The Phone Number

 

The Phone Number

This entry, from September 10, 2018 is about one of the two most important phone numbers in my life.
I may or may not have mentioned that I am making two trips back to my home town of York, Nebraska in this, the fall of 2018. My brother, Dave, is being inducted into two Hall of Fames this autumn, one in October and one in November. In October, it will be the York College honor and in November, York High School will be bestowing the award. Both venues will have other inductees as well. I'm also really excited that our cousin-in-law, Laura Hastings Hawley, is going to be a  York College HOFer as well! Several weeks ago, I received a postcard as a York College Panther letterman, reminding me that I needed to reserve a seat at the YC festivities, which will coincide with Homecoming next month. So, this afternoon during one of my planning periods, I took several minutes to RSVP for the event, which will be held at the renowned Chances ''R'' Restaurant, one of my all-time favorite dining experiences. I spoke to a wonderful young lady at the college and I am guaranteed a seat!! Only five weeks to go!

While I had the phone in my hand and a few spare minutes, I acted on a hunch. I dialed 402-362-4990. There was no need to look it up. It had been years, decades since I made that call. The last time was using a dial telephone but I could not begin to tell you when that was. You see, that was probably the first phone number I ever memorized, back in the day where you learned it by rote or you wrote it down. It was my dad's office phone at the East Hill Church of Christ. He was the first preacher for that congregation and that was his phone number when we arrived in York in 1959 from Brooklyn, New York. I was not disappointed this afternoon. A familiar voice answered the phone, a voice that sounded eerily like Dad. It was the new (two years!) preacher at the church, a young man named Glenn whose last name happens to be Hawley. We talked about family and life in York and I explained why I called. Lord willing, I'll get to see my first cousin and a few other kinfolk over the next eighty days or so. I just think there is a neat circle of life in that the first and latest ministers of the Gospel share the same DNA and the same family heritage. I like symmetry and I think that fits the definition.

My best guess is that phone number for the church has been operational for more than sixty years. During my formative years, I am sure I called it more than any other number. I called it to relay messages to Dad or just because I was a little boy who felt like calling. It might have been Mom needed him to run an errand- we only had one car for much of my early childhood. Maybe I even prank called- I was no angel! But take me out of  the equation. How much has transpired over that line with that number over the years? How many announcements of births and tragic deaths? How much counseling of members and college students and citizens of that town of 6,000, and not just from Dad and Glenn but from all the preachers who came in between? How much good was done done and how many tears have been shed? How many disputes have been ironed out and how any apologies offered and accepted? I can still see my father's name plate on his desk in his church office and now it resides with me. Not sure why I'm nostalgic tonight. I do wish Dad had lived to see and hear his nephew preach the word from the same pulpit that he once graced. But this afternoon, I settled for a call to a far away phone which brought memories very near. If only a phone number could talk! Then again, preachers reside in a world of confidentiality. Those confidences live on with Glenn.

Applicable quote of the day:
I don't understand this whole Twitter, Facebook stuff. I don't get it. Make a phone call. Talk to somebody.
James Avery


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Interpretation

 

The Interpretation

I've been translated a lot, mostly when I was preaching or teaching Bible classes or communion services. This is about a unique interpretation. It is from October 21, 2012. 

We had an interesting Chinese worship this morning. Normally, the sermon by our minister, Ronnie Chang, is translated by Nina to the non-Mandarin speakers, through headsets. But today, the communication devices were not available so we had a dilemma. Ronnie's sermon was longer than normal, about forty-five minutes, so to do a traditional say a line/translate a line interpretation would have made the message ninety minutes. This creates another problem as we eat together right after worship so to delay 3/4 of an hour might have caused food issues. Ronnie came up with a unique solution; six of the Chinese Christians translated for us non-speakers independently, spread out over the Fireplace Room where we gather. Yirong was my personal translator and it all worked out perfectly, just a little louder than normal. I always tell my students being bilingual is a gift. Today illustrated the point.

I wish I could speak Chinese or Vietnamese or Spanish but I can't. I've heard it said that the only way to learn a foreign language is immersion in another country with marriage to a native speaker a plus. On the other hand, people in other countries are attracted to me as they assume, rightly so, that I speak English which is a magic door for education and career advancement in the eyes of many. My birth language might be my best asset in spreading the Gospel, at least in the short term. But when I preach in Vietnam or China, I need help and it comes in the form of brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, Ronnie imparted the Gospel to me but he did it through the words of Yirong. Translation is always a two person skill.

Applicable quote of the day:

"Translation is like a woman. If it is beautiful, it is not faithful. If it is faithful, it is most certainly not beautiful."
Yevgeny Yevtushenko

God bless,

Steve
Luke 18:1

Small Town Hope

 

Small Town Hope

Football season is upon us! I thought you might enjoy a football story today that has less to do with money and fame and more to do with the one thing we all need, HOPE. This is from October 12, 2006. Much has happened since I wrote this  years ago.To read more about the origin of this squad, click this link: http://www.espn.com/espn/eticket/story?page=tundra

Rarely do I watch movies more than once. When I know what's coming next, the enjoyment is drained from the story. I have made an exception with The Music Man, the 1962 musical written by Meredith Wilson, starring Shirley Jones and Robert Preston. A scam artist arrives in a small Iowa town and sells the locals on the idea of a boys' band, complete with uniforms and instruments. It's a hoax, uncovered by the old maid librarian (Jones) who threatens to expose the con artist (Preston) until she falls in love with him. As the scheme unravels and the pretend band director is about to be tarred and feathered, the Iowans make a fascinating discovery. The band, even though it was a swindle, had the ripple effect of giving the town a passion for living and raising the expectations of a bunch of aimless kids. The conniving Professor Harold Hill unintentionally gives River City a new lease on life.

