Marshall University lost their entire football team and coaching staff in a plane crash. How do you rebuild after tragedy and loss? How do you make sense out of something that seems senseless? If there is a God, then why does He allow bad things to happen to good people? These questions will face every playmaker at some point in life. Today’s talk will focus on the truth about senseless tragedy and evil in the world and will arm you with the ammunition to fight back against those questions that inevitably come to everyone.

Michael Oher went from living on the street in poverty to becoming an NFL first round draft pick—not because he could protect his quarterback’s blind side—but because a specific lady and family were willing to overcome their own blind sides to make a difference in his life. The truth is—we all have a blind side! It’s that part of us that turns away from certain people or circumstances and refuses to help. What if we decided not to remain blind? What needs in our community are going unmet? Is there anyone that you pass on a daily or weekly basis that could use your encouragement or help? Are you willing to be a playmaker that looks beyond yourself and is willing to meet the needs of those around you? No…you might not be able to save the world…but you can make a difference to someone!

“You may not like each other but you will respect each other…and maybe we will learn to play this game like men.” While this was among many memorable lines in this football classic, it spoke of something more significant than high school football. Busing and segregation were a major issue in the 1960’s and racial conflict continues to be at the heart of many of our nation’s problems today. How can you be a playmaker that helps our community and nation get beyond racial conflict?

Gangs and cliques are constantly engaged in conflict and fighting-and the root of their conflicts seem so trivial to those on the outside! But how many homes, neighborhoods, and work places are embroiled in ongoing feuds that could rival any gang war? How many family members and friends go to bed each night refusing to speak because of some silly rift that began years earlier? Playmakers have the ability to help people overcome their conflict and move toward a place of peace.

The STREAK!! DeLasalle High School won 151 football games in a row-a winning streak that has never been duplicated-over 10 years without a loss! But what happens when the streak is over? By the way, all streaks end at some point. What do you do then? Was your sole purpose in life to simply be a part of the streak or were you created for more? Playmakers understand their purpose in life is far greater than little victories here and there-they understand that playmakers help lift others to a higher place!

Coach Gary Gaines stood before his Odessa Permian team and gave them this challenge: “We’ve talked a lot about being perfect. To me, being perfect is about you and your relationship to yourself, to your family and your friends. Being perfect is being able to look at your friends and know that you didn’t let them down…that you told them the truth when you said that you did everything you could…that there was nothing else you could’ve done. Can you live in that moment? With clear eyes and love in your heart…if you can do that, gentlemen, then you’re perfect.” Being a playmaker has never been about being isolated or alone because we all need each other. We function best when we have a team of people around us that we are doing life with and together we experience defeat and victory. Playmakers experience peak performance in the context of community!

“Livin’ Large” means we have finally reached the American Dream of life, liberty and pursuing everything that makes us happy! But what if there was a greater dream than being happy? What if God’s idea of Livin’ Large was so big that it blew happiness away? In this talk, we will learn that God’s plan is for us to Live Large and change the world at the same time.

Culture tells us to look out for #1—to take care of ourselves first because no one else will! However, God tells us the best way to look out for #1 is to make Him #1 and to prioritize Him and His desires! The way we make Him a priority is through tithing. Tithing is a test that God uses to change our hearts and to bless our lives. Giving our tithe consistently shows that we truly trust God and that He is number one in our lives!

Jesus said, “You can’t serve both God and mammon!” What is mammon? Mammon is the pride and arrogance that gets attached to money that hasn’t been submitted to God. When we live for the money—we get caught by the mammon and invite more problems into our lives. But when our money is submitted to and serves God—He blesses us and our money!

Instead of spending all of our money on ourselves, God wants us to put our money into circulation and to do some good with it. The Bridge has a strategy to Do Good both locally and globally and we work through various partnerships to change the world.