DownshoreDrift

So, This Is What the Sweet Sixteen Feels Like?

Okay, so vanity has taken over. Either that or I'm really competitive. I'll side with the competitive angle. A little competition is good, right?  Some might see this and think that it's a little much, but hey, this is a tiny blog compared to some of the monster Baptist blogs out there.  I need all the help I can get!

So, here's the deal:  Tony Kummer at SBC Voices set up a competition last week. He tracks all the blogs of Southern Baptists (over 314 to date) and he decided to do a tournament ala the NCAA basketball's March Madness.  He put 68 teams, er, blogs in the tournament and divided it up into four regions for people to vote on who they thought had the most influential blog in SBC life. You can see the initial contest HERE. I was pretty surprised to be selected as one of the 68 blogs to make the big dance.  I was a #12 seed in the South Region. I was even more surprised (shocked, really) to make it to the next round - the Sweet Sixteen. So, basically, this is quite the Cinderella story.

Davidson went down today and I have a very strong feeling that I won't make it to the next round either. Tony changed up the rules a little (can he do that? - um, I guess he can since it's his contest) and says, "For this session I want you to consider the helpfulness of each blog, especially when they write about SBC related issues."  Oh no! I'm doomed! I don't really write about SBC related issues here anymore, at least in the direct sense.  I knew I quit too early!  He is even offering a $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com for the winner. Those who love me know that if anything would motivate me . . . well, I better not get into to that.

So, even though I don't write about SBC related issues here at Downshoredrift, I figure that the stuff I write about (ministry, church life, spiritual formation, where God is working in the world around us, missions, my family, book reviews, changing culture, the Kingdom of God, etc.) SHOULD be what we are talking about in the SBC instead of petty politics (except for maybe my family - the SBC doesn't have to talk about my family, except for my kids. They are pretty cool). So, to parrot Barak Obama, a vote for Downshoredrift means a vote for CHANGE!  That's right! Let's change the tone of the SBC!  What better way than to put Downshoredrift in the Final Four!

Too much?  Sorry.  My friend Micah Fries is trying to get people to vote for him so I thought I'd do the same.  Go over to SBCVoices and go down to the South Region and vote for Downshoredrift, if you would be so kind. Remember, a vote for Downshoredrift is a vote for the little guy, the underdog, the common man!  It's a vote for change!  Send Cinderella to the Final Four!      

Yeah, I got carried away.  Oh well! It's all in fun.   :)

LSU Team of the Decade?

I don't have much to say about the game last night, except it is good to be an LSU Tiger fan. Very good. 2 National Titles in 5 years. Wow. I was very worried after we got behind 10-0 (I am naturally pessimistic), but then LSU just systematically took Ohio St. apart by scoring 31 unanswered points. Matt Flynn played great. The defense attacked.  The corners shut down OSU's receivers all night. Speed, strength, and power. It was a win for the SEC as well, as LSU reiterated that it is by far the best conference in college football.

LSU's much criticized coach, Les Miles, completely outcoached Jim Tressel of Ohio St. It wasn't even close. As long as he has been at LSU, he has been in Nick Saban's shadow and people have called him stupid. He has now beaten 7 national championship coaches in his career and is 34-6 in 3 years at LSU. You can't argue with the record.

LSU is the first team to win two BCS titles. They are the only team to win two national championships in this decade. After losing 4 first round picks in the NFL last year, this team just reloaded, got better, and won the whole thing. Wow.

Anyway, I just wanted to give credit to my team for the dismantling of Ohio St. last night. Geaux Tigers!

You are welcome to leave you congratulations for the Tigers and thoughts about the game here!

