Light in the Darkness

I am pasting a story that is running down here concerning the Auburn Football program (I know some Alabama fans probably wont read it…) and it’s chaplain Chette Williams. The article talks about the freedom from religion foundation trying to end ALL chaplaincy programs in universities across the country. I have met brother Chette and he is a Wonderful Person and mentor for hundreds of young men who come through the football program. He was Tommy Tuberville’s (Auburns coach a few years ago) first and “most important” hire. Please pray for him and chaplains at universities across the country. The devil has apparently found some cracks in the foundation and is trying to bring darkness across this country and this is only one example among several of us turning our backs as a country on our Father.

I went back and read my copy of The Constitution and the phrase separation of church and state does not appear. In fact, it states that the government cannot interfere with the free exercise of religion… In fact that phrase actually comes from a letter from Thomas Jefferson to the Danbury Baptist Association letting them know that the government would not interfere with the exercise of their beliefs.

Sorry for the brief historical interlude…

I believe that as men and women of faith, we must stand for what we believe in and be that mirror that reflects the light of our Father in Heaven.

Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act. -Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Here is the article:
STATE/CHURCH WATCHDOG CONSIDERING LAWSUIT FOR UNIVERSITY’S FAILURE TO SUPPLY RECORDS
FFRF: Auburn employs chaplain who baptizes players, has office in stadium
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August 19, 2015
The Freedom From Religion Foundation's just-released national report, "Pray to Play," documenting unconstitutional Christian chaplaincies embedded in public university football programs, includes the Auburn University in its list of offending universities. FFRF, a national state/church watchdog, has written to university President Jay Gogue asking him to abolish the chaplaincy and adopt the model policy in FFRF's report.

Much of FFRF's report is built on public records it requested from universities. FFRF sent Auburn an open records request in September 2014, and sent a $500 deposit for the records that December. The university has refused to provide any records and ceased all contact with FFRF since April 10, 2015. FFRF is now considering an open records lawsuit against the university and has consulted with Alabama attorneys.

Although the university has refused to provide records, FFRF's independent research shows that Chette Williams, Auburn's football chaplain, is very much treated as a part of the team. Williams has an office in the stadium, typically wears AU branded clothing, organizes religious revivals for the team, is regularly referred to by official or official-sounding names, leads the team in prayer, baptizes players, randomly attends other team practices and meetings, travels with the team, and much more—even though technically the university does not employ him. This public university grants him special privileges and unrestricted access because he is a Christian clergyman, FFRF charges.



If there is any doubt about Williams' official standing with the team, the Auburn football website makes it clear.

Former head coach Tommy Tuberville appointed Williams in 1999, one of his "first moves" as head coach, claiming the team experienced a "tremendous spiritual revival ... moved on the Auburn team since his arrival. ... players are getting baptized, carrying around Bibles and wearing wooden cross necklaces."

About 10 years ago Williams claimed that he had baptized 20 players during his first six years as chaplain. Williams continues to dunk Auburn players, including Sammie Coates and Trovon Reed in 2013 and Jeff Whitaker in 2012. Today, the number of Auburn football players baptized by Williams could easily exceed 50.

Tuberville also brought his Ole Miss chaplain, Wes Yeary, to Auburn in 2007. With Tuberville's help and financial support, Williams and Yeary set up a training camp for team chaplains and an internship program hosted by Auburn.

"No student athlete should be baptized as part of a public university sports program, or be put in the position of feeling they have to pray to play," said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor.

Heroes

Quick questions. Do you know who this person is? I would be willing to bet that most if not all of the people who read this know that this person is Justin Bieber the famous pop singer who is now known for more than just his music. He is famous and kids look up to him as a hero of sorts. Doubt me, watch the video of him walking out of police custody in Miami to the sound of cheering fans. Why do people think he is a hero? The only reason that I can figure out is that he is famous. I have nothing against this young man as a matter of fact, he is in my prayers that Father will fill his heart and use his God Given musical talents to glorify Him not himself.

