Jesus & the Gospel
Articles mainly about Jesus Christ, salvation, being born again, grace, the cross, Easter and Christmas meaning.
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Solved by Walking
I found my dad’s journal where he is wrestling with what procedures to choose for cancer.
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The Greater Miracle
The word “passion” means to suffer with someone for the sake of love. Christ hanging on the cross out of love for humanity inspired the creation of this important word.
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Love recognizes love
Monet is called the father of Impressionism. The term was coined from the name of his painting “Impression, sunrise”.
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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…
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Reward
I have been thinking about rewards, specifically how are they different from awards and how they are viewed in scripture. Perhaps they are on my mind as I clean out the awards for my mom and dad.
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Love Abundant
God is always surprising us. He is full of compassion and deepest love. How easy it is to ascribe harshness to God. Why is this?
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Reckoning
Hope seems in short measure when we see the violence happening in America. People with masks shooting civilians and dragging children away from parents. Never in my lifetime would I believe this could happen.
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A New Father
One of the greatest losses a child can experience is father loss. Father loss comes in many forms. A three-year-old boy’s father dies in a plane crash.
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Advent
This season as we celebrate Advent, I consider what it means to prepare. What are we preparing? We prepare food, a place for guests to stay, we prepare presents, decorations, traveling accommodations, and schedules.
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Contemplating Compassion
Two passages of scripture have been resonating in my mind. The first is Jesus healing the widow’s only son and not only healing but raising him from the dead.
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Forgiven and Forgiving
Look at this beautiful interaction Jesus has with both a Pharisee and a woman in the Book of Luke.
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Why Jesus
I sense that some people from other sports industries look with disdain at me on any praise delivered to “Jesus” as though I am delivering something fanatical or cultish.
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Salvation Joy
There is nothing like watching someone experience salvation joy. Last week, a young coach stopped by our office. His face glowed, he smiled ear to ear, and there was an inner light.
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Moved
I love listening to stories of scripture. I spend time with the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus tells this story in response to a question about how we should be living our life.
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The Miracle of Hope
My dad loved his mother. She was the saving grace in a home full of pain and suffering. Her death profoundly influenced my dad. He became agnostic for a while because of it.
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Servant Leadership
Leading up to Easter, our church participated in a foot washing service in remembrance of Jesus washing the feet of His disciples.
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Divine Imagination
In the Bible study Shann and I are part of, this week’s task is to spend time with a 10 year vision of what God is doing in your life and what He is asking of you.
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Meditating on Comfort
There is a bridge in Prague that is one of the most famous in the world. Near one end is a metal statue, most of the others are entirely of stone.
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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.
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The Cost of Love
One of my favorite things to do is go to a beautiful church and pray. If Shann and I are together and we are the only ones in the church, we will sing together.
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The Right Path
I recently met a man who is wrestling with his faith. He is skeptical yet wants to believe. He is reading a variety of religious texts because he fears making a wrong decision.
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Closet Prayer
I love C.S. Lewis. I just read a book about his friendship and struggles with J.R.R. Tolkien. They lost some of their joy for one another toward the end of their lives.
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Which Side?
The word challenge originally meant to accuse. Have you ever been accused? I think about Christ standing on trial. Witnesses attempted to bring accusations against Him, but they kept contradicting their testimony.
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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.
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Finding Hope
One of the stories Dad and I loved came from an experiment designed to see how well people can spot talent.
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Reclamation Instead of Regret
I have been considering how regret is a stronger emotion than gratitude. Regret can overrun our desire for gratitude. It can invade our thoughts and interrupt our thankfulness.
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Meditation on the Cross
A friend of mine posted on Facebook a description of the physical suffering of Jesus on the cross. I never realized the loss of blood is why water poured from his side.
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Awakened
I met with a beautiful friend about grief . She asked me about my journey with Dad’s death and how it has affected me. “Like a major car wreck, like a life altering experience,” I explained.
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Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
My husband Shann was speaking recently to a group of people describing his life before Christ came to him with healing power.
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Handling Evil
I have heard two sermons now on the devil. They are both wildly confusing and humbling stories. The first is about Job.
