In Need of Help

This is Sidney.  I have driven by him several times a week near where I work.  Today, I stopped to ask him what he needed help with and he said, “Anything you can help me with.”  When I first walked up, he jumped as if I were going to attack him.  He was scared to death.  He’s one of those people you can look at and see that life has beaten him down and he’s on his last thread.  The whole time we talked, he didn’t really look at me.  He just kind of stared off at the passing traffic, not really focusing on anything.

I talked to him for a few minutes and asked if there was anything specific he needed and he mentioned medication and that he didn’t know how to pay his power bill this month.  Sidney lives with his son, who has been out of work for well over a year.

If you want to help him, let me know.  If you work at Lockheed, take a drive down Atlanta Road and stop by and say “hello”.

Bo Wallace Burson

The hat says it all.

Bo.  Simple and a nickname that can last a lifetime.  Bo was born on December 1, 2009, weighing 7lbs 13oz at 18.5″ long.  This time, it wasn’t the miracle of birth that choked me up, I guess I’m getting used to that considering that he’s Burson #4.  No, this time what got me as I watched the nurses check him out and clean him up fresh out of womb was thinking about getting to relive all of the firsts his big brother has lived through:

His first smile, his first steps, his first coloring page, his first accurately thrown ball, his first hit off of a pitch, his first put out to first base, his first pop fly catch, his first hit off a kid pitching, his first basket in a game, his first tackle, his first QB sack, his first end zone forced fumble and recovery for a touchdown, his first run for a first down, his first 100 on a spelling test, his first chapter book, his first Christmas he can remember, his first time he picks up his Bible and reads it on his own because he wants to, his first time serving at church, his first UGA football game, his first Braves game, his first play or school/church singing thing he doesn’t want to be in…..

Man, there’s a ton more.  We’ve been blessed beyond what we deserve.

Darlington Chased The Lion Well

2009 Darlington Tigers

In the Old Testament, 2 Samuel 23:20, reads, “Benaiah son of Jehoiada was a valiant fighter from Kabzeel, who performed great exploits. He struck down two of Moab’s best men. He also went down into a pit on a snowy day and killed a lion.”

This season for Darlington started after the last game played in the 2008 season, just like it did for every high school football team across the state.  A few days after that final game of 2008, Darlington lost their starting junior quarterback and future Vanderbilt signee to transfer and also faced replacing several key seniors who would go on to graduate.  So, needless to say, with all of the key personnel losses after the 2008 season, 2009 was to be a rebuilding year, at best, for the Tigers.

Over 9 months of workouts and practices came a went and Darlington was facing a brand new season.  Anyone with any in-depth knowledge of Georgia high school football could look at Darlington’s 2009 schedule and see that at first glance it was going to be a monumental task to finish with a .500 record or better with youth and inexperience on this football team.  The first four games were all non-region games against playoff teams, three of which were higher classification schools  (By season’s end, 11 of Darlington’s 14 opponents in 2009 were playoff teams).

Three games into the season and Darlington had an 0-3 record and had been outscored 103-7.  The fourth game of the season was a road tripper to Murphy, North Carolina to play a Murphy team that has deep tradition.  Murphy has won a few AAA North Carolina state championships and had beat Darlington last year at Darlington.

Luckily for me, I made  it to Murphy, NC in time to be in the locker room before the game and hear the pregame speech.  Nothing ground breaking, but after Coach Atha left, a senior stepped up and challenged the team.  “No one believes in us…. Our parents probably don’t even believe in us…  Our season isn’t over.”.  He also said something to the effect that this game could be the game that launched them into their region schedule that would begin the next week.

This is when Darlington stepped into the snowy pit with the lion.

Darlington dictated that football game with Murphy and won 22-20.  The next week, Darlington had their first region game at home against #6 ranked Bowdon.  It was also homecoming for Darlington.  In the press box, I over heard one of the Bowdon staff say, “They scheduled us for homecoming?”, you know, because you usually schedule a cupcake for homecoming, but after looking at Darlington’s non-region schedule, the homecoming choice of a difficult opponent wasn’t a surprise.

From kickoff to the final horn, Darlington outplayed, outmanned, and ”outeverythinged” Bowdon that night.  Bowdon had more speed and more talent, but they had less heart that Friday. Darlington drove and scored a late, game winning TD pass and beat Bowdon 23-20.  It was Bowdon’s only regular season loss.

Darlington went on to beat the Walker School and then Bremen.  In the Bremen game, Darlington won 35-28 after being down 21-0 in the first half.  Darlington had more heart.  A few wins and weeks pass and Darlington clinched the region championship on Senior Night.

With one more regular season game to go, Darlington went to Trion and lost a close one 21-14.  That loss to Trion was the game the Darlington detractors had been waiting on.  The game that would send Darlington back down to reality.  Sure, Darlington had beaten state ranked teams, but according to the negative voices, Darlington was living on a prayer and their time was up after the loss to Trion.

No one must have told Darlington their time was up.

Week one of the playoffs, Darlington hosted and extremely athletic team in Warren County.  Darlington won 16-14.  Week two of the playoffs, Darlington hosted Commerce, a tradition juggernaut in Georgia High School football history.  This was supposed to be Darlington’s demise again.  Darlington won 28-14.

