Coaching from the Sidelines

Watching former head coach for the Colts, Tony Dungy, with his headsets on, pacing the sidelines during a football game in his calm demeanor was always intriguing; I don’t think I could be that calm when I coach. Watching Bill Laimbeer former head coach of the Detroit Shock, shoving his clip board to the floor in disgust because one of his players messed up a play, was also intriguing to watch-Don’t think I would do that either; I could be a blend of both I think-yet to be determined.

Each coach has a different approach on how they coach their teams. Regardless of one’s coaching style, two things are clear-they want to win and not one of the coaches will ever enter into a game to bail out a player. When it’s game day and the game is on the line, the coaches hope and pray that the time they spent during the week, months, years, explaining, planning, and executing their game plan with their players will translate to a W when the forty-eight, sixty, or ninety minutes are up.

In reading “The Leadership Game,” by Tim Mullins, I came across a section that talked about the dedication it takes for coaches to prepare for a game. Coach Bear Bryant said, ‘The typical fan has little concept of the amount of time that goes into planning a single football game…our staff will study, prepare, and plan one hour for every minute the players are on the football field….if you’re doing the math, that means sixty hours went into planning one game.” Considering how much time is spent preparing, I can understand why some coaches grow grey hairs pretty quickly afer seeing the opposite results on the field, it is heartbreaking to say the least. Suffice it to say, as fans, we would care less how much time it takes to prepare for a game-all we want to see is a win at the end of the day.

As I pondered on coaches on the sidelines coaching their hearts out, I asked myself a question-how does this apply to Christians? As Christians, our ultimate coach is Jesus Christ. Just like a regular coach, He has watched film of every opponent; He has seen their strengths and weakness; His support staff (Father and Holy Spirit) have spent time preparing, and planning for our next game-that challenge, that obstacle-you name it. Herein lies the difference between a Coach Dungy, Laimbeer, Van Gundy and a Coach Jesus; Coach Jesus has been there, done that, and has worn the tee-shirt. He went to the cross-He knows it all. He can defeat every foe that comes on His turf; however, He will not get into the game when we are on the field-He will be coaching from the sidelines-calling out the plays and He expects the team to execute every play based on the plan that has been prepared in the game room-plain and simple.

So you ask what kind of calls does Coach Jesus make from the sidelines? Glad you asked:

The sideline calls of Faith: “And without faith, it is impossible to please Him; for he whose comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

For as long as we walk out our Christian life, we cannot ignore the fact that Faith is what will keep us on this journey of life. I have heard it said countless times that faith is the currency of God’s Kingdom; therefore as money is for survival in the natural world, so faith is to our Christian walk. So when Coach calls your name-walk out in faith and do what you are supposed to do J He will not fail you. He has the game plan with a W at the end!

The sideline calls of the Word. “So will my Word be which goes forth from my mouth; it will not return to me empty without accomplishing what I desire and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 11

Faith and the Word of God go hand in hand. We cannot live our Christian walk without ever realizing that what will open those doors, sustain us when times are rough, give us joy in good or bad times, is the Word of God. Christ is our example; He used the Word to His advantage. When the enemy came to challenge Him, He fought back using God’s Word. Coach is watching over His Word to perform it-not our fears, doubts, thoughts-NO!! His Word and His Word only. Can you hear Coach from the sidelines encouraging you to use the Word on your next play?

The sideline calls of Prayer: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything through prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God…” Philippians 4:6

Simple communication is what keeps the plays moving on the field. The coach communicates with the players-the players communicate with the coach. Failure to do so will be very detrimental to the team, and one can kiss that championship ring goodbye if there is no communication going back and forth. It’s in the communication that one get instruction for the next play. Same with God; prayer is our communication with Him. Without this communication, our relationship with Him is suspect. Let’s talk to Him and Him talk to us-that way, when the plays are called, you know its Coach giving you great instruction for your next move! He knows it all-lets not be afraid to talk to Him-He has the game plan of life.

The sideline calls of Attitude. “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2: 5-11

When we have stepped out in faith, stayed true to the Word, communicated with the coach, our attitude holds all things in place. There are times when a coach will call plays that are not comfortable or plays that will make one unhappy-that’s part of the game of sports!! All things considered, the coach has the best interest at heart for the team and he has to do whatever is necessary to win the game-what the coaches are expecting from their players is a good attitude in the process because this makes or breaks the team’s morale and momentum. When God calls a play that we may not be happy with, or comfortable with, He understands; He only expects our attitude to be one that demonstrates our trust in Him. Ultimately, He knows the plans He has for us! Can we have a great attitude when the Master Coach calls plays from the sidelines that may otherwise make us uncomfortable?