This week, espn.com features an intriguing story of a town and its high school football team. Barrow, Alaska is the furthest northern community in the United States, located above the Arctic Circle. Due to a grant last year and a new school superintendent, the local high school has inaugurated a football program. With no experience and no culture of the sport, the team took tiny baby steps this season. The decision to add a gridiron squad has bitterly divided this village of less than 5,000. Detractors claim the price tag, in excess of $200,000, was too steep and the funds should have been spent toward more traditional educational goals. Supporters counter that the kids in Barrow, drowning in a sea of alcohol, drugs, and vandalism, now have positive goals to focus on. The jury is out on the long-term outcome of this football experiment in one of the coldest inhabited spots on earth but it is a gripping tale of what can draw a hamlet together or drive a wedge into its collective soul. One thing is for certain; kids who play under those weather conditions on an essentially gravel field can handle adversity.

I have come to realize in my teaching that perhaps the biggest motivator a child has is hope. If a young person has a reason to keep trying, a purpose for persevering, the odds of their realizing any level of success multiplies. Praise stimulates some while others thrive on any sense of belonging. The value of extracurriculars can't be overstated. The bond of pushing toward any sort of collective dream can be priceless with students who feel there is a reward for hanging on in a educational culture that can be daunting and bewildering. Drama productions, literary meets, or any variety of clubs, it really doesn't seem to matter as long as there is a legitimate involvement. Hope is a major theme in the writings of the apostle Paul, who used the term fifty-two times in his epistles. In Romans 5, he places it at the conclusion of a four part listing of ascending levels of spiritual maturity; suffering, perseverance, character, hope. He concludes the thought by stating that "hope does not disappoint us," due to God's love abiding in us through the Holy Spirit. In our academic-social-career-family lives, hope can make our existence bearable. In our spiritual lives, hope makes our Christian walk possible. Whether in a fictional band, a real-life high school football team, or a soul reaching out for heavenly assistance, hope is a runway for a flight into the possible.


Applicable quote of the day:
"If God wanted women to understand men, football would never have been created."
Roger Simon


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

A Toast To Mack Brown

 

A Toast To Mack Brown

A lot has changed since I wrote this on October 12, 2o13!
It's amazing how a life can turn around in one day. When he woke up this morning, University of Texas football coach Mack Brown was as good as fired from everything I heard on the radio. Some were even saying he might get his walking papers in the stadium parking lot in Dallas after today's annual Red River Shootout with the Oklahoma Sooners, a series dominated in recent years by their rivals to the north. You might want to hold off on those career obituaries for Coach Brown as his Longhorns routed the undefeated and heavily favored OU squad this afternoon by a 36-20 tally. The wolves may still be at the door for the second winningest coach in the history of UT football but they aren't howling quite so loud as the sun sets this evening in Austin.

We talk considerably in my classes how our lives can change instantly, for the good or for the bad and more likely for the unknown. Several weeks ago, my terrific, long time dentist was killed in Tennessee and also in Tennessee the same weekend, the husband of one of my former basketball  players was almost killed, also in a motorcycle wreck. I know their days didn't begin with the dread of what was to come. We've seen public figures go from prominence to disgrace in one news cycle as one scandal or another comes to light. But sometimes, one can also go from anonymity to acclaim almost instantly in this media driven culture. Who can forget an   unknown pilot named Chesley Sullenberger who became an overnight national hero when he safely landed his passenger on the Hudson River on January 16, 2009? Too bad they all don't have a happy ending like that!

But sometimes they do.......and even more amazingly than the Miracle On The Hudson. My students have been studying the soap opera which was Jacob's family in the last week and now we are focused on Joseph and how he ended up going from the favored son of a wealthy man to a slave in one day; how he ended up in the home of an Egyptian official where he was falsely accused of attempted rape; how he did a favor for a fellow prisoner who forgot that he owed him a real big one. And yet, by interpreting the dreams of Pharaoh enabled through the spirit of God, Joseph at the age of thirty, wakes up one morning in jail and goes to bed that night as the second most powerful man in the most powerful nation on earth. I cannot think of anything I've ever heard that remotely approaches that reversal of fortune. Imagine if you went to work at 6 AM on the breakfast shift at McDonald's and by suppertime you were the CEO of Microsoft! Or, try to conceive being a student manager on a small college football team when you get out of bed and that night, you're the new quarterback of the Denver Broncos, replacing Peyton Manning! But our God had a plan for His people and that plan included having Joseph in the position where he would reunite with his brothers, the ones who sold him into slavery. Hey, we know what the Scriptures say in Jeremiah 32:27, don't we?
"I am the Lord, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?"
The answer to the Father's inquiry, of course, is a resounding NO. There is no impossible with God, no difficulty factor nor any limits on the power which created the universe. When seen through that prism, my issues and struggles seem infinitely tiny. And who knows, I might wake up tomorrow as the Secretary of State.......and Mack Brown might win another national championship. We never predict what the day will hold only that it is held by the Creator.