On Race in America: Jason Whitlock on Sean Taylor's Death By the Black KKK

I read this article this evening by Jason Whitlock of the Kansas City Star on the death of Washington Redskins safety Sean Taylor.  The language in some of it is a little rough, but he calls out the black community for continuing to celebrate violence through hip hop culture and for killing it's own men. Whitlock, a black sports columnist, is absolutely right and what he is saying needs to be said. I am thankful for his courage. Here's an excerpt:

But we don't want to deal with ourselves. We take great joy in prescribing medicine to cure the hate in other people's hearts. Meanwhile, our self-hatred, on full display for the world to see, remains untreated, undiagnosed and unrepentant.

Our self-hatred has been set to music and reinforced by a pervasive culture that promotes a crab-in-barrel mentality.

You're damn straight I blame hip hop for playing a role in the genocide of American black men. When your leading causes of death and dysfunction are murder, ignorance and incarceration, there's no reason to give a free pass to a culture that celebrates murder, ignorance and incarceration.

I live in Montgomery, AL, the home of the Civil Rights Movement in America. But, something has gone terribly wrong with the progression of blacks out of slavery and segragation and into mainstream life in America. Many have made the transition, but many more are caught in an underclass of hopelessness, violence, drugs, and teenaged sex. It is being reinforced by music, culture, and entertainment. It is wrong and it is leading to the death of a generation of young people. It is a tragedy.

I am a white man. I am not supposed to say those things because I will be accused of being  a racist. But, I am not. I am not a racist because I do not believe that there is anything inherent black people that is causing this tragedy to occur. I am not a racist because I am not using this information as a bullet point on why whites are superior to blacks. I am not a racist because I am broken hearted about what I see happening in front of me and because I pray that it changes. I am a Christian and I know that a proud people that has been through so much degradation, humiliation, and bondage in this land from the hands of white masters is now destroying itself because of the bondage of sin and wrong belief. This obviously does not include all blacks. Heavens no!  The vast majority are living good lives and are productive citizens. But, there is a generation of young people that are becoming caught up in a belief system that says that it is better to "keep it real" than it is to be righteous. This is not just a black thing. It is my problem as well because the people that are destroying themselves are my fellow man. They are children of God and I am my brother's keeper.

Honestly, I lay a lot of blame for this at the feet of the white evangelical church in the South. That might sound like a strong statement, but our support of and acquiesance to institutionalized racism up until the 1960's and 70's did more to damage the cause of Christ and the souls of man in our country that anything that I can possibly think of. We told a whole generation of blacks and whites that Jesus was not the answer because He didn't make a bit of difference in how we treated others.  It was okay to hate your brother as long as he was a different color than you. This is still having an effect. Can the predominately white church in America partner with black Christians to make a difference in the scourge of violence upon our country? Can we find ways to REALLY come together? Crime has shot up in our own city. Can white and black Christians, who maybe live in different neighborhoods work together to save a generation and turn things around?

If this problem is going to be solved, it will be solved by the church. Not just the black church trying to rescue it's own neighborhoods. But, ALL believers working together to rescue those who are destroying themselves. Because, we are all brothers and we are all responsible for one another. If ONE person is hopeless, in bondage, or deceived, should we not do what we can to reverse the wrongs of the past, come together as brothers in Christ, and address the problems in our communities head on?

I applaud Jason Whitlock for what he has said. I agree with him. But, the problem is not just a black problem. It is ALL of our problem and we are ALL responsible. Because we have the power of the Holy Spirit and there is amazing power in unity, repentance, and reconcilation, we need to come together and see what God can do. As we do this, maybe we can address the issues in predominately white communities as well, which are HUGE, especially in the South. It isn't a racial issue, it's a sin issue. And, I don't know what else to do about that than to minister the truth and grace of Jesus Christ in a real way. That starts by recognizing my own blindness, rolling up my sleeves, and seeing what I can do to make a difference. Problems don't go away by themselves. They have to be confronted. 

