PART 2 I AM AN OVERCOMER

What are strongholds and how do we overcome them?

2 

Destroying Strongholds

 

What is a stronghold?

That’s a good question. There’s a verse in the Book of Hebrews that will help us out.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

As believers, we’re instructed to lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth easily beset us. The word weight in Koine Greek means stumbling block. Another meaning is the various burdens that delay and impede our spiritual course.³The words sin which doth so easily beset us refers to a specific hindrance or the heaviest burden that easily distracts and entangles us.

Have you ever heard a story about a famous athlete whose stumbling block inhibited his performance? Here’s an example of such.

THE LEN BIAS STORY: A CAUTIONARY TALE

 

Death of Len Bias

Growing up a generation removed from the John F. Kennedy assassination, I have had only a few “I will always remember where I was” moments in my life. I vaguely remembered John Lennon’s murder in 1980. I was way too young to understand his impact on the world, both musically and culturally, but I remember seeing my father cry, which I never saw happen before or after.

I remember sitting in section 79, row E, seat 12 of Camden Yards, holding my three-year-old daughter in my arms, watching Cal Ripken Jr. take his victory lap around the stadium after he broke Lou Gehrig’s consecutive game record. Ironically, that was the only time my daughter ever saw me cry. Of course, any American who is reading this will never forget where they were when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center on that awful September morning in 2001.

However, every year around this time, with the NBA draft right around the corner, my mind wanders back to June 19, 1986. My mother had sent me on an errand to the corner store in my neighborhood to get some bread and Coke. As I jumped on my skateboard and headed down Westchester Avenue, I was stopped by a [girl, a 15-year-old] named Sheila. I will never forget the ashen look of pain and shock that was written on her face.

As I approached her and asked what was wrong, she said something to me that was so shocking, so unbelievable, that I thought for sure she was pulling my leg with a tasteless joke. I had to ask her again to make sure I had heard her correctly. There was no denying my hearing abilities. Through her quivering lips, I can still see and hear her say, “Len Bias died this morning from a cocaine overdose.” We both just stood there, and for what seemed like an hour, I was waiting for the punch line to this cruel prank. Unfortunately, the punch line never came, and I aimlessly continued skating my way to the store.

I can never explain the thoughts going through my mind. “What the hell is she talking about? My friends and I just saw him with his boyish grin, wearing that ugly Celtics hat, two nights ago when he was drafted second overall by the dynastic Boston team. I don’t know what she is trying to accomplish by saying this to me, but I am not amused at all.” [I’m paraphrasing here;] my language was much saltier as a teenage boy]. As I walked into the store, I asked the owner if any of this was true, and he proceeded to confirm my fears. I grabbed the Coke and bread and headed home to watch the news because I was still feeling like someone was taking advantage of my gullibility.

It was only after I got home and saw the look on my mom’s face that I really believed what was being reported. After all, she never ever lied to me. It was then that I knew the horrible truth.

 

About Len Bias

Leonard Kevin Bias was born on November 17, 1963, in Landover, Md. He was a tall, unassuming boy who was given the nickname Frosty by a pastor at his [church because of his cool, laid-back] demeanor. While attending Northwestern High School, [it] became obvious that his skill sets were progressing rapidly.

Colleges such as Syracuse, Georgetown, and Indiana were recruiting him, but Bias chose to remain in his comfort zone of Prince [George’s] County and play for the University [of] Maryland. From the very beginning, legendary Terps coach Lefty Driesell saw the boy’s potential and made him the centerpiece of his strong basketball program. He was strong as a bull, fast as a cheetah, and could leap out of the gym. He had a playground swagger about him that Lefty loved, and he made his teammates better with just his mere presence on the court. There really wasn’t anything that he couldn’t do on the hardwood. The silky-smooth forward with mad hops could rebound, shoot, [play defense,] and he loved dunking on his opponents.

As I write this, while periodically closing my eyes, I can still see him terrorizing my beloved North Carolina [Tar Heels with a steal of an inbound pass] and a two-handed reverse dunk on everyone wearing [blue while letting out a boisterous yell] just to let everyone know in attendance that he was an unstoppable force. The All-American Terrapin would go on to win [back-to-back] Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 1985 and 1986, and his 2,149 points was a Maryland record at the time.

That June in Boston, the Celtics were putting the finishing touches on their third NBA championship in five years. Former coaching great, now General Manager Red Auerbach had his eye on Bias and the future of the Celtics. Red always had a keen eye for talent, and he knew that Len was a player that his aging team could use. In one fell swoop, he traded Gerald Henderson to the Seattle Supersonics for the rights to the second pick in the 1986 NBA draft.

The Cleveland Cavaliers had the first pick and made no secret about the fact that they would be selecting Brad Dougherty, the center out of North Carolina. Without hesitation, Red Auerbach drafted Bias, lit his customary victory cigar, and watched with the rest of the basketball world as a jubilant Len [Bias] walked across the stage and shook Commissioner David Stern’s hand. After weeks of interviewing the Terp forward and submitting him to physical evaluations and drug tests, Auerbach knew he had his man.

