375. Man, You Got This With Cedrick Brown

Embark on a life-altering exploration as we welcome Pastor Cedrick Brown to the microphone, a role model whose very existence bears witness to the transformative power of unwavering faith. His odyssey from the streets of Compton through the grueling ranks of the NFL, and onto the pulpit is not just a tale of personal triumph but a blueprint for spiritual evolution. Pastor Brown's voice resonates with authenticity as he opens up about the pivotal moments that have defined his journey, inviting us to consider the profound influence mentorship and faith have on shaping one’s destiny.

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https://thelionwithin.us/podcast/375-man-you-got-this-with-cedrick-brown/

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Transcript

Chris Grainger : 1:46

Welcome to the Lion Within Us, a podcast serving Christian men who are hungry to be the leaders God intends you to be. I'm your host, chris Granger. Let's jump in. All right, guys, this is your meat episode. I'm excited to be here with you. So let's get right into it. What the scripture of the week this week is in the book of Ephesians, chapter 2, verse 10. It says, for we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared and advanced for us to do. So, guys, go back and check out the spiritual kickoff. I'll unpack that scripture at length If you want to know how to simplify and apply that one verse into your life. This is it OK. And again, if you like the spiritual kickoffs, we do those. We do the SKOs every day within the line within us, monday through Friday. Check out our community. If you like the spiritual kickoffs, we do the SKOs every day within the Lion Within Us, monday through Friday. Check out our community if you want to learn more about that. So I'm excited for this one.

Chris Grainger : 2:33

First off, out the gate, I want to give a big shout out to one of our members. His name is Steven Brown. He's been just a great member of the Lion Within Us community for a long time. He reached out to me and said, chris, you've got to get my uncle on your show. I'm like cool man. Well, who's your uncle? He's like he's Pastor Cedric Brown. He used to play football for the Philadelphia Eagles. I'm like, bro, let's do it. And so, stephen, thank you so much for connecting us and I love this conversation. Guys, you're going to enjoy this one From Compton, the youngest of eight kids, to Washington State University, to the Philadelphia Eagles, to how God called him out of football, to just having a wonderful career in corporate America working for Alcoa and doing some wonderful things there, to how God called him out of that into the ministry full time.

Chris Grainger : 3:20

And just each step. As you listen to his story, notice each step of obedience and also notice how, each step, there was a clear call and there was someone intervening. People would step in, people would do what God called them to do. Ultimately, it would help his path. And it's just amazing when you sit back and you think about the sovereignty of God and this is just one man's story, but the sovereignty of God and how, if we're willing, he can use the things that he blesses us with our talents, our gifts, our abilities to serve people in a massive way. So, guys, this is one I was able to sit back for the preparation for it.

Chris Grainger : 4:05

I read several of his books that Pastor Brown wrote, but really I knew his testimony was going to be incredible and I pray, even though many of you listening you're not NFL players We've never made it to that level, but the impact that we have as leaders, wherever we are, can't be refuted, and you're going to hear a story of what it looks like when you choose to have whatever sphere of influence you have, when you choose to put the spotlight on Christ in that. So let's enjoy this conversation with Pastor Cedric Brown and guys sit back and have some fun with this one. Pastor Cedric Brown, and guys sit back and have some fun with this one. Well, cedric Brown, welcome to the Lion Within Us. How are you doing today, sir?

Cedrick Brown: 4:55

I am doing well, Chris, and thank you so much for having me.

Chris Grainger : 4:59

Well, I think we got to do a first thank you to our mutual friend. Well, he's your relation, you're related to him.

Cedrick Brown: 5:05

but Stephen Brown, he connected us, he's a member of our community. He's like You're related to him, but Stephen.

Chris Grainger : 5:10

Brown. He connected us. He's a member of our community. He's like you got to talk to my uncle. I'm like all right, dude, I want to talk to him.

Cedrick Brown: 5:15

So Stephen, big shout out, Thank you for connecting us, man.

Chris Grainger : 5:18

Yeah, Thanks Stephen. Yeah, for sure. Now, before we get, I always like to lot about your life, but what's something that maybe not many people do know?

Cedrick Brown: 5:31

Well, that's a good question. One thing that randomly came to my mind was I'm the baby of eight. Baby of eight, okay, baby of eight, and I say baby because my mother, when she was alive, never allowed me to forget I was the baby nor did my siblings.

Chris Grainger : 5:54

They keep you in check, right.

Cedrick Brown: 5:56

Oh yeah, you know, it's just that silent order of things. I guess that's right.

Chris Grainger : 6:05

That's right.

Cedrick Brown: 6:06

So I mean the baby of eight, so you have eight.

Chris Grainger : 6:07

I guess that's right. That's right. So I mean the baby. So baby of eight. So you have eight, seven siblings. Yes, and I guess did that make you, did that toughen you up so you're ready for the NFL. I mean what?

Cedrick Brown: 6:17

got you there. Wow, I'll tell you what it it it toughened me, you know. I think I probably shared a lot of tears as a kid, but it toughened me, even to a point that it it hardened me and we could talk about that later as we dive into the conversation. But but it also, I think, allowed me to be aware and very sensitive to what is being said and how people are being treated and things like that.

Chris Grainger : 6:50

So God never wastes anything 100%. Well, I mean, share some of your journey because I mean I'm sure people would love to hear about you know, from that upbringing to the. Nfl to where you're at now. Just give us an overview. I'd love to just unpack a little bit of your testimony here.

Cedrick Brown: 7:06

Yeah, well, originally from a place called Compton, california. Some people have named that the gang capital world. That's where a lot of some of the famous rap artists came from, and so you had that environment that I grew up in as the last, the baby of eight, but then also the cultural context in which I grew up as well you, the baby of eight, but then also the cultural context in which I grew up as well, because you had a lot of drugs, you had gangs, you had violence on the streets and things like that that we have to navigate through and, interesting enough, compton, california is a suburb of Los Angeles, so it's kind of how people navigated and migrated out of the city. So you had Compton excuse me, you had Los Angeles, watts, compton, in that order down Central Avenue where I grew up on. And you know, as a kid you saw a lot, especially being a baby. There's four boys, four girls, so the baby of four boys. You see a lot and you learn a lot of what to do and even what not to do and not to mention.

Cedrick Brown: 8:10

Of course, you know some of the things I saw on the streets of Compton and but again, the bottom line of it all is that God uses all of that to make us whom he has designed and desire us to be. So I've learned to embrace it and not to shun it. I mean, there was a period of time, if I would tell you the truth, when I went to Washington State University, there were certain people who they heard you were from Compton and all of the nuances and, if you would, baggage came along with that, reputation came along with that reputation. So there's times I would say that I'm from Los Angeles, which pick and choose what city county you know that you want to be a part of in the city of Los Angeles. So, but Compton formed me. It forged me into whom I am today and I'm so honored and thankful to be a part of Compton, california, and be a product of Compton.

Chris Grainger : 9:10

Amen to that. So I mean it sounds like. I mean, that took you to Washington State, so was athletics always a part of your identity when you were growing up in Compton as well? Yeah, absolutely.

Cedrick Brown: 9:20

So played all kinds of sports pickup sports, you know all the time throughout the neighborhood, but I landed on baseball and football and then eventually the track coach recruited me at Compton High and so, of course, two spring sports couldn't play or couldn't be a part of, and I end up landing on track because of course, track logically makes you faster, right, it prepares you with greater speed, which it did, and a lot of my teammates did play or did run track and play football.

