Good Sense Indeed

Seth Godin has a great post over on his blog about personal finance. I really enjoy Seth's creativity and practical advice. Here's some of what he has to say about debt and savings.

"When I talk to people who want to become marketers, I almost always tell them to go start something and go market something. The same advice for 15 year olds and seniors. Turning off the TV and building a CafePress store is not only free, but it starts to build a professional-skills asset for the long haul. Pay as much as you need to for things that matter, and as little as you can for things that don't. And never borrow money to pay for something that goes down in value."

Now that's some pretty sound advice. Sounds like what we are learning in the Good $ense course. As we follow God's financial guidelines we become a diligent earner, a generous giver, a wise saver, a cautious debtor and a prudent consumer. Good sense indeed!

Spring Colors

The Gazette is sponsoring a Spring Colors Photo Contest. The theme is Spring - The Colors of Eastern Iowa. I decided today to enter three of my photos (three is the most a person can submit). The photo above is of a flowering crabapple that is on the east side of our church building. These blossoms remind me that spring is finally here!



This photo was taken at Kingston Stadium at a high school track meet last April. It captures the anticipation and preparation that accompanies spring. We have waited all winter for this moment! And best of all, it wasn’t rainy and cold on that day!



This photo was taken at Veterans Memorial Stadium last May. Linn-Mar was playing Xavier in the pre-season high school baseball tournament. Baseball announces that spring has arrived, the boys are back, and that the dog days of summer are just around the corner.

The last two images aren't the traditional "spring colors" photos. But for me, they represent much of what I love about the season. How about you? What do you enjoy the most about spring?

Champions

I had a great time at the Drake Relays on Friday evening and Saturday. There were some incredible individual and team performances at the meet, led by Alan Webb who ran the fastest outdoor mile in world at 3:51.71 on Saturday!

Other performances and records of note:

• The Drake Relays sold out on Saturday for the 42nd consecutive year!
• 17 Drake Relays records were broken or tied during the weekend - the most number of records broken since the 1985 Relays.
• Minnesota ran the fastest women’s outdoor 4x1,600 relay time in world this year at 19:07.75 on Saturday.
• South Alabama’s Mulzat Ajoke Odomusu, a native of Nigeria, ran the fastest women’s outdoor 400 hurdles in the world at 55.37 on Saturday.
• Northern Iowa posted the second best outdoor 4x800 relay time in world this year at 7:22.42. In case no one has noticed, UNI has a great track team!
• Jim Dilling and Jesse Williams posted the third best outdoor high jump mark at 7-6.50. Seven of the ten top high jumpers in the nation competed at the Relays. These guys were amazing!
• Jeff Hartwig posted the fifth best world outdoor mark in pole vault at 19-0.75.
• Minnesota and Baylor women ran the second and third fastest outdoor distance medley relay times in the world on Friday at 11:08.16 and 11:08.88, respectively.
• Minnesota women ran the second fastest outdoor 4x800 relay time in the world at 8:27.42 on Friday.
• Minnesota women won the triple crown, sweeping the women’s distance relay races (4x1,600, 4x800, distance medley), while setting records in 4x1600 and 4x800 relays.
• Baylor became just the second school to win all four men’s university sprint relay titles (4x100, 4x200, 4x400, sprint medley), joining Illinois which first accomplished the feat in 1944.

Congratulations to the Linn-Mar 4x400 relay team for qualifying for the Saturday final and taking seventh place at 3:25.38. Way to go Wes Shetterly, Josh Pagel, Shawn West, and Zach Braff.

It was a record setting Drake Relays. What an awesome experience for every high school, college, university and elite invitational athlete. The weather was perfect and the crowd was electric. The 2007 Drake Relays lived up to its reputation and proud heritage. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the weekend.

Only a few athletes walked away from the Drake Relays with medals. But every participant should be proud of their training, preparation and effort. It was a weekend to enjoy incredible competition, crown victors and to acknowledge champions.

Job Well Done

Today being Administrative Professionals Day, we treated our support staff to a progressive lunch. Tye Male chauffeured the team to Pat Rieck's home where they enjoyed a gourmet spinach salad and chicken tortilla soup. They then went to Colette Rieck's for the main course. John and Tracie Maurice pinch hit for Colette and served roast pork loin with rhubarb sauce, cheese potatoes, french cut green beans with almonds, cantaloupe slice with grapes, and a carmel sticky bun. They finished their meal off with dessert at Bob and Leesa Westfall's. Bob served an assortment of bite-sized cheese cakes, cream puffs, and chocolate fondue served with bananas and strawberries.