 

 

 

What about this guy. Recognize him? Of course most if not all of you again will recognize this man as LeBron James. Don’t think he is looked at as a hero to millions? Go and watch him and his team leave a hotel or enter a stadium as thousands of people cheer for him (walking out of a hotel…). Again, I have nothing against this man and am in awe of his God Given talent on the basketball court. Has he done anything heroic? Maybe he has but he is considered a hero by many for playing a game not any heroic acts that he may have done.

 

Last one. Do you recognize this man? I bet you don’t. His name is Ross McGinnis and he actually is a hero. Had you asked me this question 3 months ago, I would not have recognized him either. His story was not all over the news to my recollection like Mr. Beiber or Mr. James. That is why when I heard it, I wanted to share it with you. Mr. McGinnis posthumously holds the following awards for military HEROISM:  Medal of Honor · Purple Heart · Silver Star · Bronze Star Medal. His story is copied from Wikipedia below. Take a minute and read about Mr. McGinnis.

 

Medal of Honor Citation

President George Bush presents the Medal of Honor to the parents of Ross McGinnis

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty:

Private First Class Ross A. McGinnis distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an M2 .50-caliber Machine Gunner, 1st Platoon, C Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, in connection with combat operations against an armed enemy in Adhamiyah, Northeast Baghdad, Iraq, on December 4, 2006.

That afternoon his platoon was conducting combat control operations in an effort to reduce and control sectarian violence in the area. While Private McGinnis was manning the M2 .50-caliber Machine Gun, a fragmentation grenade thrown by an insurgent fell through the gunner's hatch into the vehicle. Reacting quickly, he yelled "grenade," allowing all four members of his crew to prepare for the grenade's blast. Then, rather than leaping from the gunner's hatch to safety, Private McGinnis made the courageous decision to protect his crew. In a selfless act of bravery, in which he was mortally wounded, Private McGinnis covered the live grenade, pinning it between his body and the vehicle and absorbing most of the explosion.

Private McGinnis' gallant action directly saved four men from certain serious injury or death. Private First Class McGinnis' extraordinary heroism and selflessness at the cost of his own life, above and beyond the call of duty, are in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.[3]

 

I am glad I learned about Mr. McGinnis so that I can share the story with my children to let them know what a real hero is. Who are your heroes???

Thanksgiving

When I look at Thanksgiving coming up, I am reminded that we created a holiday so that we as a people can give thanks to God for our blessings. I know that in our history, we as a country have made many mistakes but I also know that good can come from making mistakes. One of the best things about living in this country is that I am free to make mistakes and to learn from them. Thanksgiving happened because a group of religious people (pilgrims) were wanting to celebrate the harvest and were thankful for food to survive. The Native Americans were included in that celebrations because they helped teach these people how to survive with what they were given. I say all this to say that sometimes we need to shift our perspective and be thankful for what is given to us by God and not let other things clutter our mind.

Recently in a group that I meet with every week, one of the men brought an email that he received from a soldier friend in Afghanistan. The discussion that we had been having was about the Grace of our Father and what it meant to us and how we used it. The soldier was writing that to her, Grace was being given clean water to shower with and not having an IED explode near her camp. She was so thankful for these things, it made me stop and think. What am I truly thankful for?

·        I am thankful that my Father sent His only Son to earth to take and be punished for the sin in my life.

·        I am thankful that He was willing to die on a cross for those sins and then rose three days later and is ALIVE.

·        I am thankful that almost 18 years ago, my best friend said yes when I got down on my knee to ask her to marry me.

·        I am thankful that almost 12 years ago, my son was born. Every day he teaches me a little more about the sacrifice that my Father in Heaven made when sending His Son to die for me. Fatherhood changes your perspective on that act of Grace.

·        I am thankful that almost 9 years ago, my daughter was born. Every snuggle and tickle with her teaches me more about unconditional love that any book or sermon ever could.

