Hey there! This is Scott Paschal.
Thanks for logging in to keep updated on the International Christian Tennis Association!
Each day people from an average of 40+ countries visit us. In fact, we commonly have enjoyed over 3500 people visiting Christiantennis.net a week resulting up to 14,000 page views. Many of our visitors from Turkey, India, Pakistan, Iran, and Syria are not Christian, just curious. Welcome and glad to have you visit.
The International Christian Tennis Association has one purpose... to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If you would like to know more about Jesus and how you can receive your free gift of Salvation, please call or email me at anytime. You are important to me. I am no one famous or fancy, just a simple preacher and tennis coach. But, I know my Jesus and I know He loves you.
Man, this has been another incredible day! I started off the day as a special guest on an international radio show based in Australia. I've done this show for about 3 years. I'm the "tennis expert" and we talk pro tennis. The station plays secular music, yet is Christian owned and weaves Christian messages into the programing throughout the day.
My little 30 minute show is broadcast to millions throughout the week on the 2nd most powerful short wave radio tower in the Southern Hemisphere... from Australia to India to China & more.... For nearly 3 years I've enjoyed working with this terrific radio ministry share the Gospel. It's been a positive experience for the growth of International Christian Tennis Association, too!
After the show, I spent some time developing my new company, Scott Paschal's Tennis Tour Co. I have a dream to take hundreds of ICTA members with me to Grand Slam tournaments. Did you know over 1500 ICTA members want to go with me to the US Open? Can you imagine bringing that many Christians to one event!?
I'm planning to start off small with a little tour to the Pacific Life Open and the Sony Ericson Open (Nasdaq)... maybe 20 to 30 ICTA members... and see how it goes. I'm planning a new web site just for Scott Paschal's Tennis Tour Company, so stay tuned!
After my radio show and some office work, we headed out to the tennis courts and tore up some tennis balls! And let me tell you something... our ICTA Women's Pro Team's high performance training today here in beautiful Palm Coast, Florida was awesome! I mean AWESOME!
These girls work hard! This afternoon, these world-class Christian tennis missionaries pounded the tennis ball for hours. I pushed them to the limit with high peformance drills and competition.
The radio was cranked up, tennis balls are being ripped back and forth non-stop, the sun was beating down on them in the middle of the afternoon... and the girls have these big grins on their faces. Amazing.
I have the hardest working girls in Florida. I'm so proud of this group. Not only are they willing to work hard, they also have a great time together.
These gals are bonded and have a purpose.
The Bible says, "Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in Him; and He shall bring it to pass." Psalm 37:5
These ladies certainly see a purpose with their lives. God is preparing to send them internationally to earn or improve their WTA rankings while sowing seed of the Gospel! What a purpose!
Yet, how rare compared to the lack of a purpose most kids feel. Not just the kids at the mega tennis academies chasing unrealistic dreams for $1100 a week, but most kids worldwide.
Most kids today don't have a reason for much of anything they do. They tend to live one day to the next without a sense of direction or reason for living. The verse above helps to reach out to us to make a commitment. Commit your life to following God.
Pretty simple idea when you think about it.
Then, it says to trust Him.
For a lot of kids today, that's hard. Why?
'Cause Mom and Dad are bad examples.
What!? How can I say that? Well, look at the examples of most parents today. More divorces than ever, more alcoholics, addictions to prescription drugs, mental and physical abuse... the list goes on and on....
But, wait! You say you do none of those things! Plus, you attend church most Sundays. Certainly, I can't be talking to you, right!? Nope. Most likely I am still talking directly to you.
You see, Jesus knows what He needs for His people to do. He understands our trials to come. So He gives us His commands... you know, those things He tells us to do. See if you can get your racquet on this one...
"Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."-Mark 12:30
I would venture to say you do not do this.
Maybe, instead of God, you love your children with all you have. Maybe your career. I don't know. But, most likely something or somethings take the place of where all of your love should go... God.
Kids have a hard time figuring out this difficult world we live in because lots of Moms and Dads are so "Baby Boomer" or "Generation X" self-centered. The me-centered needs, wants and desires of the folks are #1.
God might be #2 or #3, which might seem pretty high up on the list... but, it's not. This isn't a Christmas shopping list. When our kids today see their parents in love with God, kids will begin to see their purpose for living.
So, now that I have you attention let's add something and bring everything together!
Take a look at this... And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen. (Matthew 28:18-20)
Jesus is talking to you. Right here, right now. Are you spreading the Gospel? What is your life?
What would happen to your kids if you loved God with all you are? Then, you went out into the world and told everyone you could?
What if 100,000 people tomorrow took the day off work to focus on their love of God, then the next day each person told 100 people about their love of God, explained how to get to Heaven, and recommended a Bible-based local church?
I know what would happen... our kids would begin to see a purpose for life and a lot of good things would happen globally.
But, isn't this a blog entry about Andre Agassi? Not really I'm not interested in telling you about Andre the tennis player. Like everyone else, I'm going to miss him on court. I want to tell you about a different Andre Agassi...
After his retirement a few days ago, Andre began doing something he hadn't done before!
Andre Agassi began bringing the name of God into his statements. This was huge. In fact, our web site hit-counter skyrocketed and people worldwide began reading all throughout the International Christian Tennis Association's web site.
From the press statements Agassi made, people worldwide found their way to ICTA to see if he was a Christian. The answer is yes. Andre Agassi will spend eternity in Heaven. His Lord and Savior is Jesus Christ. He did not tell me this personally. I have never spoken to him about his faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, I know those who have.
Wish Andre could have done this about 21 years ago. But, as was his Dad's example, he didn't. Even after accepting Christ in '88, still Andre was quiet. Not now.
Andre Agassi is making the world a better place by sharing his Christian example and witness. People will respect him and want to know what he knows. There is no telling how many people will come to know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior simply from the positive, Godly example Agassi displayed in his final interview as a professional tennis player.
Agassi waited until he had his biggest international audience of his career. What motivated him? A better world for his children? I don't know.
Maybe it had something to do with the popularity of my Rafael Nadal article where I've personally challenged Rafa. In it, I also challenged Andre. If you haven't read it, go to www.christiantennis.net and scroll down till you see Rafa, then click on the pic.
Whatever his motivation, I'm glad Agassi is growing more mature as a Christian man.
I'm glad Andre Agassi is standing up, even if these are just tiny baby steps for him. Because a guy like Andre can reach tens of millions worldwide. This is happening at such an important time is the world today. I am proud of his efforts for something more, something bigger than tennis.
That said, I'm incredibly proud of our ICTA Women's Pro Team! I can't say enough how much of a blessing these young ladies have been. Caring, hard working, loving, kind, generous, thoughful... honestly, I've never had students such as these before. I've had one or two here and there. But never a whole house full of them!
These kids know God loves them. Their parents have done a really great job as examples. Each of my players know they are loved by God. These gals know God is preparing them for a life of purpose. And I'm so honored to be a part of the story God has written for their lives. It's exciting to be here for me and I am so blessed as a coach.
"I will praise Thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify Thy name for evermore." Psalm 86:12
God bless!
Scott Paschal
Founder, ICTA
386 793 0557
ballboy4Jesus@yahoo.com
