tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56110497803673507242024-03-08T08:04:07.717-05:00Life of a Basketball Coach in IndianaPsalm 96:3 "Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples" ن Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1198125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-50908462369871651972024-02-28T09:09:00.005-05:002024-02-28T09:09:55.366-05:00Are We Going Mad or is it Just Me? Probably Just Me.<p>From my vantage point.</p><p>Choosing Jesus is possibly a bad thing, but justifying actual theocracies is ok.</p><p>The United States is bad, but countries that deal without 2% of what the USA does is great.</p><p>Walls are ok when it has to do with any other country, but not with the USA.</p><p>Anti-Israel Jews are heroes, but conservative African Americans are sell outs and black Americans are only allowed to think a certain way.</p><p>You can't define a woman, yet we have people in positions of power fighting for women's rights.</p><p>The police in the USA are evil, yet you will defend the "moral" police in other countries as part of their culture.</p><p>People here fight to keep the freedom we have and that's bad, but you celebrate that women can drive in a foreign country...I mean it is 2024.</p><p>Women's sports are good, yet you support it being infiltrated by non-biological women.</p><p>I was a pretty hardcore conservative in high school.</p><p>Then in my 20's I found some empathy in me and swung to the opposite end to the Left.</p><p>Then as I grew in my experiences and then my faith I straddled the middle of the political spectrum.</p><p>But what has happened in the last 8 years in something that my most ardent Liberal friends feel like they're being pulled to the middle and that is because the Left is moving even more to the Left.</p><p>So Bill Maher, Alan Dershowitz and other traditional Liberals are looking around and agreeing with many "conservatives" on many issues because as the Left moves further left, the center is moving towards them.</p><p>I hope for the sake of everyone that we look in the mirror and see what we're doing.</p><p>Because it makes little to no sense.</p><p>But maybe, just maybe it's because I am aging and..."hey kids! Get off my lawn!"</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPaqenKSNzpguOjASp3FGcHwfhyphenhyphen6-jbKlyAagBdQiuNOND5nhC1OPXaUyjBhuZ5nMJDtOj2Lx9iKKTE1zI1fPNJWiE_3HJ4l3bIOjtQyCVw6HnIddB8G07wJ7KHN_TR9sVW3BGJw4pyCDDh3V3NXKne7lulCbrFKeJYrgF9-Bdhus4go018ydO575WbjS/s1024/elon-meme-thumb64.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwPaqenKSNzpguOjASp3FGcHwfhyphenhyphen6-jbKlyAagBdQiuNOND5nhC1OPXaUyjBhuZ5nMJDtOj2Lx9iKKTE1zI1fPNJWiE_3HJ4l3bIOjtQyCVw6HnIddB8G07wJ7KHN_TR9sVW3BGJw4pyCDDh3V3NXKne7lulCbrFKeJYrgF9-Bdhus4go018ydO575WbjS/w394-h197/elon-meme-thumb64.webp" width="394" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-26567109196675973092024-02-12T08:42:00.002-05:002024-02-12T08:42:22.453-05:00Teacher's Kids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5CQCdJyO-MM96vgTN5yHRmv3_V2E5QuLRkrbI4x4-dWiVzEA_TIR8wcLAC3mp8lslfYYYhoMOaZ-RWxvpS0xqAuRMrpU2G49r8na7J8E5_80Y588KmUQcWGnAZmdtB0wMM_c_z4PnxFVll8v3cTXxf9LxmL_-ln5PagTmQHS06BZ9SD3gANV32dz2tsl/s640/658f8df3cf10a.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW5CQCdJyO-MM96vgTN5yHRmv3_V2E5QuLRkrbI4x4-dWiVzEA_TIR8wcLAC3mp8lslfYYYhoMOaZ-RWxvpS0xqAuRMrpU2G49r8na7J8E5_80Y588KmUQcWGnAZmdtB0wMM_c_z4PnxFVll8v3cTXxf9LxmL_-ln5PagTmQHS06BZ9SD3gANV32dz2tsl/s320/658f8df3cf10a.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Teaching is about relationships.</p><p>It probably always has been, but kids today need that relationship.</p><p>Teaching is getting the information across to the students.</p><p>It's not about lesson plans.</p><p>It's not about standards.</p><p>It's not about having the right signs up in your classroom.</p><p>It's not about using technology.</p><p>It's not about being deemed an effective teacher by someone who rarely comes into your class.</p><p>It's not about checking boxes.</p><p>It is about connecting with the students and hoping to inspire them to learn.</p><p>How do you measure that?</p><p>I don't know how you can officially do it with metrics and measurable data because a good teacher doesn't always have the best test scores.</p><p>All teachers can manipulate data to show that they have taught info by test scores, but that's not teaching either.</p><p>Teaching is about having kids in your classroom at the beginning of a school year, they learn, get smarter, but want to continue learning after they leave your class.</p><p>Want to see a good teacher?</p><p>Look at teacher's kids...how well do they do?</p><p>From my experiences, I can tell you it's not because of anything that happens in a building from 8 AM to 3 PM, but what happens in a building from 3 PM until the next day...in their homes.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-63769481053985766722024-02-12T08:35:00.006-05:002024-02-12T08:43:25.685-05:00The Outrageousness of Comparison<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_40uYLzOBS8_Max4ZjfzTvyqlHx4Lndvr4-AURGwcO_eOzI0NLTDHkS27NFQ0ez1cyHUgC5fh8SWTy9KcyQj5yarCXZQnDismuGdDsqSQFULqJhyphenhyphenYssg6zsERgh58L_nlS5pHPBWap7nPcwjLPKrpFJRejBDNHTPBqVibWHDEGvLnki0dzCV-qT056vX/s2048/image_6487327%20(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD_40uYLzOBS8_Max4ZjfzTvyqlHx4Lndvr4-AURGwcO_eOzI0NLTDHkS27NFQ0ez1cyHUgC5fh8SWTy9KcyQj5yarCXZQnDismuGdDsqSQFULqJhyphenhyphenYssg6zsERgh58L_nlS5pHPBWap7nPcwjLPKrpFJRejBDNHTPBqVibWHDEGvLnki0dzCV-qT056vX/s320/image_6487327%20(10).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>The Nazis and Adolph Hitler were able to come to power due to the ending of World War I.</p><p>What happened there directly led to Hitler taking power.</p><p>Let's look at some of the things that happened.</p><p>Germany, which did not start WWI but got involved due to the entangled treaty system, had to accept full responsibility for the war.</p><p>Germany had to give up land and economic areas to keep them weak both militarily and economically. </p><p>They lost the Rhine land which was a huge loss economically.</p><p>Germans were living in Czechoslovakia and Austria.</p><p>Hitler and the Nazis took power with the argument to make Germany strong again.</p><p>Once these elected people took more power, they took back the Rhine land.</p><p>Once this elected and supported group took back that area, they invaded Austria and Czechoslovakia to unite the Germany people.</p><p>Under today's ideals, the Nazis were fighting back against colonialism and fighting to unite its people in a homeland that they had deserved and lived in for years.</p><p>From there, Hitler and the Nazis invaded Germany and spread out...they were not stopped, but appeased and their violence not only against all of Europe, but the Jews specifically could have possibly been stopped.</p><p>After WWII, Israel formed and the Jews said "never again!"</p><p>This is very similar to what Hamas has done in Palestine, except now, there is no appeasement.</p><p>War is terrible, but the blame must be put on who creates the violence.</p><p>It's not the country that has over and over given up land for peace with Jordan, Syria, Egypt and even Palestine.</p><p>That country has had to do extreme things to protect itself because every time it tries for peace, more violence is done against them.</p><p>The group that Israel is fighting today, if not stopped, wants the total annihilation of Israel.</p><p>You're either ok with that or you are not.</p><p>I am not.</p><p>And I hate that Hamas brought this upon the people in that region.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-23827818246130001752023-11-30T07:07:00.003-05:002023-11-30T07:07:30.746-05:00Good Guys?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISZMFhIemRMpdA4n4f-_cHun8SBcIwy81PbIEY1BOxR8KOJUEktbIf0FgJuyZna22b7BMSRFRVE4eReg2CXXJm3LR-qJaDm9FCT2dN33SMQme65_EJjzbLWidKGOB_Y7bOnV4tNcUjcbhm8MIUvf2EgE-bvpCTRjpPltnnwIAmRoIiNE-kzrY6yngVtYl/s2048/image_6487327%20(10).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiISZMFhIemRMpdA4n4f-_cHun8SBcIwy81PbIEY1BOxR8KOJUEktbIf0FgJuyZna22b7BMSRFRVE4eReg2CXXJm3LR-qJaDm9FCT2dN33SMQme65_EJjzbLWidKGOB_Y7bOnV4tNcUjcbhm8MIUvf2EgE-bvpCTRjpPltnnwIAmRoIiNE-kzrY6yngVtYl/s320/image_6487327%20(10).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>It is unpopular to state anymore, but there are good guys in this world and there are bad guys.</p><p>And the good guys are not the perfect guys, but they're still the good guys.</p><p>Have you ever noticed that the people who want a democracy (50% + 1) are those that are in the majority?</p><p>Oh, yea...just watch when they're not in the majority and how much they call certain issues "unfair", "discriminatory" and any other bad name you can come up with.</p><p>Yea, a democracy is nice if you're in the majority, but thank God we live in a Constitutional Republic where the majority can control issues, but the minority has rights and can be heard and can, through elections in states, etc gain an advantage.</p><p>It does not happen in any other country that is not the USA, Western Europe, Australia/New Zealand, and maybe a few South American countries.</p><p>Those places are majority rule and it is done by force.</p><p>That does not exist here.</p><p>If you think it does, you should visit some place outside of your bubble and better yet, go live there for awhile.</p><p>It's probably actually cheaper to do so.