Four Benefits of Serving the Community for Churches

May 15, 2012 in Uncategorized with 0 Comments

Taken from The Externally Focused Church by Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson

People need exercise for physical health and service for spiritual health. We learn from the scriptures but we grow from serving others.

Four benefits of service for churches:

1. Service gets small groups out of their comfort z0nes

2. Service causes groups to bond together in tighter relationships

3. Service is a vehicle for evangelistic opportunities

4. Service provides goodwill in the community

Another benefit of service is that there is often an immediate reward that motivates continued growth.  People thrive on opportunities to give back to others, for their lives to make a difference, to positively influence the world around them, and to be a part of enhancing their community.

Perspectives: Why I think everyone should take this course

April 30, 2012 in Evangelism, Leadership, Missions with 0 Comments

I was born on a Sunday. My mom had me in church the following Sunday. I was baptized at the age of 7. I rededicated my life to Christ at the age of 15. When I rededicated my life I also dedicated myself to read the Bible every day.

I have continued that practice nearly every day of my life. I’m now 51.

I went to a Christian college where I majored in Psychology but was only 2 or 3 philosophy classes away from a double major in Christian Religion and Philosophy. After college I went immediately to seminary where I earned my Masters of Divinity degree. My emphasis was New Testament studies where I learned the fundamentals of reading and translating Greek.

I first entered pastoral ministry at the age of 19. I have been preaching and teaching God’s word for 32 years now.

Two weeks ago I completed the Perspectives course on the World Christian Movement. It was a nine day intensive course where we were in class from 9-5 each day and then read and completed homework each night.

I consider the Perspectives course to be the most important class I have taken in my life.

Everything I have learned, read, studied, preached and taught over the years came together in this class.

I now more clearly than ever see the single thread of God’s story running from beginning to end of the Bible. I see God’s purpose for humanity, the progress being made and the critical role we as humans play in his story.

Think about it, history is just another way of spelling His Story.

  1. Are you a Christian Leader? Slam dunk, you must take this course
  2. Are you a Christ follower? Slam dunk again, you must take this course.
  3. Are you a skeptic, maybe an agnostic or atheist? I highly recommend this course. You are already playing with fire. Seek out both sides of the story. You don’t want to base current and future consequences on what everyone in your circle of influence is saying. Remember, “our world is our universe.”
  4. Are you one who believes all religions lead to God? Again, this course is a must.

For me, Perspectives was not life changing but it was life directing.

We will be hosting the Perspectives course at Valley Church starting in January of 2013. You can sign up online or search for a course near you at www.perspectives.org.

 

 

Jeremy Lin is a Great Story. How Many More JLin’s are there waiting for a chance?

March 3, 2012 in Leadership, Sports with 0 Comments

The emergence of Jeremy Lin is the top story in the NBA this year.  It is the NBA’s version of Tim Tebow’s amazing season in the NFL

His play for the New York Knicks has lifted them from cellar dweller to playoff contender. The Knicks were 8-15 and had lost 11 of 13 entering play on Feb. 4. Many believed coach Mike D’Antoni’s job was on the line. The coach decided to insert Jeremy Lin with three minutes to go in the first quarter, and it changed everything.

That night was the beginning of “LINSANITY.” Seven straight wins followed and by the time of the All-Star break a week ago the Knicks were 17-18 and in second place in the Atlantic division of the Eastern Conference.

Why is his story so captivating and are there any more like him out there?

In High School Jeremy was was named first-team All-State and Northern California Division II Player of the Year.  Even with an outstanding HS career he went un-recruited by Division I Universities.

PAC-10 schools including his dream destinations Stanford and UCLA wanted him to walk-on, rather than be on scholarship. Harvard and Brown were the only teams that guaranteed him a spot on their basketball teams, but Ivy League schools do not offer athletic scholarships.

Rex Walters, University of San Francisco men’s basketball coach and a retired NBA player, said “most colleges start recruiting a guy in the first five minutes they see him because he runs really fast, jumps really high, does the quick, easy thing to evaluate.  Lin added, “I just think in order for someone to understand my game, they have to watch me more than once, because I’m not going to do anything that’s extra flashy or freakishly athletic.”

Lin had a very good college career at Harvard. But with the NBA’s get rich quick mentality and a bias for the freakishly athletic players he went undrafted.  He was picked up as free agent by the Golden State Warriors and spent his rookie season splitting time between the Warriors and the “D League” (the NBA Devel0pmental league) before being released at the start of this season. He was picked up briefly by the Houston Rockets and then again released. He was picked up by the Knicks and promptly assigned to their D league team.