Applicable quote of the day:
“Immediate are the acts of God, more swift than time or motion.” John Milton, Paradise Lost

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Dressed For Success

 

Dressed For Success

Part of life in a small school is Homecoming! The following is from October 26, 2006.


It's Homecoming Week at Westbury Christian School. Tomorrow evening, the court will be presented, a queen will be crowned, and our football team will battle Fort Bend Baptist Academy on what promises to be a very muddy field. Part of the tradition of the week is the foregoing of school uniforms and having special dress days. The schedule reads like this:
Monday/ Pajama Day
Tuesday/ Tacky Day
Wednesday/ Retro Day
Thursday/ Superhero-Cartoon Character Day
Friday/ Blue and Gold Spirit Day

I really enjoy the dressing up part. I am in disagreement with some of my fellow teachers in that I think it is easier to get work accomplished in class because the kids are excited about the activities. Usually, I don't dress up- I really only feel professional when I have my normal teaching clothes on. Today, I did make a concession, wearing a Superman tie. I received several compliments and fit in with a number of students sporting the Man Of Steel motif. We had terrific outfits from the Smurfs to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, from Dora the Explorer to Sponge Bob. One young man was a priest and one young lady came as Tinker Belle. My favorite character was one worn by one of our freshmen, Cameron, who dressed in jeans and a sweater. I asked his identity. His reply: Comfortable Man. I missed that comic book!

This week, the kids agonize over what to wear each day. Classes vie for points based on costume rankings and the sophomores, juniors, and seniors really compete. It fosters a sense of cooperation that sometimes is lacking in the world of individuality that has spilled over into schools. Outfits that catch the eyes of faculty judges benefit the group as a whole so clever costumes bring accolades to a young person who sometimes gets overlooked. In the same vein, some kids seem more self-assured dressed as someone else than they do dressed as themselves. Maybe they believe that when they can pick a new personality/identity, they are a better fit in the world. What they don't realize is that all of us can choose a new identity in Christ. It's just hard to escape ourselves and believe we can become not just a changed person but a better one. In Galatians 3, Paul wrote, "for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ." That would be the winning outfit, a costume that would always fit. That's why my dress up winner of the day would have to be Cameron Thomas. You can't go wrong with Comfortable Man!

Applicable quote of the day:
"Everyday, each of us wakes up, reaches into drawers and closets, pulls out a costume for the day, and proceeds to dress in a style that can only be called preposterous."
Mary Schmich


God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

First Place

 

First Place

Most of  my flights now are international! The following is about one of my most memorable airline adventures; it ran on August 18, 2007.

It's never happened before and it may never happen again. Yesterday, I flew back from St. Louis to Houston. As always, I flew on Southwest Airlines. Arriving only an hour before the flight, I wasn't sure what boarding group I would be placed in but I made the A, or first, section. If you've never flown Southwest, first in line is first in walking down the tunnel into the plane. Our flight originated in Louisville so we had to wait until it arrived and docked. I came out of the bathroom and saw our plane in place. Amazingly, no one had claimed a spot in line! I walked up and for the only time in my life, I was the first person in all the boarding groups! Immediately, as soon as I took my spot, the line formed behind me. Talk about being a trend-setter! I was so proud. The man handling boarding passes even let me keep mine to hand to the flight attendant so she would know the regular boarding had commenced. I had my pick of seats and selected a window chair behind the right wing. I must confess there was a tremendous feeling of satisfaction in knowing what I had accomplished in my boarding coup.

We like to be first, don't we? We see it in little kids at school who imagine being first at the water fountain somehow makes the water more abundant or sweeter tasting. Jesus cautioned about desiring supremacy in several parables and situations with his men. There is no virtue in our placement in most scenarios. Take my flight. The plane was half-full so being first...rewarded me with the same seat as if I were fiftieth. The real kicker came as my journey was concluding. The good friends who were picking me up.... forgot. I deplaned at 2:00 and hopped in their car at 5:30 PM. Being the first passenger, excluding families with small children, to walk onto Flight 71 netted me three-and-a-half hours of waiting in the 100 percent humidity of the passenger pickup area of Hobby Airport. What was it that Jesus said? Something about the first shall be last and vice versa? He must have known my itinerary.

Applicable quote of the day:
"I feel about airplanes the way I feel about diets. It seems to me that they are wonderful things for other people to go on."
Jean Kerr

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Losing A Customer On Labor Day

 