Ray "Boom, Boom" Mancini and Regret

All of us have experiences in our life that we wish we could do over. We wish that we could receive a mulligan to replay a decision or an event and come out with a totally different outcome. Things happen to us and we do things that can be quite painful, that can haunt us forever. When I was a kid, my Dad used to be a big fight fan. I remember watching Larry Holmes in the heavyweights and Sugar Ray Leonard. Back then, big fights were actually on television instead of on pay per view like they are now. One of my Dad's favorite fighters was Ray 'Boom, Boom' Mancini. He was a tough kid from Pennsylvania who seemed to be a throwback to fighters from the 50's when my Dad was growing up. I was 7 or 8 years old, but I liked him as well.

Then, I just kind of remember him disappearing. I didn't know why, but in the mind of an 8 year old, you are really only thinking about what is going on right in front of you at the time. My sports heroes were players for the New Orleans Saints or the LSU Tigers. I forgot about 'Boom, Boom.' Until this past weekend. I saw a special on him on ESPN and learned about how he was a man of deep faith from the steel mills of Allentown, Pennsylvania. I learned that his father was a fighter before World War II and that his brother was accidently shot by his girlfriend when Ray was only 18. I learned about how he left Pennsylvania and went to New York City to become a great fighter. And, I found out why he disappeared from my 8 year old memory.  Ray Mancini accidentally killed Duk Koo Kim in the ring on November 13, 1982, and it shattered him and effectively ended his career. He was never the same fighter again.

I ran across a moving article on the subject by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports called Mancini and Kim Forever Linked.   If you find sports interesting as a metaphor for life, I highly recommend it as a great read. As I read the article, I couldn't help but think about how our past can so radically affect our future, even when we are trying to do the right thing. It seems that Ray Mancini has moved on to live a productive life even though he was never the same fighter, but others involved in the fight were destroyed by it.  Significant tragedies have a way of scarring us to the point that we can become immobilized by fear, by guilt, or by the questions of what could have been. For the Christian, we suffer the same agony. Yet, there is hope in that we know that we are not defined by our past. Even when tragedy occurs, whether it is our fault or not, there is always hope for the future because God remains on the Throne. He is the God of Hope and He can intervene even in the midst of horrible situations - even situations that we feel responsible for.

Ray Mancini is a good man and the regret over what happened is part of what makes him human. No one would ever say that it was his fault. The death of a promising young person is always a tragedy, but a concurrent tragedy takes place in the lives of those around the person who constantly ask themselves "what if" questions. I have seen this pain and these questions in the minds of parents who lost children to drugs or alcohol or just to a freak accident on a dark road. What could have been? In our own lives, we often have to make a conscious decision to give our pain over to Jesus who went to the Cross to bear our pain, our suffering, and also our sin. Holding onto it, while feeling natural, does not change anything. It does not reverse the event. Own it, grieve over what took place, feel the remorse, and then lay it down before the Lord who takes our pain. These things will not be forgotten and will often color the rest of our lives, but they do not have to cripple us. God is still there.  

Football Returns!!!

I finally get to watch sports again! College football returns with LSU taking on Mississippi St. tonight. I am a lifelong LSU fan that is also a graduate of Miss. St., so this game is always interesting for me. I always pull for LSU, because you just can't go against the team of your childhood. I cheer for State every other game, even though there is not much to get excited about usually.

Score prediction: LSU 38  Miss. St. 13

Anyway, LSU is ranked #2 in the country and have been picked by many to play for the National Championship. On the pro side, the New Orleans Saints are being picked by many to go to the Super Bowl. Wow. I never thought I'd see the day when both LSU and the Saints were on top. I hope it continues.

So, pull up a chair, grab the remote, say goodbye to your families, and enjoy the next four months of finally having something to watch on the weekends! Football is finally here!

Geaux Tigers!

Waste - Michael Vick

With Michael Vick's admission of guilt regarding involvement in a dog fighting ring today, I've been thinking a lot about the role of character in attaining success. No one would dispute that Mike Vick is a supremely talented quarterback, although he has had some trouble passing the ball. But, internally, his life was obviously a wreck. Jeff Gordon, for Fox Sports wrote an interesting article where he talks about how much money Vick has lost from his failures (around $100 million), and he also lists other atheletes who have made similar mistakes. Very talented, but no internal moral compass.

