Wow... I had no idea writing last night would be NC State Head Coach Kay Yow's last night. I know she's at rest now. We try to comfort ourselves with using the cliche she's "in a better place" but it doesn't always make it easier.
She was a great basketball coach, but more importantly she was an awesome person. I'm out of words, but grateful for the chance I had to meet her and watch her coach.
Michelle Voepel tribute
NC State release
Video from CBS special last weekend
In lieu of sending flowers, donations can be made to the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer
Fund at www.JimmyV.org, by calling
1-800-4JimmyV, or by mailing checks to the WBCA with attention Megan Smith at
4646 Lawrenceville Hwy. Lilburn, GA 30047. All donations are tax deductible.
Visiting and funeral arrangements will be posted on www.wbca.org as soon as they are available.
To share your thoughts and prayers with the family or memories of Yow, click
here.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
pink
I think sometimes I become impatient with people who have a cause that they beat into others. Whether it be religion or global warming or politics or disease research... it was fine if they were passionate about it but why do you have to knock me over with it incessantly? I'm curious as to what others believe but I don't want to feel pressured to give or act out of guilt or peer pressure. Nevertheless, I've caught the bug.
Last year our women's basketball coach became passionate about a program called "Think Pink" to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. NC State Head Coach Kay Yow has been fighting cancer for years and has hosted a large event that has inspired college programs around the country to adopt the "Think Pink" program to host events on their own campuses. Methodist Head Coach DeeDee Jarman has been an avid supporter of Coach Yow having worked her camps for many years while admiring her faith and commitment. Coach Jarman jumped into "Think Pink" with everything she had and raised money for pink uniforms for her team, donations for a silent auction in addition to $3,350 to present to Coach Yow for her cancer fund. The event featured a halftime ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors that brought many to tears... or at least close to it.
This year's event has been renamed "Pink Zone" but features the same goals Coach Yow has in her own life. Often, with a cause like this, you have to have a connection to it to really get it. Maybe you know someone who has fought or is fighting breast cancer and this hits home for you. Maybe you realize that one in seven women either has or will develop breast cancer and want to fight those odds. Maybe you have no connection to breast cancer and that's okay. I'm the one that just didn't want to go to the web site to click for breast cancer (the breast cancer site). It's not like it even cost me anything all I had to do was click but I didn't care.
Methodist University is hosting a Pink Zone event Feb. 14 at 2 pm. The women's basketball team will play Peace College but it's more than just a game. The school colors take a back seat to a cause that too many can connect to. We're selling t-shirts... many of you don't need another t-shirt. That's ok. Many of you don't live anywhere near to come to a basketball game in NC... That's ok too. Our silent auction will feature autographed basketballs by Michael Jordan, Coach Yow, Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt, UNC Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell and team, Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim and an autographed football by Eli Manning. Even if you don't like basketball or women's basketball... it's more than just a game.
Curious yet? Ok for real no pressure... I just thought I'd share something that's grown on me. I don't know that a t-shirt I buy is going to keep me from getting cancer, but I had to start somewhere.
Methodist University Pink Zone
Last year our women's basketball coach became passionate about a program called "Think Pink" to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer. NC State Head Coach Kay Yow has been fighting cancer for years and has hosted a large event that has inspired college programs around the country to adopt the "Think Pink" program to host events on their own campuses. Methodist Head Coach DeeDee Jarman has been an avid supporter of Coach Yow having worked her camps for many years while admiring her faith and commitment. Coach Jarman jumped into "Think Pink" with everything she had and raised money for pink uniforms for her team, donations for a silent auction in addition to $3,350 to present to Coach Yow for her cancer fund. The event featured a halftime ceremony to honor breast cancer survivors that brought many to tears... or at least close to it.
This year's event has been renamed "Pink Zone" but features the same goals Coach Yow has in her own life. Often, with a cause like this, you have to have a connection to it to really get it. Maybe you know someone who has fought or is fighting breast cancer and this hits home for you. Maybe you realize that one in seven women either has or will develop breast cancer and want to fight those odds. Maybe you have no connection to breast cancer and that's okay. I'm the one that just didn't want to go to the web site to click for breast cancer (the breast cancer site). It's not like it even cost me anything all I had to do was click but I didn't care.
Methodist University is hosting a Pink Zone event Feb. 14 at 2 pm. The women's basketball team will play Peace College but it's more than just a game. The school colors take a back seat to a cause that too many can connect to. We're selling t-shirts... many of you don't need another t-shirt. That's ok. Many of you don't live anywhere near to come to a basketball game in NC... That's ok too. Our silent auction will feature autographed basketballs by Michael Jordan, Coach Yow, Tennessee Head Coach Pat Summitt, UNC Head Coach Sylvia Hatchell and team, Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim and an autographed football by Eli Manning. Even if you don't like basketball or women's basketball... it's more than just a game.
Curious yet? Ok for real no pressure... I just thought I'd share something that's grown on me. I don't know that a t-shirt I buy is going to keep me from getting cancer, but I had to start somewhere.
