One day after practice, a veteran Houston Oiler football player came over to Head Coach Bum Phillips and said, “Coach, I don’t know if you knew this or not, but that rookie, Earl Campbell, was unable to finish the mile run at the end of practice.”
Bum responded, “That’s good to know. The next time it is third down with a mile to go, I won’t give him the ball.”
Forty years later, nobody remembers who that veteran football complainer was. Meanwhile, Earl Campbell is in the NFL Hall-of-Fame.
It is easy to criticize others. In the Great Sermon, Jesus had a lot to say about judging the actions of others (Matthew 7:1-5).
What’s not so easy is to reflect on our own lives. I suggest that you take a moment today to ask yourself this question: “What can I be doing better in my own recovery?”
Recovery Step: Focus on your own shortcomings and leave everyone else to God.
Author: Mark Denison
Mark and Beth Denison, married for 36 years, launched There’s Still Hope as a national movement to call men and women into lives of sexual integrity. Their ministry offers 90-day recovery plans for addicts and one-on-one and group coaching for addicts and their spouses. TSH also produces resources for pastors and churches to confront the porn epidemic that is destroying so many lives.
Dr. Denison was a senior pastor for over 30 years, NBA chaplain, and board chairman at Houston Baptist University three times. With a Master’s Degree in Addiction Recovery, Mark is a certified PSAP and active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors.
Mark has written four books on recovery: Porn in the Pew, 365 Days to Sexual Integrity, A 90-Day Recovery Guide, and 40 Days to Porn-Free Living. His latest book, Jesus on the 12 Steps, will be released later this year.
