Since I didn’t know how to dance as a freshman in high school, I tried to avoid embarrassing myself. However, I did attend all of the Concord High School dances with my friends from the Cross Country team. I decided to play it cool by sitting in the chairs along the dance floor waiting for the next slow dance. Stuttering didn’t make it easy to ask a girl to dance, but this is where I was introduced to the inspirational ballads of the 1980’s.
Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts, Colossians 3:16.
The Esterlyn Lamps album is one of the CD’s I listen to during my hour plus commute back and forth to work. As I was searching for the whole album, Esterlyn has a variety of soft rocks songs with inspirational lyrics. Back to the Start by Esterlyn is like an Eddie Money song just before the DJ slows it down with Careless Whisper, Hello and Is this Love?
While you can’t go back in time to relive these awkward moments in life, Esterlyn provides the sound of the 1980’s with great lyrics to uplift your soul. Listening to songs like Killing My Despair, Back to the Start, We All Need and Reveal Your Love will help you live out the apostle Paul’s prayer in Colossians 3:16. While I couldn’t find the whole album, I hope you enjoy Esterlyn this week.
In case you haven’t heard, I regret to inform you that my former coach, groomsmen and spiritual mentor Ken Horne passed away last Wednesday. While I am certain Ken is now celebrating with Jesus in heaven, I never got the chance to say goodbye. I first met Ken as my Earth Science as a 7th grader at Hanby Junior High School. Despite earning a D, C, B and A in each of the 4 marking periods, Ken gave me an A for the year. Thinking this was a mistake, I stopped by Ken’s classroom on my way home from school. Ken’s response to my concern was, “by the end of the year, you were an A student so I gave you an A.” These words left a lasting impression on me.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever, 1 Corinthians 9:24-25.
Two years later, Ken and I ended up at the same school once again, Concord High in Wilmington, Delaware. This time Ken was my Physical Science teacher. Between 7th and 9th grade, I was lost, often feeling depressed and suicidal. Looking back, God brought Ken into my life to be the wind beneath my spiritual wings, gently leading me closer and closer to Christ. After thinking I was too cool for the Fellowship of Christian Athlete’s huddle at Concord, I finally said yes to Ken’s persistent invitations as a sophomore. The greatest quality Ken possessed was the ability to recognize and see the potential in students. Despite my flaws, imperfections and stuttering, the Holy Spirit enabled Ken see what I could be if I trusted Jesus as my Savior.
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they mayhave life, and have it to the full, John 10:10.
During my final three years at Concord, Ken invited me to numerous events, retreats and revivals. Before I ever knew what I mentor was, Ken showed me how to live the abundant life by demonstrating this as my swim coach, teacher and spiritual leader outside of school. Ken asked me to share my testimony for the first time at a retreat during my junior. What impressed Ken the most was this was the first time I didn’t stutter in public. A year later, Ken entrusted me as the Program Director for FCA, asking questions and leading spiritual discussions with my peers. These experiences prepared me to become a Summer Work Camp Coordinator, Youth Director and High School Bible teacher. Like anyone who met Ken, we will all miss him. Yet, for now, all I can do I flame into flame my spiritual gift so that I might become the wind beneath someone else’s spiritual wings. Rest in peace Ken.
In 1983 I was an incoming high school freshman eager to participate in a fall sport. At 100 pounds and five feet tall, I was too small for football. Concord’s soccer team had just won a state title so nearly one hundred boys tried out to make this team. Fortunately, our paper boy was a runner, making the sports section of Wilmington’s News Journal after each race. When I found out the cross country team didn’t cut anyone, I started my first of what I thought would be four seasons.
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it, 1 Corinthians 9:24.
While running 5-8 miles a day in the heat wasn’t initially appealing, the individuals on Concord High’s cross country team welcomed me like I was joining a new family. The aches and pains of running were soothed by loving teammates who accepted me despite my size and stuttering. As the youngest child of three whose sisters were both in college as I entered high school, cross country quickly became my extended family, caring for one another before and after each race. What other sport do you find complete strangers hugging one another after a race or holding someone up after collapsing at the finish line so they don’t cramp up.
Someone said to Him, “Look! Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside asking to speak to You.” 48 But Jesus replied to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?”49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples [and all His other followers], He said, “Here are My mother and My brothers!50 For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven [by believing in Me, and following Me] is My brother and sister and mother,” Matthew 12:48-50.
This encouraging environment has made me an advocate for cross country. While serving as a youth pastor in Indiana, I spent Saturday’s cheering on teenagers from my church. As a former runner, I was able to counsel the disappointed and motivate others to continue to improve. Running distances from 2.1 to 3.1 miles requires trial and error, going out at various paces to determine the best strategy for each course. The elite often use large invitationals as throw away races to see how fast they can go out before they die, falling way off the pace. While watching the Corinthian Games, similar to the Olympics, the apostle Paul writes about mental toughness, pushing your body to the limit to reach your full potential in the passage below.
Now every athlete who [goes into training and] competes in the games is disciplined and exercises self-control in all things. They do it to win a crown that withers, but we [do it to receive] an imperishable [crown that cannot wither]. 26 Therefore I do not run without a definite goal; I do not flail around like one beating the air [just shadow boxing]. 27 But [like a boxer] I strictly discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached [the gospel] to others, I myself will not somehow be disqualified [as unfit for service], 1 Corinthians 9:25-27.
In my final year of teaching, I was fortunate enough to coach my two boys at Red Lion. The previous coach set up a running club three days a week for elementary students to go along with coaching the junior high team. This allowed Daniel to run with his older brother James., creating a competitive atmosphere. Recognizing where I was as a runner at this age, I implemented fun days to keep the casual runner interested, giving 8th graders input to choose a fun practice each week. Meanwhile, I pushed eager runners toward qualifying for the Yes Athletics National Championships as the East Regional was held an hour south of our school. Over a 3 year period, I drove runners to nationals at Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia. This experience enabled students to compete against the best runners in the country.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God, Hebrews 12:1-2.
Over the past 7 years, I have been a cross country parent, watching my two sons run for St. George’s. Since my daughter Lydia has fallen in love with volleyball, Daniel’s senior year will be my final season attending Cross Country races. Before I become a volleyball groupie, the reality of saying goodbye to cross country will be sad. However, I do have a unique opportunity to run in a 5K prior to this fall’s county race known as the Old Timers Race. Unfortunately, this requires getting into shape and running in the heat. I haven’t started training yet, but as Daniel’s first race approaches this week, running to various mile marks with serve as a warm up. There is an old saying that states “Father Time remains undefeated.” Yet, God has given me one final season to seize each day that I am blessed to watch my son Daniel complete.
Bruce Springsteen refers to the time spent in high school as Glory Days. While every year has its moments, my time at Concord High are filled with memories I still cherish. However, there was one phrase I hated to hear, “we need to talk.” Whether this was a girl friend, parent or teacher, the news was almost always negative.
“Go through the camp and tell the people, ‘Get your provisions ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own, ” Joshua 1:11.
Sometimes these conversations resulted in the end of a relationship. Others received a bombshell in the form of a divorce or a terminal illness. Meanwhile, those asked to stay after class were confronted with an accusation or some sort of discipline. None of these discussions seemed pleasant at the time, but talking about delicate issues prepares people for what lies ahead.
Remember the command that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you after he said, ‘The LORD your God will give you rest by giving you this land, Joshua 1:13.
In the Old Testament, God and Joshua had a “we have to talk” moment. The purpose of this meeting was to inform Israel what was necessary to do before entering into the Promised Land. Sometimes God is waiting for people to change their bad habits prior to bestowing blessings. Until this transformation occurs, mediocrity will reign. While 2017 is still fresh for many of you, draw near to God so that the Holy Spirit will guide you in the way to go next.
Towering above Delaware’s farmlands and tidal marshes, Mount Ebright stands 442 feet above sea level, a trailer park north of Concord High School. Void of any real mountains, natives of this state must venture north, south or west to find a place above the tree lines. Traveling along Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park on Sunday, I found myself in God’s country, imaging what it must have been like for Moses to come face to face with the Lord.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places, Ephesians 6:12.