Cedrick Brown: 9:55

So those two sports I tried to excel in, and by God's grace I did. And I look back on some of the successes at the high school level which allowed me, of course, to be highly recruited by Division I schools and I chose Washington State University. You know why, brother, there was no spirit leading, it was just I had fun on my recruitment trip. There you go. There were guys who preceded me from Compton. We were then named the Compton Connection because there were several recruiting classes that came from Compton that landed at Washington State University in the late 70s, early 80s, and one of my former teammates at Compton showed me a good time, had a good time, and that's how I ended up at Washington State University, which inevitably changed my life and we could get into that as well.

Chris Grainger : 10:58

So yeah, I mean, I love, I mean I very rarely do we get to talk to people who have been division one football players. So I'd love to know cause. I mean that's a secular school, a secular school, we'd love to also hear yeah, how did that change your life? What, yeah, yeah, what happened so?

Cedrick Brown: 11:12

so I, I didn't tell you, but my father was a pastor, okay, okay, uh, he's with the lord and he's a pastor all my life and and that's all I knew of him being a pastor. He was bivocational uh, for the most part of his his uh ministry, uh. So my, my parents loved Jesus, walked with Jesus, was solid believers and. But yet, like any any parent, you're going to have the competition with the, with the, with the environment, and that was really really what I believe caused them, I'm sure, some parental angst as we were growing up, but nevertheless they planned to see with the church. Listen, man, we went to church, ate in church, slept in church. One day, when I was a kid, probably about six years old, I got left in the church and it literally locked me in, went home and got home, I guess, and said, hey, we forgot something. So we were always in church, but I always like to say, though it or he wasn't in me, the head of the church wasn't in me, sure, right.

Cedrick Brown: 12:25

So football allowed me to be at Washington State University. As you stated, when you go to a honestly any college, secular or Christian, you're on your own, you're out there, there's no parental government or oversight, and you can make good or bad choices in any institution you're in. Make good or bad choices in any institution you're in. And I got caught up in the environment at Washington State University, partying and chasing women and all the different things that comes along with what you know about collegiate sports. But then one day, the spring semester of my junior year, we were coincidentally in the CUB C-U-B, which is an acronym for the Compton Union Building. Okay, so I forget the gentleman's name. He was an alumni from Washington State University. His last name was Compton, so the building was named after him. Interesting, there you go.

Cedrick Brown: 13:26

So it was where it was, a student union building where everybody passed through to get to know each other, talk about the night before and what you did. And this total stranger brother walked up to me and started sharing the gospel with me, which I knew, I heard, and he finished his conversation with me by stating if you die today, do you know where you're going? Yeah, and I know I heard that before, right, but I heard it this time, right, right. And at that time he led me to Christ in the middle of this student union building named after my hometown, and I came to know Jesus Christ. And listen, that was the first and last time I ever seen him. I don't know his name, don't know how he looks. Yeah, and he led me to Christ, yeah.

Chris Grainger : 14:19

Oh wow, you talk about that intervention right there and just being willing to obey the Spirit. That is incredible.

Cedrick Brown: 14:40

Yeah, willing to obey the spirit. That is incredible seat in someone's life, because this guy, I'm sure he never knew the thousands of people that I will have the opportunity to touch and even lead to Christ myself. But his courage, you know, had a chance, you know, of course, led me to foot of the cross, and my life has never been the same.

Chris Grainger : 15:03

Now I'm curious now from this point because this is where I get hung up with a lot of guys on that point of salvation who was in your life there at? Washington State University to help you with discipleship and, as you say, I mean that's a whole new journey now.

Cedrick Brown: 15:17

Absolutely. So, to that point, what I always like to say I was like that little baby who's learned how to walk Right.

Chris Grainger : 15:23

Yeah, yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 15:34

With the big, with the big head, and you're stumbling and you're falling and bumping your head. And and that was me I was stumbling and bumbling my way through because I had no one to disciple me, so I was trying to navigate this thing on my own. So I'm sure there was fellowship of christian athletes or somebody around navigators or somebody, but the providence of God would not allow me, of course, to connect with them and engage with them fully. And, truth be told, I'm sure, even as I talked to some of my former teammates, many of them were believers that God had scattered around me, around me. But again, I didn't have the awareness right and or maybe they weren't led or didn't have the wisdom on how to grab this young guy and walk me through this new relationship with Christ.

Cedrick Brown: 16:18

But when I arrived in Philadelphia, game was on. I mean, god gave me guys who didn't care this is guys meaning outside of the team, who came in to disciple us, and also on the team who didn't really care who you were, what you did, what you knew, wasn't concerned about that you were a professional athlete. But they gave us Jesus man, and it was what we needed, because when you're dealing with athletes, especially at the professional level. There's two things that are super important, I believe is one, not to be in awe of who they are.

Chris Grainger : 17:07

Right.

Cedrick Brown: 17:08

Because it's one of the greatest turnoffs. You may be able to engage me for a moment, but once I know and discern that you really just want to be around me because of who I am, that relationship is going to end quickly. But there were guys who were clearly engaging us just because they wanted us to be more like Jesus and they wanted to disciple us. And then on the team at that time there were godly men who were we were just sharpening each other. Man Iron sharpens iron. One man sharpens another man's continence and my life has never been the same.

Chris Grainger : 17:50

So these guys you said they weren't team members, who were they? I mean, what type of group?

Cedrick Brown: 17:55

Yeah, there were one guy. He's still pastoring, I believe he's at Grace Community Church in Northern Virginia. Brett Fuller was one of the brothers who poured into our lives. Brett and his wife Cynthia would drive up with their newborn baby I think his name was Joseph every single week on Tuesdays to minister to us.

Chris Grainger : 18:20

To the team. Okay To the team. I got you Okay.

Cedrick Brown: 18:23

Yeah In homes. Small group Bible studies in homes.

Chris Grainger : 18:26

Yeah, oh, really. So that wasn't even at the field house or anything like that.

Cedrick Brown: 18:30

No, no, at the stadium, yeah.

Chris Grainger : 18:33

Wow, okay, and then from there, you were able to connect with other believers on the team.

Cedrick Brown: 18:38

Absolutely yeah absolutely yeah, there was. There was a revival I would like to call it that was going on in the team. That was going on in the team. We started having coaches. There were media showing up to our Bible studies because they were curious about who these guys were, who were very bold in our faith. We were some of the first group of guys who started giving Bible verses out with your autograph. So we would give an autograph out, but only with a Bible verse of some kind.

Chris Grainger : 19:12

Right, right, yeah, wow, that's pretty neat, all right, well, look, we got to take a quick break. We'll be right back. Guys, if you're a man who's looking for greater spiritual guidance into how to become a better leader, finding resources that you can trust and then implement can be daunting For me personally. I thought it was a lost cause and I decided to take the action, knowing that I wasn't alone. It was because of this wide gap that we created our line within this community, and the areas that we're helping Christian men grow are incredible. For instance, we've built ways for guys to lean in and grow through fun events like our daily spiritual kickoff, where you get that much needed boost directly from God's word, our Bible studies that always focus on how to discern and apply what we learn, and even our amazing form, where you can speak your mind without fear of getting shut down or judged by the extreme rules of modern day social media. On top of all that, we know that many men want help overcoming issues and becoming stronger in many different areas. That's why we created several mastermind groups, where the iron truly sharpens iron. Our community is about having a growth mindset, accountability, intentionality and transparency. In other words, just leave fake you at home and come to community just as you are. I fully believe what we feel. I see the impact it's making on men right now and I would love to have you check it out. So start your very own 30-day free trial today to see how we can help you be a better leader. So if you're ready to take that first step, head over to thelinewithinus and get started. Your journey begins here. Visit thelinewithinus and I'll see you inside with them.

