You know I started this like I probably start most things in my life. I wanted to do something but I wasn't really sure how to do it. So I started it hoping someone else would step up and carry it through. Or maybe I just thought God would do it for me. Either way not much has happened.

I have a very strong opinion on where we should be leading our young people I just don't know how to accomplish that. I mean if it really came down to it I wouldn't even probably come out and say that I am a christian to anyone outside my immediate circle of friends because deep down I know I am lacking in so many ways. But that's kind of the point isn't it? We are all lacking in so many ways as adults. We keep moving the line for what is acceptable and we slowly fade back to our sinful ways. So what exactly do we expect our young people to do? If we as adults can't even figure it out how are we to develop young people with strong moral character? The hardest thing for me is giving up that control to Him. Wanting what God wants not what I want. It's just seems like an impossible task to me sometimes.

I don't know about you but I have serious doubts about my priorities. I have no doubt about my faith. I believe in a greater being. My confusion comes from me and my actions not from our God as his actions. Paul said it perfectly in Romans 3:28 - A person is made right with God through Faith. Not good works, not suffering or study. I think that I am a good father as we go to church, my kids attend Sunday School and we discuss God (Occasionally). But if I compare the amount of time we have spent as a family attending youth sports functions - practice, camps, games, and training in the backyard and I compare it to the time we have spent become closer to our God it makes me realize that my priorities are way out of wack.

If you look at society as a whole it is probably the same reflection. The Sports Training Industry is a multi-billion dollar industry. In our town we have these sports training centers all over now, along with personal coaches for all the different sports. I think we are on the wrong path here. Youth sports is supposed to be something that our kids play for fun. It is supposed to teach them about committment, team work, responsibility and it is supposed to be about developing good character, but these days it seems to be more about creating the next NFL, MLB or NBA star.

Let's get real, what are the odds that any player you coach, including your own child, is going to play professionally? Probably not much better than your chances of winning the lottery. Even if one of them does make it, they can only play for so long and then what? Speaking for myself I am trying to realine my priorities and focus on something more important than a future NBA contract. I want my sons and daughter to sign a long term contract with God. I want them to know about the God who loves them so much that he sent his only son to save them.

No promises but I am going to try and do a better job of getting this part of the forum going. Maybe with a little encouragement from all of you we can take all of our kids in a better direction whatever that may be.