Are you winning?

I read a poster just the other day that stated:

That statement resonated with me.  It does not matter what you are doing, that statement applies. 

It always amazes me that people continue to do the same old thing and wonder why they are in the same situation.  People have been hanging out with the same people for years.  People have been living in the same place for years.  People have been going through the same routine, at home, for years.  People have been saying the same prayer for years.  It is time to try something new.  I will take it a step further.  I believe God expects us to step outside the box and do something different. 

People say they want to win but they are not willing to do what it takes to get a winning outcome and sometimes that may mean doing something different.  It could be something like changing your prayer partner, changing your way of thinking, listening to someone that may not be as old or as young as you. 

A scientist has to try different formulas to find what works - essentially, what gets the win.  If you are a doctor, you have to change and keep current with the new medicine to win.  I know the patient wants the doctor to win!  A coach has to run different plays to surmise what will get the win. Simply because one is saved does not mean they know how to win and are willing to do what it takes to win. We all have to be willing to listen, embrace change and implement something new if we want to win. There are too many Christians satisfied with just being saved and just getting by.  God wants us to do more than just get by, he wants us to win and win big. 

God is the winner of all winners.  Are you willing to initiate something new?  If so, start talking like a winner!  If someone starts talking negative, in any way, I am convinced they do not want to win and remove myself from the situation.  I refuse to associate with losers; Christians or not!  You are probably thinking that is not Christian like.  You are right, it is not Christian-like to speak negatively.  There are far too many defeated Christians trapped in mental prisons.  They are only winners during their Wednesday and Sunday field trips to church. We must change the way we think if we are even going to have a chance to win and get all that God has for us.

Let me close with the Word of God!  "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow. And the Lord shall make thee the head, and not the tail; and thou shalt be above only, and thou shalt not be beneath; if that thou hearken unto the commandments of the Lord thy God, which I command thee this day, to observe and to do them."  We must conduct ourselves in this manner, talk in this manner and believe in this manner at all times if we are going to win big like God intends for His people.

Discipline wins!

The game clock does not stop

As we prepare to head back to the hallways and classrooms, I wanted to share my thoughts with you regarding timeouts.  There are timeouts in most organized team sports.  Timeouts are usually called by a team when things are going awry.  The coach and his staff are compelled to use a timeout to regroup or stop the clock.

To delve further into the topic of timeouts, in football each team is afforded three timeouts per half.  The topic of timeouts is given quality attention in staff meetings leading up to the game.  The head coach assigns a coach up in the box above the field to keep a record of timeouts and a staff member down on the field to do the same.  During the game the head coach is constantly asking the referee for the number of timeouts left. There are several parties responsible for keeping track of timeouts; the referees, box coaches, field coaches, and the clock operator.  If a coach uses a timeout at the wrong time or wastes a timeout, it could cost his team the game.

I believe timeouts are critical in our walk with God.  I will go even further to share that we do not get timeouts we get breakthroughs.  We get to breakthrough the busy days, routines of everyday life and the discouragement of negative people if we will make time for God.  We should give special attention to the topic of timeouts.  Keep in mind, we either get better or worse each day in our walk with God, we do not stay the same. Surround yourself with people who desire to get better in their walk with God. The devil never calls a timeout. He is ready to attack at all times. We are vulnerable when the devil sees us calling a timeout.  A timeout in this instance is that you left your prayer, praise and worship at home.  We must be focused on our game plan and be ready to praise at all times.

Time management is a  key component of game management.  You may have that one activity or class where you are the only Christian or you simply get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the day.   This is important for students both at the school level and college level. You may think this is a reason to call a timeout but it is even more the reason to go find a secret place to get your praise on and speak the word of God over your life.  I believe using a timeout in our walk with God can cause us to lose our traction, slip or get tackled.  However, a praise will bring favor, healing, success, peace and blessings.

I am not saying not to enjoy school.  What I am saying is do not forget who brought you to the game. God brought you to the game so that you will lead others to the game and show them how they too can win from within. You are never too young to be a game breaker for Jesus. Get ready for your breakthrough school year.  Remember the devil does not play fair and never calls a timeout.  When you use a timeout in your walk with God, unlike in sports...the clock does not stop.

The clock is running -

Respect the locker room

No matter how old we get there will be order and protocol.  Athletes are assigned lockers; from middle school  to the professional levels.  Although the locker is assigned to the athlete, the locker room is run by the coach.