Mark Eades, Mark Forstrom, James Wartian and Mick Schultz helped man the office and answered phones. When the staff got back to the office we had a vase of flowers, a gift bag and card waiting for each of them! Our support staff serves our church family through out the year and we wanted to let them know how much we appreciate them.

So, JoDee, Gina, Peggy, Kris, Angie, Mary, Terri, Donna, Debbie, Sharon, Brenda, Judy, Gina, Sara and Vicky - thank you for using your gifts and talents to serve God's purposes through New Covenant. We couldn't do it without you! You can see a short slide show by clicking on the picture above.

If our support staff has served you or your ministry through out this past year, drop them an email to say thank you. Join us in telling our support staff, "job well done."

The God Who Is Near

Jill Stutts sent me this slide show that tells the story about a multi-national humanitarian mission that Bill was part of. The event took place outside of Kabul, Afghanistan on April 6 of this year. Over 3000 Afghan people received free medical care and clothing. The slide show is long but well worth your effort. Make sure your sound is turned up so you can also enjoy the music!

Jill is planning to ship used clothing to Afghanistan to be distributed in a similar way. You can read more about the project on one of my previous posts here.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Be A Blessing

Bill Stutts is serving with the National Guard in Kabul, Afghanistan. Jill and his girls are collecting second-hand clothing and shoes to ship to the Afghan people. They are collecting clothing through May 1 and will then ship whatever they have. You can read more about the project on Jill's blog.

Here is what Bill writes about the need for used clothing.

"Just got your e-mail and I think any hand me downs of clothes and children's shoes, in any condition within reason. Remember, this is the second poorest country in the world behind Haiti. These people have nothing and would be happy to get clothing. They almost riot when it is handed out. The women are the most aggressive to get things for themselves and their children. The Afghan police and Army doing security, will tend to let their friends in first and it has to be very well controlled as they are so desperate to get these things. Blankets and comforters are are also good. Any season clothing is OK."

So let's round up those shoes and clothes that we don't need and get them to Jill. Let's help Bill be a blessing to the Afghan people.

The Head of the Church

We had a great Elder, Deacon and Equipping Staff Retreat this weekend. We have two retreats a year, one in the spring and one in the fall. The focus of our spring retreat is on building relationships and sharing ministry updates.

As per our custom, we presented framed Timothy Botts prints to our out-going Elders and Deacons. We are thankful for Jerry Livingston, Steve Powell, Roger Kolb, and Weir Nelson and their servant leadership.

We also presented framed Timothy Botts prints to Erin Bird and Mark Eades who have reached their five year milestones at New Covenant. It hardly seems possible that they have been with us that long! It's a joy to co-labor with each of them.

We welcomed new Elders Dave Rubsam and Jeff Akey, and new Deacons Tom Scanlon, Jay Schlichting, and Mark Griffioen. We look forward to how God is going to use each of them in the coming year.

In addition, we had a great time of worship and had several times of prayer. We had updates on prayer, care and share; and from the Relocation Team; we discussed intentional disciple making principles from the book Simple Church; had a time of sharing ministry successes and challenges; and of course we had a great time of fellowship during our meal times.

You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of our retreat. I'm so thankful for the leadership of Don Purdy on our Elder Board and John Maurice on our Deacon Board. These are men of incredible integrity and spiritual maturity. It's an honor to follow their leadership.

We have a challenging year in front of us but we have a big God. He is able. He is worthy. And He is the head of the church.

Welcome Lunch

We had a great Welcome Lunch last Sunday with over 90 in attendance. Our Welcome Lunches are always a wonderful time to meet those who are new to our church. You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the lunch.

And a special thank you to those who prepared and served the food on Sunday.

Prairie Relays

We had beautiful weather for the Prairie Relays this evening. The sprint medley relay team of Josh, Grant Benton, Wes Shetterly and Zach Braff ran a 3.34.63, a new Prairie Relay record! Their time was also good enough to qualify them to compete in the Drake Relays next week! Congratulation guys.

You can click on the picture above to view some photos of the meet.

Not To Us O Lord

We celebrated the life of Denny Ferry today. I was reminded all over again that a life well-lived is a beautiful thing. Denny lived a life that was beautifully simple - he loved God and he loved people. This simple phrase summed up his entire life. Well, he also loved music, and Karen and his family and ..... I think you get the point!

Ah yes, music. There was music everywhere! The choir started us off with "Not To Us O Lord." It was majestic! Karen even left her seat to join them in singing the anthem! There were three soloists, we had four congregational songs and we ended with a men's quartet. In addition, three more songs accompanied the Tribute to Life slide show at the end of the service. And at the graveside? Jim Jenkins played the bagpipes as we sang Wild Irish Rose and Amazing Grace!