Chris Grainger : 21:01

So, Cedric, I'm curious on this. I've talked to some major league baseball players before and hockey, I've never had a someone from the nfl. So what was the big difference between you being a believer and obviously you were really trying to sell it? You're walking that out. You weren't just, you know, saying one thing and living another. You, you truly were, versus the rest of the team. I mean, with it sounds like you had some brothers in christ that were there, but was it difficult, you know, continuing that walk of Christ at that?

Cedrick Brown: 21:29

level. Oh, absolutely. I always tell the guys, you know, the temptations just get bigger and they multiply. Sure, you know, I mean, from high school, you have a few group of girls. You go to college, you have dozens of girls. You get the professional. You have dozens of girls. You get the professional, you have all the girls. So it's multiplied and thus the need to just have, I believe, men who are in it with you, right, it's no different than now.

Cedrick Brown: 22:07

As a lead pastor, I could be around associate pastors, even a part of our church. But when I'm sitting with another lead pastor, right, who's in it, who feels the weight of stewardship and shepherding and care, it's totally different than sitting down with someone else. It's no different. When I was in corporate America, I was able to minister to the president because I was at a high level of understanding. Even today, I'm able to minister to businessmen because I felt the tension of having to be profitable but also having to be godly.

Cedrick Brown: 22:50

You know, in the same moment, in the same decision, right, right. So so there's a level of you can call it respect, or understanding or insight that comes along with it, that I believe God graciously gives, youiously gives when you're walking in it. But it does take that special person to say, yes, I'm a pastor, I'm a minister and I have never touched the field in my life that I'm willing to minister to you in a pure, unadulterated, no other agenda sense. And they're rare and far in between. There's not many men who can sit in a group of professional athletes who everybody is in awe of, many men who can sit in a group of professional athletes who everybody is in awe of and treat them like normal human beings right, but that's that's what.

Cedrick Brown: 23:55

That's what how do I word it? Uh, high level or high profile people need is that I am with you because of you, right, not because of who you are in the public arena.

Chris Grainger : 24:10

Oh, yeah, yeah. And that's for me when I hear that I just go straight to those humble type of leaders, the leaders who they can put their pride and their egos. A lot of times you get in rooms like that it's what can you do for me and I want to associate with this name, so I can say that I'm associated with this name versus how can I serve them and that mindset shift is huge, yeah, and I also tell, whenever I have an opportunity to kind of coach up someone, who is that person going into that arena, I said, man, what they don't need is a fan.

Chris Grainger : 24:46

Right.

Cedrick Brown: 24:47

They don't need a fan. Worst thing you could do is say hey, can I have some tickets, can I you? Know, can you? Can you introduce this person to that person? That's the worst thing you could do. Is, even if men and women of power and authority, the worst thing you do is ask them from something.

Chris Grainger : 25:06

Right.

Cedrick Brown: 25:06

You know it's a posture of servitude and giving it's like. You know I'm here to serve you and help you to become more like Jesus.

Chris Grainger : 25:15

That's right. That's right. I mean that takes a high level of discernment. And you have to be walking with Christ for a while to get that?

Cedrick Brown: 25:23

Yeah, you have to, you have to.

Chris Grainger : 25:25

Because our sin nature really wants us to just make it all about us. I'm just. I'm curious, though. So and then we can lead the NFL, but did you have any moments that, when you think back through your, your playing years, where you're able to really have an impact on another player maybe someone who didn't know Christ, just based off of your walk, the fruit that they're? Seeing in your life.

Cedrick Brown: 25:47

I'm just always getting excited on stories or accounts like that Many times you don't know who you're ministering to in the moment. Right, right.

Chris Grainger : 26:01

Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 26:02

So there's even players that I would share the gospel with while I was playing, who didn't accept, you know, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. But when I left they did yeah, so I'll give you an example. So when I left, God called me out of it eventually and I can get back to tell you how he did that. But one of the things a few years after they uh a mutual friend said that there are some of my former teammates who are asking me to come back to lead a bible study and so I was like role, role reversal, yeah, yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 26:39

So I'm coming back, I'm leading a bible study, I'm in some of the players home and so forth, and and some of the players were, were guys. One in particular I never forget, uh, uh, randall Cunningham. When I was playing, I would always, I would always find myself with them, which is interesting because you don't normally have offense and defensive players uh, you know, coexisted because you're separate most of the time. Yeah, for whatever reason, I we started being together and and I would share the gospel with time, for whatever reason we started being together and I would share the gospel with him. He was like oh, sid they would call me short for Cedric Sid. I said I don't want to hear that, I don't want to hear that. And he said when I'm ready, I'll let you know. Well, lo and behold, years later he comes into Christ. I'm in his home having a Bible study with other guys who are coming to know Christ, and now this brother, he's now a pastor. I don't know if you know, but Randall's now a pastor in Las Vegas. Yeah, absolutely. He went back to where he went to college UNLV and he's a pastor in Las Vegas doing a wonderful job.

Cedrick Brown: 27:45

And there's players, even now that I used to play with. The beauty of it is they knew me as Cedric then, but many of them, I believe it's a fond affection or term of endearment that all of them they call me Pastor Brown. So these are my teammates right. So they call me Pastor Brown. So these are my teammates right. And even in college, similarly, they address me as pastor and to me. I think that is a precious gift that God gives right. Yes, sir, that you don't know many times if you're making an impact. But I believe a lot of times, once he takes you out of it or once a season passed right, then you realize how much of an impact you had in someone's life. And by God's grace, you know, I see this as well, and there's other players as well. But I mean even back in.

Cedrick Brown: 28:43

I look at the collegiate level, even high school level, because I believe there's a back. And I look at the collegiate level, even high school level, because I believe there's a when you've been privileged to excel in anything. I believe that's a platform of grace for the gospel or a platform of grace pre-Christ right of influence of any kind right, no matter if you know Christ or not. It's a posture and a place of influence that God gives you in people's lives, and I remember God showing me how much influence he gave me, even at the high school level. That I didn't understand, but even so, years later, he's allowed me to redeem that by going back, reconnecting with some of my former teammates and classmates, and now they, knowing that I'm a follower of Jesus Christ, they know I'm a pastor, and, and, and now find myself ministering to them, you know, 40 years later. So to me that's just a precious gift of how god allows us to use that platform and influence.

Cedrick Brown: 29:51

And similarly, even at washington state university, probably about three years ago, we had this reunion and, um, um, I actually, uh, during my senior year I was the captain of the team. So which again? Back then, you know, again, you're so caught up in yourself so much, I believe, and you're so immature and that you don't really understand the privilege you're given At least I didn't and to be at that time, you didn't just get a seal on your chest from the coach. You follow me. You were named captain because your team respected you and they named you captain, they voted you in as captain. So I was voted in as defensive captain my senior year and I was, you know, didn't know how much influence I had on guys Until one day two cases I was connected with some guys back in California and we all had lunch and I got there early and one of the brothers our teammates he came and he walked up to me and he looked, he gave me that puppy dog look, you know what I'm talking about it's like and he says Sid, he says you're a pastor, and he just kept saying you're a pastor.

