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Tuesday, January 28, 2025

US Sports Track and Field: Two Points of Focus When Coaching and Training Hurdles

 

Difference in Focus between 100 Hurdles & 110 Hurdles

Two Points of Focus When Coaching and Training Hurdles

  • By Grant Young

Pinpointing and diagnosing mechanical issues in athletes can be particularly challenging for hurdle training due to several factors: 

1. Complexity of Technique: Hurdling requires a unique blend of speed, timing, and coordination, with the need to clear hurdles efficiently while maintaining forward motion. This complexity means that even small mechanical errors can have a cascading effect on an athlete's performance. Coaches must be adept at identifying these subtle errors, which can be tough given the fast-paced nature of the event. 

2. Variability Among Athletes: Each athlete presents a unique set of physical attributes, including height, stride length, and strength. These differences can influence hurdle technique, making it difficult for coaches to apply a one-size-fits-all approach. What may work for one athlete could lead to problems for another, complicating the identification of issues. 

3. Perceptual Challenges: Athletes often perceive their own performance differently than coaches observe it. An athlete may feel they are executing a technique correctly, while a coach may see noticeable flaws. This disconnect can lead to miscommunication, making it harder for coaches to accurately diagnose and correct mechanical issues. 

4. Subtlety of Errors: Many mechanical issues manifest in subtle ways that aren’t immediately obvious. For instance, slight misalignments in foot placement or body angles may not be detected without close observation or video analysis. Coaches need to be thorough in their assessments and often require advanced technology to catch these nuances. 

Because of these many factors, it’s important that coaches know what to look for when assessing mechanical mishaps their athletes may be dealing with during their hurdles. This is why we’ve pulled two points of focus when training hurdles from two elite hurdles coaches that you can keep an eye on next time you’re trying to decipher why your athletes aren’t setting their personal bests. 

Kenny Anderson - Training Focus

Kenny Anderson enters his fifth season as the Director of Track & Field/Cross Country at Central Methodist in 2024-25.

The 2022-23 season was a stellar year for Anderson and the Eagles, as 13 school records and one conference record were broken. The CMU Women won their second-straight Heart Indoor Conference Championship, which included five individual conference titles. As a result, Anderson was named both the Heart Conference and the USTFCCCA South Central Region Women’s Indoor Coach of the Year. Altogether, the Eagles garnered nine NAIA All-American selections, the most at a single national meet in program history.

In his ‘Difference in Focus between 100 Hurdles & 110 Hurdles’ clinic, Coach Anderson addresses a few points of emphasis when it comes to training your hurdle athletes.

One of his most crucial points in the clinic is that all training exercises and drills should be focused on producing the fastest time possible. Since that’s always the goal when competing, it should also always be the goal when competing. 

Going off of this, training and drills should emphasize the rhythm of hurdles. According to Coach Anderson, rhythm for a hurdler is the type of speed that allows hurdlers to use their techniques to the maximum. 

When emphasizing rhythm in drills, Coach Anderson likes to use seven, nine, or 12 hurdles, because he thinks that’s the sweet spot to establishing rhythm without doing too much to tire your athletes out. 

Patience is imperative when it comes to training hurdle athletes. If you’re executing perfect practice plans, utilizing drills that emphasize rhythm, and diagnosing all of your athlete’s mechanical flaws as soon as they occur, it would still be illogical to assume you’ll see tangible changes from your athletes’ times before six weeks. Coach Anderson says that usually, around six to seven weeks, he begins to see changes in his athletes’ times from the start of the season. 

Jamie West -  Common Technical Issue #1 - Take Off Spot

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Jamie West has been a track and field coach for 15+ years. Coach West hurdled at Davis High School and went on to hurdle at D1 Weber State University. Coach West was a 2-time state champion in the 100m hurdles. 

Jamie West has enjoyed coaching hurdlers from all over the State of Utah as well as some hurdlers nationally and internationally. 

In her ‘Hurdle Drills, Technique, and Corrections’ clinic, Coach West discusses the most common technical issue she sees during the take-off phase and addresses how a coach can fix it.

To her, the most common technical issue at this phase is the athlete taking off too close to the hurdle. Some other common ones are if the hurdler isn’t aligned when they’re coming into their leap, with a third one being the athlete either not planting or dropping their hips when they enter the take off. 

When the athlete is jumping too close to the hurdle, the body will likely compensate by pulling backward, the body’s momentum will go upward, and the lead leg might have to be shifted somewhere off-center. All of these will slow the runner down considerably. 

Coach West also wants to make sure coaches are entering their take off on their heel, planting firmly, rather than on the ball of their foot. This is because all of that momentum that’s going into the ground with the heel is going to propel the athlete when they commence their take off.

Monday, January 27, 2025

US Sports Coachlab Tennis: Four Effective Backhand Tennis Drills and Avoid Injuries with Marco Panichi - Tennis Fitness Coach #1

 

Four Effective Backhand Tennis Drills

  • By Grant Young

Improving the tennis backhand stroke is often considered one of the biggest challenges for players and for several reasons. 

1. Natural Dominance: For many players, the forehand feels more natural due to being stronger on their dominant side, making the backhand stroke more awkward to develop. 

2. Technical Complexity: The backhand involves different mechanics than the forehand, requiring focus on grip, footwork, and timing, which can be overwhelming for players learning the stroke.  

3. One-Handed vs. Two-Handed: Choosing between a one-handed and two-handed backhand adds complexity, as each style has its own advantages, and players must determine which suits them best. 

4. Physical Demands: The backhand often requires good footwork and positioning, which can be physically demanding to maintain, particularly when reacting to fast-moving balls from opponents.  

5. Individual Variability: Each player has unique physical attributes and styles of play, making it necessary to personalize backhand drills and techniques, complicating the improvement process.

Despite these challenges, the process of improving and developing the backhand is one of the most important things a tennis player can do because they’ll undoubtedly need to employ it effectively in a match. Players who are able to overcome these hurdles often find significant improvements in their overall game.

This is why we’ve pulled four drills from two high-level tennis coaches who have used these drills to help develop the backhand aptitude of countless athletes over the years and are sharing them with you below. 

Oscar Wegner - Closed Raqcuet Backhand Drill

Oscar Wegner was light-years ahead of the tennis industry when he was coaching open stance, stalking the ball in front, hitting up and across, lifting the body, heavy topspin and more at Spain's Tennis Federation School in Barcelona in 1973 and in Florianopolis, Brazil in the 1980's. 

In Coach Wegner’s ‘53 Drills for Better Tennis’ clinic, he details a couple of great backhand drills. One of these is what he calls the closed racquet backhand drill, which starts with the tennis player on their knees and facing parallel with the net (meaning sideways). 

From there, a coach will bounce a ball to the player’s backhand and they will hit it. The drill’s simplicity is so the athlete can focus on keeping their shoulders completely closed to the net while finding the ball with the racquet’s butt cap and lifting up and across when executing the stroke.

