It's Just a Name, Right?

I was playing cribbage with Cam and his dad when I stumbled across some people that I didn't know.  We were using Penn State football cards - so because I hadn't grown up a Nittany Lion fan many of the people depicted on the cards were unfamiliar to me.  As we played I would read the cards and try and bolster my Penn State knowledge - even though I had already graduated and probably didn't need to anymore.

That was when I came across his card - Jerry Sandusky.  I read the card and found out that apparently our nickname of "Linebacker U" had come from his work as Penn State's defensive coordinator.  I was shocked - only knowing of Tom Bradley and his longevity at PSU - that there was someone else who had been more influential defensively. 

That was the first time I had ever heard anything about Jerry Sandusky.  I had graduated from Penn State not having any clue about him or his impact on the University.



I tell this story only to emphasize how truly unaware I was of anything he was involved in until his crimes were revealed to America.  I found out when everyone else did.  I was shocked - like everyone else.  I was sad - like everyone else.  I was angry - like everyone else.


And like everyone else I knew something needed to be done. 


So stuff was done.  Joe Paterno was fired in the wake of his failure to act appropriately.  Curley and Schultz (people I had never heard of) were fired.  Spanier was removed from office.  Jerry Sandusky was arrested.

At the time I felt like some of those actions were unfair - namely the firing of Joe Paterno.  He had apparently told the proper authorities, but he had failed to follow up and make sure that the situation was handled.  In my mind I thought, "How could anyone expect him to do more than what he did?  He isn't a cop, he isn't the president - he didn't even directly witness the crime.  What else could he do?"

After reading an article written by Tim Henderson, however, I realized I had made a mistake that I feel like many would have made in a similar situation.  I valued the devotion to and defense of family over the devotion to and defense of God's perfect love and justice.  The "blood" I defended was the blood-tie I had formed with Penn State, but the "blood" I should always seek to defend first is the blood of Christ that unites the known universe through his forgiveness of our wrongs and promise of everlasting relationship with Him - the truly just and gracious King.  Family loyalty isn't wrong.  Misplaced loyalty was my crime.



I think that Joe Paterno should have done more - but I am leary of passing judgement having not been in that position.  My hope is that I would have acted.  I think too often we look at terrible things that someone does and think, "I don't understand how someone could do something like that," or, "Why didn't he act?"  Jerry Sandusky didn't wake up one morning and decide sexually molesting multiple boys would be his plight or goal.  The sin crept in over years of exposure to boys and the allowance of even small and seemingly harmless inappropriate actions.  Sin never makes sense - but we often ignore this reality when the logical fallacy seems ineffectual.  While I "follow" why Sandusky did what he did, he did it based on a truth that he ignored or a lie that he believed.   MY UNDERSTANDING DOES NOT EVER MAKE WHAT HE DID OKAY.  The ability to follow why something was done should never be the reason it is condoned.


I think this "illogical and completely horrific end" point of view, however, is what has lead to many swift and perhaps ineffectual decisions.  Logical, effective decisions should have been made in the wake of the belief and tolerance of illogical decisions and lies.

I find it unreasonable, for example, to expect that the NCAA's sanctions spanning only four years would accomplish any of the goals they profess to work towards.  These boys have suffered longer and those men have given in to their sins longer, so expecting those sanctions to fix everything in less time than it took the issues to develop seems unfair - especially when the sanctions fail to directly address either the punishment of the men or the restoration of their victims. 

Emmert attacked what he thought was the problem - football idolization.  I think that IS a problem, but not only at Penn State.  Every school in the country that has a football program with any sort of reputation has an idolization issue.  But let us not belittle the victims by saying the issue was a football issue.  Football was a symptom.  Self-glorification and satisfaction are the issues.  Pride is the issue.  Thinking we are the objects of glory and satisfaction is the issue. 


And sanctions don't fix that. 


Jesus Christ is the one who fixes lives - and that is evident in mine.  Jesus Christ heals broken hearts - and that is evident in mine.  What these boys need is people in their lives who will offer the hope that most of them looked to Sandusky for.  They need a father - someone in their lives to let them know that they are loved - because they have been hurt; deeply and with long-term effects.