Let’s allow the Master Coach to do His job and let us be kingdom minded people who are willing to play the game because we know that Coach is on the sideline calling out the plays and He knows we will win!!! He is after all coaching from the sidelines! He’s that kind of Coach~

Living with Limitations

Michael Phelps captured my attention at the 2004 Athens Olympics. He won six gold and two bronze medals--impressive. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Phelps left me speechless. He holds the record for the most gold medals won at a single Olympics. He won eight medals--Ridiculous!!

Therefore, it was somewhat disappointing when I heard Phelps acknowledge his use of pot at a party at the University of South Carolina in November of 2008. Why Phelps? I asked. You could handle the pressure of winning 8 gold medals and not handle the pressure of pot? The debates have since sparked concerning his conduct because he is supposedly a role model and considering all the money he is getting from his endorsements, its a slap in the face. Some critics are saying that his sponsors are not setting the standard of responsibility--there are consequences to ones actions. Kellogg’s however has been the only sponsor who has taken action to date-dropping Phelps completely as one of their endorsers. I heard one critic, Dave Zirin, says, "If Kellogg’s really cared about kids, they would stop making frosted flakes and do something about child obesity in this country." I will leave that argument alone.

Pat Forde says of Phelps: "He was not prepared to live with the limitations he put himself in. He is no longer a normal twenty three year old, he is now in an unusual situation...you cannot be photographed holding a bong with your face over it...." As I pondered that statement, something jumped out at me in Forde's observation. "He (Phelps) was not prepared to live with the limitations he put himself in." With all the accolades, endorsements, and notoriety, Phelps maybe never completely understood that he was no longer a "regular" 23 year old. The tide had turned when he decided to pursue his dreams and become a professional athlete. Every move he made would be scrutinized to the maximum, especially if you win 8 gold medals in one Olympic.

Not to be so hard on Phelps though, there have also been Christians who have had their personal shares of scrutiny. Just recently, Rev. Ted Haggard has been in the media talking about his gay sexual allegations from two years ago. The community of believers is divided on his actions. Some believe Rev. Haggard has been contrite and that he has helped some acknowledge their personal struggles. Others have disapproved of his "media blitz" stating he is not ready to talk to the community because he is not being truthful. Needless to say, the debates can go on with regards to Phelps or Haggard. This one thing I can say however-we all have demons to fight each day, whether Haggard, Phelps, Barkley, Swaggart, super bowl XLIII MVP Holmes, Weeks, now A-Rod.... we ALL have issues. The only difference in these situations (Phelps/Haggard etc) is that their issues were made public because of the notoriety that comes with their “popularity.”

There are a number of 23 year olds walking the streets smoking pot. There are a number of pastors sleeping around and still preaching. For the Christian however, in private or in public, we have a greater audience than CNN, NBC, CBS, ESPN, to mention but a few. Our audience is God and whether our issues are made public or not, this one this we do know, God knows. I am not trying to sound the "overly righteous trumpet" because I am mindful of what Galatians 6:1-5 tells us:

"Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might need forgiveness before the day's out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ's law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived...." (Message Bible.)

However, there is also Scripture that allows us to take stock of our lives and it calls us to take personal responsibility of our actions like the one below:

I Corinthians 6:12

NIV-"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything."

NLT-"You may say, 'I am allowed to do anything.' But I reply, 'Not everything is good for you.' And even though "I am allowed to day anything, I must not become a slave to anything."

I believe as Christians, we are sometimes not prepared to live with limitations set by God for our lives, as in the case of Phelps set by the public eye. We want to live a life of "freedom" but may I suggest that our freedom is in our "limitations” within Christ. Apostle Paul, one of the greatest minds of the New Testament acknowledged that we can do whatever we want to do, but when all is said and done, not all things are lawful. He understood the consequences of living a life without limitations. The tension between the fleshly passions and what God is calling us to becomes "overbearing" in our minds. But when we understand and know that God knows better, we are free to live with our limitations. God forbid that we act on every action that comes to mind. We have a responsibility as Christians to be mindful of places we go to, things we watch, conversations we engage in, things we read, people we spend our time with etc. It may not necessarily be a picture taken of us with a bong showing on every media outlet, but we sure have one who looks at us who is greater.

I often wonder what would have happened if Phelps had friends who pulled him aside before he took the bong and challenged him on the responsibility of limitations he has to a generation. Maybe the conversation would have gone something like this:

Phelps: Hey, can I try that? Is that Marijuana?

Friend: Dude, you are Michael Phelps, you may want to reconsider your request.

Phelps: Dude, no harm. It will only be a minute:

Friend: C'mon man; you don't want to do this. Remember the fall out you had when you were caught drunk? What will you say this time if you are caught?