·        I am thankful for my mother. The example of faith in action could not be stronger and I hope I can pass it on to my children.

·        I am thankful for family. I know that this one is said at every Thanksgiving celebration but the reason I am thankful for family is that they teach me about unconditional support no matter what the situation is.

·        I am thankful for a brotherhood of believers that I am a part of. Men, if you are not a part of a group of men who celebrate together, hurt together and pray together, start one now.

·        I am thankful for the abilities that I have been given which allow me to work and serve my Father so that when I am done, He will say: “Well done my good and faithful servant!!”

·        Lastly, I am thankful for my country. That Shining City on a Hill shows the world what the freedom to pursue your greatest dreams really is. It is because of the sacrifice of so many that I am able to pursue my dreams. While the men and women who make up this country are not perfect, the principles of having been created by God to pursue your God-given greatest dreams are perfect.

Now my challenge to you is to write out your list of 10. What are you really thankful for? Happy Thanksgiving.

A lesson in Courage

Courage is not the absence of fear but the willingness to go through a situation and do your best despite the fear. Last night I was helping coach my son’s 6^th grade football team. Before the game started I looked around and saw one player who has a hurt shoulder but was dressed and ready to play and another player who has a high ankle sprain but was dressed and ready to play. These may not seem like huge injuries and would not keep a high school or college player from playing but to an 11 year old boy, these things can instill fear of getting hurt worse. However, this is what being a part of a team looks like and teammates recognize the pain but willingness to continue. During the game, I watched these two young men give everything they had to help their team be successful. I also watched as several other young men got hurt during the game giving everything they had for others. One of the boys was knocked out and as he got up and went with his parents to the hospital, I looked into the eyes of his friends and teammates and saw fear but I also saw courage and a desire to give even more for the team. After the game as I was talking to my son who had the hurt ankle, I realized that not only was this a lesson for the boys on the team but also Father was speaking to me and using the verse from the Gospel of John:

"Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.” John 15:13.

Now I know that these 11 year old boys weren’t laying down their life like members of the military do for example but for them, getting hurt or watching a hurt player giving his all should teach them a GREAT lesson. A willingness to put others ahead of self is a lesson that MANY adults have not learned but a group of 11 year old boys learned it on a football field last night and I could not be more proud to be associated with that group of young men. Thank you for teaching me about courage and selflessness last night. God Bless You All!!!

 

I will NEVER Forget

It was a sunny Tuesday morning in early September and I was sitting at my desk getting some work done. I received a call from my mother telling me to turn on the television that something bad was happening in New York City. I believe it was two days later before I could take my eyes off of the TV and come out of the fog of tears that had enveloped me. It was at that point that I first noticed the darkness growing in our world (I was not alive for Hitler’s reign of terror) and saw the way to fight the darkness was by shining a light of Father’s love and selflessly caring for others. If you will remember, September 10, 2001, the big concern was what happened to Chandra Levy and what is your football team going to do in the next game. On September 11, 2001, we found out what a true hero looks like when hundreds of people sacrificed themselves in order to help others. Isn’t that the true light of Christ’s Love? On this day as I look back and think of those who were lost, I challenge you to search for a way to sacrifice a part of yourself in order to help someone else who is dealing with the struggles of life. It does not have to be a big gesture, just do something for someone else without looking for anything else in return. Hopefully we can return to the nation as it was on September 12, 2001 where people hugged their families AND neighbors, where people prayed together no matter what their denomination, where an entire congress sang “God Bless America” on the steps of the capitol no matter what their political beliefs were, where compassion and empathy for others grew. How does that happen? I don’t have all of the answers but believe that it starts by people looking for ways they are the same instead of different and being willing to give of themselves instead of think of themselves. That is what our heroes of 9/11 did when they went INTO the towers. It did not matter what someone looked like, what religion they were or what political party they voted for the last time, the heroes were there for them. It also did not matter that they wanted to be somewhere else doing something else, they were there to serve others. Finally as I continue to remember those who were lost on that day, I want to encourage you to go back and read 2 Chronicles 7 not just the 14^th verse which is the one many people know but read the entire chapter. My prayer for our nation today 9/11/13 is that we turn towards Father and away from the things that are keeping us from relationship with Him. My constant reminder is my desktop on my computer which has the picture of the father of our country on his knees in prayer.