Coach Wegner notes how this is the only stroke where the athlete doesn’t want to find the ball with the hand. Instead, they want to find it with the butt cap. 

Oscar Wegner - The Backhand Slice Drill

Another one of Coach Wegner’s backhand-focused drills is what he calls the Backhand Slice Drill.

The sliced backhand is typically seen as one of the more challenging shots to master due to its precision and technique requirements. Players must consistently generate proper spin while maintaining balance and timing. Additionally, the shot demands acute angle awareness and adaptability to varied ball heights, making consistent execution difficult, especially under pressure during matches. 

This is why Wegner’s Backhand Slice Drill keeps it simple, with the player receiving backhanded shots from their coach, who is bouncing the ball a little bit in front of them.

The key with this drill is for the athlete to act as if their hands are touching behind them with each shot because that’s what the top tennis players will think when learning the form of the sliced backhanded shot. 

Cosmin Miholca - Backhand Groundstroke | Topspin and Slice

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Cosmin Miholca is a certified tennis coach that has been playing tennis for over 30 years and teaching it for more than 20 years, both in Southern California and more recently in Europe.

Coach Miholca has developed many online tennis courses to share his knowledge with anyone who wants to enjoy tennis, regardless of whether they're a coach or player, or whether they want to play recreationally or competitively.

In Coach Miholca’s ‘Best BALL MACHINE Tennis DRILLS and GAMES’ clinic, he shared a few backhand drills that he has used to great success over the years. 

One drill requires a ball machine, where the machine is set up to deliver balls to the athlete’s left side (or right side for a left-handed hitter) to focus on the backhand. There will be two sets of cones set up in small circles at about 10 feet on either side of the ball machine, which will serve as targets.

Once the first ball is delivered, the athlete will focus on hitting it with top spin to one of the two targets. With the next shot, they will focus on slicing the ball. They will then continue alternating between these two shots as the drill progresses. 

For the top spin shot, the athlete will want to focus on loading with their back foot to deliver the shot with power. For the slice, the focus should be on bringing the racquet from high to low while employing the same hands together behind the athlete idea that was mentioned previously. 

Cosmin Miholca - Backhand Groundstroke | Consistency 9 Drill

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Another backhand drill that Coach Miholca swears by is what he calls the consistency 9 drill. With this drill, the cones are still set up in the same position as they were in the previous drill.

Once the ball machine delivers the balls, the athlete will attempt to hit nine consecutive shots in one set of cones, nine consecutive shots in the other set of cones, and then alternate between each set of cones with every shot for the next nine shots. 

This drill is all about consistency under pressure, which is a crucial component of success when it comes to competing on the tennis court.

Sunday, January 26, 2025

The Rock Almighty How Satan Deceives Humanity and Artist Spotlight: Paul Jackson Interview! (Bloodgood / Les Carlsen Band)

 Song(s) of the Day: Bloodgood - Crucify / The Messiah - News, Song of The  Day - Indie Vision Music

How Satan Deceives Humanity

  • Author Garfield Gregoire

God’s word – the holy Bible reveals there is a powerful, invisible spirit being - called Satan or the Devil, is in this world and is the cause or power that has been deceiving an unsuspecting humanity.

Angels existed Before the Creation of the Earth

The Bible reveals that the angels – including the one who became Satan, existed prior to the creation of the earth; Job 38:7 speaks of this time saying: “When the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy.” The context of Job 38 shows God is supreme creator who created the earth and the angels; and if you notice, the scripture says, “… the morning stars sang together …” These morning stars are cherubims – who are of higher rank than the other angels that are called “sons of Gods.” Lucifer, whose name mean shining star of the dawn, is called “son of the morning” (Isaiah 14:12) and is also called the “… anointed cherub …” (Ezekiel 28:14). There are two other angels that are of such high rank; they are mentioned as Michael and Gabriel. In speaking of these cherubims, Psalm 99: 1 says God “… sitteth between the cherubims …” This means, the cherubims or these mighty morning stars, are at the very seat of power – symbolized by the fact that they were near the very throne of God; and this was the very reason why God told Moses to place two cherubs at each end of the throne of God when he (Moses) was given the pattern of the Ark of the covenant (see Exodus 25: 18 -20). Also remember that after Adam and Eve sinned, the Bible revealed cherubims were given the responsibility to keep man away from the tree of life (Gen 3:24).

Lucifer Rebelled Against the Government of God

The Bible reveals God created Lucifer with stunning beauty and wisdom – giving him great authority and power; in speaking of this, God says, “Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God …” (Ezekiel 28:14). Lucifer covered the throne of God – meaning he was at the very seat of God’s government and had top flight position in that government - and along with another cherub (possibly Michael – the archangel) – who also covered the throne of God. In thinking about this, a person could consider that Lucifer was of great might and power that far excelled that of all the other ordinary angels, and may be regarded or viewed as the highest created being God had decided to create by fiat or instantaneous creation; and though we do not want to limit God, I suppose one could entertain the thought that Lucifer could be as close to being the very pinnacle means of God creative power to bring such a being into existence by such instantaneous creation; and notice that the Bible goes on to say: “Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty, thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness …” (Ezekiel 28:17). Lucifer thought so much about himself; how powerful, beautiful and wise he was that it all went to his head; he became absorbed with himself that his great wisdom was corrupted by the thoughts that he could rival God or better govern the universe than God – which ultimately led or caused him to turn against God’s government in rebellion.

Most people may not be aware that this Lucifer was given a throne to sit on and to carry out the administration of God’s government over the earth – long before man had been created.

When God created the earth, the angels rejoiced because it was to the abode or home of possibly a third of the angels. Revelation 12:3,4 speaks of Satan as great red dragon whose tail drew “the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to earth …” Angels are spoken of as stars in the Bible; Satan had been given the rulership over the earth to administer God’s rule over the earth and the indication is that he ruled with at least a third of God’s angels under his command; this could have been millions of years before man was created. But somewhere during that time, Lucifer became discontented – as he wanted more power and control over the universe and over the rest of God’s holy angels in heaven, and so he began to work on the minds of the third of the angels under his control; he probably began to first work on the minds of those angels closest to him – sowing the seed of discord and discontent – by possibly complaining about the unfairness of God’s government – finding fault with God or that way of God’s governing was not right or fair; and is this not what dictators often do in this word of man? Do they not often try to overthrow governments by finding fault with it? This is exactly what Lucifer did.

God's government or way of life is based on love, cooperation, getting along with others – in which all peacefully and happily work together with joy and purpose, but Lucifer thought the very opposite of the way of God’s government; he reasoned that life was better or more stimulating if he could get rid of God’s way of life or the way of God’s government – by replacing it with selfishness, greed and vanity – which is the way of hostile competition, strife and taking away from others; and this way of Satan is quite evident in the world in which we live; it is this same spirit of Satan that has inspired mankind to be engaged in hostile competition and hostile Take-Overs and with men wanting to live the way of selfishness and greed – putting the self above the needs of others and taking all we can get for ourselves without any regard to the needs of others.