Cedrick Brown: 31:19

I'm like yeah, and he started graciously reminding me of who I was.

Chris Grainger : 31:26

Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 31:32

And he was giving me details of some activities that I wish you know I never, you know, participated in. But I say that because after the lunch we all were gathered together in a parking lot and, lo and behold, one of them said hey, pastor, why don't you pray for us? There you go. So here I am now, the team captain right, holding hands with my former teammates, collegiate teammates, and praying for them in a parking lot.

Chris Grainger : 32:09

What a powerful moment.

Cedrick Brown: 32:10

And then another scenario was there was probably hundreds of guys that got together for a reunion in Quarter Lane, Idaho Beautiful place if you've ever been there, Never been there and our head coach comes up to me and says hey, Cedric, now keep in mind, I didn't know. He knew that I was a pastor. Now, right.

Chris Grainger : 32:33

Right, right right.

Cedrick Brown: 32:34

But he comes up to me and says hey, would you mind saying grace and saying something before we have our meal on tomorrow night or whatever that evening? So I said, sure, coach. So I get up and keep in mind these are all Washington State alumni and their spouses.

Chris Grainger : 32:56

Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 32:57

So I get up and share my testimony houses. So I get up and share my testimony. I said some of you don't know how impactful Washington State University was on me. And I said, the spring semester of my junior year, a total stranger walked up to me and shared the gospel of Jesus Christ, that he came to die, he was buried and he rose again for me and he asked me if I die today, do you know where I will go? And he led me to Jesus Christ in the Compton Union Building on the campus of Washington State University and it changed my life forever.

Cedrick Brown: 33:33

These are all even teammates that I didn't play for, who was, because it was alumni kind of gathering. I had a chance to share my testimony in front of all those folks and then pray for the food. There you go, so you follow me. So again, in the moment I didn't understand my role, my place, my call. But yet you know, god redeems and God doesn't waste anything. And it gave me the privilege to share with those guys and their wives during that evening and it was great to hear the response after the dinner. Many of them came up to me and professed their faith and still today we stay in contact because of that.

Chris Grainger : 34:18

There you go, and I mean and a beautiful part about a lot of that too, pastor Brown, is that you mentioned the moments where you did see the fruit, but I'm sure you have a lot of fruit out there that you've never even seen, because you had to come back, and that's why I try to encourage guys. You're not always going to see that fruit, but you never know how the Holy Spirit's going to use it. So just be obedient, share and, man, let the Holy Spirit do the savings I mean that was some encouraging notes right there.

Chris Grainger : 34:49

For sure. Thank you for sharing those stories, my pleasure. Thanks for asking. Absolutely, we're going to take another quick break, guys. We'll come back and we'll keep having a fun conversation here.

Chris Grainger : 35:01

I find it helps me to have a guide at times when I'm reading and studying the Bible. One way that helps me is by using devotionals to guide not only what I read but insights into the scriptures themselves. So we were blessed to become an author on the YouVersion Bible app and we saw an immediate opportunity to help others with devotionals around the areas that we spend the most time talking about at the Lion Within Us. So if you enjoy the show, you may enjoy these devos as well. We have some guys that are using them as part of their small groups as well, as they're a great way to get conversations going.

Chris Grainger : 35:46

So to see the ones that we've created, head over to the lionwithinus slash you version, and that's Y-O-U-V-E-R-S-I-O-N to learn more. So that's the lionwithinus slash you version. To get started with your own men's devotional today. To get started with your own men's devotional today. So, pastor Brown, you did say something that caught my attention. I wrote a note to myself. You said that God called you out of football and you said that was a whole other thing that we didn't show, so how did he call you out?

Cedrick Brown: 36:19

What happened there? Yeah, good question. So how did he call you out? What happened there? Good question. So in my third year with the Eagles, it was probably my best cap ever. And Jeff Fisher I don't know if you heard of him. He used to be head coach for Tennessee.

Chris Grainger : 36:40

Titans, as well as the Rams.

Cedrick Brown: 36:40

He had the mustache, right, yeah, yeah, so he was my position coach, okay, okay. So he called me in the office and said hey, Cedric buddy, mini buddy, ryan, who was my head coach at that time. He says he feels like he should get rid of you, in other words cut me. And he says but what you need to know is that man you're, you could play, and it's his decision. He says you're the fastest guy on the team.

Cedrick Brown: 37:10

At that time I was running a 419 in the 40 and 419 and that was on grass. And then he says you know the system and at that time I would study the 46 defense to a point that I knew what the defensive lineman's responsibilities were. I knew what the linebacker's responsibilities were, I knew what everybody in the secondary's responsibilities were, and there were times when I was in the game, buddy would signal the calls in on me, to me, because I knew the signals. I knew the calls and then I would translate them to the linebacker, whoever's in the game, and I would spend a lot of time right next to Buddy. Actually, my daughter found a picture of me and Buddy Ryan on the sideline. Actually, my daughter found a picture of me and Buddy Ryan on the sideline. So I would always spend a lot of time with him because I was the nickelback, the corner, third corner, and I would go in and out, you know, depending on situations.

Cedrick Brown: 38:09

And so Jeff was saying, hey, he says you can play, you know. He says you cover one one-on-one better than anybody we have. And he says but Buddy just feels like he needs to make this decision. So I went to Buddy's office, you know inquisitive, and I said hey, coach. I said what did I do wrong? You know, what can I do to correct whatever I did here? So wherever I go, you know I won't repeat the same mistake, sure. So he says to me these exact words. He says you can play in this league, but you can't play for me. So that's how I got cut, released, yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 38:54

He says you can play, but you can't play for me. So some have reported to me that it was because of my faith. You know, uh, that, uh, we were beginning to be pretty bold with our faith, if you would.

Cedrick Brown: 39:12

He didn't cut reggie white, of course yeah, yeah, right, right right, you know, he, I mean he was too good to cut, so so he, so he, he got rid of me and and unbeknownst to me, you know because he says you could play, but you can't play for me. So that's how I was released. But then, I never forget, I went back to the locker room and everybody thought I was joking. They didn't. They thought that I, I was just fooling around with them, that that I was, you know, getting released. So no, I'm gone, you know. So never forget.

Cedrick Brown: 39:46

Going home, got a call probably that same day from the Raiders. Ok, at that time they were in Los Angeles. So the conversation was pretty strange because he said, hey, so when are you coming back to LA? And I said, well, I'm not planning on coming back to LA because my wife, she now had a job in Philadelphia and I'm like I'm not coming back to LA anytime soon. And he said so, give me a call when you come back. I'm like, hmm, that was interesting. Yeah, so I just kind of, you know that was interesting, yeah. So I just kind of, you know, buried the thought that I had to go back to the stadium. And then at that time George Azar was a director of player personnel and he saw me. He says hey, cedric, I just talked to the Raiders and they said you weren't interested. I'm like weren't interested, what do you mean? I just told him I wasn't coming back to LA.

