More basketball

Another weekend passes and I have more basketball stories. If you do not care to hear about the girls tournament, now is the time to hit the delete button. Character, desire, competitiveness are words that clearly describes my girls this weekend. We started playing games at 9 in the morning. We finished our 5th game of the day at 9:15 that night. We won our first game and had an hour and a half rest before playing again. Our next game was one for the ages. We were matched up against a very good team from Lubbock. They jumped us pretty good. Got out to a 8-0 lead before we scored. I called a timeout and "challenged" my team to dig deep and find "it" and get back in the game. They walked out and scored 2 quick baskets. The score ended up being 20-9 at half time. This was the first game for the Lubbock team and our second. The girls were already looking tired. The second half started and the girls climbed back to a within 6 pretty quick. The girls battled with them best they could. Here is were it gets crazy awesome. We are down 12 points with barely over 2 minutes to go. Kaiygen, one of my guards hits a 3 from the top. (down 9). Somehow we get the ball back. This whole time I am watching the clock, because I still have 1 timeout left. The girls come down, make a few passes and Kaiygen hits another 3. (we are down 6 with 45 seconds left.) I use my last time out. I tell the girls to "D" up like mad crazed dogs. We get the ball back again and this time Mercedez nails a 3. (we are down 3 with like 30 seconds left). The girls are running around as hard as they can, giving it everything and we get the ball back, and you guessed it...Mercedez hits another 3. (game tied). There are 12 seconds left. Lubbock calls a timeout. I tell the girls, get the ball back, get it down low for 2. That is all we need. I do not remember how, but the girls got the ball and with 4.7 seconds left Zoe gets fouled in the act of shooting and she gets 2 free shots. Before I go any further....Zoe is our best free throw shooter. She steps up and misses both shots. I cannot remember the last time she went O for 2. Overtime. We have the lead and wouldn't you know it, with 2 seconds left in overtime they score to tie it again. Double overtime, we lose by 1. It was one of the most exciting games I have been apart of in a long time and probably the most exciting to this point for my girls. I can't remember how long we had before our next game, but it didn't seem long enough. Won our next game by 10 and then had to play a good team from Plainview. We just struggled through the entire game, much like we had the game before, and never led until a minute or so left in the game. Somehow the girls had reached down again for a 3rd time. We won that game by 1 point. We are now basically in the final four. The last game they were so tired. I had one girl who was sick to her stomach, one with a bad finger, another with a bad knee, and another with a hurt and sore toe. Five games in one day is brutal. We started off ok, but quickly showed fatigue. Led the entire game until the end, and lost. We lost 2 games by a combined total of 3 points. That is hard to take. I think I would rather get destroyed than to barely lose. Losing like that is harder, especially when victory was right there. I had all day Sunday to think about what my little team had done. Six months ago this same very team would have responded very differently. They would have given up when they got down and tired. Maturity, desire, confidence are the things that have changed. These girls believe in each other and themselves now. How many times in our lives have we been down and given up as a child or adult for that matter. Then everyone has "that" story where we decided to give God a try and it somehow worked out for us. Sometimes that story comes at a young age, sometimes as an adult. Either way it gave us the confidence in Christ we maybe lacked. Taught us we are tougher than we think. It makes us discover that through Christ we can do anything. For me, being an athlete all my life it started with experiences like this. Maybe wanting to give up in a game, but continuing to play on and then coming up out of it victorious! Learning lessons like this are a great part of growing up, and something we always continually learn at all ages, either by experiencing first hand or watching others. Experience is the best teacher. Maturity, confidence, desire...all things my team, myself and my Dad (who helps me coach), the girls families, and friends all learned and gained this weekend. We may have lost a couple of close games, but we gained so much more. Till next time.

Just a quick Yee-Haw!!!!

I just gotta brag!!! "My girls" played this weekend in Panhandle. They won the tournament. In the final game they all scored at least 4 points or more. That is cool. This is the picture of the tourney champs. Later...

25 things you may not know about me.

A few months ago there was a deal going around on facebook called the '25 things about me', or '25 things I wish you knew about me' or something like that. I started thinking about that this evening for some weird reason. I thought to myself, "I bet there are at least 10 things out of 25 that most people do not know about me." I thought this would be fun to list some things....so here goes.

1. I have the most high pressured name in the history of mankind. My full name is Curtis Lynn. Curtis after my grandfather, who preached for 60 years. My grandfather was a very well known man around these parts. He baptized 1000's, married and buried way more than can ever be counted. He was awesome!!! Lynn, after my uncle, who is equally as well known as my grandfather. The pressure is killing me! Not really, it is really an honor to be named after such awesome, Godly men.

2. One of my all time favorite musical artists is Barry Manilow. I know, I know....

3. This one here, very few people even know about. In May 2007, I quit dipping snuff cold turkey. This has been very hard. It was my crutch for many, many years (24 years to be exact). This is the 5th time I tried quitting, but I think I got it licked this time. I will admit though, after a big ol' meal, the craving sometimes hits me. I just get some gum, pray to God to make it pass and before long it is gone. I know alot of men who have had the same addiction and stopped. It is really a very nasty habit.

4. I like country music.

5. I like rock-n-roll and going to concerts with my wife.

6. I date three fantastic ladies all the time. My wife and two daughters.

7. I use to be a shoe salesman at JC Penneys. (20 years ago)

8. I played college basketball. Well, I was on a college team. Didn't get to play much.

9. I wish everyone knew how hilarious my younger brother Russell is. The stuff he comes up with sometimes is priceless.

10. There was a time back in my sophmore year of college when I seriously considered changing my major to biblical studies. I thought I wanted to be a minister like my grandfather. (Probably a good thing I didn't). Can you imagine me a minister?

11. I really, really, really enjoy hunting. Getting out in the field with my brother and cousin Jon, killin' stuff....awesome. Watching my dog do his thing is truly a thing of beauty. That dog beats all I ever saw. Doing what he was born to do is totally fun.

12. I have a tattoo on my right arm. Maybe a new one on my back soon.

13. I have always wanted to be a teacher and coach.

14. I am currently enrolled in college to make #13 a reality. Just 28 more hours after this semester and I am done baby!!!!

