16 Jan, 2009
It was late Saturday night and the words flowed from Tony Dungy's lips like water from a spring. He was quoting his favorite book; not his best-selling "Quiet Strength," but, naturally, the Bible.
"I'm at a point, kind of like the Apostle Paul," explained Dungy, "he said, 'If I live, it's good. If I die and go home with the Lord, it's better.'"
Dungy sounded like a man who was prepared to go home -- in this case, Dungy will go home to his wife, Lauren, and family in Tampa, as well as home in an earthly sense to do what he calls the Lord's work with various ministry outreach programs that include work with troubled youths and convicted prisoners. For Dungy, right now, it is better to walk away from the game.
"I was reminded that being the coach of this football team has given me a definite platform to reach people I would never have been able to reach," he said. "I must have had 50 people in New York who told me, 'You gotta come back.' It catches you off guard, but it's encouraging."
He must trust his faith, and he is content walking away with one Super Bowl championship in his 13 seasons as a head coach in Tampa and Indianapolis. His walk as a champion will continue in the venue of life. He is prepared.
Read the full article at sports.espn.go.com.
Dungy Ready To Go Home
What does God's Story Scripture teach us about living for Christ?
Check out the Study Notes from the Life Application Bible on Philippians 1:20-21:
To those who don't believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it is natural for them to strive for this world's values: money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. For Paul, however, to live meant to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ, who alone could help them see life from an eternal perspective. Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak out boldly for Christ and to become more like him.
How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?
- Ask yourself if you are striving more for the world's values or eternal values.
- Make a commitment to live for eternal values and ask someone close to you to help you stick to that commitment.
- Spend some time this weekend reading the rest of Philippians as a step to becoming more like Jesus.
- Pray for Tony Dungy and the ministry that Jesus has in store for him in his life after coaching.
How can we connect today's story, God's Story scripture and our story to others?
If you find yourself watching the NFL playoffs with someone else at any point this weekend, use Tony Dungy's retirement to open a conversation about his commitment to Jesus and a life lived striving for eternal values.
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