The Sailors Family

I was talking to a friend of mine a day or two ago about honesty. He was telling me about a situation where he had lied to get out of a situation. I could relate. I have done that more time than I would like to admit. I have probably said it before, but Andy Stanley at a Catalyst conference I was attending once said, “Say what’s right and do what’s right, even when it is hard!” That quote impacted me greatly.

As I was checking email this morning, I came upon this story on Yahoo Sports.. take a look:
J.P. Hayes is as honest as we like to think we are

By Jay Busbee

The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching. John Wooden said that, or maybe it was Spider-Man. Whatever, it still holds true; being noble and upstanding is easy enough when you’ve got people watching, but when you’re alone with yourself, when you could do the wrong thing (or avoid the right thing) and get away with it, well — that’s when you find out what kind of person you are.

By that standard, then, J.P. Hayes is among the best that sports has to offer. He played a nonconforming ball for a single hole of the second stage of Q School last weekend. He realized it more than a day after the “violation,” called it on himself, and thus disqualified himself from Q School … with some severe, career-altering effects down the line.

So how did this go down? So easily, you’ll cringe:

On his 12th hole of the first round at Deerwood Country Club last Wednesday, Hayes’ caddie reached into his golf bag, pulled out a ball and flipped it to Hayes, who missed the green with his tee shot. He then chipped on and marked his ball. It was then that Hayes realized the ball was not the same model Titleist with which he had started his round. That was in violation of the one-ball rule, which stipulates that a player must play the same model throughout a round.

Okay, so, two-stroke penalty, no big deal. He recovered well enough to put himself in position to finish in the top 20 and advance to the third and final round of Q School. The top 25 finishers in that round, plus ties, earn exempt status for the entire 2009 PGA season. So, breathe deep, think about how close you came to disaster, then tee it up for the next round.

Only, while Hayes was breathing deep, he realized something else — not only did he play the wrong ball, he might have played a ball that wasn’t even approved for play at all.

“It was a Titleist prototype, and somehow it had gotten into my bag,” he said. “It had been four weeks since Titleist gave me some prototype balls and I tested them. I have no idea how or why it was still in there … I called an official in Houston that night and said, ‘I think I may have a problem. He said they’d call Titleist the next day. I pretty much knew at that point I was going to be disqualified.”

Now, the easy move here would be to either do nothing or blame the caddy. Hayes rose above both those temptations, putting all the blame on himself and asserting that everybody else on the PGA in his shoes would have done the exact same thing. We’ll never know, but let’s hope so.

Also, Hayes already has more than $7 million in career earnings, so it’s not like he’d consigned himself to another year working the counter at the Quik Stop. But still, knowing you’re taking yourself out of the running for a year of career stability and wealth takes some serious situational ethics.

Would you do it?

Really?

Tags: andy stanley, Catalyst, JP Hayes, yahoo

I am a Warrior King that is, as Dr. Benjamin Mays once said, “…born into the world to do something unique and something distinctive and if he or she does not do it, it will never be done.”

Then there is the great Howard Thurman quote: “Don’t ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”

I love football, especially the NFL. I was watching a game the last Sunday and finally noticed this commercial. Take a look:

WOW… it blew me away. I know I am living in my calling and passion now. I also know that it is under development. That I am only, 31 and there is a lot yet to experience, learn and walk in.Here is another video in the same vein:

I just want to challenge you to find where you great passion is and with guiding and training, go do that with God’s blessing.

Resources:

Gary Barkalow and the Noble Heart

Desire Conference and Books

Tags: Desire, LADAINIAN TOMLINSON, Passion, Truth

The smell of four day old lemon wafts through the air. The Zaxby’s cup, seemingly proud, stands as if nothing is happening. Its cohorts, the lemon, a zesty number, presently disseminating its essence, and the chicken, impervious to the olfactory sensation smirks as it watches my nose getting bit. Zax, said chicken and mastermind of this plot, toys with me as I check facebook, I mean work on something for the ministry! Now, with my waking eyes watering a bit, I begin to think of what it would take to despatch the chicken and his friends; to remove the olfactory offense from my presence. My heart begins to pump a little faster and the chicken begins to stare at me with unblinking eyes. He seems to know my thoughts, my intentions and I realize that he has already perceived my thoughts.

The phone rings, ah… a plant. Is the Chicken trying to get me distracted? What is the plan of this olfactory plot? How does the chicken know Jimmy Carpenter? My mind reels with the possibilities. My conversation is to the point, my mission now in front of me. Remove the offensive!

I pick up the cup!

Tension is in the air!

For some reason, I feel as though I should take a deeper look. I feel drawn to it. It is almost as if it whispers my name.  My nose comes closer.  The pungency of the lemon is masked with the now truth of the Zax sauce that is smudged on the cup.

Then

I understand. I am too weak.  I must go to Zaxby’s for lunch.

Tags: Lunch, Zaxbys

Take a look at this video.

I was so completely captivated by this commercial the first time I saw it. You can see the authenticity of Joey and Rory’s relationship. After I saw the commercial a few times, I did some research and as I began to reflect on what I was seeing and asking God what was making me so captivated God gave me this creation below:

Completely Undone

I lost everything in you. Devastation occurred, laid bear by the Ransoming King. Completely consumed. Yielded is my heart, no desire to run. Your way I desire, Your heart made into mine I crave. Visions once lost now regained implanted in my heart that is beating because of you.

I hear and echoing voice calling my name, my true name, in the midst of a torrent of love and truth. Perceiving now that you are there, you have always been there. Your grander and majesty confront me like a warm breeze or a soft kiss from the lips of my lover. It is more than I can bear. I seek refuge in your love, a hiding place that will sweep me into the authenticity and story you are writing about me.

I am completely undone by you. © Greg Sailors

Tags: Country Music, Epic, Joey+Rory, Poem

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. (NIV) Romans 8:35-37

I have been so challenged as of late, moment by moment, by the thought of: “Am I living a victorious life?” Do I live life like Jesus is on my side or do I wake morning by morning with my image of God being a ruler sitting on a throne ready to smite me?I am glad that God’s heart toward me and all Christians is good. It is so good my friends. So, lets consider the question: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?” Paul answers this in a resounding way. Take a look:

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV) Romans 8:38-39

Or, all the verses together, from the Message:

So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We’re sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. (The Message) Romans 8:31-39

WOW… now if this is true, which I believe it is, why do most of us walk around so defeated. So bogged down. Most of us live without hope. I can say this because I have lived it over and over for most of my life. However, several years ago I choose to begin walking in the truth. I began to trust that Romans 8:31-39 was completely true. I saw other men living this out. And to be blunt… it worked for them. I needed it!

God’s heart toward me is good and it is full of love! He wants me to live an abundant life! (John 10:10)

With Christ, we are victorious. So in every moment, believe and choose God’s love and His heart toward you. Whatever the case may be, choose God and choose a supernatural life!

Friends, when you are in the crux of temptation, or pain, or depression, or in need of life and healing remember:

None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.

Tags: Christ, Conqueror, Love, Teaching, Victory