Archive — Articles
16 Dec
Teen campaigning for fresh water in Sudan
Photo courtesy of Baptist Press
“The concept is extremely simple,” Guthrie said. “Give up one drink, and instead give that $1 to help build a well in Sudan. Our objective is for one well, which is $8,000, by Christmas 2008.”
Guthrie said more than 12 million people in Sudan lack adequate access to clean water. Digging wells is also expensive, because the dry climate requires deep digging to get to the water.
15 Dec
“That Guy”
Nearly every class has one, and in this class Scott is “That Guy.” You know who I’m talking about. They’re the ones who feel the irresistible urge to comment on absolutely every point the teacher makes. Now I’m generally a pretty patient guy; there are very few people that get under my skin. On this particular day Scott made the short-list.
12 Dec
Have I Trained Enough?
Have I trained enough? How long does training take? What will the results be? Those are three questions that haven’t stopped repeating in my head since my last post about training my core.
11 Dec
Football salvation story is brighter than Friday night lights!
Photo courtesy of Baptist Press
EAST PRAIRIE, Mo. (BP)—Not in 50 years had Friday night lights burned so brightly for East Prairie (Mo.) High School. When the East Prairie Eagles defeated archrival Charleston 46-21, it was their first victory in Charleston in a half-century.
The first words East Prairie coach Jason Aycock heard were from his pastor, Jon Archie, who yelled, “This is exactly what happens when your coach gets saved.”
10 Dec
Grateful for Discipline
My niece Hannah is a beautiful, brilliant, and strong-willed two-year-old. She lives and loves with a contagious fervor. As I watch her grow, I learn. Of late, what amazes me is how easily children resist what is good for them. For Hannah, a meal, a nap, or medicine can quickly become the enemy. Her parents’ discipline is often simply the means to help her accept what is in her best interest.
Today, I am grateful for God’s discipline.
9 Dec
The Fragile Life
Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. James 4:14
I remember exactly where I was standing when I got the call. “Do you remember Alan?” my sister asked. “He died.” Shocked, I managed a loud “What?!?” into the phone as my emotions swirled within me and I tried to collect my thoughts. I could not focus on the task ahead of me at work and instead made a few phone calls to my friends to confirm and mourn the news.
4 Dec
Me + Math = Impossible
Math has not been my best subject in school. In fact, it is my worst subject. When I got my report card in the middle of this past semester, I realized I might not pass the class. To bring up my grade to a “C” I was going to have to get at least a “B” on the rest of my tests. The problem was I hadn’t even made a “C” on any of my tests! In higher math everything you learn builds on what you learn next, so passing was looking impossible. I knew that there was no way I could pass on my own. I came to the realization that I needed help.
3 Dec
Friends After All
Recently, I’ve made a new friend of sorts. I love it when that happens! Except in this case, I’ve known this friend for several years, but it’s only recently we started talking. I remember the first time I met her. It was the first day of Junior English class; she had just moved in from out of state.
2 Dec
Spiritual Race
Photo courtesy of Baptist Press
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP)—Southern Baptist Theological Seminary student Michael Diaz recently faced the most arduous day of his seminary career. But it wasn’t difficult because of tests, papers or staying up late to parse Hebrew verbs. Diaz, completed Louisville’s Ironman Triathlon , which involved a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26-mile run. “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, for sure,” Diaz said. “I’ve been a soccer player for many, many years and been racing triathlon. But it was definitely the most pain I’ve ever experienced, but I knew I couldn’t do anything about it. I had to stick with it. I’d come too far to stop.”
1 Dec
“The China Wall”
I clearly remember the ski trip that shattered my male sense of invincibility. It was the time I experienced the “China Wall.” I wouldn’t say that I was the best skier on the mountain, but I was far from the worst (no offence dad). Before long, my cousin JP and I had conquered almost everything, but as we studied our map, I noticed one slope we had missed. It was called the China Wall and it had more diamonds than a deck of cards–all of them black.