Penn State is breaking tradition and putting the players names on the back of their jerseys for next year.  I heard the reasoning and was impressed.  Their goal was to honor the players who were committed to Penn State in light of the sanctions from the NCAA.  The more I thought about it, however, I thought to myself - wouldn't it be better if instead of honoring someone's commitment to a football program we honored someone's commitment to the value of human life? 

I say don't put the players' names on the jerseys.  Put the victims' names on the jerseys. 

Show the nation that Penn State has one tradition that supercedes all football and academics: a commitment and devotion to the value of life and its protection at all costs.  These were people with names - names that are adjectives describing the creation of a perfectly just and loving God.  If Penn State plays, they should play for them - to show them that they are valued more than football.  They are valued and loved so deeply that a Father in heaven would send a Son in their stead - life through relationship with Christ through His resurrection from the dead.  I pray that the players would play for something more - I pray the coachs would coach with that in mind - and I pray that the victims find peace in all of this.  That's what I'm doing right now.

Kony?

Whatever happened to Kony?  I watched a video about him that was made by one of the people affiliated with the Invisible Children...and I was moved.  But for some reason nothing happened about it.  I am sure it had something to do with the film's creator getting in trouble for (allegedly) being drunk in public and doing some things that are far from socially acceptable.

The funny thing is...getting drunk is something that is generally encouraged in our society.  I remember countless times in college when I felt awkward and even somewhat targeted when the topic of drinking in excess was brought up.  According to most, that was how you had fun.

But you can't be drunk in public.  Only in private.  Once you make it public you have a problem.

I feel like cursing is similar.  It is okay to curse in private around people you know but once you go in to public it is generally not as acceptable.  That is something that has certainly moved in the direction of becoming okay in public - as evidenced by music and television shows loosening their censorship.

I would argue - sadly - that porn is also in this category.  Make it public - you're a pervert.  Watch it in private - not so much of an issue.  Even this is moving in a scary direction - as evidenced by what they show in many movies that are being publicly released.

This observation raises a question: what about public knowledge makes something wrong?  If it is wrong, shouldn't it be wrong regardless?

As a society we have moved into a strange place.  We have decided that the only issue of doing "wrong" things is the effect they have on others.  If it doesn't hurt or offend someone else, then there is no problem doing what we like.  So because being drunk in public is potentially offensive to someone that does not agree with getting drunk, we have declared it "unacceptable".

But what if the things we have done in private were in fact hurting someone?  What if every single thing we did was known and recorded?  What if we could POTENTIALLY suffer some sort of punishment for the things we have done wrong?



I would argue that all we have done, are doing and will ever do is known.  I would also argue that we SHOULD have to suffer punishment for our wrongdoings.  The beauty of the gospel, however, is the reality that we have graciously been forgiven for our wrongs.  But what I think is often forgotten - myself included - is that even though this grace was free to us, it was not free.  Someone paid for what we did wrong.

So every time we sin we hammer the nails into Christ's hands.  We hammer the nails into His feet.  We force Him to push up as he gasps for breath.  As the blood collects in Christ's lungs, we spit in His face with our actions.  And He is held responsible for what we have done.



I'm not saying I am perfect.  Far from it.  But I have found it helpful to remind myself that in times of struggle - when I don't think anyone would ever know about something - that God does, and it is offensive to Him when I know what is wrong but hammer the nail anyway.  Yes He forgives me - but I celebrate that forgiveness by pursuing a life that display God's character and mercy in public and in private.  Even though I will continue to make mistakes, that's what you can find me doin' right now.

Hip Hop Hooray

I have a terrible memory.  Many times all I can remember about my childhood are images in my head rather than sequenced events or memories.  If I talk about them with someone usually I can piece some things together, but often times that's all it is. 

So for me to remember this is pretty amazing.  I remember standing over the trash can on my hall at Penn State - looking down at Busta Rhymes face.  His arms were crossed and the black and white image stared at back at me with malice. 

It made me nervous - thoughts creeping into my head as I stared back.  "Why is it such a big deal to own this?  It's good music - I listen to it all the time.  Is the music really affecting me?"

I took the CD out of the case.  This was it...


I snapped it.  I snapped it multiple times and let the shards fall through my fingers.  I watched them fall in the cracks and crevices of the trash.  I stomped on the case - pieces flying down the hall.  I picked up the biggest pieces and threw them in the can.

And I ran back to my room.