It could have taken Lucifer a very long time – possibly thousands of years to convince the other angels to follow him in his rebellion against God; how he must have plotted, lied – deceiving the rest of the angels under his command to turn in rebellion against God and to take his (Lucifer’s) side; And having succeeded in this endeavor, Lucifer had come to the point where he was now in command of a great and fierce army of rebel angels who were now willing to follow him in his attempt to try and overthrow his maker. This army would have been fierce and destructive because their character had changed from God’s way of peace and love to one of hatred and hostility – in which their sole purpose was now bent on dethroning God – as their minds had been corrupted by Lucifer. In speaking of this attempt, Isaiah 14:13 says: “For thou (Lucifer) hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars (the other angels in heaven) of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north.”

Here, it is made plain that Lucifer had a throne on earth in which he had to leave the earth with his rebel angels to ascend upward to heaven to try and dethrone God. But this hostile attempt to take over God’s throne was to end in failure – as Lucifer and his army was cast back down to the earth to which they are to this very day.

Lucifer Warfare Caused the Destruction of the Earth

Before continuing, I felt it should be important to point out that this war of Lucifer had actually caused the destruction of the earth that God had initially created at the beginning – as revealed in Genesis 1:1.

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” In the Hebrew, the word heaven is plural – indicating God may have created the universe or the heavens and the earth at the very same time; and it was at this time that the angels – including Lucifer rejoiced to see the earth created. Now, God does not create things in bad or broken state because God is a God of beauty and purpose, and so, God would have created the earth in a state of beauty – making it a place of joy for the angels to live on. When God created the Garden of Eden, he made it a beautiful place for the man and the woman to live. But God also placed the man in the garden to “dress it and to keep it” (Genesis 2:15).The word “DRESS” means to work, till, or labor, and the word “KEEP” means to preserve or to save – thus, indicating the human pair had work to do in preserving and tending to the garden; and so, the point here is that when the angels were placed on the earth, they too would have had some part in preserving or even working together to further bring out the glory of God’s creative work on the earth - by putting some degree of finishing touches to it and simply working on the earth – preserving and ever beautifying it to show forth the creative majesty of God. No doubt, these angels had a great purpose on earth as they administered the rule or government of God over the earth.

One can imagine that the earth must have been so beautiful that it must have had thick luxuriant foliage which provided food for possibly millions of creatures that were to eventually die out before man was created – for this could possibly be millions of years before Adam and Eve were created. But this earth and its beauty must have been spectacular – with all living in peace and harmony – with not one creature preying upon another or seeking to devour another – because as long as Lucifer obeyed God, the earth would have continued to be a place of serenity, peace and great happiness to all - until Lucifer’s rebellion brought worldwide cataclysmic destruction and death to all animal life on earth. Ezekiel 28:15, states Lucifer was perfect in his way until iniquity was found in him; the earth would have been in peace and harmony – as long as Lucifer obeyed God. But things became disjointed when Lucifer decided to wage warfare against God, and Genesis 1:2 expresses the shocking result of that warfare and how it impacted the earth; it says: “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the deep …” Did you notice anything strange in this verse? Did you notice that the beautiful earth God had created in Genesis 1:1 was now without form? It says, “without form and void.” Without form and void comes from a Hebrew word which refers to a state of utter destruction, state of waste and desolation.

God is a God of order and did not create the earth in state of waste or desolation; He created the earth to be inhabited (Isaiah 45:18). It was Lucifer’s war against God that caused the destruction of the earth and also impacting the universe; and this could be the very reason why the Moon has so many craters; the Moon is bleak and pocket by many craters. Those who study the moon, have even been known to says these craters were formed by impacts. Do you suppose these impacts were a result of Satan’s war against God? Certainly, God did not create his universe to be so bleak and in a state of desolation and waste – even as we see on Mars.

With Lucifer being cast down – failing to unseat God from the throne, God then decided He would place man upon the earth, but before doing that, God had to reshape the earth – making it habitable for man; He had to undo the damage done to earth by Lucifer and his rebel army of angels; and so God had to renew face of the earth; Psalm 104:30 confirms this – saying: “… and thou renewest the face of the earth.” Renew means to rebuild, renew or repair. For God to rebuild the earth meant that something of epic proportion had to have happened to the earth to have caused God to rebuild the earth. I would also like to mention that when God created the human pair of Adam and Eve, He told them to “Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth …” (Gen. 1:28). The word “replenish” means to fill up again or to restore something – meaning that man was to grow in number – reproducing his kind (humankind) into the millions - so as to replace the sinning angels who turned in rebellion against God; man was to fill up the earth again – replacing the angels who populated the earth but are still living on it as rebellious invisible spirits.

Some may say but if God is all knowing why did He not stop Satan from rebelling – so as to stop all this evil and destruction? Of course, God could have chosen to know what Satan was doing and planning all along, but if God had suddenly intervened to stop Satan from thinking and planning to overthrow God, then Satan and the angels would have complained that God was a tyrant who would not allow them to demonstrate the freedom of thought; and so, God allowed Satan and his rebel angels to choose their selfish path to see for themselves, and also to testify to those other holy angels that remained faithful to God, that Satan’s way would produce nothing but unhappiness and sorrow. Furthermore, God gave them the freedom to decide for themselves, and they could have made the choice to not rebel. It is the same with Adam and Eve; God could have stopped the human pair from sinning, but since God gave them freedom of choice, He allowed or permitted the selfish ways of man to be tried and tested – so as to prevent God’s creatures from arguing or complaining that they had been denied to go their way or to exercise their own free will in doing what they wanted to do. God allowed man to go his own way so man could come to learn the harsh lessons of living the wrong way; and this is why when Jesus comes to reign on earth, He is now going to rule with a rod of iron over the nations (Revelation 2:27). Christ is going to rule with strength because God’s time has now come, and humanity is no longer going to be allowed to go their own sinful ways any longer.

How Satan Deceives Humanity

In the defeat of Satan and his rebel angels to take over the throne of God, Jesus said: “I Beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven” (Luke 10:18). Satan failed and was cast back to earth with all those who took part in this attempted coup. II Peter 2: 4 also speak of this saying: “For if God spared not the angels that sinned, but cast them down to hell (Hell here comes from the Greek word Tartaroo – which refers to being in a state of restraint or deprived of the freedom these angels had when they obeyed God), and delivered them into chains of darkness, to be reserved unto judgement.” These angels or demons are here on earth - restrained by the power of God until the time of their judgement.

