Today at the radio backyard fence.

It is a celebration of good people.

Do you know anybody who fits that category?

Know any good people?

You're going to hear the story of what a girls basketball coach did.

Someone from an opposing team said of him, not everyone would do that.

Well, what did he do?

And what did his team decide?

That not every team would have done.

You're going to find out straight ahead on Chris Fabry live the program from the heart to the heart for the heart.

And I want you to hear the story Coach King is going to tell and be thinking of how you would respond in that same situation.

And then I'm going to give you a chance.

Maybe we'll hear about other good people today on Chris Fabry Live.

Let me thank the good people who helped bring you this program.

Each day.

Ryan McConaughey is doing all things technical.

Trish is our producer.

Tall Josh will be answering your calls.

Lisa, I see Lisa around and since it's Friday.

That's right.

It's time, friend for the fabulous February Friday.

Sigh what does it do, Chris?

One we oxygenate your blood.

Two we get your endorphins going.

Three we raise your serotonin level.

Four we promote lymphatic drainage and five we stimulate your parasympathetic system.

That's why we call it the five lung languages.

We also stimulate your vagus nerve.

We help you release acetylcholine.

And don't you dare forget what it does to cortisol dissipation.

Taking four seconds of air right now through your nose.

Hold it for seconds.

And then as you release that air through your mouth, push on the left side of your rib cage to get rid of all that bad carbon dioxide today.

Give a sigh for the good people, you know, people of integrity who don't just think of themselves, they think of others.

The older man or woman who gets to park in the disabled spot but still returns the shopping cart to the corral.

That's good people for the child caught on the ring doorbell camera who went to the pumpkin on the front step, took a piece of candy, then came back, took candy from his trick or treat bag and filled up the empty pumpkin for somebody else.

That's good people.

And I bet he learned that from somebody.

Do you know any good people?

Do you know anyone who goes the extra mile?

The fabulous favorite Friday night is brought to you by the society for the Preservation and Promulgation of Good People.

All rights reserved.

Void where prohibited.

Let me first recognize a good people.

A man named Steve Hartman of CBS news.

I don't know how many times I've.

I've watched his reports on the road.

Every time, every story.

Doesn't matter what it is.

I get tears in my eyes watching his reports.

And part of it is that it reminds me of Charles Kuralt and the stories that he would bring forth in another epoch, stories that are there, the people who are all around us, and we just don't see them because we are going so fast and we're so busy.

So, Steve, here's my invitation for you to join me at the back fence someday on October 10th, which is a week ago, Steve took us to Oklahoma City, and one of the people he featured was Coach King.

Brendan King is the North athletics coordinator and girls high school basketball coach at the Academy of Classical Christian Studies in Oklahoma City.

He studied sports management at Oklahoma Christian University.

He is from Granbury, Texas originally.

Brendan, how are you doing today?

I'm great.

How are you?

Chris?

I'm doing well, especially since I get to talk with the likes of you.

You good people.

You okay?

So this state tournament championship game that your girls played in happened in February of last year.

Why am I just hearing about it now?

Man, it has really taken off as of recent.

Caught some national media attention, but um, it's crazy.

The new season has rolled around and we're getting to reflect a little bit on how last season ended.

So thankful to be here with you guys today.

Okay.

Tell me about your team and leading up to the championship.

You must have worked hard all that year to get there.

We did, we did.

We had a very long season.

Um, we were just a very young program, just being in our fourth year, last year of a girls varsity program at our school.

So, uh, we had a big senior class, a very, uh, senior driven team, which was great to have.

It's always awesome to have leadership on the team and a very long season.

We had played a very difficult schedule.

Winning a lot of close games and building up to this playoff game is kind of the most important and what we had looked forward to.

So okay, so step back.

Why Brendan King, have you always wanted to coach basketball?

I have, I have it was a passion of mine, always playing sports.

Growing up, some of the most influential people in my life were coaches and teachers.

So I look at it as a way to pay that, pay that forward to the next generation.

Um, growing up, those coaches were so special in my life.

And, um, I'm absolutely loving coaching girls basketball here today.

Okay.

So you play the game and you get into I mean it's a it's a really, really close game the whole time the championship right.

Yes.

Yeah.

So we came into that game a little bit of the underdog.

I don't think we were expected to play as closely as uh as we did so.

And at the very end there is this three pointer and you see on the scoreboard 44 to 43 and everybody jumps.

