I was watching Deadliest Warrior last night, and one of the guys there said "The most dangerous soldier is one willing to die for the cause," he said this in regard to the Irish Republican Army.
With Memorial Day being today, I started to think about the large number of American soldiers who have given their lives for a country they believed in. Even when we were fighting to establish ourselves as a country, those men gave their sweat, their blood, and their lives for freedoms that we now at times take for granted. Sometimes our soldiers give their lives to promote the freedom of others.
Think about all the U.S. soldiers who were apart of the invasion of Normandy on D-Day. They began an assault on German occupied France which eventually helped lead to the fall of Hitler's hold on Europe. Many times in history our service men and women have given their lives to help free others from oppression.
So whenever you see one of our service men or women, say thank you. If you see a veteran, say thank you.
Also, something to think about, if Christians were more willing to die for their cause, then imagine what the world would be like.
Be dangerous.
thoughts of a Junior High football coach on Jesus, life, and sports.
Monday, May 30, 2011
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Go Mavs Go!
If you live in Texas and your haven't already noticed, the Dallas Mavericks are fighting their way to the NBA Finals. Since about high school, I have been a pretty big fan of Maverick basketball. When I was a kid, I cheered on the Rockets with Olajuwon, man they were good! Now, I constantly watch the most prolific scoring 7 footer constantly shoot shots that make me cringe, but then I cheer when they fall in. Dirk can be completely covered by someone and all he has to do is step back and shoot.
This current series is a nightmare for ESPN. Aside from the fact it is OKC's first trip to the WCF, this isn't a series that ESPN particularly likes. Both teams are from the South and Midwest. Not the East Coast and not Los Angeles. The production side of ESPN hates that. They have to dig for story lines. That could be noticed last night with the feeding off the Oklahoma City tragedy that happened back in 1994 or whenever that was. I don't know much of a storyline push they could do for Dallas. Maybe the old veteran team with its last chance at a title. And will Dirk enter the Hall of Fame with a ring or not.
Dirk had an unbelievable performance in game 1. 24 for 24 on Free Throws, setting an NBA record. The Dallas bench was crazy good and helped achieve that win. These last two games haven't been pretty for Dirk or the bench. But like they say the series didn't start until the home team lost, and then a wins a win. I'm excited to see it play out.
All that to say, this is an exciting time to be a Mavs fan. Hopefully I can find a way to get some tix to the WCF or the Finals if Dallas gets that far!
GO MAVS GO!
This current series is a nightmare for ESPN. Aside from the fact it is OKC's first trip to the WCF, this isn't a series that ESPN particularly likes. Both teams are from the South and Midwest. Not the East Coast and not Los Angeles. The production side of ESPN hates that. They have to dig for story lines. That could be noticed last night with the feeding off the Oklahoma City tragedy that happened back in 1994 or whenever that was. I don't know much of a storyline push they could do for Dallas. Maybe the old veteran team with its last chance at a title. And will Dirk enter the Hall of Fame with a ring or not.
Dirk had an unbelievable performance in game 1. 24 for 24 on Free Throws, setting an NBA record. The Dallas bench was crazy good and helped achieve that win. These last two games haven't been pretty for Dirk or the bench. But like they say the series didn't start until the home team lost, and then a wins a win. I'm excited to see it play out.
All that to say, this is an exciting time to be a Mavs fan. Hopefully I can find a way to get some tix to the WCF or the Finals if Dallas gets that far!
GO MAVS GO!
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Signing Bonuses
So two of the biggest parts of my life are my faith in Jesus Christ and my love for sports. I love sports, soon I will be making a career of it, but for now I am left to write blogs about some crazy stuff and do podcasts about Vince Carter playing for the Magic. In church this week I got this crazy notion. Pro athletes sign contracts with their teams and make millions and millions of dollars, contigent on their performance. However, sometimes they get what is called a signing bonus. Signing bonuses aren't usually factored on how well they pay or whatever. So here goes, this isn't the most fundamental Christian thought and you might not agree at all. Just read and think...
So, to me, we all sign a contract with Christ when we accept Him as our Savior right? So when we accept Christ as our Savior, we are given a sort of signing bonus. In my mind, Salvation would be this bonus, aside from the complete denial of Christ, you can't lose this but if you deny Christ, just like a pro team, the signing bonus can disappear. Go with me here, as far as the contract goes, we continually are under the contract (or covenant) with Christ. Our contract is contingent on our service of Christ. In James, he lays this out for us, we have all heard it before, "faith without works is dead." We are called to be ambassadors of Christ and to serve Him. EVERYTHING we do is for His glory, so we should act that way and go ahead and do it. What are you doing to ensure your work is being done?
