Good News Pickleball

John Wilkerson
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  • CHRISTIANITY
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Good News Pickleball

Good News Pickleball combines the fastest-growing sport in America with The Gospel of Christ. In each episode John Wilkerson shares how Christians can demonstrate the love of Christ while playing pickleball.

  1. Blessed Are the Merciful

    JAN 29

    Blessed Are the Merciful

    Today I'm covering the fifth Beatitude which reads, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy." Matthew 5:7 (NRSVUE) Mercy is intertwined with sin, judgment, and forgiveness. Without sin, there would be no need for mercy. Being merciful is showing forgiveness and compassion towards someone who has wronged us. We're all recipients of God's mercy and that means we should show mercy to those who rightfully deserve punishment. Mercy doesn't mean we deny that a wrong or sin has been committed but it's extended to someone instead of judgment. How Can We Apply This to Pickleball? Every time I see the word mercy in the Bible I think of Cobra Kai and their motto: “Strike Hard, Strike First, No Mercy!”  This is often the attitude a lot of athletes take when playing a sport. They want to dominate their opponent by being the first to score, score often, and have total victory. When I started playing pickleball there were a lot of people who were much better than I was. They could have crushed me but instead, they showed mercy and continued the point so that I could get a little more experience. Instead of ending the game and moving on to a better match, they took the time to show me how to improve my game.  Now, when I play with less experienced people I do the same. I smile, enjoy each point, offer advice (if they'll accept it), and even offer to play with them again. It's this welcoming and merciful attitude that keeps people coming back to the courts to play just like God's unending mercy keeps us going back to Him when we sin. Pickleball News High schools in Maryland now have competitive pickleball. In a report from WBAL, Bryan Lloyd of the Dill Dinkers sees high school pickleball as a conduit for student-athletes to play in college where pickleball is also becoming more popular. Pickleball Tip This week's pickleball tip comes from PrimeTime Pickleball and is about speed-ups. Specifically, how and when to speed up the ball. The biggest takeaway for me in this video is to the ball low so your opponent has fewer options when dealing with the pressure you're applying by speeding up the ball. Closing Remarks Next week we’ll cover the sixth Beatitude that deals with purity so make sure you’re following the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you liked this podcast share it with a friend and don’t forget to stay out of the kitchen! Music: "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Send some Satoshis: https://getalby.com/p/jorowi Looking for a new paddle? Check out Glory Pickleball. Using the code GENX10 will get you a 10% discount on their paddles and it helps support the podcast.

    5 min
  2. Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

    JAN 22

    Blessed Are Those Who Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

    Today I'm covering the fourth Beatitude which reads, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled." Matthew 5:6 (NRSVUE) As Christians, we've been made righteous in the eyes of God because of Jesus' death and resurrection. If we're already righteous, why should we hunger and thirst for it? We all get hungry and thirsty. God designed our bodies so that we need to seek food and water to live. This biological process is a reminder that we cannot sustain our spiritual lives off of one spiritual experience. Being right with God also means that we love our neighbors and enemies which can sometimes be hard to do. How Can We Apply This to Pickleball? One aspect of righteousness towards God is treating our neighbors and enemies the same way we want to be treated. Doing what's right on the court means that when you're in doubt about a line call you call it in favor of your opponent. You might lose a point but it is the right thing to do. Pickleball News Thirty-5 Capital, LLC, a private equity firm focused on sports technology has acquired Paddletek, ProXR, and Boundless Pickleball to form United Pickleball Properties.  Pickleball Tip This week's tip comes from Kyle Koszuta, That Pickleball Guy, and has to do with deciding whether to drop or drive your third shot. For me, the biggest takeaway is to attack your opponents where they're weak. If one person can handle drives while transitioning you may want to drive the ball instead of dropping it. Closing Remarks Next week we’ll cover the fifth Beatitude that deals with mercy so make sure you’re following the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you liked this podcast share it with a friend and don’t forget to stay out of the kitchen! Music: "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Send some Satoshis: https://getalby.com/p/jorowi Looking for a new paddle? Check out Glory Pickleball. Using the code GENX10 will get you a 10% discount on their paddles and it helps support the podcast.

