Modern Day Abolistionist

I flew out west yesterday to attend the Global Forum on Human Trafficking hosted by the Not For Sale Campaign. While I was on a airplane headed from Orlando to Denver (to catch a connecting flight to San Diego,) world slavery was heavy on my mind. I actually remember thinking of my schooling days and studying some of the great abolitionist leaders of the 19th century like Harriet Tubman, Fredreick Douglass and Sojourner Truth and William Wilberforce. I even thought of the leader of the great slave revolt, Nat Turner and others who put their lives on the line to stand up for their beliefs.

I actually thought and wondered, "If I was around in those days would I have been an abolitionist?" Throughout history there have been white Christians standing up for the cause of freedom. I even remembered looking at photos of Dr. King's march through selma and wondered would I have been one of those folks to stand tall and strong next to the freedom marchers, subjecting myself to tear gas and night sticks.

WOULD I HAVE BEEN A PERSON THAT STOOD UP FOR THE RIGHT THING?

Philosophically speaking is the only way to answer these questions, seeing as I was not around in the 19th century nor the early days of the civil rights movement in the 50's and 60's. The only way I can even come close to answering that question is my involvement today with doing my part to be a modern day abolitionist. That sounds crazy doesn't it? Slavery, in our world today? That is exactly what I thought before my very good friend Brant Christopher introduced me to David Batstone back in April of this past year. David a college professor in San Francisco and brilliant financial mind, heads up the Not For Sale Campaign to free the world of slavery. This is his life's passion, which is chronicled in his book with the same title (Not For Sale.)

So would I have been one of those abolitionists back "in the day?" As I said, I can't answer that, but as I look at my present commitment to the cause, I'm afraid I simply am not doing enough and that brings into question whether I would have had the fortitude and commitment in those days, to stand tall against these atrocities. I desire to do more, I desire to use my influence to free others and give them a better life. Many who stood up for others were tortured and ridiculed and branded in society as traitors. Nonetheless they stood strong.

In our world today, this is a bit less intrusive to our lives and yet we do less and less to stop these atrocities. We have such an opportunity to use our influence along with our resources to stop the 27 million people that are trafficked world wide. This doesn't stop with the borders of the U.S. People are trafficked through our country and are enslaved right in our own backyards. If you don't believe me start your own journey as I have. Read, study, travel, invest, and you will find that some slavery today is done just as it was in the 19th century, but as well will find that those who traffic human beings, have had to think outside the box and are enslaving people right under our noses.

In the mean time, I'd encourage you to do three things:

1. Visit www.notforsalecampaign.org and learn more about the cause (especially click the about page at the top center and educate yourself.) You can also visit other organizations like the International Justice Mission and Amnesty International and other organizations committed to bringing these atrocities to an end.

2. Sign up and become a modern day abolitionists. For $27 a month, you or your church and/or civic organization can sign up to become a backyard abolitionist. $27 a month reminds us of the 27 million enslaved as well as providing resources to combat human trafficking such as outposts in Nepal and housing in Thailand for kids.

3. I'd also encourage you to order David's book - Not For Sale, and learn more about this fight.

Listen don't allow my fanaticism to cloud the cause. Obviously I'm in San Diego right now and surrounded by some amazing people that have joined this fight ranging from HS Seniors to folks in their 50's and 60's. Listen, if we don't join the cause today, will we ever? I love all of our Speaktopia readers and hope you have a wonderful fall and don't stop using your influence to change the world!

Not For Sale Global Forum

Batstone and the Not For Sale Campaign are hosting the Global Forum on Human Trafficking this week in Carlsbad, CA outside of San Diego. Several hundred people this week are coming together including the international and Regional Directors coming from Uganda, Peru, Thailand, Ghana, Cambodia, and Nepal. Directors from all of Not For Sales Campaign's International Projects arrive this week in San Diego, CA to convene at the first Global Forum on Human Trafficking.

This Thursday and Friday, leading experts from multiple fields will come together to discuss their current work to confront human trafficking. Like the issue, the conference will span local national and international efforts and highlight a plethora of approaches.

The leading experts confronting human trafficking acknowledge the importance of collaborating and discussing prevention, protection, and prosecution efforts - as well as the need to address effects of human trafficking, like poverty. The Not For Sale Campaign is bringing together the world's leading abolitionists working in Canada, Nepal, Australia, the United States, and other countries to discuss the most effective measures to confront this global atrocity.

I'll be tweeting live from the forum so stay tuned to the blog as well as my Twitter and Facebook for updates. UNTIL THE CAPTIVES ARE ALL SET FREE!

Cash for Clunkers

As you stand at the counter of your favorite coffee shop ordering your Cafe Mocha Latte, you glance down down at the stack of USA Today Newspapers on the stand and find great irony and amusement in a couple of the headlines featuring Brett Favre and Cash for Clunkers.

Personally I laughed like crazy when I saw this and couldn’t resist writing about it. What instantly came to mind was the timing of the Favre signing with the Minnesota Vikings and the ending of the Cash for Clunkers. I thought to myself, two things. One, I guess the Vikings got their clunker and two, that the cash is going to cost them $12.5 million a year for two years.

Don’t get me wrong I actually believe Brett Favre is the greatest Quarterback in NFL history, if not the greatest football player ever; and his body of work speaks for itself. He is the only player to win the AP Most Valuable Player three consecutive times (1995, 1996, 1997).

He led the Packers to seven division championships, four NFC Championship Games and two Super Bowl appearances, winning one of them at Super Bowl XXXI.

He also holds many NFL records including: most career TD passes (464), most career passing yards (65,127), most career pass completions (5,720), most career pass attempts (9,280), most career interceptions thrown (310), most consecutive starts among NFL Quarterbacks (269; 291 total starts including playoffs) and most career victories as a starting Quarterback (169).

My problem is this was a very different Brett Favre we saw donning the purple Viking jersey with the familiar #4. During his first preseason attempt for comeback number 2, Brett looked old and was showing his age going 0-4 and taking only 8 snaps. My fear is not that his body of work will be lost in this circus that is this recurring change of mind to play or not to play but all the intangibles that we have come to love and associate with the Mississippi Gun Slinger.

I fear seeing him struggle and lay on the turf, we will forget of the Brett Favre that was overlooked by so many colleges and only being recruited by the University of Southern Miss and in his college career would beat powerhouses like Florida State and Alabama. That we will forget the man that after being traded from Atlanta to Green Bay was told he would fail the physical due to a degenerative hip condition (the same that ended Bo Jackson’s career). Still Green Bay took a chance on him and the rest is history.

I don’t want to forget the Brett Favre that overcame one of the greatest obstacles of all, an addiction to alcohol and pain killers. Who could forget the many pictures of Favre scrambling around eluding the sacks from Defensive Tackles like Warren Sapp and then playfully taunting him afterwards. Continuing to play after tragedies like Hurricane Katrina, Deanna Favres positive cancer results and the most unforgettable was following the death of Irvin Favre (Brett’s father) while playing against the Oakland Raiders, Favre went off in the first half with four touchdowns and 399 passing yards beating the Raiders 41-7.

If you can’t tell, I’m a huge Brett Favre fan and might be the only one pulling for #4 this season. I want my memories to stay strong and never fade of a home town kid from Hattiesburg, MS that overcame so many obstacles to become the Brett Favre we have grown to know and love.

Years from now this debate will continue and five years after he finally calls it a night; and I mean really calls it a night, Canton will welcome him with open arms, and who knows maybe this will be the greatest comeback in the history of sport.

¹ Associated Press, “Manning Joins Favre as 3 Time MVP. www.espn.com

² Brett Favre - Career Statistics. www.nfl.com

³ Favre Watch. www.nfl.com/packers

Greatest Sports Movies of All Time

I’ve probably watch over 250 different sports movies. So I began brain storming and even asking friends which ones they thought were the greatest of all time. So I’ve listed my top 50 sports movies of all time. Now, one can’t just begin listing movies. I believe their to be a criteria in listing the greatest sports movies of all times.

For starters, it has to be a movie you’ve seen. So I’m sure that National Velvet starring Elizabeth Taylor, might be on your list, unfortunately (well fortunately) I’ve not seen it so it can’t make my list. Secondly, it has to be rememberable. If it has to be explained for 10 minutes to you, than it can’t make the list. Finally, it has to inspire you, even if the acting isn’t that good, it has to inspire. Not just a tearful inspiration, but possible a movie that makes you do something. Now you’ll notice a few in my top 25 are comedies. This might not be the inspiration one is thinking of, but don’t under estimate the power of great laughter and those movies definitely deserve to be on the list.