</p><p>Then come back.</p><p>And.</p><p>Kiss the ground that you live on where freedom actually means something.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-87807675106844518312023-11-30T07:00:00.001-05:002023-11-30T07:00:06.327-05:00An Orphanage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgI4YXBLhytlj0c2PvvZNQPpSBlGone53DFbHHY-uUQOiFpQ-BKKdeSPFXtb3x8LDO7LBkVWgmX2nvmjWyf-lmsscjzmNXUHvSi4rTSdPVronwHTh5Medx49z4ZLpWWCDoEJQoc_kbHD575OyiT6zolpibdo3g1a2t5ViXzz0a06W1sbSsRU0Ylbm88Tv/s640/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEgI4YXBLhytlj0c2PvvZNQPpSBlGone53DFbHHY-uUQOiFpQ-BKKdeSPFXtb3x8LDO7LBkVWgmX2nvmjWyf-lmsscjzmNXUHvSi4rTSdPVronwHTh5Medx49z4ZLpWWCDoEJQoc_kbHD575OyiT6zolpibdo3g1a2t5ViXzz0a06W1sbSsRU0Ylbm88Tv/s320/024.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>In 1996 and 1997, I had the privilege of working with Jim Mathews at New Washington High School in New Washington, Indiana for two seasons. Coach Mathews ended up winning a lot of basketball games, took his small school to success in the old one class era, and I was able to learn a lot about the game from him.</p><p>But in my, now, 33 years of coaching, I think this one quote from him rings true every single year. "Perry, the best place to coach is an orphanage." Me obviously looking perplexed because at the time, I had been coaching for only four years. "Why?" and his response...."No parents."</p><p>Now before you get offended if you're a parent you have to understand how much a head coach has to deal with. For every player there are at least on average two parents, probably more today. There are four grandparents, uncles, aunts, friends, girlfriends or boyfriends and it's high school basketball in Indiana. Everyone is a fan or played and knows a lot about the game here, so everyone has an opinion.</p><p>I am a parent, so I get it.</p><p>We love our children and we want them to be successful and "get what they deserve" and not to be "treated differently".</p><p>So here's the problem that comes around each season.</p><p>If you're a freshman on the freshman team, you wonder why you're not on the junior varsity.</p><p>If you're a freshman on the JV, you wonder why you're not starting.</p><p>If you're starting, you wonder why you're not on the varsity.</p><p>If you're on the varsity, you wonder why you're not playing.</p><p>If you're playing, you wonder why you're not starting.</p><p>If you're starting, you wonder why you're not getting more shots.</p><p>And if you're getting a lot of shots, you wonder why any shot you take is a bad shot according to the coaches.</p><p>Now, you tell me where all this confusion comes from?</p><p>It is amazing how student athletes will do what they're told and do it to the best of their ability until outside influences start to get involved.</p><p>How do I know it happens?</p><p>Because I've been doing this for 33 years and I have children, and I hear what people tell my kids and it really is what Pat Riley calls 'the disease of me'.</p><p>We like to hear good stuff about ourselves and if what we hear isn't consistent with what is happening in my immediate situation, I start to question and doubt and be unhappy.</p><p>More often than not, student athletes don't realize they're supposed to be unhappy, they just know what they're hearing isn't consistent with what is happening.</p><p>And man...these kids do not want to let all of those outside influences down.</p><p>So an orphanage, huh? Nah, parents are awesome in how they're involved in their kids lives. </p><p>Parents are awesome because they care and love their child and really do want what's best for the team (most of the time).</p><p>I just wish all of the outside forces would process what they're saying to kids because I really don't think they mean any harm, but it does make a coaches job harder.</p><p>But hey, that's why we/they get paid the big money.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-72223123253491774522023-11-17T11:03:00.005-05:002023-11-17T11:08:37.107-05:00So You Want to be a Teacher?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3DHzHIwKnr9V-ql4JqtjC44dVw12TQoI0qX-Hd48IvHN89HpjCiJtdhojN2e-eoaLbuP-E3NAN87rF8j_HACXTVwqtMubl6pAFPkiQtvlKCXwvccP_5fZP2t6pAqDm5pHH3z24sO2Zf_UC0-J4Ag2EZdubnk7GLdfJ8QjthnVyPw-lCDnJm5gN9jPEjJ/s2048/IMG-1788.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS3DHzHIwKnr9V-ql4JqtjC44dVw12TQoI0qX-Hd48IvHN89HpjCiJtdhojN2e-eoaLbuP-E3NAN87rF8j_HACXTVwqtMubl6pAFPkiQtvlKCXwvccP_5fZP2t6pAqDm5pHH3z24sO2Zf_UC0-J4Ag2EZdubnk7GLdfJ8QjthnVyPw-lCDnJm5gN9jPEjJ/s320/IMG-1788.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>So you want to be a teacher?</p><p>Well, let me tell you a few things that they don't tell you.</p><p>No, it's not the money, it's not the student issues, or the parent issues, or dealing with admin who have forgotten what it's like to be in the classroom, you're told all that when you're going through college or at holidays if you have relatives that teach.</p><p>All the negatives you will just have to experience for yourself and you know full well what you're getting into.</p><p>However.</p><p>There are some things that they either don't tell you or you're not prepared for when you become a teacher.</p><p>Some of your students go home to horrific lives.</p><p>They're hungry, thirsty, emotionally neglected, physically neglected and you might just be the only person that shows consistent love for them. And when you find out the personal stories of some of your students, it will hurt you.</p><p>Some of your students are addicted to drugs and alcohol.</p><p>In 25 years of teaching, I still forget that this is the story. I see them as children who haven't had to deal with the horrors of addiction yet, but you'd be wrong to think that.</p><p>If you do the teaching job for too long, some of your students will die or commit suicide.</p><p>It's awful, but if you're doing your job correctly, it will be something that hurts you ever time it happens.</p><p>Some of your students will be involved in custody hearings, have their homes burn down, or lose everything.</p><p>As a teacher, and if you're doing it right, it will hurt your soul every time.</p><p>As a teacher, you will be dealing with life issues as well and those students will get you through some of the hardest times of your life, if you're doing it right.</p><p>Lastly, all of your students will remember you and you will remember them from time to time.</p><p>They will commit suicide, die, be incarcerated, be addicted, divorced, lose their own children, get cancer, be abused, be the abuser, commit murder and be murdered.</p><p>And it never gets easier to hear these things.</p><p>But....</p><p>Those current and former students will go on to do successful things and they will include you as inspiration and you may never know how to take it.</p><p>Take the good as you take the bad...into your very being because the good will more than equal the things that are negative, but the negative are so heavy.</p><p>So you want to be a teacher?</p><p>Know this if you're doing it right it's a caring lifestyle that will affect you daily, monthly and yearly.</p><p>And the things that will keep you up at night will not be lesson plans, lack of money (maybe) or admins that are doing the new data based educational "thing".</p><p>It will be the love of your students and how what affects them, affects you.</p><p>For the rest of your life.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-61093664711437696142023-11-02T07:29:00.003-04:002023-11-02T07:29:34.612-04:00I'm Just a Nobody But...(Coach Knight)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0wMqBBiMN6GLPfnsAUfRPWDJtJ7wb6-d9NQmXvfFlubHOwR5d_mIKFHoF7VgXzmSDDPtmT7TPdDKult6shhezYy3aY8PdWzVF1sAEv7qRaM9Ww4giTJnNgmxi0zUpLixwBhKE8s_FAXrJrzkXf_TjlyEsIbALCYURrryhos6vERRaHsbfKCCasUH5_Vz/s897/IMG_5710.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="897" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge0wMqBBiMN6GLPfnsAUfRPWDJtJ7wb6-d9NQmXvfFlubHOwR5d_mIKFHoF7VgXzmSDDPtmT7TPdDKult6shhezYy3aY8PdWzVF1sAEv7qRaM9Ww4giTJnNgmxi0zUpLixwBhKE8s_FAXrJrzkXf_TjlyEsIbALCYURrryhos6vERRaHsbfKCCasUH5_Vz/s320/IMG_5710.PNG" width="228" /></a></div><p>I grew up playing basketball in Indiana.</p><p>Henryville, Indiana to be exact.</p><p>Not quite sure I knew at the time how big of a deal that was, but I have as I grew up, aged, and traveled around the country and the world working basketball camps.</p><p>Being a basketball coach from Indiana is a big deal, and I cannot help but think that a lot of that comes from Bob Knight being the head men's basketball coach at Indiana University for so many years. People know him.</p><p>But I'm just a nobody. I was a decent high school player with a couple offers to go and play at smaller schools, not IU like I wanted. Something about not being good enough, I guess.</p><p>Then I started coaching and this is my 33rd year and let's say that I'm a better assistant than I was a head coach. As was pointed out recently on a message board dedicated to high school basketball (crazy, huh) it was pointed out that I was a sub .500 coach as a head coach at Henryville and I am just an assistant now, but people don't forget, or are able to look up the info.</p><p>But when I travel, and coaches find out I'm from Indiana...it's a big deal.</p><p>So I wasn't good enough to play at IU, I wasn't a great head coach, and I never met Coach Knight, so why am I writing about his influence on me?