Soul Catch-up Day

After eating an entire bull,
a mountain lion felt so good he started roaring.
He kept it up until a hunter came along and shot him.
The moral: When you're full of bull, keep your mouth shut.

Be still, and know that I am God Psalm 46:10/NLT. With the surge of activity for the end of the school year upon us that could be a timely verse though not in time for the mouthy lion. There is a story I came across, reportedly from the writings of Rabbi Kushner, about a group of tourists who went on a safari in Africa and hired several native porters to carry their supplies for them. After three days, the porters announced they would have to stop and rest for a day. When the tourists inquired as to why (they did not appear to be tired) the porters confirmed that fatigue was not the reason: “but we have walked too far too fast and now we must wait for our souls to catch up to us."

The soul is the part of us that longs for God—that tells us how spiritually hungry we are. It’s also the part that reminds us of the truth. For David, the psalmist, his soul was like his inner compass that told him the right way to go. He often had to stop and listen to his soul. Over and over again, his soul is thirsty (Psalm 107:9), it longs for God (Psalm 143:6), his soul cries out for salvation (Psalm 199:81), and it recognizes the truth about himself—that he is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14). If we don’t listen to our souls we become spiritually disconnected. It’s impossible to know God and not connect to your own soul but every once in a while we need a Soul Catch-up Day. “The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord” (Psalm 37:23) but as Charles Spurgeon rightly noted “so are His stops”. Teachers, Professors, students and parents it may be time to take a stop. Is there some matter plaguing you today--an issue, an obstacle, a problem that stands in your path? Wait on the Lord to give your soul a chance to catch up and in His time, He will clear the way for you to see your way through.

A pearl to string:
Luis Palau said, “God is not disillusioned with us. He never had any illusions to begin with”. Remember you are loved.


Know that the God who holds the universe is the God who is holding you,
Lyndi

Oprah's New Church?

Rimitzing

From Pastor Dudley C Rutherford, Romancing Royalty - comes a pearl worth passing on to all. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” -- which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Matthew 27:46

I have heard many preachers explain that at this moment, God was turning His back on His only Son. Nothing could be further from the truth. Let me explain. Jesus was a rabbi, a teacher if you will. Rabbis often taught by the method of “rimitzing”. Rimitz is a way of “alluding to” or “referring to”. For example, if I said to you, “For God so loved the world that He gave…” then you, as the listener, would know I was referring to John 3:16.

Likewise, on the cross, when Jesus the rabbi said, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” every Jewish person listening knew that Jesus was saying, “Hey folks, one thousand year ago, David predicted all of this would happen. It might look bad, but this has been the plan all along. You see this is not a cry of defeat. It is a cry of victory. God had planned from the beginning of time that I would suffer and die by the cruel torture of the cross.” Read Psalm 22 and you will understand this was all part of the plan of God, that Jesus would indeed by atonement for our sins and be the Blessed Messiah. If you don’t have your Bible’s with you Psalm 22 it’s a click away at: http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+22

A pearl to string: There is much vying for our attention these days. TMI……
How does a person stay grounded, level headed and warm hearted? With a popular talk show hostess creating her own religion and so many buying into what sounds good to them we as a society are moving away from the truth of the gospel. Jesus is the only ONE who died for our sin and rose from the dead so we might have eternal life with God the Father. Everything else is either a philosophy, a human with no deity, or a physical inanimate object - none of which created you nor can they save you from death and the fires of hell. There is only ONE God. There is only ONE Savior. There is only ONE way. Oh, am I rimitzing?

Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me". John 14:6

In His Joy,
Lyndi

Lessons from the Geese

Lessons from the Geese, was written in 1972 by Dr Robert McNeish of Baltimore. Dr McNeish, for many years a science teacher before he became involved in school administration, had been intrigued with observing geese for years and first wrote the piece for a sermon he delivered in his church.

In Christian application there are 5 distinct lessons to learn from the Geese.

Lesson #1

Cooperation. A flock of geese is like a team. Flying together creates an uplift, a surge that carries the whole farther than its individual parts could go by themselves. Solomon illustrates this principle in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12: Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; but how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. When a group or team cooperates, it can achieve great things.