Phelps: What's your problem man? No one will know, there are no cameras around.

Friend: I am only trying to help you Mr. 14 gold and 2 bronze medals. You have so much weighing on your shoulders. I would hate to see your name dragged in the mad. Think about the consequences of your actions. You can do your thing, but just remember it may come back to haunt you. Instant gratification is but for a minute, but the consequences may be a lifetime.

Phelps: Hmm!!! (Pondering hard)

Whatever happened after that would have been Michael's own decision, but at least he would have had time to think through his actions because a friend or two cared that deeply for him--assuming a friend did not pull him aside:

Side note: Be careful of friends who are not looking out for your own good, wanting to drag you down in their mess. Call is legalism, religious, etc; there is a price to pay in following Christ. It is in our limitations that we find freedom in Him. We may never understand it on this side of heaven, but be rest assured, one day we will be thankful that we set limitations on ourselves.

Dr. Benjamin Crandall, former president of Zion Bible College, always made this statement in chapel often; "Your gift will take you places where your character cannot keep you." My prayer for each one of us, more so Christians, is that we do not make excuses for our actions, but be responsible grown men and women who take responsibility. We need to begin to set limitations on our lives. No one is perfect. God is pretty familiar with that story. God has, however, given us the ability to live a life that can be free of drama if we let Him. It’s called dying to the flesh. We are all a work in progress.

So here is the challenge:

If you think of cussing, is it worth an audience with God?

If you think of premarital sex, is it worth an audience with God?

If you think of telling a lie, is it worth an audience with God?

If you think of smoking a joint, is it worth an audience with God?

If you think of watching something, is it worth an audience with God?

If you think of not reading something, is it worth an audience with God?

There is a greater audience other than ESPN, CBS, and Fox News!!

I end with this, "Everything is permissible (allowable and lawful) for me; but not all things are helpful (good for me to do, expedient and profitable when considered with other things). Everything is lawful for me, but I will not become the slave of anything or brought under its power." I pray I only become a slave to that which Christ asks of me; that is the limitation I am willing to live with at all times!

Mental Fortitude

Greg Garber, an ESPN columnist gave this description of Rafael Nadal after his 2007 loss to Roger Federer:

“Salt tears flowed in the locker room after Rafael Nadal lost to Roger Federer in last year's Wimbledon final.

Sobbing, he told his scowling coach and uncle, Toni, that he might never be in that position again. He truly believed this, but Toni knew better. Rafa was only 21 years old.

"I told him his life does not change because he has not won this match," Toni said.

On Sunday, after a 4-hour, 48-minute marathon, Nadal approached the net to shake Federer's hand with tears in his eyes. This time, after myriad opportunities eluded him, Nadal was a 6-4, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-7 (8), 9-7 winner.”

This time, David conquered Goliath.

For anyone who watched Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner at Wimbledon this past Sunday, July 6, 2008, you have to admit that this was probably the greatest tennis match ever played; even John McEnroe was quick to admit this, considering that his match with Bjorn Borg in 1980 is considered one of the greatest matches in tennis history.

Every stroke, every return, the volleying, the unforced errors, the double faults, every winner, was felt by the spectators as both players grinded it out. It was excruciating to watch. At one point, in the fourth set during the tie break, I had to change the channel because I could not bring myself to seeing Nadal lose, after putting up such a great fight. He had been up two sets, and up a break, 5-4, about to close it out in the third set when the infamous rains of Wimbledon tricked from the heavens above. Play had to be suspended for a while. My fear-Federer would regroup and come back to take the lead and probably win the game. True to my fears, up to that point, Federer forced a five set game and my nerves where in high gear. I cannot begin to imagine how the players felt, if I felt this tense.

Federer owned Wimbledon. He won it five times and was going for his sixth victory, on the verge of breaking Borg 5 straight Wimbledon wins. He faced Nadal twice in the previous finals, and he beat Nadal. The Associated Press on Federer, “He hadn't lost a match on grass since 2002, and he hadn't lost a set during this tournament before Sunday. He also hadn't faced anyone nearly as talented and indefatigable as Nadal.”

Many a times in the previous matches, people said that nerves got the best of Nadal. He could never close out a game on Federer even if he was leading by a set or two. Even though Nadal owns Federer on the clay surface of Roland Garros (he has won four French opens at the expense of Federer), he could not, up to this point, master Federer on the grass courts of Wimbledon, the most coveted tournament in the tennis world.