</p><p>Because...it's Coach Knight and Indiana basketball. </p><p>Knight was the sort of person you thought would be around your entire life, kind of like your parents or God himself.</p><p>But growing up in Indiana during the 1970's and 1980's, Bob Knight's influence was everywhere in basketball. From his motion offense to his man to man defense, we all did something like it.</p><p>Coach Knight's attention to detail and scouting, it's funny, I was talking to Marty Simmons (former IU player) recently and I watch old games from Knight's years at IU and how they describe him as a genius. </p><p>I didn't see it.</p><p>And I realized why.</p><p>My high school coaches were so influenced by him that the things we did here in Indiana are so ingrained that we take it for granted.</p><p>Sure, he had his downfalls, we all do, but one of the things he is critiqued over is his language and loud yelling.</p><p>Before our culture worried so much about mental health (and we should), and the feelings of everyone, Knight taught in way that was awful from the outside, and maybe worse from the inside, but in a way that prepared you for life.</p><p>And there is no one harder on you than life.</p><p>My high school coach, Terry Rademacher, was very similar to Knight at the high school level, and I am so glad that I played for a guy who held me accountable behavior wise and on the court.</p><p>I guess hearing of Coach Knight passing yesterday, November 1, really shook me up a little because he was such a huge figure in general, but with basketball being so important to me and my family, you can see his influence everywhere.</p><p>I pray for Coach Knight's family (it includes years of former players) and friends (it also includes former players), and I hope they can take some joy or satisfaction that Bob Knight was one of the best ever at what he did and influenced so many baskeetball players and coaches. </p><p>Some that do not know they're being influenced even today.</p><p>Even a nobody basketball player and coach from Henryville.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-90677311683397547702023-09-22T07:04:00.004-04:002023-09-22T07:04:46.863-04:00Second Chances<p> I have been reading and thinking a lot lately.</p><p>Most recently, hell, is there a second chance once we die and haven't accepted Christ?</p><p>It made sense to me that when you died without acknowledging that you have been saved, you would go to hell.</p><p>Not the hell of fire and brimstone, but of the concept of the total separation of God for eternity.</p><p>But then in my reading a couple things hit me like a sledgehammer between the eyes.</p><p>God is omnipresent, He is everywhere all of the time especially inside of us, so we can never be separated from Him, even in Hell.</p><p>And, He is a God of love and a God of second chances.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkzoj4PKrzBmjJearTotcfSYXSDmIs7W0e-LmqFYqKUXSVyLkb7OKh2cxt7lZTeReSuJ0lSic1ZdNPS0ftri2ldnQHLrUXu2K5g6IDHzPCdMjszJPnDRN57bXqUQECvVm0HQuKWD46dA9yRUDKjKdlSX2Pt7nXM86FYDYYRXn-PrlWjiq7jSIy4wg3r5T/s651/image_6487327%20(12).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="651" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkzoj4PKrzBmjJearTotcfSYXSDmIs7W0e-LmqFYqKUXSVyLkb7OKh2cxt7lZTeReSuJ0lSic1ZdNPS0ftri2ldnQHLrUXu2K5g6IDHzPCdMjszJPnDRN57bXqUQECvVm0HQuKWD46dA9yRUDKjKdlSX2Pt7nXM86FYDYYRXn-PrlWjiq7jSIy4wg3r5T/s320/image_6487327%20(12).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnzv9qXIP0zB7sDPvIK8uBx13_qY49zWNEjFR-YCZQ71VBw7ArK8InRgDmc0F111YHik8QJnoS_nGs4Sv3EsjCfIETV1NZh5ljH55qva_iYrL0I2qGz_G7MeqvOnfDDLhdRHI5AheUDsctcSqJ48IrXxpqmsMa0V9limeGYE_TbnY72iTYtKxuAJWSY3T/s750/image_6487327%20(14).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="750" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXnzv9qXIP0zB7sDPvIK8uBx13_qY49zWNEjFR-YCZQ71VBw7ArK8InRgDmc0F111YHik8QJnoS_nGs4Sv3EsjCfIETV1NZh5ljH55qva_iYrL0I2qGz_G7MeqvOnfDDLhdRHI5AheUDsctcSqJ48IrXxpqmsMa0V9limeGYE_TbnY72iTYtKxuAJWSY3T/s320/image_6487327%20(14).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpSPE1K7nH6FkIYUbP67BSlaVxv4l7uugSBGS9QvqSDWNcEFJ_2LngXEzAKftgSR7SI07avEXw57OEqqEXyL9d1qBmOpjJlGLVYiJTbwy2DKVoxRA9UmEtAEXk5FSPb32_v-fH9MsU90VEbWbwaY7DxHYoeX9k2p2hEA2Ai4U64BsgAToRw7K8N4x3Rpx/s869/image_6487327%20(15).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="869" data-original-width="689" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpSPE1K7nH6FkIYUbP67BSlaVxv4l7uugSBGS9QvqSDWNcEFJ_2LngXEzAKftgSR7SI07avEXw57OEqqEXyL9d1qBmOpjJlGLVYiJTbwy2DKVoxRA9UmEtAEXk5FSPb32_v-fH9MsU90VEbWbwaY7DxHYoeX9k2p2hEA2Ai4U64BsgAToRw7K8N4x3Rpx/s320/image_6487327%20(15).JPG" width="254" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VPgCyHCjWn43pBKTradHLxz1kI-7zHEC0GmFG4XVbOcDeJBMIrba2UYlOT93d-UEJtNpv4vQYKyfaVnb0Chbw8Zb524bSB59fQgfzHXNU6alWvTkcfBdExFwtE8c04dKnOFl_gf4vNkZwSV7hB8zWJNsw00Ng7CG9c9oohqxZNL-b9q7FMUyWo7isNVb/s741/unnamed%20(45).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="741" data-original-width="673" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5VPgCyHCjWn43pBKTradHLxz1kI-7zHEC0GmFG4XVbOcDeJBMIrba2UYlOT93d-UEJtNpv4vQYKyfaVnb0Chbw8Zb524bSB59fQgfzHXNU6alWvTkcfBdExFwtE8c04dKnOFl_gf4vNkZwSV7hB8zWJNsw00Ng7CG9c9oohqxZNL-b9q7FMUyWo7isNVb/s320/unnamed%20(45).jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am still not sure how I feel about this concept, but God is a God of love, compassion, mercy, always there for us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And He is not like us when it comes to love, etc., He is an example of it that we cannot comprehend, it is that strong.</div><div><br /></div>If you are like me, your first reaction to this is that it is wrong because, more often than not, that is how we are raised and led to believe and it makes complete sense.<div><br /></div><div>But God's love doesn't make sense if you think about it enough.</div><div><br /></div><div>And maybe that's what I have done here.<br /><p><br /></p></div>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-74359971019590093832023-09-21T08:39:00.002-04:002023-09-21T08:39:33.829-04:00Humanity Matters<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaKji5uRJEvoAUWMObOBAIlSAiM80BkzxpyOzDLU7jRRzFEX__rTkmQfRPbsXQ_FtUX9vTojtBwqP6YS2q3V9vcOho8mloLo5pchTxXEUjTF0_-5lVKiVCZeMNTpbYI7A-mn_6dkJryiLDzMaSP3fFYBNWaUkTEfSRMLIz8MbkjhabsnCavSTaYJsvUWB/s1280/9072_7x18_HumankindBeBoth_LAV-BLK__11911.1652119810__35752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="498" data-original-width="1280" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaKji5uRJEvoAUWMObOBAIlSAiM80BkzxpyOzDLU7jRRzFEX__rTkmQfRPbsXQ_FtUX9vTojtBwqP6YS2q3V9vcOho8mloLo5pchTxXEUjTF0_-5lVKiVCZeMNTpbYI7A-mn_6dkJryiLDzMaSP3fFYBNWaUkTEfSRMLIz8MbkjhabsnCavSTaYJsvUWB/s320/9072_7x18_HumankindBeBoth_LAV-BLK__11911.1652119810__35752.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>Illegal immigration...it's a problem. A major problem.</p><p>Two million illegals are coming into our country every year and they're entering other countries in Europe also.</p><p>How do I feel about it?</p><p>I mean, how can I be so against immigration and I am not especially legal immigration because at some point my ancestors felt same way these people are and hopped on a ship out of Europe.</p><p>I've benefitted from it.</p><p>But can we take them all?</p><p>No.</p><p>And even those who support illegal immigration have a point in which they are against it.</p><p>Unfortunately, humans have become political pawns, but we've seen that everyone has a point of "it's too much".</p><p>As Texas and Florida have sent many of these people coming in illegally to places that were willing to let them come into our country, as they started to tax their area, they've changed their minds.</p><p>From Martha's Vineyard to sanctuary city New York, the politically supportive of open borders, suddenly change their minds when they are inconvenienced.</p><p>What do we do about it?</p><p>Well, we either have borders or we don't.</p><p>We have laws or we don't.</p><p>So I am supportive of laws beings enforced with our borders, but I am also supportive of helping the less fortunate.</p><p>Yea, I guess I'm not really taking a stand, I just want consistency from those who are in charge or support those in charge.</p><p>I want The Right to be more like Jesus in their dealing with this issue, and I want The Left to understand it's a major problems and their hypocrisies are shining through also.</p><p>Will that solve the problem?</p><p>How many problems are actually solved?</p><p>I just want logical empathy to rule the day and not for human beings to be used as political pawns...</p><p>By anyone.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-6712402466837021152023-08-21T08:44:00.002-04:002023-08-21T08:48:08.241-04:00E Piph A Ny<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUUnI5Fc5q06eg9e8gCgUNLg2WdMV4v2YCgkVcAxDQm_bKIZkYQem7By82DVe4LLcc8fsZNZZjPaohkpTXee9VMYPibz47fxuleR4YJagy7a5TdCnvFFlmQfPih20x1HQpBcOTky6_hJlFsxC8XPOsXlBAyrYOTuHAlNZZuA7RJ_dZcYTEiIG6OSttFcA/s640/DSC02844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSUUnI5Fc5q06eg9e8gCgUNLg2WdMV4v2YCgkVcAxDQm_bKIZkYQem7By82DVe4LLcc8fsZNZZjPaohkpTXee9VMYPibz47fxuleR4YJagy7a5TdCnvFFlmQfPih20x1HQpBcOTky6_hJlFsxC8XPOsXlBAyrYOTuHAlNZZuA7RJ_dZcYTEiIG6OSttFcA/s320/DSC02844.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>I have been down on USA Christians for awhile now.