The thoughts that I shared at the service follow.

Denny requested that this passage of Scripture be read at his Celebration of Life Service. Denny felt strongly that a person who called themselves a Christian should live like one.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:

“Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Ephesians 5:8-20

I first met Denny when I candidated at New Covenant in 1991. Denny was serving on the Deacon Board in our worship ministry. We hit it off right away as we were both born in the Tama/Toledo area. I've never met someone who was so excited about being from Tama, Iowa!

Denny lived the Ephesians passage out. He was careful how he lived. Three words come to mind when I think of Denny.

The first word is sing. Denny loved to sing. As you can gather from the ceremony today, Denny loved music. He was in various music groups and ensembles including our choir.

The second word is smile. Denny always had a twinkle in his eye, a smile on his face and a good word for everyone he met. He loved to laugh and have fun. Maybe that came from all the ribbing he had to take from his nine brothers and sisters!

The third word is servant. Denny chose to live as a servant, always looking for ways to serve the needs of others. He had a special place in his heart for children. And of course, Denny also served here at New Covenant.

As I mentioned before, Denny served as Deacon of Worship here at New Covenant from 1991 to 1995. When one of our Elders or Deacons finish their term of service, we acknowledge them by giving them this framed Timothy Botts print at our spring retreat. It’s a beautiful print of Colossians 1:28. Denny and Karen had this print hanging in the bed room.

But the thing that makes this print valuable is the words that are written on the back. All of the other Elders, Deacons and staff write words of thanks and appreciation. I would like to read a few of the remarks on the back of Denny’s print.

Today we grieve the passing of a husband, brother, father, grandfather, family member, and friend. But our loss is Denny’s gain. Today Denny is in his Saviors presence, with a new song on his lips, a smile on his face, serving His Jesus forever.

Blessed Are Those Who Mourn

To the students, parents, families and faculty of Virginia Tech, we mourn and grieve with you.

God blesses those who realize their need for him,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is given to them.

God blesses those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.

God blesses those who are gentle and lowly,
for the whole earth will belong to them.

God blesses those who are hungry and thirsty for justice,
for they will receive it in full.

God blesses those who are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.

God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God.

God blesses those who work for peace,
for they will be called the children of God.

God blesses those who are persecuted because they live for God,
for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.

Matthew 5:3-10 NLT

Oh Happy Day

Yesterday was Jackie Robinson Day in Major League Baseball. It was a great day of celebration. Individual players and even entire teams wore number 42 in tribute to Jackie Robinson. But the person who stole the show, in my opinion, was Rachel Robinson, Jackie's wife.

Rachel Robinson, the founder of The Jackie Robinson Foundation, was given the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award yesterday during the Sunday's ceremony at Dodger Stadium. The award was presented by Commissioner Bud Selig and honors Rachel Robinson for her "contribution and sacrifice to the legacy of her husband," who passed away in 1972.

Rachel Robinson is the first woman to receive the Commissioner's Historic Achievement Award. She founded the Jackie Robinson Foundation in 1973 as a public, not-for-profit organization to serve as an advocate for young people with the greatest need. Under Mrs. Robinson's leadership, JRF has awarded scholarships to 1,200 students from 43 states and the District of Columbia, totaling over $14.5 million.

During the television broadcast of the Dodgers and Padres game last evening, Rachel Robinson joined announcers Jon Miller and Joe Morgan in the booth. She was witty, intelligent, charming, and gracious. Rachel Robinson is one incredible lady! The pre-game show featured a black gospel choir singing Oh Happy Day, Jackie and Rachel Robinson's favorite song.

Oh happy day (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
When Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Jesus washed (when Jesus washed)
Washed my sins away (oh happy day)
Oh happy day (oh happy day)

It has been said that Jackie Robinson could not have achieved what he did without Rachel at his side. During his ten year playing career, Rachel attended every Dodger home game. She wanted to make sure that when Jack (as she calls him) looked up into the stands, that he would see at least one person who was cheering for him!

Growing up, Rachel was a determined young woman who knew what she wanted. Listen to what she said attracted her to Jack as transcribed in this 2005 interview.

And then he was – another trait that he – I saw a lot of and – is my favorite and most important one, is a humility about him that I liked. I cannot tolerate arrogance and self importance and all those kinds of things and he had none of that and he just came in and blended in with the students and kind of accepted their greetings of him in a positive way and so between – I started assessing who he was before I – he actually mattered.

Rachel was a young woman with a strong faith in Christ. She describes growing up in her home.

