Character Camp

This past week we welcomed 70 campers back to Rolando Lamb's Character Camp. This camp focuses on the A Game - Attitude, Academics, and Athletics. Coach Lamb uses his basketball skills and passion for God to instill in every child the heart of a champion. Each day Coach Lamb teaches character through specific scriptures as reflected through the life of Christ and players are required to learn passages of their choice each day.Throughout the week campers are reminded, "While there is much talent in the world of sport and talent can get you to the top, it's character that keeps you there." Campers also spend the four days doing conditioning drills and basketball skill drills.

"A Game" Daily Disciplines provided for each player are:
* I will read my Bible everyday
* I will have a positive attitude
* I will obey my parents
* I will make good grades
* I will practice to be the best

"Champions do daily, what losers do occasionally"

Reflections of Investment

Tonight I had the privilege of heading downtown to Ben Wallace's Gym for the Richmond Pro Am league to watch some basketball. From local college players to NBA players. Good basketball and a lot of fun.

What was best about the night was the number of people that we (Steve Rowe, Alvin Allen, Brendan English) knew from using the Cool Spring Rec Center. From relationships with those in our adult basketball leagues, people who play during open gym hours, and players who we partner with for personal training time. My intentions were to go and enjoy watching some local talent of one or two players we knew. But what we saw was a reflection of individuals that the openness of the Rec Center has invested in. We saw the people who come to play basketball and who have gained our trust and allowed us to invest in them spiritually and physically. Tonight was a time in which we met them in their neighborhood and comfort zone.

Investing in people goes both ways. It's not just serving folks in your comfort zone or personal space. It involves going to the places where they hang out, attend events, and meet their friends.

I am thankful for the work of the Rec Ministry and open basketball for the community. And I am thankful for the smiles on the faces of those who are glad to see us in their communities and gatherings.

Portion Distortion

Summer time food is great! Pole Green Market is a local Hanover market located minutes from my house and I love to go there and see the colors of the food, smell the summer fruits, and enjoy the fact that the produce and food is grown locally.

Food is an essential part of our daily lives. It provides nurishment , energy, and even prevents and fights off disease. But the amount of food we have become accustomed to is creating high stats of obesity nationwide. Sizing of plates, expectations of "amount" per cost, and the quick and easy food process is hindering us from being the healthy people God created us to be.

Marty Rowe of Body Mechanix and member of Cool Spring recently spoke about food portion and nutrition on local TV WTVR. Check out her interview at:

http://www.wtvr.com/videobeta/f83217ad-95eb-4ab9-873d-bf33e7c400a3/Community/Losing-Weight

Rest

Memorial Day weekend was great for me. I had Saturday off from any games / leagues and was able to enjoy the company of my wife and family for Brendan's 12th birthday. Sunday was spent at Nationals Park with some great Rec Volunteers. Monday was more time with Kelly, home projects, and Orioles baseball. And finally, Tuesday was date time with Kelly during lunch at the water park at Kings Dominion. It ended up being a four day weekend for me that allowed for rest and recovery.

Recently Kelly and I have been reading Tim Keller's book Kings Cross. It is a great compliment to studying the book Mark. Keller does a great job of picking out certain passages and providing scriptural insight that leads to deeper meditation and contemplation throughout the day. The most recent chapter was reference to Mark 2: 23-28. Keller speaks on the topic of rest and the Sabbath. Jesus uses the term "I AM" throughout the scripture and demonstrates that it is through him that we truly find rest. Jesus gives us two thoughts:

1. Jesus calls for me and you to take time off - physical and mental time away - on a regular basis. Stepping out and away from daily activity will provide for fun and vitality in your life.

2. Rest is also a time that you and I can be satisfied with our work, so satisfied, that we can leave it alone. Looking back at Genesis and the creation story we see this example lived out. It was after He created that He stepped away and was satisfied. Unfortunately with the technology world, we seem to always be connected mentally to our work through email, phones, twitter etc.

Learning the discipline of rest and the use of the Sabbath - restoring the diminished, replenishing the drained, and repairing the broken- is something we all need to learn to enjoy. And underlying both of these points is the fact that it "is" Jesus who provides the rest for our bodies and mind, as well as the satisfaction of our work. Through Him, we no longer need to look toward the work of self-justification. The cross is the point at which true rest and satisfaction can begin in our lives.

Interns....they're back !

You know summer is here when the camp schedules get full and your interns arrive! This summer we welcome to the Rec Center Logan Spiers (Liberty University) and Luke Raikes (Old Dominion University). Please be sure to welcome them as you see them in the Rec Center and out on the fields.

Summer interns are key. Gone are the days that interns just do the dirty work that others don't want to do (OK, they will do some of that). But today's intern is looking for validity and someone to help them explore their gifts and skills over a short period of time. They are looking for the opportunity to be trusted, the opportunity to be creative, and the opportunity to learn through both failure and success.

I guess with that in mind, aren't we all interns? We are people living on this earth for a short period of time searching for opportunities to explore our gifts and talents with someone who we can trust and feel comfortable with whether we fail or succeed. Back in the day we referred to interns as disciples. They were people like you and me studying under the feet of a Savior and learning how to share the good news which He delivered in word and deed.

As an intern myself at one time, I remember the excitement of an opportunity. And I also remember the freedom of knowing I wasn't in it for long. I would suggest today that we live in that same mindset. The mindset that we are going to live in excitement of sharing the good news of the Christ life (in word and deed) knowing that we only have a short period in which to serve.

Nothing like a good Quote

There is nothing a quick one or two line quote that throws your mind into deep meditation and realization of the deep struggles you face in your daily life. Here is one that I recently came across:

"The one secret of life and development, is not to devise a plan...but to do every moment's duty aright...and let come - not what will, for there is no such thing - but what the eternal Thought wills for each of us, has intended in each of us from the first"

George MacDonald, author

The Princess and the Goblin

Relish the Game

Today we officially kicked off PICKLEBALL in the Rec Center and we "relish" the game!

Pickleball is sweeping the nation. Just check out http://usapa.org and see how explosive this game is. Pickleball is a simple game played using paddles, a special perforated, slow-moving ball over a tennis-type net on a badmitton-sized court. The ball is put into play and the volley game begins.

Pickleball is offered on Monday nights from 6-9 PM and Thursday mornings from 9-noon for those fifty and over. The game offers great fellowship and exercise movements. Come join us and bring a friend.