Fred Crowell

Nanosecond Phenomena

Between the stimulus and the response is a NANOSECOND . This nanosecond is the time we decide our response .

Your Beliefs Dictate Your Behavior

Behavior is the result of a person’s beliefs. In my early years coaching basketball and counseling families, it became clear to me the most important key to effective education is knowing this principle: If you wish to change…

Know the Spirit of Truth

Have you heard these quotes about Truth? Have you heard these quotes about Truth? “Truth is beauty; beauty is Truth.” John Keats “In a time of universal deceit, telling the Truth is a revolutionary act.” “A lie can…

Life Experience

Each life experience has the potential to reward us three times. #1. The Preparation Experience. Potentially, this can be an exciting time. Anticipation, hoping, planning and preparing are good things.

Giving Away Thankfulness

Why should Thanksgiving be limited to one calendar day a year? Giving thanks can be so much more than watching football all day, eating piles of delicious food that later make us miserable, Christmas shopping, a four-day weekend.…

Personal Guarantee

Imagine making a blanket guarantee that all things, meaning everything in your life, will work out for good! Consider this life guarantee written by St.

Change Is Inevitable

Change is all around us ! There is a constant alteration, meaning a difference from one condition to another.

Trick or Treat

5 BILLION spent on Halloween each year; the second biggest money making celebration of the year. Who said capitalism is dead? 2000 years ago the Celts believed they could talk with the visiting dead.

Cup of Joy

A cup of joy has the potential to give more vitality than a cup of joe. Do we really believe this? Ask 65% of adult Americans who delight in their daily cup of joe.

Solution for Tiredness

We all need IRON in our bodies and also in our social lives. Are you aware of this? IRON IN THE BODY Iron is a mineral that the body needs for growth and development.

Bonhoeffer on Death

“…LIFE ONLY BEGINS WHEN IT ENDS HERE ON EARTH” – Bonhoeffer St. Paul has often been quoted, “Death where is thy victory, where is thy sting?” In some mysterious way, both the apostle Paul and German martyr Dietrich…

GAME ON – Win the Moment!

Basketball has taught me that victory comes when you bounce back from difficulty. Lifeball is a far tougher game to play than basketball. Psalm 100 is my bedrock to come back from a rough day.

Happy Father’s Day

Happy Father’s Day is so much more than a just a happy… Father’s… day… There are at last three valuable celebrations during this day to honor Fatherhood.

Desperate Child Needs

The need to belong and to have something of value to belong to; the need to have success and be recognized for this success; the need to love and be loved.

Curiosity Trumps Anger

Curiosity opens doors; anger closes doors. The Apostle James gives us solid counsel when he said, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger for anger never brings about the righteous life God desires for…

Servant Leadership

Leading up to Easter, our church participated in a foot washing service in remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.

Helpless Take Heart

Hope is helpful if you find yourself in a position much like myself, helpless take heart are words that speak loudly. This sun-filled, blue-sky May morning inspired these words gleaned from David in Psalm 33 and 34.

Lift up Someone

“If you want to lift yourself up, lift someone else up.” This is a wise statement by Booker T. Washington. A great example of lifting up others is my wife’s Grandma Jesse.

MENTORS – A Worthy Coach

“A worthy mentor is one of the most valuable people leaders, parents, coaches, and peoples of all professions can have in navigating through life.” – Jennifer Crowell Ferch The two vital qualifications of a mentor are one who…

Everyone Has a Lord

This is to be very personal, so let’s approach this as a personal one-on-one conversation even though it is a monologue.

Blood and Happiness

The incredible human machine has an approximately 10-ounce heart that pumps blood through the entire body.

Cup of Joy Overflowing, Part III

“Fred, why do so few people have joy?” Elegant question! To answer, I let my mind wander, do some speculation. In today’s world, we seem to base our lives on Feeling, Fact, and then Faith .

LOVE-what is it? Why is it important?

For reasons I cannot explain the whole idea and notion of love has been gripping my mind and heart. The easy thing to do is ask SIRI to give me a definition of love.

Drive-rhythm-margin

Life without balance between drive, rhythm, and margin is like driving an automobile with tires out of balance. It can be done; however, the journey is unpleasant.

Take a Planned Timeout!

Coaching basketball taught me many life-related concepts. These principles just appeared on the court! One example is a timeout. To take a break, intermission, breather becomes a time to refocus.

Joy Is a Precious Christmas Gift

A man has joy by the answer of his mouth – Proverbs 15:23 This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being a force of…

Recognize the Value of Appreciation

“The ability to appreciate is a learned behavior. Mastery of this skill of seeing the full worth in people, in creation and all life is the difference between being a positive or a negative human being.” Fred Crowell…

Practice Gratitude

“As medicine is to the body, gratitude is to the soul.” For the past six months, Words of Hope with Fred Crowell has been a source of joy and thanksgiving to me.

It’s Only You

When life gets so hard, we seem to be in a place we cannot describe. In fact, we do want other people, but it seems to be ONLY YOU. Please let me explain.

Terminal Anxiety

The apostle Paul encouraged us not to be anxious about anything. Unfortunately, too few people take his admonition seriously or take the time to learn the skill mastery to defeat this common enemy.

America the Lady

America has been portrayed as a lady—a lady of grace and beauty from sea to shining sea, purple mountain’s majesty, amber waves of grain, among fruited plains.

Love Needs Hope to Exist

St. Paul wrote letters beautifully to his friends, especially after establishing Christian communities.

Letting Go of Vengeance

God is always surprising me. Several years ago, a man trained up by us at NBC took all our training, investment, and information and tried to run camps without us.

What You Need When You Need It

We have a chalkboard with the “verse of the week” stenciled across the top hanging above the NBC Camps office sink.

Celebration of Life

Come celebrate the life of Fred Crowell founder of NBC Camps. All are welcome at Real Life Church auditorium in Post Falls. Reception directly after followed by 30min worship and solo concert.

Doing Good

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9 Experience tells us when an exhortation is given in the negative, there…

Sacred Silence or Selfishness

Written near the end of his life, Soren Kierkegaard gives insights into what we call “infinite resignation.” This is in his book The Lily of the Field and the Bird of the Air.

Cleanliness Is Next to Godliness

Something truly amazing happens when we clean when the dirt is removed when clutter becomes neat. Our human spirit is enhanced when we make something better than when we found it.

World’s Systemic Problem, Part 1

Today’s world lives out the adage, “There is a season for everything.” Solomon said this in his book of Ecclesiastes. In other words, there is a balanced, cyclical nature of life, even for comforts or calamities.

Mount Never Enough

Looming in the hearts of human “doings” (not human beings) is the majestic Mount Never ENOUGH . This imaginary self-imposed mountain stands taller than America’s tallest Mount Denali and the world’s tallest Mount Everest.

Ego, Pride, Humility

Recently my brother Larry relayed Giannis Antetokounmpo’s comments to me. Giannis is the shooting guard for the Milwaukee Bucks that won the 2021 NBA championship.

Establish the Work of Our Hands

In the Bible, Psalm 90 is a prayer by Moses, full of wisdom. Moses had eight requests in the last part of the prayer.

Time to Stand

It seems to me there comes a time in everyone’s life when we can either take a stand or remain seated.

Myelin Protects Hope

You must build hope, for the day will come when it is desperately needed! Myelin is a coating that covers your circulatory neurons. Every time you perform a skill, you are creating myelin.

Be of Good Cheer

Here in Spokane we have had record-breaking heat in June. Now in July throughout the Pacific Northwest we need rain. Don’t you agree there always appears to be a good and bad side to everything, even weather!

Not Afraid of Anything

Fear is a dominating emotion that cripples performance and steals success. Is it possible to live without fear? Probably not because there are two types of fear. First the good type of fear.

Two Most Important How’s

I am convinced the two most important HOW’S in the world are: 1) HOW to be born again, and 2) HOW to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

Three Stages of Life

In the early days, a baby spends the vast majority of time in a crib. The middle years of life are spent grinding it out for the accumulation of stuff.

The Word for All

Happiness is watching your granddaughter dance. Possibly one of the greatest joys of being a grandparent is watching grandchildren excel and love life with passion.

Make Today a Masterpiece

“You pile up enough tomorrows, and you will find you have nothing but a lot of empty yesterdays.

Have or Have Nots

This is the ultimate difference between contentment and discontentment. Contentment is living in abundance. Discontentment is living in scarcity.

Stay in Your Lane

Yes, Fred Crowell loves to drive a car! And the better the car, the better I love driving! And how fun it is to drive on a multi-lane highway!

Happiness a Gift

“Folks are usually about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” This is what Abe Lincoln felt. For some, happiness is a common occurrence.

Natural vs. Supernatural

One of the great gifts of life is that of choice. Everyone can choose whether they live natural , meaning normal or ordinary, or supernatural , meaning transcendental or superordinary.

America the Beautiful

It was a fateful Christmas Eve in 1776. General George Washington , also Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, led his men across the Delaware, marching 13 hours to route the cruelest British army.

Land That I Love

“This land is your land, this land is my land. From California to New York Island, from the Redwood Forest to the Gulf stream waters.

Comfort in Silence

Years ago, Henry David Thoreau said: “The mass of men live lives of QUIET desperation.” Yet today, I (meaning Fred Crowell) say: “Most people live lives of ACTIVE desperation.” Why?

Life Is Hard

“Once we admit life is hard, it is no longer difficult.” – Scott Peck It baffles me when people; notably Fred Crowell, think we deserve an easy life.

Good News – Great News

The Apostle James encourages us to consider trouble when it comes our way, to be an opportunity for great joy.

The Law of Help

Many of us have heard “HELP!” from a child. Sometimes this means the child is in danger or perhaps just needs assistance or support. Maybe any help will make a situation better or more achievable.

The Inside Story

Fred Rogers, the famous child inspirational television star, said, “There is an inside story for every outside behavior.” If every teacher, coach, and, most importantly, parents will understand every behavior a child exhibits has an inside story.

Lamps and Lights

Lamps and lights are favorites of mine, more than the average person. My wife will agree with that. She will tell you how an extraordinary desk lamp at a Spokane home show caught my attention.

The Climb

When we stop climbing, facing the challenges life presents every day, we lose our mission and purpose . For the toddler, the climb is learning to stand and then walk.

The In-n-out Phenomenon

One of the most important life principles is the phenomenon of In-N-Out . Coincidentally, an American popular fast-food chain is named In-N-Out, where placing an order necessitates driving in.

Privilege

Webster writes PRIVILEGE is “a special benefit, advantage, or favor; a right or immunity granted only to a particular person or group.” There was a time in our culture when the average person could not spell or give…

Sharing Joy

The Dead Sea, bordered by Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, is the world’s lowest point below sea level. Animals cannot live in its water even as it is one of the deepest and saltiest lakes in the world.

Who Are the Good Guys

An elementary teacher was talking about the subject of good and bad guys. One little boy raised his hand: “Teacher, who are the good guys? “ This is a wise question!

Wanting More

Very early this morning I asked myself this question: Is my life enough, or do I want more? My reality is while I am in my secret garden, it is a perfect place.

The Language of Hope

In hopes to offset today’s primarily angry, harsh, rhetorical, judgmental language. The language of Hope seems like an excellent alternative.

Dying Well

Dying well begins with living well. Nearly 40 years ago, one of my best friends from Seattle called me. His words were: “Fred, I am really afraid.

Four Foundation Success System

Four is a great number! Why not three? Look at the original ATV (all-terrain vehicle); it had three wheels. Didn’t work – would cause far too many injuries due to rollovers.

Three Mysterious Miracles

In Proverbs 30, the writer says there are things God has done that are too wonderful to understand. I, too, feel three mysterious miracles are so extraordinary I cannot fully understand.

Liking & Loving, Not Enough

Coach Crowell, I really like reading your book, Words of Hope!” “Coach Crowell, I love reading your blog, Words of Hope!” Thank you is my usual response. I’m grateful that what I write becomes a special blessing.

Hope in 1865 – Hope in 2021

JUNE 3 is an important date. June 3, 1865, was the date for the Battle of Cold Harbor, Virginia, as part of the Civil War (156 years ago).

What’s up People?

Here I sit in my easy chair, at 4 AM, wondering about life. How is it possible, so many diverse thoughts roam through my brain like a river flowing over rocks?

Most Awesome

The Psalmist wrote, “ The Lord Most High is awesome . “ The word awesome always reminds me of my brother Larry.

Best We Not Forget

Wise people do not forget those who have gone before and made our lives richer, better, happier, and safer.

Choosing Great Friends

Pictured above is Jim Harrick – John Wooden – Fred Crowell. Coach Jim Harrick is one of the finest friends any person could ever have in a lifetime.

The 5 Why’s

If you truly want to know your life purpose, ask yourself the 5 Whys. In fact, asking 5 Why’s may help solve many of your life problems and give you direction, especially in situations where you don’t know…

Never Lose Your Dreams

The four P’s – Psalms, purpose, prayer & power. Dr. Shann Ferch tells the following story. One day my dad took me to Circle, Montana to visit his dad. Grandpa was living in a small shack.