Like a scene fresh out of Friday Night Lights, Darlington Coach Atha met Twiggs County’s coach off of the interstate to flip to see who would host the 3rd round playoff game and, as this season’s luck would have it, Darlington won the coin toss.  Twiggs County had scored 40 or more points each game in the previous seven weeks and this was the week that Darlington was going to get blown out of the playoffs.  Twiggs looked bigger, faster, and stronger, but they had less heart that night.  Darlington faced that lion and beat Twiggs County 17-0.  40 points per week to zero, stoned.

In the semi-finals, Darlington won the coin toss again and this time hosted #2 ranked Savannah Christian Academy.  Darlington fought hard and the game was tight throughout.  It was a game of two fairly evenly matched teams, but Savannah Christian won and is playing this week in the GHSA Single-A state championship game in the Georgia Dome.

But don’t feel bad for Darlington.  I’ve been around sports long enough to know talent when I see it, to know discipline when I see it, and to know heart when I see it.  Winning with talent is very easy to do.  It’s what Buford, Calhoun, Parkview, Brookwood, Valdosta, Camden, Lowndes, and many others have been doing for years; winning with talent.  Darlington wasn’t the most talented team on the field every week or even most weeks, but they had more heart and more discipline.

Darlington’s lion this season wasn’t the team on the other side of the ball.  Darlington’s lion this season was adversity, looking foolish, the unknown, defying odds, and seizing opportunities…. And Darlington chased down and killed all of those lions.  The on-field success was a side effect.

Benaiah sought out that lion.  He climbed into that pit.  That snowy pit where his footing would be slippery and where the odds were against him.  The lion was stronger than him and faster than him, but Benaiah had heart and a destiny to fulfill and killing that lion to build his legacy was necessary.  2 Samuel 23 goes on to tell us that Benaiah was chosen to be the captain of King David’s bodyguard because of the things he accomplished in his life.  He didn’t always win, I’m sure, but his unthinkable, improbable victories built his legacy.

It was an honor this season to watch these Darlington Tiger players and coaches in the locker room, on the sidelines, and on the field outclass their opponent nearly each and every week and I will not be surprised by anything these boys accomplish in their lives.  They didn’t win the state championship, but in 2009 they looked adversity in the eye and stuck a dagger in its heart and reminded us that anything is possible with the right focus and determination and the heart to take a chance.

Chase The Lion

Commit to the Messiah or imaginary jesus

2nd sermon of my life was on Sunday and it was a great experience.  Several honest thoughts came out that were not part of my notes or manuscript.  Apparently, the Holy Spirit guides this whole process after all…

Basically, it goes like this, we either commit ourselves to Jesus Christ 100% or we’re placing other idols before Him… There really is no other way to say it.  Those things are kids, spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, sports, drugs, food, work, cars, internet, facebook, television, iphone, crackberry, whatever.   Christians are required to be disciples.  Disciples must be committed 100% to grow into true followers of Christ.  We are stagnant spiritually if we do not commit 100%.

If we think anything less than 100% is ok for us, then we believe in an imaginary jesus who is not biblical.  That jesus will eventually destroy us.  That jesus will not be there when we’re hurting.  That jesus will not carry us through hard times.  That jesus can’t give us grace.  That jesus did not give all for us.  That jesus does not love us.  The imaginary jesus tells us it’s ok to miss the summer from church for our kids travel sports.  The imaginary jesus tells us that it’s ok if we get drunk on Friday night.  The imaginary jesus will tell us to go after that promotion in lieu of being the spiritual leader for our family.

Watch the video first (requires facebook, i think):

Video Intro

Then the message:

The Well- Disciple Week 2: Commitment

Andy and Kyle did a great job of recapping the day.

Facts:  I am not an excellent orator.  I have a lot of improvement to do in that area.  I have faith that God knows what He’s doing when He uses me for things like this.  God is in control.  I am not, other than submitting to be obedient.

For reference, here is the scripture that was covered in the message:

Luke 14:25-26

1 John 3:15

1 John 4:20

Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 7:21-23

James 4:17

2 Timothy 3:16-17

A day of Victory

Today was a day of victory for several people at The Well.  Today, 18 people were baptized.  Some were dunked and some were sprinkled (sounds like a trip to dunkin donuts).  Andy stated the point and fact that in baptism it’s not the amount of water that makes a difference; it’s the fact that we admit that we’re sinners and we submit to salvation in Jesus Christ alone.  And yes, I did make a “Step Brothers” reference in the announcements when I said that some people have called me “the songbird of my generation”.  I watched the movie the night before.  Kyle and the guys led another awesome time of worship.  Just a powerful service all around.

Twice, in Luke 15, Jesus says that heaven rejoices when one sinner repents and proclaims the gospel.  Today, the angles in heaven rejoiced and partied like no other earthly party could compare.  Today was a day of victory.  Today was a day of proof and truth that God is doing some amazing things through the people of The Well and that Jesus Christ is alive and moving in Cartersville.  Today, we punched satan in the throat and told him, “It’s over.  God’s kingdom begins for me today, right here.”