He was brought back up to the Knicks because of injuries to key players when he finally got his opportunity.

It’s still too early to say but it looks as if Jeremy has found a home in the NBA. He was signed to a guaranteed contract for the rest of the season and thanks to an explosion of interest in Asia he has the #1 selling jersey among all NBA players.

My point for this article is that I am convinced their are more Jeremy Lin’s out there at every level of basketball.

First, about me:  I am crazy about Basketball.  Having grown up in Indiana (arguably the HS basketball capital of the world) I played on both my Jr. High and High School teams. My son played on his Jr High and High School team. I have coached boys basketball for 14 seasons. I watch basketball almost everyday during basketball season. I read books on basketball, watch movies about basketball and go to as many games as possible.  I love teenagers, having worked with thousand’s of them over my 25+ years involved with Youth Ministry through the local church.  I have been involved with FCA since I was in High School and currently serve as the chaplain for the Greater Des Moines area FCA. Through FCA I have crossed paths with hundreds of coaches.

Here is why the Jeremy Lin’s of the world often don’t get a chance.

  1. As already stated, they lack freakish athletic ability. You have to be athletic but not necessarily freakish
  2. Coaches get obsessed with height. At 5’9″ I clearly have a bias but I think it is an accurate one.You need tall guys on the court but not necessarily at every position
  3. Most of today’s coaches have forgotten the words of the greatest coach who ever lived, John Wooden who said, “it takes five guys to score.”                                                                                                                                                                                                                  I’ll take a team that plays like a TEAM over a team of All-Star’s any day. I witnessed this last week. I was called in to be a substitute coach for a group of 8th graders who had entered an AAU tournament. My team was taller and more athletic at every position but had not worked together at all as a unit. They didn’t even know everyones name on their team. The team we played was shorter and less athletic but have been together for a couple years. Their well practiced system and discipline won the day.
  4. Sometimes, coaches are just idiot’s (BTW, that includes me).                                                                                                                               I watched a freshman game a couple years ago. The point guard was lightning quick and got into the paint at will. He loved to pass. He had 7 assists at the end of the first quarter with zero turnovers. He started the second quarter with another assist, then he made his first turnover of the game. The coach took him out immediately yelling at him that he can’t turn the ball over. The point guard didn’t get back in until late in the 4th quarter.  A two assists to one turnover ratio is considered great . Three to one is All Star caliber. Eight to one is beyond extraordinary.
  5. When a player hasn’t played a lot and finally gets a chance, you have to give him/her time to feel comfortable in the game and be patient when they make mistakes.                                                                                                                                                     This is my most controversial point. Coaches, competitive by nature, hate to lose. I understand, I hate to lose too. I think this is the root of the problem. Coaches at the Junior High and Freshman level must give more players time to play and allow them to play with the better players, especially those players who are considered on the bubble.

Are there more Jeremy Lin’s out there? I’m not saying they are a dime a dozen but there definitely are. They simply need someone to believe in them, give them a chance and at the Junior High through Sophomore level measure victories through player and team development, not wins and losses.

Those are my thoughts; I’d love to hear yours.

Leadership Transitions: When Does a Young Eagle Know it’s Time to Fly?

February 15, 2012 in Leadership with 0 Comments

My dad worked for the same company his entire adult life.

In today’s world that is virtually unheard of. Though statistics and analysis vary it is generally agreed that the average American will go through seven job changes in a lifetime.

That being the case, how do you know when it’s time to spread your wings and fly?

Throughout my life I have become aware that my leadership abilities had grown to a greater  capacity than what I had responsibility for in that particular position.

The question that you need to answer is discerning if that means it’s time to spread your wings and fly. If you believe a move is necessary then the second step is determining the timing of that move.

Timing seems to be the most difficult part.

It has been said that an eagle, when it comes time to send her eaglets out of the nest will give them a push and then swoop down and catch them as they teach them to fly.

A behavior that is not as well known is that an eagle will start tearing up her nest about a week before she kicks the young out making it uncomfortable for them.

The Bible speaks to this phenomenon in Deuteronomy 32:11 – “like an eagle that stirs up its nest and hovers over its young, that spreads its wings to catch them and carries them on its pinions”

When do you know it is time to move on? Asking these questions might help you discern not only if but when the time is right.

