Tuesday Tidings, April 7, 2026

Dearest Members of Bethlehem,

“Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.” Proverbs 27:17

A couple of weeks ago, Brenda Frese the head coach of the University of Maryland’s women’s basketball program went viral for “yelling” at one of her players, Oluchi Okananwa.

Criticism of the coach was mounting until Okananwa spoke out.  In a surprising turn the player informed the media that she had been looking for that kind of intensity in a coach.  She was not upset with her coach, she was instead grateful for her coach’s investment in her personal success.  The critics were silenced… praise the Lord!

The way I see it, we have two spiritual deficiencies at the moment.  The first, we’re apt to raise our voices, criticize one another, but little of that verbal rancor comes from a place of love.  It’s generally the result of spiteful animosity.

As a result, when we see someone passionately engaging another person, we immediately assume the worst.  The exchange shared between Frese and Okananwa should cause us to pause and assess before casting aspersions.

Secondly, and I already know that this will be an unpopular position, but I am going to offer it up nonetheless, on the whole… many of us could stand to be a little more “coachable.”

Through the course of my life, there were some folks that absolutely “lit into me,” that I completely disregarded.  Mainly because it was about them, they simply had an axe to grind, and were being profoundly unkind in the process.  So, “shake the dust off,” and move on.

Now, there were other occasions when I was taken to task (quite passionately) by a person I loved and trusted, but I just knew that beneath the bluster there was genuine love and concern.  In that moment of intense encouragement, there was a desire to see me live into the fullness of my perceived gifts.  Those conversations were hard, they left me temporarily wounded, but I was better for them.

Not everyone is coachable, and there are even fewer folks that are equipped to be effective coaches, but the Bible assures us that under the right circumstances, “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens the wits of another.”

My days of playing sports at a competitive level are over, but I can tell you that I still have a fiery commitment to being the best servant of Christ that I possibly can be.  There are many others with a similar desire.  It’s a blessing to have the maturity to admit that we have growing edges, have things to learn, and have a desire to be as “sharp” as we can be as we live the lives to which we have been called.     

Question for reflection: In what ways did Jesus help the disciples develop into faithful leaders following his death and resurrection?

Yours in Christ,

Pastor Dan

Gracious Lord, as we soak in the joy of this Easter season, keep us mindful of those who are struggling in these days.  Equip and empower us to share your promise of renewal with those who are facing the complex challenges and struggles that are part and parcel of this broken world; a world that you have promised to redeem.  In Christ’s name we pray, amen.