So here we were again on Sunday, one year removed from 2007 and nerves became the topic of discussion when Rafa allowed Roger to force a fifth set. Would 2007 repeat itself? It was nerve racking. I strongly believe that it had to take mental toughness on Rafa’s part to believe that he could pull this win. Federer had found his rhythm and momentum was shifting his way; there was no stopping him. Nadal on the other hand was holding on to dear life. Darkness begun covering the mighty Wimbledon center court as evening time approached. All was at stake. Seven times Federer had an opportunity to close out the fifth ser , and seven time Nadal refused to let that happen, not this time, not this year, not on this court.

Two words-Mental Fortitude

How often do we give up in life because we feel we have faced our Federer’s one to many times, that when the Feds come up again, we succumb to the pressure and we lose?

How often do we see the light at the end of the tunnel, but because we are so anxious to close out the game, as Nadal did, that we find ourselves making unnecessary mistakes, instead of playing steady, taking control of the game and eventually winning?

Throughout the scriptures, one thing that is so clear is that men and women who faced their Fed’s won or failed based on their mental fortitude. It is one thing to stand up and claim that one believes in God and another to still claim that when everything is going wrong around you. There has to be a belief in self to believe that God can and will do what He says even when the Fed’s are closing in, forcing a tie break, and on the verge of winning a match that you had control over from the get go!

Mental fortitude: Case in point:

When David was faced with the possibility of losing his entire family and his entire community about to stone him, the scripture says,

‘And David strengthened himself in the Lord.” 1 Sa 20:6
Result: He fought for his family and got them back
Mental Fortitude= Excellent

It would have been okay for David to curve in because the odds were stocked up against him. His family was captured and his people turned against him. He could have succumbed to his Fed, but he chose to fight, not only physically, but more so mentality and that is how he won the battle. He encouraged himself.

Peter is quick to point out the need to have mental fortitude in 1 Pet 1:13, “Therefore prepare your minds for actions, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

How does one prepare their minds for action?

I strongly believe the way one prepares their minds for actions determines their victory or their defeat. As Christians, the most excellent way to prepare our minds is by first believing in God and that God can. For example: If I am anxious about something, my action plan is to find what the manual (Bible) says about anxiety and begin to believe and stand on that scripture until it becomes reality because God does not tell lies. It is a spiritual and mental workout. It may feel or seem like progress is not being made, but every time one chooses to believe God (mental fortitude), the muscle of trust is strengthened.

I am yet to hear of someone going to the gym for a day and them see immediate results on their biceps, triceps, quads, work out-toned up, in shape and ready to conquer the world with their new found miracle. NO! It takes mental fortitude to get up each morning wanting and willing to work out, lifting those weights, doing the sit ups, the push ups etc, because you have a goal in mind. After a few weeks, then you can begin to see some kind of results. Most people stop working out spiritually, mentally, socially, etc on the second day because they have not seen the results and they refuse to mentally prepare for the battles ahead. Let us take heed in Peter’s exhortation: “Prepare your minds for actions.”

Romans 12:1-2 states, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Transformation can only come about when one willingly chooses to renew their minds, their mental fortitude. Mental fortitude cannot be given, it has to be earned by virtual of resolving within oneself that you will not succumb to the pressure of defeat, but the possibility of victory. Mental fortitude happens when you have faced defeat so many times, you have failed so many times, you have struggled so many times, that you have no choice but to trust God. It is not for the faint hearted, but for the brave who are willing to trust God at all costs, even when the odds are against them and their mental state my be faltering.

Such was the approach I believe in Nadal. Federer had defeated him on the coveted Wimbledon twice. 2008 was no different. However, Nadal had prepared his mind for actions not only physically, but also mentally after his defeat in 2007, that when he was down a set, a match point, or about to be broken on serve, he fought back, and he eventually won.

Could it be that its Federer’s turn to have mental fortitude to defeat Nadal at the French Open since Nadal has won it four times at the expense of Federer, the only grand slam Federer has not been able to win? Wouldn’t be surprised. Let us wait for 2009. Its all about practice, but also a mental fortitude.

Eyes that connect with Destiny

Anyone who watched super bowl XLII, the Eli escape and the Tyree catch, will forever be remembered as one of the greatest plays in an NFL super bowl game. Regardless of which team one was rooting for, we can all agree that those two plays determined the outcome of the game.

I had the opportunity to see both plays in slow motion and I still scratch my head, wondering how in the world Eli broke free from the sack and how Tyree caught the ball with one hand to his helmet before he was able to secure the ball with both hands as he went down. Both players refused to give up when the game was on the line. Both players bailed each other out. When you hear both their post game interviews, Eli states, "I knew I was getting grabbed," he said. "And then I saw Tyree..." Said Tyree, "When you see the guy in trouble, you have to break off your route. I saw he was under duress, and I just pulled up and cut it short." Both were in dire situations, but both saw what others couldn't see, each other, and what they saw changed history.