1. Have you done an honest assessment?

  • Logically, when you look at the organization, do you see many things that are positive?
  • Do you have respect and appreciation for your supervisors and the leaders of the organization?
  • Do you sometimes feel like you’d be a fool to leave?
  • Do you realize plenty of other people would be thrilled to have your job?
  • In spite of all this, do you still feel unsettled, restless like you can’t spread your wings?
  • Do you feel like you have more to give, more to contribute?
  • Do you have a God-given set of skills that you rarely get to use and don’t see any opportunities going forward to use them?

2. Have you received honest input both solicited and unsolicited affirming your greater potential?

3.  Have you had a conversation with your supervisor?

  •  If your supervisor is an insecure ego-maniac proceed with caution.  A mature conversation requires discernment and an established relationship.
  • The first potential result of this conversation is that your supervisor may have options that will allow you to further spread your wings in your current position.
  • The second potential result is that your supervisor, feeling he/she has been appropriately honored and kept in the loop will affirm you and agree to help you through his/her network and by offering to give a positive reference (if they don’t offer, ask).

4. Commit to giving your current position your very best till the day you leave. Don’t ever let it be said of you that you “checked out months ago.”

5. Never, as much as it is up to you, leave a place with unresolved baggage.

  •  I have transitioned five times in my adult life. The bridge is solid both to and from every place I have been. Whenever I have returned I have been welcomed with a loving reception far beyond what I deserved.

Is the nest becoming more and more uncomfortable. Don’t blame the people around you. Your heavenly Father may be tearing up the nest making you ready to spread your wings and fly.

Those are my thoughts, I’d really love to hear yours.

Part II.2 – A Renewed Heart

February 3, 2012 in Bible Study with 0 Comments

See the previous two posts for Part I & II

Part I – A Physical Heart

Part II – An Examined Heart

  1. Lust of the Flesh
  2. Lust of the Eyes

“I see it. I want it. I take it!”

Have you ever done that? I call this the “Achan syndrome” Joshua 7:1-26,

(Achan answering Joshua) “when I saw among the spoil a beautiful mantle from Shinar and two hundred shekels of silver and a bar of gold fifty shekels in weight, then I coveted (Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Old Testament  = enthumeomai; Achan thought carefully about, pondered on, reflected inwardly regarding) them and took them; and behold, they are concealed  (Heb = taman = they were hidden by covering over so that they could not be found); in the earth inside my tent with the silver underneath it.” (Joshua 7:21)

 Note the principle of progression of the passion to possess – “I saw…I coveted…took.”

Note also what we do with our sin! We hide our sin from others [Genesis 3:10] and we think (foolishly) even from God Himself.

Eve fell prey to the lust of her eyes, (Genesis 3:6)

“When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight (Hebrew = desirable) to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”

Where in your life are you susceptible to the Lust of the eyes?

One answer would be any time we buy something spontaneously. I see it; I want it; I’ll take it. This is especially troubling when we are already living in debt.

A good way to interrupt this pattern is to leave our money and credit cards in the car when we go to the mall, looking at cars or you fill in the blank. This requires some effort to go get our money or plastic before we can buy something.

How about browsing your computer? A hot girl or studly guy pop up; we see it, want it, take it.

Facebook has this ridiculous add asking if we want to see who has been searching us. On my home page it’s always accompanied with a young, extremely good looking girl. The first time I saw it it really got my attention.

In a moment of Holy Spirit grace I thought a) I don’t know that girl b) she’s half my age so she doesn’t know me c) how would it make my wife Ruth feel if I was even slightly interested in seeing if this young, hot thing was searching me d) I love my wife e) I’m not that stupid.

…at least not this time.

Do you have a “lust of the eyes” story to share? I’d love to hear it.

We’re Blessed to be a Blessing – Daniel


 

 

Part II.1 – A Renewed Heart

January 20, 2012 in Bible Study with 0 Comments

This is the second of a five part blog series. If you wish to hear the entire message you can watch it here. .

Part 2 -  An Examined Heart

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  ~ Psalm 139: 23&24

We were created to Worship God

David Platt in his book Radical says: “We’re settling for a Christianity that revolves around catering to ourselves when the central message of Christianity is actually about abandoning ourselves.”

As you examine your life, what do you find?

In the book  My Heart Christ’s Home the author takes Jesus on a tour of the rooms of his heart, systematically asking Jesus to help him clean up his life. I highly recommend you prayerfully read through this short booklet and ask Jesus to do the same for you.

1 John 2:15&16 Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.

1. The lust of the flesh

John MacArthur writes that the expression lust of the flesh brings to mind primarily sexual sins, but, while they are included in its definition, the phrase is not limited to that.