Losing A Customer On Labor Day

I'm not saying it's because of the issues presented here but this branch has shut down. This entry is from September 4, 2018.
It's Labor Day! I'm getting ready for a presentation on my trip to Vietnam this Wednesday so that has dominated my mind this weekend. I actually gave it to our faculty and staff at WCS but that was three weeks ago and I need to touch it up a bit. Over the past three days, I've erased a lot of things on my to do list; cleaning my classroom, grading tests, laundry, working out, etc. Even though the year has just begun for us, it's still nice to have an extra day and a four day week. I lifted early this morning, enjoyed a phone call with my good friend, Greg Glenn, and decided to do a little shopping. I had seen an ad for a nearby store and I was interested in what they were offering. When I walked in, I noticed I was the only customer. By the cash register counter, though, there was a conference going on. Three employees were involved with one doing most of the speaking. It was loud enough for me to follow along with as I meandered. The gist of the discussion was the policy for closing up at night and the order in which the procedures took place. The person in charge seemed to be angry and chewing out one if not both of the other workers. I decided I had had enough and left within and a minute or two. As I walked out the door, I heard the typical have a nice day or thanks for coming in or something along those lines. The words rang pretty hollow. You know, I went in with the intention of buying something this morning and might have found what I was looking for in a few more minutes. I like this store and I've had good experiences there but it will be a long time till I darken their doors again. One of their franchises is within a two minute drive of my brother Dave's house and since I'll be in Wichita at times for three consecutive months, I'll think I'll just wait until then.

There are always going to be differences in families and businesses, teams and organizations. Policies need to be hammered out and clearly defined..... but not in a heated way in front of those you hope to be your clients or customers or members. The same goes for churches. Jesus said others would know His disciples by their love, not by their disagreements. Differing opinions are part of life but handling them in private with kindness and respect is the proper way to handle them. Otherwise, you might drive away those you are trying to win. Like me. I wonder if they'll miss me.

Applicable quote of the day:
The only part of an argument that really matters is what we think of the people arguing. 
Kim Stanley Robinson

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Good Hands People

 

The Good Hands People

 As you teach and coach, you are blessed with the opportunity to work with once in a lifetime young people. Lindsey Calder is one who fits in that category. After graduating from WCS, Lindsey enrolled at Rhodes College where she majored in philosophy.  She is a very unique blend of grace and charm, intellect and beauty. Of all the students I have taught, I would guess her thought process is closer to mine than anyone elses. (Hopefully, that would be taken as a compliment!) Below is an article I penned about the lovely Ms. Calder, one of the first of my blogs from November of 2005. I hope it does Lindsey justice.

If you are a football fan, you know the term 'special teams.' These are players who work as a unit in kicking situations: field goals, extra points, punts, kickoffs. To protect against onside kicks, or a play when the kicking team can recover a kickoff, squads employ what is called the 'hands team.' This group is made up of receivers and backs who are adept at catching the football. We all know the Allstate Insurance motto: "You're in good hands with Allstate." Sometimes it backfires in football. Our local NFL team, the Texans, lost on Sunday when their 'hands team' fumbled their game away to the Rams. The 'hands team' dropped the ball.

I tell my Bible classes you can tell about people by looking at their hands. I worked in a grocery store in high school. The men in the meat department always had nicks and cuts on their hands. Mechanics and printers often have stained fingers. One of my basketball players worked at Wendy's and you could tell when she came off a shift. Her job often was cutting onions and it took time for the smell to wear off. The scent of tobacco on smokers' hands gives them away. Painter's hands are flecked with paint. I speak with experience. During summers after high school, I worked on the maintenance crew at York College. My painting skills were so horrendous that Vance Law, head of buildings and grounds, permanently barred me from holding a paint brush on campus. Happily, Haiti and Honduras do not have a reciprocal agreement with US colleges and the ban has not been enforced on my subsequent mission trips!

All this brings me to Lindsey Calder. I work out three times a week. One byproduct of lifting weights, beside improved muscle tone, is callouses. I sport three callouses on both hands, underneath my pinkies and the two adjacent fingers. Between classes, I stand at my door and talk to students going down the hall. I exchange high fives with kids I have taught in the past. One day after slapping hands with Lindsey, whose locker is next to my class, she asked, "Why do you have callouses on your hands?" I explained it was due to the weight room. Her reply was simple and direct: "Why don't you just wear gloves?" If you don't keep up with fitness equipment, I should explain there are gloves made specifically for weight lifting that prevent callouses. Of course, they cost money and I am frugal. We know the phrase, "consider the source." That's what I did. Most of you won't know Lindsey but she is one of the most incredible young people you could ever meet. She is very gifted academically, extremely conscientious of her responsibilities to herself and her school, and a terrific soccer player. I admire Lindsey as much as any student I have taught so you know what I did? I went to Wal-Mart and for less than $10, purchased weight gloves. I admit I'm not used to them yet but my callouses are disappearing. Others suggested what she did but I didn't listen. Because I have so much respect for Lindsey, I took her advice and my hands will never be the same.

We might not think of hands as a big Biblical subject but they are. There are 519 references to hands, some in a physical sense and some in figurative. The Psalms link clean hands with purity while in the Law of Moses, washing hands is seen as a token of innocence. The Holy Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands. Jesus said that God had placed everything in his hands. While it is unstated, I would guess at the beginning of his ministry, the hands of Jesus were still the hands of a carpenter, nicked and scarred and like mine, calloused. Let me reiterate the point about being able to tell about people by their hands. Who else but Jesus would have taken the nails in his hands for you and me while still having the tenderness to pick up and bless the smallest child? The hands of the Master- still at work today in the lives of his followers. And where has he put the responsibility of carrying on his work? In our hands.

Applicable quote of the day:
"One thing is certain. You can't shake hands with a fist."
David Allan Coe

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Arcades And Awareness

 

Arcades And Awareness

Tonight, we look at one of my favorite film clips ever to use in class. It's from October 7, 2013.