Hopefulness

Nestled in the decorative rock among my beautiful rhododendrons, I discovered what looked like trash. To my big surprise, it was not trash! Instead, it was a neatly folded piece of white paper.

3 Pills, Big Job

Approximately 160 men with metastatic prostate cancer are counting on three (3) daily pills to give them a few more good days on this earth, celebrating each new day.

AMAZING GREAT PODCAST – Hosted by Ric Hansen

Amazing Greats interviews with well-known actors, authors, artists, athletes, musicians, and business leaders. Authentic conversations about their lives, careers, and how their faith played an important part. Inspiring and uplifting stories of hope, transformation, and triumph.

Came by Night

One of the closest followers of Jesus wrote of a special man who came to Jesus at night. Why would Saint John want to make this part of his writing in John 3?

The Law of Did You Know

There are three profound Laws of Life that impacts all of us, whether we are aware of them or not.

The Pure Authentic Steadfast Light

I like to begin Words of Hope with a story that inspires me. A long time ago, there was a man who said he was not the Light, but he came to show people the way to the…

Mountains

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news.” As remarkable and beautiful as Alaska’s magnificent mountains is the notion of God’s promise that He, God reigns.

World Attitude Championship

View this IMAGINARY CAGE FIGHT: Nemsa vs. Pemsa. In the south corner of the cage, wearing red/orange is Nemsa. He is fighting for world domination of NEGATIVE emotional, mental and spiritual attitudes.

Crowellians Chapter 1

Greeting from Fred Crowell! This letter from Fred to all who have a special place in my heart.

Whose Slave Am I?

“You can’t break a bad habit by throwing it out the window. You’ve got to walk it slowly (and deliberately) down the stairs.” When people purchase my book, Meet My Head Coach , I encourage them to read…

The Imposter Within

Sooner or later in life, we discover we are not who we think we are! We discover there is a difference between who we are and who we want to be.

The Law of Attraction

Key Statement: People have an internal compass. This compass points in the direction of people who have a compass pointing toward us. We call this the law of attraction. True counseling story.

Your King

Who is worthy to be called your king? What a profound question! According to Krois’ definition, A king is any person, any object, anything or undertaking that demands 100% allegiance and servitude.

Death Moment(s) Part 2

Key Statement: Death Moments and death are inevitable. Yet both death moments and death are subject matters seldom discussed except at funerals. Elegant question.

Death Moment(s)

KEY STATEMENT: If you have experienced a death moment you are never the same. If you have not experienced a death moment, be prepared because you will likely have a death moment experience.

Clinical Trials

After 12 days with my new Medical Trial by UCLA, I now more fully understand why it is called a Clinical Trial. It is because the prescribed drug is on trial.

Enough Is Good Enough

“The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want, I have everything I need, all I really want is God.” – Crowell It’s been said that when John D Rockefeller was asked how much money was enough, he…

Making Sense Out of Nonsense

Have you considered that NONSENSE MEANS NO SENSE ? It is an indicator of lacking good sense, judgment, or real meaning. Therefore, nonsense becomes foolishness.

Let There Be Light

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. In basketball language, an excellent metaphor for shooting a basketball is an automobile, where the legs are the engine of the shot.

So Excited to See You

Young children do it the best! They get so excited to see people they love. They run, jump in arms (confident to be caught!), gleefully screaming with joy.

Basketball Betrayal

Years ago, a wise college basketball coach evaluated a hopeful recruit with these words: “His body betrays him.” At the time, these were stunning yet insightful words. What in the world was he talking about?

All in Today?

The crucial question… My daughter Jennifer tells the story of being seven years old. She braved a flight of steps to the high board at the Samford U pool.

The World’s Greatest Machine

Some would have said Henry Ford’s mass production of the Model T is the world’s greatest machine. While others would have said it was the rocket that allowed Neil Armstrong to walk on the moon.

My Tribute to a Man Who Changed My Life

My dear, dear Father B: I slept a very rare 8 uninterrupted hours through the night this week. Praise God.

This Is My Story, This Is My Song

“Old things passed away, all things become new.” – Paul Early this morning in my secret garden, I was thinking of my grandson.

Laughter

Do you want to live longer? Then LAUGH! Laughter heals the body, decreases pain, protects the heart and blood flow, and lowers blood pressure. Do you want to express your amusement and joy? Then LAUGH!

The Law of the Secret Place, the Secret Garden

In Psalm 8, David wonders about his micro-self and says, “What is humankind that God is mindful of him?

Immutable Laws of the Universe

No reasonable person can dispute there are immutable, unchanging laws that govern our lives. There is no escape from them. One such law is the Law of Expectations .

Wisdom in Laughter

Laughter heals the body Laughter reduces anger Laughter elevates hope Laughter is fun Laughter is caught, not taught Laughter is unique to each Laughter is contagious Laughter is social happiness Laughter lowers blood pressure Laughter is living life…

Top 10 Characteristics of Being Wise, Part 2

Last Wednesday, we discussed 5 characteristics of wisdom seen in wise people. They were: Personal Admission, Personal Commitment, Personal Trained Behavior, Personal Skills, Personal Diligence.

Watching People with Wisdom, Part 2

As I inspire myself to love and good deeds, I realize I need to give more thoughtful attention and continuous care to watching over others.

Watching People with Wisdom, Part 1

People-watching is fun, entertaining and a valuable source of learning. A wise spiritual and life educator taught his students to master three people-watching skills. WATCH THE PERSON .

Kindness

Just one act of KINDNESS can change a life forever. It is a type of behavior marked by favorable acts of generosity, consideration, and concern. What might some of these be?

Top 10 Characteristics of Being Wise

For about 100 days, the mysterious and remarkable topic of WISDOM has been on my mind and heart.

Exit Hell Hallways Enter Peaceful Rooms

Key Statement: “Ex” means to get out, and “en” means to enter. Get out of the hallway and enter rooms of beauty, grace, peace, joy, and love.

Stuck in the Hallway

Ideas from a sermon about being stuck in the hallway of life. People get mentally stuck in hallways because only 5% of our emotional decision-making occurs in our conscious level of thinking, while 95% of our actions happen…

Excellent UCLA doctor time

Dear Forever Friends, Once again, the Lord delivers Fred Crowell big time. After 11 intense metastatic cancer years, my cancer is isolated in the bones and not present in soft tissue.

World’s Greatest Artist

Is it Rembrandt, Picasso, Michael Angelo, Chagall, Van Gogh, or is it GOD? Susan Stricker, high school math teacher, lover of beauty, declares to any and all, “God is the greatest artist!” One of my thousands of joyous…

Walk Circumspectly with Wisdom

The idea of walking with 360-degree vision seems absurd, yet this is a Biblical challenge. Dr. Thomas Jones told 120 truly good kids at an NBC-Alaska basketball camp there are three ways to listen .

No Taxes?

I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethoughts of grief. – Wendell Berry No taxes – no future fears? No takes – no worries for tomorrow?

Will and What?

Two extremely important, yet uncommon questions that bring relational healing. Will you forgive me for; now call the offense by name.

Wisdom Checklist

The value of a wisdom checklist is to prioritize each vital activity necessary to complete the task with great success. After choosing major projects, it is wise to have a daily checklist.

You Make Me Brave

CRUCIAL QUESTIONS Are you brave? If yes, how? Are you brave? If no, why not? Football legend coach Vince Lombardi said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Aristotle said, “If you want to be brave do brave things.”…

The Ides of March

March 15 became a famous day known now as “THE IDES OF MARCH” relating to Roman history. We can learn three lessons from Roman incidents of that day.

99.9% vs. 100%

“Fred, how do you do it? How do you have such peace and joy going through the challenges you are facing? Four times in the past few days, this has been the question asked of me.

Pain Comes in the Night

JOY COMES IN THE MORNING I BELONG TO JESUS JESUS IS MINE As boys Father Crowell trained us to not shed tears.

Wisdom Checklist

The invention of the checklist is one of the all-time great discoveries! It can also be called PLOTTING THE COURSE. It is a reminder list of required things to do or points to be considered.

The Gift of Choice

Three choices; two usually poor ones! As a young coach at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks my college president taught me a lesson for life. Years later I discovered choice was God’s unique gift to humankind.

Story Collisions

The tendency is to believe the first story told and forget there are two sides to every story. The late Dr.

My Life Meaning

A good Friday to you, dear friends! Let’s start today’s Word of Hopefulness with two inciteful, elegant questions, answering Yes or No. Do you know why are you alive?

God Is Good… Always

The giant enemy of the human spirit is self-pity! Years ago, one dark emotional day at an NBC Camps clinic for the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Washington, the self-pity engine engaged my mind.

Wisdom’s Origin

Wisdom is the design of the one and only true Creator. Without the existence of God, there is no wisdom. There are only opinions, people’s viewpoints.

People Watch You

People watch what we are doing, how we do it, and how it makes them feel.” – Derrick Sebastian “May I have another cup of coffee?” Asked the person at the counter.

Laughter – Good Medicine

“Laughter is a fascinating subject to study because each person has a unique way of laughing.” F Crowell In my years of empirical research I have come to the conclusion that one who easily laughs was raised in…

Oxicourage

Today is Day 57 in our 2021 Words of Hope. May I politely ask a favor of you? I really need your help. This is so you, in turn, will help others.

Sleep Is Precious and Priceless

“I think of you through the watches of the night because you are my help.” After three full, long days at a camp, the 75-year-old body was ready for sleep. I slept 12 hours in one day.

Initialism

Wisdom is doing the right thing at the right time. W – Want it! This is the first step in being wise. See Matthew 6:25-33 . I – Integrity. Do as you say. See Psalm 1 .

The Law of Seeing, Hearing, and Giving

To SEE means I have seen. In essence, I cannot help others see the value of something if I have not seen its worth. Growing up, I learned my values by watching my mother, Kathleen Mitchell Crowell.

Principle of Problem Solving

Albert Einstein believed you could not solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.

My Hope

My dear friends, I write this Word of Hope from Cabo, San Lucas. This is a wonderful place, especially when Spokane is experiencing bitter coldness – still winter!

Solution to Poor Character

Do you desire freedom from quick temper, anger, and personal conflicts? The Apostle Paul is truly a remarkable writer. I marvel as I read his many books. Around 57 AD he made a difficult decision.

Knowing I Am Not Wise

Wisdom begins knowing I am NOT wise . There is a circular presupposition: To be wise is to know; if you don’t know, you can’t understand; if you don’t understand, you cannot be wise.

Easy to Start, Hard to Finish

Each New Year resolutions are made with high hopes and firm resolve. By the year’s end, these well-intended resolutions will have been abandoned.

The Climb

Today is the 43rd day of the year 2021. Wow! At least 10% of the year 2021 has already evaporated!

Encouragement Is Like Oxygen

Every life form is starving for a drop of encouragement. Some examples: The cactus in Arizona cries for just one drop of moisture.

Train to Win Wisdom

TRAINING TO WIN is far superior to trying to win. Trying is not sufficient. We fail because we don’t train. Trying is not enough.

Win Is a Choice

The win begins with the decision to know you can and will win. A win is in the preparation. Preparation builds confidence. Confidence promotes high-level performance.

Heaven on Earth

One of the disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray. A profound request! Who else should be asked! His instructions were condensed to 70 words to pray with sincere humility and faith.

The Principle of Life

I hope you are enjoying the 416-page, hardcover Words of Hope book. The book helps us discover how hope heals, elevates the spirit, and brings energy and purpose. Yet, hope lost makes the mind and heartsick.

Sanctuary Home

“If your faith does not work in the home, your faith does not work.” – Howard Hendricks Vividly the bird sanctuary at the San Diego Zoo is framed in my memory bank.

Detachment Life Principle

Crowell’s Fourth Spiritual Pillar Detachment Truth is the 4th foundation of St. Ignatius’s Spiritual Exercise Theology. Every Jesuit priest is taught to exercise this foundational principle in their life, daily.

Personal Letters & Delicious Omelets

Dear FRIDAY WITH FRED Friends, Today’s communication is to lift your spirit and inspire you to positive caring, life-giving, yet enjoyable actions. Personally, one of my delightful actions is reading and writing letters .

First and Lasts

Briefly, why do we idolize being first and disfavor being last ? Often last trumps first . Here are some real-life examples depicting in the end first does not matter.

Probe for Wise Counsel

Solomon has given us this advantageous bit of wisdom in Proverbs 11:14, “Where there is no advice, the people fall; but in the multitude of counselors there is safety (or security).” Wow!

Guard Your Heart & Mind

“Defense is the best offense in basketball and in lifeball” – Fred Crowell One of my father’s passions I inherited was a clean car.

Life Experience

“Experience is a term used to name our mistakes.” – Oscar Wilde Four pillars form the foundation for my meaning and purpose in life. Life experience is the fourth and most vital.

