Who’s the greatest?

When it comes to boxing, most would agree that Cassias Clay, also known to the world over as Muhammad Ali, is the greatest heavy weight boxer—ever. The Muhammad Ali of 60’s was certainly the fastest heavyweight ever. In the May 5, 1969, issue of Sports Illustrated, they measured his jab with an omegascope. That jab could smash a balsa board 16.5 inches away in 19/100 of a second. It actually covered the distance in 4/100 of a second, which is also the blink of an eye.

“He has no business being as fast as he is. I never saw that right hand,” said Bob Foster, the world light heavyweight champion, after his fight with Ali.

Author John Durant described Ali as having “lightning fast hands and a pair of legs that moved around the ring like a ballet dancer. He would float just out of range with his hands dangling at his side as if to taunt his opponent.

‘I am the greatest! I told the world, I am the greatest. You’re going to go down. Can’t stop it. You can’t stop it. Here it comes,’ he would say just before sticking a lighting fast jab and an unstoppable hook.”

I think about people who are perceived as the best at what they do: Nolan Ryan, Elvis, John Wayne, Ted Williams, Stevie Ray Vaughn, Chuck Yaeger, Alexander...what was the rest of his title? Anyway, there is something to be said about the cream of the crop and something that reminds of me of the Kingdom of God.

The Fight for Greatness

Anyone who begins to hang out with Jesus, no matter what kind of history they have, begins to contemplate his their own untapped greatness. After a while in His presence, you become willing to fight for it. The dirty dozen whom Jesus assembled, were men of no notoriety before Jesus joined them. Yet, there was something about His presence that made them all feel like they were God’s favorite and could do anything.

Luke 9:46

Then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest.

Luke 22:24

And there was also a strife among them, which of them should be accounted the greatest.

Matthew 18:1

At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?”

Mark 9:34

But they held their peace: for by the way they had disputed among themselves, who should be the greatest.

Hanging around Jesus Christ, breathing His words of life and thinking his thoughts makes you want to fight for greatness. So why isn't there more of that?

Sadly, the Church is more famous for dregs than for the best wine at the marriage supper. Here in the bible noose of the southern United States, we church leaders have been more about shouting, “You had better not,” rather than, “Go forth.” So we settle and we settle for something that once was, rather that fight for what could be.

Our fight for greatness gets replaced with a fight for preserving history, and that is where it really gets ugly. Whatever used to be a long time ago, religion likes to call that godliness. We must resist the Amish-like temptation to canonize an era and instead tap into how God is moving today. Just like the Pharisees and Scribes in Jesus’ day, we become so familiar with an old move of God, we have no grid for a new move of God and our lack of pursuit for upgrade causes us to miss our day of visitation.

Religion and the Law always require what we can not pay and makes us failures, but the Grace of God always enables us to be and to do what was impossible before Jesus entered the picture. Grace, you gotta love it!

So, The Brewer herby informs you that it is my humble opinion that I am God’s favorite and can do anything. I am also here to tell you that the bug for better is contagious. Once you hang around Jesus, you can argue with me over who is the coolest cat alive. Jesus has a funny way of empowering us all to believe Him for the greatest.

And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13

Troy Brewer Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and even be found at www.opendoorministries.org or www.troybrewer.com

HOUSTON’S SHAME AND VICTORY

April 21st is the day the battle of San Jacinto was fought. One hundred and seventy four years ago, Texian rebels under General Sam Houston routed a much larger force led by Mexican president and bonafide tyrant, Santa Anna. On that one single day, in one single decisive battle, everything changed. Mexico moved south, The tyranny and murder of Santa Anna was eliminated, The nation of Texas was born and the United States was now open for western expansion and would soon be a nation from sea to shining sea.

I had an ancestor who fought at the battle of San Jacinto . His name was Henry Brewer. No doubt he personally met and had some contact with Houston himself.

That fascinates me because I am such a Sam Houston fan. If you cut me, I will bleed red, white, and blue with a little white star in it. I love Texas.

This weeks cup from a highly caffeinated Christian comes brewed with a story about our states founding father.

Mr. Houston goes to Washington

In 1832 Houston visited Washington to expose the frauds practiced upon the Cherokee Indians by terrible government agents. He was outraged at how the Cherokees were taken advantage of and lied to. His attention and argument were not welcomed on Capital Hill. While Houston was there in April, a Congressman from Ohio by name of William Stanbery, made accusations about Houston in a speech on the floor of Congress. Stanbery blatantly accused Houston of being in league with several men known to be fraudulent.

Stanbery, who now decided it was smart to carry two pistols and a dirk, refused to answer Houston's letters and this did not set well with Houston. Infuriated, he later confronted Stanbery on Pennsylvania Avenue as Stanbery left a boardinghouse, and beat him upside the head with a hickory cane.

In the fight, Stanbery managed to draw one of his pistols, place it at Houston's chest, and pull the trigger—the gun misfired and Houston poured his wrath out on the coward.

On April 17, Congress ordered the arrest of Houston, who pleaded self-defense, and hired Francis Scott Key, none other than the writer of our national anthem, as his lawyer. Houston was found guilty, but was only lightly reprimanded. Stanbery then filed civil charges and Judge Cranch found Houston liable for $500 in damages. Houston did not pay it, and left the country for guess where? -Texas.

San Jacinto

Four years later, Houston lay on a bloody battlefield having a 2nd horse shot out from under him. A musket ball had torn through his ankle as he rode out front of the army he was now leading as Commanding General. Having studied Alexander’s attack and win over the superior numbers of the Persians, Houston rode out front and specifically attacked toward the personal tent of Santa Anna. Like Xerxes, Santa Anna ran like a scared jack rabbit. It got Houston shot but it also gave him the victory. The battle only lasted for about 15 minutes, but the gunfire continued for more than an hour as the Texans chased the remaining Mexican army into oblivion.

So for a little while, Houston lay there knowing he had won the day and in fact the entire war. His defeat in Washington had brought him to a victory in Texas. His shame in court had brought him to honor on the battlefield. His embarrassment of how he had acted on Pennsylvania Avenue had brought him to be the respected father of our great state and he lay there on the battle field, listening to the gunfire in the distance, knowing everything had changed.

The battle you are fighting

History gives lots of examples like this but let’s talk about your story. God Almighty knows you and He’s really good at turning water into wine. He loves to give beauty for ashes and replace tears with confidence. He won’t drive you anywhere but like a shepard, he will lead you into better and better. You just have to follow Him.

I have seen a lot of transformation in my life. In the very town where I was a boy, God has made me to be a like a father to many people. I have been terribly poor but now I getting to bless and help poor people. He changed me from a young man who loved a good fight, to a peace maker and from shame to honor. He’s still working on me and I have confidence that the finished product is much, much better than the stage I am at right now. God knows how to turn bad things into things that are good. You can go for years in a big mess and then finally in one day everything can change because of Jesus Christ. I don’t know if Houston was a Christian or not, but San Jacinto taught me that.

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new

Troy Pastors Open Door Ministries near Joshua and can reached at www.opendoorministries.org and troybrewer.com