Confessions of a Recovering Pharisee

[BP]

While NFL coaches, players and analysts have speculated how Michael Vick will fare in returning to pro football after two years in prison, his closest mentor, former Colts head coach Tony Dungy, said Vick will succeed only by putting his faith in God.

“I know Michael feels he’s let a lot of people down and disappointed a lot of fans and family, but I told him the only way you can correct that is to put yourself in the Lord’s hands and let Him guide you.

“After speaking with Michael, he’s given me hope that he’s headed in the right direction.”

Dungy spoke to Baptist Press Monday afternoon in advance of his inaugural “Tony Dungy’s Red Zone ‘09,” a high school football kickoff event to be shown in more than 450 movie theaters tonight nationwide.

Through the Red Zone event, Dungy hopes to show young players that talent and character go hand in hand and that making right choices is important both on and off the field.

Since retiring from the Colts last January, Dungy has been involved in a number of projects off the field, including joining NBC Sports as a commentator. But Dungy has gained the most attention as Vick’s mentor for his return to the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.

Dungy’s readiness to share his faith in Christ, evidenced in his two best-selling books and in media interviews, led him to the federal medium-security prison in Leavenworth, Kan., to meet Vick at the request of Vick’s attorney.

“I had been in a lot of prisons and seen the orange jump suits and the 15-by-15-foot cell, and that’s what I saw with Michael,” Dungy said when recounting previously unknown details of his visit with Vick during the spring.

Dungy had been in Vick’s cell less than five minutes when he turned the conversation to what he regards as the central issue in Vick’s fall from pro football grace.

“I asked Michael, ‘Where was the Lord in all of this?’ because I wanted to know about his personal faith in Jesus.”

Dungy said Vick told him about going to church almost every week with his mother in Virginia and knowing there was a God. He said Vick talked to God while growing up and continued to pray during college at Virginia Tech.

But when he finally made it to the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons, his faith and his life took a turn for the worse.

“Michael said he felt God had answered his prayers by getting into the NFL and maybe he didn’t really need Him anymore.”

During his two years in prison for his role in operating a dog fighting ring, Vick had a chance to rediscover his prayers and his faith in God, Dungy said.

“Now he knows he does need God and that’s going to help him make right decisions.”

Dungy, who dealt with all kinds of players in his 30 years of coaching, said Vick has the possibility to becoming a Christian role model. But Vick faces plenty of scrutiny, such as a recent report of him having a drink of vodka and pineapple juice at a Philadelphia airport restaurant.

“You can’t do that,” Dungy was quoted by Sports Illustrated as telling Vick publicly after the incident.

“I think Michael will be a testimony to young people and have some good things to say them,” Dungy told Baptist Press. If Vick succeeds in his comeback, especially off the field, it “lets young people know these are real people and real problems and this is how they have been able to overcome them.”

For Dungy, the chance to be a positive role model and a Christian witness while on a national stage is what drives him after stepping away from the NFL sideline.

Read more here.

[From me]

Think of how better the NFL would be…no the world would be if we had men and women who earned respect in their profession and could speak boldly to people about their faith. We need more people like Tony Dungy in Sports–no in life.

What do you think?

[AP]

Cleveland Browns wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth took full responsibility for killing a pedestrian while driving drunk in Florida and began serving a 30-day jail sentence Tuesday after he pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter. Stallworth also reached a confidential financial settlement to avoid a potential lawsuit from the family of 59-year-old Mario Reyes, according to Stallworth attorney Christopher Lyons. Reyes was struck and killed March 14 by Stallworth, who was driving his black 2005 Bentley after a night drinking at a swanky hotel bar.
Stallworth, 28, told Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Dennis Murphy that he hopes to get involved in drunken driving education programs.

“I accept full responsibility for this horrible tragedy,” said Stallworth, who was accompanied at the hearing by his parents, siblings and other supporters. “I will bear this burden for the rest of my life.”

