“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” — 2 Timothy 3:16
The Veteran Coach
There is video making the rounds with the heading, “If you don’t like baseball, you will after this.” It’s a clip from a recent preseason game between the Dodgers and Angels, and features the Dodgers third base coach mic’d up and talking with the broadcasters in the booth. Dino Ebel, whose career spans more than 35 years in baseball, just talks about the game as he sees it. He has incredible insight. He shares his knowledge and stories about the game he loves. This little clip somehow blurs the lines between what you see happening and the strategy of the game.
Ebel demonstrates why he is where he is, and why he’s such a respected part of the sport. He knows everything about how to get a player home. In many ways, he’s what all of us need in our lives — a person standing in that crucial spot and guiding us when to go and when to stop. A person who comes up behind us giving the wisdom to know what to expect as life unfolds. A person who is there cheering and waving like crazy when it gets good.
This reminded me of 2 Timothy 3:16. This verse shows us that the Bible is our “veteran coach.” The Apostle Paul is coaching his young apprentice, who’s not a rookie any more. Paul knows he’s not going to be around much longer and points to the Bible as the thing Timothy is going to need to “coach” him in the future.
The verse says the Bible is there for teaching. That’s like Ebel telling the players what to do next, based on his years of experience. It’s there for rebuking and correcting. That would be like Ebel telling the players when to stop and go. The “training in righteousness” is what happens in between the games. The coaches go over with the players what went right, and what needs to happen next time.
Fortunately, God has “breathed” His guidance for us. He has given us the coach, but we have to listen and do what the coach says. Start today by taking some time to read the Bible. You can even download a free app for your phone. Make sure you really listen to the words and do what it says.
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.” — Ephesians 4:15
The results of King David’s affair with Bathsheba were horrendous (2 Samuel 11-13). She got pregnant and David ordered the murder of her husband, who was one of his own military leaders.
Although David suffered greatly from the consequences of his sin, he received forgiveness from the Lord (Psalm 51) after God sent the prophet Nathan to rebuke him and convict him of his sin (2 Samuel 12:1-7). To David’s credit, he received Nathan’s rebuke and acknowledged his sin. King David didn’t defend his actions or make excuses. He admitted that he had blown it and took full responsibility. He allowed himself to be held accountable.
Rebuke is a word we don’t use much anymore, but it’s found repeatedly in the Bible. It means to express a sharp, stern disapproval or reprimand to chastise or admonish, especially a formal one given by a person in authority.
One mark of a trustworthy leader is one who graciously and humbly receives valid criticism and allows himself to be checked and held accountable for his actions (Proverbs 27:5, Psalm 141:5). Good leaders also know how to rebuke and hold others accountable in a way that promotes growth and change, not resentment and rebellion (Ephesians 4:15 (above), Colossians 4:6).
To be a great leader or teammate, you must be humble enough to allow yourself to be held accountable for your actions, and wise enough to know how to hold others accountable, not out of a critical heart but a loving one.
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” — 2 Corinthians 8:9
Everybody wants to hold up the trophy at the end of the season, but the most important blood, sweat and tears are shed in the offseason, long before the season starts. The best and most productive players focus on proper nutrition and avoid overeating during this period of time. They are relentless in weightlifting and running, and perhaps swimming too for additional aerobic exercise. If they wait until the first day of training camp to run or build their muscles, they will get left behind and not get any playing time in games. Unselfishness and sacrifice are necessary to be a true team player.
Jesus gave up everything to come to earth, and we benefit from the infinite, spiritual riches of His incredible sacrifice. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich” (2 Corinthians 8:9).
As we reflect on the insults, disrespect, unfairness and cruelty endured by Jesus during His first visit among us, we should be eternally grateful for the blood, sweat and tears poured out on our behalf to rescue us from our own wrongdoing. We get to truly know acceptance from God based upon Christ dying as our substitute and taking upon Himself what we deserved because we’ve wandered away from God’s commands so many times. When we compare Christ’s commitment to us with our flimsy faith, we should feel challenged to make a deeper and more lasting covenant with God. “Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3).
The covenant offered through Christ has fewer “rules” than the Old Testament covenant, but the standard is the example of Christ, who lived out God’s ways to perfection. Christ lived a perfect life as the spotless Lamb, and offered His own life as payment for our sins. As Jesus ate the Passover meal with His disciples, He established a new remembrance by having the first Lord’s Supper (communion) with them. “While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, ‘Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins'” (Matthew 26:26-28).
During this Easter season — and every day for that matter — let us be more mindful of the blood, sweat and tears shed by our dear Savior as He poured out His life for us. He gained nothing for Himself, but we were richly rewarded because Jesus washed away every sin for believers. If we lived well for the rest of our lives, we couldn’t repay him. Christ died for us, the least we can do is to live our lives for Him.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
One of the most viral images from the 2024 Paris Olympics was in the sport of tennis as legendary champion Rafael Nadal shared the court in doubles with Spain’s newest star and champion, Carlos Alcaraz. For months, fans had anticipated seeing this moment as it was becoming obvious Nadal’s tournaments in the sport were limited. Everyone wanted to see that last image of the proverbial passing of the baton as Nadal’s imminent exit gave way for Alcaraz to take the sport into the future.