15. I have gone to the same church for 25 years.

16. I was valedictorian of my graduating class. Never mind the fact that there were only 4 of us and the other 3 were dumb rears. But hey, I got scholarship money for it.

17. My freshman year of football, I got knocked out cold, came to in the ambulance, and had one major headache. They call the injury I had a neck stinger. Set out one week and played the rest of the season. WHAT AN IDIOT!!!! No doubt the cause of my occasional migraines.

18. When I was 22 years old I broke my leg bad playing basketball. Seriously...the leg broke in half. It hurt. My oldest daughter (who was 1 year old at the time) and I started to walk at the same time.

19. I have been sued. (and lost)

20. Virginia Stubbs is my oldest friend. We have been going to church together since birth. That is no exaggeration. Back in the day we went to church at Bell Avenue CofC. We went to school together at Sam Houston Jr. High. Then when I thought I was done with this woman she got in my family. She married my cousin Todd. I can't get away from this woman. Lucky for me.

21. My wife dated or went on a date with everyone of my older cousins. But I was the lucky one.

22. My wife and I have known each other for 23 years, been married for 18 of that. (seems eternally longer) just kidding!!!

23. I really like to fish also. Do not get to fish as much as I would like, but still love it just the same. My Poppa was a great fisherman and I got to fish with him some. I wish I could have spent more time with him, but the times I had with him were fantastic. Now my poppa was a character. He is a whole other story. One day I will share with you his story. Pretty cool.

24. When I was a 19 year old moron (freshman year), me and a bunch of guys from college got into huge trouble. I sorta lost my basketball scholarship for the semester. And I sorta was in bigger trouble with my Dad. I have really put him through some crap over the years and he still keeps on loving me. Kinda reminds me of an example in the bible about a guy who loved like that. Thanks Dad.

25. Last but not least, I really miss getting to talk to my grandmother. Sylvia Camp, the greatest woman I have ever known. (and I know some incredible women: my wife, my mom)My first best friend. When I was a little guy, I would always sit with grandmother at church, and then stand beside her and greet everyone as they left the building. The things I learned from her are priceless treasures to my heart. Grandmother was always wanting to learn more. The older I got the more I realized this and the more she would share with me. I remember going over to the house to just see what she was up to and talk. She loved serving God and others. She based her entire life to serving and helping my granddad with his ministries. After grandmother retired she wrote 4 books, wrote a number of songs, and just kept on trying to gain more knowledge. She was awesome!!!

So...did you learn something new about me? I figure maybe you have. This was fun for me to think about this stuff, hope it was for you. Now get back to work and stop reading this garbage.

till next time....

Experiencing God

My family and I did something a little different yesterday. We decided to go visit a church that is different from what we are used to. Wendy has a friend that invited us to come with her and her kids to Trinity Fellowship. For those who do not know, Trinity just finished a huge building project. They have an up to date facility. The sanctuary is unreal. It seats like maybe 5000 people? It is awesome, let me just say that. When we first got there, I was totally blown away by the size, look, feel of the whole place. The praise team was playing. Drums, guitars, keyboards...all things I like, but not use to seeing and hearing in a church. This ol' Church of Christ boy has experienced instrumental music before in a church, but this was different. It wasn't so loud you couldn't hear yourself think. It was honestly at a perfect volume level. Now, I am going to have to confess something. You old Church of Christ people better sit down for this. I really enjoy the instruments in worship. Always have. I have been at some places were the music was too loud and it for sure took away from the music and praise. This Sunday it did not. It actually was a nice addition to the whole worship experience. I may get run out of town for admitting that...but it is just the way it is. I actually hate that I have to write this next sentence down, but here goes. I am in no way saying we should add instruments to a Church of Christ service. There it is. I love the traditions that our brothers left us, and have no intention of trying to change them. The point of this blog is this. We all talked about our experience in the car going to eat and while we ate. We were all stunned by the magnitude of the morning. But in the end, we all had the same conclusion. We do not know if it was the fact we didn't know anyone there to be distracted by, or the difference of worship that had our attention, or what it was, but we all had an emotional experience with our God. The same God we worship every Sunday morning, every day. The same God that Moses worshipped, that Daniel prayed to, that Paul fiercely followed. The people at Trinity were very friendly, and open. We enjoyed our experience. We will be back to our church next week, with a new look on our worship. Not in a bad way, understand, in this way. We will be more focused, not looking to see if so and so is sitting in their pew. We will be there looking to glorify the one who takes care of us and loves us unconditionally. I guess sometimes it just takes a little different jolt to get us out of our comfort zone and a new experience to get us to realize that. We love our brothers and sisters at Southwest, and I for one am excited about next week walking in to church to worship my God with my friends and family.
To Doyle....I can't remember if you get this or not. This is for you. This blog is not in any way, shape or form a bash on our worship time at church. Our time at church is bar none the best. It was really just a funk we had gotten into. Love you bro.
Till next time......

KISS

Jenny dressed in my hard hat and orange vest that I use at the rail road. (craziest one I got)

Jenny, Cutter, Zoe and Katie Beth

Makaela, Kaiygen, Mercedez, Zoe

Shelby, Sabrina, Emily

"my girls"