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The Radiant Exchange
One of the questions we have been meditating on in the office is, “What do you believe God wants to help you remove or release in your life that would allow you to more freely experience His abiding…
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Death is Strange
My mom’s good friend died last week. She was in her early seventies and the epitome of health. Last March, she and mom vacationed together. They lifted weights, walked every day, ate healthy, and enjoyed each other.
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Good News
Dad and I loved the story of Joseph. It is such a fascinating consideration for me. Joseph, annoying, openly, and shamelessly favored.
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Welcoming Mind
I am so often surprised by Jesus and I want to know more about His interactions on earth. The story that is shocking me right now is His meeting with the Samaritan woman at the well.
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Inside Out Faith
I keep thinking about many Christian churches and schools I have witnessed in my life. Here is one thing I deeply admired about my dad. He believed that Christianity should change us.
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Peace on Earth
Recently, I had a waking vision of my dad. I was walking on the treadmill, praying through the Pray as You Go app. I saw Dad walking toward me, hugging me and welcoming me.
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Time for Good News
I am often surprised by sorrow. I didn’t realize how many different shades of sadness I could experience. Small moments trigger me, and I am often triggered, especially when people say something to me about my dad.
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Stories That Save Us
When you read or listen to the stories, the ones that deeply change and transform us are the ones with the great themes of life at their core. Struggle, redemption, betrayal, forgiveness, death, and resurrection.
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Easter Story
I am in love with Christianity, but I am also overwhelmed by all the trauma and bloody history this word represents.
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Good Friday
One of the gifts God has given me is a reframing of what I define as good. It’s been a long life lesson. I believe the disciples learned this lesson.
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Overturning
Does anger change us? Jesus opens his ministry after the wedding miracle with anger. I identify with this. Wanting to move the church with righteous indignation and sweep out all the offending people and practices.
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Can Love Exist Without Sacrifice?
During our mealtime conversation, my husband Shann asked how the idea of God sacrificing His son on our behalf moves us? It is a profound consideration.
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Solid Rock
The words from the hymn, “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand,”rang through my mind this morning. Dad loved this song. I can hear him trying to sing it.
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Sifted
I have been meditating on a few lines I heard in my devotional about Peter and the devil. Jesus says, “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat.
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Remember Me
I read an evocative post about the thief hanging on the cross. He did not get baptized. He didn’t do anything most churches classify as salvation.
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Navigating Resentment
I have been pondering a message Brene Brown gave on resentment. She explains that resentment stems from envy rather than anger. This would have been an incredible conversation with Dad. I imagine our dialogue.
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Good News
Dad and I memorized a beautiful poem by Wendell Berry. One of the poignant lines says, “when despair for the world grows in me…” Despair is the opposite of hope.
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Wrong Direction
My car was turned the wrong direction when we were leaving the house. It was facing the direction leading to my mom and dad’s home.
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Repeat the Sounding Joy
We love Christmas music at the Ferch house. One of my new favorites is Aretha Franklin’s “Joy to the World.” I just heard it for the first time this year.
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The Kingdom of God is Now
I was praying about what to write in Words of Hope and I kept feeling asked to write the Kingdom of God is now.
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Worth the Pain
I have been missing Dad so much lately. I walked by a neighborhood bench where he liked to sit and pray and shocked myself by bursting into tears. They came without warning.
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Accused and Accuser
Jesus always touches me. I am reading about His interaction with the Pharisees and the woman caught in adultery. He takes a woman who had done wrong. She was morally guilty, and He showed her forgiveness.
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Caretaker
I asked Mom what she would like to say in Words of Hope as my Dad’s caretaker for over twelve years. I think caretaking might be even more grueling than having cancer.
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Dogging Dogmatism Part 1
Dad had an expansive faith. He rooted his faith in both firm convictions and deepest wonder and awe. One of his good friends has strong opinions about faith, so absolute and dogmatic.
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Acquainted with Grief
We are approaching the one-year anniversary of my Dad’s death. I can feel the sorrow rising in me. I am quick to tears; my bones feel heavy, and my sleep is more troubled.