My life centered around Bethel AME Church. My mother was very, very protective and we were not allowed to go very far unchaperoned. But we could go to church anytime, day or night and hopefully, that’s where we were going on her part. And so we would go to church, Bethel. I sang in the choir; I later on began to teach Sunday School until I got to college and so the church was the center of our life for all social things as well as for religious services and that kind of thing.

She met Jack at UCLA when she was a freshman and he was a senior. Jack was the big man on campus and starred in football, basketball, track and baseball. A relationship began but Rachel didn't want to get married until she graduated from nursing school, which led to a five year engagement!

Rachel's father wasn't thrilled with Jackie at first, but her mother approved.

My mother on the other hand was very enthusiastic. She was all very excited and she thought he’s a Christian man; she knows he goes to – he goes to church, he talked about he always prays and he – his spiritual beliefs were there for everybody to examine, he was very close to his church. His best friend was Carl Downs who was the Reverend in his church and so she thought he was ideal in – in every way and had great prospects and she – the only thing she complained about, at the dinner table he told her that he didn’t eat vegetables; that he only ate potatoes and sometimes a tomato. And so she said, “Well, I don’t know how he’s going to manage, you know” and she knew that I was – I’m a – vegetables and fruits and you know, a healthnik and all that. And how are you going to make out with this man that just eat meat and potatoes, you know?

Here is what Rachel has to say about her goal orientation.

I always had five year plans. From the time I was ten years old I had five year plans. I really did. And they, you know, and they give you a sense of direction and – and things to strive for and you know what steps you have to take and I’ve been doing that all my life.

Rachel's sense of direction and purpose has led to many accomplishments in her own right. She became a psychiatric nurse at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, The Director of Nursing at Connecticut Mental Health Center, and Associate and an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychiatry at Yale School of Nursing.

Today, Rachel describes herself as "an energetic, loving, caring person who's deeply spiritual." She said that she and Jack were "the perfect match." They were true team mates. Jackie's work is finished, Rachel's continues on. Their lives are intertwined by their shared passion to make a difference.

Jackie Robinson said that "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Our world is better today because of the courage and commitment of Jackie and Rachel Robinson. As far as we have come, there is much left to do. There are goals to strive for and dreams yet to reach. But until that day, we remember our Jesus who has washed our sin away. Oh happy day!

No. 42

To the average American the number 42 is meaningless. To those associated with Major League Baseball, number 42 is sacred. 42 was the number worn by Jackie Robinson. The number was issued to him at random during his rookie season, and it's the number he proudly wore on his Dodgers uniform from April 15, 1947 until the end of the 1956 season.

Robinson retired in 1956 and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1962. But it wasn't until ten years later that tensions between Robinson and Walter O'Malley, the team's owner during that era, thawed enough for Robinson to return to the ballpark on the day the Dodgers retired his number.

In 1997, on the 50th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in the Major Leagues, Commissioner Bud Selig retired No. 42 throughout baseball, grandfathering in only the players then wearing the number. Mariano Rivera, who joined the Yankees in 1995, is the only active player still wearing Robinson's number.

On Sunday, Selig "unretired" the number for a day. Many players, and a few full teams, including the Dodgers, will wear No. 42 in honor of Robinson.

It's ironic that in spite of the trail Robinson blazed, the number of American blacks on major league baseball teams continues to drop. Participation of American blacks declined from 28% in 1975 to 8.5% today. Baseball may still be referred to as our "national pastime," but increasing it is becoming an international sport. In 2006, 27% of the major league players were foreign born.

But on Sunday, April 15, we pause to recognize the accomplishment of one of the greatest men to have ever played the game of baseball. Jackie Robinson excelled on and off the field. His memory and heritage continue on.

Jackie Robinson once said, "A life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives." Jackie Robinson impacted a city, a game, a nation, and an entire culture. Number 42 lives on.

Willing To Risk Death Daily

“Wanted. Young, skinny, wiry fellows. Not over 18. Must be expert riders. Willing to risk death daily. Orphans preferred.”

In 1860 the Pony Express burst onto the scene with an innovative way to deliver the mail. Of the 183 men known to have ridden for the Pony Express, few were under 18 (although the youngest, Broncho Charlie, was 11) and few were orphans. But the message was clear, the Pony Express required courageous men who were willing to risk their very lives for the sake of their mission.

With all the rapid change taking place in our world, you probably didn't notice that today marks the anniversary of the advent of the Pony Express. Our instant global communication makes it hard for us to imagine what the world was like in 1860.

In 1845, it took President James K. Polk six months to deliver a message to the Far West. Messages in those days had to travel around the tip of South America or across the isthmus of Panama.

