Journey To Unite
I love movies. One of the best movies that I have seen in a very long time is Invictus which is the true story of Nelson Mandela and his journey to unite a country as he became the president of South Africa after spending 27 years in prison for sabotage and other charges. Mandela claimed that the poem Invictus written by William Ernest Henley, hence the name of the movie, gave him strength in the darkest of times.
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
At one point Mandela sat Francois Pienaar down who was the captain of the South African Springboks to challenge him to win the World Cup of Rugby and Mandela said this, “How do we inspire ourselves to greatness when nothing less will do? How do we inspire everyone around us?” Mandela’s dream was to unite the whites and blacks of South Africa by inspiring them through rugby. Francois took the challenge and inspired a mediocre team to greatness and for a moment inspired a nation to greatness.
Andy Stanley has said this quote before, “What do you do when you realize you are the most powerful person in the room?” Both Mandela and Francois leveraged their power together in their respective areas of influence. The word Invictus is Latin meaning, unconquer, unconquerable or undefeated. Towards the end of the movie Francois commented that, “We’ve become more than just a rugby team.”
I wonder in our lives when do we realize that we were created for more than what we are doing currently? When do we realize that we are more than just a Christ-follower but we are part the Kingdom of God? When do we realize that we are more than just a neighbor or a co-worker but we are a link between them and an eternity with the Creator? Romans 8:37 says, “In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” We are more than Invictus in Christ.
Shaq Vs. Kobe Vs. Lebron Vs. Jordan
Today is Monday which means that the amount of people reading this blog drop almost in half. Apparently you need to ramp up and overdose on coffee to get through these posts and they just don’t work on Monday. So with that being said I chose today to run my brief rant on the NBA, the playoffs, the championships and legacy’s left behind.
One of my “sports pet-peeves” is the fact that so many people compare Kobe Bryant and Lebron James.
Listen I get Lebron is coming into his own as one of the best players who ever played the game, but he is not there yet. He is exciting, sells tickets and knows how to win in the regular season. There lies the problem, he has not won in the post season. Yes he was rookie of the year and yes he has two MVP’s to his name, however, Kobe Bryant has one MVP to his name and 4 NBA championships. ”You play to win the game!” -shout out to Herm Edwards for that quote. Your greatness in sports is measured in championships. Yes I know that 3 of those came with Shaq as a teammate, but Shaq would not have had his 3 without Kobe. Jordan, who is still the best to play the game ever would not have won 6 without Scottie Pippen. It takes a team to win a championship. Individuals don’t win championships. Just ask Iverson, wait where is he again? (Maybe there was something to that whole practice thing.)
Anyways, the point is there is no comparison between Kobe and Lebron at this point of their careers. One day this discussion may take place but not now. Just as there should be no discussion between Kobe and Jordan, however, after this post season there may be room for that debate as well. So my rant is nearly over. Until James can win multiple championships he does not deserve to mentioned among greatness or to be called King James. Also please NBA, please quit giving out the MVP trophy until after the playoffs. How are you MVP watching at home?
What’s your thoughts? Note to Chuck, all hockey comments will be auto-deleted from this site immediately.
E:60 Haiti Soccer
I saw this last night on ESPN and there were parts in this video that I teared up in because it touched me. There is no reason people should even have to live like this. Breaks my heart for what I take for granted when they have nothing. They have lost everything and for them there appears to be no hope. It is an 11 minute video but it is worth watching every second of it. Below is the link to the video because it is not able to be embedded on my blog.
E:60 tells the story of the Haitian under-17 girls’ team, from the welcoming arms of the Dominican Republic and Panama for training, then Costa Rica for the CONCACAF tournament and back home to Haiti.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this.