The base desire of the human heart perverts and distorts all normal desires

Jeremiah 17:9 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked.”

To lust for something simply means “to set your heart upon”

The Greek word we translate lust is epithumia. The root verb epithumeo  indicates the presence of strong desires or impulses, longings or passionate craving  directed toward an object. (whether it is good or evil is determined by the context)

Flesh comes from the Greek word sarx.  It is that urge within us toward total autonomy and rebellion, toward being our own “little gods” accountable to no one, responsible to no one, obeying no one, respecting no one, and running our own little worlds to suit ourselves.

It is that continual tug of self-centeredness and selfishness within each of us that fights to keep us from being wholly devoted to God.

John Piper defines flesh as the old ego that is self-reliant and does not submit to any authority. He goes on to say, Flesh loves the praise of men…in its conservative form it produces legalism — keeping rules by its own power for its own glory…In its more liberal form produces grossly immoral attitudes and acts

Galatians: 5:19-21“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

To hear further extrapolation on this list please watch the video of the message which is attached above.

One word that I didn’t elaborate on in the message is “sorcery.” It comes from the Greek word PHARMAKEIA. Our word pharmaceuticals is derived from this original Greek word. The root meaning is ‘druggist’ ‘poisoner’ or, ‘giver of potions’.

These ‘sorcerers’ were persons able to prepare and dispense potions in order to stimulate hallucinations or visions! It was part of pagan religious practice to administer potions, or drugs, which would encourage hallucinations!

These “sorcerer’s” were involved in the black arts and in demonology; the basic idea was that taking certain potions could bring one into contact with the spirit world.

Today we see essentially the same practice whenever someone uses illicit drugs or to parallel more closely to the sorcerer would be the maker and deliverer of illegal drugs.

Those are my thoughts, I’d love to hear yours. ~ Daniel

 

Part I – A Renewed Heart in the New Year

January 13, 2012 in Bible Study, Sports with 0 Comments

Each new year is an opportunity to re-assess; re-focus and re-commit.

This years focus is on a renewed heart. I preached an entire message on this which you can watch here: A Renewed Heart for a New Year

This is the first of three parts.

Part 1 A Physical Heart

Part 2, 3, 4 An Examined Heart

Part 5 A Holy Heart

I.  A Physical Heart

“For physical training is of some value…”         ~ I Timothy 4:8

Here are the top three tips for getting your physical heart in shape from Kristen Rindernecht.

Kristen is a USAT Level 1 Coach and Health Coach. She has participated in several triathlons and in her early 40′s proves to be an excellent role model as a wife, mother, health aficionado and most importantly to her, Christ follower.

1. Get moving; anything will do.

Shoot for 5-7x’s a week of some type of aerobic exercise for 30-45 minutes

  • walking, biking, running, water aerobics, any of the cardio stuff at the gym,
  • Get your heart pumping and maybe a bit of a sweat going on.

2. Limit salt in your diet

Try not to add any to the food you eat,

  • watch the labels for the amount of salt in products, it is usually high.
  • Try cutting back on salt for 3 weeks; your food should begin to taste better

Sodium is a mineral that is essential for several functions in the body. You require only a small amount, and it is easy to consume more than necessary. Up to 75 percent of the sodium that Americans consume comes from processed foods, according to the American Heart Association.

What is “processed food“?  Food that is boxed, canned, jarred, frozen or refrigerated is considered processed food.

Health Hazards of Too Much Sodium

The American Heart Association says that the average American consumes 3,436 mg of sodium daily; more than double the recommended amount.

Excessive sodium consumption can contribute to high-blood pressure, which can lead to

  • stroke,
  • kidney disease and
  • coronary heart disease.

In addition, sodium has been linked to an increased incidence of gastric cancer

Also, if your dieting too much sodium causes you to retain water weight.

3. To stick with any new commitment you need a goal or accountability.

  • Find a friend or your spouse and start walking or going to a gym together, take the dog too!
  • Set a goal of working up to a 3 mile walk and then participate in a walk for a cause.  Most local communities have at least one. If yours doesn’t consider starting one. It will make you feel good while you make a difference!

Those are my thoughts; I’d love to hear  yours.

A Proven Prayer to Raise Great Kids

December 12, 2011 in Bible Study, Family, Leadership with 0 Comments

I was a young father of a highly animated little boy when I first received “The Prayer.”