What was your feeling at that point at that moment.

Yeah.

Like I said, very exciting time that we were able to share together with our team.

Um, being the underdogs of that game.

It's kind of that dream like scenario.

Every kid draws up when they want to hit that buzzer beating shot, counting down from three to 2 to 1.

And sure enough, that basket went in with just about one second left.

And we were able to celebrate that district championship together as a team.

And this is what Steve Hartman does so well.

And I you can't replicate it here because it's an interview, but he does it so well.

To build everything up is like.

And here was the winning shot and everything was great.

But everything wasn't great because you had this feeling.

When did you first get the feeling?

Yeah.

So throughout that fourth quarter, um, with just about two minutes in the game, to add a little bit more context, there was a scoring discrepancy where the scoreboard score did not match the score book, which was at the official table.

So after about a five minute delay within the game, they come to realize that the official score book at the table is the score that we needed to go by, which resulted in adding two additional points to our score.

Um, so fast forwarding to the end of that game, when we hit that three point shot, it had us victorious by one point.

Um, but when you take off the two points that we were incorrectly rewarded, um, we lost by one point.

So why were you given the two points?

Uh, do you remember?

So I do remember there was an instance in the fourth quarter where I believe a basket it looked to go in and there was a lot of cheering from the crowd.

So our scorebook operator had accidentally incorrectly rewarded us a basket.

So little did we know that that two point basket would come down to adding to this controversy and ultimately end up having us lose the game by one point?

That makes sense.

Okay, so the the final score was 44 to 43.

Subtract two from 44 and you got 42, which is one point behind.

So Apache really won.

You didn't know that though until you went back and you looked at the tape that night, right?

Correct.

Yeah.

So once the shot went in, we were able to celebrate that with our team and our families.

And it was really such a special moment, kind of going into the locker room and giving that postgame talk as a coach and just telling the girls how proud I am of them and how hard they have worked.

And it was upon leaving the locker room when I kind of got that feeling in my stomach that I was just concerned and I needed to know whether we won that game for sure or not.

So later that evening, after returning home, I sat down and rewatched the game tape through two full times, and as that was happening on the side, I had a notepad that I was jotting down every made basket from a one point shot to a two point shot to a three point shot, recording those makes.

After watching the game through one time, I realized that the final score should have been 4342.

But just by coincidence, I said I could have messed up.

So I watched it through a second full time, and sure enough, the score was supposed to be 4342.

Apache winning that game.

Did you tell anybody that you were going to do that?

I did not.

I left the night.

Really.

Just me and my wife left together.

We were super excited to be able to celebrate this night.

But again, I had that feeling and that urge that I wanted to know for certain that we had earned this district championship and that we were moving on.

And later that night, my wife was kind of there with me, and I ended up staying up just till about 1 a.m.

in the morning, before I was able to watch that game through two times and come to realize that we actually had lost the game.

And you got to get up and go to church the next day, you know.

And so here you are poor.

I was going to ask you about because your wife is Kristen.

Um, and so did she have an opinion about this?

She was following the game, right?

Right.

Yeah.

She was able to be there with us and to celebrate the game.

Uh, with that being a late night early into Sunday morning, we really just prayed about it before we went to bed and slept on it.

When I woke up the next morning is when we decided that we were going to make a phone call to our athletic administration.

I wanted to make sure that they were aware of the scoring error, and then we were able to call our local organization, which is the Ossaa, and report that scoring error to them.

And we took full accountability and acceptance that it was our mistake and that we should have not been the winners of that game.

Um, that night.

So, okay.

So that's a little different wrinkle in it because it's the official scorer was was from you were providing the official score in the book with someone.

Correct.

Okay.

All right.

That makes a lot of sense okay.

So then you let me take our break and we'll come back and find out what happens next.

Because what happens next I think, is the tip of the spear.

It is the most important part of the story.

We're talking with Brendan King.

Coach King from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and his girls basketball team was crowned the winner, the victor, the champions.

But wait, hang on.

They lost the game.

So what happened?

You'll find out straight ahead.

This is Chris Fabry live on Moody Radio.

We're talking with a the coach of the girls high school basketball team at the Academy of Classical Christian Studies in Oklahoma City.

Coach Brendan King, you've heard a little of what happened.

They played the championship game.

They won by one point.

But upon further review, he realized Brendan realized, wait, we didn't win the game.

We we actually lost by a point.

What do we do now?

