Saved On Skates

06/28/2021

Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin.
Hockey Chat: On November 2 of 2002, Tie Domi took a penalty and then let his emotions take his whole team out of the game. His mouthing off and cursing at referee Brad Watson landed Domi a gross misconduct penalty and an accompanying fine of $200. The Maple Leafs were scored on during the penalty and stayed back on their heels to lose the game 5-2. His words cost him and the team a loss.
Life Lesson: Be careful what you speak. We’ve all said things we wish we wouldn’t have. God reminds us in this passage that those who lash out fall from their harsh words while those who speak rightly guards his life. Note that He doesn’t say that things should go unsaid. Just that they should be said with careful consideration and awareness.

05/02/2021

2 Corinthians 4:17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

Hockey Chat: In 1964 Toronto Maple Leafs’ Bobby Baun blocked a shot from Gordie Howe in Game 6 that hit his ankle. He left the game for a short time before returning, scoring a goal in overtime and forcing a Game 7 which the Leafs won the Stanley Cup. It was later announced that the blocked shot from Howe had broken Baun’s ankle, yet he had come back to score and play on. He would not let the pain keep him from the game and ultimately the glory of winning.

Life Lesson: Our troubles in the moment can be painful. Giving in to the pain can mean giving up on the glory. Our character means far more than our comfort. Push through the pain. Keep on to the glory. He brought you to it, He will help you through it. Jesus never said it would be easy. But He did say that you would never be alone.

04/30/2021

1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Hockey Chat: When a goalie is said to “Stand on his head” that means he’s making great saves for the team. This may have been derived after NHL President Frank Calder, referencing the 1918 rules change that allowed goalies to fall down to make a save, remarked, "They could stand on their head, if they wanted to." Basically it means they are giving their all to stop pucks.

Life Lesson: Jesus gave his all so that we may win the game of life. He made the full sacrifice of life so that we would not face an eternal death. He did it unselfishly for you in hopes that you would draw close to him to know the everlasting life in heaven he is offering you.

04/27/2021

Psalm 66:10 For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.

Hockey Chat: The original Stanley Cup is made of pure silver. This precious metal for the prestigious Cup, was worked by a silversmith who makes silver in it’s purest form by first placing it over an intense flame. This high heat melts the metal and separates the impurities from the true silver. It is considered pure when the silversmith can see his reflection in it.

Life Lesson: God is the silversmith of our lives. He works on us to help us become pure and righteous through his Son. We experience the high heat in life through the trials that we endure. Those moments help remove the impurities we have and to build our character to be more like him. God knows we are good when our lives reflect him.

04/24/2021

Jeremiah 6:16 This is what the LORD says: “Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls.”
Hockey Chat: The aborigines team of Alkali Lake Ranch played hockey with great ambition in the 1930’s and were invited to play against a team of all-stars from a semi-pro team in Vancouver. Lester Patrick, manager of the New York Rangers, was on hand to witness the near loss but hard play and offered their star centerman, Alec Antoine, a spot on his star-studded team in the NHL but Alec responded by saying he already had a sure thing at $15 per week and went home to his life as a cowboy on the Alkali Lake Ranch.
Life Lesson: There are crossroads in life that we face. Those times define what we hold at our core being. Whether it is seen as a trial or opportunity, it’s a defining moment in our Christian lives. Sometimes it may seem like it’s a decision to miss out on something but it is for the right reasons of being what we will gain in our final destination. Our decisions define us. Stay close to God and in his Word so that you can confidently make the right choices.

04/21/2021

1 Corinthians 12:5-7 There are different kinds of work to be done for Him. But the work is for the same Lord. There are different ways of doing His work. But it is the same God who uses all these ways in all people. The Holy Spirit works in each person in one way or another for the good of all.
Hockey Chat: In the NHL, most people quickly recognize the name of Patrick Kane being an incredibly talented league leading player. But the names of Mike Gapski or Troy Parchman may not be so familiar, yet they are vitally important to Kane’s success. They are the team athletic trainer who ensures he is in good playing condition and the equipment manager who makes sure his gear is ready for battle. All work for the single purpose of being part of a winning Chicago Blackhawks team.
Life Lesson: Being an effective part of Gods family means understanding the ability we have at our station in life. You may not be the pastor on stage but you may be the greeter at the door that gave a worn soul a bright welcome and personally made a greater impact. It may not have even been in church and just in public where someone needed a bit of kindness or encouragement. We are in positions to make changes in the world and in the lives of others. It is misconception to think you need the spotlight in order to shine. Often we overlook that we are that very spotlight that can light up the world by using our own talents to shine Christ’s love and message. Each one of us brings our unique skills to be part of God’s team and whole the family grows stronger.

