These Unexpected Surprises: Sports and More Sports

I like basketball. A lot. However, I always have and always will have a certain dislike for sports, moreso than the average American male anyway. This has as much to do with experiences growing up as it does with the typical picture of athletic culture in America we see: a bunch of steroid-pumpers, gang-bangers, uber-macho men who complain about getting paid 15 million instead of 30 million to play a game, with men getting so involved and attached to this environment it affects other areas of their life such as work and family. Seen it before, and will see it again. This kind of fanatic obsession is responsible for too many absent fathers, absent from their families, communities, and churches. And this is exactly why I avoided it for so many years, except for the occasional Super Bowl or Summer Olympics maybe. It doesn't help that I'm not athletically built at all; can't run, jump, shoot, bat, kick, block, hit, or slide. No matter how hard I try, I end up an exhausted, blistering, sweaty, sobbing mess. Sure, with practice and exercise I could do a somewhat decent job. But that doesn't change the fact I've tried telling myself for a long time now.

My step-dad is one of those sports fanatic obsessives; for several years I lived in a very sports-saturated environment, learning (a few, not all) sports concepts, styles of play, terms, teams and histories, etc. All very helpful and crucial information for striking out on your own and succeeding in life. I went to a few basketball games before moving, and played some serious bowling during the high school years. But after moving out on my own, I realized other things are more important, and gradually lost interest, becoming numb to the whole sports world and maybe even being one of the four North American residents who didn't watch the Super Bowl one year. Then I moved to Iowa, got married, started a family, started college, and other things kept piling up to the point where sports just didn't factor in at all. And that was fine with me.

Yet, I just can't help myself. For about a year now, probably more, I've been kind of into it. Not all sports, just some. Pretty much just professional football and basketball, the good ol' NFL and NBA. I find it ironic that those are the sports I latch onto, after complaining above and for years previous about all the over-paid, over-drugged, over-arrogant players and fanatics out there. Regardless, I think it all started with moving out to Iowa and suddenly being surrounded by a family full of angry, beer-drinking, psychologically-unbalanced Pittsburgh Steelers fans. And then they won the Super Bowl, and it was all downhill from there.

But the NFL has not grabbed my attention like the NBA has. Even more gang-bangers and complainers than the NFL, go figure, but I can't explain it. Maybe it's because I used to play some basketball, and by "play" I mean shoot around in the driveway and take a class at the community center (scrimmages were my favorite). Maybe it's because I love the fast-paced energy, the teamwork, the last-second desperation shots, the essential balance between offense and defense. Not that other sports don't have those factors, but it seems basketball requires all of those on another level, all at the same time, by every player on the team at all times in order to win. Maybe it's because I grew up around Portland, OR, home of the Portland Trail Blazers, and also home to some of the most loyal and supportive fans in professional sports.

Now, I've seen how involved someone can become with sports, or just being competitive in general (it really is a guy thing), but I'm going to do as much as possible to prevent that from happening to me, God help me. I don't really like watching football a whole lot, but just enjoy following the season and teams online, and maybe watch some Steelers' games here and there and the Super Bowl event. Following the NBA is pretty similar; it's a lot easier to follow everything online, as it doesn't interrupt family time or stall homework that much. But, I did force my wife to watch a little of a recent Boston Celtics-Cleveland Cavaliers game, and that was quite the experience; that one Lebron James guy is fun to watch. I can definitely see myself watching a lot more NBA on the T.V., especially Blazers' games someday. Especially if they stop getting injured, get their teamwork down, and can start beating teams like the Washington Wizards by more than two points. To sum up, I will say this: I will be very disappointed if I'm living in Iowa without even basic cable and this is the season the Blazers somehow, miraculously make it all the way to the NBA Finals and win it all. Very disappointed.

That Strong Support: A Help-mate and Cheerleader

This specific post is dedicated to my beautiful, thoughtful, hard-working and amazing wife.

Like I've said before, in previous posts, these last few months have been very challenging, tiring, and downright stressful at times. We had one of the worst winters on record in Iowa and couldn't go outside except to forage for what little food remained; had numerous bouts of sickness and ear infections and flu-like symptoms; continued on with school work and a full time job; and tried to keep up with two fast-growing boys, all cooped up in a "cozy" house. And with us keeping spending under firm control, and having started a combination diet and exercise routine (at least one of us has; guess who), there has been no lack of difficult times this last year or so.

But through it all, my strong, supportive wife has made it so much easier to get through and deal with it all. Knowing that she is at home, taking care of our boys and our humble home, fills me with such an amazing sense of peace, knowing that things have been taken care of or will be. Coming home on lunch break, or after work's all done for the day, is an equally amazing feeling, and something I look forward to each and every day. Even if we just get to see each other for a few minutes before I have to leave after lunch break is over, or if I have to start on homework for the night, it's very refreshing to see her and spend even a few minutes with her.

Just today, she spend her morning at home packing up the boys in the van, driving to Starbucks then to my work, all to bring me a coffee and breakfast sandwich. She went out just for me, to bring me something that I only shared a couple bites of with her (!). It was such a treat, after a long week at work, to get to see my wife and sons on my first break at work, instead of having to wait a few more hours to see them again that day. Truly amazing.

When I have a lot of homework to do (and I usually do), she understands and will make sure I can use the computer as early as possible at night so I can get started. When I can't change my work schedule so I can be home to help her get a chore or errand done, she gets it done anyway. When I leave work on lunch break, and have a short amount of time in which to drive home through traffic, eat, and spend time with her and the boys, she makes sure to have food ready for right when I park in the driveway. Because of her, we get to eat together as a family each and every night.

Because of her, I'm reminded each and every day of why I work odd hours and why I take such difficult college classes and why I stay up late each night doing homework. Because of her I have the peace of mind knowing that our boys are in the best possible hands each and every moment of the day. Because of her I can be reminded of how, through all the storms, trials, and problems that come our way, we can continue the race set before us, sacrifice now, work hard, and enjoy the fruits of this season for years to come.

Thank you, for all that you do and all you will do,

-your husband



"An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels."
-Proverbs 31:10 (ESV)

The Strange Calm: Quiet Assurance and Loving Fellowship

I'm going on a writing spree, and it's quite enjoyable. Yet with a spring term of five classes starting up now, plus the usual other responsibilities, I wonder how long I'll be able to keep going. Sure, I could write something short and brief, with a picture or two, but I sincerely doubt that would satisfy the desire to write, and I would likely not be able to say too terribly much, at least not as much as I normally do. Still, it's a desire I do have, and want to make good practice at, so I know I will try to accomplish some writing over the next few months.

Today we had an interesting day, filled with sickness and runny noses (and a certain someone dropping the ball care- and comfort-wise for these sickies; go ahead and guess who, I don't mind); some rain early in the morning; then capped off with our church small group, our Acts 2:42 group. While it can be seen to take up some valuable family-together time, I have truly come to value the prayer time, discussions, and fellowship. We've been with pretty much the same group for a long, long time now, and have really grown a lot together over the months. Sometimes though, I feel like a great thought pops up in my mind, I blurt it out and try to explain what I'm thinking, and I end up rambling on and on and on to no real point. It's sometimes been difficult, painfully so, for me to share thoughts in my head, and put the words together as fast as they form in my head. I wish I could explain things better, because it's quite frustrating. Sometimes, you have to realize there's a time for silence; but at times I just have a hard time realizing that. With my side story done now, our group is truly amazing, made up of folks who strive to learn the Word and grow more like Christ with all their heart, soul, strength and mind. We laugh a lot, cry sometimes, and eat too much, but I always come away refreshed and strengthened by these amazing brothers and sisters of mine.

The thing I like most about the group is that we've gotten to the point where we can truly open up to each other, share real concerns and issues, ask for help and prayer, and discuss sometimes confusing but always enriching topics from sermons and the Word. For instance, tonight we talked about the sections in Exodus and Romans concerning the hardening of pharaoh's heart, and our Father's role in it. It's a very hard concept to grasp, and even harder to accept, yet we can achieve such a deeper, more meaningful understanding of the Father's power and purposes through it all. We were all disappointed to find out our pastor decided to just glaze over the subject this week, and cover the topic more in depth over the coming weeks; therefore we found ourselves discussing the subject without a firm understanding of the entire issue and relevant passages (a fact which didn't stop me from rambling on and on and on; read above paragraph for an explanation). I've researched it a tiny bit before, but not nearly as much as necessary I would say, so I am very much looking forward to discussing this subject further, and then sharing the results. This could easily turn into another post or two, but we will have to wait and see.

For soon the storms arise again. Spring term classes begin today, and I am not looking forward to more late nights of homework (although I am happy about not having any accounting homework; it's the little victories...). I'm sure some classes will be harder than others, and harder than some I've taken already, even when taking into account 13-page accounting finals and ten-page direct marketing team projects. And I'm sure some classes will be comparatively easy; at least, I hope so. Again with the having to wait and see. Even with all this work ahead of me, along with all the normal responsibilities of career, marriage, and fatherhood, I find myself surprisingly calm before it all begins. Granted, I still have concerns and worries, but nothing like what I've experienced before, in other stressful and trying times. Especially after our group discussions tonight, when there was so much talk and so much emphasis on the supremacy of our Father over all and in the midst of all that we do, see, think, and endure. It is reassuring to know and to be reminded that the Master Potter truly is supreme over all, and that His very Son, Jesus Christ, was sent to redeem His own creation.



"Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?" 
-Matthew 6:26-27 (ESV)



"There's a peace I've come to know,
though my heart and flesh may fail.
There's an anchor for my soul;
I can say it is well.
Jesus has overcome,
and the grave is overwhelmed.
The victory is won,
He is risen from the dead."
-It Is Well (Sixsteps Worship)

The Crushing Burden: Deliverance, Remedies, Substitutions

Here is the text of a Puritan prayer that was shared at church recently, and which can be found in this book Valley of Vision, edited by Arthur G. Bennett. Normally I'm not one for poetry, but it's growing on me, and this particular poem is a large reason for that.


O God of unsearchable greatness.
Before Thee I am nothing but vanity, iniquity, perishing;
sin has forfeited thy favour,
stripped me of thy image,
banished me from thy presence,
exposed me to the curse of thy law.


I cannot deliver myself, and am in despair.
But a resource is found in thee,
for without my desert or desire,
thou didst devise an everlasting plan,
honourable to thy perfections,
and which angels desired to look into.


And the Word which announces all the glory of this goodness
is nigh me, invites me, beseeches me.
May I, a convinced and self-despairing sinner,
find Jesus as the power unto salvation,
His death the centre of all relief,
the source of all gospel-blessings.


Help me to repair to that cross,
be crucified to the world by it,
and in it find deepest humiliation,
motives to patience and self-denial,
grace for active benevolence.
faith to grasp eternal life,
hope to lift up my head,
love to bind me forever
to Him who died and rose for me.


May His shed blood make me
more thankful for thy mercies,
more humble under thy correction,
more zealous in thy service,
more watchful against temptation,
more contented in my circumstances,
more useful to others.

That Steady Strength: Encouragement, Sacrifices, and Discipline

I realize that every time I write on here I somehow mention the need to write more and to write more often, and three months since my last attempt is downright pitiful, especially for someone who enjoys writing so much. I get online nearly every single night, and think enough thoughts and experience enough experiences during the day where I should be able to come up with even a short couple paragraphs of "nothing new, going to bed, look at this quote." With this disclaimer in place, I must add a disclaimer to the disclaimer: time is precious, and could best be spent elsewhere.

Since this last September or so, I have been both working full-time and taking a full-time college class load online for a business degree. Since this last July, we have had another crazy little boy to take care of, in addition to the boy added the September before that, and the wife added the September before that. To sum up these additions, time is precious, and there are multiple responsibilities that must be met on a daily basis. Time management was lost on me in high school and my first college experience way back when, and I have had to learn the skill through trial and error. You can sleep in late each morning, but then you don't have time with the family before you leave for work at noon. You can go right to bed when you get home from work at 9pm, but then you lose that essential quality time with your wife. You can watch television or surf the internet all night, but then you wouldn't have any time to get all that homework done. Responsibilities must always be met, and priorities must be set, with the discipline to stick it out, make sacrifices when necessary, and endure, sometimes painfully but always slowly, until one responsibility ends. And ideally you won't need more than one guess as to which responsibility comes first.

I would honestly like nothing more than to work a regular shift, come home and spend a few hours with the boys and then the wife, then spend some time reading or writing before going to bed before 2am (on a good night). However, we don't have the luxury of voiding out one of these responsibilities; although we technically could, the costs would be far too high. This is a season of our lives that calls for sacrifice and increased responsibilities, to make up for time lost (or wasted) so that the future can be that much brighter, not just for us, but for our kids, our family, and those around us.

I say all that to say that it's actually not too bad right now; the work schedule seems to allow the best possible balance between work, family, and school responsibilities. I have never really felt overwhelmed by it all; the classwork isn't too terribly difficult, the work is relatively easy and with a good company for a good wage, and the family is a joy and encouragement I can't begin to describe. Yet, things could get hairy these next couple of months: it's a busy season at work, with it getting close to the end of the fiscal year and needing to meet year-end goals; I'm taking an additional class for a total of five (corporate finance, insurance & risk management, business law II, managerial communication, and e-management); I'll be completing an internship through my employer to meet a graduation requirement for school; and spring is so, so very close and we all can't wait to spend as much time outside as possible. Regardless of how many responsibilities there are, or how difficult or trying they are, this season too shall pass, the sacrifices will lessen, and the investment will be paying off.

We have a lot to be thankful for, with all this going on. I am able to attend a high-quality business school for little (but still substantial) out-of-pocket expense; we have been greatly blessed with the job I have right now; bills are paid, some money is being saved, we have a lot of diet food in the house; and we all are healthy, if not depressed with the long, cold winter we've been enduring. I think I will be writing another post on thankfulness soon, seeing as I have free time before classes start 03/08/10 and the subject is so crucial to living in our high-debt, high-pressure society of today. I might even be able to include some examples from folks I have talked with at work. We shall see.

Until next time, which will be sooner rather than later if all goes according to plan, here are some wise words to ponder on:





"He who tills his land will have plenty of bread,
but he who pursues worthless things lacks sense."
-Proverbs 12:11 (NASB)




Let him who would enjoy a good future waste none of his present.
-Roger Babson