Um, now, the rules state that once the game is final, once once everybody, the lights are turned off and you walk away and the refs go, that's it.

The you.

It doesn't matter if somebody made a mistake or not.

That's the score.

Is that true?

Correct.

Yeah.

That is.

Both teams are agreeing that mistakes are made throughout the game and when a game is over, um, technically they're supposed to be no protest or contest towards it.

So technically.

Technically.

Okay.

So you on that next day called a team meeting With the girls.

With the girls.

This was on a Sunday.

And normally you don't meet on a Sunday, right?

Correct?

Yes.

Yeah.

The girls were very surprised that their basketball coach, uh, myself, had called together a meeting Sunday after church, um, about our playoff game.

They really were unaware of what was going on.

So.

And this is where I think the real story is you went to them and you told them what had happened.

How did they respond?

What was the look on their faces when they learned this?

Right.

Yeah.

We were all able to circle up in a group and similar as the story had been told, I had let them know of that scoring discrepancy, what had happened.

And at first I think we just kind of sat there and soaked in the moment because we realized how hard we had worked to get to this point and that we were crowned champions the night before.

And we sat there in silence for a little bit, and then a few questions were asked, just double checking to see if there's any rulings in the rule book that would, um, kind of overturn this or not.

And after coming together upon review and just hearing my senior leaders talk, we were able to come together and decide that this was the best decision to make for us and our program to represent ourselves and our school, and just as followers of Christ, to act in the way as Jesus would.

And we were come together.

Um, I loved having the backing of my players and my coaches that this was the decision we needed to make to give the trophy to Apache.

See, you're going to give that trophy now.

Did anybody say no?

Not the players.

But did any parent see because there's probably parents in the stands scratching their heads about the score too.

You know, they may have seen something.

Did any parent say, look, coach, keep be quiet about this.

Nobody has to know this.

This is, you know, just just keep this to yourself.

Did anybody say that to you?

They did not.

That was one thing that I was actually thankful for.

And I think part of that was the Holy Spirit just working in my heart is I never felt that.

I never had the urge or never felt to not say a word about the scoring issue.

I always thought that this was the right decision to be made.

And again, when we met together as a team the next day and having the backing and the support of my players and my coaching staff, I knew 100% in our hearts that this was the right thing to do.

When you went then to the the Representatives, I don't know what you call them to the governing body.

And you said, you know, here's the deal.

What did they say?

Yeah.

So we made a phone call to them Sunday and just explained the situation.

We had made that scoring error and we were taking complete accountability for that mistake.

And they heard our phone call and took our listen.

And then we were able to send that also over to them in email, just so that they could have documentation of this is what was going to happen.

Ultimately, after hearing our statement and connecting with Apache on the other side, they were able to rescind our district championship win, which did Crown Apache, the champions of the night?

And then did you take the trophy over and give it to the team?

We did.

It was a very eventful 48 hours again upon after meeting with the team and the Ossaa rescinding our win.

My wife and I, we drove just about an hour and a half south of Oklahoma City to Apache, where they were practicing on a Sunday, and I was able to hand deliver that trophy to their team coach, Amy Meriwether.

And they were super grateful and just excited that they were able to have that trophy.

And I kind of gave them a small speech and just told them that I would never take that moment away from them, that we would have never made that scoring error out of any ill will.

And I was sorry that we had to take that moment away from their team, because I know celebrating that championship with your friends, with your family, with your teammates, your coaches, that's a special time for these high school players.

I want to play.

Uh, Ryan.

Get ready.

The second Hartman clip.

I want to play just the clip.

This is one of your players speaking.

And then you'll hear some from Apache.

Hi.

This is from CBS On the Road with Steve Hartman.

It would have felt wrong, I think, to have taken the trophy regardless.

Yeah, it was a really good teaching moment for us to just be like, this is not the whole point.

Which is why this academy team made the unprecedented decision to appeal their own crowning victory, ask it be taken away and awarded to their competition, Apache High School.

The league agreed and Coach King hand-delivered the championship plaque.

Just really special that he came out and did that.

Not everyone would have done that.

Apache coach Amy Meriwether says her team is glad to have the title, but even happier for the hope that came with it.

He showed us, You know, there are still good people in this world.

It's something we'll always remember.

Champions.

All.

Steve Hartman on the road in Oklahoma City.

When you hear that.

And again, there it is.

And there's something about Steve's voice, too.

