West Cocoa Chat

Since several of you asked me to give you a report on my son who is playing high school baseball with respect to my prayer request a few posts ago, here’s the update.

God steered us to a hitting instructor named Chris who owns a business called “Core Baseball.” I spoke with Chris on the phone last week and I was amazed at how he described Steven with respect to his hitting slump even though he had never seen him. He said I bet your son is used to being successful in the hitting department but now he doubts his own abilities. He conjectured that Steven was probably a bit worried that others were having success at the plate while he was meeting with frustration. That close description was enough to peek my interest so we met with Chris at his home this past Saturday.

Chris spent the first 30 minutes just talking with Steven. He told him that hitting was like life, everything must be in balance emotionally, physically, and spiritually. He then worked with him on a hitting tee and discovered one flaw in this swing. When Steven applied the correction the results were almost instantaneous, line drives into the middle of the net. It’s a good feeling as a parent when you see your son have confidence return to him.

BTW, for some of you, this was the best part – he refused to take any money! He said he loves the game so much that he loves helping others become more successful. We’re going to go back to Chris tomorrow after our workday at the ball field.

Something that impressed me was Chris teaching Steven that everyone needs a “slump swing.” He told Steven every hitter goes through a slump. He said his slump swing is his same swing minus any of his shoulder tapping with the bat as well as his “trigger.” He told Steven that when he was in a slump, he didn’t want to do anything in the box except step in and load the bat, then see the ball and hit it. As his swing came back he would gradually add his normal routine.

This kind of reminded me of Randy Lowry’s statement (relayed to me by Greg, owner of Chipper) about churches and “conflict:” “Churches are always in 3 states, in conflict, coming out of conflict, or getting ready to go through conflict.” Maybe ministers and elders need a “slump swing” when it comes to their flocks?

Back to Steven – We had one game this week. He didn’t start but did come in during the 4th inning. He came to bat in the 6th inning; the score was 0 to 0 with a runner on first. The coach signaled a “swinging bunt” which he almost pulled off but the ball went foul. With 2 strikes he hit a line drive (the coach said it was the hardest hit ball of the game) but unfortunately it was right at the first baseman. Still, I consider that a good sign since we weren’t making any contact earlier.

So there you have it sports / interested in my son fans. Thanks for your prayers. Have a good weekend.

One of the interesting aspects of teaching children is the “things they say” or as Art Linkletter used to say, “Kids say the “darn-dest” things.” For your enjoyment I thought I’d post some of these “darn-dest things” some of our students have said or written.

The first comes from one of our Language Arts Teachers who was giving a Vocabulary Test and had instructed her students to not leave anything blank. Here are some of their “guesses:”

8th grade definitions:

mutinous: (a.k.a “moo” tinous) means a “cow”

benign: to be “9”

motif: a reason why you did something

infuse: when you are looking for the breaker box

anecdote: a cure for everything that is bothering you

Next up, an “open notes quiz” from one of our science teachers. This teacher gave the question, “Describe the Reproductive System” as part of a homework assignment that was to be put in their notes. She then asked this question on an “open notes quiz.” It was obvious as to which students had not done their homework based on the following “unedited responses:”

Question: Describe the Reproductive System.

· The reproductive system is part of the diegestive system. After you digest the food the things that are not used come out in the reproductive system as waste.

· The reproductive system consist of mammals and insects. Spiders can produce large amounts of eggs, which a person only has one egg, but can have more than one child.

· The reproductive system has to include male and female contact. The egg is the "home" of the newborn child.

· It's used to produce of spring.

· It is when you form eggs and they become babies.

Which ones are your favorite responses? Did you have trouble finding anything wrong with these responses?

Have a good day family.

On the way to work this morning I heard the attached passage on our local country (102.7 Hitkicker) music station. The ironic thing is that I don’t normally listen to country music but I am a male and I was doing the radio version of channel surfing. I think you’ll find this exchange between Richard Reid (the notorious shoe bomber) and Judge William Young interesting.

