Post 1500 (A Cynical Success Story)

For as pessimistic and cynical as my internal wiring tends to be, I'm consistently amazed, humbled, blessed, and lucky to find so much success in life.

Over 5 years ago, I thought I'd start sharing parts of my thoughts, journeys, days, and emotions publically on the internet.  This post marks 1500 unique posts to that effect.  Many of you have read all 1500 of them.  The cynic inside me does not understand this.

Life has been good to me.  Blessed with the best family to grow up in, with actual opportunity to become anything i would set out to, life has been good.  I found many skill sets to be average within myself, but others came alongside and helped me grow in those abilities.  Natural wirings and gifts from God have pushed me forward in both social, trivial, vocational, and meaningful pursuits throughout my life.

I've always critiqued the worst of myself and of other people, but find most others do the opposite for me.  While I judge, favor is extended to me.  Where I see faults in others, grace is extended to me.  Where I doubt myself, encouragement to overcome comes from others.

On top of all that, I've married up in a huge way, somehow convincing the best person in the world, that partnering through life with me will make both of us better.  We often look at our life cynically, analytically, and with a lens of idealism, but when I take those glasses off, even if only for a brief moment, our life is filled with joy that comes from each other, from our friends and family, and from our savior.

We are blessed beyond understanding.  This has been the story of my life.  I am the cynical success story.  I was against religion, against conformity, against abandoning the intellect (I thought faith required this) and combatant against others who thought it was a good idea.  But I've been captured by an overwhelming love, one that looks past what I thought the world should be and has shown me something better.  Captured by a savior who has redeemed me, transformed me, given me life, value and worth, I've been taken from cynic to success, not by my strength or works, but by His love, Grace and Sacrifice for me.

I've been seen, called valuable, and loved by God most importantly, followed closely by my wife, family and friends who have refused to let me walk through life just as a pessimistic cynic and have instead made my life to this point...success.

Looking forward to continued sharing of those successes (and my cynicism) with you.

P.S.  The soccer team won the regional tournament for the men for the first time since my senior year in college.  I get another trip to a national tournament in Florida.  It will be my 5th, I haven't deserved any of them.

Technology is Wonderful

I was downstairs playing a video game on the computer.  My phone beeped to let me know I had a new e-mail.

Jenny had e-mailed me from the laptop upstairs to bring her phone up to her from downstairs to be used as an alarm.

No part of me thinks this is lazy or weird.  I love technology.

Weekends With Breaks

When I played college soccer, we never had a weekend off.  We practiced or played every saturday, and dind't line up our schedules with school breaks.

When fall retreat weekends came, the team would take road trips, and any RA's would be forced to miss the road trip to fulfill the duties of the role, but the team never had a weekend off.

This weekend, is the second the team has off this year.  We don't ever practice on Saturdays, but have had many games those days.  This is the MEA week here (short for, an excuse for MN schools to have a couple days off) and historically our regional tournament was this weekend.  But since that tournament has been pushed back a week, the team (and now I) get a weekend break from soccer.

I like the scheduling freedom, but don't think it is best for our quality of soccer.  That said, i'm looking forward to sleeping in on Saturday, and being home for a more normal dinner time tomorrow.

Need Ideas

I will shortly hit blog number 1500.

I need ideas on what special to do for that occassion.

Comment Away

Blowouts of Blunder or Bliss

After tonight's soccer game, we've hit a point in the schedule where games should all be competitive now.

Our last two opponents should not have been on our schedule as we aren't even comparable in the quality that they put on the field.

We don't play again for a week, and that game should remain competitive.  At our regional tournament, if there is  a blowout, it should be because we beat another team, not lose to them, otherwise, the games should be competitive.

A blowout either signifies a blunder, or bliss, unlike tonight, where it was simply expectation.

In 11 days we'll either be regional champs and heading to Florida, or we'll be done for the season.

And Summer is Gone

We turned the heat on for the first time this year. 

I suppose that means summer is officially gone.  We managed to keep it off through the brief spurts of chilly weather that interspersed themselves between warmth, but now the chill looks like it might be here to stay.

The movie (Harry Potter 5) was better with the warmth, and looks like the remaining ones in the series will be watched with heat as well.

I'll start looking forward to golf seasons return again soon.

Another of the Four

I've told myself many times to live with certain expectation.  In a given year, I believe that I will teach 4 times that deserve an apology.  Just bad, incoherent teachings.  My guess is that 4 will also be on the other side of the spectrum, when everything comes together perfectly and smoothly in a way that stands beyond reason. 

Ultimately then, most of my teachings will fall in whatever is considered "normal" for me.

I believe this will happen when all other variables (preparation, excitement, health, etc) remain standard.

Tonight was one of the bottom 4.  I had prepared fine, understood my own material fine, but delivered it poorly tonight.  It felt off and unclear while I was delivering it, but I didn't know how to salvage that.  I left feeling bummed, probably more so than I should.  I knew I noticed, assumed everybody else did (they usually don't, or at least evaluate my relation to my norm different than me often enough that I don't care), and wanted a retry that won't be coming.

The comfort comes for me in the standard.  Until I get to more than 4 within a year, I'll simply move on tomorrow preparing for the next one.  No major concerns until the balance shifts and the norm is lowered.

Not Just a Foot Thing

I got to coach a shooting practice today.

It shocks me how many players at the college level have never been taught how to properly shoot a soccer ball.  Most of the team uses there foot in the exact opposite way that they should, and relies on their leg alone to get power in the shot.

Taking some time to reteach them the proper fundamentals of shooting was funny to watch at first as they all looked goofy trying to get the hang of kicking a ball properly, but many were shooting better by the end of the day.

Hopefully tomorrow will start making the action more comfortable and natural for them so they can finally put some power and accuracy together on the same shot.

Interns Are Great

I currently have an intern serving alongside me at Grace Fellowship.  I'm starting to realize how fun this can be.

This week, I won't be writing my Thursday night message (nor delivering one) and will have part of my Sunday School Class taught by him as well.

I might actually get ahead on a few things, or at least get to put proper attention and detailed thought towards some of the other areas that need it.

Maybe I should always have an intern.

A Weird Season

I typically preach at the Young Adults Service when I'm in town.  I've realized that I have 3 of the next 4 weeks (if tonight was included) that I won't be doing that.  Only one of those will I be gone. 

Had a guest tonight, have a guest again next week, then I'll take my turn, and multiple guests coming in the following week.

Was interesting not having to prepare for it, but didn't notice it too much since I kick off two new classes this week, so there is still plenty of prep to do.

More Free Clothes

One of the largest benefits to coaching college soccer is all the free clothes.

So far this year, I've racked up 4 T-Shirts, 1 Coaches Jersey, 1 Pair of shorts, 1 Warm Up Jacket, 1 Warm Up Pants, and 2 water bottles.

I don't know of any more that are coming, but 8 new wardrobe pieces and two new kitchen pieces isn't a bad deal so far.

A Little Cold

Camping this weekend was a really good time.  It got a little cold at nights, but for the most part, everybody stayed warm and slept well.

The days had gorgeous weather for us to spend hiking and taking pictures, but also included the coolest (both in terms of experience and temperature) moment.

One of the young adults asked if they could be baptised.  So as a group, we hiked a trail to a waterfall, had him tell us his journey and then prayed over him.  He and I then entered the water (hence the coldness of the experience) and baptised him at the falls of the Caribou River. 

I imagine only a polar plunge baptism would have been done in colder water.  It was a little cold, but easily the highlight of the weekend.