There's just something that captures all of that.

But when you hear it put that way on a national stage, coach King, what do you think?

Yeah, I think I was able to experience that raw emotion just from my team in the moment of being able to celebrate that win.

But again, when I was able to hand deliver that trophy to Apache, it was very emotional.

They had seniors on the team that thought that they were not going to be able to celebrate that district championship, so when I was able to hand that trophy over to their team, it really meant a lot to them and to their program.

They had a very long season and worked just as hard as our girls did, so being able to see the emotion from these high school students and just seeing the impact that coaches have on the lives of these kids is is very special for you.

What is the lesson you walk away with?

One thing that we preach often is having good sportsmanship and through good sportsmanship, I believe, is having integrity.

And I always believe in doing the right thing, no matter what the outcome is, whether it's rewarding our team a district championship, or if it is in the opposition of us not being successful from that specific game.

But I think the lesson that was learned throughout this moment in time, and the lesson that these players were able to carry forward, is much bigger than any trophy will be worth to them.

Yeah.

Um, Jesus talked about the truth setting you free.

And there's a lot of ways that you can interpret that.

A lot of life situations in this situation.

Did the truth set you free?

I think it did.

It was we came together the next Monday for practice, and we had felt like this decision that we had made had just elevated us and made us feel even more like we had done the right thing, ultimately moving on to the next round of the playoffs.

But having that integrity and showing and standing up for ourselves, but also just representing our school and representing as a follower of Christ, that our actions are matching what we speak and what we preach.

It really went a long way for my team.

There's a there's another verse I'm going to talk about good people of Proverbs 220 but in Psalm 15 it says, it asks, O Lord, who shall sojourn in your tent?

Who shall dwell on your holy hill?

And it talks about he who walks blamelessly, and does what is right, and speaks truth in his heart, who doesn't slander with his tongue.

And it goes on, who honors the Lord?

Who fears the Lord?

And then it says, who swears to his own hurt and does not change.

And I asked Doctor Michael, could we have Bible questions here?

They're coming back next week.

By the way, friends.

I What does that mean?

Who swears to his own hurt and does not change?

He said basically somebody who keeps a promise, even when it hurts to keep the promise, or someone who tells the truth, even when it hurts you to speak that truth.

And that's what happened.

It did hurt to have to give that away.

But since it was the truth, there was a release there.

There was a surrender, right?

Right.

Yeah, 100%.

I think that we had just seen how hard we had worked throughout that season to achieve our goal of winning that district championship.

And like you said, in the moment when we met as a team and we made the decision to give that trophy back, it did hurt to have that physical plaque and have to give it away to Apache.

But when we knew in our hearts that this was a decision that we needed to make to represent our school and our our team and our program, we knew that this was the right thing to do.

But isn't that the thing about organized sports?

And I've seen this a limited way in my own life and then lived out in with the kids that I have and others.

Um, it's not that, you know, we may remember that past that made, you know, the touchdown that was scored and everything.

It's more the relationships.

It's the things that you remember are the lesson that you learn in the trenches, in the in the hard times.

And these girls, my guess is they will never forget that 100%.

And I think our culture nowadays just preaches winning and winning at a high level.

And I'm the first one to say, Chris, I'm a very competitive person.

The girls that I coach are very competitive.

They want to win every single game.

Um, but I think having good sportsmanship and having integrity should be right there on a pedestal next to winning and winning at a high level.

So, um, super thankful that these girls again, I had their backing and they trusted in their coach that this was a decision that we needed to make and to hand that trophy back to Apache.

Here is my guess.

Someone lived this kind of life in front of you, somebody you respect and you have watched, gave you a vision or a number of people, gave you a vision that showed you the importance of integrity and telling the truth and being a good sport and becoming good people.

Am I right?

Yeah, 100%, Chris.

And I think an easy answer is your parents.

But also I would just say that I think the coaches growing up in my life had showed me what it's like to be a coach and what it is to stand for, and how I'm supposed to live out that daily life of being a coach.

So I had a lot of coaches throughout my middle school, high school, and even college journey when I was able to play basketball.

And those coaches specifically, I just I give them thanks and honor.

And I just texted with my former high school coach and I said, thank you for helping me become the man that I am today.

And those coaches played a very vital role in, in my life.

So yes.

And and I want to make it clear that you're not coming on here because, you know, it's it's Brendan King Day, and, you know, we're lifting you up.