While watching a new program on the Travel Channel, Mysteries in National Parks, I was reminded of the invisible realm that exists above the treeline. According to the apostle Paul, a legion of angels and demons do battle daily, attempting to acquire strongholds. Beyond the visible trials on earth, territorial wars are waged, seeking to alter the hearts, minds and souls of human beings. Above the treeline, the devil prowls around like a lion snatching seeds of truth from new converts.
When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path, Matthew 13:19.
The only line of defense involves meditation, prayer and worship. Thus, as the powers of darkness try to infringe upon church communities, families and institutions, Christians must be armed with the proper weapons to fight back, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5. While the world will give credit for these phenomena to aliens, legends or mythical forces, don’t underestimate the influences of the devil. Rather, put on the armor of God so that when activity above the treeline intensifies you won’t be caught off guard. Draw strength from your knees, empowering angels above to take back any ground that has been lost.
As I was cleaning today, I uncovered an old Concord High Yearbook sitting on the floor. Last fall, my best friend from high school, Carl, came to Delaware to visit his parents for a week. Catching up and reminiscing about our last high school reunion, I fetched my senior yearbook to put a face with all the names which came up. I’m not sure what it is, but the older I get, the more I repeat myself, sharing the same story annually with my wife and kids. As gracious as possible, I hear that apt reply, “That’s nice, but I’ve heard that before.”
From a writer’s perspective, there is nothing new under the sun, Ecclesiastes 1:9. When you’ve spent 3 years as an editor of a monthly newsletter and 2 more as the main contributor of this blog, some days you struggle to compose a paragraph let alone an entire piece. However, as I opened my yearbook, I had forgotten who I was, what I had accomplished and how a simple smile made an impact on my peers. The perfectionist in me never allowed me to accept and embrace compliments. Thus, these words were discarded, replaced by my lack of eloquence, stuttering and other deficiency’s.
This pessimism began to change for me in college during a Group service project on St. John’s Island in South Carolina. To my surprise, everyone in attendance received their own mailbox, near the center of our living quarters at a local high school. However, this mail was called Care Cards, a chance for others to write notes of encouragement and thanks to those who made a positive influence at some point during the day and week. The catch was you couldn’t open your mail bag until you got on your bus before leaving. I was so touched by this concept I incorporated it into my own mission trips when I became a youth pastor following college. Like my yearbook, every few years I will stumble across old mail bags, bringing tears to my eyes and joy to my soul as I savor these fond memories.
From a biblical perspective, Israel’s memory was so poor, God called Moses to devote an entire book called Deuteronomy, the second law, reminding the Jews of everything they had forgotten. Although retention varies among children and adults today, modern pastors recycle famous words of Jesus, the apostle Paul, and Peter to refresh the memories of lost souls. While some in church may whisper, “That’s nice, but I’ve heard that before,” someone in attendance may be hearing this truth for the first time. Therefore, be patient if someone tends to be redundant, for someone likely needs a reminder of promises within the Bible like John 3:16.
For most of my high school career, I was quiet, comfortable living behind the scenes. However, during my senior year, I became an active participant in student government, helping build our home coming float and decorate our spirit hallway, developing solid relationships with several of the 300 students within my class. Yet, somewhere between this final year of high school and my 5 years of college, I allowed time to influence the depth of my friendships.
Studying, sleeping and self-indulgence led me to lose touch with many of my class mates. Every once in a while, I dedicated time to write letters before the days of email and the internet. Those friends nearby I tried to call, but as I tried to keep some of these relationships alive, I realized it wasn’t humanly possible. Thus, I gave up trying, going from being Mr. Social to Mr. Anti-Social in just a few short years.
Last night, as I touched base with some friends on Facebook, a thought came to me. “Life is too short to not invest time into people.” Yes, there will always be commitments, emergency’s and the routine’s of life, but God created us to be in communion with one another. Therefore, I am going to make a conscious effort to connect with those people the Holy Spirit draws me toward. Although I can’t change the past, I hope to make up for lost time by cultivating new friendships and strengthening current relationships, Ecclesiastes 4:12.
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