Mali Music – The Job Experience [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] from Anthony Brooks on Vimeo.
Check out this music video by @MaliMusic, listen to the lyrics, embrace the story line and feel the cinematography. What do you think about this song and this video? What stood out to you, what moved you? Share your thoughts!
I have always been amazed by the hatred that Tim Tebow has received over the life of his public athletic career. When he was at the University of Florida many people couldn’t stand him and the fact that he proudly represented John 3:16 on his eye black, his famous speech “The Promise” the incident with blood running down his face and the list goes on and on. I always liked Tebow in college, simply because of how he represented himself, although I didn’t particularly like his coach or the Florida Gators.
Now that Tim Tebow is in the NFL this Love/Hate condition is even larger and on a more national level. In the City of Denver Tebow gets ripped by Anti-Christian groups on a regular basis. Yet, he gets cheered on by thousands of fans that have made his Jersey one of the most purchased Jersey’s in the NFL. Tim Tebow is more than a quarterback for the Denver Broncos, he’s an iconic figure that’s represents Christian, good and wholesome.
Tebow appears to have gotten used to the criticism and has never once backed down from outwardly sharing his faith, as matter of fact he boldly ends every interview with “God Bless!” People in the media and NFL analysts are publicly concluding that the hatred of Tebow is primarily based upon his outward showing of his faith and religious beliefs. Inside the NFL host “JB” James Brown asked his co-host Cris Collinsworth a question regarding how Time Tebow is treated and Collinsworth was straightforward about his thoughts. Collinsworth said, “It’s unbelievable JB, that one of the best kids – pure kids that’s ever come into the NFL, is hated because of his faith, because of his mission work, because of the fact that he wears it on his sleeve…”
In Matthew 10 in the Bible, Jesus talks about people hating you because of Him. I think Tebow not only understands that but lives with the understanding of Matthew 10:32-33 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.”
I recently experienced a similar Love/Hate relationship in regards to Chick-fil-A. I was doing some consulting with one of my clients and I was using an analogy of Chick-fil-a with this room full of department leaders. We had even discussed having lunch at Chick-fil-A, in order to observe and learn. One of the leaders in the room was adamant about the fact that he didn’t want to go to Chick-fil-A and that he didn’t like them, their leadership, their Christian views and what they stand for. It’s one thing to disagree with someone because of their views, however this hatred and dislike that comes from the Anti-Christian is superfluous.
No matter how much people hate on Tebow or Chick-fil-A for that matter, the bottom line is they win. After weeks of “Tebow” chanting fans in Denver, the 3rd string QB finally got his start yesterday against the Miami Dolphins. He was back in Florida, somewhat of a homecoming and had both Miami and Denver fans cheering him on and his college coach Urban Meyer on the Miami sidelines. Tebow started slow; however in the 4th quarter he led a very improbable comeback that only puts more fuel on the Love/Hate Tebow fire. In his first start this year, Tebow rallied the Denver Broncos with two touchdown passes in the final 2:44 of the fourth quarter to force overtime, and Matt Prater ‘s 52-yard field goal gave them an 18-15 win Sunday over the stunned Miami Dolphins
For the Anti-Christian’s and those who hate Tebow exclusively because of his faith, I say get a grip. Instead of always focusing on what you are against, take a play out of Tim Tebow’s playbook and focus on what you are for. I’ll end this with a little wisdom and life perspective from a young NFL QB by the name of Tim Tebow who happens to be a man of faith, “If someone asks, I’ll always be willing to share His will because I also know that there are a lot more important things than football and that is one of them. That ultimately overrides football any day of the week.”
What do you think about the Love/Hate relationship with Tim Tebow and the Anti-Christian? Why are so many people willing to loudly share what they are against and not so willing to do the same about what they are for?
LC Stories | Author of Life from Jonathan Meisner on Vimeo.
For those of you that have been around BigIsTheNewSmall.com or have connected with me on one of my Social Media Channels; you know that I go to the barbershop every Friday. As a matter of fact I have went to the barbershop every week for as long as I can remember and it’s now a tradition for my boys and I. Every Friday after school we hit Sonic Happy Hour and then hit the Barbershop.
In my world the traditional “Black Barbershop” is one of those great places to debate, to learn, to connect, to develop relationship, to gain wisdom, to talk sports, to talk noise and to minister. I remember several years ago I began developing a relationship with a guy named Adam who also got his haircut every Friday. Week after week Adam and I would talk, and I could tell this guy really had some amazing potential. I would invite him to church all the time, but in the barbershop it would generally take a lot of work to get people to church because in most people’s eyes, I went to “The White Church.”