It's like, this is just if you make good choices in your life and you follow the way of good people, this kind of thing will bubble up, surface in your life.

And let's say this, let's say you had made the choice.

You know, you're the only one who's keeping looking at that score and keeping track of it.

And you thought, I don't want to.

This is this is too hard.

I don't want to have the person who made the mistake.

You know, I don't want to bring this to light, etcetera, etcetera.

And we're just going to keep this quiet.

You you couldn't live with that, you know, somewhere down the road it would bubble back up, wouldn't it?

For sure.

And I think that would have been a very difficult situation to be in.

I think that's an easy way that Satan kind of creeps into your life.

And again, being filled with the Holy Spirit.

And I think that night that the spirit spoke to me and that this was the right decision to make.

I think there's many coaches nowadays that might have just batted an eye towards that mistake, and not a word would have been said, but that's not something that I would have been able to live by.

And I think, again, just being a follower of Christ, that my actions need to match those of Christ, and I need to be living my daily life to glorify him and to bring light into this dark world.

So again, I'm super thankful for the decision that was made, super thankful the way that the situation played out.

Um, but if I could have went back and done it again, there's there's no, no chance that I would have made any different decision.

Thanks for being faithful with that story too, Brendan.

Even though it's been you know, it's been a few months and it's just now coming to the to the surface in a lot of people's minds.

And some people are hearing it for the first time here.

Thanks for for sharing that story.

God bless you friend.

Thank you Chris I appreciate it.

That's Coach Brendan King with us today telling the story about, uh, what happened with the girls basketball team and the fallout of all that.

Now we're going to turn to you.

I think these kinds of stories are metaphors of our lives.

I think they kind of come around the back door of your heart and knock.

And they call out to us and say, what kind of person do you want to be?

How do you want to live your life?

Is there more to all of this than the success and winning and getting ahead?

I think that story speaks to our hearts.

So I want to open the line.

(877) 548-3675.

Tell me how you respond to what happened there in Oklahoma.

Is there something maybe it sparks something in you that happened in your own life, but maybe just something happened inside as as you heard it described.

Maybe somebody lived with integrity that, you know, and you followed that good, good person, those good people.

Or maybe you have some regret that pops up into your life.

You did something you regret.

You didn't give the trophy back.

You took credit for something that somebody else did.

You made it your own, and you could have done something for somebody else.

But you didn't.

And you have regret about that.

I just want to hear how you respond to that.

Uh, that story.

87754836758775483675.

We'll take your calls straight ahead on Moody Radio.

Thanks for joining us today on Chris Fabry Live online.

Chris Fabry lives.

We're talking about good people today.

People who live with integrity.

I want you to call me.

Is there somebody who heard that story from Coach King?

And you say, oh, I want to talk to Chris about this, but you're holding back.

Come on.

I got a line open for you.

(877) 548-3675.

Maybe you can answer this question.

Who's the coach king in your life who showed you this kind of choice?

Making this living with integrity.

Somebody who's just plain downright good people.

And what makes a good people good people?

And how do you become one?

Uh, we're going to talk about that.

Uh, so as we talk about good people today, let me tell you about some that I know people who are speaking on behalf of those who have no voice speaking into the lives of scared women who have an unexpected pregnancy, scared men, some who are handing over finances for that woman to end her pregnancy.

For half a century, the good people at Carenet have been walking beside those who were in a difficult place, and they're helping women and the men who choose life.

The criticism of those outside looking in say you only care for the baby until it's born.

Ever heard that before about people who are pro-life?

What?

Challenge you to investigate what Carenet actually does.

They provide counseling, material support, help for those who are struggling with an abortion in their past.

They help men capture a vision for what becoming a father means.

They help strengthen marriages and families.

And they introduce people to the power and freedom of the gospel.

Learn more about the good people at the Carenet Center in your community or nearby.

Just go to npr.org.

Click the Green Connect link right there.

Chris Fabry live.

And maybe you can see how you can get involved and walk alongside those good people at Carenet.

Click the green Carenet link at Chris Fabry.

Proverbs 220.

So follow the way of good people.

This is the Holman, CSB.

So follow the way of good people and keep to the paths of the righteous.

The NIV.

Thus, you will walk in the ways of the good and keep to the paths of the righteous.

And I really like the Amplified Bible and what it says, so you will walk in the way of good men.

Originally it was men, and they translated it to people to include everybody.

And I get that.

But the the amplified version says those of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character.

