Insomnia and Eternal Things

    Once again I can't sleep.  Too many things going on in my mind, and the weight of the world on my shoulders.  I wonder some times if I am the only one that gets this way.  Do others have as much trouble finding the elusive rest?  I find myself like this often.
     So many things on my mind right now.  There are life's everyday problems, like how to pay bills, how to be in two or three places at once.  Then there are concerns for others.  It amazes me when I go to church the number of prayer requests that are given.  So many people today are fighting cancer or other diseases, dealing with broken families, struggling to make ends meet, and so many others problems.  Is there any doubt that time has to be coming to a close soon?
     That is the biggest thing keeping me awake nights these days.  When I think of what the Bible says about the end times it scares me, not for myself, because I know where I stand, but for others.  I am NOT a bold person when it comes to talking about my faith most times, but find it almost impossible to stay quiet about it now.  Time is too short. I look forward to the day that Jesus comes to take God's children home, but also dread the day because of those who will be left behind. 
     On the bright side, it is only a little more than an hour until the alarm goes off and my family will awaken from their slumber.  At least then I will have company.

Football Dad

     As most of you already know, I wear many hats.  Last week I posted about my oldest daughter marching with the high school band, and my feelings as "Band Dad."  For those of you wondering, she did great Friday night, and I, miraculously, made it through the night without crying.
     I also have become "Football Dad" this year.  My 6 year old son, is in his first year playing rec league football.  I am a better band dad than football dad.  Playing football and baseball are all he has ever wanted to do.  He has played baseball for 3 years now, and has been one of the better players on his team.  Last year he had to play soccer instead of football because of his age, and I knew he was disappointed.  This year he made the age limit by less than a month and a half. Therein lies part of the problem.
     My son is one of, if not the youngest players on the team, by far.  He is also one of the smallest.  In other sports size doesn't come into play that much, but in football a 43 pound barely 6 year old doesn't stand much of a chance against a 100+ pound almost 8 year old.  I'll give him credit though, he tries.  The biggest thing is that his mind comprehends a lot of what he is supposed to do, he is one of the best on the team about finding his position and knowing where he is supposed to be, but his body isn't able to accomplish what his mind tells him to do.  This is where being football dad gets tough for me.
     It's not easy for me to watch him struggle.  I knew that football would be good for him as far as him learning teamwork and discipline, but I didn't realize how much he would struggle playing the game.  My routine at his practices is set now, I take my chair, my headphones, and something to read.  I will watch to make sure he doesn't get hurt, but can't stand much more than that.  I also don't care to listen to all of the other parents talking about how great this 6 year old or that 7 year old is going to be.  I have seen a lot of 7 year old future hall of famers not pan out.  I also don't want to see how bad he is struggling, he is going to face a lot of adversity in his life, 6 year old football is a good place for him to learn to overcome by himself.  It will make him stronger.
     I take solace in the fact that in a few years he will be old enough to play baseball year round if he so chooses.  I think that is his real love anyway.  Besides that I am a great baseball dad.

Random Thoughts

     I have been up since 3 am this morning struggling with several issues.   I do this some times.  Lots of prayers have given up no answers.  That's okay, the time with my Lord was precious.  When you pray for someone with a terminal illness, do you pray for healing, or deliverance?  The easy answer is to pray for God's will, but we don't necessarily know what that is.  To live is Christ, but to die is gain.  Our humanity makes us think that healing would be the best, but wouldn't deliverance actually be better?
     I am thinking about something big for the month of September for the blog.  I am not sure that I am going to try it, or that it would be anything more than an unmitigated disaster.  Stay tuned for more details.
     I truly apologize for the quality and quantity of posts lately.  It is hard to keep this up like I did when I am leaving home around 6am and getting home around 8:30 pm.  I do like to eat, and see my family.  Look for information about September coming soon as soon as I decide exactly what I plan to try, or if I want to try  it or not.

