Down Wind

One of my biggest fears and reasons I do not partake in using the outdoor facilities. This was a photo I took the day after thanksgiving at the Nags Head Golf Villages. Somebody had a little to much turkey and stuffing..... (I hope it was just a result of the heavy wind blowing).

Thanksgiving

The scripture is full of "thanks" and "thanksgiving." As you spend time with family this week, take time to read some specific passages regarding "thanksgiving." Just a few to start with: Psalm 100:4, Psalm 69:30, Psalm 79:13, Psalm 118:1, Phil 3:10, 1 Thes. 5:18 and so on...

Reading the scriptures of thanksgiving gives us a Godly perspective. A perspective to be thankful first for a God who has created us and loved us without any conditions and a perspective that reminds us of the provisions He has blessed us with - generations of family, housing, food, clothing, work, etc. In all things, GIVE THANKS.

Happy Thanksgiving from my house to yours!

Top 10 Reasons...

I had the opportunity to visit Buffalo, NY Monday to spend time with the Leistner family,as well as others from Cool Spring. While I was there, we identified the top ten reasons to go to Buffalo:

10.I'm feeling a Super Mighty (a large overstuffed taco)
9. Hi,my name is Bob from Buffalo (every body was named Bob)
8. Fire Hall (there are no fire stations, they are fire halls)
7. Leather Bomber Jackets still the preferred winter coat
6. Chef's Sauce (famous Italian restaurant downtown)
5. The phrase , "Have another pop." (that's coke to you and I)
4. The use of the word "Youse," as in youse guys
3. The phrase, "hey, I saw you at the hockey rink..."
2. Tim Horton's coffee!! (FYI - Tim Horton is in the top all time 50 NHL players)

And the number reason to go to Buffalo for the day.....

1. The wings are better because the buffalo's are bigger!!!

Coach Training

Today we hosted our annual Upward Basketball Coach Training with Coach Bob Foley. Coach Foley does a great job of teaching our coaches how to maximize their time during practice while teaching skills of the game. Coach Foley has a great history of coaching at the collegiate level as well as a camp director and instructor.

Coach Foley said a lot of things about basketball today that stood out, but he started the training with this; "You are not coaching basketball, you are coaching kids." Wow! What a statement about the responsibility given to coaches. This statement should turn our attention to the way we instruct / communicate to those playing for us. It's about recognizing each player for their personalities and abilities and working with them in order to grow them in both areas. Coaching kids is also about them having fun! Doing drills and skills that involve them rather than impress them with head knowledge of the game (most of which they will not comprehend or need during a recreational activity in the second grade). Coaching is an opportunity to impact the lives of our youngsters. It's a privilege that allows us to invest in them. And it's a responsibility we need to recognize the potential outcome we can be a part of.

If you are coaching this season, remember the kids want to have fun. Yes, we need to teach them the sport, but don't over coach them. There are great tools available for teaching kids and working with them. Check out the American Sport and Education Program, Bob Foley Next Level Basketball, and Upward.org for more information.

Oswald Chambers

One the greatest writers of truth and thought for me is Oswald Chambers. The depths in which he thinks and writes and wraps his heart around a relationship with Christ blows me away on a daily basis. If you need a good daily devotional, purchase Oswald Chambers My Utmost For His Highest.

Two thoughts that hit me today:

1. It's more our character that hinders who God really is. We tend view ourselves and things as just ordinary, and therefore, have an ordinary view of God and what He wants to do. Which is NOT God's character.

2. It's in obedience to small daily tasks that will illuminate the joy and greatness of God. While reading daily is critical for our spiritual walk and refreshing, it will always be obedience that creates an awesome joy of serving God.

Outdoor Dining

Sunday was a great time of fellowship for the Outdoor Ministry. Families gathered together to enjoy venison prepared with bacon wrap, jerky, and Glen Dunaways speacial tenderloin and sauce. We also had Rock fish and Grouper along with great sides and sweets to follow.