A Written Letter

A WRITTEN LETTER can be an effective way to communicate. Francis Bacon said: “Reading makes us full, speaking makes us prepared, and writing makes us exact.” A letter is from one person to others to be read.

Heavy Heart Therapy

Imagine a valentine heart shape burdened with a heavy backpack running to jump and clear a high bar.

Making Wise the Simple

To review, we have looked at WISDOM along with four negativities to avoid, mainly people who sap us of our real meaning of life and joy. This will determine whether we are really wise.

Principle of the Iceberg

What you don’t see is far more important than what you do see. Imagine the excitement 2224 of the richest people in the world and some emigrants hoping for a new life were feeling the day in Southhampton…

Tough Minds Soft Hearts

A tribute to the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. How many coloreds are you going to play at a time in the game tomorrow night?

You Are Enough

My Dearest of Friends, When St. Paul wrote his many letters from his Roman prison cell, I am sure he did not know they would reach his friends, let alone be read.

Hello, My Name Is Anger!

Within arm’s reach is a ping-pong-ball-sized red light button. It is your anger button! Press it and anger flows or possibly explodes like a volcano.

The Wisdom Discipline Link

King Solomon combined WISDOM and DISCIPLINE in his Proverbs writings. In fact, he advised us to not despise them or treat them with contempt. It intrigues me to question the close linkage between wisdom and discipline.

Obsolete Tools

Imagine a farmer plowing a field with his hands hanging tenaciously to a plow pulled by two hefty horses. Then, out of nowhere, a brand new, bright green, “John Deere” pulls up beside the tired farmer.

The Battle for Your Heart

What do you hold most dear? What do you want to be most known for? Whatever the answer, G od’s intent for contacting us is for us to know and be known by the Lord Jesus Christ.

Fridays With Fred

I am writing to all who call Fred Crowell brother and friend. I want you to know I love and appreciate you.

Words of Wisdom for 2021

Let’s explore what it means to be wise. We know the decisions we make determine our destiny.

Wisdom Wednesday

Each 2021 Wednesday, Words of Hope will focus on the personal skill development of being wise . It will be designated WISDOM WEDNESDAY. The first Wednesday of 2021 is January 6th.

2021 Letter from Fred

WARMEST GREETINGS TO MY DEAR FAITHFUL FRIENDS: The year 2020 had the earmarks of a very unique year. For too many, it was the worst of years, especially financially.

Two Greatest Days, Two Greatest Miracles

Some say the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you die.

OLOGY-Crowell’s Five

PHILOSOPHY-OLOGY PSYCH-OLOGY BASKETBALL-OLOGY LIFEBALL-OLOGY SPIRITUAL-OLOGY KEY STATEMENT: These five OLOGY’S are the five disciplines that have played a significant role in my life.

People Are Like Flowers

These Chinese flowers give evidence to the elegance, beauty, and grandeur of the miracle of creation. The China basketball experience continues to warm my heart and move me to gratitude.

Hard Teacher – Dirty Grader

It may be impossible to escape life without some Hard Teachers and Dirty Graders. Life is hard until you realize it; then it is no longer hard. – Scott Peck, Road Less Traveled.

How to Make Hope Work for You

This Word of Hope is written to my hero Mike. He is responding to a fellow employee who has just been given a cancer diagnosis. In this respect, HOPE is our ANCHOR! It is not dormant.

The Adventure of Living, Part 1

Life is meant for good friends and great adventures! Life is an adventure to be lived! Even Aristotle said, “Adventure is worthwhile.” However, why should it take a catastrophe to wake us up to find it?

Healthy Silence

The base note of our lives is silence. The trees must be in it, the birds sing, the dogs bark, cars beep – people speak – but the silence is the deep ground.

Hope, an Antidote for Depression

“Hope is the anchor to our souls.” In my former career as a marriage and family counselor, I faced a monumental counseling challenge. A young, deeply depressed, divorced mother came to me.

Priceless Vacation Absolutely Free

Sounds too good to be true. Well, truthfully it is priceless but it is not absolutely free. This priceless vacation does not cost one red cent; however, it costs your time and your devoted attention.

Two Choices – We Get Bitter or We Get Better

God’s mercy is for everyone. “And so dear brothers and sisters, ‘I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you.

The Triple A’s

Adversity – Abundance – Appreciation Is it possible to go through life without adversity? Are learning valuable life lessons possible without adversity? In your life experience, how has adversity shaped you?

The Truth About Truth and Lies

Truth is what we need to hear, a lie is what we want to hear. You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.

Crowell’s Irrevocable Law of the Broken Plate

A broken plate! Imagine the pain a mother experienced when her young child dropped one of her most precious treasures. It was a special plate received from her mother.

The Hour Has Come

The wise King David encouraged us to measure our days and to know the brevity of life (Psalm 39:4-5). He also told us we are like grass, here today, gone tomorrow and remembered no more (Psalm 103:15-16).

Just Love People

Life offers no greater gift with greater rewards than just loving people for no other motive than to love.

Sacred Place – Secret Garden

The most beautiful and blessed place on earth. Slow the bus down is a favorite expression in the Crowell home when one of us gets too busy, anxious or troubled.

Listen Well

6 WAYS TO BE A BETTER LISTENER LEARN – Listen with the purpose to learn, not be quick to tell what you know.

Be Nice

Kindness Is Contagious is a valuable educational documentary on the magic of kindness. Of all the species on earth, the most helpless for the longest period of time is in the human child.

The Battle for Your Soul

If there is a battle, then what is a soul? The soul ( psuche in Greek) is our animate life, the seat of our mind, senses, will, and desires, reflected in our personality .

What’s in Your Toolbox?

“If you try to fix a problem with the wrong tool you will make the problem bigger, not smaller.” – Jennifer Crowell Ferch My true friend, the late Dave Tucker, was a master machine and wood-smith of the…

Thanksgiving Week

In 1863, because of the Army victory at Gettysburg during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln declared a national Thanksgiving holiday for every succeeding November.

Christ Is Our Life, Part 1

As I reflect on the major decisions of my life, there was one that took the longest to decide yet had the most impact on my life.

DON’T NEVER STOP – Positive Force Statement

Don’t never stop being HOPEFUL Don’t never stop being kind & cheerful Don’t never stop loving life and people Don’t never stop loving the Lord with mind heart and soul The use of a double negative is done…

Grateful for Gifts

Once in a while, I question why I find such joyful delight when I receive a grateful expression.

Hope Is Only as Good as the Anchor

One of the most enlightening Biblical chapters is I Corinthians 13. Here Apostle Paul extols love as the highest creative act of human giftedness.

The Law of the Unreachable Itch

In broad terms, there are only two kinds of body itches. However, there are many types of “life itches.” One kind of Body itch is reachable; a gentle scratch solves the problem. Relief is welcomed with thankfulness.

Live Well Die Well

Today I received OXYCOURAGE from a wonderful man who was a valuable player on one of my basketball coached teams, approximately 44-years-ago team. He has had a significant career in changing thousands of lives.

A Prayer for You

Years ago, a brilliant leader taught the magic learning number is 6 . For example: If you want to remember a person’s name when introduced, silently repeat the name 6 times.

Hope Does Not Disappoint

The best experience in life is simply living, breathing, loving people, delighting in God’s creation, and earth as our Disneyland. Life is a blessing! Yet, one of the worst experiences in life is a disappointment .

Man’s Best Friend

When neighbors are out walking their dogs, my favorite question is: “Who is having the most fun — you or the dog?” Of course, the answer is always the same: “The dog.” As I have watched dogs, all…

What Thankfulness Is

“ Thank you “ may be the most forgotten phrase in all mankind! Is the loss of a couple seconds of our time worth not expressing thanks? What is thankfulness?

Finish Before You Start

Genius is being able to visualize the finish line or the finished product before you begin the race or the task. The late Dr.

Door of Hope

Anytime the word “HOPE” appears in writing, my eyes light up! It is my inspiration! It became my go-to word when cancer knocked at my door.

Don’t Dabble with Sin

My reading in James 1:15 (NASB) says: “Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.” May I personally say it in a more graphic way?

Hiding Places

Some people hide all their lives, and some people don’t know they are hiding. We seem to live in a rootless society . Our identities seem to feel lost. We seem to be a society of vagabonds!

7200 Pounds of Hope

Do we really measure HOPE in terms of pounds? Yes, we surely do when it is Words of Hope books.

Stop Being a Bully — Start Being a Friend

October is Bully Prevention Month . What better month could there be because October comes soon after the start of a new school year?

Hope Says Have Hope

If dogs could bark in human language, I am convinced my new pup, Hope LUV, would bark words of hope to you. Hope is kind and gentle, and she delights in jumping, running, and receiving approval.

Have Courage Be Kind

You can change the world! Think big! But… start small! Today’s world is fragile, imperiled, hurt, unknown, in a type of bubble.

Leave Magic Wherever You Go

Something incredibly positive has happened during my 10-year journey of over 250 oncology appointments. As always, ATTITUDE is the difference-maker in all of life experiences, cancer being no exception.

The Glory of Creation

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His handiwork. There is no speech or language where His word is not heard.” The psalmist continues to extol the grandeur of creation.

Reasons to Make Gratitude a Goal

Why is gratitude important? Gratitude becomes mental and emotional medicine. John Hopkins Hospital asks each cancer patient to journal 25 gratitudes daily. Gratitude enhances greater performance.

Help Me Paradox

My years of counseling have taught me it is nearly impossible to help others unless they sincerely say ‘HELP ME!” This kind of help is to advise, give counsel, regarding a problem.

Babies Change Everything

The birth of a child is the grandest and most Godlike event a mother and father can experience in a lifetime. In fact, it is so miraculous every other life experience pales by comparison.

Health and Human Behavior

The relatively new science of phenomenology, empirical-based research, is understanding the meaning of people’s lived experiences.

Relationship Values

QUESTIONS: After a gathering of friends, do you ever wonder if they had a good time? Do you sometimes wonder if a person dislikes you or has negative views of you?

17 Minutes, 17 Seconds

These two 17’s are the best moments of my day! This is time dedicated to entering my personal secret garden. The psalmist called this a secret place.

High on Hope

Many years ago a college student told me his story: “For six years I was drug-free. However, after graduating from college, I was struggling to find employment. I became discouraged.

Love Hurting People

The customary “How are you doing” greeting continues to receive the same casual responses of either “Good,” “fine,” or “ok.” Yet, today there may be a big difference when those replies are given.

Small & Grand Surprises

My family, especially daughter Jennifer, delights when I am excited over surprises, no matter the size. A small surprise came yesterday, although it was tear-moving.

People Bridges

SPOKANE IS A CITY OF BRIDGES. These bridges are crucial for connecting south and north Spokane. This city has the truly magnificent Spokane River which is a tributary to the mighty Columbia River a hundred miles away.

Unstuck

“Unstuck” is a descriptive word, an adjective. When an object becomes unstuck, it is freed or loosened from being fastened or stuck.

Time for a Trade-in

The auto industry survives on used car sales, not new car sales, according to some experts in the car and truck industry.

War Against Unbelief

Sad to say, in today’s culture you and I are at war. The enemy is unbelief . Too often we view the enemy as other people, but in reality, it is our personal unbelief.

Hang Tight to Hope

HOPE IS REAL ANTICIPATION IN A VERY TOUGH AND DIFFICULT WORLD. Hope is our medicine for depression, failure, discouragement, illness, broken dreams. Hope is the cure for dark days when it seems life really sucks.

Ten Thousand Books

The time has come! Ten thousand WORDS OF HOPE books are now being published: Full-color, hard-back cover 416 pages of wisdom 366 Hope messages The daily messages are to inform, inspire, and entertain.

Basketball, a Small Town Religion

Anacortes is a small fishing, lumber town in northwest Washington. This community has lived, breathed, and died basketball. It has been the town religion.

THE WORD — Learn it, speak it, obey it!

What is a word? It is a revealer, a messenger; it can also be a unit of a spoken or written expression.

Be Like Rain Drizzle

Music is the universal language of the world. Melodic music can be like the soft drizzle of rain, in other words, light rain in fine drops. It just falls effortlessly. It’s just rain.

Hinds Feet

Difficulties and troubles in this world often cause us to cry out unthinkingly for help to be strong, brave, and invincible.

Cancer Beater #1: The Spirit

To WIN against cancer, it is first and foremost necessary to understand what war and winning are. War is intense conflict and combat; winning is conquering and gaining a triumph. Unfortunately, cancer has no rules. Cancer cheats.

Coach Ed Pepple

Ed Pepple (1932-2020) was a great high school basketball coach for 49 years in the state of Washington, 42 of those years at Mercer Island High School.

Certain Path to Peace

With many mental parts moving about in the “Crowell Cooker” today, I wonder how do I find peace where there is so much pain in our world, both micro and macro?

The One Amazing Encourage Tool: The Personal Letter

In life experience laboratories, human condition scientists search to find new methods to educate people to live at maximum potential. Their one mystery question is: HOW DO WE BEST MOTIVATE HUMANITY?

