PONDering

Sunday brought us a great rain that I thought was going to wash out my fishing trip with fellow outdoorsman Brent Bosher. But, after meeting over a great breakfast Monday morning, we decided to hit one of the Rec Center Volunteers pond and do some fishing anyway.

And fishing we did! With my new rod and reel (sponsored by my friends in the outdoor ministry)we started out drowning some tackle and then the fish grabbed on for some fun. We caught some bass and some blue gill and eventually a little sun. All of which we released back into the pond.

It was great being in the outdoors to get refreshed and enjoy some time just PONDering God and His creation. Certainly having the opportunity to do these kinds of things is a great benefit to being the Recreation Minister at Cool Spring!

Glossy Wood

The aroma of a freshly refinished gym floor is a sweet, OK maybe not so sweet, smell. Monday the Rec Center had its annual refinishing project for the hardwoods.

Thinking back to when I was a kid, I remember playing on basketball hardwoods that actually had more wax on them than the layer of wood they used. It's the way they did it back in the day. One refinishing job every 10 years was good enough because of the amount of wax they used to re cake or re coat the floor. Well, as with a lot of things, the times have changed. And while I am a fan of a friendly environment, re-doing a gym floor is now an annual event. Due the chemicals and products being used, the layers are no longer as thick. Therefore, requiring us to re-do it yearly. We are going "green" in the refinishing business.

The Rec Center will remain closed until next week. However, if you drop by to see your reflection in the glossy wood, please do not step on the floor. And for those who will be joining us on Sunday for our two services located in the Rec Center, we apologize now for the aroma of a "sweet smelling environmentally green refinished floor."

Expo Expo Expo

The 2010 Sportsman's Expo was a great opportunity for outdoor education, community development, and relationship evangelism.

This year we had the opportunity to partner with fourteen different outdoor companies and organizations committed to continuing education in the outdoors and ministering to families in the process. From Green Top, NWTF, Maritime Ministries, Cavalier International,Nature Conservancy of VA, Va Deer, Noble Warriors, Tim Skelton and decoys, Chad Hoover and Kayak Bass Fishing, and others. Throughout the day we had vendor booths available for one on one interaction with these representatives as well as six different seminar sessions focused on fishing techniques, turkey calls and decoys, land conservation methods, and online resources for those passionate about the outdoors.

Following our education/vendor time, a group of about 300 headed to dinner for wild game and special speaker Gary Miller of Outdoor Truths. The food was awesome and Gary's conversation regarding outdoor truths and God was a powerful connection. For the majority of outdoors people (hunters/fishermen), they do believe that there is a greater being who created the environment they find themselves in by way of a duck blind, deer stand, lake, or woods. And it's in this that they can see God's compass of creation that points them to Him. While many may not connect with a church, Christians, or Jesus, they do grasp the beginning premise that God is the Creator God. From there, the opportunity to meet Him and live with Him develops. On this night, we had several say yes to God's call on their lives through His son Jesus.

While the 2010 Sportsman's Expo was a great event, the opportunity for ministry continues as we head into turkey season, bible study options, and follow up with various people and outdoors organizations.

Let Him Do It

Throughout the year, three times specifically, I find myself encouraging our sports league directors that God will provide coaches. And no matter how many years we have hosted these leagues, God has provided volunteers and coaches.

The long lasting slogan of Nike is "Just Do It." Often times in a volunteer organization I find myself saying we have to "Just do it." We have go out and find coaches, we have to go out get more players to balance the teams, we have to "just do it."

While our staff and league directors have the abilities and personalities to organize, structure, recruit and run our sports leagues, we must yield ourselves to let "God (Him) Do It." Each year God proves Himself in providing our resources of players, coaches, league coordinators etc. In all these positions we meet new people each year with special gifts and desires to be a part of our sports ministry. And each year or season, I find all those worries of needs and "just do it" issues cared for by our heavenly Father. The scripture is clear on God's provision for us first in Christ Jesus for our lives and secondly in our daily needs. The scripture also reminds us to lay our burdens and worries aside for His care. It's when we fully trust Him and abide in Him do we lay all those worries/needs aside and watch Him provide.

