There is more to this book then being TALL

Michael Young

Being 6'9 it is usually easy to figure out what sport I enjoy playing. Yes, basketball. However, when i'm sporting a nice tan (this is not often) some people do guess volleyball. Not sure how to take that...but, most people guess correct, with basketball. Although Basketball ended up being the sport I played in college and professionally it was not always my favorite sport.

As the Rangers are getting ready to play the Yankees it's great to see an old friend doing so well. Many of you might have heard of Michael Young, the Rangers current third basemen and ex short-stop. But, what many of you might not know is that Michael Young is a UCSB alumni. My alma-mater.

Growing up, baseball was my sport...I ate, sleep and breathed baseball. It wasn't until I got into high school that I really got into basketball. While being recruited in High School it was always important to me at the time that any school I went to would also let me play baseball.

One of the reasons ended up signing with Pepperdine is because they had both solid basketball and baseball teams. As my freshman year of basketball season and Pepperdine was ending, baseball season was already underway. I practiced twice with the Pepperdine baseball team before deciding to transfer. So for the first since I was five, I would go a whole year without playing on a baseball team. Interesting fact about that team...Randy Wolf of the Milwaukee Brewers was a freshman that year as we shared the same dorm.

Fast forward one year as I wrapped up my red-shirt year at UCSB. I am back on the baseball field playing on my first ever college baseball team. Although I played the field and hit my entire life, at the college level my only asset was as a pitcher. This was a new role for me, but after missing out on the competitive side of basketball because of red-shirting, I was thrilled to be competing again. We ended up having a great team that year, which was bitter sweet because with the talent we had, my playing time was very, very, very limited. However, the excitement of being a part of a top NCAA team and going to the big dance was something ill never forget. This would in fact be my last season playing competitive baseball. With the school load and the amount of work I was putting towards basketball, something had to give and when your 6'9...basketball usually wins out :)

I share this story for a couple reasons. One, it is cool to see an ex-teammate like Michael Young doing so well and having a chance at winning the big one. As I remember him, he was always a very hard worker and got the most out of what God had given him. It is amazing at what time will do, because Michael was not even one of our top three players on that championship team that went to the NCAA tournament. So don't be discouraged if your not the star right now, or in the position you want to be. Work hard, put in the hours and be faithful that, not you, but God is in control.

The other reason I share this story is I believe all to often we read only the cover of a book. I have gotten dubbed a basketball player ever since I was sixteen and 6'9. Most people don't know I played college baseball, or was a quarterback in High School and played on several travel soccer teams. Granted I am only talking about sports here...but this idea of judging someone with out really get to know them can be extremely unfair. Whether it be there height, looks, tattoo's, piercing or the color of their skin...I believe as Christian we are falling way short on this. I am all to guilty of this as well, but we need to take the time to get to know someone beyond what you see. We don't have to condone the behavior to befriend and or get to know someone on a deeper level.

The first question I am almost always asked is: how tall are you...and that question is immediately followed by: do you play basketball. These questions can become annoying after you hear them your entire life, although innocent enough. What about that co-worker or friend you haven't taken the time to get to know beyond what you have in common. It is all to often only about ourselves, we take someone and put them in a box and move on. I challenge you to dig deeper...get to know someone for real. Why your doing that, don't forget the ultimate gift you can share is the salvation of Jesus Christ. This gift will be so much easier to deliver if you take the time and develop a real relationship with someone. The better you know someone, the more you usually care for them and the more you care for someone the more you want them to have a chance to live eternity with Jesus.

So dig deeper, care a little more and don't be afraid to share the gift of Jesus Christ with someone.

God vs. Football

Yes, its football season...FINALLY. For those of you that are football fans, the excitement of a new season is always fun. As much as I love football season (Chargers and Packers to be exact) it amazes me at the value we put on sports and especially football in this country. As much fun as sports are to play, watch and coach…the position that sports and football has taken within this country is somewhat disturbing.

Hey, my life has revolved around sports for many years and even today my job title has the word sports in it. However, as a man of God the importance of sports must never trump or take the place that God has in our lives. Do we miss church to catch the game, do we skip reading our word in the morning to organize our fantasy football team. We cannot serve two masters…For God to be your Lord; He must be first in all we do. Does that mean we shy away from and shun all things sports? My simple answer is no, however the real answer is all in priorities.