Starting in September, I'll be doing character training and leadership development with a facility here in town that helps train young people with job skills. It is a residential facility and it receives around 700 kids, ages 16-24, per year. They are asking me to to an intro course and then a 4 week exit course dealing with what these students will need, apart from their expertise in their field, to excel in life. Many of them come from difficult backgrounds and have not been given guidance the way that they should. Hopefully, in some small way, I'll be able to help. But, as I was thinking about the curriculum today, my thoughts turned to Mike Vick.

During his admission speech today, he claimed to have found Christ. I hope so. What he did was truly horrible. He tortured and killed dogs in a dog fighting ring. Of course he can be forgiven and can turn his life around, but he has already lost so much. So many of us engage in behavior that we think is no big deal, but we really do pay a price. We pay a price in that we do not become all that God intended us to be. We merely exist instead of step into the good works that He has prepared in advance for us to do (Eph. 2:10). Even if we are not doing something REALLY bad or against the law, many people still live selfishly and arrogantly, as though there is no cost to sinful behavior. We are waiting for some type of price to be paid through external consequences, it seems. Sometimes, that happens. It is very painful when it does, But, whether or not external consequences are levied, it does not change the fact that we always pay consequences within ourselves by not walking with God or being what He planned for us. Sometimes the largest consequence is found when we look ourselves in the mirror and realize that we could have been and done so much more - that others were depending upon us and we let them down.

Character does matter. But, a selfish life is also a wasted life.  It seems that Michael Vick is learning that lesson the hard way. I pray that the rest of us, myself included take heed.

Saints Play in NFC Championship Game This Weekend

My sister sent me a great article from the Orlando Sentinel about the New Orleans Saints march to the NFC Championship Game and what it means to the city. I thought it was interesting and I resonated with it greatly.  If it is possible for sports to mean more to people than just the simplicity of the game on the field, this is it. I know that it is all just projection of hopes and dreams onto something that is really quite meaningless and silly, but it is no more meaningless than anything in the human experience. We appreciate art, music, film, literature, and travel. All of those things are gifts that have the ability to lift the human spirit and speak to us of things Beyond that are more pure and beautiful than we can imagine. Sports has that capacity as well, when done correctly. It usually misses the mark, but it might get fairly close this weekend. This "game" has the potential to lift the spirits of a city and region and remind them that anything is possible. That is something that is pretty cool in my opinion, and worth reflection.

And, beyond the metaphysical stuff I was just saying, Go Saints!!! 

The Saints Are Coming!

I know I've been talking about football a lot lately, but it's that time of year when everything is coming to a head and my teams have done well. The New Orleans Saints play in the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs Saturday night at 7pm against the Philadelphia Eagles. I'll be watching and, hopefully, cheering loud.

Being from New Orleans, the Saints are bigger than just a sports team. They are a metaphor for the city. "Wait till next year," has always been the mantra for a team that loses far more than it wins and for a city that care forgot. The Saints are embedded into the fabric of New Orleans in a way that outsiders cannot imagine and, whether they are winning or losing (mostly losing with only one playoff victory in their entire history), they are a constant topic of conversation.

Often, the more spiritual among us look down at sports as being a topic not worthy of our conversation. I agree that sports can become an idol as I alluded to in a comment on a previous post, and you have to keep it in perspective. Being a Saints fan helps you do that. You are so used to losing, it doesn't upset you that much. But, I know that during my difficult teen years my Dad and I talked about the Saints and LSU when we didn't talk about anything else. We still call each other during every game and talk through it on the phone. It's a point of contact that often leads to other, more significant topics.