By 1860, the fastest route was the Butterfield Stage line from St. Louis, Missouri, through El Paso, Texas, which took 25 days. It was almost 600 miles shorter to deliver the mail over a central or northern route. There were concerns, however, whether these alternatives were viable during the winter snows.

Enter Alexander Majors and Ficklin, who had a better idea. They assembled 190 relay stations over 1,966 miles from St. Joseph to Sacramento, along with 50 riders and 500 horses. They completed the task in time for the April 3, 1860, opening. During the summer it took about 10 days to cover the route.

The advent of the Transcontinental Telegraph put a quick end to the Pony Express. And here's the incredible thing. Despite its place in American western folklore, the operation lasted barely 18 months, from April 1860 to October 1861!

The message is clear. If you are in business because you are bigger, better, faster or quicker - beware. Take an occasional glance over your shoulder to see who is approaching. Or better yet, get out front to learn what new innovations you can make to remain relevant and competitive.

And the implication for the church? We too need to continually be willing to adapt and change our methods. Our message never changes, but our methods must. By October 1861 the same message could now be sent from the east coast to the west coast in seconds instead of days. The Pony Express was a great idea whose time had passed them by.

May that never be said of the church of Jesus Christ. Our mission to make disciples should penetrate every aspect of our city and culture. Might the message of Jesus Christ be communicated in relevant ways that impacts the heart and lives of people.

God too is looking for a few good men and women. They must be courageous men and women who are willing to risk their very lives for the sake of the mission. They must be willing to risk death daily!

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. John 12:24-25

The Wise Thing To Do

The Cedar Rapids Gazette had an interesting editorial today titled, Save For The Rainy Days. For those of use in Good Sense groups this is an even more timely warning. It's a bit sobering to think that Americans spend more than they save. Until 2005, personal savings rates had not been in the red for an entire year since the Great Depression!

It doesn't take a Good Sense small group to help us understand that this is extremely dangerous. How about using some "common sense!" Like not spending more than I earn. I love how the Good Sense material puts it - A wise financial steward learns to become a diligent earner, generous giver, wise saver, cautious debtor and prudent consumer. God's priorities just make sense!

I applaud the Gazette for writing the editorial. But I'm not optimistic that it will change the tide of consumer debt. The pull of the culture requires a change of heart and a change of values. And heart change my friend, takes more than information. A change of heart required radical transformation. Sharon and I are going to be working on some of our Good Sense homework this afternoon, looking at how we can increase our savings. It's the wise thing to do.

I'm not sure that non-Gazette subscribers can access the editorial, so I'm going to post it here in it's entirety.

Even as Americans are earning more and then spending it, with an increasing percentage being spent on discretionary purchases, they are saving less and less. This financially dangerous trend needs to be reversed. In 2006, Americans continued to spend more money than they earned. At the same time, the personal savings rate, for the second year in a row, was in the red, at negative 1 percent. That’s even lower than in 2005, when the personal savings rate was a negative 0.4 percent. Until 2005, personal savings rates had not been negative for an entire year since 1932 and 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression.

Back then, people had a good reason for not saving money: the had no money to save. During the Depression, a quarter of the labor force was out of work, and people dipped into savings to buy food, clothing and other necessities. Now, people spend everything they earn and borrow more to buy stuff. This does not bode well for the coming decades when 78 million of baby boomers will retire, nor for young people who will have no cushion in the case of personal emergencies or should the economy seriously falter. During the Great Depression, Americans learned the hard way about the importance of having rainy-day funds tucked away. Back then, many people lost everything through no fault of their own when banks and other financial institutions failed.

Now, people get into financial trouble when they max out their credit with no ability to pay those debts. Economic downturns can happen at any time, whether on a personal level or at the national level. Americans leave themselves open to calamity when they don’t have quickly accessible savings and long-term investments to get them through the years when they should be able to spend their retirement doing more of the things they enjoy.

Americans clearly didn’t get the message sent by Congress last year when it passed a package of reforms covering pensions, individual retirement accounts and annuity and life insurance contracts. The message was that they should save more. Instead, they saved even less. Some economic experts predict people will save more in 2007 because the economy, including the housing market, will continue to slow. Those same experts say that financial institutions are hungry for deposits and will offer better rates and incentives, such as elimination of some fees, to encourage saving. But consumers should shop around for the best savings vehicle for their own situation.

Now is the time for people to educate themselves about savings options the government has made available and the incentives that financial institutions are offering, and to find out about the risks that each option carries. With more and more options for both short-term and long-term savings, especially those like Roth IRAs and health savings accounts that are tax exempt, there is simply is no excuse for people, especially young adults, to leave their future financial security in jeopardy.