</p><p>We tend to not live like Jesus, we have led so many of us to believe that Jesus would be a Republican, we are not nice to people who are different from us and our presence on social media does not draw non-believers to want to follow Jesus.</p><p>It's true, but it hit me recently because I have felt my own heart harden and feeling distant from The Holy Spirit.</p><p>We surround ourselves with bitter, angry people because they are tired of being pushed around and told we are wrong and mocked, and ridiculed because we cannot believe or even understand the changes that are occurring in our culture.</p><p>And as we are pushed, mocked, and stand for what we believe in, our hearts harden.</p><p>In fact, there are people on social media and you may even have friends who like to troll you, they want to make you upset, they want you to behave the opposite of what Jesus would do, they get joy from it.</p><p>And it hardens our hearts more until this happens so much that we have descended into being angry, Republican Jesus followers...and that's just wrong.</p><p>Maybe that's not you, but I can tell you as I have wondered why God seems so distant from me, I realized how I have been the one who has traveled away from Him...God is not going anywhere.</p><p>So I am in the midst of heading back to Him.</p><p>I am trying to listen to more worship music, I am trying to not check Twitter or even read the negatives from any side on an argument, and I am trying to let the trolls, well, lose because they're not getting a reaction from me.</p><p>I am reading my Bible more, reading faith based books more, and trying to remember what Jesus would actually do by doing it and not just wearing a bracelet.</p><p>And I can feel that slight sound of "come home" in my ears.</p><p>We live in a tough, negative world that is doing everything it can do to remove you from your relationship with Jesus...are you aware of it? </p><p>Are you really?!</p><p>So here's what I plan to do.</p><p>1. Understand it's happening.</p><p>2. Turn to my Bible and faith based books.</p><p>3. Be proactive in listening to worship music.</p><p>4. Don't get trolled online or by friends.</p><p>5. Go...to...church.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-59890217723607923842023-08-09T11:00:00.002-04:002023-08-09T11:00:43.161-04:00Hamtramck, Michigan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6aAR5NlMHF-2YBGUG7B93BEH5826jvNljTvLsHH-EckmaJ-y8iNj4Y02vQXcn33hUVpmIu5QhCLXYwXu0REUAC82XrRTN5EzyiyV68h-j3PdGVTgOe-DsmqIxYiTODNwxUJeIisbl1CxwQl7A0UfWLyL9-g4CBqdKHJPSPV3FR2p8NRdnrkpTbDKF-Yu/s1040/image_6487327%20(9).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1040" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF6aAR5NlMHF-2YBGUG7B93BEH5826jvNljTvLsHH-EckmaJ-y8iNj4Y02vQXcn33hUVpmIu5QhCLXYwXu0REUAC82XrRTN5EzyiyV68h-j3PdGVTgOe-DsmqIxYiTODNwxUJeIisbl1CxwQl7A0UfWLyL9-g4CBqdKHJPSPV3FR2p8NRdnrkpTbDKF-Yu/s320/image_6487327%20(9).JPG" width="231" /></a></div><br /><p>The summer of 2023 was an up and a down.</p><p>I wasn't able to go to Azerbaijan because of visa issues which were all of my own making.</p><p>But I did go to Michigan for a week and help out Sports Reach's Zac Arrington in Hamtramck which is just outside of Detroit.</p><p>Hamtramck is the first majority Muslim city in the USA with a Muslim city council and Muslim Mayor.</p><p>Hamtramck was first full of Polish immigrants, but it has changed drastically with Yemani and other Arab groups moving in.</p><p>I got off the interstate after driving through Detroit, but when I drove through Hamtramck most of the businesses were in English with Arabic underneath in parentheses.</p><p>Lots of women were wearing burkas, the full length hijab which I had seen before even in the USA, but not this many.</p><p>The kids were a little rambunctious, didn't really want to be there at times, the basketball court was outside and we had no cover from the heat, but I enjoyed it.</p><p>Kids are kids and you have to understand that, and I do, maybe I am just becoming the bitter old man as I age.</p><p>I don't know if I will go back, but it wouldn't be bad if I did.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-78714599778481529202023-08-09T10:53:00.000-04:002023-08-09T10:53:03.800-04:00It Happens<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv1-biDhXOfP18VpjZTfdCnjV3UH0Llkc--naYIjdeqUN5E8CapccisTFntDT6mK3aCfKgdjzkLQnQ3kTfrXxn7-j79_6-8Kn0knrzHY0m1TGYiWurFSypud6MJHwS6obBVUYViWw2rvoqPAcNyCMNnwjpN4pXFJ9r9r84wYWKhpY3XgpQ-3CN3N7t8w0/s2048/image_6487327%20(7).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWv1-biDhXOfP18VpjZTfdCnjV3UH0Llkc--naYIjdeqUN5E8CapccisTFntDT6mK3aCfKgdjzkLQnQ3kTfrXxn7-j79_6-8Kn0knrzHY0m1TGYiWurFSypud6MJHwS6obBVUYViWw2rvoqPAcNyCMNnwjpN4pXFJ9r9r84wYWKhpY3XgpQ-3CN3N7t8w0/s320/image_6487327%20(7).JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>I am alone in my own thoughts, a lot, in fact, too much.</p><p>I wish I didn't think that much about every little thing, most of which do not matter.</p><p>I wish I didn't take every single thing so personally.</p><p>But I do, and I do.</p><p>I feel I will only feel better once I quit coaching and/or my kids aren't playing organized sports anymore.</p><p>Then I can just go to school, do my job and live my life without worrying about what anyone thinks (Yea, I know, shouldn't care, but I do).</p><p>But then it will be time for grand kids and I will worry about them.</p><p>So, I guess the question is not when will I be able to relax, but would I feel "right" if did or could?</p><p>I've learned to live the way I am believing that any slight by any single person must have some deep, well thought out reason for them to negate me, bad talk me, think less of me, or even not think of me because that's what I do.</p><p>I think too much.</p><p>I play some imaginary world in my head.</p><p>And I am usually wrong...or am I?</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-74917930598116840812023-05-31T08:55:00.005-04:002023-05-31T08:55:46.301-04:00Dear Maddie<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7IWvZn71PkRcCgwPlyIpIHEcC5budQ0kqxtJjcJozcheYodgvu3EL75zfx6hsQFx0mEw8AR1kkrPv0ABjzJLQdbeO4ThDuRwgvaf4INIy92dIco62PvZgj77u0v5x-QuG_1Gh6mpjI4gBXtLr6ZgCbjZjtAQ1CKC4oy3BVFPaFJ0zgDt9p419ijxtw/s1936/image_6483441%20(4).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1936" data-original-width="1936" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7IWvZn71PkRcCgwPlyIpIHEcC5budQ0kqxtJjcJozcheYodgvu3EL75zfx6hsQFx0mEw8AR1kkrPv0ABjzJLQdbeO4ThDuRwgvaf4INIy92dIco62PvZgj77u0v5x-QuG_1Gh6mpjI4gBXtLr6ZgCbjZjtAQ1CKC4oy3BVFPaFJ0zgDt9p419ijxtw/s320/image_6483441%20(4).JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dear Maddie,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You are graduating from high school and "moving out" in a couple of months and I am not sure how I feel about it. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As I type this, I am probably feeling more emotional than I have. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I will never forget the day you were born and I saw my daughter...the feeing of love was nothing I had ever experienced in how I loved you in that very moment.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a wave of love, excitement and fear. Fear because I was now responsible for a person and you can't mess around with that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've often joked if a pet dies everyone goes "awwww" that's too bad, but if something happens to your child, there's an investigation.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But it has been an absolute joy, but also honor to be your dad as you have reached this point.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I have learned so much about myself and about what matters in life because of you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I took you to your first day of kindergarten (pictured above) and was there when you walked out as a student for the last time, and it seems like it happened in a blink.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time is moving at two speeds all the time, quickly and slowly.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know I haven't always been the best dad, and I am so sorry for those moments (okay, this is making me a little emotional), because I am not perfect and you are to me in so many ways, I failed you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But never ever doubt that your mother and I love you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mom shows it other ways, but she would literally kill for you. Me, too...I am just more vocal about it and people know to back off!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway...</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am so impressed with you. You're the best human I know and how I feel now with you graduating and moving on to the next part of your life is "a job well done".</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Your mom had more to do with it than me, but I know I had a hand in it even if just backing up your mother.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But, I have zero doubts that you're going to do wonderful things and you're going to keep your mind on Christ as you do it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And that's a win.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So congratulations, I love you, and there is never anything you could do that I won't love you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I may get agitated, I may wonder what the F is gong on? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I will never not love you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Know that while walking in and out of our door at home, it is just that...your home. A place you are loved unconditionally and the door is always open for you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSduWv647fqNfJ-_owZtB4kRZBdBdU8W4v6D6q7lQi8coAnueu7vEckN_oDZ_9Y--vRltUbByTBwH5lTGwP4rsAZ0DzfQ54RG2Ibw4kPskkSAUsZAARVcv_BIU8_IZH9ZWKWrabOQOw8owbRLZeYYtzvOjD_tE2YfVdesAS4YxlLi3c3kQo4FwGpu8zw/s2048/Madison%20021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSduWv647fqNfJ-_owZtB4kRZBdBdU8W4v6D6q7lQi8coAnueu7vEckN_oDZ_9Y--vRltUbByTBwH5lTGwP4rsAZ0DzfQ54RG2Ibw4kPskkSAUsZAARVcv_BIU8_IZH9ZWKWrabOQOw8owbRLZeYYtzvOjD_tE2YfVdesAS4YxlLi3c3kQo4FwGpu8zw/s320/Madison%20021.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzRb0e2wCsn4PYDvbPI8Cp-HNK-FF6ltwsRait8YGAj_sLmwfBDsbONurq4YsEq36eU_WPvfOGn3YETAmk-UGwq65MFzN0EN_vFPLDi2heVZrsMVpO1qkOTCBCrh5GmnNCyJA800D6OBR2j2FAKZGaEEOWADZXxluimi8CFplBu6tJFJ5QF6v3J2mzw/s4032/image_67213057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFzRb0e2wCsn4PYDvbPI8Cp-HNK-FF6ltwsRait8YGAj_sLmwfBDsbONurq4YsEq36eU_WPvfOGn3YETAmk-UGwq65MFzN0EN_vFPLDi2heVZrsMVpO1qkOTCBCrh5GmnNCyJA800D6OBR2j2FAKZGaEEOWADZXxluimi8CFplBu6tJFJ5QF6v3J2mzw/s320/image_67213057.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-4784809745030963392023-05-26T09:00:00.003-04:002023-05-26T09:00:32.333-04:00The World is Upside Down...or Am I Just Getting Older?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6S6AcKbjaMT6vHJ62KjAEGi0zEWWxuAAXHw4TkxrVvGlgmTmzfrhulr61jhJkhSZr9zr47kU_jeQDryd5jgCUNmIdWR_7pK8i3Wq5gLYvIv8xSHfOFGsR1jp93s7ghdp_da2zNn2T2KuS7EE1SY7g5QX45uoK5sNhQCey8ZxYN_pVS9N6MaEI_H-uA/s2390/upside-down.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1674" data-original-width="2390" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB6S6AcKbjaMT6vHJ62KjAEGi0zEWWxuAAXHw4TkxrVvGlgmTmzfrhulr61jhJkhSZr9zr47kU_jeQDryd5jgCUNmIdWR_7pK8i3Wq5gLYvIv8xSHfOFGsR1jp93s7ghdp_da2zNn2T2KuS7EE1SY7g5QX45uoK5sNhQCey8ZxYN_pVS9N6MaEI_H-uA/s320/upside-down.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p>I can remember in the late 1970's listening to my father and grandfather talk about how bad the country and world were. And it seems that every generation does this, they talk about how bad things have gotten. I never seem to hear how good things have gotten as time has passed. </p><p>But here I am, thinking that the world is upside down.</p><p>That up is down and down is up, but could it be because I am getting older and looking back at the glory days of my youth when my dad and grandpa thought what I think today?</p><p>But we literally cannot define words anymore.</p><p>We claim everything is wrong, that even math is bad because of who used it first (math was discovered by the way).</p><p>I struggle in thinking that it's a small minority that actually partakes or believes in this "craziness", but yet, I see lots of "normal" people who support it and are willing to fight for it.</p><p>I said recently that if the most recently "craziness" ends, it won't be the worst part that it happened, but that we supported and celebrated it.</p><p>But it won't matter. </p><p>Few people see the correlation or would admit that just maybe by celebrating the most recent craziness actually leads to their downfall as well as the slippery slope that is our culture.</p><p>I've seen students not get the help they need because we support and celebrate certain things that five years ago would have gotten them immediate, severe help. I worry that we see the results of horrifically bad things that have happened to people and celebrate those results when we should be healing what happened to them.</p><p>But what do I know?</p><p>I know that the hypocrisy of some is so prevalent they struggle to even see that their own words and actions are hypocritical or could be seen as such.</p><p>I said today, I think many issues are on pendulum and we often don't do enough for certain issues like mental health, and then we get into the sweet spot of where we need to be, but alas, we go too far past what was needed.</p><p>But, maybe this pendulum will swing back to the sweet spot again.</p><p>We can only hope.</p><p>But what do I know? I'm just a guy who sees too much and thinks too often.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-55074186789038128452023-01-31T09:09:00.001-05:002023-01-31T09:09:12.130-05:00Bowling Alley Songs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S8lJf6dA15pXu7TcGD4jkeifiQBARNLZuOS6By4vZct5Cb3hYxBrFgmWPyslCVSKnANnqwnlq9EeQP46GPZ1yybOVJ4PwpjiEKaBq1cTtDIT-nkIw0fCojA93DY2auC2ZnFQMg6eeMQbbDYNwo4mPcx9TR1oh7E-QkKWckCO-yQPifX1MNt0tBKdCg/s640/53d074ec0c007.webp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="473" data-original-width="640" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8S8lJf6dA15pXu7TcGD4jkeifiQBARNLZuOS6By4vZct5Cb3hYxBrFgmWPyslCVSKnANnqwnlq9EeQP46GPZ1yybOVJ4PwpjiEKaBq1cTtDIT-nkIw0fCojA93DY2auC2ZnFQMg6eeMQbbDYNwo4mPcx9TR1oh7E-QkKWckCO-yQPifX1MNt0tBKdCg/s320/53d074ec0c007.webp" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>If I could write a t.v. show that brought back nostalgia for me, it would be Wednesdays at Silver Creek Lanes, or something like that. I realize that's not a good title, that's I write blog entries that no one reads and not television scripts.</p><p>The place has burned down and been rebuilt differently, so it makes the memories even thicker because I cannot go back there, it's locked in my mind.</p><p>But I am not sure if it was Wednesdays or when it was, but my parents were in a bowling league at Silver Creek Lanes in the mid 1970's. I was a kid, we're talking like 6, 7, or 8...wow, just writing that and realizing what an effect that time had on me is kind of weird.</p><p>But I grew up a lot then and experienced some firsts.</p><p>My parents would bowl, and there was a group of us that would run and play in the area behind it.</p><p>It was a sort of freedom. </p><p>We thought we were in a world of our own, but our parents would, of course, from time to time have to come and tell us to calm down.</p><p>We would play tag, freeze tag, arm wrestle and fall in "love". That is so funny to write, being probably 7 years old.</p><p>When I was that age, I was pretty fast, pretty cute, and pretty smart, so I was good at tag and freeze tag and there was one little girl that caught my heart and now at 53, I cannot remember her name. But I remember looking forward to those nights because of her and all of the other friends there.</p><p>What set off the inspiration to reminisce today is the song Sister Golden Hair by America.</p><p>That song, like many from that era, really bring back memories of that time. So much so, that I often call them bowling alley songs.</p><p>There was a jukebox there and that song was played every time we were there, or so it seemed, so when I hear that guitar riff, I am transported back to a much more innocent time.</p><p>A time when I was fast.</p><p>A time when I got the cute girl to like me.</p><p>A time when losing an arm wrestling contest to a cocky little boy, helped me lose the affection of the cute girl.</p><p>To a time when music was better, the Coca-Cola was better, the freedom of the place was better, and not understanding the pain and suffering of aging can bring existed, the innocence of that time was so fun.</p><p>Oh, I miss those days.</p><p>I wish I could go back in time and just sit and watch the whole scenario play out and tell the little boy playing there, it's gonna be a wild ride, but you will end up great with a beautiful wife and two wonderful children.</p><p>And the 7 year old me would look at him and then run to mom and dad and tell them "stranger danger"!</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-42654554341401933972023-01-04T12:35:00.001-05:002023-01-04T12:35:10.399-05:00Lead, Follow, AND Get out of the Way<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJgDnVdWMmOQ5qZhNKxVvfWgUzHJw4ZbrSnBdxT25M3ezV9nLJnidfxLEsQmfzyC-U4h_EPuvYwgBZtpXEs6yAuZ42fVjRr-xnEaAyv6KumWFR-512RRn0AyZrInswyrWkOJmqkx-Zuu2mNcY8-XtOnI-QV0LHCY3FLOxyorgfTWoJKtREdnLPuMi8w/s900/boss-vs-leader-800x800.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJgDnVdWMmOQ5qZhNKxVvfWgUzHJw4ZbrSnBdxT25M3ezV9nLJnidfxLEsQmfzyC-U4h_EPuvYwgBZtpXEs6yAuZ42fVjRr-xnEaAyv6KumWFR-512RRn0AyZrInswyrWkOJmqkx-Zuu2mNcY8-XtOnI-QV0LHCY3FLOxyorgfTWoJKtREdnLPuMi8w/s320/boss-vs-leader-800x800.png" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This past school year, I have been taking part in a leadership academy with other teachers in the Silver Creek School Corporation, and it has been fruitful and thought provoking. What I am about to write about are my perceptions and feelings when it comes to leadership and education...so bear with me, especially if you don't agree with anything I am about to write about.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Teachers:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Teachers do not want to be led. We are leaders, we don't need to be led, we for sure need to be nudged from time to time, but more often than not, we lead. We all haver different styles and there are some people who need to be led and maybe even fired because they cannot or will not lead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the picture above, teachers do not want a Boss...ever, and only want a Leader if that leader has decided we are going to do something radically different. Even then, teachers don't like leaders coming in and messing with them when it's not broken.