The Power of Personalized Letters

One of the most powerful ways to inspire and encourage someone is a personal letter. This is because written words can be reread and encouraged again. Therefore, they are magical.

Dancing with Death

Dear Words of Hope reader, please do not flee from this WOH because of the word “death.” To equate it with dancing will be mind and heart boggling.

Meet Miss Hope, My New Teacher

Everyone is a teacher ! The title teacher is not inclusive to those who are certified academic instructors. The most effective teacher is one’s life experience.

Labor Day Celebration

I discovered far too late in life what Labor Day Celebration should be. I thought it was valuing hard work.

Gut Check Diagnosis

From time to time, all of us need to assess where we are emotionally. We need to be willing to open the door and take an honest look, a self-test.

Sfa – Stamp for Approval

One of the most spectacular auto plants in the world is the Audi headquarters in Germany. According to my family, it is a marvel to watch an Audi being built from start to finish.

Letter to Fred

Good morning, Freddy J. Crowell. The immediate, direct question needing an answer is: How are you?

Chreia-pithy Education

KEY STATEMENT. To encourage someone is to give them oxygen. 12-year-old Bella Crowell Ferch gives us an education on what 6 graders are learning at the Oaks Classical Christian Academy.

Words of Hope

Hi Robert – Bobby MAC, Good news and bad news The self-therapy letter to myself details the good news. Read on. Dear Freddy J, Good morning, best friend. Hope with God’s hope you are enjoying today.

Crowell Cancer War Report

Greetings dear WOH friends, Daily words of hope with Fred Crowell was inspired out of my need to fight cancer with firm resolve and a never-quit attitude. Cancer became a friend, not a foe.

A Teen’s Four Most Enemies

Military battles, sports, and music competitions all demand mind management and self-regulation skill training and development. It is said that elite, world-class stars in sports or the arts practice more than 10,000 hours.

Two Pounds of Hope

Have you ever held two pounds of HOPE in your hands? With today’s many worldwide problems housed in nearly every human life on this planet, two pounds of HOPE has the potential to lift the human spirit to…

Never Let Be Said

Of all the possible criticism words that could be leveled against me by someone I love and admire, the most heartbreaking one would be: “I HOLD THIS AGAINST YOU.” These words could hurt deeply unless guarded by mutual…

If You Wanna Cry, America, Cry for Our Cities

What is my favorite city in the USA? Perhaps New York City! Traveling to the Big Apple for great Broadway plays with our musical Ferch family was fun. Next, maybe big California cities (San Francisco, Los Angeles)!

An Old Basketball Coach’s Existential Diagnosis of Racism

As a general rule, basketball coaches have a single focus: to coach/teach the team to excel. Great coaches are outstanding in creating the team environment of commitment to unity, positive mental attitudes, and strong moral character.

Home – War Zone or Safe Sanctuary

Within the world-famous San Diego Zoo is a truly magnificent bird sanctuary. It is breathtakingly beautiful. It is a perfect home of safety with the provision of water, food, and fresh air for these birds.

NBC Camps Never Quits

For the first time in 49 years, NBC Camps worldwide have not been able to host even one single live day or residential camp.

The Story – the Ask

Behind every Ask is a life experience story. The more significant the story, the larger the Ask. The less important the story, the smaller the Ask.

World’s Systemic Problem, Part 2

Every nation, every region, every city, every town, every village, every group has two classes of people. My terms are The Haves and The Have Nots .

Abundance Not Scarcity

“I have come that you might life and have it abundantly.” – Jesus Often people tell me, “We grew up poor but I never knew we were poor.” The six Crowell kids knew every day of our growing…

The Four F Words – Faith, Family, Friends, Fun

“If you have faith, family, friends sprinkled with a little fun you can beat anything.” – Loraine Derr, Juneau Alaska If anyone on earth understands the value of faith, family, and fun it is Lorraine Derr.

Thirst

Key Statement: “My soul thirst for you in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” – Psalm 63 Water has been the center of my attention lately for several reasons.

What Do You Say When There Is No Hope?

These past few days people have asked me questions that are extremely difficult. There doesn’t seem to be a helpful answer. Five years ago Bill Brick and I became friends for eternity.

Mookie Fights Cancer

Meet Mookie! He lives in Thailand. He is a favorite at NBC Camps; always smiling, inspirational, hard-working, and a pure delight to teammates and coaches. Why is Mookie our hero?

Advantages of Companionship

“Better to trust and run the risk of being disappointed than to trust no one and be alone.” – Jim Harrick In a recent conversation, it was communicated to me that trust was a big problem.

Time for a Gut Check

The human gut has 80% of the immune system to fight disease. Best to take care of the gut. Don’t you agree? Coaches routinely take “Gut Checks” on their teams. Great teams have guts !

The New Normal

Recently USA News made two statements: “Ignorance is the new normal. Stupidity is the new normal.” Where is there hope in these two philosophical statements? Curiosity is a significantly powerful learning skill.

People Fear

“Do not be afraid of people or I will make you look foolish in front of them.” – God’s words to the Prophet Jeremiah Elegant question: Are you afraid of people?

The Crucial Life Question

WHAT IS YOUR M/P (MEANING AND PURPOSE FOR LIVING)? Meaning and purpose are jet fuel for life. Tell me in 30 seconds or less your reason for living!

Restore or Rebuild

“Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and dies it abides alone…” Do we destroy the old bridge, let it stays as is and let it decay; or build a brand new one close by?

Wanna Be Brave

Aristotle said, “We become brave by doing brave acts.” The clear logical definition of brave: Courageous, dauntless, perhaps a little bit daring, a brave person, faces dangerous or difficult situations with courage.

The Law of Restitution – Reconciliation

“You can never do too much for Him who has done so much for us.” -The late Coach T.

Relax

Slow the bus down. Relax. Breath. Call Time Out. When the pace gets too fast, relax. When words flow too quickly, relax. When the conversation heats up, relax. When anger seethes, relax.

Death

“You aren’t ready to live until you are ready to die.” — Ray Eberle My days in the book of Matthew completed. The last chapters are like the last days of our lives. Death is the reality.

One Pill One Book

In my left palm is a white $200 pill. Its purpose is to prevent kidneys from producing testosterone, a food prostate cancer delights in eating. The prescription is to take four pills each day, totaling $800.

Five Daily Gratitudes

Research suggests gratitude helps beat cancer. Dr. John Gottman has proven through extensive testing that when the heart jumps over 100 beats per minute when angry, the ability to solve problems diminishes.

Wake in Darkness

When I awaken in darkness in the middle of the night with a sudden thought that cancer will defeat me, fear grips my heart like a villain.

Never Ever Quit

Never ever be discouraged Never quit Never ever let cancer win Never stop loving people Never cease to love God & His Son One of the greatest men in the 20th century was Pope John Paul, the first…

Crowell’s War on Cancer

“Cancer cannot steal my joy, rob me of hope, or destroy my love for life and people.” The past decade has been some of the best years of my life.

Dear Fellow Cancer Fighters:

This morning the candle is lit here in my home office. Prayers for your courage, faith, and hope have been offered to our loving Heavenly Father in the glorious name of Jesus.

Recovery Rate

The best athlete in my lifetime of coaching was gentle and kind, yet super competitive, his name was Jonathon Stringier. Jonathon was our star center at the U of Alaska.

Joy of Fatherhood

What are the two most important qualities of father excellence in teaching Lifeball to children? My life experience in being a teacher/coach and a father, tell me children crave father figure leadership.

Truth Is Dead, Not God

There was a time in my life when transcendent truth, or absolutes, was accepted as reality. Not today. Such acceptance is dead and gone. Today what matters is one’s personal opinion, not another’s opinion.

Mathematical Analysis of the Human Condition

No one would expect a university physical education major to attempt to analyze the human condition mathematically! Well, here we go! At least the analysis will be crystal clear simple, and hopefully accurate.

Hope Luv – Says Hello

If dogs could bark in human language, I am convinced my new little pup would bark words of Hope to you. Of course, she would be inspired by her name, HOPE LUV.

Every Single Black Life Matters

We are in an intense and painful season of humanity. As a former basketball coach, I need to call a TIMEOUT. Coaches know teams need to reset when the game gets out of control.

Quicksand?

A friend said to me, “I feel like I am walking in quicksand because life is so difficult these days.” Quicksand is soft, cannot support weight, and has the ability to trap a person.

Traveling Lightly

LIFE IS A RACE. For some, this means a long-distance marathon (maybe a decathlon?); for others, 400-meter hurdles. Too many live only long enough to run a 100-meter dash.

Without God, Without Hope

With bold confidence, strong conviction, passion, and compassion, I, Fred Crowell, proclaim without God and His hope, I have no firepower to beat cancer, nothing but anger about CV-19, and deep sorrow for the current hardships facing the…

Love Is Learned Behavior

Hundreds, possibly thousands of times, NBC camp students have told me these words, “I know my father loves me but I have never heard him say, I love you.” Why is this so?

May I Please Have My Opinion?

In today’s national crisis, everyone seems to want to express their opinion. Have you noticed this? Even all the pro athletes.

You Can’t

Have you ever been told you can’t do it? I hope you replied, “ Yes, I can! “ A Crowell Core Value: Never let anyone or anything stop you from doing what God has asked you to do…

Human Nature: Is Man Good or Evil?

Years ago in a graduate psychology class, my professor said, “I am going to ask a controversial question.

Hopeless to Hopeful

Imagine the hopelessness one would experience under the following conditions: Stay of execution although standing before a firing squad Ten years in prison Death of wife Death of a favorite brother A debt of approximately $850,000 Obligation to…

An Elegant, Profound Question

After reading yesterday’s blog entitled, Prepare for Battle, my special friend in Mexico asked, “How can I identify the enemy besides CV-19?” Enemy identification is difficult because the enemy is crafty .

Prepare for Battle

Today you and I are at war! The battle is raging and seeking to destroy us! There are forces who oppose us! Do you know your enemies? If not, I urge you to identify them.

People Are Like a Loaf of Bread

Bread has been on my mind. As a boy, mom’s homemade bread was worth dying for. Then, for many years my wife had Mondays as her homemade bread day.

What Every Child Should Learn – Love Work

The older I get, the more I learn about life. The happiest people I meet and the most unpleasant people I observe confirm to me that it is not hard work but loving to work hard that is…

Thank God It’s Friday

We build our personal world within the global world with the words that proceed from our mouths. So, if words matter as I believe they do, perhaps the idiom TGIF is not a great thing.

The Incomprehensible Mystery of God

Doubtlessly, humans were created to think and act with logic in mind. If it makes sense and is understandable, in today’s world it becomes acceptable.

Mind Management Self-discipline

There was a time in my life I detested all pain. It was to be avoided at all costs. Certainly nothing good about it! Yet I discovered it could not be avoided.

Hard Lessons to Learn from Former Leaders

In his day, Job was a leader; in fact, a terrific leader. He was one many people sought counsel from until his own world crashed on him.

It Is Well with My Soul

One of my most favorite songs is “It Is Well with My Soul.” The lyrics are what I need, sometimes several times a day.

Today’s Light

My 20% PMA advantage plan today is gratitude. I am thankful I am alive with a strong heartbeat and breathing ability.

Mothers

How does a boy become a man without a good mother? This is a mystery to me. When I journeyed to my secret place or the place I also call the secret garden, I held the notion that…

Phenomenology – the 20% Life Experience Advantage

Doctor Shann Ferch, my highly esteemed, intellectual son-in-law, introduced me to Phenomenology (phe·​nom·​e·​nol·​o·​gy). He is also respected as my daughter Jennifer’s husband and cherished father to their three miracle daughters.

Hope – Help from You

A wise professional athlete said, “The stars are not the athletes because without fans there would be no professional sports; fans are the true stars.” The true star in the miracle story of the Words of Hope book…

Hope Wins, Cv-19 Loses

When fear grows in me at the least unexpected time (now concerning CV-19), I go to my secret place, my secret garden.

One Pair of Hands

Today my remarkable friend, Dr. Caviezel, sent me “One Pair of Hands” sung by Carroll Roberson. Incredible, inspiration, uplifting! Dr. Jim knows something about a pair of hands.

Looking for a New Job?

The world’s best organization is looking for good people who are difference makers. Not long ago, in a Words of Hope, I spoke to the idea of kindness being described as useful goodness.

The Two Way Mirror

Mirror Mirror in my hand who has a pure clean glass that can show reflection in two directions; first at me; second to my world set before me.

Examination of the Heart

The Psalmist said, “The Lord knows everything about us.” Imagine being able to say, “You know everything about me, even before I say it, and exclaim, such knowledge is too wonderful!

Can’t – Never Did Anything | Can – Does Almost Everything

Long ago when my dad was in school one of the basketball games fan chants was: “Ash can, tin can, who can, we can beat Everett…Bellingham… Mt.

The Life Elevator

Yes, in life we are either going up, going down, or not moving! Just like a mechanical elevator.