Draxton Relays

We finally got a track meet in today! The weather cooperated and we enjoyed a balmy evening at Kingston Stadium at the Draxton Relays. Jon ran the 800 meter race and Josh ran in the 4x200 and the 4x400 relays. Josh ran a 51.73 split in the 4x400, almost a PR for him. The great news is that the team qualified for the Drake Relays winning the event in 3.27. Congratulations Josh! Jon brought his time down in the 800 and looked good. Congratulations Jon.

You can click on the picture above to see a short slide show of some of the Linn-Mar events. It's great to finally finish a complete track meet. Now its on to the Prairie Relays next Tuesday evening.

Time To Take A Stand

By now you've heard more about the Don Imus story than you have ever wanted to know. I never listened to Don Imus, don't care for him or the values he represents. This post isn't about Don Imus but rather Vivian Stringer

I became acquainted with Vivian Stringer from afar when we moved back to Iowa in 1991. She was the University of Iowa women's basketball coach from 1983-1995. I admired her leadership, the way her teams played and most of all, the way she handled her husbands death in 1993.

But I'm not the only one who has admired Vivian Stringer's character and work. In recognition of her many accomplishments and service to the game, Stringer was inducted into the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame on June 9, 2001. She was named the National Coach of the Year three times by her peers. She also was named the 1993 Coach of the Year by Sports Illustrated, USA Today, Converse, the Los Angeles Times and the Black Coaches Association; the District V Coach of the Year in 1985, 1988 and 1993; the District I Coach of the Year in 1998; the Big Ten Coach of the Year in 1991 and 1993; the Big East Coach of the Year in 1998 and 2005; and the 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2005 Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Coach of the Year. One of her most personally-gratifying accolades is the 1993 Carol Eckman Award, which acknowledges the coach demonstrating spirit, courage, integrity, commitment, leadership and service to the game of women’s basketball.

A finalist for the Naismith National Coach of the Year Award five times, Stringer was honored by the U.S. Sports Academy when the organization decided to name its annual women’s coaching award in her honor. The C. Vivian Stringer Medallion Award of Sport for Women’s Coaching was handed out for the first time in July of 2002. In 2003, she was recognized by Sports Illustrated as one of the “101 Most Influential Minorities in Sports,” and during the summer of 2004 she received the Black Coaches Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

All that to say, when Vivian speaks, people listen. This lady walks the walk and has earned the right to speak and be heard. Many analysts believe that Vivian Stringer's press conference was the tipping point in the Imus saga. She put a face on the innocent victims - all 18-20 year old girls, and eloquently talked about her past and the pain that these careless words had inflicted. She wept as she shared from her heart. Her 2o minute press conference speech is a must read. Mr. Imus messed with the wrong woman.

Vivian recounted a traumatic incident when she was 16. There had never been a minority cheerleader in her high school. Friends encouraged her to try out but she was reluctant, fearing the consequences. Listen to Vivian tell the story.

As my father approached me about this, I said no. And he said some things that would ring true to me. It was a life-altering experience. And he said to me, “Vivian, if you don’t stand up for something, you’ll fall for anything. And you know what, this might not be about you or for you. But it is for future generations of young women that you need to make a stand. And I’ll leave you with that. Go to sleep and make your decision in the morning.”

Vivian went on to become the first minority cheerleader in her school, paving the way for other young women who followed in her foot steps.

Listen to the final words from her press conference.

And I say to them, to their parents, I thank them for entrusting me with their lives. I understand the magnitude of my responsibility. And with every breath in my body I will defend them, because I am honored, I am proud, so very proud and so fortunate that the good Lord has allowed me to be a coach. That’s an awesome responsibility.

And so to my coaches and to my team, I thank them. They have no reason to drop their heads. We hold our heads high with dignity, and as my father said, “with respect for ourselves.” And I ask that everyone, everyone who can hear my voice, please understand that we all need to make changes. We all need to make changes. Yes, it happens to be Mr. Imus, but beyond Mr. Imus, it’s all of us.

Do we understand what’s going on in our society? And maybe these young people who taught us, you know, how to be winners on the basketball court can also serve as examples of winners in life. You know in the Bible they say, even a child shall lead. Perhaps the babes will lead. These are smart ladies. These are classy young women. These are very bright young women. And I am thankful to this university for allowing me to serve as their coach and to all of the people who have been associated with them.

Vivian didn't ask to be thrust onto the stage for all the world to see. She didn't want to have to stand up in a press conference to defend the character of her team. She didn't want her Final Four appearance to be marred with controversy.

But Vivian learned at a young age from a father who loved her to not back down from a bully. She learned to hold her head up high with dignity. She learned to serve and lead with grace. She learned how to grieve losses in life that are larger than a won-loss record. Vivian learned how to forgive those who inflict pain and hurt. Vivian Stringer is a strong woman who knows when it's time to take a stand.

