One day when I was subbing, I saw a sheet of paper on the teacher’s desk that read, “Dear Faculty, Do you have any talents and abilities you would like to share with the student body? If so, sign up for the Faculty Follies!”

A teacher talent show? Immediately the thought popped into my mind: Why not dribble to music?!! I had never done it before and had no clue how I was going to do it. But the thought turned into a vision, and soon the vision turned into action.

So after about 10 hours of choreographing (never thought you’d hear Occh say that right??) the dribbling to the music, it was time to perform. A sellout crowd of 500 kids that see me in the hallways everyday, students I had grown to love over the past 4 years, packed the Memorial High School auditorium. Needless to say I was nervous!!

My arms were shaking, and my stomach was completely in knots. I remember standing behind the closed curtain praying, telling the Lord it was all for him. As my name was announced and the curtain opened, the kids went crazy, having no clue what this white boy sub was going to do with a basketball in his hand.

Then the ball hit the floor. I think 500 jaws simultaneously dropped. Even more than the dribbling itself, these kids were shocked that it was “Mr. O” doing it. I had a talent the world didn’t know about, and all this time it was hidden from people who saw me everyday. As the music ended and the curtain closed, the place erupted, and I experienced an incredible satisfaction of knowing I went for and accomplished something big.

This video is a performance I did about a year later at my school. Two years later I’m doing motivational assemblies all over the country, motivating people to live for something amazing, something so much bigger than themselves.

What are your hidden talents? A faculty talent show gave birth to a vision called Create the Crossover–Imagine what might happen if you let your dream out to the world.

Check out what my friends and I in Fairview, NJ are doing this weekend:

More info coming on our Monday post-if we make it

Imagine from LOVE146 on Vimeo.

How does this video make you feel? Angry? Upset? Disgusted? It should. But one thing I hope this video inspires you to realize is the opportunity we have to make sex about something so wonderful, instead of something so selfish.

When teenagers hear the word “virgin” what’s the typical response? It’s usually in the context of a joke, or making fun of someone right? But what about after watching this video? Is the idea of being innocent such a joke any more?

Think about how badly these little girls would prize their virginity if they had the chance. If one of these little girls was given a brand new start in America, do you think she would lose her virginity in high school, or do you think she would save herself for a man who loved her to the point of committing himself to her in marriage?

You see, these girls have no chance to save the priceless gift of their sexuality because their innocence is stolen from them. We have every chance at it (WE GET TO CHOOSE!) and our culture tells us to throw it right away.

I truly believe that each of us knows deep down in our hearts that our sexuality is worth far more than the media tells us. Whether you’ve lost your virginity or not, you deserve someone who will wait for you. You can live sexually pure.

So what if we offered you a chance to be a part of a movement that is inspiring people in our own communities to make sex about something greater than cheap, temporary pleasure we see on TV? What if this same effort rescued children from sex slavery so they could have the chance to save their virginity for something wonderful?

We invite you to join the X Fund. Here are the basics:

-Find a friend who is also serious about saving himself/herself sexually for marriage.

-Every day you save yourself sexually, you put away a quarter, dime, nickel-whatever you decide. Your partner does the same, and each week you exchange the change you’ve set aside. This gives both of you accountability and encouragement for staying pure.

-Each month, you gather your change and donate it to Ball for Lives. We take all the money donated from across the country and send it to organizations (like Love146) that are rescuing child prostitues.

YOUR PURITY=A CHANCE FOR THEM TO BE PURE!

Much more info is on the way about The X Fund (like why we’re calling it that) and how you can bring it to your school, youth group, and church.

Don’t settle with your life! See the amazing opportunity you’ve been given. So many others are wishing for that chance.

(If you’re on our home page, click on The X Fund Title on top to leave comments)

This past spring I had the opportunity to spend a week with Ball for Lives’ web designer, Josh Waldron. Josh teaches History at Waynesboro High School in Waynesboro, VA and is a teacher with a vision: by building into his students’ lives he wants them to see the same thing that Ball for Lives is all about–live for something bigger than yourself. Josh is a teacher making a big difference in the lives of public school students. Keep living big Josh!

Create the Crossover is all about the idea that life can be lived for something much bigger than ourselves. When people live life for something big, they don’t do the things that will destroy their lives: drugs, alcohol, tobacco, etc. What are the things you want to change in your life? Do you ever feel like you just can’t overcome these things? You have a choice: you can keep trying to change yourself, or you can choose to live for something bigger than you and allow that vision to change you. Ball for Lives is an effort that is so much bigger than me and my one life-may it always be an example of people living for something big!

Check out these Open Run pics!

Over 50 students and faculty participated in the Open Run

8 boys teams and 3 girls teams competed for the right to play with 4-One at the Main Event

Most of the Boys Varsity basketball team participated, and 6 played in the Main Event

After 2 hours of playing on the 2 side courts, the elimination round on the main court begins!

The boys tournament had blowouts, upsets, and some very close games

Want this kind of tournament at your school? Remember, a group of students at Memorial brought 4-One to their school. You can do the same!

Pictures and video from the Main Event coming soon!

All day pick up basketball open to any student or teacher in your school? The winning team and all-stars playing with former NBA, NFL, and College athletes that night in front of hundreds of people? Food, giveaways, performances, and a dunk contest? And how about this amazing event for only $3 admission with all proceeds being donated to Malaria No More, an organization dedicated to ending the #1 killer of African children by 2015!

4-One is bringing their Open Run and Main Event to Memorial High School in West New York, NJ on Saturday, November 14th! If you’re local to the New York City/North Jersey area, help pack out the MHS gym for the Main Event game from 7 – 9pm. Besides everything they do with basketball, 4-One members deliver powerful, life changing messages to the large crowds at their events.  Let’s inspire the city of West New York as we take our role in ending malaria for good!  

 How did MHS get this incredible event?? The TIGS group (Together In GreatnesS) from Memorial got permission from the Board of Ed, allowing 4-One this awesome opportunity. If you know anything about Ball for Lives, you know we believe that high school students can make incredible change in their own communities and around the world. Way to go TIGS!!!

Want this type of event in your school? Follow  the example of some brave kids from Memorial High School and help get 4-One in your school’s gym! 

Ready to  see a preview of what’s coming to MHS on Saturday??

 Check out 4-One’s impressive promo video

(Altough 4-One is a Christian Basketball team, they do not speak openly of their faith in Christ in Public School Events).

Let’s help TIGS make this event huge for the city of West New York!!!  

Note: This event is not a Ball for Lives event. It is being cosponsored by 4-One and Beta Kappa Psi. We simply want to highlight the amazing efforts of a group of students “Creating the Crossover” in their community!

My hilarious college teammate, Brian Jennings, is now teaching at Liberty Christian Academy in Columbus, OH. He’s making an awesome difference in the lives of his students here! It was great presenting the vision of Ball for Lives to both campuses of Liberty Christian.

You all hear about Jesus every day at your school-I hope today you saw  His desire to do amazing things with your talents and abililties. Live for something Big!

Here’s another pretty funny clip:

 Thanks for volunteering guys!

Leave comments on our site, spread our videos to all your friends, stay in touch, and help us Create the Crossover in more lives and communities!  

Occh

The students at Providence Academy for Student Success were an awesome crowd!

As much as you guys loved the dribbling, I hope you learned about what AIDS is doing in Africa, and even more, I hope you were inspired to do something big with your life, your talents, and your abilities. Check out our other videos, leave comments on our site, and help us Create the Crossover in communities around the world! Thanks for a great day!

Live for something bigger than yourself!!!

Occh

Stay in touch P.A.S.S.!!