Soccer Anyone?!

So I had the awesome responsibility of coaching my first soccer game this past Saturday. The primary coach and assistant coach are heavily involved in the local Church of Christ here in Sweetwater, and they were participating in a leadership retreat. So the mantle fell to me, which still is baffling my mind.

The most difficult part was coordinating substitutions for when players were tired, hurt, or bored. We would typically play eight players on the field while two players where on the sidelines. But this game the other team was down in numbers, so we only played six players on the field. And since we were playing on a full field, fewer players meant that everyone was running more and getting worn out much more quickly.

The good news was that we only lost by one point, and at times we actually had some good shots on the other team’s goal. I was proud of David and his assertiveness on the field (typically he is a bit more passive and waits for the ball to come to him). Overall, the experience was a positive one, an opportunity to encourage and love on some kids!

Setting Boundaries

My recent post called “A Living Theology” has received a number of responses (more than I anticipated), many from individuals that I do know or from those who make anonymous postings. And what began as a discussion on how our life experiences and culture influence our application of theology (and a clarion call for new ways of articulating and applying theological truth) morphed into a debate on the existence of hell and whether all people are ultimately saved.

The progressive change in the topic of the discussion and those who were posting comments has made me rethink the purpose and direction of my blog. One conclusion I have come to is that I prefer to keep my blog for those who know me and for those with whom I have some existing relationship. This makes a discussion more meaningful, I believe, and slightly more amicable. When unknown entities begin to post their comments or responses, things seem to divulge into mere intellectual debate. For this reason, I am removing the ability for anonymous postings on my blog. I know this may create a challenge for some who are technologically challenged. Drop me a personal email or give me a call, and I am more than willing to help anyone set up a blog account.

I appreciate your cooperation with this, and please do not let this deter you from commenting on a posting of mine. I want to encourage dialogue, but within particular parameters.

Everyone Loves Fender Benders

So I managed to get into a fender-bender on Wednesday of this week. The experience is rarely a positive one, and this was no exception. And to make matters worse, it was completely my fault. On Avenue B (the one I usually take), I can turn left onto it and take it several blocks before coming to a yield sign at a major intersection. But on Avenue C (the one I took on Wednesday), they decided to randomly throw in a stop sign before its major intersection. I hit a young Hispanic lady who was weeping and shaking uncontrollably. Bless her heart – it took her more than ten minutes just to calm down enough to move her car to the curb. Fortunately, it was not a high traffic intersection at all (no intersection in Sweetwater is “high traffic”).

I felt horrible about the situation, but it got worse when I found out that this young Hispanic lady did not have automobile insurance. She ended up getting a bigger ticket than I did, and my insurance is not responsible for the damages to her vehicle. The front bumper to my little white Toyota Camry is all scuffed up, a daily visual reminder of my mishap. Fortunately, Adina has been more than gracious.

I called the police to come and give a report of the accident, but I am wondering if that was the right decision considering the fact that I knew the Hispanic lady had no insurance. From a legal standpoint, I think it was the right thing to do. But from a moral/ethical standpoint, was it the right thing to do? She would not have received a ticket for not having insurance if I had not called the police. What do you think?

The Park at Sweetwater

I thought I should post some pictures of the church we are working with down here in Sweetwater, Texas. Hopefully, it will give all of our non-Texan friends a taste of where we are and what life is like away from the mountains. And I aim to add some other pictures of the family and the home soon as well.