I am obviously bias when it comes to combing sports and God, as it is not only my job but also my passion. As we can easily see from the beginning of the 2010 football season, Americans love football. So rather then assume football is not something God would want us involved in, why don’t we use people’s love of football and reach out to them right where they are.

Shepherd Sports is set up to be that vessel for you to use sports as an avenue to share the bigger picture of a personal relationship with Jesus. A place to play, coach or volunteer in hopes of using sports for something greater then our own personal enjoyment. Sports are often seen as something un-spiritual because it involves being physical and not cerebral. In today’s society and the country we live in, Sports might be the biggest tool we have to reach out to this lost and dying world who so often put things like sports in front of God. With sports being so popular in this country, it just seems like the perfect fit to reach out to those around us. So if you love it, use it. If Jesus is your Lord, then sports can simply be a physical vehicle to deliver the spiritual message of the cross to those around you.

For all you men that love football we have a new season starting this Saturday. …so call a friend and sign up today:

www.ShepherdSports.org

Summertime Fun

On Saturday (August, 28) at Rancho Simi Field in Simi Valley, Shepherd Sports is having a Family Fair Day. With double headers already scheduled for our adult coed softball league and our biking and hiking clubs set to work out that morning we our attempting to get all of our Shepherd Sports family together for a casual day of fun.

Free games and activities for the kids including face painting and a bounce house. Lots of food for sale including burgers, hot dogs, kettle corn and cotton candy. If your looking for something fun to do or want to meet some cool peeps come out this Saturday anytime from 11am - 3pm and join us. We would love to have you and don't forget to invite someone to join you.

Beach Baptisms

This past July our Church had it's annual Beach Baptisms. This day is a always a highlight for me...this years conditions proved extremely difficult with the waves, rocks and non-cooperative ocean battling us at every turn. Although my feet were scrapped and bruised it didn't compare to the excitement and rejoicing that happened on the beach and in the hearts of everyone there that day. Men and Women from all different backgrounds, cultures and races came to the beach, not worried about there past or the current conditions of the raging sea, they came to give there life to the only one that can control anything, JESUS CHRIST. There would of been no other reason to enter the ocean that day.

Beach Baptism Revised from Call On Jesus on Vimeo.

Jrue Holiday...

What a summer...and we're not even done yet. I wanted to share a few pics I just got back from our Youth Basketball Camp this past July. We were fortunate enough to have Philadelphia 76'er point guard Jrue Holiday, come and be a part of what were doing at Shepherd Sports. The kids ate him up and the camp was a huge success. Jrue was the consummate professional and took time with ever kid. Thanks Jrue, for making this Basketball Camp an experience the kids will never forget.

Goofing around with Coach Charles

Jrue & I showing the kids how its done

Pastor Dudley...a BIG Jrue Holiday fan

A good basketball player, but a better man

Team Building...

Things get pretty busy around Shepherd Sports during the summer months...we recently had a chance to get all our staff and family together for a night out on the town. Well, not really...but we did get to hang out and break bread together. We spent the evening at Dream Dinners. A place where you prepare meals, freeze them and then eat when ready. It is a healthy alternative to eating out all the time.

It is always good to get the team together outside our everyday busy sports schedules and enjoy each other as friends. We are so fortunate to have a staff that enjoys not only working together but enjoying life together. This video was put together by our basketball coordinator Alfonso. Check out the cooking skills by yours truly...I think I'm ready for my own cooking show :)

Talented People or People with Talents?

God truly gives each of us a talent...or maybe 2 or 3. For me, this point has been driven home this week as I prepared to do a half hour radio spot with my good friend Patrick Bet-David on his KKLA show called "Saving America". Patrick has been a faithful member of Shepherd for some time and has an amazing testimony of someone who came to this country as an immigrant, served in the U.S. Army and know runs his own business...and a successful one at that.

Patrick's vision for his radio show has nothing to do with his bottom line or gaining new clients, it is strictly about changing this world for God's kingdom. Not an easy thing in today's society and especially living in southern california. Patrick's show this week is highlighting Shepherd Sports...we air this Sunday (6-27-10) at 12:00pm and again at 9:30pm on KKLA.

