With great joy and even greater surprise I read one of the reflections on coach John Wooden. (“John Wooden is the former coach of the record-setting UCLA basketball team,..”) The reflection was written by Bill Walton. Bill Walton has now four sons and he is telling them what coach John Wooden used to tell his players. He is also writing the maxims of John Wooden on the lunch bags of his kids.

These are the maxims:

“Be quick, but don’t hurry.” “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” “Never mistake activity for achievement.” “Discipline yourself and others won’t need to.”

I like the maxim “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” Why do I like that saying? Sometimes you have people in the pulpits who have not prepared properly.

WRITING THE MAXIMS ON THE LUNCH BAGS!

I hope that takes also your attention. It takes mine. I am reminded of what it says in Deuteronomy 6:6-9 and Deuteronomy 11:18-20.

It talks here about the COMMANDMENTS of the Lord. They are to be written  on the doorframes of the houses and on the gates.

Write them on the lunch boxes of your children!

Another favorite Maxim of J. Wooden is:  “Tell the truth. That way you don’t have to remember a story.” Don’t we all have a bad memory at times? I have most of the time a bad memory. Ephesians 4:25 says “speak truthfully to your neighbour”. And in Colossians 3:9 it says very simple: “Do not lie to each other,….”

In John 8:44 we are even told what the native language of the devil is.

And what about the rest of the commandments? Find all the ten commandments in Exodus chapter twenty, in the verses 3, 4, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17!