Random Thoughts

Unwilling To Go Back AND Afraid of What Lies Ahead

Have you ever come to a point in your life where you can clearly look back and see the progress you've made, but when you look ahead you see nothing but uncertainty staring back at you? You know that you refuse or can't go back to where you've come from, but you're not quite sure where to go next. I have been in that situation many times. One of the most recent times was when I graduated college. It is easy to answer questions about "what are you doing with your life?" when we can respond "I'm in school," but what about when we graduate and have to start a career path and have to sink or swim. When I first graduated school, I went to Dallas for a couple months to train for the NFL Pro Day in hopes of continuing my football career. When it became evident that that was not what God had planned for me, I had to turn my attention elsewhere. I had no clue as to where I was headed, but I did know two things: I had a son depending on me to take care of him and that I was not a student in college anymore. There were decisions that had to be made and fast. I thought about the story of Jacob in the Bible. Jacob, whose name meant "Trickster," had fled his homeland because his brother, Esau, was out to kill him because of his wicked ways. He found himself at his Uncle Laban's home and fell in love with his daughter. After various altercations with Laban, Jacob took his bride and decided to return home. While on his journey, he learned that Esau was headed his way along with 200 soldiers looking for him. He was terrified! He was visited by an angel as he slept that night. He wrestled with the angel all night out of desperation, telling the angel "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me"(Genesis 32:26). The angel had to dislocate Jacob's hip to break free because Jacob's will was so strong. The angel then asked him for his name. He told the angel that his name was Jacob (Trickster) and the angel responded with Genesis 32:28, "And he said, Your name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince has thou power with God and with men, and has prevailed." It took being in a place of desperation for Jacob to act in a way that he had not previously been willing to. He had to realize who he was (what his name meant) to put himself in a position for God to make him the father of His Chosen People, the nation of Israel. For me, I fasted and prayed about what my next move would be. I have chosen to work towards drawing closer to God and have seen the results. My music production company, Icon Beats/Icon Music Entertainment (www.iconbeats.com) has began to flourish. We have been working with The University of Southern Mississippi by creating the game day anthem for the third consecutive year. I have also excelled at my current place of employment, being selected to take part in an internal training video based on sales performance. I know that God has many extraordinary things in store for me and I plan to receive each and every one of them. The progress I've made in life is evident, and even though I still have no idea of my final destination, I know God does.

*This year's song, GOLDEN EAGLE PRIDE, can be purchased through iTunes, along with GOLDEN EAGLE PRIDE:THE ALBUM, which is a compilation of game day anthems from years past.

Golden Eagle Pride:The Album by JMass is now available on iTunes

Golden Eagle Pride by Icon Music Entertainment on Ubetoo - Listen to Icon Music Entertainment songs for free

Download it from iTunes here http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/golden-eagle-pride-album-ep/id544163154

Be Careful What You Wish For

I've always heard "old folks" say, "Be careful what you wish for because it just might come true." I could never understand why I had to be careful in wished for. It made no sense to me until I got older and was able to understand what they were trying to say -- "Make sure that you fully consider everything that comes along with what it is you are wishing for." Many times we only look at the end result of things and pay little, or no, attention to the process leading to it. We only see what's glamorized in the media or the respect that an esteemed person commands, but rarely do we take time to find out how they got to that point. In the 10th chapter of the Book of Mark, James and John expressed their desire to sit on the right and left hand of Jesus' glory. Jesus' response came in verse 38 where he said, "You don't know what you are asking, Jesus said. Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?" Jesus knew that they were not fully aware of what would be required of them in order to do so. As we all know, when Jesus carried the cross to Calvary and was crucified, the disciples followed far behind, hid, and Peter even denied knowing Him. I always say, "If your dream doesn't include the work required to accomplish it, then it's merely a fantasy." It is imperative that we count up the costs before we decide to do anything. I can remember my college football coach telling the team, "Everyone wants to be conference champions, but very few are willing to do what it takes to get there." Most players are not willing to do the things that earn them the label of being an "ABCD" (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) type of guy. This is why there are very few "legends." So, before we start asking for things, let's be sure that we count up the costs and determine that it is worth it to us, because if not, we'll end up wishing we were more careful in what we wished for.

BUT as for ME and MY house.....

In honor of today, I want to wish every FATHER a Happy Father's Day! I truly consider it a blessing and honor for God to have entrusted me with a son to raise and mold into the gentleman that He has called him to be. God chose fathers to be spiritual leaders, providers, a sense of security, enforcers, and examples of a gentleman (for sons and daughters). As head of the household, we are responsible for "setting the tone" of the family. It is our duty to set expectations and hold the family accountable for carrying them out. I personally, take the stance of Joshua as the title would suggest, "But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord" (Joshua 24:15 NIV). This was the law growing up in my home. After growing into an adult and seeking God for myself, I have taken the same stance. As the head of my family (current and soon to be), I have established a Bible Study and prayer routine with my fiancee that includes fasting on Sundays. I pray over my son everyday that he is with me and for him on the days he is not. I have to be the example I expect him to follow. I am a firm believer in making sure that a child has, even when the parents do not. Because of this, I go ABCD (Above and Beyond the Call of Duty) to make sure my son has EVERYTHING he needs. Obedience is also very important to me, so I established a distinction between my serious and playful tone at a young age. I wanted him to be assured of my intentions when I spoke to him. It really bothers me to see children who are disobedient and throw tantrums in public. Honestly, I want to spank the child AND their parents LOL! It is also my duty to enforce whatever his mother has established. I want her to respect the expectations I place on him; therefore, I do the same. From the day I found out I had a child on the way, I made a vow to be the man I wanted a son to be, and the man I wanted a daughter to look for. With that being said I decided to never bring a woman around him that I couldn't see being a permanent fixture in his life. I also try to make sure that he never sees me disrespect a woman, regardless of the situation. I don't want him to grow up thinking that it is okay. I want him to understand chivalry, compassion, respect, being thoughtful, etc. These are the characteristics that come to mind when I describe a gentleman and the way I want my son to be seen. I can't control the way that other fathers lead their families, BUT as for ME and MY house.........

Is it in you?: Part of your character OR just a role you play?

Over time, I have matured and started to see things differently than I have in the past. I am truly understanding I Corinthians 13:11 "When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put all childish ways behind me." This process definitely did not happen overnight. First of all, I had to see the need for a change. I had to see the faults within and want to correct them. Just as Steve Harvey's movie, "Act like a lady, Think like a man,"stated, the problem with pretending to do better is the fact that at some point, we actually have to put it into action. It has to become our character, rather than just a role we play. All actors can memorize scripts and even put emotion into their performance, but, eventually the "real" person surfaces. "Can an Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard its spots? Neither can you do good who are accustomed to doing evil." (Jeremiah 13:33). When entering relationships, it takes "time" to get to know a person, and even longer if they're trying to impress us. My dad has always told me to never read too much into how a person treats me, but pay more attention to how they treat others. They will show you who they really are. I have been blessed to find someone whose character matches mine. I took my father's advice and looked more into how she treated her friends, and even how she treated strangers. In Hebrews 13:2 the Bible tells us, "Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it." Only those of us whose character preempts us to show genuine kindness will pass this test administered by God. Others will only do so when it is convenient, or when they can gain something in return. So, Is it in you?