Don't Pass Him By

I just read a powerful article at washingtonpost.com about a social experiment set up by Gene Weingarten, a Washington Post staff reporter. On Friday, January 12 of this year, Weingarten arranged for a world-class violinist to stand outside the Metro in Washington DC in an indoor arcade at the top of the escalators and play some of the finest classical music ever composed on one of the most valuable violins ever made.

Did I mention the violinist was Joshua Bell? Joshua recently received the 2007 Avery Fisher Prize which is awarded for outstanding achievement and excellence in music. This award is so prestigious and demanding that no one has received its prize for three years. And the violin that he plays? Bell owns the Gibson Stradivarius violin that he purchased in 2001 for $3.5 million. It's considered the world's greatest violin!

At 7:51 AM Joshua Bell began playing his Gibson Stradivarius violin and over the next 43 minutes played six great classical pieces. What transpired next is the material for Weingarten's Washington Post article. The article contains four video segments and then entire 43 minutes of recorded audio. I encourage you to read the entire piece. It's long but well worth the read. I have to tell you that by the end I was in tears. You won't be disappointed.

As I tried to process my own emotions, several passages of Scripture came to mind.

He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but but his own did not receive him. John 1:10-11

But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:40-41

One of the greatest violists in the world performs in a busy public venue and goes virtually unnoticed. Here is how Weingarten reports it.

In the three-quarters of an hour that Joshua Bell played, seven people stopped what they were doing to hang around and take in the performance, at least for a minute. Twenty-seven gave money, most of them on the run -- for a total of $32 and change. That leaves the 1,070 people who hurried by, oblivious, many only three feet away, few even turning to look.

I believe he hits the nail on the head when he goes on to write:

Let's accept that we can't look at what happened on January 12 and make any judgment whatever about people's sophistication or their ability to appreciate beauty. But what about their ability to appreciate life? We're busy. Americans have been busy, as a people, since at least 1831, when a young French sociologist named Alexis de Tocqueville visited the States and found himself impressed, bemused and slightly dismayed at the degree to which people were driven, to the exclusion of everything else, by hard work and the accumulation of wealth.What about our ability to appreciate and live life? We're drive by hard work and the accumulation of wealth to the extent that we can't even take the time to enjoy the incredible gift of life we have been given.

And on one starry night, God himself showed up in our neighborhood. Thousands passed him by, but a few lowly shephards paused to recognize his greatness. His virtuoso performance went unrecognized and unappreciated.

Gene Weingarten says that he has never written a piece that has generated such strong reaction and public response. He has received thousands of emails and letters. The article showed up in the Washington Post on Easter Sunday of all days. I believe this story touches hearts because it reminds us that there is more to life than working hard, staying busy and accumulating wealth. That life is meant to have beauty and purpose. And that sadly, so many wander aimlessly by the master musician, oblivious to the incredible music.

The story that grabbed my heart is the one of John Picarello. I apologize for the length of this post, you have permission to quit reading!

Picarello hit the top of the escalator just after Bell began his final piece, a reprise of "Chaconne." In the video, you see Picarello stop dead in his tracks, locate the source of the music, and then retreat to the other end of the arcade. He takes up a position past the shoeshine stand, across from that lottery line, and he will not budge for the next nine minutes.

Like all the passersby interviewed for this article, Picarello was stopped by a reporter after he left the building, and was asked for his phone number. Like everyone, he was told only that this was to be an article about commuting.

When he was called later in the day, like everyone else, he was first asked if anything unusual had happened to him on his trip into work. Of the more than 40 people contacted, Picarello was the only one who immediately mentioned the violinist.
"There was a musician playing at the top of the escalator at L'Enfant Plaza."

Haven't you seen musicians there before?
"Not like this one."

What do you mean?
"This was a superb violinist. I've never heard anyone of that caliber. He was technically proficient, with very good phrasing. He had a good fiddle, too, with a big, lush sound. I walked a distance away, to hear him. I didn't want to be intrusive on his space."

Really?
"Really. It was that kind of experience. It was a treat, just a brilliant, incredible way to start the day."

Picarello knows classical music. He is a fan of Joshua Bell but didn't recognize him; he hadn't seen a recent photo, and besides, for most of the time Picarello was pretty far away. But he knew this was not a run-of-the-mill guy out there, performing. On the video, you can see Picarello look around him now and then, almost bewildered.

"Yeah, other people just were not getting it. It just wasn't registering. That was baffling to me."