Cedrick Brown: 40:40

So, for whatever reason, I believe my wife and I believe that it was a divine mistake, and because we firmly believe, because she was born and partially raised in Georgia but we met in LA, so a lot of our family was in LA, a lot of everybody who knew us was in Los Angeles and we felt that if we would have went back at that time, being newlyweds, we felt our marriage wouldn't have lasted. Really, yeah, and we just believe God sovereignly just plucked us away from family, from friends, to allow us to have a deeply entrenched marriage and family, us to have a deeply entrenched marriage and family. And so, because a lot of times you know, guys chase the dream, lose their family, lose their wife, and I believe that was still in me, that chasing after it was still in me. So God had to alter my plans because when we would go back to play USC or UCLA, when I was at Washington State, yeah, my parents phone would ring off the hook because people would know I was in town yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 41:50

I would walk out of the stadium and see women and people back home. So again, I can't imagine what I would have had to navigate right, being this young, 20-some-year-old kid navigating, all of that being in my hometown and trying to play football. So I believe God sovereignly just allowed me just to not understand what they were really really asking me. Sure, then, then, then that led to uh having a tryout for, uh the atlanta falcons okay, where her family was think about this there you go.

Cedrick Brown: 42:34

So, uh, I worked out, they. They kept me overnight. They said we want to sign you. But then what happened was during that time you had the Plan B free agency 80-man roster, so they had to cut people to even honor the 80-man roster. And this is when my pride came in. And again I believe by God's grace he uses everything. Is that my pride came in and again I believe by God's grace he uses everything. Is that my pride came in. I said no, oh, because they asked me well, we'd like to sign you for next year. I was like, no, I want to play this year. So I turned off or down.

Chris Grainger : 43:15

Wow.

Cedrick Brown: 43:17

And then they, you know, then the league pretty much bought me out because of the numbers that they could sign. So we look at that as well. We said, well, we would have been in Atlanta, in Georgia, where her family was, which would have been another distraction. So we just see how God just began to shut the doors. And then eventually I kept trying and I went to Canada and and for this humongous trial it was hundreds of guys out there and and I ended up being selected the last American player on defense, so they had an American corner and a Canadian corner on one side.

Chris Grainger : 44:00

Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 44:00

And they sent us, sent us through one-on-one drills and all kinds of drills, and then they said, okay, we'll be in contact with you and your agent. And then my agent called me back and said that they chose the Canadian over me.

Cedrick Brown: 44:15

So, God was just closing doors, yeah. But here's the interesting fact in it all Even in that trip to Canada, on the way back on the plane, here's this guy sitting next to me. I strike up a conversation with him because he has a broken hand and he lets me know that he's a boxer and he broke his hand in the ring, Wow so we're talking. So I'm an athlete, he's an athlete, and here I am Before the plane ends. I had a chance to lead him to Christ.

Chris Grainger : 44:51

Wow.

Cedrick Brown: 44:53

I'm practicing on the field by myself because now I'm not, you know, with a team. Yeah, I'm just trying to stay in shape. People walk, total strangers walk up to me. I have a chance to lean with Christ. I mean, it's just so.

Cedrick Brown: 45:07

It was clear that God was starting to reassign me. So long and short of it is how God ultimately called me out of football. Because I would have continued to chase after it and chase after the opportunity. Because I tried out in Denver I was going to go to, I think the Jets wanted to work me out, and then, I think, daryl Green in Washington. We moved to the Washington area. He was trying to get me a tryout, but door after door after door was closing.

Cedrick Brown: 45:46

Yeah, and the simple way God called me out of football was one day my wife, like most wives, would respond to someone who's chasing a dream Sure, she says so, when are you going to get a real job? And, brother, for the first time ever, I had to think of somebody other than Cedric. Sure, because all this time remember, she relocated to be with me. She's supporting me as I'm doing my football thing. Right Now we have a son. Now she's a mom, I'm a dad, and she's saying, okay, dad, okay, husband, how are you going to care for us?

Cedrick Brown: 46:34

Right, and something switched in my head and heart, man, and then I just went whole hearty, heart, heartedly, into the business world. And then, uh, god gave me just a wonderful business career. I started out in hotel restaurant management for, uh the it was the cherry hill hyatt out near new jersey. Then I end up managing a fast food restaurant called Roy Rogers. Yeah, okay, and that was one of the most humbling job experiences of my life and forged me into who I am. And then eventually I got a job for Alcoa A-L-C-O-A. Yeah, and in sales, and I knew nothing about sales and God just taught me how to be a godly businessman and he blessed the works of my hands and blessed my sales team, my regional managers, and we had such great success and yeah, that's incredible.

Chris Grainger : 47:44

I am curious, though, when you left football to the professional world, how hard was that so far?

Cedrick Brown: 47:51

I mean, that was your identity in many ways right, absolutely brother.

Chris Grainger : 47:56

Now I'm supposed to be a businessman. How long did that take for you officially let go of that?

Cedrick Brown: 48:02

Well, that's a good question. Well, first of all, if you ask my wife, she'd probably tell you that I was going crazy, okay, okay, I mean because I'd never forget being on a postulate on my living room floor just crying out to the Lord Because, to your point, cedric Brown, the football player, it's just synonymous, even today. It's still synonymous. It's forever with you and I've learned to learn how to emotionally and mentally balance that, spiritually balance that. But yeah, absolutely, I like to call it.

Cedrick Brown: 48:40

It was like a divorce. It was like, yeah, a part of me was just ripped away and and most of the time professional athletes don't leave on their own Somebody says to them you can't do this anymore, right? So I mean, that's humbling and and it was, it was, it was a shock. So for me it felt like probably a good three to five years it took for me to just rebuild my identity in Christ. Sure, in crisis, not in who I was or what I did. Even to a point I literally stopped watching the game period. I just totally, totally disconnected from it.

Cedrick Brown: 49:28

And, yeah, because it was so much a part of me, I used to tell people my humble opinion for me is why God called me out of it. It's twofold. One he called my bluff. Two was that it became my God, and let me try to clarify that for you. One I was at an outreach from. It was in Philly and it was for Thanksgiving in Greater Exodus Baptist Church, pastor Herb Lusk, who was an Eagles player as well, and he made a covenant with God that after two years I'm retiring, going to ministry. That's what he said, right, yeah, he was drafted as a running back, said two years retiring, going to ministry.

Chris Grainger : 50:19

Wow.

Cedrick Brown: 50:20

And that's exactly what he did.

Chris Grainger : 50:22

That's what he did, yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 50:23

So what he would do is come back to the guys who were playing and ask us what we donate turkeys, and just share our testimony. So I was one of the Christians on the team. He asked me hey, cedric, can you share your testimony? So I get up. This is my. This is had a good second year, but this is. I think it could have been the first part of my third year, or right, or maybe at the well, I will say thanksgiving of my second year right okay, okay, and I got up and I said I'll give all this up for Jesus.

Cedrick Brown: 51:00

There you go. He called my bluff. There you go. I said I'll give all this up for Jesus. And, sure enough, that was what I had to do because I was good enough to make somebody's team. But my wife just saying, cedric, would you think of us? Yeah, call something to snap in my heart to say, oh, I have priorities other than myself. Sure, right. The second is, as you know, listen, the scriptures are very clear that he would not have any other gods before him. No, clear that he would not have any other gods before him.