The ability to see beyond one's surroundings is very critical in life. If one cannot see, one cannot make that split second decision that can change a play for eternity. The ability to also change a route when you realize that what you planned for initially will not work is critical. If Eli managed to escape the sack from the Patriots defensive linesmen, saw Tyree, and Tyree still chose to run the option that had been called earlier, the Giants more than likely would not be the super bowl champs. It had to take two players to be in sync in the midst of confusion and chaos.

When referring to eyes, I am looking beyond what the natural eyes can see but what the eyes of faith, destiny, opportunity, purpose, and understanding can see. The eyes of the soul. These kind of eyes overcome obstacles and focus on the victory. These eyes are so intense that when they focus on the target, everything lines up according to plan.

• The eyes of David and Jonathan (Selfless): I Sam. 18: 1-5 gives an account of two friends who saw in each other destiny that not even family ties could break. David, a shepherd boy, soon to be king, and Jonathan, a prince, whose father was the reigning king, had the eyes of destiny. It could have been easy for Jonathan to fight David because he, rightfully so, by succession, was the next king of Israel. But he understood what was at stake; he had to adjust the play call and line up with what God had ordered. He was selfless and that selflessness allowed David to be one of the greatest kings that ruled Israel. He was affectionately called by God as a "man after my own heart."
  
• The eyes of Mary and Elizabeth (Celebration): The first two chapters of Luke gives us an account of two women who had heavenly visitations (Elizabeth through Zacharias) by the same angel, Gabriel. None knew about either visitations (at least it is not recorded in the Word) prior to their meeting. When Mary goes to visit Elizabeth (Luke 1: 39-45), the eyes of faith and destiny once again connected them. Both had received prophetic words about their sons, but neither one was trying to outdo the other. Their eyes that looked into history and the future allowed them to rejoice with each other and anticipate what heaven decreed for earth.
• The eyes of Ananias and Saul (Forgetting the Past): For all intents and purposes, Ananias had every right to resist God when the Lord told him to go meet with Saul (Acts 9: 10-19). Saul was a murderer and a hater of Christianity. Ananias was a Christian who did not want to have anything to do with Saul. Nonetheless, Ananias had to use his spiritual eyes to see past the history of Saul and see a man who would change destiny. He had to trust God and himself to embrace a man who had caused so much pain and suffering. He had to lay aside his reputation to run with a man who would be rejected because of his past. But Ananias went beyond all those obstacles because he saw what others could not have seen.
  
• The eyes of Mordecai and Esther (Belief and Confidence): Esther may have been too young to see with the eyes of purpose, but there was a Mordecai who saw the future of his people through the eyes of one young woman, Esther (Esther 2: 5-7). He mentored her as she rose in the ranks and when chaos broke out, and Esther was not ready to step into her God given destiny, the eyes that had seen it all (Mordecai), challenged Esther. It was easy for Esther to embrace the challenge because she had known this man who helped her be where she was, a queen; she believed and had confidence in Mordecai's insight because that insight came with understanding and faith. The rest is history.
  

The eyes of faith, destiny, purpose, and understanding are selfless. They celebrate each other. They forget the past. They believe and have confidence in each other. All these attributes were evident when Eli made that pass to Tyree. It wasn't about who would be the greatest in the greatest game of one's life (selfless), or who would get more accolades (celebration). It was about forgetting the past and trusting in the moment, believing in each other.

These kind of eyes allow you to transcend and go beyond human limitations. This thought is eloquently articulated by the man who made, probably, the greatest catch in super bowl history, "My opportunities are too far and few to let that one go. It was supernatural, you know? Some things just don't make sense, and that catch is a good example."

May we have those kinds of eyes!!!!!!

Headline News

If you were a Giants fan, reading the sports headlines leading up to the super bowl was disheartening. Just to make sure I was not misreading the headlines, I book marked them throughout the two weeks to see if what the "experts" were predicting was going to happen-they are the experts right? Please allow me to share some of the headlines:

• "Don't be fooled by previous Pats-Giants game: There are three reasons why NE will roll in super bowl XLII." MSNBC
• "Super Bowl Predictions: Our experts weigh in" (16 out of 21 picked the Pats to win)-ESPN
• "Expect Burress Prediction to fall short" ESPN
• "Feisty Giants will be no match for Patriots: N.Y. ruins storybook ending for Favre, leaves super bowl will little intrigue." MSNBC
• "Here's how the Patriots will blow out the Giants." Fox Sports

I believe this was my favorite headline before the super bowl:

• "A Patriots loss would stagger our sports fandom: It'd would be a world were Eli surpasses Namath and awe of Brady diminishes." MSNBC
  