We were in the frozen tundra of upstate New York in January when I had the the privilege of hearing from an amazing Godly man by the name of Wes Arum. He had two grown sons who were both married to wonderful young ladies and serving in churches as Youth Pastors. Both of his sons, Wes and Wayne were at this retreat. They were outstanding guys, full of life and the Holy Spirit.

During a break in the action our small talk conversation turned a little more serious after I complimented Wes and his wife on doing such a great job raising their boys.  As you may imagine he immediately reflected the praise giving all glory to God. He went on to say: “if you want to guarantee raising Godly children, pray this prayer over them every day.” He then handed a copy of a sheet of paper where he had written down “The Prayer”

I have long since lost that sheet of paper but the prayer he gave me I prayed over my boys almost every day while they were growing up at home and still do now.  Following is what has evolved into my personal version of “The Prayer:”

 Father God, in Jesus name we lift you up and praise your Holy name.

Cover my son with the blood of the lamb of Jesus (Hebrews 9:14)

Surround him with your holy angels; put an impenetrable hedge of angels around him to guard and protect him heart, body, mind and soul so he will love you with all his heart, all his mind, all his soul and all his strength all the days of his life. ” (Mark 12:30)

May he grow in wisdom and stature, in favor with You and in the eyes of all people. (Luke 2:52)

Bind us together in your love making us one with You and one with each other. (John 17:20-22)

Fill him with all the fruits of the spirit: Love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control and protect him from the evil one. (Galatians 5:22)

Tie the belt of truth around his waist; fit him with the breastplate of righteousness to guard his heart (Proverbs 4:23),  cover his feet with the readiness to share the gospel of peace wherever he goes; cover his head with the helmet of salvation reminding him he is a child of the King; help him hold up the shield of faith so he can extinguish the fiery darts of the evil one and may he use mightily the sword of the spirit which is your word. (Ephesians 6:10-18)

I pray you will make him bold and courageous, strong and fearless, fearing nothing and no one but you (Proverbs 1:7; Joshua 1:8&9)

I pray for the woman he will one day marry.  Guard and protect her life. Keep her pure with her eyes fixed on you (Hebrews 12:2) Prepare her even now to be everything you want her to be for my son. Keep my son pure with his eyes fixed on you. Prepare him to be everything you want him to be for her and may they and their children serve you all the days of their lives.

Fill his heart with joy oh Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. (Nehemiah 8:10)

In the powerful name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

This prayer if of course no magical incantation. It is simply a guide for heart felt, Biblically focused crying out to our Heavenly Father on behalf our children.

I realize this is a little risky to make this claim at this stage of life. My boys are still relatively young. They are both far from perfect but perfection is not the goal.

By God’s grace and their mothers genes both my boys are very handsome.

My oldest son is a magnanimous personality who lights up the room when he walks in. As a Junior Higher he was called by his youth pastor “the most secure kid he has ever been around.” A little over a year ago he married his college sweetheart. She is a beautiful young lady filled with the Holy Spirit and has a passion to work with battered and abused women.

They host a small group Bible Study in their home and serve on their churches worship team. Having earned his degree in education he recently took a job as a paraprofessional – serving as a one on one mentor, scribe and friend to a young man who has no use of his arms and legs.

They are currently working with their church to in the fight against human trafficking.

My younger son is a freshman in college. He is a vivacious personality, quick to smile and full of life. He fights a daily battle with Crones disease yet maintains an infectious attitude of gratitude.  To this point he has shown no interest in the typical party life of college freshmen (no condemnation intended; God leads people to Him from all different paths).

The best way to describe him might well be through his own words found on his Twitter profile: “My life is defined with Jesus! my family friends and activities are just the amazing blessings that come along with it!”

Wes Arum Sr. told me years ago that if I would pray this prayer over my children daily that he guaranteed we would raise Godly children. So far so good.

My purpose here is not to brag (though I am very proud of my three kids) but rather to inspire and encourage you to faithfully, passionately pray over your children every day. “Let us not become weary in doing good for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we don’t give up.” Galatians 6:9

Response-Ability: Key to a Happier, Healthier Life

November 19, 2011 in Bible Study, Leadership with 0 Comments

“Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap.” Ecclesiastes 11:4

Stephen Covey in the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People defines Proactive: “Taking personal responsibility for our decisions and reactions in life.”

Our behavior is based on the decisions we make, not our conditions.  Think about the word Responsibility –

“Response-ability”  – the ability to choose your response.

Proactive people don’t blame circumstances, conditions, or conditioning for their behavior.

Reactive people are often affected by their circumstances, conditions, or conditioning.  If the weather is good, they feel good.  If it isn’t, it affects their attitude and their performance.

