Friday Night Lights

Well, it’s that time of year again here in Northern Michigan when football becomes almost fanatical. Friday Night Lights, you’ve got to love it, only this year I Dan Boda will not be part of this ritual.

As I am sure, most of you probably have read my wife’s blog and know that I reluctantly resigned my position as Assistant Varsity coach at Pellston High School this summer.

However I am still involved with our local conferences fundamental camp that we do at Inland Lakes High School with most of our conferences teams and this year with another team from another conference.

This all started about four years ago at a Conference Meeting for the Ski-Valley at Gaylord. The coaching staff at ILHS brought a proposal to the table that if we were all willing to assist them, that we start a fundamentals camp. We were all on board before they could even explain how it would take place. Any way that’s what I do now for four days at the end of July. The first year we had 117 young men there, and for the last two, the numbers were down somewhat. However this year we have hit an all time high of over 155 young men. All the staff are volunteers and coaches from within the conference. I don’t know anywhere in this State where that is happening.

The premise behind the camp was to give quality instruction at an affordable price, where they could sleep in their own beds at night and come together everyday from four pm to nine pm with their teams and interact with other teams in their conference. Bonds of friendship have developed and instead of walking off the field after a game, they spend time talking and yes, even praying together afterwards.

This is what we have strived for and it is beginning to happen. It’s a great feeling to see all these young men come together and set and talk with one another during breaks. Now some may be thinking, doesn’t that sort of take the edge off their competition? No it doesn’t, in fact they challenge one another and in the spirit of the game, will do their very best to come away with bragging rights. This is how it is suppose to be, this is how God intended it to be, and drawing on His strength and grace, that is how it will remain.

You Need Not Die Alone

The other day a friend of mine lay to rest his oldest son. I had run into this man at a local store and I had invited him to share a lunch with some former co-workers/friends and I the next day. It was then that he informed me that he was burying his son on that day and time. I expressed my condolences and talked for a short time then parted.

When I returned home, I told my wife about the encounter and said that I wanted to attend graveside burial. What I didn’t know and my friend failed to inform me was that his son had died last November in Florida. They had decided to wait until he and his wife returned home here in Michigan in the spring to burying him.

Maybe his reasoning for not telling me was to spare himself the re-living of how his son had died. I still don’t know what had taken place, but having known his son and some destructive habits that he had acquired I was reasonably sure that I knew and he may have known that I was aware, and left it alone. But I knew that he was not looking forward to the next day and I could see it in his face and his speech. You the reader, must know that he and his son had some fairly rocky history over the years, but still, it was his son and that would never change.

When the day arrived, it arrived with a fury of wind and torrential down pours. As I stood in our living room looking out the window at mid-morning, I begin to question where or not I should go. To myself I question where or not they would attempt this in this terrible weather. My wife, who is very perceptive, said to me, why don’t you just send him a card I believe that that will have just as much meaning as you standing there in the rain and cold plus the card will have a lasting note of sentiment. That pretty much made up my mine and that is what I did. I also had lunch with my friends, but I still had some feelings of guilt.

I wondered how many other families were doing the same for their loved ones where no one showed. I wondered if the deceased was looking down and was sadden that his death didn’t deserve the meager respect that would bring a person or persons to bid him farewell. I hope he knew that at least I was thinking about him, his life and his family on that day. I pray that he knows that to be true. I know that I will not let this opportunity to express my grief at someone’s lost again.

“A good name is better than fine perfume, and the day of death better than the day of birth. It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of every man; the living should take this to heart.” Ecclesiastes 7:1-2

Have you ever had one of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days? You know like a Sunday morning. The alarm rings longer than it should have and as you roll over to shut it off, you realize its insistent cry. Our yearly time change from one more hour or less to sleep in or get up. You bolt from your warm and cozy bed. First things first, the coffee then a quick shower.

Secondly, what do I wear that I didn't wear last Sunday, or the church dinner during the past week. Decisions and the lack of coffee are not getting you any closer to making this monumental decision. As you stumble out of the closet and head for the kitchen a wave of anxiety floods over you as the fog in your primitive brain begins to recede and lets you know that you are one of the greeters this morning. You quicken your pace following the aroma of brewing coffee, take a corner to close, slamming your hip into a counter top and the mornings color of bright sunshine quickly turns a bright shade of red. But you press on. You have a need and pain wasn't it. You grab a mug for coffee and stop and stare at the coffee maker as it decides that this mornings brew will take a little longer. I need coffee you scream and grab the coffee pot from under its brew master and pour a cup of the hair of the dog that should have bit you last night.

You begin to see more clearly, your brain begins to hum and the pain in your hip has taken on a new feeling. But pain never the less. Back to the closet where you stand staring at the clothes, sipping your coffee. Nothing, I got nothing. What can I wear. Dark shirt and pants? No, you are greeting people, not sending them to the dungeon. How about something bright, maybe that shirt your Aunt Bertha got you in Brazil. No, it makes you look like the last member of a mariachi band that went south without you. Come on you say out loud, this is not that hard. After a item by item check, you settle on a white shirt, dark trousers and a tie. Not exactly GQ but you can live with it. The dressing part goes without a hitch. Now the part that should be an Olympic event. Tying a tie.

Where is your Hope?

Hope. Just exactly what is ‘hope’? The dictionary describes it as, ‘a feeling that what one desires will happen.’ It also says that, ‘happy is he whose hope is in the Lord his God’, (Psalms 146:5).

In Gods word, it is mentioned 13 times from Leviticus 26:40-45, to Revelations 22:21. In Leviticus 26:40-45, God is talking to the Israelites letting them know that He had not forgotten them or his covenant with them. They had hope that he would be true to his word. In Mark 5:35-36 he references ‘hope’ with believing. In 2 Corinthians 4:18 he gives the reader ‘hope’ in that what it troubling the reader, that it is only temporal. All the reader needs to do is believe and look beyond this world to what is unseen that is what is eternal. In Luke 18:35-43, the beggar here was condemned to a life of degradation and shame, but I believe that Gods spirit opened his minds eye to whom was passing and he shamelessly cried out to Christ to heal his sight so he might see. His hope was backed by the power of the Gods spirit and he was healed and believed in Christ.

In John 12:13(2), many people cried out “Hosanna!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!” They were expecting an earthly King that would drive the Romans out and set his rule in Israel. Not all who were there that day believed this, but those who did were not long in denouncing Jesus and even some were calling for his execution. This is a case of misguided or improper understanding of the Old Testament scriptures concerning a King that would free Israel from the rule of its suppressors. They had a false ‘hope.’ In 1 Corinthians 15:54-56, in this case, Satan seemed to be victorious, in the Garden of Eden (Genesis3) and at the cross of Jesus. But when God raised Christ from the dead, He snatched victory from what seemed defeat. The law would no longer make sinners such as ourselves attempt to live up to a standard that we were unable do. We would have been damned to Hell for eternity had Christ not risen, but having done so, gave us all ‘hope’ that a belief in Him and His sacrificial death for us had gained for us however unworthy, a place with Him in Heaven one day. That is the ‘Hope’ that cried from the very depths of our souls until we took that step, and accepted by faith, Jesus’ sacrifice on cross for us.

To be continued.

A little knowledge can be ?

I have been toying with the idea of teaching men’s Sunday school class at our church.

It has been a few months since the last one in which I was a participant. Two friends of mine were co-teaching The Power of a Praying Wife by Stormie Omartian. She has written several books on this subject, all of which I am sure are as informative as this last study we did.

I was approached by a gentleman who asked me to get these two men going on starting another, or “why don’t you do one”, I know you can. So politely I said that I would speak to my friends and see where they are headed.

A few days passed and I was speaking to one and I asked about starting another study. He smiled and said, “he”, meaning our mutual friend, “has asked you too”. I replied that he had and so I asked my friend what the hold up was. He said he wasn’t sure that this is what he should be doing, but he would speak to our friend who had co-taught with him, and let me know. That was several weeks ago and nothing has come of it.

The book I would like the class to read, and then we can discuss it chapter by chapter is, Knowing God by J. I. Packer through IVP. I have read the book twice and was totally captivated by it. If you have ever read it, you know what I mean. It is a pretty sobering subject especially being a Christian and thinking to ones self. I know who God is, but as you are reading the book you come to an instant conclusion that as the writer states. A little knowledge of God is worth more than a great deal of knowledge about him.

Where I would like us to get during this study is, an eagerness to be known by God. Seek to walk side by side with our creator and never having to utter a spoken word, understand each other’s thoughts. Maybe that’s heaven on earth. Maybe that is be our walk daily. I think it is.

The Roar of the engine, the smoke of the tires, back to the gas station.

In reply to some very dear friends, yes spring does bring out the car guy in me.

The starting of the 64 Chrysler for the first time after being dormant all winter. Listening to the engine turning over, the first cough of life in the old beast, the smell of the exhaust the feeling of all that power of the 413 engine with just slight pressure of the gas pedal. Yes there is nothing like it.

So that is spring. Next will come summer time to cruise the hardtop around, smiling as people stop on the street and watch you drive by, some waving, some wondering what the heck kind of car is it. It sort of looks like the car my father had, but they are not sure. The aqua blue shines in the sun light back up by all the chrome. It’s a boat for sure, but a smooth riding one with lots of power. Sort of makes one feel all-warm inside. Crusin is where it’s at. There are a lot of nice cars around this area and more than enough car shows to show what you got or what you wish you had and or kept and yes tears for the one that you let go of because you were chasing another dream. The tears come when you get older, when you see some other guy with your car or at least one like. Maybe it’s just a passage of time, or maybe it is just you finally growing up. Did I just read what I said? Wow, straightjacket time. Heh, Heh, Heh, just kidding. I think

Anyway, enough for now, it’s time to hit the hay and dream about what was, what is, and what could have been. Goodnight, and remember to keep the greasy side down unless you want a permanent part in your hair.

Acts 2:1b They were all in one Accord (Honda) in one place (Car Show) – Writers interrputation.

Beyond The Green

Beyond The Green

I am not sure what I will share on this blog site. My wife Ellen has one and has written some very thought provoking articles on hers. Are they articles or just thoughts? I am of course referring to there contents. The proper term for them I am not sure.

My profile shows a 1969 Camaro Pace car convertible. I had purchased this car in Cheboygan, Michigan where Ellen and I now live. I seen it at the local Chevy dealer. Apparently the dealerships had to place a bid for them. Luckily, the dealership here received one. There were only 3675 replica coups and convertibles. The one I purchased had a 350. It was the Super Sport package. I had traded a 1966 chevelle SS396 cubic inch two-door hardtop for it. I own neither car at this time. However I do own a 1964 chrysler New Yorker four door hardtop with a 413, power windows and drivers side power seat. It is a daily driver in the summer and a dream to drive. It does however need so work to make it show quality. One of these days I will post pictures of all the cool cars I own at one time. If I had them today, they would be worth more than our home. Go figure, when I was young, they were only transportation.

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