For more than 20 years, Rafa had been the guy. Now it was Carlos’ turn … but not until they’d had one final chance to share the court together. They had played a few matches as opponents, but never on the same side. Alcaraz grew up looking up to Nadal and felt privileged to share some time in the Olympic Village together and on court, and soak up all the wisdom he could while he had the opportunity. For the few matches they played in Paris, the atmosphere and the images were electric. But even more powerful was watching the mentoring from Nadal in those moments, showing Carlos the ropes and letting him see how champions carry themselves.
This was also evident in the sport of diving, particularly within the Chinese team. Anyone in diving knows the Chinese have owned the sport for decades, with only rare losses to other nations at events like the Olympics. And part of their dominance, said one commentator, is that they often pair up a less-experienced diver with a veteran diver, so they learn how it’s done from the champions. Thus, year after year, they help push the sport forward and keep developing new interest and ability among the younger generation because they prioritize mentoring and passing on that experience.
All of this got me thinking about the power of letting your life speak. Whatever experience and understanding you’ve been entrusted with — by God or anyone else — you have the responsibility to share it. What we know and what we learn isn’t just meant to be kept to ourselves. If it is something that will help and benefit others and society, we have the obligation to pass it on and help others steward it for the generation after them, and so on.
This is why Paul instructed the Philippian believers to practice the things they had learned and received and heard and seen in his own life (Philippians 4:9), and the result would be God’s presence and peace. Even Jesus employed the power of mentoring when He gave the Great Commission to go make disciples in all the world, teaching them what He had commanded (Matthew 28:19-20).
We need to take our responsibility to mentor seriously. Whatever our calling or work in life may be, we can all share our experiences and our wisdom with others. Just as we have received teaching from God’s Word and from wise people around us when it comes to doing life and growing as a person, we need to be willing to help others learn those things also. That keeps the knowledge multiplying and we begin to change the world, one person, one conversation, one act at a time.
St. Louis Cardinals second baseman Brendan Donovan, April 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
The season is young, but the St. Louis Cardinals have been one of the hottest-hitting teams in the major leagues. A big reason for that has been second baseman Brendan Donovan, who is hitting .380 entering Thursday, which ranks third in MLB. In 71 at-bats, he’s collected 27 hits with two home runs, 11 runs batted in and two stolen bases.
The Cardinals are in the MLB’s top five in hits, RBIs, slugging percentage, on-base plus slugging percentage, and they lead the majors in batting average. Donovan, who is hitting in the No. 3 hole for the Cardinals, extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a hit in Wednesday’s 4-1 win over the Houston Astros. He enjoyed a four-hit game on Monday.
“Every day is so different up here,” Donovan told reporters following Wednesday’s game. “Everyone is trying to attack you so many different ways. Your body feels different each and every day. But, for me, I think my routine has been pretty consistent. I think the recovery aspect is something that I’m leaning more into as of this past year.”
Donovan had surgery in August 2024 to repair a partial UCL tear in his right elbow, which he credited for a renewed focus on daily recovery in an effort to stay as sharp as possible. He’s begun to focus even more heavily on his preparation as well, he said.
Teammate Lars Nootbaar, who has also enjoyed a strong start to the 2025 campaign, credited new Cardinals hitting coach Brant Brown for implementing new approaches this season that have paid immediate dividends. One of those new tactics is for hitters to be more aggressive when they’re ahead in counts.
“The pressure’s on them, right?” Donovan said, referring to opposing pitchers. “I think we’ve done a good job making them come into our zone of, ‘What am I looking for? Where do I want it? And where do I want to hit it?'”
Donovan made his major league debut in 2022 and immediately made an impact, winning a Gold Glove Award as a utility player and finishing third in the National League Rookie of the Year race. Now with a career .286 batting average, Donovan has cemented himself as one of the most consistent players in the majors on both offense and defense.
He’s also been consistent in speaking publicly about his faith in Jesus and has credited his regular attendance at team chapel gatherings for helping him stay focused on his faith during the busy season, which often includes day games scheduled on Sundays, making it difficult for players to attend church.
“I think baseball actually does an amazing job. We do chapels in the dugout on Sundays,” he said in February on the “Dealin’ the Cards” podcast. “Last year we tried to go through the whole Bible. I think it’s pretty cool because not only does it bring you closer to your teammates, but it’s the most important thing you can do. It’s your framework or your guideline for how we’re supposed to live.”
Donovan was also a part of Christian Day at the Ballpark in July 2022, where he shared about the influence guys like former teammate Paul Goldschmidt and other veterans had on him during his rookie season. Donovan showed up to chapel shortly after he arrived in St. Louis and Goldschmidt immediately added him to their group text message thread.
That helped the rookie feel welcomed and encouraged right away, especially when it came to his faith.
“Going through the Word, going through chapels on the road, having our own Bible studies, it was immediate,” Donovan said during Christian Day. “The minute I got here, they pulled me in, and I’ve just been hooked since. To have those mentors out on the field and in the clubhouse that have great faith is just truly a blessing.”
Playing for an organization like the Cardinals, where winning is expected, can bring a lot of pressure, especially from a restless fanbase eager to see the team reach the playoffs for the first time since 2023. But Donovan has maintained that regardless of the pressure or platform he might receive as part of playing for the Cardinals, he intends to steward his position well.
“All of us are given these blessings and this platform to show faith, to show what kind of people we are and how we can impact others,” Donovan said during Christian Day in 2022. “To have success out here, we get to use that platform and we get to promote our faith. Obviously, we want to have success out here, but people remember you for what kind of person you are, so that’s how I try to view it.”
St. Louis opens a four-game series against the Mets in New York on Thursday at 7:10 p.m. ET.
