Are you looking for a good book?

“I don’t know much about soccer, but I’ve got a good book,” said Coach Casey Tinnin to his U-12 girl’s soccer team, The Pride, on the first day of practice. I was stunned by his honesty as he waved his Guide to Soccer book in the air. He held his book tightly and confided to the parents that he really didn’t know what he was doing, but he was willing to learn from his book.

I had been anticipating the first day of the new soccer season since the last season ended. I was so anxious that as the new season came near I began hovering by the phone waiting for the “Call.” The call that would let us know the name of the team, the days and times of the practices and most importantly, the strategy the coach planned to use to lead his team to victory. Never once did I envision the coach saying, he wasn’t sure what he was doing, but would rely on his book to lead the way.

As I listened to Coach Casey that first day run down the long list of things he didn’t know regarding soccer, my only hope was that there would be something good in that book. Something that would help the coach take his group of young, hopeful soccer players and turn them into champions. As it turned out Coach Casey’s book proved to be reliable.

With the help of a couple of experienced soccer dads and his good book, Coach Casey led The Pride through an outstanding season, beating the undefeated first place team The Heat, in the final game of the regular season and securing second place for themselves as they advance to the leagues tournament weekend.

So what was in this book? What was on the pages that took a man who claimed to know nothing about soccer and turned him into an awesome coach of a team he could be proud of? What was in the book? Wisdom. Guidance. Direction. Knowledge. Answers. Coach Casey’s guide to soccer book gave him the foundation he needed to develop a strong team and achieve victory.

Similar to his guide to soccer book, there is another book, a guide to life book, that can do what Coach Casey’s book did and more. A book filled with wisdom, guidance, direction, knowledge, love, forgiveness, mercy and yes, answers for each us. A good book that sets the very foundation we need to develop strength of character, great integrity, a strong spirit and solid faith. A book created to help us to achieve daily victory…The Bible.

The Good Book says, “All scripture is God breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking and correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16 NIV) Coach Casey had the right idea when he confided in the parents that he didn’t know what he was doing. Neither do we. Not that I am trying to insult anyone’s intelligence but honestly…Does any of us really know what we are doing? Does any of us really have it all together? Don‘t you think we could all benefit just a little bit from a good guide to life book such as the Bible?

Indeed, we need a book just like Coach Casey‘s. One that will lead the way for each us, every day. A book we can cling to and trust in to make a difference. For Coach Casey and The Pride it was a guide to soccer book that created champions. For all of us, it is the Word of God, a guide to life, useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. One that will make champions out of us and lead us to victory.

If you are looking for a good book, try the bible. I guarantee you won’t be disappointed.

(For more scripture reading: Psalm 25:5, Isaiah 58:11, John 16:13)