Marching Band Dad Thoughts

     Tonight will be my daughters debut with her high school marching band.  I think I am more nervous than she is.  I realize that this is one more milestone in her march to adulthood, and I'm not ready.
     Up until this point, things were easy.  Recreation league games, beginner band, band manager......  these were easily taken, because it was still "kid stuff."  It seems like yesterday she was starting pre-k. Tonight she is marching in the high school band.  Where did the time go? 
     I asked her this morning when I woke her up if she was nervous.  She said "kind of."  I knew she was. I reminded her of what her band director told the band a few weeks ago, life is made of moments, and to enjoy each one.  I thnk she will, band seems to be her true love.
     As for Dad, I will be sitting in the stands watching, and true to form will probably have a tear or two of joy when she marches out with the band.  The older she gets, and the older I get, the more I try to grasp and hold on to those moments, because I know that each one is precious.   

Life Happens

     When I started this blogging journey, I fully intended to do a new blog each and every day.  Soon I found myself trying to do blogs each weekday, and now can't even keep up with that.  That's okay.  As I type this now, I am sitting at my desk beside the dock door, eating a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with corn chips.  When I say peanut butter and jelly with corn chips, I mean chips on the sandwich.  It's quicker and easier that way.
     That's just one of the shortcuts I find myself taking lately.  My son is playing football, so he practices 3 nights a week plus Saturdays.  My oldest daughter is in band practice 3 afternoons a week, then starts marching on Friday nights tomorrow night.  My youngest daughter hasn't even started soccer season yet.    My wife and I get a quick kiss on the way in and out the door if we are lucky.
     Yesterday I got home from work, took a shower, and got ready for church.  Dinner was ate quickly as usual, and off we went.  When we came home from church, the front door of our house was standing wide open.  I drove down the street, called the police, and waited.  We escorted them to our house and waited nervously as we watched them going through our home with flashlights blazing.  Soon they came out the door and told me I could come in and look around.  Nothing was missing or moved.  We had, in our haste to get ourselves and our children out the door, simply forgotten to shut the front door. 
     The thing is, I wouldn't trade my life for anything.  I made a promise to myself and my kids that I would do everything possible to be there for all the things they did.  Sometimes when they do things at the same time it is impossible, but I give it my best shot. I am proud to say that the only time I have missed one of my children's activities is when they conflicted and I couldn't be on two places at once. 
     The blog will get done when I have time, and when I have something to say. Church, football, band and soccer can't wait.

Official Blog Video

Don't really have anything to say, so I will share this video.  Hopefully it will post and you can see it.  Many of you have probably seen it before, but if not, enjoy.  Very busy time right now for me, so blogs may not be coming daily like they have been for a while.

Homecoming Season

Spring Creek Baptist Church

     I went to homecoming at a little church called Spring Creek Baptist Church yesterday.  My Mother In Law and Father In Law go there and invited us.  I have spoken before about my affinity for smaller churches.  For some reason the singing seems to be a little sweeter, the food a little better, and the preaching a little more to the point at the smaller churches.  Yesterday was no different.
     One thing had me concerned, and that was the fact that this church likes having dinner on the grounds.  I like dinner on the grounds, but hesitate in 90+ degree weather.  Luckily the fellowship hall was chosen to host the dinner.
     This is the time of year when churches start having homecomings in the south.  Homecoming season kicks into high gear in early August and runs through late September.  I don't know what verse in the Bible says Thou Shalt have thy homecoming in the months of August or September, but it has to be in there somewhere.   My Mother's church, Sardis Baptist held their homecoming today also, along with a few other churches in the area.  My church has homecoming the second Sunday in September.  I think the second Sunday in August and September must be the prime homecoming dates, they seem to be the most popular.
     I always find it ironic when preachers at homecomings speak of Jesus feeding the masses with the loaves and fishes.  I have often looked at the spread for the homecoming dinner and thought there was no way that amount of food could feed as many people that were there, only to see people take home more food than they brought.  Everybody brings their best dishes, and looks to have a good time of worship and fellowship.  What could be better?