Redefining Success In Coaching
What makes a good coach? When somebody says he or she is a good coach what does that look like? How can you gauge whether or not that coach is successful? Reality will tell you that the coach is only as good as his team, right? Nobody ever says that the coach who finished 0-30 is a good coach. Nobody is knocking down his door to recruit him for another coaching position. So really the coach is only as good as the players around him. Of course a good coach can improve and challenge his players, he can put in a system that makes them more effective. He can teach them the fundamentals and he can inspire them to new levels but at the end of the day it’s whether you win or lose that defines your success.
The same could be said about pastors. Nobody is recruiting or knocking down the door of a pastor who took a church of 500 to 200. A pastor is only as good as the team that he has around him. Staff, volunteers and those who buy into the vision. The pastor can teach them the fundamentals, he can challenge his church, he can put in new systems to be more effective. He can inspire them and pray for them. However there is a point where they have to grasp the vision and work together as a team to accomplish the one goal. Multiple goals don’t work. Multiple coaches don’t work. Arguing about how it used to be or how it was different on your former team won’t work. Trying to change the goals and vision of the coach won’t work. What works is everybody understanding their role no matter how big or small. In the end when the team wins and captures that championship, everyone from the towel boy and water boy to the assistant coaches to the head coach to the MVP player gets a ring. Why? Because they all played a part to reach the goal.
So how do you define success with a coach or pastor? Do they buy into the vision and work together to accomplish the one goal. If yes, then regardless of whether they win the championship or not, they are redefining what success is and at the very least they are heading in the right direction.
Make sure that team members know they are working with you, not for you.
– John Wooden
Leadership, like coaching, is fighting for the hearts and souls of men and getting them to believe in you.
– Eddie Robinson
Coaching is a profession of love. You can’t coach people unless you love them.
– Eddie Robinson
Transcending Sports
I am a huge sports fan. I enjoy the game. I enjoy the competitiveness. I enjoy the sportsmanship. I enjoy those moments that transcend the game. The moment that sticks out to me from this last years NCAA tournament will be that of coach Bob Huggins on the court holding Da Sean Butler after the senior towards the end of the game and the end of his fabulous West Virginia career tore his ACL and likely ended his chances of a future NBA career. Those who follow sports know that Coach Huggins has made some poor choices in the past but all that gets thrown out the window in my book when you see his love and genuine concern for his players. To see the bond that they have. To see how hard they played for him shows their respect for him and his coaching ability.
It made me think of those who are around us. When they are hurting are we willing to get on our knees and hold them through their difficult time? Do we really care more about the person than what that person can do for us? I believe that Da Sean Butler will remember that moment for the rest of his life. It was not just losing in the final four, it was not just tearing his ACL, it will be the moment that his coach was there and walked through one of the most difficult moments in his life that he will remember. That will be a moment that shapes him. It transcends sports. It’s a life lesson that people are important.
Who in your life today needs you to get on your knees and hold them through their difficult time?
USC Prodigy-David Sills
Maybe you have heard of this 13 year old kid David Sills who is a 7th grader at Red Lion Christian Academy in Delaware. Maybe you have heard that he was offered a scholarship from Lane Kiffin to USC. I know what your thinking, are you kidding me? A 13 year old, 7th grade boy. However, what if one of the greatest recruiters the college game has ever seen sees something that in 5 years every other coach sees but is too late to capitalize on? I don’t know if I agree with the tactic of going after kids who barely have hair under their pits yet. This opens a very dangerous but potentially exciting door.
There is something to say about someone who can see talent and potential in others and help them get to that point of greatness. The tough thing is David will live his entire football career under a microscope. Every mistake will be magnified as well as every victory. To come from a small Christian school and reach what some consider the Mecca of college football is no small feat. The Bible says, “Pride comes before the fall.” David will have to watch himself that he does not fall into this category as so many of us do and see it end due to our own inability to remember who gave us our ability to begin with.
