Transparent Christian Magazine

For the first time in NCAA history the Tennessee Volunteer men’s basketball team is ranked #1. This was accomplished by beating #1 Memphis on February 23.

Three years ago the Volunteer program was “down and out”. That changed with the hiring of Bruce Pearl as head coach.

I listened to his pre-game locker room speech prior to the Memphis game. He said, “We’ve come to this moment with passion, poise, and purpose. We are forty minutes away from being #1!”

The game was one of the best ever with the lead being swapped numerous times. In the fury of the tempo and the noise of the hostile crowd, UT played with passion, remained poised, and constantly focused on their purpose of becoming #1.

I’ve thought about Coach Pearl’s “three Ps”, and the combination is truly amazing.

Can you imagine what would happen if “Team Jesus” pursued a more passionate relationship with him, repented of our sin and allowed the Holy Spirit to become our poise in the midst of the chaos, and truly focused on our purpose on a daily basis?

Rick Warren says the only purpose of life is to prepare for eternity!

In Acts 4 Peter and John are on trial for helping a sick man. They are warned by the court of “religious top guns” to stop teaching or speaking in the name of Jesus. Peter and John responded by saying, “We can’t keep quiet about what we’ve seen and heard!”

It’s no wonder that the disciples changed their world. They were driven by passion, poised when their head was being cut off, and never lived a moment without purpose.

God continues to need world changers who are ordinary people driven by passion, poised regardless of circumstances, and living on purpose. It’s not about our ability—it’s all about our availability.

Christ has eliminated my guilt
His Spirit tells me I am his child
Awesome victory is mine
My mind is set on his Spirit
Power is made perfect in weakness
I have the intercession of the Holy Spirit and Jesus
Only God knows why bad things happen to good people
Nothing separates me from his love
Satan has been defeated!

Mike Cowart Sr. is an author and a teacher, a mentor and a friend. You can read more of his excellent C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N.S series here. Contact Mike here.