1 of 1

Key Bible Verse: And you yourself must be an example. … Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching (Titus 2:7). Bonus Reading: John 13:12-17

As an eleven-year old, I entered the 1956 Little League season addicted to baseball. Gordon was not addicted. The kindest way of describing Gordon's skills is to say that he didn't have any. I was relieved when Gordon was assigned to another team.

After two weeks of practice, two of Gordon's team members—directed by their coach—delivered Gordon this message: "Get lost." Gordon got lost.

My coach decided Gordon needed to be on a team that treated him with respect and gave everyone a fair chance to contribute. Gordon became my team member.

I don't think Gordon even hit a foul ball that season. It wasn't that he didn't get help. The coach worked with him a lot.

I'm not sure if Gordon learned anything from my coach. I know I did. But the most important lessons weren't about baseball. I learned everyone has worth and that doing what's right is more important than winning.

I'm grateful that man was my coach that year. I was proud to be his shortstop and his son.

—Chick Moorman in Stories for a Dad's Heart

My Response: How might I help others understand that "doing what's right is more important than winning"?

Thought to Apply: People never improve unless they look to some standard or example higher and better than themselves.—Tryon Edwards (American theologian)

Adapted from Stories for a Dad's Heart (Multnomah, 2002) by permission.

Copyright © 2009 by the author or Christianity Today International/Men of Integrity magazine.
Click here for reprint information on Men of Integrity.

 1 of 1

share this page

Prayer for the Week

Father, thank you for godly role models who strive to imitate Jesus in all they do. Help me to follow their example so that I might model Christ-likeness to all who look to me for guidance and leadership.

				Try an Issue of Men of Integrity Free! Name Street Address City/State/Zip E-mail Address No credit card required. Please allow 4-6 weeks for delivery. Offer valid in U.S. only. Click here for International orders. If you decide you want to keep Men of Integrity coming, honor your invoice for just $19.95 and receive five more issues, a full year in all. If not, simply write "cancel" across the invoice and return it. The trial issue is yours to keep, regardless. Give Men of Integrity as a gift Buy 1 gift subscription, get 1 FREE!

FREE Newsletter Sign up for the Men of Integrity Newsletter (All fields required)    RSS Feed   RSS Help