Pure Talent Sports Ministry would like to hear from you. If you have an experience that you believe would benefit someone else or you cherish one particular scripture, please submit it and it will be displayed in this section of our website.

Impact Player

04/20/2011 19:27:00

This is my favorite time of the year…March Madness! Every year we get the opportunity to learn of stars on teams we typically don’t follow (why follow any team other than KU?). During this time we learn how valuable they are to their teams and how announcers will say they wouldn’t be here without them. On the heels of March Madness we are near opening day of the major league baseball season as well as one of my new favorite sports, soccer. Then of course we are also close to finishing the regular season of the NBA basketball season. During the NBA draft we here the commentators say often how the player drafted is going to make an immediate impact. As a sports fanatic, I love this time of the year! With all of the sports I touched on we learn of each teams “impact player(s)”. The people on the team that at any moment can change the scope of a game or series due to their ability. Now look at yourself…are you an impact player? Are you able to change the flow of your work place, school, or community based on your ability or what you know?As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been giving the challenge to make a major impact in the world around us. We are directed to be faithful with the gospel and share it with believers and unbelievers alike. We are challenged to make disciples. What better way to be an impact player in the kingdom of God than by creating disciples, who disciple disciples, until disciple cycles (lil Lecrae for you)? Many of us men had dreams as boys growing up to be a star athlete, be a difference maker. We had dreams of being that impact player who gets all the accolades and praises. How many times did you shoot that turn around jump shot as time expired? What about the game ending catching in the front yard? Do you remember each of those moments then yourself saying, “And the crowd goes wild!” Now think about this, What better praise can you receive than from the Father himself when he says, “Well done good and faithful servant, you have been faithful with few (disciples) and then I trusted you with many (disciples)”. Do you want to be an impact player? Following the Great Commission is a great start…make an impact that will last for eternity…remember we aren’t here today if the 12 didn’t decide to be impact players…who are you impacting?Men At The Cross - Kansas City / October 22, 2011 / www.menatthecrosskc.org

I have the right to remain nameless

02/22/2011 15:45:00

“I don’t want to be on the top if they put him at the bottom/ Sho you just faking to be humble and poor-in hopes that the LORD will be pleased and bless you with more/ No homie I just keep my face to the floor- when he opens that door my views will be the same as before” - Sho Baraka from the track OverratedI wasn’t thinking of the lyric above when I began thinking about writing this blog last night but it immediately jumped in my head while sitting down to write this morning. Over the last few years in sports, entertainment, and ministry we have seen many “great” people fall. From our favorite athletes, actors, pastors, and musicians…the mighty have fallen. I take no joy in seeing others fall but in many you can see the road or behavior in which it occurred. To me, it is important to stay grounded and try your best to remain the same person you were when nobody knew who you were. I’ve seen folks change and develop an arrogance about themselves in which you knew they were going to need to be rocked some way or another. As people say all the time, “The bigger they are, the harder they fall”…that’s if you don’t remain true to what you believed and who you were in the beginning.The Lord started using me as a minister of the gospel back in 2004 when I started a bible study for high school kids in KCK out of a movie theater. Shortly after that I accepted the position of Youth Pastor at a local church. I will never forget in 2005 I was asked for the 1st time to minister to youth at an event in Indiana. I state I will never forget it because it was the first time I knew pride could sneak up and be an issue even in the life we call ministry. See, immediately I thought I must be a pretty decent speaker if somebody requested to pay my travels, put me in a hotel, and even give me a thing I learned to be called an “honorarium”. As immediately as those thoughts came to me the Lord rocked me as I opened the text and saw, “Let him who boast boast in the Lord”. That became the words in which I decided I would approach public ministry.If I was to have a major downfall in ministry it would be because of pride. I do ministry in the way I do today because I know my weakness. See, my whole life I’ve been told how good I was in something. I started playing sports at age 4 and have always been good, placed on all-star teams. I was recruited by several colleges offering me scholarships because they thought I was worth it because of my talents. I earned a starting position as a freshman on a division 1 baseball team because the coach thought I was one of the best freshman he’s seen come along. I played on a college baseball team years later that went to the college world series because of how good we were and we had people from fans to pollsters telling us this over and over again. My ego has been getting stroked my whole life! This is why this can be damaging to me as a minister of the gospel. This is why I choose the right to remain nameless.I mentioned I’ve decided to do ministry in a different approach. I am no way saying this is the way to do things but it works for me. Regardless of the number of request I have received over the years it is important for me to do things as close to how I did from the beginning as possible. Many people don’t know me…and I love that. I in know way want to be a Francis Chan or John Piper. I just want to be Vernon Birmingham or the nicknamed given years ago, PastorV. I am quite confident half of the followers I have on twitter are from the fact a Lecrae, Sho, or Tedashii may have said something to me therefore people think I’m important because they follow me. I’m not! When I think back to who I was in 04 to where I am in 2011…I’ve grown as a believer, husband, father, and minister of God’s word. In many ways though I am the same guy and that’s important to note. I mention this to these guys a lot but I will share with you. I first met the guys I mentioned a few sentences up in 2005. Today, in 2011 they are the same dudes I met back in the day. You must agree…their platform and recognition has grown tremendously…but they are much the same people. Other than honorariums…stuff is done the same. They treat folks the same way as they did back in the day which is huge. You can begin to see when people are getting too big for themselves when they begin to treat people they’ve known for quite some time as a hassle. These are cats I try to continue to keep company.Pride can quickly become your ruin (James 4:6). When you start to get the “big head” and doing the Lord’s work at some time He will have to knock you down a time or two. He will not let you take His glory and try to deflect it to yourself. He will not allow you to think you are bigger than the cause. As much as we work to remain humble it takes one comment to have you thinking you are somebody you really are not. I want to give a quick insight on things I’ve done and will continue to do so I don’t fall to the “pride punch in the throat”.* I will never has a personal website. Is that a problem…No! But for me its not a necessity. To be quite honest facebook and twitter is enough of a problem for me some days! If I didn’t have a personal website in 04 and 05 I feel there is no need to have one now. What would I put on the website…a bunch of stuff about me and my accomplishments? That’s ok. I feel just because I’ve had more people request for me to speak doesn’t mean I need a website. If people have found me over the last few years…they can find me today.* I very rarely post video or audio of myself. If I was at an event and they recorded it and posted it that is there right to do so. For me to post something it would be a short clip of something I felt could be really edifying to the body. For me to post video after video of myself so others can hear me can be a good thing but because I do struggle with pride, I personally view it as a form of narcissism.* I very rarely post all of the locations I speak. Last year in 2010 I spoke at 34 different events. I spent a lot of time with college football, basketball, and volleyball teams. I think I posted eight events total. Why…I’m a firm believer that just because you have a lot of events or shows doesn’t mean you’re being effective…maybe you’re just being busy. Sometimes the posting of your events can come off as bragging…look at what I’m doing type thing. If I know people in the area I will hit them up personally but no need to broadcast for others…that’s not my job. I pray the Lord will draw the people to the event He needs and wants to be there.* My honorarium amount has not changed in six years. That amount is what the Lord places on their hearts to give me that is cool. Is that dangerous…not at all if you are truly doing it to further the gospel (1 Cor 9, 1 Tim 5). Can you complain about what amount you get when you’ve been giving the privilege to share God’s word? And to add, I’ve always been taken care of. People who host ministry events are servants first and foremost and in their hearts know the importance of doing things right.* I don’t repost compliments given to me. I’ve received notes, letters, and etc of people saying good things about a message or event. I didn’t do nothing on my own. I don’t retweet compliments either…it’s just lame and nobody can convince me otherwise.Some may think I’m taking it to an extreme…and that’s ok if I am. When you know you have an area you struggle, extreme measures it must be. If one struggles with porn I wouldn’t find it strange if they got rid of their computer (Matt 18). I’m aware that a website, posting dates, and etc can be edifying to others. If that is the case but allows me to stumble in the process its not beneficial to my growth (Rom 14). I never had a desire to want to travel and preach the gospel. It was not something I sought out or positioned myself to do. I was just doing the Lord’s work and he opened up doors. So why do I need to change anything I did prior? I was a nobody then…I am a nobody now. Over the years I’ve gotten to know many “well-known” people from Christian musicians to pastors. I rarely talk about them because it gets me no where. Will I lie and say I don’t reach out to them to get into doors I couldn’t before, I will not. The point I’m making is for me to continuously post on blogs and social media sites I know such and such does not benefit me at all. My only job is to preach the gospel when called upon and do it with as little limelight and fanfare as possible (1 Cor 2). If I shall boast in anything it will be that of the great work the Lord is doing. We have many great people out there doing the Lord’s work who are known and famous…considering my struggles, I just choose the right to remain nameless.*** Disclaimer: Understand I am not saying posting dates, having a website or anything I said on here is wrong and a sin. What I am saying is they are and would be a struggle for me and my walk.***

your post here.

WHAT IF WE ALL GRABBED JUST ONE IN 2011?

02/08/2011 16:31:00

WHAT IF WE ALL GRABBED JUST ONE IN 2011?

2011 for some reason already seems like its going to be a strange year. I mean, some people are looking at all the dead animals all over the place and think the end of the world is near. You look at the tragedies in Omaha, Tucson, and Baltimore in one week time. We have letters catching on fire suddenly at post offices across the nation. This all in the first two weeks!

This year is going to be different! This evening I sat working on some things for Men At The Cross. Men At The Cross is a ministry where the the focus is discipleship. We believe Men At The Cross is first off a CALLING that seeks to fulfill the Great Commission in America and the world by equipping every committed believer to “Love a man to Jesus until he’s ready to love another man to Jesus”.

Our one main mission and purpose is to provide an INTENTIONAL pathway for men to grow in Christ and lead others in Christ. That simple…every man who believes in Matthew 28:19 will live it by it. This is as easy as grabbing ONE man and walk with him until he’s ready to walk with a man then you grab another. Imagine that! What if we all grabbed just one this year and walked with him for some time then that man grabbing a man and leading him until he grabs a man but at the same time all the original men are grabbing men and so forth! Might sound confusing but imagine the impact that would have in homes! Imagine the impact that would have in neighborhoods and communities.

Then how that transfers to cities and states. Just one! There are a few things I personally like about Men At The Cross. I personally have been walking with them since year one. The men who attend these events will hear from some solid biblical teachers. If we are going to talk about discipleship and biblical manhood, better to be from some of the most respected teachers around.

What is refreshing also about Men At The Cross is you are not expected to have attended bible college or seminary to disciple a man. You need to have a passion to see men grow in the faith. Men At The Cross gives each man copies of the “One2Won” Crosstraining book, which will give you the tools to help you walk with that man for 25 weeks. And finally, one of my favorites is the sessions for the young men or teens. After the opening session, these young men are taking to a session by themselves where they will be encouraged and challenged to live out their faith and defend God’s word.

Starting them early! This year begins year four of this ministry! Men At The Cross is not trying to take over churches and men’s groups. Men At The Cross is walking side by side with these groups to make an impact for Christ around the world. If Matthew 28:19 is something that you believe in…you have no choice but to move on it. I’m not saying Men At The Cross is that ministry that knows it all or the only way to get it done…but we are here to serve alongside you and make disciples.

You can find Men At The Cross coming to cities all over the US in 2011, starting Jan. 22 in Memphis, TN. I have the opportunity and privilege to lead the conference that is coming to Kansas City in the fall. At the same time I am burdened because it is evident around the city biblical manhood and discipleship is lacking. What if we all grabbed just one. It is not an option but a duty.

It is extremely easy to say I don’t have time…how can you afford not to have time? Paul told Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others”. By the Lord’s grace we have been given valuable information we aren’t to hold to ourselves but to use to help other men live this thing out. Don’t be the 3rd guy in the parable of the talents caught holding on to it. If you are in Kansas City and want to get plugged in, help in the grassroots effort, or just learn more about this ministry please reach out to me. The goal in 2011 for us all is to grab just one!

www.menatthecross.org

www.menatthecrosskc.org

PastorV

New Year, New who?!

01/03/2011 02:57:00

The arrival of 2011 calls for not just the thought of new beginnings, but the actual action of implementing new beginnings. I really believe that this year is the year of the servant in which man will be called to not be served, but to serve others. As we reflect the life of CHRIST, it is evident that nothing he did was for himself but for our sake. If he had not given his life as a ransom for our sake, what we are experiencing in the world today would be 7x70, worse! I challenge all readers today, to make a stand for the kingdom and vow to impact as many people's lives in 2011 than ever before. Why not help yourself, by helping others! I love you all and GOD bless!

COACH

08/24/2010 14:52:00

I was recently fortunate enough to hear minister Monte Coleman better known as super bowl participant and head football coach of the university of Arkansas at pine bluff football team speak. As I have allowed life (i.e. school, work, baseball) to overly occupy my time and distract me, my spirit man has been neglected and not getting its fix on the word and the quality time with GOD as he so desires. Coach spoke about how we can be anorexic and neglect the body of the necessities by not feeding ourselves the word and not being in GODs presence. He also mentioned how one can be bulimic and here the word but regurgitate it as if we never had it still putting ourselves in such a dangerous position to be attacked by the devil and his tactics. I thank GOD for that divine opportunity because it was right on time as I have been putting things before GOD and needed a reality check to get back focused on the task at hand.

How's sweet the sound

08/24/2010 14:49:00

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Evangel Celebration Choir (Verizon says they are Chicago's Best)

Evangel Celebration Choir Blazed How Sweet The Sound So bad.....when they got done the judges had NO words and the audience and everyone in the building knew they won to rep Chicago! They alson won $1...

This is a video clip that a friend emailed me about her church in Chicago. They did an awesome job and I believe that this will brighten someone's day as well as their life. Allow it to bless your spirit man while glorifying the father.

UNASHAMED

08/24/2010 14:31:00

This is one scripture that I orchestrate my daily activities around and that's being unashamed of Jesus Christ and what he has done for me even through my down times and my periods of wandering in the world. I thank him continuously everyday for purchasing me and my siblings in him, allowing us to have a second chance at eternity with the father. Glory to your name.

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Romans 1:16