More Good Stuff

Let Go

How often do we hold onto old ways for tradition sake?  Or is it a fear of what unknowns come from change?  Not all traditions are good, nor is all change, but we have to let go sometimes.  If a new way of doing or even seeing things is produced, we must be open minded enough to see that the change could be good.  We have to understand why we do what we do and how successful it has been and could we tweak it to have more success. 

It is hard.  I like to be comfortable too, even as the Titanic is sinking, but we need to challenge ourselves to change if needed.  We need to be open to try different things.  We need to be open to listen, learn and let go....sometimes.

Real Life

So Who do You Take?

Just So You Know

Funny

I had to read it three times before I figured it out.

Last Day Best Day: 2014 4th-5th Graders Basketball Camp

 

SC 4th-5th Grade Camp Winding Down

For Sure!

I have already heard my daughter say she was fat when she was 7 years old.  There isn't an ounce of fat on her body.  Where are girls hearing this stuff?  Everywhere.  That is why it is our job, as fathers, to remind them of how beautiful they are, no matter what.

FCA for May 20th

Today, T.C. Baker the Minister at Safe Harbor Christian Church spoke to the students.  He spoke about them finding their spiritual gifts and then using them for good, to be servants.  The school year is winding down and today was the largest number of students since the beginning of the year.

Success Hangover and High Expecations

It is a crazy thing that I have noticed throughout my many years of coaching sports.  Success can often be more poisonous than losing.  If you lose, a lot, more often than not you continue to work, work, work to get over the hump.  If you have some success, you will continue to work, work, work to be more successful.

However, when a winning streak occurs, or  you get over a hump to big time success, you often see teams relax.  It is human nature...it is the success hangover.  Teams forget how hard and focused they had to be to get to their successful level, and think that going through the motions is all that is needed.  They do not understand that there are teams that are hungry and focused wanting what they have. 

With success often comes high expectations for the next season.  I have seen this with my wife in her class as well.  She, by the end of a school year (she teaches 2nd graders), has her students working and behaving like a well-oiled machine.  When the next year begins and she has a new group, she is not real happy because they are awful, ok, maybe not awful, but not as good as the previous year.  She has not worked her magic on them yet and she is comparing the end of the previous year with the beginning of the new one.  It is unfair to do that especially for her.

With successful teams who return many players, they often think they will start right up in the new season where they left off from the previous successful season.  That just rarely happens.  Each season is different.  Each season starts at the beginning of that season and not the end of the previous.  Each season has its own problems and issues, and each team (whether most are returning or not) have to find their way.  It is normal.  It is ok if you start slow.  It is ok to not win the state championship each game you play, it is all part of the process.

It is a different process to be sure, but it is still a process.  And to me, as a coach, it is the process that means more than anything especially if you end with more success.

When Famous People Use That Fame for Great Reasons

Absolutely

Something we all struggle with, or maybe it is just me.

God's Not Dead by Rice Brooks

I challenge everyone to read this book that I just finished.  I do not care if you believe or do not, this book is worth the read.  I could not write a review as good as this one, so I am using it.

By Nancy FamolariVINE  on February 25, 2013

Format: Hardcover

Rice Brooks has written an extremely useful book for believers, and for non-believers who want to know more about God. In nine chapters, Brooks addresses the most critical debating points about God's existence: naturalistic vs. theistic worldviews; faith vs; reason: the reality of the existence of good and evil; instantaneous creation of the universe; Darwinian evolution vs. an intelligent creator; the purpose of life; the Resurrection; scripture as history, not fiction; and the Grace effect.

Each chapter tackles one of these nine issues. Rice's points are buttressed by numerous cites to other authors. I also found it an excellent device to include arguments for Dawkins, a well known atheist, and the answers formulated by committed Christians to his points. The chapters on the Resurrection and the historical accuracy of the scripture are particularly important. I won't go into all the arguments, but those two chapters are well worth reading for anyone. Some of the other chapters deal with philosophical arguments, if you're not familiar with the philosophers, it may take a little longer, and perhaps some additional study, to become easily conversant with the arguments.

One of my favorite parts of the book was a testament by Dr. Augusto Cury. Dr. Cury is a well known psychiatrist and author. As a committed atheist, he decided to study the man, Jesus Christ. What he discovered brought him to a sincere faith in Christianity. He believed that Christ didn't fit the characteristics of someone who would want to be the leader of a revolution, no neurotic need for control and power over others. Jesus' responses to the dreadful events as his life approached the cross were unbelievably calm and forgiving. Jesus was a very unique man to exhibit the characteristics he did. This study convinced Cury that this was no ordinary man. His analysis is well worth reading.

I highly recommend this book. It's an easy, relatively quick read. However, for those who are interested there are many references that allow for further study.

I reviewed this book for the Thomas Nelson Booksneeze Program.

FCA Speaker HHS Sophomore Basketball Player Haley Huddleston

There are often many Tuesday mornings when I attend FCA that I am moved by the students.  I usually wake up and head on in wishing for a little more sleep, but when arriving hear such good testimonies.

Huddleston spoke about reaching out and trying to make someone elses day better and that the reward for doing that far outweighs being selfish.

SC 1st - 3rd Grade Spring Basketball Camp in the Books

Yep

35 Minutes Worth Watching

J. P. Moreland's Why I Am Not An Atheist

 

 

We Practice at Camp...

How to dive for loose balls! 

Look Up

Worth the Listen

I Might Choose Different Words...

or I might not.  A classic Bob Knight truth.

Shane Harper...Hold You Up

 

 

 

 

I like this Song by Andy Mineo...You Can't Stop Me

 

Road Rage

This morning it was my department's day to buy breakfast for the school's staff.  I got up early, realized I had forgotten and headed to Krispy Kreme.  After eating about 6 of them on the way to school (they were out of the oven and warm, do not judge me!), I got on the interstate to drive to school.

My speed was 75 in a 70 zone, so I guess I am admitting to breaking the law.  But when I was almost to my exit, someone flew up behind me and got so close I could not see their headlights.  I was in the process of passing a car and actually sped up, I was exceeding the speed limit, and as soon as possible I got over so this person could pass.

As they passed, I got a look that let me know they were not happy.  They cut me off, slowed down and when I started to slow down, they slammed on their brakes and then exited.  I am still pretty worked up about it because it was foolish and dangerous.

I could have gotten off at the exit and confronted the gentleman, but my father taught me two valuable things about situations like this.  One, who knows what this guy was/is going through and may look for something or someone to take his frustration out on.  And two, you do not know if he has a gun in the car. 

My anger, along with those two possibilities do not endear themselves to a positive ending.  So I got to school, put my donuts out, and came here to type this...maybe it will help.