CHRISTIAN COACHES
CORNER
Brian Smith (photo, above, by Bob Smith) is Madison-Ridgeland Academy's huddle leader for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, seventh grade football coach, Dean of Students and elementary school principal. Brian, a graduate of King College in Bristol, Tenn., has been at MRA for 13 years. He has coached football and baseball and taught English and Bible classes while at MRA. Brian and Kim are members of Broadmoor Baptist Church in Madison. They have two children, Carter, 6, and Taylor, 3. Brian does a weekly devotional email. The following is one of his most recent. To get on his list, email him at bsmith@mrapats.org.
One of the most memorable sporting events in 2009 was the Colts-Patriots game
in November.
Leading 34-28 with two minutes left in the game, Patriot coach Bill Belichick went for 4th down and 2 from the Patriots' 29-yard line instead of punting and making the Colts drive 70-80 yards in less than two minutes. The Patriots did not get the first down and the Colts scored and won the game. While some people would argue that
Belichick made a gutsy call, most people see this as a crazy coaching decision which cost the Patriots the game. What makes this even more stunning to those who follow football
is that Belichick is known for his over-preparation for every situation, his eye to
detail, his ability to make the right call at the right time. Although many people
(including Belichick) may not agree with me, I believe this was simply a man who
made a mistake. He messed up; he knew the right thing to do, but he just didn't do
it. We all do that sometimes, don't we? We know the smart move, we know the right move, but we still make the wrong choice, we mess up.
Think about Peter. He followed Jesus for over 18 months. He was one of Jesus' three closest friends. He heard sermons, he witnessed miracles, he observed the blind see
and the lame walk. Yet, in the hour of Jesus' greatest need, he messed up - he
denied Jesus. He knew the right thing to do, he knew what he told Jesus he would do, but he made the wrong choice. After denying Jesus, Peter left the courtyard and wept
bitterly. Peter watched as Jesus was beaten, mocked, and crucified; from Peter's
perspective, the game was over.
However, Jesus had other plans for His friend. After
the resurrection, Jesus found Peter. In John 21, Jesus ask Peter three times - 'Do you love me?' With this simple question and His instructions to Peter, Jesus not only forgave Peter, but He also encouraged him for the task ahead - to tell the
world about Him and build His church. Peter not only moved past his mistake, but he became one of the early leaders of the church and a pillar of the Christian faith.
Like Coach Belichick, like Peter, each of us is going to make mistakes (hopefully
not in front of millions of people). However, our mistakes do not have to define us.
In fact, at our times of failure we can learn to rely upon the Lord. 2 Corinthians
12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Are you holding a past mistake against someone? Are you allowing a
past mistake to hold you back? Forgive them and forgive yourself, just as your
Heavenly Father has forgiven you. God is not looking for perfect people; God is not looking for people who won't mess up. God is looking for people willing to answer His calling and take His message to the world. Not because of any gifts or abilities we have on our own, but because of how He can use us to impact the lives of those
around us.
"Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Matthew 28:19-20
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CHRISTIAN SPORTS MESSAGE
(Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010)
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS FULLBACK HEATH EVANS
Fullback Heath Evans won't be joining his New Orleans Saints teammates on the field for next Sunday's Super Bowl in Miami and has been on injured reserve since injuring his knee on Oct. 29, but Evans plays an important role in the Saints' success this season.
Evans -- in his ninth NFL season after a standout career at Auburn -- and his wife hold weekly Bible studies at their home for the Saints' players. And one of the most consistent players at the meetings is star quarterback Drew Brees.
"Real men of God are always trying to find ways to draw closer to the King," Evans said.
Evans also gives back in another way. He is the founder of the Heath Evans foundation, which is dedicated to fostering hope and healing in the lives of children and families affected by sexual abuse.
NEXT: BRANDON HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL COACH DAN DAVIS
Victories magazine posts a message on a local, regional or national Christian athlete, coach or sports figure every few days. To read previous messages, click on Christian Sports Message on the left side of this home page.
NEXT ISSUE
Check out these features in the next issue of Victories in Metro Jackson magazine: Former Ole Miss and Hillcrest Christian star Seth Smith, now with the Colorado Rockies; East Rankin Academy's Dandy Dozen basketball player Brooke Rhodes; former Jackson Prep cheerleader Allison Hubbard, now at Samford University; former Jackson Academy multi-sport athlete Jessica Arnold; Brandon High football-basketball standout Caleb Jett; Christian Coaches Corner testimonies from Hinds Community College baseball coach Dan Rives; Madison-Ridgeland Academy football coach Brian Smith; Simpson Academy football coach Billy Wayne Hankins and Co-Lin baseball coach Keith Case; from the heart testimonies from Ole Miss offensive lineman Reid Neely of Jackson Academy; Southern Miss pitcher Todd McInnis of Northwest Rankin and Mississippi State catcher Scott DeLoach of Madison Central; and updates on former Ridgeland standout Sarah Jiminez and Ole Miss soccer player Mallory Coleman of Clinton.