I got to a point were I stopped book marking the headlines because the perception was that the Giants were lucky to have made it to the super bowl-a fluke ride, so to say; the Patriots were the team of destiny and they were going to win this game, to cap a perfect season, 19-0. However, what the "experts" forgot to consider in their predictions was that the Giants were a team that rightfully deserved and belonged to play in the super bowl. This disrespect surely fueled the Giants to beat the odds. Probably, if I were a Patriots fan, I would have loved every headline I read in favor of my team, but would have equally been scared because of how the other team would respond. (Just for the record, I am a Colts, Eagles, and Redskins fan--yes it can be done)

The match-up, interestingly, was being referred to as the "David and Goliath" match up. Funny how even the media can capitalize on a biblical comparison when it comes to sports. If I were a reader of the Goliath team, I should have been scared because of the outcome of the story-David beat Goliath. Nonetheless, even with the comparion to the story, no one thought that David (the Giants), would really defeat Goliath (the Patriots).

Since the media helped me with the biblical storyline, I figured I could use it to share a few insights I observed from super bowl XLII.

• Experience does not guarantee victory/success--when reading the story of David and Goliath, it is obvious that Goliath was a threat, he had experience fighting wars, and he commanded authority (I Sam. 17: 1-4). David, on the other hand, never fought in a war, his frame against Goliath was no match, and David did not command authority (come on, his own father "forgot" he had a son called David). In comparison, the Patriots had been to the super bowl three times in the last seven years, led by their all star quarterback Tom Brady; they won all three contests-experience. The Giants, on the other hand, had a quarterback who had just won his first three playoff games leading to the super bowl. He had no super bowl experience. In the end, heart overcame experience.
  
• Undermining an opponent is dangerous: Granted, the Patriots organization did not taunt the Giants-the media did, there is something that happens when you taunt or undermine someone. One or two things will happen, either one will raise above the taunts or curve in and succumb to the taunts. David rose above the taunts of Goliath and the Philistines (I Sam 17: 31-54). The Giants heard it all the two weeks leading to the super bowl and it awakened a resilient spirit to go against the odds. One is amazed at what the human spirit can overcome if undermined, taunted, or disrespected. Burress predicted a victory the week leading into the super bowl-the Giants would win. He had nothing to lose, most people counted the Giants out anyway. The media and the Patriots were shocked at that prediction. The Giants beating the Patriots? For real? In this century? Wow!!
  
• Keeping the eyes on the prize: I heard an interesting statement when watching the super bowl; "The Patriots were playing against history. The Giants were playing against the Patriots." Somehow, the statement seems to ring true. The Patriots were looking to rewrite history, going 19-0. Winning the super bowl and rewriting history at the same time can be a daunting task. I do not think Goliath had records to break, at least it is not recorded. However, David had the right perspective (not saying NE did not); Goliath was disrespecting the God of Israel and David was having none of that disrespect (I Sam 17: 45-47). In the midst of all doubt, the Giants kept their eyes on the Vince Lambordi trophy. With all the naysayers saying what they had to say, even during the game, the Giants kept their composure and kept their eyes on the prize. They won the super bowl.

When all is said and done, this is what I am trying to convey: Headlines don't define who you are, they do not carve your success, they do not predict the outcomes. That is why the headlines remain headlines and the real people who determine the headlines are those playing on the field. The same "experts" who predicted that the Giants would lose were quick to change their headlines again:

• "Giants miracle drive knocks Pats from historic ranks."--Fox Sports
• "Nobody's perfect-Giants shock Patriots."--MSNBC
• "Giants' receivers validate Burress' claim." ESPN
• "How they did it: Five reasons the Giants pulled off the upset." NBC Sports

Imagine if one depended upon the headlines to lead their lives-it can be confusing. It is part of the job description for the experts to write what they have to write. It makes it all the more interesting. Who would have thought!!!

There maybe headline articles on you that are discouraging, or even encouraging, but do not let that get to your head. In this "game of life," you cannot allow the headlines to determine your outcome. The only headlines that determine our success are the headlines that God writes about us in His Word-He is the REAL EXPERT of our lives. Let us focus on those headlines, nothing more, nothing less.

Cool Calm and Collected

Being Eli Manning is not easy, at least in my eyes it is not. Here is why:

• He is constantly compared to his brother, Peyton Manning
• He has been called inconsistent so many times; you would think his middle name is inconsistent!
• He has been called comical and not a leader in the hurdle
• He has been called the "little brother" or the "guy next door" when compared to Peyton and Brady respectively
• His demeanor has been questioned, especially when he throws an interception, has an incomplete pass, or loses a game-Go figure!!! He needs to be jumping up and down when that happens!
  