Celtics fans and Maryland fans alike were salivating at the mouth in anticipation of Bias joining the team of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish. All of Bias’ hard work and dedication to his craft had brought the young man to this point in his life. [Here,] he stood on the precipice of greatness, and no one could have imagined or predicted the sequence of events that would soon follow.

 

An Untimely End

The next day, Len’s [father,] James, who had accompanied his son to New York for the draft, returned home during the afternoon. A contingency of reporters had gathered and were disappointed that Len wasn’t in attendance for a little Q and A session. James assured the D.C and Baltimore sportswriters that his son would be available the next day to answer all their questions.

Meanwhile, Len was in New York, signing a [three-million-dollar] endorsement deal with Reebok, the tennis shoe company. Reebok had watched Michael Jordan sign a shoe deal with Nike two years [before] and had visions of Bias transforming their company the way Michael was doing for Nike. Upon signing the deal and tying up some loose ends with the Celtics front office, Len hopped in his [brand-new] cobalt blue 300 ZX and drove back to College Park.

Len arrived at the campus around 11:00 PM. Many of his teammates, friends, and players of the school’s football team were at the dorm called Washington Hall, awaiting his arrival. While eating steamed crabs, the future NBA star patiently answered all their questions. At around 1:30 a.m., Len left the hall to go to a party and returned shortly after 3:00 a.m.

Lines of cocaine were being distributed, and Bias made his fateful error in [judgment] by joining in on the festivities. At 6:32 in the morning, a 911 call was made by his childhood friend Brian Tribble. A frightened and high Tribble was pleading for medical assistance. During the call, a confused Tribble begged for help immediately and kept saying Len’s name over and over. At first, the operator who took the call wasn’t sure if this was a college prank and even reprimanded Tribble for saying his name continuously. The PG County emergency unit was sent to the dorm.

The ambulance arrived on the scene at [6:40 a.m.,] and the technicians found Len Bias unconscious and not breathing. While the medics were feverishly working on Bias, the facts were being sorted out. After doing a massive line of cocaine, Bias began talking to his teammate Terry Long. He then leaned back on his couch and started going into seizures. After having no success in reviving Bias, the paramedics put his body in the ambulance and sped off to Leland Memorial Hospital in Riverdale, MD. The physicians tried everything. They gave him Epinephrine, Sodium Bicarbonate, Lidocaine, Calcium and Bretylium. In one last hopeful effort, they placed a pacemaker on his chest, but it was too late. At 8:55 a.m., Len Bias was pronounced dead.

 

More Fallout

In the days and weeks that followed Bias’ death, the University of Maryland felt the weight of a media whirlwind. After further investigations by the police, several grams of cocaine [were] found under the driver’s seat of Bias’ car. The NCAA was under pressure to find out what happened. The Washington Post and The Baltimore Sun both wrote scathing pieces on the educational practices of the university.

It was discovered that Bias was twenty-one credits short of his [requirements] despite using all of his athletic eligibility. Coach Driesell came under fire when it was learned that upon getting a phone call and learning of the incident at Washington [Hall,] he told Bias’ teammates to remove all the drugs from Len’s room. Len’s parents, James and [Lonise,] accused the University of Maryland of neglecting the academic statuses of their athletes.

Everyone, from the UMD athletic [department] to the admissions office to the campus [police to Brian Tribble,] was being held accountable for the tragedy. On October [17^th,] Athletic Director Dick Dull resigned, and after 17 years of service to Maryland basketball, Lefty Driesell was fired. The more people went [digging,] the more dirt came to the surface. The NCAA banned Maryland from appearing on TV for a year and took scholarships from the school. [To this day,] Maryland has strict admission requirements and expanded academic support…

 

Other Fallout

On July 25, 1986, Brian Tribble was indicted for possession of cocaine with the intent to distribute. Teammates Terry Long and David Gregg were charged with possession and obstruction of justice. The charges against Long and Gregg would be dropped in exchange for testimony against Tribble. Tribble would eventually plead guilty to being a major drug dealer, and on October 15, 1990, he was sentenced to ten years of prison.

Bud Marshall was the District Attorney up for re-election [and,] in my opinion, used this tragedy to further his aspirations. To this [day,] there are heated debates as to whether Brian Tribble was the [murderer] that Marshall painted him out to be or a scapegoat for a flawed university and two grief-stricken parents. There is no question that Tribble and Maryland Athletics took the blame for Len’s bad decision and the university’s infrastructure. In 1988, Congress passed an anti-drug act that is called the “Len Bias Law.” It called for stiffer penalties and expanded the DARE program.

 

Len Bias Legacy

The death of Bias had a ripple effect that not only affected the history of Maryland basketball, but also the Boston Celtics. After hearing the news, Larry Bird quipped, “That is the cruelest thing I ever heard.” Boston would again reach the finals in 1987 but would fall to Magic Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Celtics were obviously a player [short,] and one can only wonder what would have happened if Bias was on that team. In [1993,] they would lose another rising star when Baltimore native Reggie Lewis would die in the middle of a pickup game due to a heart attack. The Celtics would not reach the finals again until 2008.