I am thankful for those individuals who God has brought to our leagues willing to coach, lead, ref, and volunteer. These are God's provisions in my daily work through Recreation ministry. As I continue to grow and learn to trust Him more, I simply need to "Let him Do It."

Nutzy

Making his Upward Celebration Debut was Nutzy from the Richmond Flying Squirrels Baseball Club. With the inaugural season set to open for a home game on April 15, it was a great opportunity for our community to meet Nutzy and learn more about our new local Double A baseball affiliate with the San Francisco Giants.

One phrase I keep hearing around town is the concept of fun. The slogan that the Squirrels are using is "HAVE FUNN, GO NUTS." Even while listening to their staff talk on the radio or at various locations, they repeatedly will emphasize the desire they have to help families make memories while having fun.

I love the concept that they are building on. They are setting the stage for families to once again enjoy America's past time and do it with a recreation emphasis - FUN. While I want to see good baseball played; I am excited about taking the family to the ball park for an affordable price, give a-ways, fireworks, and good conversations and laughs between innings - Making Memories!

Check out the Flying Squirrels website at www.SquirrelsBaseball.com.

(For some who are wondering,Nutzy is the one with the mascot outfit on...)

Adaptive Sports

Last weekend I headed to the mountains of Wintergreen just outside of Charlottesville with the family and friends. We had planned a two day get-a-way with our kids for skiing and relaxation.

The idea of skiing for me was foreign. Since my cancer operation in 1988 I had not participated in any sport of this kind. With the removal of certain muscles, any impact blow to my leg could turn bad long term. However, Wintergreen has an Adaptive Sports program for those with disabilities that hinder them from participating with traditional ski methods. With the support of the Craymer family, I decided it was time for me to ski with my kids rather than sit and watch.

It was awesome! And it was also a growth time for me. It was awesome because I was doing a sport with my kids I thought I would never be able to do following my surgery. It was a growth moment in my life because I had never accepted the fact that I should or could participate in an Adaptive Sports program. While I am blessed in comparison to those who have lost limbs or battle CP, it was still a hurdle for me mentally and it was awesome!

I hit the slopes with an instructor on a mono-ski. Basically I sit in a chair strapped in and under me is a single ski. The key is to use your core to balance yourself on the ski. With my upper body and arms, I have two mini ski's I use for turning and guiding. Trust me it takes major focus and arm strength to work this system as well as concentration on stabilizing the core muscles. The instructors linked me to them with a tether rope in order to help me maintain speed while skiing properly. I was able to ski two full days and on the final run,with great joy, I controlled the complete run myself and cheered with excitement through the last turn and down to the gates. I did it and I did it with my kids! It reminded me of the scripture passage that I had claimed in 1988; Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Throughout the course of the two day ski, I was able to share God's plan for my life with those helping me.

I am thankful to the Craymer's for encouraging me and to the Wintergreen Adaptive Sports Program that provides opportunities for those with disabilities to take the slopes for a day of fun and accomplishment.

Celebration Night

The 2010 Upward Basketball season in now coming to a close. Tonight we will host our end of the year celebration featuring Matt Fore. First show begins at 6 PM and second show starts at 8 PM.

This season has been another great season for us with a few changes involved. This year we added a Challenger Division for children ages 6-13 with special needs. This division played on Friday nights and included 15 players and close to 28 buddies and a total of 50 volunteers to work with the league. It was awesome to watch these athletes play each week and to see their families enjoy time to watch their children play. Each game consisted of player introductions, music, play by play, and cheerleader activities.

Another change for this season was the court adjustment for those in the 4th grade division playing on a ten foot basket. This division moved from playing a cross court short game to a full size court with fast break options. From a rules and development point of view, we found this to be successful for those players. We are looking forward to continuing to develop our Upward league in a pattern that introduces players to the game fundamentals, moves them to a next level of play, and continues to promote an atmosphere that encourages good sportsmanship and Christ like characteristics.

