Character 1st-Game 2nd

Tomorrow I'm attending the funeral of a good coach, but a great man.

I met J.D. Hall, the head football coach for Mandarin High School, a couple of months ago and was immediately impressed. It was a Sunday morning and he was with the entire varsity football team. They were at Christ's Church to present a plaque to our Sr. Minister Dennis Bratton. Every guy was wearing a tie and greeted me with a strong hand-shake, and look in the eye, and a "Sir".

This was the least of what Coach Hall expected from his team.

In an online report on Coach J.D. Hall, Andrea Butera, a local CBS reporter, wrote this:

When you meet J.D. Hall, the head football coach at Mandarin High School, one of the first things you notice is the collar of his shirt. First of all, he has one -- always. Second, it's buttoned all the way to top. And that's not an accident. "We wear collared shirts everyday," Hall says, adding that his players don't have to button them up all the way like he does, but that they must wear them. The 'shirt rule' is just one of many mandates Hall has instituted at Mandarin's football program. There's also the 'no cursing' rule. And the 'must-wear-a-belt-to-school edict.' All of them have been done, Hall says, as a way to instill accountability, work ethic and discipline into his players. "Character first, then the student and then the sports," Hall says, describing his method.

An article on Mandarin High School's website offers more insight into Coach Hall's strategy for building character:

To teach children good sportsmanship that also builds character, Hall suggests:

• Developing a sportsmanship code. Write a code that defines sportsmanship, then explain it and use it, even with the very young. Coaches--and parents--must live by it, as well.
• Identifying correct behavior. Appropriate behavior should be explained and appropriate consequences applied if a child displays inappropriate behavior.
• Discussing reasons for choices. Children should understand why a particular behavior is right or wrong.
• Practicing good decisions. Create adversity in practice that allows children to learn to handle dilemmas in a positive manner.
• Always be an active role model. What coaches and parents say, they must do.
  Schedule activities that the entire team can participate in that illustrate real life consequences that result from bad choices and sometimes good intentions. That is exactly what Coach Hall did this week during their off week from football. He planned a field trip to the Jacksonville City Jail. Wednesday he and his volunteer dads took the entire team to see how bad decisions can impact a persons life.
  

Mandarin High School football coach J.D. Hall, who turned around the Mustangs' program in just three seasons and who forever impacted the lives of many young people, collapsed and died of an apparent heart attack late Saturday night. He was 35. And he will be missed.

My Latest Book

I went home for lunch today and was surprised to find two boxes of my latest book, "Remember Who You Are" waiting for me.

I can't wait for you to read this book!

Remember Who You Are: Unleashing the Power of an Identity-Driven Life is available online at Barnes & Noble.com, Booksamillion.com, Amazon.com, Standard Publishing, and will be available in bookstores all around the country during the first week of July (next week!). I'll be signing copies at the North American Christian Convention in Kansas City at the Standard Publishing booth on Wednesday, July 4th from 9-10 a.m. I'd love to meet you.

Here are some endorsements for my book:
“Brilliant. That is the word that comes to mind when referring to this book. Arron has nailed down a concept to which many are searching to find the answer. This book will enlighten, entertain and move you to recognize the special blessing God has bestowed on your life.”
--Pat Williams, Orlando Magic Senior Vice President and author of Souls of Steel

“If you are ready to discover who you are and why you are here, read this book.”
--Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church & Author of “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day”

“I love it when a book grabs me with its wit, keeps me with its intelligence, and changes me with its wisdom. Remember Who You Are is just such a book.”
--Mark Atteberry, author of The 10 Dumbest Things Christians Do and Free Refill

"At the end of any lecture I've heard Arron give, he's closed with the commission; ‘Remember who you are.’ Anyone with an important purpose in life is mandated to focus on the ‘Remember who you are’ assignment. His book will more fully allow you to understand that mandate and encourage, enlighten, and empower you to stay that course.”
--Dr. Ben Lerner, New York Times Best Selling Author and Co-Founder of Maximized Living

“Discovering who God has created us to be is essential in making a difference in the world. If you are ready to discover who you are and why you are here, then check out this book!”
--Eric Bryant, Navigator, Mosaic (Los Angeles) and author of Peppermint-Filled Pinatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love

“Arron’s teaching in this book has a way of transforming our thinking to remind us that we are unique, we are loved, and we are who we are by God’s grace and masterful plan. Read it. You’ll be encouraged and challenged to live your very best.”
--Todd Rhoades, publisher/editor of MondayMorningInsight.com

“Arron Chambers can help you overcome your insecurities, remove your masks and live empowered as you learn who you truly are in Christ.”
-- Rachel Olsen, Proverbs 31 Ministries author and speaker, General Editor of God’s Purpose for Every Woman

Safe at Home

Last week, on our way home from Summer in the Son at Kentucky Christian University, we stopped at my in-laws' house in Elizabethton, Tennessee.

While sitting in a rocking chair on the front porch, enjoying the cool breeze and the sight of my kids playing beneath the large magnolia tree as the evening made its way across the mountains, I met Larry "Moe" Riddle for the first time. His picture was on the cover of the Elizabethton Star above a story on his life.