Stallworth faced 15 years in prison. After his release from jail, Stallworth must serve two years of house arrest and spend eight years on probation.

Read more here.

[From me]

I understand mistakes. But the man was drunk and killed a man. This wasn’t a situation where his car had problems or his brakes didn’t work. He was participating in an illegal activity and killed someone. Is the man he killed only worth 30 days in jail? What kind of punishment is that. Michael Vick gets years in jail for dogs and teams may not want to hire him to play in the NFL. But Stallworth will serve 30 days just in time to play this fall. In my opinion that is just wrong.

What do you think?

Yesterday former Atlanta Falcons Quarterback Michael Vick was released from Federal Prison for his part in raising and promoting dog fighting.  He was stripped of everything he had and sent to prison for 2 years. Now the debate rages on whether he should be allowed to play in the NFL again.  

Look, what he did was wrong and he should have paid for his wrong doing but how can there be any doubt of whether he should be able to make a living in what he did before. Other celebrity figures have been forgiven for murder, ruining other people’s lives, etc…. Why shouldn’t Michael Vick be given another chance? It seems with some what he did to dogs is worse than other crimes.  He has paid a heavy price and even wants to tell people that what he has done is wrong.  Why can’t people forgive him? 

What do you think?

[Baptist Press]

Kurt Warner’s bold witness for his faith comes as no surprise to those who have watched the NFL quarterback play for more than a decade. That’s what two Super Bowls -– one as MVP in a win -– and a book or two detailing your faith will do.

Still, the Arizona Cardinals signal-caller regrets not being able to share what is most important to him with more people, particularly when members of the media censor or minimize his faith in exploring his personality and his career.

That’s why he tries to do TV interviews with a Bible at his side and to mention God in live interviews since it can’t be edited out.

But he knows the name of Jesus can make non-Christians uncomfortable with the peace that He gives in the violent and up-and-down world of professional football.

Again this week in Tampa, before Super Bowl XLIII, when Baptist Press or other faith-based media organizations asked Warner non-football questions about his Christian faith, many writers would simply stop writing or filming while the quarterback gave testimony to the centrality of Jesus in his life.

In an Arizona Republic story by Paola Boivin this month, Warner recounted being on “The Oprah Winfrey Show” with Masters champion Zach Johnson, another believer.

Warner voiced three sentences for the brief segment, the second one about his faith. When the show aired, that sentence had been edited out.

But Warner says he won’t stop trying to let everyone know his career is not about touchdowns or passing yards or even a Super Bowl victory Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Read more here.

[From me]

I can’t imagine that the media would want to censor Kurt’s testimony.  They never do anything like that do they?  :)

 So many people in the media criticize Kurt and other believers for sharing their faith with everyone. But who would you rather have, a thug who is in jail and has 13 children with 13 different women? Or a man who practices what he preaches? We need more Kurt Warners in all walks of life that live for JesusI’ll be pulling for him today but if they lose, he will still be sharing his faith!

What do you think?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdcJSsRfL8s[/youtube]

Tom Brady has All American looks and an NFL MVP arm as a quarterback for the New England Patriots. He has won 3 Super Bowls and has dated some of the most beautiful women in the world. He has more money than he could ever spend. Yet, he says him self that something is missing. This video is less than 3 minutes long but I think it is worth watching.

If you don’t watch anything else–go to 2:31 into the video and listen to what he says:

“Why do I have 3 Super Bowl Rings and still think there’s something greater out there”

“There has to be more to live than this”

Interviewer, “what’s the answer?’

Brady. “I wish I knew.”

Wow! Tom Brady is living the dream that most American Boys could only imagine and yet he seems unhappy. I know the answer. The answer to life is a relationship with Jesus Christ. The moment I gave my life to Jesus the world is different. I have a purpose everyday. I see the world differently. I look at people differently. I confess I have pulled against Brady because of his lifestyle. No more. I was wrong and will pray for him.

If you are wondering is there more to life? Yes, and all you have to do is ask Jesus to become the leader of your life.

What do you think?