Thanks to the Directors: Michael Curley, Ed Berenson, Tammy Swecker, Greg Cochran, Scott Kuphol, Neil Atkinson, Sharon Gaston, Danny Geurtler, Kelly Verham, and Charles Whitlock for coordinating the league and game facilities.

Hunter Education / Sportsman's Expo

One of the great ways to get to know those interested in the outdoors and particularly hunting is to partner with the State Game Department and host a Hunter Education course or Sportsman's Expo.

This past weekend, Friday night and Saturday, our Outdoor Ministry team partnered with the Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries to host an education course. Next weekend we will be hosting a Sportsman's Expo in partnership with Green Top that will focus on specific topics, demonstrations, and wild game. Here are a couple of good reasons for hosting Hunter Education/Sportsman's Expo's:

• Hosting these events allows for your team to participate in outdoor education programs with those agencies and corporations who are doing the same. This also creates new relationships and name recognition within your community that people are looking for. While you could do it alone, I encourage you to go out of your boundaries and work with others already involved.
  
• Hosting these events will expand your target group focus. Those attending and participating will help you create a database for future relationships and attendance in other outdoor ministry activities; hunting, bible studies, etc.
• Hosting these events demonstrates to the community that you are and want to be relevant in your ministry. People will see the passion for the outdoor relate to the passion for a relationship with Christ and living out the two together.
• Hosting special events is and should always be a starting point for entrance into relationships with others, small group or one on one bible studies, and an introduction to Christ or the discipling of believer's.

The Hunter Education course included 60 participates that was taught by our own Brent Bosher. This course allowed us the opportunity to serve 60 new people not related to our ministry. Half of those want to hear more about the Outdoor Ministry and be invited to future Outdoor Ministry related activities. The team did a great job with first impressions for our guests through give-a-ways, providing lunch/snacks, and building relationships.

I look forward to seeing what will happen next week during our Sportsman's Expo with special speaker Gary Miller and other vendors.

Photo Finish

This picture speaks volumes to the Challenger League. It has been an exciting and electrifying year of basketball! Friday nights have been impactful on all levels. From providing an opportunity for our special needs community to play basketball, new family relationships developed, volunteer buddies working with players, and the list goes on.

The reason this picture is so great is that it demonstrates (in the words of our League Director Ed Berenson) "the thrill of the game with Brenna shooting and the love between player and buddy with Joseph and Kelley." This picture speaks volumes to what Christ speaks about in the Bible. Christ's love for the children is undeniable when He says, "let the little children come to me." Also we find Christ's love for everyone (size, shape, color, ability or disability) to be evident. He cared for the sick and lame and had compassion on all.

Throughout our six game season, the message of Christ has been both displayed and learned. While we have tried to display the love of Christ, I would say that we have learned more about Christ and His love, care, and expression of children and people throughout the process. This has truly been a great first season for our Upward Challenger Division.

Combination of the Two

The soccer draft room was full today. With the league filling up and over 650 players, it takes several people working together to manage the draft process. From coach assignments, to players connections, practice night schedules, and games; there is never enough eyes and ears to overlook the process.

Beginning today at 10 AM a combination of people prepared themselves for the task. We had veteran leadership with knowledge of coaches and players and new leadership learning the computer draft program. It was great to see the mentor process take place and people grow together in service. Essentially we had folks broken in teams of two's to work on specific areas in order to accomplish our goal for the day. Jesus even instructed and guided us to work in two's. It gives us power and insight into the task ahead of us.

I am thankful today for those who gave a day off from work to pursue their passion of serving in our soccer league.

Where Has Time Gone

Time has disappeared on us in the Rec Ministry the last two weeks. Of course this is the time of year that is one of our busiest. From adult leagues ending to new adult leagues starting, Upward Basketball ending, Upward Soccer draft starting and practices starting, and Upward Football preparations beginning. We also have new hunter education courses being offered and our annual Sportsman's Expo. The time has gone by in a hurry over the last month. Not to mention the two snowstorms that we are still recovering from from a re-scheduling perspective and wet fields.

I look forward to the return of daily blogging and sharing where God is working in our community and Rec Ministry.