I hope for David that he fulfills the expectations that are on him. From his coaches, parents and friends there will be a constant bombardment of those trying to “get in” with him and those who constantly will be telling him what he needs to do to be great or even worse that he has already arrived. I’m excited for the kid and for what this means to Red Lion Christian Academy. After all I am a USC fan, and as they said on ESPN, “Is there a better place to play football anywhere in the country?” I’m sure my Penn State friends will love that.
We all have those moments where the expectations far surpass the experience. Don’t miss out on the journey only to arrive at the destination.
You can check out these links to hear the full story:
Check out the video of David. For a 13 year old, he has skills.
I Am A Champion
I saw this video yesterday and it is well worth the 3 minutes to watch it even if you are not a sports fan or a Texas Longhorns fan. After watching this I wasn’t sure what I was feeling. I was ready to go tackle someone, hit someone, lead someone, help someone, at the very least I was inspired like after I am watching Braveheart and hearing William Wallace scream out “FREEDOM”.
I wonder do we tackle each day with that attitude? Tackle each situation? Do you like the fact that I am using a football analogy about how to approach each day? I hope you are inspired to live out each day no matter what profession you are with passion and integrity. Having a winning attitude is the first step to winning. Even though Texas lost last night [not that I really cared, because I dislike teams from Texas and I dislike the SEC] they put up an incredible fight with a never played before, freshman quarterback, after their quarterback was injured in the first series. They pulled within 3 with six minutes left but lost in the end. They played like a champion.
Michael Vick
First let me say that what Michael Vick did was his choice and it was wrong and I don’t agree with what he did. With that being said, I will also say that Michael Vick has paid the debt that he was told to pay. A jury of his peers and mine decided that 2 years in prison was a suitable punishment for what he did. Whether it is or isn’t is not for me to judge but I have to trust our judicial system.
What I do know is that regardless of what he has done he deserves a second chance. I applaud the Philadelphia Eagles for taking a chance on him and for them giving him the opportunity to right what he has wronged.
I heard so many comments last night on facebook, twitter, emails and the radio with a mix of hatred and excitement. People are on both sides of the fence on this one and are passionate about both of their stances as they should be. I listened to this become an “animal rights” debate, a “race” debate, a “hatred” debate, a “redemption” debate, and no matter where you stand on the debate I wanted to remind everybody including myself that at the core of everything this is a “heart” issue.
Isn’t that the issue for all of us? I have never killed dogs but I have killed peoples reputations, I have hurt people, I have judged, I have lied, I have lusted, I have murdered in my heart because of my own anger, I have stepped on, I have envy in my heart. At the end of the day I have a “heart” issue as well.
There was this woman that was caught in the act of adultery and she was brought before Jesus. The religious leaders didn’t want hur she was bait to catch Jesus. Adultery was a death sentence by stoning. They said to Jesus that the Law of Moses commands us to stone her, what do you say?
TRICK QUESTION!
If Jesus said stone her, then he would be breaking Roman law that Jews cannot carry out the death penalty. If Jesus says let her go then he would not be supporting the Law of Moses. So Jesus did what none of us would have thought to do, He said “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”
::FAST FORWARD 2000 YEARS::
It’s not a woman caught in adultery it’s Michael Vick caught in the act of killing dogs, and it’s not the teachers of the law and Pharisees it’s us, saying the same thing that he deserves to pay. And then there’s Jesus saying, “Ryan, if you are without sin, go ahead and judge him.”
Puts it into perspective doesn’t it?
We each have a choice to forgive and allow second chances. The reality is it’s really not the woman caught in adultery or Michael Vick it’s you and me everyday of our lives. It’s the junk that is hidden that if it was pulled out to the surface and revealed…well, there is always somebody who wants to throw stones.
As a follower of Christ it is my job to accept and love those who are unlovable. To give others a second chance and not judge. Because God knows I don’t deserve the chances I have been given and I don’t deserve the forgivness I have seen.
Don’t become part of the stone throwing instead take the opportunity to teach on forgivness, grace, love, hope and redemption. That’s what Jesus would do.