• The media has portrayed him as a quarterback who has no respect from his teammates, let alone the Giants nation
• One sports media personnel had the audacity to make this statement, "...Didn't think a Manning-led Giants team in the Super Bowl -- was likely, even possible." Who has the last laugh now, may I ask?

The list is endless, but Eli has proved time and time again that he is a man who has risen above every criticism, every skepticism, and misrepresentation, at least on our part. The world can say what it wants to say about him, but Eli will not exchange his glove, which fits him perfectly, to wear the glove some people are trying to give him, which is??

Here is what Eli had to say about himself concerning how he is perceived:

"You can't listen to it, whether you're playing great and they think you're the king of the world and can't do anything bad…or when you're not playing your best football and they're saying everything they say, you can't buy into it. You got to listen to yourself. You got to listen to your players and coaches."

I believe we are all guilty of trying to "conform" people to match our expectations of them. If they live up to our expectations, they are the greatest. If they fail, we might as well throw in the towel and cut them off. It reminds me of someone who went through something similar, that is, the expectations that were placed on him which, brought about praise and judgment.

A week before his crucifixion, the whole nation of Israel was singing praises to Jesus, "Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord..." (Mk 11:10) Many people were throwing their coats for Jesus to walk on even though he was riding on a colt. Other instances of Jesus getting accolades can be read below:

• "When Jesus had finished these words, the crowds were amazed at his teaching: for He was teaching them as one having authority. (Mt 7:28)
• "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?" (Mk 4:41)
• "A great prophet has risen among us! And God has visited His people." (Lk 7:16)
• "We have believed and come to know that you are the holy one of Israel (Jn 6:69)

(Rings a bell? Manning wins three straight playoff games and he is super bowl bound? The praises!!!! ☺ )

However, those accolades lasted, but for a short time. After the Hosannas, a different sound was heard:

• "Crucify Him!" (Mk 15:14)
• "Save yourself and come down from the cross." (Mk 15: 30)
• "He saved others, He cannot save Himself. Let this Christ the king of Israel now come down from the cross, so that we may see and believe. Those who were crucified with Him were also insulting him." (Mk 15: 31-32)

(Rings a bell? Loses the first two games of the season and loses most of their home games! The judgments??)

What happened? Human nature happened!!! The ability for humanity to praise and judge someone based upon their expectations is not something new. It goes back to the Garden of Eden. One minute Adam is declaring, "Bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh," when he sees the creation of the woman, Eve. Then he is upset at God when he says, "The woman you gave me to be with made me..." because she made him partake of the forbidden fruit!

The flip side of not wanting to be judged but always praised can be detrimental. We see an example in scripture of a king who wanted to conform to everyone's wish list, that his desire to please everyone and not be judged, or wrongly perceived, cost him his kingdom. Does King Saul Sound familiar-the first King of Israel? (I Samuel 15)

Jesus, on the other hand did not try and please everyone who walked the face of the earth-only God got that privilege. John 2:24 states, "But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men. He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man."

"He did not need man's testimony about man!" Now that is a tough stand. How often do we seek out man's testimony to validate who we are? Is it wrong to seek man's testimony? No! We see how Paul would place his "stamp of approval" on someone to enable the community to accept such a one. However, it becomes dangerous for the individual if your whole identity and livelyhood is wrapped up in man's testimony, and what they think about you. I believe we all know what we are capable of doing! We shout praises one day, we cry crucify you the next day!

So how do we get to the place were we do not fall in this trap? I have a few suggestions, which are pretty common:

• We need to let God identify who we are and hold dearly to that His identify. Knowing this identity can only be done by spending time in His word and allowing the word to bear fruit in us. Once we know who we are, we are capable of looking at people with a new set of lenses!!
  
• We need to surround ourselves with people who believe in us, and who see the best in us even when we mess up
• We need to be comfortable in our own skin so that we know who we really are and not depend on others to define us.
  
• We also need to train ourselves to believe in people and give each person the benefit of the doubt. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
  

Eli has been thrown to the wolves, has been insulted on national television, and has sometimes been doubted by his own teammates. What has kept him going, even earning a trip to the super bowl in his forth year in the NFL (compared to his brother Peyton who made it to the super bowl in his ninth year)? He discovered himself, has accepted his mistakes, is learning from his mistakes, and while the world awaits his coronation as the next great quarterback, he will be crowned the MVP for super bowl XLII!!! Eli has already succeeded, he does not need to wait on man to validate who he is, he knows who is he!

What has Eli taught me? To always give people a chance to grow and prove themselves even when they do not seem to exude any glimmer of hope. I was once in their shoes. You can never judge a book by its cover. Read the contents first, and then judge. And even if you give it a negative review, the book has been written and the final story has been told...even though it does not mean there cannot not be a revised edition!

