Get it?

I once was agnostic and I did everything I could to argue why religion was a joke. I am now saved by Jesus Christ and have been in many conversations about why there is a God. It is funny to me because I am now treated and perceived as I once treated and perceived believers, but I know the non believer's arguments...I used to use them.

They are right, we can't "prove" what we believe...it is faith, but there are many things that can be proven and that helped me in coming around, look up apologetics.  But, ultimately they cannot "prove" what they believe either.  Science has not proven everything and probably never will.  There is a form of faith that exists even for those people dependent on science.  I used to hunt these debates but now I could care less...I guess, I don't mean I could care less but I don't feel the need to defend a God that is supreme in my eyes.

What I have found recently is that I am not trying to prove you wrong anymore. I have found that it matters less to me to fight people that are uninformed (yes, even on the scientific/evolution side they exist) because they won't get it until they want to get it....get it? The arguments that I read make sense to the old me, but to the new me filled with the Holy Spirit feels how they don't "get it".

I am not saying to lie down and let non believers run amok, but know what you are talking about. Be able to use other ideas besides The Bible as points of discussion (they don't believe it and write it off immediately, so you lose before you start), and be able to philosophize on their points of attack before they use them....they've done it to us, so be ready.

FCA for December 11, 2012

Senior Savannah gave her moving testimony this week allowing us into her life to this point.  The many issues she faced forced her to either give up or to turn to Christ.  She tried the first, but ended up doing the second and has become a much happier person because of it. She used Ephesians 2: 1-5 "As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.  But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,  made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved." Sydney and Tyler finished up with a song.  There are great things going on in my classroom on Tuesday mornings at 7 AM.

Southern Indiana FCA donated IU men's game tickets and many students were able to take advantage of the opportunity as well as some staff who never have attended a game.  There is an FCA game day for IU women's basketball on Sunday, December 16 in Assembly Hall.  Admission is only $2 and there will be a guest speaker afterwards.  The game is at 2 PM.

We will be having a Christmas party, tentatively, on Monday, December 17th at 6:30 PM with food, fellowship, a guest speaker, and Christ.  An appreciation meal is schedule for Saturday, December 22 for the varsity boys' basketball team.  We are working on a guest speaker for that.

Thank you to Borden Church of Christ (my home church) for providing the mornings doughnuts and juice, and feel free to pray for our FCA and to help in anyway possible.

What Makes a Great Practice Player (Thus Leader)

As I have written, I have been able to attend quite a few different practices this winter due to my open schedule.  I have written about the consistencies I have seen in coaches who do a great job, and really there are none I have seen that don't do a great job.  It is amazing what having good players can do to make fans believe a coach is good or not, but any way.

I have also noticed at these practices some things about the players that attend.  Your best players aren't always your leaders and your leaders aren't always your best players, but if you can get that time when those two things come together, you have a special player on your hands.  What makes a great leader?  For sure, it has to do with what they get done in games.  No, they don't have to score points, but they need to be positive leaders.  Last year, Borden's Brandon Beam comes to mind, always talking, always getting players where they need to be and on the same page, he was like a coach on the floor and it didn't hurt that he was probably the best player on that team.

But that leadership is shown usually every day from 3-5 pm where there aren't 1,500 fans watching, it happens in practice.  What makes a great practice player, thus leader? 

Some of my observations from experience as a coach and player and watching practices the following shows great practice players and leaders:

1. Compete through fatigue. (mental toughness and competitive leadership)
2. Never whine, even when they are just close enough to stand up to the coach. (a leader will often not like being led, but understands the necessity of the coach)
3. Touches every endline when running sprints. (not doing so, tells you a lot about a kid's personality)
4. Listens and does what coaches want all the time. (but isn't afraid to quietly take up for a teammate who may have just been subjected to some, um, positive criticism with a pat on the back and a positive word)
5. Talks, keeps things clear to everyone. (amazing that kids will talk all day in class when they shouldn't, then walk in a gym where it's expected and....nothing)
6. They will never put their hands on their knees during breaks in practice. (shows weakness in fatigue and shows mental toughness)
7. Hits free throws when the pressure is on in practice and then carries that over to games. (mental toughness)
8. Talks to parents, teachers, all adults in a respectfull manner. (shows that upbringing has been good)
9. Tries to win at all drills, all of them. (true competitors)
10. Run from drill to drill, never walking. (you can walk after practice)
11. Hits all shots, or most, around the rim despite contact that is made. (mental toughness and concentration)

I know there are more and for each coach there may be something that is different that is just as important to them.  But, I believe if you can concentrate on doing those eleven things as a player in practice, the coach will find a place for you on the bench or, better yet, in the game.

Coaches Seem to Have Strong Faith

(How I feel is the result of 10 billion years of evolution? I can't believe it)

Why can non-believers be so angry?  Since I was at best an agnostic, I will tell you my opinion (it's my blog). Many non-believers  have had some horribly traumatic experience in their life which makes them question the belief in a higher entity. They are so angry at the "God" they don't believe in, they are constantly cursing His very existence...or lack there of which can be confusing, I know.

