Leadership Journal

Set-up: The film is the true story of Ken Carter (portrayed by Samuel L. Jackson), a successful sporting goods store owner, who in 1999 became head basketball coach for a high school in impoverished Richmond, California. Dismayed by the attitude of his players and their dismal performance on the court, Carter sets out to change both by imposing a strict regime including respectful behavior, dress code, and good grades as a prerequisite for participation.

Scene (show or tell): One player quits the team, only to return later with a desire to be reinstated. Timo asks Coach Carter what he must do to play. Carter informs him that he must complete 2,500 push-ups and 1,000 suicide drills by Friday—a task even the coach calls impossible.

By Friday, Timo is short of both goals. Although impressed by the effort, Carter asks him to leave the gym. Timo has failed.

Unexpectedly, another player, Jason, who previously had a personality conflict with Timo, steps forward. "I'll do push-ups for him," he tells the coach. "You said we're a team. One person struggles, we all struggle. One player triumphs, we all triumph. Right?"

Coach Carter, speechless but satisfied that his team is finally responding to his efforts, watches Jason drop to the floor and begin doing push-ups. One by one the entire team joins to help Timo reach his goal.

Conclusion: Christ has not merely redeemed individuals, but has assembled us into a united and interdependent body—the church. The apostle Paul reminds us that when one part of this body suffers, every part suffers with it. And if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. This should motivate us to carry one another's burdens and rally around those in the church who are facing particularly difficult challenges.

After nine seasons, the popular sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond broadcast its final episode in May 2005. Due to the series, the star, Ray Romano, went from struggling stand-up comedian to one of the highest-paid actors on TV.

At the conclusion of the last day's filming, Romano spoke to the studio audience, reflecting on his past and his future. He read a note his brother had stuck in his luggage the day he moved from New York to Hollywood nine years earlier. It said, "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses his soul?" A tearful Romano looked up and told the audience, "Now I'm going to work on my soul."

Submitted by: Hugh Poland, Kingwood, Texas

Source: Biography A&E (5/13/05)
1 Timothy 6:17; Mark 8:36-37
Achievement, Priorities

The highly regarded HBO miniseries Band of Brothers follows a company of U.S. paratroopers through the preparation and experience of invading Europe on D-Day. Based on real life interviews with survivors, the series captures both the intensity of war and the heroism of the troops.

Lieutenant Richard Winters is a powerful example of a leader who understands his calling. While leading his troops into their most celebrated ...