I taught my 5th grade team our base offense last night at practice. I made them walk through it slowly to make sure they saw the options and knew where their teammates would be. We spent time talking about it, discussing options and problems that might present themselves during a game. Then we scrimmaged another team that was practicing on the other half of the court. There guards put pressure on our guards and all of the sudden, my players couldn’t remember anything we were supposed to do. It was confusion and chaos driven by pressure applied by an outside force. I got so frustrated but I understand because I too often lead my life the same way. I know what I need to do but outside forces put pressure on me and I lose focus and things quickly become chaotic.

The easiest way for my basketball team to overcome the confusion and chaos is to have someone they can focus on that will help them do what they are supposed to do. On my team, the point guard needs to help them get in the right position, to get them focused on where they should be and what they should do. Of course, he can’t make them do it right because the game doesn’t stop. I don’t intend this to be a “God is your point guard” analogy but the ideas are parallel. God will help us get in the proper place mentally, emotionally and physically if we will let Him help, if we will focus on Him and listen to His words.

I have as much trouble doing that as my 5th graders do getting setup in a formation but I know it’s something I can work on and pray that my focus and my the actions of my life will improve with time.

Yesterday was a day to contemplate giving for me. The sermon at church was about Annanias and Sapphira (I’m trying to spell from memory) and last night I spoke about our mission efforts at church. As one “friend” told me, I’m no Rick Ross when it comes to speaking but our messages had some parallels, namely that we need to have a desire to give and a heart to share all that we have. I’ve been guilty in the past of thinking that if I gave 10% that I should be content. I now think of giving differently because I’ve seen what having nothing and still being joyful really is. I now examine my heart and wonder if I could really give all that I have and remain joyful. I examine my heart and look to see how much selfishness still exists, how much pride still exists, how much of ME and how little of God exists. I examine myself and think of what would happen if I was in Annanias’ shoes and know they probably would have been carrying me out to bury me also.

I want to change my life and my motivations and my heart. I want to be able to examine my heart and only see God, to know that all I have I would part with for a deeper relationship with Him, that my desires come from His desires. That is my prayer today.
___________________________________________________

Weekend Update: Boyd won another fun game and will be playing Littlefield in Abilene this weekend. Fortunately, our basketball team has a bye so we don’t have an issue this weekend for the waterboy. His basketball team won 30-7 which was awesome to hear about. It sounds like they hustled their way to a victory.

Tomorrow is our first basketball game for the 5th grade group. There’s also a Boyd Yellowjackets playoff game scheduled. My son who has been a waterboy for Boyd (and was listed as a manager on the playoff t-shirts) had to make a decision; play basketball or deliver the water. He has to do “his job” and be at the Boyd game on Saturday.

It’s been interesting to see his thought process grow regarding responsibility this year. He considers being a waterboy a “job”, something he needs to do. He has come to think of this job as something that people are depending on him to do. He feels like he is part of the team too. It’s been fun to watch him grow this year and find something that he feels is important. We’ve even gone from getting to the game on time to needing to be there at least 30 minutes up to an hour early.

I’m glad he has had this opportunity because I am confident it has begun a building process of things he will learn over the years and this job has been a positive experience. I appreciate Coach Ritchey for giving him the opportunity and I appreciate Ian and Braden making him feel welcome and wanted over the past couple of years. It’s building memories that will last a lifetime and, maybe more, it’s building a foundation that will last a lifetime.

It’s cold in Wise County today. The kids were a bit surprised that they had to get ready for school this morning. They were up at 4:20 turning on the TV to see if school had been cancelled but sound asleep when I came through to get them up. Needless to say, I was a bit surprised to see one on the sofa asleep and the other curled up in my chair asleep. Kids are funny in a very precious way.

_____________________________________________________

We had a small gathering at church last night due to the weather (it was pouring buckets of rain on us) so we had a devo instead of our regular classes. One of our brothers who is a school teacher spoke briefly about the harsh words that children speak to each other as we all considered what and how we say things. It would have been good if we were built with a feature similar to my voicemail at work where I can say something and then listen to it before I put it out for others to hear. I’ve said so many mean things to people in my life and it hurts to think about it. I know it hurt them and I wish there was a way to take it back. Unfortunately, I can’t rewind yesterday but I pray I can learn from my mistakes and be more controlled with what comes out of my mouth today and in the future.

______________________________________________________

Enjoy the winter weather and be careful if you are out and about.

