Entrance to the Garden Tomb
Nelson Cook who established Coaches of Influence (COIN) 34 years ago in Los Angeles USA writes a monthly letter to the many coaches at professional, college and high school levels and the current correspondence touches the spot.
It has been my privilege since 1984 to have been hosted innumerable times by Nelson Cook in my years in sport ministry, the most recent was in 2009 where I addressed coaches over breakfasts, lunches and dinners.
In a recent Nelson Cook newsletter to his coaches he wrote – an ideal message for Good Friday:
The Garden Tomb
Seeds of Rebellion
The following true story speaks to the spirit currently running rampant in our country.
A fine Christian doctor I know had a boy named Keith. He was an intellectual and graduated at the top of his class in high school.
But the father began to sense some real seeds of rebellion that did not respond to his father’s counsel. Keith wanted his first year of college to be at Stanford. Since they lived in the southwest and it meant a significant outlay of money, Keith was told it would mean that he’d have to work to help with the expenses.
He reluctantly said he would, and off he went. While at Stanford, he never got a job, but he did get fed all the gunk from the secular world about parents and how terrible it is to be in submission and all that rot. So, he went back home in the summer after his first year and announced to his dad that he was taking off.
Big mistake. His dad said, “Okay, son, tell you what. Everything you have, I bought for you.” He played violin beautifully. So, he said, “That Stradivarius violin, you leave in my home.”
The boy kind of gulped and blinked and, “Okay.” Then he said, “By the way, that new Chevelle that you drove to school is mine, so leave that in the garage.” “Okay.” “And the clothes hanging in your closet? I bought them for you. Leave them there.”
“The clothes?” “Yeah, all the clothes. You may leave with the clothes that you’ve got on and you may have the shoes you’re wearing. Also, the money in your pocket is mine. Leave it there on the counter before you leave. And let’s see if there’s anything else.”
Keith was shaken and said, “Dad, I think you’ve picked everything that there is.” He said, “Okay, then you can leave.” That evening they sat down and had a long talk. Eyeball-to-eyeball that very wise father levelled that young rebel. Today they have a relationship that’s something to behold.
Chuck Swindoll
The Garden of Gethsemane
Our society
Our society has been overrun with “seeds of rebellion” that have sprouted into challenging authority, authority itself doing what is socially acceptable, politically correct or what’s right in its own mind. To have true moral law, we must have a 'true' moral law giver.
As Christians, we do. Jesus Christ! He is not a way but THE WAY, THE TRUTH and THE LIFE.
Apart from HIM there is no going, knowing, or living. In the midst of an increasing darkness in our world to truth, right vs. wrong. Let your light shine!
It’s brighter too then you’ll be moving ONWARD and UPWARD.
This is indeed a Good Friday message – and as Nelson Cook closes - onward and upward!
Onward & Upward,
Nelson
The Wailing Wall
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html