For a few days afterwards I would see pieces of the case on the floor as I walked to the bathroom.  They were a reminder of that night - a reminder of the weight that had been lifted.  But I also felt a little sad.  Although it felt good to get rid of "my vice", I wasn't sure how to move on without it.  I didn't have any music that good.

Because Christian hip-hop wasn't that good.  Lyrically - sure.  But so are hymns - and those haven't been the music of our generation since the late 50's.  I wanted to listen to good quality hip-hop that was God honoring, and frankly it just wasn't accessible.  The beats were about two or three years behind norm, and the lyrics felt misplaced.  It felt like Christians were trying to make the mainstream audience think Christ-focused hip-hop was cool - but with antiquated beats and a message that "will be rejected" there just wasn't much hope.  So at that point I could have made a legitimate argument that if I was going to listen to hip-hop it would have to be mainstream - because the alternative wasn't worth it. 

But these days I don't have that excuse anymore.  God has done amazing work in the hip-hop community - especially in art that is being put out by Christians artists.  And the beauty of His work is that the lyrics have stayed focused on His glory while the production has caught and in some cases surpassed those in the mainstream. 

And so my hope is that this post can celebrate where God has brought hip-hop but also provide any one of my readers with an opportunity to hear the hip-hop themselves.  FOR FREE!  Instead of having people pay for the album many of these artists have started simply asking for donations of any amount.  This gives you the opportunity to donate if you have the means but does not require it to hear the music.  The spread of the gospel is the goal.  Amazing.


I want to tell you about ten albums that I cannot stop listening to, and I hope that you will find the time to download them yourself.  After all, you could get them for free.


The Transitional Albums

These albums are phenomenal top to bottom and would be great recommendations to those who are having trouble "letting go" of their mainstream music.  They would have made my break-up a lot smoother.

1. Circa MMXI: The Collective - High Society
2. Church Clothes - Lecrae
3. Hell's Paradise II: The Mask Parade - Wit and Dre Murray



The Coffee Shop Hip-Hop Albums

I feel like I use this descriptive too often, but these albums are the ones that I feel like appeal more to the laid back hipster type.  The artists at Humble Beast have done an amazing job, and these three albums are just some of my favorites.  Download more at the website on the right.

4. Satellite Kite - Beautiful Eulogy
5. Thr3e - Theory Hazit
6. Art Ambidextrous - Propaganda



The Radio Ready Albums

I feel like these would be solid albums to get radio play, but they also have a pretty overt Christ focus.  Christian radio stations - get wise.

7. Formerly Known - Andy Mineo
8. Get Well Soon - Chris Lee Cobbins



The Southern Style Buckwild Albums

The albums both have - in my opinion - a raw southern feel to them. Both of the artists tend to sing and rap interchangeably.  Canon brings a Twista/Busta Rhymes fast flow while Reconcile brings a raspy, soulful flow.  So loud, so southern, and so God honoring.

9. Abandoned Hope - Reconcile
10. Blind World - Canon




Ten places to get started - ten ways to hear God honored through hip-hop.  No more excuses - download these albums.  I mean really, what else are you doin' right now?

Man Up 2012

I remember my first time seeing Lecrae perform. He was doing a show during an Acquire the Fire conference in Baltimore.  I went with a very dear friend of mine (Mark Willard - aka M-Weezy) and afterwards we were able to meet Lecrae and someone who - at the time - I was pretty unfamiliar with.  A man by the name of Kevin Burgess.  We waited in line for about 30 minutes and as we approached the two of them I began thinking to myself, "What do I say?"


And then I thought about my students at Robious - specifically my Men in Ties.  I thought about how so many of them lacked the fatherly influence which we as men so desperately need.  I thought about how cool these two rappers were  - not because of their self elevation but rather because of their Christ elevation.  I thought, "Man I wish I could bring my boys to see these guys perform..."


So that is what I said to Lecrae.  His reply was simple - "Bring em on man!"


I made it up in my mind to do that.  I began looking for an opportunity to have my Men in Ties see some of the most influential men in my life glorify God with their gifts.






Two years passed.  Nothing had presented itself, and I pretty much gave up hope that anything ever would.  


But the Creator of time operates on His own schedule.  I was on twitter one night and saw a tweet about an upcoming "Man Up" conference.  My heart leaped inside my chest.  Taking my Men in Ties to a Man Up conference couldn't make more sense.