I know this probably doesn't make much sense to anyone else, but the major thing I am trying to get across is for us all to step back and look at our lives and see what we are doing for Christ and where we aren't doing what we are called to do. Its an intense subject told in a simple way...intense simplicity
So, to me, we all sign a contract with Christ when we accept Him as our Savior right? So when we accept Christ as our Savior, we are given a sort of signing bonus. In my mind, Salvation would be this bonus, aside from the complete denial of Christ, you can't lose this but if you deny Christ, just like a pro team, the signing bonus can disappear. Go with me here, as far as the contract goes, we continually are under the contract (or covenant) with Christ. Our contract is contingent on our service of Christ. In James, he lays this out for us, we have all heard it before, "faith without works is dead." We are called to be ambassadors of Christ and to serve Him. EVERYTHING we do is for His glory, so we should act that way and go ahead and do it. What are you doing to ensure your work is being done?
I know this probably doesn't make much sense to anyone else, but the major thing I am trying to get across is for us all to step back and look at our lives and see what we are doing for Christ and where we aren't doing what we are called to do. Its an intense subject told in a simple way...intense simplicity
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Becoming a Lion...
All my life I have had an affinity for Lions...I'm sure it all started from being a Henderson raised kid...every Friday in the Fall I was at a football game cheering on the Lions, which I would eventually play (or not play depending on the year/game) for when I grew up.
Many of us grew up wanting to be Lions, I mean it's Texas and it's football and it's all the other sports and activities. We all eventually grew up and became what we were trying to be, or those of us that made it that far, we were Lions. I don't think we really truly understood what a Lion really is. I don't think I ever did until here lately. Lions are magnificent animals.
According to the encyclopedia, a Lion is a "large, powerfully built cat...the proverbial 'king of beasts,'" Lions also have figured out a way to survive, pack mentality. Lions stick together and help each other, even though they have the ability to function and live apart from their pride, which some do, but they survive!
The Bible talks about Lions quite a bit. Jesus himself is coined the Lion of Judah in Revelation..."Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." In Amos, Amos compares God's voice to the roar of a Lion..."The lion has roared who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken who can but prophesy?" I discovered the latter verse during the Henderson Lions historic run to the state championship this past football season. The day of the state game, all of us were using that verse in statuses on Facebook and just in regular conversation with each other. The verse stuck in my mind, and reading it gets me excited everytime.
Then Christian rapper, KB came out with a song called 'Lion King.' Not only does this song get krunk because it has some of the Circle of Life, but it further drives home the point that our God is a Lion.
He's fierce. He's mighty. He's KING!
So, all that to say, I'm learning to adopt a Lion lifestyle. Being who God is, and who He created me to be.
Many of us grew up wanting to be Lions, I mean it's Texas and it's football and it's all the other sports and activities. We all eventually grew up and became what we were trying to be, or those of us that made it that far, we were Lions. I don't think we really truly understood what a Lion really is. I don't think I ever did until here lately. Lions are magnificent animals.
According to the encyclopedia, a Lion is a "large, powerfully built cat...the proverbial 'king of beasts,'" Lions also have figured out a way to survive, pack mentality. Lions stick together and help each other, even though they have the ability to function and live apart from their pride, which some do, but they survive!
The Bible talks about Lions quite a bit. Jesus himself is coined the Lion of Judah in Revelation..."Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals." In Amos, Amos compares God's voice to the roar of a Lion..."The lion has roared who will not fear? The Sovereign LORD has spoken who can but prophesy?" I discovered the latter verse during the Henderson Lions historic run to the state championship this past football season. The day of the state game, all of us were using that verse in statuses on Facebook and just in regular conversation with each other. The verse stuck in my mind, and reading it gets me excited everytime.
Then Christian rapper, KB came out with a song called 'Lion King.' Not only does this song get krunk because it has some of the Circle of Life, but it further drives home the point that our God is a Lion.
He's fierce. He's mighty. He's KING!
So, all that to say, I'm learning to adopt a Lion lifestyle. Being who God is, and who He created me to be.
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