In this episode, we delve into the timeless wisdom found in Philippians 4:4-9, exploring the profound message of joy, peace, and mindfulness. We reflect on the call to rejoice in the Lord always, embracing a life free from anxiety through prayer and thanksgiving. This passage encourages us to let our gentleness be evident to all and to trust in the peace of God that transcends all understanding, guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.We also discuss the importance of focusing on virtues such

In this episode, we delve into the profound teachings of Galatians 5:22-26, exploring the nine attributes known as the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These virtues are presented as the ideal characteristics for those who live by the Spirit, offering a guide to living a life that transcends the desires of the flesh and embraces spiritual growth and harmony.We discuss the importance of embodying these traits in our daily

In this episode, we delve into the timeless and comforting words of Psalm 23, attributed to David. This passage, often recited for its soothing and reassuring message, paints a vivid picture of Yahweh as a shepherd who provides and cares for his flock. Listeners are invited to reflect on the imagery of green pastures and still waters, symbolizing peace and restoration, as well as the guidance along righteous paths for the sake of His name.We explore the profound themes of fearlessness and divine

In this episode, we delve into the teachings from Matthew 6:1-15, focusing on the essence of humility and sincerity in our spiritual practices. We explore the importance of performing charitable acts discreetly, emphasizing that true rewards come from the Father who sees our actions in secret. The discussion highlights the contrast between genuine acts of kindness and those done for public recognition, urging listeners to seek divine rather than earthly approval.We also discuss the significance of

We are grateful to have had Mikaela Hanley share in her capacity as a water engineer as she helps introduce our new LID project at the church.

About 70% of kids drop out of sports by the age of 14, and of those, twice as many girls drop out than boys. That's the word from Nicole McCormack, general manager of brand solutions at TeamSnap, a technology platform for sports parents and coaches.Why do girls drop out and what can parents and coaches do to keep them in sports?

Honest Game, a female-owned sports tech company, conducted research in 12 states to date and has found that about 50% of high schools in the states studied lack an educational pathway for students to play NCAA college sports. This issue disproportionally impacts kids at under-resourced schools, where as many as one in two athletes lack the courses required by the NCAA. Joyce Anderson, co-founder and COO of Honest Game, explains how Honest Game can help ensure athletes complete the required

As an attorney, Judie Saunders represents youth athletes in civil court, internal investigations, mediations and arbitrations. Bullying by coaches, physical and verbal abuse and sexual abuse are some of the issues she addresses for her youth athlete clients. Racial slurs and body shaming are also issues she addresses. Saunders, who serves as co-chair of Griesing Law’s confidential & sensitive investigations practice group, gives tips to parents about the legal avenues they can pursue for their

New concussion rules and regulations can build respect in young athletes for their opponents. In addition, the rules don’t hurt kids’ other mental game skills. That’s the word from Thomas Heiden, who played college hockey at Notre Dame and has coached many different sports for a few decades. He’s also a trial lawyer with Latham and Watkins and has tried high-profile sports lawsuits, including a high school concussion class action lawsuit.

Kids are coming to Skyhawks Sports Academy camps with confidence challenges, says Sarah Kelley-Reid, a sports parent and the East Coast regional manager at Skyhawks Sports Academy, which provides skill-based sports experiences for kids 4-14.She describes how teaching life skills--including respect, teamwork and inclusion--helps builds sports kids' confidence.

Recruiters and coaches look for a number of mental game traits when they’re evaluating athletes, says David Kmiecik, senior recruiting manager for Next College Student Athlete (NCSA). He describes how recruiters identify these traits and answers the question: How can athletes (and their parents) look their best in front of recruiters and college coaches?

Perfectionist sports kids are those most likely to seek help from Audrey Grunst, a mental performance coach, therapist and owner owner at Simply Bee. She's a former mental performance coach for Northwestern Women’s Volleyball Program. How do you help perfectionist kids? Start by saying "I love you, no matter what!"

Teams can keep score, even when kids are young, and the players will still have fun and learn physical and mental game skills. That's the message from former Walt Disney Studios Executive Sasha Graham, a sports mom, former youth sports coach and author of “Whitney Wins Everything.” Keeping score means young athletes learn how to cope with mistakes and losses. And they're better team players, she argues.

Baseball can be a "self-esteem destroying sport" because mistakes are a big part of the game, says Josh Thole, former catcher for the New York Mets and Toronto Blue Jays. But parents can help ensure the sport doesn't hurt their kids' self-esteem, he says. First of all, they shouldn't focus on mistakes, but instead, should concentrate on helping sports kids move past mistakes.

Pickleball’s popularity is growing quickly, with many schools offering it for the first time. The sport is easy to learn, doesn't require much equipment and is accessible to kids of all income levels. It offers the opportunity to build confidence and make new friends, say Mike Nielsen, the AAU’s new pickleball chief, and InPickleball president Richard Porter.

Stereotypes about girls in sports hurt girls' confidence, dreams and performance, says Donny DeDonatis III, CEO of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA), a former pro athlete and the dad of twins in youth sports. He describes his worries about how such stereotypes affect his own daughter, age 7, and what he's doing to ensure girls and women have equal opportunities in sports.

What are the habits of supportive sports parents? Sharkie Zartman, a college professor, UCLA and USA national team volleyball athlete, author, coach and radio host explains how to best support young athletes.

A study by the Aspen Institute and Utah State University–commissioned by TeamSnap–revealed what parents want most from youth sports and how the pandemic affected kids’ ability to meet those goals. Team Snap’s survey showed that parents, most of all, want kids to have fun, said Peter Frintzilas, CEO of TeamSnap, a youth sports management app. Only 54 percent of parents said their kids are still having fun. Only 52 percent said that participating in youth sports is having a positive impact on