humility Archives - HopeNet 360

#085: Olympic Humility

by Jeff | Jun 7, 2015

Jeff and DW have spent countless hours training for their respective sports. Jeff spent years playing soccer. Dave worked in the trenches on his football team at Wheaton College. If you grew up around athletes or any sports in general, it’s not hard to see a bunch of egocentric people seeking their own glory around every corner. As a Christian, we’re taught to be humble. But is it really possible to be an elite athlete and be humble? What would that look like?

This week’s episode features two special guests: Jeff and Nancy Swider-Peltz. Check out their bios after the break.

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The Notes

Is it possible for athletes to be humble? What does that look like? #HNRTB

— HopeNet Radio (@hopenetradio) June 8, 2015

Jeff Peltz

Jeff is an Assistant Football Coach (Defensive Line) and Spiritual Coordinator at Wheaton College (Thunder). Last year, they went 11-1 – best record since 2003, and appeared in their first playoff game since 2010. A 1981 Wheaton graduate, Jeff has coached the Wheaton defensive line for 33 years. He has coached nine All-Americans and over 46 All-Conference players in his tenure, most recently including NFL star, Andy Studebaker. Peltz became Wheaton’s career sack leader with 37 and set the former single-season sacks record of 14 in 1978, a record which stood until 1995. He captained the 1980 football team and earned All-CCIW Second Team honors in 1979 and 1980. In 2003, he was inducted into Wheaton’s “Hall of Honor” as a player.

Jeff has a heart for ministry and also serves as the Spiritual Coordinator for the football program. He is in charge of organizing player small groups, team chapels, and also organizes the Wheaton Football Missions trips that take place over spring break.

Jeff shares a story of a senior player cleaning the cleats of the player who took his spot on the line. #HNRTB #teamswiderpeltz #humility

— HopeNet Radio (@hopenetradio) June 8, 2015

Nancy Swider-Peltz

Nancy Swider-Peltz, Sr. is the first four-time U.S. Winter Olympian. She’s a two-time World Record holder and has competed in 8 Olympic Trials. She’s in the National Speedskating Hall of Fame. After her first Olympic team in 1976 at 19, Nancy set her first World Record in the 3000m that same year, and secured a second in the 10,000m in 1980! Nancy made the 1980, 1984 and 1988 Olympic Teams and participated in four more Olympic Trials – 1992, 1994, 1998 and 2002 – for a total of 8 Olympic Trials in 4 decades. At the 2002 Olympic Trials, at the age of 45, she was paired with her daughter Nancy Jr., age 14. That same year she set four personal bests and currently holds five age-group World Records.

Nancy has coached five skaters to Olympic Teams since 1988 and has been the head coach of the Park Ridge Speedskating Club since 1985. (source)

Nancy Sr. was an FCA board member and has spoken at several FCA events throughout her career. Nancy Sr. was an FCA board member and has spoken at several FCA events throughout her career. She continues to emphasize to her children the importance of not only using their platform, but to first make sure their platforms are built on a solid foundation.

Keep up with Nancy Jr and Jeffrey Jr on their journey to Pyeongchang 2018 at teamswiderpeltz.com and follow them on social media.

It’s important for young athletes to not have other people plastered on their walls. Emulate characteristics, but not personality. -NSP

— HopeNet Radio (@hopenetradio) June 8, 2015

https://instagram.com/p/3hcGy_ke2a

#083: What Does It Cost To Be A Hero?

by Jeff | May 17, 2015

As The Avengers: Age of Ultron tears up the box office this month, you can count on kids around the country to buy into the action figures, posters and costumes this year. It would seem that kids love heroes, no matter what their outfit. Jeff, DW and Jason are back with a fun conversation about what the real cost of being a hero entails. Hint: it’s more than this mask or this shirt. Listen in and join the TweetBack!

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The Notes

This week will mark 2 years since the Moore, Oklahoma EF5 tornado struck the city, obliterating Plaza Towers Elementary School taking the lives of 24 adults and children. Nearly 400 were injured. In the midst of the chaos, we saw plenty of heroes arise from the destruction. One of them, Anna Canaday, recalled her story to The Daily Beast:

She remembered that as the tornado bore down on this school in Moore, Okla., she and Simonds took the kids into the hall, among them her own daughter, 5-year-old Kali.

“I just grabbed as many kids as I could, eight of 10 kindergartners,” Canaday recalled.

Canaday took half the children and Simonds took the others. The teachers had them get down on their knees against the wall and cover their heads, just as they had often done in the school’s regular drills. The tornado roared ever near.

“We just held them and told them to keep their heads down,” Canaday remembered. “I kept telling them they were going to be just fine and God was going to take care of us. I prayed as loud as I could.”

The twister was right upon them in all its fury.

“When it hit it was so loud,” Canaday said. “I just kept telling the kids under me, ‘It’s going to be OK.’ I prayed aloud…‘Just take me instead because they’re the babies.’”

You don’t need to wear a cape to be a hero. But if you were to have some sort of costume, would you choose Superman?

Aside from the obvious need for Clark Kent to get a new shirt every time he became Superman, you also never saw him hang around long enough for people to shine the spotlight on him. When you do something heroic, be humble about it.

“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose the reward from your Father in heaven.” Matthew 6:1

It might seem like these 2 examples are contrary. Giving an interview sharing your story about your experience isn’t necessarily a bad thing. In Anna’s case, she inspires other teachers and community members to do their job with heart knowing what truly matters is caring for students.

#052: Break My Pride

by Jeff | Oct 5, 2014

C.S. Lewis reminds us in Mere Christianity, that pride is “the essential vice, the utmost evil… Unchastity, anger, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere fleabites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.”

Pride gets us into trouble. Self-centeredness, jealousy/envy, strife seems to be everywhere. Our world can’t survive with millions of prideful, arrogant people. Instead, we have to learn how to love selflessly and to be humble. That can only be accomplished by recognizing my need for salvation.