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In this video Paul Henderson, Canadian hockey legend, tells one story of how he has been able to minister in twenty different countries through sports-related ministry.

If you are an athlete, take a step out of your comfort zone and start a faith adventure with Athletes in Action!

What was his source of strength and inspiration, and how can you have the same in your own life?

Related reading: How you can live life to the fullest!

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As we headed outside for some fresh air after the “Golden Goal” a man saw my Canada jersey and said, “I guess Mr. Crosby made your day. Maybe your year!” The euphoria was amazing and the patriotism was over the top. People talking to me on the street, cars honking and waving, flags proudly displayed! I loved it!

But was it the greatest goal? Paul Henderson’s winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union may still be the best. That whole series was “us” vs “them”, capitalism vs communism. It was the first real challenge to the supremacy of Canadian hockey players. Back in ’72 we were in the cold war. It was a cultural battle that many believed was between the right and wrong way to govern. We were free, the USSR was behind the Iron Curtain. For many people, there was a lot more than hockey being contested on that ice.

Ironically, Paul Henderson didn’t get to see part of this Sunday’s game between Canada and the USA. You might think the hockey legend would be glued to the screen, or possibly catching the game from the good seats at Canada Hockey Place. But he wasn’t. Henderson missed part of the game because he was speaking at a Weekend to Remember marriage conference for FamilyLife. On all day when every Canadian was a hockey fan, why would he of all people miss part of the game to teach about marriage?

To Paul, the greater goal, is a healthy marriage. At the conference he clearly articulated that at the centre of a healthy marriage is a relationship with Jesus Christ. On a Sunday when many debated which was the greatest goal Paul made a clear statement. Marriage with God at he centre is really the “Golden Goal.”

For some of us, a single moment will set the course of our lives. For Henderson and Crosby, it was a moment of greatness, for others it is a moment of tragedy. Are people like Henderson and Crosby destined for greatness? Or are they simply in the right place at the right time? You can explore the concept with Erwin McManus in his videos on craving destiny, and maybe even share them with a friend.

“As the Scripture says, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”" Romans 10:11

Has there been a single, defining moment in your life? Tell us about it in the comments.

But was it the greatest goal? Paul Henderson’s winning goal in the 1972 Summit Series between Canada and the Soviet Union may still be the best.  That whole series was “us” vs “them”, capitalism vs communism. It was the first real challenge to the supremacy of Canadian hockey players.  Back in ’72 we were in the cold war. It was a cultural battle that many believed was between the right and wrong way to govern. We were free, the USSR was behind the Iron Curtain.  For many people, there was a lot more than hockey being contested on that ice.

Ironically, Paul Henderson didn’t get to see part of this Sunday’s game between Canada and the USA.  You might think the hockey legend would be glued to the screen, or possibly catching the game from the good seats at Canada Hockey Place.  But he wasn’t.  Henderson missed part of the game because he was speaking at a Weekend to Remember marriage conference for FamilyLife. On a day when every Canadian was a hockey fan, why would he of all people miss part of the game to teach about marriage?

To Paul, the greater goal,  is a healthy marriage.   At the conference he clearly articulated that at the centre of a healthy marriage is a relationship with Jesus Christ.  On a Sunday when many debated which was the greatest goal, Paul made a clear statement. Marriage with God at the centre is really the “Golden Goal.”  It wasn’t just this Sunday that Paul placed such a high value on his faith and family life.  You can read or watch a video about Paul’s life here.

For some of us, a single moment will set the course of our lives. For Henderson and Crosby, it was a moment of greatness, for others it is a moment of tragedy. Are people like Henderson and Crosby destined for greatness? Or are they simply in the right place at the right time? You can explore the concept with Erwin McManus in his videos on craving destiny.  Do you ever wonder if you are destined?

Has there been a single, defining moment in your life? Tell us about it in the comments.

It wasn’t the first time the country was united behind a single game and it won’t be the last.  Ask any hockey historian and they will all tell you that the biggest game of them all happened in 1972 when a team of Canadian NHL all stars took on a team from what was back then, the USSR.