I have written about "my girls" before. For those who have been with me a while, you know I am talking about the basketball team I coach. The girls are 6th graders, 11-12 year olds. Yep, that is right, the beginning of things I do not understand, and never will. This blog has nothing to do with that, because I wouldn't know what to say anyway. We just finished another basketball league. This is the first of our 'season'. From here we play tournaments for the rest of the spring and early summer. This is the first time we have ever started a new season with the same team we finished with the last season with. This particular group of girls are such a joy to be around. We started all this when Emily was in second grade. I have 3 of those original girls still playing ball for me. One more I have had since 3rd grade. It is funny how it all evolves, how you get a team together and such. The reason I write about them is this. We were really having a hard time getting going this league. Things were just not clicking like I thought they should. I had introduced new and somewhat complicated things at them. Our first game we got smoked, second game lost to a team we should not have lost to. To make a long story short, I was frustrated and so were the girls. So...we just went to the KISS method. (Keep It Simple Stupid) I just asked the girls what they felt the most comfortable with as far as defense, offense, press breaker goes. I was getting caught up in trying to create a team that really couldn't and/or didn't feel comfortable with what I was trying to get them to do. They told me what they liked playing and we spent all our time for the last 3 weeks practicing the same thing over and over and over. Repetition was the name of the game for us. For the rest of the league, we didn't win all the games we played, but the games we lost were close and very competitive. We ended up getting beat in the semi-finals to the eventual champion of the league. It was really cool seeing the improvement, confidence, and self-esteem of the girls grow. With just a few plays to know, they all played with tremendous confidence. Players who had not been sure of themselves with the plays and their own ability, were making plays, good decisions, and having fun doing it. The girls were getting compliments from many of the opposing teams coaches and parents. They made huge strides. When we get our offense going a little better, we are going to be hard to beat. We are all excited about the next tournament. Thursday night we as a team went to watch the championship game and then went to get snow cones. I have been fortunate to have teams that get along pretty good. This particular group I was not sure about. Chemistry has been a problem in the past. Even up to this league. But for whatever reason, it just started clicking with them half way through the league. There is a genuine feeling of friendship between them. I thought it was there but hadn't really seen it until Thursday night. Believe me...these girls like each other. Well our little team outing was awesome. I had half of the girls come up to me and tell me how much fun they had. How they really wanted to do it again. It was very obvious they were having a good time. I just set back and laughed at them and with them. It was great!!! The pictures you see are of our snow cone stop. It just got me thinking as I was sitting there watching them. We weren't having much fun at the first of this league, were not playing very good, just were not having much success. Once we decided to go to the KISS method, things just got better and better, with everything. What is it about simplicity? Anything we do in life that remains simple goes so much easier. Make it all complicated and things just get crazy and screwed up. I have learned that lesson one to many times. You would think that this is a lesson that would stick. How many of us complicate our lives with extra stuff? The clutter of life? The drama of living? Life is hard enough some times to fill it with things we don't have to. The lesson my girls taught me over this league is awesome. Simplicity works. Just look at our Lord and Savior. He lived a very simple life. He did not give us a bunch of rules and regulations to live by because I believe he wanted us to live simple lives. He has made it very simple for us. "Love one another." ...lets see...I think that about covers it. Thanks to "my girls" for helping me remember simplicity is always the best way. Till next time....

Interesting how life is. We all have the things in our world that really seem to be a burden, an irritation, an inconvenience. Sometimes it can be work related, or money related, our kids, or spouse, whatever. Most of the time if we take a moment and step back we realize it is not really that big of deal. There are times when things happen to us are that really self inflicted and then we wonder why life is so unfair. Or we try to get revenge somehow, because we have been wronged and we want justification. (that never works...ever). I really consider myself one of the luckiest guys in the world. Let me explain this. As I have said in earlier blogs, my wife, kids family and friends are the most important things to me. My son Cutter is 5 years old now. He attends a preschool 3 afternoons a week. Here is what I mean by lucky. I get to spend a great deal of time with my son. More time than most fathers do. He goes with me on those mornings to work. I get 4 solid hours with my son before school. Sometimes he talks me into cutting class and he spends the whole day with me. I have clients that get a little ticked if I show up to work at their house and my "little helper" is not with me. Cutter calls going to an appointment a 'mission'. We always have a game going. (we are superheros fighting bad guys, or army men fighting evil, or cowboys fighting indians.) Each mission is a different scenario. It is rather complicated at times. But it comes from a 5 year old mind and I am apart of it. I LOVE IT!!! We just finished a week long story. It started out as a story about a man who lives on a mountain. After I got it started it was his turn. He then told a lot of the story, then it was my turn, then his turn. You get the idea. It just evolved. By weeks end, this story involved his cousins, Ethan, Matson, and Greyson. His buddies Baylor, Brock and Caleb. The story was full of great adventure, courage, bravery, and heroism. We have started a new one today. We have fought and won against zombies, so far. Who knows what tomorrow will hold.

I had the privilege to take Emily on a date tonight after church. We talked about just stuff. More importantly, we talked about what she wanted to talk about. I get to coach her in basketball. I have done so since she was in the 2nd grade, she is now in the 6th. She and I get to spend a good amount of time together.

My oldest, Lizzy is 17, and a junior in high school. It is funny, alot of my friends who have kids this age seem to complain that their kids are never home, or don't want to talk. I am so thankful that Lizzy is not this way. She likes being home, she still talks to us. I still get to take her on dates. I am truly blessed.

Today was a weird day. A little over a year ago my wife had a very close friend, Julie, die of brain cancer. It was sudden, quick, and sad. It was unfair that such a beautiful person was taken from her daughter. The question why was asked alot over that time. Today another friend we know lost his life to cancer. Rick was only 43 years old. Two children now cannot hug their dad. A wife cannot kiss her husband goodnight again. Is this fair? Of course not, it sucks big time. It just got me thinking that most of the things in this world are not worth worrying about. Rick cannot spend time with his son again. He cannot be there when his daughter gets married. He can't grow old with his wife. How lucky are we that we still have our children to hold, play with, and talk to? That is why I feel like a very lucky and blessed guy. God does not promise us tomorrow, so we better live in the now with our relationships. Just a thought I had to remind us all that it could be taken away that fast. Is the stuff at the office that important? Can't certain things wait so you can spend time with your kids? I am lucky and I know it! Till next time......

I hit the wrong button. I wasn't finished. That proves how long it has been since I have blogged. I did not really have anything to say this time. Other than to say hello, and I am going to try to start writing again. Talk at you all later.

