#194: Worship Professor is LOCKED ON Basketball, Jesus, Tar Heels, Podcasting

Run The Race

As we close out the month of February, it's time to look forward to "March Madness" and some exciting basketball. A man who talks about the sport in the daily podcasts he hosts is my guest this week. A worship arts college professor by day...we talk about sports helping people get to know Jesus...controversial court storming lately in college basketball...his passion for music ministry...our favorite team UNC, and more. (2:35) Isaac Schade, host of "Locked on College Basketball" (and same one for the Tar Heels too), talks about why people love the sport, the parity, and why have there been more upsets this season. (7:52) With a Duke star having a minor injury after Wake Forest upset them and fans stormed the court...should it be banned or regulated? It's been a national debate. Isaac has some ideas, but not ones that take the magic away for students. From aiming to be a pro baseball player, (13:08) how did he shift from that dream to writing about sports and focusing on music? God used that sport, he says, to get him to certain school where he got his ministry degree. And he believes God is using his sports media jobs for Isaac to be a witness, shine a light. In his younger years as a worship pastor, he and friends also put out an album and toured as the "Isaac Schade Band." His wife is also in ministry as the community impact minister at their church in Missouri. (22:10) With all these jobs - his main one being professor at Ozark Christian College in Joplin MO - it's about finding a balance, putting his family first, watching plenty of college basketball too. Talking about that sport on podcasts, he hopes, can lead to faith conversations as well. Isaac loves how sports can connect us! Making a trip earlier this week to Chapel Hill NC, (30:04) he talks about the atmosphere at the Dean Dome, it being surreal rubbing shoulders with Carolina basketball legends, watching a friend's JV team play on the famed court, then seeing RJ Davis scoring a record 42 points - the most scored by anyone ever in that arena. (39:40) Hosting the podcasts also helps him relate to students at his college, while helping him better teaching technology related to music/worship. Born in England, Isaac's parents were missionaries. (44:16) We close out our chat with some of his predictions, hopes for the last few weeks of this college basketball season and for the North Carolina Tar Heels, saying he thinks the upcoming NCAA Tournament will be "bonkers." (55:00) And I finish the episode with a prayer. Thanks for listening to the #RunTheRace podcast, which I hope you'll subscribe to! Share it with your friends. Also, write a quick review about it, on Apple podcasts. For more info and listen to any previous episodes, go to www.wtvm.com/podcast/.