THE CURRENT COVER
 Introducing the latest issue cover of Victories in Metro Jackson, designed by Chad Tyler. Clockwise from top left, Massey Buckner of Jackson Prep, Dominic Douglas of Clinton, Hinds Community College, Mississippi State and the St. Louis Rams, Kelsey Simmons of Madison Central, Coach Jan Miller of Veritas School and Todd Barnthouse of Northwest Rankin and Millsaps College. Victories photo editor Bob Smith took the photos of Massey, Dominic, Kelsey and Todd and Will Smith took the photo of Coach Jan Miller.
FEATURES IN NEXT ISSUE
Features in the current issue:
Madison Central's Kelsey Simmons and Jackson Prep's Massey Buckner, who were good friends in seventh grade and learned a lot from older girls in a Bible study at Broadmoor Baptist Church;
Jackson Academy graduates Casey Chinn and Louis Rogers, who were outstanding athletes in high school, but made a bigger statement by going on a mission trip to Peru;
Madison-Ridgeland Academy graduates and brothers Chad and Clay Crosswhite, now baseball players at Mississippi State and Mississippi College and how they leaned on God and each other.
Northwest Rankin graduate and Millsaps baseball player Todd Barnthouse, recognized as one of the most Christ-like athletes in the history of the school;
Brandon graduate and former Ole Miss soccer player Perryn Tyler and her vision to become a coach and role model to younger kids;
Clinton High and Hinds Community College alumnus Dominic Douglas, who led the SEC in tackles last year at Mississippi State and is trying to make the NFL;
Ridgeland High graduate Ben Sticker, who missed his senior year of playing baseball due to an injury, but made a positive out of it and followed God's will for his life;
St. Andrew's graduate Chandler Anthony, now at Vanderbilt who credits God for all of his talents and success;
Christian Coaches Corner has testimonies from Belhaven College softball coach Rick Fremin, Vertias girls basketball coach Jan Barnett Miller and Hillcrest Christian boys basketball coach James Crain.
A new featured called "From the Heart" will have stories about Jackson Academy graduate and Ole Miss football player David Traxler, Northwest Rankin graduate and Mississippi State soccer player Hannah Tyler and Mississippi Brilla soccer player Scott Lucky.
There will be updates from Victories alumni Eric Green of Tri-County Academy and Karen McCullough of Clinton.
DOMINIC DOUGLAS’ FAITH, DETERMINATION, HARD WORK RESULT IN BECOMING SEC’S LEADER IN TACKLES AT MISSISSIPPI STATE
By Robert Wilson
Mississippi State linebacker Dominic Douglas led the Southeastern Conference with 116  tackles this past season. While the Bulldogs had a difficult year, Douglas (at right in a photo by Bob Smith, bspnms.com) was spectacular, never letting up regardless of the score. In the worst loss to Ole Miss in 30 years, the former Clinton High and Hinds Community College standout roamed from sideline to sideline, making 16 tackles before coach Sylvester Croom took out the starters with 10 minutes to play in the game.
Those that have known Douglas since he was child aren’t surprised at his performance this season at Mississippi State, especially his father, Roy Douglas. Roy set a great example of hard work for Dominic to follow. Roy owns a 24-hour, trucking service company where he goes and repairs 18-wheelers which have broken down. Whether it is 3 a.m. or 3 p.m., Roy is there to help. Dominic learned early about working hard.
“Dominic started going with me to work when he was about six or seven,” Roy said. “He would help me on the weekends and in the summer. He was motivated to make some money and he knew that if you worked hard you would make more money. Sometimes we would have late nights and early mornings working on the big rigs.”
“My dad taught me to take advantage of each opportunity I had,” Dominic said. “He taught me to keep my eyes on the task at hand and follow through. He said to keep on the path you are on and not waver from it.”
Roy, and his wife, Connie, also instructed Dominic to place God first in his life.
“We taught our kids (Dominic, La-Royale, 16, Conseha, 14, and Roy Jr., 11) at an early age to acknowledge the Lord in everything they did,” Roy said. “They understood when you get up in the morning and go to bed at night you need to give thanks to God. Dominic loves football. We told him to be humble and let his actions speak for themselves. We told him to keep a level head and realize he’s not any better than anyone else.”
The Douglas family has been members of Greater Bethlehem Temple in Jackson since 1972. Roy said Bishop Phillip Coleman, Sr., had been the pastor there for more than 50 years when he died in 2007. Dominic learned early that church was important to family. He was an active member in the Sunday School and was also in the choir as a youth. Read the rest of Dominic's story by subscribing to the magazine on the left side of this home page.
SWAYZE WATERS, VICTORIES COMBINE FOR JOURNAL AS HE WORKS OUT WITH LIONS
 Jackson Prep graduate Swayze Waters, a kicker-punter from Alabama-Birmingham, signed a free agent contract April 26 with the Detroit Lions. Swayze (at right in a photo by Bob Smith, bspnms.com), a Victories in Metro Jackson alumnus, and Victories are combining to write a journal every few days after his experiences. Click on Swayze Waters journal on the left side of this page to read it. God has given Swayze a great opportunity to make an NFL roster and also a platform to share Christ with other players. We congratulate the Waters family (parents Susan and Joel, brother Sam and sister Shelby) on their role in Swayze's life.
Prep's Buckner, Madison Central's Simmons display Christ's qualities |
