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That's focusonthefamily.com/slash get help. You can preach. You can have all of the wonderful thoughts. and region. They will know.
that we are a Christian. By our love. That's Carrie Casey here on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, and it's Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the U.S. as we honor the great civil rights leader and Carrie has an important message for all of us about loving our neighbor regardless of their background or skin color.
Thanks for joining us. I'm John Fuller. John, hearing that clip reminds me of a special and memorable chapel service we had at Focus with Carrie Casey as our honored guest. He's a dear friend and a brother to me. That guy is so good on Father's Day.
He's always the first one to shoot me a text or Christmas wishing me a great Christmas and a Happy New Year. He's just so good relationally and such a good man. He talks about how to love others, and he demonstrates that very much so in his everyday life. There are strong forces in the culture that want to divide us and get us fighting with each other. I think we all see that today.
But we can't give in to those voices that separate us. And Carrie has some great words of wisdom to help us see through the chaos to God's heart for all of his children. That's each one of us. And we need this message maybe now more than ever. That's exactly what I was thinking, Jim.
And let me note that Kerry Casey has served as chaplain for several NFL teams. He spent almost 20 years in various roles with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. And he also co-pastored a church in inner city Chicago for a Number of years. When he spoke here at Focus on the Family, it was electric. It was such a powerful message about building racial harmony in our communities.
So here now is Carrie Casey on Focus on the Family with Jim Dick. I am so very honored. to be here. And as I stated, being black and Baptist and a preacher, also, we could be here all day. But anyway, Um You must be secure.
Yes. In who you are. God did not make a mistake. When he made us. Red, yellow, black, and white.
We are precious in his sight. When I look at what y'all have on the stage here, Nat King Cole and Retha Franklin, the pictures on the stage here, and Louis Armstrong and Mahalia Jackson. You're learning. But I thank God that He made all of us be secure in who you are. Because I think about it.
When I was born, I was black. When I grew up, I was still black. When I get sick, I'm still black. When I go out in the sun. Still black.
And when I die, my brother's a mortician. He's the last one to let you down. But when I die, I'm still gonna be black.
Now, looking at Jim and... Fuller here and all of them when they were born they were pink when they grew up they were white When they get sick, they turn green. When they go out in the sun, They turn red. When they go out in the cold, they turn Carolina blue. And when they die, they're gonna be purple.
So, Jim, why do y'all call me color? But anyway. Understand. Y'all come back with me. I'm sorry, my father would be mad at me, son.
You need to be more formal than that. But anyway. But I think about it. I had a mom and pop. Dad went to be with the Lord on February 12, 2000, the same day as my mentor, Coach Tom Landry.
I used to be chaplain with the Dallas Cowboys. Both of them went to heaven and they're partying and having more fun than us. But I think about dad and mom, eight months after daddy, on my 45th birthday, she went to be with the Lord. But I think about all that I've learned over the years. Dad shared with me also: he said, Son, don't ever forget it.
The opportunity will come. It's going to come. The ball will bounce your way one day, son. But when it comes your way, when opportunity comes, will you notice it? And if you notice it, will you be prepared?
Fail to prepare, prepare to fail. How many of you, by the way, have seen the movie Remember the Titans or whatever? Any of some of you have seen it? All right.
Well, anyway, I know the ladies remember it because Denzel Washington is the star. But anyway. Um I don't know how we're the same age, but he looks so much better. Brad. In that movie, Remember the Titans, I had the privilege to be on the team that lost to the Titans in real life in the state championship game.
The blue uniforms was my team. They said our team was all white, but it wasn't. We had eight African Americans on our team, and we played against the Titans back in 1971. I was a 16-year-old sophomore. I ran back kicks and played wide receiver.
And I remembered in the movie how they beat us on the last play of the game. I loved that. But in real life, they beat us 27-0. And so, whatever. Hollywood has to fix that.
But I don't feel bad because only three teams scored on them that year. They were very, very good. The reason why I'm telling you that is this: after my senior year, I was on Coach Boone, who Denzel portrayed. I was on his all-star team in Virginia. I was a pretty good athlete, and he coached me that year.
But anyway, talking about the Titans, and that is this. They beat us pretty bad and all that. But the same year we lost to the Titans, my white coach got in my face about something. I go to the cafeteria. Blacks on one side, whites on another.
