A Commendable Coach

My granddaddy graduated from Texas Technological College, as did my parents.  All five of the children in our family attended Texas Tech, along with three brothers-in-law, a niece, nephew, and several other relatives.  Texas Tech blood runs deep red in our family.  Thus, it has been a delight to watch and celebrate Tech’s men’s basketball success this season.  It has been interesting to read about and see videos of Coach Chris Beard in action.

This is Chris Beard’s third season as head coach of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team.  Tech shared the Big 12 regular season title with Kansas State under his leadership.  Beard was honored as Big 12 Conference Men’s Basketball Coach of the Year for 2019 by a panel of sports writers and broadcasters.  Because of his commitment to developing attention to detail and a strong defense in his players, the Tech basketball players have earned their second consecutive Elite Eight berth.  Coach Beard's goal is to:

Educate

Serve

Grow fearless champions.

As impressive as Chris Beard’s record and awards have been, it is his heart for his players being a family, as well as a team, that is making a difference.  Not only does he speak of such, but models and puts his words into action. 

Senior Brandone Francis’ family lives in the Dominican Republic.  It had been two years since Brandon had seen his mother and relatives.  As a surprise, Coach Beard had Francis’ mother flown in so she could be there for Senior Night on March 4 and watch him play as a Red Raider for the first time.   His talk of basketball being more than just a team, but being family, was taken to a new level.

The night before his team played in the Sweet 16 Round in Anaheim, California, Coach Beard had a team meeting with his players and coaches.  He reminded them that they did not get to this point by themselves.  The seniors had helped pave the way for the team all year long.  Some highlights of his speech:

* “It’s not just about you.

* We started months ago talking about an unselfish culture.

* You’re playing for the guy next to you.

* You’re playing for somebody.

* This is how you get emotionally attached to this game.

* Tonight you need to be getting yourself ready to play and getting the guy next to you ready to play.”

Then Coach Beard had Davide Moretti stand up, face his teammates, and tell them who he would be playing for.  As Moretti stood he said, “I am playing for everybody in this room and my family…”  And then as his eyes panned the room, Davide saw several of his family members standing in the room.  Beard had flown his family in from Italy to watch him play in the Sweet 16 NCAA Tournament.  What a wonderful reunion and reminder of the importance of support, love, and encouragement from family.

Coach Beard’s words sound like good and beneficial advice for us spectators to take to heart and apply, too.  No matter the results of the rest of the tournament games, Coach Beard is already a winner in my book. 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

Romans 8:9-10

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Romans 15:5-6

With a Little Help from Friends

“You’re never too important to be nice to people.” 

~ Jon Batiste

Nine-year-old Austin Weaver has Cerebral Palsy.  He makes no excuses and willingly makes attempts at sports and other challenges.  Austin’s efforts are appreciated by his teammates and peers.  In a recent basketball game, a player passed the ball to Austin.  He attempted the shot, but didn’t have the strength to make the ball reach the net.  The next time the ball was passed to Austin, a player, who is a good foot taller, came up behind him, placed his hands underneath Austin’s hands, gave strength to the shot and he made the basket.

Stanley is a WWII veteran who now lives in a facility for Alzheimer’s and dementia residents.   A group of preschoolers and their teachers comes once a week to interact with the people and have music time.  The children pass out the instruments to the older adults and then sing songs with them.  There are also lots of hugs in the process.  Three-year-old Emma has formed a special friendship with Stanley.  Although he can’t always remember her name, his face and eyes light up when he sees Emma.  Emma’s mother also takes her back at other times to play games with Stanley.

Two-year-old Samantha lives in Newton, Massachusetts with her parents, Raphael and Glenda Savitz.  Samantha is deaf and loves to communicate with anyone who uses sign language.  As the Savitzs would walk around their neighborhood, people would speak and try to communicate with Samantha.  They noticed she was somewhat sad when she couldn’t understand them.  Wanting her to know she was a special part of their community, the neighbors hired an instructor to teach an American Sign Language class so they could speak with Samantha.

A window washer was hired to clean the windows of a hospital.  As he was washing the window of a young patient with cancer, he noticed the boy was somewhat sad.  The man took the time to make sudsy hair and beard on the window by the boy and took a picture on his phone for him to see.  When the boy laughed, the window washer continued to create different styles for the boy.  Soon more and more kids were coming to his room to join in on the laughter and fun.

Because people took the time to see a need, assess the situation, and do something about it, another person’s life was blessed and made a little more enjoyable.  May we, too, have the eyes, ears, heart and desire to notice the opportunities around us and then do something about it.

No one should seek their own good, but the good of others.

Corinthians 10:24

Spring Break

Although I no longer attend school or teach, Spring Break still holds a place of special memories, lessons, and reminders for me.  There is a refreshing newness of mind and spirit when one steps away from routines for a time to focus on people, new adventures, and growth.

Spring Break is a time for…

* rest and relaxation

* completing projects

* investing in others

* mission trips

* adapting to flexibility due to weather/health/change of plans

* being intentional about time with family and friends

* breaking from the normal routine

* renewal and refreshment

* a change of scenery/location

* enjoying nature

* learning

* encountering different perspectives

* exciting adventures

* letting go of the ordinary to experience the extraordinary

Thankfully, taking time and experiencing a break from the everyday routine is not limited to a certain time or date on the calendar.  May what we do, learn, and experience refresh and renew us for the coming days.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11

So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 Corinthians 10:31

How good and pleasant it is

     when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133:1

Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.

Psalm 106:1

For Lent and Longer

According to the dictionary, Lent is the period of 40 weekdays before Easter observed in some Christian churches as a period of prayer, penance, fasting, and self-denial.  This period, starting on Ash Wednesday in Western churches, commemorates the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent fasting in the wilderness.

Even though Lent is not a requirement for our faith, it is an important and beneficial spiritual discipline.  I find it sometimes helpful and meaningful to purposely give up something for a reason/season.  Thus, my intent was to give up Coke, which I was drinking about 4 times a day or more, for the Lenten season of 2000.  Easter came and I had not followed through at all on my plan.  That Sunday, even though it was no longer Lent, I decided to still  commit to fast from Cokes.  I remember praying and asking God to use that time to give Larry and me the opportunity to teach Brad and Chad any life lessons they still needed to know before they graduated high school and began their college years.

Once college began in August, I decided to continue to forgo drinking cokes for the sake of praying for our sons, the family budget, and my health.  I had noticed that I felt better when not consuming so much sugar and caffeine.  Fast forward to May of 2001 when I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis.  After offering the findings of the testing, one of the first statements the doctor made was that I would need to give up caffeine.  That was a defining moment for me because I was immediately overwhelmed with the sense that God had given me a chance to give up Cokes/caffeine for the right reasons and not because I now “had to.” 

Pope Francis offers suggestions that are definitely worthy of fasting from for Lent and beyond.

* Fast from hurting words and say kind words.

* Fast from sadness and be filled with gratitude.

* Fast from anger and be filled with patience.

* Fast from pessimism and be filled with hope.

* Fast from worries and have trust in God.

* Fast from complaints and contemplate simplicity.

* Fast from pressure and be prayerful.

* Fast from bitterness and fill your hearts with joy.

* Fast from selfishness and be compassionate to others.

* Fast from grudges and be reconciled.

* Fast from words and be silent so you can listen.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

Psalm 34:8

“Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”

Jeremiah 33:3

Trust in the LORD with all your heart

     and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

     and he will make your paths straight.

Proverbs 3:5-6