I have been blessed by Patrick and I pray our church and sports ministry will be blessed by the airing of the show on Sunday. Included on the show this week is Jrue Holiday and Annette Davis. Both professional athlete's who are running their basketball and volleyball camp's respectively at Shepherd Sports this summer. On the radio program this week both Jrue & Annette share how sports and Jesus has impacted them and how they keep God first in their life. You do not want to miss these interviews as both Jrue and Annette share valuable insights into how they keep God in all aspects of what they do.

With talents like Patrick who use his business connections and love for this country to host a radio show every week that brings people closer to God, or Jrue Holiday who is currently the youngest player in the NBA to give back to his home church with his 1st Annual Basketball Camp this Summer and Annette Davis who has played in the Olympics and still currently plays on the AVP tour and still finds time to balance God, family, work and still has time to give back.

I am privileged and honored to know and work along side these people who go about their everyday life with a passion to use what God has given them to give back and lead people towards the cross. I can only pray that we all find a way to use our God given talents and resources to glorify him.

For info on Jrue's Basketball Camp & Annette's Volleyball Camp, check out our website: www.ShepherdSports.org
To learn more about Patrick and how he can help you, visit his website: www.myphpdream.com

...and don't forget to listen this Sunday to KKLA at 12pm...spread the word.

Getting in shape

Getting in shape can often be one of life's biggest challenges...especially when you have to go at it alone. That's were we come in. Our BootCamp class is not only the biggest in the valley but the most powerful as well. Beyond getting in shape, we provide professional trainers that have your best interest at heart. All of our trainers volunteer their time to help give back. With the professional help from people that care and the team concept of our BootCamp I believe our BootCamp is not only the biggest but the best. As a ministry, we are in the business of people...the business of helping people grow both spiritual and physically.

Join us this summer for a fun & exciting way to get in shape. BootCamp starts next week and runs on Monday and Thursday evenings. You can register online or get more info off our website...hoping to sweat with you this summer.

www.ShepherdSports.org

Kids, Kids & more Kids

On Saturday we launched our Youth Summer Basketball Program. This was one of the first programs I launched at Shepherd Sports in the summer of 2006 and was our first youth sports program ever at Shepherd of the Hills. Wow, have we come along ways. In our inaugural season we had 60 plus kids. As you will notice in the video above we are at over 200 kids for this summer...separated into three different leagues.

God is good, not only with the blessing of these leagues and the facility to host them but by providing the men and women to support them. Our Youth Sports Director deserves much of the credit for the growth of this program...his insight, vision and dedication is inspiring and I believe our youth basketball program is the best in the city: HANDS DOWN! One of Charles biggest win's has been the people he has been able to surround himself with. From the ladies that help do the check in, to the coach's he trains that have the same passion for the kids as Shepherd Sports does. The whole youth program is a win win for all involved and I cant wait to here the stories of lives being changed through basketball this summer.

Not bad for a city boy

Last Saturday the staff and I invited some of the men involved in our ministry for a little out of city experience. We ventured up the 5 freeway past Magic Mountain to a gun range that I couldn't find again, if I had to. We spent most of Saturday learning how to shoot a rifle the good old fashion way. Not that old fashion, but we did learn allot about our heritage and what happened on April, 19 1875. If you don't know that date, it is worth looking up. This gun range is run by a group called "Appleseed" and they teach history while also teaching marksmanship. Very fascinating, but the highlight is still shooting that gun.

As our ministry has grown it has been a great pleasure getting to know all the leaders within the ministry. It has also become a major part of what we do here at Shepherd Sports. Young or old, we all need direction and discipleship. With the added volunteers and leaders within Shepherd Sports, it has been both a challenge and a reward to watch people grow in there walk. Shooting guns is just part of the fun, but adding power to someone's quiver for the Lord is where the real joy lies.

A BIG thank you to Bob Zio for taking his time out to teach us a little about our History...oh yeah, did I mention how fun it was to shoot those riles. You can check Bob's and Appleseed's website here: www.appleseedinfo.org