So I enlisted some help (two studs - Cornell and Cameron) and presented it to the boys.  We had nine takers, and so we decided to Man Up.



After a nine and a half hour trip and hotel fiasco, we finally made it to the conference.  We were greeted by 1800 other men all there ready to learn how to man up.  That night, the tone was set.

There would be no dancing around issues.  There would be no posturing or pretending.  This would be a place where we would go from being boys II men.  No mamas necessary.




We were challenged from the onset and celebrated the end of the first night with a concert by Trip Lee in honor of the release of his latest album, The Good Life.  I almost peed my pants when he performed the song "One Sixteen", because that same dude from two years ago (Kevin Burgess - better known as KB) and a man by the name of Andy Mineo straight worked it on the track.  Which means it was really good and I was pretty geeked up.



The next day began with a talk about avoiding Sexual Temptation and continued with seminars covering four of the most pivotal topics we as men struggle with - Authority, Responsibility, Envy and Courage.  The final talk was on Repentance, and I was reminded once again of my constant need to rely on and confess all of my wrong-doings to a perfect and forgiving God.  



And then God showed up on the scene - no joke.  I never questioned His presence the whole weekend, but when Lecrae came out and performed his song "Just Like You" I found myself sobbing because of the sobering reality that so many of the men in that room (and elsewhere) lacked an Earthly father but have a very real and very loving Heavenly Father that wants us when He doesn't need us enough to sustain His own Son's life as he suffocated on the cross of our shame.  



Real talk.



So as we went to get dinner I found myself anticipating the opportunity to celebrate the truths we had learned and the weekend we had experienced at the concert scheduled for later that evening.















That concert was one of the best experiences of my life.  Being able to go dumb with Cornell, Cam and all of the boys as we jumped in the mosh pit and celebrated an awesome weekend was amazing.  Esai with his hand in the air, Frank and CJ "Going Hard" and the swagg team (Eari, Darrell and DeRon) starting a "Riot" are memories I never want to forget.

We got up early the next morning ready to get back home and make the things we learned a reality in our lives.  Well, at least the leaders did.  The boys didn't seem so awake...

Looks like a prison photo...

And that was confirmed later....

We left VA as boys - we returned as men.  Core, Cam and I were sitting in our hotel room after Saturday night's concert ended and we all agreed we might have gained more from the conference than the boys did.  My hope is that everyone was impacted, and that everyone at least saw real men who have made real commitments to the only perfect Man this world has ever seen.  I was reminded once again that Jesus was who He said He was and did do what He said He did.  So I have unashamedly committed my life to glorifying Him in everything that I do - because that is what a real man does.  Because seriously, what else am I doin' right now?

Santa Claus is Comin' to Town...a Little Late

I don't know that this is a secret anymore amongst those who know me, but seeing as I cannot find an appropriate transition from what has become a three and a half month hiatus from this blog this will have to do.  


I want to be Santa Claus.  


I absolutely love Christmas time and - as I have previously referenced - I also love growing a beard.  So obviously this is something I should aspire to right?


Judge me if you must, but it has been something that I have decided to pursue as much as I appropriately can at my current age.  In fact, I have made some strides and have gained some legitimate experience in the process.  


I realized early on that the first step in this process would be to procure a beard of some sort.  Now we all know that a Santa with a real beard is much more convincing than a fake bearded man in a red suit - so I have spent the past couple of years growing my beard out for varying amounts of time in hopes of gauging both potential fullness and length.  I am happy to say that the good Lord has blessed me with the ability to grow what I consider a competitive beard (one which serves the dual purpose of making me look like Joaquin Phoenix when he went crazy).  I have also experimented with various ways of coloring and have found acrylic paint to be the most effective method that does not involve permanence.  

One of the first trial runs - needed to create a sample size.

I then found myself in a situation this past year where I had the opportunity to play Santa Claus at a couple local department stores (nothing too fancy I assure you - but experience nonetheless).  I feel I did a pretty bang-up job considering my lack of experience beforehand - and I came to a stunning and fantastic realization.


Santa makes bank homie.

Me holding the cutest little girl in the world.

I did receive some criticism however.  A couple of people commented that Santa "was a little skinny".  Don't worry world - that will come in time.  And by "in time" I mean like next year.  Seriously it won't be a long wait until I am fat.  But until that time you can find me working on my weight and scouting the competition.  I mean really, what else am I doin' right now?