I Want To Speak Up

We ran a soccer practice today that focused the team on decision making, situational awareness, and leadership. 

As such, we didn't get to coach them in the process of the drills, just debrief with them afterwards.  That is hard.  Players do lots of things that are easily correctable, but not when you can't say anything to them.  Then you just get frustrated.

Overall, they'll start getting the hang of things more, and hopefully become better soccer players, but today, Coach Jake and I just found ourselves wanting to speak up.  Restraint was difficult, hopefully it was helpful.

Un-Planned Switch

The calendar always changes.  I ended up with a different outcome than intended or hoped for, but still something to look forward to.

I had been slated to preach on October 2nd for both of the Sunday morning services. 

It looks like now, I'll be out of town, at the end of the Young Adults Camping Trip that morning instead, as the need for my filling in has become non-existant.

It wasn't what I would have hoped for, but the camping trip is at least a worthwhile event to take its place. 

If you had marked that morning on your calendar, sorry to let you know it has been cancelled.  I'll keep you informed of what I know if/when future opportunities come.

Off Center

Putting ourselves at the center of life is all too natural.  I find that often, when I'm frustrated, I've somehow put myself at the center again.  My emotions are dictated by circumstance out of my control or the actions of others.  I respond reactively instead of pro-actively, putting my desires at the center.

That isn't the goal though.  I think we've been created to, and find ourselves most happy when we live off-center lives.  At least as it pertains to ourselves.  I am not the center of my life.  Everytime I pretend to be, I should be frustrated.

Christ should always be center.  The more I can remember and practice this, the more I'll likely deal with negative circumstance or unfortunate decisions of others better.

Punishment Time :)

We played our best game of soccer so far this year on Saturday.

Our first conference game, against Faith Baptist Bible College, began with us scoring 6 goals in the first half.

We played well most of the game, only making 2 mistakes defensively, and 1 emotionally.  Those three things will all be punished tomorrow as I am in control of a conditioning practice.

I wouldn't want to be the team members as I get to let out my frustrations on their bodies as we are in the longest break in the season without games (it will be 10 days between games).

Welcome to the 15 flights of stairs on the U of M campus.  187 steps up.  We'll have fun tomorrow boys.

Unwelcome News

Found out this evening that one of the people who lived on my floor for 2 years in college passed away in a house fire this morning.

That just isn't the kind of news you ever expect to receive.  It was on the local news in the area here, which is how some of my floormates found out.  I had been contacted earlier in the evenin about it, so heard from a friend.

Thoughts and prayers for his family and close friends.