Cedrick Brown: 51:41

And I always tell people I said, listen, anything that can control what you eat, what you wear, what you do, how you sleep, where you go, who you're with, what you think, what do you consider that being? And my humble opinion is that it was my God. And you hear stories of guys, how much time you put into it, man, and how much it affects marriages and families and so forth. And it became. I used to dream about football. Yeah, my wife Lisa would tell you there's times I'll kick her because I'm running in my sleep, you know, and I'm and, and, and it's. I'm catching the interception and run into my sleep and kicking her, you know, because it's so much a part of you when you make it to that level, and I believe the calling of my life was that that cannot be. Yeah, first place Right, that cannot be first place.

Cedrick Brown: 52:40

Colossians 1 is one of my favorite passages, man, where it ultimately says that, listen, he came for all of this, he is, you know, everything is by him and for him and through him. Right, why? So he can become first place Right In everything. You know and that's what I believe he was trying to really work out of me or work into me that, yeah, you could go hard in what you do, because that's what I learned in business. I could go hard, I could be efficient, I can be excellent in what I do, but I got to carry the cross in that and I can't put down the cross and nor can anything dethrone Jesus in my heart. And I believe football dethroned Jesus and I believe he had to rip it away because I wouldn't have left it. You follow me, so he had to take it away from me and so, yeah, Amen.

Chris Grainger : 53:43

Well, guys, we're going to take our last break. We'll come back here with Pastor Brown. Are you a manager, solopreneur or business leader? Are you a husband or father? Do you have people counting on you to guide and direct them personally and or professionally?

Chris Grainger : 54:01

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Cedrick Brown: 55:17

Yeah, thanks for asking that. So, talking about what I make, something my God.

Cedrick Brown: 55:27

So, lesson learned. Lesson learned Enter corporate America. Clearly showing me Cedric, do not hold on anything too tightly, right, but hold it with an open palm and open hands and realize, yeah, so I get into corporate america and know nothing about the industry. And, by god's grace, um started studying and learning about the building industry because I worked in the home exteriors division of alco where we manufactured exterior products like siding, shutters, gutters, decking, railing, windows, and we were distributed those products to independent distributors who would sell them to contractors, builders, install them right, knew nothing about it, nothing about it, and got hired, I believe, just by God's grace, and started out at the lowest part that you could, or lowest level that you could, start an organization in sales. I was a counter salesman, if you can imagine going into an auto zone or something like that and saying hey can I have that piece of product on?

Chris Grainger : 56:43

your shelf.

Cedrick Brown: 56:44

I was that guy at the counter. So just go figure, here's this guy, professional athlete. Now he's taking your order for a sighting. And then from there I got promoted to an outside salesman and from there, a district sales manager. I got promoted to an outside salesman and from there, a district sales manager. From there it just started elevating me throughout the company to a point I started reporting to the president. And it was probably the worst time that anyone can leave a job. Okay.

Cedrick Brown: 57:16

That was actually paying me more money than I ever made in the NFL, gave me a company car brand new company car every two years expense account that I don't think I ever used at all and it was just a very, very good job. Because it was a job that permitted me to be bivocational Okay, because I had myself and my wife and eight others. We planted this church in the midst of all that. So for nine years I was bivocational. Yeah, and one day, as God would do it, he just intruded my space and time and just never forget. I was praying and I just felt God said it's time to go. Just randomly Wow, and this is like our 15th year with the company. Now. Just randomly, it says time to go.

Cedrick Brown: 58:17

So I go into the family room and I see my wife and I just started weeping and I said I believe God is saying it's time to go. So I go into the family room and I see my wife and I just started weeping and I said I believe God is saying it's time to go, it's time to leave and, unbeknownst to me, it had to be God. You know what she says. I agree, really, I believe it is time to go. And so we committed to spending a few weeks in prayer, independent, because I didn't want to influence the timeframe in which we were going to determine you know it was we were to go, and this is keep in mind, this is probably springtime, early springtime, okay. And so we agreed I think I'm flying to Oregon, west Coast, come back eventually.

Cedrick Brown: 59:09

And she says I believe this is your last year. Keep in mind, this is springtime. She said this is your last year. I said I believe god's telling me the same thing. This is our last year. Okay, so now, keep in mind, so that's first god instructing us, husband and wife. And then I had to start matriculating that conversation outward, like to the church, to, uh, because the church would then now, you know, have to give me a salary, because I didn't, at that time, I didn't take one penny from the church at all because God was meeting our needs and I was just serving as pastor and full-time job, full-time pastor not receiving a salary at all, and so the church would then have to take on that responsibility if that's what the church was agreeing to.

Cedrick Brown: 1:00:02

So we started just disseminating. I was just asking the church to pray. Hey, we believe the season has come that we should pursue full-time ministry, even though it was still full-time. I don't think you ever part-time ministry, that's right, but ministry only it was still full-time. I don't think you ever part-time ministry, that's right, but ministry only. And then we kind of sought some outside counsel, because I would have been a first paid staff person of our church and so some other pastors we would ask some counsel for.

Cedrick Brown: 1:00:31

And then I never forget, I'm still doing my job, haven't told anyone in the organization yet in Alcoa and I used to be on planes so much that it was like riding public transportation, because I covered 33 states, three time zones and a half a billion dollars of sales, so I had regional managers and salesmen, but I was still responsible to travel, to be present in the marketplace. So I'm flying and just the still small voice of the Holy Spirit just says to me as I'm looking outside the window of first class because I travel so much, I had all kinds of frequent flower mouths. Right, I'm looking and it just says so. Who do you think has been holding these planes up all this time? There you go. Oh okay, he says so. When are you going to tell the person that it really matters? Sure, in other words, when are you going to tell your boss?

Chris Grainger : 1:01:43

Right, alcoa right.

Cedrick Brown: 1:01:48

So we landed. I called him up. I said, hey, can we meet right away? And he said, sure, so fast forwarding things. I met with him at the headquarters and told him. I said, brother, I believe God's called me to ministry and I have to leave, and this is probably about May-ish something like that, and he said so when, and he said so when.

Cedrick Brown: 1:02:21

Now, keep in mind, my relationship with him was as such that I would go into his office. We'll pray. I'll pray for him. My influence in the organization now is that I'm responsible and have strong input on all the national business meetings, Right, which was we had a big one once a month I mean not once a month, excuse me, once a year and I started having a chapel service Once a year.

Chris Grainger : 1:02:53

Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 1:02:54

You know, a second company allowed me to have a chapel service and so through that he, the vice president of HR and everybody, he'll be on the front row in the chapel service. So God was giving me that Daniel, shadrach, meshach and Abednego kind of influence. So I'm sitting with him and he says to me. He says he says like, when are you going to leave? I said now. Now keep in mind, whatever you tell a company I'm leaving you. They say don't let the door hit you on the way out right, Right, right.

Cedrick Brown: 1:03:38

His exact words to me was hey, if you can. He says I get it. You want to do what God wants you to do. He says, and I understand you want to. You know this is the decision you're going to make, but I would love for you to leave in the best financial position you can leave in.

Chris Grainger : 1:03:56

Wow.

Cedrick Brown: 1:03:58

He says to me would you consider waiting to the end of the year, where you can get your stock options, your corporate bonuses and everything you can leave in the best possible financial position? You can leave it.