Lesson #2

Unity. Going it alone—being independent of the flock—leads to falling behind. What happens when a goose falls out of formation and cannot or will not reform? If the flock can fly 71% farther as a group, then the lone goose is left behind.

Notice Ephesians 4:3-4, 14-16 (Phillips): Make it your aim to be at one in the Spirit, and you will be bound together in peace. There is one Body and one Spirit, just as it was to one hope that you were called. . . . We are not meant to remain as children at the mercy of every chance wind of teaching, and of the jockeying of men who are expert in the crafty presentation of lies. But we are meant to speak the truth in love, and to grow up in every way into Christ, the head. For it is from the head that the whole body, as a harmonious structure knit together by the joints with which it is provided, grows by the proper functioning of individual parts, and so builds itself up in love.

We continue to see brethren sidetracked by "crafty presentation." When this happens, and they remove themselves from the flock, this "chance wind of teaching" adds drag and resistance, and suddenly, they find themselves alone.

Anyone who has played team sports knows that the individual must subordinate his desires to those of the team. His goal may be to have the highest scoring average, but that may not help the team to win the championship. Likewise, a church member may think he has discovered the secret to a doctrinal question that no one else has found. But what does he do if others fail to recognize his brilliance? If he pulls out of formation, he may still make it south for the winter, or more likely, he will find himself wintering on a frozen lake in Minnesota! To do its work most fully and successfully, the body of Christ must "fly" together.

Lesson #3

Leadership. Throughout the Bible we see God providing fresh leadership to preside over His people. When Moses' work had been completed, Joshua was trained and ready to take over. Elisha picked up the mantle that had fallen from Elijah's shoulders. When it became clear that Jesus' ministry had begun, John the Baptist humbly said, "He must increase, but I must decrease" (John 3:30). But sometimes a leader's power goes to his head, and he swerves off course. If a flock of Canada geese leaves the Hudson Bay area headed south for Lake Lanier, Georgia, and the lead bird makes a hard left over Toronto, well, the flock is off course! They will end up in Lake Ontario instead!

In love for us, God has never failed to provide leadership for His people because our chances of attaining our goal on our own are nil. When God told the children of Israel that they would wander in the wilderness for 40 years (Numbers 14:33), some of them decided to strike out on their own (verse 40). Moses warned them that God was not with them, yet they tried to enter the Promised Land anyway. The Amalekites and the Canaanites mercilessly cut them down (verses 41, 44-45). It is a tragic but pointed object lesson. Paul writes in I Corinthians 11:1, "Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ." There is nothing wrong with following a person who faithfully follows Christ's lead. At some time soon, we hope and pray that God brings us together again to follow the leader He has prepared for us.

Lesson #4

Encouragement. To lead any endeavor, especially a scattered church, requires huge amounts of effort. To break the trail for others, to be the lead bird, is to be a target, and that can be stressful and wearying. The leader does not always know what is going on among the membership, how they feel or what questions or misconceptions they may have. Too many times all the shepherd hears is the grumbling of the vocal few.

Through our prayers and kind words we can give strength to those up ahead of us. A minister hears many tales of woe, complaints and arguments, but a sincere thank you or gesture of support sometimes makes it all worthwhile. Counseling, preparing messages, traveling and speaking are not easy to do, so any amount of holding up a minister's hands is greatly appreciated and benefits the entire congregation (Exodus 17:8-13).

This need to encourage also applies to our brethren. Health issues have put me on the bench so to speak. But I can still encourage all those around me. In the parallel sports metaphor, being part of a team sometimes means we are watching from the bench. We still participate, however, by giving encouragement, by rooting for our teammates who are on the court. Many a winning team has heaped credit on their "sixth man" or "twelfth man," the fans who cheered from the sidelines and boosted the team's efforts during critical moments of the game.

Paul writes, "Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep" (Romans 12:15), and "Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching" (Hebrews 10:24-25). Now more than ever, we all need the encouragement only our fellows in the flock can give.