It has been 10 months since my last entry. So much has happened in that time. So much in fact I am not even going to attempt to try to catch you up. If I happen to mention something and you are not sure what I am talking about, and you want to know, then ask me, otherwise you can guess. Whatever. It seems like lately all I hear about is Facebook. Do any of you people have a "facebook"? My dear wife has one. I use hers to see what is going on with some of my friends. The neatest thing about it though is the child hood friends we have found. As an example...Saturday night a bunch of us old Sam Houston Rangers met together for a mini reunion. It was all because of this "facebook". I got to see a friend of mine I have not seen or heard from since 1985. We were friends since kindergarten and he moved away after our freshman year in high school. It was awesome. There were some others who came to the mini reunion who did not come to our 20 year high school reunion. We all decided to try and do this every 6 months. What a neat thing. I feel I am really lucky to live in the same town that I grew up in.

second chances

I have had something on my mind for quite some time. Who of us is perfect? Who of us have all the right answers? The answer to those questions is easy, none of us. What boggles my mind are two simple questions. Why do we act like we have the answers? Why do we act like we are better than others?

I wish I knew. I wish I understood why some people act like they are better than someone else. What purpose does that fill? Is it a poor self-esteem issue? Why do they have to belittle someone to feel important? Do they like to keep someone down to feel better about themselves? Why can't they forgive?

I have to admit, it really makes me sick. I learned this lesson back in college. I shared a hallway with some skater dudes. These cats dyed their hair jet black, dressed weird, listened to weird music. Another guy on the hall was a complete geek. Really, a total pocket protector wearing nerd. Then there was the bible major, the guitar rocker, three out of control basketball players (that would be the group I was in), and one really quiet, strange guy. It didn't take long for all of us to really appreciate what the other was about. I actually liked all those dudes. Even the skater guys. We had a blast in that hallway for that spring semester. My point is this. If I would not have given these guys a chance, I would have missed out knowing some really neat people.

What if someone makes a bad mistake, and they are held to that mistake the rest of their lives? What if they are not given that second chance? Or even a third chance? Why is it we are quick to stamp someones mistakes all over them and not give them a chance? Even worse, why can't we forgive? We could really be missing out on a changed life. By not giving someone a second chance we could miss out on something amazing. There is nothing more awesome than someone who has turned their life over to God. It is so cool to hear people tell of their experience of having God in their lives for the first time, or reconnecting with him. I have had enough mistakes to fill an ocean full. I am so thankful that people were willing to give me a second chance. Thankful that when I asked for their forgiveness, they really forgave me and totally gave me another chance.

What about those who don't forgive, or give second chances? What if they are even justified in doing so? Does it make it right? I say no. I believe everyone deserves a second chance, or third, or fourth. What if our Lord just wrote us off after we messed up? What if he didn't believe in second chances? I think of the passage from James 4:12 "There is only one law-giver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you- who are you to judge your neighbor?" Matthew 7:1-2 "Do not judge or you to will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Mark 12:31, "...Love your neighbor as yourself." Wouldn't you want forgiveness from someone? Wouldn't you want a second chance? Wouldn't you want the opportunity to make things right and prove you are a changed person? In 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 it tells what love is. In that description of love it says 'love keeps no record of wrongs.' As you read to verse 13, it simply states "these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."

What are we being told? I believe we are being told to forgive, love our neighbor, and give whoever it my be another chance. We cannot control how others will react to us. There will be some who will not offer forgiveness. Some who will condemn others for eternity. Maybe it is arrogance, insecurity, pride that won't let someone let it go. I don't know. I just know this. God works in mysterious ways and through broken people. If you don't take that step and give someone a chance you may be missing out on one of the greatest stories of all time. A story of the power of God turning a broken situation into one of success and triumph. This has just been an observation of mine for a few years. I have watched this happen. I have personally seen people pick and choose who they forgive, who they give second chances to. It really irritates me, but like I said earlier, you can't control what people are going to do. You just might have to prove it by your actions. Actions are stronger than words. You have to get the trust back you lost, but you also have to be willing to take that chance and trust them. Until next time.....

Cutter's example.

My son Cutter had his first ever soccer game Tuesday night. He is playing indoor in a league with kindergarten age kids. After I have thought about his experience, talked with him about it, something about it made a connection with the class I am attending on Sunday mornings and a conversation I had with a very good friend Tuesday night.

What amazed me about Cutter Tuesday evening was he had never played a soccer game. He has never seen a soccer game. He had absolutely no experience with what he was doing. He just wants to play soccer. There are kids on his team and the other teams that have played at least one, maybe two seasons of soccer. They have a clue of what to do. The only thing Cutter had before the game was his sister Emily telling him what to do when he is on the field.

It made me think of the Christians in Acts. They were selling their possessions, sharing their lives with one another, sharing their 'things'. Why? Because they wanted something. They wanted something that they couldn't see. It was something that made them feel special, wanted, accepted. It took great faith to give up their stuff and step into something they had never really experienced. It was new. There was no blue print for it.

I think what if I was put into that situation. Asked to give up what you are secure in to get something else. To change your way of life. Change the way you view people, things, situations. There always has to be a first. To make a change, there has to be that first day of a new beginning. The act of faith it took for those first people in Acts is amazing to me.

As Cutter took the field he had the chance to watch the others play first. He got to see how it was suppose to be done. His first effort was really good. He got out there and ran as hard as he could. He pretty much shadowed the ball the entire first half. Where we were, he could not hear us. In a sense, he was out there trying to figure it out on his own. Just his observation of watching the others do it. In the second half, he got a number of touches on the ball. Ran with more of a purpose. Acted like he was really starting to understand what to do.

I just can't help but think the new Christians were really looking at the first group and thinking, they seem o-kay. It is still a huge leap of faith even seeing others doing well in the life you wish to have. It seems though that the decision might be easier to make if you can talk to someone who has made a similar choice. I get a mental picture of the Christians in Acts sharing their lives with each other, holding each other accountable, learning from each other and really being happy, feeling secure, confident.

Cutter was gaining experience literally by the minute, and you could see it happening. He started to gain in confidence. The more he relied on his sisters words, his quick past experience, he realized how and what to do. When the ball got kicked away from him, he just kept on running after it. It didn't shake his confidence. His experience had already taught him to keep on running, because eventually he would get to the ball.

