Lessons From Coach Chip Kelly (Re-Ordering the E-A-G-L-E-S)!

What can we learn from NFL Coach Chip Kelly (Philadelphia Eagles)? 

Chip Kelly entering his third season (after two winning seasons) continues trading his best players on offense and defense, sending Philly fans and pundits into conniptions, questioning his aptitude and sanity. Chip has endured being mocked and labeled Trader of Stars and Dream Killer.

Why? Head Coach and Director of Player Personnel Chip Kelly in pursuit of bringing a championship to the Philadelphia Eagles is making every decision, conventional and bizarre, toward fulfilling his vision of success.

In shredding his roster, Coach Kelly’s Radical Moves Models Radical Steps of Faith. Here are 10 Lessons: 

1. Assess Your Team’s Ability to Win Before Moving Forward – Consider the Cost – Luke 14:28-33
2. Let the Vision Guide Your Every Action – Jesus in the Wilderness – Mark 1:9-15
3. Identify and Train the People You Believe Can Best Fulfill the Vision – Selection of Disciples – Luke 5:1-11
4. When Selecting Team Members Never Allow Outsiders to Define/Select Your Team Members – Who is my Mother or Who are my Brothers? – Matthew 12:46-50
5. Identify Proven/Talented People You Believe are Detrimental to the Vision – Naming Judas the Betrayer – Mark 14:17-24
6. Reclaim/Redefine the Mission of Your Team – Jesus Reclaims the Temple – Matthew 21:12-13
7. Stick to the Plan, Even When the People Closest to You Fail to Understand You –  I Must be in My Father’s’ House – Luke 2:43-50
8. Endure the Ridicule of the Moment Knowing the Vision will be Achieved – Jesus Endured Mocking ­– Mark 15:16-20
9. Believe the Vision will Lead to Many Great Victories – Belief Leads to Greater Works – John 14:11-14
10. Maximize Opportunities When They are Presented – Live Wisely…Making the Most of Opportunities – Colossians 4:5

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INSPIRED BY LOVE, 

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton 

"Gratitude: A Spiritual Discipline"

What is gratitude? 

Gratitude is “a feeling or an attitude in acknowledgement of a benefit one has received or will receive”.

I shall never forget, “How ‘bout some appreciation?”, the manner in which this calm request uttered by my wife, screeched within my soul beckoning a response and disturbing me into consciousness.

During our first year in ministry, we were in the throes of all things new: newborn son, new church, new community (first year living in North Carolina), new livelihood (pastor, stay-at-home mom and part-time consultant), new parental normal (my mom had just died), etc.

     Easily, I could have been dismissive and defensive, right?

But my wife’s conviction exposed a developing abscess of ungratefulness within me! I had allowed the bacterial invasion of negligence to infiltrate my heart and weaken my ethic of gratitude. Consequently, I had been failing to love, honor and cherish my bride. In that moment, I realized no matter what was happening externally (at work, with others or with us, etc.) or internally (selfishness, pride or hurt, etc.), gratitude is something that I must always practice.

Gratitude does not just happen it’s an action that must be chosen!

Gratitude like all spiritual disciplines is grounded in a desire to love God with all one’s heart, soul, mind and strength and to love people with God-like love. Just as we develop the practice of fasting, praying, studying scripture, and other spiritual disciplines, we must also cultivate the habit of gratitude.

The depth of our relationship with God and others

is commiserate with our active practice of gratitude.

Jesus highlights the significance of gratitude in the healing of Ten Lepers (Luke 17:11-19):

One of them, when he realized that he was healed, turned around and came back, shouting his gratitude, glorifying God. He kneeled at Jesus’ feet, so grateful. He couldn’t thank him enough—and he was a Samaritan.  Jesus said, 

“Were not ten healed? Where are the nine?

Can none be found to come back and give glory to God except this outsider?”

(The Message Bible, Luke 17:15-18).

Apparently, Jesus has an expectation of gratitude. While we might create excuses, Jesus is not pleased when we fail to practice gratitude! Just as I clearly heard my wife’s calm request, perhaps you can hear Jesus or someone else saying to you –

“How ‘bout some appreciation (gratitude)?!”

Remember:

Gratitude does not just happen it’s an action that must be chosen!

INSPIRED BY LOVE,

Pastor Marcus J. Singleton