I never met--or saw--Moe while he was alive and--after reading about him--I feel cheated.

Moe was a huge fan of the Elizabethon Twins (farm team for the Minnesota Twins) and was famous for both his on-field and off-field antics.

In an article in the The Elizabethton Star Greg Miller and Wes Holtsclaw wrote:

Moe had several traditions at the ballpark. Among the most popular were his trips around the bases during the seventh-inning stretch.
"When he was healthy enough," Mains said, Riddle "would get at home plate and he would pull his pants up and he'd run the bases. First, second, third and home. And as soon as he crossed home, he would take the hat off...and then he'd go on."
Moe's base-running antics became so popular Appalachian League umpires often played tricks on him by calling him out at home plate. Moe would argue with them like he were a Major League manager until they reversed their call.
"He used to run the bases and he'd get to third base and turn like he was going home. If the ump called him out, he'd put on a show," Dugger said. "They got so they called him safe all the time."
During the fourth and fifth inning of games, Riddle would visit fans in the stands and collect quarters.
About the fourth or fifth inning of the games, Mains recalls, Riddle would say, " 'I'm going to pass the cup.' He would go through the stands and they would give him a quarter, sometimes a dollar. He would come back and a lot of times I would help him and sometimes others. We would count his money and he would put it in his back pocket. We thought that was it. Later on in the same game, he would empty the cup out in his back pocket and there he would go again. That was a comical sight."
Moe wouldn't settle for anything less than a quarter. Twins Director of Minor League Operations Jim Rantz found that out the hard way.

In another article on Moe, Wes Holtsclaw wrote:

Moe was honored one final time at his favorite hangout Thursday evening with a fitting memorial service at Joe O'Brien Field.

From his favorite Elvis song to returning everyone's quarter, the ceremony was simply, well, Moe. Those who paid their respects to Riddle were treated with a special video filled with memories of the Twins' number one fan. Photos of Riddle and his family, including his beloved late mother Irene, were accompanied by portraits of Moe at the ballpark. When visitors paid their respects at Riddle's casket, they were given a quarter. A token of honor from a man who likely raised more money than anyone in Elizabethton history at Riverside Stadium during the fourth and fifth inning of home games. Folks were also asked to sign the casket before passing Riddle, who was fitted in his Elizabethton Twins uniform.

In another article on Moe, Wes Holtsclaw wrote: "Like the old shirt used to read, Larry “Moe” Riddle knew Elizabethton Twins baseball. Now he knows Jesus."

Congratulations Moe! I can't wait to meet you--face to face--when I make it safely home, too.

Thoughts on Student Ministry

For the past 15+ years I've been blessed with the opportunity to speak at some pretty amazing youth conferences. These opportunities energize and encourage me. I love young people. I love being with them, I love talking with them, and I love seeing how God is working in and through them.

I don't know what your opinion is of this generation of students (but I do know that unless you're engaged in the lives of students it's probably wrong :) ), but I want you to know that God is doing some incredible things in the lives of students all around the world. I am so encouraged about what I see in the lives of the young people I'm privileged to work with at conferences like Christ in Youth and Summer in the Son at Kentucky Christian University.

I was at Christ in Youth last week and I'm at Summer in the Son this week and I want you to know that our students have a heart for worship. I wish you could see it for yourself. They worship through singing for almost an hour at a time and they want more! I see--and hear--their passion for God and it fills my heart with so much hope.

When I'm speaking to them I see respect for God, hunger for His word, and . . . I see hope.

Please don't write this generation off.

Please don't label them, ignore them, patronize them, insult them, or treat them as if they don't, or can't, love God as much as you do simply because they haven't been around as long as you have.

When I'm with our young people I see a generation with the potential to do amazing things for God.

They need our guidance. They need our encouragement. They need us to believe in them. They need safe places where they can worship God. They need opportunities to serve God by serving others. They long to feel connected to each other. They long to make an impact on their world . . . and they will.

Please pray for our students and for those involved in ministry to them. I believe that youth workers are on the front-line of a battle we must win.

Last week, at Christ in Youth at Milligan College in Tennessee, I had the privilege of working with one of the most amazing youth ministers I've ever been associated with and a man who has been on the front-lines--fighting for our youth--for over 25 years. Robin Sigars, Associate Director of Conferences for Christ in Youth, is not just one of the most amazing youth ministers I've ever been around, he's also a friend and mentor to me. He's a godly man who expects his speakers to preach the Bible, his conference leadership team to lead spiritually, God to show up in a big way, and his students to be blessed during conference. This summer Robin is wrapping up his almost 20-year ministry with Christ in Youth, so it was especially meaningful to be with Robin at CIY one last time.

Being associated with youth workers like Robin and students like the ones I meet at Christ in Youth and Summer in the Son, fills my heart with joy for the present and hope for the future.

Of Policies and Procedures and Eternal Damnation

I think that a lot of things will happen when a person first arrives in Hell.

