I bet you thought I was talking about King David. After all, those were the words used to describe him. One site suggested that David was called this because of the following ten attributes, all reflected in his psalms: humble, reverent, respectful, trusting, loving, devoted, faithful, obedient, recognition (of God), and repentant.
But David was not the only man (or woman) who faithfully followed God and demonstrated those characteristics. And these individuals are not necessarily pastors. After all, David was a shepherd, a warrior, a king.
My father was a collegiate basketball player and then a high school coach, so he enjoyed watching collegiate basketball on television and we would watch with him. One of the coaches who was foremost in the sport during my high school years, began his coaching career in 1948 and retired in 1975 at UCLA: John Wooden—another man after God’s own heart.
John Wooden always carried a silver cross in his pocket, given to him by a South Bend minister in 1942. In times of stress, basketball games, and speaking engagements, he would hold it in his hand.
He was a man of great faith and knew exactly the importance of basketball. He is quoted as saying: “Basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.”
Besides his almost unparalleled success as a coach, he is also known for his Woodenisms: those pearls of wisdom that he shared with his players and his audiences. Such statements such as . . .
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.
God has given each of us certain abilities for us to develop and use those on whatever stage we find ourselves. But He has given all of us the power of the Holy Spirit to become men and women of God.
But David was not the only man (or woman) who faithfully followed God and demonstrated those characteristics. And these individuals are not necessarily pastors. After all, David was a shepherd, a warrior, a king.
My father was a collegiate basketball player and then a high school coach, so he enjoyed watching collegiate basketball on television and we would watch with him. One of the coaches who was foremost in the sport during my high school years, began his coaching career in 1948 and retired in 1975 at UCLA: John Wooden—another man after God’s own heart.
John Wooden always carried a silver cross in his pocket, given to him by a South Bend minister in 1942. In times of stress, basketball games, and speaking engagements, he would hold it in his hand.
He was a man of great faith and knew exactly the importance of basketball. He is quoted as saying: “Basketball is not the ultimate. It is of small importance in comparison to the total life we live. There is only one kind of life that truly wins, and that is the one that places faith in the hands of the Savior. Until that is done, we are on an aimless course that runs in circles and goes nowhere.”
Besides his almost unparalleled success as a coach, he is also known for his Woodenisms: those pearls of wisdom that he shared with his players and his audiences. Such statements such as . . .
- “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
- “If you don’t have time to do it right, when will you have time to do it over?”
- “Make each day your masterpiece.”
- “Never lie, never cheat, never steal.”
- “Nothing will work unless you do.”
- “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.”
- “Things turn out best for the people who make the best of the way things turn out.”
- “Talent is God given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”
- “The best competition I have is against myself to become better.”
- “Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who’ll argue with you.”
- “Young people need models, not critics.
Ability is a poor man’s wealth.
God has given each of us certain abilities for us to develop and use those on whatever stage we find ourselves. But He has given all of us the power of the Holy Spirit to become men and women of God.
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