With Satan and his rebel angels cast back to earth, the Bible reveals that Satan is the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4); he is the god of this world because in rebelling against the government of God, Satan is still allowed to continue in his original position in which God had placed him as ruler over the earth; this position, now perverted by his rebellion, will remain until Jesus Christ comes to remove him; and this is why Jesus told Pilate – “My kingdom is not of this world …” (John 18:36). God’s kingdom is not of this world because this world is Satan’s world and not God’s world; if this world was God’s world or that which is ruled by God, then God would not be ruling in such an evil filled world - as such is contrary to his nature; and in addition, if this was God’s world, then Satan could never have been referred to as “the god of this world.” God and Satan do not share the rulership of this world together; God will be supreme world ruler when Satan is removed; it is only then that this world will become God’s world. You can read Revelation 11:15 and see that when Christ comes, He is then announced as the new world ruler – taking over the kingdoms of the world – meaning God will not begin to rule over all kingdoms on earth until Satan has been removed.

People do not tend to think of Satan as a world ruler sitting on throne, but he is in fact the ruler of this world and will remain world ruler until the second coming of Christ to remover and bound him for a thousand years.

The invisible Satan is the great mind and power behind the evils in the world; and he uses that mind to deceive humanity. For example, Satan has deceived humanity into thinking that it is man (Adam and Eve) who was the first sinner – when, in fact, it is Satan who is the first sinner. Jesus reminded us that it is Satan who is a murderer from the beginning and is the Father of lies (John 8:44).

Satan not only deceives people – by influencing them to believe God’s right way of life is wrong but that their wrong way is right; Proverbs 14:12 says, “… there is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death …” People will act in ways which they think is right, but often times man’s right way is in conflict with God’s righteousness, and people do not even realize they are believing in and doing the wrong things; they think their self- righteous ways are right when in fact, it is wrong. Perhaps Proverbs 16:2 sums it up best when it says: “All the ways of man are clean in his own eyes …” Satan uses a self-righteous attitude to deceive humanity; to blind humanity to the wrongness of their own ways.

Satan is a great and powerful spirit being and is described as being dragon like in appearance (Revelation 12:3). We do not see Satan with our naked eyes because he is invisible to us – prompting some to believe Satan is myth or that he is not real. But the Bible reveals Satan does sit on the throne of the earth deceiving humanity – inciting the human mind to do evil or those things that are the very opposite of the holy and righteous ways of God. For example, the Bible refers to Satan as “… the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Ephesians 2:2). Have you ever stopped to think and wonder why Satan is described as such - the prince of the power of the air? Let me explain: Have you ever tuned in to a radio station and hear music playing on that radio? Well, that means you have tuned into a radio frequency that causes you to hear the sound of that music; and with that music playing, your mind may get caught up in the song and soon you not only find yourself dancing to the beat of the music but will sing along - saying the words of the song that has so stirred you up. Similarly, Satan, being the prince of the power of the air (the airwaves), also broadcast in similar fashion, but his broadcast comes to your mind invisibly through the means of negative, moods and attitudes that can also incite or bring about a sudden strong urge or desire on the human mind to act or do that which is wrong. You know that a radio transmit sound through electromagnetic waves, well, Satan actually fills the air waves of this earth with his negative and destructive attitude, and if you allow his negative attitude of hate, resentment, bitterness, envy, jealousy, lust, greed to come into your mind and fester, then like the music on the radio that will stir you to dance and sing, even so will Satan’s broadcast get to your mind - because it means you would have tuned into his broadcast or frequency. This means Satan continually fills the airwaves of the earth with negative broadcasts - causing all the evils we see in the world – inciting wars and destruction. But people are unsuspecting – not realizing that this fit of rage, anger, lust, or hate that so easily come upon people is being generated in the human mind by Satan – whose ultimate goal is to deceive the individual to act upon those negative mood or attitude that he broadcasts all over this earth. How many times have you not heard someone convicted of a crime or some other acts of evil say they never meant to do what they did other than to give in to the rage or anger that incited their minds to resort to such action; who do you suppose is behind the rage and anger that can be so easily stirred up in the human heart? It is Satan, the prince of the power of the air - broadcasting his negative attitude in the minds of people; he has filled the entire earth with his broadcast. Satan is like a non- stop broadcaster broadcasting his sinful attitude in unseen negative mood and impulses - which will show its result after the person has given in or acted upon to those wrong impulses.

Satan is very cunning, and humanity is unaware of this Satan and how he works, and it is no wonder, the Bible say he “… deceiveth the whole world …” (Revelation 12:9). This whole world of humanity is deceived because they simply do not grasp the magnitude of the power of the one who is deceiving them; they do not realize how he works on their mind; it is no wonder the Bible speaks of evil as “… the mystery of iniquity…” (II Thess. 2:7); it is mystery because people do not know what Satan is doing to them; they are not aware of his cunning or his devices (II Cor. 2:11).

The only way of overcoming Satan is for the Christian to stay close to God – relying upon the power of God to be able to withstand Satan and his evil angels. James 4:7 gives this admonition: “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” God is the only sure source of strength in resisting and overcoming Satan – as we cannot overcome Satan on our strength or power, but by placing reliance on God – who is far greater than Satan. Thankfully, when Christ comes, Satan is going to be taken off the throne of this earth and be bound for one thousand years. Think of it: humanity is going to be free of Satan for all this time; Satan will not be around to deceive humanity, and people will then come to understand more fully just how Satan had been deceiving them; they will come to see how different the world is going to be when there is no Satan around to broadcast his harmful mood and impulses into their minds. May God speed up that day.

https://www.amazon.com/America-Prophecy-Israel-people-consider-ebook/dp/B0C4M8R77J

I am an old man who has, long ago, came to the realization that this professing Christian world – with all its Mega Churches and various denominations do not proclaim the true teaching of the Bible - as they fail to correctly teach many vitally important doctrinal truths of the Bible.

Saturday, January 25, 2025

US Sports Coachlab Lacrosse: Austin Colish- Injury Prevention and Achilles Tendon Care for Athletes: Strengthening and Recovery Tips

 Austin Colish- Injury Prevention

Athletes often face foot, ankle and heel pain due to overuse, especially around the Achilles tendon. This common issue can sideline even the most dedicated players if not addressed properly. Understanding Achilles tendon care through targeted strengthening and recovery techniques is crucial for preventing further injuries and regaining peak performance. At True Sports Physical Therapy, our experienced team uses specialized methods to treat foot, heal and ankle pain and injuries to help athletes recover and strengthen their Achilles tendons safely and effectively.

Key Takeaways

  • Achilles tendon injuries are common in athletes and can cause significant foot, ankle and heel pain.
  • Early intervention through physical therapy can prevent complications like tendon rupture.
  • Strengthening and recovery exercises tailored for the Achilles tendon aid in healing.
  • Prevention strategies include proper warm-ups, stretching, and gradually increasing exercise intensity.
  • Expert guidance from a team like True Sports ensures safe and effective recovery.

Understanding Achilles Tendinitis

Achilles tendinitis is the inflammation of the tissue connecting your calf muscle to your heel. According to Cleveland Clinic, “Achilles tendinitis is a common condition in runners” resulting from overuse and repetitive motion. This inflammation causes pain around the heel and ankle, stiffness, and swelling. Two types of tendinitis exist: noninsertional (mid-tendon damage often seen in active individuals) and insertional (affecting the tendon’s attachment to the heel).