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Condemning the Guiltless
I love listening to the Pray as You Go app. The other day one of the scriptures asked us to ponder the story of Jesus talking with the Pharisees.
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Reconciling All Things
My oldest daughter and her husband, Tim, came to town, and on our last day together, we asked, “What is one way you see the beauty of the mystery of Christ in your marriage?” One of my favorite…
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Admirable Faith
My dear friend Josh met Dad in Hawaii. Josh brought his daughter to camp and spent the days watching the coaches and observing. He had drifted away from God, his family, and his life purpose.
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You said. I Believe.
CeCe Winans song Believe For It heals me. She has a bridge where she sings, “You said. I believe. You said it is done.” I love considering this. The great faith that amazed Jesus.
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True testimony
I celebrated Easter at my Mom and Dad’s church. It was my Mom’s first Easter without Dad.
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A Better Person
The slogan for NBC Camps is better players, better people. Dad and I talked about relentlessly pursuing excellence in life without leading to perfectionism and burnout.
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Thy Will Be Done
Dad loved Easter and Good Friday. Dad loved the stations of the cross and would meditate at each spot. He especially loved the stations of the cross at the Grotto in Portland.
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He’s Alive
One of the first concerts I attended was in Birmingham, Alabama. It was Don Francisco live. My mom and Dad took me to the show. We loved his music, and my all-time favorite song was He’s Alive.
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Start with the Necessary
Dad and I loved Francis of Assisi. He is one of my favorite people. One of the quotes I love is, “Start by doing what is necessary; then do what’s possible, and suddenly you are doing the impossible.”…
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The Body Remembers
One day, I was wiping down the bathroom sink. Focused and intensely absorbed in my work, I didn’t hear my oldest daughter Natalya come into the room. She came up behind me and hugged me.
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Tears of Christ
Watching the war in Ukraine has been devasting. The cruelty of Putin, the shocking images of destruction, the terror that feels palpable around the globe.
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Kintsugi
One of the reasons to travel to Mumbai was the opportunity to work with amazing artists to bring Kintsugi experience to social service workers, pastors, and counselors.
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Communion
Our family has been visiting different churches as our church of many years disbanded before Covid. We have been watching the church Natalya goes to in New York online, as well as Ariana’s church in Oklahoma.
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Transformation
We went to a new church nearby our house today and they were doing baptisms. One of the women shared she had been raised in an unloving home.
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The Third Option
Dad loved Jesus’s response to the Pharisees. They often tried to trap Jesus. He frequently faced either/or no-win decisions by them but Jesus offers the third option. Consider, for instance, the woman caught in adultery.
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Is
I have been wrestling with language around my Dad’s death. I don’t like to say I lost my Dad because I didn’t lose him. I have full confidence I know where he is.
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The God of All Comfort
My Dad believed fully in Christ and in His resurrection power. He did not fear death but trusted implicitly in the message that the dead in Christ shall be raised.
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People of the Way
Dad hated God when he was young. He vowed he would never pray or cry again after his Mom died. He was filled with anger and turned away from God.
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From Fred’s Daughter Jennifer
Fred Crowell passed away on Wednesday, August 11, at around 7:40 pm. Fred is my Dad, and I’ve had the unparalleled blessing of being raised by such a devoted and loving father.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.”…
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Principle of Problem Solving
Albert Einstein believed you could not solve a problem with the same level of consciousness that created it.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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 .
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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…
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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 .
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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.
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.…
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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 .
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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.
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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.
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For Sale
Everybody is selling something. The questions are what are they selling and what is the cost?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.”…
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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.
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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.
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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!
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SELF-LOVE, Part 2
Self-love is a journey . How wonderful to be able to love ourselves by loving what God loves and forgives.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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 .
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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…
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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.
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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.
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9-11 and the EAR to HEAR
9-11-18 The Day written upon our hearts that marks the greatest tragedy known to our Nation! So many have forgotten or have never known because they were young!
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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.
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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…
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The Separator
A well-dressed, married couple knocked at my daughter’s front door. “Hello, we want to invite you to an exciting, life-changing event.” This invitation led to a 45-minute conversation.
