What's The World Coming To?

Yesterday I learned of a tragic event in southern Tennessee. It was in the town of Selmer. A 31 year old minister, Matthew Winkler, grandson of the late Wendell Winkler was shot and killed in his home. He did not show up for the Wednesday midweek service. The elders went to the parsonage and found him shot in the back. His wife and three young children were not at home. He was the minister for the 4th Street Church of Christ. Well loved by the people. It was sad to say the least.

The story gets worse. Today, they found his wife and children in Orange Beach, Alabama. She has admitted to shooting him. I don't know this family at all, but my heart goes out to them. What a terrible thing that has happened.

What is this world coming to? What happens to a person who knows the love of Jesus and can do something like this? Who knows anything anymore?

Please pray for this family.

Coaches' Clinic

The picture added to my blog is one of my favorites. I had to carry this little girl (10 years old) off the field after an injury. This was during the the Dixie Youth Girls 9-10 World Series in 2003. We won only one game in the series which was one more than anyone ever expected us to win. It was fun to be there.

I am coaching again this season in baseball. I will be coaching my sons team (possibly for the last time because of age) in the 13-14 Dixie Boys League. I hope to make it a fun year. No pressure. No yelling at umpires. No unruly parents. (Am I dreaming or what?)

Last night we had our annual coaches' clinic. They require coaches who are in Dixie softball and baseball to attend. You can imagine a bunch of "not-it-all" coaches being taught techniques of coaching. It reminded me a lot of being in a class full of students who "had" to be there, but really didn't think it was necessary. Lots of eyes rolling when instruction was given. Snickers when the instructor tried to say something funny. Just like a group of kids.

That may be one of the problems with youth sports. Coaches that think we know everything. I hope that we can humble ourselves and help the kids understand that the game is just that--a game. I hope to use this experience to help kids understand the Spirit of Jesus more through how I handle myself. Pray that I can do that.

He's Baaack!

Well, I'm back at least for today. Thanks to all of you for the encouragement and allowing some time away.

Britney made the color guard!! She is so excited. This means three in band next year. I asked the band director if I could get a "Brady Bunch" discount on band fees. Ha!! I was just kidding with him, but he said, "Sure you will." Reminds me of the fact that the answer is always "no" if you don't ask.

The cabinets look great. My brother truly has the touch of the master's hand. To watch him work is just like watching daddy. The only kicker with the cabinets came when the lady we are doing them for said (after looking at them and agreeing that they look wonderful), "Hmmm, there's something missing. I think there needs to be another small cabinet there." So my brother is now figuring the cost for an additional cabinet. I could really tell his disappointment about not being through with the job, but, like dad, he agreed it would look better and agreed to build it.

It was emotional looking at the finished product that my dad had started and we had finished. There was the last thing in this world that he built--the last cabinet he ever stained--the last pieces of wood that he touched. It is strange how those kind of things mean so much to you when in life we take them for granted. I guess that is one of the greatest lessons I have learned in this time of grief over dad--that I should never take anything and especially anyone for granted in this life. I just never know when I'm going to lose the ones I love or they are going to lose me.

Thanks again to my blog family and the encouragement you give to me.