If untreated, Achilles tendinitis can progress to more serious complications like Achilles tendinosis (degeneration of the tendon) or even an Achilles tendon rupture. Recognizing symptoms early — such as persistent heel pain, swelling, and weakness — is vital for timely treatment.

Diagnosis and Treatment Options

How Is Achilles Tendinitis Diagnosed?

Diagnosis typically involves a physical examination and possibly imaging tests like an X-ray, ultrasound, or MRI, as noted by Cleveland Clinic. Healthcare providers check for tenderness, swelling, and reduced flexibility in the tendon to confirm the diagnosis.

Nonsurgical Management and Recovery Techniques

Most cases of Achilles tendinitis are treated non-surgically. For instance, the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) as an initial step in managing tendinitis alongside a personalized physical therapy to restore strength and flexibility where required:

  • Rest and avoidance of activities that stress the tendon.
  • Ice, compression, and elevation to reduce inflammation.
  • Use of NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen) for pain relief.
  • Physical therapy is crucial. It involves strengthening exercises, stretching routines, and sometimes shockwave therapy to promote healing and Achilles tendon care.

Strengthening Exercises for Achilles Tendon Recovery

Proper strengthening and recovery exercises can improve tendon health and prevent future injuries. Here are some key approaches:

  • Calf raises: Stand on the edge of a step and slowly raise and lower your heels to strengthen the calf muscles that support the Achilles tendon.
  • Eccentric heel drops: Stand on a step, lift both heels, then lower one heel slowly below the step edge. This targets the tendon directly and helps improve tendon resilience.

As part of a comprehensive physical therapy program, these exercises aim to strengthen muscles around the Achilles, reducing stress on the tendon itself. These stretching routines decrease stiffness and support overall Achilles tendon care, which is critical in both injury prevention and recovery.

  • Calf stretches: Stand facing a wall, place one foot behind the other, and lean forward to stretch the calf and Achilles tendon.
  • Runner’s stretch: Keep your heel on the ground while leaning into a stretch. Hold for 30 seconds and repeat to improve flexibility.

Preventing Achilles Tendon Injuries

Prevention is key to avoiding Achilles tendon issues. Hopkins Medicine emphasizes the importance of appropriate footwear selection for specific activities and recommends avoiding exercise on irregular terrain as key preventive measures against injuries. Here are some essential strategies:

  • Warm-Up Properly: Always warm up before exercises or sports, focusing on the calf muscles.
  • Gradual Increase: Increase intensity and duration of activities slowly to avoid overloading the tendon.
  • Supportive Footwear: Wear shoes that provide good support to reduce strain on the Achilles.
  • Varied Training: Avoid repetitive high-impact activities without rest to allow the tendon to recover.

Seeking Professional Guidance

When dealing with Achilles tendon issues, expert guidance is invaluable. This level of tailored care ensures that you’re not only addressing the immediate pain but also building a foundation to prevent future injuries. A capable team of sports physical therapy professionals can:

  • Assess your injury accurately.
  • Develop a personalized strengthening and recovery plan.
  • Monitor your progress and adjust treatments as needed.

Get Back on Your Feet Safely

Recovering from an Achilles tendon issue requires patience, proper technique, and professional support. By following a well-structured physical therapy program focusing on Achilles tendon care, strengthening, and recovery, athletes can return to their sports stronger and more resilient.

We know how critical expert assistance is during recovery. If you’re experiencing foot, ankle and heel pain or need guidance on Achilles tendon care, we encourage you to schedule a free physical therapy consultation. Connect with us by phone or email—let’s work together to get you back on your feet safely and effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What causes Achilles tendon injuries in athletes?

Overuse, repetitive motion, and inadequate training can lead to Achilles tendon injuries in athletes.

How can physical therapy help with Achilles tendinitis?

Physical therapy provides targeted exercises and treatments to reduce inflammation and strengthen the tendon.

What are the key exercises for Achilles tendon recovery?

Calf raises, eccentric heel drops, and specific stretching routines are essential for recovery.

How long does Achilles tendon recovery typically take?

Recovery time varies but generally ranges from a few weeks to several months, depending on severity.

Can Achilles tendon injuries be prevented?

Yes, proper warm-ups, gradual training increases, and supportive footwear can help prevent injuries.



Friday, January 24, 2025

US Sports Basketball Presented by ANSI: Three Transition Basketball Drills To Play With More Pace

 

Three Transition Basketball Drills To Play With More Pace

  • By Grant Young

Transition basketball is a crucial aspect of the game that emphasizes the importance of quick movement and decision-making. Here are some key points showcasing its significance: 

Speed and Tempo: Transition basketball allows teams to take advantage of fast breaks, enabling them to score quickly before the opposing defense can set up.

Creating Mismatches: When a team effectively pushes the ball up the court, it can exploit mismatches. Faster players can outrun slower defenders, increasing the likelihood of easy baskets. 

Defensive Adjustment: Transition plays force the opposing team to react quickly, often leading to defensive lapses.

Utilizing Athleticism: Teams with athletic players often thrive in transition. Players who can run the floor, handle the ball, and finish at the rim make transition basketball a potent weapon. 

Momentum Shift: Quick scoring in transition can shift the momentum of a game. A series of fast-break points can energize a team, boost morale, and put pressure on the opponent. 

Ball Movement: Transition basketball encourages ball movement and teamwork. Players must quickly pass, cut, and create space, improving overall offensive efficiency. 

Defensive Transition: Equally important is the ability to transition effectively to defense after a turnover or missed shot. 

Game Strategy: Incorporating transition basketball into a team’s strategy can lead to a more dynamic and unpredictable style of play. 

Teams that excel in this area often find greater success on the court. If you want your team to improve their efficiency and effectiveness on the fast break, the following three drills we’ve pulled from three top-tier coaches will help your pursuit to do so. 

John Leonzo - Colors Drill 

John Leonzo enters his third season as an assistant coach for the Wright State women's basketball program. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2022. 

Leonzo joined the Raiders in June 2021 after five seasons as an assistant coach at Cedarville University. He was involved in all facets of the Yellow Jacket program, including recruiting, player development, and scouting. 

Coach Leonzo’s ‘The Ultimate Guide To Transition Offense’ course details his Colors Drill, which he believes all fast-paced offenses should employ during practice. 

This drill begins with one team of five players lined up along the baseline with a ball and the other team starting about five feet in front of them on the court, across from the player they’ll be defending. 

From there, the coach will call the name of a player on the defending team. This kickstarts the offensive team’s fastbreak, while the player whose name is called runs to touch the baseline before recovering and getting back. 

The goal for the offensive team is to diagnose and attack the advantage early, getting the ball up the court to the player the defender would be guarding if their name wasn’t called. 

If there isn’t any play to be made on the transition before the defensive player recovers, the drill then becomes a typical 5-on-5 scrimmage until the possession ends. Then the teams switch sides and restart the drill. 

