POOL TIME

It was hot and stuffy in the conference room, so I decided to step outside onto the balcony overlooking the Shaw Pool at Barker Road Angelo-Chinese School in Singapore. It is a wonderful secondary school that has a pretty incredible Olympic size swimming pool and an equally incredible swimming program.


I stood there and watched scores of children (of every size and shape imaginable) taking lessons, practicing form starts into the water, running laps, using paddle boards to develop their leg kicks and strength, and swimming lap after lap with various strokes.


What really got my attention was the number of coaches that were present ... and I mean very present in the lives of these children.  Some were shouting instructions, others were modeling the strokes they wanted the children to perform, many were encouraging, laughing, talking privately with various kids, and off to the side a few were gently rebuking some behavior, attitude, or performance issue.

The coaching is what had led to the legacy of the swim program and in large part was responsible for countless children becoming accomplished swimmers.

 In a similar way, parents are called to be the spiritual coaches of their children; and fathers are to be the head coach of the family program. We read Paul's words in …

Ephesians 6:4 "Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord."

I don't know if many of those Singaporean children that I was watching, would learn to swim without those caring and committed coaches. And it’s doubtful that any of those children would become accomplished swimmers, if their coaches approached their role half-hearted or if they were non-existent in the lives of those kids, whether physically or emotionally.  And without the effort and focus of those swim coaches, the kids would not reach their potential and at worst they would be in danger of physical harm or even drowning.

It always amazes me when I see a man who is sold out emotionally, physically, and financially to some sport, personal hobby, bunch of buddies, a political or social agenda, or fixing up some mechanical vehicle --- and at the same time is half-hearted or neglectful of the spiritual upbringing of his children. Children are entrusted to us by the Lord. They are His kids and He has allowed us the privilege of coaching them toward their fullest God-given potential --- for His glory; not their own or even ours. 

• To let them swim alone or leave them ill-prepared is to demonstrate a real lack of concern for their future and to open them up to the potential of life disaster down the road.

It’s time that men .... the men of Grace Church became focused in this important area of teaching children about the Lord.  That they jump into the pool with their kids. Learning to swim in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and then whole-heartedly coaching their kids … and all kids, to be champions for Christ.

Our wives … and all of the women of the church would love nothing more than to cheer both the men and children on.

Pool time men!!!! Jump in.