Happiness Is…

Happiness is: an emotion of joy a feeling of merriment absence of anxiety an attitude a decision encouragement a smile kindness purposeful practiced a learned behavior a choice commitment If happiness encompasses all these virtues, no wonder happiness…

Whatever Happened to Crazy?

One of the funniest comedians Jay Crowell and I enjoy is Chris Rock. In one of his monologues he makes his famous toothy, wide-eyed look; then declares, “Whatever happened to crazy?” It so fun; so good to laugh.…

Thy Kingdom Come

A basketball coaches analysis of the Lord’s Prayer. Based on the prayer instruction of Jesus, how is it possible to have His Kingdom come and His Will be done here on earth?

You Must Be Born Two Times

How does the title of the word of hope strike you? Is there a word that stands out to you? For me, the standout word is, must .

Unashamed

Shame is the demon that haunts all of humanity. When you name it, you can beat it. Years ago, I was in a master’s educational psychology class. One evening, the professor asked an elegant question.

Coach Crowell’s Gratitude Story

The year 1999 is the year the gratitude story began. The world was in disarray. Brilliant minds predicated the world economy was going to collapse because the world of technology was not equipped to deal with a new…

Memento Mori

MEMENTO MORI is the Latin for “Remember your death.” Three important men of the past reminded us of this. St.

Logic and Emotions

Most people make emotional decisions and try to justify them with logic. The crucial decision-making question is, am I making an emotional or a logical decision?

Living in the Moment

I am sure you have discovered, as I have these past years, that having a fulfilling profession, a joyful marriage, doing daily exercises, and staying away from diet no-no’s can all be difficult.

You Make Your Own Weather

Settling for the story: Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama 1977 a conversation between Fred Crowell, Basketball Coach & Dr. Joseph King, 88-year-old professor emeritus ensues. “Good morning Dr. King,” smiled Coach Crowell.

Hey World, How Is Your Pma?

If we don’t protect our minds and hearts the negativity of the world will rob us of our positive mental attitude!

Dwell Together in Unity

The world’s pandemic has forced isolation upon us with a heartless vengeance. This isolation for the vast majority of Americans changed our lives in dramatic ways; some positive; some negative.

Depression – the Black Box

Sir Winston Churchill, given to depression, called it the Black Box. This Black Box is too deep to climb out of by sheer human strength and effort. The sides of the box are slippery, the walls, high.

Pain – Friend or Foe

Is it possible to get through life without experiencing pain? Seems every story has an element of pain in the narrative. Let’s imagine being able to be totally pain-free. Wow! Awesome – sounds wonderful.

Protect Your Mind

“But Jesus didn’t trust them because He knew human nature.” – St. John The words “protection” and “guard” have been on my mind and my heart these past days.

Death Is Not the Enemy-the Enemy Is Not Living

Hey, wanna come over for dinner tonight and have a meaningful discussion about death? How about a conversation over a latte about what you want to see happen at your funeral?

Breathing with Intelligence

When a baby was born years ago, the doctor encouraged the initial breathing by spanking the baby. Why? To breathe is to live. Breathing is life.

THE ACID TEST (An Idiom)

Our present-day English language is rather difficult to learn because we use so many idioms. These are words or expressions not having meaning unless the context is understood.

Crowell’s Law – Twice Good

It is not good enough for a son to become as good as his father or a daughter to become as good as her mother. Good enough means being twice as good!

No Crucifixion, No Resurrection

No pain no gain No sorrow no joy No work no pay No crooked line no straight line No hate no love No late no on time No defeat no victory The Scriptures say.

Drink Water

“Two types of drinkable water. Water from God’s earth and water from GOD’S heart – we need both.” Key Statement: “Fred, your bones want water, drink 120 ounces daily.” – Susan Reynolds’s, Endermologist Up to 60% of the…

NBC Camps Delivers Hope

A great high school coach told me many years ago, “If NBC had a finger painting class my 3 children would be there.

What Is Hope? How to Make It Work for You.

St. Paul said, “Hope is one of the three most important words…” He used an anchor as a metaphor for hope. St.

The Profound Declaration

I AM WHO I AM is a profound declaration. It is an ultimate statement, an eternal constant, not contingent upon anyone or circumstance. It is the greatest truth or the greatest lie.

Boys to Men

Words of Wisdom for All Boys Dr. James Jones, a leader of youth, once told me, “There are four vital foundations to govern your life by.” Control your environment.

State of Life Address to the four most important people in my life

Dear and Lovely Crowell’s, my A-Team! You have expanded the A-Team to a United Team of 11 Saints.

Messenger – Messages

“If people accept the message, they will embrace the messenger. If people reject the message, they will reject the messenger.” -S.

We Saw Giants

“We were like grasshoppers in our own sight and so we were in their sight.” – Numbers 13:33b An essential element in preparing for a basketball game is scouting the enemy.

Human Being or Human Doing?

“What is man that you are mindful of him?” Circumstances have motivated me to do some existential self-diagnosis.

Westerners Have Watches

An African proverb says, “Westerners have watches, Africans have time.” The meaning: Africans work with goals and targets but do not relate them to a time deadline. Therefore, there is no hurry in Africa.

Dry up! Game On!

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” I’m reminded of a time when my fourth graders were playing for the city championship.

The Law of Forgiveness

The universe is governed by laws. Obedience to the law preserves life. Disobedience to these laws may lead to destruction. Three things you need to know about the laws of the universe.

Something Better

The strength and integrity of a company or an individual are the associations they are able to develop. Cornerstone Home Lending is one of the finest companies in the USA to help families finance their homes.

Not Havin’ Any

The Crowell-Ferch family delights in really good movies. The great ones we watch over and over again. Over 30 years ago, SILVERADO was a family favorite. Brian Dennehy played a rugged, tough sheriff.

The Biblical Law of Self-worth

Self-worth is the belief that our lives have value and significance . However, how do we know our own worth? Do we look to ourselves or others in order to grasp our value?

The Law of Psycho Cybernetics

Spending a lifetime career as a “Basketball-ologist” has given me an advantage in the world of “Ologists.” This is because competitive athletics forces the coach to be results-oriented, not theory-driven.

The Adventure of Living, Part 2

One way to get the most out of life is to look upon it as an adventure. Where can we apply this adventure of living to our everyday life should there be obstacles?

A Healthy Coach Has Character

This guest Words of Hope is written by Janice Foland. OUR KIDS NEED HEALTHY COACHES WITH CHARACTER. How do we select healthy coaches for our kids?

Thankfulness

THANKFULNESS GRATITUDE CREATION Today is focus time on 3 impactful words! First, is the idea of thankfulness. It is impossible to have a negative attitude and be thankful. Thanklessness is a terrible robber of peace and contentment.

Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 2

For the best subconscious nanosecond’s response, I suggest these four literary prose are worth reading repeatedly. They will support our inward peace and rest.

Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 1

The legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus reportedly said: “You cannot become a great golfer until you have the skill to watch yourself hitting the golf ball.” This is like taking your eyes out of your head and watching yourself…

Out of Egypt

This Words of Hope blog is especially for those who are experiencing hardship or helping another who is experiencing hardship, feeling defeated.

Walk It, Don’t Talk It

“If you know it and you don’t do it, you don’t know it.” – Mike Nilson The Apostle James short book on walking your talk reminds me of a college basketball game.

One or Two Fisted Living

Solomon has wisdom for those of us willing to listen, learn and do. “Fools fold their hands leading to ruin.” And yet.

Boomerang

Today’s culture uses “boomerang” in many settings, especially over the Internet. It is a phenomenon today, a cause and effect, a return to the originator.

Winning Is Not Luck or Accidental

“That was a fluke!” When someone said that, did you believe them? Was it a freak course of nature? Yet, winning is never pure luck or accidental. Rather, winning is learned behavior .

Conscious Contact

In retrospect, maybe even Super Bowl players (winners or losers) see improvements needed in their play. In life, we are never perfect!

Month of February

FEBRUARY is the second month of the year in the Gregorian calendar and its predecessor, the Julian calendar.

Not My Plan

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord; when he delights in His way…” – Psalm 37 Children are remarkably amazing.

Miracle Searches

The difference between an Elegant question and a factual question. Elegant question – How many miracles can you see while looking at the moon? Factual question – Can you see the moon in the photo?

Mindful Management & Self-regulation, Part 3

I believe Mindful Management and Self-Regulation are life’s two most difficult skills to master. St.

Mindful Management & Self-regulation, Part 2

One great mind once said, “If you spend 15 minutes a day in Mindful Management with Self-Regulation, you will be able to solve nearly all of your problems.” Fifteen minutes!

Mindful Management & Self-regulation, Part 1

I have been privileged to spend many years educating, encouraging, inspiring and challenging youth. The foremost life skills have been: I have been privileged to spend many years educating, encouraging, inspiring and challenging youth.

God Sent a Man

Who was this man? What was His meaning and purpose in life? Two profound questions for the ages. The questions were relevant when John wrote them around 90 AD.

Running Running Running

“Days at times can be very long, however, in the end, life is too short.” -FJC Often we hear the phrase, I am too busy .

If-then Principle

KEY STATEMENT: Every IF statement is usually followed with a THEN. If you read Daily Words of Hope at a minimum, there will be one then .

Space Phenomena

Without space, life is absent from rhythm. Life is rhythm therefore life is dead without rhythm. Space is integral to life. Living in the USA is a precious gift for millions of people.

FORGIVENESS FRIDAY – Our Get Out of Jail Card

The Crowell Game Changer program dedicated each Friday to conscious level living forgiveness. Forgiveness is or get out of jail free card.

Van Gogh – Loving People

Some amazing quotes by one of my favorite artists: “I feel that there is nothing more truly artistic than to love people.” “Keep your love of nature, for that is the true way to understand art more and…

Operate in Peace

Who God Says I am, is far more important than who you, or who I, say I am. In the early 1980’s I was invited to speak at Cordova schools.

Foundational Principles

Knowledge and understanding of the following three principles give meaning and purpose to life. Foundational Principle #1 Where did I come from when I was born? Foundational Principle #2 What am I doing here?

Dear, Crowell Words of Hope Team

My dream of Hope is realized in, helping me, help you , help others. One of the most hopeless feelings is to lack the resources to help one in need or have them refuse to listen and receive…

Willing to Negotiate

“Never fear to negotiate and never negotiate in fear.” JFK 1960 Inaugural Address. Rhetoric is the skill to clearly present in the written or spoken word, your philosophy, opinions, ideas and points of view.

Is Your Quiver Full

In the days of old a quiver full of quality arrows was a must. It was the difference between life and death. The Psalmist used a quiver as a simile for a man having many sons.

Logic Requires Imagination Imagination Needs Logic

Logic is like dry toast. Toast with butter and jam is like logic soaked with imagination. Dry toast gives nourishment. Toast with butter and jam provides nourishment and delight.

Truth Truism

Tell me, promotes learning – I know, stops learning. The other day at the Oncology clinic several of us were in a conversation.

Had Enough Yet, America?

Where is the hope? Years ago an international student from a country suffering terrorism and killings told me, “Once terrorism and killing start, it is virtually impossible to stop.” On Fox News, an articulate student pleaded with his…

Winter Break

Hello Miracles! Soon we celebrate the greatest miracle of all, the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Delight – Delightful – Delighted, Part 2

Another good definition of delight is “inclination to great pleasure.” Here are some of the many places in the Bible that talk about delight .

Delight – Delightful – Delighted, Part 1

The three D’s are the ingredients for a joyful, cheerful and fulfilling day! Oh, how we love the anticipation of a fantastic day! This feeling is because life is a gift.

The It Phenomena

Key Statement: The IT of life is anything and everything that is on our radar screen. The IT demands our time, energy, and attention.

Legacy Gifting, Part 2

Christmas is that time of the year when giving is celebrated. Yet, I remember when, as a young child, I discovered there was no Jolly Old St. Nick making toys all year in the faraway North Pole.

Legacy Gifting, Part 1

Children are precious gifts from the Lord. The greatest legacy gift parents can give their children is to live St. Paul’s parenting virtues , especially in his letter to the Philippians.

The End Game

In my career coaching years, I discovered a valuable premise which, in turn, can be transferred to practical life. I call it THE END GAME . How was it discovered in basketball?

Contentment

The secret of this attitude. An elegant question from Jay Crowell: Dad, if you could visit one site in Rome what would this place be?

Valid Identification, Part 2

Recently one of my remarkable sisters asked me this profound question: “What made you become a Christian?” If you remember, dear sis, we both grew up with the assumed ID of not being intelligent and an outcast family.…

Valid Identification, Part 1

In today’s culture, we are virtually helpless to operate successfully without proper identification. ID’s and passwords have the potential to control our lives. Don’t believe me?

Pain Produces Change

No discipline seems pleasant at the time but later on, however, it produces a fruit of righteousness for those who are trained by it.

Abound in Hope

What do you see on the cover of the Words of Hope book? The focus is on an ANCHOR .

