will worship Christ this weekend and millions will be reminded of the darkest day in the history of the world (Good Friday and the most joyous day of all days (Easter Sunday). Some will worship in secret for fear of persecution; some will worship in cathedrals, country churches, hospitals and nursing homes, but all who worship Christ will worship the Son of God. We do not worship a dead prophet; we worship a risen Savior!
There aren’t an abundance of quotes by angels in Scripture. On the rare occasions God allowed angels to speak to men and women, profound statements were made…none more profound and amazing than this: "He is not here; He has risen!"
January 19, 2010
Competition and Composure
When I was a very small boy, my father would listen to the University of Kentucky basketball games on the radio. So, like many Kentucky boys growing up, I wanted to play basketball for the Wildcats. God had a good and different plan for me...
My baseball skills exceeded my hoop skills; and eventually, I became the head baseball coach in the athletic program that I loved. Even though I spent 25 years on the baseball field, I have remained a huge Wildcat basketball fan. Currently, "we" are the only undefeated team in the nation with three freshmen in the lineup!
One of our talented freshmen plays the game with passion and he is a powerful force on the court. He sometimes loses his temper; and, recently, he has been "baited" by older and more experienced players. They push and shove him and occasionally throw an elbow in his rib cage when the referees aren’t looking. Our big freshman center is trying to learn not to lose his temper and react to the strategic attacking of his weakness.
How do you react when people push the button that causes you to react or defend yourself with angry, caustic words and actions? I must admit, my pride sometimes causes me to lash out at things people say or may write about me. When the "rumor mill" finds its way to me, I want to emphatically set the record straight. How did Jesus respond to false charges? Isaiah prophesied how Jesus would react. "He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open His mouth; He was led like a Lamb to the slaughter; and as a sheep before his shearer is silent, so He did not open His mouth. (Isaiah 53:7)
As followers of Christ, we should strive to be more like Him…courageously knowing that "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)
James gave us great counsel in his book of wisdom; "Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry" (James 1:19)
Great advice for a freshman basketball player and great advice for me and you!
January 2010
Stay the Course
Many times in the world of business and athletics, we see "successful" people take short cuts, bend and even break rules on their way to profit or victory. But, aren’t the financial awards and victories achieved by cheating, abuse of power and selfish motives shallow and hollow in the end? What King David said in Psalm 37 is still true today.
1 Do not fret because of evil men or be envious of those who do wrong; 2 for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 3 Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 4 Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will do this: 6 He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. 7 Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 8 Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 9 For evil men will be cut off, but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.
My challenge and encouragement to you for 2010 and beyond is this…stay the course, fight the good fight and commit to pleasing God with your words, actions and deeds. Treat your co-workers, teammates, family and even the competition justly and fairly. Then, "God will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun." (Psalm 37:6)
December 2009
The Gift of Compassion
Few of us would disagree that the Christmas season has become too commercial, too stressful and too long. But, perhaps, if we focus on the right gift we could eliminate the commercialism and the stress and keep the joy all year long.
To illustrate, we all need to look at a parable not usually associated with Christmas--the Parable of the Good Samaritan. We know that thieves robbed and beat a man on the road between Jerusalem and Jericho, leaving him naked and close to death. We also know that a priest and a Levite not only didn’t help this severely injured traveler but passed on the other side of the road to avoid him. But then came the Samaritan. The Samaritan "came to where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him." (Luke 10:33-34) The Samaritan even gave the innkeeper money to look after the injured man.
While discussing this parable in our Sunday school class recently, classmate Roy Lauter shared this: "The thief said, ‘What is yours is mine and I’m going to take it.’ The priest and the Levite said, ‘What is mine is mine and I’m going to keep it!’ The Samaritan said, ‘What is mine is yours and I’m going to give it.’"
Many of us may not be able to purchase expensive gifts for friends and family this Christmas, but we can all give the gift of compassion. Johnny Hunt once said, "You are never more like Christ than when you give."
November 2009
"Don’t walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I may not lead. Just walk beside me and be my friend." Albert Carnus
In the very last chapter of John ’s magnificent Gospel, there is a simple illustration of the love Jesus has for us and His willingness to be our "friend."