In the final moments of that final game Paul Henderson scored the goal that defined a moment, a nation and the rest of Paul’s life.  The game was played almost 40 years ago, and Paul has talked about that goal almost every day since.  I had the opportunity to meet Paul once and when someone asked him about it he said simply “that’s the one thing everyone always wants to talk about.”

Recently, during an interview with the CBC Paul revealed that his is currently battling cancer. He spoke about the role faith plays in his life and in his current situation.  In the interview with CBC he said, “I have no angst in my body, no fear whatsoever.” You can watch the interview here.  I hope Paul knows that once again, all of Canada is behind him.  Earlier Paul talked to us about the role faith has played in his life in good times and bad:

It’s pretty incredible that he can have that kind of hope in the face of illness. It can seem like an unusual response, but some would argue, it is a perfectly natural one.  In his book Soul Cravings, Erwin McManus writes, “aimlessness can sometimes lead to apathy and lack of purpose. But you were not made for these things; you were made for hope.”  It’s quite a bold statement, to say that we are made, designed, for hope.  So often when health fails or finances fall into ruin hope is not our first response.  But McManus claims that it can be.

Watch what he has to say about hope, destiny and the source of both:

(If you can’t see the video click here to watch it)

>> Watch part 2 of this video here

Do you have hope in your situation? If you were facing a health crisis tomorrow would you be able to say that you had no fear? If you are looking for hope and need someone to talk to, we have email mentors available 24/7.  You can use this form to contact a mentor, you don’t have to go it alone. Paul Henderson has a fight ahead of him, and as he said in the interview he intends to fight this cancer with everything he’s got.  I hope he knows that once again, the whole nation is behind him.

Upcoming online chats: Join us for daily online chats! One of our features will be “If death is not the end” on February 28 at 12:15 pm EST. Please join us to discuss the important topic of life & death!

You be the Olympic judge of your sex life: Gold, Silver, Bronze or nowhere near the podium!

Men and women are so different in how they approach sex. My wife and I often share this at the marriage conferences we speak at:

How do you romance a woman?

June: “Wine her, dine her, call her, cuddle with her, surprise her, compliment her hair, shop with her, listen to her talk, buy flowers, hold her hand, write love letters, and be willing to go to the ends of the earth and back again for her.” That sounds about right; doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t want that kind of treatment?

Neal: Uhhh …. men.

June: How do you romance a man?

Neal: Arrive naked, bring food. Food is optional.

So what is the answer? Well, sex is not an exact science; it is more like trial and error than a step by step formula. It takes work but the practice sessions make it worth the effort! But you don’t want to stay having trials and making errors so I am going to make two simple yet effective suggestions.

1. Schedule sex. Whoa! Isn’t sex supposed to be this serendipitous (great word) experience? Buddy if you wait for that to always be the setting then you are heading for a life of frustration. Scheduling sex handles a huge issue for men and women. Men don’t have to ask and women can prepare so they aren’t tired (tiredness is a major reason why women don’t want sex). Try it just for the fun of it!
2. Talk about sex. There are two times you should talk about sex: when you are having sex and when you aren’t! Do you actually think what you have been doing for years is what your spouse enjoys? Unless you ask you may be way off in your own arrogant thinking about just how good you are. Oh and guys just a quick word of advice, what worked last time probably won’t work this time so make sure your have variety in your repertoire.

This is only a small sampling of how to go for the gold. What you need is someone who knows how to go for the gold in sex, communication, companionship and through conflict. Paul and Eleanor Henderson (yes the same Henderson who scored the winning goal for Canada at the Canada/Russia Summit series) along with Greg and Shelley Leith can give you so much more when you hear them at the location of the 2010 Olympics in Whistler.

Sex can be one of the most intimate times when shared by a married couple who have made a choice to go for the gold. I’d give my sex life….. whoops, my wife just walked in so I better leave the medal part out, at least until later!

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They call the winning goal I scored in the last game of the 1972 Canada/Russia hockey series ‘The Goal of the Century.’

Fear is one of the best motivators, and I was very afraid that I would be part of the team that lost to the Russians. Canada is not a big nation, but hockey is our game. Everyone on the team felt a responsibility to win. I had confidence that our team was better than the Russians, but it never entered my mind that it would be me that scored that last goal. It certainly gave me a stature that I would not have had without it. I wish I could have handled things a little better at that point, been more mature. If I had a spiritual dimension to my life at the time, I know I would have.

Becoming a star

Back then, I had fulfilled most of my boyhood dreams, and I knew I was a very fortunate and blessed individual. Yet there was a restlessness, a discontentment in the centre of my being that I could not ignore. I was angry, bitter and frustrated, and there were things about my life that I didn’t know how to handle. Things were not going well with the Maple Leafs, the team I was playing on, and I was having a lot of conflicts with the owner. Here I was playing in the NHL, doing something that I had always strived for, but I had become more bitter and angry than I had ever been in my life.

So I started drinking as a way to soothe the pain. I think if you are frustrated and angry, you look for a way out. You get with the boys and you try to ‘make merry,’ but you wake up the next morning and it’s there again.

Fortunately, a friend encouraged me to examine the claims of Jesus. He told me that I hadn’t taken care of my soul and had never really looked at what it was on the inside. That made sense to me, so I started to read the Bible and look into Jesus. Jesus claimed to be God, and He said He loved me and wanted to give me eternal life. After a two-year search, I became convinced He loved me and wanted me to get to know Him.

A big decision

However, it was a real struggle for me to become a Christian for a number of reasons. First, I had always prided myself in being a self-made man. I was used to being in control of my life. I was also afraid of what my friends would think. Third, I still looked at Christianity’s ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ and thought that it was so narrow. How could I be a ‘man’s man’ and a Christian, I thought. I was worried that I would have to give up too much. Finally, I read in the Bible that if I really loved God I wouldn’t be afraid to tell others about Him. But if I became a Christian I didn’t want to tell anyone about it. That led to a lot of frustration, because I was not able to step over the line.

One day I just couldn’t fight it any longer. I threw all my fears aside and I said to God: ‘I am fearful, and I don’t want to tell anyone about this.’ And then I gave my life to the Lord.

Since that day, I have never been the same. God has had a positive impact in every area of my life. Most importantly, He has taken away my anger and bitterness. My life certainly hasn’t been trouble-free. One of the most challenging times in my life was when my wife was in the hospital and we thought we were going to lose her. I was mad at God, but I realized that night that life is a gift from God, and I decided right then to place everything in my life in His hands. He had proven Himself to me over the years with His faithfulness, and I knew that I had no choice but to surrender my life to Him. Now the inner quietness, contentment and peace I experience on a daily basis assures me that His promise to love and care for me is true and real. And best of all, I look forward to spending eternity with Him.

Is this the life for me?

Take a look at your life. How would you describe it? Contented? Rushed? Exciting? Stressful? Moving forward? Holding back? For many of us it’s all of the above at times. There are things we dream of doing one day, there are things we wish we could forget. In the Bible, it says that Jesus came to make all things new. What would your life look like if you could start over with a clean slate?

Living with hope
If you are looking for peace, there is a way to balance your life. No one can be perfect, or have a perfect life. But every one of us has the opportunity to experience perfect grace through a personal relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ.

You can receive Christ right now by faith through prayer. Praying is simply talking to God. God knows your heart and is not so concerned with your words as He is with the attitude of your heart. Here’s a suggested prayer:

Lord Jesus, I want to know you personally. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I open the door of my life to you and ask you to come in as my Savior and Lord. Take control of my life. Thank you for forgiving my sins and giving me eternal life. Make me the kind of person you want me to be.

Does this prayer express the desire of your heart? You can pray it right now, and Jesus Christ will come into your life, just as He promised.

If you invited Christ into your life, thank God often that He is in your life, that He will never leave you and that you have eternal life. As you learn more about your relationship with God, and how much He loves you, you’ll experience life to the fullest.