I sit with my black friends. And I shared with them that my coach had got my face about something. They like, Carrie, quit the team. Don't play for that racist coach. Don't be an Uncle Tom.
Here's why dads are greatly needed. In the richest and most powerful country in the world, when I was a chaplain in Seoul, South Korea at the 88 Games. The folks will come up to me, Hanya Seo, Kam Samnada, Yobo Seo, where are you from? I said, I'm from America. They said, oh, USA, number one country.
And this type of thing. But in the richest, the most powerful country in the world, tonight, 25 million children. Will go to bed without their biological father in the home. When that happens, they're more likely to be poor, more likely to drop out of school, be involved in crime, girls are more likely to be pregnant as a teenager. But by daddy just being there, those statistics flip-flop.
Believe it or not, no perfect dads. I'm not. Jim's not. We're going to have struggles. But by dad being there, those statistics flip-flop.
I'm glad. That when I went home that day from the cafeteria, Daddy, I'm quitting the team. I don't want to play for that racist coach. I'm not going to be an Uncle Tom. My daddy, my dad said, son.
I want to tell you something. Your coach is the winningest coach in the state of Virginia. At that time, he was. And, son, he won before you got here. He will win after you leave.
Son. You need the team more than the team needs you. By the way, your name, you are a Casey. And you are a Christian, son. There's a way that we roll in our family.
In essence, your coach is not a racist, he is checking out your character. and your loyalty.
Son, you need the team more than the team needs you. I'll never forget it. I went back to that team. That was in 1971 when daddy told me that. The movie came out 30 years later.
Here's what I'm saying: there are decisions that we will make. There are decisions that our children would make that would literally dictate. Where we will be, or our legacy will be 30 years from now. My mother and father never saw that movie, but the information that dad gave me. literally allows me to know Jim Daley, who is white.
Carrie Casey, who's African American, and he is my brother because of the blood of the Lamb of Jesus Christ. That's bottom line. That's bottom line. All of us are created in his image. What I think about is I went back.
Remember the Titans. But my dad gave me a Christmas gift that year. Open up the box. This is a lot of history in 1971. Open up the Christmas box.
Three boxes. Had three plaques. I do not remember the other two plaques. but I remembered my dad's favorite book. In the Bible.
Ecclesiastes. Chapter 12. In verse one.
Sons Remember thy Creator. in the days of your youth. before the evil days draw nigh. When you were saying, I have no pleasure in death.
Sons, the richest, the wisest king. He didn't say. Remember the Titans. Remember thy creator. who really gave us Our DNA.
And dad used to say this also: son. If you're going to lead the orchestra. You have to turn your back. to the crowd. If I would have listened to the voices.
In the cafeteria, That day. I never would have met Melanie. My bride. My four children. and the nine grandchildren.
Amen. The world. Because of who Christ is. and communicating his message. But these last few moments that we have to share today.
I think about it and it came to my mind years ago. The Tea of Titans. We have to be teachable. I'm thankful that focus on the family. Today, and the young folks that sat here.
And you share. The history. You're not old as us, but you share.
Some things that us older folks Did not know. But we must be teachable. And I think about 2 Timothy 2 and 15, it states, Be diligent. To present yourself approved to God. A worker who doesn't need to be ashamed.
Correctly teaching The word of God. And when you study using that two and a half pound sponge in your skull, called a brain that can hold more information than the greatest computer because God made that brain. Learning from one another. Blacks and whites. being teachable.
Don't be a no-it-all where you have it all together. But learn from one another. Focus must be having some classes or something, but all of you were clapping on beats. What is heaven gonna be like? Tom Landry, Cowboys is white.
My daddy, African American. Yeah. But they're clapping on B. But you gotta learn from one another. Don't look down on folks that are different than you.
I tell the young people in high schools, don't sit there all day and watch all that TV and play all that Nintendo and watch all that video and then your mind turns to play dough. When they pass out the real dough, you can't get any because you're nothing but a dodo. What am I saying? And that is theirs. Be teachable, but what's the next letter?
I got to get through this. But anyway. The next letter of Titans is I is integrity. That's what we're wrestling with in our country today, integrity. But we must be honest.
