Achievement Holiness??? (A Tribute To Curtis Martin)

When I was in my second year at a little Christian college just outside of Boston, I turned in a paper to a Professor who i thought was my favorite. It was supposed to be 10 pages and mine was (well after some font and spacing games it became 10 pages)I put some of my best 'win the world for God' Salvationist Rhetoric which had absolutely nothing to do with the actual assignment. I turned it in honestly thinking it "was in the bag" well my professor got through about 3 pages and wrote across the page in huge red letters "Stop Wasting Your Calling and My Time". He then stopped reading the paper and never even bothered to give it a grade he later let me turn in another paper for the minimum passing grade.

"Stop Wasting Your Calling and My Time." Those words changed my life. Up until that paper I had been trying to skate by on the minimum amount work and commitment possible sometimes I got by other times I failed. But I learned that we cannot be lazy and holy at the same time. Being Holy is not about not sinning. It is about Loving God with our whole being in each and every moment. If I am not giving my all in whatever I do than what I am doing is incomplete.

What does this have to do with Curtis Martin???


I usually get uncomfortable when people point to some sports, music or other pop culture Icon who mentions Christ publicly and then puts them on a pedestal as some kind of a "Christian" Pop Culture superstar role model, because more often than not these people have lifestyles that are inconsistent with their one time pronouncement of Christ. (I am having visions of Jessica Simpson on the cover of "The Young Salvationist")

However, at the heart of Holiness lies the command to Love God with our entire beings. (Heart, soul, mind, Strength) And to whom much is given much is required. When a Christian is gifted in a certain area, I believe he or she has an obligation to be the very best that he or she can be in that area.
I was disappointed yesterday to hear that Curtis Martin will not play this season and will likely retire do to his bone on bone injury.

I look up to Curtis Martin not because he is some famous guy who mentioned Jesus a few times. But, because he has lived in the spotlight for the last 15+ years and he has exemplified consistency both on and off field. On the field he will go down in history as one of the hardest working Running Backs in the came. He played through pain and hardship and truly was one of the best in the game. Off the field He continues to life faithful to the God he proclaims. He is an example of a good father in a world where many kids don't know their father and many more wish they didn't. Sure he's human and I am sure there is dirt on him somewhere but he has consistently shown that he is faithfully running the race.

Curtis You are an inspiration!