Is there anybody in your life that has lived that out in front of you?

People of personal integrity, moral courage and honorable character?

And I hasten to add that having the coach on was not to say, here's a guy who's done everything perfectly.

No, as a matter of fact, sometimes it's in the mistakes that are made that you see what is really on the inside, that you see really into the heart.

So I want you to respond.

Respond to the story or tell me the good people in your life.

(877) 548-3675.

Josh is on the line.

Hey, Josh, why'd you call today?

Hey, I just wanted to say thank you to Coach King.

I'm a wrestling coach and a dad and a teacher at the high school level myself.

And just what a word of encouragement it was.

Um, oftentimes I don't I don't think we realize the impact we have.

And I just wanted him to know, um, I'm sure he already knew.

But, you know, he made a big impact.

And and it's encouraging for us coaches and dads out there that want to try to bring the light of Christ into students all around us.

Yeah.

And sometimes it's done in when people don't even see it.

You know, it doesn't get splashed into the news and we don't talk about it for an hour on this program.

It's done kind of quietly, but that's in some in some ways that's even more powerful that you don't, you know, you don't put this on the pedestal to say, you know, here's the thing.

When you find it and when you see it, you shine a light on it.

And and that's what I wanted to do today, uh, for Coach King.

And so that you could hear it.

And the other thing that that comes up here and you as a wrestling coach, know this when you see, when a kid has a lot of, uh, integrity as well as ability and goes out there and wins and is, you know, part of the champion and all that kind of stuff, that's a wonderful thing.

You want to encourage that.

But it's almost even better when the the young person shows kindness to the young person, sees somebody else on the team who's not as good and who's comes along and puts an arm around them.

Right?

Absolutely.

You know, um, and it's difficult, I think, at times to, to, to show that integrity and to show that sportsmanship that Coach King talked about so well and showed, you know, you it's rare for those life lessons to pop up and and so yeah if it's if it's a wrestler or a basketball player that may not be the varsity star, but shows up every day with a great attitude and brings joy to the people around him, that's that's that integrity piece, that sportsmanship that, you know, we hope as coaches were instilling in our athletes, you know.

Or the story.

I've seen this as Steve Hartman, the story of the the guy who's, you know, basically the the waterboy, the towel boy, the trainer, you know, who's on and then finally dresses in the last game of the season and hits like ten three pointers.

It just goes crazy with the whole thing.

Um, and and how, uh, this is the other thing.

When there is an opposing team and a player gets in the game and they know that they're getting in the game because the coach is allowing them in, and the other team, um, you know, sees sees that person and sees how important this is and see how sees how important a, you know, a basket would be to that young person and doesn't necessarily, you know, get out of the way, but allows them to have that moment.

That's gold too, isn't it?

Oh, 100%.

I mean, sports is such a powerful language that we all speak in some way.

And when it's spoken in showing that there's more going on here than just winning, you know, there's more going on here than just win by all means necessary.

I, uh, that's those stories are just.

It shines real bright.

It's why they show up on national news, you know?

Yes.

Exactly.

There's a lot more going on there than than just winning and losing.

And, uh, I just.

Have you seen that?

Let me ask you this.

Have you seen.

That on the wrestling mat then either in practice or in a match?

Oh, absolutely.

You know, there's something special about wrestling.

It's one on one.

You know, you're out there by yourself.

And so when you see those athletes out there digging deep and and they pull out a close one, or they or they, uh, lose a close one, you know, you can only kind of you kind of out there by yourself.

And they carry that weight and, um, but but it's so rewarding.

And you want to just be able to encourage them and help them know there's more going on here than winning and losing.

And, um, and you just want them to know that we're right there in their corner.

But, um, that that coach like Coach King just said.

So.

Well, um, there's a lot more going on here than than the wins and losses.

But we do see it, you know, often and, and oftentimes it's it's in the corner of a gym where you got three people watching and, you know, uh, big things are happening.

Lives are being changed.

You know, I have these, uh, I don't know what you call these memories of high school and junior high and friends that were in wrestling, and how hard it was for them to make weight because they wanted to to lose.

They needed to lose a pound before tomorrow in order to make it.

And they did all of these superhuman things and sweat, you know, doing as much sweating.

And usually what happened was they were so depleted by the time they, you know, after the weigh in that they couldn't wrestle as well.

But that just shows you can take things and especially parents, we can take them way too far to to make sure we make weight and do all that kind of stuff.

