I am writing two today, to make up for missing yesterday. My fellow blogger-Coach Hawley-gave me a hard time about retiring after only two post, so I have to get back on track.
I went to the doctor yesterday because my knee was swollen and painful. Now as a former basketball player and as a current coach, there are certain areas of your body you really need-they all are important but the knees and back can be crucial. I was reluctant about going, because of the fear of what they might find, but probably more fearful of what they would need to do to fix the problem. As it turned out I have a touch of arthritis and some bone spurs, that through wear cause a build up of fluid. Not earth shattering news, as I am getting older so wear and tear is common, and the fluid was obvious by the size of my knee. The earth shattering part came when the doctor said we are going to drain the swelling right now! What? My first thought (which is not very educated, I will admit) was do I need to call my wife and get my affairs in order because you are going to do surgery on my knee. Can I have some time to process this please? The doctor laughed and said I would not feel a thing. I laughed because he was wrong, I could already feel the pain before he had touched me!
The procedure was amazing. I never undressed, only rolled up my pant leg, and never took off my shoes. He stuck me with a shot, that he said would numb my knee, but I was still reluctant, I have seen those shows on the Discovery channel. The next thing I heard was (obviously I was not watching) you have a lot of fluid here, but I almost done. What, done? I never felt it. He showed me the fluid and then hole it came out of, amazing, it was the size of a pen! I was in shear wonderment!
Needless to say, thanks to modern medicine and a great doctor; my knee is free from swelling and it feels almost new. I came real close to asking if he could do the other knee while he was there, but I thought I would save that for another time. I will never hesitate again to go to the doctor-they make you feel better. I feel better.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Giving Your Whole Self!
Why is giving your whole self to something so difficult? It seems we are always holding something back. I would say that fear is the number one reason-fear of failure, fear of embarrassment, fear of exposure, etc.
The Bible teaches us that we should only fear God, and God wants our whole self. As Paul wrote, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus; not with uncertainty. Thus I fight; not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified." I Cor 9:24-27. You can only run and win the race if you are willing to give you whole self to God, and train in such a way. Paul was an example of giving his whole self.
As I coach and teach young people I try to both lead them in words and deed. I try to be an example of giving my whole self to everything I do, as I ask them to do. We call it "Championship Effort." I have found that most people are willing to do whatever it takes to be a champion. Watch the NCAA tournament or the NBA Finals. I was asked the other day, why do the NBA players play so hard in the play-offs, well they are playing for a championship and I would think because if they lose it is over. Putting this into a spiritual context, isn't that exactly what Paul was saying? We are promised a crown that will last forever-why not give all we have to get it. Instead of waiting until the end gets close, why not do it everyday expecting the end at any moment. As the end could be any moment. We do not need to what until the final tournament, when can give our whole selves today. Our whole self is what is needed, what is asked.
As I coach players or teach students, I ask them what they want to accomplish. Most want to be good players or A students, but when you lay out what it takes to accomplish these things, they begin to pick and choose what they are willing to do. Why? By doing this they expect to win the race with out the work. I like to run, but I will not finish a marathon, if I only train sometimes and not everyday. Even when it doesn't feel good if I want to achieve I must put in the work.
I would be lying if I said I did have the same fears, but hopeful I can recognize those, and overcome them. God needs my best, he wants all of me-there is nothing to hold back for.
The Bible teaches us that we should only fear God, and God wants our whole self. As Paul wrote, "Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus; not with uncertainty. Thus I fight; not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others I myself should become disqualified." I Cor 9:24-27. You can only run and win the race if you are willing to give you whole self to God, and train in such a way. Paul was an example of giving his whole self.
As I coach and teach young people I try to both lead them in words and deed. I try to be an example of giving my whole self to everything I do, as I ask them to do. We call it "Championship Effort." I have found that most people are willing to do whatever it takes to be a champion. Watch the NCAA tournament or the NBA Finals. I was asked the other day, why do the NBA players play so hard in the play-offs, well they are playing for a championship and I would think because if they lose it is over. Putting this into a spiritual context, isn't that exactly what Paul was saying? We are promised a crown that will last forever-why not give all we have to get it. Instead of waiting until the end gets close, why not do it everyday expecting the end at any moment. As the end could be any moment. We do not need to what until the final tournament, when can give our whole selves today. Our whole self is what is needed, what is asked.
As I coach players or teach students, I ask them what they want to accomplish. Most want to be good players or A students, but when you lay out what it takes to accomplish these things, they begin to pick and choose what they are willing to do. Why? By doing this they expect to win the race with out the work. I like to run, but I will not finish a marathon, if I only train sometimes and not everyday. Even when it doesn't feel good if I want to achieve I must put in the work.
I would be lying if I said I did have the same fears, but hopeful I can recognize those, and overcome them. God needs my best, he wants all of me-there is nothing to hold back for.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Brotherly Love
In I John 4:20-21 the scriptures reads, " If someone says, "I Love God" and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him; that he who loves God must love his brother also."
This part of scripture is used to direct us to love each other and doesn't apply specifically to the biological relationship between two or more brothers. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, yet I am reminded of this scripture when I think of two of my favorite students Wade and Walt Hill.
Wade and Walt are brothers, one in the 7th grade the other in the 8th grade. They are participants in our 7th and 8th grade spring league. Despite demands on their time including school work, and baseball they have yet to miss one of the 6 week, Tuesday night basketball clinics. When Wade and Walt enter the gym it is always a joy. It will lift me up just a little. Walt will always greet me with an emphatic, " Hey Coach!" All the older kids that coach laugh and I laugh.
These two guys are an example of brotherly love. Usually at their age you witness a lot of sibling rivalry or what I like to call, "One Upism." More times than not in the typical sibling rivalry, one would work hard to see the other one fail, rather than concentrating on succeeding themselves; but not Wade and Walt.
In spring league we pick teams and play two games. I try to always separate siblings if I can. Two weeks ago as the the two teams were playing, Wade and Walt being on different teams, Walt shot the ball and made the basket, Wade began to cheer. Then Wade made a basket, and Walt cheered. Now, the games are usually competitive, and no one wants to lose. Wade and Walt are bigger than the game. They demonstrate a love for each other that is greater than winning a spring league game. They took joy in watching each other do well. It was refreshing and forgetting the score, they both won that night.
There is no doubt the are an example of the scripture in I John, and I know God was smiling. It is a tribute to their parents as well, because I can tell there is a lot of Love in their home. Last night we finished spring league, and at the end when everyone was leaving and we were cleaning up, I saw Walt and Wade shooting baskets with their MOM. They were having a great time, and you could witness the love they have for each other. I was watching and I am sure someone else was as well-now that's setting an example.
This part of scripture is used to direct us to love each other and doesn't apply specifically to the biological relationship between two or more brothers. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ, yet I am reminded of this scripture when I think of two of my favorite students Wade and Walt Hill.
Wade and Walt are brothers, one in the 7th grade the other in the 8th grade. They are participants in our 7th and 8th grade spring league. Despite demands on their time including school work, and baseball they have yet to miss one of the 6 week, Tuesday night basketball clinics. When Wade and Walt enter the gym it is always a joy. It will lift me up just a little. Walt will always greet me with an emphatic, " Hey Coach!" All the older kids that coach laugh and I laugh.
These two guys are an example of brotherly love. Usually at their age you witness a lot of sibling rivalry or what I like to call, "One Upism." More times than not in the typical sibling rivalry, one would work hard to see the other one fail, rather than concentrating on succeeding themselves; but not Wade and Walt.
In spring league we pick teams and play two games. I try to always separate siblings if I can. Two weeks ago as the the two teams were playing, Wade and Walt being on different teams, Walt shot the ball and made the basket, Wade began to cheer. Then Wade made a basket, and Walt cheered. Now, the games are usually competitive, and no one wants to lose. Wade and Walt are bigger than the game. They demonstrate a love for each other that is greater than winning a spring league game. They took joy in watching each other do well. It was refreshing and forgetting the score, they both won that night.
There is no doubt the are an example of the scripture in I John, and I know God was smiling. It is a tribute to their parents as well, because I can tell there is a lot of Love in their home. Last night we finished spring league, and at the end when everyone was leaving and we were cleaning up, I saw Walt and Wade shooting baskets with their MOM. They were having a great time, and you could witness the love they have for each other. I was watching and I am sure someone else was as well-now that's setting an example.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
There Is a First Time For Everything!
Each day is new day. A day to start over, or continue where you left off. Today, I decided to start something new; I would write my own blog. This is old to a lot of people but very new to me. I am not an author, so forgive the grammatical mistakes or the boring topics.
The thought to do this came to me while teaching a bible class at church. I was telling some stories about conversations or experiences I have had while teaching and coaching. So, I thought I would start to journal some of them and sharing them with other people. I was recently at a basketball clinic in Pittsburgh, PA where I heard Coach Don Meyer speak and he spoke about giving your gift away. So, I thought by writing a blog on various experiences teaching and coaching I could pass on the blessings I have received, the lessons learned, and the moments that have helped define who I am.
Well I am going to try and see how it goes, and at least I can say I tried and mark it off my bucket list-write my own blog. That reminds me of one of my favorite sayings: There are two pains in life- pain of discipline or the pain or regret-which do you choose? (Some of you reading this might actually say there are three pains in life- one being reading this blog)
I hope you enjoy.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)