Lesson #5

Family. The church, God's flock, is composed of His called children, thus it is a family. He expects us to extend the same care to each other as we would any member of our physical families. Our Savior—our Elder Brother—sets the example: For it was fitting for Him [the Father], for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both He who sanctifies and those who are being sanctified are all of one, for which reason He [Christ] is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying: "I will declare Your name to My brethren; in the midst of the assembly I will sing praise to You." . . . And again: "Here am I and the children whom God has given Me." . . . Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted. (Hebrews 2:10-13, 17-18)

The apostle James writes that we have the same responsibility toward each other: "Brethren, if anyone among you wanders from the truth, and someone turns him back, let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins" (James 5:19-20). Peter says, "And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'" (I Peter 4:8). Jude shows two opposite approaches to this problem: "And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh" (Jude 22-23).

These are just other ways of saying we must help a brother who has dropped out of formation (see Luke 15:4-7). We should never abandon a sick or wounded brother (see Luke 10:25-37). As long as there is hope, we should be there to help.

At some point, though, it may become clear that the family member is "dead." He no longer responds to any help or encouragement from the church. If this happens, we must figuratively leave him behind. Paul says, "Deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus" (I Corinthians 5:5). At that point, it is best to let him go his own way, and we must rejoin the flock without him.

"Lessons from the Geese" is a beautiful analogy for any Christian, but especially poignant for this end-time church. Imagine if the church of God behaved like a flock of geese, flying in perfect formation, cooperating as a team, unified behind godly leadership, constantly encouraging those around us, and helping our brothers and sisters in the faith. Those who practice these things will reach the flock's destination, the Kingdom of God!

A Parable by Ravi Zacharias

It seems that Elijah was traveling the countryside with a rabbi when they happened upon a dilapidated lean-to owned by a poor man and his ailing wife. Outside the shack was a skinny cow whose ribs were poking through its hide. The couple let Elijah and guest to spend the night with them, offering them the best of their cupboard: a cake of bread, some butter and milk. During the night, suddenly and sadly, a wall collapsed in the poor couple’s humble cottage but Elijah had no miracle for them, despite their hospitality.

Later that day they happened upon a very rich man who entertained them and allowed them to spend the night. The evening’s fare he spread before them included rich, fat morsels and a feast fit for kings. What a bounty! The next morning, a wall also fell in the rich man’s house and Elijah immediately performed a miracle and restored the wall.

As the two travelers continued their journey together the rabbi could not wait to ask the burning question: why would you restore that rich man’s wall and let the poor couple suffer their fate without intervening?

Elijah said, “Ah sir, the Lord showed me the poor man’s wife was going to die the next day and I interceded for her and she was healed. She and her husband are so grateful to God for His overshadowing miracle they will gladly rebuild the wall together out of joy of being restored to each other.”

“As for the rich man,” Elijah continued, “he is so bound to his greed. He is held captive to it. Behind his wall is a pot of gold and because I performed such a miracle for him, he will never know it, never touch it, and never be bound to it.”

Ravi ended the parable by saying that we have many questions as to why this wall fell and that wall stayed up, why this one was left in rubble and the next is miraculously restored. His point was, quite obviously, God has a perspective on all things we do not have and He sees the end from the beginning. He can also see through the wall that looms large and unexplained before us and He holds our tomorrow in His great big Hands. We bow to the supreme great God who will answer our questions one day but we would be well served to remember that our time is but a “speck in a sea of eternity.”

A pearl to string: “It is the glory of God to conceal a matter but the glory of kings to search out a matter.” (Proverbs 25:2)

“To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables; because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand.” (Matthew 13:11-13)

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God…”(Deuteronomy 29:29)

He knows your secret ~ turn and run to Him ~ He gave His life for you ~
Know you are loved,
Lyndi

The ole Switch-A-Roo

Coach Wonderful calls me a competitor because I finish what I start no matter the cost of time or effort. I don’t think that’s competitive – God just made me that way. He probably made Pit Bulls right before me and it was residue or something. Sometimes that competitive thing can drive me crazy. For a woman who can barely breathe and walk at the same time just being in the game looks pretty thrilling. Seems to me winning grows a big head but losing grows character. Of course one does not want to be a character so winning most of the time is more balanced. Ok, women’s thoughts – who can make sense of them but sports fans and their changeable ways drive me to distraction. How cool is it when 80,000 fans go nuts over a great play but so cold when they boo the same player anytime they do not perform to perfection.