I kept inviting Adam for probably about a year and one weekend when I was preaching he took me up on my invitation. The cool thing is that he began attending frequently. Next thing I know he was plugged in, serving, giving, attending a small group and growing in his relationship with Christ. He is one of the guys that I personally mentor and I can’t wait to see what God does through his life and his witness.
I remember talking with Adam one day and he said that before he ever knew that I was a pastor he watched how I carried myself in the barbershop and how I interacted with my boys for a long time. He said that was more of a reason to check out my church than the fact that I was a Pastor.
The reality is that our lives are our biggest outreach tool. Who are you inviting, remember people are watching and they are looking for a reason to follow God or an excuse to follow the world.
God uses all stories to shape His story. The above video is a piece that @Jmeisner14 from Lifechurch.tv put together and it features three stories and reminds of God’s hand on our lives. One of those stories is Adam’s story. Parts are shot in my barbershop and yes that’s by barber. I keep saying “my” because the title of this post is “My Barbershop Ministry.” It’s amazing how The Author Of Life uses our story and even weekly conversations in the barbershop to tell his story. It’s awesome to be a part of watching Adam help shape the stories of others and especially the next generation of World Changers.
The barbershop is one of my ministries… What daily or weekly places are you ministering in that you didn’t even realize that it was a ministry.
I know I’m late to the party as it comes to watching “The Help,” however my wife and I just saw it last night. Honestly, I’m not sure how a couple of crazy months went by without us meandering into the theater to see a move about race, justice and the light at the end of the tunnel.
I was actually surprised that the movie was still showing at the theaters, considering how long ago it was released. I shared my surprise with the guy at the AMC Theater ticket counter and he said this, “We have lots of old people that still buy tickets.” My response, “Are you saying that I’m old?” His response, “No I mean like really old people in wheelchairs and with canes and walkers.” The funny thing is we had to wait on an old lady as her daughter helped her gingerly walk up the stairs in the theater.
I have mentioned in my Social Media streams that I’m going to share my thoughts about the movie and I generally do a quick review of movies. For instance here is one that I did on The Karate Kid when it came out.
I’m not going to do a typical review, however I will share my thoughts. The help was real and captured the realities of racism in a way that is palatable for moviegoers. Additionally, it provoked plenty of emotions with the realities of decisions people made and thoughts that they had because of pure ignorance. I think one of the undertones that were really sad and true is that ignorance knows no bounds and will even try to disguise itself as knowledge, wisdom and intellect. The scenes attributed to the women’s group trying to get “The Help Sanitation Initiative” aka separate but equal restroom legislation passed.
Let me say this about “The Help.” I love that it reminds us of the past and how ignorant people were and how they tried to justify their ignorance. It reminds me somewhat of where the church is today; we make lots of excuses for a separate but equal church and disguise the ignorance of it with preference, style, location excuses and attempt to justify them as knowledge, wisdom and intellect.
In my book Church Diversity – Sunday The Most Segregated Day Of The Week, I point out the realities of today’s church being the modern day separate but
equal. Many Christian Leaders land Christians in general laugh, downplay and even minimize the fact that 93% of the churches in America are racially segregated. Just like these well-intentioned ladies in the movie “The Help” attempted to justify their ignorant thinking.
The help taught us what can happen with courage and helped us to redefine the word. Courage - Daring to do what is right in spite of the weakness in our flesh. Nearly 50 years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. had the courage to address the sad fact that “at the 11 o’clock hour on Sunday morning when stand to sing we stand in the most segregated hour in America.” Unfortunately, that’s till true today. Another thing that we learned from “The Help” is the fact that courage sometimes skips a generation.
Courage in the church as it relates to issues of race an ethnicity appears to have skipped many generations. Fortunately there are more and more leaders having the courage to help us see every nation, tribe and tongue worshiping together… a little Heaven on earth in the church. I appreciate the work of those in this generation who have been fighting the good fight: Dr. Michael Emmerson, Efrem Smith, Mark DeYmaz, Christian Smith, Dr. Tony Evans, Bill Hybels and recently John Piper. I could list countless other pastors and leaders, who are demonstrating the courage to address this issue for the Body Of Christ.