 

Often, when I get out of bed in the early morning, I pray that the Lord will give me something to write about that day and very often, He does! I would guess He does everyday but that I'm often too blind to pick up the signal. This past week was HOMECOMING at WCS which means we were on a completely different schedule all week which means I ate with the high school kids and teachers which means I found myself eating lunch with Preston Hill on Thursday. I've known Preston for almost as many years as I've been at WCS and I've would guess I've been on more missions trips with him than anyone I can think of, except Chad and Shelley Hedgepath. I asked about several of his students and I told him about some things I've used in classes lately. Preston then told me about a short film he was using in class that day and how the kids could not stop talking about it. Like most teachers/coaches, I'm a borrower so I immediately went back to my room and pulled it up. It's called Caine's Arcade and believe me, it's worth your time to watch the approximately eleven minute long you tube short feature. It's on my lesson plans for tomorrow after our quiz over Genesis 37. 

Here are some things my students will consider as they write their reactions to the clip:
The power of creativity and the strength of not giving up when it seems you are making no difference.
The power of awareness and how just one advocate, in this case, Nirvan,  can change the world.
How a seemingly random event like getting a door handle for a car can change lives around the world.

Since the filming of this piece two years ago, a college fund set up in Caine Monroy's honor has netted close to a quarter of a million dollars. An organization called Imagination Foundation celebrates kids playing and using their God given creativity. Caine has become noted in his own right and has now moved on to bigger things! Just Google his name and you'll see! (Forbes.com posted an article entitled 9 Reasons Why The 9-Year-Old Founder Of Caine's Arcade Will Be A Billionaire In 30 Years)

This is the main point I'll try to emphasize to  the youngsters in my class: no one noticed others like Jesus or took an interest in the seemingly uninteresting like our Savior. Want to have a ministry that takes no training or funding? We can simply open our eyes to the people we pass by every day. They are waiting for someone to help them bring light into their universe and they may not even be aware. We don't have to make a film and we won't to post it on you tube. We start by caring.

To watch Caine's Arcade, click or copy and paste the link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=faIFNkdq96U

Applicable quote of the day:

Awareness without action is worthless.
Phil McGraw

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/awareness.html#i65tOrLsFgABpC8r.99

Awareness without action is worthless.
Phil McGraw

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/awareness.html#i65tOrLsFgABpC8r.99

Awareness without action is worthless.
Phil McGraw

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/awareness.html#i65tOrLsFgABpC8r.99

Awareness without action is worthless.
Phil McGraw

Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/awareness.html#i65tOrLsFgABpC8r.99

''Awareness without action is worthless.''
Phil McGraw 

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Perfect World

 

Perfect World

 

es

This is from September 2, 2022.
My three Old Testament Survey classes have been looking at creation and the banning of Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden. We talked about how sin messed up a perfect world and the resulting cost to humanity. Each student was given the following assignment: 
Adam and Eve lived in a perfect world- no sin/shame/fear/want/death- until sin entered the picture and everything changed. Your assignment is to describe a perfect world in complete sentences with proper grammar and capitalization. You should consider what society would be like and what your life would be in this utopia. Any plagiarism is an automatic zero. There is a 150 word minimum, Save a copy of your work in case it does not come through the first time. GOOD LUCK!
Tonight, I am presenting three very different opinions on what is a world of some sort of perfection. Hope you like them!

A perfect world would have no sin. It would be like the Garden of Eden, with innocence and purity, except the snake would not me there. My life and everyone else's life would be perfect in this perfect world. Everyone would be innocent and by not knowing how to sin. People would also be friendly and not condescending. It would be easy for everyone to work and learn, and there would be no pain, suffering, sickness, or judgement like there is today. This is cliche, but everyone would be equal, so that nobody can look down on anyone else. By equal, I don't mean a loss of individualism, or that nobody would have talents like in dystopian societies. I mean that everyone would still have talents, but would be different and special in their own ways, and it would all be equal. In a perfect world, there would be no people that would want to hurt others, and there would be no money, either. From the beginning, God made this world to be perfect, but that stopped when humans corrupted it by eating the fruit. A perfect world to me would also be a world where everyone appreciates and knows about God. God has done so much for us that many people, including myself, forget about. A perfect world would know God the way he wants us to know Him and would be in perfect harmony with Him. Oluwaseyi
A perfect world is almost like a letter you write to a long-forgotten friend. This friend is one that you vaguely remember but still connect with through the memories you've shared. You don't know why you decided to write a letter to them, but you still wanted to for some odd reason—almost like an itch in the back of your neck, wanting you, needing you to write that letter. In a perfect world, the people would all look perfect; the buildings would all look perfect; the activities, the memories, and the food; it would all look or seem perfect. But, this is where the flaw of a perfect world lies, a world, a species, a lifestyle; none of it should, or even could be perfect. Notice how I said everything would "look" perfect? There is the truth in all of this; nothing can be perfect in a perfect world. People should be able to mess up, decide what to do, find out who they love. None of the buildings should be the same; there should be flaws in every person—in every single thing. It's that itch, the human itch to explore, the itch to want to be something more, something outside of the normal. It's that itch to write that letter, go to that party, ask that person out—to see what might come out of it, good or bad. Walker