Your integrity will carry you and me much further than a lot of things we do. Because if you can't be trusted, Honesty. I trust Jim Daley. I'm not going to sit there and look at, like, oh, you're white, I'm black.
Well, this is who you. I trust him because I get to know him. His heart! And for me, We see each other, we embrace with integrity. It says this right here: the one who lives with integrity lives.
Securely. But whoever perverts his ways. will be found out. You don't have to sneak and peek. When you have integrity in Proverbs 10 and 9, it also says in Proverbs 11 and 3.
the integrity of the upright. guides them. You don't need a GPS. When you walk with Christ. with integrity.
He will guide you. He will lead you. Listen to this, but the perversity of the treacherous destroys them. Don't worry about your wicked friends. Don't worry about your neighbors that think you're weird because you're a Christian and you're loving your bride and you're loving your children, you're loving your husband, you're doing what's right.
Eventually, the wicked will die out. BANK Every knee is going to bow. Every tongue. Shell! Confess.
Please forgive me. We're supposed to just be in chapel. This is not Sunday morning. But. The integrity of the upright.
Guys, the You don't have to be the best and the brightest. But anyway, what's the next letter? The T! You're going to be tested. And the richest, the most powerful.
Country in the world, someone's going to call you out of your name.
Somebody's going to tear you down. They're going to tell you, you don't mess you up. Look at you. Your hair is getting gray. You do not match up.
Shoot you straight. You're going to be tested. Why do you have a black friend? Why do you have a white friend? And you're going to have all of this coming at you.
But you're going to be tested. But I like this in James chapter 1. Verse 2 and 4. Consider it a great joy. My brothers.
Whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith. Produces endurance. But endurance. must do its complete work, not halfway.
So that you may be mature, complete. and lacking nothing.
Now I know why Pop used to say.
Son, you do not get good until you're 50, 60, and 70. I said, pop, you ready to die? No son. You must experience life. You're listening to former NFL chaplain Carrie Casey on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, and what a riveting presentation.
Just a quick note that we want to encourage you with almost six hours of powerful testimonies from athletes with memorable track records and great legacies of faith. This collection includes this message from Carrie, and it's free. Look for the free set of audio downloads called the Sports and Faith Collection at our website, and that's focusonthefamily.com/slash broadcast. Let's return now to more from Carrie Casey. As I get older, the trials come.
But consider it joy. When he lies to us, be depressed, be negative. No, no, no. I peeped at the last page. And we win.
I must go, the clock's running fast. With the A of Titans. is your attitude. Philippians 2 and 5. Make your own attitude.
That of Jesus Christ. He knew! He was gonna have to die. For you. And for me.
All the other religions. We can go through all of the gods that we prop up. Did not get back up. But Jesus, the Christ! Yeah.
The beginning and the end. The Alpha and the Omega. I'm sorry, y'all. I just get excited. It's nothing like Being on the winning team.
And knowing that you have the greatest. Hey, cooks! They never live. It is still ribbon. The best team.
But he tells me, carry it. You stay in your lane. Jim Daly. Stay in your lane. Follow up.
Stay in your lane. It's something pastor that you can do. that no one else can do. All of us that are sitting in here. Don't think because you are white, you can't get the net, let alone the rim.
You can still slam dump. Yeah. Because of who you are and whose you are. In Jesus Christ. That's what I'm saying.
I don't know where we at here. But anyway. The attitude of Jesus Christ not to be negative. But to learn, teachable, learning from one another, but the attitude of Christ. Don't be negative in seeing the glasses half empty.
It's hair full. I'm thankful that God allows us. to have that attitude that he has. But the end I'd never forget my daddy. He laid in the care center.
He had Parkinson's. His hands. We shape. He couldn't talk well. He couldn't walk anymore.
Came in to see him one day. In Virginia, I flew in. I said, Daddy, give me some words. And Pop was a very intelligent man. I have so many stories.
that I would want to share but don't have the time. World War II vet. fought for this country. Because of his race, he couldn't take his boy at times. to get an ice cream comb in our town.
Couldn't go to the movie theater. But he wasn't negative. One day you will. One day we were able to go to the movie theater. We had to sit in the balcony.
