← Focus on the Family with Jim Daly
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- [00:01]
Dave Stone
Your church comes to you each week to fill their cup. But when the crowd leaves, who's filling yours? That's exactly what I'm here to do with my new podcast from Focus on the Family. It's called Pastor to Pastor with Dave Stone. I'm so excited to help you navigate the unique challenges that pastors face in their ministry journey, both personally and professionally. So I invite you to listen and subscribe to Pastor to Pastor. Wherever you get your podcasts.
- [00:32]
Carey Casey
You can preach. You can have all of the wonderful thoughts and reasoning. They will know that we are Christian by our love.
- [00:46]
John Fuller
That's Cary 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.
- [01:06]
Jim Daly
John, hearing that clip reminds me of a special and memorable chapel service we had at Focus with Carey 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. 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 into 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.
- [01:59]
John Fuller
That's exactly what I was thinking, Jim. And let me note that Carrie 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 Cary Casey on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
- [02:35]
Carey Casey
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, you must be secure 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 you all have on the stage here, Nat King Cole and Aretha 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, I'm 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 gre. 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, I'm just kidding. 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. 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 seen it? All right, well, anyway, I know the ladies remember because Denzel Washington is the star. But anyway, I don't know how we're the same age, but he looks so much better. But 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 love that. But in real life they beat us 27 to zero 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. Kerry, 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 would come up to me, hanya SEO come samna da 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 my daddy just being there, those statistics flip flop. Believe it or not, no perfect dads. I'm not, Jim's not. We're gonna 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 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 will make that will 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 Daly, who was white, who was Kerry 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. But I think about as 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 1. Sons, remember thy creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days draw nigh when you will say, I have no pleasure in them. Sons, the richest, the wisest kings. 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 to travel 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 T of Titans. We have to be teachable. I'm thankful that focus on the family today and the young folks that sit here and you share the history. You are 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 second 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 2 1/2 pound sponge in your skull called a brain that can hold more information than greatest computer because God made that break. Learning from One another. Blacks and whites being teachable. Don't be a know 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 beat. What is heaven gonna be like? Tom Landry, Cowboys is white, my daddy African American. But they're clapping on beat. 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 doh. 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 this. Be teachable. But what's the next letter? I gotta 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 Daly. I'm not gonna sit there and look 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. But 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, 9. It also says in Proverbs 11:3, 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. They every knee's going to bow. Every tongue shall confess. Please forgive me. We're supposed to just be in chapel. This is not Sunday morning. But the integrity of the upright guides them. You don't have to be the best and the brightest. But anyway, what's the next letter? The team. You're gonna be tested in the richest, most powerful country in the world. Someone's gonna call you out of your name. Somebody's gonna tear you down. They're gonna tell you you don't measure up. Look at you. Your hair's getting great. You do not measure up. Shoot your straight. You're gonna 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. You're going to be tested. But I like this in James, chapter one, verse two and four. 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.
- [17:30]
John Fuller
You're listening to former NFL chaplain Kerry 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 and at our website and let's Focusonthefamily.com broadcast. Let's return now to more from Carey Casey.
- [18:09]
Carey Casey
As I get older, 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 CL running fast. But the A of titans is your attitude. Philippians 2 and 5. Make your own attitude, that of Jesus Christ. He knew he was going to have to die for you and for me. All the other religions we can go through. All of the gods that we prop up died, did not get back up. But Jesus, the Christ, the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega. I'm sorry, y'.
- [19:10]
John Fuller
All.
- [19:10]
Carey Casey
I just get excited. There's nothing like being on the winning team in knowing that you have the greatest head coach that ever lived. And it's still living, The best team. But he tells me, kerry, you stay in your lane. Jim Daley, stay in your lane. Full up. Stay in your lane. There's something past there that you can do that no one else can do. All of us that are sitting in here don't think because you're white you can't get the net, let alone the rim. You can still slam dunk because of who you are and whose you are in Jesus Christ. That's what I'm saying. Where are 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. And seeing the glass as half empty, it's half full. I'm thankful that God allows us to have that attitude that he has. But the end. I'll never forget my daddy. He laid in the care center. He had Parkinson's. His hands would shake. 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. 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 cone 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 watched one of the greatest movies ever. My greatest actor is Jimmy Stewart in Shenandoah. 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. 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. 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, with all this going on individually in your neighborhood, in 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 is 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. I'm thankful 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 I could never dream. Glad that they let me know that it's deeper than race. Because the neighborhood and 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. Made you and 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, I had to preach a Father's Day sermon. We had our two little girls, 2 and 4. Christie, who's 4, 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? I changed my title that day to all you're going to be a sermon. You can preach, you can have all of the wonderful thoughts and reasoning, but they will know that we are Christian. By our love, all of us can be a sermon. You may not be able to 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 America.
- [26:10]
John Fuller
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.
- [26:19]
Jim Daly
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 piece 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 Cary Casey, along with powerful testimonies from athletes like John Smoltz, Darrell Waltrip, Scott Hamilton, Benjamin Watson and more. And just a reminder, please consider donating to Focus on the We're a nonprofit 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.
- [27:43]
John Fuller
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.
- [28:24]
Dave Stone
Your church comes to you each week to fill their cup, but when the crowd leaves, who's filling yours? That's exactly what I'm here to do with my new podcast from Focus on the Family. It's called Pastor to Pastor with Dave Stone. I'm so excited to help you navigate the unique challenges that pastors face in their ministry journey, both personally and professionally. So I invite you to listen and subscribe to Pastor to Pastor wherever you get your podcasts.