Phil Robertson's Faith

Josh Wilson - I Refuse

I don't know about you but most of the time I am pretty self-centered. I think about me. I think about my needs and desires. I think about food...for me. I think about clothes...for me. I think about new tires for...my car. I think about fixing up...my house. Me, me, me. Sometimes I think about someone else...my family. My wife. My 3 kids. My parents. My brother or sister. Again, me, me, me.

When do I step out and help someone else? Someone who can't repay me. Someone who is really in need. I believe that the Gospel should compel us to step out on faith and serve our fellow man. We should feel a strong desire to put our faith into action. To show the love of Christ.
James 2 instructs us in this way,

"What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.¹⁶ If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

 But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds."

As our small group at my church is working through the ideas in David Platt's 'Radical Together' I found that this video fits our study very well indeed and wanted to share it with them as well as all my students in class. I hope it also blesses you today.

A Fighting Chance

No Excuses is one the most inspirational
real-life stories you will ever read. 

Kyle Maynard WAS one of my real life heros already and I had never even met him in person. Yesterday I finally got to meet him and hear him speak to my team. He is the REAL deal! What an inspiration! If you haven't heard of Kyle here is a snippet of who he is from Wikipedia: 

Kyle Maynard was born in Suwanee, Georgia, US. Maynard competed in the 2004 Georgia High School Wrestling Championships. Maynard had a record of 35 wins, 16 losses as a high school wrestler. He graduated from Collins Hill High School in Suwanee with a 3.7 grade point average.

He is the recipient of an ESPN Espy Award for Best Athlete With A Disability in 2004. His radio and television interviews have been featured on talk shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live. He has modeled for clothing retailer Abercrombie & Fitch.

Maynard works as a speaker for the Washington Speaker's Bureau, specializing in motivational speeches. He is also the author of the memoir No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life (Regnery Publishing, 2005; ISBN 0-89526-011-5).

He attended the University of Georgia, but was forced to put his undergraduate education on hold due to the high demands of his motivational speaking career.

Maynard has trained in mixed martial arts (MMA). A documentary film, A Fighting Chance, focuses on his MMA efforts. His amateur debut fight was at Auburn Fight Night at the Auburn Covered Arena in Auburn, Alabama on April 25, 2009. He lost his first mixed martial arts fight to Bryan Fry on a unanimous 30–27 judges' decision.

Kyle Maynard is also the owner of No Excuses Crossfit gym located in Suwanee, GA. http://www.noexcusescrossfit.com/

Kyle Maynard @ UGA Wrestling Club

With a combination of perseverance and faith he has overcome odds that most of us can not even imagine. Coach Ramos (his HS wrestling coach and now my mentor at GAC) shared that a lot of times Kyle would be asked whether being born the way he is was a blessing or curse. Kyle's response, without hesitation, was "a blessing." A blessing because he has impacted so many lives with his faith and story. 


Kyle shared that he had a documentary coming out on ESPN this fall called A Fighting Chance but you can see it now. It's about Kyle and his adventure as he is training to become an MMA fighter. I sat down last night and watched the first ten minutes....I can't wait to see more. Check it out, it might just CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Heaven is the Face

Steven Curtis Chapman is one of my favorite songwriters and musicians in Christian music. There was a time that this wasn't true though. Back in high school, when I got my first CD ever (for Christmas), it was Steven Curtis Chapman Live. A great album but back in high school I was not a fan of him or Christian music. Through college though I realized it was good for me to listen to Christian music. I am thankful for SCC and how he has evolved with CCM and more importantly how he's helped it evolve.
SCC has a great story. A sad, but great story. I got to see him several years ago at the Gwinnett Arena here in town and just loved it. Casting Crowns played that night as well. One thing I remember is SCC talking about adoption and how his family had gone through adoption (more than one). Well, sadly last spring SCC lost a daughter in an accident at home. I don't know about you but the loss of a child would be the most difficult trauma to go through. I really can't say how I would react and how my faith would hold up in that time. SCC has come through this time in his life hopeful and determined to bring that hope to others. What a great example of how to remain faithful to God. Heaven knows he was angry and wrestled with God in the aftermath but he's come out a new man and bringing a new message.

May this video/song bring hope to you.

Steven Curtis Chapman speaking about his new song Heaven is the Face



Steven Curtis Chapman's New Single - Heaven is the Face

Speaking Louder Than Before

Jeremy Camp is one of my all-time favorite Christian artists. I got the chance to meet him several years ago just for a moment and can tell that he is the real deal. He is an excellent lyricist and I love the grit in his voice.
Jeremy Camp is one of my all-time favorite Christian artists. I got the chance to meet him several years ago just for a moment and can tell that he is the real deal. He is an excellent lyricist and I love the grit in his voice.

Jeremy reminds us that we are called to be SALT and LIGHT.

Matthew 5:13-16 says,  13"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."
14"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Jeremy Camp - Speaking Louder Than Before (Official Music Video)
Please follow this link to view the video.