Proactive people can carry their own weather with them.  Whether it rains or shines makes no difference to them.  If they value hard work they work hard regardless of their circumstances.

Hall of Fame Basketball player Jerry West said: “If you work only when you feel good you won’t get very much work done.”

Reactive people are the opposite. When people treat them well, they feel well; when people don’t they become defensive.   Reactive people build their emotional lives around the behavior of others, empowering the weaknesses of other people to control them.

While enjoying a delicious Iced Tea at Panera I found myself suddenly next to a group of women who were having a boisterous good time. One lady spoke up with great enthusiasm about this idea she had. Another woman responded immediately with: “That’s a dumb idea.” The first lady was crushed. She remained silent for quite some time; her shoulders drooped, her head dropped.  She was the quintessential reactive person.  The first woman was clearly speaking out of her weakness. Her Emotional Intelligence had to register in the negative range for her to respond so insensitively and counter-productively.  Had the first woman been a proactive person, she would have acknowledged the less than tactful statement i.e. “thank you for your input” then continued having a good time with her friends.

The ability to keep your feelings in check and respond to someone or something based on what you believe is the essence of the proactive person.

Proactive people are driven by values – carefully thought about, selected and internalized values.

Proactive people are still influenced by external circumstances, whether physical, social, or psychological. But their response to the circumstances, conscious or unconscious, is a value-based choice or response.

Elanor Roosevelt said:  “No one can hurt you without your consent.”

Ghandi said:  “They cannot take away our self respect if we do not give it to them.”

 

Next time you start getting angry, feeling hurt or rising anxiety in response to something or someone; ask yourself:

“What meaning am I giving it?”

Ivan Pavlov showed stimulus leading to a predictable response amongst animals. We are not animals. We are called by God to be rulers and stewards of this earth.  As Victor Frankl so well demonstrated; the space between stimulus and response is “Choice.”

For those who follow Jesus Christ this choice is empowered by the Holy Spirit.

Those are my thoughts; I’d love to hear yours.

Aaron Rogers – Even a Bear Backer Packer Hater has to Love Him.

November 17, 2011 in Uncategorized with 1 Comment

Adapted from an article by a Wisconsin FOX 6 Sports anchor

Aaron Rodgers was the guest speaker a couple years ago at a charity event to benefit the MACC Fund, a charity committed to eradicating childhood cancer and blood disorders

Scattered throughout the crowd of rabid Packers fans, were the people who I consider the event’s real MVPs.   They are the families who’ve been forced to deal with one of life’s toughest sentences – the loss of a child.

In a world where many athletes regurgitate canned and rehearsed responses, the Packers quarterback was refreshingly candid.  Aaron addressed a number of topics with in-depth, honest reaction – even some that if reprinted and mass distributed might raise some eyebrows.

He talked music. Aaron’s record label Suspended Sunrise is a product of his passion, but also a contingency plan for life after football.

His favorite book is The Bible and he tries to read it every day, not just when life’s challenges and struggles surface.

His favorite movie is The Princess Bride which he admits he’s caught flack for but says he and his childhood friends can recite every line from the film and it is simply a great story.

Rodgers’ answers to questions on this night were certainly admirable. And I honestly didn’t think I could respect Aaron more. But I was wrong.

My friend, the father of a young girl who passed away due to this insidious disease, was there that night. He was one of several attendees brought up on stage where he caught a football thrown by the quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

He asked Aaron to sign the football he’d caught; he wondered if he’d make it out to his daughter.   It isn’t shocking that Rodgers obliged. What caught me off guard was the dedication he made.

It wasn’t until after Aaron left that I first saw the autograph…and the simple yet sweet message that brought tears to this father’s eyes:

“To Cheri the angel.  Save me a spot. – Aaron Rodgers”

Aaron Rogers was drafted as the 24th overall pick in the first round out of the University of California by the Green Bay Packers in 2005. He sat for three years behind future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Farve; something which is virtually unheard of for a quarterback selected in the 1st round in todays NFL.

He handled his extended apprenticeship with class and grace, often lauding praise on Brett Farve for all he learned from him.

In February of this year, 2011, he hit the pinnacle of success for a professional football player; his team won the Super Bowl and he was named the games Most Valuable Player.

Hats off to Aaron Rogers.  Good guys can and do finish first, even if, “INCONCEIVABLE,” they do play for the dread Green Bay Packers.

Those are my thoughts, I’d love to hear yours.

Page 1 of 3123»