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Teachers tend to even be aggravated by leadership that seems to micromanage, don't push us unless we need it. But, reward as often as you discipline...then you will get the support of us "followers" in times that you need us.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now, if teachers get in trouble or are being questioned by students or parents, we do want a Leader then who will take up for us, stand with us, or pull the sled. Too often, it seems, we as teachers get ourselves in that trouble, but not always.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's then that we want leadership to have our back and support us publicly. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In teachers not wanting to be led, if there are no complaints from administration, then we must be doing it right, so it seems natural to want to be supported in hard times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><b>Administration:</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The school board should support the Superintendent, the Superintendent should supports his principals, and all of them should be pulling the sled at all times.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too often, we don't see anyone pulling the sled, but we feel the whip or the words from the top of the sled when it comes to admin leadership.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Most Principals do not need to be micromanaged and neither do most teachers. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But work with those admins or teachers, do not use sweeping language or emails for the issues of one or a few, it's unnecessary and aggravating to those who are doing their jobs leading.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At our school, things run pretty smoothly and even the small change by admins or above can have a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Princess_and_the_Pea" target="_blank">Princess and the Pea</a> feeling. It may not seem like a big deal, but it becomes something that we notice, cannot get comfortable with, and sets off overreaction by those under leadership.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally, I just want to say that I believe that a large majority of admins and teachers are doing great jobs, but the "fix" on teachers or admins should be single situations, precise incisions, and not complete overhauls, or blanket accusations.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Unless it's needed and we all know situations like that, but too often that's not what we do.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We know you have jobs, you do not have to justify them by making more work for admins or teachers.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We know you're doing a good job because we are doing a good job.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We know you're allowing us to be what we need to be as leaders because we are happy and, in return, our students are happy which should make all admins above us happy.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You don't need a legacy for a radical change or some new radical hire.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">A simple "hello, thanks for all you do, keep up the great work" with a smile will suffice, and for that, we will have your back when necessary.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-10323345581362034982022-11-07T08:01:00.003-05:002022-11-07T08:01:42.012-05:00What do I Know?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLi4tfxOGQBoEmidQcHOeWO7frDemBGBKtr7IvhHQQqnrJDqwt3F_tL4yqeHiBdwKZeraFuJ-NDUTFCg5sf76dNdros3PiJiaj1xzMITo1MhQbPVCFXS5lPS8XaYeVVRY8t3vjBbLhZQ8QAnVPH7jFw7I8Yksmi5jEad-7jP_Y88x4bshey7OprPE4Q/s4032/IMG_0244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbLi4tfxOGQBoEmidQcHOeWO7frDemBGBKtr7IvhHQQqnrJDqwt3F_tL4yqeHiBdwKZeraFuJ-NDUTFCg5sf76dNdros3PiJiaj1xzMITo1MhQbPVCFXS5lPS8XaYeVVRY8t3vjBbLhZQ8QAnVPH7jFw7I8Yksmi5jEad-7jP_Y88x4bshey7OprPE4Q/s320/IMG_0244.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>You can tell the couth of a person by what "facts" we share on social media.</p><p>Too often, we are emotional and in our attempt to hurt others, we throw everything we can against and wall and see what sticks.</p><p>It doesn't matter if all the details are true or not, it only matters that it makes it way into the public.</p><p>Those on defense, have two choices:</p><p>1. Defend themselves.</p><p>2. Don't defend themselves.</p><p>If you do the first one, you may feel better and get out details that are wrong or different that what is reported, but the attackers thrive off that. Because the more info you put out there, the more they have to attack.</p><p>If you do the second, it could die down quicker, but misinformation is all anyone gets, and anyone who is outside the loop will believe what they read without any investigation at all, we take it at face value as being true.</p><p>I can tell you, I have been angry at situations, but I have tried (tried) to abstain from directly posting, unless it's about someone I care about, then I kind of lose my mind.</p><p>But I like the passive-aggressive approach. Write a blog entry and if they see it or not, they have to assume it's about them.</p><p>It might be, it probably isn't.</p><p>But it saddens me, because there are legitimate issues to fight against, but how do we go about doing it?</p><p>The truth is often relative, and the outrage may be just because you're not the one making the decisions.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-74052033219226232292022-10-14T12:31:00.003-04:002022-10-14T12:41:02.081-04:00Fall Break in Uvalde<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVco6_xIxGgHcbEWzJHj_PnTA-SAGJktDOfY4nGltpWcXTrYbJqjR8rulzEU0t5psvud9p_m3pmBcYG7lmN9FwXFrFCk0pUzP4hzFxUy8iaE563i9-WjOLZfZd6Mv71d4z03Fe_ueInfLsi2YekbjnSLw4IrcGXHEGLkbMjHxsAfETiYAllSZVau4KTg/s4032/unnamed%20(6).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVco6_xIxGgHcbEWzJHj_PnTA-SAGJktDOfY4nGltpWcXTrYbJqjR8rulzEU0t5psvud9p_m3pmBcYG7lmN9FwXFrFCk0pUzP4hzFxUy8iaE563i9-WjOLZfZd6Mv71d4z03Fe_ueInfLsi2YekbjnSLw4IrcGXHEGLkbMjHxsAfETiYAllSZVau4KTg/s320/unnamed%20(6).jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p>Recently, my wife and I drove down to Uvalde, TX to pay our respects, meet some new friends and help with basketball athletics class at Uvalde High School.</p><p>Uvalde is the site of one of the worst mass shootings in history. It is where 19 4th graders and 2 teachers were murdered and others were severely injured.</p><p>It was an unusual place to be.</p><p>It's been just 5 short months since this horrific thing occurred, but it has been on my mind since. It touched my heart in ways other shootings haven't. I don't know why, but it has.</p><p>It was unusual because of this bad thing happening, yet the cruel reality of life is that it goes on. There were people at restaurants, in the grocery store, laughing and going to school. It is a cruel reality, but it is also just reality. </p><p>Now, for the families and friends and most everyone in the community, life goes on, but they have had their lives given new, alternative paths they didn't expect to have. Their anger and desire for something to be done can absolutely be understood.</p><p>It's a horrible situation.</p><p>You have victims that were mourned. </p><p>You have angry, sad people involved who want to know how this could happen to their children, nieces, nephews, grandchildren, brothers, and sisters.</p><p>You have law enforcement that is still there, but are taking huge criticisms, most of it warranted, and some of it makes them a sounding board. Many were following orders, I cannot see myself standing outside those rooms and not entering, but they were following orders. And I am sure many of them are not doing well mentally because of this and the criticism they are receiving.</p><p>You have school administration and who have had this "thing" thrust upon them. They didn't want this to happen and are having to deal with legalities of the situation that makes info coming out or firings move too slow for the people that are understandably angry.</p><p>And you have the shooter's family. </p><p>Yes, they are victims too. Their relative was a sick, deranged individual who attacked his family and then did this heinous thing.</p><p>And they are still there, living in the community.</p><p>Some family members of the shooter, in shock I would guess, have made unusual statements to the media only pouring gasoline on a raging fire.</p><p>There has been protesting, verbal anger hurled at people who are trying to do their best, there has been firings and resignations, there has been so much hurt brought on by this...this evil that it hasn't stopped long after it happened in May, and I don't see it ending any time soon because of the nature of this evil.</p><p>And then there are those who are pushing along, doing the best they can in a horrible situation, trying to bring "normalcy" back to a place that will never be normal again.</p><p>Two of these people are the boys' basketball coach Ramon Burato and his wife Rosie. I helped Coach with basketball during the school day and my wife and I went out to eat one night with him and his wife.