Pro Planet = Sports Related? Nope...Anyway

I was watcing the Discovery channel the other day and they were espousing a theory about how life started on Earth. You need some background info when you discuss issues with your evolution friends, and I have probably been rightly corrected that it is not "random" selection that occurs on earth. That according to them, all things have been done not randomly, but because it is the best, most efficient. I get that, it makes sense until you look at how the human eye sees and our brain works, and there really aren't colors, just the name we give to different speeds of light, but I digress. I have actually conceded that argument of "random" selection as being a wrong word to use in trying to explain evolution.

That is until the other night watching the Discovery channel when science helped to support my position in that according to science, we are all just some random, accident. The theory they were espousing is that 4.5 billion years ago a protoplanet, a smaller planet, rammed into Earth. Until that point no life could exist on Earth, it was only after that collision that the moon could form from the debris created by it. The moon then allowed for the conditions to be created allowing for life to being which began the process of evolution.

So.....all of this is a random occurrence according to those scientists. If that protoplanet does not hit Earth then the conditions for life do not develop which doesn't allow for evolution to begin. A totally accidental, random occurrence allowed for me to sit here typing this.

So what? Who cares? Well, if this is all done from a random, accident, what does any of this mean? We should look at ourselves strictly as lab rats. There is no "right" or "wrong". There is no "meaning to life". This means nothing more than what we want it to mean at any given point. Why would we worry about marriage? What's the big deal about divorce? In fact, why would beating your children matter? How about "saving the whales" or polar bears? None of it matters if all we are is a random accident. We are no different than dogs, trees, grass, tigers, clouds, poison ivy, or wind patterns....all random accidents striving for dominance in our no meaning world.

Whether you believe in God or not that seems to be a sad way to look at life. I look at my children and cannot accept that it is a random accident, those feelings cannot be the result of macro-evolution. I look at how human beings fight for so many causes and cannot accept that this is a random accident. I know how it feels when indwelt with the Holy Spirit to accept that this is a random accident caused by a random collison of a protoplanet with our Earth.

Basketball and Faith

 

 A few years ago, a friend of mine, Shane Billingsley, told me a story which gave me good perspective on life dealing with his son and his disease.  Shane was the head coach at South Decatur when we won a sectional in the mid 00's.  He spoke to me, a JV coach, with the respect that few head coaches would and that was something I never forgot.  We both share the same passions for basketball, our families, and Christ.  Shane is a good man, below are excerpts from his blog and the story of his son Ayden. 

 

"As we were sitting in the doctor’s office of the famed Cleveland Clinic many thoughts were racing through mine and Becky’s minds.  Answers had eluded us for more than 18 months. This all began with a regular check up when our little boy Ayden turned 9 months old. His pediatrician noticed that he had not gained weight since his 6 month check up. This was a red flag and set us on a journey that would change our lives. We would first see a GI specialist and eventually he would be seen by 10 different doctors. We learned his body was not producing pancreatic enzymes, that he had some structural issues with his lungs and other organs in his body. The doctors told us that he was carnitine deficient and his body was not producing enough energy to create adequate growth. We found out all these things but not one doctor could tell us why. He would be tested, x rayed, cat scanned, poked, and prodded still nothing conclusive. That led us to the Cleveland Clinic. It is believed when dealing with 3 or more body systems that have issues, a Mitochondrial Disease is suspected. Dr Parikh at the Cleveland Clinic is one of the best in the US and it took 6 months to get an appointment. For months we prayed for answers and as we made the trip to Cleveland, Becky and I were excited and optimistic about knowing what was going on inside of Ayden’s body.

Our world was turned upside down when Dr Parikh spoke the following, ”Ayden has DNA Depletion Syndrome and the prognosis is that he will not live much longer.” Shock, disbelief, anger all were flowing through my body and the only thing that I could think of is why is our baby going to die? Neither Becky nor I remember much of the visit or exactly what the doctor was telling us. Over and over in my head I kept hearing him say,”enjoy every moment with him because he will only get worse from this point on."  We hid emotions when the phone rang and Courtney our 14 year old daughter called as school had gotten out and she was excited to know what we found out about her baby brother.  We were able to muster up the courage to hide our emotions and tell her it was ok.   Oakley our oldest son at age 11 told us how much he missed us and loved us and could not wait to see us. 

We went to see a Christian healer and as we arrived we made our way to the service. Going in it was tough not being skeptical. We decided we were going to do any and everything possible. We adopted the bible verse Philippians 4:13 as our family motto, “All things are possible thought Christ our lord who gives us strength.” Stepping into the sanctuary you could feel the energy and listening to Mr. Smithwick speak was amazing. He said that a family with a little boy needed to speak directly to him. There was no doubt who he was talking about. After the service we introduced ourselves to him. Mr. Smithwick and several members of the church laid hands on Ayden and began to pray. I have read stories about feeling the Holy Spirit but not experienced it like this.  The goose bumps stacked up and as they prayed for Ayden the tears flowing from our eyes were uncontrollable.  Mr. Smithwick told us to continue to do what the doctors said and the tests would still show he had DNA Depletion but over time we would see exactly what God had done for Ayden.