After the resurrection, Jesus began appearing to His disciples. After His betrayal, arrest and journey to the cross, all but one of His disciples had abandoned and denied knowing Jesus. So, it makes sense that this group of men, the disciples, would feel lost, guilty and distant from Jesus.
John tells the story better than I ever could, after all he was there! So, read this short account of a very interesting fishing trip: (John 21:4-14)
4 Early in the morning, Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize that it was Jesus.
5 He called out to them, "Friends haven't you any fish?" "No," they answered.
6 He said, "Throw your net on the right side of the boat and you will find some." When they did, they were unable to haul the net in because of the large number of fish.
7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" As soon as Simon Peter heard him say, "It is the Lord," he wrapped his outer garment around him (for he had taken it off) and jumped into the water.
8 The other disciples followed in the boat, towing the net full of fish, for they were not far from shore, about a hundred yards.
9 When they landed, they saw a fire of burning coals there with fish on it, and some bread.
10 Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish you have just caught."
11 Simon Peter climbed aboard and dragged the net ashore. It was full of large fish, 153, but even with so many the net was not torn.
12 Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." None of the disciples dared ask him, "Who are you?" They knew it was the Lord.
13 Jesus came, took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. 14 This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Consider this: only a few days after the disciples scattered like a covey of quail at a time when Jesus needed them most, Jesus shows up on the shore where they were fishing. He didn’t come to preach to them, heap guilt on them or say, "A fine group of disciples you turned out to be!" No, he came to help them catch some nice, large fish, call them "friends," and cook a warm breakfast over some hot coals for them.
While reading this simple but beautiful story of friendship, I was once again amazed at the love of Christ and His desire to help us, spend time with us and be our true and faithful friend. He forgives and forgets our past and says, "Come, have some breakfast with me." What a friend we have in Jesus!
October 2009
"…Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry." (James 1:19)
Early this morning, I walked out to the end of our long driveway to pick up the newspaper and empty garbage can. For some reason when I arrived at the end of the driveway, I stopped and listened. I identified at least three different birds that were chirping and singing a "Good Morning" to me. I take this same walk every morning that I am at home and not traveling. How many mornings have I ignored these beautiful sounds? We have bird feeders, bird baths and bird houses on our property and I do frequently observe the beauty of these winged gifts from God, but to be honest, I very seldom listen. You see, listening takes time. Many times, to be honest, I’m just too busy and too into my own world to stop and listen to the beautiful sounds God has given us.
It is the same from my devotional time with God. I pray, read and then move on with my day. Rick Warren says, "Usually we’re in too much of a hurry to do this (listen to God). We often just say, ‘Hi, God, it’s me. I’ve got ten things I need from You. Thank You. Over-and-out. Goodbye.’"
May I say the obvious? It is extremely important to listen to God, to hear what He has to say. The writer of Hebrews says, "We must pay more careful attention, therefore, to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away." (Hebrews 2:1 NIV)
In John 10:16, Jesus says, "My sheep will listen to my voice."
I want to learn to be a good listener, to truly care deeply about what my wife, family, friends and others say. Mostly, I want to learn to better listen to God. Prayer is 50% talking and 50% listening!
To learn more about the importance of listening to God read: I Kings 19:11-13, Mark 4:9 and Luke 6:49.
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2011 AKCGC Sponsors
Thank you!
First Southern National Bank (Presenting Sponsor)
Commonwealth Technology (Flag Sponsor)
University of Kentucky Athletics (Apparel Sponsor)
Mac Auto Group (Hole-In-One Prize Sponsor)
Payment Information
Please make checks payable to SCORE International (note: AKCGC) and mail to the address listed below.
SCORE International
305 Drake Lane
Wilmore, Kentucky 40390
Please contact Sharon Madison at (859) 858-4935 if you wish to pay via credit card.
Used Equipment Needed - Donate Today
SCORE International will gladly accept your donation of new or used baseball equipment. Gloves, bats, cleats and other items are all collected and taken personally by Keith & Sharon Madison to the Dominican Republic as part of their mission work.
For more information on how to donate in the Louisville/Kentuckiana area please contact Eric Erwin at 502-216-9006.
In the Lexington area please contact Keith Madison at 859-858-4935.
Used equipment may also be dropped off in person at area Rafferty’s restaurants (Nicholasville Rd & in Hamburg Place).
Keith's Devotional
Click here to read Keith Madison's monthly devotional.
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