Remember the guy who got on a plane with a bomb built into his shoe and tried to light it? Did you know his trial is over? Did you know he was sentenced? Did you see/hear any of the judge’s comments on TV or Radio? Didn't think so. Everyone should hear what the judge had to say.

Ruling by Judge William Young, US District Court. Prior to sentencing, the Judge asked the defendant if he had anything to say. His response: After admitting his guilt to the court for the record, Reid also admitted his "allegiance to Osama bin Laden, to Islam, and to the religion of Allah," defiantly stating, "I think I will not apologize for my actions," and told the court "I am at war with your country."

Judge Young then delivered the statement quoted below: January 30, 2003, United States vs. Reid. Judge Young:

"Mr. Richard C. Reid, hearken now to the sentence the Court imposes upon you. On counts 1, 5 and 6 the Court sentences you to life in prison in the custody of the United States Attorney General.

On counts 2, 3, 4 and 7, the Court sentences you to 20 years in prison on each count, the sentence on each count to run consecutively. (That's 80 years.)

On count 8 the Court sentences you to the mandatory 30 years again, to be served consecutively to the 80 years just imposed. The Court imposes upon you for each of the eight counts a fine of $250,000 that's an aggregate fine of $2 million.

The Court accepts the government's recommendation with respect to restitution and orders restitution in the amount of $298.17 to Andre Bousquet and $5,784 to American Airlines. The Court imposes upon you an $800 special assessment. The Court imposes upon you five years supervised release simply because the law requires it. But the life sentences are real life sentences so I need go no further.

This is the sentence that is provided for by our statutes. It is a fair and just sentence. It is a righteous sentence. Now, let me explain this to you. We are not afraid of you or any of your terrorist co-conspirators, Mr. Reid. We are Americans. We have been through the fire before. There is too much war talk here and I say that to every-one with the utmost respect.

Here in this court, we deal with individuals as individuals and care for individuals as individuals. As human beings, we reach out for justice. You are not an enemy combatant. You are a terrorist. You are not a soldier in any war. You are a terrorist. To give you that reference, to call you a soldier, gives you far too much stature.

Whether the officers of government do it or your attorney does it, or if you think you are a soldier. You are not----- you are a terrorist. And we do not negotiate with terrorists. We do not meet with terrorists. We do not sign documents with terrorists. We hunt them down one by one and bring them to justice. So war talk is way out of line in this court.

You are a big fellow. But you are not that big. You're no warrior. I've known warriors. You are a terrorist. A species of criminal that is guilty of multiple attempted murders. In a very real sense, State Trooper Santiago had it right when you first were taken off that plane and into custody and you wondered where the press and the TV crews were, and he said: "You're no big deal."

You are no big deal. What your able counsel and what the equally able United States attorneys have grappled with and what I have as honestly as I know how tried to grapple with, is why you did something so horrific. What was it that led you here to this courtroom today? I have listened respectfully to what you have to say. And I ask you to search your heart and ask yourself what sort of unfathomable hate led you to do what you are guilty and admit you are guilty of doing? And, I have an answer for you. It may not satisfy you, but as I search this entire record, it comes as close to understanding as I know.

It seems to me you hate the one thing that to us is most precious. You hate our freedom. Our individual freedom. Our individual freedom to live as we choose, to come and go as we choose, to believe or not believe as we individually choose. Here, in this society, the very wind carries freedom. It carries it everywhere from sea to shining sea. It is because we prize individual freedom so much that you are here in this beautiful courtroom. So that everyone can see, truly see, that justice is administered fairly, individually, and discretely. It is for freedom's sake that your lawyers are striving so vigorously on your behalf, have filed appeals, will go on in their representation of you before other judges.

We Americans are all about freedom. Because we all know that the way we treat you, Mr. Reid, is the measure of our own liberties. Make no mistake though. It is yet true that we will bare any burden; pay any price, to preserve our freedoms. Look around this courtroom. Mark it well. The world is not going to long remember what you or I say here. The day after tomorrow, it will be forgotten, but this, however, will long endure. Here in this courtroom and courtrooms all across America, the American people will gather to see that justice, individual justice, justice, not war, individual justice is in fact being done.

The very President of the United States through his officers will have to come into courtrooms and lay out evidence on which specific matters can be judged and juries of citizens will gather to sit and judge that evidence democratically, to mold and shape and refine our sense of justice.

See that flag, Mr. Reid? That's the flag of the United States of America. That flag will fly there long after this is all forgotten. That flag stands for freedom. And it always will.

Mr. Custody Officer. Stand him down. "

It has been said that America was founded on “Christian Values.” I’m sure that there are many who would either deny or ascribe to the belief that America has forgotten it’s Christian heritage and to some extend I would agree. Perhaps in this exchange we’ve been reminded of (my opinion) one of those “Christian Values,” “freedom.”

In our country we are free which give us the “right” to live by those Christian Values or not. Just as it is between us and God. We are “free-willed agents” who have the freedom to accept or deny the Lordship of Jesus Christ which puts a huge void between Christianity and most other world religions. Perhaps it is this freedom that we have between us and God that is the greatest evidence of God’s love for us?

http://www.thehitkicker.com/inspirations.html

The word “sick” can be used in a variety of ways. Take for instance its use with the word “tired,” “I’m “sick” and tired of you,” or (as I reported in a post last year about my son Steven) “Your son’s curve-ball is sick.” This past Monday I had a student in essence, tell me that I made him sick.

Now in some ways this is oxymoronic since I had this student last year in 7th grade and seeing that he has decided to take the 3 year tour of (our middle schools are 7th and 8th grade) our institution of “middle” learning, he’s back with me for his second shot of seventh grade. In fact, his tenure with me is longer than some preachers’ stay at some of our churches.

Any way, on Monday this student did not show up for my last hour class. Our attendance is taken on line so I summarily marked him absent. I did notice that he was only absent from my class and so I had decided that I would do some investigating once school ended. As fate would have it, I didn’t have to wait that long.

It had been a couple of minutes since the bus bell (my walkers / car riders / bike riders were waiting on the “walking bell”) had rung when our Dean appeared at my door with the student in question in tow. Our Dean said, “Cuz, (We’ve always called each other by that name since we found out that our mothers came from the same area of Kentucky and my mother’s maiden name was “Miracle” and his mother married a man by the same last name.) I found Joe (name has been changed to protect the slug, I mean innocent) in the halls on the bus bell. I know he is a walking student so I’m bringing him back to you.” I replied, “Oh no Cuz, you see Joe never came to class today, at all, period, end of report.” We both looked at Joe and asked him where he had been for almost an hour? He replied, “The restroom.” For an hour we asked? His reply, “I was sick, really sick.”

So there you have it. I can honestly say in my 26 year career that I have literally made some students “sick.” I sure hope you don’t have the same reaction when you read some of my posts.

BTW – Joe, he was suspended for one day which happens to be today. Perhaps the extended vacation will give him time to recover. Pray for Joe and pray that I don’t make any of my other students “sick.”

Have a good day family.

I have always been an advocate of small groups. When our church went to meeting in small groups last Spring, I was curious as to how our church would react to them? Now, I could say that they have been a huge success based on the fact we doubled our Sunday Night attendance. We tend to like numbers in the church when we’re talking about “successes.” But in this case I’m going to cite something much more important than mere numbers, pastoral care.

One of our members who is in a life group of mostly “senior saints,” recently had emergency (is there any other kind?) triple by-pass surgery. This brother lives a very simple life. His job meets his needs but unfortunately he will be unable to work for a while as he recovers. So there were needs to be met, bills to be paid, a small yard to be mowed, and some very basic “TLC” to be given. Can you see where this is going?

His Life Group immediately jumped in with both feet. They took up a collection among (sounds kind of “Act 2-ish”) themselves to help with his bills. One of the members mowed his yard and they are taking care of his meals and visiting this dear Brother.

If for no other reason, meeting in small groups multiplies the ministers’ hands and feet and gets people into doing what they should be doing anyway, “Body Ministry.”

Enough said, have a good day family.

It is hard to believe that I've written 200 of these things. Two years ago, if someone would have mentioned the word “blog,” I would have thought they were a misinformed “Star Trek The Next Generation” (threw that in for you Steve) fan mispronouncing “Borg.” I guess when it comes to blogging “resistance is futile.” Now on to my post.

This was relayed to me by our preacher and good friend, Don. Don has a nephew that worships with a small conservative Baptist church in our area. Their membership numbers around 50. Their church building now sits in a predominately African American neighborhood while most if not all their members are white. The decision was made to sell their building which just took place a couple of weeks ago. The buyers were the members of an African American Pentecostal Church. Two Sundays ago, the sellers and buyers decided to hold a joint service together to remember and honor the past as well as usher in the new future. It was here that the angst began.

According to Don’s nephew, they (white Baptist members) were worried about the joint service. It wasn’t that they had anything against the new buyers. They just knew that the Pentecostal folks were quite a bit more demonstrative during worship than they were. So some of the Baptist folks decided they would try to go outside their comfort zones during worship by trying to be a bit more extroverted themselves.

So Sunday came, two groups worshiping together, one Baptist, one Pentecostal, one black, one white and guess what happened? According to Don’s nephew, it quickly became apparent during worship that the white Baptist folks were much more vocal than usual. This was met by an almost placid African American Pentecostal group. For as much as the Baptist folks tried to amp it up, the Pentecostal folks were throttling back the stick on their worship so as to not offend the sellers!

How about that? I don’t know about you but other than the fact that the image is funny, I’m encouraged by the charity and collegiality both groups demonstrated towards each other.

Have a good week family.

Good morning blog family.

I have a prayer request for my son. He’s in a bit of hitting slump. His frustration level maxed out last night when he struck out twice with 2 outs and runners in scoring position. Steven is usually if any thing, a “contact hitter.”

I know this may sound like a frivolous prayer request but when you walk into your son’s bedroom and it’s apparent that this tough kid, who eats pain like I eat hamburgers, has been crying it just broke my heart. Now, I did give him the old “even Chipper (feel free to insert your favorite player) Jones goes into a slump / the best way to get out of a slump is just keep swinging the bat / you’ve hit the best pitching this State has to offer in the past / blah, blah” pep talk and we shared a moment of prayer with each other.

Still, I would like to request that if you remember and are so compelled (because in the face of the 5 year anniversary of 9/11 this pales in comparison) please remember my son, Steven, in your prayers.

Thanks family.

This past Sunday was one of those days when everything seem to click at Central. Well, except for my initial impression and it was due to me. My good friend who is teaching the “College Class” asked me to sub for him and I forgot. By the grace of God I happen to walk by the College Class and poke my head in to say “hello.” One of our “A.I.M. (Adventures In Missions) Girls” who is from Australia said to me, “Ce-ce, (the cute name she calls me if you think “Ce-ce” is a cute way to say “Cecil”) aren’t you teaching our class? I had to give her a “holy” “rut-row.” I had forgotten but being the professional educator that I am, I was able to wing it with the help of Paul and his Letter to the Ephesians.

My next task was to pick up a group of folks from Guatemala who have been visiting our church. One of our members who speaks Spanish rode with me which made me feel a little more at ease at making our guests feel at home. They were all very gracious for the bus ride back to Central.

Back at Central, the Lord continues to bless us with a wealth of visitors and mostly young families with kiddos. You know your church is alive when you can hear those crying, screaming babies. Our preacher, Don, likes to say that when a baby is crying during his sermon what they are doing is expressing their frustration at not being able to “amen” his sermon. Sounds like one of those preacher stories to me.

Our singing sounded especially good today. The folks that we’re giving a mic to, are really (did I mention my son is one of them) helping with our acapella service and as we all know, when an acapella service is good, it’s really good and when it’s bad, well, you know.

Time to digress – As I said in an earlier blog, I currently reading a book by Sarah Sumner entitled, “Men and Women In The Church.” She makes an interesting statement on page 97. She writes, “It’s true that more should be done to bring men back into church but I disagree sharply with Podles’s (Leon Podles – “The Church Impotent”) conclusion that men who are at church attend it because they want to be boys. The men in my class were men, not boys. They hated being less knowledgeable than their wives about the Bible. It irritated them to feel incompetent at church. I believe that’s why most men would rather play golf than go to church. Most men who are bad golfers would rather play bad golf than go to church.”

Her statement struck me between the eyes not that the fact that I’m a bad golfer has anything to do with it. I wonder if I’ve been in “church” so long that I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be a new Christian, especially a man who is a new Christian. Or to go a step farther, a man who hasn’t been discipled, baptized into Christ, and trying to live a transformed life. I wonder how we as “church leaders” address this problem of men, who are viewed by the world as leaders but who are intimated by their lack of Biblical knowledge or as Sumner indicates, may be intimidated by the fact that they have a wife who is farther along in her spiritual walk.

Just some food for thought my fellow bloggers. Have a happy Monday.

I pulled my post from last night to reflect on the events of 5 years ago. I was working on my weekly plans in my room as I was on a planning period. My next-door neighbor opened my door and told me to turn on my T.V. I turned it on just in time to see the second plane fly into the WTC. I think I was in sensory overload shock as my mind tried to comprehend what had just happened as well as all of it’s implications.

I knew one of the implications was going to affect my good friend Ray, (and now fellow elder) a full time Sgt. Major in the Florida National Guard. He would later leave his family to spend almost year defending this country and our freedom, fighting the Taliban and hunting for Osama Bin Laden in Afghanistan.

What I really remember about that day was the afternoon. My son was in 6th grade at the time and playing on the Pop Warner Football team that I was helping to coach. As we gathered for practice one of the parents asked us if we heard “that noise?” I remarked that I couldn’t hear anything and she pointed out that was what she was referring to in her question. Then it all became clear. Living near the Space Center and Patrick Air Force Base, we were accustom to hearing jets, planes, and helicopters in the air. There was an eerie silence as all aircraft were grounded as a result of the terrorists attack on our country. I'm glad our country didn't stay silent as we responded to the terrorists attacks on our country. As Christians, we must not remain silent as well as we have a message of hope and salvation that can see us even through the worst of times.

Don’t forget to remember the men and women who died that day in New York City, the Pentagon, and on the brave flight that crashed in Pennsylvania. May God bless America.

My son Steven played in his second game in a row tonight. The FHSAA (Florida High School Activities Association) changed the rules this year about high school baseball and the Fall. In the past, high school baseball players were only allowed to “condition” during the off-season. There was also a prohibition with respect to coaches coaching their players during the Fall as well. With the new rule changes, high school teams are now allowed to play a “Fall Schedule” if they register with an outside organization such as “A.A.U.” or “U.S.S.S.A.” which happens to be the organization our local high schools are using.

We played our dreaded rivals, the Rockledge Raiders last night. We won 12 to 0. Steven started and played the whole game at left-field and second base. Steven went 0 for 2 with a couple of walks, scoring 2 runs. He made a great play from leftfield, throwing out a runner at home plate. He said as he ran off the field our coach said, “Way to go “cannon.””

Tonight we beat Astronaut High School, 10 to 0. The coach allowed some other kids to start so he didn’t get into the game until the 4th inning. He walked and scored a run. He didn’t have any balls hit to him at 2nd.

Now, I know it’s only “Fall Ball” but to win 2 games by a combined score of 22 to 0 was quite impressive. Maybe this will translate in a big way when Spring comes? We’ll see.

As I close I would like to welcome a couple of new members to our blog family. First is Justin at “Hark, The Gourd Speaks at http://jmgregory.no-ip.info/blog/
Justin graduated from Lipscomb (a fellow grad Greg) and is now attending Vanderbilt. I know Justin and his family and they are great folks. Make sure you give “The Gourd” a “look / see.”

I would also like to welcome Joshua Stump and his blog, “Stumptown” at http://www.stumpedblog.blogspot.com/
Joshua is another “west coast” member of our blog family.

Have a great day my fellow bloggers.

(A little "rut-row" to Brady, Greg, and the Puckster for a couple of mistakes in first posting including "One Book you wish you had never written." Sorry fellows.)

Several weeks ago, Bill Williams at “Spiritual Oasis” tagged me. Please accept my apologies Bill that I’m just now getting around to it. I was always the slow kid when we played tag so why should the blogging version be any different.

Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life: “The Applause of Heaven” by Max Lucado. I still remember reading this book (recommended to me by Greg/Stoogelover) at 2am at Jetty Park on Cape Canaveral. I had taken a group of kids camping on the beachside campground from a summer program I was working at in the summers of the mid and late 80’s. I was struck by the grace filled pages written by one of “our” guys.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once: "It Doesn't Take A Hero" - General Norman H. Schwarzkopf.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island: “The Complete Guide to Building Shelters, Finding Water, Finding Food, and Not Making a Volleyball Your Best Friend.”

4. One book that made you laugh: “Elvis Is Dead And I Don’t Feel So Good Myself” by Lewis Grizzard.

5. One book that made you cry: “Schindler’s List” by Thomas Keneally

6. One book you wish had been written: “How To Disagree In The Church Without Breaking Relationships.”

7. One book you wish had never been written: All those stinking grammar books.

8. One book you are currently reading: “Men And Women In The Church” by Sarah Sumner

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read: “Purpose Driven Church” by Rick Warren.

SonQuest was a great experience. Not one time did I have to hunt down a “stray” in the massive “Omni Rosen Hotel” during SonQuest. They were always were they needed to be according to our schedule. A couple of our kids are dealing with issues at home and several times, our kids put their arms around them, hugged them, and prayed with them.

Now, how about them “Noles?” For the second year in a row, FSU pulled out another 3 point win, 13 – 10, over the dreaded Miami Hurricanes! Gary Cismesia exercised the ghosts of all of the FSU kickers that added their names to the infamous roll of “Wide Right” or “Wide Left” by kicking the game winning field gold for FSU.

Makes me want to kick into a chorus of:
You got to fight, fight, fight for FSU!

You got to scalp 'em Seminoles!

You got to win, win, win, win this game andRoll on down to make those goals!

For FSU is on the warpath now,and at the battle's end she's great.

So fight, fight, fight for victory,the Seminoles of Florida State!

F-L-O-R-I-D-A......S-T-A-T-EFLORIDA STATE!! FLORIDA STATE!! FLORIDA STATE!!Woooooooooooooooo!!!!(Repeat)

Have a good day my fellow bloggers.

I had one of those fleeting "Dad / son" experiences yesterday. I say "fleeting" because Steven is a Junior in high school and I'm getting old and out of shape. We took a little time to play some one on one yesterday. As for the outcome let's just say that Steven's theme song today should be "Grease is the (in light of Team USA losing to Greece this morning in the World Championships Semifinals) Word." I had a few moments (between wheezes) of glory but not many. The boy is too fast and strong (and I’m way too slow) to go around anymore but I was still able to back him down and shoot some turnarounds and a “West Cocoa style sky-hook.” Nevertheless, when all was said and done, son won – Dad lost, son’s shirt was dry – Dad’s was soaking wet, and son ran into the house to brag to Mom while dad limped his way back inside. Ah, the joys of those quality father/son times.

Speaking of father/son times, I’m driving our church bus after school today with about 35 of our teens to a huge youth event in Orlando (http://www.sonquest.com/) called “SonQuest.” Yes, it will be quality time (and lack of sleep) with my son and about two or three thousand of his teen compadres.

Have a good and “restful” weekend my blogging family.