There are rules in place for what an athlete is allowed to have in his or her locker.  The athlete must also keep the locker clean and in order.  There are certain materials not allowed in the locker.  This is not optional. The coach could enter their locker at anytime and check it out to ensure it is up to code. Most athletes understand and respect the rules of the locker room. I never had an athlete say, "Well, it is my locker. I can put whatever I want in it or keep it how I want to".  There was a reason the athletes were supportive of the locker room rules and standards, in my opinion.  I believe this is because the Coach made it clear what the expectations were and what the consequences were from day one.  There was no obscurity and daily communication and reminders were given.  The "reminders" (aka consequences) could simply be after practice, group running.

I believe all parents, especially saved parents, need to have rules in place for their kids and what they are allowed to have in their locker (bedroom).  I also believe that the child should respect the rules of the locker room (home). The child must also keep the locker (bedroom) clean and in order.  There should be certain material that is not allowed in their locker (bedroom).  This should not be optional.  The child needs to understand that the locker (bedroom) is assigned to them but the locker room (home) is owned and operated by the parent.  As long as the child adheres to the rules and protocol of the locker (bedroom), the locker room will be assigned to them.  "But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord." (Joshua 24:15)

A child needs to understand and respect the fact that the parent can enter their room at anytime and check it out.  I am always amazed by television shows where the parent knocks on the child's bedroom door before entering.  I never knocked on the locker room door before entering.  The players understood that a coach could walk in at anytime.  I believe the child will be supportive of the rules of the home if the parent makes it clear what the expectations are and what the consequences are from day one not in year 16.  I am convinced that children not only need discipline and structure, they want it.

It should not matter whether a child is in a locker room or a bedroom.  We have a responsibility to parent and teach.  I believe if we will teach our children that God loves them, set a standard and give them a biblical foundation - not a religous one - and not compromise, we will save them from one day following the rules of a correctional or rehab facility.

What's in your locker?

No Pain - No Gain

In athletics this phrase is often expressed.  If we are going to gain success in anything we must endure pain.  Most of us make New Year's resolutions each year. A common one is, I am going to lose weight and attend the gym regularly.  However, most times people do not follow through because it is painful; if nothing more than the effort and time it will take away from their daily life.  The reality is if they do not get to the gym and endure some pain they will not reach their goal of losing weight and getting in shape.

Take a college student.  If they expect to be a successful student they must endure some latenight study pain.  In turn, they will we gain success on that exam or project and ultimately receive their college degree.

When God has a call on your life, you will endure some pain on your way to where God is taking you.  I know that God has called me into ministry.  With that will come great trials (pain).  I cannot expect to have free sailing with no pain.  The enemy will use my own family to inflict pain to discourage me from reaching the destiny God has for me.  I have to recognize that all these are growing pains and possess the spiritual maturity to discern the devil's tactics.  I must also stay cool, calm, and collected and "never let them see me sweat".  My nephew, Sidney III, reminded me that Jesus had to control his emotions many times when he walked the earth. Jesus passed the greatest pain test of all; giving his life on the cross to die for our sins. 

I will embrace the pain because I believe in the midst of the pain I will gain a closer walk with God.  Nothing in life is easy and I know that because I have endured pain in my life.  The good news is as long as we sustain ourselves in the will of God we will make it through and experience greatest gain of all and that is eternal life.

Embrace the pain-

Are you in the right "Position"?

My son Caleb said to me last night, "You reference a lot things with football."  He was talking about my blog.  I told him it is how I correlate my thoughts because I believe college football and our walk with God are similar in more ways than one.

Let's take football for instance.  When a player joins a team he has to give, separate and transform.  He has to give himself away for the good of the team; separate himself from old things (people) and transform his mind in the likeness of the Head Coach's philosophy.

We use a term in football called "buying in", meaning the player has to believe in the philosophy, the playbook and the way the coach does things.  By buying in, the player and the team will have success based on the coach's system. Therefore, the player has to give himself to the team, separate from old things and transform his mind.  The transforming process is a continual one, longer for some than for than others.  It just does not happen overnight.  I had some guys that bought into the coaching philosophy right away.  There were others I had to nurture and make believers out of.  The "buy in" was just the beginning.

In football, having success as an individual is all about playing the right "position" and being in the right "position".  This is not easy because we all have habits.  "Bad habits" in football are those which impede guys from having consistent success or sustaining that success.  Many times it was habits they had brought from their high school playing experiences.  They were sometimes selfish and wanted to do things their way.  They thought their way was better than the coach's way.  You know the old adage, "Business as usual".  They did not want to give up how they thought about or did certain things.

