One Playbook One Success

In today's society it's becoming more and more difficult to follow the playbook.  Many people would like to believe that they do not need to follow the playbook to cross the ultimate goal line.

How does one get from Point A to Point B?  I would argue that one has to start with Faith.  Without Faith how do you even get to Point A? Without Faith it is impossible to please God the bible tells us. John 3:16 is the start to that process. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

 We live in a world that is filled with confusion and disappointment.  What is right anymore?  We live in a world where reality shows is reality for many.  We live in a world where "shacking up" is accepted over the unity of marriage.  We live in a world where disrepecting parents is more prevalent than honoring them.  We live in a world where public use of profanity is celebrated above the name of Jesus.  We live in a world where sagging your pants is more cool than wearring them at the waist line.  We live in a world where having premarital sex and teenage sex is admired more than being a virgin.  We live in a world where children being born out of wedlock is a norm.  We live in a world of political correctness instead of Godly righteousness, I would suggest that we would be better off living in a world of "In God We Trust!"

I like to think that at forty-one years old I'm still fairly young.  In saying that, I'm still taken aback by how dilluted and polluted our world has become over the past two decades.  I believe it has much to do with society's turn from following "The Playbook" and turning to following the world.  We have taken prayer out of the school and replaced it with drugs and guns.  How is that working out for us?

Perhaps by now you have surmised what the "Playbook" is, if you haven't, it is the in errant Word of God, the Bible.  Jesus clearly tells us that the devil comes to kill, steal and destroy but that He came that we might have life and life more abundantly.  The bible also tells us in Proverbs that "There is a way that seems right to man but in the end that way leads to death".  Think about that!  Two things comes to mind, one that if we will follow God's word we will flow in peace and success and cross the ultimate goal line of eternal life. The second is that we have our own mind and we can choose to follow our own playbook or the world's and cross the goal line of destruction.

I have always found the parallels in the days of the bible and today interesting.  Destruction clearly transpired in the bible days with God being displeased in what He was seeing.  I also like the individuals that choose to take part of the bible to be true.  For instance, I hear people talking about Heaven quite often whether on television or in various circles but  the only time I hear about Hell is in church or when someone is cussing.  Chew on that for a moment.  So part of the playbook of life is okay to believe?  I leave you with this... Should bad behavior be rewarded?  Does an athlete play for the Dallas Cowboys and receive a paycheck from the Washington Redskins? Does an employee of IBM follow the employee handbook of Merrill Lynch and continue to have success at IBM? 

When is the last time you read God's playbook?

Who's Your Teammate?

Where I grew up, in Los Angeles (Watts), the population was predominantly black.  I was not exposed to diversity early on.  Then my mother moved the family back to her hometown of Palatka, Fl.  Palatka was made up of blacks and whites primarily at that time.  I can remember my first experience in school hearing and feeling the racism in elementary school.  This was expressed from both sides.  Coming from L.A., even though I grew up in a black area (Watts), I was not exposed to racism.  I did not know the difference because my mom did not teach us any different.  However, I was receiving a crash course in racism.

I discovered quickly in Palatka that black kids associated with black kids only and the same was true with whites.  It seemed to get better when I reached middle school and high school through sports.  However, there were white kids who would visit with me in school but if I ran into them in the store or mall with their parents, they would act as if they did not know me.  This perplexed me.  Eventually I did have white friends I would visit the homes of and vica versa.  We are still friends to this day.  Again, my mother did not teach us any different.  Today not much has changed at my high school. If you were to walk in my high school during lunch you would see a segregated lunch hour.

I soon learned just how segregated and full of hatred the town was.  I discovered that racism existed from both sides, however it did not come from the kids but from the parents.  People are not born racist they are taught to be racist.  Most people will not admit this but there are racist people in all races and ethnic groups. 

I had an eye-opening experience over the Fourth of July weekend 2011.  My wife's cousin's boyfriend, stay with me, suggested to me that religion is like racism.  After I pondered the thought for a minute, I had to agree with him.  Sundays in America are one of the most segregated days.  Religion and racism is of man.  Relationship and diversity is of God.  If you want to have a relationship with a man worship religion if you want to have a relationship with God worship Him.  In other words identify yourself with God not a denomination.  People throw out their religion party as more than they throw out their political party. 

Let's talk about God's team.  I was recently reminded of a quote from Martin Luther King's famous "I Have A Dream" speech.  He spoke about people of all colors being able to share and interact together in harmony.  I believe diversity is one of the greatest gifts God has given us.  It allows us an opportunity to grow as people and see the true power of God's love.  It is the great test of loving our neighbor as we love ourselves.  I am convinced that should be more evident in our churches and our lives. 

An athletic team wants to win and they find the best people to help them win, not based on color.  I believe there is a lot of value in the phrase, "Together we stand, divided we fall."  I believe our churches should represent this more than the club or bar.  Clubs and bars are more integrated than the church and this must first start at home with our youth.  I can remember a lesson discussed in one of my college courses (social work), when my professor presented a statement for the class to ponder, "I would not mind them being my neighbor but I would not want my son or daughter marrying one."  This tends to be the sentiment of many people, whether in or out the church.

I am not promoting interracial marriage but what I am promoting is loving our neighbor as we love ourselves, regardless of their skin color.  My wife is hispanic but she has a lighter skin tone.  It is funny because there were times over the years and even now from time to time that we get those looks.  You know what looks I am talking about.

I believe we can change our communities by changing the color of Sundays because genuine love should start from God's people.  We should not have to wait until a catastrophe happens for us to show God's love.  Our youth should know that God loves everyone and he commands us to love everyone.  Racism is not a trait of God nor is it in the DNA of God.  Do you need a DNA test?

The entire law is summed up in a single command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."  If you keep on biting and devouring each other, watch out or you wil be destroyed by each other. Galations 5:14-15 NIV


Who is your neighbor?

Spring Ball and Spring Cleaning 2012

It's spring time!  It's that time of year when individuals go through the cabinets, closets, and crevaces to get rid of the things that are prohibiting them from operating a clean and winning apartment, condo or house.  It's the time when college football teams are working on getting better as a team with the goal of winning a championship!  It's that time of year when dads are working alongside moms in the yard to win the neighborhood championship! It's that time of the year when major league baseball players are in spring training working on the goal of winning the World Series!

In Spring 2010 I was preparing to hit the practice field as a newly promoted Associate Head Football Coach and Offensive Coordinator.  I should have been filled with excitement and joy, right?  Wrong!  There was something missing.  I loved football, I loved coaching football but there was something missing.  In Spring 2011 I had walked away from the game I loved, the game that truly was the instrument that changed my life but there something still missing. I was empty and searching for something to fill that void.  Then I found the missing piece that spring through the most unexpected vehicle, my oldest brother Sidney's passing.  Through all the pain and tears I was able to find peace.  That was my spring cleansing!  God met me where I was and used His Son Jesus Christ's blood to cleanse me that Spring.  In Spring 2012 I can say that I don't have football but I have a peace that surpasses all understanding.


Do you need to go to spring training? Do you need to do some spring cleaning?  Is there something missing?  Perhaps there are some things in your closet, in your yard that you have been holding onto like unforgiveness, alcohol, lust, depresssion etc. Maybe you feel like you have failed.  Been there!  Don't wait until next spring for next spring is not promised. God wants to cleanse you this spring!  You are His spring flower, His spring aroma but He needs you in full bloom this Spring to shower you with Spring blessings!  You have free will, you can decide to keep the clutter that may be keeping you from being set free like the Spring Mourning Dove!

Spring into God's Hands -