The Crowell Beat Cancer Game Plan

This is my personal game plan for dealing with cancer. It is working! My HOPE is it can work for you as you face your possible insults, difficulties, hardships, and persecutions. FROM ST.

5 How Questions

Be careful how you answer these 5 how questions. Serious reflection may alter the course of your life. For the good! Try to answer each question in writing using 20 words or less.

Thanksgiving with the Crowell Family

“I will offer to YOU the sacrifice of thanksgiving & will call on the name of the Lord.” Psalm 116:17 Our Special Day dedicated to being extra thankful typically begins in the early morning hours with Susie by…

A Special Rest

“So, there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God.” My beloved Susie asked me an elegant question last week.

Take and Receive

St. Ignatius’s TAKE AND RECEIVE prayer is one of my most favorite prayers. Multiple times daily these are the words of my mouth. May they be yours as well.

WHAT YOU APPRECIATE APPRECIATES – Jay Crowell

For a father I’m not sure many joys surpass the privilege of having children becoming lovely, healthy, successful parents. One of Crowell’s teaching principles is, “A son should become twice as smart as his Dad.

The Check List

When the grind of life is so intensive, the human brain cannot process all that needs to be done without mistakes. A checklist has been proven to be an effective tool.

World of People and Things

“If you love things more than people you will use people to get things, i f you love people more than things you will use things to help people.” One of my favorite men gave up his high…

Thankful Beats Unthankful

As in the lyrics of “Ungrateful Eyes,” do we ever stop and watch the stars shine? This may give us a clue if we are thankful or unthankful.

Therefore Implies Exact Logic , Part 1

One of my favorite places I find the “therefore” logic is in the Bible. St. Paul carefully uses his vast intellect and exceptional educational training to set forth a logical case in Colossians 3 .

Walk Alone Time

It is not possible to stand or walk in a crowd until you can stand and walk alone. The best gift you can give to those you love is a healthy you.

The Principle of Active Indifference

“Rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, baker, shoemaker…” This was a chant we used as kids, especially while jumping rope. How to discover what to be!

Time Is Priceless

Time is the only sparse commodity on earth. Time does not honor, respect or bow to those of personal wealth or fortune.

The Many Gifts of Creation

Imagine five majestic deer enhancing the Crowell home view of one of America’s best places to raise children and live a peaceful life: Spokane, Washington . It is our seasonal autumn time of the year.

Thankful for America

Twenty-five feet above a huge carved rock in the Crowell front yard waves the U.S. flag .

Consolation & Desolation

“At any given moment you are either in consolation or desolation.” – St. Ignatius of Loyola The idea of “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” speaks to the fact that two people do not necessarily see…

The Wise Parent

The wise parent knows and understands that the ultimate test of successful parenting is the day when their son or daughter has matured to the place the parent(s) is able to say… “Amazing child you now are ready…

Contemplative Action

A young Spanish soldier was leading a fierce battle against the superior French army. He took a cannonball between his legs in 1521. Because of his valor, he was not executed.

The Master Within

St. Augustine, a fourth-century theologian, and philosopher was considered one of the most respected followers of the Master of all masters. He influenced his many followers to learn to discover The Master Within .

FEAR FACTOR, Part 1

Surveys indicate some of our most fearful times are public speaking, heights, the unknown and death. Do you relate?

How high is high? How low is low?

Unless you know how low is low, knowing how high is high is not possible. My life experience tells me rock bottom is the low of lows. It is impossible to go lower than rock bottom.

Forgiveness Reality

Forgiveness asking is one of the world’s most important, yet least understood and practiced success principles. What makes it so difficult to ask forgiveness?

The Sun and the Moon

These exceptional photos of a sunrise on Scout Lake, OR, and a moon-glowing night there as well, are perfect reminders we can count on day turning to night and later night turning to day.

Authentic Power

Internal combustion – Internal motivation. Gottlieb Daimler is known as the founder of the internal combustion engine. This engine was a game changer in the world of automobiles and trucks.

Walking in Another’s Shoes

Often we say, “I know exactly how you feel!” But do we really? It takes much connecting with another person before really understanding him or her. That is what empathy is.

Greater Than Science

The doctors told me I had less than single digit chances to survive the dreaded Whipple pancreatic surgery. My medical team was extraordinary. Medical science could offer me less than 10% success.

True Friendships vs. Transactional Relationships

If 7 out of 10 calls to me are asking for something, it is not a friendship, it is a transactional relationship. An example of a friendship killer call is, “Hey Fred, Zechariah here.

Resistance to Self-improvement

During NBC Camps’ summer athletic camps, we are exposed to thousands of campers’ lives. We learn from them, and we challenge them to face their challenges. In fact, FACE YOUR CHALLENGE was our 2018 theme.

Relationships – Events Perspectives

Have you noticed the difference between genuine relationships and required events? Which would you prefer? Insight says relationships may be more desirable than required events. Here’s why. Wisdom places relationships far above and more important than events.

Encouragement Is Oxygen II

You can become a true game-changer, someone who makes a big difference. How? By the word ENCOURAGEMENT . Encouragement is giving another person confidence, support, hope, motivation, strength, comfort. E ncouraging words can make a difference .

Shining Light

Let’s play one of my favorite games. It is called “WHAT IF.” What if you were a lighthouse perched high to warn ships from crashing upon rocks? What kind of light would shine forth from your lighthouse?

Master the Practice of Dressing Two Times at the Same Time

It is a proven fact a person’s first impression by another happens in the first 30-60 seconds. Once this impression is formed, it is very difficult to change.

All Things Principle

When I study the lives of Joseph, Esther, David, Job, Daniel, Jonah, Mary the mother of Jesus, John the Baptist, Andrew, Peter, Paul, and other Biblical characters, I see an “ All Things Principle .” When I study…

The Golden Mouth One

A monk living the aesthetic life for 12 years in the deserts of Syria was assigned to be the Bishop of Constantinople , the leading city of the world earlier in the 14th century BC.

Psycho-cybernetics, Part 2

Dr. Maxwell Maltz states so clearly in his Psycho-Cybernetics book, “ We must turn to the Bible to discover how to change the self-image .” This is because God is man’s creator.

Psycho-cybernetics, Part 1

This past summer have you seen a helmsman steering a ship to port? If so, this could remind you that the Greek term “cybernetics” is used to describe “steering .” Psycho-Cybernetics says each human has an innate steering…

My Prayer

1956 Hit Song by The Platters 56′ and 57′ for the Seahawks. The football team was 53-3 for these two seasons. In 57′ they gave up just 6 points, rolling to an undefeated season.

Timeouts Are Vital

TIMEOUTS ARE VITAL Athletics prove time outs are critically important. The mark of great coaches is having the skill to take the complex and make it simple.

Prayer Can Change Your Life

Dr. William Parker received his doctorate from USC and was known for his group counseling and pathology of speech.

Life Lesson 101

Be quick to listen – slow to speak – slow to anger. These 3 life skills are as important as a carpenter’s hammer, power saw and measuring tape.

Almost Works

A leading human performance expert likes to say, “You can’t get enough of what almost works.” Here are some examples. Maybe the next drink will be enough for the alcoholic.

What’s in the Closet?

Please allow me to invite you into a typical counseling session. You will need to use your imagination. Here is the scenario. A client walks into my office.

Get Out of Jail Free

Unforgiveness is the number one way to be imprisoned in the Emotional Intelligence Jail. It is holding a grudge against someone who has offended us, leading to unkind and merciless thoughts.

Sanctuary Home

A house is not a whole lot until it is occupied by people. A house becomes either a sanctuary or a battlefield.

Destiny Dream Makers

“Why did your father end up living alone with a bottle of alcohol in his hand with no hope?” -Dr. Shann Ferch This question could be asked of every street beggar and homeless person.

Cry Some – Laugh More

The mature in emotional intelligence can shed tears and also laugh often. Both crying and laughter have a healing effect and seem to cure a “multitude of ills.” Laughter makes the heart glad!

Be a Giver Not a Taker

This remarkable, majestic, mysterious world in which we live is governed by physical, psychological and spiritual laws which are both seen and unseen. The law of give and take falls under the law of cause and effect.

Win at School

Millions of USA students enroll in schools across the continent in September with the hope of winning! Unfortunately, far too many will lose the battle to win. Questions: Why so many failures?

Happy Land Is Not a Destination

Walt Disney grew up an unhappy child. His father did not make life fun for the young Walter Disney. Walter developed a dream.

Start Where You Are

All too often it is asked, “Where do I begin to change the world?” The simple question demands a simple answer: Start where you are . Dr.

Covenant vs Contract

The difference between a covenant and a contract is as wide and deep as the Grand Canyon. A covenant is a commitment that can never ever be broken.

How do you want to live?

A noted clinical psychologist believes if you don’t know the why you can never discover the how . Based on this belief, the why becomes the fundamental crucial question. Why do you want to live?

Unity

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! – Psalm 133:1 Unity is 10 times more difficult to achieve than disunity.

I Just Called to Tell You

Stevie Wonder made famous the song, I Just Called To Say I Love You with the popular lyrics, “I just called to say I love you; I just called to say how much I care.” How does it…

LIFEBALL – Wanna Play?

By far the most beneficial game ever invented in my opinion. Dr. James Naismith invented basketball to give children something to do during cold Massachusetts’s winters with the hope of developing Christian virtue and character.

Takes Awesome to Recognize Awesome

What’s better than getting a text from a person you highly respect telling you that you are awesome ?

Position Doesn’t Determine Destiny

When position is more important than destiny the focus needs to be reversed. Research reveals focusing on destiny increases performance and health both individually and within a community. Position focus means: I am the father. Obey me.

I Can Only Imagine

Nearly 16 million views for the song I CAN ONLY IMAGINE by Mercy Me. That’s a ton of views.

Holy Hands

“Cling to your faith in Christ & have a clear conscience.” – Timothy Around about 64 A.D, which was 31 years after the crucifixion of Jesus, Paul was imprisoned for the second time.

Your Body- Living Sacrifice

Your tongue can speak over 130 words a minute. Your mind can think over 400 words per minute.

Interior Inspection

Accountability without inspection leads to irresponsibility. Responsibility without inspection leads to mediocrity. Inspection is vital to winning. Winning is a choice. Elegant question: Why is inspection commonly rejected? We strongly tend to reject being inspected.

Survive or Surrender

When tragedy or misfortune strikes there are two choices. The most difficult choice is to survive. The least painful way is to surrender. WIND RIVER it’s a movie based on a true story.

Intent vs. Impact

A well-developed EQ is evident when one knows and understands that intent must ultimately be measured by its impact.

Five Life Giving Syllables

1. Will 2. You 3. For 4. Give 5. Me 75 years of life experience confirm to me that “will you forgive me” are the four most difficult words for people to say to those that have done…

Child Inspiration

Fall in love with children and you will be in love with life. Find joy in children and you will always be joyful. Play with children and you’ll always be playful.

Silence

“He comes to me in the silence.” – Mark Forrest Knock knock Who’s there? Silence, I’ve come to see you because you need me! Please come in, because I don’t know how to experience silence.

Use Your Eyes

If you have eyes, use them to see both external and internal beauty. How our eyes observe color through tinted lenses is comparative to how our emotional state affects our outlook on life.

Delight in Delight

The law of attraction means what we attach ourselves to will multiply and expand. Therefore, what we purposely choose to delight in will grow into greater delight. Delight is not on automatic pilot in our lives.

The ‘Ez’ Button

Today’s culture has an auto-pilot: We do what we know we should NOT do, and we don’t do the things we know we SHOULD do.

Train to Win

WIN – “To be successful or victorious in a contest or conflict.” – Dictionary To win is a verb; a verb connotes action; action involves work; work is learned behavior. Therefore to win is learned behavior. Fact.

Shortcut to Increase

Years ago when I was in full-time marriage, family, and personal counseling I had a teenage client who was very defiant towards her parents.

Prayer Practice – Part 1

Can you name one valuable life skill that does not demand practice? When someone says, “I am good at ….,” you assume that person may be gifted but also has engaged in many repetitions and regular exercise of…

Dealing with Difficult People – Appreciate Awesome People!

A human flaw is our overpowered magnetic attraction to negativity. Negative people disrupt and influence us more easily than positive people and the beautiful energy force we receive from them. Why is this?

Prayer Power

1999 was a tough year for many Americans. Political, business and spiritual leaders were forecasting terrible times for our world. They predicted global financial collapse. Due to difficult circumstances, I sought out a spiritual life mentor.

Biblical Truth Never Changes

RELATIONSHIPS – a gift in life 1) Show how much you care about acquaintances, friends, and family. 2) Talk positively; the way you talk is the way you act.

3 Skills of Excellence

Life Skills. Imagination. Imitation. If we don’t teach winning, we cheat our students because they don’t learn the skills necessary to win. The life of a deadly serious basketball coach is no different than the diehard Lieutenant.

Crowell on Second Guessing

The second of two WOH’s on the destructive habit of second guessing oneself. The biggest little word in the English language is the word “if.” Two letters that can make a big impact.

