Hey Coach

I went to work out at the gym today and ran into a couple of kids I've previously coached in basketball. When the one kid, Nick (coincidentally they are both named Nick), saw me, he yells out, "Hey coach," and comes over to me with a big smile on his face. He was happy to see me and after we exchanged greetings via a fist bump, he went to run alongside me. This kid is full of a lot of joy and energy. I liked him immediately. A popular kid in school, someone that is not afraid to talk to you and say what's on his mind, yet I still think there's a bit of insecurity behind it all. I think we were probably all like that in 7th grade. While he was running beside me, he was talking to some girl half the time on the phone and told her he was running with his coach. She asked him why he called me coach and not Aaron, even though I'm not coaching him anymore. He was like "because he's my coach." I'm glad he understands how he should show respect to authority, be it a parent, teacher, or coach. It is cool to see the impact you can have on a kid. It really makes the time and effort you spend coaching and teaching worth it. Even when it seems like the kids aren't getting the message, you see later on that they really are paying attention to what you are saying even if you don't see it in that moment. It really means a lot when I am out somewhere at the gym, a restaurant, a game, and run into players I've coached and they are glad to see me. It makes that "Hey coach" mean so much more.

MLB Playoff Predictions

Major League Baseball's playoffs started this afternoon, so I thought I would make my predictions as to what teams I think will advance.

ALDS
Angels over Red Sox
Yankees over Twins

NLDS:
Cardinals over Dodgers
Phillies over Rockies


ALCS:
Yankees over Angels

NLDS:
Cardinals over Phillies


World Series:
Yankees over Cardinals in 6

Picture Perfect Tackle

I remember watching the 1995 Notre Dame vs. Army game. Notre Dame corner, Ivory Covington stuck Army's Tight End right at the goal line to preserve the victory. Covington was giving up 70+ pounds on the play but made a picture perfect tackle. The best tackle I have seen!

Joyful Noise by Flame ft. LeCrae and John Reilly

An amazing video and song. Praise God!

Collision Movie

On October 27 the documentary, Collision: Is Christianity Good for the World comes out. It pits Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson. By all accounts it looks to be a very well done film with two men of great intellect, wit, and speech. I'm looking forward to checking this out.

Notre Dame vs. Michigan... the rivalry continues

"Rivalry adds so much to the charms of one's conquests."

~ Louisa May Alcott

Brothers in Arms

I just got done playing basketball over at First Friends and we have a devotional after the game. I have to give props to the guy leading it, Jonathan, for just being obedient to the Holy Spirit's leading in what to say. He talked about our struggles and at the end asked guys to open up to share what we were truly struggling with. Usually in a situation like this with a group of guys you get a vague/generalized response about what they are struggling with, if anything at all. But not this time. Guys truly were be open and honest, and really had some strong issues to deal with from a break up with a fiancee, to struggling with pornography, to being involved with two women and fathering children with them. Some very tough issues guys were dealing with and in many cases probably issues they were trying to deal with alone. It was great to be able to be the body of Christ to our Brothers and lift them up in prayer. I pray that they would remember That there is no condemnation in Christ. And they must no longer walk as Gentiles do in the darkness, but in the truth, light, and life of Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria