GODs 300, Inc

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 31 Oct 2013 14:06:00 +0000

Intentionally make ONE promise to yourself every day and keep it. It doesn’t matter if it’s big, small or important to anyone else. All that matters is that you keep the promise you make every day you make it. Your confidence will shoot through the roof – David Neeley

NOW I AM THE GIANT

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Jul 2013 03:26:00 +0000

As an African-American veteran I am impressed by how the Buffalo Soldiers, Montford Point Marines, Black Freedom Riders and Civil Rights activists, "Black Firsts," Black desegregators, slaves and the children of former slaves, navigated the treacherous tension of being more American than America wanted them to be.

In a maelstrom of slavery, terrors in the night, false arrests, lynchings, family separations, institutionalized emasculation and worldwide denigrations as being less than human, I lay like a defenseless babe in the mud among the feet of the aforementioned giants.

Anticipating my cries, in order to protect me, these great dark Giants spread their bare feet, enthusiastically lowered their shoulders and resisted with wide backs the weight trying to crush me. With uncommon faith, they did business with each other on Tulsa, Oklahoma's Green St., Atlanta's Sweet Auburn and chartered normal schools like the Haines Institute in Augusta, GA and HBCU's like Tuskegee in Alabama. They integrated other schools like Central High in Little Rock, AR, and my alma mater, Mercer University in Macon, Ga.

The best of their men rejected the visual and intellectual trappings of slavery while the savviest of their women skillfully multiplied their resources and carried themselves with self respect.

These heroic Giants did all these things and more so I could live as a man on this earth. So I could love my wife on this earth. Raise and nurture my children in peace on this earth. Benefit my community with God given talents while I live on this earth.

Those Giants are dead and gone now. They did an incredible job.

Now I Am The Giant.

The Giants before me would be appalled at how I have allowed my boys to remain boys well into their adult years.

The Giants before me would weep at how I have driven my women into desperate loneliness.

The Giants before me would scream and tear their clothes at how I allow the "new" black breed to portray themselves on reality TV.

The Giants before me did not endure the fire so I could live the way I live now.

In the wake the Zimmerman travesty, the cloud of Giant witnesses around me are reposed on well deserved thrones.

The Giants are watching and waiting for me to rise.

Now I Am The Giant.

I pray to God for strong legs, thick shoulders, a wide back, muscular hands, bellowing lungs, visionary/x-ray sight, a shrewd mind, high-velocity will, a nurturing/stout heart with a pliable obedience subject to God only.

Now I Am The Giant. And you are too.

- David Neeley

The Serious Work of Manhood

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 06 Jul 2013 19:36:00 +0000

I only caught a few glimpses of the 2013 BET Awards show last week but the commercials, FB posts and the bit I saw, afforded me a strong impression.

Just a couple days ago in another forum, I was part of a discussion about the awards show. My thoughts remain that the show is a great idea but I'm still bothered to see adult men in music "so serious about being not serious."

Thankfully, one of the women in the conversation asked me to explain my myself. Her question allowed me to explore my gut reaction. A copy of my response follows.

Some folks may clamor that music is just entertainment and ought not be taken seriously. To them I say that the blues, gospel music, national anthems and battle hymns are much more than mere entertainment. Music moves us to act. Lyrics set to music tell us how to act.

Others may concede some music is serious and then urge me to allow room for genres that are purely entertaining. I make no such room for music. Music that does not move us is not fit to be played.

My musical perspective feeds my view on how it impacts the attitude and behavior of men and boys. Bad music begets bad men. The perpetuation of bad music perpetuates the production of bad men.

Anyway, here are my thoughts:

"The AA Community no longer blazes the line whereby boys are communally expected to be men.

In great part, to me, a man is male who disciplines himself socially, physically, emotionally, academically, financially and spiritually to gather resources so he may support and benefit others in those same realms.

In return, men like the aforementioned reap even greater rewards from the women and children in their lives and accolades from other men. This is the serious work of manhood.

IMHO, a boy's hand is set to learn this work between 12 and 13 years of age. At 18, certainly no later than 20, a young man should master the basics in the areas mentioned above. Instead, popular male AA music artists often embody and glorify deficiency in nearly every facet I'm talking about.

The AA community applauds and supports the "business of not being serious" about producing good men - men that are serious about serving, leading and supporting their women, disciplining their children with self-sacrifice and love all the while improving communities.

Yes, for a great while I was "serious about not being serious" and my light bulb went off well past my 20th birthday. I get it. I understand how "fun" it is to play with the social fabric of family and community. However, my lights are on now and I see how dirty we men make the AA community. The Black Man is what ails Black America and I take no great pleasure in seeing us (black men) encourage boys to remain boys with slovenly dress, emotionally abusive speech, disloyalty and misogyny. I'm not saying women are perfect in contrast. I'm saying as great as they are and as far as they have carried us, AA's won't get any better till our boys become men sooner and more often." - David Neeley

Hit your Refresh Button!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Everybody in your situation has the same choice: you can rue your situation or you can dedicate yourself to changing it. Accept responsibility for your future. Refuse to complain, criticize, or condemn.

Mark Ford

Stand your ground

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 14:16:00 +0000

Today's might oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground. - David Icke

Effectiveness

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 14:11:00 +0000

Ability is what your capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it - Lou Holtz

Outlook

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:01:00 +0000

Position Determines Connection Determines Perspective Determines Interpretation Determines Attitude - David Neeley

High Expectations

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:26:00 +0000

If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you never will change the outcome. - Michael Jordan

Love Your Neighbor

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 15 Feb 2013 14:21:00 +0000

Everyone has an invisible sign hanging from his neck saying "Make Me Feel Important!" Never forget this message when working with people -

Mary Kay Ash

Self-Development

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 14:17:00 +0000

I don't believe you have to be better than everybody else. I believe you have to be better than you ever thought you could be.-Ken Venturi

Plan your life before someone does it for you

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 14:47:00 +0000

http://instagr.am /p/VrMfNIOYtN /

TENACITY

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 14:28:00 +0000

Character building

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 12:57:00 +0000

Sweet are the uses of adversity which, like a toad, though ugly and venomous, wears yet a precious jewel in its head - William Shakespeare

Goals

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 12:45:00 +0000

IF You Are My Brother

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 16:07:00 +0000

“If you are my brother,

Then you must always be honest with me even when it hurts.

If you are my brother,

then you must always push me forward when I want to quit.

If you are my brother,

then you must acknowledge my faults and help me to correct them.

If you are my brother,

then I know that I can count on you when times are rough.

If you are my brother,

then you must be critical of me when I am not critical of myself.

If you are my brother,

then I must be able to cry around you and not be ashamed.

If you are my brother,

then I must be able to share my feelings with you and not offend you.

If you are my brother,

then all these things I will do for you." - Author Unknown

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 12:27:00 +0000

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 14:14:00 +0000

If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with success unexpected in common hours. - Henry David Thoreau

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 14:01:00 +0000

"Get a good idea and stay with it. Dog it, and work at it until it's done right." - Walt Disney

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 12:37:00 +0000

Righteousness = Right moral standing w/God. What r His moral standards?Pray & read ur Bible daily & He will tell you moment by moment.

Perspective

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:32:00 +0000

Perspective is a path to either God, the Singular Truth or away from Him, to falsehood. Being human and less than omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent, the variety of perspectives we can maintain are limited. Still, whether forced upon us or voluntarily adopted, as necessary as breathing we all have a collection of perspectives that either illuminate the path to God or away from Him. Does your perspective leave room for doubt, fear, anxiety, anger and the other issues listed in Galatians 5:19-21? When you get tired of seeing life the way you see it now, check out what God promises you in Jeremiah 29:11-13. If you haven't accepted the gift of Salvation yet, adopt Christ's perspective here --->Romans 10:9-10. If you have accepted Salvation and need to reset your outlook here ---> 2 Chronicles 7:14. Have an awesome God-Inspired Day!!!!!!!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 14:24:00 +0000

“Absolute identity with one’s cause is the first and great condition of successful leadership.” Woodrow Wilson

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 10:18:00 +0000

If u think ur too small to hve an impact, try going to sleep with a mosquito in the room. DAME ANITA RODDICK

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 14:09:00 +0000

To educate a man in mind and not in morals is to educate a menace to society.-Teddy Roosevelt

Mastering The Moment by David Neeley

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:48:00 +0000

In February 2010, Tiger Woods infidelities drove him to make a public statement. The networks vied to get an interview. People who had never stepped on a course watched coverage on the Golf Channel. I bet their ratings were never higher and probably haven’t been as high since.

In making his statement, Tiger allowed one reporter in the room. He took no questions – he read what he wrote, apologized to his wife, mother, fans and sponsors and went his way. The media fumed about not being allowed to ask questions or have direct access to him. As the commentators became more upset, one of them remarked that this was vintage Tiger Woods – controlling the moment. He brought up several examples of how, under incredibly stressful conditions, Tiger displayed his legendary ability to block out distraction and focus. He concluded with video and commentary of the 2008 U.S. Open Sudden Death match with Rocco Mediate.

In June 2008, with millions of dollars on the line, cameras caught close-ups of Tiger wincing as pain arced through his face. His hobbled walk was noticeable from the far gallery as he approached the final green. In contrast, Mediate walked confidently. Unknown to everyone at the time, Tiger had a torn ligament in his left knee and a double stress fracture in his left leg.

When Tiger’s shot came, the breath of the crowd thronged feet away, electric pain burned his leg, camera’s whirred, and millions of people stared – Tiger stepped out – blocked out the distractions –putted – and won the match!

Saying that moment was no different than the moment of his statement, the commentator asked why anyone was surprised Tiger blocked the media. “This is vintage Tiger Woods controlling the moment,” said the reporter. And though I disapproved of his choices, I watched the rest of Tiger’s coverage impressed. Here was a man that seemed in control while chaos-confetti flew around him. I don’t imagine he ever thought he would be in the position he was in but he seemed prepared. He didn’t seem panicked and he wasn’t running like a coward.

Then, it hit me… if Tiger, a Buddhist, a man who does not acknowledge Christ could be strong and courageous enough to control his moment, how much more could I do because of Christ who lives in me??? The more I thought about it the more excited I became – the Bible says that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4.) John 14:12 says that whoever believes in Christ will be able to do the works He did and even greater works than those! God used Tiger’s situation to reveal more of Himself to me and gave me the phrase, “Master the Moment!”

I define a “Moment” as an intensely emotional response lasting a space of time wherein the sanctified, renewed mind is so assaulted and overruled that the Christian is in peril of disobeying God, losing righteousness and sinning. These Moments can last from a split second to months or even years!

Often, the Moments we come across are sudden and unexpected. Still, just as often, we can anticipate a moment in advance. For instance, you KNOW how intense your feelings are, good or bad, when certain subjects come up. As a matter of fact, sometimes you even know the date, time, and location and people that will create the next challenging Moment for you – I know I do!

Knowing that God is able to help me Master the Moment, I asked Him two things – what stops me from Mastering the Moment and what do I need to do in order to Master the Moment?

Here’s what I heard Him say… things that stop us from Mastering the Moment are too numerous to count. However, they all have one thing in common; they block the thoughts that show we love God with ALL our heart, soul and strength and love our neighbors as we love ourselves. That is what stops us from Mastering the Moment. The second answer is simple too, in order to Master the Moment, both sudden and anticipated, we must prepare in advance.

Preparation for the Moment is living a Christian lifestyle. This includes a CONSISTENT and SINCERE pattern of 1) Daily Bible reading, 2) Prayer, 3) Worship, 4) Fasting, 5) Meditation, 6) Christian Service, 7) Fellowship, and 8) Giving of Tithes and Offering.

This is NOT a magic formula! Instead, with a heart that truly wants to hear God and obey Him, doing the eight behaviors above will position you to do just that – hear from God so you can obey Him! Even better, when we obey God we can boldly growl the answer, “NOT YOU!,” to Romans 8:28-31 at our spiritual enemies! And no matter what Moment we may find ourselves in, we can rest confidently in His promise, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11!

I pray you are encouraged and ALWAYS preparing to Master the Moment!

David Neeley is dedicated to ministering to and supporting men as they mature in Christian faith. In 2007 he founded God’s 300, a men’s ministry group based on Judges 7 dedicated to showing the parallels between physical and spiritual fitness through exercise and small group discussion.

God’s .300 believes a spiritually and physically fit man is better able to serve God and be a resource for his family than the version of himself that is not as spiritually and physically fit. In this sense, there is no cause for enmity between men. As he focuses on his relationship with God, a man only competes against himself. If these words ring true to you, then you too are G300!

David graduated from Mercer University, is a Desert Storm veteran and lives with his wife, Shana, in Charlotte, North Carolina

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 11:49:00 +0000

"Staying focused and productive requires an off balance attitude and an attitude that all things are NOT equally important." Dan Thurmon