Breastplate of Righteousness

Break your sternum and you’ll soon realize the reason Paul chose the breastplate of righteousness as a simile for protection of the chest; a vital part of the soldier’s body.

Living Life Backwards

The ability to see what is not seen is a valuable skill in coaching and teaching. It is discerning the invisible. In the athletic world, imagine there is a slender, tall, clumsy athlete.

Oxycourage

What is oxycourage? By Fred Crowell’s definition, it is when oxygen unites with the human soul to form internal power and courage . “Oxy” makes it more sharp and acute, abundant when combined with simple courage.

The Snake Line

A powerful solution to stop worry, fear, self-pity, and other forms of negative behavior. I happened to hear a portion of a sermon about not controlling your thoughts and emotions. Babies can’t control their emotions.

Bring Inner Strength Under Control

A healthy baby is gifted with incredible inner strength. This internal power is vividly displayed when the baby screams to the point of exhaustion. Try screaming as hard as you can like a baby enraged.

For Sale

Everybody is selling something. The questions are what are they selling and what is the cost?

Practice Happiness

If happiness were a tool in a carpenter’s toolbox, it would likely be a pair of needle-nose pliers. Many t imes these specialized pliers are the only tool needed for the mechanical fix.

Radical Challenges, Radical Choices

In our world, a challenge becomes a need for meaningful exploration. It becomes incredibly important. The late Dr. Scott Peck, psychiatrist, also saw it as perhaps a difficulty. He wrote: “Life is difficult.

The Silent Yet Deadly Unseen War, Part 2

Each morning in Africa, the lion and tiger wake up hungry. They spend their day hunting for a good meal.

The Silent Yet Deadly Unseen War, Part 1

An important Emotional Intelligence skill is mastering the ability to see what you don’t see better than what you actually do see. Generally, we foresee on the horizon more battles coming between countries.

Happiness a Treasured Gift

How many times have you heard: ‘Just do what makes you happy! Don’t worry, just be happy!” We feel if it makes us happy, it must be right.

Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 3

The teenage gal (in Part 2) began this day-by-day Win Life plan, the process of “living a brand new me.” There are FOUR FOUNDATION PILLARS to beat any addiction and all destructive behaviors, including anorexia and suicide thinking.…

Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 2

As a child, when my mom asked me to sweep the kitchen floor, it was most convenient to sweep the crumbs under the rug so they would not be seen.

Defeating Anorexia Addiction, Part 1

Over the past 49 years of leading NBC Basketball Camps, there have been many opportunities to help student-athletes defeat the dreaded disease of anorexia.

To Compare Is to Despair

“If you want to feel inferior, look at someone above you. If you want to feel superior, look at someone beneath you.” – Walt King Susie’s dad was a wise man.

The Reality of Beauty

If we approach life from an inner beauty stance, we see beauty all around us, in all things; whereas if we are living in squalor life isn’t very pretty.

Prayer Practice, Part 2

Why should I want to practice prayer? My life is full of demands, responsibilities, people. Where is the time for additional practice time? Do you feel that way? I think God knows this.

Love People or Love Things

In this world of people and things, we can either love people more than things, or things more than people. If we love things more the people, we will use people to get things.

Your Eternal Impact

Questions: What impacts a person the most? What lasts the longest in a person’s life? The answers may well be different for each person.

Hopefest

Spokane Hoopfest is the largest 3-on-3 basketball tournament in the world. Nearly 6000 four-player teams of all ages and sexes battle on the streets of the River City at the end of June.

Mirror Management

Key Statement: if you don’t keep your mirror clean, the mirror cannot do its job to tell you the truth about yourself. When you look deeply into your mirror you will be looking at enemy number one.

Passion and Competency

“Which one comes first?” In reading through Van Gogh quotes one stood out because of the fact NBC Camps hires more than 400 coaches each summer.

Your Best Investment

This past Thursday the NBA gave us five continuous hours of drafting 60 fine college basketball players for a possible future with its professional teams.

Second Guessing Is Unprofitable

“We should have won that game.” – New York Mets Terry Collins Reading USA Today Sports , Bob Nightengale’s interview with Manager Collins brought me back to the Royals-Giants game 5.

Hang on to Hope

Saint Ignatius trained his Jesuit priests to be aware of and to recognize the difference between consolation and desolation.

Shut up Mode

Key Statement: It’s so simple, yet so hard to do; open ears and mouth shut! Three keys: Slow to speak Quick to listen Slow to anger Telling people to shut up is not acceptable in the Crowell household.…

Contentment Leads to Life

It seems comparison has crept into every area of our lives prompted by social media and constant media ads. It can reveal a dissatisfaction and a disillusion. It can divide and destroy.

Comparison Leads to Death

COMPARISON leads to death; GRATITUDE leads to life. COMPARISON leads to depression; GRATITUDE leads to satisfaction. COMPARISON leads to arrogance; GRATITUDE leads to humility. COMPARISON leads to self-degradation; GRATITUDE leads to positive self-assessment.

Let’s Go Places, Part 2

As a great, successful Spokane entrepreneur, here is Eric Hixson’s story. As a boy, Eric Hixson loved the scouts. To pay for his scouts’ summer camps, he sold lots of candy, more than all the other scouts.

The Roman Gladius

The sword that conquered the world. From the time I was a small boy I have been fascinated with knives and swords.

Let’s Go Places, Part 1

Be it Spain, Italy, Arizona, England, Seattle, Greece, New York or wherever, Mrs. C is ready to go places! However, Coach C is not so enthused about going places unless it is in his Toyota Rav 4.

Paradox: Loss or Gain

If you happen to miss an athletic game, I imagine you would want two questions answered: “Who won?” “What was the score?” The scoreboard would tell us which team won, which team lost.

Disciplined Detachment

If your time is spent with any type of media (the internet, television, radio, magazines, newspapers), you realize hardly a minute or page goes by without being consumed by an ad.

The Talent of Success, Part 2

Success, the favored or the desired outcome will be more attainable if we like ourselves, like what we do and how we do it.

The Talent of Success, Part 1

“The TALENT OF SUCCESS is nothing more than doing what you can do well, and doing well whatever you do without thought of fame.

Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse

An apocalypse usually leads to a catastrophic event. Dr. John Gottman speaks of four horsemen as metaphors for the destruction of a relationship, especially a marital one. His four horsemen are criticism, contempt, stonewalling, and defensiveness.

Finding Hope in a Corrupt World, Part 2

The present world problems do not create anger, vengeful talk, bitterness and aggression in me. This is unlike so many others today. Why? Because I have HOPE as the anchor to my soul.

Finding Hope in a Corrupt World, Part 1

HOPE is a favorable and confident expectation . Who should not want HOPE? It is light! The opposite is darkness, which is despair. We can also say HOPE is: Gravity to hold us in place.

Too Late May Be a Tragedy

“I love you Mom!” Oh, how I wish I would have told Katheen Mitchell Crowell these four simple words before her death. However, speaking love was not in our family’s vocabulary. It was not spoken…ever.

Did So Good

Long ago God had some words to Cain (son of Adam and Eve). God could see in Cain’s heart, seeing his half-hearted motivation and attitude when bringing an offering to God.

Finish Strong

“Work hard and continue to struggle.” – Timothy Last week a friend sent me a text with this question, “Why do we have to struggle?” Honestly, my first thought was, “why should we not have to struggle?” This…

Quarrels & Wars = Q & W

“What is causing the quarrels and fights among you? Don’t they come from the evil desires at war within you?” James, the brother of Jesus, asked these questions in James 4:1.

Motion Is Lotion

An expert yoga teacher says: “Young people have lots of lotion to oil their joints. The aging process slows down the body’s lubrication process.” The solution to rusty hinges is oil lubrication.

Human Bridges

Spokane, Washington, is the home of many bridges because of the majestic Spokane River. During its peak season, this river spills over 348 million gallons of water every 24 hours.

Help Me Help You Help Others

As much as most of us need some help in life, we seem to want to do it all by ourselves no matter what the responsibility. Do you relate?

Mother’s Day – Honor Women

No other person deserves honor, appreciation and high esteem as does a mother . She continually gives, cares, sacrifices with little thought of anything in return. Why? Because she loves her children and many others!

Words and the Word

Webster defines Word as a “Single, distinct meaningful element of speech or writing used with other words or sometimes alone to form a sentence.” Words fascinate me.

Memories

Over 50 years ago Susie king Crowell said to me, “Fred, let’s make great memories for when we are old, all we will have left are our memories.” After two years of courtship and 54 years of marriage…

Beating the Big C History

Very high chances, you have a person in your life who is fighting MR. C, the dirty player Cancer.

Analytical – THE LORD’S PRAYER

KEY STATEMENT: What did the Lord mean when He said, “Thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”? Many of us memorized this prayer as children.

The Defeat to Victory Factor

Former NBC Camps student-athlete Jay Huff on April 8th helped the Virginia Cavaliers win the collegiate men’s basketball national championships in Minneapolis. This past season he was ranked as the #15 power forward in the nation.

Filled with Hope

A recent phone conversation with my sister began like this: “I love you, sis!” “I love you, too.” “Can I ask you a question on this Good Friday?” “I knew you were going to ask me a question.”…

The Miracle Moment

Sergio “Fred, may I tell you what happened to me two months ago?” asked Sergio Quinonez. For 15 years, Sergio has been our family friend.

Oceans

The creative genius of the Grand Master’s paintbrush was making two-thirds of our planet, Earth , oceans! How is it possible to be near the ocean, yet never stop to contemplate this miracle?

House to Home

When does a house become a home and a home become a house? All of life experience is both mystery and fascination to me.

This Oughta Do

Danny Glover played a rough, good guy in SILVERADO. Glover wore a pair of six-shooters with many bullets on his over-the-shoulders belt.

The Human Condition, Part 1

Throughout all ages, humankind has debated the innate nature of man. Is man inherently good, or is man inherently evil? This is the crucible life question.

Boy and Man Brotherhood

King Solomon said in Proverbs 27:17 that “Iron sharpens iron” and “a true friend sticks closer than a brother” in Proverbs 18:24. We become more efficient, we are refined as we sharpen each other.

Facial Responsibility

One of the many life-giving stories by President Abraham Lincoln is about his decision not to hire a well-qualified man for a cabinet position. Several colleagues questioned Lincoln.

Home Base (Plate)

“The day basketball season ended, my second love, baseball began. Throwing strikes was my passion.” – Fred Where do you go mentally and or physically when life seems to be sucking the air out of you?

Esperanza Is Hope

Esperanza is HOPE and EXPECTATION . Wonderful words! The picture has a red balloon with a rope tied to an anchor. The red is LOVE , our positive emotion for life. The rope is our FAITH .

Falling Three Times

Failure is thought of as a defeat, a lack of success. It is an event, never a person. Yet, failure can be a stepping stone to success . In this respect, it can become valuable.

Resentment- Palms up Palms Down

Resentment is a signal light telling us to stop or go! Resentment is a gut feeling, telling us something is quite wrong. Resentment ignored turns to bitterness like grapes turn to wine.

Why We Coach

Do we coach for the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat? Or do we coach for the agony of defeat with seldom a thrill of victory? In my view, competitive sports is like real war.

Easy to Come Out

While purification is the coming out, it is not the staying out stage. Staying out is much more difficult. It is easy to come out, harder to stay out .

The Mike Nilson Gonzaga Basketball Story

NEARLY 80,000 VIEWS! On the eve of the Gonzaga Bulldogs NCAA First Round tip-off, I’m reminded that this truly is the greatest sports event in the world. It is called March Madness for a reason.

The Fred Crowell Story

All things work together for good to those who love God (Romans 8:28) is a true reality for these 77 years of my life!

Existential Diagnosis of Self-love, Part 3

How does Self-Love work in the midst of a crisis? This is how it works for me. On January 3, 2014, Dr. Anthony showed me my Pet Scan results.

Catharsis Is Pure, Part 2

C athartic heart surgery can purify the heart physically. There is also a spiritual catharsis that can purify the heart spiritually.

Catharsis Is Pure

Have you heard the word catharsis? Catharsis is the Greek word for purification . It is a cleansing from unnecessary elements. Emotional catharsis is important for a person’s well-being. A cathartic moment can be a wake-up call.

SELF-LOVE, Part 3

At times when we look inside, we will feel marred, flawed, dissatisfied, maybe depressed. It may seem we can’t always look lovely!

Cleaning House, Part 2

It is wise to know inner house cleaning is good for us. It is wise to understand inner house cleaning is good for us. Yet, if we don’t do it, we really don’t know or understand!

Cleaning House, Part 1

Long ago when Latin was the mother tongue, a linguist used the word FEBRUUM, meaning purification. The English translation is February. I hope you have enjoyed your February month.

The Mystery of the Fatherhood of God

It is my personal conviction fatherhood loss is one of the most mental and emotional challenges for a child to overcome . How might this loss have occurred in a child’s life?