1. Rocky (1976) - Sylvester Stallone, Talia Shire, Burgess Merideth

Hands down the greatest sports movie ever and most real sports movie enthusiasts would agree. If you don’t love Rocky you can’t be human, that simple! Who doesn’t like a story about and underdog that rises to triumph! You will notice a couple more Rocky movies to make the list but you won’t find Rocky V. Stallone should be punched in the face for making that movie.

2. Raging Bull (1980) - Robert DeNiro, Cathy Moriarty

DeNiro was well deserving of the Academy Award he won for his role of Jake LaMotta. This was the first in a long line of DeNiro movies that I would watch in my lifetime.

3. Hoosiers (1986) - Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey

This is the greatest hoops movie of all time. What a great story of little Hickory HS going to the Indiana state title game and winning! I actually have a basketball play called the Picket Fence, because of this movie.

4. Remember the Titans (2000) - Denzell Washington, Will Patton

If this movie doesn’t inspire you, there is something seriously wrong with you! Although I coach basketball, but watch this movie once a month during hoops season. I love that scene where Denzell holds his fist up and says, “Let nothing,nothing, come between us out there on that football field!” Great stuff!

5. Caddyshack (1980) - Ted Knight, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase

So funny you’ll pee your pants, but I’d encourage you to watch the made for TV version. It is a little cleaner.

6. The Natural (1984) - Robert DeNiro, Glen Close, Robert Duval

First Robert Redford Movie I ever watched. What a great line when Redford’s character (Roy Hobbs) breaks his prized bat, “Tommy, pick me out a winner!”

7. Million Dollar Baby (2004) - Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank, Morgan Freeman

This movie deserved all the Academy Awards it received. This movie made me angry, made me cry and made me hope.

8. Victory (1981) - Sylvester Stallone, Michael Caine

No cold war era would be complete without a great sports movie. I don’t even like soccer, but I played a year or two becuase of this movie. Who could pass up a movie staring Pele, the great Brazillian star.

9. Field of Dreams (1989) - Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones

If you build it they will come. Enough said!

10. The Sandlot (1993) - Tom Guiry, Mike Vitar

Thanks for making us watch this Rey. This movie took me back to easier days and great memories. A must see for the entire family. Teams should get together and watch as well.

The Best of the Rest (This debate will continue on through eternity):

- Bull Durham (1988) - Kevin Coster, Susan Sarandon

- Brian’s Song (1970) - James Caan, Billy Dee Williams

- Breaking Away (1976) - Dennis Quaid, Dennis Christopher

- A league of their Own (1992) - Tom Hanks, Geena Davis

- Bad News Bears (1976) - Walter Matthau, Tatum O’Neal

- Slap Shot (1977) - Paul Newman, Strother Martin

- Chariots of Fire (1981) - Ben Cross, Ian Charleston

- Glory Road (2006) - Josh Lucas, Jon Voigt

- Invincible (2006) - Mark Walberg, Greg Kinnear

- Eight Men Out (1988) - Charlie Sheen, John Cusack

- The Longest Yard (1974) - Burt Reynolds, Eddie Albert

- Tin Cup (1996) - Kevin Costner, Rene Russo

- Jerry Maguire (1997) - Tom Cruise, Cuba Gooding Jr., Rene Zellwiger

- Karate Kid (1984) - Ralp Macchio, Pat Morita

- 61 (2001) - Barry Pepper, Thomas Jane

- Rudy (1993) - Sean Astin, Ned Beatty

- The Hustler (1961) - Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason

- The Color of Money (1986) - Paul Newman, Tom Cruise

- Rocky III (1982) - Sylvester Stallone, Mr. T., Talia Shire

- All the Right Moves (1983) - Tom Cruise, Lea Thompson, Craig T. Nelson

- Vision Quest (1985) - Matthew Modine, Linda Fiorentino

- The Hurricane (1999) - Denzel Washington, Dan Hedaya

- Major League (1989) - Tom Berenger, Charlie Sheene

- The Rookie (2002) - Dennis Quaid, Rachel Griffiths

- Without Limits (1998) - Billy Crudup, Donald Sutherland

- For the Love of the Game (1999) - Kevin Kostner, Kelly Preston, Michael C. Reilly