I think someone will say, "Welcome to Hell . . . here's your cat."

Next you'll be handed a welcome letter from Hell's Home Owner's Association President welcoming you to the neighborhood and detailing all of the do's and don'ts . . . noting that the flames from your fire are exceeding the parameters detailed in Section 8 Article 11 of the Association rule book and need to be doused immediately or a lien will be placed on your dwelling.

Someone will run up to you--in a panic--yelling, "The board meeting started 15 minutes ago and they're waiting for you!" I think Hell will include a lot of board meetings.

And, at some point, you'll be handed a Policy and Procedures manual.

This morning I found an interesting quote on policies and procedures in an answer to a question about hiring staff. It's from a post entitled, Where Do You Go To Get Staff? by Dave Ferguson.

Here's the quote:
Does Community Christian have a "policy" regarding hiring staff who lack formal theological education?
No. In fact we have very little "policy" about anything. Policies tend to be reactive and you create them because you haven't found any other way to get people to do what you want them to do.

Another Reason to love Chick-fil-A

In this week's issue of the Christian Standard you'll find an interview with Mike Schisler who is an elder at Heritage Christian Church in Peachtree City, Georgia and a regional management consultant for Chick-fil-A.

I eat at Chick-fil-A about once a week and always get a #1 with lemonade and an extra pack of pickles.

. . . I'm getting hungry . . .

Here's a quote from the online version of the interview (btw: the online version of the interview contains more information) that caught my attention as a good lesson on service for churches:

So when you guys talk about “customer service” you really mean it. We practice “second-mile service.” Our competitive advantage is in building raving fans who are extremely loyal to Chick-fil-A. A clean bathroom is first-mile service. Any restaurant would do that. We want to do those things you don’t have to do. Helping someone to the car when it’s raining. Carrying a tray for a mom who has two little ones with her. Picking up wastepaper while people are having a conversation at their table. Those things exhibit second-mile service.

What came to light when the building went dark.

Summer in Florida means afternoon thunderstorms.

Yesterday we were hit with a powerful thunderstorm that came out of nowhere. There was wind, torrential rain, hail, lightning and then . . . darkness.

The power to our church building was knocked out for over an hour.

50 years ago, a power outage would not have hindered church work too much, but today--in our computer dependent state--a power outage brings almost all work to a grinding halt.

I couldn't prepare my sermon PowerPoint slides. I couldn't continue my online research of how many times a typical heart beats in a lifetime. I couldn't email my worship leader for the Well to verify some changes to the service. Yes--I know, I know--I could have had devotions, prayed, fasted, read a book, done a short-term service project for our Missions guy, and I know that I could have written the rest of my sermon by hand, but then I just would have had to type it in anyway and that's a pain, so I chose to hang out.

Unlike some of my cubicle dwelling, or inner hallway neighbors, I have two windows in my office, so I wasn't completely in the dark and people started gathering in my office.

It was actually kind of fun.

We talked about the weather. We talked about last Sunday, next Sunday, the weather last Sunday, and whether, or not, the power was ever going to come back on

It was actually really nice.

I enjoyed chatting with my co-workers.

We heard about a Bible quiz in an office on the other side of the building, so we took a road trip through the dark hallways of the back-side of the third floor and joined another group of coworkers gathered in another window-lit office.

As we sat there for the next 30, or so, minutes . . . laughing, talking, surrounded by darkness, but enjoying the light, I began to think about the Church.

I think what we experienced in that naturally lit office during the power-outage yesterday is a metaphor for the role the Church should play in a spiritually dark world.

Now, you may think this is silly, but humor me. :)

The Church should be a gathering place for those uncomfortable with, or longing to leave, the darkness, but for this to happen a few things must be true.

1. The Door Must Remain Open--If my door--or my friend Keith's door--had been closed we would have missed a wonderful opportunity for fellowship. Are the doors of our churches open--truly open--to those who are trapped in darkness, or are they only welcomed on our terms and on our schedule?

2. The Room Must Be Accessible--People came to my office and I went to Keith's office, not just because they were open, but also because they were close. If the naturally-lit room had been too far away, then some of my co-workers who joined the party in Keith's office might have just stayed where they were. Are we taking the Church to where it is darkest or moving it to a "better", or better lit, part of town?

3. The Room Must Be Lit--I know this is obvious, but I wouldn't have gone to Keith's office if it was dark. What's the point? Everyone might as well just stay where they are. If I'm going to find darkness everywhere then I might as well just stay where I'm comfortable.

My office and Keith's office were appealing because they offered what most of the offices did not: light.

We are supposed to be the light of the world, so--when the Church gathers together--there should be lots of light, but that's not always the case. A worldly church is a dark church and not very appealing to people already in a comfortable darkness. Our churches must be beacons of hope, purity, truth, love, peace, and light in a dark world.

The power came back on at 3:12 p.m. and everyone went back to work, but I can't stop thinking about how blessed I was to be with those people in that naturally lit office for an hour yesterday. It was a good thing . . . and a reminder of the impact a well-lit church can have in a dark world.