Coby Karl - 4 on 4 on 4 Drill

In 2023, Coby Karl (the son of NBA coaching legend George Karl) became an Assistant Coach for the Philadelphia 76ers. Before that, he was the head coach of the Delaware Blue Coats NBA G League team and the South Bay Lakers NBA G League team.

Karl had an 8-year professional playing career with stops in Los Angeles (Lakers), Cleveland, Golden State, the NBA G League, as well as overseas in Spain, Italy, and Germany.

Coach Karl’s ‘Playing With Pace, Aggression and Creativity’ course explains his 4 on 4 on 4 Drill, which is a simple yet extremely effective drill in developing the conditioning and offensive decision-making that being an elite fastbreak offense requires. 

This drill begins with a team splitting up into three squads of 4 players. From there, one team will be waiting on one side of the court while the two other teams will be playing a full-court, 4-on-4 scrimmage that begins in transition. 

After each possession ends, the team who was playing on offense will immediately get back on defense as the team who was along the sidelines enters the court (from around half-court) and begins their fastbreak, giving the team who is on defense a quick rest while that possession is underway. 

A coach can divide their teams up evenly or stick with a starting unit against a second team. The key here is to keep the drill extremely fast-paced because each 4-man squad is getting a rest after every two possessions. 

Jeff Rutter - Redhawk Drill

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Jeff Rutter joined the Western Michigan men's basketball staff as an assistant coach in May of 2022. 

Rutter arrived in Kalamazoo having spent the previous five seasons at Miami University. During his time in Oxford, he helped guide the RedHawks to 70 wins and an appearance in the 2018 CBI.

Coach Rutter’s ‘Up Tempo Offensive System’ course goes into detail about his Redhawk Drill, which begins with three lines of players along the baseline. 

There will be a cone positioned at arc-extended along each sideline with three cones at half court. The right side line will start with the ball, and pass it to the middle line. When that pass is made, the player will sprint to the opposite side’s arc-extended cone. 

The middle player will then pass it to the left sideline and sprint to the half-court cone in front of the arc-extended cone. 

The third player catches the pass and passes it to the first player, who is now at the arc-extended cone and runs to the middle half-court cone. The drill then reverses and turns back around toward the basket. 

This drill is fantastic in understanding where to look for outlets and passes up the court in transition, while also showing players proper cutting lanes when running the break.

Wednesday, January 22, 2025

The Rock Almighty: Why Do We Come to Jesus? And In 2025, It Seems like Jesus Is Everywhere!

  • Author James Rondinone

PART 1 TESTIMONY - Exchanging our formal sexual identity for our new identity in Christ

Why do we come to Jesus? 

Introduction

I am writing this study to help fellow believers who are having difficulty walking with God, especially in addressing their sexual inclinations or propensities. This study came about as my wife and I were watching the news on TV, and a story about sexual abuse in a particular mainstream church was being reported. The allegation was that many, who were leaders in the church, preyed upon young boys and forced them to have sexual relations. Not only were these actions reprehensible, but something else we were told was even more shocking. There were some in leadership who were aware of these liaisons but did not report them as criminal actions to the civil authorities. In fact, they did all they could to keep quiet whatever happened, along with eventually relocating these sexual predators to resume their position in the church somewhere else.

A few days later, my wife found an article on the internet involving sexual misconduct that had to do with a well-known Christian megachurch. I was familiar with this church mainly because of its Christian music, which I listen to almost daily. So, she sent the article to my email, and I proceeded to read it. The name of the article is entitled, Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy: The Dark Past of Justin Bieber’s Megachurch Hillsong.1

What resonated with me were a few things. The founder of the original ministry, which was initially under a different name, allegedly admitted to abusing some of the young boys in the church. Eventually, he resigned. His son took over the ministry under a new name. As I continued to read the article, something else caught my attention, and that was how there were some members and/or former members, who were not happy with the church’s stance on gay marriage, gays in leadership, and in general, how they were being treated.

Some of their comments set my mind in motion. I wanted to help them in the perception of their walk with God. One of their comments was, “I can’t worship at a church knowing that I am not fully accepted and considered equal to all those around me.”2 Another one was, “… surrounded by people that might love me as a person but do not accept me as being gay; instead, tolerate me.”3 The final one was, “…people who don’t recognize that any relationship that I have with a man is part of God’s plan and that it would be full of love, equal to any other.”4

Certain sections of the article have been omitted so that the three comments mentioned are what is focused upon. I included the article so that you could be aware of the context in which these perceptions were conveyed.

SEX ABUSE & GAY CONVERSION THERAPY:

THE DARK PAST OF JUSTIN BIEBER’S MEGACHURCH HILLSONG

When Alex Pittaway’s youth pastor stood before a group of 800 evangelical Christian boys and men in Sydney and shouted, “Shirts off!” everybody listened. Boys as young as 13 and their leaders, some as old as 30, all ripped off shirts in a sign of godly macho solidarity. Someone jumped on stage and was shouted down, with jeers of “Go to the gym, mate!”

It wasn’t just pastor Scott “Sanga” Samways (the nickname is slang in Australia for a sausage sandwich) who utilized partial nudity as a church-approved bonding technique, Pittaway said. At youth group and Bible camp, or any time when men and women were separated, Alex remembers “a hell of a lot of homoerotic [behavior]."

For Alex—a closeted gay teen and member of Hillsong—the command was terrifying. Did the brothers in Christ slapping his back or complimenting his abs know he was gay? If someone knew, would he think Alex was “looking”?

Alex quit the church in [2008] after a traumatic coming out where he says he was referred by his youth pastor to counseling that proposed to make him straight—the kind of conversion therapy we now know is based on pseudoscience, as ineffectual as it is damaging.

For years, in fact, coming out to a Hillsong pastor landed a church member in just such an ‘es-gay’ program. According to former members, Hillsong first helped congregants struggling with their sexuality pray their gay away in Exit Ministries, started by Frank Houston, or Mercy Ministries for lesbians; the church then outsourced the conversion work to Living Waters (self-shuttered in 2014) or Exodus ([/content/dailybeast/articles/2013/06/21/exodus-closes-marking-official-end-of-the-ex-gay-movement.html] closed in 2013), or maybe an online course like Setting Captives Free (banned in the Apple Store in 2013). Self-proclaimed reformed [gay] and former executive director of Exodus, Sy Rogers—who now identifies as transgender who and is married to a woman—wrote books and tapes and would preach at Hillsong conferences about overcoming his gay demons. He’d tell the struggling faithful: “You gotta learn to bow down and obey and deal with it.” Rogers’s current ministry has moved away from the ex-gay [message,] and though Rogers hasn’t said so publicly, Brian Houston told a blogger that Rogers probably regrets his involvement with Exodus.

But Hillsong doesn’t try to “fix” gay congregants anymore. Sometime around 2011, Houston distanced his church from conversion programs, and he now talks often about the “weight” the church bears when it comes to its treatment of gays and lesbians. “They feel like ‘maybe I’m gay’ and they go to a youth leader and they are rejected,” Brian said in a 2013 sermon. “At that [moment,] a great hatred comes in. At that moment some of them have gone so far with the rejection and gone to parents who didn’t understand and ended up committing suicide. That’s the weight we live with.”