Dad, there are seats down there. It's okay, son. We're fine. But I watch one of the greatest movies ever. My greatest actor is Jimmy Stewart.
In Shannon Dore, you must see that movie. Civil War movie in Virginia. But we watched that movie. Daddy was always forward thinking and looking. I'll never forget how dad laid there, and he was always more brilliant than us, no matter how many degrees we have, and he did not have a degree.
But daddy laid there. He said, Son You tell them. It's nice to be important. But it's more important to be nice. And he'd blink his eye at me.
Aha. But then he would say this, Jim. Philippians 2. For this reason, God highly exalted him. Jesus the Christ.
So America was all this going on. individually in your neighborhood. And your family. Gentlemen, Show the other folks in your community. how a man of God treats his bride.
Ladies. Show the ladies in the neighborhood. How? A bride. It's supposed to function.
But as I come to a close, Don't ever forget it. I'm thankful that on both sides of my family. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Salvation. Mom's dad was a pastor.
Dad's dad was a deacon. Daddy was a deacon in the Baptist church. Them faithful. that they shared the gospel of Christ with me. When I was young.
Because I know Jesus Christ. I've been able To be blessed in ways. Could never dream. Glad that they let me know. It is deeper.
Yeah, this is Because the neighborhood in the city that we're going to go to When we leave here. It's not made with human hands. It's made with hands. May you. It made me.
God bless America, yes. God made the whole wide world. And as we live for him, And as they view you and me, Reminds me when I was in seminary and I had to preach a Father's Day sermon. Easy. We had our two little girls, two and four.
Christy, who's four? was in the front room as I was finishing my notes. My bride was getting dressed in the Little bedroom back then. They were running around scurrying and having fun. But Christie.
Four years old. She ran. She leaped in my lap that morning. And she said, Daddy, Are you going to be a sermon today? A change.
My title that day. To all you're gonna be a sermon. You can preach. You can have all of the wonderful thoughts. and reasoning.
Yeah. That we are a Christian. By our love. All of us. Can be a sermon.
You may not be able. Just stand in front of a crowd. And say something. But in your neighborhood, in your town, in your state... In America.
In the world. Don't remember the Titans. But remember Your Creator, God the Father. Jesus the Son. And the Holy Spirit.
I wish I had more time, but I'm thankful that I had this privilege to share with you today, and God bless you. And God bless them all. That's Carrie Casey on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, speaking to our staff. And my goodness, Jim, there was a lot of emotion in the room that day. There was, John, and it was a special time.
And I so appreciate what Carrie had to share. Here at Focus, we're committed to bringing people together and loving one another as Jesus commands us to do. Unfortunately, we didn't have enough time in our program to complete the acrostic from his message about the Titans.
So the letter N points us to the name above all names, Jesus, and putting Him first in our lives. And the final letter S stands for special. Each of us is unique, created in God's image.
So let me encourage you to look for opportunities to speak and act with grace and compassion and be a messenger of God Shalom, His peace in the culture today. And we'll put the complete Titans acrostic on the website. For you to download. And before we go, we have a free resource for you. We've put together a collection of audio downloads called Sports and Faith, featuring this message from Carrie Casey, along with powerful testimonies from athletes like John Smoltz, Daryl Waltrip, Scott Hamilton, Benjamin Watson, and more.
And just a reminder: please consider donating to Focus on the Family. We're a non-profit ministry, and we rely on your gifts to continue the work of helping families to thrive in Christ. And we'd love to hear from you. Yeah, donate online. We've got the link in the show notes.
And be sure to look for the Sports and Faith collection. It includes almost six hours of inspiring content. Thanks for listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. If you would, please share this episode with a friend who might need some encouragement and take a moment and leave a rating in your podcast app that helps spread the word about this great content. I'm John Fuller inviting you back as we once more help you and your family thrive in Christ.
Sprinkle some love into your marriage this month with the Loving Well podcast from Focus on the Family. I'm Erin Smalley, and I host the podcast with my husband, Dr. Greg Smalley, and our good friend, John Fuller. We chat about how to put Christ at the center of your relationship, deepen your love, and have a marriage that truly thrives. Listen today at focusonthefamily.com/slash lovingwell or wherever you get your podcasts.