--

What is a perfect world? Is there world peace or pieces of love scattered throughout the world? Or is it empty and still? Is it filled with the same old boring faces with the same old scoreboards? No, it's none of them. It's not boring and it's not empty. It's bright like when God first spoke light and there it was. Even at night, it's bright with all the stars and even the moon. The seasons are always the most festival-able. Summer is bright & green. Spring is filled with color and breeze. Winter is filled with sparkles and snowmen. Fall is filled with coffee and the orangest leaves and pumpkin pie. The air is smooth and nice and fresh. The air fills your lungs and you feel that much lighter. The rain would be nice and cool on the skin. The lightning would be a startling show that lights up the gray skies. My family would be there, watching it under the strong comfortable place we call home. In our home, we have no bricks hiding anger, disappointment or sadness. The halls would be filled with joy, laughter and that sweet silence of the fire crackling and the warmth from our love. Power would be no more than a faint nightmare that has long disappeared. Instead there would be order and a voice for all. There would be differences but not the differences that cause problems. The differences would be those that make us who we are. Our world would have beautiful cultures that spark imagination and love. Our world would have green everywhere but not just green- red, blue, orange, yellow, and all the colors would surround us. Our world would have passion that we can achieve and have jobs that we love and do. My perfect world does exist but not here and not now. I know it's high up there, where the singing never ends. I know my world is up there, and so is my one and only God. Bella God bless, Steve/Coach Luke 18:1

The Power Of Facebook And Mrs. McKenzie

 

The Power Of Facebook And Mrs. McKenzie

This  post, from October 14, 2013, is about a WCS legend.
In our AM service yesterday morning, our youth minister, Steve Lehman, spoke about the role of youth in our congregation. Steve, a fellow Nebraskan, did an awesome job! Afterwards, I was speaking with one of my favorite couples, Kevin and Deirdre, about staying in touch with their two children, one at Stanford and one at Texas A and M. We talked about what a blessing it would be to have older members of our church communicate with Mitchell and Elena while they are in college. I asked if their kids used FACEBOOK; they said yes but Mitchell isn't on much. I told them I would love to check in with their wonderful kids if they got me the info. On a hunch, I checked on FACEBOOK after worship. You guessed it- I'm already friends with Elena and Mitchell!

That's one of my problems; I'm not even sure who my Friends are on the social network! I always vowed never to sign up but I've said many things that I had to eat. But I've changed my mind on the value of FACEBOOK. I've found that I can tell people in the US instantly what I just did on my mission trips to Vietnam, complete with pictures, when you factor in the twelve hour difference to CST. I now also have a number of people in Asia reading my nightly devotionals, which I post through my FACEBOOK account, who might not have much chance to read anything about Jesus otherwise. That's never a bad thing.

Over the past 24 hours, I've come to believe even more strongly in the power of FACEBOOK. Marie McKenzie taught for more than fifty years in the Houston area, including close to twenty-five of those years at Westbury Christian. She did a little bit of everything; elementary, middle school, and high school classes. Her last year, she taught ESL for all eight periods with no breaks! A widow, she lived with her sister, Helen Wilcox, also a WCS employee and also a widow. So much of the work Mrs. McKenzie did was out of sight. There are students and even families who speak English fluently and are productive members of society because Marie McKenzie worked tirelessly to give them a chance for success. But aging happens to all of us and it got to the point where physically she just could not work anymore. Her sister's condition deteriorated and she passed away in July of 2012. Mrs. McKenzie fell several times and she had to give up independent life and moved into a facility. Recently, she moved again and this move was very difficult. Last Sunday morning, we prayed for her and Greg Glenn, our head of school, asked if my students would make cards for her, something we often do. Greg, accompanied by his son, Richard, who along with sister Amber and brother Cody were students of Mrs. McKenzie, delivered the cards yesterday afternoon. That's the picture above. (If you are observant, you notice her name is misspelled on the envelopes. I neglected to tell my teacher's aide, the lovely Megan Hill, how to spell it correctly!)

Here's where FACEBOOK comes in. I ran the picture on FACEBOOK last night along with a little bit of an update about Mrs. McKenzie. Here's what is awesome; in less than twenty-four hours, there are currently 124 likes on the picture and close to forty people have asked for her address so they can write/visit/call! She doesn't know it but she is about to be inundated with love, paying back in small measure for her passionate service for so many years. And it would not have been possible without FACEBOOK. Several of the messages I got are from folks who are out of the US at the moment. I thought this was neat. Last week, when I gave the cards to Greg, I pointed out the ones Mrs. McKenzie is holding. The pink one was made by Aya and the yellow one by Fair. Both are eighth graders from Asia and English is always a struggle. I told Greg I estimated the girls took hours to make the cards at home, considering the intricacy of the details they drew and the sincerity of their written messages. And that's just the kind of children Mrs. McKenzie always excelled with. You know, Mrs. McKenzie is still teaching- she just doesn't come to school anymore.

Applicable quote of the day:
“When you study great teachers... you will learn much more from their caring and hard work than from their style.”
   William Glasser

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

The Spectrum

 

The Spectrum

This is a story about our family from December 27, 2006. A little update: Harper went to heaven four months later on April 7, 2007 and my folks joined her in the next two years. Zach and Haley have since adopted two wonderful boys, Bennett and Deacon!