John Piper’s addition to the Church Diversity or “Church Help” discussion is well received. Piper has an E.F. Hutton principal in his favor (when he talks, people listen). This is true for thousands upon thousands of Christian Leaders and Christians in general. In John Piper’s new book Blood Lines, he argues from specific biblical texts that the only solution powerful enough to overcome racial strife and bring about racial reconciliation and harmony is the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through His blood, Jesus has demolished the dividing wall that separates humanity along racial lines and has brought all ethnicities together as brothers and sisters into one body the church. Piper does not end there, he shepherds readers through the various implications of gospel thinking in relation to race and ethnicity.
I’ll close with this. Many of us watched “The Help,” which was a true depiction of 50 years ago, and ask the question, “How in the world could they be so ignorant?” The real question is 50 years from now, when people watch a movie titled, “The Church,” which depicts the separate but equal nature of the church… What question will they ask? “How in the world could they be so [fill in the blank]?”
Courage skips a generation… Don’t let that generation be ours.
“The local church is the hope of the world and it’s future primarily rests on the hands of it’s leaders.” ~Bill Hybels
The Help, The Hope & The Healer.
Change begins with a whisper… what are you whispering?
Share your thoughts on The Help, The Church and The Future.
I’m typing this quick post from my phone as I’m out on a ranch somewhere in the middle of Southern Oklahoma, where my cellphone & Internet coverage is intermittent at best. That’s actually a good thing.
I’m a part of a year long discipleship, leadership group comprised of Christian leaders from all walks of Oklahoma City. The leadership team along with each person in the group has a vision of being Salt & Light to the Oklahoma City community.
It’s been a great evening of fellowship, riding around on all-terrain vehicles, touring the ranch, seeing cows and historic landmarks where horses, buggies and Native Americans once roamed.
Right now the evening is wrapping up and I’m just spending some alone time with God. My cabin mates are in bed and I decided to stand outside in awe of how close the stars appear when you are not in the city. You can see a pic from the back porch of my cabin above.
It’s quiet and I have a lot of loud noises and ideas rumbling around in my ever so busy head. Right now I’m alone with God and things are beginning to move a bit slower. All of the ideas are becoming more clear… There is a lot that I can see, I can’t to do all of the things that as of right now I can only see.
Not sure I’m going to move to the country; however I can guarantee I’ll make it a point to find some alone time with God somewhere in the middle of his creation and that somewhere will not be in the city.
Shh, quiet can you hear it. In the sill of the night I hear God’s whispers. You know why I can hear His whispers? It’s because I’m Alone With God!
Are you taking time to be Alone With God?
Flavor Fest is the Largest Urban Christian Leadership Conference on the planet. It’s happening October 6-9 in Tampa Florida. My man Tommy Kyllonen aka @UrbanD813 and his team lead and host this conference every year. I’ll be there in 2012. Check out the promo video and invite your friends to Flavor Fest 2011.
In case you missed it, Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz cancelled his speaking engagement at Willow Creek’s Global Leadership Summit held at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago. According to several reports this decision was precipitated by activist Asher Huey of Washington, D.C., criticizing Schultz for agreeing to appear at a church with a longstanding membership in Exodus International, a ministry that believes homosexual behavior is destructive and Christians can “grow into heterosexuality.” ”The church that is sponsoring the event has a long history of anti-gay persecution,” wrote Huey, who gathered more than 700 signatures at www.change.org.
In the video above video, Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels responds with wisdom, grace and candor the position of Willow Creek being Anti-Gay or Anti-Anybody.
What are your thoughts on Shultz Cancellation and Hybels’ response?
I love reading and listening to old speeches and seeing how some of the best orators in history crafted their words for their unique moment. You can learn a lot about history, speaking and life in general by studying old speeches.
This morning I’m at Panera reading through some old speeches and the last Paragraph of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I’ve Been To The Mountaintop or I See The Promised Land” speech caught my attention. I’ve read & listened to it many times, but I thought I would share it with you today. This is the prophetic last speech Dr. King delivered before he was assassinated in Memphis.
I’ve Been To The Mountaintop
I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it doesn’t matter with me now. Because I’ve been to the mountaintop. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And I’m happy, tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
No Worries, No Fear… Such a great place. He did the work that the Father had sent him to do and because of it, God allowed him to go up to the mountain and look over.
Are you doing what God Equipped and Called you to do? It’s time that we stop settling for less than God’s best.
Get out of the boat!
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