Why is it we seem to lose that lesson as we get older? In my experience, when I let the spirit lead me (confidence), and trust in God (experience), everything works out. It may not go the way I thought it would, but the end result is always good. (I get the ball) But when I refuse to listen, try it on my own, I bomb out. I wish I had a faith like the first Christians. I wish I had a faith like my son. He went to play soccer and had no clue what to do. He went out there to do what his sister told him to do. He knew what she said, and believed her to be correct in her instruction. He walked away from his game saying, "I did good Dad." Not being arrogant, but confident.

The innocent lives of children. So much to be learned from them. One of these days I'll tell Cut what a great lesson he taught me. Now I have to gain that confidence and experience in God that tells me, "follow and listen to me." Later....

Cutter's first public prayer

Two Sunday's ago, I was teaching Children's Worship. For those who don't know what I am talking about, it is a time for 4 year old through Kindergarten kids to go to a worship designed for them during regular worship. I went early to get things prepared and Cutter went with me. As I am looking at stuff I ask Cutter if he would like to lead the prayer? He answered yes. He then told me he better do a practice prayer. So we did. He was ready to go. The time came when the kids starting coming in. I looked at Cutter and he seemed calm and ready for his big debut. After all the kids were there, we started worship. We sang songs about Jesus, faith, love, and "Socking it to the Devil"! The momentum was heading right into our time to pray. The time finally came and I looked down at Cutter and said, "Ready?" He just got up and took his place on the stage at the child sized pulpit. I told everyone to be quiet, bow their heads and fold their hands. It was time. Cutter looked out at everyone and forgot his prayer. He looked at me with a look of 'what do I do'? As I often have to do with the little guys who lead prayers, I jumped into "whisper in their ear mode" and we began. I told Cutter to speak up so everyone could hear. It was a good thing we practiced, because I knew what he wanted to say. So I just repeated his prayer to him in his ear and he spoke out clearly. When Cutter was finished and he said his A-men, there was this thunderous applause from the side. His sisters were so into him leading the prayer and proud, they just started clapping their hands. Then they realized what they did. Of course it was funny and we all had a laugh over it. The proud big sisters! As if Cutter doesn't already get every ones attention when he wants something, he gets applause for a prayer. It will be nothing short of a miracle if he doesn't grow up rotten. I just thought this was a funny story I wanted to share. In case you were wondering what Cutter prayed for? He thanked God for his friends, Mom and Dad, his sisters, and his new video game! At least he has his priorities straight! The simplicity of children.....it is refreshing. Later...

Happy New Year

I hope everyone has a great year in 2008. Later...

friendship

The last time I sent out a blog was Oct. 13, the day our dear friend Julie went into hospice care. She went home to heaven Friday evening, Nov. 2, and the funeral was Nov.5. It has been a roller coaster of emotion for 6 weeks. It seemed like Julie held on for a long time, but actually, it was only 5 weeks from the time she knew it was bad. Life really isn't fair. It was such a harsh reminder again that we are not promised tomorrow. You just never know when it is going to be your time. Thankfully we have Christ to look forward to. I don't understand how people without a faith could go on after something like this. We (faithful followers) still question in our hearts why, but can accept it because we realize this world is just something we pass through. For those who do not believe in God's promise of heaven, how incredibly difficult some kind of tragedy like this would be for them to accept. God is good! How thankful I am to my parents and grandparents for such a heritage. The real reason I am writing this tonight is to share a short story about friendship. To give just a little background, Audrey (Julie's daughter)plays on our basketball team. I have written about my girls a few times. As you may remember, 6 of these girls have played together since 2nd grade, and the rest for a year or more. 4 of them go to church together and 3 have known each other since birth. These girls get along real good and really seem to enjoy being together. I have been keeping everyone on the team posted about Julie because there was genuine concern. My heart was really touched when I saw Audrey's teammates at the funeral with their parents. To my knowledge, none of the girls were forced to be there. My little team doesn't win every game. We don't have the best players in town on our team. We most definitely do not have the best coach. But there is one thing that I believe we have better than any team in the league. Friendship and respect for each other. Case in point...the first weekend Julie was unable to come to our games these girls yelled her name every time we broke huddle. Not my idea by the way. The next week at practice the girls wanted to sit down and talk about Julie, because they were confused and needed that time to try to figure it out. So I stopped practice and we talked about it. These little girls always play hard, even if we are getting pounded. When we win they display good sportsmanship. When we lose they keep their heads up and always shake the other girls hands. (Unlike some of the other teams we have faced) These little girls are full of character. An obvious trait of their parents. I realize these girls are 10 and 11 years old, but there is a lesson in this. (I also realize they are closing in on middle school, and something very ugly happens to middle school girls. They turn into these mean, nasty creatures that hunger for being mean to their very best friends. I've seen it and it is unbelievable.) But back to my original thought. These sweet girls came to a funeral for a teammate who just lost her momma. They might not really understand what that means, but they know enough to know they stick together through thick and thin. I can guarantee when we all get together after Christmas to start practicing again nothing will be said about it. There won't be a bunch a hugging and crying. The girls will just pick up were they left off the last time we played and continue to get better. But Audrey will know one thing forever. These girls are her friends, and they care. I was able to talk to Audrey for about one minute at the graveside service and asked her if she saw some of her teammates. Her face lit up as she told me who she saw, then I filled her in on who else was there and she smiled and got goofy like she does. I believe God puts people around us for a reason. Some for a life time and some for a season. Friendship is something that should be cherished and not abused or taken advantage of. I have learned from my little girls what friendship should look like. It is pure, effortless, unspoken. Audrey will not forget her teammates were there for her, and they didn't even say a thing. They just showed up. I really love these little girls. This is just another reason why. I hope you find this as cool as I did. At the end of this blog there is a link to the home page of my blog. If you like you can click on it and check out other blogs I have written. Until next time I feel inspired!!