- Rocky IV (1985) - Sylvester Stallone, Dolph Lundgren

- Friday Night Lights (2004) - Billy Bob Thornton

- Cut Away (2000) - Tom Berringer, Stephen Baldwin

- Miracle (2004) - Kurt Russell

- The Lords of Dogtown (2005) - Emile Hirsch, Heath Ledger

- Dogtown and Z-Boys (2002) - Stacy Peralta

- The Endless Summer (1966) - Mike Hynson, Robert August

- Point Break (1991) - Keanu reeves, Gary Busy, Patrick Swayze

- Ali (2001) - Will Smith, Jamie Fox, Jon Vogt

- Searching for Boby Fischer (1993) - Max Pomeranc, Joe Mantegna, Joan Allen B

- Days of Thunder (1990) - Tom Cruise, Nicold Kidman, Robert Duvall

- Running Brave (1983) - Robbie Benson

- Wildcats (1986) - Goldie Hawn, Woody Harrelson

Honorable Mentioned:

- Radio (2003) - Cuba Gooding Jr., Ed Harris

- Six Pack (1982) - Kenny Rogers, Diane Lane, Erin Grey

What Sports movies would have made your top 10 list? Also tell us if you agree or disagree with our list. What movies listed would not have made your top 50? What movies not listed would have made your top 50? This debate will live on for centuries.

Shaping Young Minds

I might not be Aristotle, Jesus Christ or the Easter Bunny, but I truly love what I do and so far have had an unbelievable year. It started out with Coaching basketball and substitute teaching at Satellite HS as well as traveling under the BSM banner as a youth speaker (which is my greatest passion in life.) The spring and summer of 2009 were as tremendous of an outpouring of God as I've ever witnessed in my life. The summer alone saw hundreds of decisions for Christ and the lives of students changed forever. I truly love shaping young minds both educationally and spiritually and look forward to many more chapters ahead of me.

Post what you love about your job, career or ministry. Maybe it's not even something you get paid for but something you love tremendously. Tell us what you do and what you love doing it.

Peace! 3 John 2

Barbeque with Sinners

Matthew 2:15-17

¹⁵ Later, Levi invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. (There were many people of this kind among Jesus’ followers.) ¹⁶ But when the teachers of religious law who were Pharisees saw him eating with tax collectors and other sinners, they asked his disciples, “Why does he eat with such scum?” ¹⁷ When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do. I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

This passage from Mark 2:15-17, was very much the scene in St. Louis, MO as several youth groups of Radius Camps and other local church members came out to a community outreach/cookout to support many under-privledged families and homeless people. Yours truly was the keeper of the flame as I presided over the roasted beast on the grill. I was assisted by our camp staff and participants and was thoroughly blessed to have served together with them in loving the people of East St. Louis. I believe some of the most spiritual things one can do is imitate the actions of Christ in the Scripture. My life is full and rich in many ways and I thank God for opportunities like this to give of ourselves and reach out and love God and love people.

Look for ways to reach out to others the way Christ did in the Scriptures. Don't be afraid to step out of your comfort zone so God cna use you in big and fantastic ways. I can't wait to get back to East St. Louis to hang out with my homeless friends some more.

For more information on Radius Camps 2010 visit www.radiuscamps.com and for more information on how to make a lasting on going difference visit www.billstanley.cc

I Want Radius Camp in 2010

I you were so fortunate to be apart of this past years Radius Camp or any other for that matter and want to see it next summer, the staff and board of directors want you to email them and let them know just how Radius camp touched your life and should return in 2010.

So email them at . . . iwant2010@radiuscamps.com

Pictured to the right is Bill along with several students, leaders of camp as well as members of the New Community Church of East St. Louis during a community cookout during Radius 2009.

Radius Camps was co-founded with the help of Bill Stanley as an international communicator and he is glad to continue this partnership as long as God is glorified, however BSM and it's partners, board of directors and BSM Difference Makers are not on staff or affiliated with Radius Camps other than the support of Bill Stanley Ministries Inc.