But the best part was the opportunities that families had to enjoy this time together. Often I see ministries developed that tend to separate the family. Ministries that are geared to impact groupings of individuals. While I believe individuals need connecting, it should not create a divide for the family in learning and growing in ministry together. Our culture, and even myself, struggles with this. We feel the need to be a men's group, a woman's group, a mom's/dad's group, a sports group, and before you realize it, these groups have consumed the two most valuable things provided to us: time and family.

As the father of a high school senior and preparing for college, (ask me about him and I will be glad to tell you he has a 4.0 GPA, works with the Cool Spring Child Care Center,and ..well you are suppose to ask me) I am realizing as time goes by, that relationships with the family and time with them are the most important. And yes, I to have to work at this.

Involve your family and involve yourself in the interests of your family.

Enjoy the Hunt

This weekend starts general firearms hunting in VA. With that I want to give a shout out to the Outdoor Ministry guys of Cool Spring. Enjoy the Hunt! Remember the hunt is like the process of our Christian lives. God is more concerned with the process of transformation in our lives than He is in a few big changes every now and then. See http://trophytalk.blogspot.com for Greg Edmonds insight into the armor of God.

New Commissh'

I love when God puts the "right people" in my path. Thursday I was having a breakfast meeting with our Flag Football director, current referee commissioner and a new referee commissioner for next year. I had come to know this new referee commissioner over the last year through his serving as a regular ref in our league. But yesterday I really got to know him.

I was aware that we would be needing a new commissioner in this area. Andy Lacatel, who has done a great job over the last several seasons, is moving on in ministry. So over the last month or so we have been praying about a new person for this role. One particular person came to our attention. And today it was confirmed. God introduced me to the real(not just the on field person) Brian Hyde. As I listened to the story of his life; from growing up in Michigan, participating in the 1996 Olympics, and how Christ became real in his life, I knew the "right person" was before us as we move forward in Flag Football. While sports, even at the highest level, was a major factor in his life, what I really saw was humility and desire to influence others because of his relationship with Christ.

The "right people" are critical. And yesterday God brought one our way. Thanks to Brian Hyde for saying yes to this new ministry.

What to do in 2010?

Start making your exercise and fitness plans now. The 2010 year is upon us and things are changing. I follow Club Industry Fitness Magazine for articles and research on several topics. I have copied part of an article revealing the new fitness trends coming our way.

In 2010, consumers will seek out educated, experienced fitness professionals, according to the American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) top fitness trends survey. The fourth-annual ACSM survey was based on feedback from 1,500 respondents. Some 37 potential trends were given as survey choices, with the top 20 ranked and published by ACSM.

Strength training was listed second in the rankings, which is an indicator of the increased focus on strength training for various populations, survey authors noted.

ACSM’s top 10 fitness trends for 2010 are:

1. Educated and experienced fitness professionals

2. Strength training

3. Children and obesity

4. Personal training (we offer this at the Rec Center)

5. Core training

6. Special fitness programs for older adults

7. Functional fitness

8. Sport-specific training

9. Pilates

10. Group personal training

What will it be? We all fall into one of these categories of improvement needed!

Thanks to Our Veterans

Happy Veterans Day! Today is a day we reflect and give thanks to God for the opportunity he has provided us to live in a country of freedom. And today is a day that we give thanks to all the men and women (and families) that have sacrificed in order to continue living in those freedoms. Thank You!

Football Funny

Received this photo today. The two go hand and hand - names and numbers. Enjoy!

Execution

As a leader over a Recreation Ministry it is my desire to see that we are "executing" our daily tasks in order to achieve our mission of "combining sports and leisure with the companionship of Christ." Franklin Covey has a great tool for execution entitled, The Four Essentials of Execution. The disciplines are: Focus on the Wildly Important, Act on the Lead Measures, Keep a Compelling Scoreboard, and Create a Cadence of Accountability. Working through each of these points, along with team members, will enable us to see how we are doing in combining sports and ministry. As a Recreation Minister, it is also my job to communicate with those working (Upward Directors, Volunteers, Fitness Classes, Adult League Directors) our mission statement. And, it is my job to teach them to execute in their specific area so that we do the best job possible of reaching our community for Christ through recreation.

