"I am Barack Obama"

Remember those commercials back in the 80's that had people saying "I want to be like Mike"? (Michael Jordan; by the way I have a vintage Air Jordan Jacket from his rookie season if anyone is interested in owning a nice piece of memorabilia...) Then in the 90's there was the campaign that featured people saying "I am Tiger Woods".

Mike (as I like to call him) and Tiger have one thing in common. They influenced entire generations. They influenced generations by offering hope that if they can do it, so can you.

My daughter is learning about the civl-rights era in school right now, and we visited the NC Museum of History on Monday (MLK Day) and saw an exhibit on the era. She saw signs that said 'colored only' and 'white only'. She saw newspaper clippings that had statements about how we are not equal. Then on Tuesday she was able to witness Barack Obama become President of the US. I am glad she got to see that. I know that it will be a different world for her as she grows up as a result of it.
Carrie made a statement during the inauguration yesterday that was very true. No matter how President Obama performs as president this is one of those moments in history that can influence entire generations. I hope that it will.

As church leaders, we have an even greater responsibility. We have been given the opportunity to influence people in terms of their eternity. This makes me feel an urgency to quit playing the game and start transcending it. Mike didn't just play basketball as it had always been played. Tiger didn't just play golf...I 'just play' golf. Barack Obama did not achieve his influence on a generation by being status quo. I can't just continue to play pastor or leader, father and husband. If I can't be influential and transcend the status quo, I dont wanna play.

Do I agree politically with Barack Obama? Not on much. Am I inspired by his passionate influence and leadership? Yep. So in the spirit of those commercials...I can say "I am Barack Obama"

Where in your life do you need to quit just playing the game? Where can you influence a generation? Sound too big for you? Think about it...you can.