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Heavy Water – Weightless Grace
One gallon of water weighs 8.34 pounds. Grace weighs less than a feather. Key statement: it was not until I passed through the Panama Canal on a 1,000-foot ship with over 2,300 passengers did I realize the enormous…
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Cup of Joy Overflowing, Part IV
As a basketball coach, how can you lose 75-72 to a top U.S. collegiate team in the last 15 seconds of a game and still be happy?
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The Human Condition Part 2
After two fantastic years as head basketball coach at the University of Alaska, I excepted a doctoral fellowship at the University of New Mexico.
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NBC Camps Maui, 2011
NBC Camps Maui, 2011 Attended my first NBC Camp with my daughter that I love. I thought the camp was for her. I was wrong.
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Tonight’s big win at OCU.
Had an amazing motivation message prior to the game from my close friend Coach Fred Crowell. Fred has a unique gift of helping young men see their destiny!
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Crucible Life Event
Looking back over your entire lifetime, was there a single experience that would be classified as a crucible event? One of the definitions of the word crucible is the overcoming a trial or difficult circumstance.
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Ultimate Truth or Ultimate Lie
If my life is dedicated to the proposition that Jesus was the ultimate truth teller, then my belief system is based on the most profound story ever told. It is a story of the ultimate miracle.
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When Intellect & Emotions Collide
“Life stands still when head and heart disagree.” The must see movie, Risen , took me back to the most difficult, challenging decision of my young life.
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Puppy Love – Human Love
It’s amazing how quickly puppies learn to love the one who serves them with food and continuous attention. In the human realm, nothing compares to the sacrifice of laying your life down for another.
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God Is Not Dead
What would it mean to you; how would your life be different if it were proven without dispute as an absolute fact that God was dead? As a 5 year old, my hero was Santa Claus.
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Be Strong, Be Brave
In the wee hours of this morning, it seemed crystal clear the challenge before me is to be strong & brave. I expected Matthew 14 to have a teaching point for me on forgiveness. Not so!
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The Big Mistake
“O God I killed the wrong thing.” In 50 years of life experience with suicide, it is becoming very clear from actual experiences with clients that the deception with suicide is that killing the body does not solve…
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Being Made Right
In Romans chapter four, Apostle Paul rhetorically presents a dynamic question. WHAT DID HE (Abraham), discover about being made right with God? This question popped off the pages.
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The Gift of Gethsemane
Chapter 26, the converted tax collector, Levi, turned to the apostle Mathew, takes us to the olive grove called Gethsame. As I use His precious gift IMAGINATION I place myself with Matthew seated by a fire.
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The Bad Ol’ Days
Newsflash, history repeats itself. In my lifetime I’ve never seen the world in such terrible shape as it is today. I fear for our future.
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Today’s Pain Can Be Tomorrow’s Gain
“You raise me up to more than I can be.” -Josh Groban I vividly remember the first time I had to deal with a person who attempted suicide. The year was 1964.
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Brand Spanking New
Never used before, smells new, clean as a whistle, fresh, one of a kind, made just for you… no wonder people like brand spanking new .
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Absolutely – Absolutamente!
Key Statement: Words you say, are far more important than the words you think. You create your world by the words of your mouth.
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How to Find God
Jesus said, “Come unto me as a young child.” This young boy gives us the essence of finding God.
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Who Is Your Head Coach?
Fact is, everyone has a head coach! The critical question? Is your head coach worthy of your total allegiance?
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Philosophy – Belief System
Philo means to love. Sophy means to study. Life means to live. The study of loving life is never boring, sometimes scary to explore, very mysterious, truly fascinating, too often neglected, and seldom or poorly taught.
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Protect Your Teams
The name of the game is unity. It starts in the home. Life was not meant to be a lived alone; even my favorite childhood hero, the Lone Ranger, had Tonto whom he affectionately called Kimosabe.