Sports figures drop like flies from grace because people are fickle. Fans are so willing to be loyal to the athlete who makes them feel good and fulfills their expectations, yet turn on that same person with a vengeance if all does not go well. It’s the ole switch-a-roo and it happened in the Bible too.

Remember when a great multitude of people in Jerusalem shouted joyously as Jesus rode into their city riding a donkey (Matthew 21:6-11)? Interesting isn’t it that just days later, probably some of those same people were in the crowd calling for Jesus’ crucifixion (27:20-23). One day they worshiped Him, but a few days later they didn’t want Him around anymore. They didn’t just want Him to go away they wanted to kill Him.

A pearl to string: The bible tells us that in the last days hearts will grow cold. (Matthew 24:4-14) So we need to stoke up the fires of our faith, be strong in the Lord and avoid being caught in the ole switch-a-roo. For it is infinitely wiser to converge with His will rather than compete with it.

May each of us be able to say: “He died for me so I can live for Him”.
You are so loved,
Lyndi

God’s Greatest Gift by Marc McCartney 1994

It was a rainy and humid Sunday night in Waco as two Baylor freshmen, Marc and Blair, discussed what the preacher had talked about that morning. The preacher told of the awesome gifts that God has for everyone. They each the same thing on their mind that night. Marc told Blair about the greatest gift that God had ever given him…..

Growing up as a McCartney you learn one thing quick, Jesus Christ is Lord! As a kid I can remember going to hear all kinds of different Christian singer and speakers, and reading the Bible together as a family every single night. I was taught at a very young age that Jesus is Lord, and there is no compromising that fact. However, the greatest teaching came in my relationship with my parents. First of all, my mother is amazing! All of my close friends would tell you that she is the heart and soul of our family and they are right. She’s like an offensive linemen, never getting the credit that she deserves. My Mom has taught me many things, but the greatest lessons come by the way that she lives her life. Some words that come to mind about my Mom are humorous, loyal, and compassionate. My Mon’s humor has always shined through, whether it’s the sill way that she can make us all laugh or the kid in her that will let her seven year old son go to Taco Bell for his Fist Communion breakfast (by the way Mom, Taco Bell is still my favorite). Her loyalty has always been an inspiration to me. I can remember the time when she scolded and grounded my brothers because they didn’t go to one of my soccer games. She got her point across, because some of my greatest memories growing up have been to have Mike at my junior high football games, or Tom driving all the way to Pueblo to watch me in the State Championship. She also displayed her loyalty in the way that she stuck by my Dad no matter what was going on. I’ll never forget waiting for Dad after his football games. I think my favorite part of the games was to see Mom and Dad hug afterwards. My Mom is definitely compassionate. I’ll always remember the cake she made me when I didn’t make the little league all-star team, and how the whole family came out to my last game and told me that “I was their little all-star”.

My Dad is the greatest Christian man that I know. If the Bible was written today there is no doubt in my mind that there would be a book called, “Coach Mac”, I can remember going to two-a-days to watch my Dad’s to watch my Dad’s team practice and walking to lunch with him after practice. People would always want to walk with us, and when they did my Dad would never fail to share the Gospel with them. There are certain images that I have of my Dad that will always be with me. I remember his prayer list and how he would read it even when he was driving. I remember waking up each morning to the sight of my Dad in the living room reading the Bible. I also cannot recall a day in my life that Dad didn’t tell Mom how beautiful she looked, his example has taught me to bring Robin to splendor. I remember Halloween morning 1992, when we were about to play Nebraska in Lincoln for the Big Eight Championship and a shot at the National Title. Tom and Kristy and I were there for the game and instead of getting ready for one of the most important games of his life, he called a family meeting. He told Tom and I that the McCartney men needed to do a better job at showing Mom and Kristy how valuable they were to us. I was an incredible moment as we began to hug on and cry with each other. You see our Dad taught us long ago that it was okay to cry.

One thing about my Mom and Dad is that they are a great team. When we lost to Miami in 1993 we were all devastated and I was particularly upset. However, instead of feeling sorry for ourselves my parents called some of their friends over and we praised Jesus together for hours. It was a moving time when I was able to tell my Mom and Dad how much I love them, but words could never describe my feelings for them.