Without being too technical, a coach may ask his wide receiver to put his inside foot up when lined up in his stance.  However, the player may think having his outside foot up is better because it is what he has always done and he is comfortable with it.  Or, the coach tells the quarterback to throw the ball to the slant route in cover 2, but he wants to throw the hitch. In both cases, after having no success in doing it their way, they try the coach's way and experience success.  It may take the quarterback throwing the hitch in cover 2 and it being intercepted for him to believe in what the coach is coaching him to do.  If they choose not to continue to follow the guidance and direction of the coach, they revert back to their old ways.  When a player realizes that doing it his way is not better than doing it the coach's way, they put themselves in position for success.  Moreover, they have sustained success just by being in the right position.  They realize that having success takes more than just having athletic ability and talent.  Those things will only get you so far.

Let's take our walk with God.  When a person becomes a Christian, they have to be willing to give, separate and be transformed.  They must be willing to give of themselves completely, to God, and separate from old things (people) transforming their mind into the likeness of God.  They have to "buy in" to God's word, the Bible, and the way God does things.

By "buying in", he or she will have success in their walk with God.  The transforming process is a continual one, longer for some more than others.  It just does not happen overnight.  I believe some Christians "buy in" right away.  Others have to be nurtured and God has to make believers out of them.

In Christ, having success is one thing but being blessed is another.  I believe it is all about being in the right "position".  This is not easy because we all have baggage and habits that we must be willing to shed ourselves of.  I believe these things will keep God's hands tied from blessing us with the abundance.  Many times the baggage has been brought from previous relationships and/or experiences.  It can be that we are simply being selfish in wanting to do things our way, thinking our way is better than God's way. It can also be through harboring unforgiveness (persons who did us wrong), gossiping, not paying tithes because we think the pastor is out to get our money or not spending time with God outside of our weekly church requirements.  However, unlike the coach, I believe God will not force you to do anything.

I believe if we will rid ourselves of ourselves and truly give it all to God we can become all that He wants us to become.  In other words, if we get in "position", God will bless us beyond our imagination.  "Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house.  'Test me in this,' says the Lord Almighty, 'and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour you out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.'" (Mal. 3:10 NIV)

When are you going to stop doing it your way and start doing it God's way?  What has God asked you to do?

Get in position-

Beyond the Facemask - Have a plan

I can remember growing up and religiously attending church.  It was spoken into my life, at an early age, that God had a calling and an anointing on my life.  I wanted to go to college, study psychology and play college football.  There were people in the church that laughed at the notion.  With an ultimate goal of playing professional football, I did not get a scholarship out of high school.  It was not that I was not good enough.  It was because I depended on man and did not have a plan.  I had an average GPA (2.4) and had not taken the ACT or SAT.

Once I graduated from high school, I was still impregnated with the dream and desire to play college football, eventually professionally.  After graduation is when I realized I did not have a plan and I needed one.  You have to understand...  I was raised with the belief that to graduate from high school was the ultimate achievement.  However, I had aspirations and dreams to do more.

After my high school graduation, I continued to work as a bag boy at a local grocery store.  My plan was to go to the local community college (no football team) and then transfer to a four year college or university.  I worked with one of my high school teammates, Jim, at the store.  One day we were filling the ice cooler with bags and he told me he was going into the U.S. Army.  I replied, "You are crazy"!  He said, "No, they are going to enroll me in the G.I. Bill that will help pay for my college once I am discharged."  He went on to say, "You should go in, too"  I said no thanks.  Next thing I knew I was sitting in front of an Army recruiter.  I decided I could go into the military and then to college to play football.  I was only 17 at the time.  At that moment my plan changed but I felt it was a solid plan.  So I joined the the U.S. Army for three years.

During my time in the Army I kept my faith and focus on the plan even through having a son at 19, a failed marriage and fighting in a war.  I continued to workout and do my research.  I was determined to play college football.  I was deployed to Desert Storm in Saudi Arabia for five months and seventeen days.  Even during that time I would run and catch footballs whenever I had a break.  Needless to say, my army buddies thought I was crazy.  They would say things like, "You are not going to college" or "You are not going to play college football."  I knew what my plan was even though I had never been to college and no one in my family had ever graduated college.  I was not even sure I would make it back to the United States but I kept the faith.