    6 min
  3. Blessed Are the Meek

    JAN 15

    Blessed Are the Meek

    Today I'm covering the third Beatitude which reads, “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth." -Matthew 5:5 (NRSVUE) Meekness is often misunderstood. Modern definitions don't convey what the Biblical authors were trying to convey. I once heard someone describe it as "power under control" but that's not quite right. Mark E. Caner describes meekness as "an attitude or quality of heart whereby a person is willing to accept and submit without resistance to the will and desire of someone else." So meekness is more about your attitude than your actions.  How Can We Apply This to Pickleball? If you've played in any tournaments you've had to exercise meekness. This is especially true if there's no referee. In nearly every tournament, your opponent calls balls out on their side of the court. There are times when you need to exercise meekness (even if it appears a bad call) because they have the authority to make the call.  When there isn't a referee to appeal to, this can be especially difficult. One way to avoid conflict is through the acronym PEACE mentioned in Caner's article: Place your faith in Jesus Christ Employ prayer in your decisions Adjust your focus from yourself Control your anger and tongue Exude your humility and mercy I hope this helps you the next time a line call doesn't go your way! Pickleball News At the Masters last week, the PPA introduced new serve rules: There is no tossing the ball up on the serve The ball must leave the hand in a downward motion The ball must leave the hand at or below the top of the hip Some players were hitting serves into the net because they had to change their serving style. The new ball and new serve rules shook things up at the tournament. Pickleball Tip This week's pickleball tip comes from Ed Ju (Davis Pickleball) and it deals with eye dominance. The biggest takeaway from this video is to make sure your dominant eye isn't turned away from where you're trying to hit the ball. Closing Remarks Next week we’ll cover the fourth Beatitude that deals with righteousness so make sure you’re following the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you liked this podcast share it with a friend and don’t forget to stay out of the kitchen! Music: "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Send some Satoshis: https://getalby.com/p/jorowi Looking for a new paddle? Check out Glory Pickleball. Using the code GENX10 will get you a 10% discount on their paddles and it helps support the podcast.

    5 min
  4. Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

    JAN 8

    Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

    Today I'm covering the second Beatitude in Matthew 5:4 which reads, "Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted." (NRSVUE) Mourning is something many of us don't do well. There's a misconception among Christians that we should always be happy. Think about this, though: If you don't mourn you'll miss out on the blessing of being comforted. You also rob others of being a blessing when they comfort you. How Can We Apply This to Pickleball? You're going to lose some games. If you're like me, you're going to lose a lot of games. If I'm not playing well, I can really start feeling down on myself.  When this happens, it's important for me to allow my partner or the group I'm playing with to comfort me. It's also a good time to consider any instructions or suggestions from others so that I can improve my game. News Steve Wong is the new Vice President of Competition at USA Pickleball. In a press release on their site, USA Pickleball said Wong "will oversee USA Pickleball’s competition department with an emphasis on growing and streamlining all sanctioned tournament play, including National Championships, regional tournaments and general sanctioning."  The Vulcan’s VPRO FLIGHT Pickleball was named the official ball of the PPA Pro Tour. Pickleball Tip This week's pickleball tip comes from Briones Pickleball and it's about improving your serve.  Have a pre-serve routine to help you focus on the point. Contact the ball in front of your body. Closing Remarks Next week we’ll cover the third Beatitude that deals with meekness so make sure you’re following the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you liked this podcast share it with a friend and don’t forget to stay out of the kitchen! Music: "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Send some Satoshis: https://getalby.com/p/jorowi Looking for a new paddle? Check out Glory Pickleball. Using the code GENX10 will get you a 10% discount on their paddles and it helps support the podcast.

    5 min
  5. Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

    12/26/2023

    Blessed Are the Poor In Spirit

    This week I’m talking about Matthew 5:3 which reads, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (NRSV)  Poor in spirit can refer to humility or knowing that you’re in need of God’s grace. It can also refer to physical poverty but most people see this phrase as more of an attitude rather than a state of poverty. The “kingdom of Heaven” isn’t a physical kingdom but a spiritual one. Yes, one day Jesus will physically establish His kingdom on earth but that’s not what He was referring to here. That spiritual kingdom is often referred to as an “upside-down” kingdom where the meek and merciful put others first. How can we apply this to pickleball?  When I started playing, I didn’t know anything about the game. I had a lot to learn and I’d actively seek out players who could teach me more about pickleball.  Now that I know more, I have to check my heart sometimes and make sure I don’t approach the game as a “know-it-all”. There is always more to learn. Even pros have to learn new strategies and techniques to continue playing their best. I need to do the same. I should also be willing to play a game or two with that newbie. This can be hard for the competitor in me sometimes because having a partner who makes more mistakes than I do can be frustrating. But, I need to put others first sometimes so that I’m not only helping someone learn to play a fun sport but I’m also exhibiting a Christ-like attitude. News Pickleball Kingdom is expanding to New Jersey. According to a press release, Pickleball Kingdom is aggressively expanding and “has identified New Jersey as a key growth area. The company previously announced it plans to open 20 Pickleball Kingdom locations in Central New Jersey over the next few years. It is now on a star search to find ambitious people who want to participate in that growth.”  Pickleball Tip This week’s tip comes from John Cincola and it has to do with dinking.    Use cross-court dinks for offense in order to create openings for an attack. Use dinks to the middle or directly across from you for defense and to neutralize or setup your opponent. Watch his video for a more in-depth explanation. Closing Remarks Next week we’ll cover the second Beatitude that deals with mourning and comfort so make sure you’re following the podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify. If you liked this podcast share it with a friend and don’t forget to stay out of the kitchen! Music: "Electrodoodle" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Send some Satoshis: https://getalby.com/p/jorowi Looking for a new paddle? Check out Glory Pickleball. Using the code GENX10 will get you a 10% discount on their paddles and it helps support the podcast.

    5 min
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Good News Pickleball combines the fastest-growing sport in America with The Gospel of Christ. In each episode John Wilkerson shares how Christians can demonstrate the love of Christ while playing pickleball.

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