04/20/2021

Ephesians 4:22-25 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body
Hockey Chat: When speaking of building up defenseman Noah Dobson for his professional career with the New York Islanders, Head Coach Barry Trotz said "When you're in junior hockey and you're one of the best players, you can get away with stuff that you can't in the National Hockey League. Breaking him of some of those habits and then building him up, his physical strength in his body, so he can start having success in the NHL. Going through it, we've tried to surround him with good mentors.”
Life Lesson: We all have a past that created who we are today. But if we want to grow further, some of those unhelpful past practices need to be cut away. Surrounding ourselves with other believers can be the mentors to hold us accountable to better out lives. Becoming immersed in the Bible can build us up to a new person and break us from the old habits. We are building ourselves up to be better members of the great family of God.

04/17/2021

Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will reward them for what they have done.
Hockey Chat: When the Pens Brian Dumoulin broke his stick during a game on April 15, 2021, the leader of the team, Sidney Crosby quickly and unselfishly gave him his own. Thanks to Sids graciousness, Brian was able to gain control of the puck with his new found borrowed stick and pass it out of the zone to Letang as he broke out. But the story doesn’t end there as Crosby races by the bench, gets a new stick from the equipment manager, charges the net, and then puts in a rebound goal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-uHcy9-lFrQ
Life Lesson: There are many moments that we have the chance to give to the less fortunate. The Lord sees the good of our hands that comes from our hearts. The rewards may not be instantaneous but in His time our kindness will flow back. To those less fortunate, we are being gracious in Christ’s name, which is a testament to our desire to serve Him.

Sidney Crosby gave his stick to Brian Dumolin in the defensive zone before following the play up the ice, grabbing a new stick from the bench, and scoring a ...

04/16/2021

Philippians 3:14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Hockey Chat: Wayne Gretzky said it best when he was quoted, “You miss 100% of the shots you never take”. To win those scoring titles he had to press on and take those shots, even though not all of them went in. Continually pressing on makes winners

Life Lesson: Achieving the goal that God has for us means taking the steps to be the “great-one” He knows we can be. It means taking the shots towards the goal to win the prize of being with Him. Sometimes people shy away from taking that step for God, like sharing their faith or helping with the church family. They think it probably won’t help anyway. But only if they take that chance and make the effort will they find the great impact it may have.

04/15/2021

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."
Hockey Chat: There are the guys on the team that wear the “C” on their sweater representing that they are the Captain. They’ve given their best at putting forth the qualities of a leader. The management of the team sees those actions and gives this prestigious reward to the top man who has earned it. It’s an honor given to them because of what they gave to the team.
Life Lesson: When we give to others in life, we can rest assured that God will reward us abundantly in time. Giving is a sign of our faith, regardless of how it’s done, whether through time, money or deeds. It’s passing along the blessings we have and that is the generosity that the Heavenly Coach sees as a leader in His family.

04/14/2021

1 Thessalonians 5:15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

Hockey Chat: In the Stanley Cup Finals 2004, Calgary’s Ville Nieminen's hit on Tampa Bay Vincent Lecavalier in Game 4 was definitely a cheap shot, taking a run at him from behind and smashing his head into the glass. As a result the Flames’ top defenseman had to sit the next game out on suspension, hurting his team this time and not the opposition. Many would say that ugly hit deserved revenge. Rather than take a cheap shot in return, the biggest retaliation a team can have is winning the game by playing hard-nosed, fair hockey. That is exactly what the Lightning did by taking the series and winning the Stanley Cup.

Life Lesson: Fighting fire with fire just leads to ashes. When you’ve been wronged prayerfully consider what your next move should be. Consult the Lord who will comfort your heart and help you through the confrontation level headed.

04/13/2021

Daniel 11:35 Some of the wise will stumble, so that they may be refined, purified and made spotless until the time of the end

Hockey Chat: In the early years, 1860s, a rubber ball was the object used in hockey. Because the ball bounced too much, a block of wood was sometimes used instead. The modern hockey puck was invented around 1875. As the knowledge of the game grew, the ideas for a better puck came along.

Life Lesson: There are times when good things go bad. Those are the times to review God’s plan for our lives and how we should proceed. It may be just a moment of building on our faith. Maybe it is a different path He wants us to take. Whatever it may be, God is building a better tomorrow by refining us today