</p><p>What I found was two amazing people from Uvalde, who love people, and are the right people for the right time in this right place for them.</p><p>Coach does an amazing job in coaching his team. He loves his kids, he works hard and realizes that there is more to basketball than winning and losing and it couldn't be more true for him than ever before.</p><p>He is from and coaches at a town/school that has a high rate in many bad things in normal times and there are gangs in the community, so you know that element carries over into the school day and affects his players.</p><p>And he has players on his team who lost siblings on that day in May.</p><p>It's a community not unlike any around here in Southern Indiana, drug usage, drug dealing, overdose, gang activity, fights, suicide, and divorce. One that has had trauma, but now more piled on, a type that not many communities have had to deal with.</p><p>I feel for the families that lost children and loved ones that day, I am sick to my stomach and search for answers when I think about it.</p><p>But some may read this and wonder why I bring up caring about the law enforcement and the shooter's family. Because, they have been victimized in different ways, ways that will get very little empathy from the masses.</p><p>But I understand the anger, and I just try to put smiles on peoples faces when I am in those situations because it is messed up, really messed up right now. And we should love on people in need especially this drastic need. </p><p>But, if something like this happened to my children, it would probably have to be someone else other than me to show sympathy for those that I would blame.</p><p>And that's why we need each other on this planet and in our communities, and I know it's a cliché, but we need Jesus.</p><p>Only then, will the pain be gone.</p><p>Until then, we must show Jesus life and love examples and help those who need it, to be convicted to reach out, and to put a hand on a shoulder, to listen, pick up a phone to call or text support.</p><p>Life is hard, I think too often we make it harder than we should, but if it is hard for you, it is hard for someone else and by reaching out and helping others, it is amazing what lessons and fulfillment you get for yourself. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQQXKKNG-7AHA5H017eBKos0GPgVKZG3oC54ZKbeoTVpjqr4Fn2UqoDu-kJtvN1HtI0teVEskcMM7KzQ1GCUJ4ZnusIQi9_Kyz_aZzro7hEu4XfObcf97mLYD0qraIvpof0iKzMml0FtYshDEpnE7zxSwbMySZwTuXyRZ1Zd4o0bztA0_YhQTDRvaiw/s4032/unnamed%20(4).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQQXKKNG-7AHA5H017eBKos0GPgVKZG3oC54ZKbeoTVpjqr4Fn2UqoDu-kJtvN1HtI0teVEskcMM7KzQ1GCUJ4ZnusIQi9_Kyz_aZzro7hEu4XfObcf97mLYD0qraIvpof0iKzMml0FtYshDEpnE7zxSwbMySZwTuXyRZ1Zd4o0bztA0_YhQTDRvaiw/s320/unnamed%20(4).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-73248379346756787772022-09-30T09:42:00.003-04:002022-09-30T09:42:38.242-04:00Truth Over Tribe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rgwsZuJJLPeAoYl80xJL_Yhf5aWlS2GnoEFoby9wzx9SvJKeewQyTfyXi0Ixm6eV7wNmvdTk4RXXB5iSAEjSIOEwnjBhG33q6HAufAUDm2d2egBCTnqlkACsf4DwjCF04wiwCrjCLsQtIpFPVX-_i98cS2JubkqkQGaSFkTLJgd2G8yZyczrCC7LCg/s500/41XkPsYNrQL._AC_SY780_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="324" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_rgwsZuJJLPeAoYl80xJL_Yhf5aWlS2GnoEFoby9wzx9SvJKeewQyTfyXi0Ixm6eV7wNmvdTk4RXXB5iSAEjSIOEwnjBhG33q6HAufAUDm2d2egBCTnqlkACsf4DwjCF04wiwCrjCLsQtIpFPVX-_i98cS2JubkqkQGaSFkTLJgd2G8yZyczrCC7LCg/s320/41XkPsYNrQL._AC_SY780_.jpg" width="207" /></a></div><br /><p>I am reading a new book called Truth over Tribe (Pledging allegiance to the lamb, not the donkey or the elephant), and it's a book I feel very much relatable to my life.</p><p>I am the liberal in conservative circles and the conservative in liberal circles, and 100% it is my fault.</p><p>I have taught for 24 years now and one of the main things I try to get across to my students is that there are different perspectives on any given issue. You don't have to believe what someone else does, but show some respect and be able to defend your own opinion or facts.</p><p>It's my fault because I talk too much and have an opinion even more too often.</p><p>And, if that person is arguing from a feet planted, firm perspective, I just have to try and show a different way. I don't know why I do it, I should just keep my mouth shut, but I don't sometimes. </p><p>And then...</p><p>That person either treats my perspective (which may not even be my opinion) with respectful disagreement or, well, doesn't.</p><p>And then because I can be emotionally immature when treated like I don't know what I'm talking about, tend to maybe lose it a little.</p><p>Ok, sometimes a lot.</p><p>I am not perfect, and I sure as heck don't know everything, but I can promise you if I put it out there, I have thought about it a lot and tried to look at an issue from every angle.</p><p>Just because I don't agree with something or someone doesn't agree with me, doesn't me that we are wrong, in fact, we are just looking at something from a different perspective.</p><p>Abortion?</p><p>You're looking through the pregnant woman's perspective or the unborn's perspective.</p><p>Illegal Immigration?</p><p>You're looking through the people running for a better life's perspective, or how can we handle so many new people and still function perspective.</p><p>Law enforcement?</p><p>You're looking through the police perspective or the minority policed perspective.</p><p>And on and on and on.</p><p>Here's a good test for you when it comes to whether you have an open mind or not.</p><p>Do you ever feel that your "side" is wrong on any issue or does anything wrong, misspeaks, etc?</p><p>Also, when your "side" does this, are you willing to admit it or even speak up and point it out?</p><p>If no on those questions, you just might be part of the problem.</p><p>But so am I, but I'm trying.</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-61483380486082094132022-09-01T14:16:00.003-04:002022-09-01T14:16:34.062-04:00Grace, Always Grace<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWBW7-IENGdf2pGW8qiypTk1Egb5yRvrW5-bGUW4Rfn7TWhYCI2tK9SKhSKf4uvTqf5bzYm0NhwtemnBLUraFYRC1UPozGFAtVZHl0uTrtoCm9NudpLuA1LekjBZ8Zv22lL8UPGWJmyEG9SiEv5Ml-b6HGTJ3KlGIAsgbSTvXmrZyeJS8fDaBlJkdeg/s1001/IMG_1686.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="750" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWBW7-IENGdf2pGW8qiypTk1Egb5yRvrW5-bGUW4Rfn7TWhYCI2tK9SKhSKf4uvTqf5bzYm0NhwtemnBLUraFYRC1UPozGFAtVZHl0uTrtoCm9NudpLuA1LekjBZ8Zv22lL8UPGWJmyEG9SiEv5Ml-b6HGTJ3KlGIAsgbSTvXmrZyeJS8fDaBlJkdeg/s320/IMG_1686.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p>That teacher just lost her mom.</p><p>That teenage student is used to being verbally and physically abused at home.</p><p>That police officer is going through a divorce.</p><p>That pastor just lost a child to cancer.</p><p>That accountant had a flat tire on the way to work.</p><p>That principal has a sick pet that has been with her for a long time.</p><p>That lawyer has been sexually assaulted.</p><p>That coach is dealing with a drug addicted sibling.</p><p>That construction worker is getting over alcohol addiction.</p><p>That doctor has lost multiple patients this week.</p><p>That soccer mom gets no help from her husband.</p><p>That McDonald's worker is dealing with a mental illness.</p><p>That tech manager is dealing with a parent with Alzheimer's.</p><p>That PTO president wishes her kids acknowledged her.</p><p>That student wishes her parents would tell her they love her.</p><p>That fire fighter has a sick relative.</p><p>That young girl has dealt with sexual abuse.</p><p>That young guy has dealt with sexual abuse.</p><p>That former student is dealing with a criminal trial.</p><p>That current student is angry because they've been through more rough things than you have.</p><p>That air traffic controller is dealing with a disease that creates pain every day.</p><p>That nurse is addicted to pain meds.</p><p>We are all dealing with something. What may not seem a lot to you, very well could be huge to that person. </p><p>When dealing with others remember, always remember that a little grace can go a long way.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-44062850781394356412022-08-19T12:39:00.002-04:002022-08-19T12:39:28.013-04:00We're Not in Gangs<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThi5V2_Ol6MJgdaOzXEOdirNqkBRJ5_G4PJXRHZRhn7OEXp9WNKWsUrppL3zXezSDbIlbD6SI5_pASMEEOc9JmY0rnBDpxCPi_fFT7dKsyRk_ziaE4Lub4NKpVyZKJxNX00Dm7WjIxUnsugTbDcYgXtSLU5OW5Sdgub_bBO3HhZhzrS517vU7-EKDow/s458/IMG_1610.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="258" data-original-width="458" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjThi5V2_Ol6MJgdaOzXEOdirNqkBRJ5_G4PJXRHZRhn7OEXp9WNKWsUrppL3zXezSDbIlbD6SI5_pASMEEOc9JmY0rnBDpxCPi_fFT7dKsyRk_ziaE4Lub4NKpVyZKJxNX00Dm7WjIxUnsugTbDcYgXtSLU5OW5Sdgub_bBO3HhZhzrS517vU7-EKDow/s320/IMG_1610.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><p>I got caught up in it a little when I first became a believer.</p><p>When someone left their current church, it was almost like they had committed some unforgivable sin and it would be awkward when you saw them in public.</p><p>How dumb is that?</p><p>I mean...we're not in gangs.</p><p>And if someone continues to go to church, but it's not their current church or the church I attend, I don't care.