Earlier this month I was contemplating the wisdom of writing a blog on how to fix the Detroit Lions.  Anyone with any leadership experience could tell you that the failing of any organization starts with poor leadership.  If you are not making progress towards your stated goals, or you lack vision, then it is time to go.  The core of the Detroit Lions front office would logically have to be swept away and a new front office put in place to even start to rebuild this train wreck. 

          However, on December 21^st William Clay Ford Sr. changed my mind about writing on the subject when he announced he would keep the current leadership in place! This includes the assistant general manager that has been working the draft the past 8 years with Matt Millen!  This includes the possibility of keeping the head coach who is leading this team into infamy with a very attainable 0-16 record. 

          This is the last post I write about the Detroit Lions until they win their next game.   At this rate, it may be 2010. 

I have been studying the beatitudes and I have been watching the reactions from the election.  I happened to be reading Matthew 5:10 -12 and I realized, wow; this connects with some of the discussions I have been involved with over the past week. I have noted that many believers fear that the change of government could lead to Christians being persecuted in our own country.  Whether this happens or not, the bible has an answer for how we should handle a persecuted church.  I will start with the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 5:10-12

10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

If you are following the first seven beatitudes, you at some point in your life may be subject to persecution, as Jesus was, as the apostles were and as Christians living in China and Indonesia are. Living a Christ like life pretty much guarantees you will, at some point in your life on earth, be persecuted for your belief. 

11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you

For the past 200 plus years, Christians in our great country have pretty much been able to worship as we please.  There are, and have been efforts to take Christ out of our schools, government and the workplace.  However, I am always humbled by the way God is able to build His kingdom despite efforts of mere mortal atheists.  This does not mean we will never be persecuted in our country. In fact, with this beatitude, the only promise God gives us is our place in Heaven and our rewards when we get there. 

God promises us we will be persecuted for are belief.  In 2 Timothy 3:12 we learn, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…”   So far we have not had the physical persecution that believers in North Korea, China and other pagan nations must face. Why?  Our laws are based on Christian beliefs that our founding fathers wisely put in place.  However, as this nation moves morally to the left, (especially after this past election) those laws are bound to change and to some extent, have already (Roe vs. Wade), reflecting a more secular country.  With the change in laws, we should not be surprised when (if), real persecution becomes common.  MacArthur wrote, “Loyalty to Christ is the Christian’s only true choice.  To be prepared for kingdom life is to be prepared for loneliness, misunderstanding, ridicule, rejection, and unfair treatment of every sort.”

We should not fear persecution. Nor, should we seek out persecution.  Most of the time, persecution is not done on a constant basis.  It ebbs and flows.  Every believer at one time or another will be ridiculed for their belief.  We should not be surprised, for God will use your persecution for His plans!  Some will receive more extreme persecution than others.  Why?  Only God knows and we should not resent being persecuted or hate the ones that persecute us.  We should pray for their salvation.  We should pray that God’s will is done.

Appeasement may sound good as some people would prefer not to be persecuted for their beliefs.  They could choose to laugh along with the crowd at a crude joke or language that takes the name of our Lord in vain.  This is not only unbiblical; this would be done at the expense of breaking our Saviors heart. I will not accept that compromise as it could reflect a state of unbelief and question my salvation. Jesus warns us in James 4:4, “You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.” 

 So what should be done?  We should willingly endure whatever harassment, maltreatment or bullying the world dishes out. Obviously, Jesus was persecuted and I find it interesting He was just as verbally abused as He was physically.  In Matthew 11:19 we find he was falsely accused, “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners..." Wow, those are some incredible accusations about the Son of God. However, later we read, “But wisdom is proved right by her actions." Being persecuted for your Christian beliefs is one of the best ways to confirm your salvation.  Is it going to be fun? No.  Is it going to be pleasant? No.  Will you be the only one persecuted? No, even Jesus was persecuted and falsely accused. Will you receive blessings from God?  Absolutely! 

Peter tells us we should be honored when we are persecuted for Christ:

13 Now who is there to harm you if you are zealous for what is good? 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled, 15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil… (1 Peter 3:13 – 17)

            Believing in Christ and being abused in His name brings a promise.  Matthew 5:12 says, “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”  Eternal life and reward in Heaven is a good deal!  And no one or no government can take that salvation and God’s promise away from you!  The Apostle Paul wrote,

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

—Romans 8:35-39  

10 Ways to Fix the Tigers

          After watching the Cubs fall apart in the first round of the playoffs I don’t feel as bad about the Tigers as I have all season.  Why?  After starting 0-7 the high expectations just kind of slipped away.  By August I had already started thinking about who we could bring in to help our 138 million dollar team next year.  I am not an expert in being a baseball general manager, but I do have some baseball knowledge and I think I have feel for what the Tigers need. So…here it goes; ten moves the Tigers need to make in the off season so we can play in next year’s post season.

1.  Trade, waive, or cut Sheffield.  The guy is a cancer in the clubhouse and is one swing away from another shoulder injury.
2. Fire the pitching coach! Oh, that’s right, they already did.  They need to hire someone that can unscrew Justin Verlander. How did he manage to lose 17 games? My first choice for our new pitching coach - Leo Mazzone. Please, no more Pittsburg re-treads.
3. Upgrade the short stop position.  Rafael Furcal, J.J. Hardy or anybody else that has more range than Rent-eria.  If we bring up the young gun, Cale Iorg, (great arm and glove, hole in bat) we would almost be conceding next season.  His defense would help the pitching.
4. Upgrade catching.  Dusty Ryan was called in September and can flat out hit.  Management likes him. There is a good chance he will have some role on the team next year. But he is only 24 years old and has played a total of 35 games above Double-A. In the 15 games he caught in the majors, our pitchers were charged with 14 wild pitches. I would platoon him with a free-agent catcher we pick up - Miguel Montero of the Diamondbacks. He's a left-handed hitter and batted .255.  This leads to our next fix…
5. We need some more left handed bats.  Montero would help in this area.  Furcal is a switch hitter and this would also help. With all the right handed hitters we had, flexibility with the lineup was an issue.
6. We need help out of the pen.  We do not have a closer.  This issue has had management’s attention for awhile.  The Tigers drafted at least half a dozen closers in this year’s draft.  We can’t wait that long. Trevor Hoffman, Brian Fuentes and Will Ohman top my wish list. We have some arms in the minors; however they are at least 2 years away
7. If the Tigers get the right offer, trade Ordonez for as many prospects as possible.  We need pitching and middle infield prospects.The Tigers are loaded with capable outfielders.  Mike Hessman hit 40 homeruns between Toledo and Detroit. I know, how can you even think about trading someone that can hit .360?  To build a better TEAM.
8. Bid on one of the big free agent pitchers.  What do they have to lose?  Kenny Rogers will more than likely retire and the only pitchers that have a guaranteed spot in the rotation are, Verlander, Bonderman (It will be nice to get him back) and rookie Galarraga (Led all rookies with 13 wins).  The rotation is a mess and I can’t predict any other spots until the free agent season is done.  
9. Keep Brandon Inge at 3^rd until a true third baseman is groomed. He has the best range at third base in baseball and we need that defense. He needs to hit better than .220.  
10. Cut Sheffield! 

Spring training is less than 5 months away!  I am getting spring fever again!

PS; If they start slow again next year - fire Leyland.