Cedrick Brown: 1:04:16

Wow, that's unheard of, unheard of so then we go to the vice president of HR's office and he says to me they both says you know what? We've been thinking about this. And he says you know, you're a bigger man than we are to be willing to leave all this behind. And then the VP of HR says to me he says so, can we counter our forgot?

Chris Grainger : 1:04:49

That's pretty good. That's pretty good right there.

Cedrick Brown: 1:04:52

He said can we counter our forgot? And then the president said, no, I wouldn't want to do that. He was one of the most. I mean, it was such just the grace and it was just the glory of God just taking care of it all. Yeah, so now they're asking me because of my influence and organization. They said can you please not tell anyone? Sure, Sure.

Chris Grainger : 1:05:21

You know Right.

Cedrick Brown: 1:05:21

So I said, okay, no big deal. So probably a couple of months passed. They said, well, hey, we have this idea. This is the VP of HR, calls me back. He says what we'd like you to do is I want you to get off the road. You don't have to travel much anymore. Why don't you work on some? And he says and we can't pay you for not doing anything, but what we'd like you to do is just work on some special projects and then that'll free you up to make a transition into ministry.

Cedrick Brown: 1:05:58

Man so literally I got off the road. The three projects I worked on, I could have done them in three weeks, yeah, but it lasted to the end of the year. Oh, and then he calls me back and says and remember, I said this wasn't the most opportune time. Yeah, gas prices were at its highest. We never had to use a car. My wife had a car, but I never had to have a second car, never had to pay for gas or anything. Gas prices soared. Our youngest daughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. So we're like what are we going to do with medical insurance? We were just stuck and blinded out of faith. The VP of HR says also hey, by the way, we want to also. We know your daughter, she has a medical condition. We want to also. We know your daughter, you know she has American condition. We want to make sure you're taken care of. So we want to give you 18 months of Cobra, 12 months, we're going to pay for it.

Chris Grainger : 1:06:58

Holy, wow, man, that's incredible A year.

Cedrick Brown: 1:07:06

So it gets better. So that's with them. So I'm taking my final trip to the West Coast and before I go I have a family meeting and we talk to our kids and at that time our two oldest were early teens, our youngest was probably nine-ish, and they said, hey, well, this is what God is telling us to do, and what concerns do you have? So they shared their concerns and I shared with them. I said, listen, as you know, god has always taken care of our family. As you know, god has always taken care of our family. He has taken care of us when Daddy was working for the secular organization and it's the same God we believe is going to take care of us to now be fully devoted to Christ and ministry. And I said I just want you to see what our God's going to do.

Cedrick Brown: 1:08:05

And we prayed and then I took off, went to California and then my cousin of all people randomly says hey, if you're ever in town, stop by. I happen to be in LA. Went by her house. She says so what's God doing in your life house? She says so what's God doing in your life? I said well, god has told me to quit my job to go on full-time ministry. She said, really, because God placed you on my heart to support your ministry. Oh wow, brother, she gave us 12 $500 checks post-dated man and you know what that did? It took care of the other part of the cobra that we had to peer for Sure.

Chris Grainger : 1:09:01

Oh, my gracious Wow.

Cedrick Brown: 1:09:06

So we went into ministry with knowing 18 months at least. Sure, we're going to be fully insured, give the church time to make a healthy transition. But it gets better, probably about the first month or so that I walked away from Alcoa. I'm in my office and one of my former employees, who I had to terminate, who had nine kids, shows up at our door. Oh wow. So he comes into my office and he says hey, cedric, I heard you quit and you're going to be in full-time ministry. He says man, I just came by here just to tell you some things. He says I want to thank you for firing me because it's changed my life. He said I'm walking with Jesus. He said it saved my marriage, saved my family, and now my wife and I are helping Family Life, do marriage counseling, you know, the Weekends to Remembers and all those different things.

Cedrick Brown: 1:10:27

Yeah. And then after that, one of my regional managers calls about no. Before that one of my favorite customers they were like our ninth largest customer calls me and says hey, cedric, you know, I don't know if you know but Tom and I we love each other and we want to get married and we can think of anyone better than you to marry us. Oh, so go to the house to do marriage counseling, right, right. And it's clear she knows Jesus, she has a clear relationship with him. He doesn't. It's one of knows Jesus, she has a clear relationship with him, he doesn't. So one of my largest customers that I serve for all these years, he prays to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Chris Grainger : 1:11:14

Months after I leave.

Cedrick Brown: 1:11:16

I mean it's just affirmation, right. And then I get a call from one of our customer service reps and she says Cedric, I just want to let you know that I heard you're leaving. And I was praying and asking God what I should do and I believe God was calling me to the missions field, but I was afraid. He said but seeing you leave, all that, you left. Yeah, she said I'm going to, I'm leaving too, and you know, and just right. And then here's the kicker One of my regional managers called me. He's like hey, cedric, did you hear the news? I'm like what's the news? Keep in mind, this is probably like six months or so after we left. Yeah, he says the parent company Alcoa is selling our division.

Chris Grainger : 1:12:14

Mm-hmm man, Divine timing man Unreal.

Cedrick Brown: 1:12:19

Terminated the president, everyone who helped me, yeah, and potentially I could have got caught up in that sweep as well. Sure, yeah, brother, I just seen how God just, providentially, sovereignly, has cared for us. And here we are now. We're now 17, 18 years later. There you go.

Chris Grainger : 1:12:49

Well, this has been a powerful testimony. And before we wrap up, pastor Brown, we always like to have a little fun at the end of each episode. We call it a feeding time. It's just a lightning round, but would you be willing to play with that for a few?

Cedrick Brown: 1:13:03

minutes before we wrap up here. Absolutely, but would you be?

Chris Grainger : 1:13:05

willing to play with that for a few minutes before we wrap up here, Absolutely Because I've just thoroughly enjoyed just hearing your testimony. What a just wow, what a powerful story. So let's get into this though. What's your favorite hobby? What do you enjoy doing for fun?

Cedrick Brown: 1:13:23

Sleep Really, my wife and I. We're in such a place now that quietness and getting away, so we like to go to the Poconos just to be still and be silent. Outside of that, I love, still, love to exercise, run and do plyometric isometrics, all those different things.

Chris Grainger : 1:13:44

I hear you, I hear you. Well, you do all the exercise, I'm sure, so you can eat good. So what's your favorite food?

Cedrick Brown: 1:13:51

Oh, wow. Favorite food, I would say well you know Mediterranean food. My wife and I are really, really enjoying Mediterranean food these days.

Chris Grainger : 1:14:01

Okay, all right, yeah, so I guess this is somewhat of a silly question. I'm going to ask you which favorite NFL team.

Cedrick Brown: 1:14:10

Well, it's still the birds Yep, still like them, yep, yep, yep.

Chris Grainger : 1:14:14

I hear you Any player that you got your eyes on these days that you're watching.

Cedrick Brown: 1:14:18

No, not really. I just I'm always curious as far as the the chess game that's going on like preseason. I like watching a draft just to kind of see the decisions that are being made pre-draft, post-draft. Right, no players in particular but, I, like to see how they're working things out, building the team strategy and things like that.

Chris Grainger : 1:14:46

I hear you, I hear you Well, you talk so much today about how God's moving your life when you sit back and think about just who he is. What's your favorite thing about God?