Methodist University Pink Zone
Sunday, January 11, 2009
reading
During my travels during the month of December I was able to catch up on some reading and finished another book yesterday. I have a feeling my free time is coming to an end with my first home basketball of the new year in just a few hours but I try to escape when I can.
My future bro-in-law gave me the new Rob Bell book Jesus Wants to Save Christians for Christmas. I had heard an interview with Bell talking about the book so my curiosity was spiked and excited for Barton's gift. I started it a couple of weeks ago but sat down and read the majority of it in one sitting yesterday. There's a ton to pull away from it and I don't want to give everything away but some thoughts...
- "Because it's when we're fully present in our pain, when we're willing to sit in our tears, that we're ready to imagine a different kind of tomorrow." Bell is talking about the people in exile who cried out (Ps.137:1-4) and while I realize I'm not in a physical exile or anything close to it... after the week I had I needed to read this. Sometimes I think we try to run away... and maybe sometimes we dwell in it... but I want to be fully present in my pain that allows me to imagine a different kind of tomorrow.
- Later on in the book it talks about Philip's run-in with the eunuch. The eunuch asks Philip to baptize him, but at that time, according to the law, Philip would have been unable to baptize him because the eunuch was excluded from the group as "damaged goods." Baptizing him would jeopordize his standing with God according to the law at that time. In the book it says, "What do you do when your religion isn't big enough for God? What do you do when your rules and codes and laws simply aren't enough anymore? What do you do when your system falls apart because the new thing that God is doing is better, beyond, superior, more compelling?" Philip baptized the eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). I want to make sure my faith doesn't become a set of rituals that put God into a box.
- Another story talks about the two disciples walking back to Emmaus after Jesus' death (Luke 24:13-35). They're heading back after thinking they've made this huge mistake in leaving everything to follow this man who claimed he was something who turned out to be nothing. Jesus joins them on their walk (post-resurrection) and asks them what they're talking about. They're completely clueless and Bell says, "What we saw on the walk with Jesus and his disciples is that it's possible to be with Jesus every day and yet miss who he truly is and where we really are." I pray that doesn't become me.
I don't want to drown you in it but I feel like he makes some good points. Bell is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and probably most recognized for his NOOMA video series. Don Golden co-wrote the book with Bell so I don't want to leave him out.
My future bro-in-law gave me the new Rob Bell book Jesus Wants to Save Christians for Christmas. I had heard an interview with Bell talking about the book so my curiosity was spiked and excited for Barton's gift. I started it a couple of weeks ago but sat down and read the majority of it in one sitting yesterday. There's a ton to pull away from it and I don't want to give everything away but some thoughts...
- "Because it's when we're fully present in our pain, when we're willing to sit in our tears, that we're ready to imagine a different kind of tomorrow." Bell is talking about the people in exile who cried out (Ps.137:1-4) and while I realize I'm not in a physical exile or anything close to it... after the week I had I needed to read this. Sometimes I think we try to run away... and maybe sometimes we dwell in it... but I want to be fully present in my pain that allows me to imagine a different kind of tomorrow.
- Later on in the book it talks about Philip's run-in with the eunuch. The eunuch asks Philip to baptize him, but at that time, according to the law, Philip would have been unable to baptize him because the eunuch was excluded from the group as "damaged goods." Baptizing him would jeopordize his standing with God according to the law at that time. In the book it says, "What do you do when your religion isn't big enough for God? What do you do when your rules and codes and laws simply aren't enough anymore? What do you do when your system falls apart because the new thing that God is doing is better, beyond, superior, more compelling?" Philip baptized the eunuch (Acts 8:26-40). I want to make sure my faith doesn't become a set of rituals that put God into a box.
- Another story talks about the two disciples walking back to Emmaus after Jesus' death (Luke 24:13-35). They're heading back after thinking they've made this huge mistake in leaving everything to follow this man who claimed he was something who turned out to be nothing. Jesus joins them on their walk (post-resurrection) and asks them what they're talking about. They're completely clueless and Bell says, "What we saw on the walk with Jesus and his disciples is that it's possible to be with Jesus every day and yet miss who he truly is and where we really are." I pray that doesn't become me.
I don't want to drown you in it but I feel like he makes some good points. Bell is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church and probably most recognized for his NOOMA video series. Don Golden co-wrote the book with Bell so I don't want to leave him out.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
2009...
I always feel a bit reflective when we have change... especially something like a new year. I mean we celebrate the new year every 365 (or sometimes 366) days but the expectations surrounding it might lead a newcomer to believe it doesn't happen so often. We just spent the last three months preparing for Christmas and already we've moved onto a new holiday just a week later. I haven't written about much of anything the last few weeks as I've been a bit occupied.
