When
we insist on going our own way, God will let us—much like the father in
the Parable of the Prodigal Son. Our heavenly Father will not force us
to remain with Him. So, what happens if we move outside of God’s plan?
Our fellowship with the Father is significantly affected. The
prodigal son was no longer in close contact with his dad; their
relationship was not as important to him as it once had been. If we
wander from the Lord, we will also experience a disconnect with our
heavenly Father.
Our resources—time, talent, and treasure—are wasted. The
wayward son squandered his money on frivolous things and ended up worse
off than the laborers at his father’s house. In the same way, God gives
us spiritual gifts, resources, and guidance to build His kingdom, but
pursuing our own plan wastes what He has given us.
Our deepest needs go unmet. Chasing after dreams that don’t align with God’s will lead to discontent. Only in Christ can we find true fulfillment.
Poor
choices have consequences, but they need not dictate our future. Our
heavenly Father never gives up on his children. He will welcome us with
great joy and love when we turn back to Him.
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Defensive Effort Leads Bulldogs Over Elizabeth City State, 55-44
ELIZABETH CITY, N.C. --The Bowie State women's basketball team kept Elizabeth City State to just 29.8 percent shooting from the field on the way to a 55-44 victory over the Vikings on the road Wednesday.
The Bulldogs (8-8, 4-3 CIAA) had two players score in double figures, led by freshman Mia Smith (Clarksburg, MD), who had 12 points. Junior Robyn Howard (Temple Hills, MD) tacked on 11 points and two steals and redshirt sophomore Katerra Myers (Burtonsville, MD) added eight points, seven rebounds and two steals.
Bowie State's defense held Elizabeth City State (10-6, 4-4 CIAA) to only 29.8 percent shooting from the field, including 29.4 percent from beyond the arc.
How It Happened
After jumping out to a 9-5 advantage, BSU went on a 9-0 run with 5:06 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from Smith, to increase its lead to 18-5. The Bulldogs then lost some of that lead, but still entered the quarter break with an 18-7 advantage. Bowie State relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down three shots to account for nine of its 18 points.
The Bulldogs maintained their lead in the game's second frame and entered halftime with a 23-21 edge. Bowie State forced four ECSU turnovers in the period and turned them into four points.
The Lady Vikings then took a 35-33 lead following intermission before BSU went on an 8-0 run, punctuated by a basket from graduate senior Jazmyne Scott (Brooklyn, MD), to grab a 41-35 lead with 23 seconds to go in the third. Before the third period was over, the Bulldogs added one point to that lead and entered the fourth stanza with a 43-36 edge. Bowie State took advantage of seven Elizabeth City State's turnovers in the quarter, scoring five points off of takeaways.
Bowie State kept widening that lead, expanding it to 46-38 before going on a 5-0 run, finished off by sophomore Anii Harris' (Ellicott City, MD) jumper, to grow the lead to 51-38 with 6:14 to go in the contest. The Lady Vikings narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Bulldogs still cruised the rest of the way for the 55-44 win. Bowie State took advantage of its opportunities in the post, scoring six of its 12 points in the paint.
Game Notes
» The Bulldogs held the Lady Vikings to only 29.8 percent shooting from the field. » Bowie State's defense forced 25 turnovers. » Smith led the Bulldogs with a game-high 12 points. » Bowie State got seven rebounds from both Myers and Scott.
Up Next Bowie State will host Virginia Union on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 12 noon from A.C. Jordan Arena.
Howard’s Odom Grabs Fifth MEAC Rookie of the Week Award
Freshman standout guides Bison to a perfect 2-0 weekend
(Photo Credit – Howard Athletics Media Relations)
NORFOLK, Va. (January 17, 2023) – The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) revealed its men’s basketball weekly accolades where Howard University freshman standout Shy Odom (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) grabbed his fifth league Rookie of the Week award. The announcement came Tuesday afternoon.
Over the weekend, Odom averaged 11.5 points and 5.0 rebounds while guiding the Bison to a pair of victories at Norfolk State (Jan. 14) and versus Morehouse (Jan. 16).
He produced 15 points and seven boards in the road win at Norfolk State. In the annual MLK Day Classic against the Maroon Tigers, Odom registered eight points and three rebounds in the victory.
Since being inserted into the starting lineup, the Massachusetts native has reached double figures in scoring five times while leading HU to a 6-2 mark during that span.
Sophomore D.C. natives, guards Marcus Dockery and Elijah Hawkins earned honorable mention.
Morgan State senior guard Isaiah Burke was named MEAC Player of the Week while fellow classmate Malik Miller of Morgan State took home the league’s Defensive Player of the Week.
To view this week’s weekly honors, please click here.
Howard returns to conference play Saturday (Jan. 21) when it hosts Morgan State at 4 p.m. in Burr.
Because of Jesus, believers look forward to an eternal home with the Father in paradise.
To get the most out of this devotion, set aside time to read the scriptures referenced throughout. From InTouch Ministries
We might think of Eden as the infamous place of mankind’s ultimate failure. But what happened there didn’t just ruin humanity’s track record—it also severed our relationship with God. Before Adam and Eve sinned by eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:15-17), they existed in perfect union with the Lord. They walked with Him freely, unhindered in their ability to receive His love and love Him in return (Genesis 1:26-31). That’s hard to picture, isn’t it?
Imagine the grief they experienced in leaving their first home, as God expelled them from the garden and sealed its entrance. The gates of that earthly paradise closed forever. The thought of it would be unbearable if it weren’t for what God did— He so wanted to be with us that He sent His only Son to die on the cross and rescue us from sin and death. Jesus Himself became the door to paradise, restoring our relationship with the Father for all eternity.