For all New Orleanians, and people from the Gulf South, the Saints are HUGE! I've followed the Saints since I was 6 years old and remember watching games with my Dad and Papaw after church on Sundays. I remember going to games in the Superdome in the late 80's and early 90's when I was in high school. The place gets so loud, you would think a jet engine was sounding off right next to you. People cheer every first down and defensive stop. They sell out every game. They never quit believing that things are going to turn around and the team is going to start winning. That's why, a playoff run in the year after Katrina devastated the region is so remarkable and timely.

To turn this topic in a spiritual direction, I know that when I am in New Orleans, I can quickly build relationships with people who don't know Christ by talking about the Saints. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone wants to talk about it. And, in contrast to the polarization of Alabama, where there is defensiveness if you are not an Alabama or Auburn fan, everyone loves the Saints. That doesn't mean that I'm going to ask someone if they saw the game and then ask if they are going to heaven or hell. It does mean, however, that through conversations over time, sports can be a common denominator that draws us together. Those relationships can lead to other things because you actually become friends with people and see them as more than targets of evangelism. They are peope with hopes, dreams, loyalties, and allegiances. When you share those things with them, there is a common ground that we often don't experience in our religious ivory towers. 

So, tomorrow night, you know where I'll be. Hopefully the Saints will win and advance to the NFC Championship Game. But, if not, New Orleans will accept it and say "wait till next year," like they always do. And, whether they win or lose, the City will continue to chant, "Who Dat Say Dey Gonna Beat Dem Saints?" 

Relaxing Day

Today was my 5 year old son Peyton's first basketball game. He did great! He played really tough defense and was named the Defensive Player of the Game for his team with 5 rebounds and tight defense on his man. It was really fun! After that, I took him and my three year old boy, Kieran, to the park (Shakespeare Festival) for some exploring and picture taking. I'm pretty new at the photography thing (so cut me some slack), but I thought I'd put a few of my favorite ones up. Hope you had a great weekend. It was sunny and in the 70's here!  Really nice day! (Click on the picture for the larger size.)

Geaux Tigers!!!! LSU Blows Out Notre Dame 41-14!

After an agonizing day where I had to hear about LSU's former coach Nick Saban taking the Alabama job (see previous post), I got to thoroughly enjoy the absolute beat down of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the Sugar Bowl! See the story HERE.  If LSU had gained 4 more yards at the end against Auburn (and if the officials, well, nevermind . . .), LSU might be playing on Monday night against Ohio State. This team had a great offense and defense and they were a pleasure to watch. I now have to suffer through 8 months without college football! Ugh! Fortunately, I still have the New Orleans Saints in the NFL playoffs next week. Who Dat?

Anyway, what an awesome game! JaMarcus Russell was incredible, and though he is probably going pro, I wish him the best and can honestly say he is one of the best QBs LSU has ever had. Did you see the sick 58 yard TD pass to Brandon LaFell in the third quarter? Unbelievable. LSU fans have criticized him a lot over the years, but he was resilient and kept battling back. He's a classy, humble guy. If you remember, he was the guy who housed Fats Domino along with 20 other people in his apartment after Katrina. Good kid. He also said he was going to get with his family and pray about whether he needed to turn pro. I hope for the best for him.

Notre Dame moved up and down the field in the first half to the tune of 261 yards, but the second half was another story entirely. LSU outgained them 333 to 30! With all the talk about how great a coach Charlie Weiss is, it was Les Miles and his staff who made the adjustments. Plus, extreme talent won out in the end. LSU now has back to back 11 win seasons and top 5 finishes! Way to go Tigers! Next year, maybe they'll win the whole thing.

Well, this definitely takes the sour taste out of my mouth concerning Saban. I still think it was lousy of him to leave Miami after only two years and to go to LSU's rival in the SEC West after repeated denials that he was not going to be the Alabama coach.  There has to be a better way to handle that type of situation. But, I've quit expecting anything else, unfortunately.

Alas, tonight, the season ends sweet as Sugar. Geaux Tigers!