I grew up watching rugby league. I have always loved it. It’s in my blood. My grandpa played in high school. My dad played in primary. I am a diehard Brisbane Broncos supporter. In primary school, the highlight of my week was watching Friday Night Football with my dad. My older siblings would go off to youth group while I watched football. I never felt like I was missing out.
Growing up, the Broncos had the best players and, arguably, the best coach in the game – Wayne Bennet. Everyone respected Wayne because he kept things simple, he demanded discipline, and he had integrity. I remember hearing a story of Wayne being interviewed at a men’s breakfast. He was the guest speaker and had just been awarded Queensland Father of the Year. He was asked about how to be a good dad. Wayne shot back quickly, “love their mother.” Simple, profound, true.
Bennett left Brisbane at the end of 2008 to take up a position in Sydney before moving to Newcastle. To do this he left his family behind with the goal of keeping his wife and kids as stable as possible. He used to travel home as much as he could but coaching in the NRL is more than a full-time job...
Wayne Bennet was married to his wife for 42 years before it came out that he had been having an affair with a woman in Newcastle where he coached from 2012-2014. It sent shockwaves through the rugby league community. The once QLD father of the year had done the unthinkable. What happened?
Wayne did exactly what Proverbs 18:1 says:
Growing up, the Broncos had the best players and, arguably, the best coach in the game – Wayne Bennet. Everyone respected Wayne because he kept things simple, he demanded discipline, and he had integrity. I remember hearing a story of Wayne being interviewed at a men’s breakfast. He was the guest speaker and had just been awarded Queensland Father of the Year. He was asked about how to be a good dad. Wayne shot back quickly, “love their mother.” Simple, profound, true.
Bennett left Brisbane at the end of 2008 to take up a position in Sydney before moving to Newcastle. To do this he left his family behind with the goal of keeping his wife and kids as stable as possible. He used to travel home as much as he could but coaching in the NRL is more than a full-time job...
Wayne Bennet was married to his wife for 42 years before it came out that he had been having an affair with a woman in Newcastle where he coached from 2012-2014. It sent shockwaves through the rugby league community. The once QLD father of the year had done the unthinkable. What happened?
Wayne did exactly what Proverbs 18:1 says:
“Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment” (ESV)
Wayne removed himself from his wife and kids, and he followed his impulses without accountability. He shattered what he should have known to be reasonable and responsible discernment.
We shouldn’t be surprised. The supercoach is just a human being like us. He is just as vulnerable as we are. And therefore, we too shall go astray without being enriched by ongoing godly counsel in our lives. We need to listen to the precious guidance of God’s Word and act accordingly.
So take time to consider: Are you isolated? Being in community is a vital part of God’s provision and solution. The desire for all our community groups at Restoration Church is that Christians would participate personally and deeply. Be known and loved. Be relationally connected to a group of people who encourage, admonish and love one another. As His redeemed people, it is in our blood.
We shouldn’t be surprised. The supercoach is just a human being like us. He is just as vulnerable as we are. And therefore, we too shall go astray without being enriched by ongoing godly counsel in our lives. We need to listen to the precious guidance of God’s Word and act accordingly.
So take time to consider: Are you isolated? Being in community is a vital part of God’s provision and solution. The desire for all our community groups at Restoration Church is that Christians would participate personally and deeply. Be known and loved. Be relationally connected to a group of people who encourage, admonish and love one another. As His redeemed people, it is in our blood.