Read Time: 5 min 15 sec | Reading Level: 7th Grade

Two cities closed out October celebrating new champions. Meanwhile, two leagues are dealing with a different $ide of $ports.

After brewing for 57 seasons, Milwaukee won its first World Series. The Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays 4-1 in Game 5 on October 28 (watch the final out). The Brew Crew tied the record for most wins in a row in a single postseason (8). Catcher William Contreras was named Series MVP.

Out West, the Golden State Valkyries are queens of the WNBA. On Halloween, they beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the first-ever Game 7 of the WNBA Finals. It was just their second season, making them the fastest new team to win a title in major North American sports. Watch their arena, “Ballhalla,” go bananas.

Off the court, the NBA teamed up with two “prediction markets,” Kalshi and Polymarket. These websites let people spend money on a hunch about whether something will happen, like who will win a game. Some states say prediction markets are just sports betting in a different uniform. The NBA says players and staff can’t use the sites for their NBA hunches, and that the markets will help track suspicious activity.

Meanwhile, two Cleveland Guardians pitchers are headed to the courtroom. Prosecutors say Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz secretly tipped off gamblers about pitches they were going to throw (called “pitch rigging”). Clase is accused of rigging 18 pitches over two years. Ortiz allegedly rigged two pitches. Together, they helped gamblers win about $400K. Clase’s lawyers say it was normal baseball strategy. Each pitcher is accused of four charges and faces decades in prison if convicted on all charges (take a deeper dive into the charges).

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CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE
Sports can be a field where spiritual fruit grows. They can introduce us to joy in success, patience in losing, and beauty in teamwork. As you watch, cheer for, and discuss sports, keep an eternal perspective by focusing on growing Christlike character, not just the result on the scoreboard.

“And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope. This hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”
Romans 5:3-5 (CSB) (read full passage)

What do I want to make sure my kids understand about this story?
The beauty of winning and losing graciously.

Winning is king in the sports world, but for Christians, our response to a game’s outcome can be more valuable than the outcome itself. Believers win when we faithfully represent Christ as His ambassadors in our temporary home, displaying love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (2 Corinthians 5:18-21; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:1-2).

If winning results in sinning, we’re really just losing. If we lose with godliness, we’re winning.

What response to this story do I want to model for my children?
Wise financial stewardship.

Our greedy nature will say that happiness is on the other side of “just a little bit more,” but the Bible warns us about this danger.

1 Chronicles 29:11, 14a reminds us where our wealth ultimately comes from: “Yours, LORD, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the splendor and the majesty, for everything in the heavens and on earth belongs to you… But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? For everything comes from you...”

Fight that greed by exercising your generosity muscles, cultivating an open-handed approach to all God’s gifts.

Gen Alpha Word of the Week: A big thank you to Decaf reader Seth H., a real one. This dad and member of Gen Z pointed out (super kindly) that middle schoolers these days are in fact, members of Gen Alpha. Sorry, Decaf’s writers are cheugy.

Family Fun: Help your kids understand odds and wagers with this jellybean-inspired game.

Whipped Cream on Top: When you stay engaged, but not overwhelmed…

How We’re Teaching Our Kids to Pray for Persecuted Christians
With The Voice of the Martyrs’ 2027 Prayer Calendar*

Family life is full of little moments to pray: school drop-offs, grocery runs, bedtime routines… But knowing how to pray beyond our own circle isn’t always easy.

The Voice of the Martyrs’ free 2027 Prayer Calendar makes it simple to bring persecuted Christians into your family's daily prayers. Each day highlights a specific request for believers in hostile areas and restricted nations. Hang it somewhere your kids can see it, and let them take turns finding who your family will pray for that day.

As you plan for 2027, let the global church be something your family lifts up together. Get your free physical Prayer Calendar today!

How We’re Making This Advent Different
By reading She Reads Truth’s Advent Collection* as a family

When the holiday season gets busy, finding time to be in the Word can feel harder than finding the perfect gift for your third cousin.

She Reads Truth makes it easy to slow down and reflect on the season's significance with beautifully designed Advent resources for the whole family. Their Advent Reading Guide includes daily Scripture readings, reflection prompts, recipes, and activities. The collection also includes a family Christmas keepsake journal, a children's coloring book, and more to celebrate the Light of the World.

So grab your Bible, grab the fam, grab some She Reads Truth resources, and settle into the season. Explore the Advent Collection here.

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