Do you agree?

Yeah.

Oh, 100%.

You know, I've always coached.

There's a right way to do that and a wrong way.

Same as parents.

I'm a I'm a dad of four young kids, and there's a right way to approach, you know, the refs, other parents, your competitors.

And there's a wrong way to do that.

And I just hope as I try to walk with Christ every day, that we are showing them the right ways, uh, to approach those things with that integrity, with that sportsmanship.

And just I love and Coach King said it, you know, I'm a highly competitive guy myself, but you just you can be very competitive and also show integrity and love for the sport and the competitor too, which doesn't come naturally.

I think it does not come naturally, but, uh, you hope that you can show that.

Isn't that kind of what Paul is saying?

The look not only to your own interests, but to the interests of others.

And again, not that you're not going to run your race as well as you possibly can.

But as you're running, as you're going, you're able to look around at others.

That is really.

Coach Josh, thank you for jumping in here and calling us today.

God bless you, friend.

Yeah, God bless you too.

Thanks for all you do.

(877) 548-3675.

You heard that story.

The other place that this happens a lot of times that I'll see is in long distance running.

And maybe this is more in the professional area or Olympics or other other places.

But when a person will get to the end of that, you know, could be a marathon and they're, they're wobbly and they're not able to make it or even they've, they've collapsed.

But they know that if there's somebody who lifts them up, that's, you know, a trainer on the other side, then then they're not going to be able to finish and a competitor will pass them and then turn around and come back.

You've seen that?

I think that is a picture of the Christian life and what we are going through.

Every day there are people that you and I are passing that we don't even see how they are struggling.

As a matter of fact, we can be very judgmental about why didn't you do this?

And if you had done that, and instead of going to them, putting an arm around them and saying, hey, come on, finish lines right up here, let's go for that.

That's part of what we're talking about here at the back fence.

28775483675 lessons from the basketball court, lessons from returning that championship trophy and more.

Coming up straight ahead on Moody Radio.

Talk about good people.

Chip Ingram is coming next week to Founders Week.

If you are in the Midwest, don't miss the Bible teaching and worship.

Uh, Chip was with me last week.

We talked about the book.

That's our thank you for a couple of more weeks for anyone who supports Chris Fabry live, the book is titled I choose Joy.

A caller asked him a question and I really resonated with his answer.

What?

I've been frustrated a lot of my life, you know, I didn't grow up as a Christian, and so I'd hear people like, you know, we'll just choose this or, you know, be happy or set your eyes on Jesus and, you know, hey, I agree with all that stuff, but.

Well, how I mean, I mean, how do you do that at 211, you know, when that little clock and then the 313 and, and then when you have anger fantasies and.

Well, that's not the way to think.

And this book really is.

Yeah.

It's the model is Philippians chapter one.

But this really is a how to in the midst of that.

And it's super practical.

So it's literally, I mean, down to writing some things on, on a card to renew your mind, to check some of those thought patterns and where they take you and how to move past those.

And, um, you'll get where you start to ask in the midst of all that, uh, these four questions, but you'll you'll see how the apostle Paul had joy when it seems like, you know, are you going to get killed or not?

It'll be talking about in the midst of all this.

Like, where's my focus?

Is it upward and outward, or have I let it get on me?

What's my purpose?

Does God have an agenda in this?

Or is is my purpose my way?

Being thwarted is what are my expectations that it was going to be easy?

Am I expecting that or suffering is going to be a part of it?

I'm going to get what I need through it.

And finally is, um, you know, where's my hope?

You know, is my hope that me and the kids and I get what I want.

Um, as you trust God, I just.

I've kind of been around the horn for quite a while now.

I just turned started toward this seventh decade deal.

And what I can tell you is things play out way differently than how they look right now.

I love it when he said, how do I do that?

You can tell me to choose Joy all day, but what do you do?

What are the steps if that resonates with you?

Call or click through today with a gift of support.

Chris Fabry live.

We would love to send you a copy of I choose Joy by Chip Ingram and those four, uh, key questions.

Where's your focus?

What's your purpose?

What are your expectations here in this situation?

Where is your hope?

Let us send it to you.

You can go to Chris Faber.

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That's the easiest way to do it Chris.

Scroll down.

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Chris Fabry Live.com.

Or if you want the number 86695 Fabry Kathleen is in Indianapolis.

Hi, Kathleen.