God Bless America!!!

Will You Forget?

Parent of Friend?

As I watched the performance of Miley Cyrus this morning from last night’s VMA I, like many of you, cringed and had a hard time keeping my breakfast down. As the father of two children who has Hannah Montanna albums on his ITunes account that I sing along with my daughter, I was horrified at how much she has changed. She went from a wholesome (seemingly) down-home young lady to what can only be described as “tramp-like” in a relatively short period of time. During that time, I have switched from encouraging my 8 year old daughter to emulate her to not wanting my daughter to see her at all. What happened? How do I make sure it does not happen to my daughter? Is there a secret “parenting tip” that can help?

First things first, pray for Miley and her family. She has obviously lost her way and is searching for something to steady her life. It appears to me that she is wandering around in secular darkness and someone needs to pierce that darkness and show her the love of the Father. I also encourage you to pray for her father as I cannot imagine what watching something like that would do to me as a father. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ and deserve to be loved and encouraged in that family.

Second, as a parent, love your children as parents not friends. I was watching an Andy Stanley series on the family and he spoke about being friends with your children when they are grown but only if you were a parent as they were growing up. I read an interview that Billy Ray Cyrus gave about wanting to be Miley’s friend for years and how he believes that is what will cause her to go down the wrong path. The interview was given two years ago and I believe it was prophetic. I also watch as parents get on TV after their child is charged with a heinous crime and say “that could not be my son (or daughter) doing that…” or “my child is an angel and would never do such a thing.” I heard both of those statements from parents of the boys who shot the Australian baseball player in Oklahoma last week. I do not want to blame the parents for every evil that their children do, but I would encourage parents to spend time not entertaining their children but getting to know their children and setting boundaries and discipline. This does not mean that in order to be a good parent you need to be a hard ass. It means that children are looking for boundaries in order to feel safe and if you do not set them, no one will.

I am by no means the expert but, to boil it all down, no one is perfect and children who are raised in a loving Christ-Centered home can still do the wrong thing. But, if there are more loving Christ-Centered homes, there are more chances for loving Christ-Centered children. Love your children by teaching them how to behave and setting boundaries for mistakes that they make but also supporting them as a parent. Your children will grow up to have many friends but only 2 parents.

I choose to be a PARENT

How strong is your faith?

I was spending time thinking and praying for the people who are being persecuted for their faith is Egypt. Currently, 60-80 churches and Christian organizations have been burned to the ground in Egypt. I heard a story about a 10 year old girl who was walking home from Bible study with her Christian teacher. In the middle of the street, someone walked up to her and shot her in the chest because she had a Bible. She was rushed to the hospital by her teacher and was pronounced DEAD at the hospital. Father asked me the question above and sadly, my answer was: Not as strong as the 10 year old girl walking down the street of Cairo with a Bible. As I looked back at persecutions from the past, Nazi Germany comes to mind here. In order for Hitler to kill 11 million people, he had to make others afraid to say anything. He did this through Brute shows of force that made people scared to stand up. Right now, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is doing the exact same thing by showing force and trying to intimidate Christians into living under Sharia Law. If your church was burned to the ground and you witnessed a 10 year old girl being shot for her faith, what would you do about it? Are you willing to stand up for your faith or is faith something that you practice in order to check some box on a form? I am asking myself these questions along with others so that we can decide what we believe in and can have the courage to stand in the face of darkness if that day were to come.

So, how strong is your faith?