Dressing For Success At The IHOP

 Dressing For Success At The IHOP

Hard to believe nine years has passed! This is from December 24, 2015.

I'm in Edmond, Oklahoma as we speak. Sally, Dave, and I made the two hour drive this morning to the home of Zach and Haley and Bennett and Deacon. Tomorrow, Ben and Courtney and Jenson and Bo will get here from Courtney's folks' home. As soon as we arrived, Zach and Dave took off for the golf course. Since I don't play, it's a good time to write my devotional. I'm sitting with Deacon who turns six in February. He's playing some video game having to do with ninja warriors. Bennett is trying to set up Siri on Sally's phone. Haley is doing odds and ends.  

Last night in Wichita, we ate at IHOP. Dave and I got there first and then Sally came in from her last day of work before Christmas. We were on our way to Bible study immediately after supper so I was dressed to go. If you are a regular reader, you know Sally has had a tremendous impact on my life, especially in the way I dress. I trust her implicitly and listen to her carefully. Last night's lesson was about my casual versus dress-up mindset. Sally made the point that I dress nicely for school (I do) and Sunday (I do again wearing suits) but I drop down to jeans and t-shirt/tennis shoes on Wednesday night. She asked what I wear to school concerts- same as Wednesday night. She then asked what other guys wear to those events- no idea. Sally told me I need to get some long sleeve sports shirts for those in between occasions and she suggested something like Polo brand, maybe from Dillard's. And in between bites of double blueberry pancakes, I listened. And when we got home from the Wednesday night devotional, I googled long sleeve sports shirts.

As always, what Sally says to me matters even if it isn't something I had considered before. I have never doubted she has my best interests at heart and she never shies away from things I need to hear. In the book of Ruth, we're told Boaz has standing in the community of Bethlehem- people admired and respected him. Sally has standing with me. And she is right; I need a sense of moderation in my life. I tend to go to extremes like a pendulum and seldom rest in the middle. I'm not always sure what is appropriate attire. Sally affords another set of trusted eyes to give me a different vantage point in parts of my life where blind spots predominate. I know this much- I at least know who to trust and I'm blessed with more than one Sally in various aspects of my existence. As Solomon put it in Proverbs 19:20, 
Listen to advice and accept discipline,
 and at the end you will be counted among the wise.
That's what I want for Christmas this year- wisdom. Last night, wisdom came to me wrapped in pancake batter and blueberry syrup at a Wichita IHOP. Merry Christmas and I hope Santa brings each of you your own version of my sister-in-law this holiday season!

Applicable quote of the day:
"Looking good isn't self-importance; it's self-respect."
—Charles Hix

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Not Even A Mouse

 Not Even A Mouse

We had our annual Board of Directors party two days ago- it was awesome! The following, from December 19, 2006, is about a gift I took to the Christmas party that year.

We had our faculty-staff Christmas party this afternoon at Westbury Christian School. By tradition, it is held during first semester finals when our school day concludes at 1:00 PM. Our board of directors serves an Italian catered meal and words of praise for the job we are doing. (I can't neglect the envelope with the TARGET gift card, either!) It's an enjoyable time where we sit down as a school family for the first time since inservice in August. A relaxing moment during the hectic days of exams is welcomed, especially when combined with the public pronouncement that we, as a group, are making a difference in the lives of children. Part of the program each year is a gift exchange. We are instructed to bring a wrapped present, (or in my case, a gift bag in which I received a tie) worth a minimum of $5.00. We play a game where we pass the presents to the right, left, or to the person across from us based on the words in a Christmas story read by school president, Robert McCloy. I don't much like party games but this one is fun. After being temporarily in possession of perhaps twenty-five items while the game progressed, I ended up with a pumpkin-scented candle. That was fine. My big dilemma was what to bring as a gift. I hate shopping and I have no idea what others might like to take home from the party. Yesterday, I had a brainstorm. When I purchased my Dell Computer last spring, it included a mouse as part of the package. Since I already had a nice model which functions without a roller ball, that Dell mouse sat unused on my desk for nine months. What a perfect solution! The mouse would retail for more than five dollars, it was certainly practical, and I didn't have to make an additional trip to the store! I have no idea who ended up with the mouse. My hope is that it came to rest with a worthy family who will give it the love it never found in Apartment #3329. I never even named it.

Yesterday, I gave my traditional Christmas presents to the new players on my middle school girls' basketball team. As always, the gifts were One Year Bibles from Tyndale Publishing. Divided into three-hundred-sixty-five readings, these Bibles allow one to read through the scriptures in a calendar year at a manageable pace. But each Bible has much in common with that mouse which found a new home this afternoon. If it sits on the desk unused, it has no value. If it is never plugged into the life of the young lady, it might as well contain blank sheets of paper. Its effectiveness will never be based on the contents but on the holder of the pages. I gave the book but God gave the words of life inscribed between the covers. In the coming twelve months, those One Year Bibles can produce life altering changes in a bunch of teenage girls...or just end up being swapped in some gift exchange next December. I made that pretty difficult by personalizing each of them with a note. There was a positive sign today; I saw Chelsea carrying hers in the hall after finals. Chelsea will give the Bible a good home. I am confident it will make a home in her heart.

Applicable quote of the day:

"Do give books- religious or otherwise- for Christmas. They're never fattening, seldom sinful, and permanently personal."

Lenore Hershey

God bless,

Steve

Luke 18:1

Candles And Christmas And Angels And Anniversaries

 

Candles And Christmas And Angels And Anniversaries

A once in a lifetime memory for me! This is from December 25, 2015.

Merry Christmas 2015 from Edmond, Oklahoma! Santa came and Bennett and Deacon are excited although we had a minor crash on the mini bike that was delivered overnight. We have been watching Meagan open Christmas presents with one of her babies in Africa- AFRICA! Haley is cooking a breakfast casserole and Ben and Courtney with their two will get here later. It's an idyllic scene but without snow....yet. We are all watching the weather which is supposed to take a nasty turn for the worse necessitating a return to Kansas tomorrow instead of Sunday. If any Christmas Day is typical, this one is shaping up as one.

Today was also the anniversary for our parents. Roger Hawley and Nelda Chesshir were married on a Christmas night which was on a Sunday that year after evening services in a little church building outside Nashville, Arkansas. When we were growing up, I never paid any attention to Mom's and Dad's special day because of presents and food and well, it's Christmas! Funny, on her big day, Mom was busy cooking and organizing instead of celebrating her marriage. But that's a small detail when you are a little boy. 

Last night, we did something I don't think anyone in our family group had ever done before- we went to a Christmas Eve service. It was held at the Memorial Road Church of Christ here in Edmond, where Zach and Haley are members along with their boys. There were many who came for the 6 PM gathering. It was very simple. The scriptures telling of the birth of Jesus from the gospels of Matthew and Luke were read, interspersed with the singing of every hymn dealing with the birth of the Savior. I was touched by the beauty of the singing as well as the simplicity of the story around which every bit of history has revolved. I was touched by the beauty of the hymns and intrigued how many mentioned Bethlehem. There was very little comment- very little was required. At the end, all of the congregants lit candles to commemorate the light coming into a dark world. The auditorium glowed and truthfully, so did I. Hopefully, it's a new Hawley tradition.

I teach about the birth of Jesus in depth to roughly 100 kids each year. What's funny is that I can teach about it without really thinking about it. Last night, I thought about it. For example, I thought about the angels! Amazing how many of those carols speak about the role of angels which, of course, is a vital one in this riveting play. I needed that service to tie together why we are out of school and away from basketball; why I drive 1300 miles round trip; why I give and receive gifts; why I was so excited as a little boy in Nebraska. I needed to be reminded of how and especially why the light appeared and made His dwelling among us. Ashamedly, sometimes I have a disconnect just like with my parents' anniversary. Sometimes I need to light a candle. Sometimes, at least for me, probably means on a regular schedule. Well, I'm done confessing for the day. Merry Christmas and Happy Anniversary in memoriam, Mom and Dad. I'll do better next year!

Applicable quote of the day:
“You can never truly enjoy Christmas until you can look up into the Father’s face and tell him you have received his Christmas gift.” 
John R. Rice 

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The 12:47 Conundrum

 

The 12:47 Conundrum

 

This entry about driving is from December 20, 2020!

,
As I neared Wichita, I changed the desired destination to the tennis courts where Dave would be teaching lessons, replacing Dave and Sally's home address, but it would have been almost identical without the switch. I arrived at the Dave Hawley Tennis Complex at Wichita Collegiate School at 2:47 PM or two hours after predicted. Imagine showing up two hours late for work. I tell my students you call employees who are always late..... unemployed. Good thing it wasn't a job interview! 

Of course, I knew there was there was no way I would get to my resting spot in the time frame named by my GARMIN and truthfully, I didn't want to. I told Dave I would be there between 2-3 PM so it would have messed up several schedules to be early. As always, little things came between me and the original ETA. For example, the GARMIN can't predict red lights during the first several miles from my living quarters or lanes on the Interstate being shut down due to short term construction. Also, the device cannot forecast the weather so a heavy rain band slowed me to 40 MPH for a good while between Huntsville and Dallas. Plus, fatigue caused me to sleep at a rest stop and pull off the highway to buy coffee causing more slow downs. GARMIN can't predict sleep patterns apparently. So, I was very comfortable and satisfied to end my journey when I did. As usual, it worked out in a timely manner.

Like many of you, I don't like waiting. I want my prayers answered now. I want my players to improve today. I want my students to grasp the Biblical truths the moment they are presented. But we aren't promised a timetable. No life is perfectly smooth and it might not be good for us if it was. We are promised that God hears us and loves us. We get there, wherever there is, when it is best for us and when it falls into His will. Jesus says in John 7:6 that, , "The right time for me has not yet come. Any time is right for you." (Good News Translation) My guess is that my personal ETA for my life wishes/goals is always earlier on the calendar than our Father's. Maybe that's why we say Father Knows Best. Maybe that's why we call it Father Time.

Applicable quote of  the day: 
Time is a dressmaker specializing in alterations. 
Faith Baldwin

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Talk

 The Talk

We tested recently in my high school Gospels classes and the topic was the Sermon on the Mount. One point I made was that Jesus taught the sanctity of marriage, a teaching sorely needed in the world today.  The following, from February 28, 2007, recalls a meeting I had with my junior high basketball players about the opposite gender and life.

We didn't play much basketball this morning in practice. Instead, I took the girls back into our high school locker room and talked. In recent days, situations that have come to my attention made me feel it was time for a heart-to-heart with my group of sixth-seventh-eighth graders. It was a one way conversation. I made them sit in front of me and spent most of the period talking about growing up and the choices they make. Our school stresses abstinence while the culture pushes promiscuity, on both the male and female persuasions. While society tries to convince our youth that very early sexual activity is normal and acceptable, I made the case for purity. The girls tend to be in love with being in love. In my sixth period Bible class, four of my players sit side-by-side and cover their daily quizzes with multi-colored hearts with markers brought specifically for decoration. It is so innocent and very funny. These kids are starting to like boys and boys are starting to like them and therein lies the problem. They think like girls and don't quite comprehend the teenage boy perspective on romance...so I told them. I told them if a junior high boy says, "I love you," he's lying or at least deluded. If a boy at your age wants to kiss you, it isn't because he necessarily likes you: he just finds you reasonably attractive. If a boy wants to put his hands all over you, it isn't a compliment: he is being disrespectful and he won't like you more if you let him. I told them my grandmother was sexually active at fifteen....but she was married to my grandfather. I told them the way I always knew I liked a girl was if I wasn't even thinking about the physical stuff: just being around her was enough. I talked of the dreams their folks have for them and the sacrifices being made for these young ladies to go to college. I talked about God's plan and his timetable and that He planned for the physical relationship to be saved and reserved for the person you spend your life with, your marriage partner. It was good. The older kids were more clued in than the younger ones who are still a year or so away. I know these are good girls from wonderful homes and I know they hear this message from their folks. Sometimes, they need to hear it from somebody they don't call Mom or Dad. That was my honor today. 

Applicable quote of the day, #1:
"If love is the answer, could you rephrase the question?"
Lily Tomlin 

Applicable quote of the day, #2:
"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle."
Amy Bloom


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

For Your Consideration......

 

For Your Consideration......

 

I actually saw these two the past two days! I saw Hayden at worship services and Ella yesterday picking up her sister! This is from December 17, 2020.

I often get inspiration for this devotional blog from my students and that is the case this evening. My subjects will be Hayden and Ella who are in my third and fifth period classes, respectively, but that has nothing to do with the story. Hayden is a junior and Ella a sophomore but that is window dressing to the tale. There is a characteristic linking them and  that's what I want  to address.

I've known Hayden since she was a very young child. When she was in second grade, she told me she would one day be my assistant coach. Well, next year as a senior, she will join our squad first period for our daily practice sessions in that role. This year, Hayden is an aide in the Upper School office during that time slot. On Monday, she asked if she could come Tuesday and help us in basketball as things were slow in the office. I was delighted but forgot about it. Yesterday morning as we began practice, Hayden came into the gym and apologized to me- something had come up in the office and her services were needed there. Like I mentioned, I had forgotten. She would try again today and indeed, she was there this AM and made our practice a better one, helping instruct the younger girls.

That brings us to Ella. Each morning, right after our practice and during home room, I do the all school devotional on the intercom, reading the Word and leading us in prayer. As soon as I conclude my spiritual remarks, I add, 'And now, the lovely Ella with the announcements!' Ella does a masterful job, telling us of anything special in the school day that is still in its infancy. Last night, Shara Carr, our Upper School Administrative Assistant, and I received an e-mail from Ella. The gist of the message was an apology- she had an appointment and would miss the first several periods of the day, thus missing her daily assignment, which she does gratis. Ella was upset that she had neglected to inform us ahead of time BUT she did let me know she would be back for our New Testament test sixth period. Do you know how many other teens would have gone to those lengths? Well, Hayden for one but the list is extremely short. And guess who we got to play the role of Ella for that one home room on the loud speaker? Hayden, of course. It seems so symmetrical to me.

  

If you ask why I've made a big deal of two small interactions, it's just because most of us don't make a big effort for situations we think aren't all that important. That separates Hayden and Ella from most of the population. We always study the Parable of the Great Banquet from Luke 14  where a rich master becomes furious when invited guests, whom we assume have accepted, just don't show up for the lavish feast. I try to define RSVP as best I can from the original French which I don't speak. I tell them it basically means to show up if you say you are coming. (I'm no linguist!) Sure, there were other theological points made by Jesus but remember this: those who were inconsiderate didn't get into the shindig. Obviously, their lack of manners was not the focus of Jesus' teaching but they acted in an unbecoming manner. Hayden and Ella would never have stooped that low- their parental upbringings would not let them. To consider means to think about something. In this case, Ella and Hayden thought about others before they thought about themselves. I can't think of a better definition of the Golden Rule.

 

Applicable quote of the day:
One who is kind is sympathetic and gentle with others. He is considerate of others' feelings and courteous in his behavior. He has a helpful nature. Kindness pardons others' weaknesses and faults. Kindness is extended to all - to the aged and the young, to animals, to those low of station as well as the high.

 Ezra Taft Benson

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Bold And The Dutiful

 

The Bold And The Dutiful

I put off my shopping because I'm a last minute kind of guy. One of my biggest dilemmas of the season comes when I have to decide how to use my holiday gift cards. The following is about one of my excursions to the store, taken from May 29, 2006.

As promised, I will update you on my excursion to Foley's. A refresher; one of our seniors at Westbury Christian bestowed $50 Foley's Gift Cards on a number of teachers at graduation Friday night. Like me, Sam Ruiz, one of our Spanish teachers and coaches, was the recipient of this kind gesture. We decided to spend our Memorial Day morning using our new found wealth. Sam thought he would buy shoes. I KNEW I would buy shirts and dress pants or just shirts. He was wrong and I was correct. Sam purchased a $45 bottle of cologne by Lacoste. His rationale was that he would use the card on something he would never buy for himself which is what he did. My thinking followed different logic. I always need dress shirts. Once, I heard a celebrity remark that he preferred wearing dress shirts and it wasn't a dress shirt if it didn't have long sleeves. I adopted his philosophy with the addendum that they must have buttoned down collars. That is my wardrobe, along with khaki pants, when I teach. I like variety in my shirts, as long as they are solid white or blue. I take the occasional pin stripe but solid colors are preferable. My students give me ties; solid white and pale blue oxford shirts go with any tie imaginable. Actually, I was a bit daring with my gift card. My $50 allowed me to take home a white dress shirt AND a white shirt with a small, blue check pattern. Truthfully, I overspent my limit by 87 cents but Sam had more than a dollar remaining on his so he relinquished his leftover plastic change. Sam and I do share one trait- fast shopping. We were in and out of Foley's in fifteen minutes.

Our trip to the clothing store illustrates the difference in Sam and myself. He is more adventuresome and I am hopelessly cautious. He and his wife, Julie, travel the world in the summers- Italy, Spain, Australia, etc. I leave the US only for mission trips. Sam goes to midnight movies while I go to bed early so I can get up at 3:15 AM to lift weights. Although I have never asked him, I think Sam admires my discipline in using time. I admire his sense of being open to whatever comes up. It takes both kinds, doesn't it? I keep telling myself I'm going to be more flexible...and I mean it. Sam keeps telling me he intends to get in the weight room on a regular basis...and he, too, is serious. My sermon yesterday was from Luke 11, about praying and acting with boldness- that has never been easy for me. My favorite commercial is the Jack-in-the Box spot where at a staff meeting, Jack encourages his employees to open up and share bold thoughts with everyone. One guy blurts out to the shocked group that Jack's head is ''FREAKISHLY LARGE!'' While those around the table catch their breath, the man next to the confessor coughs out under his hand, "Too bold, Stan!" I doubt I will hear, "Too bold, Steve!" often in my life. But, the next gift card might find me following Viri Maldonado's suggestion and buying dress shoes to replace mine that are split from side-to-side on the bottom. On second thought, I can get them for half the price at Wal-Mart. Never mind: this is going to require baby steps!

Applicable quote of the day:

"Fortune befriends the bold."

John Dryden

God bless,

Steve

Luke 18:1