I did make it back to the states in April 1991, thank God. I had seven months left of my three year commitment.  It seemed to get tougher with the the negative and fearful comments of my army buddies.  They continued to say that I could not go to college or questioned why I would want to leave the comfort zone of the army life.  "Three hots and a cot!"  (Breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a free place to live.)  There were even family members that questioned why I would leave the army but I sustained my faith and focus.

I was stationed in Fort Sill, Oklahoma just outside Lawton.  Lawton is home to Cameron University where I would go with a friend to workout and catch balls on the football field. One day I was approached by one of the football coaches on staff at Cameron, Coach Faulkner.  He asked my name and what I was doing.  I told him that I was in the Army but my plan was to go play college football back home at the University of Florida.  He said I have been watching you and we will give you a scholarship to play here.  I was floored!  My eyes were set on playing Division I not Division II but we have to recognize blessings.  So I said, "Really? Okay."  Why go to a place where you are going to have to pay for school, when you can get help paying for school?  Several months later Cameron dropped football as a sport due to Title IX rules.  At that point I felt that it had been too good to be true.  However, I enrolled at Cameron that spring semester anyway.

Several months later my phone rang and the voice on the other end was Coach Faulkner, the same coach from Cameron.  He said to me "Hi, Corey.  This is Coach Faulkner.  Listen, I am in New Mexico at a school called Western New Mexico University with a staff I worked with at Peru State in Nebraska.  I told them about you but the Head Coach would need to see you workout."  He went on to say, "Now, New Mexico is different but if you are willing to come out here and workout, we have a scholarship available if the coaches like what they see."  On March 12, 1993, I drove to Silver City, NM.

I had no clue where this place was or how to get there other than on a map.  It was in the middle of nowhere.  I arrived and worked out for the coaches and they offered me a scholarship on the spot.  I enrolled in school at WNMU in August 1993 and played my first season of college football.  I would go on to become a four-year starter, team captain, student government Senator, social work club Vice President and earned a Bachelors Degree in Social Work with a Minor in Sociology.  Today, I have my masters in Athletic Administration.  I met and married my amazing and beautiful wife in Silver City, her hometown.  I believe it was because of having a plan, not making excuses and my unwavering faith to do something I could not see nor was something anyone in my family had ever done.  God blessed me incredibly.

There are a few lessons in this:

• Do not make excuses
• God is faithful even when we do not deserve it
• With God all things are possible
• Do not put your trust in man
• You can have a calling and an anointing on your life but you need to take academics serious and have a plan
• It does not matter what people around you say or the environment you live in, you can achieve
• Stay focused even when things look rough
• Do not let man steal the dream God has birthed inside of you
• Faith is believing in what you cannot see.  
• You can still win!

Do YOU have a plan?

Captains needed, God builds character

Our youth face tough challenges everyday; challenges in their school, neighborhood and from friends.  This is real pressure when they have to make a split decision. "Hey, let's skip school", "Come on, have a beer", "Want to make some money [sell pills]?", "Want to smoke some "green" (marijuana)?", sexting (sending nude photos) and the pressure of premarital sex.  I can remember being offered marijuana to sell in the tenth grade during English class. I said no, but if I had said yes that could have sent me down an entirely different road.

Then there is the desire to fit in. You may feel the need to use profanity or show disrespect to someone to impress others.  It does not matter where you are from, these are real issues.  I was always taken back by the number of students with the lack of respect for authority.  Moreover, I was amazed at the parents who condoned their child's actions by pointing the finger at the teacher or authority figure instead of holding the child accountable.

We need parents who will lead their children in a Godly way and not compromise. My mom did not comprise nor did she negotiate with us. She was the same woman of God, Sunday through Monday.  She never waivered in her walk with Christ.  As a single parent, she set the tone.  We need more parents to set the tone in their child's life.  "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it". (Proverbs 22:6 NIV)

We need youth in the church who will be leaders seven days a week, those who will not succumb to the peer pressures of the world and young men and young women who will say "I am a child of God."

You do not have to sag your pants, use profanity, have premarital sex, sext, use drugs or drink alcohol to be cool.  Yes, times have changed but God has not.  Being a young man or young woman of God and reppin' (representing) for Jesus Christ is the coolest thing you could ever do.  God is the only one you need to impress.

It is important to listen to your parents and respect them. "Honor your father and mother."  This the first commandment with a promise. "That it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on earth".(Ephesians 6:2 NIV).  I know you may not think your parents are not cool at times but they really are and they love you.  Your parents are not supposed to be your friend. They are your parent.  When you become an adult you will have an opportunity for them to become your friend as well as be your parent.  You can be a captain and win from within.

Start today-