We drove back to St. Louis from Wichita yesterday. Dad, Mom, and I made the return trip after spending four cold days on the Kansas plains. It wasn't supposed to be the way my Christmas vacation would go. My brothers Dave and Scott and their families were coming to Missouri to celebrate the holidays but the realities of life intervened. My great niece Harper has been in intensive care in an Oklahoma hospital for the past three weeks so our plans changed. Last Saturday, we drove to Oklahoma City from Wichita and I saw the latest child to bear the last name of our family. Harper, only six months old, has been having recurring seizures for weeks. The doctors have Harper on a ventilator, placing her in a drug-induced coma in an effort to find the source of her condition. They let us go back into her room two at a time for about one minute per visit. I was with my mother as she beheld her great granddaughter for the first time. I know it did not register with Mom but there was this beautiful little child, sleeping peacefully, wrapped in tubes and monitors. It has been a traumatic, gut-wrenching experience for my nephew, Zach, and his wife, Haley, as they have watched the doctors struggle to diagnose the illness of their first born. They have been overwhelmed with the kindnesses flowing non-stop from family and friends, as well as strangers whose hearts have been touched with the plight of the most innocent among us, a newborn.

The videotape was about ten years old. A friend gave it to Dad recently and he wanted us to watch it as a family. We did, on Christmas Eve. Our mother, pre-Alzheimer's, was being interviewed by a lady in their church. The topic was raising children according to God's plan and the Christian sister probed Mom as to her philosophy and the child rearing course of action followed by Nelda and Roger Hawley. I guess I knew everything my mother talked about before I heard it on tape but that wasn't what hit me. I realized I had at least partially forgotten who my mother was. The words of wisdom which came from her did not surprise me. What made me sad was that I did not recognize her voice, so eloquent in a gracious, rural, Southern kind of way. Her recent method of communicating in random, unconnected words and phrases, spoken almost in a whisper shoved Mom's real voice into a dark alcove of my memories. I told Dad he needs to make copies of the tape for all of us. Harper needs to see what her great grandmother was like and more importantly, hear who she was from her own lips. I need to hear it again, too.

In the second chapter of Luke, we read about two old people in the temple overjoyed to see the baby who would become the Savior of mankind. Simeon and Anna knew the little one in Mary's arms was from the Lord and destined for indescribable greatness, despite his humble earthly roots. Jesus didn't skip the baby stage and go right to fighting Satan and I don't think that was accidental. On Christmas Eve, we opened presents at my brother Scott's house in Wichita. As we sat around a real, old fashioned tree you take from the earth, Mom received the night's most unique gift. My sister Cecelya sent her a baby doll, realistic in size, weight, and feel. Mom has taken to the infant girl, snuggling and holding her gently. Tonight, she was bouncing on her lap the addition to the family and talking to her like any great grandmother would talk to her great granddaughter. Mom can no longer distinguish between a real baby and a doll but she still loves with the maternal love of which God gave her a double helping. Dad told us Mom had wished for a female descendant named Cimmarron: that sounds like a good name for the doll. Until she gets the chance to hold Harper, cradling a plastic baby tenderly in her arms will have to do. The youngest Hawley and the oldest Hawley will love each other; they just haven't been formally introduced.

Applicable quote of the day:
"Before I got married, I had six theories about bringing up children. Now I have six children and no theories."
John Wilmot

God bless,
Steve (son of Nelda Hawley, great uncle of Harper Hawley)
Luke 18:1

Consider The Lilies...

 

Consider The Lilies...

I try to make it to Nashville, Arkansas once per year but I don't always succeed. While there, I'll make the trek to Mom's grave, about a mile away from the house where she was born that burned several years ago. Mom and Dad are buried side-by-side on the same spot where they said their wedding vows. This is about something that happened in the aftermath of her funeral. It's from June 15, 2009.

Mom's funeral was on April 4th so about ten weeks have passed since we laid her to rest in the New Corinth Cemetery in Nashville, Arkansas. After the burial, we returned to the funeral home to pick up some family items we had set out for viewing. A number of friends and family members had sent flowers, including potted plants. It was decided we would all take one plant home. I selected a Peace Lily. As we left the funeral home to go to the dinner prepared by the church, I heard Sally's brother, Paul, say that the good thing about a Peace Lily is that they are impossible to kill. We'll see.

Did you know the biological name for a Peace Lily is Spathiphyllum? I googled it when I got back to Houston, determined to keep that piece of Mom's memory alive. What I found was it needs indirect light and a certain amount of water, the amount varying depending on the site you pulled up. Instead, I set the pot on a table and forgot about it. In several days, it started drooping and leaves started falling off. Immediately, I watered it and placed it next to a window with blinds. Each morning, I would open the blinds to meet the light needs of the plant. And it revived! But, I would get busy and forget to open the blinds and quench its thirst for awhile and the cycle began again. I'm currently in a downward spiral. I hope I can rejuvenate the Peace Lily to where it resembles the picture at the top of the page. We'll see.

