No Off Season...for dads

I love the fact that I have some really good friends who give sound advice. In a quick conversation, I received so much wisdom. I have a friend who told me he was studying the book of Job. In the first chapter, Job prayed for each of his children by name and was very specific.  He prayed for each one specifically each day.  My friend, (let's give him a name -- Big Frank) started the same routine as Job.  He began praying for his kids and family according to their specific needs and desires.  As he prays, he thinks about where they are and what they are possibly doing at that time. Big Frank said these in-depth prayers have brought him so much closer to his family. This was so elementary and yet very profound. I pray for my boys often times superficially: “God, protect my boys.”, or “God, give my boys wisdom and keep them safe.” I am now striving to pray specific prayers. I now pray about my oldest son’s schooling, developing frien...

The Battle of Antietam, fought on September 17, 1862, near Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Antietam Creek, was the first major battle in the American Civil War to take place on Northern soil. It was the bloodiest single-day battle in American history, with about 23,000 casualties. My youngest son and I traveled about 90 minutes to Antietam for a camping trip with his Cub Scout troop.  I walked the grounds and felt an eerie peace.  The grounds were hollowed, respected, and sacred.  Evidence of the war was still scattered across the huge battlefield.  My son walked with me over the grounds asking a variety of questions, seemingly relevant to the aura of the area.  We later reached the campgrounds the other scouts were running around having a blast, learning and experiencing the joys of camping.  The campfire was started, games were played, and some even went deer hunting (no guns, of coarse!).  It rained heavily that night and into the morning....

I had to have a serious talk with my boys tonight.  I had been noticing some facets of their character that I did not think was necessarily wrong, but it was not what I think was the best.  So just before they went to bed, we had a Five Minute Blitz (our version of a devotional). As many of you know, I am really working hard to build our famliy on the standards of the Bible.  Well, the backdrop for this conversation stemmed from an abbreviated Deuteronomy 10:12-13: "And now, O Israel, what does the Lord your God ask of you but to fear the Lord your God...to love Him...and to observe the Lord's commands that I am giving you today for your own good?" I have been noticing that they were not giving their full potential in their everyday lives.  Yes, they are boys...young boys at that.  Yet, I know what they are capable of.  I now understand why my dad pushed me so hard.  He encouraged me (made me) to do chores, to wake up early (6am.....

My car needed antifreeze!  It only needed antifreeze!   I feel somewhat silly and very much blessed that this was all it was.  Let me explain. Thursday.   I was racing out the door to get to work.  I hopped in the Acura, turned the ignition, and got nothing.  I tried it again and again, and I got nothing.  Frustration.  Friday.  I get it jumped and it seemingly runs.  I was advised to let it run for about thirty minutes to let the engine recharge.  After about five minutes the car's RPM meter began jumping from 2 to 1, up and down, up and down.  Then,  it began to overheat.  I 'm began to freak out because I don't know what to do.  Saturday.   I get the car towed to my mechanic in DC.  I am chatting with the tow...truck...man (???) about everything from his cars to his children; he has eleven.  We got to the mechanic and he looked at the car.  ...

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all year." -- Charles Dickens It is every year around this time that we capture the warm fuzzies in our hearts as we look forward to celebrating this festive season. We eagerly anticipate seeing family and friends, going home to mom and dad, or possibly seeing the first snowflakes fall outside our window while you cozy up to a bright and crackling fire. The Christmas Fir is beautifully decorated with ornaments and candy canes and silver and red presents adorn the floor around the tree. Giving thoughtful gifts to incredible friends is always a pleasure. I look forward to those kinds of Christmases. But not this year... Sure, I can't wait to see my parents in Atlanta. I can't wait to sit at the breakfast table and sop my mama's biscuits (if you have never done, this your life is so incomplete right now). And yes, I am looking forward to catching up with old friends and family that I have not spoken to for a...

There is nothing like being in New York for the holidays.   The Christmas tree is being lit, the stores are flooded with people from all fifty states, and the bustling streets smell like roasted peanuts!  I love it!  Well, my boys wanted to go downtown as usual to catch some Black Friday sales.  I really did not mind because I like the never-ending action of the city.  My oldest wanted to go to the NBA store.  It is a fantastic store full of NBA jerseys, posters, and basketballs.  He walked in the store and it was if he forgot why he was there.  "Son, do you know what you want?", I asked.  "Umm...no!  Well, I think I want to look for some Wizards jerseys or shorts!"  They did not have them.  So he didn't know what to do.  So we're walking...and walking...and walking.  I could tell that he was a little unsure also because he had to use his money.  I know when I have a little pocket chan...

"I gotta feeling...that tonight's gonna be a good night!"   These are the words by Black Eye Peas I heard as I triumphantly jogged across the finish line.  I wish I could upload the video of the crossing (Yes, I had my iPhone in hand recording the whole thing!)  During the last 1/4 of a mile, with an excrutiating pain in my ankle and now heavy fatigue, I spoke into my now sweaty phone, huffing and puffing, and now jogging across the line.  I no longer cared that my time was...long.  I could have cared less that many runners (ummm, make that thousands of runners) finished before me.  I was enjoying the moment.  The crowd was roaring, clapping and celebrating every finisher's triumph. God gave me the chance to run...a marathon!  26.2 miles worth or concrete!  Only 1% of Americans have done this!  I need to go get my 26.2 car magnet.  Joe English, Running-Advice.com. Copyright 2010.  Someone once told me that the maratho...