Even in the business world, there are winners and losers. So should we not have anything to do with the outside corporate world? the bible says that "In all things give to the Glory of God!"

not that we can to go kill someone and then praising God and giving him the glory makes it ok.
But by being a good sport, showing true sportsmanship in every play, in every situation, win or lose. We are and can give Glory to God.

By being great examples in winning and losing, by gathering both teams together at the end of the game to pray shows great character and humbleness like Christ.

Well, God's prophet wrote that we're to avoid chess, checkers, and the like too:

"There are amusements which we cannot approve, because Heaven condemns them, -- such as dancing, card playing, chess, checkers, &c. These amusements open the door for great evil. Their tendencies are not beneficial, but their influence upon the mind is to excite and produce in some minds a passion for those plays which lead to gambling, and dissolute lives. All such plays should be condemned by Christians. Something should be substituted in the place of these amusements. Something can be invented, perfectly harmless."
{RH 10-08-1867 para. 29} (see also 1T 514.1)

There's a similar passage in Australasian Union Conference Record, 11-24-1913, para. 07; so this was her view for the space of at least 46 years.

And she said that the simple playing of ball, like a pickup game at school or in the neighborhood, is OK. It's the organized sports with teams, uniforms, leagues etc. that she said God disapproves.

but what is the difference in a pickup game and an organized game. when i play pickup game of Basketball, i still want my team to win. i still want to score points. what is the difference.

what about court is court evil. the idea of an event ending in a winner and a loser is evil. is totally crazy. at the end of time, there will surely be winners of eternity, and definetly losers damned to hell fire aswell. that is the end time court. and it is total hypocricy to say that its ok for situation and not another.

my question to all adventist i meet is this. if the one people that demanded Jesus to be nailed to the Cross was the Legalistic Jews, why do we want to be the very same only adventist?

puting a ban on checkers, and sports, is just the same as saying that we must circumcised in order to be saved. It is total legalality. And Jesus died to save us from that.

If EGW said not to ride a bike in the 19th century, and we know that its ok now, why can't we open our eyes to the fact that Sports is not evil aswell? Why? I'll tell you why, its because someone liked bikes but not sports and they set a president that bikes and a million other things they like are ok. And they created a double standard by saying that the things they don't like, even though they are mentioned in the very same manner as the other things by EGW, are evil.

If we're going to say that, then we might as well throw out the SOP and the Bible altogether, when they prohibit anything in particular that we might like.

(The bicycle situation isn't like every other situation she wrote about. That much is pretty obvious.)

- Special Testimonies on Education-- To Teachers and Students------PG- 191
Whatever is done under the sanctified stimulus of Christian obligation, because you are stewards in trust of talents to use to be a blessing to yourself and to others, gives you substantial satisfaction; for all is done to the glory of God. I cannot find an instance in the life of Christ where he devoted time to play and amusement. He was the great Educator for the present and the [192] future life. I have not been able to find one instance where he educated his disciples to engage in amusement of football or pugilistic games, to obtain physical exercise, or in theatrical performances; and yet Christ was our pattern in all things. Christ, the world's Redeemer, gave to every man his work, and bids them "occupy till I come." And in doing his work, the heart warms to such an enterprise, and all the powers of the soul are enlisted in a work assigned of the Lord and Master. It is a high and important work. The Christian teacher and student are enabled to become stewards of the grace of Christ, and be always in earnest.

Joe,
Actually, if you read or listen to the sermon again, you may catch some of the basic drift, which includes

—The goal of Adventist education is to prepare young people to serve Jesus and live missionary-minded lives
—Competitive sports is not a poor means of doing this, it is a means of achieving the very opposite
—The history of competitive sports (did you download the one-page timeline?) shows that it originates in paganism and is associated with ungodly religion. It was used during WWII as a means of training soldiers for war
—You may find the 100 page paper helpful in spite of its size. It is the work not of one or two people, but a whole church over a period of a year. The last third of the document is mostly long extracts from Ellen G. White. The reason they are longer is to provide context for those who want to study the issue
—The bicycle argument is so far out on this topic that we found no one in recent years who even tries to use it. God showed us through Mrs. White that it is a timeless and universal principle that this kind of activity is demoralizing to young people. It is not fixable. It is built in. You can make some poisons taste sweet, but you still cannot safely drink them. This is the way it is with a demoralizing practice.
—If you truly are a Seventh-day Adventist, you will be aware that Fundamental Belief #17 says that the writings of Mrs. White are a source of authority within this church. In fact, they are inspired. Have you given thought to this? If you are going to serve as a pastor, you are charged to uphold these teachings.
—May I urge you again, because of the Jesus you love, to return to His speaking through the inspired writings and seriously consider the facts. Remember. You were the one who asked. LK

Well, Joe, since you asked me specifically what my take is on the situation you described in your first post I will tell you my personal reaction to it. First of all, it seems a bit odd to me, if not at odds with our separation of church and state position as a church, to have a chaplin for a high school football team, especially if it is a regularized position accepted or sanctioned by the school athletic program. On the other hand, if you are simply a self-appointed chaplin coming in officially as an assistant coach and expecting or hoping to minister in some way as the opportunity presents itself, I would question how realistic it would be to expect much of an opportunity in such and environment, where the focus of attention is decidedly in quite a different direction. It seems a rather improbable role to play and would seem to involve a rather limited spiritual ministry opportunity and would likely be superficial and more than a little bit artificial. I am skeptical, quite frankly.

You also indicated that you would also be functioning as an assistant coach. Assuming the validity of the chaplin part, I would realisitically expect that more immediacy and and greater expectations would be placed on the coach role. After all, they are all there to play football. That role would capture and demand the most of your time and energy at the games.

Bringing this home on a personal level for you, I think some very serious introspection is in order. Ask yourself and really think about it, Why am I wanting to do this? What is my motivation? Is it my love of sports or my sensing a genuine spiritual need and opportunity? Am I excited about being in the sporting environment and just looking for a way to justify spending more time doing sports? What IS my priority in this? Is this the highest and best use of my spiritual gifts? Will I be strong enough spiritually to step into that environment and be uneffected personally by the overwhelmingly secular influences? More importantly, if I could possibly handle that, would I have the spiritual depth, strength and fortitude to really spiritually impact the tone of that environment and have a decided spiritual impact on the athletes, coaches and fans? Am I being at all realistic and practical?

I cannot answer these questions or decide this for you. But I can tell you what I would do if I was really faced personally with this hypothetical situation. I would have to say, no. Move on and seek some other opportunity. This is just not practical and realistic. It is not the way I want to spend Sabbath. Sabbath is for rest, worship and doing good. I don't see this as much of an opportunity for any of that.

Finally, the secret for resolving that "pleasure" on the Sabbath dilemna of Isaiah 58:13 is found at the begining of that chapter. Pay particular attention to how the same phrase is used and explained in the fasting/worship context. And notice God's remedy and carry all that forward to the Sabbath verse. The same One who spoke those words to Isaiah likewise pronounced the principle of Sabbath observance, "It is righteous [lawful] to do good on the Sabbath."

Tom

Who are "we" to say that this opportunity: "...would seem to involve a rather limited spiritual ministry opportunity and would likely be superficial and more than a little bit artificial."

Joe,
Rather than put weight on the talk of man as is presently "debated" here at MSDA online, go to the Lord in prayer, study of His word, and in Faith. We can not be your conscience...

Daniel,

Advice was requested and advice in response is being giving.

There is also wisdom in seeking advice from the brethren. I believe both the Bible and EGW testifies to this.

In the end, it all comes down to knowing the One who made the sabbath.

Matt 7:20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'