Hey Blair, everyone knows that the greatest gift that God ever gave us was his son. He gave me something different though, he gave me Jesus through my Mom and Dad. I don’t know why God decided to bless me so much with the parents that he gave me, but I honestly feel like the luckiest, most loved person in the world” After Blair told Marc about his parents the two knelt down together to praise God. Marc prayed and thanked his savior for the greatest gift of all, his Mom and Dad.

http://www.faithpluslife.blogspot.com/

“Parents are the pride of their children” by Kristy McCartney 1994

“Parents are the pride of their children”
Proverbs 17:6

Mom and Dad, you are worthy of honor and praise for the love, commitment, and selflessness you have shown me. I am thankful you were married, had me, and stayed together through all the hard times. Your love and commitment to each other has enriched my life and the lives of my children. I thank you for giving your lives to Christ and sharing His love with me. For this I am eternally grateful. As a family we have had many good times. These are some of the memories I cherish:

FCA camps, bowl games, vacations in Florida at the McCartney’s trailer, help with science projects, extra gifts at Christmas time, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Mac, Mom sponge painting the walls, Dad making us clean the garage, doing yard work, hugging and loving me when I didn’t make cheerleader, playing telephone, Mom making our Halloween costume (and dressing up too), how special you made our birthdays, visiting Dad at practice, playing pin ball at Dad’s office, all those Girl Scout meetings, getting lost at camp, our trip to the mountains with Mom’s family, fighting in the car on road trips, Dad threatening to pull the car over, the millions of football, basketball, and baseball games, beating Notre Dame (twice!), reading the Bible before bed. There are so many memories we have made. Thank you for all of them.

Mom, as you look back on your life, it might not have gone the way you had planned. But I want you to know you have raised a daughter who thinks the world of you. l You are so beautiful to me. You are elegant, graceful, and classy (it shows in everything you do). You are supportive, loving, kind, generous, forgiving, patient, funny, and incredibly talented. I am in awe of your writing abilities. You have been through so much pain in your life, yet, you find a way to be positive and forgiving. I admire that and long to be like you. You are a role model for me as a Christian woman and mother. You have sacrificed so many things for me. I appreciate each and every one of those sacrifices with all of my heart. You have been my best friend through many tough times, never judging me, only loving and accepting me. I trust you with my deepest thoughts, fears, and joys. I am so proud that you are my Mother. I thank you, I honor you and I love you Mom.

Dad, I don’t think you realize how much I admire and respect you. When I have trouble with something and need help, I think of you. You have so much wisdom. You speak with such passion and conviction and you live that way too. Your discipline has not gone unnoticed. You had an impact on me. You are someone I look up to and strive to be like in many ways. You are a man of God, and I am proud to call you my Father. You have no idea what joy and excitement it brings me to hear you speak. At Promise Keepers ’94, I was so excited to hear you speak I could hardly contain myself. I search the radio for your speeches. For all of the speeches I have been to, from Buff Belles to Phoenix ’90, I am so proud of you. You instilled in all of us the need for God in our lives, the importance of Church every Sunday, and reading the Word daily. I am thankful for those vital truths you have given me.
Father, I thank you, I honor you and I love you Dad.

I love you Mom and Dad
Kristy

Footprints to Follow by Tom McCartney 1994

Two sets of footprints represent the good times. One set of footprints represents the tough times. The Lord says where there is one set of footprints; those are the times that I carried you. Mom and Dad, thank you for the footprints that you have left, the Lord has blessed the two of you and your children follow in your footprints.

Dad, you raised our family to seek the Lord. Thank you for all those nights we turned off The television and you read from the Bible. Thank you for all those mornings you prayed over each of us, and thank you for never missing church on Sunday, and always including us to say the Rosary with you in the car.

Mom, your treasure on earth was your family. The Lord blessed you with many talents:
Playing the piano, playing the guitar, teaching, singing and writing. However, the gift you choose as a career, was loving your family. Thank you For the sacrifices you have made to be with your Family and the footprints that you have left.

Mom and Dad, thank you for modeling to your family the key to living, which is giving. Mom, I remember when I was a teenager and you asked me if I was going to Marc’s baseball game, and I said “no”. You told me how you had brought Marc to all of my games and how much it would mean to him if I came to his game. Mom, thank you for going to my games and thank you for teaching me, by example, how to give to others. Dad, I recall times when family members and you were in a disagreement. Before too long, I always remember seeing you go first to the family member and ask for their forgiveness. Dad, forgiving and giving equals living and you and mom make a great team.

John 4:38 “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”

Mom and Dad you are leaving a legacy behind you. Thank you for building our home on a strong foundation. I thought about separate tributes for each of you, but the two of you have never been separate. I love you both and I ask for your forgiveness. Mom you once told me that I didn’t have a clue and you were right. I have taken my loved ones for granted. Why do we take our loved ones for granted? I believe it is because the two of you have always been there for me and both of you have been servants to me. Forgive me, because I have not been a servant back to you. Mom, I have always wanted to marry someone like you and the Lord has blessed me. Dad, I have always wanted to be just like you.

Thank you for your footprints.
I love you both,
Thomas Chase.

A TRIBUTE to Mom and Dad by Mike McCartney 1994

Mom and Dad, my life is richer because you have given so much to me. Together, you have taught me love, honor, respect, responsibility, devotion discipline, ethics, morals and commitment. I’ve learned from your words and I’ve learned from your actions. You provided a safe and Godly environment to grow up in. There are so many great memories that I have of growing up. I want to share them here with you so that you will always know my appreciation for you.

Mom, you are the most tender, loving person I know. You make everyone feel so comfortable, never judging anyone. Your caring nature is obvious to anyone who knows you, not to mention your devotion to our family. I love you and hold you in the highest regard.

Mom, the most special times I’ve shared with you have been our 3 driving trips, especially the one to North Carolina. Yes it was the longest, yet it also gave us the most timed to talk, It was such a great honor to hear of your past, your dreams, your struggles, and your love for Dad and the family. At the conclusion of the drive to Kansas, saying good-bye was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life.

As I reminisce about growing up, so many moments come to mind. I want to thank you for attending every Little League baseball and basketball game, even when they started in the early hours. Thanks for believing that every injury was legitimate, despite 16 broken fingers. Your tenderness and affection when I was sick and the way you, rubbed my stomach and special memories. You taught me how to drive a stick shift. You demonstrated the importance of tithing by giving me a dollar for church when I was young. Two other memories truly stand out and are of such significance to me. Your devotion to Dad, and knowing that Jenni was the one from the onset, welcoming and loving her into our family.

Dad, you are a man of tremendous integrity, principle and character. I admire the work ethic and discipline in your life. Everything you ever get involved in seems to be great or turn great. You have so many talents and are unquestionably the greatest source for me to turn to for advice. You taught me how to be gracious in defeat and humble in victory. (You had much more practice at humbleness) I am grateful that I always knew of your great love and affection for Mom and you children. I love and respect you very much.

Dad, Saturday’s when you were a basketball coach were very special days. We would start out at the donut shop before practice. Shooting hoops and being around the players were great times. I still remember you trying to teach me what double dribble meant. Following practice, we would often head to Miller’s Bar for the best burgers in town. I also remember state playoff games at the Silverdome, watching Mark “The Bird” Fidrych pitch, and chapel services at Tiger Stadium. Lunch at the Michigan training table, sideline passes, making sure I got into the locker room after the Rose Bowl win, and all of your stirring pre-game talks (I’ll never forget the 15 rounds at Oklahoma) are great memories. I loved being a “coaches’ kid”, even if it meant getting booed in the sixth grade upon returning from the Rose Bowl. Thanks for the sex talk driving to Indiana, I remember marveling at your words as we constructed the best poem for Tommy Hearns.

Mom and Dad, you have added so much to my life, yet the greatest gift you have given to me was showing me the door to eternal life. Dad, thanks for leading the family in daily devotions and teaching us about the love of Christ. Mom, thanks for your example of servant hood. I thank you both for praying over me and illustrating God’s love daily. I have learned so much from each of you and strive to be more like you. Dad, you’re my example of being a Godly man at home and at work. And Mom, if I could be as selfless as you, I would truly be fortunate, as well as those around me. I have been blessed beyond measure and owe it to the two of you. Mom and Dad, I love honor and thank you.
Mike