The forecast we are getting for the next few days drives me batty. No one knows if it sleet or ice will come but they can sure worry about it. If it doesn’t, life goes on as normal. If it does, you make do the best you can. Yet there are those who check the forecast every hour to see what it has to say about the ice. It’s one of the things people do that drives me crazy.
______________________________________________________

It’s funny to think we are preparing for COLD weather and I just left a place that is preparing for the hottest days of the year. I never used to think about such things until I was able to travel to Brazil. It has opened my eyes to a broader world view of simple things along with the bigger issues of daily life.
______________________________________________________

Now that the phrase “Romosexuals” has been coined (for those who are in love with Tony Romo) I’m hearing the radio speculators saying Dallas is going from playoff contender to playoff favorite. We’ll see. The Giants may be down but I’d be a little worried about playing a team that just got embarrased like the Giants did last week. Strahan and company may have some plans for Mr. Romo and I wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of them.
______________________________________________________

It’s Casa Torres night. There’s nothing like a week out of the country (or state or city) to make me look forward to Mexican food at the local restaurant. Add cold weather and it will taste even better.

With no football and no races, yesterday afternoon was Christmas decoration Sunday. The lights were up outside and the tree was set up so yesterday it was time to put the ornaments on the tree and start putting out some of the other smaller decorations for the holidays. My wife does such a good job making the house look like Christmas every year and gives it a warmth and glow that makes the season a happy time. The kids help with the tree trimming and it’s always funny to see how many ornaments might get hung on the same limb. There are just a few more things to put up and we will be set for the holidays – except for all the shopping. Thankfully, she does most of that too!

Who decorates at your house?

This is the day retailers live for. 10 months of getting by comes down to the next few weeks and the whirlwind it is. I was at Wal-Mart this morning at 6 to check out the crowds. Our store doesn’t open until 7 so I was wanting to see what the effect on our cash registers might be. Wally World seemed slow but I ran into a couple of people saying the store had already sold out of what they wanted. At 7, our doors opened and people came pouring through. It was certainly a busy morning and a lot of merchandise went through the doors. I’m hoping for a good shopping season while dreading going shopping. Ironic I suppose.
____________________________________________________

I realize my blogs over the past week had a hint of me wanting to be at home, which I did, but it was also a wonderful time and I feel blessed to have been able to go. I’m so appreciative of our church and their support for mission work. I’m in awe of a young man who left everything he knew to go to a place where he knew little to sow the seeds of hope and salvation. I’ve grown to love people who love the Lord and want to share His joy. I’m thankful to the Elders at my church for making sure this trip and all the work we did would happen.
____________________________________________________

I hope everyone had all the good food I did yesterday. It was a great meal and a great day to be with family.
____________________________________________________

As I write this, things aren’t looking so good for my favorite college team. If they lose this one, I may need to find a friendly therapist. Just kidding but I do hope they start putting some points on the board. Hook ’em Horns!

It’s good to be home. Our flights and travel went off without a hitch and I am extremely thankful for that. My wife and children picked me up at the airport at 6:30 this morning and we went back home for a brief nap and a good shower. Being back in familiar surroundings is nice but nothing as near as good as being with my family. It was wonderful to see their smiling faces even though they had to get up early to come get me.

Our trip to Aracaju was successful and I am confident the effort, money and time will help to yield more fruit in the work of the church there. Plans are being made to help teach the Brazilians to be more evangelistic as individuals and to help them eventually become self-supporting. I am hopeful and confident that the day is coming that we will be able to take our money and begin supporting a new work because the people of Aracaju can do all they need to in their effort to reach lost souls on their own and with little, if any, support from the U.S.

One of the sisters wrote us the sweetest letter before we left that truly shows the loving spirit the people there have for God and for the church.

I look forward to going back one day but will enjoy my time back home in the arms of my family.

We have been counting down our return by the number of “sleeps” we have in Aracaju. We have only one more tonight and then we begin our trip. We had a good day of meetings yesterday and great fellowship with some of the leaders in the church last night. I’m still struck by the friendliness of the people here and only wish we could communicate better. We finished our meetings today and will spend tomorrow getting ready to leave and visiting the market. I’m ready to go so pray that our flights work out and we make it back OK.

The pictures attached are: lunch after church on Sunday with several church leaders and missionaries and Randy next to cashew fruit.

We have been counting down our return by the number of “sleeps” we have in Aracaju. We have only one more tonight and then we begin our trip. We had a good day of meetings yesterday and great fellowship with some of the leaders in the church last night. I’m still struck by the friendliness of the people here and only wish we could communicate better. We finished our meetings today and will spend tomorrow getting ready to leave and visiting the market. I’m ready to go so pray that our flights work out and we make it back OK.

The pictures attached are: lunch after church on Sunday with several church leaders and missionaries, Randy next to cashew fruit, Everett preaching on Sunday and me teaching on Sunday.