Why'd you call today?

Hi, Chris.

I just wanted to tell you something about my amazing husband.

You talk about honesty.

He's honest in all of his business practices.

Up to the penny.

But we were in Costco with a full cart, like overloading.

Underneath, we did the self-checkout.

And when we got home, he realized we hadn't paid for over $100 worth of items.

And we went back to pay for them.

They didn't know what to do with us.

He's like, I can't not pay for these.

Like I've never had anybody do this.

I mean, they had to call in all kinds of managers to figure out what to do because we didn't bring the items back.

We just told them what they were.

But anyway, there is an honest, upright man in our society that never happens because, you know, they just consider it as free.

Oh, they're mistake free.

But it was our mistake.

We didn't do it right there.

There's a story I have a great band.

Great.

And you?

And you do that.

You know you can do it for the business.

You know that.

That would be a reason.

Enough to do it to to to go back to the business and pay them what you owe them.

But it sounds like your husband is on the inside.

I'm doing this for me.

I'm not doing this for somebody else.

I'm doing this because of of what is on the inside.

This is not right.

What is happened here?

And I'm going to make it right, even though it cost you gas to go back.

Right.

Oh, and the several hundred dollars.

Yeah.

Yeah, we would have paid that anyway.

Exactly.

You know, it's just this is just.

He has taught our kids honesty.

It's just incredible.

I just love this man.

Yeah.

Kathleen, I'm glad you got to call in.

What's your husband's first name?

Randy.

Randy, Kathleen and Randy.

You heard the story there.

And if you're if they come into your business, they're going to be paying for whatever they, they take out of there.

Mark is in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Mark, why did you call today?

I'm a high school basketball official, and I just appreciate what he did.

Um, I can't imagine the guilt that that scorekeeper would have costing somebody a championship.

And what he did has seared those kids conscience for the rest of their life.

He has set them up.

He has set them up for life.

That is one of the best things that he could ever done.

Yes.

Um, a few years ago, there used to be a commercial that was played about sportsmanship or telling the truth.

And in it, there's a basketball play and the ball is thrown to a teammate and it it nicks him, it barely touches him.

And the official doesn't see it, and he gives the ball to the wrong team.

And there's a timeout out.

During the time out, the kid tells the coach, hey, I touched that.

And all his teammates are fussing at him for wanting to tell the official, and he does tell the official, but he can't change his call because he didn't actually see it.

But the coach took him to the side and told him, great job for doing that.

But it was lost.

Teachable moment where he could have done it in front of all the kids saying, this is an outstanding man.

This is the way you live your life.

This is a life lesson.

Instead, he did it in secret.

And that commercial has always bothered me.

I you know, I think I've seen that.

And to be to bring that back up then and to kind of analyze it.

I love that you do that, Mark, especially since you're an official, you've been there, you've seen those kinds of things happen because you can't see everything.

Right?

No, no.

It's all about angles and officiating.

And half the people in the stands have a different angle than I do.

But I have to go by what I see and what I hear.

Yes, honesty is the best policy.

You know.

Integrity.

You don't leave home without it.

All of that.

But there's just something about when it pops up in in the culture in your life, um, that that you have to stop and and take a, you have to assess it in your own life.

Uh, Mark.

God bless you, friend.

Thank you for your work out there.

I know I could ask you a few questions about things that have been yelled at you, uh, from parents.

And that's one of the integrity things that we need to learn as well, to not make the game everything or make the call everything and to yell at them.

But I think of the, uh, the story of David when Nathan comes to him and tells him this story.

Keep going back to that.

And and the how incensed David was about that story, about the little lamb and the traveler and the meal that was made and the wealthy landowner.

And then the finger is pointed.

Then at David from Nathan the Prophet.

You're the man.

This is you.

I wonder if there's anybody listening right now who was saying, I'd love to call you and tell you about this, Chris, because I did this.

You know what?

There's forgiveness for that.

There is restoration for that.

There's redemption.

And the enemy wants to keep you in the shadows like Mark was talking about.

To keep that hidden.

You bring it into the light and be careful with who you bring in the light with you bring that into the light and there's something that happens.

And there will be freedom for you and me at the end of that, because of the mercy and the love and the grace of God.

Thanks for listening.

Have a great weekend.

Come on back Monday.

Karen Kingsbury is going to be with us on Monday on Chris Fabry Live, a production of Moody Radio, a ministry of Moody Bible Institute.