Hello. This is Curt. I know some of you are thinking what is this? Welcome to my blog. I have added a number of new people to my blog site. So, those who are new, you will get this occasionally. I don't send blogs very often. I don't just do it to send and say something. Because honestly.....I really do not have that much to say. I do not do it to get responses, although, if you want to respond you can. I do it more for me. I send them when I think something needs to be said. As many of you know Wendy and I have a very good friend who is dieing from a brain tumor. It is the type that is the most aggressive kind. Our friend is Julie Sutterfield. The tumor is inoperable and treatment is pointless. They could have done some treatment, but it was a decision by Julie to not go through with it because it was a quality of life deal. This has been going on for over three weeks now. And as I type this, Julie is in hospice care. I am hoping to get to see her today. Julie and Wendy have been good friends for 10 years or so. They have helped each other through a divorce, family tragedies, family deaths, and other junk. But, this blog isn't about Julie....it is about my wife and a small gift she gave to Julie's daughter Audrey. Thursday I had gone to the civic center to get 4 tickets for the Casting Crowns concert that night. Wendy, Lizzy, Sparky, and myself were going. (Leaving Cutter with Mom and Dad. Did you really think I would take tornado boy to a christian concert? Please!! Sparky....this is Emily for those who do not know. I'll explain later) We had basketball practice that night and the plan was for me and Spark to meet Breezy and Liz there at the concert. Wendy had gone to see Jules at hospice (the day she went in) and called me to say Audrey was coming to practice. (I wasn't expecting her to) They might be a little late because Audrey was hungry and needed something to eat. In a few more minutes Wendy called again and said she and Audrey were talking about the concert. Audrey said her mom and her were planning to go but her mom wasn't able to get the tickets. Wendy decided then and there to give her ticket up so Audrey could go with us. I was like really? We had our practice and then it was time to go. The concert was good, Sparky and Audrey had a blast being there together. Audrey just smiled the whole time with that beautiful grin she has. The gift my wife gave her was not that big. It wasn't done for others to see. Wendy did it because it was the right thing to do in her mind. She did it because she loves Audrey. I can promise you Wendy would have done that if Julie wasn't sick and dieing. My wife did not do it so she would look good to others. She could care less. My wife was kind to a little girl who is fixing to lose everything she has ever known. My wife taught my girls what being unselfish looks like, without even saying a word. My wife has shown compassion, understanding, and loyalty to a friend. Wendy has shown alot of us what being a Christ follower looks like without even saying a word. You know the old saying....Actions speak louder than words!!! I just sat back thursday night at the concert looking at my girls (including Audrey), and I realized what has been going on around me. Realized what I have just shared with you about my wife. Now, it will really hack Wendy off that I am making a big deal about this, because that is not what she wants. So, if you see her, just give her a pat on the back. And say a little a prayer for Audrey.

Good days

I had a terrific experience last week. My wife and I were able to take a cruise to the Caribbean. Something I really didn't think I would enjoy. Was I ever wrong!! What an incredible time we had. The entire experience was a big memory of a lifetime. We are already setting plans for another one, but this time with our kids! We did things we never thought we would never do. White water rafted in the Jamaican rain forest, snorkeled in Cozumel, ate different kinds of food normally we wouldn't try (it was free, why not?) We got pampered to the point of it becoming ridiculous. Absolutely spoiled rotten. The biggest decision we had to make was what to do after dinner?... Catch the show? Karaoke? Casino? Dance? Are you kidding me? But you know something, the biggest part of any day was at the end of it, when we went to bed and I realized what a good day I had with my wife. Of all the things we did, all the incredible stuff we saw, it all boiled down to time with the one I love most. When we got home Sunday afternoon, our children running out the front door to hug our necks, so excited their parents were finally home....spending the rest of the night telling them about our trip, watching video we took, looking at the pictures.... that was a good end to another day. I decided to take Monday off as well, just to recover from the trip. I actually ended up working a little that afternoon, but my son, Cutter, would not have me leaving him again. He went with me. I got to spend all day with that little guy. He was with me from 9:30am until he finally went to bed at 10:30pm. Now that was a good day. I spent the evening with my oldest daughter (and Cutter) getting her stereo replaced, letting her drive to and from Best Buy, and just listening to her tell me all of the stuff going on in her world. Then the best, my Emily comes in the room to tell me goodnight and says the best four words a dad can ever hear...I love you daddy! All of this got me thinking while I was trying to go to sleep. And as you can tell, I couldn't since it is 1:30 in the morning. I haven't been going out every day to make money. I haven't been focused on building and running my business. I haven't done things that I usually consider a good day. Of course those are important things, but I don't really think I will look at those things as "good day" makers in the same way anymore. A good day is having your son be excited he gets to spend the day with his dad, and me being excited to get to play with my son. A good day is seeing my oldest daughter grow in confidence as she tells me about her life and the positive decisions she is making. A good day is getting a huge hug and kiss from a very special girl who still thinks your pretty cool. A good day is they all want to go with you to get supper and fight for who gets "shotgun." A good day is waking up to a wife who I know loves me, and ending it with someone I love more than when it started. Maybe it takes time alone with your wife to remember why you fell in love with her in the first place. Time to get to fall in love with her again. Time away from your kids to remind yourself why God gave them to you in the first place. Laying in bed tonight I just thanked God for the blessings I have....Wendy, Lizzy, Emily, & Tornado boy. I know this is sappy, and it isn't normally the way I talk, but I thought if this little message could somehow remind any of you what a good day means, then I should write it down. Go to work, live your life, but just remember...always have a good day!!!

top 10 things I'm learning from watching others.