As followers of Christ we have been communicated with through the writing of the Bible. In this book, we have been given a plan of execution for our lives. It is a source for which we can read and grow in, only if we execute! Often times we read and walk away without providing ourselves a means in which we will execute in our lives what we gained from reading. As a result / overflow of reading, we should be propelled into execution. Take time to Read, Report, and Reflect on what God is saying to you in His word. Through this process you will become disciplined in the area of spiritual "execution."

Solitude

Solitude and Silence are two words that connect together in regards to the area of spiritual disciplines. And this twin discipline is one in which I to often miss out on.In fact, most of us miss out.

Our culture and world around us are so packed with noise - ipods, play stations,TV's,cell phones,- that we have become afraid of solitude and silence. We fear what we will do when we simply sit still and ponder. This Sunday I will be preaching on the discipline of Solitude and Silence at Cool Spring Church. Not only will I be sharing with those in attendance, but I am praying that this message will impact me just as much.

Take a few minutes to sit still, to get away for a "minute" retreat and create space for balance in your busy life. God promises us that we will meet him there.

So, in practicing what I am going to preach, check out the above view I had yesterday from Royal New Kent Golf Course. Thanks Chris Jones for a great day of golf.

Pour It

Traditionally I wait till after Thanksgiving to pour the first glass of Egg Nog. But with the new Pumpkin Egg Nog, I couldn't wait. Happy Thanksgiving to me!

Branded

We had a great five year celebration party this past Friday night with Upward Flag Football. We had great help from the Va. Baptist Disaster Team (no, we didn't have a disaster) in cooking large amounts of food, as well as the Outdoor Ministry Team of Cool Spring Church (see http:trophytalk.blogspot.com).

In part of the celebration, we painted the Upward "U" and the number "five" on the fields for the kids during game day. It was local branding at its best. It was our way of promoting Upward and doing something different for game day to remind people this was our fifth year celebration.

Branding your logo and getting it out for others to see is a great tool. It promotes who and what you are about as a ministry or organization. The logo non-verbally communicates your message. We have several logos we use in our Rec Ministry that promote the main mission of Cool Spring Recreation as well as sub logos for particular areas.

In thinking about branding, we have to ask ourselves, "What are we, as individuals, branding?" When people see us, do they see who or what controls us? Are we reflective of the Christian nature that Jesus speaks of in the New Testament? A simple logo verse is found in 1 Corinthians 10:31 - Whether you eat or drink, whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. As a follower of Christ, remember someone paid the ultimate price for your logo. Someone poured out sweat and tears over it. Someone created the perfect design for it. That someone was Christ, therefore, promote it well.

Thoughts from Today

I'm going through Romans in my quiet time. Here are some thoughts from today and Romans 12 that stood out to me:

• v1 - presenting myself and my body as a living sacrifice is my part of my spiritual service of worship
• v2 - don't chase the world; practice the discipline of renewing my mind so that I reflect Christ and that which is good
• v3 - humility - never elevate myself over others
• v5-8 - work together with others and their gifts
• v9 - hate evil, cling to what is good; grab goodness as tightly as I can, because our society and world is doing away with it
• v12 - rejoice in hope - be thankful for Christ who is hope
• v12 - persevere in tribulations - don't quit
• v12 - devoted prayer - pray, pray, and pray
• v15 - connect with and walk alongside of others; those who are rejoicing and those who are weeping
• v.16 - wisdom is not you - don't be wise in your on estimation (this goes back to prayer)
• v18 - have good relationships - as it depends on me, be at peace with others
• v19-20 - God will deal with vengeance (let him do it)
• 21 - good overcomes evil

Take time to reflect on these. And take time to get alone with God in order to reflect.