When I was younger, my uncle was unbalanced. How much so?  He was molested his daughters because "God told him to". My father who was not related to his children by blood stepped in and took two of the children who wanted out of the family into our family. I was probably 8-13 years old while all this was going on, so my experience with "religion" was at best questionable. We didn't go to church except during the main holidays, we were cultural Christians. My father was a questioner of everything that went on with the church and was constantly looking for the truth in other avenues. Then Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Baker were doing their thing in the 1980's stealing and lying while preaching. Lots for a young mind to take in and I became extremely negative towards God.

When those two cousins moved in, they were troubled for all the obvious reasons. Looking back on it now, I feel sorry for them, but it was a strain on our family and for me. Before they moved in, I had tried my best to win trophies and be noticed for athletic achievements to get my father's attention/love which I know now was a mistake.  My father loved me without those things, but my father never played athletics, so it didn't work, in my eyes. My sister was his favorite. He wanted a daughter and I don't know if he ever really related to me. He had an alcoholic father who he had tried to get the affection of and I don't think my dad ever really related to his own father. Then comes this athlete who is more like his mother as a son. (sidenote: my father and I have a very good relationship, one of love, respect and admiration today, he is a great, great man).

Well, you can understand how hard it was to get my father's attention when two more, troubled children were thrown into the mix. Our family grew, but the two new members got more attention than me or my sister. There were court dates, counseling, court dates, visitations, preaching by my wack job Uncle while around him, my Aunt turning against her father (who was in every sense a true, loving, giving Christian man).  Very hard for a kid to take in and I became angry at God for allowing this to go on and in turn attacked anyone who would believe. That's my story of why I was the way I was.

Many of the non-believers I have known through the years are angry children/people like I was. Their fathers have left them, their mothers have left them, one or the other parent is crazy, parents have died in car crashes, parents force them to go to church and then don't live a Christian lifestyle, parents have died from an illness, over and over and over events that were worse than what I went through. So they don't believe...and they attack those who do, they are angry at a God who they feel has allowed bad things to happen.

Even through trying to teach, talk and even learn myself, I don't always know the answer. My preacher says that it all comes back to "Yea, but why?" when you have doubts about bad things. And there is only one person who can answer that and he isn't a living, breathing human being on this earth. I have come to grips about 90% of the time that I could never understand why God does what he does, but if He exists his knowledge and understanding would never make sense to the brain of a human being. That isn't good enough for many people who don't believe and I understand.

But the bottom line is that most people will not believe until they are ready to listen, ready to believe. So I will continue to talk to brick walls, lead my FCA at school and hope that I am able to move those kids who are believers and doubters (as I can be sometimes about certain aspects of my faith) back to the faith or to at least not lose them.

So any non-believers who are reading this now and upset that I would label you in this way and are angry that I would be arrogant to judge you, and are upset at everything I have written, aggravated that I don't have an open mind like you, well, you just proved my point, and there is a way out of that anger.

Dave Matthews Band at the Yum! Center

Last night, my wife and I were able to attend a concert, together, alone for the first time in a while.  It was nice to be with just her and remember my "girlfriend" from before marriage and children.  We were able to get something to eat, and then head over.  Last year, I would have had to coach a game and my wife would have kept the book, but instead we had the freedom to go to a concert instead.

(DMB drummer, Carter Beauford)

My friend, who shall remain nameless here, but she knows who she is, has married into the Dave Matthews Band family.  Last week, she asked if Kristi and I would be interested in attending the concert and she was able to get us tickets, for free.  We arrived, got our tickets from Will Call, and there was a pass into the Legends Lounge at the KFC Yum! Center, so we had access to as much food and soft drinks that we wanted.

After finishing there, we went inside to the concert and had great seats, $75 seats for free from my friend.  We watched until the main set was over and then our friend was able to come and visit for awhile.  Pretty cool stories including how she helped Dave Matthews decide how much Mucinex to take before the concert (he was hoarse and dealing with some type of illness). 

I asked if it had gotten "old" or did she still get moments of out of body experiences.  She replied that she had gotten used to a lot of it, but when Dave Matthews is standing next to you and asking you medical questions, it can be somewhat surreal.

I want to thank her again because it was very nice that should we think of my wife and I when so many people could benefit from her kindness.  That she thought of us is as touching a thing that could happen and we both appreciated it.

P.S.  If you don't mind, "friend", I would like to replace that word with your name, but I remember once upon a time that it was supposed to be kept on the down low, for the obvious reasons.  Take care.

FCA for December 4, 2012

Today, senior athlete Spencer shared her moving testimony dealing with the loss of her father.  Her faith and friends brought her back from a dark place and she now has a stronger contenment during good times and hope in bad times.

She shared 2 Chronicles 7:14 and Daniel 10:16-18.  2 Chronicles states "if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."  If you don't completely rely on God, you will not bear the fruit of the spirit from Ephesians 5:22-23.

But relying on God at all times, easier to do in good times, is extremely hard and most believers struggle with this.  It is normal, it is natural, but something we strive to more each day and with each uncomfortable experience we encounter.  We are all either headed towards a storm, in the middle of one, or coming out of one, and we need Jesus Christ for all three.