Going to Battle!!!!

Today someone had told my wife that they just love my passion for the game of football! You see I coach two different football teams. One is a High School team and the other is my son's team. They are on two completely different levels. But that makes no difference to me. The game of football is a battle between the two teams and the coaches. The thinking that goes into the games no matter if they are High School or pee wee or the pros is a battle.
The reason why I like to coach is because I can't play anymore... but the real reason is I love to instruct a group of players and see them take what I have taught and put it to work and we win a game. But its a battle not only with the team/coaches but its a battle with yourself!!!! It makes you think, it pushes you to your limits, and you still have to obey and do things right or your will lose...... the same is true ion our journeys in this world. You will be taught by the Word, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and you go to battle everyday with the world/devil and yourself. It will make us tired, we will want to give up and take the easy way... but the easy way leads to a loss. My old offensive line coach in HS use to say.... "You have to pay your dues to have victory"... that is so true!!!! We must look to Jesus, read His Word, obey His ways for us, keep self out, stay on the narrow way to the best of our ability and battle and never give up..... PAY YOUR DUES SO YOU MY HAVE VICTORY!!!!!!!!
He's waiting.... are you on your way to victory?

Family

God knew what he was doing when he made the family system! I don't what I would have done the last few months if it had not been for my family. My wife 2 girls and my son have been the best thing for me. God has used them in such a way to help me deal with the death of my dad. My wife is so awesome, so real, and has been my example of of Christ. She has comforted me, let me vent, made me laugh, has gotten on me when I didn't realize I was being... well you know. My girls have been so good with each other... almost like best friends which has help me... I love them! TJ is only 9 but has help in asking questions that has not made me sad but gets the mind off of the hurt. His baseball and now football is helping me. Now this area may be hard here in a few weeks. You dad was a big football fan. We always talked football. I would call dad about my High School team that coach, TJ's football team and of course THE Ohio State University Buckeyes!!! But I know God will see me through it so it will not be so bad. After what HE has done in July I know he will not let it be too bad.
God knew we would need family. I thank God for my wonderful wife! My awesome Girls and my kick butt son... thank you Jesus for waiting on me through my family!!!!

Emotional Healing

Its been little over a week since I preached my pop's (dad) funeral. Its been pretty hard on me... I just can't get over that he is gone. But just like God, He came yesterday and did some emotional healing when I was least expecting it. I have been questioning not the why but the timing of his death... I just got down to Fla for a much needed vacation. He died a week before my brother's wedding... which dad was going to be the best man and I was doing the service. So the timing is what I was having trouble with... but then yesterday HE (God) shows up and the TIMING was perfect! Or should I say... HE MADE IT A PERFECT TIME!!!!!
As church started yesterday mom walks through the doors... wasn't expecting her to show up for a while at church, but she showed up... we took a quick vote before service started about having Pm church service. Everyone voted to not have it....the sermon I was preaching was part 2 of a 2 parter... "Life Lessons for Life's Mountains... which I had finished before I left for vacation... boy did I need this sermon yesterday... everything fit for me and my family and God showed the people of my church He was there not only for us but for them too! Mom came to the altar to get help with me and many others... Since we were not having church in the evening I was free to go watch my boy (TJ 9) play in a coach pitch baseball tourney. The game to get into the championship game, his first at bat he hit a 2 run Home run... before the tourney started he said he wanted to hit a home run for his papaw!!!!!!!!!! This was his first over the fence home run... and let me tell you it was a SHOT! I started to cry because he did it for papaw!!! But that was not all... in the championship game they were up and only needed two runs to run rule the team to win the title and here comes TJ with 2 runners on and kills one over the tall fence, dead center field to end the game.... Firecracker Coach pitch Champions!!!!!! I cried again......
Thank you Lord for a wonderful day of healing!!!!!!!!
He's waiting............ and his timing is perfect!!!!!!!

Hometown Part 2

I was just reading my last post.... hometown.... on June 23rd my dad passed away from a heart attack. Can you believe it? Me neither... the last good day was my last at my childhood home with my dad there. We never know when these bodies will choose to give up and be no more. WE BETTER BE READY! Thank the good Lord that dad found his way to rendezvous with Jesus and now he is there with Him playing cornhole and I bet Jesus is having a hard time beating dad.... he was so good at that game! The timing of this whole thing was so not good but I am doing my best NOT to question the timing.... (too much to explain right now... trust me BAD timing) but there is a good reason and that is what I keep telling myself. My wife and kids have been so good to me and have helped me in so many ways. My church family has been the BODY for their pastor... my friends on facebook and my beagle web page I am a part of have been so gracious. Thank you Thank you and...... thank you to all!!!!!! But most of all thank you Jesus for rendezvousing with me during this time... He still waits and I am thankful for that!

Hometown

I spent the biggest part of my day today with my mom and dad in my hometown. I don't live that far from my hometown but its far enough that I don't get there but maybe 2 times a month if I am lucky. My parents still live in the house that I grew up in. They moved into it when I was 1 year old. So I sat there today thinking about the past... the memories and stuff like that... my parents are not in good health so my days of going to my childhood home and just "being there" is coming to and end soon... I talked about how much you run around when your kids are at home and sat there and looked at my dad and was thinking that not too long ago he was where I am raising kids at home and running them everywhere... with my oldest going into her senior year it won't be long before I'll be where dad is now... Where will I be when I am his age? What will my heath be like? What will I be able to do... not able to do? Will I still be preaching? Will I still own and run beagles? How many grand kids will I have? Will I be able to see them much? Live close to them? What stories of God's grace and love will I be able to tell those around me. I just hope I can remember them all to be able to share with my grand kids and those around me... I hope I'll be able to say then what I say now........
He's waiting.... I looking to rendezvous with Him!

Life & People

Sorry I haven't written on here in a while.... God and I have been talking and dealing with life! Hey ain't we all huh? I know we all are dealing with life. And life involves people. Sometimes if you are like me you just don't want to deal with people.... you know when you think you're doing the right thing then all of a sudden it turns on you and now someone is mad at you and you just don't know how it happen. Sometimes I pray... asking why it is like this... why am I in the business of people when the fact is I am not very good with people.... VBS taught me a lesson this week... how can I do what God wants me to do?????????? Colossians 1:26-27..... "Christ in you, the hope of glory" I can do what he needs me to do because He is in me! BUT ITS SO HARD... I can't stop replaying things in my mind... maybe its the devil... telling me that I was wrong or I am a failure... but at the same time... Christ is in me not saying anything....WHY?????????
He's waiting....

God's Will??????????

As I type this I am waiting on my wife to come down stairs so we can get in the car to go to Oklahoma. Its 4:20 AM. On this trip I/We will be praying for God's will in our lives. If you think about that its a scary thing... But its not.. because if its a God thing, whether its his will or what its OK because God wants only the best for us.... well she's ready to go... I 'll finish when we get back... please pray for God's will for us and our lives and that everything on this trip will turn out good... according to HIS will!!!!
He's Waiting..... and so am I.....