Cedrick Brown: 1:15:00

Man in summary His love, because it's enduring, it's gracious, it's tolerant, but yet it's just you know, it's all encompassing and really that's what has changed and transformed my life is just understanding how much he loved me, understanding how much he loved me has just ignited a, a passionate love for him and a passionate love for people, you know, because I really I really wasn't a people person you know, and. But when he grabbed my heart, man, it changed me. He just gave me a love for all people, all nations and tribes and tongues.

Chris Grainger : 1:15:44

Love it, love it. Let's flip it One 80. Let's flip it 180. What's your least favorite thing about the evil one?

Cedrick Brown: 1:15:51

You know how he deceives man, how he deceives people and he divides, like even the church. Right, he's the deceiver, he divides, you know, even before he gets to the destroying right. Right, he's deceiving and dividing. And now you know, as a pastor, you see how he just deceives people in their marriage. You know, deceives people on how they're and even to a point that he, how they're and even to a point that he, the hindrance of people walking in, are complete healing that has been given to us through the finished work of Jesus. Right, that staying in your past and still not forgiving your mom, your dad, your, you know, and things like that, your childhood, you know, grade school teacher and, and all of that carries over to your present, and just this culmination of deception, you know, and lies that he, that he bestows upon God's people, yeah, 100 percent.

Chris Grainger : 1:16:59

That deception is real. Well, let's, let's do a couple, just two more. So what's?

Cedrick Brown: 1:17:03

up.

Chris Grainger : 1:17:03

Maybe what did, thinking back over the last year? Where did you spend too much time? Did you waste any time doing something? If you look back, yeah, I wish I hadn't spent this time here. Yeah.

Cedrick Brown: 1:17:15

Wow, that's not a thing, because most of my time is somewhere hopefully productive there you go. Let's see Most, most, not enough time, or I mean uh somewhere.

Cedrick Brown: 1:17:35

wow, I know if it's like a lot of guys, it's social media or something like that there's yeah like time there, but yeah, well see, because, because even that, with my, my use of social media is more of of a platform for the gospel, so it's when I'm on it I'm posting something or something's being posted about christ, so, um, so, even that, so, if, if, if anything, yeah, social media, maybe looking at something that takes me somewhere, maybe I'm trying to think what else? Huh, probably eating.

Chris Grainger : 1:18:16

There, you go, there you go. The last question for you, Pastor Brown, is the listeners out there, the guys who are tuned in. They heard your testimony, they hear how God has moved your life. What do you hope they remember the most from our conversation today?

Cedrick Brown: 1:18:33

Can I read it Absolutely? If you don't mind, I'll read it to you Because I believe, if we can hold on to this and never forget it, it will, I believe, transform our lives. This is in Colossians 1, beginning of verse 13. It says For he rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, for by him all things were created, both in the heavens and on the earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions, or rulers or authorities. All things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things and in him all things hold together. He is also head of the body, the church, and he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead.

Cedrick Brown: 1:19:37

Why is the question I always like to ask, so that he himself would come to have his first place in everything? I think that's the end game is that he wants to be God, lord over our lives? But I believe it begins with understanding what the text is saying that you're rescued, right, you're no longer in the domain of darkness. He's transferred you to the kingdom of his beloved son. We have redemption, forgiveness. All that affects how we think, how we live, how we treat others. Right, not to forget.

Cedrick Brown: 1:20:12

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. Right, for by him all things are created, and that's good, bad and indifferent. All things are created right by him and through him and for him. He's over all dominions and rules or authorities which should give us such peace and contentment, knowing that he's in charge of all things at all times and, I think, knowing that he holds everything together, especially as a man. Right, Because so much of what we're taught is that we have to be in control, we have to be in charge, we have to hold things together, we have to hold the family together, we have to hold ourselves together right Right.

Cedrick Brown: 1:20:54

But he's like no, no, don't forget that I hold everything together, that's right, and I'm in charge of all things, and my end game is I want to be first place. Amen and nothing, nothing should ever dethrone me upon your heart 100%.

Chris Grainger : 1:21:14

Well, pastor Brent, this has been phenomenal. Where do you want to send guys to connect with you? Your ministry, if they want to learn more? Your books, all those resources?

Cedrick Brown: 1:21:23

where would you like?

Chris Grainger : 1:21:24

to send them.

Cedrick Brown: 1:21:25

Well, you can go to loveallnationsorg loveallnationsorg and there it'll help you navigate a lot of different things. In other words, you can, if they want, to subscribe to weekly videos that I send out, which are called weekly wires, to encourage them. They can also, you know, click on where to find books and all those things and even find where our church is. So that probably be the best landing page. Again, that's loveallnationsorg loveallnationsorg.

Chris Grainger : 1:21:59

There you go, there you go. Well, guys, go check that out. We'll have that in the show notes for you as well. And, pastor Brown, this has been phenomenal. Anything else you'd like to share today?

Cedrick Brown: 1:22:09

No man, just man. At the end of the day, fall in love with Jesus. You know more than anyone or anything.

Chris Grainger : 1:22:15

Amen.

Cedrick Brown: 1:22:16

And that will set the compass of your life.

Chris Grainger : 1:22:19

Amen. Well, I hope you have a wonderful day, sir. Thank you so much for taking the time with us, on the line with us. Thank you for the opportunity, chris. All right guys, so I told you that was going to be a good one. Again, thank you, stephen, for connecting us. What a great testimony, just a great testimony. I had no idea he was going to share everything that he did to that detail, it's just. I hope you feel encouraged. I hope you feel just ready to go out and understand that you know what your story matters too. Your story, you're writing it today. Literally, the chapter you're on today is being wrote today. Make sure you don't squatter the opportunity to do what he's called you to do. Just chasing ourselves and chasing what the world is calling us to be fully and finally satisfied with will leave you exhausted. Take encouragement from listening to Pastor Brown.

Chris Grainger : 1:23:14

He thought his identity was in football, but no, it wasn't. He thought his identity was in corporate America, but no, it wasn't. His identity is in Christ. You need to ask you the question what defines your identity, whatever that is, if it's not Christ? You know, my identity can't be a podcaster, it can't be a community leader. It can't be an entrepreneur. It can't be an engineer. It can't be a husband or father. No, that's not my identity. My identity is a Christ follower, and then from there, all these other things that I do are just that, so long as I'm glorifying Him along the way. Do I love being a father? Do I love being a husband? Do I love being an entrepreneur? Do I love doing all these podcasting? Yes, but the Lord has to come first, and he is what's going to identify me. I pray he is what identifies you All right.

Chris Grainger : 1:24:12

So, guys, hopefully you enjoyed this one. Give us a rating and review. Head over to thelionwithanus for all our resources, all ways that we try to support each other. We have information for our summit, information for our community. Guys, there's lots and lots of ways you can connect with us.

Chris Grainger : 1:24:26

The YouVersion Bible apps, all the books of the week, all the resources are there for you. They're laid out. The website has a brand new design about it. Go check it out. Give us some feedback. Hop on our email list. You can get the 30 Days to Unleash your Lion Within for free. You have seven ways that you can build ethical business decisions into your leadership journey. Guys, we put stuff out there. We put a lot, a lot of effort into giving you the resources that make a difference. So again, thelionwithinus, where do you find all that stuff at? Okay, all right, guys, we'll see you back here on Friday, looking forward to hanging out with you for our fun Friday episode. So, at the end of the day, have a great one, stay firm, push back and, you know what, keep unleashing the lion within.