We began getting results from Cleveland and all things still pointed to DNA Depletion Syndrome. Ayden’s liver enzymes had been at a dangerous level. At their highest they were around 550, normal is in the 50’s.  When we first went to Cleveland Ayden was taking 14 different medicines, and he was losing hair in small patches. After the initial healing service all of Ayden’s test results began to improve. His liver enzymes dropped.  He was tested every 2 months and everything was going great.  I was driving to work one morning and I had tried so hard to be strong and I believed that God had healed Ayden but I was scared and upset and angry. I prayed and, after my prayer I turned on the radio and the song by Kutless, Faith Can Move a Mountain came on and I was overcome with a sense of calmness.  The words tell us that, “Impossible is not a word just a reason for someone not to try.” It reminds us that miracles just happen and silent prayers get answered and it just restored my faith.

June 6, 2012 was a great day for the Billingsley Family. We arrived in Atlanta for a check up with Dr. Shoffner to see how Ayden was doing.  The date June 6th is known as D-Day, now for us it is known as ND-Day, which stands for No Disease Day. Dr. Shoffner gave us the news that Ayden not only did not have DNA Depletion Syndrome, he could not classify him as mitochondrial.  All of our prayers had been answered. The nightmare that we had been living was over.  I watched a transformation happen right in front of my eyes, my wife who had given everything that she had to make Ayden well became her old self.  She is the one that put all of her needs behind his and the thought of losing him changed her. We know that not all things will be easy for us and that Ayden will have struggles that most others will not, however with my own eyes I have seen faith move a mountain."  Shane Billingsley

Say Whaaaat?

Yesterday, one of the best guards in the 2014 class, a Hoosier, and a verbal committment to Indiana University (James Blackmon, Jr.) decommitted three months before the signing period.  This is the third high profile player in the area to decommit in the last year (Trey Lyles to IU and Quentin Snyder from U of L).  What is going on?

The reason given has been that these guys were too young when they verballed to their schools.  All being in the 14 age range.  Blackmon and Lyles had committed before ever playing a varsity basketball game.  What is going on?

Blackmon and Snyder want their host schools to continue recruiting them.  Blackmon has said so much as that IU is still where he is leaning on attending and plans to sign during the early signing period in November.  It doesn't sound or look good as players rarely decommit then commit again to the same university (it has happened before, DeShaun Thomas for Ohio State is one example).

College recruiting is social darwinism at its finest.  College coaches are offering scholarships to young players to let them understand how serious they are about them playing for them some day.  But when a kid verbals and then sees all the attention his friends are getting, it seems natural to want some of that attention, too.

If my children are ever good enough to play big time Division 1 sports, I will, as a parent, not allow them to verbally commit until their junior year.  I don't care how much they may like one university over another, I will not allow it.  At the end of their junior year they can verbal and then sign in the early period their senior year if they so choose.  This will allow for my child even in their excitement to hold off.  So much can change from 14 to 17 years of age including coaching changes, NCAA investigations, etc.

You will hear college coaches being blamed for this, I blame parents.  It is our responsibility to take care of them...in all things.  Even in something as wonderful as being offered a full ride, basketball scholarship to one of the greatest basketball universities in the country.

Who am I? Who are you? Who are we?

Over the last two weeks, I have been invited to speak at our church at the Borden Church of Christ.  So I came up with a little mini series.  I have always felt it is important that if I got up and spoke at church, I should be as transparent as possible.  The first of three parts of the mini series deals with I am.

Who am I?


Last Sunday, I felt it was important to tell the congregation who they are, individually as followers of Christ.

Who are you?

Finally, this Sunday, Lord willing, I will speaking about "Who are we?"

Please listen at your own risk and understand that I am using power point, so some of the things I am speaking about not come through on just audio.

Killing Jesus by Stephen Mansfield

Recently, I finished the book Killing Jesus by Stephen Mansfield.  From the front cover, this book is rooted in scholarship but told simply with vivid detail, this gritty account of the crucifixion of Jesus tells the unknown, fascinating saga of the death of the world's most famous man.

New York Times best-selling author Stephen Mansfield moves the story from the real of religion alone to the certainties of time and place, separating fact from persistent fiction.  In these pages you will find the hidden intrigue and corruption behind the death that changed the world forever.

I found many of the historical details to be interesting when it came to the relationship between the Romans and the Jews.  Also, many of the connecting details of the story of the crucifixion that unles done together, you find hard to understand are made clear here. 

I cannot wait to read Bill O'Reilly's book of the same title in September, but until then, I would recommend this book if you like history, theology, or Jesus.

Here....or There?

 

As I have written recently, I have taken the position of assistant boys' basketball coach at Silver Creek High School.  However, I am still teaching at the school I have been at for the last 14 years; Henryville High School.  The two schools are ten miles apart, and I live in Sellersburg, the home of Silver Creek H.S.

I have found an interesting feeling develop this summer.  After being at SCHS all summer and helping with the basketball program, I felt a disconnect from HHS.  When I would come up in the summer to do some work, I felt odd being here.  I didn't feel a part of the school.

Now we are about 5 days into the school year and I am spending most of my days at HHS.  My daughter attends SC schools, and when I go to pick her up, I now feel a disconnect from SC and it's players. 

I know it is part of coaching at one school and teaching at another, but I feel torn between the two, yet not really part of either...?  I am sure it is something that will only increase as the season begins and unwinds.  The best part is that the two schools play each other the first game of the season and after that, I can continue in supporting both schools in all they do.