When Picarello was growing up in New York, he studied violin seriously, intending to be a concert musician. But he gave it up at 18, when he decided he'd never be good enough to make it pay. Life does that to you sometimes. Sometimes, you have to do the prudent thing. So he went into another line of work. He's a supervisor at the U.S. Postal Service. Doesn't play the violin much, anymore.

When he left, Picarello says, "I humbly threw in $5." It was humble: You can actually see that on the video. Picarello walks up, barely looking at Bell, and tosses in the money. Then, as if embarrassed, he quickly walks away from the man he once wanted to be.

Bell thinks he did his best work of the day in those final minutes, in the second "Chaconne."

Jesus is worthy of our entire devotion and lives. Take time today to humbly receive his free gift of salvation. Take time today to linger in his presence to enjoy his beauty. Don't pass him by.

Spring In Iowa

It's been quite a spring for track. Officials tried to get the Warrior Invitational track meet in tonight but the wind, cold weather and rain eventually led to its cancellation. The meet had been rescheduled due to inclement weather last Saturday. And the meet at Iowa City West last Tuesday was cancelled due to wind chill temperatures around 20 degrees! So far we are 0 for 3!

Before the meet was finally cancelled, I was able to get some photos of guys from our youth group. You can click on the photo above to see a slide show featuring Jon, Josh, Eric Schultz, Matt Kearney, Nathan Menken, Zack Braff, and Wes Shetterly.

The next meet is this Friday evening, so we'll pack up our winter coats, blankets and rain gear until then. In the mean time, run hard, stay warm and keep dry! It's spring in Iowa!

The Cross

We had incredible Easter services today. I don't have the final count but I'm almost certain that we had over 2200 people in attendance. That's 2200 people who heard about the difference that a relationship with Jesus Christ can make. The overflow in the Activity Center worked out great with the 9'x16' projection screen. A special thank you to Dan Kalan, Austin Spooner, Andrew Male and the many others who helped create space for one more person today!

Acts of Worship did a great piece about how our culture tries to avoid the cross. And Pastor Bob spoke on how at key times God seeks to break through our avoidance through:

• Awareness of nature
• Moral awakening
• Achieving success
• Experiencing pain
• Facing our own mortality

You can click on the picture above to see a slide show of the services today. Today we celebrate our risen Savior, thanking Him for His gracious gift of salvation. Today we celebrate the empty tomb and the power God has over death itself. Today we celebrate the cross.

Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." Matthew 16:24

Just A Midwest Boy From Iowa

Lightening struck at Augusta National Golf Course Sunday afternoon metaphorically speaking. The course beat the field up this week leading to the highest winning score at the Master since 1956. One golfer after another faltered and stumbled this afternoon, and at the end of the day, Zach Johnson stood alone as the 2007 Masters champion!

Zach staved off a late challenge by Tiger Woods on the back nine. It was the third time Woods lost a lead during the final round of a major, and the first time he failed to get it back.

In a moving ceremony in Butler Cabin, Phil Mickelson, last years winner, presented the fabled "green jacket" to Zach Johnson. During the presentation ceremony, Jim Nance commented to Zach, "You know that as Masters champion, your entire life will change." I love Zach's response! He told Jim Nance, "My professional life will change, but I will continue to be the same person as I was before winning the tournament. I've got supportive people around me who will see to that. I'm just a midwest boy from Iowa."

I had tears in my eyes as Zach spoke those words. I had the awesome privilege of hearing Zach and his wife Kim, speak at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet here in Cedar Rapids last year. Zach and Kim love Jesus Christ and want to honor him with their lives.

Zach is a champion in every sense of the word. He's a man who's followed his dreams, all the way from Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Augusta, Georgia. He's a man of humility and integrity. He's a man who has just reached the pinnacle of success in his profession. He's a man, who at the end of the day, is just a midwest boy from Iowa!

Smile Because It Happened

We're in the Ft. Myers airport waiting for our flight to Detroit. We were supposed to fly to Memphis at 12:15 but fog and inclement weather delayed all their flights, making it impossible to catch our connecting flight to Moline. So we are flying through Detroit instead.

We've had an incredibly relaxing time this past week. The change of pace along with beautiful Sanibel Island refreshed our soul. Sharon and I enjoyed the extended time alone with God, one another and my dad. Thanks dad for being such a fantastic host!

But it's now time to rejoin life in Cedar Rapids. It will take a day or two to come back up to speed. Just putting shoes and socks on my feet this morning felt unusual!

I saw a quote this week that I really like. It's from the famous philosopher and writer, Dr. Seuss. "Don't cry because its over, smile because it happened."

So today Sharon and I are smiling. We are smiling because of all the wonderful experiences and memories that we made this week. We are smiling because it happened.