It should be said here that Alex, now an openly gay seminary student in Indiana, still thinks of Hillsong fondly, speaks of it warmly, and often catches himself humming the church tunes. He says that while he didn’t feel safe or comfortable trying to find God in a building where most of the people in it thought he was going to hell, for those who don’t define themselves by their sexuality, who can compartmentalize, it’s a fine place to “worship anonymously.”

Ben Fenlon, a three-year member of Hillsong’s London satellite, explained his reasons for quitting the church in a piece for the Huffington Post. He wrote, “I can’t worship at a church knowing that I am not fully accepted and considered equal to all those around me. Surrounded by people that might love me as a person but do not accept me as being gay; [instead,] tolerate me. People who might tell me that being gay is okay, but on the inside are praying for me to let Jesus move in my life and change me. People who don’t recognize that any relationship that I have with a man is part of God’s plan and that it would be full of love, equal to any other.”

Alex told me about a gay friend who had been booted from his position in Hillsong’s children’s ministry after he came out and another who, after coming out to Hillsong leadership, was relieved of his duties as an usher. “He wasn’t even allowed to serve cups of coffee or help direct traffic in the parking lot,” he said. (Hillsong did not return requests for comment on these alleged incidents.)

“Gay people need to know that when they go to Hillsong, they have to go to the back of the bus.” Alex said. “Hillsong is hip and attractive and contemporary, but there’s certainly nothing contemporary about what LGBT people will face if they want to be a leader in the church or offer themselves up for service. That’s something [Hillsong] will have to be upfront with, and they haven’t been so far.”

To be fair, Hillsong’s task isn’t an easy one. How does an extremely conservative [Pentecostal] church fight irrelevancy and attract those coveted millennials—a group that’s been running from churches and overwhelmingly supports gay marriage and equal rights for LGBT people—and maintain its tithing, if intolerant, base at the same time?

Hillsong has taken certain halting steps that place the church to the left of its conservative counterparts, some of which have labeled the Aussie megachurch as [unbiblical] and say its leaders have sold out God’s word for a younger, more tolerant crowd. For [example] Hillsong Leadership College recently removed homosexuality from the list of “sexual sins” in the student code of conduct. And some members have taken Pastor Carl Lentz’s stance—[basically,] that homosexuality is a sin, [okay], but no worse than any other, and he gets why everyone is always asking, but he’d rather not address it, because Jesus pretty much didn’t, and Hillsong loves everyone anyway—as a move in the right direction.

It’s not just conservative churches that are criticizing Hillsong’s stance. Anna Flowers, pastor at Greenpoint Reformed Church in Brooklyn—a “progressive, young and vibrant church” where she shares the pulpit with two lesbian pastors and one transgender male pastor—has tweeted about what she calls Hillsong’s false permissiveness. “not as hip as Hillsong Hipsters, but we actually love and accept everyone,” she said in one tweet. In another: “drives us NUTS when Hipster [evangelical] churches fool [people] into thinking they are progressive.” Flowers tells me, “[There] are far more truly progressive churches than people realize. And sometimes churches look more progressive than they really are.”

I read as many of Lentz’s statements on the LGBT issue as I could [find,] and he gave what I consider the most straightforward answer to Jonathan Merritt at Religion News Service in August of 2015 (emphasis mine):

“Our beliefs on biblical marriage and sexual morality have never changed at Hillsong church. Yet we stay open and desperate in our pursuit of the [whosoever’s].”

What that means in practical terms is that Hillsong wants anyone and everyone in the [seats] but neither supports same-sex marriage nor allows LGBT people to serve in positions of leadership. As Brian Houston clarified last year, following the sacking of a choir director who announced his same-sex engagement to another member of the choir, acceptance of gays and lesbians extends only as far {the pew}.

And for some, including Josh Canfield and Reed Kelly, the couple at the center of the choir controversy, that’s enough. For [now,] at least.

Ben Gresham also still attends Hillsong in Sydney, despite a complicated past with the church, because he believes gay and lesbian members are key to helping the church move forward. “I try and speak to church pastors and leaders when I can and have had some encouraging discussions,” he said.

Gresham has told the story of coming out at Hillsong on his blog. After three years of ex-gay therapy, constant praying, even undergoing an exorcism, he realized he would never be straight. The thought of never being able to enter the kingdom of heaven, to marry a woman, to be the person Hillsong told him that God wanted him to be, led him to cut himself with a razor blade, and one night, to drive his speeding car nearly off the side of a highway. He considers the last-minute change of heart a miracle.

“For me, Hillsong still feels like home. It has been a source of harm for me in the past but continues to bring me much joy and help me grow in my faith, which is invaluable,” he said. “As a gay man and a [Christian,] I would love to see Hillsong fully affirm and include its queer members. I hope it happens sooner rather than [later,] but given my [experience,] I remain doubtful.          

“Hillsong is a big [church,] and so it takes time to move it forward. I just wish they would move a bit faster.”5 …

What was being conveyed seemed to be saying to me that answers to these comments needed to be addressed. So, let’s see if we can find a biblical perspective on each of these concerns. But before I attempt to do this, I would like to present my testimony. The purpose of this is to personally identify with those believers who are having a difficult time in their walk with God. Along with this, it’s presented in order to provide clarity as to how we can walk victoriously in Christ irrespective of the sexual inclinations or tendencies that try to distract us every day.

1

Why Do We Come to Jesus?

I’m sure if we were to ask different Christians why they came to Jesus, the answers would be varied and innumerable. Rather than speculate, let me share my testimony with you. In my younger years, I was brought up in a particular church that my parents and their parents were faithful to attend. I can honestly say that I didn’t enjoy going to church. I went through all of the different requisites as a young man in this faith but had no appreciation for it.

As we tended to move around a lot due to my father’s varied jobs, not only would we find a new place to live but a different church structure that was affiliated with the same mainstream faith. I remember there was one church facility that had a cafeteria in the basement to which attendees could go before service. One of the items they sold was fresh bulky buttered rolls that were out of this world. So, when my father would ask my mother and me if we wanted to go to church, I would respond, yes, if I could get a bulky roll.

One of the drawbacks of moving around a lot was not being able to stay in contact with young males or females with whom I had become friends. When I reached my teenage years, there was a lot of soul searching going on due to many factors. One of the decisions I made was to stop going to church, as I thought of it as a waste of time.

My dad, who was working in a factory, decided to quit and open up his own spa and grill business in town. To my dismay, he demanded I work for him after school. Initially, I looked forward to it but soon found out how difficult it was to work for family. I didn’t like the idea of cooking food and waiting on others and eventually expressed my sentiment to my dad that I didn’t want to work there anymore. This created a clash between us, which caused a lot of friction. At work, when we labored together, this denigrated to condescending comments projected by my father toward me whenever I made some kind of mistake like over-cooking a burger, too much syrup in a milkshake, etc. Over time, this continual verbal assault caused me to want to leave home as soon as I was of age.

