Pops! (Amos 7:14-15)

I am a proud alumnus of Pomona College, part of the five Claremont Colleges in Southern California. I received a wonderful education which more than adequately prepared me for medical school and my career. The college has maintained its excellent academic reputation since I matriculated. But as renowned as its academic prowess, the school’s athletic program have never quite achieved the same level of excellence. Yet for a brief moment in its history, that changed for the basketball program.

Pomona college competes in the Division III, as a combined team with a fellow Claremont college, Pitzer. Unlike the familiar names of Division I basketball like UCLA, Duke, and Michigan State, the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens compete against such well known athletic dynasties like Cal-Tech! In 1979, Gregg Popovich arrived to Pomona College and became the head coach of the combined Pomona-Pitzer men’s basketball team. From a dismal starting season record of 2 wins and 22 losses, he led the team to its first  Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championship in 1986, ending a 68 year drought.

Coach Popovich or “Pops”, as he is affectionately known by his colleagues and students, is familiar to anyone with a passing interest in professional basketball. It was his achievement at Pomona college that caught the attention of then Spurs head coach, Larry Brown, who recruited Pops. Since 1988, he has been with the San Antonio Spurs, first as an assistant coach, and since 1992, the head coach. He led the Spurs to five NBA titles and has been voted NBA coach of the year three times. He is one of the most successful NBA coaches in the history of the game. In spite of his many NBA championships and awards, the only trophy he keeps in his office is the Pomona-Pitzer trophy from 1986. His heart is still with Pomona College. He will always be a Division III coach.

In the Bible, we read of the prophet Amos, who was a shepherd and fig farmer when God called Him to be His prophet. He obeyed God’s calling and preached to the northern kingdom of Israel about social injustice. Amaziah, one of the corrupt priests of Israel, was angered by the message and commanded Amos to leave. Amos clung to his humble origins.

Then Amos answered and said to Amaziah, “I was no prophet, nor a prophet's son, but I was a herdsman and a dresser of sycamore figs. But the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.’ “

Amos 7:14-15 (ESV)

Amos never forgot his roots. He proudly proclaimed to Amaziah that he was not an intellectual, formally trained like he was. He was and would always be a herdsman and farmer. But God used his knowledge and background to be a prophet to His people.

Like Amos, Pops never forgot his roots. We should always remember our roots. God brought us into this world for a purpose. The lessons that He shows us as we grow in knowledge with Him,  are our very identity, given to us by God for His glory!

Amen!

Love and trust the Lord; seek His will in your life.