In addition to the baptisms, many people committed to become members of The Well.  These people are aware of the responsibilities membership involves and this commitment is a huge statement to the lengths they will go for Jesus.

Just a great day in C’ville.

Old Books and Big Great Gran

I’m making adjustments and I don’t really have time to read books, but when Gran found out I was going to preach back in May, she sent me some of my great grandmother’s old, christian themed books along with a note of encouragement.  One book is a kind of study guide on the book of John titled, “The Gospel of John (A Study Guide)”, by Herschel H. Hobbs, published in 1965.  My great grandmother’s name, Elizabeth Besinger, is written on the inside cover.  Several pages have text highlighted or underlined revealing scripture and points that were important or had significance to “Big Great Gran”.  I can hear her voice reading along with me as I scan through the pages studying for my next sermon (whenever it comes), but, more importantly, while I get to absorb this spiritual moment with God and her.  My Big Great Gran lived a christian life that is deserving of it’s own book.  Even the local press and people of the town she lived in, Abbeville, South Carolina, called her the “Mother Theresa of Abbeville”.  The things God did through her for the community around her were nothing short of amazing.

One quick story.  Big Great Gran was visiting us during Christmas break back in 1992.  I was a Sophomore playing varsity basketball, so I was the “kid” on the team.  Big Great Gran with my Aunt, I believe, stopped by one of our practices we had before Christmas.  She was standing against the rail near the court while we scrimmaged.  I drove from the top of the key and hit a jumper from the left elbow.  As soon as the ball went through, Big Great Gran shouts, “Yea, Suga!”  Play stopped for a second while the guys and coached laughed.  I’ll never forget it.  It was a nickname that stuck for the rest of the season, “Suga”.

As I read through these books, I think about 80 years from now and what kind of discipleship legacy I will leave for my children, grand children, and great grandchildren.  Will they be able to open up old books of mine and hear my voice as they read through the marked up and highlighted pages?  Will they be reminded of the spritual leader I was for the family?  Will they be able to say that God accomplised all that He wanted to with me in my time here on Earth?

“You don’t have time to tink”

I took this video during our mission trip to Andros Island, Bahamas.  On this particular morning, I had gotten up early to see the sunrise and pray for a while and read some scripture before we left for the day’s work site at 8AM.  A few hundred yards down the beach, there was this guy fishing.  He was in this same spot every morning I went out there early, so I’m guessing this was his daily routine.  He would catch bait fish early and then take that to fish the deeper waters.

After he finished, he walked by and stopped to chat for a minute.  It was a pretty cool conversation.  He said he lived in the USA for a little, but was originally from Andros.  While living in the States, his father, back in Andros, died, so he had to come back home to handle family affairs.  While home, he said he realized the blessings he on Andros and that God was calling him back home……..  His home on Andros was a shack by American standards, but he had lived in America and he considers it a “blessing” to be on Andros.

About 2:30 into the video, he says something to the effect that we get so busy in the big city, that we “don’t have time to tink”.  No better words could describe how most of us live.

Anyway, some folks from the mission team wanted to see the video, so here it is……. Oh, if anyone knows how to get in touch with Edwin Hawkins, please let his management know that there’s a guy on Andros Island that would like to speak to him.

 

Washable markers??? Why??

Temporary prison tats are fun….  Sharpie = bad… Washable marker = good.

 

Burson #4 Is a boy!!

Well, that what the ultrasound says, at least… So, after 4 the score is tied, 2-2. All the measurements and vitals are good and on track according to the doctor… All that’s left now is the waiting.

 
Here’s the video.. Since I was using the flip video camera, the footage is shaky and pixelated, but Brooke’s reaction is awesome….

 

 

My manatee mating experience..

The details aren’t as freaky as the headline.  Today we ate breakfast and chilled out on the balcony for a little while.  After a few minutes, we noticed a crowd of folks on the shoreline and a couple of Venice’s finest walking toward the mob.  Yeah, we couldn’t just sit there, so the Burson posse mounted up and “followed the fire truck” as we call it toward the crowd on the beach.  Cameras in hand, of course.

We got there to find 7 to 8 manatee that appeared to be beached and trying to get back out into the ocean.  The guys that were already there made the assumption that it was a momma and her kids, or whatever you call non-adult manatee, and momma was stuck and the kids were panicking.  They were trashing around and rolling around on top of each other and in the midst of the chaos, several of us were trying to push them into the surf.  These big fat sea cows with no legs don’t really move with pushing, by the way. 

After a few minutes of failed attempts of pushing the mass of manatee back out to sea, the cops on hand got a radio call from some maritime patrol group that the manatee were not in distress, but were actually mating.  It sounded like this, “Hey!  (inaudible) says to leave them alone… They’re mating.”  Dang, I went from animal world hero to sea mammal pervert.  Yeah, I touched several manatees, one female and a few different males, who were in the middle of nookie.  For the record, this manatee mating is violent.  For those that don’t know, manatee feel like rough, wet leather, but have the gift of persuasion.

Anyway, some video is here: