Frosty...But Not The Snowman

We made it through Christmas and New Years is just hours away! One thing I love about the holidays is Christmas music and one song you hear repeatedly is Frosty The Snowman, an all-time classic. Well, this is about Frosty, but not that one. The guy at the top of the page is Frosty Westering, the best football coach most folks have never heard of. Westering coached at Pacific Lutheran in California for thirty-two years, four times winning national titles and four times finishing as runner up on the smaller levels of college football. His coaching methods were unorthodox but successful, turning players into champions but more importantly, making men out of boys. (To read a fascinating recap of his coaching life penned upon his death, click or copy/paste the link below.
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/44702352/)

My first awareness of Frosty Westering came like many things in my life from Don Meyer, a basketball coach equally revered by those who know the game. Over the course of fifteen summers, I would work at Don's legendary summer basketball camps at Lipscomb University in Nashville, Tennessee. Meyer, a voracious reader, recommended a book authored by Westering entitled Make The Big Time Where You Are. Of course, I ordered it as soon as I returned from camp. The lady in the bookstore at Pacific Lutheran knew exactly why I was on the line- she said the only reason she'd get out-of-state calls was from coaches like me ordering Big Time. When it came, I devoured it. The book wasn't very long and it was a motivational read, with lots of practical advice that young coaches would find beneficial. I loaned my copy to an unnamed coach who forgot to return it but I was blessed by reading it. Better that someone ends up with a book than it just ends up gathering dust.

I  can't say I recall many specifics about this piece of literature. If you want a synopsis, read the quote of the day. What I do remember is the solid wisdom that we can be content and productive wherever we are. Life doesn't end up like we imagine. I knew coming out of high school I would play for the Boston Celtics- one day of college practice convinced me otherwise. My backup plan was to get my PhD  and be the head of the UCLA history department by my mid thirties. One year of teaching middle and high school kids showed me that was my calling. We all, or maybe most of us, grow up wanting to be famous but that rarely happens. If everybody is famous, is anyone really famous? But one thing that has stayed with me from Frosty Westering is that doing your best/being your best/making a difference in the lives of others is not tied into the location of our service. I tell  my students that I think it's fascinating that Jesus used Capernaum as His base of operations and John the Baptist preached out in the wilderness. To my way of thinking, the logical choice for both would have been Jerusalem but my way of thinking isn't the Lord's. Interesting that both Frosty Westering and Don Meyer carved out spheres of influence far from the glare of Sports Illustrated and ESPN. They changed lives and changed a generation of coaches while never seeking the spotlight their gifts deserved. As we tip toe into 2018, I see postings of resolutions with goals of new jobs or circumstances or locations. Those are admirable but maybe we're already where we need to be. Maybe God has big plans for us right where we are. Contentment in our environment can lead to transformed lives for those we seek to influence as well as ourselves. And the big time is within the grasp of each of us. 

Applicable quote of the day:
The big time is not a place; it's the state of your heart. It's not something you get; it's something you become.
Frosty Westering

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Scent Of A Spa

I'm a week into my holiday trip to Kansas. The first six days were spent at Dave and Sally's home with their kiddos. Since then, I've moved several miles from there to spend the rest of my time with Scott and Karen and two of their kids. It's a perfect set up for me- as soon as one family gets tired of me, I switch families! My sisters-in-law take good care of me and I am very grateful for that! I opened Christmas presents last Saturday with Dave and Sally's group and will do so tonight with Scott and Karen and company. It also happens to be Scott's birthday so a little bit extra in the present department for him! I've got all of my shopping done so I'm ready to give which we know is more blessed than receiving but I don't mind that part at all. Maybe I'll let you know what Santa delivered to me in future blogs!

I've got the Christmas shopping down to a science with almost everyone in my family. For example, I always buy my niece, Karis, what she really likes- a gift card from the Fresh Spa Market. Karen and I think this may be the sixth or seventh year in a row I've entered that establishment to purchase my gift. Two things I can count on during this venture. One is that I'll be the only guy on the premises. The second is that it always smells great in its confines. As the nice lady at the counter prepared my order, I told her to write KARIS in the recipient line. Her response was the same as always- 'we love Karis!' I concurred! As I took the gift bag from the woman, I complimented her on the fragrance associated with this place. I found her reply very funny and probably very accurate:
We have the best smelling trash in town!
When I walked out the door into the car where Dave was waiting, I was still laughing and told him I might have just received a blog idea. I never know where they come from. I'm betting on the Lord!

Sweet smelling trash- that's a novel concept! We associate garbage with foul odors for good reason but in this case, it isn't true. When even the refuse is aromatic, what a blessing. There are people we know like that- that even on their worst days, they bring joy and make a place or situation better. I've had players and students and colleagues on both sides of that equation. You love to see them coming or you dread their approach. What does it say about us if others pray we don't cross their path? Or what does it say about us if they pray we do? Paul talks about believers being an aroma but that can always be perceived in more than one way. Am I an aroma of life or death, of sweetness or bitterness? Of a flower bed or a dumpster reeking of decay? It's my choice and it has nothing to do with the cologne I'm likely to receive under the tree. Good smells compel us while foul smells repel us. I pray the scent we give off is a magnet pulling the lost in our direction much as a magnet attracts metal. And praise God for delectable dumpsters!

Applicable quote of the day: 
If you want someone to miss you, go secretly and spray your fragrance somewhere. 
Blake Lively

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Weights And Measures

Mission trips have their own issues for me in terms of packing, a skill I have never acquired. Weight limits are also an issue for me as you can see in this post from June 27, 2010.

In less than thirty-six hours, I will be headed to China and I have quite a ways to go to be ready. Yesterday, I bought something that I have never purchased in my life; bathroom scales. On previous trips, I've borrowed the scales from our school nurse's office but our nurse is not around this summer. Continental Airlines limits its passengers to two fifty pound suitcases and the only way to be sure is to weigh them beforehand. It's not accurate to just put the bags on the scale. You have to weigh yourself and then re-weigh yourself holding the suitcase. This morning, after breakfast, I weighed myself. I weighed myself again this evening after worship. Guess what? I lost almost six pounds in twelve hours! At this rate, I will lose all my body weight in thirty days or so! On the other hand, if I weighed myself for the first time tonight and then again tomorrow after breakfast, I would have gained six pounds so from that perspective, my weight would double in a month! What's a guy to do?

Do you over evaluate yourself at times? I'm not weight conscious but I've coached girls long enough to know that many females are. I could see where it would drive you crazy weighing yourself at different times in the course of a day and observe the fluctuations. Last week, I drove to Oklahoma for the wedding of my nephew, Ben. It was the first time I had driven my Honda Fit out of town and it still had less than 1000 miles when I began. I reset the MPG feature when I left my apartment. Thirty miles down I45, I was getting 49.1 miles per gallon! I was incredulous! Nobody gets that kind of mileage and intellectually, I knew it could not stay at that level. Still, I was elated each time it went up by .1 and frantic each time it declined by .1. I even turned the air conditioner off to milk it for every tenth possible but it never went higher than 49.1. By the time I reached Henryetta, Oklahoma, it had settled to only 42.1. When I say only, I am being facetious- that is phenomenal mileage! I just wish I could have sustained the 49 mpg. It was the best of times!

It doesn't always take much to affect our mood...or our spiritual self esteem. One comment or frown or you fill-in-the-blank can knock us off stride. I admit that I sometimes run my life the way I check the mileage reader on my car. The Scriptures teach us to test ourselves and evaluate ourselves but I doubt it means every five seconds. When we do, we become focused on readouts instead of the enjoyment of the journey. We'll go up and down in life but the Lord understands, When we are headed in the right direction, we can still have a flat tire or run out of gas. We tend to beat ourselves up so much at times that the devil doesn't have to land many blows himself. It's like coaching- some kids shy away from shooting if they miss a shot in a basketball game but the next one might go in! I know this; when I get back from China, I plan on putting the scale away until the next plane ride. But, I don't know about the mileage reader in my Honda; I was so close to 50! We all have an obsession.

Applicable quote of the day:

"The second day of a diet is always easier than the first. By the second day, you're always off of it.''

Jackie Gleason

God bless,

Steve
Luke 18:1

http://www.hawleybooks.com/

E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Delisa's Test

All teachers have kids who are special to them and those who coach have players in the same mold. Ten years ago, our valedictorian was the lovely Delisa Somoye. Delisa played middle school basketball for me and was crowned Miss Black Teenage Houston a number of years later in conjunction with Martin Luther King Day. On top of all that, Delisa is one of the finest students I have ever taught.....and I have taught quite a few. We just  finished our finals and that brought this young lady to mind who I referenced. The following is an entry from after I graded her final in my sophomore Bible class. The date of the first printing was May 23, 2006.

 This was Day Two for semester finals at Westbury Christian. Yesterday, we met periods one, four, and seven. Tomorrow's exams are third and sixth periods as well as a time for makeup tests. Today, we tested in second, fifth, and eighth periods. Those slots happen to be my sophomore Life of Christ classes. I teach sixty-five sophomores so I have sixty-five semester tests to correct. I've mentioned that I forgo scan-tron, or electronically graded tests, and use the old fashioned, typed variety. Each exam is eight-and-one-half pages and I need to have them graded, recorded, and sent to be entered into the master Gradequick system by tomorrow afternoon. Assuming I grade one page per thirty seconds, I am looking at four hours of checking for mistakes on this set of papers, let alone an eighth grade exam I will administer in the morning. All this leads me to Delisa Somoye. Delisa is in my fifth period and one of the finest students I have ever had the pleasure of teaching. She was the recipient this Spring of the Academic Award for tenth grade Bible. Delisa has taken nineteen tests from me this year, including two final exams. If not mistaken, she has only missed one question COMBINED in all of those tests, two at the most. On all of the numerous memory verses we have written for grades, Delisa has not missed ONE POINT. Why do I mention Delisa? When I am forced to correct large numbers of papers in a short time, I speed through her tests. My assumption is this: she got it right anyway so I can save a few seconds. That gives me more time to be effective in grading the others' efforts. Basically, I don't scrutinize her examinations the way I would a B-C-D student. On their work, I take the position that they probably missed one or multiple questions so I have to be thorough in evaluating what they have put down on paper. I try to be honest with my students. When I told them that I don't grade each test equally, one of the kids replied, "The rich get richer!" He was probably right. However, I would submit the Delisa Somoyes of the academic world have earned that perk because of their diligence and would be upset at themselves for missing an answer, even if I overlooked it. In fifth period today, guess who was the final student of the twenty-two to finish the test? And, guess who, of all the sixty-five kids, was the only one to correctly bring to my attention that I included a question I had deleted on the review? The one and only Delisa Somoye. That is why she is my best student- she is more prepared than anybody else and it is borne out by her grades.

To me, evaluating Delisa a bit more casually is only logical and I believe, totally defensible. However, I am sure I do the same thing in evaluating others in life and I am not quite as comfortable with my stance on that. People I love are more likely to get a free pass on some issues while those who irritate me are held to a more demanding standard. Have you ever heard the adage that "pretty girls can get away with murder?" Substitute favorites or friends for the lovely young ladies and you have my equivalent. As a teacher, you have to be careful to be even-handed in the treatment of kids but the truth is, every teacher has students they would rather deal with than others. In the overwhelming majority of circumstances, it is based on behavior. Youngsters that are good citizens are just easier to like. It is interesting that Jesus was often very tough on those in his inner circle, particularly Peter. It might have been easy for him to rationalize the shortcomings of his dearest friends...but he didn't. There have been times when I felt that my superiors in school settings would not get on me if I needed it because they liked me. I am glad I might be lovable, but we all stand in need of correction at times. What do I predict Delisa made on her grade? I am in a gambling mood so, going out on a limb, I will venture to say.... 100%! I will let you know. In the meantime, if I get on your nerves, just pretend you love me and give me the Delisa treatment!

 Applicable quote of the day:
"Good tests killed flawed theories; we remain alive to guess again."
Karl Popper

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

The Interest

There aren't many good television shows- this one was a good one. This is from June 30, 2013. Several days ago, in one of the infrequent times when I check my voice mail, I found a message from our WCS middle school principal,  Casey Farris, asking me if I'd seen the new CBS show, Under The Dome. He said, and I quote, "That's your kind of show there, brother." WOW- I feel typecast by my administrator. But, he's right. It's exactly the type of television show I like- realistic with some science fiction and characters you can't quite decide on mixed in. Casey knew I was really caught up in NBC's The Event, which ended after one season and Revolution, which also is on NBC and which will begin its second year in the fall. I'll get to see one more episode of Under The Dome before my mission begins to Vietnam one week from today. It's based on a Stephen King novel where a small town on the east coast is suddenly and mysteriously cut off the world by an invisible force field. It promises to be an updated version of Lord Of The Flies with adults.

I do have a new favorite show that has some characteristics of the others. I've been watching it for about a year. My first viewing was last July on the flight from here to Moscow to Singapore to Saigon. They have screens where you can watch episodes of American shows and I found myself watching Person Of Interest. Do you know how I found out about the show? It was suggested to me by Casey's wife, Tammy, the head of our WCS math department. (You see a common thread here?) If you are a stranger to the drama, it's about a machine that can predict crimes based on the fact that we are recorded constantly by various means of surveillance. There are four main characters but the two who come into play most are Harold Finch, a reclusive billionaire who invented the machine after September 11, and John Reese, a former Special Forces/CIA operative who tries to prevent the next crime from occurring. Reese, played by Jim Caviezel who portrayed Jesus in The Passion Of the Christ, is almost super heroish in his fighting abilities. When the machine spits out the social security number of the person who the machine randomly spits out, Finch and Reese don't know if the heretofore stranger will be the victim or the perpetrator. I can't say I'm addicted to it yet but I will admit to having a very high level of, you guessed it, interest.

You know, with all this NSA stuff going on and the federal government increasingly spying on the citizens, the story lines in Person Of Interest seem plausible. (Just a side-note here but next Monday, I'll be in the Moscow airport where  accused NSA leaker Edward Snowden is allegedly laying low!) These headlines keep the news sites buzzing but being watched isn't new! From the beginning, we are told that our Father in Heaven, who never sleeps, keeps a watchful eye on His children. I like these two passages from the Psalms:
"The Lord will keep you from all harm--he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." 
Psalm 121:7, 8 
"I lay down and slept,  yet I woke up in safety, for the Lord was watching over me."
Psalm 3:5
in the Gospels, Jesus tells us that God knows how many hairs are on our heads and that the Father knows what we need before we ask Him! I could go on and on but you get the drift. Whether or not I'm under electronic surveillance or not in the physical realm absolutely will have no bearing in eternity. But the thought that I am a person of interest to the One who created the universe cannot be overstated. My steps are numbered and even when I fall on that path that His word is lighting for me, He knows. And He cares. And I am safe. There's no randomness in that protection.

Applicable quote of the day:
 "In the end, we're all alone and no one is coming to save you."
John Reese (Person Of Interest Episode : Mission Creep)

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Two Exits Too Far

It's easy to get off track and much harder to get back on. Sometimes, we are called to be the one to point the way back to the road to the wanderer. This is from June 22, 2010 as I drove to Ben and Courtney's wedding. 

It had to happen. I made it to Henryetta, Oklahoma for the wedding with no problem, following my printed MapQuest directions: 610 to I45 to US 75N to Indian Nation Turnpike into Henryetta. I had reverse directions printed but I did not look at them when I left Henryetta on Sunday afternoon. I should have. I guided my Honda Fit onto the Indian Nation Turnpike and stopped to pay at the one toll booth just like I did on the way up. But then, there was a second toll booth and a third. By #3, I knew I was in trouble. I asked the lady in the booth if I was on the way to Dallas by way of US 75 S. She told me I had missed the exit and my heart sank. I could see my self having to retrace my steps PLUS repay the tolls to get back to the correct exit. But the Lord must have sent this toll worker to rescue me. She told me I could simply get off at the next exit, only one hundred yards away, drive the thirty-one miles to the town of Atoka by way of State Highway 3 and reacquire 75S there. She was so reassuring and she even gave me a road map of the Great State Of Oklahoma! I thanked her profusely and began the corrective measures. Sure enough, thirty one miles later, I came to find Atoka and US 75 S and I was safe on my way home to Houston.

Do you ever feel you've lost your way and aren't sure how to get back on track? That's where I was on the Indian Nation Turnpike two days ago. I sort of knew where I was but I knew where I was wasn't where I needed to be and I required a guiding hand. Undoubtedly, the woman in the toll booth deals with dilemmas like mine on a daily basis but she took an interest in me and showed me what I could not see. I owe this lady I will never see again. In life, someone has probably blessed as that lady blessed me. Sometimes, we need somebody to tell us we're lost and nudge us back in the right direction. We can be the nudger ourselves although at times we tend to be more of the hammer. There's a reward, too, for guiding the wayward soul. James tells us in chapter 5, verses 19 and twenty that,
'My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.'
Don't we all know Christians who have left the straight and narrow and are reduced to wandering in the religious wasteland? They may be driving up to your spiritual toll booth at any moment, unannounced. Forty eight hours ago, that Oklahoma lady was prepared for me. Who am I prepared for?

Applicable quote of the day:
"Not until we are lost do we begin to understand ourselves.''
Henry David Thoreau

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

To Know Him Is To Like Him

Meagan and I talked tonight about how the view of kids towards Santa has changed, at least in my opinion. This is another change I've seen. It's from December 24, 2013.
I was talking to Sally how things have changed since I was little. There was much less mobility then- not nearly as many multiple car families. There was much less last minute shopping; stores had narrower operating hours, there were limited numbers of places to buy gifts in my small Nebraska home town, and gift cards- the patron saint of beleaguered shoppers- had yet to appear on the scene. We only had three television stations there on the Plains to entertain us. No VHS or DVD to watch new movies or old. No cell phones or messaging or texting or Internet or laptops or everyone with headphones stuck in their ears. I asked Sally how we got by. Her simple and yet historically accurate reply was, "We talked to each other." That's it. We existed in a world where if you wanted to know someone it took face to face interaction and not an online search. Don't get me wrong- I love the modern conveniences and being connected but there's something missing, I'm afraid. And the sad thing is I fear the latest generation does not realize there is something missing.

We (Dave, Zach, Ben, me) were on our way to an early morning coffee fix this AM when we passed a church close to their house. They have an attractive marquee flashing a number of messages to the passersby. I remember only one:
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK
I'm not sure why but it hit me kind of funny. Don't get me wrong- I like FACEBOOK. Currently, I have 3740 friends and I send this devotional out nightly to all of them, including many who live in Asia and non-Christians. On my mission trips, I send back nightly reports and up to the minute pictures of the work in China and/or Vietnam and it lets my friends feel like they are to some extent with me. On the other hand, I can honestly tell you that I don't know many of my  FACEBOOK friends. They are friends of friends of friends. Many of them would have to introduce themselves to me if they walked into the room right now and vice versa. I tell my students that I find it fascinating that demons recognized Jesus but His closest followers usually did not. Jesus also had this conversation/confrontation with the Pharisees in John 8 and verse 19:
Then they asked him, “Where is your father?” “You do not know me or my Father,” Jesus replied. “If you knew me, you would know my Father also.
The Pharisees knew who Jesus was but only in an adversarial sense. Knowing about someone is not knowing them. During this holiday season, it might make the world a better place if we simply listened closer, made a little eye contact, and maybe even go offline for a day or two and like Sally reminisced,  just talked to one another. Would we LIKE that? Merry Christmas to one and all from cold and snow covered Wichita, Kansas.

Applicable quote of the day:

"Josh will begin disappearing into a future where the only place he and I remain friends is on the Internet."
Jay Asher, The Future Of Us

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleyooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Personal Life: The Need For Solitude (A.W. Tozer)

Others say stuff much better than me. This is from January 17, 2013.
Each morning, I receive an e-mail devotional from biblegateway.com, an excerpt from the writings of theologian A.W. Tozer. My devotional last night was about the hymn Take Time To Be Holy and our need for quiet communion with the Lord. This morning's Tozer meditation says what I tried to say much more convincingly. Here it is:

And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there.—Matthew 14:23

Modern civilization is so complex as to make the devotional life all but impossible. It wears us out by multiplying distractions and beats us down by destroying our solitude, where otherwise we might drink and renew our strength before going out to face the world again.

"The thoughtful soul to solitude retires," said the poet of other and quieter times; but where is the solitude to which we can retire today? Science, which has provided men with certain material comforts, has robbed them of their souls by surrounding them with a world hostile to their existence. "Commune with your own heart upon your bed and be still" is a wise and healing counsel, but how can it be followed in this day of the newspaper, the telephone, the radio and the television? These modern playthings, like pet tiger cubs, have grown so large and dangerous that they threaten to devour us all. What was intended to be a blessing has become a positive curse. No spot is now safe from the world's intrusion. (Of God and Men, 125.)

Daily Prayer
"If Tozer wrestled with this in his day, how much more are we bombarded today! We have all the influences of which he speaks, and much more all-pervasive, plus the internet and a host of other 'playthings' seeking to devour us. Lord, help us somehow to escape today and retire to solitude, even if only for a brief time. Amen."

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Nate At Night

I'm blessed with many great relatives. This devotional from December 4, 2013 is about one of them.
On Thanksgiving evening, I saw Nathan in a whole new light. My nephew, the son of my brother Scott and sister-in-law Karen, Nathan graduated from Harding University last spring with a degree in psychology. He's the only baby I ever held on the day of birth and there is a picture somewhere to prove it although I am pretty sure he doesn't remember the event. At that time, Scott and I were teaching and coaching together at Friendship Christian School in Lebanon, Tennessee. In keeping with my social science degree, I was certified to teach psychology and it was a course I loved to teach. (If you knew our dad, a clinical psychologist, this would make sense.) When we came to a section on early childhood development, I asked Karen if she could bring Nathan, who was several months old, as a class project. I would teach and everyone would be required to hold him. There was only one squeamish student, a 6'4'' basketball player named Blu Fowler. I practically had to force Blu to hold Nathan but once he did, he didn't want to pass him on. The picture of the two of them made our school yearbook.

At the end of that academic year, Scott took a job at Wichita Collegiate School in Kansas, teaching and coaching with our other brother, Dave. I saw Nathan once or twice a year, usually at Christmas and sometimes in the summer. (My favorite line in the book I wrote came from Nathan when he was roughly ten. After receiving his tenth Pokémon related gift from under the tree, my nephew enthusiastically proclaimed, "This is what Christmas is all about!") But now, he's all grown up and in the adult world and prefers to be called Nate. That brings us back to Thanksgiving. Nate is in the process of getting into grad school to work on his Masters. In the meantime, he's joined the work force and like many, had to report for duty on Thanksgiving evening. Nate is employed by Sears in a mall and he sells mattresses. Scott says he is doing well and has earned several nice commissions. I need a new camera and braved the crowds with Dave's in-laws, Paul and Trudy, to see if I could find one on sale. (NO LUCK!) While we were in the mall, we ventured into Sears to say hi to Nate. He was dealing with customers when we approached and he didn't see us at first. I was so impressed with the way he carried himself as he helped the two young ladies with their transactions. Since we were there already, Paul and Trudy and I signed up for the Sears' shopping rewards program through Nate which hopefully will enhance his evaluation. I'm already sold- Nate deserves a promotion!

It's not always easy viewing someone as an adult when you babysat for them as an infant. We all know relatives who see us as perpetual children no matter our chronological age. Others allowed us to grow up- we have to grant that same respect to the next generation of our kin. I have it easy. When you read the Old Testament, you will discover that David, king of Israel, had all sorts of problems with brothers Joab, Abishai, and Asahel and particularly Joab in dealing with issues surrounding his army and government. And who were these three young men? The sons of a woman named Zeruiah who just happened to be the sister of a man named.............. King David. That's right- David was caused all sorts of grief by his nephews. Not me- my nephew is terrific! And do you know who Nathan was in the Bible? Nathan was the prophet who confronted David about his adultery with Bathsheba. David even named one of his sons after Nathan. My brother and sister-in-law followed the king's example. Nate won't be at Sears all his life but he's learning lessons which will help him help others. There will be a long line waiting for his services.

Applicable quote of the day:
"We worry about what a child will become tomorrow, yet we forget that he is someone today."
Stacia Tauscher

God bless,
Uncle Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Close Encounters

The best thing about teaching is not the pay. The best thing about teaching is the kids. Here is a look at two of my favorites, from October 19, 2007.

I ran into both of them this afternoon while shopping at Wal-Mart. I saw Chace in the shampoo aisle and she hugged me. She was wearing a t-shirt and shorts, considerably less formal than our previous meeting. The last time I saw Chace, she was elegant in a black dress at a memorial service for her mother. Her mom, a political insider in the former mayor of Houston's office, had succumbed after a lengthy battle with cancer. Chace carried herself with grace on that difficult day and my admiration for her grew. I had seen her simply as a teenage girl in my sophomore Bible class but that June day, I saw a young woman who carried out family responsibilities with class and dignity. Today, she told me about her job assistant managing a store near the mall and she showed me her new tattoo, a little Christian fish right above her wrist. She told me it's a great conversation starter! Chace promised to come watch my girls' team play this year. Her boyfriend (Blake, another former student) has a sister (Rachel) who will grace the courts for the Lady Wildcats this season. I really hope she comes by.

Not two minutes later as I checked out, Anna walked in. We hugged and talked as well. Anna, a former middle school player of mine, is now a junior at one of the big public high schools. She had e-mailed me a couple of days ago with condolences for my parents' health and congratulations on our new basketball uniforms. She regretfully told me she had missed last weekend's big Greek Festival (Anna's Greek) and lamented this Wednesday's mandatory PSAT testing day. I miss Anna, one of the best girls I have ever coached. I miss her mother, too. Her mom thanked me for coaching her daughter. I should have expressed my gratitude for her having such a wonderful child. I hope Anna comes to a game, too. Former players reinforce that what you try to do is right, regardless of the outcome of long-forgotten games. Anna was another reminder.

I don't know if Chace's and Anna's paths crossed in the aisles of Wal-Mart this afternoon. Neither would they. The two, even though they both attended Westbury Christian School, did not overlap in their enrollments and I am positive they don't know each other. But, they share the common experience of sitting in my classroom and making my job worthwhile. They made me laugh and gave me the respect educators long for. It's Homecoming Week at WCS so maybe it's appropriate that I bumped into Chace and Anna today. In Luke 6, Jesus said that fully trained students will be like their teachers. That's a heavy responsibility for those who stand in front of the youth of America to bear. Maybe Chace and Anna will someday end up something like me. If they do, I hope I gave them a good model to work with.

Applicable quote of the day:
"Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know."
Daniel Boorstin

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.hawleybooks.com/
E-mail me st steve@hawleybooks.com

The Prediction

December may have 31 days but it's a short school month. Why is that important? Read on, from October 3, 2007!

We started it last year. At the beginning of a month in the Fall, I give each of my students a blank calendar and have them fill in the dates. Next, I have them write on the calendar the day and class period they predict we will have the fire drill that Westbury Christian School is required by law to perform each month. Any student picking the correct date wins extra credit. Any youngster picking the right date AND class period has a quiz exemption thrown in to boot. Yesterday, October 2, we filled in our calendars. In a stunning development to the kids, we had our October fire drill today on October 3. Of the one hundred students in my classes, do you know how many chose today? Zero. We'll talk about it tomorrow but I know why. It was too soon. We generally have fire drills late in the month. Most predictions were for late in October or cutting the field in half, on the 16th-17th-18th. The kids played the odds....and lost.

Monday was October 1st. In my fifth period sophomore class on Monday, I asked Kristi if the Lord was going to come today. Her reply was, "Well, He might." Not content, I asked her specifically if she thought the Lord WAS coming that day and Kristi, very honestly, answered "No." The next day, I asked Kristi if she could recite for me the memory verse assigned for Wednesday, if I offered her a $100 reward as incentive. She told me she could not. Kristi knew the verse was coming but she simply wasn't ready. I asked if she would have been ready if she knew I might offer $100. Of course she would have been. (When we took the verse today, John 1:14, Kristi scored a 100%.) In my classes, we talked about how long we are going to live and we decided we are all going to live a long time. We talked how one of the cornerstones of Christianity is the end of time accompanied by the Judgment Day. With that as backdrop, we took our best shot at guessing the coming of the fire drill. Only one person knows the set time, our Lower School Administrator, Casey Farris, and he doesn't share his secret. Likewise, the Bible teaches that the day of the Lord is known only to the Lord. The problem is, we often act like we know what it is as well and what it is is a very long way off. Just like the fire drill. We never saw it coming.

Applicable quote of the day:
"Prediction is very difficult, especially if it's about the future."
Niels Bohr

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

The Note

Sometimes, the best parables in life are the ones we see played out in front of us. This is one of those, from March 28, 2009.

This week in my sophomore classes, our memory work was 1st John 3:16-17. This is what the apostle told us in that passage:
"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?"
As we discussed the verses and their meaning, I used Hillary as an example. One of these days, Hillary will be driving. (She does not have her license yet.) What would they think if I saw Hillary broken down on the road and all I did was roll down the window and tell her I would say a prayer for her? That's not love or compassion, especially in a spiritual sense. How appropriate that Reed Sutton would receive the following e-mail from a woman yesterday afternoon:
Hi, Mr. Sutton,
I understand that you are the assistant principal of Westbury Christian School. My name is ..............., and I am a resident physician at Memorial Hermann Southwest Hospital. I was on my way rushing to work today when suddenly I realized that I was out of gas. To my horror and embarrassment, my car sputtered and stopped suddenly. I was nervously waiting at the intersection of Hillcroft and Willowbend when a young man stopped and asked if I was ok. He asked if there was anything that he could do to help, and told me he was on his way to school at Westbury Christian School. I told him that there was nothing that he could do at that point unless he had gas in his car, which of course he did not. I told him that I was fine and that he should go on to school. Then, as I was waiting the obligatory 45 minutes for AAA to come, I saw the same young gentleman coming back to my car, but with about 8 or 9 other young men with him. Before I knew it they were all pushing my car to the gas station up the street! They pushed my car the entire 2 blocks to the gas station with no expectation but to help me out. I was extremely appreciative and very happy that such nice young men would be so willing to help someone in need. Although I thanked these young men profusely, I was not able to get their names when they came to help! I would like to at least show my appreciation by buying them some pizza, ice cream, or something of that nature. I am extremely grateful for their assistance!!! If you could please help identify these nice young men, that would be wonderful. At the very least, please pass this note along to express my gratitude.
Thank you for fostering such great values in your students!

Here was Reed's reply:
Good afternoon Ms........,
Thank you so much for your note. Many times the notes that I receive in my office are concerns, therefore I am very excited to receive your email. I am replying to you while copying our faculty here at the school because these are the types of words of encouragement about our students that we love so much to hear. It is our very purpose at Westbury Christian to enlist spiritual warriors that make a difference in the lives of others. Your thoughtfulness in sending this note is a huge shot of adrenaline to our school community. We are so proud of these young men for their spirit of service and I believe that they reflect our student body as a whole. I will stay in touch and would love to meet you. You are also invited to come by the school and visit as well. The best time might be during one of our chapel services next Tuesday at 8:30 am or Thursday at 9:30 am. Thanks again for taking the time to write and have a God-Blessed weekend!
Mr. Reed Sutton
Upper School Assistant Principal
Westbury Christian School

You could make a parable, and a devotional blog, from those correspondences. I love what I do and where I do it and today, I am even prouder. There are so many good kids out there and we have no market on them but these young men perfectly illustrated our lesson from 1st John and reflected the spirit of the Lord from our school. I know one Houston doctor who would agree with me.

Appropriate quote of the day:
"The act of compassion begins with full attention, just as rapport does. You have to really see the person. If you see the person, then naturally, empathy arises. If you tune into the other person, you feel with them. If empathy arises, and if that person is in dire need, then empathic concern can come. You want to help them, and then that begins a compassionate act. So I'd say that compassion begins with attention."
Daniel Goleman

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

Me And The Herdmans

We finished reviewing for our first semester finals late last week. It's been a different kind of term, particularly with the loss of six days of school due to Hurricane Harvey. I was able to get my normal amount of material covered by eliminating some memory verses/writing assignments and speeding up the note taking process slightly. Reviewing for me is a four step process and I used the time I normally show a daily video clip to show sections of the one hour made for TV movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It was made almost thirty-five years ago without actors you would probably recognize outside of Loretta Swit of MASH fame. It was adapted from a short book by Barbara Robinson, published in 1971. The story revolves around, as you might have guessed, the annual nativity recreation by a church. When the director is injured in a household mishap, Grace (Swit) takes over to the chagrin of her kids and husband. The story is narrated by Grace's daughter, Beth, who tells us about the Herdmans,  a family of six children whose father abandoned them and whose mother is working and never home. The Herdmans make the kids life miserable at school but when Grace's son, Charley, lies to Leroy Herdman, the whole Herdman clan shows up at church and intimidates the other kids to not volunteer for the pageant's juicy roles. So, Ralph, Imogene, Ollie, Claude, Leroy, Ralph, and Gladys Herdman star as Joseph, Mary, the Magi, and the announcing angel respectively. Beth intones that the Herdmans are the worst kids in the history of the world and based on what we see, she's right. The Herdmans are the type of youngsters who drive teachers out of education. And they come close to destroying the church building, the pageant itself, and Grace's sanity as we witness one fiasco after another. The church is up in arms as the performance approaches. Grace fears no one will come but potential disasters draw crowds. And this one did as well.

As you might guess in a Christmas TV movie, the show was a huge success but not in the way anyone could have imagined. And here's the main points I took away and which I tried to get my students to catch. The Herdmans were the only ones to really get the meaning. The rest of the kids, and even Grace, had heard the story of the birth of the Savior so many times it was perfunctory. But these welfare kids who knew nothing about anything asked questions that were brilliant in their simplicity.  I can't say they were transformed by their acting experiences but at least many in the church became slightly less harsh in their judgments. I asked my students how many would want the Herdmans in their churches. There were a few takers but most said no because they were disruptive. Charley  describes Ralph and Imogene when getting ready for their roles playing the newlywed couple as messy. They were and we aren't comfortable with messy. We prefer neat and tidy in our walk with the Lord. But the grown up Jesus, who was played by a doll because no mother trusted Imogene with a real infant, hung around the messy types. As a kid, I was blessed with wonderful nurturing parents, but I still had the times of messiness. Truthfully, I still do. I hope I can better relate to those who share my condition. Some of us are just better at disguising it.

Applicable quote of the day:
You have to remind kids to stay connected to the meaning of Christmas. Sometimes it takes a little bit of effort, but it's so worth it.
Caroline Kennedy

To watch The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, click or copy/paste the link below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EenX3OIjWLY&list=PLq4iLS7GptNEeqGDk7HYDVxQ_K41EFXYS


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
www.hawleybooks.com
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

One Down

I used to religiously watch the number of followers who have signed up on my blog. Sometimes, there is a number swing! The following, from October 25, 2010 talks about the first time this happened!

I lost a follower on Friday. I woke up with 319 but by the time I came home from school, my total was lower by one. Truthfully, I have no idea who left my blog and it shouldn't bother me but I guess it does a little. Did I offend someone or are my writings not up to another's standards? Are the topics not interesting or is my style boring? I have to admit, I have stopped following other blogs before and it takes a deliberate action/effort to do so. My reasons have been that upon further review, the content of the other sites made me uncomfortable and I did not want anyone to associate me with that blogspot. Maybe a reader felt that way about me...... but I hope not.

Jesus lost followers, lots of them. Right after feeding the crowd of 5000 with loaves and fishes, He told a crowd that they would have to eat His flesh and drink His blood to gain eternal life. There was widespread discontent over this difficult teaching and many left the Savior for a more compatible doctrine. Jesus questioned the Twelve as to their intent of staying or going. Peter, the disciple with the ready answer, came up with the right one:
"Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." (John 6:68-69)
The former fisherman from Bethsaida knew he and his eleven associates had only one option and they were staying put. On the other hand, there are hundreds of millions of blogs so the competition in the internet world is pretty fierce. Whoever you are, my dissatisfied follower, you are always welcome back, no questions asked. I'll leave the blog light on for you.

Applicable quote of the day:
''Well, there are more writers of blogs right now than there are readers, so that's clearly a vanity phenomenon.''
John Doerr

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1
http://www.stevehawley.blogspot.com/
E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com

The Proof

Since I wrote this entry eight years ago, I've purchased a new car. But, I still have the same insurance agent and the same insurance company and I am pleased with both. Praise the Lord, I've never had to make a claim! This is from July 28, 2009.

There are people who crisscross our lives a number of times. Randy King is one of those folks whose life has intersected mine repeatedly. We were students at Harding University together where I sat on the same chapel row with his lovely future wife, Diane Goodspeed. Randy has been chairman of the board of directors at Westbury Christian where I teach with Diane. His kids have all been in my classes and one, Katy, played basketball for me. On a more personal level, Randy was my brother Dave's roommate at Harding and we were the groomsmen in Dave and Sally's wedding. (We wore yellow and black tuxes and looked liked bumblebees!) There is one more key connection: Randy is my insurance agent. My Texas license plates expire this Saturday which means my car has to pass inspection. To have your car inspected, you must show proof of insurance. As I began looking for my insurance papers yesterday, I found they were misplaced. So, this morning, I visited Randy at his office and picked up the necessary forms for my inspection. Now, I just have to hope my Toyota is up to the emission standards and possessing no hidden flaws. This Corolla has always passed but like everything else, it's a year older. I'll find out tomorrow.

When I take my car to the Sticker Shop in the morning for the inspection, the first thing they'll request is proof of my insurance. How do you think they'd respond if I told them I didn't bring my insurance papers with me but they could trust me when I said I was covered? My overwhelming belief is that they'd laugh at me. I could tell them I live next door (which is true) or that they performed my inspection the last several years (also true) or that my brother's college roommate sold me the policy, a fact we've established already. None of those points matter to them- they want evidence. Isn't that how we are at times spiritually? We proclaim to the world our religion but the world demands evidence. I can tell others I'm a Christian but they need to see it for themselves. In the second chapter of his book, James writes that his faith is outwardly visible in the manner he lives his life. Jesus told his men that there would be outward evidence of their affiliation with him for the world to see. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) Do you think all men know we are the disciples of the Savior? I can tell them I go to church and read the Bible or I can wear a cross around my neck but that carries little weight with seekers. They want to see the proof of Jesus in me. It could be the state of Texas has a good idea. Maybe for a sense of renewal, Christians could get inspected every year, too. I'm due- my sticker is nearly outdated. Hopefully, I wouldn't be blinsided by sticker shock!

Applicable quote of the day:
"The grace of GOD is like insurance. It will help you in your time of need without any limit.”
Sri Sathya Sai Baba

God bless,
Steve

Luke 18:1

http://www.hawleybooks.com/

E-mail me at steve@hawleybooks.com