We lost the game. 2-0. We didn't play up to our potential. If we had, we would have won.
I think the reason we didn't play as well as we could is because the girls were scared to lose. They've never been in the league championship before. They played like they felt, nervous and scared.
My senior year of high school our volleyball team made it to the state finals, and we lost. I remember sitting on the bench (I was injured, out for the whole season) and watching my team play and thinking, "this is NOT the team I've seen every day before this." We lost when we should have won. That's what today was like, too.
Life should get a bit easier now, once I get through this week and get all of my grading and report card comments done. Friday's the end of the first quarter. I cannot believe that the year is 1/4 of the way done.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Soccer Championships
The girls' varsity soccer team I coach is in the league championship game tomorrow. If you had told me at the beginning of the season that this was going to happen, there's no way I would have believed you. Yet, here we are, the number 2 team playing the number 1 team for the championship. It would be fantastic if we walk away with a win.
The cool thing is that the boys' varsity team is playing in the championship game on Thursday. They're undefeated in the league. Basically, it's a big week for BTA soccer!
If you think of it, pray for my girls and myself tomorrow afternoon - that they will play their best and have fun, and that we will glorify God in our sportsmanship.
The cool thing is that the boys' varsity team is playing in the championship game on Thursday. They're undefeated in the league. Basically, it's a big week for BTA soccer!
If you think of it, pray for my girls and myself tomorrow afternoon - that they will play their best and have fun, and that we will glorify God in our sportsmanship.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Challenging Sermons
I'm into podcasts these days, as evidenced by the final paragraph of my previous post. Today I listened to a podcast about giving from Erwin McManus, the pastor of Mosaic in LA as I was riding the T into downtown. He was saying, in my shortened and perhaps not completely comprehensive summary, that giving has less to do with setting aside a monetary amount to give away, and more to do with being a person who gives, with giving as a lifestyle. A spirit of giving comes from one who loves others more than she loves herself.
Then, at City Life today (the church I'm thinking I'll attend), Tim Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Pres., was visiting and spoke about having a broken spirit, and that it's when we are able to view our sinfulness as intrinsically related or connected to the love of God that we view repentance as a reminder of the effectiveness of God's grace and sacrifice. Therefore, the recognition of our brokenness is necessary for ministering with a selfless spirit. It is grace, not giftedness, that allows us to be effective.
For me these days, it's all coming back to love... over and over and over again. I need to recognize my lameness (as Jacob was lame, as Paul was lame) in order to recognize my blessing (complete forgiveness, love, and acceptance from the Lord) and give unreservedly to others (of my time, of my finances, of my heart).
Then, at City Life today (the church I'm thinking I'll attend), Tim Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Pres., was visiting and spoke about having a broken spirit, and that it's when we are able to view our sinfulness as intrinsically related or connected to the love of God that we view repentance as a reminder of the effectiveness of God's grace and sacrifice. Therefore, the recognition of our brokenness is necessary for ministering with a selfless spirit. It is grace, not giftedness, that allows us to be effective.
For me these days, it's all coming back to love... over and over and over again. I need to recognize my lameness (as Jacob was lame, as Paul was lame) in order to recognize my blessing (complete forgiveness, love, and acceptance from the Lord) and give unreservedly to others (of my time, of my finances, of my heart).
Saturday, October 27, 2007
A change of scenery
So I'm leaving the world of Xanga. There are a variety of reasons for this change, some are good and some are silly. A few days ago, a week ago maybe, my roommate saw me checking Xanga and exclaimed, "please don't tell me you still use that!" I mumbled a little something to the effect of that I began my Xanga at the beginning of college and find it to be a good way of keeping in touch... etc., etc., etc. Lame excuse #1 for switching. The others are equally uninteresting, I'm sure.
Regardless, this is it. A new blog for a new stage of life: the post-college, new career me.
The past two weeks have been stressful ones. Soccer season is wrapping up (we have our first playoff game on Monday) and it's almost the end of the quarter. My students are stressed which adds stress to sports and stress to me. Yet, I've also felt incredibly blessed, happy, and in love. Not romantically in love... in love with my students, with the incredible and immense opportunity I have to teach them, to lead them, to befriend them. They are beautiful.
As I settle in to my new life, I'm becoming increasingly eager to make friends here. Please pray that I get involved in a church quickly and that I get in with a good group of active, passionate about Jesus people.
Know that just because I haven't called you or written you personally, it doesn't mean that I don't miss you and want to know what's going on. Due to my busy schedule, I have failed in maintaining communication with friends from home, school, camp. However, I hope that will change now that soccer is ending. Hearing from people back home really makes my day, so if you get a chance, give me a call. I was listening to a Podcast from Mosaic in LA this week and it was about touching people/communicating with people and not just existing with them. It was in the context of John 15 and being a branch of the vine. It challenged me to really LOVE the people I am in contact with/am in relationship with. So, I'm going to work on that more. Hopefully it will start with re-engaging in my friendship with you.
Regardless, this is it. A new blog for a new stage of life: the post-college, new career me.
The past two weeks have been stressful ones. Soccer season is wrapping up (we have our first playoff game on Monday) and it's almost the end of the quarter. My students are stressed which adds stress to sports and stress to me. Yet, I've also felt incredibly blessed, happy, and in love. Not romantically in love... in love with my students, with the incredible and immense opportunity I have to teach them, to lead them, to befriend them. They are beautiful.
As I settle in to my new life, I'm becoming increasingly eager to make friends here. Please pray that I get involved in a church quickly and that I get in with a good group of active, passionate about Jesus people.
Know that just because I haven't called you or written you personally, it doesn't mean that I don't miss you and want to know what's going on. Due to my busy schedule, I have failed in maintaining communication with friends from home, school, camp. However, I hope that will change now that soccer is ending. Hearing from people back home really makes my day, so if you get a chance, give me a call. I was listening to a Podcast from Mosaic in LA this week and it was about touching people/communicating with people and not just existing with them. It was in the context of John 15 and being a branch of the vine. It challenged me to really LOVE the people I am in contact with/am in relationship with. So, I'm going to work on that more. Hopefully it will start with re-engaging in my friendship with you.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)