Playing Through Hurt and Pain

Plaxico Burress, wide receiver for the New York Giants, aggravated a preseason injury by spraining his ankle against the Green Bay Packers on Sept. 16, 2007. The leading wide receiver had what they call a "bum ankle injury." Each week, the injury report had him as questionable to play. However what impressed me throughout the season was that Burress always showed up to play, hurt, in pain, and all, Burress played.

Doubt filled the NFL community as we pondered on how effective he would be down the stretch. Questions like, "why not sit out the season, go for surgery to repair the ankle, and be ready for the next season?" filled our minds. Could it be that because of his injury, he was affecting the team negatively? As I watched some of the Giants games, I would hear comments from sports analysts saying, "A healthy Burresss could not have dropped that ball, " or "The reason why Eli is struggling to connect with his wide receiver is because they do not practice together during the week." You see, Burress, most times, did not practice during the week to allow the ankle to rest. He only showed up on game day. He did the best he could in each game, but was "the best he could" good enough for him and his teammates?

What causes a man to play hurt and in pain every week even when his team is sometimes struggling during the season?

Please allow me to given you my own assumptions, as I tie them up with biblical examples of people who showed the same resilience Burress has shown all season long:

* Faith in the vision: No NFL player goes to training camp to step on the field just to play the game. Every player has one goal in mind-to win the super bowl. Probably when Burress was hurt, he may have thought his season would be over, but that did not stop him from playing. He weighed his options. How much pain was he willing to handle to see this dream realized of going to Glendale, Arizona? That question was answered each week when he stepped on the field. Though there were times he did not have a great game, the fact that he showed up, willing to play through the pain, was a game he won in his heart-not on the field. Playing in and winning the super bowl drove him past his pain.

Biblical Example: My all time Hero is Jesus Himself. Of Jesus, Hebrews 12: 2 states, "Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down as the right hand of the father." The vision, the passion, and the love for humanity drove Christ to the cross. He endured the pain to see humanity being set free. The results outweighed the pain and most of us are enjoying the benefits of one man because pain did not stop Him!!!

Question for us? What pain is stopping us from fulfilling the vision God has given us?

* Understanding the times: Every NFL player knows that each season you play the game is precious. Players have had to step away from the game because of an injury. There is also no guarantee that the team you are playing for in the season will be the same team you will be playing for the next season. Burress had played for the Steelers prior to playing for the Giants and he was let go as a free agent. The year Burress was released from the Steelers, the Steelers won the super bowl. Ouch! Now with the Giants, it was a matter of understanding what opportunity gives you, even with pain.

The awareness that life does not given you too many opportunities allows you to work through pain and move on! Of Understanding the times, Burress had this to say after winning the NFC championship game. “I said to myself, 'If I ever get back to this opportunity again, I would take full advantage of it.'" He got his opportunity, after having lost two AFC championship games before joining the Giants. This time, he won!

Biblical Example: I Chronicles 12: 32 states, "And of the children of Issachar, men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do..." The sons of Issachar are given the designation of having understanding of the times they lived in. And with that understanding, they were able to stir the nation in the right direction. Understanding the times is critical in this journey called life because it is with understanding that we are able to walk through life with purpose and vision, regardless of what pain we are going through.

Question for us: Do we have the understanding of the times we are living in to forgo the pain that life sometimes presents?

* Having Faith in Self: There were critics throughout the season who doubted Burress, yours truly included. Probably the only person who had faith in Burress was Burress. Let the whole world doubt him, but he would not doubt himself. The faith in self may have outweighed the doubters and the pain he felt. He was determined to win each game and it showed. As the team prepared to play against Green Bay, Burress made a declaration to his receiver's coach, "I told him to forget about getting to the doorstep. 'Let's kick the door open.'" A person with this kind of mindset and faith in self is a person who has learned to play the game with hurt and pain.

Biblical Example: David comes to mind when I think of someone having faith in self. I Samuel 30: 6 states, "And David strengthened himself, in the Lord, His God." With the possibility of losing his "teammates" because of the calamity that had befallen them, David had to encourage himself, believe in himself because he knew what kind of God He served. His faith in self was built on the foundation of faith in God.

Question for us? How much mustard seed faith do we have in ourselves to overcome the pain we go through?

Having played all season through the pain and the hurt, Burress was mentally ready to play on the second greatest stage in the NFL. Burress outplayed a healthy player who was guarding him. Burress caught more passes and run for more yards in a single game, 11 catches, for 154 yards, than he did in three games combined during the regular season, let allow the two playoff games were he had 5 catches for 48 yards total. He is now super bowl bound, the vision that started it all along! I am rooting for him and the Giants to win it all!!!!! It was worth the hurt and pain!