After my trip to Florida at the beginning of the month, I went to Colorado with our women's basketball team for a few days. The team played two games but we still made time for plenty of sightseeing. I really enjoyed getting a tour of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I feel like it just breeds greatness... their theme is "amazing awaits." I wrote about the trip on our website www.mumonarchs.com If you have a whole lot of free time and didn't get enough entertaining reading material for Christmas you can click on women's basketball and read all of my witty blogs about the sights from Colorado. I talked a little about "amazing awaits" but it stems from a Maya Angelou poem called "Amazement Awaits" and I just really left there wanting to go back and revive my athletic career. Instead I spent the weekend watching college athletes strive for their own amazing.
I came back from Colorado and after a brief stop to exchange luggage I flew to the Bahamas. Most people have already scoffed witholding any pity, but it was a work trip! A company Sport Tours hosts college basketball teams and they hired me to do the stats. Fifteen DI, DII, and DIII women's basketball teams competed with 15 games in three days. Now don't get me wrong I found a couple hours to hit the beach but someday I'd like to go back on my own time. It was a trip of stretching and growth along with a slight cold but I made it back to the U.S. safely.
I spent a week at home on the shore and tried to soak up the "free" time. I still tried to see as many people as I could but I was in great need of rest. I did a lot of reading and a little work but I also wanted to just appreciate Christmas. The commercialization can become overwhelming but I'm so grateful for the "reason for the season." I went to church with my family on Christmas Eve and one man sang with his three sons. Before he sang he tried to tell a story and I think he questioned his delivery, but I liked the idea. He was explaining how some frogs or toads got stuck in a draining area in his yard and it was too deep for them to jump out of on their own. He tried to help direct them, to "rescue" them from their fate in the drain but he realized how much easier it would be for them to understand if he could become a frog/toad and explain it to them. In the same way, God sent Jesus to become like man and rescue us. Sometimes we can still be so stubborn and not always embrace the rescue... but this Christmas... I just want to embrace it.
I'm back in Fayetteville and just welcomed in a new year. I look back at 2008 and know there were so many lessons to pull out of it as I look ahead...
... pride comes before the fall
... most things don't last forever
... mississippi brings rest
... God still doesn't give us anything we can't handle
... houses are expensive... even after you close
... balance the work and social life but integrate the spiritual
... don't run in high heeled boots
... cherish the people in your life as they don't last forever either
Sometimes I get so caught up looking ahead that I miss out on what's in front of me. And sometimes I get so caught up living in the moment that I forget what's ahead of me. I pray that this year I figure it all out a little bit better.
After my trip to Florida at the beginning of the month, I went to Colorado with our women's basketball team for a few days. The team played two games but we still made time for plenty of sightseeing. I really enjoyed getting a tour of the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. I feel like it just breeds greatness... their theme is "amazing awaits." I wrote about the trip on our website www.mumonarchs.com If you have a whole lot of free time and didn't get enough entertaining reading material for Christmas you can click on women's basketball and read all of my witty blogs about the sights from Colorado. I talked a little about "amazing awaits" but it stems from a Maya Angelou poem called "Amazement Awaits" and I just really left there wanting to go back and revive my athletic career. Instead I spent the weekend watching college athletes strive for their own amazing.
I came back from Colorado and after a brief stop to exchange luggage I flew to the Bahamas. Most people have already scoffed witholding any pity, but it was a work trip! A company Sport Tours hosts college basketball teams and they hired me to do the stats. Fifteen DI, DII, and DIII women's basketball teams competed with 15 games in three days. Now don't get me wrong I found a couple hours to hit the beach but someday I'd like to go back on my own time. It was a trip of stretching and growth along with a slight cold but I made it back to the U.S. safely.
I spent a week at home on the shore and tried to soak up the "free" time. I still tried to see as many people as I could but I was in great need of rest. I did a lot of reading and a little work but I also wanted to just appreciate Christmas. The commercialization can become overwhelming but I'm so grateful for the "reason for the season." I went to church with my family on Christmas Eve and one man sang with his three sons. Before he sang he tried to tell a story and I think he questioned his delivery, but I liked the idea. He was explaining how some frogs or toads got stuck in a draining area in his yard and it was too deep for them to jump out of on their own. He tried to help direct them, to "rescue" them from their fate in the drain but he realized how much easier it would be for them to understand if he could become a frog/toad and explain it to them. In the same way, God sent Jesus to become like man and rescue us. Sometimes we can still be so stubborn and not always embrace the rescue... but this Christmas... I just want to embrace it.
I'm back in Fayetteville and just welcomed in a new year. I look back at 2008 and know there were so many lessons to pull out of it as I look ahead...
... pride comes before the fall
... most things don't last forever
... mississippi brings rest
... God still doesn't give us anything we can't handle
... houses are expensive... even after you close
... balance the work and social life but integrate the spiritual
... don't run in high heeled boots
... cherish the people in your life as they don't last forever either
Sometimes I get so caught up looking ahead that I miss out on what's in front of me. And sometimes I get so caught up living in the moment that I forget what's ahead of me. I pray that this year I figure it all out a little bit better.
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