Been a long time since I've written. I have been busy working mostly. Really haven't had anything to say. Until now! Lately I have seen, heard, and experienced some things that got me to thinking about a quote I read once. "Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement." How many of us can totally relate to that. I would say most of us. But what I wonder about is this. How many of us look at other people and learn from what they do, or don't do? Hence, I have come up with my top 10 things of what I have learned from others, that I will never (hopefully) do or Wendy has my permission to kick my rear. So here goes......
10. At what age in life does a man decide it is o-kay to wear dress shoes and dress socks with shorts? I realize I am not a fashion guy, but come on..... I will never understand this as long as I live. And the old men who do said fashion shouldn't be wearing shorts anyway. Which leads me to my next point.
9. Once your legs get to said point....cover those bad boys up. This goes for both men and the ladies. Age doesn't really matter. I 've seen some nasty stuff lately from people younger than me. Come on!!!
8. Closed-minded people.
7. Arrogant people. Have you ever noticed how #7 & #8 usually go together?
6. Negative people. I had a conversation with someone a few days ago. The only positive was when they said "have a good day" as I walked away. This particular individual was so upset about everything that it really affected their outlook on life. Sad.
5. 'Know it Alls' Who honestly really cares.
4. 'Bigger story than you people' You know the kind. The person who always has a better or more tragic, or worse story than the one told. Guess what.....if I wanted to know, I would have asked.
3. Gossips. Holy smokes!! Where do these people come from?
2. 'Fix it people' This is the worst! Why?? If things are going good, this person will break it or go hunting for someone who needs "fixing" And they are never counselors! Have you ever noticed that? What in the??
1. This is important to me. As it should be to every dad. I refuse to fail as a parent. There are different ways to look at this. I have seen different ways lately that made me think WHAT? I'll just leave it at that.
Enjoy this list. Chew on it, digest it! Later on....

I got to brag a little!

What a weekend! I coach a 4th grade girls basketball team. I have coached 7 of the 10 since they were in the second grade. Four of the ten girls have known each other since birth. Those same four go to church together. We played in a tournament last weekend and lost to the eventual two teams in the finals. This weekend was another story. The girls won the tournament!!! They played 5 games this weekend. We lost our third game to a team from Clovis 20-5. Ugly score, ugly game. We had to win our next game to reach the final and get a rematch. The girls played a very good game and won the championship game 20-18. Now, understand, I have seen alot of basketball in my day. Played my fair share as well. I couldn't be more proud of these girls. They showed determination, heart, and desire like I haven't seen in a long time. It was so awesome to see them perform and achieve their goal. It is really satisfying to watch these little 9 and 10 year olds do the things on the floor we have been teaching them. It was a huge confidence builder for them. For me as well. They were so excited, jumping around, hugging each other, hugging their moms and dads. What a wonderful feeling it was. Our little team has had our share of serious beat downs, true confidence crushers. Been tested and bombed out big time. The kind of stuff that really tests your metal. But the girls have stuck together and continued to play hard. It was a great moment for them, and I am so happy to have been there. I could tie all this in to a deep thought of how it compares to our walk in Christ, how our goal to get to heaven is met with adversity along the way. That just because we achieve a moment of jubilation, doesn't mean it will always be that way. How we have to always continue to improve, because life won't stop challenging us. But I will not do that, I'll just leave you with a coach who is doing nothing but bragging on his team. These little girls are so much fun to coach. The really neat thing is getting to coach my own daughter. But in a way I feel like they are all my little girls. It was an awesome weekend. But, win or lose, they always make me proud to be their coach.

Being Guarded

Two weeks ago I had my truck robbed. Sitting there in my driveway. I can almost tell you when it happened. I was sitting in my office with one of my very good friends and I heard my dog Max barking in a different way. I think I even made the comment he is barking weird. The next morning I go out to take Emily to school and sure enough, my truck had been robbed. Whoever it was did not take anything of real value except one of my check books from one of my accounts. Since then, I have contacted the bank to get the 20 checks stopped. I had to have a police report. One check was recovered thanks to a heads up employee at a store here in town. Another actually made it to the bank. The hassle this is causing is time consuming, but it is what I have to do. But, the part I haven't told you until now is this. I left my truck unlocked. The one time out of hundreds, I just simply forget to lock it for whatever reason. The one time it slips my mind, I get hit. This experience got me to thinking a few days ago, How many times do we get comfortable with our lives and for an instance we let our guard down and Satan steps in and blasts us good. Sometimes it is for just a moment, sometimes it is for months, years, who knows. He can effect us with our own personal relationship with Jesus, with our mate, our children, our friends. As most of you know, we are going to be starting a dad/daughter ministry at church. I am getting very excited about this, but as I have thought about it and read the bible, read a couple of books on being a dad, I have quickly realized how inept I am at being what it is God has charged me with. 1 Cor. 16:13, "Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong." What encouraging words, what "look in the mirror words". Being a dad to daughters has so many other things wrapped up in it. The more I read and study, the more I realize how rounded we as men have to be. Let me try to explain that. Are we letting our family see our relationship with God? Are we showing our daughters by our actions towards our wife, how a woman is to be treated? Are we being the protectors of our wives, daughters, sons? Spiritually, emotionally, physically? Is the safe place recognizable? I think you get my drift. I totally believe that you cannot be an effective leader of your family if you yourself are not solidly based in Christ. I am not saying be perfect, I am saying letting Christ be your guide. Who of us will ever have it perfectly figured out. Find that man and I'll follow him, until then Christ is my cornerstone. Proverbs 4:23, "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life". I have been on the end of brokenness without hope. I have been where Christ wasn't important. I have try ed to live by my rules and my agenda. I have been where I didn't guard my heart and it became hard, cold, and bitter. It sucked big time. I wasn't an effective father to my children, wasn't a good man to my wife, wasn't a good friend. We (men) have to protect ourselves as well. What is it that causes us to fall away, to stumble? It is leaving ourselves unguarded. Only if it is for a moment. Satan is just waiting to tear out our hearts and crush them. By our actions we can do that to each other and not even know it. By not giving your daughter the goodbye hug and 'I love you'. (age doesn't matter) We can leave her unguarded. By not listening to our wife, loving her unconditionally, we can leave her unguarded. By not making the time to be dad, we can leave our entire family unguarded. Mark 13:33-37, "Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come." (you read the rest). It is never to late to start!!

just stuff

I've got three things. One is an explanation, one is a somewhat humorous story, and another is something I would like your prayers and input for.

First, I've been asked no fewer than a dozen times, what does Skeeter mean? When I went up to York College in Nebraska to play basketball I picked up the nickname. One of my first practices I was guarding this guy from Arkansas. He was your true backhills hillbilly. Amazingly he wasn't a bad ball player either. Keep in mind, I use to be in real good shape and fairly quick. Anyway, during that practice he said to me, (remember, real hillbilly accent) "you like one ov' them skeeter bugs, always buzzin' round me." Of course he meant mosquito. Anyway, it stuck. Which is even funnier now since I am a bug killer. So there you have it.