I was mortified at the time, but later on it hit me. My Dad thinks I’m pretty good! I’m not sure how the other players felt, but in his own way, my dad was telling me that he believed in me. Times like that gave me the confidence that I needed to fulfill my dream of playing in the NHL.

All of us need cheerleaders in our corner. As a husband, one of my greatest responsibilities – and greatest privileges – is to support and encourage my wife to become the woman that God created her to be. A big part of that is helping her to feel good about herself, to give her the confidence and courage to step out, take risks, and grow.

There is a principle that says “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph. 4:29). How exactly do we do that? My Dad had his own way, but here are a few suggestions that might help your marriage.

1. Go back to school -You need to become a student of your mate. Watch their life, and get a sense of their potential, their goals and their dreams. Determine where they could use some encouragement or empowerment to overcome a fear.

I always believed that my wife Eleanor would make a fabulous public speaker. But for many years, she just couldn’t see it and was even terrified of trying. She didn’t have self-confidence. But that was okay – I had enough confidence for the both of us! I spent our early years encouraging her and helping her sharpen her speaking skills, and now we speak together regularly at FamilyLife marriage conferences across Canada. What once was a huge area of fear for her has become one of our greatest joys as a couple.

2. Affirm their strengths -As I said, we all need a cheerleader in our corner, and no one should be a bigger fan of your spouse than you. When you see an area of competence and excellence in their life, tell them! Be specific in giving them examples of where you have seen them be wise and discerning. Praise them for whatever they do well, whether it’s cooking, decorating your home, caring for the children, helping people, excelling at work, or being a person of character. Your enthusiasm will put a smile on their face and will give them a confidence that they can achieve their goals.

3. Critique carefully -If we are serious about helping our spouse become a better person, there will be times when some constructive criticism is necessary. This is dangerous territory – tread carefully!

There is a fine line between exhorting and destroying. Our job is to build one another up, not tear one another down. Communicate your intentions to help in the best possible light so your spouse does not become defensive or feel put down. Paint the picture of a diamond in the rough; it just has to be mined – polished, cleaned up, refined. Focus on the diamond not the rough – remember that it takes seven positive comments to outweigh one negative.

4. Public praise -One of the most damaging things we can do to our spouse is to criticize them in front of others. On the other hand, there is nothing as empowering and uplifting as public affirmation. A lot of people today seem to enjoy cutting down their spouse in the presence of others, whether friends, acquaintances or children. Instead, always speak well of your mate, whether or not your spouse is present.

I tell everyone I meet that my wife is the most wonderful woman I have ever laid eyes on. (And she is, too – you should see her!) You will never catch me complaining or even making negative jokes about her. She is God’s precious gift, and I want everybody to know it!

5. Work as a team -Although I may tell my wife how wonderful she is, if I never listen to her or value and acknowledge her suggestions, my words will ring hollow. Individualism creates a feeling of worthlessness in the other person. Seek your mate’s input in your decision-making. God brought you together because you complement one another. Work as a team, and you will not only make better decisions, you will communicate, “I value you.” You will also discover how often God will speak to you through your spouse.

6. Provide security -Dave Currie, a frequent speaker at marriage conferences, makes the excellent point that you should be a safe place for your mate to land. Create an environment where your mate knows that they can share anything openly and freely without the slightest hesitation.

Be sure to remind your spouse often how much you love and cherish them. I tell my wife Eleanor all the time how much I admire her and want her. Assure your mate that you will always be there for them and you will never leave them. The security of knowing that there is someone who is always behind you, no matter what, creates an environment that encourages a person to take the necessary risks to chase their dreams.

Above all, point them to the other Person who is totally enamored with them. As people created in the image of God, each of us is exceptionally valuable in His eyes. He has plans for each of us that are far beyond our comprehension. Our great honour as a husband or a wife is to help our spouse fulfill God’s vision for their life. Nothing is more rewarding!

How does God really feel about you? It says in the Bible that he has loved you “with an everlasting love”.