SELF-LOVE, Part 2

Self-love is a journey . How wonderful to be able to love ourselves by loving what God loves and forgives.

SELF-LOVE, Part 1

Today, when we hurt, we hear so often to love ourselves more. But what is self-love? Self-love is the introspective prioritization of my importance and acceptance of my real self – at least my positive self.

The Finger of God, Part 2

We all need discernment, especially in decision-making. Here are some examples: Between right and wrong, or between my right and your wrong Between left or right path Between winning or losing Between all or nothing (extremism) Between my…

The Finger of God, Part 1

Today’s culture and government seem to have created a paradoxical polarization. They seem to have created a difficult dilemma for answers. Discussing two different viewpoints often ends up in name calling and character assassination.

Beg and Plead, Part 2

PURIFICATION, HEALTH, ENERGY, ALIVENESS, PASSION . It seems impossible to experience these five miracle life skills if the body is in poor health. Again, it starts with the body.

Beg and Plead, Part 1

Briefly, I share with you a true story of a man whose life was saved because another man begged and pleaded. This other man was God’s ambassador to stand in the gap and save his friend’s life.

17 Minutes – 17 Seconds

17:17 is now my magic number! It replaces 15:00. Why is it magic? It is my ALONE TIME within a personal private place. It is my stop-everything time to bring every thought under control with deep breaths.

Know the Enemy, Part 2

Here is a personal example of facing the No. 1 spiritual enemy. One night I had a horrendous dream. It was so intense and real.

Know the Enemy, Part 1

The art of knowing is a difficult skill to master because it demands exceptional focused attention, intense study and deliberate action. KNOWING is the first crucial step in winning!

The Christ System

It is my personal conviction that Christianity is the greatest of all philosophical, psychological and theological systems . Unfortunately, this miracle system is possibly the poorest taught and least understood.

SEARCH ME – Part 2

Reality Truth : If you accept the message, you will value the messenger; whereas if you reject the message, you will reject the messenger.

SEARCH ME – Part 1

When you seek personal excellence, self-scrutiny is welcomed, not rejected. Is the truth, not a lie, really your goal? Search Me!

Kiss the Edge

Recently, my yoga instructor had her class members in semi-pain as they held a position.

The Christ System: How It Works

There are many brilliant thinkers historically. To name a few, there are Aristotle, Plato, Socrates, Einstein, Augustine, Ignatius, Edison, Franklin. Yet, there is an additional man who deserves strong consideration.

NBC Basketball Camps Coming to Stebbins, Alaska

FEATURING COACH JOYCE WALKER30+ YEARS BASKETBALL EXPERIENCE, 3-TIME KODIAK ALL-AMERICAN, HALL OF FAME HONORS IN THE FOLLOWING: NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL, WASHINGTON BASKETBALL, LSU, AND SEATTLE PUBLIC SCHOOLS SPORTS.

The Plain Pain Truth

Mother speaking to her distraught daughter says, “Sorry, honey we can’t teach pain to stop hurting.” A little boy falls in the bathtub; cuts his forehead; cries out, “Stop the pain, mommy, I’ll be good!” The Pain Truth…

Thank You African Americans

Fifty-four years ago, Martin Luther King, Jr., paid the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity. Yesterday we celebrated his life.

Not Ashamed

Tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. In recent years race relations have become a daily news event. Some believe the USA is at an all-time low in race relations. For some, this is a true statement.

Who Do You Say I Am?

The most important question ever asked of me was in September 1966. “Coach, before I leave, can I ask you a question?” “Yes, of course,” I answered.

Hello My Name is Anger Part 3

Reviewing my past decades of experience serving under men with global influence, almost all of them systematically built their foundation. Then it is perplexing to see the foundation subsequently decimated their own dreams.

Hello My Name is Anger, Part 2

I thought it would be good for my readers to know more about myself and my past history concerning anger.

How Much Does It Cost?

Everybody is selling something. What’s for sale and are we willing to pay the price are critical questions. Years ago, Susie and I pulled into a car dealership to look at cars, not to buy.

Old Man’s Story

Everyone loves a story, especially children! Here is an incredible ancient man’s story. This man’s name is John… John the beloved. Once upon a time, a very long time ago, there lived a boy named John.

Memories

Over 50 years ago Susie King Crowell said to me, “Fred, let’s make great memories because when we are old, all we will have left will be memories.

New Year New Tools, Part 2

In Part 1 of New Year New Tools the solution given for 2019’s potential problems and pitfalls is being REBORN . Some call it being born a second time, or being born again.

New Year New Tools, Part 1

From the beginning of time, we all inherit genetic and character traits as part of our lineage. The four primary character traits given to us at inception are: fear, inferiority, guilt and anger.

Finishing Is Harder Than Starting

Three excellent ways to finish a day, a week, a month, and a year; Gratitude is the best attitude. Gratitude increases performance. Dress your mind in gratitude.

The Smart Start

Is it possible that 2019 could be the best year ever in your entire life? Even if it were remotely possible why not go for it? What do we have to lose? CROWELL’S 2019 GAME PLAN!

Neuro Plasticity

The human brain is the greatest miracle of all creation . There is nothing to compare to it. Modern scientific research is uncovering remarkable new data about its functioning.

Hope – to Help Others!

In my mid-20’s during a powerful training session, a respected leader presented a strong case that words matter . It was then my philosophical and psychological views dramatically changed.

Noel

NOEL is a word born in England and France over 500 years ago, meaning “see what God has done!” It is a joyful expression of the excitement of Christ being born on this earth .

Time Evaporates

Moses said, ”Teach us to number our days.” St. James said, “Your life is like a vapor, here today and gone tomorrow.” The Psalmist said, “Life is as short-lived as grass.

Walking and Living in the Light

“The LIGHT shines in the darkness, and darkness has not overcome it… God is LIGHT ; in Him there is not darkness at all.” “The One who is the true LIGHT , who gives LIGHT to everyone, was…

Good and Upright

“The Lord is good and does what is right,” Psalm 25:8. Today my trustworthy friend, Roger Dorway, of many years sent me these inspiring words: “Another great Psalm for your viewing pleasure is Psalm 25.

Prime over 50

by: Darin Burt / in Prime Living , Spokane CDA Living Fred Crowell, 76 Every winning coach has a game plan and a playbook.

GIVING TUESDAY – A Personal Invitation from Fred Crowell

After Black Friday and Cyber Monday, it’s time to give back! Giving Tuesday is today! It is the charitable counterpart. For us, it is the opportunity to share the gift of influencing youth positively at athletic camps.

Therefore Implies Act Logic, Part 2

At Thanksgiving, we can be grateful for new hearts with new garments to put on. As St.

The Principle and Foundation

If we look into history and today’s humanity, we often see an unknown in life. Here are some examples: Christopher Columbus set sail not knowing where he was going, where he was, when he got there.

Authentic Genuine Love

Sitting in her wheelchair with a dog in her lap, a lady wheeled herself across one of Spokane’s busiest streets.

Seen or Unseen

What you do not see is most often more important than what you see . St. Paul even said to seek the unseen – often the eternal – because the seen is often temporary.

Profile in Courage

If you want to be courageous, you must do courageous acts . When a person is privileged to walk alongside another person of incredible, almost supernatural, courage, all other challenges seem small, insignificant and easily manageable.

The Black Box

The black box is Crowell’s life skills term for depression. When defeating the dreaded enemy, the silent stalker called depression requires both accurate diagnosis and prognosis.

FEAR FACTOR, Part 2

If the word “ fear “ is found at least 80 places in the Bible, I tend to believe God knew the FEAR FACTOR was part of our human nature.

DIAGNOSIS – Ask WHAT not WHY

The first step in problem-solving. Unless you can diagnose the problem it is impossible to fix the problem.

Broken but Not Beaten

A business partner emailed me this week with these words, “You could never fail me–you have already won.” Of course, this was music to my ears and joy to my heart.

Time, Money, Energy

It costs so little to be NICE. Few things in life are more fun and fascinating to me than people. From my earliest days in coaching basketball, motivation has been of keen interest to me.

Start Stop Rule

Chances are if you tell someone to stop doing something, there will be an instinctive resistance. By nature, we resist correction and do not like to be told “No.” True?

Train Children to Win

The idea of teaching – coaching a child to win hit me like a ton of bricks. As a general rule parents are not teaching their children to win. Teachers are not teaching their students to win.

Don’t Hurry – Be Quick

On the basketball court quickness is one of the most important athletic skills. Your quickness in athletics often determines what level of play you can achieve.

Crave the World

Not tobacco, alcohol, drugs, moral failure, apathy, dishonesty, laziness, bitterness, jealousy, anger, anything that takes you away from your full potential. Darrell Garrison Junior second generation NBC student from Bethel Alaska.

Prepare to Be Prepared

Being prepared for momentous sports, business or life events is not enough ! Being prepared to be prepared is the crucial first step to winning.

21 Days of EQ

Hello All Friends of Daily Words of Hope with Fred Crowell The beginning of a new school year is the perfect time to set a goal to learn, grow, and master EQ (Emotional Intelligence) skills.

Destiny Dream Makers

Every child has a destiny. God ordained each child to be His precious miracle. Adults help children discover that miracle and their destiny. There is nothing like a small child.

Time to Give Up

Faith Hill joins Oprah in singing, I SURRENDER ALL . Faith can flat out sing! Oprah not so good. With tears of joy, Oprah tells her story of auditioning for the movie, The Color Purple.

Let God Transform Me

If any man be in Christ he is a new creature old things passed away all things become new. – 2nd Corinthians 5:17 Attempting to change one’s self, this become clear: it is impossible.

Commitment to What? to Whom?

Commitment begins with an act of the will. The difficult challenge is the choice to decide to make the commitment. 50 years ago I learned we have only three choices. Yes, no, or Maybe.

Confidence – with It You Can, Without It You Can’t

Confidence is like a slippery fish – one moment you have it, the next moment you lost it. Confidence makes the act fluid, motionless, and effortless. Confidence covers up lack of talent and trying too hard.

Happiness Results

Happiness is all around us! If we look, we can see a few of these results in others and in ourselves. These people have: More success. More friends. More desire to help. More uncomplicated living.

Expand Your Happiness

For years at NBC Basketball camps, the crucible question I asked was: “Where are you?” The correct response was: “ RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW !” Many say if we spend time living in the past, depression becomes more…

Kindness

The translation of an ancient word for kindness means useful goodness . The ancient Greeks and Romans had a word chréstotés for slaves who went beyond being good.

Inner Strength, Part 5

To find God’s supernatural strength, I need to depend on what He has said. The places in the Bible for the 12 statements I have shared the past few days are: Deuteronomy 33:25 II Chronicles 16:9 Nehemiah 8:10…

Inner Strength, Part 4

Here are four more practical principles regarding God’s inner strength: God’s strength takes me to new heights and new adventures. God’s strength is unwavering when I stay focused on Him.

Inner Strength, Part 3

Here are more discoveries I have made on the inner strength God has promised. God’s strength is lasting even through hard times. God’s strength is often in the quietness and stillness .

Tstvs-life Savings Letters

5 letters to memorize in this order T = TAKE S = SUICIDE T = THREATS V = VERY S = SERIOUSLY Take Suicide threats very seriously!

Life Lessons from Vincent Van Gogh

TO QUALIFY TO BE A CRUCIAL OTHER THEY MUST HAVE A PROVEN TRACK RECORD. Few historical figures inspire me, enlighten me more richly and speak to my inner core than the best artist the world has ever known…

Inner Strength, Part 2

Through my basketball coaching and camp years, I discovered I needed strength beyond measure. You too? I had so many dreams and goals! But I have experienced that God’s strength has become my inner strength.

Inner Strength, Part 1

Where do you find your strength to battle the daily challenges in life? Are you caught in a dust storm of responsibilities, problems, things calling for your attention? Why do we think we are overwhelmed?

Thank God for George Washington

“Soldiers keep by your officers, for God’s sake keep by your officers!” spoke Washington in a deep and soulful voice. It was 21 degrees on December 24-25, 1775. Washington’s army was in shambles, experiencing defeat after defeat.

One Year from Today

PURPOSE in life will keep you alive and well . FULFILLMENT makes it worth it . If these are true statements, then knowing your reason for living is critical and essential for your well-being.

Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part III

To me, desperate times need our desperate action . It seems possible when we righteously hate something evil, we gain power and energy to fight the enemy.

Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part II

Yesterday I shared an email from a kind, knowledgeable lady in Alaska. It inspired me! She questioned my use of the word “hate” regarding suicide, and she had valid reasons.

Extreme Dislike or Strong Distrust, Part I

After preparing the WOH suicide video entitled Why I Hate Suicide , I received the following email from a lovely lady and a mother of one of my finest NBC coaches: “Hi, Mr. Fred. I hear you!

The Crowell Basketball System

THE CROWELL BASKETBALL SYSTEM This logical, organized system of basketball is based on over 50 years of basketball experience. Coach Crowell has learned through competitive coaching experience from the best coaches in the history of basketball.

Love Trumps All