Trask Basketball Update

Ok, so I’ve fallen aback in my desire to chronicle the season, but if I don’t put something down now it will be February 13 and I’ll have only 2 blogs or something. 

So, in the interest of time, I’ll summarize where we’re at right now.  Our overall record is 3-5, with two victories over Dixon and the third over Wallace Rose-Hill.  We played some of our best ball in the second half of the second matchup with Dixon.  We trailed by 12 at half and wound up winning by five or six, I can’t remember.  We played great, great team defense and very selfless ball.  Our next game was at Wallace and we continued by playing great in the first half.  The second half was a bit of a struggle, but we still managed to hang on for the W.  Last night we hosted Whiteville, and I honestly believe we should’ve won by at least 10.  Instead we lost by 8 or 9, I can’t remember.  Our only returning player stood at the free throw line with 7.4 seconds left for a one and one.  He nailed the first one, missed the second and overtime here we come.  We fought too hard to finish out strong at the end of regulation I guess, because we fell behind early in OT by five.  We put forth a fight, but it was too little too late.

So here we sit at 3-5.  We have another home game today, this time with Union.  They spanked us at their place, so this should be a revenge match for us.  I hope that we come out ready to play, because I honestly feel this is a game we can win. 

We still struggle with making smart plays, taking care of the basketball, playing individual and team defense, getting back in transition, good shot selection, and on and on.  We are, however, making progress.  This is a good group of kids and a good basketball team.  If we can continue to progress and improve, good things are bound to come.  I hope they come quick!

Game One

Well, opening night has come and gone, as has our hopes of being undefeated this season.  We dropped our opener last night against Topsail by about 20 points.  While I know the kids were disappointed, I am not moved by one game, whether we won or lost.  The last time I checked the season was much longer than one game, and a season is not determined by one game. 

The first half of the game was extremely disappointing, as we did mostly everything wrong that could be done.  Wild shots, bad passes, no passes, poor defense, and being out of position coupled with a lot of nerves made for a bad half.  I think we had only 19 points at the break.  The second half was a great improvement, although still not very good.  The defense was better, the offense was a little more in sync, and the guys played smarter.  The score was about even for the second half.  Still, there’s a lot of improvements to be made. 

Our next game is not until Tuesday, and we face off against the Pirates again, only this time we take our show of youth on the road.  In football they always say you make the most improvements from the first game to the second, and I have a feeling that will be a similar ordeal with us next week.  There’s a lot of work to be done, but I have a group of kids that work hard and want to succeed.  The wins will take care of themselves.  Besides, last year we started out with a loss to Topsail and finished the season 14-8.  Don’t fret guys, there’s a lot of basketball left to be played.

‘Tis the Season…

‘Tis the season, to be…thankful.  In honor of Thanksgiving, I wanted to dedicate a blog to the most selfless and compassionate person I have ever met, and specifically thank her for all that she does to make my life so much better.

The lady I would be describing is my beautiful wife Stephanie.  If you know her, then you know exactly what I’m saying when I say she is selfless and compassionate.  She never hesistates to put people first and herself second.  She loves others regardless of whether they’re lovable or not.  If you don’t know her, she’s all that I just said and a lot more. 

I want to do something different though with this blog dedication.  I want to specifically name things she does for me, things you may not be aware of, since you don’t live at my house, and thank her.  (It’s here where I’ll transition from talking to you as my audience and talk to her as my audience.)

Stephanie, thank you so much for loving me in so many ways.  Often I feel that I am unworthy of your love, but you continue to support me and encourage me, never wavering one moment.  Wow.  I wonder how one person can have the capacity to care and love as much as you do, but you somehow pull it off.  Thank you for your faithful and unconditional love, even when you have reasons to not love me or like me.

Thank you for sacrificing your precious sleep every morning to get me off to work.  I don’t say it nearly enough, but I appreciate more than words the fact that you iron my clothes to make them look nice.  Thank you for fixing me breakfast every morning and fixing my lunch as well.  I’d still get to school if you weren’t around, but I wouldn’t look very good, I would be buying cafeteria food every day, and I’d have pop-tarts for my morning breakfast.  Thank God you love me enough to save me from that lifestyle!

Thank you for all of the many errands that you have to run to keep everything in working order.  No matter what we need or when we need it you’re always there to make sure we have it.  Whether it’s mailing something at the post office, making a trip to the dreadful grocery store, or making a return at Target you always do it with a smile.  It’s appreciated more than I ever express.

Thanks for loving our dogs.  I know that may seem silly, but it’s not to me.  I see the way you care for them and the genuine love you have for them, and it’s moving.  They are our babies, and they get great care because of you.

Thank you for being an example of what Jesus is in the real world.  I have never, ever seen such a real example of God’s love for humanity than when I look at you and the way you love people.  You are so amazing beyond words!  You have the ability to make the most oppressed and lonely person feel as if they could conquer the world.  You have no idea how many lives you touch and affect by just being you.

I could go on and on about other things, but I fear you may grow tired of reading.  So allow me to give thanks for one more thing.  I know the desire of your heart is to be a mommy.  One day I know that you will be, and you will be the best one in the entire world.  Thank you for loving family so much, and for wanting that dream to become a reality.  I know that when we finally have a child of our own I will see the fruition of your prayers and dreams, and words will not be enough to convey how much joy that will bring us.  You are due credit for having this desire and not resting until it is a reality.

(Ok, here’s where I switch back to talking to y’all that are reading all of this as my audience). 

Who do you have to be thankful for in your life?  Have you told them?  If not, take a few moments and tell them.  It doesn’t have to be in a blog.  Maybe it’s on your Facebook status.  Maybe it’s a text message.  Better yet maybe a handwritten note.  Give them a phone call.  Whatever you do, don’t let the sun set without telling someone that you are thankful for them.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving.  Y’all be well.

It’s Basketball Season

     For the past several years I have had the grandiose idea of journaling during the season of basketball.  I am a JV head coach and Varsity assistant at Trask High School in Rocky Point, and I thought the idea of putting down on paper what was going on during the season would be fun, if but to no one but myself.  However, as good as my intentions were, I never seemed to get around to writing one word. 

     Then I started blogging, and I thought to myself, “Why don’t you just blog about the team and that way you’ll have a bit of a journal for the season?”  Sounded good to me, so here I am. 

     This is my 6th year as a head coach.  I had one year as a middle school coach and this is year five for me as a JV head coach.  I know it’s not the same as being a Varsity head coach, but not working at the high school severely dampens my chances to be one.  Nevertheless I love the kids, basketball and coaching and am grateful for the oppotunity that I have. 

     This is my second stint at Trask working with the Junior Varsity.  This will be the third year of the second stint, and I am extremely excited about this year.  Rewind a bit to my first year (second stint) at Trask.  Before the season ever began I was diagnosed with kidney stones, and the season got off to a rocky start.  During one stretch I missed 5 games and I don’t know how many practices.  Tons.  More than I ever had in all of my previous years combined.  Our team struggled because of it.  We finished 3-16 that year, not exactly an accomplishment to hang your hat on.  I will say that after Christmas and the removal of the stones we improved vastly.  The following year we had almost all of our players back, I was healthy, the kids had grown physically and fundamentally, and we were poised to make some noise.  We did pretty well, going 14-8 overall, and 8-4 in our conference, good enough for a second place finish.  We dropped some games we shouldn’t have, and played in some games we had no business playing in.  All in all it was a successful year, but all of last year’s players save one are gone now, headed up to the big Varsity. 

     So, that’s where we are.  During the summer workouts, I really worried that this year was going to be a difficult year.  I had no idea if there’d be any talent, or even enough players to fill a roster.  I can say emphatically that I am blown away by this group of 14 players right now.  There is so much more talent than I ever, ever thought we’d have.  Overall we have good work ethic and the kids are excited about playing basketball. 

     Our first game is December 3rd at home against Topsail.  Nothing like starting your season with a county rival, and a good one at that.  It will be a good test for us to see where we’re at right now.  As I told the kids at practice Saturday, we’re not going to focus on wins and losses.  We’re going to focus on playing good, hard, fundamental basketball and doing things the right way.  If we play hard, smart and together then the wins will take care of themself.  There’s still a tremendous amount of work to do.  More defenses to put in, inbounds plays to put in, offensive sets to run through a thousand more times.  Despite this, I have a bounce in my step and an excitedness about this season.  If we focus on getting better, staying together as a team and working hard this should be a great ride.  I can’t wait to see where we’ll go!

This is Serious Business…

Ok, so I will admit firsthand I am not the smartest guy in the world.  I admit I am not the most political guy in the world.  I sure as heck admit that I don’t “get” everything that happens globally, nationally, or locally and much of what’s been discussed during this time of the year is over my head, due in part to the spin that’s put on it.  However, there is one thing that I am absolutely positive of.  We, the United States of America, cannot afford to have Barack Obama as the next president of the our country. 

Now I know that if you’ve made up your mind to vote for Obama, I’m probably not going to change it.  That’s fine.  Please, just read what I have to say and take it into consideration. 

Recently I read a piece of literature by Dr. James Dobson.  I urge you to link over and read it.  In case you don’t, I will highlight a few of the key points. 

1.  “During the “Saddleback Forum” on Aug. 16, Sens. Obama and McCain fielded questions from the Saddleback Church pastor Rick Warren. Senator McCain gave very solid and encouraging answers to questions about the sanctity of life and the institution of marriage, whereas Senator Obama came down at the other end of the argument.

You will recall the following interchange during the forum:

Pastor Rick Warren: “At what point does a baby get human rights, in your view?”

Senator Obama: “…Answering that question with specificity, you know, is, uh, is, above my pay grade.”

With all due respect, Senator, if this question is above your pay grade, then so is the job attached to it.”

2.  The longer the campaign continues, the more concerned I have become with Barack Obama’s liberal views.  Certainly, he is an attractive and very charismatic candidate who has embarked on a campaign of historical proportions.  However, the majority of his policies represent the antithesis of principles I hold dear.  Senator Obama’s record is more liberal than that of any other Democrat in the Senate — and that’s saying something! For example, when he was a state senator in Illinois, he voted four times in three years against legislation that would have saved the lives of babies that managed to survive the abortion process.  The U.S. Senate subsequently passed similar legislation called The Born-Alive Infant Protection Act by unanimous consent.   (Obama was not a U.S. Senator at the time.) State Senator Obama was chairman of the committee that opposed this protection of babies, and in 2001 and 2002 was the only legislator who rose to argue against the Illinois Born Alive Act.  That is an undeniable fact! 

3.  To further underscore Senator Obama’s radical devotion to abortion rights, he has promised that “the first thing I’d do as president” would be to sign the Freedom of Choice Act.  The FOCA is a devastating piece of legislation that would overturn nearly every local, state, and federal anti-abortion law passed in the last 40 years.  In fact, it’s so broadly written that legal analysts suggest the bill may prevent institutions and physicians from refusing to provide abortion services by invoking the conscience clause.

Earlier this year, while talking about sex education and abortion, the Senator said the following: “I’ve got two daughters, 9 years old and 6 years old. I am going to teach them first of all about values and morals.  But if they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”  In other words, a pre-born baby is viewed as a form of punishment, and can therefore be murdered in the name of convenience.

4.  Large portions of the agenda promoted by homosexual activists will also be enacted. The implications for a federal hate crimes law are clear. People speaking against homosexuality have already been prosecuted under hate crimes laws both in the United States and abroad. If a federal hate crimes law passes, there will be little to prevent the government from endeavoring to control and curtail religious speech, especially from the pulpit. It is entirely possible that a pastor could be charged with inducing a federal hate crime simply by preaching from one of the many biblical passages that address homosexuality.

Congressional Democrats will also seek to pass the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, meaning businesses will be forced to accept and condone homosexuality — and possibly transgenderism — in making employment decisions. Further, business owners, including religious businesses, will not be able to make hiring and firing decisions based on their religious convictions. Earlier this year, Senator Barack Obama said, “I will place the weight of my administration behind the enactment of the Matthew Shepherd Act to outlaw hate crimes and a fully inclusive Employment Nondiscrimination Act.”

5.  Finally, I am deeply concerned about the tax and spend policies Senator Obama will impose on the American people if he is elected, especially in light of the current financial crisis. This is not the time to be taking money out of the economy, yet, he has proposed enormous new federal programs and entitlements that will cost multiple billions of dollars. These initiatives cannot be effected without huge increases in taxation on businesses, which will be passed on to the public and to individual families. This will almost certainly require a return of the odious marriage penalty tax that plagued families for 32 years!

All of the above comments from 1-5 are from Dr. Dobson’s focusaction.org website.  I added nothing to them, nor did I take anything away from them.  I am simply putting them out there for you to read, interpret and meditate on.  I believe this is a very critical and pivotal time for our country, and there are, believe it or not, issues that weigh heavier than the economy and healthcare.  The morals and values on which our country was founded should not, and cannot, be pushed to the back burner.  Please pray carefully and cautiously before you make a decision on who to cast your vote for. 

One disclaimer:  I have friends that have already voted for Barack Obama and friends that I know will vote for him.  I have friends who are openly gay.  I have friends who have had abortions.  Do I hate any of these people?  No.  I am not bashing them, or anyone else with this post.  I am not even bashing Obama.  I am simply saying I believe in something so deeply that I want facts displayed that are not being talked about in the media.  Thanks for reading.

Y’all be well.

A Fresh Start…Sort Of

So today started the beginning of a brand new school year.  That is one of the absolute joys of teaching; every August you get a fresh start, a new group of kids, and sometimes, particularly in my case, a new team partner(s).  I usually get pretty excited about a new year, and this year is no different.

However, as is the case with all jobs, the rain does fall when the sun doesn’t shine.  How poetic huh?  I didn’t think so either.

So anyway, after Day One, I thought I’d jot down a few of the highlights of the day, both pros and cons.

1.  I really think I am going to love working with my new team partners.  Holly and Jodi are great, and they’re Carolina fans, which is even better!

2.  Being on a 3-man team is going to be a lot of work.  Teaching only math and writing is great, but 3 classes of math instead of 2 means one more set of everything.

3.  Our county rents copiers.  The school buys a certain number of copies.  If we go over the allotment, it costs us money.  This year, we’re going to have a copy card individually and we’ll have a set number of copies.  When you’ve used your copies, they’re gone!  Since our math book is absolute crap, I fear I might have a dilemma.  Anybody have a cheap copier they want to sell me?

4.  Our 4th grade team is a very, very cool team, with lots of experience and great people.  I love my team!

5.  There is a very good possibility that our teachers will have no, wait, NO!!!!, planning period on Fridays for 20 weeks out of a 36 week school year.  Anybody other than me out there think this is completely ABSURD?????!!!!!

6.  We have a new principal this year, but she’s been our AP the last 3 years, so it’s been a smooth transition thus far.  So far so good.

7.  I forgot to add some files to my flash drive at the end of last year, and they wiped our server this summer, so guess what?  Yep, you guessed right.  I can’t believe I did that.

8.  There’s a heckuva lotta work left to do before the kids walk in next Tuesday.  Y’all pray for my wife, she’s gonna need it!

That’s it for now.  Y’all be well.

Remembering the Past

Pastor Ron began a new series today at The Rock entitled “Make a Difference”.  This series will usher in our 20th anniversary as a church in a few weeks.  Pastor Ron spent most of the sermon telling everyone why and how the church began and reliving moments that had defined the congregation.  He told stories of what people had done for each other in the church.  He told stories of people who had arrived on the first Sunday back in 1988.  He told the triumphs and what we had accomplished, how much of a difference we have made in the community and in the lives of people in the greater Wilmington area as well as people literally worldwide. 

While he was speaking I came up with a quote.  (It may have been God who came up with it, or maybe He just inspired me to think it, I’m not sure). 

“The only reason we should remember the past is to catapult us into the future.”

I thought about this quote a few times and thought, “I should write this down.”  I figured it was pretty simple and I could remember it without making note of it, but I finally persuaded myself to write it down.  I kept thinking about the quote during church, hearing my pastor speak of all the great things our church has been through, and even some of the not-so-great things.  It was great to relive some of those memories.  Some of the stories he told were about my family, so it was extremely personal and momentous to hear that.  However, that quote just rang in my head.

  “The only reason we should remember the past is to catapult us into the future.”

So many times people live in the past.  The good old days.  They relive what has happened with no thought as to what can still happen.  You see it all the time in sports.  You see it all the time at your job.  Unfortunately, you see it all the time in church.  If we only sang the same songs, if only so and so were still on staff, if we only this and only that, and before you know they have “if only-ed” themself into a rut.  So many times it seems that rut eventually turns into a grave.

I firmly believe that we should use the past to encourage, energize, enthuse, motivate, inspire, and excite us about what the future holds.  When we think of great things that have happened, that should give us hope that we can build on those things.  We should be reminded of what we have believed and in and what we were founded on and it should want us to impact the future in a way we never imagined.  As I heard of all the great stories Pastor Ron shared today, it made me excited about what the next 20 years hold for The Rock.  There are so many lives to be touched, lives to be changed, and we are the catalyst for the future.  That future is right now!

Notice that my quote doesn’t say “push us into the future” or “guide us into the future”.  The word catapult means to launch, shoot, hurl, leap, and move quickly.   When I think of something being catapulted I imagine it moving at lightning speed, focused and ready to hit what it was aimed at. 

Rockers that are reading this, let’s challenge each other.  While we celebrate and remember the great things God has done in our church and city the last 20 years, let’s let it light a fire in us to do so much more, and allow God to do so much more, in the next 20 years.  Let’s have visions and dreams that are so crazy that without God, there is NO stinkin’ way it can be accomplished.  Allow the remembrances to “catapult us into the future” so that we can truly “Make a Difference.”

Y’all be well.

The Title

This post is in reference to Mr. John Fuller, who wanted to know the title of the book Herman bought in my blog entitled “The Money Blog.” 

The title of Herman’s book to help him on the election is Presidential Elections: And Other Cool Facts (Paperback).  It’s available at Barnes and Noble and also at Amazon.com. 

Herman Buys a Book

Helen, a good friend of mine, wanted to know what kind of book Herman was buying at B&N.  I guess this somehow would affect her choice of what he was doing with the money.  Ok, for the record, Herman is buying a book on how to vote in the upcoming election.  No word from Herman yet if the book helped him make a decision.

The Money Blog

Ok, I promised it, and so now I deliver.  This is, as the title implies, a blog about money.

There are so many things that we can do with our money.  Let’s think of a few.  We can:  invest it, spend it, waste it, and, well, that about sums it up.  I believe that our actions with money fall into one of these three categories.  Now, I’m not going to spend a lot of characters telling you which thing falls into which category.  You’re all smart people.  I’m also not going to argue about certain things either falling under the spend or waste category.  Different actions apply differently to different people.  However, let’s take a quiz and see how you rate the following ways money is used.  Ready?  Begin below.

1.  Christie Brinkley’s husband spends several thousand dollars a month on porn.  Is he investing, spending or wasting his money?

2.  You give a tithe, or tenth, of your income to your local church.  Are you investing, spending or wasting?

3.  Charles Barkley goes to Las Vegas and drops $10,000 gambling the night away.  Is he investing, spending or wasting?

4.  A teacher goes to the local school supply store and spends $200 on needs for her classroom and students.  Is she investing, spending, or wasting?

5.  John goes to the local cable company to pay the bill.  His bill gives him internet access, two digital boxes, a DVR, and all of the digital tiers, including HBO, Showtime, Skinemax, and the like.  Is he investing, spending or wasting?

6.  Cindy puts away $100 a month for her baby’s education.  Is she investing, spending or wasting?

7.  You go to Target and spend the government’s minimum required limit of $200.  Included in your cart was laundry detergent, cleaning supplies, printer ink, wrapping paper, a shirt that you had to have, and a DVD from 1997.  Are you investing, spending or wasting?

8.  Herman goes to Barnes and Noble and buys a book.  Is he investing, spending or wasting?

Now, for several of these questions there can be more than one answer.  For some, there is absolutely NO argument.  I know, I’m not some genius for posting this blog.  Nothing really revelatory is being posted here.  Not a lot of “cutting edge” info here is there?  Here’s what I want to leave you with though.  While it’s ok to waste some money, and ok to spend money, and ok to invest money, we need to be mindful of what we’re doing and which category it falls into.  Get yourself on a written plan, aka a budget.  Make sure you are a good steward of money that’s been entrusted to your hands.  Make sure the needs of your family are being met before your selfish desires.

Money is one of my favorite subjects, and it’s only in the last few years I’ve really learned how to manage my money.  I’m still learning, but the one thing I’ve learned the most is money management is about 80% behavior and 20% head knowledge.  It really is all about being disciplined and habitual when it comes to money management. 

Be well.