If Len had lived, would he have presented a true rival to Michael Jordan and the Bulls of the nineties? Would Reebok have grown into the conglomerate that Nike has become? How could a world-class athlete, with the body of [a Greek god,] fall prey to such a drug? This wasn’t John Belushi or Elvis we are talking about here. Would he have become the player everyone thought he would? The speed of James Worthy, the power of Dominique [Wilkens,] and the grace of Jordan. These are all questions that will never be answered. One thing is for [sure:] Len Bias is the greatest basketball player to never play in the [NBA.]

 

Closing Thoughts

The year 2011 marked the 34th anniversary of Bias’ death. [Sometimes,] I can’t believe that it has really been that long. Every [year,] I watch the NBA draft, and I think of Len. Although I have never been a UMD fan, I always admired and feared Len Bias. Whenever I think of him, it takes me back to my childhood, when [me] David Mowbray, Albert Kappes, and the boys would spend our days on the court.

Each of us had our guy. We would make catcalls as we took our shots. For instance, when I drove the lane, I would stick out my tongue and [yell,] “Jordan.” My man Dave would shoot one of his jumpers and [say,] “Bird for three.” Craig Gamble would take it to the hole, dunk on the adjustable rim, and mock us by [exclaiming,] “Julius Erving.” But the best was [when] Albert would rip down a board, put it back [up, and shout,] “Bias!!!” Whenever I think of those days, it makes me smile. When Len died, a piece of my childhood evaporated, as did the Celtics mystique. Albert’s guy was gone, and so was our innocence.⁴

What a tragedy. In this instance, I’d describe this person’s hindrance as a stumbling block, which, if he had lived and continued such use, would have turned into an easily besetting sin. Sadly, he might have been told by his friends that the use of this drug would make him feel good and no harm would come to him. How many times have we heard these words by those in our peer group?

As Christians, we need not to be ignorant of those things that will harm us. Some of them are obvious. But how many are we unaware of? That’s why we need solid teaching from those in the pulpit. Whether we know it or not, we’re engaged in a daily battle.

Galatians 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.                          

Galatians 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.                                                           

Our old sin nature is opposed or contrary to the effects of the graces of the Holy Spirit. In order to be an overcomer, in the sense of our sinful nature not being in control of our souls, we must walk in the Holy Spirit. The related verb overcome, according to the online dictionary, means to [gain victory,] win; conquer:a plan to overcome by any means possible.⁵

As we’ve learned, there’s one plan available to us that will assist in triumphying over addictions, weaknesses, stumbling blocks, etc. Confess sin, repent (turn from it), and recover (thinking with God’s pertinent Word in whatever sinful area we find ourselves thinking, speaking, or engaging in action).

The following sections in this book refer to being able to overcome our old sinful nature throughout each day, with all of its lusts and passions. Overcoming doesn’t mean that our passions and lusts will be eradicated, but to be able to recognize them when they appear in our mind or surface in our emotions due to the situations that present themselves before us.

Don’t be alarmed when you have thoughts of lusting after someone, wanting to take what others have, being jealous, wanting to get even with someone who has wronged you, wanting to physically hurt someone for no reason, wanting to engage in an egregious sexual act with another, saying something about another that’s untrue, etc. Sometimes, past events or associations trigger memories that incite these kinds of thoughts. At other times, there are evil forces at work whose weaponry against us are called fiery darts.

Ephesians 6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

 

What are fiery darts?

They can be referred to as:

�-� Considerations darted into the mind… sometimes, they start up suddenly in the mind, even in the middle of holy exercises.⁶           

�-� Lies, blasphemous thoughts, hateful thoughts about others, doubts, and burning desires for sin.⁷

There’s also something more about them that the believer should know.

They can:

�-� Come from unexpected quarters, as arrows shot suddenly from an enemy in ambush.

�-� Pierce, penetrate, and torment the soul, as arrows would that are on fire.

�-� Set the soul on [fire] and kindle the worst passions, as fiery darts do to a ship or a camp against which they are sent.⁸                                                                                                                                        

James 1:13-15 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man: But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.

And when trials or tests come our way, don’t blame God or think that he’s allowing them to occur so that they can seduce us to sin. Rather, we have an opportunity to apply His Word and reveal the newness of thoughts in our mind that we’ve learned from the teachings of those in church leadership or personal study.                                                                                                                                      

I’ve prepared each overcoming section as a spiritual meal for you to partake of and become spiritually stronger. Hopefully, you’ll memorize some of the Scriptures that accompany each one so that you can apply them when evil thoughts rear their ugly heads. The ultimate goal for each of you who reads this book is that you’ll develop the fruit of the Spirit and experience inner joy and the peace that passes all understanding so that a fallen world sees the character of Christ evidenced before them.

Proverbs 24:16 For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again:…

Remember. Don’t give up. Each day allows us to put on the mind of Christ.