I'm not used to caring for plants or pets and taking the steps to insure they survive and flourish. This is my first stab at keeping something else alive. It's in my hands. The plant isn't going anywhere and if it perishes, there is only one to blame. Our relationship with God is like my relationship with the lily. He isn't changing or moving. A vibrant relationship is possible and He longs for it.... but I treat my Maker like I treat the plant. Give it some attention from time to time and then revert to busyness and apathy. When it starts to wither, I vow to change and I do better for awhile...and then the cycle begins anew. The verdict is still out as to whether you can kill a Peace Lily by neglect. I do know that Jesus taught that the beauty of the lilies in the field comes from the Father, the same Father who looks after His followers. I am indifferent but the Father never is. Thank God.

Applicable quote of the day:
"When you have only two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one, and a lily with the other”
Chinese Proverb

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1

Digitally Remastered

 

Digitally Remastered

There are parts of my life I am good at and parts I am not. The following, from November 9, 2005, highlights one of my real weaknesses.

A new term has become vogue the past several years in basketball and football: clock management. I introduced the concept with my junior high girls this morning in practice, keeping it to one simple rule: If we are ahead late in the game, keep the clock running. If we are behind, stop the clock. Failing to use the clock effectively and conserve time outs has cost pro and collegiate teams games and as a result, their coaches their jobs. The Rolling Stones sang, "Time is on my side." I would add this proviso- only if you're winning.

Clock management is an issue in my life. My obligations only increase and my time only decreases. We live by routines: it's the only way we finish anything. Every minute of my work day from the moment I get up is ordered. Each task is consistent in the time it takes to complete. From pre-dawn weight lifting to shaving to flossing teeth to eating breakfast to reading the Bible, I am efficient in use of the clock. My student aides (Viri, Beverly, Bouba) take care of much of the paper work and errands that fill my school schedule. But when I get home in the afternoon or early evening, my clock management goes out the window. I don't watch much television; I don't have cable. At one time I did but prayer intervened. I was teaching/coaching in Tennessee and found I wasn't getting much accomplished. I asked the Lord to help me use my time better. I'm not kidding- lightning struck my cable and caused my TV to suffer internal damage. It had to get fixed and I am cheap so I had the cable company remove their services during the repairs. Immediately, I started reading the Bible more, praying more, and getting things done. When my TOSHIBA set was healed and returned, I never had the cable hooked back up. With cable, I always found something interesting to watch, from Nickelodian to ESPN to CNN. I would find myself watching Headline NEWS back to back to back even though it repeats itself. With only three or four local Nashville stations, there was not as much temptation. Our God answers prayers!

Now in Houston, I have about six English speaking stations and two in Espanol. You know what half the programming is? INFOMERCIALS! Get rich kits, cure your arthritis shows, fitness gurus- they are relentless in their pursuit of dollars. (I admit, I bought a Tony Little Gazelle machine after watching the pony tailed wonder proclaim the best workout in the world- "YOU CAN DO IT!") Those specific infomercials don't get in my way but I have a weakness: the Time-Life Music Collection commercials. I can't get enough of them! From The 70's Music Explosion to Legends of Rock, from The Folk Years to Superstars of Country- I've seen them all. That's not the problem. The problem is I watch them over and over and over. All have the same format. One former star (Davy Jones, John Sebastian, Kenny Rogers, the guy who played Greg on the Brady Bunch) is teamed with a cute lady co-host. All show 10 second film clips of singers/groups lip synching hits, often in black-and-white, from forgotten TV shows. We're told we could never find all of these hits by ourselves. But the best part is this- THEY HAVE ALL BEEN DIGITALLY REMASTERED! I confess I have no idea what that means but it fascinates me. The collection being shown now is The 70's Music Explosion. I used to give an extra-credit listing in my history classes on tests. One category was Coach Hawley's WORST SONGS of ALL-TIME. The amazing thing is, all the songs in my bonus question are on this infomercial, from "Billy, Don't Be a Hero" by Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods to "The Night Chicago Died" by Paper Lace. How can we forget the truly awful Vicki Lawrence smash, "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" or Terry Jack's depressing "Seasons In The Sun?" They are all there- and 146 more! I have no interest in purchasing the set but I have the 30 minutes memorized. What a waste of time! I could be doing something productive instead of watching guys with bad haircuts sing songs I can't stand. The Bay City Rollers aren't going to improve between now and the next screening. I need to just put down the remote and walk away.

Is there a Time-Life Music in your world? In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus warns of things that cause stumbling, saying we need to toss them away. Hebrews 12:1 speaks of "throwing off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles." I would not classify infomercials as sin but if they keep me from doing good, if they are entangling Steve, then to me, they are sin. I'm making a vow- I'll never watch again! (If they come out with a new one, say Time-Life's Great British Invasion Groups, I may watch it once.) Solomon spoke at length about time, saying there was a time for dying, planting, mourning, loving, hating, but he never said there was a time for wasting. My favorite moment in all the Time-Life commercials was a clip in The Folk Years. It was the Byrd's using Solomon's words from Ecclesiastes 3 in their huge hit "Turn! Turn! Turn!" That's what I need to do- turn it off. The last words of that classic? 'I swear it's not too late.' Clock management of our lives: words of wisdom by way of Solomon and Time-Life Music.

Applicable quote of the day:
"We don't have an eternity to realize our dreams, only the time we have here."
Susan Taylor
To hear one of my all time least favorite songs ever, 'Billy, Don't be A Hero,' copy and paste the link below!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqfIKqW2ZPo

God bless,
Steve
Luke 18:1