</p><p>Do they still believe in God?</p><p>Do they still believe Jesus is the Son of God, died on the cross and was resurrected three days later?</p><p>Are they still growing and helping others?</p><p>Yes. Yes. and Yes.</p><p>Then great for them.</p><p>I don't care about differences in churches.</p><p>They preach for an hour. Good for them..</p><p>They preach for 15 minutes. Good for them.</p><p>They have acapella singing. Good for them.</p><p>They have a rock and roll band on stage. Good for them.</p><p>They do something completely "strange" from your church? Good for them.</p><p>If they're not breaking any laws from the government, they're not breaking any moral laws from the Bible, and they believe the above things...well, good for them.</p><p>We are taught division from birth; favorite towns, schools, sports teams, etc, etc, but the church needs to get over itself and it's division.</p><p>If you're Catholic, I love you.</p><p>If you're Methodist, I love you.</p><p>If you're Presbyterian, I love you.</p><p>If you worship in any church, and heck, even if you don't...I love you.</p><p>We must get over our divisions and learn to be the hands and feet of Christ and not the hands and feet of our denomination.</p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-45586701458196528052022-08-18T09:52:00.002-04:002022-08-18T09:52:46.586-04:00That's Okay<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpfLbHVp0L2q-FcXF8OauqE_xqEIJrIuQLxZrzwgy7K9AVryUctlW6E_td9PpsI2faaleGvqQfeukCr0nT_VStm6qZxWKZq6XdCcWFjv_OeyEjT6pE2OS2DK6-WwBKWYA-Yk_85wAWw48rxbnUEBhfNC8CyC9Wj_xML_HulPeURIi5GdPlgun7LGH8A/s4032/IMG_1237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYpfLbHVp0L2q-FcXF8OauqE_xqEIJrIuQLxZrzwgy7K9AVryUctlW6E_td9PpsI2faaleGvqQfeukCr0nT_VStm6qZxWKZq6XdCcWFjv_OeyEjT6pE2OS2DK6-WwBKWYA-Yk_85wAWw48rxbnUEBhfNC8CyC9Wj_xML_HulPeURIi5GdPlgun7LGH8A/s320/IMG_1237.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><p>I've noticed that I don't read as much, I don't watch movies as much, and I haven't been writing as much.</p><p>And I wonder, is it because I am only reading 140 characters at a time often every day, I watch 10 minute videos often every day and it's causing me not to want to write.</p><p>When you are being inundated with short bits of info, the longer bits can be tiring because you don't have the stamina for it. You've gotten out of the habit of reading or watching longer.</p><p>I have had some ideas about what to write about, but forget when I get back to a computer to write things down, and maybe that has something to do with it.</p><p>I do know that from time to time, my intelligent father would make comments about having too much information, and tune out from time to time.</p><p>I couldn't understand it then.</p><p>I understand it now.</p><p>I guess I am in a time in my life where writing and reading aren't a priority, I don't feel the inspiration to do these things, but that's ok.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-84149574694550441422022-07-07T20:21:00.002-04:002022-07-07T20:21:42.508-04:00Think! or Don't, but Don't Tell Me...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAmQBGHRxHrnZVip3hgUQOuCYp78-zgkghXIzPAt88k1acd4drgWOu49JT7yqRsUJtc_dNTqIbHbgbV_LOkSwbgLLKyBDUe3FPTHy0nmjrsTnIpTwOkROkmwOvwell-KPPFtQdkAlqXKKJJJSZYVzQQ8NgflvI10E2uFrYS7KVvO9-xtXWtx4P04LeA/s700/IMG_1268.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvAmQBGHRxHrnZVip3hgUQOuCYp78-zgkghXIzPAt88k1acd4drgWOu49JT7yqRsUJtc_dNTqIbHbgbV_LOkSwbgLLKyBDUe3FPTHy0nmjrsTnIpTwOkROkmwOvwell-KPPFtQdkAlqXKKJJJSZYVzQQ8NgflvI10E2uFrYS7KVvO9-xtXWtx4P04LeA/s320/IMG_1268.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>There's too much information and too many people have too many "informed" opinions on any given situation due to that.</p><p>Yea, I know. That sounds bad, but a few uninformed people would be nice for the informed to lead around, right?</p><p>Yea, probably not.</p><p>But what has happened is that too many people feel that they are as informed as experts on situations. </p><p>But to be fair, experts in one field tend to give us their "expert" opinion on issues they don't know as much as we probably do.</p><p>I believe what I believe and I believe in the absolute truth of Jesus Christ, but I cannot understand people who are closed minded enough to not want dialogue on any given issue. </p><p>I will even discuss, debate, dialogue on Jesus.</p><p>But people close their minds, and often those who think they're uber open minded are closed just inside a different set of points.<br /><br /></p><p>And then there's me who has taught social studies for 24 years now and have been intentional in using logic and reason to discuss any given point. </p><p>I want my students to think!</p><p>But thinking is not being done. It's not being done by the closed minded, uninformed, emotional, knee jerk reactionaries and it's not being done by (gasp) the elite, intelegensia.</p><p>One side doesn't care to think and the other side...well, they have it all figured out and there is no questioning their...um..."expertise" as deep thinkers.</p><p>I am not sure which is worse, I really don't.</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-74144947733283189452022-05-25T12:22:00.004-04:002022-05-25T12:22:53.549-04:00I Don't Have the Answers, But I Know What to Do<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jb91yf9DvnQ_T4fz0kX0gzw1U1mK3i92IRi2ptsE5F6eWZzpHpUbyJftx8R1kR-aU-24_BzIArjOn89B57jGvOQ-YrnmrTdMGh4ZlpJoJRi9RSNMKvqsu4-KJ8APjXPdlo_BOytYS9qeZbVr9tBR_mCpxXQgrbWdtOY6cNTceExELt-MLOSClSdT-g/s750/IMG_0712.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="750" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jb91yf9DvnQ_T4fz0kX0gzw1U1mK3i92IRi2ptsE5F6eWZzpHpUbyJftx8R1kR-aU-24_BzIArjOn89B57jGvOQ-YrnmrTdMGh4ZlpJoJRi9RSNMKvqsu4-KJ8APjXPdlo_BOytYS9qeZbVr9tBR_mCpxXQgrbWdtOY6cNTceExELt-MLOSClSdT-g/s320/IMG_0712.PNG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p>My heart hurts.</p><p>Maybe it's my head.</p><p>No, it's my soul.</p><p>You know the thing you can't measure.</p><p>Yet, you're gonna tell me it's the chemicals in my brain.</p><p>It's not.</p><p>It's the inherent truth that I know this isn't how it's supposed to be.</p><p>It's all part of God's plan, so they say.</p><p>But I don't get it, and I don't want to hear it.</p><p>God either does it or allows it.</p><p>But that doesn't mean, I can understand Him.</p><p>Why does evil exist?</p><p>I have some answers, but they're not good.</p><p>As a believer, I have to try to explain it.</p><p>But as a non-believer, you have to explain it and everything else.</p><p>So I will rely on the understanding that I can't understand it all.</p><p>I will lean into the pain and hurt to grow.</p><p>And I will do all I can to help those going through the same thing.</p><p>Do I have the answers?</p><p>No.</p><p>But I know what to do.</p><p>That is to love, pray, love, help, love, fight, and love.</p><p>God forgive us for we know not what we do..... </p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5611049780367350724.post-22363680549534517582022-05-25T12:11:00.003-04:002022-05-25T12:11:59.199-04:00Do Something or Please, Please....Just Be Quiet<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ANtVYf81imiWlvNsqaA_HsMEQcCzbjNnAMw0yTwWdXbBGK9p_xupwq2conrh4PBn-YHQr81rYUbXD_m8ilECjyPbdjlcryWKr7ZMpoS8bZDV1ipjmXDbziTGgSTA-1RscACOWT-x7I2UwVy9csjAWcnWYqhT09Z-P7RvTwXWH3stLvH6S-vE0jwTuQ/s3520/IMG_1226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3520" data-original-width="1980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ANtVYf81imiWlvNsqaA_HsMEQcCzbjNnAMw0yTwWdXbBGK9p_xupwq2conrh4PBn-YHQr81rYUbXD_m8ilECjyPbdjlcryWKr7ZMpoS8bZDV1ipjmXDbziTGgSTA-1RscACOWT-x7I2UwVy9csjAWcnWYqhT09Z-P7RvTwXWH3stLvH6S-vE0jwTuQ/s320/IMG_1226.JPG" width="180" /></a></div><br /> I don't love guns. <p></p><p>They make me nervous. </p><p>They're loud, they're dangerous, and I am not a fan.</p><p>Yet, I own one, and I believe that under the 2nd amendment, you should, too.</p><p>I have always believed and still do believe that guns are not the problem, it's a rotting to the core culture.</p><p>But I am tired.</p><p>I am tired of mass shootings.</p><p>I am tired of children being murdered for being at school.</p><p>And I am tired of both political parties doing nothing.</p><p>One side continually points out it isn't the guns fault, it's the people doing the shooting that is at fault, and I agree.</p><p>The other side continually blames the other side after one of these things happens and then does nothing saying that their hands are tied because of the other side's beliefs.</p><p>Yet. the side who wants something done has been in power before and did little to nothing.</p><p>I am not in favor of executive orders for much of anything, but I am tired of the grandstanding.</p><p>The current President is of the party who gives speeches and blames the other side of the aisle.</p><p>His outraged emotional speech last night was moving....but it's time to do something.</p><p>Radical change comes from radical action.</p><p>This current President, must enact an exeuctive order banning assault rifles, or he needs to either be quiet or admit, he only speaks to get votes.</p><p>It's sickening.</p><p>It's depressing.</p><p>And we need to do something....</p><p>Something............................................................</p><p><br /></p>Coach Perry Hunterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13540585307778069215noreply@blogger.com