Second, somewhat humorous story. I 've built a dog run/pen for my lab, Max. I finished it up Monday afternoon. As long as I am around, Max will stay right with me. In finishing my project I had all the gates wide open. When I finished, I hurried to put things up because Wendy had supper ready and we had to start taking kids places. Follow me here, I just built a dog pen, do you think I would maybe put the dog in the pen I just built? No....I leave him out. When we all finally get back home it had been a good 2-3 hours. I go in the backyard to feed Max.....he is gone. I searched for a good solid hour for that dog and couldn't find him. I had left the gate unlatched and he got out. How stupid can I be? I put everything up in its place except latching the gate!!! I found it somewhat ironic though....build a pen for him and runs away within 30 minutes of it. Kinda funny...he was like 'no way man, you ain't pinning me up....I'm out if here!' We found the knucklehead the next evening. He had took up shop with a family that didn't have a dog pen. There may be a lesson in there somewhere, but I haven't found it yet.

Third, Wendy and I are wanting to start a ministry, program...not sure what to call it. Should have been done years ago, but now is the time. We are wanting to start a Dad/daughter ministry. I got the idea from a group of mothers from church who have a mother/daughter ministry. The idea I have for this is to have times where dads and daughters meet with other dads and daughters for meetings. Be it banquets, hiking Palo Duro Canyon, fishing, retreats, going to the movies, whatever... Then having the dads meet once a month for a time of prayer where we pray for our daughters. Of course the real work needs to be done at home one on one. But my idea is this...How empowering could it be for the girls to know they are not the only ones. To know their friends dads feel the same as their dad. To have the confidence and knowledge they are not alone in this struggle to be a daughter of Christ. The peer pressure put on these girls today is stronger than ever before. I want to be a dad that my daughters look to for safety, security, leadership, and love. I do not want them looking for it from some punk. And not all the boys are punks they will find it from. Us guys remember how we were at that age. NOT GOOD!!! Which is why it scares me even more. Good kids make bad decisions all the time. I know good men who provide financially for their families, who are at church, who provide a good example, but who do not get it when it comes to their daughters need for love and affection from their dad. To me, that is what being a dad is...loving on your kids, be it son or daughter. Telling them you love them instead of showing them by how hard you work. Big deal! "My dad works hard, I know he loves me", but do we as dads ever take the time to tell that to our daughters? The more I think about this the more fired up I get about it. To me, just to know there are other men with daughters out there who have the same concerns, cares and desires would be a huge block to lean against when times get tough. My dear wife has always told me about the desires my daughter will have. She has been the best coach for me ever. If it were not for her, I would have no clue what-so-ever. Another area for this will be to teach men how to be a dad for girls. I will be the first to admit it. When it comes to females..........who knows? If you think you do, just wait a day. If you have any ideas to add to this, let me know. If you'd like to be a part of getting it going, please join us. But I ask everyone to pray about it. Pray God will bless and honor our desire.

Colossians 3:15 "Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful."

I've got something that happened to me last night I'd like to share with everyone. It really didn't hit me until today. Last night I shared with the youth group some of my story. I will somewhat do that again here. About December 16 years ago I found out I was going to be a dad. I wasn't married for those who may not know. Talk about your shockers. To make a long story short, the main part of my talk last night was about how that decision to have sex changed my life forever. I talked about how I always wanted to be a teacher and a coach and all of a sudden that was put on hold. The things I thought I was suppose to do with my life were not happening that way. I talked about consequences for my sin. I talked about the guilt of letting so many people down, especially my family. The guilt of letting God down. I also mentioned how at the time God wasn't really a part of my life. I did the going to church thing, but there was no true active passion for Christ. It was really more a habit of going to church that I was in. A habit of acting like I had it together. (now that is a whole other topic, eh TK?) That was the main thing. God just wasn't at the focus of my life. As I reflected on what I told those kids it really kind of made me feel weird in the fact I hoped I didn't leave them thinking I was regretful and felt cheated for what happened because I am not doing what I dreamed of doing. It is a strange way to say it, and I am sorry for the way our life started, but to say I am regretful for the way things have turned out would not be true. That would be saying I am sorry I am married to a wonderful woman and sorry I have a beautiful child. I have come to realize in my old age, God always turns bad situations into good if you'll let him. Up to last night I have always had a feeling of am I doing what God put me on this earth to do. I have always felt like I was meant to do more than kill bugs. Almost felt like I was wasting my life away. Something today made me think, I am doing exactly what I am suppose to be doing. God isn't going to waste anyones talent if they want to use it. You just have to look how he will use you. I reflected on my past and the present. I have had a great opportunity to coach my daughter Emily for 3 years and hopefully for many more. What else could a guy ask for? A chance to share something you love with one of your own? The chance to spend time with her and teach her about life? My oldest daughter, we sang a duet together for her great-granddads funeral. How many guys get the chance for something so special as that? My little dude Cutter. My mind goes crazy thinking about the stuff we will get into together. My Wendy and I have done some cool things together as well. We started the Childrens Worship ministry together at church and ran that deal for 7 years. We are again involved with it. We share a love for children. We have been huddle leaders for high school, life group leaders and members. I say all these things to not sound like I'm bragging but to say this. If I hadn't married my wife and walked down the road God sent me on, all these things I mentioned (and believe me there are plenty more) would not have happened. My desire has always been to make an impact on peoples lives. To make a difference. Well.....I think I can most certainly say, I hope I have and believe God will put me into positions were I can be more of an impact player in his kingdom. Do I still wish I was a coach and teacher? I would have to say no. Why? Because I believe God has a better/different plan for me. And if I was coaching, I wouldn't have the chances to do what I do. If it is meant for me to some day finish college and pursue it...fine. If not, I'm o-kay with that too. I am on an incredible journey with my Lord, and feel totally peaceful were I am and what I do.

John 16:33 says "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."