When I became a senior in high school, I started to hang around with the wrong crowd. I got involved with smoking cigarettes, smoking marijuana, and girl-seeking. Following high school, I decided to attend a four-year college and subsequently graduated with a B.S. Degree in Mathematics. I tried persistently to get a high school teaching job in mathematics but to no avail. It seemed like nothing was working out for me. I had no job, no girlfriend, didn’t get along with my father, drank heavily, smoked marijuana, and got to a point where I just didn’t like myself. I needed a life change.

A few more years went by, and I decided I needed to go back to church. The catalyst for this decision was not only a personal desire to change, but it also had to do with a course I took during my senior year in college. This course was an elective class on the life of King Saul. The professor believed that a description of different events about him was not only contained in different Old Testament books, but he alleged there were errors in the accounts, which in his mind meant that the Bible stories were not true. In other words, this book was errant and not to be believed.

What resonated with me was the fact that God (Jehovah) interacted with King Saul in a personal way. My thought was if He interacted with him in this manner, then does He still interact with us today in a similar way? If He does, then where is He to be found? I had no answer to these questions but nonetheless went on a quest to find out. I decided to attend different churches in my home city to see if I could find Him.

Now that I think back on this, it’s evident that God knew I was looking for Him, and He, in turn, was looking for me. On one particular day, a Sunday, as I was leaving the morning shift at my dad’s store, a parade commemorating a state holiday was heading past on the main street toward the center of the city. After all of it went by, I followed the procession until it arrived at the city’s town hall and dispersed. As I was about to walk back to my father’s store and pick up my car, I heard a blaring voice broadcasting words over a loudspeaker.

I turned around and saw a crowd of people gathered, so I walked over to where they were to see why. There was a person speaking about Jesus. I had heard about Him before in my younger years in the church I used to attend, having been told that He was one of the members of a Trinity of one God who revealed Himself in three persons, with the other two being called God the Father and God the Holy Spirit. But what they said about Jesus at this time was not what was conveyed to me about Him before. It was different in the sense that if a person acknowledged they were a sinner to God the Father and believed in who Jesus was and what He had accomplished, they would receive another member of the Trinity into their life called the Holy Spirit and thus have a personal encounter with God. This drew my attention. This is called the gospel message, the good news. While I didn’t respond to the gospel message at this time, I found out about their upcoming Bible study and attended it the next time it was scheduled.

After a few days had passed, I showed up at the Bible study and noticed that there were quite a few people in attendance. A spread of food was available for all to partake of. After eating, a pastor stood up, opened in prayer, and shared a message. When he was done, he came over to me and presented the gospel, to which I responded. At that moment, I was overwhelmed with God’s peace and joy. This immersion of God’s presence stayed with me after that for three full days.

I decided to attend this church regularly and realized that the assembly was made up of a mixture of older folks along with young Spirit-filled believers, who would go out street-evangelizing every week. Sadly, a dispute arose over doctrinal differences, and every one of the young evangelizing team left. Being a new Christian, I didn’t know what to do, so I stayed in this church for another couple of months.

What I noticed was that a change had taken place as far as God’s presence was concerned. Hymns replaced spiritual songs. Messages seemingly were not fresh (anointed). Doctrinal teachings became more emphasized with directives of, we had better do what was being said or else, which just didn’t sit right with me.

If you were rich, you were told not to work as much because your material abundance was considered offensive to those who didn’t have much. If you had long hair, you were told to cut it because Jesus wouldn’t look like that. We were also told that many people weren’t going to go to heaven because God didn’t choose them. While I might have been a baby as far as learning and understanding doctrine, I thought that these views just weren’t right. I left this church and started looking for another while praying to God that He would find the right place for me to attend and call my spiritual home. 

As usual, you couldn’t make up for what God did next. On a particular day, while I was driving my car heading to go to work for my father, I noticed a young man on the right side of the road flailing one of his arms, directing me to pull my car over. When I did so, I recognized him as being someone I used to hang around with. I asked him how he was doing, and he responded with something like God has changed my life and I no longer drink alcohol or take drugs. And then he told me about a Bible study he was attending whose pastor was dynamic. I took down the time and place of the study and went the next time they met.

This Bible study was being held in the home of one of the attendees. When I arrived, there were probably about fifteen or twenty people gathered together. The study opened up with prayer, and then a young pastor started playing the guitar and singing. Everyone sang along. Following the music, a message was brought forth with memorized verses of Scripture being spewed out of his mouth like a machine gun. And along with this, God’s presence was saturating my soul. God had led me to the place where He wanted me to be.

After about a year had gone by, the attendance at the study had significantly increased, and the young pastor wanted to purchase a facility where the church assembly could meet, along with providing housing for him and for any others who expressed a desire to live there. Finally, two buildings were purchased that were at one time used as a convent for Catholic nuns. At this time, I was asked by this young pastor if I would consider going on staff as an outreach coordinator and live on the property full time, to which I responded yes.

All I can say is that working in this church position and living at this location was amazing. Worship services were held three times a week. Bible classes from an affiliate Bible college were being offered for credit via videotape. Once a week, there was an opportunity to go street witnessing. And if someone had time off, they could leave early in the morning on a particular day and drive to the affiliated Bible college campus, where they could watch a softball game, attend live radio broadcasts, eat lunch in the cafeteria, attend evening worship service, and return home later that day. This was my schedule for about a year and a half before I left to attend Bible college. My new wife, who I met and married in the faith, accompanied me, along with our newborn child.

What I wanted to bring to the attention of those who are having difficulty in their walk with God, especially in the areas of sexual weakness as reflected in the gay therapy article, is that just because someone is on staff and regularly attending to the many activities that their church has to offer doesn’t mean that they won’t still be having difficulties in this or any area of their sin nature. You might be wondering how this could be if someone were so immersed in God’s work.

This brings us to a discussion about the difference between being saved and growing spiritually, which we will look at next.

                                                            

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2ITJ1wj

Website: https://bit.ly/3mWKJ2r               

New Covenant Ministries - Ministerios NuevoPacto - Harbor Church, Block Island                                                                                                                                                                                                            Sunday & Thursday Worship - Domingo & Jueves 7:00PM                   

Endnotes

1”Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy: The Dark Past of Justin Bieber’s Megachurch Hillsong.” 2016. BIBLESOFT. WEB. 01 January 2019 ˂https://bit.ly/3j6fdh2>.

2Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy.

3Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy.

4Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy.

5Sex Abuse & Gay Conversion Therapy.

 

My name is James Rondinone. I am a husband, father, and spiritual leader.

I grew up in Massachusetts and began my own spiritual journey early on in life.

I attended Bible college, having completed a two-year Christian Leadership Course of Study and graduated as valedictorian (Summa Cum Laude).

Studying and teaching the Word of God has been a passion of mine for over 20 years.