Think about it
• Read Isaiah 43:1-7. According to this passage, why does God want to be in relationship with you?
Howard Men’s Basketball Ends Spartans’ 19-Game Home Win Streak
Bison edge out defending MEAC Champions Norfolk State
(Photo Credit – David Sierra)
NORFOLK, Va. (January 14, 2023) – Howard University sophomore guard Marcus Dockery (Washington) poured in a game-high 24 points, but it was the clutch free throw shooting of fellow D.C. natives guards Elijah Hawkins and Jelani Williams that proved to be the difference as HU pulled off an 86-84 win over Norfolk State (NSU) in a wild Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) showdown at Echols Memorial Hall.
The Bison improve to 9-10 (2-1 MEAC) while the Spartans (12-6, 2-1 MEAC) had their 19-game home win streak come to a halt.
"I like the way the team responded in the second half," said Howard Head Coach Kenneth Blakeney in the postgame. "It was nothing I said at halftime. They just took ownership, communicated and encouraged each other. It was good to see."
The defending MEAC Champion Spartans jumped out to the early 46-37 halftime lead and maintained a double-digit lead through most of the second half. Then with seven minutes left on the clock, Howard made its move and showed why it is developing a personality as a strong second half team.
Riding the hot-shooting of Dockery and Williams, the Bison fought all the way back to take the lead at 83-82 on a three-point play by Williams, his second in a 12-second span, with six seconds on the clock.
Before the team could celebrate, Norfolk State's Joe Bryant showed why he is the MEAC Preseason Player of the Year. Before the Bison could blink, the 6-foot-1 senior guard answered on the Spartans ensuing possession with a driving layup that gave his team an 84-83 advantage with just five seconds remaining.
With one second remaining on the clock, the Bison got a break when the Spartans were assessed a technical foul after having been warned early in the game for coming onto the court.
It sent Hawkins, an 80-percent career free throw shooter to the line and the sophomore calmly sank both free throws with a second showing on the clock and giving his team the lead at 85-84.
Williams was later fouled and he closed out the scoring, converting on one-of-two free throws to give Howard its first victory over Norfolk State since 2019.
"There was no doubt about the decision to send him (Hawkins) to the line," said Blakeney. "We look to him to be our general and to come up with big plays."
Since league play, Dockery is shooting nearly 55-percent (12-of-22) from downtown.
“Marcus is an outstanding shooter,” Blakeney stated. “He is just beginning to get the rust off after not playing at Maryland the last couple of years. You can see his confidence growing."
In victories, it is easy to single out the statistical leaders, but this was truly a team victory as five players finished in double figures.
Williams, a one-time starter and now a key reserve coming off the bench, and four-time MEAC Rookie of the Week freshman forward Shy Odom (Chestnut Hill, Mass.) both made significant contributions.
Williams scored seven of the Bison's last nine points, including the security free throw. The 6-foot-5 D.C. native and transfer from Penn, filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds and five assists to go along with his 18 points.
Odom, who got into foul trouble in Monday’s (Jan. 9) loss at Maryland Eastern Shore and failed to score in double figures for the first time in four games since being inserted into the starting lineup, rebounded nicely and tallied 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 22 minutes.
"Shy continues to show that he is special," said Blakeney on the leading candidate for MEAC Rookie of the Year. "He was in bed most of the week; yet he came out today and helped contribute to this win."
Also making an important contribution was redshirt junior forward Steve Settle, III (Glenarden, Md.), who finished with 14 points and a career-high five steals in the victory.
The Spartans, who have played three ranked opponents (UCLA, Baylor and Houston) were led by Bryant with 23 points, graduate Kris Bankson (16 points & seven rebounds), redshirt junior guard Caheim Brown (19 points) and junior forward Dana Tate with 14 points off the bench.
Howard has a short turnaround as it hosts Morehouse College Monday (Jan. 14) in the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. (MLK) Day Classic in Burr Gymnasium at 7 p.m. The game will be broadcast on FS1.
ABOUT HOWARD UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
The Howard University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 21 NCAA Division I men and women varsity sports. The programs represent three conferences: the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC), Northeast Conference (NEC) and Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC).
NEW YORK, N.Y. – Joshua Carter led the way for the Bulldog men’s indoor track and field team with his fourth place finish in the men’s pole vault at the Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) Showcase, presented by KPMG on Saturday at the Armory Track and Field Center Saturday. BSU combined for five top-10 finishes along with several personal best performances.
·The Bulldogs earned seventh in the 4x200m relay (1:33.97) featuring London Diggs, Julien, Christian Gray and Jalen Wilds. That marked the top time for Bowie State this season in the event.
·In the 4x400m relay, BSU took 11th (3:30.42) made up of runners Jones, Massey, Caleb Roses and Roosevelt Elivert. That time also registered the top time in the event for the Bulldogs this season.
·Carter earned a fourth place individually in the pole vault. The 3.75m mark was a personal best.
·Corey Anderson garnered 12th with a mark of 6.33m in the long jump, setting a personal best. Additionally, he finished 12th in the triple jump at 12.62m.
·Movado Gray placed seventh in the shot put with a throwing mark of 13.10m.
·Another top-20 finish was for Ahmad Johnson in the shot put, he threw for 17th overall (11.12m).
What's Next Bowie State will return to action Jan. 21 at the Marlin Invitational.
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