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God’s Grading System
“Teachers first instruct, then examine you. God examines you, then instructs you.” In the winter of 1966, I said, “Yes.” After months of deliberation, I made the profound decision to ask the Lord Jesus Christ into my life…
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Motivation Is an Engine
Fuel is the energy source of every motivation. Metaphorically motivation is an engine. No fuel no motivation.
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Who Is Greatest?
2000 years ago they asked Jesus, “Who is the greatest?” Seems to me humans are obsessed with knowing the greatest. Ali said he was the greatest boxer of the day; now Meriweather lays claim.
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A Child Is Born
“Dad I never knew how much you loved me until Kingston was born.” – Jay Crowell For unto us a child is born, Unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder.
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Weightless Grace
For by grace we have been saved through faith not of works lest any man should boast. – Paul The Christian faith presents many paradoxes, which initially to the newcomer of the faith don’t make sense.
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Building Snow People – Building a Better Me
If any man be in Christ, he is a new creature; old things are passed away all things become new. When my granddaughter built her snowman, I was really impressed with her imagination and her skill.
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Rescued
Who is most grateful? The one rescued or the one who does the rescuing? Going back to the four pillars that form the foundation for one’s belief system: Control your Environment – choice of people.
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Made Right with God
“How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news.” – St. Paul Today in reading Romans 10, I join Paul’s longing in his heart for people to be saved.
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Live Backwards Spells Evil
“Evil destroys life.” No chapter in the Bible has impacted me more than Paul’s Godly wisdom in Romans 6 where he teaches us to no longer be slaves to evil.
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Just Say Yes
“Do what you can with what you have left.” – Jay Carty Thank you Jay Carty for answering the questions to Words of Hope. Jay is in the Fred Crowell Hall of Fame book for spiritual giants.
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The Rock
Hello Special Friend among a legion of Fred Crowell friends. Meet the Crowell Cornerstone Rock of Rocks.
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VICTORY OVER DEPRESSION – a true story
We all need stories of victory. The following story is, indeed, remarkable. It verifies the powerful impact one person’s love can have on another. A caring sister saved a life. Oxygen is encouragement. Encouragement is oxygen.
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FUNERAL – Victory or defeat?
“Death where is thy victory, where is thy Sting?” – Paul Saturday was a funeral day for the Crowells. Hundreds came to celebrate the life of Dr.
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The New War on Cancer
“We may finally be winning the battle to turn what was once a deadly diagnosis into a disease that can be controlled and cured.” – AARP Bulletin, March 2016 This AARP edition caught my attention!
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You Just Got Crowelled
Scott Rueck, sensational women’s basketball coach at Oregon State coined “ Got Crowelled .” Scott was a master coach at an NBC Camp in Hawaii a few years ago.
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Faith Brings Joy Made Right
I marvel studying the world of dogs. Much more than cats, I understand dogs; they are predictable.
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New York City – WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO SIN?
For a boy who grew up in a small Washington state town, the Big Apple can be overwhelming.
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Put Away Your Sword
A lesson from Matthew 26 Imitation is the FATHER OF LEARNING At a crucial moment, when Jesus was being arrested, he told Peter to put away his sword. Sports camps can be challenging businesses. Competition is tough.
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A date with Fairbanks, Alaska
My buddy the ex tax collector turned apostle won’t be asked for wisdom from me today, today St. Matthew gets a day off.
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No More Question Thursday
MATTHEW 17 Jesus clearly is the master of the popular “Socratic Method of teaching.” Using questions to discover knowledge, understanding, and most importantly wisdom.
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WEDDINGS: “Getting married is like swallowing the sun”.
MATTHEW 22 Again Jesus speaks to us about an important life principle in a parable.
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No Expectation Sunday
Today, this 13th day of a Spokane “Indian Summer,” is no expectation Sunday! My firm resolve is to reduce all expectations from others for one entire day. In addition, I will reduce all expectations from me.
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Marvelous Monday
Marvelous day? Why? Because it is a new day Because it is a new week Because it is the last day of the month Because it is an opportunity to really live Because we can exercise the gifts…
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Sacred Sunday
Today is a pajama day. (Many years ago Jay loved pajama days). Welcome rains are cleansing showers for smoke filled skies and respiratory relief for all.
